Late Sleeper? WAKE UP!

Although certain people in this world seem to be predisposed to getting up earlier than the rest of us (complete with an excruciatingly pleasant demeanor), we are not all so blessed with an automatic internal happy wake-up-timer. This is probably why someone invented an alarm clock. While I curse the very idea of such a device in the morning when it’s waking me up from a dream of house-sized hamburgers or political speeches replaced by mad-libs, it gets me to work on time in the morning.

But for those of us who need the always loud, often annoying wake-up-assistants on our nightstands to get out of bed, we certainly don’t need to settle for the cookie-cutter models. I’ve researched some of the most interesting and useful models of alarm clock available on the consumer market and have come up with three that everyone should know about- and some of you should buy!

My first pick is called the “Flying Alarm Clock”, and it does just that. Set the alarm at night and you’ll wake up in the morning to a booming sonar-like noise that sounds like it’s coming from a World War II Russian submarine. If you don’t shut off the alarm right away the propeller affixed to the top of the clock spins up, up and away, forcing you to get out of bed because replacing it is the only way to turn off the alarm. $24.99 – www.thinkgeek.com

The second clock is equally as obtrusive as the first, but is certain to get you out of bed. This “Puzzle Alarm Clock” operates like any other except that when the alarm goes off in the morning three puzzle pieces attached to the top are flung in different directions across the room. Like the previous pick, the only way to shut off the alarm is to find the pieces and re-assemble the puzzle. Fun. $97 - www.bimbambanana.com

Finally we come to my favorite, “Clocky”. Clocky the Clock is a motorized alarm with wheels. I’m sure you can imagine what happens with this model.. When the alarm goes off, Clocky makes a break for it, tearing around your room rather quickly and not relenting until being captured. As you might imagine, these clocks are built to survive some minor bumps and bruises. $49.99 – www.thinkgeek.com