Archive for July, 2009

I’ve recently noticed that my alarm clock hums. It may have gotten louder recently cause I loosened the screws (while taking it apart to listen for what was humming and maybe pry it out). My basement alarm clock hums too, and so does one at the store (if you place it right up to your ear).

What gives? Is it possible to have an alarm clock that doesn’t hum?

If it’s a line-powered electronic one (like a clock radio or LED clock) it has a transformer in it. Transformers age and can become rattle-y (especially cheap ones) so that’s the source of the hum.

Mechanical, line-powered clocks have a synchronous motor. The coil used to drive the motor can also suffer the same fate as the cheap transformer (see above…)

Can it be made silent? Sure, it’s all about the transformer. If you get rid of it (use an off-the-line switcher, say) then things get much better.

Getting up in the morning has been terrible for me lately. It has gotten so terrible that I’ve been late to work nearly every day for 2 weeks (luckily I have a very laid back job, so no one cares too much except me).

Currently, I have three different alarms set in three different rooms, all set at different times. They each wake me up, but nothing can keep me awake. I wake up grumpy, turn off the alarm, try to stay upright, and then just fall back asleep — on the couch, back in bed, in the shower… !

I reckon at least part of the problem is that the alarm sounds make me feel so disgruntled when I wake up, that I go back to sleep just to spite them (useful, I know). So I’m looking into alternate alarm methods.

The two main ones I’ve seen are sunrise alarms and sleep phase alarms. Does anyone have any experience with these or others?

I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

I use an alarm clock that I absolutely like. Don’t know what I’d do without it!

It slowly turns the light on, releases a small aromatherapy (I use coffee-scented oil) and plays the sound of birds singing.

Many years ago I had a stuffed animal alarm clock. It was blue, with a yellow nose, yellow ears, and I don’t remember the rest of the coloring. It also had a light blue stocking cap. When you squeezed its nose, It would tell you the time, and the ears would do something different when you squeezed them. It also has eight phrases it says to wake you up.
I want to know where to buy another one, or something better to wake me up. vibrating, stuffed, and loud really helps me. I like frogs, or 80’s things. If this helps. My cell phone alarm clock has gone out once again.

Check out Perpetual Kid for some fun alarm clocks. There’s also a nifty rubix cube alarm clock available from Fred Flare. Also, sometimes your local stores will have some pretty nifty things in the summer.

You know, one that practically lifts you out of bed like a terrible dream.

T.U 77 TANKS THEY ARE MADE IN THE U.S.S.R THEY ARE GOING CHEAP NOW THAT THE SOVIETS ARE BUGGERD

A drunk was proudly showing off his new apartment to a couple of his friends late one night and led the way to his bedroom, where there was a huge brass gong.
"What’s that huge brass gong?" one of the guests questioned.
"It’s not a gong. It’s a talking clock." the drunk answered.
"A talking clock? Seriously?" questioned his astonished friend.
"Yup." answered the drunk
"How’s it work?" the friend questioned squinting at it.
"Watch," the drunk answered.
He picked up the mallet, gave it an ear shattering pounding, and stepped back.
The 3 looked at each other.
Suddenly, someone on the other side of the wall screamed.
"You bastard…it’s 10 past three in the morning!"

LOL thats a excellent one