Cool college gifts:

Parents Forum
1

<p>Okay, I won’t need to discuss X-long bedsheets: I’ve already got them. So here is my suggestions for a cool gift to give your college-bound kid, courtersy of the folks at MIT:</p>

<p>Rise and shine – and find that clock
Rolling alarm gets snoozers up and into a hunt to hit the off switch</p>

<p>By Robert Weisman, Globe Staff | April 7, 2005</p>

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<p>Like most other 25-year-old graduate students, Gauri Nanda sometimes burns the midnight oil – and pays for it in the morning.
''I like my sleep," said Nanda, a research associate at the MIT Media Laboratory in Cambridge. ''I’ve been known to hit the snooze button for two hours, or even accidentally turn off the alarm."
So when she was asked to create a useful product for an industrial design course last fall, Nanda came up with ''Clocky," a runaway alarm clock that goads its bleary-eyed owners into leaving their beds. To turn Clocky off, you have to find it.</p>

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<p>Complete article at:
<a href=“http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2005/04/07/rise_and_shine___and_find_that_clock/[/url]”>http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2005/04/07/rise_and_shine___and_find_that_clock/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

2

<p>What a wonderful invention! Hope she get’s it on the market.</p>

3

<p>This is great. But maybe it’s just as well it’s not available yet; I can’t decide whether my severely snooze-challenged daughter would love me or hate me for it. (One of her college apps asked her to come up with a catchphrase for herself. “I am not a morning person” would have been perfect.)</p>

<p>Of course, I already tried buying her caffeinated soap from ThinkGeek, and that didn’t do a thing… :rolleyes:</p>

4

<p>Our d and s luckily have never needed that type of alarm to get them moving in the morning. But if anyone needs an idea for inquiring relatives on graduation/college gifts, a favorite has been gift certificates to their college bookstore. They can use it to get their favorite clothing, and other items with the college name, sundries or even books!! That way the relative knows they will get something they really like, and there is no guess work about size, etc. If they are paying for their own books, they are especially grateful. Another great gift certificate is either Linens & Things or Bed, Bath & Beyond. They can then pick out things for their dorm room–more of a favorite with girls than guys!</p>

5

<p>My D told me about this and wants to be the first in line to buy one!</p>

6

<p>I heard this on NPR this morning. Great idea.</p>