alarm

Sony ICF-C318 Automatic Time Set Clock Radio with Dual Alarm (White)
$19.99
I really loved my previous dual alarm, but it was backlit and just WAY too bright for me. After a ton of searching, I ended up with this clock. I pretty much only use the radio alarm. All in all this is a good buy for the money.

PROS:
1. Light has 3 settings. Dimmest is kind of dim to see in a brightly lit room, but also dim emough so as not to be distracting and annoying when trying to sleep in a dark room. This was very important to me (I had to cover the previous one up with a tissue each night to dim it!) and I'm happy with it.
2. Very easy to set (and reset) each alarm. No buttons to push - each of the alarm settings just has a dial you turn to get to the right time and to turn it on or off. Very easy. They are totally independent, so you could have one alarm set for the AM with the radio and one alarm set for the PM with the buzzer and both would work.
3. Excellent price.
4. Custom snooze - hit the button once for 10 min snooze, hit it twice for 20 min snooze, etc. I often forget about this feature in the AM, but it is really nice if I can ever remember to hit it twice!
5. No external antenna wire.
6. Other reviewers have mentioned the limitations of the auto-set feature. Luckily I'm Eastern Time Zone so it was easiest for me and I've had no problems with it.

CONS:
1. My old alarm would automatically reset the alarm for the next day until you turned it off. I was looking for one that did that OR had M-F/weekend settings, but couldn't find one that was dim enough. So this one I have to remember to set each night before bed.
2. No digital tuner or fave stations settings. Not a huge problem, but would be a nice feature.
3. Lights indicating the alarm settings could be more clear.
4. It could be a but smaller and sleeker, but it's an alarm clock, so whatever.

XO Vision DX370 Universal Car Alarm System with Two 4-Button Remotes
$29.99
I just had this alrm installed a few days ago. Works great. I even hooked up door actuaters to it and works flawlesly.

The Best of the Alarm
$11.94
In many ways, the 80s were a singles era. While it's true that great albums were being produced by people like U2, Springsteen, Jackson, Costello, et al, a lot of the great songs of the 80s came from short-lived bands that pumped out a few albums with a few great songs on each. The Alarm, as good as their album output may have been, never made much of a splash in the US, and therefore, the best way to remember them for the fan of the 80s is via this collection.

In an early profile, Rolling Stone called them 'like the Clash, but with acoustic guitars'. That's true, to some extent. There's definitely a Clash influence on tunes like the anthem "Sixty-Eight Guns." But other influences abound as well--Springsteen on "Spirit of 76," Stephen King on "The Stand," and so on. They also carve out their own sound on my own personal favorite Alarm song, "Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke?"

But the Alarm isn't some cheap pastiche of 80's rock and new wave. Mike Peters and company put together a stew of the above influences, a very distinct lyrical style, and cap it all off with that distinctive 80's production sheen--big drums, echo-y background vocals, and a remarkable sincerity and earnestness that's often lacking in today's music.

These songs serve as a great reminder of what was good about 80's music--the best bands could carve out a niche for themselves, remaining distinct while staying within the 'sound' of the era. These are big songs, friends. Big anthems, big vocals, big meaning. Other highlights on this collection include "One Step Closer to Home" and "A New South Wales."

It's true that a lot of these songs are represented by the 'single version' or the 'radio edit', but that shouldn't discourage anyone but the hardcore fan, who should have all or most of these tracks already. Here's a way to remember the few Alarm tracks you heard on MTV or college radio, and be introduced to a solid selection of their other music.

Well worth your time.

Skylink SC-1000 Complete Wireless Alarm System
$176.12
After some local break-ins I started looking for an alarm system. I went with this system because it was what I wanted, self monitering, expandable, and easy set up.
To me it looks as good of quality as expensive monitered systems, and as far as color I dont care if its pink with purple polkadots as long as it works, and it does. It doesnt take long to set up and with a little playing around with the different zones you can quickly get a feel for how easy it is to use. Set the sensors to certain zones for their particular use, such as instant on for garage, or outer doors for home mode, or away mode, its not hard to configure. If you dont want someone to have a delay time to smash the unit just set your exterior doors for an instant on zone on all modes, the alarm will make a burglar run off pretty quick in my opinion. I hated leaving my home unatended, especially when you see someone you dont know walking down your street and they saw you leave, now if my house is hit, I will get a call and I will call my trusted next door neighbors. And with my family here while I am away the panic buttons give me a better peace of mind knowing there is a little something extra to help protect them.