They’re here, they’re there, they’re everywhere. We’re inundated with gadgets no matter where we go or which way we turn. While some are indispensible, there are others that we want to own for reasons other than utility value – status, good looks, or for just pure entertainment purposes. Gadgets that are innovative and quirky tend to catch our attention, even though they may not be good value for money or something that we would go searching for when we shop. But, it’s stuff like this that perks up the monotony of life and makes for interesting conversation. So while some people may find the following gadgets useless, I’ve reason to believe they do justify their cost:

• Flying Alarm Clock: If you have trouble getting out of bed every morning, even on those days when it’s imperative that you absolutely must be up at 5 am, then this is just the thing for you. It uses sheer irritation to get you out of bed – you actually do so only to break the damn thing because of the loud screeching noise it makes; to turn off the racket, you must find the propeller-like wheel that shoots off the clock when the alarm goes off and buzzes across the room to settle in some unknown corner. The saving grace – by the time you’re done finding the small thingy, you’re probably too angry to go back to bed. The clock saves the day!

• Message Toaster: Now you can literally make someone “eat their words”. This toaster burns what you write on a message pad on the top into the slice of bread that pops out for your breakfast. While some might use it to propose more than a toast, those who are more practical (albeit in a whimsical way) use it to leave notes or messages for their significant other. But my personal favorite usage for this is to remind someone of what they said, something that has since then been proved untrue – yes, you’re making them eat their words!

• USB Fragrance Burner: If you work in a closed environment where all the windows are shut (or are non-existent) and the air conditioning system is on 24/7, you’ve probably been through situations where you have to stop breathing if you want to avoid throwing up. Working in close proximity to other people in closed environments can have that effect what with natural gases and other smells permeating the atmosphere from time to time. The USB fragrance burner is just what you need for mini emergencies like these – available in aromas of rose, jasmine, peppermint and lavender, you can just plug this gizmo into your USB port, add a few drops of the perfume that accompanies it, and you’re good to go. Makes for a work environment with clean air and unwrinkled noses!

This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of accredited online degrees. Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson1@gmail.com.