Problem - I seem to forget that life is short and time is precious.

Solution - a clock that not only measures the passage of time, but serves as a stern reminder of mortality.

From a distance, the clock looks like a miniature coffin, propped up on a miniature tombstone. When you open the lid of the coffin, you see the black clock face with a miniature human skull in the center, and hands made of miniature human legbones. The bones gleam white against the black background as they move slowly toward eternity.

On the hour, the clock chimes with the sound of a tolling churchbell. Then the skull speaks the time in a sonorous whisper.

On the tombstone is inscribed the old epitaph:
My Dear Friends as You Pass By
As You are Now, So Once Was I.
As I am Now, You Soon Must Be.
Prepare Yourselves to Follow Me.

The "Catacomb Cuckoo Clock" is a bit more whimsical; it has an orchestra of skeletons (Mexican day-of-the-dead figurines) that pop out once an hour and play "When the Saints Come Marching in." On the tombstone of this one is inscribed "Had we world enough and time..." by Andrew Marvell. Or Emily's "Goodbye" speech from "Our Town."
-- robinism, Feb 13 2005

Day of the dead musician figurines http://www.folkart....skeletons/index.htm
[robinism, Feb 13 2005]

Cranial Clock http://www.geocitie...e/craniumclock.html
another take on the theme [FarmerJohn, Feb 13 2005]

Our Town by Thornton Wilder http://www.whysanity.net/monos/town.html
[robinism, Feb 14 2005]

Carpe Diem http://www.bartleby.com/101/357.html
[robinism, Feb 14 2005]

im sure this would be a must-have for goths
-- benfrost, Feb 13 2005


I don't want to be reminded of my own mortality. [-]

But some people need this. [+]

So, I vote neutral.
-- DesertFox, Feb 13 2005


How about a "remaining lifetime clock" which starts with a number of seconds equal to your life expentancy (based on current age, habits, socio-economic group...) and counts down. Life insurance companies could give them away as an incentive to new customers (beat the clock and you win on the deal....)
-- Basepair, Feb 14 2005



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