Verbarius Clock
We don't know why it took so damn long to get a clock that answers the simple question "What time is it?" The Verbarius Clock ($160; Nov 2007) does simply that, utilizing graphic LCD screens behind tinted glass to give the answer in simple terms, such as "Fifteen minutes to five" and "Seven nineteen p.m." Multiple languages are pre-installed on the clock, and you can upload new languages from a PC. An elegant, simple time-telling solution. [Thanks, Marshall]