I realized I don't use nearly as much power as I should be, given the options above. 258kWh billed at $0.155/kWh. With taxes, $41.28. Not bad, but I also live in a 900sqft apartment by myself. My previous bill was $56.01, so apparently I have some catching up to do this month.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_clock_with_digital_display "Flip Clock"

Grind down your keys and fit them into a cheap leatherman. You only use one at a time anyways, so flick it out like any other blade and presto! There is a blog somewhere about it. Much more pocket friendly, and if done right, looks very nice.

of someone coming around and issuing a number that can identify each and every individual in the country? I'm sorry, but last time I checked we already had a national database of (nearly) all of our (mostly) legal residents. Seems like nobody is scared of a social security number given to your children at birth, but we've been using them since what, the 30s? I think we are used to the idea of non-privacy now.
Granted, you can't really take a SSN and determine sex and current address from that number alone, but you can check state of birth, and have a reasonable idea of when they were born. Given the right knowledge and "1337 skillz" one can also phone up their local office and request the information on a given number at any given time. Now then... don't you feel even more secure about your special super secret only to me(and everyone I want to do business with) ID number?
Also, just to step on both sides of the fence for a minute, you are not required to get a social security number in the US. Your parents did you the favor, so they can claim you on their taxes. Granted, without a SSN, you'll be hard pressed to get a job that doesn't involve picking fruit or disposing of bodies. Good luck getting a bank to look at you for very long either. Even though there is no law requiring you to show proof of a SSN, without one you might as well kiss anything that requires money goodbye.