I noticed my local Walgreens has “The Clapper” on sale. This is one of those novelty items that was popular years ago and apparently it’s coming out just in time for holiday gift-giving.

If you haven’t seen or heard of The Clapper, it plugs into a wall socket and then a lamp is plugged into The Clapper itself. If the sensitivity level is set right, a couple handclaps will turn the lamp on, or off.

No problemo.

Unless the lamp is in your bedroom and you or your partner are prone to nighttime coughing fits. One cough and the lights go on. You clap it off. Multiple coughs and you have a middle of the night lightning display. The first few times can be pretty funny. After that, it gets pretty annoying.