etj, i had a similar thought regarding Net::Clacks. I mean, it's a sensor that delivers data in real time. Not having that update up on some web page, also in real time (complete with timestamp of last sucessful read) would give me sleepless nights.

Ok, yes, admittedly, it would also give me sleepless nights WITH real time monitoring. At least everytime that sensor runs into trouble, a red alarm light would light up on my big DIY LED status panel (next to my computer) and the master caution alarm would start to blare. "This thing watches for geomagnetic storms. If it fails, better assume that a large one is in progress and has taken out the sensor"(*).

(*) "Fail save" wakes you up at night. "Fail deadly" keeps you asleep forever.