I purchase this clock because my old clock do not have a backup battery so if the power go out I would have to reset my clock . I read the review and they seem pretty good . I receive my clock today and right out of the box the clock be off by 2min . I read the instruction and change the time manually . unfortunately , when I set the time manually the seconds be 8 seconds behind accord to my cell phone and the Official US Time on -lrb- . . -rrb- so basically I have to wait 8 seconds for my clock to change after my cell phone change . not the end of the world right . but I figure that just for good measure I would call the Manufacturer 877-221-1252 . the woman advise I how to set the clock which I already read in the instruction . I tell she that my other clock automatically reset the seconds to zero once I set the clock so all of my other clock be within a second or less from my phone . I ask she if this clock can reset the seconds to zero . she do not know and advise I to exchange the clock if I think it might be defective . I figure with a name like ACU -rrb- rite they would be Accurate . just Sayin . other than the fact that my clock will be 8 seconds off the atomic clock it should serve it be purpose . as for the : blinking . I turn off all my light and I do not foresee this be a problem and this clock be close to my bed . the light be not intense enough to be annoying but bright enough to see easily in a dark or well light room . I will make another review on the performance of this clock if it should fail I in any other way . I give this clock a 4 star rating only because it be not 100 percent Accurate like they make it out to be . I might be able to resolve this issue by take out the Backup Battery or something but it be not worth the time it take to find a small screwdriver to try it . I can live with the 8 second delay . I will just have to set and forget like the name say .