The conspiracy behind the nine-minute snooze button

Dear Matthew Alice: It must be a conspiracy. That can be the only explanation. Why are all alarm clocks’ snooze features set to nine-minute intervals? Why not five? Ten? Fifteen? — Ivan Cervantes, on the Net

Yes. A conspiracy, but cleverly referred to as an “industry standard.” Digital clocks, nine minutes’ snooze time. Quartz analog clocks, five minutes. No further explanation from clock-makers. No technical reason why. Just a plot to make us crazy.