A Maker writes “OK, this has to be the CRAZIEST Lego project ever built. For real. From what the father of the idea said today in the Lugnet Robotics List, it involves +20.000 bricks and 13 RCX units that communicate in 2 communication chambers each with a seperate program. Build time was +300 hours. It runs on NQC software and it’s ALL Lego, except for the ball. Built by Gerrit Bronsveld and Martijn Boogaarts.” [via] Link.
By using an old laptop, a home made chat-cord and some parts from an old telephone you can build a telephone tapping device. Add Atropos to the mix and you have yourself an telephone call archiving system that will save all incoming and outgoing calls. Maybe not that legal if you actually use it, as it’s illegal to tap phones in most contries. It’ss probably even illegal to tap you own phone but a fun project non the less. Step by step instructions and and even a sample of an incoming phone call. Link. Might be good for podcasting.
This kit is designed to be a 72-hour kit. It is designed to be small and portable, but also to be effective in providing for the Survival “Rule of Threes.” The basic kit is enclosed in an Altoids tin, wrapped with 10 feet of 550 parachute cord. Note the 3/32″ diameter hole drilled in the upper right hand corner of the tin. This kit provides for shelter preparation, fire making, water storage and treatment, signaling capability, basic medical needs and food procurement. [via] Link. I think Altoids should sell these in the check out lanes at grocery stores (with mints too).
Peter writes “It’s toasters as musical instruments: people are stuffing guitar amps and effects and synths into vintage toasters, with tricked-out options like chrome paint, rubber tires, and flame throwers. And yes, they still make toast.” Link. Also worth mentioning, Peter has 3 great DIY music articles in MAKE 04.
Mark Pilgram of Greasemonkey hacks fame has a great how-to on backing up your DVDs on Mac OS X “Following up on the wildly popular guides on converting DVDs and other video files for your video iPod, I’ve put together a short video tutorial on how to use MacTheRipper and DVD2OneX to backup your DVDs on Mac OS X.” [via] Link.
Seems to me this would could be used with a GPS and low cost portable computer for the blind…“a belt which enables its user to feel his orientation in space via vibrotactile stimulation. This belt is equipped with a set of vibrators controlled by an electronic compass: the element pointing north is always slightly vibrating. That way, the person wearing the belt gets permanent input about his heading relative to the earth’s magnetic field.” [via] Link.
This site allows you to enter any image or Flickr photo location and it will generate a calendar. You need to select each month and create the months manually, but with just 12 photos and little bit of time you could make a nice present for someone during the holidays. [via] Link. Oh, here’s mine – it’s November, and that’s “cyborg your dog” month here.
