Google Talk – Debian users…
Google talk for Debian folks…my prefered client CenterICQ [centericq.org] wouldn’t connect to Google’s servers. It turned out that the client decided to ignore the server setting if a login was specified as user@domain. I’ve made a patch, which remedies this error. After applying this patch the client will honour the choice of server eventhough user@domain is specified as a login. I’ve sent the patch to the CenterICQ author and the maintainer of the Debian GNU/Linux [debian.org] package (read the update) Link.
We profiles Natalie in MAKE 02, here’s another interview! From releasing packs of Feral Robot Dogs that sniff out chemical contamination, to teaching Yale engineering students socially responsible design, from creating pollution-detecting Clear Skies Masks for bicycle riders, to co-authoring Biotech Hobbyist Magazine, Natalie Jeremijenko’s work merges engineering, biology and art to explore socio-political hot spots along the fault line where design meets information meets society. 
I really like the USB ports where the floppy drive was – Follow along as Seth combines two i1400 Thinkpads. He refreshes the batteries, fixes the keyboard and trackpad, removes the floppy, adds USB ports and WiFi to end up with a ghoulish, but functional machine: The Franken-laptop! 
It’s been an interesting week for the world of DIY audio -podcasting. A couple new issues have presented themselves, the first- it seems Feedburner gave out the number of subscribers to “This Week in Tech’s” show. Leo, the show’s host, says is against the privacy policy and also wrong 
The “Cardboard” Variable Capacitor as built in this article will yield a cap in the range of about 300 pF Max. Increasing it to 7″ will get well up to 370 pF. It is build of readily available material found around the house (some at the hardware store).