Makingthings – new projects…
I’ve been meaning to post this for awhile, the folks from MakingThings have a whole bunch of new HOW TOs and project ideas for their Teleo product. What is Teleo? Teleo is a rapid-prototyping and development tool developed and marketed by MakingThings. It consists of a line of modular and networkable hardware components that can easily be connected to a computer via USB and programmed and controlled using any one of a number of programming languages. Components range from a variety of input and output modules, motor controller modules and accessories. Link. Also, check out the blocks.
A 454 cubic inch big block Chevrolet in a walk-behind snowblower? This custom unit blows the snow back to where it came from! It features heated handle bars (with engine coolant), full instrumentation with monster tach, hydraulic drive wheels and a host of other gotta have blower ‘Bling’ 
In MAKE 03 we have a VCR cat feeder project, but Peter from NYC sent in another way sans VCR…“When I had to feed ol’ Skippy upon leaving my apartment for a few days or so, I’d hot-glue a standing box of kittyvittles in the center of a piece of 2′-square cardboard, and cut a paw-sized hole in the bottom. After making sure the bathtub faucet was dripping slightly into a dish, I was good for as many as 3 or 4 days, and no worrying about power outages. Skippy had to work for his meals, but all the better. Now, an electric self-cleaning litterbox – THAT would be something worth warming up a soldering gun for.” 
Richard (not a DR), has shared his shed, and it happens to be a TARDIS. He’s built a full size one out of wood, he even has the plans to download so you can have a go. This TARDIS is being assembled in the village of MARTIN where the Dr. Who episode “The Awakening” starring Peter Davison was filmed. 
Inside that $15 Farnsworth radio cabinet is a Sansui tuner, a replacement Panasonic turntable, a Griffin AirShark, an 8 port USB hub, a cheap-o LCD panel, a Griffin iMic, a Griffin Powermate, a Logitech wireless keyboard transmitter, a power strip, a Griffin AirClick, a Sony bookshelf speaker, a Mac Mini and enough patch cables to encircle the world 7 times. 
Dennis Stevens is a ceramic artist and thinker living in San Jose, California. His weblog, Redefining Craft always has novel takes on Craft, the Universe, and Everything. His most recent salvo involves imagining a scenario in which crafty folks actually benefit from PEAK OIL. His article quotes Robert Heinlein, references William Morris, and quotes the great craft philosopher…erm..Hank Williams Jr. 
