Blog

I’m waiting a few month to pick up a cheap Mac Mini off eBay for some projects- Peter Seebach on IBM’s Developer Works site outlines the latest on getting Linux or BSD on the Mini. This article looks at the current state of Linux and NetBSD support on the Mini. If you need all the hardware and options fully supported, these open source options won’t do it for you … yet. But, if all you need is a stable kernel, a C compiler, and network support, the code is high-quality and the price is unbeatable.

There’s a new Flickr group called FlickrHacks which looks like it’s off to a good start cataloging all the neat Flickr projects and tricks out there. Did you know there was a mobile version of the Flickr? I really like Color Fields Experimental Colr Pickr from Jim Bumgardner, you pick a color and it’ll return photos from Flickr of the same value or close to it.

Depending on what type of iPod you have and if you’re willing to install Podzilla on it (iPod Linux) there are quite a few games over on iPodArcade.com to check out. Some games are “choose your own adventure” types or trivia / quizzes that will work on just about any iPod just by dropping a folder of notes on the iPod.

Catching up with some recorded TV…AOTS featured building a camera from a flatbed scanner. While they couldn’t get the results they wanted- check out Michael Golembewski’s site. He has some amazing pictures and a how-to on his project. Here’s another camera-scanner project which was featured too. I have an old scanner so I’ll try and build one and see how it works out.

Google maps with its new satellite photos feature has only been out a week and there’s already a ton of neat projects out. “Memory maps” are photos with group annotations. Here’s a Craigslist and Google map mash up so you can find housing and maps at the same time. Here’s a Google maps sightseeing blog with some amazing photos. And lastly, here’s what might be the biggest text on the planet.

EnvironDesign is having a contest, I wish I had known about it a little earlier but some of you out there might have something to enter. Details here. “Pull something out of the waste stream and turn it into something of value. Find anything that has been “tossed” into your home trash container, the office waste bin, a dumpster at a construction site . . . wherever you find trash. Then, turn this trash–pieces, parts, duplicates, whatever moves you, and create an object of function or beauty–or even humor–or maybe a piece of art. There are no limitations to size or shape of your new object”.

Those Nelson clocks are really nice looking, but they’re a little pricey. You can make your own, and as an added bonus- it’s edible. Here’s how. You’ll need 12 Tootsie Pops, a cheap clock kit and the bottom of a salt container.