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Physics guy and mobile device hacker Dan Bjorkegren made a brilliant web service for Seattle residents that I’m going to use from now on. It’s called SpotBus. If you’ve used Google Suggest you know how handy it is when you start to type and Google “suggests” search terms. Spotbus works like somewhat like that, as you type your start or destination location (in landmarks) is can find the locations and return the results right away. It’s a lot faster than Metro’s tool or a timetable. Great DIY remixing of “suggest” user interfacing and transit data!

If you’re wondering what the strength of duct tape might be Make reader Taylor reports in with some possible clues…I decided I needed a hammock in my dorm room, and what better way than duct tape. I attached 4 strips on either side to the ceiling, making a loop at the bottom. I then used some clothes line and 2 carabiners to attach the hammock. The whole setup can hold my 200 lb friend (he fell asleep for 4 hrs in it). Under that stress each strip is holding around 25 lbs (assuming the weight was equally distributed, which I did my best to do). I haven’t pushed it to the limits yet, maybe this weekend I’ll see just how much it can take (Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3).

I can’t wait to get some time to hack up GPS project with Google’s new satellite photos for Google maps. Here’s the regular map of O’Reilly HQ and here’s the satellite photo version. Using this application from Glen Murphy, a high speed wireless connection like an EVDO card and a GPS unit, you could easily make a real-time satellite photo GPS unit for your car. You could also just hook this up to your laptop and walk around looking for Wifi too.

I’ve been playing around with a Java based SPOT RSS Reader/Sender program and it works really well. The developer included the source so I think I’ll be able to make my own mini-“MAKERSs” to alert when stuff happens here on the site like comments or questions. You grab the java app and the source over on SPOTDev. Here’s a test message I sent over to my watch for today.

On Tuesday 4/4 10am PDT I’ll be on NPR’s Weekday at KUOW in Seattle, WA with host Steve Scher talking about more tinkering….Make: Technology on Your Own Time is a new magazine about that drive many people have to make things work just a little better. The tinkerers of the world unite to take the Ipod to the next level, build a mouse inside an Altoids box and maybe even root around inside a car to make a better source of travel. Technology has moved into just about every facet of our lives and right behind it are the tinkerers and technologists who just want to know how these things work and how to make them work better. Some folks also want to see what else they can make these machines do or figure out what kind of information these devices collect. Are you a tinkerer? What have you done with your ideas?

Over the weekend SRL (Survival Research Labs) held one of their live shows with robots blowing up robots and what looks like complete destruction, in a brutally mechanical arty sort of way. Coverage here. Survival Research Laboratories was conceived of and founded by Mark Pauline in November 1978. Since its inception SRL has operated as an organization of creative technicians dedicated to re-directing the techniques, tools, and tenets of industry, science, and the military away from their typical manifestations in practicality, product or warfare [Via BoingBoing].

Charles Lee and Frank Ling host a show on KALX 90.7FM in the San Francisco Bay area called The Berkeley Groks Science Show. I’m always on the look out for downloadable science content to go jogging with and they’ve recently started posting MP3s of their show along with a RSS feed so you can subscribe, download or get their shows from the internet archive. The older shows are located here. Our show will be out soon, promise!