“This article describes how to build a Linux-based telephone answering machine using a low cost winmodem (softmodem) for the telephone interface. We describe how to install the drivers and libraries, and how to select and install the proper modem card. Our answering machine program is a couple of hundred lines of C code in a single file. If you’ve ever used a telephone you should have no trouble understanding the code.” Link.
We love iPod firmware mods, and this is one of the best ones yet – using iPodWizard (PC) you can add little icons to all the menu items on most iPods. How to and files included to make your own. Thanks Lubbi! Link.
Brian from Candyaddict writes “The National Association of Manufacturers has just released this awesome 15:18 minute video of the history of chocolate and how it is made. If you have never seen how chocolate is made, this is a must-see. Most of us take chocolate for granted – this video really makes you appreciate all the work that goes into making chocolate.” Link.
Adnan writes “So what if your chances of ever becoming an astronaut are less than nil, you can still defy gravity using Oooms’s Anti Gravity Machine and you know it’s probably more fun. All you have to do is harness yourself on to the moving sea-saw contraption and voila, you can moonwalk like Neil Armstrong all over the Basketball court.” Looking at this counterweight machine, it wouldn’t be that hard to build, I’ll see if I can find (or make) a how-to. Link.
Make vintage papercraft toys. These mechanical paper puppets are from the 20’s and the vintage artwork is simply spectacular. Rob says “Not the fancy new papercraft with .pdf files and colour printers – this is the papercraft your parents or grandparents did. I’ve almost finished making the duck. (read: I had to put it down after an hour or so, realizing I was spending an entire evening making a paper duck) I’ve found that a good substitute for the pins that hold things together together(“Here, kids, here’s a whole box of pins! have fun!”) are small pieces of copper wire stripped out of cat5 network cable. Put them through the holes, fold them over, and secure with tape. Spray adhesive is good for pasting the printouts onto some heavy card stock.” Thanks Rob! Link.
Here’s a bevy of robot quilts. This one entitled “The Robot Visits the Farm” is just one of many of the quilted collage artwork pieces that Kathy Weaver creates. Weaver states, “The robot represents progress, science and technological improvement resulting in change to the status quo.” [