Skype payphone…
Unigamer writes “My dream has come true. Ever since last summer when I saw the Skype Video Payphone, I wanted to have a payphone hooked up to VOIP. Not long after I saw that article on Makezine, I put a “wanted” ad on Craigslist Sacramento for a Payphone. I said I wanted it for a project, didn’t have a lot of money I can spend on it, and it didn’t have to be working. I left it alone, never thinking I’d get a response from anyone.” Link. Hopefully, I’ll have time to accept real money in the MAKE payphone soon and have that converted to Skype credits…
Today is the drive from San Francisco from Seattle, as this happens I’ll upload photos every hour or so via a 
Tom Atwood from fantastic Robot Magazine has a special review of robo servos – “Hitec Robotics’ new robot servos are purpose-designed for robots and offer performance that is superior to that of standard hobby servos in most robotics applications. The new HSR-8498HB servo offers more than 100 ounce-inches of torque and comes with three different case configurations, so that you can custom build robotics joints. If you are looking for brute power, the standard-size, super high-torque HSR-5995TG servo offers up to 400+ ounce-inches of torque. These robot “muscles” are designed for hobby, classroom and robot contest use, and are ideal for android and quadraped locomotion, as well as sensor, gripper and arm movement.” 
Don on the Wired blogs has a bit about free DIY bot creation “Microsoft and Conversagent are giving away free licenses for their BuddyScript SDK for MSN Messenger. Now developers can build their own IM bots for MSN Messenger at no charge. The free license period lasts “at least six months,” but the company will extend the licenses beyond the initial six month term for developers who create a groundbreaking bot.” [
About 3 years ago, I pitched a pair of shoes I made to a “big” shoe company – it used a POV device to spell words as you walk. I think it was a little too out there for the shoe company, but if you ever want to make your own, Dan on 
This is a handy little maker-friendly list of construction tips from Eric – “Everybody has their own way of doing things. Here are a few of my favorite construction methods. Choosing Solder, Using Altoids Tins, Manhattan-Style Islands, Manhattan-Style with IC’s, PCB Enclosures, Kynar Wirewrap Wire.”