We’re featuring the link to this Instructable not because it is particularly well-written, or because it features a full build log and detailed instructions. Nope. We’re featuring this project because of the slap-yourself-on-the-head factor that we love so much here at GiY…where often, the best solution is right in front of your face. After you’ve seen it, the solution is just too obvious. Rotate three LCD monitors, put ‘em next to each other, and viola. Instant high def goodness, without the hefty price tag. Check out the Instructable for the details and the parts list. Nice work, “acfou.”

The grace of these kits caused Aaron to be written up in the likes of Make and Popular Science, and with good reason. Aaron singlehandedly took the same project that was making the rounds on the internet, ordered the parts in bulk, and packaged them in a beautiful, user-friendly little kit…all for less than $10 bucks each. There is no doubt that his hobby was suddenly making him a decent chunk of change.

Enter phase two, and boy, are we excited about the possibilities. Aaron has recently launched his new company and accompanying website, dubbed “Electroids.” The site makes brilliant use of tweaks on the Altoids theme, and is overall a lot of fun to just LOOK at. But don’t stop there. Aaron has even more tricks up his sleeve. From the website:

“Electroids Kits are fun, easy, and educational project kits that bring back the joy of hobby electronics. Each kit includes all the parts you need plus easy-to-understand, clearly written instructions.”

You guessed it. Will a new brand and a little capital mean that more project kits are on their way? We hope so. So far, Aaron has not expanded his offerings beyond the two original kits he had for sale under his own personal website…but we are excited for what the future holds, and we will definitely be keeping our eyes on Electroids.

So here’s a thought…since we all agree that this is obnoxious, why not offset the $9 bag of cashews you ate from the minibar by setting up your own miniature, for-profit, wireless internet service provider, right from the comfort of your own hotel room?

The concept is pretty simple. Pair your Verizon Wireless or Sprint EVDO card with the amazing enterprise-grade TGMB-8000 wireless router, and boom, instant hotspot for your travelling neighbors. But oh no, you’re not doing this for charity. You’re doing it for pay. Simply set up your network with an SSID something along the lines of “$5_WIFI_ACCESS_646_555_0012,” and watch the hundreds of Internet hungry businessmen all around you come calling.

You could also consider posting your room number, but sooner or later someone from the hotel is going to sweep for available networks and will likely not be too excited about your little venture. Accept cash, or, if you want to keep it completely anonymous, set up a PayPal account so you can receive credit card payments. The TGMB-8000 router will support up to 10 user accounts with their own user IDs and passwords, so when the calls start coming in, give people their unique account info. Price it right, and you may find your hotel room paid for.

Of course, a few notes:

1. This is likely wildly against the Terms of Service agreements you have with your wireless provider. I find it very unlikely they would figure it out, though, and even if they do? Pfff, there’s plenty of other providers out there. You’re not going to pay a contract termination fee if THEY kill YOUR account.
2. The key to making this profitable is maximum exposure of your little SSID message. In this area, room choice is key. Try and get a room which faces a courtyard or other rooms, rather than the street or the pool.
3. Want to make the whole thing completely automatic and anonymous? Direct your customers to a web page you have set up with a payment redirect option. The user punches in their credit card info, and is immediately redirected to a page with their login info. This can be very easily set up via PayPal, as well.

It’s just that simple! Sure, you may not cover the cost of your entire stay (unless you are staying at a Comfort Inn, but then those cheapskate other guests probably don’t have laptops or know what the Internet is), but if you can cut the bill in half while sticking it to The Man? Sounds like a win/win.

Until now. Check out this guide to making your R.O.B. controllable through a PC’s parellel port. There is full custom code and a pinout diagram for controlling R.O.B. yourself. While more details would have been nice, there is enough here to have R.O.B. obeying your commands in no time. Check it out.

Take a walk down memory lane with this old clip from “The Screen Savers,” where Kevin Rose shows us how to overclock a $5.99 toothbrush. Okay, in this case, “overclocking” means simply “adding lots of extra batteries,” which I would think would burn out the motor quickly. But it is a fun clip, and you will feel all warm and fuzzy reliving TechTVs homegrown, DiY days.