Search Yahoo and MSN with instant message – MAKEbot
We’re testing out an experiment on the MAKEbot (the instant message interface to MAKE Magazine) you can now search MSN and/or Yahoo over instant message with MAKEbot. So, try it out- add the MAKEbot to your buddy list (click here) and type ysearch and what you’re looking for (example: ysearch how to weld) or do the same for msearch (msearch msearch ipod hacking). And as always you can type search and what you’re looking for on MAKE and the magazine at all times using Google (search search cigar box guitar). Handy for phones that have AIM. Also try – photos, bookmarks, instructables, podcast and latest or help. Here are some screenshots of some bot action. Link.
Gina writes “…my crafty father-in-law had built a lighting system for his kitchen pantry out of Christmas lights and a Timex watch holder. He drilled a hole in the plastic watch holder just under the tension flap that holds the watch up, and inserted a reverse switch inside the hole. Once the switch was connected to the lights, when the pantry door closes, the circuit breaks and the lights go off. When the pantry door is opened, the circuit closes and lights go on and Mom can see which can she’s plucking off the shelf.” 
Neat how-to and video from Troy…“This is my hydrogen generator that I built Using stainless steel switch plate covers. You may be asking, Why switch plate covers? Well in the area I live in I was having trouble finding Someone to sell me a sheet of stainless steel and cut it for me. So I was in the Home Depot (a local hardware store) And I ran across switch plate covers made of stainless steel. All cut to size and all uniform. Well this made it too easy for me so I bought them About 36 @ $1.24 ea. I thought it was kind of expensive but what the heck. I was not getting the generator built waiting for a deal to drop in my lap. So on to the building of the h2 generator.” Thanks Jason! 
MAKE is sponsoring “This Day in Apple History” over on Applematters – each day you can get an 
Make your own LEGO blocks “…not everybody has access to their own CNC machine, but for those who do, here is a lesson in building up custom lego parts. This is not necessarily a design just for those of us lucky enough to own a CNC machine. A manual milling machine, or even hand tools and a great deal of patience will do the job. This post IS however directed at somebody who owns some sort of CNC milling machine, has access to some plastics and the tools appropriate to cut them, and somebody who is not a rank beginner at building lego robots.” [
Leadingzero writes – “Several projects on this site involve the modding of consumer electronics for new and inventive purposes. The NES tv remote for example used an old remote control as the base of the whole project. However, the circuitry inside was diverted to the controls of an old NES controller. This process of redirecting the internal circuitry of a component is what I call “circuit hijacking” because essentially, the circuitry is “hijacked” to a new location and purpose. This method is by no means new, nor is it even difficult but in this article I will attempt to described the best ways that circuit hijacking is accomplished so you can begin hijacking your own circuits.” 
