Wow - here’s a fun one. This working papercraft lock and key can be printed right off your printer and assembled with a bit of glue and patience. We normally wouldn’t post this because it does cost a few dollars for the download, but this one is so cool we just couldn’t pass it up. Now see if you can pick it without the key! [via]
We’ve featured silk screening tutorials on here before, but can you ever have too many? This tutorial actually shows how to silk screen the “right way” for a change (as opposed to using glue, solvents, etc. like we’ve shown in the past). It can be used to make some pretty killer designs like you see in the picture.
Follow these instructions and you’ll be up and running in no time. The hardest part is and will remain coming up with an awesome design.
Our friends over at Neatorama pointed us to this cool look poster that guides you, step by step, in making your own sock monster. Looks like a fun project if you happen to have some cool looking socks lying around. Word to the wise: for an extra scary monster, don’t wash your socks first!
Readymech cameras not only look awesome, but apparently they work too! These pinhole cameras will bring you a few weird looks which, incidentally, would be a good thing to take a picture of. Check out all the unique looking models they have, which can be printed from the provided PDF files. [via]
Many VoIP systems offer you free inbound calls but then charge you for outbound calls. Although these rates are usually pretty cheap, sometimes you just want things for free. In the guide, we’ll show you how to get a phone number and make inbound and outbound VoIP calls using your computer - for free.
We’re going to be using two services - Google’s Grand Central and Gizmo5. If you don’t already have a Grand Central account you might as well head over there now and reserve a number. Their website can tell you more about the service, which you’ll probably find is pretty awesome. Once Google blesses you with an account, they’ll give you your very own phone number attached to it.
Now head over to Gizmo5. You won’t need to wait to get an account there. Gizmo will also give you a free number (with a Nevada area code) and a client program for your computer - just like Skype. Gizmo5 gives you free inbound calls to your Nevada number, but to make outbound calls you have to buy credits. That’s where Grand Central comes in.
If you haven’t already, download the Gizmo5 client for your computer and open it up. The first time, it will ask you to log in - go ahead and do that.
Go back to Grand Central and log in. Under the settings tab, select Phones. From one of the drop downs, select Gizmo and enter the information for your Gizmo account.
At this point, you can also enter numbers to any other phone you may have and want to use with Grand Central. Take a look around to see what other potential things you could use Grand Central for.
Now hit the address book tab. Here you can import all the numbers from your computer’s address book, or just add a few numbers to try out. Go ahead an add the number you would like to dial out to. Once it appears in the list, click the “CALL” button next to it on the list.
Now simply select your gizmo account as the number to place the call from. Your gizmo account will start ringing.
As soon as you answer the call, Grand Central will then call the number you are dialing out to and connect you. Because Grand Central is initiating the call, it appears on your Gizmo account as a free inbound call. The number attached to your Grand Central account will be the one that shows up on caller ID, completely bypassing your Gizmo account number.
The system isn’t perfect - as you do have to initiate calls from the web interface - but it works. If you happen to have a Nokia N Series device, some enterprising hacker has put together a Grand Central Dialer application that will save you from the trouble of logging into the website each time. With some work, it could probably be made to run on any *nix system.
So there you have it - as much free calling as you want!
Like playing god? Enjoy weather of your own making with your personal weather machine. Rain or shine, lightening and fog - you can do it all with this remote-controllable weather window. [Thanks, Jason]
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