Three big boxes of parts arrived today: switches, resistors, and battery holders for the path lanterns, which we’ll build at the workshop on June 2nd; a couple of boards onto which I will build the bloom light controllers; and a pair of big plastic bowls which will serve as diffusers for the bloom lights. Not enough here to start actually building yet, but it’s fun watching it come together.

I’ve had a cold for the past couple of days. It’s mild, but I’m going camping this weekend out on John & Holly’s property in eastern Washington, and I’m not enthused about the idea of camping while ill. Oh, well, I’ll just have to rest and drink a lot of tea and hope for the best.

The Swinger is a little Python app that time-stretches an existing recording, adding shuffle to its rhythm. With examples: “Money for Nothing” and “Enter Sandman” are particularly awesome with a swing beat.

While browsing through Value Village’s collection of wall-warts looking for another 9V power supply, I happened to spot a Palm Portable Keyboard with a $5 sticker. Having randomly run across a description of the interface pins a few days before, I wasted no time snapping it up. It’s a great little unit: a full-size QWERTY layout, plus arrow keys and a handful of special-purpose function keys, and it folds up Transformer-style into its own little 3 1/2″ x 5″ carrying case. Now, what to do with it?

I’ve decided to run a little workshop evening for the LED lanterns. I’ll describe the circuit, explain how to extend it for other projects, then show how to assemble the device. We’ll build a few of them; I’m not sure how many we’ll make but I am guessing each person will be able to build a couple. This will be held on June 2nd. Location to be determined based on the number of responses. Let me know if you are interested in attending.

Instructable: how to assemble your own Arduino-compatible microcontroller board. It’s generally worth it to me to spend an extra $11 on one of Sparkfun’s Arduino Pro boards, but this is a really well laid out tutorial, and maybe I’ll want to build a whole lot of really cheap microcontroller-driven devices some day….

How to make round bacon, using a scary-sounding substance called transglutaminase, aka “meat glue.” With pictures.

More percussion circuits: these are nice and simple, and it looks like they will run on 9V, too.

Instructable about converting an ’82 Yamaha to run on electric power. 70 mph, 15-20 mile range, six moving parts including wheels.