I've always have various little hardware project ideas rattling around in my head. Thought I'd blog some links around the Arduino open source programmable microcontroller. Very cool little device which has digital and analog inputs and outputs which can control robots, do data collection, and various other hardware projects. I've played with the Basic Stamps in the past but this looks like a better architecture -- and it's open. You can buy a getting started kit for ~US$60.

• Arduino home page (slow site)
• Maker shed arduino hardware store
• Sparkfun is a cool project hardware company
• Adafruit is another cool little hardware company
• Cool little serial to ethernet hardware which you can use to put your Arduino on the net.