Now these guys have the coolest job...

It's a Tuesday night in Hamilton, Ontario, and I'm sitting with Myrcurial (aka James Arlen) talking about makers, hackers' activism and hyperlocal journalism. Myrcurial is an online security consultant, a dyed-in-the-wool hacker and the wise-old-man of think|haus, a hacker/maker workshop that's being constructed around us as we sit in an ex-autoparts outlet in the northend of town.

Myrcurial and think|haus are part of the maker movement in Canada. If the movement has a bible, it's Make Magazine -- a publication that extols the virtues of using circuits and a grab-bag of Home Depot parts to make a potato cannon, a self-watering garden or a microprocessor robot rat.

Makers love Mythbusters, McGyver, old copies of Popular Science and Popular Electronics, 8-bit computer graphics and the chance to crack open and breathe new life into consumer electronics. Their motto is: "If you can't open it, you don't own it." They have excellent skills.

"We like to bend gadgets and circuits to our will," Myrcurial says. "We aren't interested in what we're told something can do, or must do. We're interested in making it do what we want, extending its life, giving it new purpose."

Of makers, hackers and activists | rabble.ca

Technorati Tags: gadgets, computers, science,

10 Sites To Send Free Text Messages To Cell Phones

Recently I had my Sony-Ericsson phone fall into a pool so I was without a cell phone for a few days (agggg!) and had no way of text messaging anyone. I definitely could have used this list!

With SMS messages becoming a key utility in today’s modern world, we are finding ourselves sending more and more of them. But the telecommunications industry is charging a fairly high price on 160 characters. So what can we do about it? We can send SMS messages for free, or for a very low price by utilizing the magic power of the internet.

The only downside with this is that you have to be sitting in front of a computer, unless of course you have one of those hi-tech phones with internet capabilities.

So where are these free SMS services hiding? We’ll expose them now. Here are 10 great sites to send free text messages to cell phones (SMS).

Read the rest: 10 Sites To Send Free Text Messages To Cell Phones (SMS)

Technorati Tags: technology, cell phone, text messaging, text, sms

BBQ by Remote

For the person that is extremely committed to their grilling, I’m sure top of the line accessories are the absolute only option. However, if you’re fairly casual about your grilling, but would still like some grilling accessories to make your life easier, this affordable gadget could be a big help. It will allow for you to grill without being tied right next to it. There have been other remote BBQ thermometers, but this is by far the most affordable one I’ve come across.

There was a talking thermometer posted here on Coolest Gadgets, but it will cost you $70. Whereas this much more simple version of the gadget will only cost you $19.95. It’s a big price difference, especially when both gadgets still do the same thing. One just happens to have a lot more tricks and other fancy extras. This Remote BBQ Thermometer also includes a timer and will monitor your food up to 100 feet away.

Remote BBQ Thermometer with Timer » Coolest Gadgets

Water Powered Jet Pack

Water-fueled "jet pack" - Boing Boing

The Jetlev-Flyer is a tethered jet pack that uses water instead of rocket fuel. The pressurized water is pumped up a hose attached to a custom Jet-Ski.

Technorati Tags: jet pack, technology, invention