doug cantor

Editor Doug Cantor demonstrates how a drill and a few zip ties can transform a stack of old floppies into a handy box for holding those even older data-recording devices: your pens. For more detailed instructions, head to the original Instructable for this project, courtesy of completegeek.

When you're vacationing on a beach, nothing beats an underwater camera; but watertight cases are pricey and disposables have lousy quality. Lucky for you, the editors of PopSci have come up with an easy workaround using something there's probably already plenty of in your suitcase (hint: not socks). That's right, thanks to the magic of unlubricated condoms, you too can transform your point-and-shoot into an waterproof wonder. The set-up is easy enough, but as John and Doug demonstrate, it really does help to have a partner lend a hand.

You never know when the level of festiveness in your home might suddenly become critically, even dangerously low. Thankfully, one vigilant soul has put such concerns to rest by creating the Emergency Party Button, a DIY system that with one press transforms a seemingly ordinary apartment into something resembling Rick Jamess rumpus room.

Ever wanted your own motorized off-road skateboard? Listen in on this week's podcast as staff photographer and DIYer extraordinaire John B. Carnett relays the story of his latest exploit. It's a special all things How 2.0 edition as Carnett sits down with host Chuck Cage and editor Doug Cantor to discuss explosions, motors, hacked TiVos and more.

Tetris is one of the all-time classic video games, but its best suited to people with a lot of free time on their hands. Apparently, though, maneuvering those little polygons around a video screen still wasnt enough of a time suck for Swiss artist Guillaume Reymond. So, he set to work on a real-life version of the game with people in place of pixels.

Sean Captains extensive guide last week to next year's nationwide digital TV conversion featured some interesting comments from the vice president of Centris, a company that recently published a study suggesting the upcoming switchover to digital-only television broadcasts may leave millions of people across the country without a TV signal. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is offering people who have an analog TV a $40 coupon to put toward a converter box. Unfortunately, Centris VP Barry E. Goodstadt says, in certain pockets of the country, using a converter box still wont give you a signal if you dont have a powerful-enough antenna.

If you thought Doug Cantors disposable cam-belt buckle project was a little crazy, then get a load of the Amazing Chrome Calculator Belt Buckle from BWild (aka Village Street Wear). Why would you want/need a calculator belt buckle? Good question. According to the BWild marketing copy, this buckle is "great for cheating." "Why get caught with the wrong answer," they ask, when you could "never again struggle with simple equations or complex formulas." Oh, and its "great for accountants," too.

Hmm, isnt fiddling with a chrome-finish calculator hanging from your waist bound to call you out as a cheater? And if an accountant starts fingering his belt buckle, it might be time to look for a new accountant. Good thing you had your disposable cam-belt buckle to record that zipper-cipherin' incident. —Dave Prochnow

(Image: Bwild.com)

The Laser Finger, the Palo Alto (Cal.) High School teams head-mounted remote control intended for use by quadriplegics

This week is the Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams Odyssey, an annual program showcasing some of the coolest inventions you'll see anywhere. The twist is that all the brilliant inventors behind them are still in high school. Teams of students received grants of up to $10,000 last fall to develop a prototype intended to solve a problem of their choosing.  Check out some of the kids showing off the fruits of their labor above and in our slideshow—just in case you needed a reminder of how you wasted four years of your life.—Doug Cantor