- A GPL-licensed CAD file donation drive was mentioned: sponsors pledged 20 cans of food to homeless shelters for every CAD file students contributed under the GPL.  
- The channel debated low-cost, high-resolution head-mounted displays; options discussed included the EyeTap augmented-reality HUD (non-commercial), the EyeTop 320×240 monocular display (~$300), Vuzix VGA glasses (~$350), and a $50 black-and-white “Spy Video ATV” toy from Sam’s Club that can be hacked for NTSC video input.  
- Participants compared transparent vs. opaque LCD strategies for wearables, noting that removing backlights from transmissive LCDs can preserve ambient vision while still showing VGA content.  
- Open CNC resources were shared: complete MechMate router plans are freely available at mechmate.com and mirrored locally (mechmate.zip), though the documentation’s part-numbering and view conventions were criticized as confusing.  
- A $8,000 eBay lot labeled “Complete Machine Shop {Antique & Later Models}” was posted as a potential source of fabrication hardware.  
- Discussion turned to unconventional machining: gene floated building an ECM (electrochemical machining) mill or an EDM rig, both of which would require large amounts of metal stock, and offered to help scavenge free aluminum from the university machine shop on Saturdays.  
- Synthetic-biology links were circulated: Drew Endy vs. Jim Thomas debate audio/video from Long Now, plus GROMACS mailing-list threads and wiki pages on membrane simulations for gel-box modeling.  
- procto reported testing a gel-electrophoresis box design at the SETC fablab; Invitrogen’s Vector NTI was noted as existing commercial software for gel simulation.  
- DARPA’s successful hypersonic-parachute tests were briefly mentioned.  
- The World Transhumanist Association (WTA) board resigned, creating a leadership vacuum that participants doubted could be easily filled.