Nothing gets my energy level up like the prospect of making something new (well, maybe the cheerleader from "Friday Night Lights", but that's a different story). A website, a carrot cake, a bookshelf, whatever it may be. So long as it didn't exist before you started, and it did once you were done, then I'm a fan.

Which is why I love Instructables.com. The site consists of everyday people making things -- some useful and clever, some not so much -- and telling you how they did it. Almost all the tutorials include photos, so even if you don't plan on making the item in question, it makes for pleasant reading.

Some of my favorites:

The $15 Mont Blanc Pen. I've done this one, and it was even easier than it sounds.

The desktop trebuchet. I haven't tried making one of these, but Scott and I did build full-sized trebuchets a few years back, so I found the idea interesting.

Magnetic Refrigerator Lights. Turn your fridge into a Lite-Brite.

Most of the people aren't experts in their field, which gives the site even more appeal, in my opinion. The explanations are jargon-free, and the site has a grass-roots feel.

So I ask you to make two resolutions for 2007:

1. 1. Build something new (possibly from Instructables)
2. 2. Post something you've made on the 'net. Instructables can help there, too.

Oh, and for those of you who are into RSS... Instructables has a feed for you: http://www.instructables.com/tag/type:instructable/rss.xml