Eleven of the vans were built by EMI Technologies in the '90s for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to monitor radio frequency interference. That's why in addition to the 35-foot antenna mast, each of the vans has a massive air conditioning unit inside, complete with in-wall duct work, as well as Onan 6.5K generators mounted inside a standard 19-inch server rack. A couple of them even have flip-down desks and rear-facing captain's chairs for pulling all-nighters.

EMI Technologies is still building similar vehicles for government agencies, but when I called them this morning they didn't have a whole lot to say about the vehicles. "How they were used might be classified," one man told me. But probably not—given the NTIA's purview, it's more likely these were used to make sure broadcast television stations weren't overstepping their spectrum or something.

What makes them a real deal are the vans themselves. Adam, the man who is selling the one with the lowest miles, said he'd probably let it go for around $16k. That's a fantastic deal for a dually van with the Quigley 4x4 conversion, even if it is over ten years old. I know this because I've been out pricing vans to convert into an ersatz Sportsmobile. I nearly wept when I saw these, because living in an impractical 4x4 van with an antenna mast tall enough to get a strong 3G signal on a remote mountaintop is my idea of heaven. I'm just not sure that there'd be enough living space inside for me and my dog next to the antenna pole and the 19-inch rack, even if I did remove the ridiculously large A/C unit. But love would find a way.

Here are the other two vans. If you buy one, let me drive it around someday!

Purported to be one of the world's smallest portable N64 mods at 120 x 200 x 50mm, it's being sold on eBay now for $205 after 26 bids, with all buyers safe in the knowledge that the modder likes his food extra spicy. [eBay via Ben Heck Forums via Engadget]

Given that the pictures don't blur the ID numbers, Intel should have no problem tracking the chip—bad news for whoever let it slip onto eBay. [Tom's Hardware]

The seller bills the phone as "limited edition," which means this is, purportedly, one of only five such prototypes produced. The anonymity and volatility of the Internet means I trust this guy about as much as I do a baby with a razor blade, but nevertheless there are some other key differences present that indicate this phone is slightly different than the standard Droid.

For instance the keys are silver instead of gold; the bezel is chrome, not black; and the LED lighting on the buttons is "enhanced." The phone is fully operational and awaiting activation. Trust this guy? Bidding starts at $485. [eBay via Engadget]

That's the starting eBay bid for this motherboard. According to the original invoice included in the auction package—dated December 7, 1976—he also was the one filling the sales forms. At least this one, which says Steven. Since it was only him and Woz at the time—and the latter was always busy creating beautiful electronics and calling the Pope—it's pretty safe to say that this was indeed Apple's current CEO and then CEO, CFO, CMO, COO, and CLSDI. The original package has Steve Jobs' parents as the return address:

It includes:

• The computer itself
• The original shipping box, with Steve Jobs' parents' house as a return address
• The original manual, with schematics to build your own Apple 1
• The tape interface card
• The manual for the tape interface
• A plain Scotch-brand cassette tape with a simply-typed label "BASIC" that came with the unit
• A letter, signed by Steven Jobs in 1976, explaining connecting a keyboard and monitor, as well as detailing when dealer applications would be available
• An original full-page glossy advertisement for Apple, included when the Apple 1 computer was shipped. (The ad is almost unrecognizable as an Apple ad due to its elaborate Isaac Newton logo. The artist who drew that logo was the third original partner in Apple Corp. His stake in Apple was bought out for a couple thousand dollars when the company started getting serious).
• Photographs of all prior owners of this unit.

The Apple I was the first Apple computer. The two Steves started to sell it on July 1976. The price then was $666.66. At the time all computers needed to be assembled, but the Apple I was a motherboard—assembled by themselves at Jobs parents' garage—was ready to connect to a keyboard, monitor, and cassette player. [eBay via Tuaw]

At first the idea of using our favorite childhood toy to make a light box may feel slightly silly, but the slim design of the pieces would be beneficial in keeping unwanted shadows or darkness out of your final photograph. Plus, it's a fabulous excuse to bust out the toy box again. Here's what you'll need:

Hit the full post on DIY weblog Spin Hand Spun for all the assembly details, including how to grommet your fabric to encase your structure.

Do you use a light box to give your photographs a professional touch (maybe a simple cardboard one perhaps)? Share your expertise in the comments.

First, a little history, so you know why we're writing about this upside-down-looking controller that never got released. Before the PlayStation, Sony and Nintendo teamed up to create a CD-ROM add-on to compete with Sega, who was experimenting with their own (destined for failure) add-on. This would have been the controller to that system. Unfortunately for Nintendo (and Sega, really), the partnership broke up and Sony went and created the PlayStation, which promptly conquered the world.

I love seeing this kind of remnant of how things might have been, even though I'm glad Nintendo and Sony didn't release a likely-disastrous Sega CD competitor. The last eBay auction of this controller ended at over $3,000, so the reserve is probably pretty high. Still, this would be a prize item for any game collector. [Thanks, Ben!]

Now, whether that "something" lasts for the long run—especially with a definitive lack of apps–is another thing, but for now Zune HD lovers can head on over to eBay for what amounts to a ludicrous price for a super rare, unreleased color and get their bid in before the auction ends in about two days.

The eBay user conveniently lives in Washington, and said they procured this rare kit from a friend. Now they're selling it for cash and are set to make a small fortune off this Zune HD with a nifty little paint job.

Now, will this model eventually be released en masse to the public at the usual Zune HD price? Sure, it probably will. But, if this wacky series of tubes has taught me anything, it's that there are plenty of people who'd love to win this auction and yell "FIRST!" to the rest of us.

Update: Yeah, this thing is getting all sorts of lame and suspicious. Crazy bidding, sketchy seller—everyone with half a brain proceed with caution. Maybe just watch the insanity take place from afar. [eBay via Anything But iPod via Engadget]

Of course, the bad news is that the creator wants a ridiculous $350 for this thing—and it doesn't even boot up on hamster power. [eBay via Telegraph via Slashgear via Newlaunches]

Created by Atari founders and all-around gaming legends Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, Computer Space came out in November of 1971, a full year before Pong hit the streets. The gameplay seems like sort of a mix of Asteroids and Space Invaders, with a rotational thruster (that phrase will never cease to sound filthy) controlling a rocketship (it's just getting dirtier) trying to take down a UFO (well, if a UFO is a euphamism, I don't want to know what it's referring to).

There's a green and a yellow version for sale, and the price is currently hovering around $1500 and $2500, respectively, but it's kind of an awesome-looking piece of furniture even if you're not into classic gaming. If you like those uncomfortable egg-chairs, this'll fit right in with your aesthetic. [Technabob]

Chances are this acquisition won't impact the day-to-day Skype experience on your computer or phone or pricing. Though here is hoping that the new guys at the helm will figure out ways to make Skype calling available on, you know, in-flight Wi-Fi, AT&T's 3G network and Android phones. [Skype]

The auctioneer states that this ball of fur is, indeed, a Tribble from Star Trek: The Original Series. Episode? The Trouble With Tribbles, obviously.

The 42-year-old prop takes two AA batteries, still works, and could be vibrating madly on your desktop in six days if you beat the lofty current purchase price of $5,000.

A certificate of authenticity signed by Scotty's son Chris Doohan makes this all legit, but man... for that price I kind of want to buy some cotton balls, color them, and make my own "rare collectible" for less than a buck. Won't smell like Kirk though, I know. [eBay - Thanks, Doguez]

The drives were part of a group of 300 hard drives sold on the auction site, coming from the US, UK, Germany, France and Australia. Some of them were formatted, but it wasn't a destructive format and the files were easily recovered.

Fortunately for us, the buyers weren't the bad guys but British Telecom's Security Research Centre. They bought the drives for a security study in collaboration with the University of Glamorgan in Wales, Edith Cowan University in Australia and Longwood University, here in the US.

Other information found in the drives were patient medical records, including x-ray images, patient photos, and confidential letters. Others included security logs for embassies and confidential corporate information detailing a 50 billion currency exchange.

In other words: If you have to sell your drive full of naked photos of your lovers, please perform a destructive, all-zeroes format. Or better yet: Don't sell it, format it, and then smash it with a hammer. [Daily Mail]

The Raptor was previously being sold on eBay, but with an ending price of $28,100 after 43 bids, the auction never reached the reserve price. So to those of you who are comfortably masked by the invisible cloak we call online shopping, it's time to come out of hiding: you'll actually have to show your face to take this sweet ride home. NBC/Universal is now looking to get rid of the Raptor—as well as a full-sized Mark VII Viper and other various BSG props—via "live" auction in Pasadena, CA. [eBay auction via hplus via boingboing]

From the listing:

This is a like new Powerbook G4
there's only one light scratch on the bottom part of the case, but it's hard to see from the pictures. The LCD still works, no dead pixels, no heavy darkness etc.

So far, so normal. But then, you see this special note at the bottom:

*******SPECIAL********
Includes over 50 full length porn movies (100 hours)
From such producers as Digital Playground, Brazzers, Vivid, etc.

Given that 50% of used laptops are probably shipping with some level of pornography unintentionally, I guess you might as well advertise it. But even still, that $700 starting bid price seems a tad high for the machine...and free keyboard sterilization really should be bundled in with the offer. [eBay Thanks Ragan!]