Okay, it has very little to do with technology except that I came across it on TechBargains, and geeks love sugar. Apparently next Tuesday, 2/28, from 7AM - 2PM, IHOP is giving away a free short-stack to each customer. Mark your calendar.

No, not Gamera; these cute little amphibians won't be battling Godzilla anytime soon.  But they could be crawling around your desk at work, or frightening your high-strung pets at home, thanks to Dynamism.com, the excellent site that brings so many cool gadgets from Japan to the tech-starved who live elsewhere.

Called Walkiebits, the turtles do more than crawl: They can chirp back any pattern you tap on their backs, up to 15 taps. And... their tails wag. They come in Dot Blue, Heart Pink, Star Yellow, Melon, Mint, Orange, Peach, Pine, Soda, Snow, Blue, and Green, and cost $29 per. Dynamism says the Walkiebits are very popular in Japan, so better make like a hare and move quickly to get one.

PC Magazine posted a guide on their Web site today showing you how to build your own PC, right down to the hard drive, memory, graphics, and CPU.

You'll also find info on choosing the right parts for any type of DIY PC project.

So go ahead...build your dream machine. I dare ya.

It doesn't matter if you don't have a network. Even if it's just you, a PC, and a bag of chips, one of the simplest and most effective steps you can take to secure your home computer from all the ne'er-do-wells on the Internet is to put a router in between your cable or DSL modem and your system. The router makes your computer virtually invisible to the outside world. And you can get pretty decent ones CHEAP!!! Case-in-point: Newegg has the D-Link DI-524 AirPlus G Router for only $15.99 after rebate, shipped free. It should no-brainer. It's cheaper than most security software and doesn't require that you install anything on your computer that might make it slower or less stable. Read PC Mag's review of the router.

$15.99 too rich for your blood? How about $9.99? That's the price of a wireless router at CompUSA, and it has specs very similar to the D-Link's. PC Mag hasn't tested it yet, but the user reviews on CompUSA's site are generally positive. (Of course with the $5.00 shipping, the two routers end up only one dollar apart.)

Both of these are wireless routers, if you don't need the wireless part, make sure you disable it in the router's setup. And don't get sloppy and think getting the router means you won't need your anti-virus program or a software firewall anymore. They remain essential.