I no longer buy clones that mark themselves up like an official "Arduino" but do buy ones that have their own name and say compatible (i.e. dfRobot versions).  

I get my "official" boards from dealers such as makershed or sparkfun as I am not sure how to tell outside that who is an impostor (pre Uno).

Most - dfRobot versions due to price difference.

I'd be sitting on the couch eating popcorn and being brainwashed by USA TV - so thank you very much for saving me from being a mindless drone. (I try to be a mindful drone).

[edit - undo]

Sounds like you were a natural to move on to be a successful computer software scientist.

The power of edit - undo can't be under estimated  

I recently destroyed a 12v lithium ion battery by hooking it backwards to an inverter.  It smoked and I knew it was toast - duh.

I have destroyed a few LEDs and shift registers during the construction process.  I may have killed some pins on my first two arduinos as the two wire does not work on either one, but does on others.  Most likely I was sourcing way too much juice and toasted the pins, (I do not source any power from the arduinos any longer for anything more than an LED or two).  

I also destroyed the regulator on a clone by hooking 5v to it directly while doing the same the a standard arduino did fine (bad clone design I think - I deserve it for buying a clone).  

The list goes on but those are recent

A calendar.   I know I will get one .. so I may as well "wish" for it and be happy when it comes.  That is all you can get someone that has everything, including peace on earth.

Happy holidays to all.

I have purchased from DFRobot.  Took a week to send out my order but otherwise I was happy with my one order from them.

They show some in stock (if the chip only with bootloader is what you are looking for.

http://www.dfrobot.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=35_38&product_id=170

WAG (Wild Guess) #two million ...

Arduino 1.0 - Non alpha/beta version with official new look maybe?

Have you tried putting your LEDs behind a frosted plate or even a slice of paper at the same distance as your project?  

I have found the non-diffused LEDs make multi-colored spots .. not a solid color when not "right on" the diffused surface.  You should try this asap if you have not done so yet.  This will assure your design works.  

You may have to add more diffusion to the LEDs to get rid of the colored spots or change the design to have the LEDs almost touching the diffusion panel (a good one).  I have used hot glue and a small cut off an acrylic tube to make diffused coverings for non-diffused LEDs, just in case you try all else and still see a multi-color dot instead of a solid color dot.

If you can not find frosted plexi around or it proves ineffective you may consider glass.  A stained glass supply store should have frosted glass and often a scrap bin as well.    I use frosted glass even with well diffused LEDs.  Glass does not scratch as easy and looks great.

Have fun

e-bay for RGB LEDs, arduino boards and as the last poster mentioned, capacitors, specially hard to find ones like 20pf and 33pf.

I also buy from bliptronics.com .. the only retail outlet I have seen that has the RGBs with the IC included and already wired .. and has arduino code.  Plus a really nice EQ chip.

For LED controller chips, no one mentioned avnet express.  So I figured I add it to the list.
(I have found great deals on TLC chips here)
http://avnetexpress.avnet.com

Looking for adapters .. this place has done right by me:
http://www.proto-advantage.com/store/

Have fun!

My electric pogo unicycle.  I hope I never finish it .. because I won't last long after it is done.   Plus I can't figure out how to make it jump without sending the family jewels for a free ride into my stomach.

So on that note, I have a couple of air shock pogo sticks I'll never convert to electromagnetic nut smashers if anyone is looking for parts for there very own death machine....

Anybody got any of these moments?

Twice a day at least.