Re: what would be a good project dealing with microchips

I can give you a whole bunch of circuits to play with, but your best bet 
for something original would be to scan the back issues of "Popular 
Electronics" (available in any library):  They always have good circuits to 
build up and try out.  You'll probably find a fun (and probably useful) 
circuit there.  If not, my e-mail address is albatross111@yahoo.com;  send 
me a note with a fax # or a snail-mail address and I'll send you a couple 
of nice project circuits that you can build up quickly and easily, but 
have a bit of a challenge to them.  One quick idea:  Radio Shack has a 
crystal radio set for about $8 that works without batteries and works quite 
well if you have a good ground.  This has been a good project for several 
science classes.