Here is a neat idea to keep some of your old video tapes out of the landfills. The Video Tape USB Hub will give you a cool looking place to plug in your USB cable thumbdrive. I can think of one extra thing to do, install a small motor and keep a small loop of tape that spins when the device is powered.
"Materials:
- One old video tape (preferable one of the shorter tapes for advertisments, they have bigger reels and less tape to take care of)
- One usb-hub (working, of course, and preferable with an option for a powersupply)
- The cable for the hub
- the hub’s powersupply or a molex connector to power your hub directly from your computer’s powersupply
- Two ultra-bright leds in a color of your choice ( and the right resistors for 5volts)
- a small switch if you want to be able to switch of the led
- some cables, one for providing power to the hub and some small cables for wiring the leds up, you will find something suitable
- heatshrinking tube or tape"
http://hackedgadgets.com/2008/05/02/video-tape-usb-hub/