PIC Brick Parts' Sources

SGS-Thomson L293D

Will Chapman has told me that the L293D is available from Arrow Semiconductor (1-800-833-3557). Supposedly, they only take commercial orders but if you pretend you're a business they should sell you some at $2.09 each in quantities of 2 or more (minimum order $25 for any one device type).

BS1-IC Parallax Basic Stamp

I bought mine from Digi-Key who will take private orders. Price is $34.00. If you're prepared to make your own programming cable you don't need to buy the programming package because the software is available at the Parallax FTP site.