This is really cool! I really want to make something like this as well. I have all the necessary components; it's just a matter of making it. I was just going to make it a music visualizer, but your weather and stock information is really interesting.
I know this isn't really a noteworthy project or anything but the kid is 17. I wish I had this kind of cheap China stuff at 17. I wonder where I would've been by now if I had!