Just saw this story. Found it interesting.
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/daily_green_news/8/twelve-amazing-shipping-container-houses.html
Great link - they did some nice places with those containers. Pretty creative
If you are interested in containers as housing, I recommend the two sources below. The first one is a book. The second is a CD at ebay. The seller at ebay also has the book if you are interested in bidding and maybe getting a better price than Amazon.
There are some architect books on this. But they tend to be pretty "picture" books rather than "how to". The two items I have referenced here are more practical "how to" books or guides.
A thrid valuable source is www.seabox.com
They sell insulation kits, door kits, and a variety of other components specifically geared converting containers to homes or offices.
I don't have any immediate plans. But I might use one as a dog kennel. We have 4 rescued dogs now. But my wife and I would like to foster care dogs as well. A few doggy doors off the side to some kennel runs looks like an easy conversion and good application.
Intermodal Shipping Container Small Steel Buildings
http://www.amazon.com/Intermodal-Shipping-Container-Small-Buildings/dp/1438240325/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238191046&sr=8-1
Shipping Container MFR Specification Sheets & Plans
http://tinyurl.com/c62r4r
(http://i14.ebayimg.com/02/i/001/38/2e/032a_2.JPG)
There is at least one whole forum devoted to shipping container houses. Pretty cool stuff.