August 2021 - vcf-midatlantic

(kind of OT) - VCF East Prep Day
by Martin Flynn 22 Aug '21

22 Aug '21

CDL is scheduling a work day at Camp Evans, In part to address the IT support portion of the prep for VCF East We are targeting September 25, 2021, with the following projects in mind: * Run a pair of network cables from 9010C to the network rack in 9010B for Wi-Fi Access points and install the access points * Continue to install the cable anchors on the outside of 9032D, 9032C, and 9032B * Install a pair of network cables from the train workshop in 9010A to the network rack in 9010B * Mount the network rack in the 9032A furnace room. * Install the power cables in the 9059 attic for the new UPS system * Drop the existing network cables into the wall between the 9059 Makerspace and 9059 classroom, and mount the cameras Please reply off-list to keep the noise ratio on the list down! Martin Flynn

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Mice!
by Adam Michlin 22 Aug '21

22 Aug '21

Hi Everyone, As some of you know, I'm moving back to New Jersey (actually this weekend). I'll be living a few minutes north of the museum and am already brainstorming. SomeTimeSoon<tm> I'm hoping to propose a mouse exhibit for the museum. To that end, I thought it would be fun to brainstorm on two mouse related topics: Historically important mice Historically oddball mice Mice I know we have: DEC mouse Xerox Alto mouse (currently on the Xerox Star, anyone want to donate a Xerox Star mouse? Pretty please?) Xerox DayBreak mouse (winner of the What Could Be Possibly Thinking? Connector Award) Original Mac serial mouse Various ADB Mac mice Various Commodore mice Various Amiga mice Various Atari mice iMac Puck Mouse (slightly out of scope, but my vote for WorstMouseEver<tm>). Various PS/2 and serial PC mice Various Apple II related mice Thoughts on important pointing devices (trackpads, trackballs, etc.) beyond the mouse are also most welcome. For those that may not know, we try to mix up the exhibits but are often at the limits of what is in the VCF collection. So if you have a mouse to donate, we greatly appreciate it and we can give you a tax writeoff. Along the same lines, we'd love someone to buy and donate this Lisa 1 mouse: https://www.ebay.com/itm/284394610135 I'm told it is a good price. I'm also told it doesn't work with our Lisa 2. But it would make a nice artifact for a possibly future mouse exhibit and we can keep it for the day that we do have a Lisa 1. I'm thrilled to share that the System Source Museum in Maryland just acquired a Lisa 1, so they are out there. Best wishes, -Adam --- Adam Michlin Director of Marketing Vintage Computer Federation

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Macromedia Director support in ScummVM
by Dylan Servilla 22 Aug '21

22 Aug '21

Hi, I'm Dylan. I've been a docent at the VCF museum since last May, and I'm there most weekends. I'm also a computer science student at Rutgers New Brunswick and a developer for ScummVM, the game engine reimplementation project. I've been working on ScummVM's Macromedia Director engine for the past two years. It was just officially announced, and I thought the list might be interested: https://www.scummvm.org/news/20210817/ Macromedia Director was originally released in 1985 as MacroMind VideoWorks, an animation program for the Macintosh. Soon after, a scripting language was introduced, the program was renamed Director, and it became heavily used in CD-ROM games in the 1990s. ScummVM now supports early Director titles, allowing them to be played natively on modern computers. Eventually this will be able to play a huge number of old CD-ROM games. The engine has gotten some media coverage, including in Ars Technica, but be aware that it isn't entirely accurate. https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/08/scummvm-now-supports-macromedia-dire… The engine is currently in the testing stage, and it will be included in the ScummVM 2.5.0 release next month. Dylan Servilla

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] OT: Looking for recommendations on new soldering station for vintage electronics!
by Bob Shuster 20 Aug '21

20 Aug '21

Thanks for all the advice and recommendations. I ended up getting the Weller WE1010 soldering station, the modern version of the Weller WESD51. Heats up quickly, cools down quickly, multitude of tips, very easy tip change, lightweight and feels comfortable in the hand, etc. Seems like a nice solid device - I’m happy with it so far. - Bob

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Docents update
by Jeffrey Brace 20 Aug '21

20 Aug '21

Please congratulate Dennis who is going to University of Maryland - College Park next week. He has been a helpful docent for more than a year. It has been a great help to me so that I don't have to be there every Saturday and Sunday as a docent. I would also like to thank Dylan who has also been a docent for more than a year and is returning to Rutgers in the fall. He will continue being docent and drive down from Rutgers. And last, but not least Steve Anderson who always fills in for emergencies as a docent. It has been wonderful to have these three guys fill in when I have other VCF or personal obligations. I'm hoping to get more docents coming in so that the museum coverage is spread out among many people instead of one. ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President & Board Member Vintage Computer Festival East Show-runner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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VCF 2021 Swapmeet video
by Jeffrey Brace 20 Aug '21

20 Aug '21

Marcus Mera took some video of our swap meet back in April: https://youtu.be/fZgYPjN3j4o He wanted me to share it with everyone. ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President & Board Member Vintage Computer Festival East Show-runner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] What does Al Kossow have against VCF?
by Herb Johnson 19 Aug '21

19 Aug '21

On 8/19/2021 11:39 AM, Christian Liendo wrote: > Please allow me to respectfully disagree, since I first posed the > question. I need to explain more. In a way, I thank you for your explanation in response to my post. It reveals the logic you used in deciding to post, what amounts to your personal opinions about individuals and organizations. And, you express your sense of how other people and an organization "should" respond about such things in a public discussion. Now, in a way, this continues a public and *critical* discussion about a private person's merits and actions. That's inappropriate on its face. So I won't respond to points particular to a person or an organization. I'll respond to the process and the reasoning, which were MY point in my post, and in Christian's response. (I'll add one point specific to VCFed-Midatlantic at the end.) By "inappropriate", I mean this. The power of public discussion should not be used as a platform to criticize individuals, subject them or their actions to scrutiny. That doesn't (shouldn't) need much explanation. Those who choose to do that, won't accept an explanation anyway. But some Web searching on "trolls" and "discussion groups" will be informative. Also, about "authority": who has the authority to decide in a public way, if some person did something that merits "public trial"? To present evidence and to ask leading questions - in public? And: does the "accused" have a right or obligation to respond - or is it smarter to simply ignore such discussions? Some study and experience says they should ignore it. These considerations make the case against such public discussions, as patently unfair. Also: if someone with authority is indiscreet? Well, that should not be an excuse to be indiscreet in response. But sometimes it's hard to resist. So, *privately*, if one wonders personally, why someone did or said something? Well, a) is it any of their business? b) are they in any position of power or authority to find out or judge? c) are they obliged to take any actions? Some of Christian's comments, amount to these sort of questions. For the most part, the simple answers for people who aren't involved or responsible, are no, no, and no. One might argue, that if any response appears to be of merit - yet one is NOT responsible for taking actions - then MAYBE one can report the situation to those who ARE responsible. That is, contact the potentially-injured party. Of course, that's also a excuse for passing gossip. One must use some discretion. Otherwise: if someone posts some criticism about some thing or practice or activity, then discuss that subject or not on the merits - if there are any. Not discuss the person. One other thing. OK, two. I asserted, neither Christian nor I have any special authority about what is or is not to be discussed in this email list - that falls to the owners of the list. I don't want to be repetitive or persistent; I'm creating my own counter-productive example (!) but I have a point which challenges that. My point: I think there is one, mitigating circumstance, with this VCFed-Midatlantic email list in particular; which would not be so in other email lists. That is: this list is actively used by the VCFed-Midatlantic, for discussions and actions of the organization itself. And so, one such "action" could be: the operation of this email list. Also: VCFed-Midatlantic by explicit by-laws, defines membership in that organization, as "anyone who joins the mailing list". So participants in this list, are members of the organization. So those active in this list, have some claims for an interest, and for responsibility. Maybe, something like that, suggested to Christian that he was obliged to take certain actions. But - no "member" has any more authority than any other. Only management has more authority, that is more power. And: on the matter of "being formal". Now, I don't expect people, to engage in legalisms and formal logic and complicated arguments. As a practical matter, then, here's why some people try to post (the kind of stuff I'm talking about). They see it in previous posts, from people who decide it's OK to post stuff like this. Nobody objects. And then they see, people who respond (like me!); they want to join in. Again: For those not familiar with these matters, do some Web searching on "trolls", to find out why personalized discussions are *a bad idea*; and why some people engage in it anyway. I don't wanna be a troll, even about NOT being a troll. I posted my objection; I made a case; I responded to the response. That's enough from Herb Johnson, maybe too much. regards, Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT comcast DOT net

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What does Al Kossow have against VCF?
by Herb Johnson 19 Aug '21

19 Aug '21

I think this discussion as titled, is inappropriate on principles. First, it's a public discussion about an individual, their actions and their supposed motivations. What special knowledge or authority, do particular persons have or possess, regarding some one person other than themselves? I call this "gossip". Second, this is a discussion group sponsored by a non-profit educational corporation, for public purpose. I doubt discussions of this class suit those purposes. Any plausible rules of moderation would not permit persons to post negative commentary about an individual. If the owners of this discussion group fail to moderate, it falls to the members to self-moderate. And so I post accordingly. Discussions about the operation of a mail list, are usually counter-productive; I choose this lesser evil. Third, if there's a plausible discussion about something more appropriate, such as say changes in tastes in the vintage computing community (general or particular) - then change the subject line to reflect that discussion, and continue that discussion. Put another way: If no one moderates or complains about gossip and personal arguments, and those posts continue, then that becomes the standard. It becomes normalized. Makes it easier to do the next time, and the next. This is the core argument for moderation. Regards, Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT comcast DOT net

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Unicorn Electronics
by Mike Loewen 19 Aug '21

19 Aug '21

Has anyone ordered from Unicorn Electronics recently? Their shopping cart system comes back with a 404 response. Likewise their contact form. I've sent a message to sales(a)unicornelectronics.com about it. Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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OT: Reel audio tape digitization
by David Gesswein 18 Aug '21

18 Aug '21

Somebody asked me about getting some reel to reel audio tapes digitized. Does anyone have a company they recommend or should I just point them to what I found with a search online?

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