"There are no strangers, only friends you have not met yet" --- W.B. Yeats "A stranger is just a friend I haven't met yet." -- Will Rogers I just returned from my first VCF Midwest. It was totally awesome. A most glorious, drama-free weekend of vintage computers, reproductions, simulators and emulators but mostly all the great folks who create and appreciate them. I owe a zillion thanks to Connor for making it possible for me to attend. I was surprised at how many folks I already knew (either from VCF east, or online) and all the new friends I made so easily and comfortably. The dinners were great for schmoozing - the pizza place with the amazing pizza sliced into small squares, perfect for sharing. - the salad bar, with discount coupons thanks to Eric - the "dead dog party" afterwards The "free table" was like the dumpster diving after TCF (Trenton Computer Fest) but it was all weekend. I am enjoying items such as - empty chip rails - 5V and 12V power cubes - more home router/switches I had to pay for some items (GASP!) - a pretty silver Kensington trackball (dealer's den) - laser barcode scanner and more Palm PDAs from the auction The most bizarre item I got: a large heavy single axis gyro at the auction. My only laments are - missing the free rail of MAX232 chips - not attending sooner! -- jeff jonas