[Coco] Computer Club Meeting in Palatine Illinois on May 6th. 2023 from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm

[johnmarkmelanie at gmail.com]

All,
 
We had a good turnout at the library. I think we had 10 people, 4 were
regulars and 5 were new. Two were young, which was nice to see. We talked
shop all day long, and I really needed that. I definitely need to get out
more. We talked about computers, software, self-modifying code (SMC), ladder
logic, electronics, red light therapy, radio, and jobs.
 
We talked about the Intel 4004, Intel 8008, Intel 8080, Zilog Z80, Intel
8085, MOS 6502, RCA 1802, and Motorola 6809.
 
We talked about archiving data and turning a mess into a respectful
collection. We talked about using luggage trackers to locate valuable
computers and then sharing (time-sharing as in fractional ownership) your
computer with someone else. We talked about protecting your collection with
a lightning detector that could disconnect your computer from power,
antenna, wired internet, phone, fax, other. We talked about having a spare
computer that would survive an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP).
 
We talked about the environment. We talked about fusion, alternative fuels
(carbon-neutral octane, hydrogen, and methane), batteries, solar power, and
electric cars. I thought it was neat that we could talk about the
environment without getting in a fight/argument. If we put our minds
together, just think what we can do! I talked about how someone could do
their own research and draw their own conclusions. I am a big fan of Forrest
M. Mims III and he has some interesting research he is doing on this
subject. http://forrestmims.org/home.html
 
We talked about using home automation to create a power management system in
order to temporarily reduce peak power usage long enough to start an air
conditioner compressor with a power inverter and perhaps a soft-start motor
controller.
 
One person at the meeting set up a Sinclair ZX80 computer to study Sinclair
BASIC. Another talked about repairing his DEC PDP-8 down to the component
level and writing Fortran code for it. Another talked about writing an
emulator, electronics, radio, electronic controls, and teaching college.
Another brought an IBM PC or clone to repair, brought an analog o-scope,
brought a vacuum tube voltmeter, and brought a Morse code punch tape
practice or automatic keying device. Another came to see what everyone else
brought. Another brought a laptop and a floppy disk-to-USB device. Another
brought soldering skills. Another brought a sensor kit, a homemade
red-light-therapy device, and lots of good conversation. Another brought an
Osborn 1 computer and a gaming system. Another brought an Apple MAC OS
running on a MAC or PC. And he had a lot of knowledge about the retro
computer hobby.
 
I guess we need to do have this kind of meeting about two or more times per
year.
 
The Palatine Library was nice in that you could reach it by train, and take
about a 1-1/4 mile walk to get there.. We found out a little too late that
we could have moved the furniture around as long as we put it back when we
were done.
 
Saturday May 6th, 2023
10:00 am Pack car
10:30 am Go get coffee.
10:45 am Eat lunch.
11:00 am Go to library and have a look around.
11:15 am Ask for meeting room 2 to be unlocked.
11:20 am Start loading in.
11:30 am Start of meeting.
12:00 pm No break for lunch.
04:00 pm Where do we want to go for supper?
04:15 pm Start packing up.
04:30 pm End of meeting
04:31 pm Someone locked their keys in their car.
04:35 pm Call the police for help. Note: The police are almost next door.
05:00 pm Library is closed.
05:05 pm Police are successful lock-pickers.
05:15 pm Headed to Photo's Hot Dogs and got supper.
08:00 pm End of supper.
08:15 pm Headed home. All is well!
08:24 pm I am home. Unload car.
 
So, the main meeting was 5.0 hours long.
And supper was 3.0 hours long. So, all together we spent 8.5 hours.
 
Photo's Hot Dogs had a nice big table that could hold about 10-12 people,
and we had 6 people. So, Photo's worked out well.
 
Note: Photo's Hot Dog built a restaurant around vintage cameras. And
Enterrium built a restaurant around vintage video games. And White Fence
Farm's Main Restaurant in Romeoville built a restaurant around a museum. So
why can't someone build a restaurant around vintage computers or the 1980's?
 
I want to encourage everyone to think about having face-to-face meetings
like this. This hobby is more about the people than the computers. You see
the computer is just an excuse for me to get together with my friends!

Thank you everyone for showing up. I enjoyed it.
 
-John Mark Mobley