First, I think I speak for Jessie Jackson when I say I'm glad to hear that they will be keeping HOPE alive. With regards to Vegas, I spent more time there when I was 21 than I care to admit, but it wasn't for the gambling and sin (the true story is even wilder). I haven't been back since except for a couple short stop overs on business trips, so I'm interested to see how it's all changed. When I was going there the Bob Stupak tower was still up and they were just starting to build that big emerald glass casino, the MGM Grand I believe. I've never been to DefCon but would like to go, and it would be good justification for finally seeing modern Vegas. Back to HOPE, I attended in 2006 and it was one of those experiences where you think it was going to be lame but it completely overwhelmed your low expectations and turned into an excellent experience (like Mardi Gras in NO :) I was expecting a bunch of dorky wannabe hackers running around trying to out-impress each other with their h4x0r tricks but it was nothing of the sort: just a bunch of serious-minded people converging in the HOtel PEnnsylvania to learn and share knowledge. I highly recommend it. I would've gone this year but for my sagging bank account :( -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]