I needed a change of pace, so for my Saturday off, I went down to the Kansas City Fifth Annual Maker Faire. I must say that was an encouraging experience. Just when I thought the country was totally doomed, I found reason for encouragement.

A lot of the stuff on display was arts and crafts, or toys or just entertaining. That is what a lot of people are into, and naturally they want to display and share what they are working on. Kind of a 21 first century county fair.

But there was a buzz about the place, a lot of people are doing really cutting edge, world changing, stuff. There were 20 foot tall 3d-printers, home-made lathes and mills,charge pump cutting lasers ,etc.

All of this in the wild and completely out of the blue. People trying to come up with new ways to make things, on their own.

Oh well, they have not yet run into taxes, OSHA, the EPA, or any of the aspects of a government which seems hell bent on shutting people like them down, not yet at least.

If you are on the gulch and you have not yet visited one of these events, you should really check out one when they are in your area.

I personally find it inspiring to see people chasing their dreams. This weekend made it a little easier for me to get up tomorrow and chase mine. Best of luck to all the "makers" out there!