One of my favorite things is when I find nice things in the trash. People often ask me where I got my nice things. They are surprised when I tell them that I got them from the trash. Two days ago, an African friend of mine was visiting me in my office at CCNY. He remarked on one of the little treasures in my office, an old Geiger counter. I told him that I keep the really good stuff in this cabinet, over here... I opened it and showed him some pre-WWII era electrical meters. They are handsome Bakelite table top units with deco fonts on the dial and brass screws and trim. I had five. He determined which one was best, and told me that he would like to have that one. I was shocked because it was clear that it was very precious to me. But he followed through with it and the cream of my treasures is now gone. He is a very smart guy, and I think he is teaching me some kind of lesson, or in some way conditioning me. Or maybe it was a test. Whatever the reason, it has really made me think about my materialism. But I don't feel that my love of these electrical meters is materialism. It is more of a window to a different time. When I look at the old meters I feel connected with the glory years of American engineering. It is important to me that they are right here with me, physically. A picture is not good enough.