trace("connecting to " + inputServer.text + " " + inputPort.text);

    // works
    var the_server:String = "127.0.0.1";
    var the_port:uint = 5331;

    // doesnt work
    // var the_server:String = inputServer.text;
    // var the_port:uint = uint(inputPort.text);

    sock = new Socket();
    sock.addEventListener(Event.CONNECT, onConnect);
    sock.addEventListener(Event.CLOSE, onClose);
    sock.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, onError);
    sock.addEventListener(ProgressEvent.SOCKET_DATA, onResponse);
    sock.connect(the_server, the_port);