Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Ben Hwang describes Converge to Yes! Weekly as "almost a hippie thing." Almost? OK, Friday's journalism conference is kinda structured. But Saturday's unconference proudly fits the bill. 2:49:44 PM   permalink   comment []

Dave Winer eschewed the Interstate and took the scenic route up the North Carolina coast. 1:00:44 PM   permalink   comment []

My father died 18 years ago today. I miss him. 10:13:13 AM   permalink   comment []

BOOM. Actually, this probably didn't make any noise since it happened in a vacuum -- in space, nobody can hear you drop a probe onto a comet. 7:58:34 AM   permalink   comment []

Jinni Hoggard: "I'm wearing down. But I'm not giving up." Keep fighting, Jinni, you are a hero to a lot of people and you are going to win. 7:54:45 AM   permalink   comment []

The N&R runs a letter on flag burning from one Ed Crothers of Greensboro, who writes in the voice of the flag itself and singles me out by name: "To: Ed Cone...From: 'Old Glory.' You and others over some period of time have felt it is all right to burn me, stamp on me and generally show your disdain for me." Well, no. I think (as I wrote in this column six years ago, which the N&R recently excerpted from my blog) that telling people how they have to feel about a symbol goes against what the flag is supposed to stand for, and that unpopular speech should continue to be protected by law in the country over which our flag flies. The talking flag closes with this statement: "Oh, and by the way, Mr. Cone, since you are all about free speech, let me give you a few words of advice that won't cost you a cent. If you plan to step on me or burn me, it would not be a good idea to do that if there is a member of our Armed Forces nearby -- like a sailor or a dogface or a Marine. They don't take kindly to that, and from that encounter you would very likely get a clear idea of how it feels to be stomped." I'm sure that many veterans grasp the difference between supporting free speech and supporting the content of that speech. And I'm sure that even talking flags see the distinction between stomping on a piece of cloth and stomping on a person. I think this is the first threat of physical violence against me (even as a conditional action based on possible behavior on my part) I've seen published in the N&R. And it is certainly the first threat I've received from an inanimate object. A great day all 'round for free speech in Greensboro. 7:47:32 AM   permalink   comment []