Today has been a different day on the ranch. We've had spells of strong thunderstorms passing through. This uncovers one of my only gripes about satellite internet. It doesn't work well in storms. So when we have to come in because it's too nasty outside I can't get my computer work done either.... We also had a few scary moments as Irving was rolling and got himself stuck under the bottom rail of the arena fence. After we got him freed and left him to roam in the arena with Jez he got his front leg stuck in a section of fence and broke that rail while pulling the fence out of the ground. Just a crazy day.

Michael Byron, a candidate for California's House District 49 writes from the Democratic National Convention about the restrictions on those who would protest the convention. Both conventions have been declared "National Security Events"Protest is a fundamental right enshrined in Article I of our Constitution. (A note that this should really read "the First Amendment to our constitution", Article 1 has to do with the structure of Congress not the freedom of assembly and speech.)

Michael Markman, a longtime reader of this site, writes: "It looks like the bloggers at the convention have very little to say except, 'Look! we're blogging at the convention. I just got credentials." I respond: It's just the second day, and the first convention. Of course the first comments are going to be It works! And maybe that's all there is to it. We'll find out. You can't hurry love. - Dave Winer, Scripting News

Dave Winer was interviewed this morning on National Public Radio about being at the Democratic National Convention as one of the bloggers with credentials. I was excited to get in and read what he had to say about Clinton's speech last night. There are many things we see eye-to-eye on and some we do not. Winer has been quite critical of Clinton on his Scripting.com weblog. I was curious to hear what the experience of someone like Winer would be while seeing someone reputed to have such a powerful presence would be.