I'm in Tuva (currently organized as a Russian Republic on the border of Mongolia), about to go offline for 10 days into a small throatsinging retreat. This has been a dream of mine for many years.

I flew Rapid City -=> Minneapolis -=> Seoul -=> Ulaanbaatar -=> Kyzyl to get here; it was quite a harrowing journey, not only for the many difficult flights but also an hours-long interrogation by Russian security (though they were polite and professional - I'll tell that whole story another time).

I'm increasingly convinced of the connection between traditional music and a free internet. As some of you have followed, I have done a few deep-dives into the bluegrass roots of the early Bay Area cypherpunk scene. Because traditional music necessarily lives outside the complex of copyright and intellectual property, I believe it is a natural and necessary fuel of innovation of free ideas.

I can scarcely believe this is happen. t-minus one hour. See y'all in 10 days. Then I'll be online for a few hours, then I head to another similar retreat in Mongolia.

Sounds great, have fun!