From cos@kipper.praxisint.com  Thu Apr 27 15:11:09 1995
From: conover@max.tiac.net (Harry H Conover)
Newsgroups: tiac
Subject: Re: fascism, liberarianism and other technical issues
Date: 26 Apr 1995 03:25:11 GMT
Organization: The Internet Access Company

Let me share a somewhat sad story with you that happened during the early 
60's, I was living in Rochester, New York.  

To set the scene, I was (and remain) a pyro enthusiast.  I started by
making crude black powder mixtures at the age of 11, advanced (?) to
a prolific producer of flash powder mixture pipe-bombs by 14 but, at
15, discover that the real challenge of pyrotechnics was not the 
production of destructive devices, but the production of beautiful
firworks displays.  

Unfortunately, at that time, books on fireworks were extremely rare.
Davis' "Chemistry of Powder and Exposives"  (available only 
for examination and manual copying at Princeton University's Firestone
Library) was the only semi-authoritative source of information on this
somewhat esoteric specialty.  Even that was sparse on the subject of
display fireworks (but better than nothing).  

During the next 5-7 years, in addition to finishing high schools and
earning a degree in physics, I spent all of my available free time working
with (sans pay) aged, immigrant, Italian fireworks artisians to learn
the closely guarded secrets of the craft (darn near learned fluent
Italian in the process).  This was required because, for centuries,
technics of display fireworks manufacture have been carefully guarded
secrets handed down (usually) only from father to son.

By 21, I had mastered the production of pyrotechnics devices that had
survived the centuries...The Crossetti, the Pupatelle, Girondola,
the Italian finale, set pieces, wheels, Niagara Falls, and Rats-on-
a-Wire. I had the skill and knowledge to create 3, 4, 5 and 6-break
aerial shells, splitting comets, willow trees, and the classical
'Shell of Shells,'  Still my education was incomplete. 

On moving to Rochester after graduation, I quickly discovered the
fantastic resources of the Rochester Public Library.  Here I unearthed
an original copy of Weingart's (the elder) "Dictionary of Fireworks"
(hand set type with woodcut illustions produced by a former slave),
and Cutbush's classic "System of Pyrotechny" dated 1825. These condensed
over 10 years of work into, literally, a single weekend of reading, and
then went on with spectacular addendums. I photocopied parts of each at 
$.25 per page.

In Cutbush's book, I found this written inside the cover with penmanship
that obviously dated back to the mid-1800s.  "This is a grand old book.
Please handle it with great care so that it may live and be used for many
years to come.  Books on the subject of Pyrotechny are exceedingly hard to
obtain....Therefore, as this is almost sacred to a few if not many, let
us handle its pages as though they were of the finest, fragile, thin-blown
glass."

I honesty admit, that because of the rarity, historic significance, 
beauty, and technical content of these two books, thoughts of theft 
crossed my mind.  It was not my conscience but historic events that
determined the outcome.

Later that year during racial unrest, an exposion took place (I don't
even recall if it was in Rochester, or somewhere else).  In turn,
the government reacted by putting pressure on librarians in Rochester
to turn over lists of all borrowers of books related to explosives and
pyrotechnic subjects.  The librarians (God Bless Them) flatly refused.
(My respect for the character and integrity of librarians increased
by at least 1,000% with that action, although I personally had nothing
to hide.)

The downside is this:  All books on explosives and pyrotechnics quietly
were removed from the (closed) shelves of the Rochester Public Library,
and the fate of these classic books remains a mystery. On repeated 
inquiry, I was informed that they were BURNED as a "precautionary 
measure."  I truly hope that I was lied to and, for the first time,
really understood siginficance of the burning of the library at 
Alexandria!

Getting back to the Internet for a moment: I see a clear opportunity
for it to go the way of the books in the Rochester Public
Library, or that at Alexandria centuries ago, with the same 
result.  Consider the threat that the Internet presents to some --  
offering unrestricted, uncensored fredom of speech -- opionions 
posted are read by a potential audience of millions -- internationally.
This is the power!

To some minds, unrestricted availability of information is a threat.  To 
others, it is the one assurance of liberty, freedom, and the maintenance
of a society that is worth belonging to.  Your mindset, and possibly
that of your anscestors determines your viewpoint.  The same threat is
also associated with the ability for individuals to freely express 
thoughts.

Attacks to the Internet can come from many different directions: 
pornography, obscenity, public safety, and the list goes on. None
will likely confront the true concern directly, e.g., uncensored
expression/publication of facts and opinions.  The attackers will
simply nibble away the overall value of the Net bit by bit.

Our ancestors proclaimed their mindset on the inscription at the entrance
of the National Archives in Washington, D.C. -- "Eternal vigilence is the
price of liberty."  Similarly, preservation of the Internet will require
that same eternal vigilence!

It's late.  Sorry for the nostalgic reflection and babble...

                             Harry C.