This is an analysis of the Tin Can Collective's attempt to provide a communications infrastructure for the RNC 08 protests in the Twin Cities. The analysis is based on first hand knowledge and informal discussions with a variety of users and other participants during the 4 day long protests. Tin Can was a new collective made up folks that had never worked together on such a project prior to the RNC 08 protests. The collective came together sometime after May giving it about 3 months to prepare and implement the infrastructure for tens of thousands of possible users.