Message threads -- conversations -- are at the core of much of the Internet's value, but until now they haven't been given the status of objects. The lack of a message thread exchange standard has kept the Net's conversational currents apart. An implemented standard will make it easy, for example, to escalate any instant messaging session or email interchange into any threaded discussion forum. In this session, we will for the first time discuss "threadsML", a standard under development that will give us the power to save any conversation, move it to another venue, share it as a whole, aggregate it with other message flows, attach it to any web object, or intelligently archive it for reference ("grassroots knowledge management"). This session will present the status of threadsML and will discuss the role of distributed web services in supporting the intended result of universal flexible, portable conversations.