We are developing the social individualist meta-context for the future. From the very serious to the extremely frivolous... lets see what is on the mind of the Samizdata people.

Samizdata, derived from Samizdat /n. - a system of clandestine publication of banned literature in the USSR [Russ.,= self-publishing house]

A Virginia Postrel moment.

At a Samizdata social event in London last night, it was discovered that not one but two Samizdatistas were carrying around copies of Virginia Postrel’s The Substance of Style, and circulating them around to other people present. We don’t describe ourselves as overcaffeinated Virginia Postrel devotees for nothing. (Caffeine may not have quite been the drug of choice last night, however, although there was certainly some consumed). This is particularly impressive given that there is no British edition of the book and we had both separately sought out the American edition. British Amazon is excellent at stocking a wide range of American editions, shipping them quickly, and only charging local delivery charges in the UK though.

post.jpg
Brian Micklethwait and Michael Jennings have substance, but do they have style?

18 comments to A Virginia Postrel moment.

  • R C Dean

    I see a new smash hit TV series: “Queer Eye for the Libertarian Guy.”

  • Tim Haas

    Well, if Brian would just toss one end of that scarf over his shoulder, it would qualify as “jaunty”.

  • I can assure you that these guys are much more stylish then the Chief Ubersportingpundit does, even when he is reading his copy of “Substance”.

    Perry signed them to Samzidata for their writing; I signed them to write for Ubersportingpundit for their looks as well.

  • Theodopoulos Pherecydes

    Whoever picks the art in the background should dress this pair.

  • Of course, if the art were hung straight and level, it would help immensely! 🙂

  • One somewhat scruffy guy who’s nice, intelligent, and has something to say is worth about ten stylish dudes with beaucoup attitude whose idea of scintillating conversation is to hold forth loudly at a cocktail party about how Turner Prize winners are “brave visionaries who are what the fine arts should be all about.”

    Just one woman’s opinion. 🙂

  • _Jon

    I think the art is straight. There appears to be a pincusion issue with the camera that took the picture. 🙂

  • Ted Schuerzinger

    Reginleif the Valkyrie wrote:

    One somewhat scruffy guy who’s nice, intelligent, and has something to say is worth about ten stylish dudes with beaucoup attitude whose idea of scintillating conversation is to hold forth loudly at a cocktail party about how Turner Prize winners are “brave visionaries who are what the fine arts should be all about.”

    So which of Brian and Michael is the scruffy but intelligent guy, and which is the stylish guy who bloviates about the Turner Prize? :-p

  • bob

    Decades later, Sam and Frodo come together to show off copies of their hit novel, “beyond the Shire.”

  • tbrosz

    Well, we know who the next Dr. Who is going to be!

  • Cybrludite

    I was thinking more like “Draco & Harry back together after 20 years to promote thier bestselling self-help book “Sytheryn’s Simple Rules for Domination”

  • Am I Frodo or Sam? And for that matter am I Draco or Harry? (I am assuming Brian is Dr Who). Brian is the one who talks about the Turner Prize, though.

  • John

    More like Merry and Pippen, but definately hobbits.

  • bummy

    You guys look like gheys

  • bob

    Well, Sam’s got the light hair, Frodo’s got the dark hair. But there’s more to it than that. Sam’s sort of in kick-back cheerful mode with the scarf and the cocked head, while Frodo’s eagerly happy, ready to pounce-hug Gandalf the second he shows up.

    Two seconds after this photo was taken:
    “May we please eat now, Mr. Frodo?”
    “Not until Virginia shows up, Sam. She is the guest of honor.”

  • I know a very good hairdresser I could recommend in Covent Garden.

  • Well, I looked like a Bond Girl. Perry said so.

  • That picture looks like a “twins separated at birth” photo.