Sunday
(7)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.
Brian Micklethwait and Michael Jennings have substance, but do they have style?
I see a new smash hit TV series: "Queer Eye for the Libertarian Guy."
Posted by R C Dean at December 21, 2003 01:11 PM
Well, if Brian would just toss one end of that scarf over his shoulder, it would qualify as "jaunty".
Posted by Tim Haas at December 21, 2003 02:15 PM
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.
Posted by Scott Wickstein at December 21, 2003 02:36 PM
Whoever picks the art in the background should dress this pair.
Posted by Theodopoulos Pherecydes at December 21, 2003 02:56 PM
Of course, if the art were hung straight and level, it would help immensely! :-)
Posted by Jeannie Fiona Macaulay at December 21, 2003 06:28 PM
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. :-)
Posted by Reginleif the Valkyrie at December 21, 2003 06:45 PM
I think the art is straight. There appears to be a pincusion issue with the camera that took the picture. :)
Posted by _Jon at December 21, 2003 06:52 PM
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
Posted by Ted Schuerzinger at December 21, 2003 07:17 PM
Decades later, Sam and Frodo come together to show off copies of their hit novel, "beyond the Shire."
Posted by bob at December 21, 2003 07:18 PM
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"
Posted by Cybrludite at December 21, 2003 09:28 PM
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.
Posted by Michael Jennings at December 21, 2003 10:36 PM
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."
Posted by bob at December 22, 2003 03:56 AM
I know a very good hairdresser I could recommend in Covent Garden.
Posted by Peter at December 22, 2003 02:51 PM
Well, I looked like a Bond Girl. Perry said so.
Posted by Natalie Solent at December 22, 2003 03:02 PM
That picture looks like a "twins separated at birth" photo.
Posted by Anthony at December 23, 2003 12:13 AM
