Friday
On November 2nd, 2001, I rounded up a posse of disgruntled hyphenated libertarian types on three continents and an island, telling them they were henceforth 'samizdatistas' and offered them a way to get their 'gruntles' back that was far more effective than cursing at the television every time the news came on.
We started off initially on blogger.com along with many other so-called warblogs, before eventually migrating to Moveable Type.
We drew our initial inspiration from Glenn of Instapundit fame (and duly got Instapundited quite a few times) as we raged anti-idiotarian fury against the mainstream media's editorial absurdities.
We coined a few terms which seem to have gained wider currency, such as Moonbat and Tranzi. We learned the fine art of fisking, slew some trolls, stomped on a lot of blogroaches, fact-checked a few asses and we wrote more than a few blogapotamus postings.
Putting one in the eye of The Man yields many benefits and millions of page views, a couple crashed servers, 8,651 articles and 129,117 comments later, Samizdata.net once again proves that not only is blogging far more fun than gainful employment, it is a great excuse for throwing parties... and thus tonight at 7:00pm London time we hold our Five Year Blogger Bash, therefore expect light blogging from the UK contingent and possible heavy casualties by tomorrow morning.
Happy Birthday! Have a fine party, hopefully sharing the celerations with some of this......
Posted by Tuscan Tony at November 10, 2006 06:14 PM
I am not ordinarily an envious man.
However, when I first saw this place, I wrote to Tim Starr, telling him that I wished I'd thought of the name, first. It's just splendid.
Onward, Perry, through The Endarkenment.
Posted by Billy Beck at November 10, 2006 06:20 PM
Perry, it has been a pleasure, an honour and a lot of fun to have been a part of this blog since it started. (This is what happens when you bump into people at Brian Mickelthwait's old end-month Friday gatherings). I think we have made our mark, and of course the world "blog" is part of the media lingua-franca, very different to when it started.
The best bit about the blog has been meeting many nice people associated with it, reading many (if not all!!) of the comments. Blogging enables you to think out loud in the company of friends and sympathetic houseguests. I would be very surprised if I agreed with everything I had written five years ago or even one year back.
See you shortly tonight. Mine's a glass of red wine.
Posted by Johnathan Pearce at November 10, 2006 06:25 PM
Yes indeed happy birthday Perry et al!
Psst Perry! No Over here. Dont want the rest to hear, but my invitation seems to have gotten lost in the post.
Surely an oversight or another transgression on the part of the Post Office.
Trouble is, it's a bit short notice to get to Chelsea now, and my diary has me down for watching TV this evening, so give us a bit more warning next time in 2011 would you.
You'll not regret it. I'm very good at parties! : ')
Posted by RAB at November 10, 2006 06:29 PM
And someone please nag David Carr to resume blogging. He has been sorely missed here. I will get him tipsy and force him to swear on his mother's grave that he will resume immediately.
Posted by Johnathan Pearce at November 10, 2006 06:31 PM
Too bad it couldn't be a barbeque and shooting party. Hold it next year in Texas.
Posted by trainer at November 10, 2006 06:38 PM
The blogapotamus link doesn't work.
Leaving that aside, Hippy Bathday.
Posted by mandrill at November 10, 2006 08:15 PM
Happy birthday Perry!
I must endevor to do more drive by's, here that is.
Hoist one for me and toast to your good fortunes and continued successes.
Posted by Gmac at November 10, 2006 09:14 PM
Perry and all. I continue to hold Samizdata in high esteem and read all of the post on it daily. It helps me maintain my sanity in an insane world when I am reminded that others think alike. Enjoy your party.
Mark
Posted by Mark at November 10, 2006 09:58 PM
Let me add what an honor it was to have provided a Samizdata Slogan of the Day
Posted by Ted Schuerzinger at November 10, 2006 10:45 PM
Kudos on five years. Keep up the good fight.
But it's too far to drive from California to London for the party.
I'm so depressed.
CFM.
Posted by CFM at November 11, 2006 12:23 AM
It's my favourite blog and has been for some time. In fact it was the only one I read for a while.
But now Guido is attracting my attention too...
Posted by The Last Toryboy at November 11, 2006 01:03 AM
Congratulations on a fine blog, Perry. This is my first stop every day, uh, when I'm supposed to be working.
Posted by Eric at November 11, 2006 02:52 AM
A heartfelt Happy Birthday to you in these darkening times.
Here's to another 5 years, then another, and another....
The Blogosphere's a better place because you're here.
Posted by James_C at November 11, 2006 05:55 AM
Happy B Day -
Just a word of encouragement -
I had touched on Libertarians and their ideas in varsity Ecos and had grasped some its concepts. However I was always kind of stuck between the two extremes of a planned economy and the ideas put forward by libertarians. Your website has opened my eyes to the intrusive nature of govt and the costs of regulation.
I now attempt to direct friends to this site whenever possible.
I may not agree with everything written here (read Israel and Iraq) - but I appreciate that so many opposing views are expressed and debated.
Your site does make a difference.
regards
A
Posted by andymo at November 13, 2006 08:56 AM
