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]

Libertarian Alliance Conference 2005

We may be wandering through a vast desert of stupidity, monstrosity and petty tyranny but never forget that there are some oases of sanity still to be found.

One of them will blossom into life next month when the Libertarian Alliance Conference opens in London. True to tradition, the Conference features an impressive array of brilliant speakers who will deliver their pearls of wisdom to an audience of the enlightened. It is bound to be a uplifting experience.

Book now and book with gusto. Your salvation may depend on it.

Al Qaeda trial in Belfast

An Algerian man was arrested and put on trial in Belfast. We hope the evidence they have is of more substance than the mere presence of 25 disks of downloaded information on explosives. If that were ever to become a definition of crime in and of itself, I fear every technically inclined 14 year old in the Anglosphere would soon be imprisoned.

The defendant was living not far from a neighborhood controlled by Protestant Paramilitaries, most likely due to the presence of cheap housing.

Samizdata quote of the day

“IPN is the bastard child of the Institute of Economic Affairs.”

Indymedia

Samizdata quote of the day

Against the Government’s position, I can see no purpose in disputing that our helping to overthrow Saddam Hussein has inflamed Islamist totalitarian groups. Why deny what we should take pride in?
Oliver Kamm

Samizdata quote of the day

We embrace these concepts of the private sector, the marketplace and freedom of expression. So the contrast is stark and the choice is clear.
Michael D. Gallagher, U.S. assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information

Getting old… it is better than the alternative

Rumour has it that Brian Micklethwait is aging nicely…

Many happy returns.

brian.jpg

Samizdata quote of the day

In fact, the only fun and spontaneous bit was booing Livingstone, but I assume that was edited out. If those feet in ancient times really did walk upon England’s mountains green, they’d have found themselves with Sue Barker sticking a microphone in their countenance divine…
Pete

For our Trans-Atlantic brethren who do not get the reference, the words of the hymn Jerusalem can he found here or hear it here (Real Audio required).

Samizdata quote of the day

I could not tread these perilous paths in safety, if I did not keep a saving sense of humour
– Horatio Nelson

Samizdata quote of the day

In, you know, the first year in law school we all read the decision in Calder against Bull, which has the famous statement that the government may not take the property of A and give it to B
Judge John G. Roberts, discussing the Kelo ruling.

How to win arguments, win allies, and win friends

At last! A how-to seminar for friends of freedom and limited government: the Cato Institute’s October 20-23 seminar on “How to Win Arguments, Win Allies, and Win Friends”.

A free republic rests on an informed citizenry, but more important, it rests on a citizenry willing to resort to persuasion rather than force. And for freedom to persist, freedom’s advocates must acquire the skills of advocacy.

October’s Cato University is a weekend long intellectual feast where you can make new friends, renew your commitment to freedom, and hone your skills as an exponent for liberty.

Speakers include Reason’s Nick Gillespie, the Objectivist Center’s David Kelley, Don Boudreaux of George Mason University, the Cato Institute’s David Boaz, Gene Healy, and Tom Palmer, among others.

Sessions will be held in the F. A. Hayek Auditorium of the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., as well as at the historic home of George and Martha Washington, Mount Vernon, just across the river from Washington in Alexandria.

GW_at_Cato.jpg

I have heard of people seeing pink elephants after a drink or two but…

…this is rather odd.

Samizdata quote of the day

We spent all this money to do things legally and right, and all the sudden it becomes illegal to do something legal
Nick Mari

The state is not your friend, Nick.