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]

Samizdata quote of the day

Time and time again,
translation seems to sabotage the words,
you know what is said,
is not what is heard…
Soulwax, song: Conversation Intercom

Samizdata slogan of the day

Freedom of press is limited to those who own one.

– H.L. Mencken

Which is what is so great about blogs and the blogosphere. Got a view about something? Set up your own ‘press’ and blog it.

Samizdata quote of the day

The mystery of government is not how Washington works but how to make it stop.
– P. J. O’Rourke

Samizdata quote of the day

God isn’t interested in technology. He knows nothing of the potential of the microchip or the silicon revolution. Look how he spends his time! Forty three species of parrot! Nipples for men! Slugs! He created slugs! They can’t hear! They can’t speak! They can’t operate machinery! I mean, are we not in the hands of a lunatic? If I were creating a world, I wouldn’t mess about with butterflies and daffodils. I would have started with lasers, eight o’clock, Day One!
– from Time Bandits

Samizdata quote of the day

Every dollar spent in a libertarian society on public goods will accomplish far more than a dollar spent by the welfare state. So even if a free society spends less money, it is far from clear that it will perform less charity.

– Patri Friedman, Catallarchy

Samizdata quote of the day

Yes, Fahrenhiet 9/11 is ‘patriotic art’ in the same way Leni Riefenstahl’s “Triumph of the Will” was patriotic art… and both take a similar relativist view regarding the role of reality in film making

Samizdata quote of the day

I have always suspected the notion blogging will lead us into a wonderful future of ‘participatory democracy’ was one of those ideas which withers away to nothing under closer scrutiny. Sure, we can ‘fact check the asses’ (as Ken Layne put it) of the established political/media classes but that only makes us bloggers ‘participants’ in the sense that calling the cops when the party next door is making too much noise makes you a ‘participant’ in the next door’s party.

Samizdata quote of the day

I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies.
– Aristotle

Samizdata slogan of the day

We consider this our duty – to defend humanity against the scourge of intolerance, violence, and fanaticism.
Ahmed Shah Massoud

Samizdata quote of the day

As my father used to say, diplomats are very good at marrying rich women and making polite conversation at cocktail parties, but don’t ever expect them actually to do something.

Taki

Samizdata quote of the day

Make it idiot-proof and someone will just make a better idiot
– Unknown

Samizdata quote of the day

Jackie: “Do you ever make cakes for people?”
Monica: “No… I don’t like people.”

(Overheard at the Big Blog Company ‘open day seminar’ held this evening Samizdata.net HQ)