Manhattan Meetup Tomorrow

Just a reminder that, courtesy of regular commenter and carousing mastermind Jennifer, Reason/Hit and Run readers are meeting at New York City's Pioneer Bar at 6 p.m. this Saturday. Pop in if you're around.

Comments

[Jennifer]

Thank you, Julian.

[JD]

I'll be there, as I may have mentioned. I'll be event photographer, since I'm still in love with my new digital SLR.

[Jennifer]

For anybody intending to come, Thoreau (who will be there, along with Mrs. Thoreau) wrote to ask how he could tell who we were. So here's what I told him: Jeff is 6'3", dark-haired, and will be wearing a joke T-shirt that says something like "Jeffology: the study of JEFF." (His mother bought it for him, not me.) I'm a short, pale redhead, though I may look brunette depending on the bar's lighting. So if you see a huge guy labeled "Jeff" accompanied by a miniature girlfriend muttering under her breath how it's bullshit that you can't smoke in a goddamned bar in this goddamned city, chances are that is us.

[Lowdog]

Have fun, guys. I'll still be over here, some 2600 miles away, in Phoenix. (Tempe, actually, but whatever.)

I will, of course, be drinking, so I'll raise a glass to you all aroun 7pm, your time. 🙂

[Rich Ard]

If all goes well, I'll be watching my wife give birth, so I probably won't be able to sneak in a drink - Lowdog, can you raise two glasses?

[dhex]

i'm 6'4" and bald.

this is easier than the first test, which would have been walking up to random people and saying "hey, i have this government grant check...can i buy you a drink."

whereas a real libertarian wouldn't take such spoils, and loudly cry out "no!"

[Jose Ortega y Gasset]

It is a long drive from Maryland... let me know when the party moves south.

[thoreau]

I'm moving these comments from another thread over to here, where they seem more appropriate:

I originally suggested to Jennifer that we should use some sort of marker that would make it obvious who was there for the libertarian gathering. My suggestion was tinfoil hats. But we really only need one person to wear a tinfoil hat, and everybody could just look for that person upon entering. I nominated Jeff for that duty. Jeff, alas, has decided to go for a lower-profile distinguishing mark.

Comment by: thoreau at September 16, 2005 03:53 PM

---

Thoreau-

He doesn't want to spend the last night of my youth with tinfoil hat hair.

Comment by: Jennifer at September 16, 2005 04:00 PM

[Lowdog]

Rich - but of course. As is usual for the weekend, I'll be raising a number of glasses anyway, so it'll be a pleasure. 🙂

[wayne]

I would like to attend, but I will be right here in the middle of the Mojave desert enjoying the beautiful fall weather.

[The Mad Scientist]

Can't you guys figure out some way to levitate the building and fly it around the country like they did in Hitchhiker's Guide? You'll have Dr. Thoreau there to work out the technical bits and bunch of talented drunks to make it happen. A flying libertarian party.... That would be something. When can I expect you to crash into southern California?

[David]

Last night of your youth, Jennifer? Are you turning 50 on Saturday?

[Jennifer]

David--

Turning 35 on Sunday. Saying good-bye to the 18-34 demographic. So if you're there and you see me suddenly break down and start sobbing uncontrollably, that's why.

[smacky]

Last night of your youth, Jennifer? Are you turning 50 on Saturday?

I was going to say the same thing, except 30 instead of 50.

hee hee...just trying to piss off the "old folks" here with my "youth culture obsession".

Happy weekend.

[Jennifer]

Screw you, Smacky.

Or, in light of my impending old age, get off my lawn, you goddamned brat!

[David]

Turning 35 on Sunday. Saying good-bye to the 18-34 demographic. So if you're there and you see me suddenly break down and start sobbing uncontrollably, that's why.

I thought my girlfiend's sister had gone nuts when she started crying about that a few months back. Seriously, It's not like it's 40.:)

Are you and Jeff driving in or taking the train? I can't decide which I should do. If I take the train, I can drink more, but I'm stuck on the train schedule. If I drive, no schedule, but I have to be more careful what I do.

[Jennifer]

David--

We're going to be driving, to avoid the tyranny of the trains.

[Amanda Hugginkiss]

So let's just take a moment to summarize things we have learned by reading Hit & Run:

Jennifer is a pale, petite redhead who once worked as a stripper, is libertarian, and is currently in the process of buying a shotgun...

Jeff dude, you oughta bring her home flowers every night of the week.

In other news, I too have boarded Metro-North after a night's carouse in NYC, weaving my way onto the platform for the 1 am train, only to find myself accidentally touring in Stamford or Milford puking behind a bush. Have fun.

[Jennifer]

Also, if we take the train there's a chance a cop will want to search my bags, which means I'll cop a serious attitude, which means I'll spend my last night of youth in jail, which in turn means y'all will notice my absence and say "Ah-HA! I KNEW Jennifer was really a fifty-year-old fat guy!"

[Jennifer]

Amanda--

I absolutely despise flowers. My attitude is, I have no use for dead or dying plants unless they give me a buzz when I smoke them.

[Rich Ard]

Hey, those are flowers too.

[The Mad Scientist]

Flowers!? That's a gift for a girl. Jennifer's all growed up now. Bring her a nightly supply of ammo for her new shotgun. Nothing says romance like buckshot!

[Amanda Hugginkiss]

I absolutely despise flowers.

I see. Well, in that case, Jeff dude, you oughta bring her home a case of shells or a dimebag every night of the week.

[Jeff P.]

Just to spite you all I will weara tinfoil codpiece. I don't care if the gov't modifies my thoughts, just stay away from the cash & prizes.

Actually I'll probably have my black beret and walking stick with me, the better to thrash you all with.

[smacky]

David,

Just do like Evan Williams* and get as schnockered as you damn well please before driving (at the speed of your liking). It's the Libertarian thing to do! You don't hate freedom, do you? 🙂

* (grossly exaggerated by me here for comedic effect.)

[Stevo Darkly]

hee hee...just trying to piss off the "old folks" here with my "youth culture obsession".

"Remember, young lady, you're not too big to spank."

(I'm sorry that's such a recurring theme lately; it just springs too easily to mind.)

Have fun, everybody! I was I could be there! Bring back some stories! Happy birthday to young Jennifer! Next year in Jerusalem, or Vegas, or New Orleans, or Chicago, or Cleveland ... !

[Rhywun]

This being NYC, the bar is likely to be empty at 6pm, especially on a Saturday. I think y'all (us'all if I decide to go) will stick out like sore thumbs.

[Rhywun]

Next year in Jerusalem, or Vegas, or New Orleans, or Chicago, or Cleveland ... !

"Aaaaaarrrgggggggh!"

[Darkly]

I *WISH* I could be there... now I'm on a deadline, dammit

good weekend to all

[Native NYer]

I haven't seen bag searches since I got back from vacation a couple of weeks ago.

Maybe they save them up for the tourists in grand central?

[Hakluyt]

Native Nyer,

Maybe they realized it was pointless.

[smacky]

Jennifer,

To make up for my obnoxious joke about old people, I'll tell you something off-topic but embarrassing: The super-gooey fudge icing from my browie from our Employee Appreciation Day luncheon fell off a moment ago while I was eating it. As I was searching for the icing on the floor a moment ago, I realized too late that it had actually fallen on my desk chair where I am seated, and I inadvertently proceeded to firmly press my leg against it while searching for it on the floor. Now I have gooey pooh-colored stuff all over my pants. Feel better now?

Happy birthday.

[Number 6]

I predict mayhem. Entertaining mayhem. Also, someone will go to jail. If Jennifer is not the one being taken to the pokey, she will be the one calling the cop a facist pussy.

[Rhywun]

I've seen precisely one bag search at my usual stop. But there are at least a pair of cops on *every* platform, eyeing everybody, making it clear they could stop you at any time on any whim.

[Darkly]

Imminent H&R mayhem in NYC, smacky covered in gooey chocolate icing ... this has got to be the best Friday afternoon ever.

'cept I'm on deadline to write some "short creative shit" and have writer's block. Later

[dhex]

"I haven't seen bag searches since I got back from vacation a couple of weeks ago."

i wish that were so. i've refused 3 in the past two weeks, two at the same fucking station.

it's not the biggest pain in the ass, and i just walk another 10 blocks or so, but it's so damn fucking [something or other].

on another note, damn, everyone's old.

and rhywun has to go cause i want to know how to pronounce "rhywun."

[The Mad Scientist]

Stevo, how can you possibly have writer's block? SMACKY IS COVERED IN GOOEY CHOCOLATE ICING! Surely there's enough inspiration there for some "short creative shit."

[ChicagoTom]

If all goes well, I'll be watching my wife give birth, so I probably won't be able to sneak in a drink

Rich I really hope everything goes well! Best Wishes to you and your wife!

[ChicagoTom]

i wish that were so. i've refused 3 in the past two weeks, two at the same fucking station.

dhex, what were the reactions/responses (if any) when you refused? Did they seem surprised? Did they even care? Did you feel they kept an eye on you while exiting the station?

[Stevo Darkly]

Mad Scientist, I'm inspired, but there's a fine line between filthy thoughts and work.

I dashed something off, though. All over now but the proofreading.

dhex, I've always assumed "rhywun" was the sort-of Welsh spelling of "wry one." (And I just now "got" his "Dean scream," because I always thought it was spelled "Heeyeeeaaaaaaagh!" not "Aaaaaarrrgggggggh!")

And best wishes to Rich and his wife and baby.

I am so glad it's Friday.

[Hakluyt]

Will there be live bloggin from the event?

[Hakluyt]

I'm wondering why Hit n' Run hasn't put up a write-up on the loyalist violence in Northern Ireland over the past few days?

[friendofliberty]

I have yet to see any subway searches and I take the train daily from Brooklyn to Manhattan. I have rarely seen a police officer in any station in my neighborhood in Brooklyn. This area has a heavy arab population so that might be the reason, search a few tourists in Times Square but ignore the arab sections of Brooklyn.

[mk]

Turning 35 on Sunday. Saying good-bye to the 18-34 demographic

Yep, you will soon know what it is to be a pariah on craigslist.

Not only will I be missing the opportunity to meet some of you people this weekend in one of my favorite places, I just found out that I might have to sell my Dead Can Dance tickets. Curses!

[Jim Walsh]

Sad to say I have committments in flyover country and won't make this one. Hoist one for me...

[Steven Crane]

I think the first drink should be for Warren.

[Rhywun]

you will soon know what it is to be a pariah on craigslist

Not only that, it'll soon become quite obvious that advertisers don't care about you anymore - and popular culture becomes increasingly incomprehensible.

[Rhywun]

rhywun

It IS Welsh (good catch) but as I don't speak it, I'm not going to try to demonstrate. But AFAIK it's pronounced something like "rhee-oo-een". It means "someone".

[Amanda Hugginkiss]

I'd go but I'm finishing up a cook in my garage.

[Rhywun]

And yeah, dhex, please do tell about the cops' reaction to your suspicious ways.

[Douglas Fletcher]

I'll order you all a few pizzas. Of course I won't pay for them...

[Jennifer]

So I'm reading this thread after I get home from work, and I start thinking about Rhywun's comment about the bar being deserted at six, and then it hits me: I never actually checked to see if the bar is open that early.

And then I remember that some places don't open until seven or eight on weekends.

And then I think how awkward it would be if I got there at six to find the doors locked and the inside empty and I have to explain this situation to a bunch of pissed-off libertarians, many of whom are gun owners.

So I navigate my way through that Website (which by the way I find extremely annoying) and discover with relief that the bar opens at five.

So forget I said anything. I'll see some of you tomorrow.

By the way, I thought it was "Wry One" too.

[Rhywun]

It was never supposed to be "wry one" - that was an unfortunate accident.

[db]

And I would suggest that any Pittsburgh-area Reasonoids meet at the Castlewood Rod and Gun Club near New Castle, PA (www.castlewoodclays.com) tomorrow morning beginning at 10:00 for an IDPA match. I will unfortunately not be there, as I have other important things to attend to, but we're having our annual IDPA classifier match tomorrow.

Directions to the club are on the web site

[Billy Ray]

I'd go, but I hate you all so very very much.

[Brian Marks]

Ill be there

[Rick Barton]

Have fun guys, and conspire to roll back the state.

[jw]

HAPPY 35th BIRTHDAY!!! Jennifer and may you have many more!

[kwais]

I am already here, I got here earlier today. I am just above the Pioneer bar, and I have started drinking already.

I look forward to seeing many of y'all tomorrow afternoon.

[Dan]

We need a Reason hit and run gathering down here in Miami.

[dhex]

"Did they seem surprised?"

yeah, kinda. the one younger guy didn't, the first cop i refused search on. we said good day to each other about as casually as you like. that was the 77th street stop.

the second cop said "it won't take long." i told him i knew, but i would leave the station regardless. this was in brooklyn.

the third guy was yesterday in brooklyn. he was a bit of a dick about it. i think he said something to the other cop like "they must have some kinda club around here" or something, which i took to mean other people have refused searches there, since i don't look very clubby.

it's just something i can't go along with, ya know? luckily all the folks in my office hate george bush like we hate leviathan so my refusing searches and being a bit late in the process is seen as an eccentric but acceptable exercise of political rights.

[kwais]

Dan,
If you do come up with one in Miami let me know, I'll try to travel all the way over there to hang out. There are a few people in Fla that I would like to visit anyway. Also there is a shooters school that I would like to go to, but that wont be until December or something.

I was only supposed to be on leave until the 26th of this month, it now looks like I'll be in country longer.

[JD]

I've been asked to be searched once. I was carrying my normal shoulder bag with me, which never gets me a second look, plus a small plastic bag (which shouldn't either, but who knows). As soon as I entered the station, I could tell that the cop had her eye on me. As I approached, she said, "Sir, could you step this way for a bag search..." and I said "No," and turned around and left. I didn't bother to see what her reaction was. I then walked across the street, and walked past about six cops while entering the same station a different way.

[Hakluyt]

JD,

So, the possibility of bag search requests are even more pointless than we thought. 🙂

[dhex]

"BTW what does hating GW have to do with it?"

it's seen as yet another part of the global war on terra extremis, for real or for fake.

personally, i see it as part of a natural process of retardation; imagine gaius but without quite as much gloom and doom and barzoom.

[mediageek]

Must have been a good time. No one's posted about it yet, which leads me to believe they're all hung over.

😀

[Jennifer]

Well, it's the Morning After, and I'm pleased to report that a good time was had by all.

When Jeff and I got to the Bowery traffic was unusually bad, even by Manhattan standards. Turns out there was a street festival a couple of blocks away. We inched down the street, and at 5:47 we reached the Pioneer. "Why don't you get out here to greet people, and I'll go park the car?" Jeff suggested. So I left the car. . . and the doors to the bar were locked.

"The bar isn't open!" I said in a slight panic as I returned to the car. We continued for a place to park, and I began to worry. "The Website said they opened at five! What if they decided to open late tonight because they don't want to compete with the festival?"

"Then we'll find another place," he said inflappably. "This doesn't reflect badly on you."

"Yeah, tell that to the guy who's coming all the way from Iraq," I muttered. "Why the hell didn't I call to make reservations?" I got more and more worried as we drove, and finally decided that I should be there at six to tell people about the change in plans--just in case. So I got out of the car and hurried the three or four blocks to the bar, while Jeff continued the quest for parking.

Get to the bar. Doors still locked. I started smoking a cigarette and got more and more agitated, until finally a woman came out and opened the bar a few minutes after six. Whew! Relief. I continued smoking (albeit in a more relaxed manner), and a dark-haired man walked past me, started going into the bar, and then stopped, gave me a quizzical look and said "Is your name Jennifer?"

So that's how I met Kwais. Many others showed up, including Dhex, not-the-Wry-One, JD, one of the Davids, one of the Erics, Native NYer and several others. We all burst into applause when Thoreau showed up.

Cathy Young could not make it, which was a shame since we figured she and Thoreau together could spawn a veritable orgy of reasonableness. No such luck, though.

But I'm proud to say that, as of eleven o'clock when Jeff and I had to leave to drive home, there were no altercations with the police or any other representatives of The State. By Libertarian-in-a-bar standards, we were a very well-behaved bunch.

[Jennifer]

Oh, and hello there, Mediageek.

Now if y'all will excuse me, Jeff and I are going out for a late, late breakfast.

[dhex]

good, drunken times.

[mediageek]

Awesome. Look forward to hearing more.

[JD]

I think the proverbial good time was had by all, huh? We seem to be a bunch of old fogies, though, all disappearing back to our homes just around the time NYC bars are getting started. If only the "you guys just want to do drugs and have no responsibilities" crowd could have seen us... I believe any and all concealed weapons stayed concealed too, unless you count Jennifer's nail clippers.

Anyhow, I have the photos, but it will take me at least a day or so to sort through them, pick out the good/embarrassing ones, do a little editing/cropping/whatnot, and put them up. Remember to be nice to me, or I'll choose your least flattering shot.

[Jennifer]

JD, when we were talking last night, I never got around to tell you that I've always thought you were the most insightful and magnificent poster here, and having met you in person I'd like to add that you are a truly fabulous human being and the world would be a better place if only everybody were you.

You are Love. You are the Word. You are the One.

[kwais]

Hey Peoples,
Good times indeed. It was good to meet y'all. Some of you were what I had pictured in my mind, and some of you were not.

JD,
Can't wait to see the pictures.

[Jeff P.]

Why do I have dhex's name tattooed on my ass?

[Jeff P.]

Also, dhex:
The two comics I recommended were
Ex Machina: the tale of the Earth's only superhero becoming the mayor of NYC. One of the few political stories (of any type) that has been readable to me. There trade paperbacks out of the first two story arcs.
http://www.dccomics.com/features/exmachina/

And Desolation Jones: A former british spy living in LA, which is now a sort of open exile game preserve for ex-intelligence. First arc is about a
stash of stolen porn that Hitler filmed in his bunker. Only three issues out so far.
http://www.dccomics.com/features/desolationjones/

I'm bad at remembering names, but I know someone was looking for last season's uncut ender of JLU, and someone was looking for some obscure Camel albums. Email me.

[Julian Sanchez]

If someone wants to forward me those photos--and *if* you have the approval of the people shown in the shot--I'll post them here.

[thoreau]

Julian-

You can post anything you want with my face or my wife's face in it.

We had a good time. It was nice to meet everyone in person. I'm sorry I bugged out after only about an hour and a half, but we were with two friends who were letting us crash at their place. And since one of them didn't speak much English, and since they were hosting my wife and I in NYC, I didn't want to spend all evening ignoring them and talking to other people. Don't get me wrong, you guys were all very nice to them, and they had an OK time, but it was noisy and one of them didn't understand much English. And since they were nice enough to let us crash at their place, I felt like we should only stay so long.

But this won't be the last I see of you guys. I'm up for more get togethers. If anybody wants to get together in DC on a weekend (sorry, but those weekday evening events never seem to work for me), let's do one! And here in Rockville I belong to an indoor shooting range where I can bring guests. Perfect for any libertarian gathering!

[Rhywun]

Yes, it was a good time. And great to meet some of y'all! And sure, it was an early evening but frankly, I had to hightail it out of there once the glitterati started to arrive in droves. Not my kind of crowd... So I went to the San Gennaro festival and watched the clown get dunked and ate fabulous Italian sausage, thinking that we should have moved our celebration outside...

[Jennifer]

Julian Sanchez--

You could post about half JD's pictures of me. The other half must be burned.

[Mr. Nice Guy]

I second t's suggestion of the next venue. C'mon! DC is the power center of the world! We must gather in the belly of the beast.

And one can still smoke in a DC bar. For the next few weeks, at least.

[Jennifer]

You're right, Rhywun, going to the festival would have been a good idea. Too bad none of us thought of it that night.

Next time there's a similar going-on in the NYC area, tell us. The next meetup should be much easier to arrange now that we know what the others look like.

[Native NYer]

I understand everyone here are fans of Free Minds and Free Markets, but I want to know which guy grabbed my ass and then my wallet!

Just kiddin'!

Show any picture of my that you like, although my mug will probably crash the server. It was great meeting everyone, hope to do it again!

[Rhywun]

Native NYer,

That could have been me. Which one were you?

[David]

JD,

You can post any picture of me in which both eyes are visible and my right hand raised in sort of a two eyed jack pose. Just kidding, post what you will.

Jennifer,

You should have made him delete them on the spot.

[Jennifer]

David--

Yeah, I know. Don't get me wrong--I thought most of the pictures he took of me were very flattering, but there were a couple where I looked downright insane--the transvestive Howard Dean.

Julian Sanchez--

Just let me okay the pictures with the little redheaded woman. Most of them are fine.

[Native NYer]

By your question I guess I wasn't the only one you did that to!

I was the one who showed up late and left early.

[Jeff P.]

I often have dreams of waking up next to a transvestite Howard Dean. Strangely enough these dreams do not terrify me...

[Eric II]

I'll just ditto what the others said. It was entertaining, and kind of educational as well. The music made it hard to listen in on what anyone not right next to you was saying, but I guess that's par for the course given the venue.

Pictures of me are ok to post, though hopefully my trademark lost-in-space look isn't there in each one.

[David]

It's your subconscious telling you that you're into screamers, Jeff.

Not that anyone's interested, but I got pulled over on the way home Saturday despite not drinking that much. Like the idiot I am, I kept driving despite being about to nod off, swerved and caught the attention of a state trooper 3 exits from home. I think he was disappointed that I wasn't drunk, but he did give a $93 ticket for failure to stay in my lane.

The bottom line is: Next time I'll take the train.

[thoreau]

I propose a DC area meetup. Those who want to can join me and Mr. Nice Guy at the shooting range for a bit in the afternoon, then we can all go to a bar in downtown DC.

The email address below is my real one if you remove the "nospamplease" part. I propose a weekend in November or December. Mr. Nice Guy and I both have comfy couches located within walking distance of Metro stations, for those who need to crash. At least 2 Reason writers are in the DC area. Somebody who's been around here longer than me can probably suggest some good venues. And those who want to can join me and Mr. Nice Guy at the shooting range in the afternoon.

What more could you want in a venue for a libertarian gathering?

[Jennifer]

Wow, David, that sucks, But since you only live about eight miles from me and Jeff, you should come by our place sometime. A smaller drive home means a smaller chance of getting in trouble on the way.

[mk]

I propose a DC area meetup
You guys could meet up outside the Dept. Of Education buiding and stare at it disapprovingly.

Afterwards, you could crash Christopher Hitchens' place for smokes and scotch.

[thoreau]

mk-

I was thinking of a "Liberty Walk" from the shooting range to a bar. But only for registered participants.

[Hakluyt]

thoreau,

We should meet somewhere around the Dupont Circle metro station. Lots of good coffee shops, etc. there. I used to live there (in 2000) so I know the area very well.

[Ruthless]

"I was thinking of a "Liberty Walk" from the shooting range to a bar."

If we ever have a get-together in Sinincincinnati, I was thinking of a Liberty Walk in the opposite direction.

[smacky]

I just found out that I might have to sell my Dead Can Dance tickets. Curses!

mk,

What venue/city are they in? I might be interested.

If anybody wants to get together in DC on a weekend

I do! I do! I will be in DC on the weekend of October 14th-16th. I have to go to a wedding on the 15th (Saturday), but a Friday night or Sunday afternoon get together might be possible...even something late night on Saturday, maybe, after the reception (I should probably still be in my wedding-apparel at that point).

I want to see the NY pictures!!

[smacky]

David,

Sorry to hear about your police encounter. You should know by now not to listen to my advice! It was "joke advice", a.k.a. "bad advice" by some. 🙂

Glad to hear you're ok, though.

[JD]

Uff da, this is more complicated than I thought, especially given that I can only put a name to a face about half the time, or maybe less. (I often forget people's names within 5 seconds, while I'm still looking at them.) If anyone does _not_ want their picture made available, please let me know not only your name, but also what you look like... (real email address on this post, for once)

[thoreau]

smacky-

You pose such a dilemma for me. On the one hand, I have some rather...difficult relatives coming into town that weekend. A couple hours away from them would be a welcome respite.

OTOH, a couple hours away from them may be dearly bought at the expense of guilt trips and drama down the road.

"You don't care about me, and when I'm old you're just going to let me die, aren't you?" Needless to say, I don't discuss my libertarian views on Social Security and Medicare with my mother.

I'll do my best to join up for that weekend. Maybe a late evening get together on Saturday would work for me.

[David]

"You don't care about me, and when I'm old you're just going to let me die, aren't you?"

Thoreau,

The appropriate counter for that one "Oh no, I expect that I'll have killed you long before then." Works every time.

[thoreau]

David-

When my family comes out I'm going to cook dinner and spike their servings with massive doses of anti-depressants.

[Stevo Darkly]

Eric II: Pictures of me are ok to post, though hopefully my trademark lost-in-space look isn't there in each one.

"Lost in Space look"? You mean, you're fond of wearing dark V-necked pullover sweaters over a white turtleneck?

I propose a DC area meetup

Y'know, I haven't been to DC in years, and have always meant to visit again, if only to see a couple of the museums I've been paying for. The National Air & Space Museum, for one. I used to work for the architectural firm that designed it, and always had to write stuff about how cool it was supposed to be, but I've never actually been there.

Also, I've always wanted to organize a special march on Washington. I envision this crowd of people, see, each carrying a shepherd's crook. We all march up the steps of the capital. Then we all angrily toss our crooks up onto the steps and walk away. This has two meanings. First, it's a symbol of our rejection of gov't's every-expanding authority. Second, this symbolism gives us a chance to call this the "We're Sick of All These Crooks" March.

The only drawback is that I don't know where to get a bunch of shepherd's crooks. (Is there a shepherd supply store somewhere?) And we'd probably get charged with littering.

I personally can't travel anywhere until Nov. or Dec. or later. You're not going to plan anything around my schedule, of course, but I'm just saying.

[Jennifer]

JD-

Native Nyer had the curly dark hair, mustache, and pinkish-red shirt.

Dhex was the tall bald man who looked like a handsome, satanic Mr. Clean.

Kwais was the dark-haired man who sat next to me most of the evening.

Rhywun had the light-colored crewcut.

Jeff wore the beret.

Thoreau looked like the cross between James Spader and John Boy from "The Waltons."

I was the redhead.

JD was the stunningly handsome, godlike man who will live a long, happy and prosperous life so long as he does NOT post those three or four pictures of me which I already nixed.

[Stevo Darkly]

Oops, looks like something is shaping up in DC in mid-October. Ack, my busiest time of the year. Well, I say, go for it! Have fun, and I hope to catch you Easterners some other time.

[thoreau]

Stevo-

Why not 2 DC events? A late evening event when Smacky comes out, and a longer event, featuring guns, in November or December?

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Stevo makes a very good point. DC has some of the best museums in the world (IMO), and they don't charge at the door.

Plus October/November would be off-season. All the better reason to go!

C'mon folks! A nice, cheap weekender!

[smacky]

I would agree about DC museums for the most part, but I think the Smithsonian is waaay overrated.

[David]

JD,

I'm the stocky guy with dark brown hair wearing the the tan shirt.

[Native NYer]

One thing I kept meaning to babble at someone Saturday night: Jeff is a pretty big guy!!

Like, really, really tall. Or else it was the porter.

[Eric II]

You mean, you're fond of wearing dark V-necked pullover sweaters over a white turtleneck?

Only if someone offers me the spaceship as payment :-).

For the record, I was the brown-skinned guy with the blue t-shirt.

[Mr. Nice Guy]

...one more thing:

DC has a user-friendly subway system for those of you who hate to drive in the city (and trust me, I am one of them).

And said system is very clean and well-secure (IF you don't wander off at certain stops).

[David Rollins]

Sorry I missed it. In a way I had my own libertarian meetup in New Orleans, only it was just my brother and I, and there were more guns.

Count me in for DC, 'tis only a short drive away from NC.

[mk]

Smacky,

OCt 10. at the Strathmore performing arts center in Bethesda Md.

I saw them before about ten years ago. One of my all time fave concerts.

[dhex]

"Dhex was the tall bald man who looked like a handsome, satanic Mr. Clean."

shit, that's going on my business cards.

[smacky]

mk,

That's too far on a weekday. Nevermind. Good luck getting rid of them.

[Stevo Darkly]

Why not 2 DC events? A late evening event when Smacky comes out, and a longer event, featuring guns, in November or December?

Why not indeed? Although I hate to miss "a late evening event when Smacky comes out" -- something about the way that rolls off the tongue; it just sounds, er, good -- in October, I have to say that I have never fired a gun, and it's one of the things I need to do sometime. I'll file it in the back of the mind that I should probably plan to travel to DC in Nov. or Dec.

[David]

Sorry to hear about your police encounter. You should know by now not to listen to my advice! It was "joke advice", a.k.a. "bad advice" by some. 🙂

I should know better than to trust an Ohioan. Actually, If I'd followed your advice completely, I'd have gotten a ride to the station. Fortunately, I was only tired, rather than hammered.

[thoreau]

Remember, anybody interested in a DC event, the email address shown is real if you remove the part about spam.

[Rhywun]

There were a LOT of really tall people there. I felt conspicuously shorter than usual. Except whenever Jennifer wandered over.

[Jennifer]

You were a towering colossus from my perspective, Rhywun.

Who was the guy in the "capitalist pig" T-shirt?

[Eric II]

Who was the guy in the "capitalist pig" T-shirt?

IIRC, he was a lurker affiliated with the Bureaucrash.com site. Definitely won the best-dressed award for the evening.

[Little David Ruthless]

At the next get-together, wherever it may precipitate, someone should put up one of those velvet ropes to keep out anyone under 6 ft. 2 in.... then at the get-together after that, 6 ft. 3 in. and so on.
Instead of Reasonoids, we'll be Goliaths.

[Phil]

Sorry I couldn't make Saturday; my wife and I took the 5:05 train back to DC from NY, having already been in the city since Wednesday night and not wanting to get back too late. We ran into the San Gennaro Festival on Friday afternoon while walking through Chinatown and Little Italy and it was nuts. Sounds like y'all had a great time.

thoreau, I'll email you about a DC meetup. I live in Fairfax, so it's close for me.

[mk]

THoreau,
Count me in for a DC event. I'm especially up for a trip to a shooting range. I haven't been for years.

Smacky,
Don't worry about it. That concert was sold out moments after tix went on sale. I would have given you first dibs tho'

[JD]

OK, the photos are up. I just did about the simplest thing and tossed them all in a directory, although I have made a dead-simple page that includes all the photos (all.html). If your 'net connection is slow, you might prefer to browse the photos one at a time.

Pioneer Bar H+R photos here

I tried to get all the H+R'ers who were there, even if the photo of them wasn't great, plus a few more photos I just liked. The photos have been cropped and resized, and I messed a bit with colors and levels, did a little red-eye reduction, and darkened/desaturated a few background folks and objects (don't worry, I haven't airbrushed anybody out of history!) I have not yet put up any sort of key to the photos, although I think I now have enough information to ID everyone, thanks to the help of various folks. I'll do that at some point tomorrow, but I wanted to get these up as quickly as possible, given my usual habit for procrastination. Incidentally, I'm the "stunningly handsome, godlike man" - or the thin-faced one with the facial hair and the hair on top of my head, anyway. I think none of these photos will cause Jennifer to murder me...but of course the rest of us don't believe there is such a thing as a bad photo of Jennifer, do we?

[Kris]

I'm doin' all I can to come to your next DC meetup, I just have to convince my wife. WOW! is that hot red head in all those pictures Jennifer!?! : >)