Attn, DC Reasonoids: Happy Hour on Wed. May 21, Celebrate 40 Years of Reason!

Among the various things that happened 40 years ago, in May 1968:

- Protests by French students and a general strike brought down the government of Charles De Gaulle and ushered in a long period in Europe, the U.S., and elsewhere of left-wing and radical-chic values.  

- Richard Harris' recording of "MacArthur Park," a ballad about cakes being left out in the rain and so much more, was released, beginning its long climb to the top of the charts.  

- The very first issue of reason, the magazine of "Free Minds and Free Markets," was released, promising its readers "proof, not belligerent assertion. Logic, not legends. Coherance [sic], not contradictions."

The staff of reason invite you to celebrate at least one of these milestones on Wednesday, May 21, from 6.30pm to 9.00pm, at reason's DC HQ. The festivities will include loud rock and mellow pop music from that time and place; non-Electric Kool-Aid and a bevy of other soft and hard drinks; and high- and low-carb munchables to stave off the gnawing hunger for a world that is truly free of politics.

We'll also be handing out copies of the June 2008 issue of reason, stickers galore, and other thangs.

And don't miss reason.tv's live interviews with special guests who will take the measure of the '60s from right, left, and libertarian perspectives.

What: reason Celebrates May '68

When: Wednesday, May 21, from 6.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.

Where: reason DC HQ, 1747 Connecticut Avenue NW (near S Street)

RSVP (required): [e-mail]

Comments

[Guy Montag]

Great, something else that I am older than. Sigh, yes I should be attending.

Hope there are a few more people to talk cars with this time.

[Colin]

You forgot to mention the Prague Spring.

[Kolohe]

The sinking of the Scorpion

[NP]

"The staff of reason invite you to celebrate at least one of these milestones...."

Even this?

Coherance [sic], not contradictions.

[KD]

Other things re May '68:

Beatles form Apple Records
Playboy May '68, Playmate of the year: Angela Dorian, Interview: Masters & Johnson, Playmate of the month (centerfold): Elizabeth Jordan
...and...
The first women's periodical, appearing in March, 1968, was The Voice of the Women's Liberation Movement. Published in Chicago by a coalition of women's organizations, The Voice described itself as "a national newsletter printed as often as time and money permit."

[KD]

- fogot to include reference to latter "The Voice of Women's Liberation"

http://www.wifp.org/womensmediach3.html

[KD]

Oh yah, found another interesting one.

Johnny Carson, Tonight Show May 15/68 John Lennon & Paul McCartney.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0726402/

I'll stop now - except to mention I turned 21 in 1968; and one little juicy bit for our Canadian readers - a reminder that Pierre Elliot Trudeau was elected June 1968.

[Old Bull Lee]

Congratulations on the anniversary!

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Not to mention, one of the worst songs ever, Do You Know the Way to San Jose by Whitney's aunt, charted in May 1968.

Course in those days, nobody actually knew the way to San Jose.

[Guy Montag]

1968, the year of what many call the best Dodge Charger ever!

[VikingMoose]

congratulations!

[The Winter Soldier]

Geee . . . thanks KD. Just what I needed, a Trudeau reminder. Thanks for ruining my May 2-4 weekend. I need a beer.

[Edward]

In the market place of ideas, right-wing libertairanism has been an Edsel, but Reason is to be commended for its incredible brand loyalty. You're the Hillary Clinton of lost-cause ideologies. Congratulations!

[Art-P.O.G.]

I will say this...this website seems to have a combination of slightly higher IQ and a slightly higher prevalence of personality disorders than average. Examples include Edward, the "Orange Line Special" and possibly whoever has the free time to portray "Neil". Who knows what horrific childhood trauma encourages political unorthodoxy such as libertarianism, let alone the particular circumstances that culminated in the formation of an Edward or a Dondero.
FWIW, I'm not excluding myself from the critique, just pointing out that a person like Edward is a case study that requires sober analysis.
BTW, I'd rather talk to either of those harrowing personalities than 50% of the dullards in the Democratic or Republican parties.

[Jonathan Hohensee]

Reason magazine was founded after a whole bunch of college students got their asses beat by the cops and a young student stood up and asked "Why should those asshole students stand in my way to go to class?"

I like Reason Magazine.

[Christine]

Please have a Happy Hour in the other Washington sometime...Seattle. That would make my month.

[Guy Montag]

Christine,

Will Enumclaw, WA be close enough?

[LUNATIC CULPEPPER]

HAIL HITLER

[MK2]

Edward is a friend of mine, and I know that he had a very happy childhood.

[Edward]

"The weird offshoot of ultra-right individualist anarchism that is called 'libertarian' happens to amount to advocacy of perhaps the worst kind of imaginable tyranny, namely unaccountable private tyranny."
--Noam Chomsky

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts."
--Bertrand Russell

"Next, I am an atheist. Now, many libertarians are also, so that isn't the issue. What is is the amount of libertarian rhetoric that maps almost exactly to christian evangelism. I've actually taken an article on a libertarian site on capitalism, replaced the word capitalism with "christ", and then (with minor editing for consistency) had friends read it. They couldn't tell it wasn't originally written for religious purposes. I don't like the idea that so many people in a movement seem to think their system has all the answers. It blinds you to seeing things outside the system. It's part of my problem when people begin to repeat the "free-market solves all" mantra. It's simply not true. It is the best system we've created, but it's still a human creation." - Mike Bast

[Guy Montag]

"The weird offshoot of ultra-right individualist anarchism that is called 'libertarian' happens to amount to advocacy of perhaps the worst kind of imaginable tyranny, namely unaccountable private tyranny."
--Noam Chomsky

Nothing like a quote from uranis to round off a good brunch.

[Mike Laursen]

Reading a little about Bob Barr just now, I stumbled across one of the greatest baseless rumors ever: Roseanne Barr is Bob Barr's love child!

[Mike Laursen]

Whoops. Bad enough that my comment was annoying, but I got the wrong thread.

[Edward]

Roseanne Barr is Bob Barr's love child!

Nonsense! Everybody knows that Bob Barr is a eunuch.

[Art-P.O.G.]

Edward is a friend of mine, and I know that he had a very happy childhood.

LAWLZ.

"The weird offshoot of ultra-right individualist anarchism that is called 'libertarian' happens to amount to advocacy of perhaps the worst kind of imaginable tyranny, namely unaccountable private tyranny."
--Noam Chomsky

LAWLZ, 'cause everybody knows 'unaccountable private tyranny' is worse than fascism.

[EJM]

Ironically enough, "The Prisoner" started its first summer run on CBS on June 1st, 1968.

[Edward]

Such regulations [banking regulations] may, no doubt, be considered as in some respect a violation of natural liberty. But those exertions of the natural liberty of a few individuals, which might endanger the security of the whole society, are, and ought to be, restrained by the laws of all governments; of the most free, as well as of the most despotical. The obligation of building party walls, in order to prevent the communcation of fire, is a violation of natural liberty, exactly of the same kind with the regulations of the banking trade which are here proposed.
Adam Smith, "The Wealth Of Nations", pg. 263

Whenever the legislature attempts to regulate the differences between masters and their workmen, its counsellors are always the masters. When the regulation, therefore, is in favour of the workmen, it is always just and equitable; but it is sometimes otherwise when in favour of the masters.
Adam Smith, "The Wealth Of Nations", pg. 151

The capricious ambition of kings and ministers has not, during the present and the preceding century, been more fatal to the repose of Europe, than the impertinent jealousy of merchants and manufacturers. The violence and injustice of the rulers of mankind is an ancient evil, for which, I am afraid, the nature of human affairs can scarce admit of a remedy. But the mean rapacity, the monopolizing spirit of merchants and manufacturers, who neither are, nor ought to be, the rulers of mankind, though it cannot perhaps be corrected, may very easily be prevented from disturbing the tranquillity of any body but themselves.
Adam Smith, "The Wealth Of Nations", pg. 382

Our merchants and master manufacturers complain much of the bad effects of high wages in raising the price, and thereby lessening the sale of their goods both at home and abroad. They say nothing concerning the bad effects of high profits. They are silent with regard to the pernicious effcts of their own gains. They complain only of those of other people.
Adam Smith, "The Wealth Of Nations", pg. 104

[Art-P.O.G.]

Your holy books have some interesting verses, Edward. Damn those high profits!

[Art-P.O.G.]

But really, it seems you're cherry-picking, Edward.

[Edward]

Everybody cherry picks. Your problem is always picking cherries from the same tree. But hey, ignorance is bliss.

[Edward]

More cherries:

Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the ark of the Covenant, too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of the preceding age a wisdom more than human, and suppose what they did to be beyond amendment... laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind... as that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, institutions must advance also, to keep pace with the times.... We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain forever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.
Thomas Jefferson (on reform of the Virginia Constitution)

Private property ... is a Creature of Society, and is subject to the Calls of that Society, whenever its Necessities shall require it, even to its last Farthing, its contributors therefore to the public Exigencies are not to be considered a Benefit on the Public, entitling the Contributors to the Distinctions of Honor and Power, but as the Return of an Obligation previously received, or as payment for a just Debt.
Benjamin Franklin

[KD]

Guy Montag | May 18, 2008, 7:50am | #
Christine,

Will Enumclaw, WA be close enough?

Guy, close enough for me... dates, times, location please!

[Art-P.O.G.]

Your problem is always picking cherries from the same tree. But hey, ignorance is bliss.

It seems you made a straw-man of me. I'm not the ideological purist you seem to think I am.
That was a nice quote from Jefferson, it really was. But I think the reason people hold the Constitution/Bill of Rights in such high regard is not because of some misty-eyed nostalgia but because, like the works of Plato, Euclid or Shakespeare, it has withstood the test of time; aged gracefully if you will.

[Edward]

Art-P.O.G.

Sorry, I generalize too much.

[Edward]

"Whenever a theory appears to you as the only possible one, take this as a sign that you have understood the neither theory nor the problem which it was intended to solve." --
Karl Popper

[Guy Montag]

Guy, close enough for me... dates, times, location please!

Whenever Kasey Kahne is doing an appearance there.

[Rick Barton]

Bitchin off topic- But sometimes wonderful music can provide some relief from the ongoing tragedy of governments attacking liberty and prosperity. I just happened upon this and I don't wanna wait till a Friday Fun link to share it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyM11mytGZs

My You Tube posted comment on the tune:

"Wow! Thanks for posting this rare and crucial gem! This is the song that so impressed the Fun Boy Three and that gave serious impetus to Bananarama's career. It's an African tune. They were quite the rage for a while in the punk/New Wave scene. The gorgeous singing that the girls do on this tune first made clear they were a way out of the ordinary talent. I don't wanna stop listening to it. "

[Rick Barton]

Kudos, Reason! Happy 40th to s most sublime publication!

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Hey, Ricky Ramone, good tune, I always sort of liked Banarama. Nice melodic adaptation for my ears.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Please have a Happy Hour in the other Washington sometime...Seattle. That would make my month

I'm thinkin' that'd work for NoStar and, dam, CRS, who's that other guy up there? He was an RP delegate I think.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Speaking of the 80's, am I the only one here who hurls in the sink every time I hear Blondie selling the swifter?

[Rick Barton]

Wine Commonsewer,

I haven't caught that. Probably just as well. I have so many nice audio and video impressions of em.

Swifter as in "swifter pickerupper"? (whatever that is)

Glad you dug the Bananarama tune!

[Brian Courts]

Please have a Happy Hour in the other Washington sometime...Seattle. That would make my month

I'm thinkin' that'd work for NoStar and, dam, CRS, who's that other guy up there? He was an RP delegate I think.

Yeah, seems there are a few others too who post now and then who have mentioned being from Washington though I can't recall who they are now.

Personally, I'd like to have on in Portland, though I always welcome an excuse for a trip up to the Emerald City.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Rick, I guess it's the Swiffer. Jesus Chrysler, what rock band won't sell out? 🙂

Cuz money talks and you-know-what walks.

I was just looking to see if the vid was on UTube and I can't see that it is.

This crazed chick named Debbie once dedicated a Blondie song to TWC. I thought it was kind of cool then but didn't actually realize how absolutely cool it was until I just played Call Me on UTube just now. That girl nearly got me killed.

Glory Days. Gone in the blink of a young girls eye. Or something like that. Bruce?

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Brian, back when Reason was mostly in LA and they had Evening With The Editors............

That was good. That's how they got hooked up with Drew Carey. He showed up for cocktails and whore durves.

Got to meet David Kelley one time. He's running light years ahead of Lenny.

[Rick Barton]

TWC,

I'm a tad lost. But it sounds fascinating. Wow! That Debbie? Which Call Me Link? Nearly got you killeed? Bruce??

Feel free to email me is you so desire.

[Virginia Wolves]

I'll just sit here and drink in the irony of the largest collection of Ron Paul cultists decrying the "cult of the presidency" on the cover...

[Art-P.O.G.]

I'll just sit here and drink in the irony of the largest collection of Ron Paul cultists decrying the "cult of the presidency" on the cover...

HERETIC! I shall drink your blood and make a chaise longue of your bones...er...seriously, you don't go here much, do you?

[Virginia Wolves]

Yeah, I do actually. There's some good stuff here when people are consumed with shilling for Paul like MSNBC shills for Obama.

[JB]

All you hot dc-area libertarian chicks should come since I will be there.

[Guy Montag]

I e-mailed my RSVP but have not gotten a response. Ready or not I am on the way! Well, in a little while, when it is closer to start time, you know.

[Brian Courts]

I'll just sit here and drink in the irony of the largest collection of Ron Paul cultists decrying the "cult of the presidency" on the cover...

Heh. Most the time we get the real Ron Paul cultists here bashing reason for flogging the newsletter story or some such, and now we hear complaint that reason is actually shilling for Ron Paul. More evidence, I suppose, that often times people see what they want to see.

As someone who is definitely not a RP cultist, I'd be curious to know specifically where the commenter thinks reason has been shilling for RP? Links?

[Guy Montag]

Great party last night! Was fun seeing you guys again and very nice meeting the new and lovely Reason.tv Producer, Debbie. (I hope I have the name right, was coming down with something requiring lots of beer and wine consumption).

Was awsome meeting the gun rights guy who argued against the DC ban in front of the SCOTUS too.

I did discover that Thomas Jefferson did NOT sign Ron Bailey's college diploma, nor present it to him either.

The Omaha Steaks gift certificate will be put to good use.

After the party that beer/wine condition may have contributed to my hopping off the last train to Virginia about 3 stops too early. I did discover that the new meters in DC cabs come out a little cheaper than the last time I took a cab from Gallery Place to Crystal City.

Thanks again for a very fun event.