Asymmetrical Information

From the desk of Mindles H. Dreck:

A wrap-up

I dined last night with my co-blogger, the first time we had spoken face-to-face in about a year. She prepared a delicious meal for the assembled company, including "Jim", Tim Blair, Roger Simon, Amy Langfield, Mickey Kaus, Walter Olson, Matt Welch, Julian Sanchez and Rick Bruner and assorted spouses/partners. Unfortunately, in the middle of dinner Megan received notice (somewhat expected, I gather) of her Grandfather's passing. We cleaned up a bit and a small detachment ambled to a local watering hole.

I had a walk through Central Park on the way over and compared notes with Julian on protest activities. We both agreed that Central Park was a non-event (I have pictures to prove it). I did see several women wearing 'axis of eve' shirts, and if I never ever get flashed by this sample I will be a happy man. Ye Gawds. Where are the really good-looking people getting naked for the cause? On the other hand, if the object was to get women to talk about their genitalia, mission accomplished!. Every third tee shirt had a Bush pun. "My Bush would make a better President" is the most popular. Hey guys, try that at a party! Walk up to the nearest lady and suggest that perhaps their privates would make a good President. Or insult them by saying even their pubic region would make a better President. Or just sing Hail to the Chief!

While we're at it, why are the communists out in force? As Roger pointed out, the protests still have a retro feel. This particular movement hasn't found its own voice yet. Bush/Cheney hatred isn't enough. "U.S. out of Najeef(sic)", as I heard on the broadcast of the mock war-crimes trials Thursday night, definitely isn't enough.

Julian did tell me a funny story about passers-by mistaking "Librarians Against Bush" for "Libertarians Against Bush". He also spent much of the evening entertaining us with textmobs alerts from his cellphone - "200 at Alice Tully Hall, no arrests yet, need more people!"

Amy is starting a travel website soon, so stay tuned. Kaus professed to be convinced on the virtues of liability caps by Walter (we'll see) and Roger Simon, Walter Olson and I shared stories of Yale alums of our acquaintance who knew John Kerry personally (he was not popular, from this sampling). Welch is on for the convention, seeking 'conflict' hopefully, as relief from the tedium of Boston.

I bought a round of drinks for several of the after-party crowd, but Julian was the only one who caught on, ordering himself a $9 single malt (Lagavulin). Cokes, cranberry with seltzer and white wine for the others. Just my speed, I'm afraid.

I sometimes feel a bit of a fish out of water with the heavy duty blogger/press types, but that's a good thing. I value the growing friendships emerging from this activity. I wish Matt didn't live on the Left Coast. Perhaps Amy and I can lure him East.

Send your condolences to my good co-blogger.

Posted by Mindles H. Dreck at August 30, 2004 9:34 AM | TrackBack | Technorati inbound links