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Uncommon Knowledge at the Reagan Library
Sunday afternoon 500-600 people gathered at the Ronald Reagan Library for a live edition of Uncommon Knowledge. A large contingent of Ricoteers was in the audience, and if you didn’t make it, we missed you! Our beloved Peter Robinson was interviewed by Ricochet contributor and all-around lovely guy, Pat Sajak, who is also known for playing hangman on TV.
The Uncommon Knowledge episode was wonderful! Peter told us quite a few anecdotes about the evolution of the “Tear Down This Wall” speech, a few of which made me tear up. I know some of you watched it via livestream, and the Blue Yeti promises to have it properly posted soon. Patience, please, as he is a VERY busy Yeti for the next few weeks.
Afterwards we had a nice reception in the front room of the museum. Pat and Peter worked the room, and chatted with lots of us. We even got some great pictures. Everyone, please post yours here, or start a new thread with your impressions.
Of course, the one cord I need to connect the big camera to my laptop did not make it into my bag, so iPhone pics will have to do for now.
Here’s (l-r) the Blue Yeti, me, and Peter:
Upon leaving the Library, a party-dedicated band of Ricoteers invaded a local vineyard (Stonehaus in Westlake) for food, drink, and conversation. Here’s partial list of attendees: Jamie Lockett (one of my new best friends), barbara lydick, Annefy, Cowgirl, 6Foot2, David Sussman (ya’ll check out his Whiskey Politics podcast), Larry Koler, Brian Watt, Bereket Kelile, and quite a few whose screen names I missed. We also had some lurkers and some prospective members.
If you have never made it to a live meet-up, you are missing something special. Don’t wait around; initiate one! If you’re going somewhere, post asking if there are any members nearby who would like to get together. This is a special community. I love it!
Respectfully submitted,
PJS
Ricochet PTA Mom and Den Mother (thanks Jamie)
Thanks for posting this. Pat and Peter were fun to watch. There’s much affection between them. Pat is so natural and comfortable in himself that everyone around him is affected. He did a great job as interviewer and MC for the event.
And wow did he bring out the very best in Peter. Parts of this story I knew before but not the whole thing. It was extremely moving and Peter was so eloquent in retelling all the highlights of those years and especially with regard to this speech.
My wife and I are so glad we came down for this.
Aw, Patty, I’m so jealous! It sounds like it was wonderful! We already had a trip planned for October to CA, so we couldn’t come. Glad you represented FL!
It was good to meet some fellow members. Another picture from the event…
It was great fun and great conversation. I wish I could have stayed longer. Next time I’ll plan better because I didn’t get a chance to tour the museum which was closed after the event. Great to finally meet many of you. We need to do these more often.
That was a great afternoon and wonderful evening. When we only know each other from pseudonyms and pixelated thumbnail avatars, our words on the page speak for us. Of course, we are all so much more than prose.
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and chatting with everyone. Ricochet is truly a special place with intelligent and passionate people I am proud to call friends. Can’t wait to see the pics. Thanks for the post @PJS!
Was with yunz in spirit; appreciated the livestream so much: Thanks, @blueyeti and @max! Look out, Montana, here we come!
Forget Peter and Pat… here’s Nico!
Good fun! Great to meet everyone!
Boy is Sussman a ball of energy. Explains why he’s so good at interviews.
Copy that.
Truly outstanding event- these are not to be missed…
Lew
Loved it. Great time. Discussion was equal to the venue, which is saying something. Also, Pat was right: audience questions and comportment were stellar.
Great to meet you, Patty. And what a pleasure to listen to Peter and Pat for an hour.
I listened to it live but had a very difficult time hearing Peter without putting my ear right up against the computer. Pat’s voice was loud and clear.
Now I am really sorry to have missed it. I and three of my boys had tickets, but bad traffic and poor planning scuttled our trip. We were reduced to peeking through the windows.
Thanks, Brian…So good to see everyone!
Oh, and: Hello!
And YOU Sir have passion. I think it was our POTUS that said without passion you have no energy, without which you have nothing. Our group could have talked all night.
Skype chat would’ve been epic, I’m thinking…
I heard there were issues with the live stream. The UK version of this show will be out in about 10 days and I promise the audio will be fine.
There was no wifi at the winery Nanda, but I tried to get you on Skype at RL. You watched on Ricochet right?
A few photos of the infamous Berlin Wall, the beautiful countryside surrounding the Reagan Library, and of course our speakers.
Thanks. I watched the interview on YouTube and failed to pick any Ricochet members out of the crowd.
Peter has been asked about that speech so many times that he’s almost reading off a script now. But the bit about the sunlight shining through the East Berlin tower to show a cross, to the communists’ repeated chagrin, was new to me.
I was amazed Sajak didn’t Peter grief for delivering all his Reagan quotes in voice impressions.
Yes, indeedy; and heard wonderful laughter and applause at just the right places on Skype! Thanks to you and 6’2″; true RicoPals!
It was a great event. Peter is very thoughtful and articulate and Pat did a great job as interviewer. And we got to meet a bunch of Rico-People! Here Mrs. Clavius and I are with Peter.
Lovely to meet you and Mrs. C., @clavius! So sweet of you to take a snap with Peter. This longtime fan is in awe, just sayin’ :-)
I don’t ever get to attend these things. But rest assured I photoshop myself into all of your pictures.