The National Review Institute Cruise

 

It was great to be cruising again, and to be on an NRI cruise.  Although neutral observer and I have been on a few NR cruises, this was our first NRI cruise.  The difference?  The NR cruises had a lot more speakers and panel sessions.  Even with the reduced number, we had a lot of fun and learned a lot.  First of all, we had a near-continuous Ricochet Meetup underway.  I don’t have the ten-Ricochetti dinner pictures, so someone else will have to post those.  Here we go:

Left to right, we have Stad, neutral observer, Bob Herring, GLDIII, and Red Herring.  The picture was taken at the bar (no shicker there) by the stylish main atrium:

Of the seven dinners, we had three guest speakers.  First, here’s GLDIII discussing building one’s own airplane with Charles C.W. Cooke:

Our next guest speaker was none other than Andrew McCarthy.  Here is neutral observer trying to figure out how to ditch me and head to Andy’s cabin:

Finally, we had not only dinner, but breakfast that morning with Veronique de Rugy:

Charles was his usual reserved former British self, but Andy and Veronique were a lot more open and animated when they discussed their passions: the law and economics, respectively.  The three also shared many personal stories, some hilarious, others more somber.  Bottom line?  All of the guest speakers were approachable, very warm, and personable.

As for the Ricochetti, let’s just say there was a challenge to break the limit on our beverage packages, which included alcohol.  I’m sad to report neither I nor neutral observer was able to break it (too old, I guess).  Fellow Rico-shipmates can leave their excuses in the comment section . . .

Oh, the parties!  There was a kickoff cocktail party, a cigar smoker, and a farewell cocktail party.  Here is a picture from the farewell party (again, fellow cruisers – post your pics!):

Here we have Mrs. GLDIII, GLDIII, Stad, neutral observer, Red Herring, and Bob Herring.

The bottom line?  Cruising is back in general, and it looks like the NRI cruises are returning.  No word on a regular NR cruise, but it’s a possibility if they can rope the NRI President, Lindsay Craig into doing it.  Oh!  She’s a sweetheart, and was ready to join in the fun even though she had a job to do.  I highly recommend NRI cruises, as you get to meet and hear from people who have done or are currently doing great things.

Okay, fellow shipmates – post your pics!

(Pssst.  @roblong and @jameslileks, you missed a good one!)

Published in Meetups
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  1. She Member
    She
    @She

    Percival (View Comment):

    BDB (View Comment):

    Red Herring (View Comment):
    Do you think they would be interested in joining a bunch of sour pusses?

    That’s the BDB Cruise.

     

    • #61
  2. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    She (View Comment):

    But I gotta say that if I’d saved my pennies and gone to a Ricochet meetup, all excited, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and had a marvelous time with my new friends, and come home feeling that I’d done a really good thing, and someone posted a picture of us as part of a celebratory post that probably encouraged others to have meetups too, and then someone came along and looked at that picture and published a post (with a title like “Obesity, responsibility and meetup pictures”) saying again in the post that those of us in the photos were almost all fat and that we should get a grip before we died of it, I’d feel pretty (to use a term in the news recently) deflated.

    And I’d make darn certain that there’d never be a photo of me at any meetup, in any post, ever.  (Too fat–why don’t I eat less?  Too grey–why don’t I color my hair?  Too old–why am I still alive?  Shall go on?)

    I’m not sure if that was the intended effect.  But it was the effect.

    I’m sure if Barkha had written a post about obesity without saying she was inspired to do so by seeing pictures of all the fatties at that meetup, it wouldn’t have been controversial at all.  That was like stepping on a landmine that was clearly marked and had plenty of space to walk around.

    At least no one (that I can recall) has ever written a post after a meetup saying you people are a bunch of boozehounds who need to sober up.

    • #62
  3. She Member
    She
    @She

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):
    I’m sure if Barkha had written a post about obesity without saying she was inspired to do so by seeing pictures of all the fatties at that meetup, it wouldn’t have been controversial at all.  That was like stepping on a landmine that was clearly marked and had plenty of space to walk around.

    Insofar as you’re appreciating  an example of “discrimination” in the old-fashioned sense,  I completely agree.

    • #63
  4. Marjorie Reynolds Coolidge
    Marjorie Reynolds
    @MarjorieReynolds

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    She (View Comment):

    But I gotta say that if I’d saved my pennies and gone to a Ricochet meetup, all excited, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and had a marvelous time with my new friends, and come home feeling that I’d done a really good thing, and someone posted a picture of us as part of a celebratory post that probably encouraged others to have meetups too, and then someone came along and looked at that picture and published a post (with a title like “Obesity, responsibility and meetup pictures”) saying again in the post that those of us in the photos were almost all fat and that we should get a grip before we died of it, I’d feel pretty (to use a term in the news recently) deflated.

    And I’d make darn certain that there’d never be a photo of me at any meetup, in any post, ever. (Too fat–why don’t I eat less? Too grey–why don’t I color my hair? Too old–why am I still alive? Shall go on?)

    I’m not sure if that was the intended effect. But it was the effect.

    I’m sure if Barkha had written a post about obesity without saying she was inspired to do so by seeing pictures of all the fatties at that meetup, it wouldn’t have been controversial at all. That was like stepping on a landmine that was clearly marked and had plenty of space to walk around.

    At least no one (that I can recall) has ever written a post after a meetup saying you people are a bunch of boozehounds who need to sober up.

    I just read it. She did have a good point to make but she just showed very bad manners in making it about a specific bunch of people innocently enjoying themselves.

    • #64
  5. Charlotte Member
    Charlotte
    @Charlotte

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):
    At least no one (that I can recall) has ever written a post after a meetup saying you people are a bunch of boozehounds who need to sober up.

    (You are, though, and you do.)

    • #65
  6. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    formerlawprof (View Comment)

    It was absolutely common coin that Trump is unfit for office and would, if nominated, lose the election so badly that the GOP would be seriously damaged for a long time to come. Most agreed with Andy’s long-stated view that the Dems are actively rooting for a Trump candidacy (which is why a federal indictment is unlikely until Trump is no longer a viable candidate).

    So . . . 2016?

     

    • #66
  7. drlorentz Member
    drlorentz
    @drlorentz

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    That was May of 2015, following the glorious Nashville Mega-Meetup.  Barkha’s nutrition article is here, and it ran to 576 comments!

     

    In the meantime, the obesity rate among American adults has risen another five percentage points to 42% — and that was pre-p(l)andemic. It’s likely accelerated since. You read that right: almost half of American adults are obese. America First!

    It doesn’t have to be this way.

    • #67
  8. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    drlorentz (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    That was May of 2015, following the glorious Nashville Mega-Meetup. Barkha’s nutrition article is here, and it ran to 576 comments!

     

    In the meantime, the obesity rate among American adults has risen another five percentage points to 42% — and that was pre-p(l)andemic. It’s likely accelerated since. You read that right: almost half of American adults are obese. America First!

    It doesn’t have to be this way.

    This is a condition of prosperity. If the WEF has its way, starvation would be the order of the day. Which is better?

    • #68
  9. Painter Jean Moderator
    Painter Jean
    @PainterJean

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    Geez, Louise, are you sure we aren’t really sisters? My idea of what to do on a cruise is exactly the same! We have been on two Hillsdale College cruises, and I have hundreds of photos of the water, and the sky, and seabirds taken from our balcony. There is nothing more relaxing than sitting on your stateroom balcony with a good book and a drink, just watching and listening to the water go by. I don’t need lots of activities (even though all the Hillsdale lectures were fascinating).

    My husband and I figured out very quickly that a balcony was a must, and preferably one near the bow. Why? Because as the ship plowed through the water, flying fish would dash away over the crests of the bow waves, which in turn attracted all kinds of fish-eating birds that would dive into the water to catch them. I’m an avid bird nut – this was heaven! Also, near the bow the waves produce a rythmic crashing sound, similar to the surf breaking on a beach. It was wonderful to leave the outside door open and go to sleep lulled by that sound.

    • #69
  10. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    She (View Comment):
    Yeah. My idea of a nice cruise is one in which I would be locked in a gorgeous stateroom with a small “porch” from which I could sit mere feet above, and simply watch, the beautiful waves (I love the sea), accompanied by a stack of my favorite books and favorite crafts. Four or five times a day, the small hatch in the door would open, and someone would shove absolutely decadent and delicious meals and drinks at me, but otherwise, I’d be left to my own devices. Meaning that I could spend the entire time in my pajamas, I’d never have to dress up for, and appear at, the Captain’s Table, nor would I have to participate in any inane or unwelcome activities. (Some history there, for those who are wondering.) Glorious solitude and peace.

    During the height of Covid Hawaii announced restrictions that included being confined to your hotel room for 14 days after arriving in the island.

    I told my wife I could think of several vacation ideas worse than sitting on the balcony of an Ocean-front hotel room in Hawaii for two weeks and that we should consider it.

    But when they said restricted to your hotel ROOM, they probably meant you couldn’t use the balcony!

    • #70
  11. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    I hope people aren’t taking my question as some kind of criticism of the cruise or its participants, but when I think of Andrew McCarthy, the first thing that comes to mind is . . .

    Here’s how I look at it. One of my favorite magazines is Car and Driver. They review a lot of gasoline-powered performance cars (which I like) and they review SUVs and pickups and increasingly more electric cars (which I don’t care much about). If I were at a big event hosted by Car and Driver and had the chance to meet and hang out with various authors, I’d be very excited to talk to them about sports cars and great winding roads. It wouldn’t occur to me to strike up a conversation about pickups.

    My favorite Car & Driver author was P.J. O’Rourke, author of the famed “High Speed Performance Characteristics of Pickup Trucks.

    A pickup is basically a back porch with an engine attached. Both a pickup and a back porch are good places to drink beer because you can always take a leak standing up from either. Pickup trucks are generally a little faster downhill than back porches, with the exception of certain California back porches during mudslide season. But back porches get better gas mileage.

    My kind of insightful automotive commentary.

    My favorite part of Car & Driver – I don’t think it was Road & Track – was their April reviews. The NASA rocket transport platform (“maximum cornering G force .000000001” or something), the Sedan Chair (powered by “twin underhand lackeys”) etc.

    Are they ones that did an acceleration/deceleration and cornering analysis of a Navy Destroyer?

    Probably, but I didn’t see that one.  Ahhh, good times.

    • #71
  12. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Percival (View Comment):

    BDB (View Comment):

    Red Herring (View Comment):
    Do you think they would be interested in joining a bunch of sour pusses?

    That’s the BDB Cruise.

    I was thinking maybe the SS Minnow.

    • #72
  13. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    BDB (View Comment):

    Red Herring (View Comment):
    Do you think they would be interested in joining a bunch of sour pusses?

    That’s the BDB Cruise.

    I was thinking maybe the SS Minnow.

    It’ll take a lot longer than three hours to drink all that beer.

    • #73
  14. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Percival (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    BDB (View Comment):

    Red Herring (View Comment):
    Do you think they would be interested in joining a bunch of sour pusses?

    That’s the BDB Cruise.

    I was thinking maybe the SS Minnow.

    It’ll take a lot longer than three hours to drink all that beer.

    Ah but they got marooned for years, PLENTY of time for beer.  And arguing…

    • #74
  15. Duane Oyen Member
    Duane Oyen
    @DuaneOyen

    To exactly what do you refer when positing “anti-Trump bias”?  Yes, the magazine editor, Ramesh, is a strong no-Trumper.  The rest, now that Kevin Williamson is gone to The Dispatch, pretty much call things as they are.

    It is not particularly controversial to acknowledge that Trump was a large reason for loss of the Senate in two straight elections now, he has disgraced himself with his narcissistic focus on his loss in 2020- which was not a fair election (Mollie was right that it was rigged), but which was also not stolen via voter fraud.  The biggest reason that Trump lost in 2020 was DJT.

    And it is not unreasonable to adopt a universal position that people over 80 should not be president, period.

    • #75
  16. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Percival (View Comment):

    BDB (View Comment):

    Red Herring (View Comment):
    Do you think they would be interested in joining a bunch of sour pusses?

    That’s the BDB Cruise.

    The Ricochet cruise ship is being outfitted for the 2024 Post-Election Victory Cruise:

    • #76
  17. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Red Herring (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):
    There is nothing more relaxing than sitting on your stateroom balcony with a good book and a drink, just watching and listening to the water go by.

    Or sitting by the pool with a bucket of Corona watching the bikinis, then sorting out who should or should not be wearing them . . .

    Most shouldn’t have been.

    Sadly, that’s true.  There was that one cruise that had a group of Brazilian high-schoolers, mostly girls.  At the pool, the cruise staff told some of the girls they had to go change into more modest swimsuits.  Damn the luck!

    However, I got pics . . .

    • #77
  18. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    drlorentz (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    That was May of 2015, following the glorious Nashville Mega-Meetup. Barkha’s nutrition article is here, and it ran to 576 comments!

     

    In the meantime, the obesity rate among American adults has risen another five percentage points to 42% — and that was pre-p(l)andemic. It’s likely accelerated since. You read that right: almost half of American adults are obese. America First!

    It doesn’t have to be this way.

    I will say there was an embarrassing number of obese Americans on this trip . . .

    • #78
  19. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    She (View Comment):
    Yeah. My idea of a nice cruise is one in which I would be locked in a gorgeous stateroom with a small “porch” from which I could sit mere feet above, and simply watch, the beautiful waves (I love the sea), accompanied by a stack of my favorite books and favorite crafts. Four or five times a day, the small hatch in the door would open, and someone would shove absolutely decadent and delicious meals and drinks at me, but otherwise, I’d be left to my own devices. Meaning that I could spend the entire time in my pajamas, I’d never have to dress up for, and appear at, the Captain’s Table, nor would I have to participate in any inane or unwelcome activities. (Some history there, for those who are wondering.) Glorious solitude and peace.

    During the height of Covid Hawaii announced restrictions that included being confined to your hotel room for 14 days after arriving in the island.

    I told my wife I could think of several vacation ideas worse than sitting on the balcony of an Ocean-front hotel room in Hawaii for two weeks and that we should consider it.

    But when they said restricted to your hotel ROOM, they probably meant you couldn’t use the balcony!

    I believe people were allowed on their balconies.

    • #79
  20. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    BDB (View Comment):

    Red Herring (View Comment):
    Do you think they would be interested in joining a bunch of sour pusses?

    That’s the BDB Cruise.

    I was thinking maybe the SS Minnow.

    It’ll take a lot longer than three hours to drink all that beer.

    Ah but they got marooned for years, PLENTY of time for beer. And arguing…

    And they had The Professor who could rig up a brewery and a still . . .

    • #80
  21. Red Herring Coolidge
    Red Herring
    @EHerring

    Duane Oyen (View Comment):

    To exactly what do you refer when positing “anti-Trump bias”? Yes, the magazine editor, Ramesh, is a strong no-Trumper. The rest, now that Kevin Williamson is gone to The Dispatch, pretty much call things as they are.

    It is not particularly controversial to acknowledge that Trump was a large reason for loss of the Senate in two straight elections now, he has disgraced himself with his narcissistic focus on his loss in 2020- which was not a fair election (Mollie was right that it was rigged), but which was also not stolen via voter fraud. The biggest reason that Trump lost in 2020 was DJT.

    And it is not unreasonable to adopt a universal position that people over 80 should not be president, period.

    I disagree that Trump was to blame. People vote. Walker was a better choice than Warnock. Repub control of the Senate is better than Dem control. I have no respect for voters who get their panties in wad over silly things nor will I change my voting habits to please them. 

    • #81
  22. drlorentz Member
    drlorentz
    @drlorentz

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    drlorentz (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    That was May of 2015, following the glorious Nashville Mega-Meetup. Barkha’s nutrition article is here, and it ran to 576 comments!

     

    In the meantime, the obesity rate among American adults has risen another five percentage points to 42% — and that was pre-p(l)andemic. It’s likely accelerated since. You read that right: almost half of American adults are obese. America First!

    It doesn’t have to be this way.

    This is a condition of prosperity. If the WEF has its way, starvation would be the order of the day. Which is better?

    False choice. It doesn’t need to be either of those. Is Japan 1/10 as prosperous as the US? 

    But carry on. Both those paths lead to an early death.

    • #82
  23. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    We are back in our home.  On the way, we stopped by a gas station for a miniscule fillup and a potty break.  Here’s the sign on the bathrooms:

    • #83
  24. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Red Herring (View Comment):
    I have no respect for voters who get their panties in wad over silly things nor will I change my voting habits to please them. 

    Thank you!  Ditto for me.  If I can vote for McCain for President to keep Obama out of office, you can vote for Trump to keep any Democrat out of office . . .

    • #84
  25. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Stad (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    She (View Comment):
    Yeah. My idea of a nice cruise is one in which I would be locked in a gorgeous stateroom with a small “porch” from which I could sit mere feet above, and simply watch, the beautiful waves (I love the sea), accompanied by a stack of my favorite books and favorite crafts. Four or five times a day, the small hatch in the door would open, and someone would shove absolutely decadent and delicious meals and drinks at me, but otherwise, I’d be left to my own devices. Meaning that I could spend the entire time in my pajamas, I’d never have to dress up for, and appear at, the Captain’s Table, nor would I have to participate in any inane or unwelcome activities. (Some history there, for those who are wondering.) Glorious solitude and peace.

    During the height of Covid Hawaii announced restrictions that included being confined to your hotel room for 14 days after arriving in the island.

    I told my wife I could think of several vacation ideas worse than sitting on the balcony of an Ocean-front hotel room in Hawaii for two weeks and that we should consider it.

    But when they said restricted to your hotel ROOM, they probably meant you couldn’t use the balcony!

    I believe people were allowed on their balconies.

    Whew, that could have gone the other direction.  I mean, if some people think that everyone should wear masks outside when alone…

    • #85
  26. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Duane Oyen (View Comment):

    To exactly what do you refer when positing “anti-Trump bias”? Yes, the magazine editor, Ramesh, is a strong no-Trumper. The rest, now that Kevin Williamson is gone to The Dispatch, pretty much call things as they are.

    It is not particularly controversial to acknowledge that Trump was a large reason for loss of the Senate in two straight elections now, he has disgraced himself with his narcissistic focus on his loss in 2020- which was not a fair election (Mollie was right that it was rigged), but which was also not stolen via voter fraud. The biggest reason that Trump lost in 2020 was DJT.

    And it is not unreasonable to adopt a universal position that people over 80 should not be president, period.

    You may believe that, but that doesn’t make it true.

    • #86
  27. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Stad (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    BDB (View Comment):

    Red Herring (View Comment):
    Do you think they would be interested in joining a bunch of sour pusses?

    That’s the BDB Cruise.

    The Ricochet cruise ship is being outfitted for the 2024 Post-Election Victory Cruise:

    That looks like it wants to capsize even on land!

    • #87
  28. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Stad (View Comment):

    Red Herring (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):
    There is nothing more relaxing than sitting on your stateroom balcony with a good book and a drink, just watching and listening to the water go by.

    Or sitting by the pool with a bucket of Corona watching the bikinis, then sorting out who should or should not be wearing them . . .

    Most shouldn’t have been.

    Sadly, that’s true. There was that one cruise that had a group of Brazilian high-schoolers, mostly girls. At the pool, the cruise staff told some of the girls they had to go change into more modest swimsuits. Damn the luck!

    However, I got pics . . .

    Your ideas intrigue me and I would like to see a copy of your brochure.

     

    • #88
  29. Red Herring Coolidge
    Red Herring
    @EHerring

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Red Herring (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):
    There is nothing more relaxing than sitting on your stateroom balcony with a good book and a drink, just watching and listening to the water go by.

    Or sitting by the pool with a bucket of Corona watching the bikinis, then sorting out who should or should not be wearing them . . .

    Most shouldn’t have been.

    Sadly, that’s true. There was that one cruise that had a group of Brazilian high-schoolers, mostly girls. At the pool, the cruise staff told some of the girls they had to go change into more modest swimsuits. Damn the luck!

    However, I got pics . . .

    Your ideas intrigue me and I would like to see a copy of your brochure.

     

    Is that kinda like “ show the pics or it didn’t happen”?

    • #89
  30. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Red Herring (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Red Herring (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):
    There is nothing more relaxing than sitting on your stateroom balcony with a good book and a drink, just watching and listening to the water go by.

    Or sitting by the pool with a bucket of Corona watching the bikinis, then sorting out who should or should not be wearing them . . .

    Most shouldn’t have been.

    Sadly, that’s true. There was that one cruise that had a group of Brazilian high-schoolers, mostly girls. At the pool, the cruise staff told some of the girls they had to go change into more modest swimsuits. Damn the luck!

    However, I got pics . . .

    Your ideas intrigue me and I would like to see a copy of your brochure.

     

    Is that kinda like “ show the pics or it didn’t happen”?

     

    • #90
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