A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
Some time ago on Ricochet we had a "Silent Members, Please Say Hello!" thread:
I happen to know--because I have inside information--that Ricochet has many members who have never left a comment. That's fine, of course. The beauty of the Internet is that it's not like Thanksgiving dinner with your in-laws. No one will get mad at you on the drive home because you just sat in front of the television the whole time and you didn't say a single word to Uncle Herbert, even though he drove all the way from Branson, Mo., and can't you make an effort with my family even once, just once a year?
But is there anyone out there who actually wants to join the conversation, but is just feeling a bit shy? If so, let me jump in with my superb hostess skills. Let's imagine this is a party, and you're the shy guest who's standing on the edge of the group, looking like you'd actually like to join in the conversation, but aren't quite sure how to begin. At this point I'll notice that, and because I have superb hostess skills, I'll say something that tactfully draws you in without focusing too much attention on you or embarrassing you. Something really graceful and socially-skilled.
And I happen to know, again because I have inside information, that since I wrote that we've acquired new members who have never left a comment. And that's still fine! There's a lot to be said for strong, silent types.
But if perhaps you're the strong, silent, shy type--and you're waiting for just the right moment to introduce yourself--let me break the ice. So, where are you from? What brings you to Ricochet?
It would be lovely, too, if the old, talkative members introduced themselves to the new, quiet ones.
To put yourself in the right spirit, imagine that I have just passed around the punchbowl for the third time.
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Comments:
Jan '11
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
I write from CA-8, former Speaker Pelosi's district (love saying "former"), San Francisco. I've been following Ricochet since the first podcasts (via Mark Steyn), but I finally signed up to thank Claire Berlinski for posting her thesis on the Cold War origins of America's relations with Egypt. Unfortunately, I goofed up my email address in the application, and by the time I was able to log in, the topic had gone stale. So a belated thanks, Claire, for a good read.
I lean libertarian, and consider myself a conservative about liberal values, if that makes sense. There are actually more of us in the Bay Area than you might think, especially in Silicon Valley, where I work. We are, though, probably outnumbered by the "progressives," who can be defined Devil's Dictionary-style as people who advocate policies that were first tried at least 50 years ago, and have never worked.
I do love the natural beauty of this place. And high-tech still provides economic dynamism here, but runaway government seems bent on destroying it.
Mar '11
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
Thank you for the gracious invitation Claire.
Hello everyone!
I live in a suburb of Minneapolis and work as a software engineer for a company that makes 3D printers. I've been following ricochet for about 6 months and finally decided it was time to join.
I almost posted in the "Is The Big Bang About To Go Bust?" thread (I have a scientific background), but by the time I decided what to write, the conversation had shifted to evolution. I'm sure I'll manage a comment from time to time, but extracting a coherent paragraph or two from the conceptual chaos inside my skull is so time consuming it won't happen often.
Apr '11
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
Claire,
You hooked me this time. I barely escaped the last time. I'm a Leo under the old rules -- don't know anymore. I grew up in a small Mississippi Delta town. I am in Las Vegas as a tax and estate planning attorney. I am so sad the Harry Reid is my senator -- sometimes I want to cry.
Pleased to meet you and the rest of Ricochet.
Apr '11
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
Hi Claire,
Thanks for the party invite, though I'm off sugar right now so I'll pass on the punch. I've been lurking here for a while and have rarely felt I had anything to add that wasn't expressed sufficiently, and better, by others. I suppose I may now pipe-in from time to time when I feel the need to correct anyone on the south or homeschooling, my two loves. Although with David Limbaugh's recent marathon post, I may need to add him as love #3.
Jul '10
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
Welcome to the asylum, friends. Your life will never be the same.
Sep '10
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
I comment occasionally but usually I find that others have expressed precisely my thoughts, in considerably better language. I did, however, once offend Kenneth deeply - for which I’m still quite proud. I would say that everyone at Ricochet is benefitted from a wide sampling of people, even if they express similar opinions.
As a rough example, I read an online international news report (BBC, I think) during the last World Cup. It seemed that the poorly-performing North Korean players might have been punished by being sent to mine coal upon their return home. This had happened previously, which their coach knew about – but was still hopeful that this would not be repeated for his team. Upon finishing the article, my thoughts were something like “Oh those poor dears…”
But when I checked other reader’s comments, which came from all over, each one stated something like “This is what should happen to our national team,” or “If mining coal was the result of our team’s not completing their passes…” or “Our #*^!~ players probably can’t dig coal very well, either.” Anyway, those comments told me something about all people’s firm grasp on their national identities.
Oct '10
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
I never introduced myself in one of these threads, so here goes.
I'm quite active on this site; I live in northern Utah, but I also spend time in northern California. I'm a squishy moderate, though not in Olympia Snowe or Susan Collan's league. I lean classical liberal (in the original limited-government sense).
I'm a software engineer. I work in computer graphics, writing 3D modeler and simulation tools for the open-source Blender project. As member of a successful collectivist enterprise, I have nothing but contempt for lefties, and their fantasy that "democracy" can run anything (successful open source projects are run more like corporations then a socialist's fantasy).
I also think social conservatism has a lot of beneficial parts to gay people (I'm bisexual), and I try to make the case that a gay-accepting social conservatism is the perfect way to destroy the self-destructive side of gay culture. Most gay/bi people aren't like the (freakishly) visible gay left, yet the gay left shuts us out, to the point they genuinely believe that all gay/bi people are just like them.
Jan '11
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
Welcome members of the Silent Cal persuasion. I admire your restraint. It took 6 months until I realized this site was a great value and I needed to support its continued existence. I have not yet learned that just because I can post doesn't mean I should post.
Message to all you freeloaders: Support Net profitability and buy a membership. We need someone to fill a recently vacated membership.
Oct '10
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
North Carolina, Battleground 2012, and late to the party! I feel too new for the reception committee, but I’m happy to contribute some bio-mass and welcome the lurking night shift.
I do baroque impressions of Beethoven's hair in gesso-soaked muslin for large scale architectural panels -- which somehow led to hand bending humongous sheets of copper too. Yeah, a picture would be worth 200 words; alas, I suck at filing.
I’ve also discovered there's no such thing as taking one photo. So many flash cards! So many available gigs! I don’t usually do people, but Ricochet folks might enjoy a slideshow of the 2009 DC Tea Party. I've got a makeshift sampler up, if your addictions only start with politics.
My murder mystery, in verse, about the death of Poseidon is wending it's way from the dawn of time to Flint, Michigan. If I'm lucky, it will take the rest of my life to complete and the grandchildren I'm still waiting for will find it among my effects. Otherwise, my own children have already turned out fabulously well, and just watching what they do with their lives is an adventure.
Jun '10
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
That's laugh lout loud funny. That'll break the ice. Kudos.
Mar '11
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
I am a Software Developer working with an American MNC in Bangalore.
I have a feeling I might be the only Indian around here. I tweet here http://twitter.com/_varun_vijay
I became seriously interested in world politics and moved away from other hobbies (films and literature), after 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. It was my liberal-mugged-by-reality moment. Thankfully I was an empiricist before I was a liberal.
Contemporary Western Columnists & bloggers I read regularly (in the order I familiarized myself with their writings)
Mark Steyn
Theodore Dalrymple
(He deprogrammed me from all those liberal hollywood films, literature and philosophy I read. Deprogramming is very important because often an illusion lost enlightens one more than new wisdom gained.)
Thomas Sowell
http://mjperry.blogspot.com/
Jonah Goldberg
Victor Davis Hanson
Rich Lowry
Charles Krauthammer
Mona Charen
I think India could not have achieved any of today's economic well-being if not for the 1991 "economic liberalisation in India" by P.V. Narasimha Rao; And I am certain that PVNR could not have made those economic reforms, if Ronald Reagan had not brought down the evil empire.
Apr '11
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
I date from the age of Waiting For Godot, The Crucible, Peter Pan, the H-Bomb, DNA, REM, RAM, the polio vaccine, the death of Stalin, birth of the Vette, Playboy, the conquest of Everest, cessation of Korean Kinetic Military Operations. And ... um, Paul Krugman. Still, quite a year. Tony Blair and I arrived on the same day, FWIW.
I blame my dancefloor ineptitude on MKULTRA.
I've been following Ricochet from the beginning, mainly listening to the podcasts, and finally got around to joining on April Fools Day, appropriately, I'm sure you'll come to agree.
I'm from Alhambra, Southern Californ-I-A, and now live at the other end of Route 66. In between were NoCal, Idaho, Minnesota, Kansas, Texas, Mississippi, and Puerto Rico -- I'm a construction brat; my wife was an Army brat.
I am fond of anagrams, hence my handle. If I misread the CoC correctly, anagrams are probably hatespeechthinkcrime, so I won't inflect (m)any on you without provocation.
In my non-spare time, I get paid to play with computers. First for a small engineering outfit in Houston, then Rockwell Graphic Systems (newspaper presses!), now Fermi National Accelerator Lab.
Apr '11
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
And for #53, I will resume work on my tax return. Sigh ...
Jun '10
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
Erik Heide:
I almost posted in the "Is The Big Bang About To Go Bust?" thread (I have a scientific background), but by the time I decided what to write, the conversation had shifted to evolution.
Well, we did get sidetracked onto evolution -- it wasn't my fault -- but, my first interest is in the math and science symbiosis, so if you re-comment in this post tell me your interest and I will start a new post -- or better yet: post on a science based topic and you will get me to comment for sure.
We are really lucky that this site is set up by the Long-Robinson genius duo. This place is unique.
One thing: if people don't comment right away, have patience for a couple days. This is such an asynchronous process that we can't all comment as soon as we read the posts -- because of work, family, church, etc. I find comments take some time and concentration to write well. But, it's also fun to respond quickly on a topic that is difficult to convey and feedback is necessary -- but there are more logic and spelling mistakes then.
Apr '11
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
Long-time lurker. Argued with one of the podcast people about the sound quality last year: Why encode stereo when both channels are identical? Just wastes bandwidth for no benefit. Means something to us still in the dial up world (34.952 by 105.248).
Never a big "Wheel of Fortune" fan, but I like Pat Sajak. Been reading James Lileks and his "on-line journal" for about ten years. Been watching "Cheers" since the early '80s. I rarely skip re-runs when stumbled upon, and sometimes I seek them out. I'm more of a Coach/Dianne era fan, but they're all good, Mr. Robinson Long (or John Robinson, or Long Roberts, whatever).
I'm a physics/nuclear engineering pro in Albuquerque, NM, USA, though I don't have an advanced degree in either. Just a BA and experience.
Signed up today. Mainly to have access to the deeper podcasts. The free ones are superior, so I 'spect the for-pay versions must be amazing. We'll see! (Or hear!)
Thanks, Ms. Berlinski for the lube. Got a hankerin' in your honor for the "Miss Turkey" sandwich tomorrow at Carl's Junior.
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
Us, eminent? Oh, Python, if only you knew. If I read your description of us to my kids, who know me and Rob Long well, and have met most of the other members of the crew here, I promise--really, I promise--they'd laugh out loud. But welcome to Ricochet. And take care of Maryland for us. (My wife grew up there.)
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
That really is just about the nicest thing I've ever heard anyone say about my old boss, Ronald Reagan. Welcome to Ricochet, Varun!
Jun '10
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
I think India could not have achieved any of today's economic well-being if not for the 1991 "economic liberalisation in India" by P.V. Narasimha Rao; And I am certain that PVNR could not have made those economic reforms, if Ronald Reagan had not brought down the evil empire.
Very well said. History will treat President Reagan well. Some of us are pushing for his face on Mt. Rushmore.
I like your list of influences a lot. It matches mine with about 80% overlap. There seem to be big fans of William F. Buckley, Jr. here at Ricochet. He's one person that I recommend a lot because of his concision on almost every subject that is dear to my heart.
I have traveled to Bangalore a few times. It is no longer the beautiful garden city that it was when I first was there in 1996.
Are you religious at all? Do you or your family have a lineage that I might recognize?
Finally, we would all love to hear about Indian politics from a person with your background and insider information. India is becoming more and more important to the future safety of mankind.
Mar '11
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
Hi, all! Between my all-consuming Silicon Valley software engineering job and raising a 2-year-old, I'm going to be hard pressed to contribute here anytime soon. But I truly hope to find a way to make it happen, as the topics on deck are near to my heart and constantly on my mind.
Meanwhile, it's a genuine delight to be in such thoughtful company. I've greatly enjoyed the podcast (since "Volume I, Number I"!), which seems to have succeeded brilliantly at bringing so many of us here. I now try to catch up with the site daily, and look forward to "joining the conversation" when I can find the time and have something to contribute. Thankfully, as others have pointed out, the already-active brain trust here has kept the various topic angles very well covered.
I've enjoyed being enlightened and inspired by some great writers, among them Friedman, Sowell, Hayek, Hanson, and Steyn, but I often say it's Bill Whittle's "Silent America" essays that most stirringly convey what I love so dearly about this rare and precious culture and Civilization of ours. I can't recommend them highly enough. (Any other "Eject! Eject! Eject!" fans in our midst?)
Cheers, friends, and looking forward to exchanging ideas and getting to know you all better!
Mar '11
Re: A Word from Ricochet's Department of Hospitality Management
I'm wondering how many more Ricochet members are in Israel (in addition to Judith Levy).
I love listening to the podcasts while I tote around my 4-month-old and clean up after my other seven kids, whom I occasionally startle by laughing out loud at the podcast banter (my kids always wonder what could possibly be so funny).
I joined primarily so that I could hear Epstein and Yoo . . .what a pair!