I’m Here Because of Lileks

 

Okay, not just Lileks, but he is probably my favorite of all the guys on the Ricochet podcast, which I’ve been enjoying for several months now. I finally took the bait and became a member.

I’m a former liberal (just want to get that off my chest from the start). I’ve lived in various regions of the U.S., but I’m Midwest born and bred. I earned a bachelor’s in English in 2009 and published a few short stories online. (Currently working in state government, so you know how that whole writing thing turned out.) Among my interests/likes: philosophy of Alasdair MacIntyre, cycling, Jane Austen novels, knitting, and baking my own granola bars.

What I love about Lileks: During the podcast, he almost always asks the follow-up question I’m asking (but no one can hear).

However, I lately discovered that we differ drastically on the issue of changing our clocks. It’s stupid. I hate it.

Published in General
This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 83 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    You will find a lot of colleagues for all your interests, Malka. Welcome!

    • #1
  2. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    You need to check out The Daily Bleat.  It’s the web-page he’s been doing for, I guess, about 20 years.  I think he still does it.  When I was reading it regularly, his daughter was three or four.  She’s out of college now, I think.

    • #2
  3. Phil Turmel Inactive
    Phil Turmel
    @PhilTurmel

    Welcome!

    Malka Davis: I’m a former liberal

    There are a few around here.  You can count me, if you go back to my teens.  There are even some who come to Ricochet as full-blown lefty believers, intending to talk sense into convert the deplorables heathens hanging out here.  I don’t have hard figures, but the opposite has been happening.

    Malka Davis: the issue of changing our clocks. It’s stupid. I hate it. 

    Yeah, with you.

    • #3
  4. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    Welcome Malka. There is a wide range of topics here. This is really a big tent.

    • #4
  5. Addiction Is A Choice Member
    Addiction Is A Choice
    @AddictionIsAChoice

    Congratulations and welcome.  You have chosen wisely.  And we value your discerning taste in deciding to pay the few extra pence for a product of real quality.  Everything about Ricochet has been designed to meet the exacting standards which you have naturally come to expect.  You can relax and enjoy this quality product.  Secure in the knowledge that it has been specially created for the lover of fine things and the man of good taste.

    • #5
  6. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Malka Davis: I’m here because of Lileks

    Me too.  Although I’ve been hearing him for years previous, not just months.

    • #6
  7. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Malka Davis: However, I lately discovered that we differ drastically on the issue of changing our clocks. It’s stupid. I hate it.

    I guess it’s true, you should never meet your heroes.  :-)

    • #7
  8. Saint Augustine Member
    Saint Augustine
    @SaintAugustine

    Welcome!

    MacIntyre is great.

    • #8
  9. HankRhody Freelance Philosopher Contributor
    HankRhody Freelance Philosopher
    @HankRhody

    Howdy.

    Malka Davis: However, I lately discovered that we differ drastically on the issue of changing our clocks. It’s stupid. I hate it.

    I’ve become radicalized. No DST! No time zones! Burn it all down!

    • #9
  10. She Member
    She
    @She

    Malka Davis: I earned a bachelor’s in English in 2009 and published a few short stories online. (Currently working in state government, so you know how that whole writing thing turned out.)

    Welcome to Ricochet, @malka-davis. I earned mine in 1976, and the writing thing didn’t pan out for me, either.  But I retired from a much-loved IT career several years ago.  Useful things, those English degrees.  Don’t give up the ship.

    Regards,

    Another Knitter 

    • #10
  11. Guruforhire Inactive
    Guruforhire
    @Guruforhire

    All culture, and shared identity is built around something stupid and inconvenient.  The more stupid and inconvenient the stronger the bonds of fellowship.

    • #11
  12. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Welcome, Malka.  Yes, DST is a corrupt conspiracy to alter human biorhythms and keep everyone sleep deprived and stultified.  I read it somewhere, but I just can’t find the link.

    • #12
  13. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Welcome!

    You show up and James posts a new Ramble? Coincidence?

    • #13
  14. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Welcome!

    You show up and James posts a new Ramble? Coincidence?

    I guess that answers the question about needing a new iTunes url:  Yes.

    • #14
  15. Seawriter Contributor
    Seawriter
    @Seawriter

    About writing: I have been writing professionally  (i.e., getting paid for it) for nearly 25 years. From long experience my advice is write as much as you can; just don’t quit the day job.

    • #15
  16. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    That’s a nice introduction.  Happy to have you, except for the part about the clocks.

    • #16
  17. Jon Gabriel, Ed. Contributor
    Jon Gabriel, Ed.
    @jon

    Welcome to Ricochet!

    • #17
  18. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    Welcome to your new Ricochet Family.  Ricochetti are the finest people you would ever hope to meet.  And you should watch for notices of physical meetups so you can meet members in person.

    • #18
  19. Jim McConnell Member
    Jim McConnell
    @JimMcConnell

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    You need to check out The Daily Bleat. It’s the web-page he’s been doing for, I guess, about 20 years. I think he still does it. When I was reading it regularly, his daughter was three or four. She’s out of college now, I think.

    Oh, yes, the Gnat (for Natalie, I believe).

    • #19
  20. GrannyDude Member
    GrannyDude
    @GrannyDude

    Phil Turmel (View Comment):

    Welcome!

    Malka Davis: I’m a former liberal

    There are a few around here. You can count me, if you go back to my teens. There are even some who come to Ricochet as full-blown lefty believers, intending to talk sense into convert the deplorables heathens hanging out here. I don’t have hard figures, but the opposite has been happening.

     

    I resemble that remark.

    • #20
  21. Malka Davis Inactive
    Malka Davis
    @Malkadavis

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Welcome!

    MacIntyre is great.

    Maybe there’s a group for MacIntyre readers?

    • #21
  22. Malka Davis Inactive
    Malka Davis
    @Malkadavis

    She (View Comment):

    Malka Davis: I earned a bachelor’s in English in 2009 and published a few short stories online. (Currently working in state government, so you know how that whole writing thing turned out.)

    Welcome to Ricochet, @ malka-davis. I earned mine in 1976, and the writing thing didn’t pan out for me, either. But I retired from a much-loved IT career several years ago. Useful things, those English degrees. Don’t give up the ship.

    Regards,

    Another Knitter

    Thanks for the words of encouragement! I figured Ricochet would be a good place to start exercising my writing muscles again.

    • #22
  23. Malka Davis Inactive
    Malka Davis
    @Malkadavis

    Guruforhire (View Comment):

    All culture, and shared identity is built around something stupid and inconvenient. The more stupid and inconvenient the stronger the bonds of fellowship.

    I never thought of it that way, but by gosh, I think you’re right.

    • #23
  24. Malka Davis Inactive
    Malka Davis
    @Malkadavis

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    You need to check out The Daily Bleat. It’s the web-page he’s been doing for, I guess, about 20 years. I think he still does it. When I was reading it regularly, his daughter was three or four. She’s out of college now, I think.

    Thanks, Randy! I’ll definitely check it out. I was just on the “No Dumb Questions” Zoom thingy and learned a lot about his writing career.

    • #24
  25. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Malka Davis (View Comment):

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    You need to check out The Daily Bleat. It’s the web-page he’s been doing for, I guess, about 20 years. I think he still does it. When I was reading it regularly, his daughter was three or four. She’s out of college now, I think.

    Thanks, Randy! I’ll definitely check it out. I was just on the “No Dumb Questions” Zoom thingy and learned a lot about his writing career.

    The Daily Bleat is actually just one rather small part of the overall empire known as lileks.com

    • #25
  26. Saint Augustine Member
    Saint Augustine
    @SaintAugustine

    Malka Davis (View Comment):

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Welcome!

    MacIntyre is great.

    Maybe there’s a group for MacIntyre readers?

    I think all we got is a philosophy group. (And I have just one YouTube video.)

    My suggestion: Start a MacIntyre conversation. It’ll be awesome.

    • #26
  27. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    Wow! Thank you. I think I now have some sort of moral responsibility to you, as one does when one saves a life. I apologize for bobbling your name on your Q for No Bad Questions; the type was tiny and I couldn’t tell if it was Malka or Makia, the latter sounding like some Soviet dog cosmonaut and hence unlikely to join, but you never know. 

    And thanks to all who’ve checked out lileks.com, now in its 25th year. It is not a “blog” in the usual sense of posting links and writing a few paragraphs of irritated bitchery, but daily musings on . . . things, with a suite of secondary features that rotate from day to day, as well as daily links to updates elsewhere in the site. It is an alarmingly large place,  but I’m proud of it. 

    Anyway, welcome! You’ll love it here.

    • #27
  28. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Wow! Thank you. I think I now have some sort of moral responsibility to you, as one does when one saves a life. I apologize for bobbling your name on your Q for No Bad Questions; the type was tiny and I couldn’t tell if it was Malka or Makia, the latter sounding like some Soviet dog cosmonaut and hence unlikely to join, but you never know.

    And thanks to all who’ve checked out lileks.com, now in its 25th year. It is not a “blog” in the usual sense of posting links and writing a few paragraphs of irritated bitchery, but daily musings on . . . things, with a suite of secondary features that rotate from day to day, as well as daily links to updates elsewhere in the site. It is an alarmingly large place, but I’m proud of it.

    Anyway, welcome! You’ll love it here.

    I remember something similar from you when I joined, for the same reason.  :-)

    And I remember in my own earlier life of computer programming, looking back on all the stuff I’d written and re-written and seeing it all working together and people typing into them all day…  and thinking, “Wow, how did I do all of that?”

    • #28
  29. Norm McDonald Bought The Farm Inactive
    Norm McDonald Bought The Farm
    @Pseudodionysius

    Saint Augustine (View Comment):

    Welcome!

    MacIntyre is great.

    He’s also king of the run on sentence. He’s no Josef Pieper. By the way, not to change topics, but I bought a new podium and I appear to have misplaced it. Has anyone seen it?

    • #29
  30. Jim McConnell Member
    Jim McConnell
    @JimMcConnell

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Wow! Thank you. I think I now have some sort of moral responsibility to you, as one does when one saves a life. I apologize for bobbling your name on your Q for No Bad Questions; the type was tiny and I couldn’t tell if it was Malka or Makia, the latter sounding like some Soviet dog cosmonaut and hence unlikely to join, but you never know.

    And thanks to all who’ve checked out lileks.com, now in its 25th year. It is not a “blog” in the usual sense of posting links and writing a few paragraphs of irritated bitchery, but daily musings on . . . things, with a suite of secondary features that rotate from day to day, as well as daily links to updates elsewhere in the site. It is an alarmingly large place, but I’m proud of it.

    Anyway, welcome! You’ll love it here.

    James, I just wanted you to know that I’ve been following your various collecting of odd trivia and your writing (even some of your books!) for years and I sincerely recommend that everyone check out lileks.com. There’s something for practically everyone there.

    • #30
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.