Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Why Subscribe? The Breadth and Depth of Ricochet
From time to time, Ricochet members capture the incredible breadth of posts on a given day. This is far more than a center-right political discussion and rant site. I wonder if we might roll up a sort of topical author list. Here is my very imperfect and incomplete start. If you would, please share your own go-to post series or exceptional stand-alone entries.
From Gary McVey’s serial history of television in America, to the very long-running, always informative Hank Rhody series that started with “How to Build a Computer, Part 1 of N: Silicon,” to SeaWriter’s weekly book reviews, to SkipSul’s ongoing series on Orthodox iconography, this is an amazing-value web publication.
That does not even touch the poetry (often by Arahant) and food and photography posts, some singular and some occasional. “She” provides both recipes and fine stories in her “Friday food and drink posts.” You won’t find articles in any other publication as good as LC’s occasional posts on Khmer history and culture. I would not have pulled my DSLR camera out of storage and done several original reporting stories, were it not for RightAngles responding to a monthly theme prompt with an amazing, informative, illustrated article on the state of the stock photography business.
Published in General
There is just too much here to catalog. I have probably missed a thousand things.
Then there are the current and former series, such as Quote of the Day and Group Writing. These bring out so many unexpected topics and show the diverse interests here on Ricochet.
And, we have the PIT. It’s the best virtual bar in Webtown.
And you don’t get carded . . .
Oh, and of course, what was the spur that spurred this post? We have our military veterans, such as Colonel Brown or @bossmongo who are able to bring light to what is going on in the military and with items such as movement or activations of certain forces and commands.
We have experts on every subject at Ricochet, such as @scottwilmot on petroleum issues. Any subject one can think of, we have it. GPS? Hello, @richardeaston. Modeling, stock photography, and the greeting card business? Yes, we have those all represented in @rightangles. Legal issues? We have more lawyers than a large law firm. Medical issues? Doctors galore.
But you do get inundated in a river of silliness and curated Tweets.
Plus, don’t forget the best group on Ricochet, “What are you listening to,” where a handful of us pop in to post great – often obscure – tunes. We need more participants over there!
Which reminds me of @randywebster‘s Saturday music posts. Also, there is an old PIT that is hiding out as a music thread. @django?
I often think, “Camper, you’ve just got to finally write that post you keep thinking about almost every day, about the vast and beautiful countryside of people, thoughts, experiences, images, literature, knowledge that’s comprised by Ricochet”.
I never can get it started, because I know the list is too long.
Now Clifford and Arahant have done it. I don’t mean done it, but started it. How satisfying to see in writing that others see and feel the same thing that I have. I want to add to the list for the same reason I wanted to start it, and won’t be able to right now for the same reason!
Exactly, still just getting started.
Oh, can’t forget to mention @johnh and his posts, often about travel, but also about things like learning to fly a helicopter. His posts always approach something interesting from an oblique angle.
What or who else have we left out?
Obviously, there is also @kentforrester with his posts, often highlighting the adventures of Bob the Dog. Should have mentioned him earlier. A retired literature professor, woodworker, puzzle-maker, and world traveler.
My goodness, I don’t think we’ve mentioned @cliffordbrown, whose repertoire is so diverse that where would we put him? I especially like his historical posts and I think he offers a clear and in-depth view of current political issues in a way that few provide.
And the fact that we have members all over the USA and the world. Wherever you travel, you will never be totally alone, as there will be Ricochetti to meet with you and share a meal and conversation.
Did we mention @henryracette? I haven’t seen him around here much in the past month, but, for our tiny cohort of millennials around here, it’s nice to have a solid “stand up straight and quit complaining” post from time to time.
He’s another one of those who writes about a wide range of topics, so many that it’d be hard to categorize him.
Another thing to consider is how many Contributors on Ricochet started as members. Several of the people already mentioned came up through the ranks.
Hurray for more of Bob the Dog!
I think that all of this argues for using tags in your post(s). That certainly helps people sort, group, select a set of posts by a descriptive term, hopefully having to do with some part of the topic or type of post. Two or three well-chosen tags, usually from the pop up list of past tags, can bring a post back from the depths of a pile of posts.
Sometimes people take a break for a while. He’ll probably pop up again soon . . .
Yes, and that is why I rolled up the Group Writing topics by month and year, in “A Guide to Monthly Themes.”
The tags and “Quote of the Day” in post titles help access past months and years worth of posts.
And it is very rare that you get a post like this one . . .
Just pick out one topic, and take time to compose, and edit it. I loved writing about “Recovery Court,” “Child Protective Services,” and this last weekend, “The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.” Your first post likely won’t be a modern epoch, but it will be yours. Start. Write about what you know. And start.
Ricochet is also a good place to go to for advice. In the past there have been some great comments in posts that simply ask, what’s you favorite scotch? Or, what is your preferred concealed carry handgun? Not all posts need to be some deep thesis. Some of the best are simple discussion starters.
Yeah. And I suppose we were spoiled a bit. He was gifting us with posts so often that he was even giving Susan a run for her money!
Some more names that I don’t think were mentioned so far, but who have certainly given me some great reading material:
@westernchauvinist, @jamesgawron, @oldbathos, @bryangstephens, @rodin, @rufusrjones, @omegapaladin, @richardeaston, @frontseatcat, @cbtoderakamamatoad, @saintaugustine, @fullsizetabby, @amyschley, @chuckles, and @percival….
Also, some of the folks who commented above (looking your way Gary, Mark, Vance, Stad, and Rushbabe) are among my favorites.
Okay, I’m done. But don’t be fooled into believing that this is an exhaustive list!
@iwe ‘s observations as an observant academic Jew help my reading of the Bible as a Christian.
And of course @concretevol ‘s posts on concrete – a material we see and rely on every day but rarely think about.
And a nurse or three.
Yes, some very sexy ones, and then there’s you. 😜
And the best reason to subscribe to Ricochet? Look at all these friends you can make. And make no mistake, many friendships have blossomed. Many meet-ups have happened. Book collaborations. This place is a gold mine of great people.
I just took a quick trip to CA on Friday to Sunday.
On the way, I went out of my way to drive on I-5 between Bakersfield and LA, paralleling the Ridge Road which a member had posted about, and about which I had read a couple of books recommended by the post.
I also visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and posted about it. http://ricochet.com/678370/the-ronald-reagan-presidential-library/
Then I drove on Mulholland Drive which I found out about in a Harry Bosch book by Michael Connelly who I was introduced to by Ricochet members. What a great road to drive on!
While I was driving to and from CA, I listened to a half dozen Ricochet podcasts.
Ricochet has enlivened my life in many, many ways. If you are not a member, you will discover a whole new world once you join. It is a very, very well spent investment in yourself.
You forgot Bob, our resident dog.
Rarely a day goes by when I don’t learn something from Ricochet. Could be anything. But I always learn something.
That’s why I keep coming back.
Good dog, Bob!