Introduction

 

Hello! I’m new here and you can blame @Spin for that. (Can I tag people with the @ symbol? I don’t know…as I said, I’m new here.) Anyways, I’ve spent the last decade and change wearing my county’s cloth as a Naval Flight Officer. Aviators aren’t generally known for their bookishness, so my long surname was replaced by the callsign “D12”. Facebook is my only social media outlet (Twitter is a sewer, and don’t get me started on the instaporn apps). I’m hoping to find rigorous and respectful discussions with passionately reasonable people. To paraphrase Dennis Prager, I don’t care much for consensus, but clarity is priceless. See you in the comment section!

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  1. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    Welcome! And your prize for joining Ricochet will be revealed on the next Flagship Podcast. ;)

    • #1
  2. Gossamer Cat Coolidge
    Gossamer Cat
    @GossamerCat

    Welcome to Ricochet.  You joined in very interesting times.

    • #2
  3. JustmeinAZ Member
    JustmeinAZ
    @JustmeinAZ

    D12: don’t get me started on the instaporn apps

    How would you know about those?

    I’ve never heard of them, but then I’m a Luddite.

    • #3
  4. Timothy Landon Inactive
    Timothy Landon
    @TimothyLandon

    Welcome!  The people here are nice.  Lots of different perspectives.  You can talk about political matters and expect to be treated with respect.

    • #4
  5. Eustace C. Scrubb Member
    Eustace C. Scrubb
    @EustaceCScrubb

    Yes, @d12 , you can use @ to tag people.

    • #5
  6. The Cynthonian Inactive
    The Cynthonian
    @TheCynthonian

    Welcome!   We hold the military (and veterans) in high regard around here.  Thanks for your service!

    • #6
  7. tigerlily Member
    tigerlily
    @tigerlily

    Welcome D12!

    • #7
  8. KentForrester Coolidge
    KentForrester
    @KentForrester

    Welcome, D12.

    Instaporn?  I didn’t know there was such a thing.  Where do I sign up?   Criminently, all this time I’ve been paying monthly fees to watch Procrastiporn. 

    • #8
  9. Marjorie Reynolds Coolidge
    Marjorie Reynolds
    @MarjorieReynolds

    Welcome D12. Ricochet is a very nice corner of the internet.

    • #9
  10. E. Kent Golding Moderator
    E. Kent Golding
    @EKentGolding

    Welcome.   We will not blame Spin for you,  but may blame you for Spin.

    • #10
  11. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    Hah! You listened to us (Spin and me, I mean).  Welcome to Ricochet. Someone here is in charge of the secret handshake, but it’s not me…

    • #11
  12. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    Welcome D12 – I retired a decade ago after being a Bomber pilot.

    The Ricoverse is a nice place.

    • #12
  13. She Member
    She
    @She

    D12: I’m hoping to find rigorous and respectful discussions with passionately reasonable people.

    Spin told you that’s what you’d find here?  Oh, dear . . .

    Welcome!

    • #13
  14. jmelvin Member
    jmelvin
    @jmelvin

    Welcome!

    • #14
  15. kelsurprise, drama queen Member
    kelsurprise, drama queen
    @kelsurprise

    D12: Anyways, I’ve spent the last decade and change wearing my county’s cloth as a Naval Flight Officer. Aviators aren’t generally known for their bookishness, so my long surname was replaced by the callsign “D12”.

    Welcome!  And thanks for your service.  

    That whole “call sign” thing used to crack me up, btw.  For a short time just after college (many years ago), I lived in Fort Walton Beach and my roommate was in the Air Force.  She worked with a squadron at Eglin and every time we’d be going out or having a party and I’d ask what friends of hers might show up, I’d get the oddest guest list: 

    “Uh… I think ‘ET’ is coming, definitely ‘Lurch’ and ‘Roto’ . . . and ‘Trash’ and ‘Mrs. Trash’ might stop by later . . . ”  

    I remember that group of guys really fondly and yet, I’m not sure I ever knew the real names of most of them.   

    • #15
  16. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    I’m sure that one day your military and aviation experience will be deeply informative. Around here I am the go to guy for weird Japanese stuff,  evolutionary biology and Thomas Sowell. Feel free to consult me if you need info on any of those things.  

    • #16
  17. Addiction Is A Choice Member
    Addiction Is A Choice
    @AddictionIsAChoice

    Welcome, FNG, er, D12!

    • #17
  18. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):

    Welcome to Ricochet. You joined in very interesting times.

    This is a much more respectful place than Facebook, and if you pop off, you get the lightning bolt from an editor and a scolding. I got it once and now I try to watch my P’s and Q’s…

    • #18
  19. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    I’m glad you joined!

    All, D12 was a young man studying Arabic in the Middle East when I met him on a mission trip.  I celebrated my 40th birthday on that trip and he gave me a bible written in Arabic.  Still once of my prized possessions.  I still think of him as a kid but 10 years in the Navy will man you up right now!  

    • #19
  20. Songwriter Inactive
    Songwriter
    @user_19450

    Welcome!

    • #20
  21. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Now, about that post regarding price gouging…

    • #21
  22. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Good to have you with us, @d12! We’ve got some great folks here. Except for that @spin guy . . . 😊

    • #22
  23. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Good to have you with us, @d12! We’ve got some great folks here. Except for that @spin guy . . . 😊

    I don’t care for your tone.

    • #23
  24. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Welcome! And your prize for joining Ricochet will be revealed on the next Flagship Podcast. ;)

    What prize do I get?

    • #24
  25. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    Spin (View Comment):

    Now, about that post regarding price gouging…

    Link please – I gotta see that one.

    • #25
  26. Mendel Inactive
    Mendel
    @Mendel

    Welcome!

    It sounds like you are very interested in joining in thought-provoking, in-depth discussions on deep and sometimes obscure topics. That’s what this site is for.

    On the other hand, I imagine quite a few members would also be game for some very un-intellectual, titillating tales from the world of naval aviation right about now. So don’t hold back.

    D12: Naval Flight Officer

    Which aircraft?

    • #26
  27. Mendel Inactive
    Mendel
    @Mendel

    Oh, and we almost forgot the most important admission criteria:

    Cats or dogs?

    (P.S. There is only one correct answer. And that answer is dogs.)

    • #27
  28. D12 Inactive
    D12
    @D12

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Welcome! And your prize for joining Ricochet will be revealed on the next Flagship Podcast. ;)

    There are prizes?! Hot dang! 

    • #28
  29. D12 Inactive
    D12
    @D12

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Welcome D12 – I retired a decade ago after being a Bomber pilot.

    The Ricoverse is a nice place.

    Bombers, eh? Ol’ BUFF or something else? Mad respect for the fellas who get it done in the B-52. I got a tour of one down in Barksdale from a friend of mine who is a Navigator. That’s some tough duty!

    • #29
  30. D12 Inactive
    D12
    @D12

    kelsurprise, drama queen (View Comment):

    D12: Anyways, I’ve spent the last decade and change wearing my county’s cloth as a Naval Flight Officer. Aviators aren’t generally known for their bookishness, so my long surname was replaced by the callsign “D12”.

    Welcome! And thanks for your service.

    That whole “call sign” thing used to crack me up, btw. For a short time just after college (many years ago), I lived in Fort Walton Beach and my roommate was in the Air Force. She worked with a squadron at Eglin and every time we’d be going out or having a party and I’d ask what friends of hers might show up, I’d get the oddest guest list:

    “Uh… I think ‘ET’ is coming, definitely ‘Lurch’ and ‘Roto’ . . . and ‘Trash’ and ‘Mrs. Trash’ might stop by later . . . ”

    I remember that group of guys really fondly and yet, I’m not sure I ever knew the real names of most of them.

    The call signs are a fun form of cultural initiation, but the rule generally is that you only get the answer to “Why do they call you that?” over a drink. I don’t drink so I figured I’d get it out of the way in a hurry. Mudd, Blunt, DP, Tick, DR, BRINA, Frumbe, Gumbo… it’s a good time. And yes, if you do it right, you have to really think to conjure up your closest friends’ first names.  

    • #30
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