The Best of Ricochet's Greatest Hits and More.....
Plus, our next No Dumb Questions, the debut of The Nightcap w/Jon Gabriel, and other community news.......
The Ricochet Member Feed: The Greatest Hits
By The Queen of Stuff
With everything from the latest COVID numbers (yes, again) to Russia vs. Ukraine to Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement dominating the news cycle, you may not have kept up with the past week’s Member Feed posts, we’ve gathered a few for your attention. They focus on a situation where Canada could take a lesson from Oklahoma, ideas to help promote sorely needed journalistic accountability, and an Apple ad that aired during the Super Bowl in 1984. You’ll also find some community news and, of course, the member comment of the week.
Have family members, friends, or former Ricochet members who would enjoy this kind of member-only content? Share this newsletter and let them know they can join today and get their first 30 days free. You’ll help grow our community and provide some great fodder for discussion at your next soiree.
Top Talkers
Kelly D Johnston: What Canada Can Learn from Tulsa, Oklahoma
Western democracies have long publicly and loudly confronted dark historical episodes involving aboriginal or indigenous people. But honestly, every culture and continent need not scratch very deep to find their sordid history, from Africa to China, from ancient times to today. If they’d only admit it.
That strong opening pulled us into this interesting read about a tense situation Canada is in today. After a report of hundreds of unmarked graves near a residential school for indigineous children in British Columbia, outrage and backlash followed, including church burnings that appear to be retributive acts. Kelly D Johnston calls out how Canada’s government and media have mishandled things, noting no site excavation has taken place. He also suggests Canada could have learned from how Tulsa, Oklahoma, is handling the unmarked and mass gravesites linked to the Tulsa Race Riot.
Mark Eckel: Journalistic Accountability
Over the last two years, the public has had to endure more dogmatism than dogma. There is a difference between stating a belief and preaching a belief.
Those who’ve taken issue with the media at any point will appreciate this post. Mark Eckel doesn’t just point out where the media is falling short and wish for improvements. He suggests some guidelines and questions that should be a top priority for the media. They’re all great, but we especially like the first one: “Information we have at the moment may well change over time. Caution should be taken in making declarative statements.” So true, as we’ve seen repeatedly on Twitter when reporters rush to tweet breaking-news developments. Nicely done, Mark!
Gary Robbins: 38 Years Ago: January 22, 1984; the Apple 1984 Ad.
What an ad! It ran only once, at the end of the Third Quarter of the 1984 Super Bowl. The next day, folks weren’t talking about the Raiders beating the Redskins, they were talking about this ad.
Some of us saw this commercial when it first aired. Some of us didn’t. Some of us — you whippersnappers, you — hadn’t even been born yet. Whichever category you fall into, take a minute to watch this Apple ad. It’s pretty cool to look back on how Apple marketed its personal computer all those years ago. Thanks, Gary Robbins, for sharing this slice of tech history.
But Wait, There’s More
Now Available for Your Viewing Pleasure: ‘No Dumb Questions’ With Erick Erickson
If you missed our last “No Dumb Questions” members-only webcast featuring Erick Erickson, host of the nationally syndicated radio program “The Erick Erickson Show,” you can watch it now. Or, you know, watch it again because it was just that good.
Remember: If you know folks who might enjoy these members-only webcasts, please encourage them to join Ricochet. They’ll get their first 30 days for free, and current Ricochet members get a free month if they join! Send them an invite from you at ricochet.com/join.
Mark Your Calendars: Next ‘No Dumb Questions’ Webcast Is Feb. 10
We’re excited to bring you the chance to meet and ask questions of Ayaan Hirsi-Ali, one of the bravest and most singular voices in the fight for women’s rights in the Islamic world. She’ll be our guest on the next “No Dumb Questions” webcast. Ricochet Co-Founder Rob Long will host.
A former member of the Dutch parliament, Ayaan is the author of numerous books, including her most recent, “Prey: Immigration, Islam, and the Erosion of Women's Rights,” which was published last year. She’s also the host of “The Ayaan Hirsi Ali Podcast,” which is hosted on the Ricochet Audio Network.
Join us Thursday, Feb. 10, at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m PT, and remember: This is a Ricochet members-only webcast. If you know anyone who might enjoy it, please encourage them to join Ricochet. They’ll get their first 30 days for free, and current members get a free month if they join! Send them an invite at ricochet.com/join.
Have a Nightcap With Ricochet’s Editor-in-Chief
If you haven’t dropped in yet, Ricochet Editor-in-Chief Jon Gabriel’s new show, “The Nightcap,” is live at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT every Monday through Thursday. Tune in to hear Jon review the day’s big stories, and chime in with your thoughts. To join the fun, you’ll need to use Callin, a new app and web platform that lets you create and cultivate podcasts and audio communities. You can subscribe to “The Nightcap” here, and each episode is published on that webpage after it airs.
Now Available: Student Passes for College Students
Don’t forget, Ricochet is now offering full-time and part-time U.S. college students and graduate students who are eligible a complimentary Ricochet membership! All they need to join is a valid student .edu email address. We’d love for you to help spread the word so we can keep bringing younger voices to our smart, civil community.
Share What Makes Ricochet Great
Anytime you’re telling someone about Ricochet, feel free to pass along our nifty infographic that provides a quick overview about why our community is the place to be. Thanks for your support!
Comment of the Week
The Member Feed isn’t the only thing that keeps people coming back for more at Ricochet. The comments do, too, serving as the backbone of the smart, civil conversation that makes us us. This week’s comment of the week is from Flicker, pulled from Mark Eckel’s post about the need for journalistic accountability.
Remember, if you know someone who would enjoy being part of the Ricochet community, we’re offering their first 30 days for free! Invite them to join the conversation today. And if you want to send us feedback on this newsletter, email greatest.hits@ricochet.com.
See you next week!
P.S. Want us to consider your post for this newsletter? Post by 5 p.m. ET Thursday.