The Ricochet Member Feed: The Greatest Hits
In addition to our top member posts, you’ll also find community news, including a heads-up about a live recording of one of our podcasts that you can attend!
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to be a hot topic here at Ricochet, with multiple members sharing not only their thoughts but also resources to help each other understand what’s going on. Another top talker: that little State of the Union thing. Even if you didn’t watch it, you likely got a rundown either on the news or in our esteemed community.
Just in case those stories occupied your attention so much that you missed out on all of the Member Feed posts, we’ve gathered a few for your perusal. In addition to touching on Russia, Ukraine, and the SOTU, the posts focus on the Ricochet Movie Fight Club’s epic 100th battle, the damage an electromagnetic pulse could do, what happened at one school when masks became voluntary, and the way technology can make things harder than they should be. You’ll also find community news, including a heads-up about a live recording of one of our podcasts that you can attend.
Have family members, friends, or former Ricochet members who’d enjoy this kind of member-only content? Share this newsletter and tell them they can join today and get their first 14 days free. You’ll help grow our community and provide some great conversation starters for your next soiree or night out on the town.
Speaking of being a member, remember: We’ll have a price increase soon. If you renew your membership now, you’ll lock in our current pricing for one more year.
Top Talkers
Vince Guerra: Ricochet Movie Fight Club: #100
As a way of celebrating our 100th fight I thought it would be fun to have two of our winningest members, LC, and Eustace C. Scrubb, compete against one another face to face with you the members getting to judge the winner.
The news has been heavy of late, so this post provides a welcome and fun escape. While the Ricochet Movie Fight Club typically poses a question for all members to answer and vote on, this time around, Vince Guerra had two members face off in a nine-round showdown, and it’s captured on video. LC and Eustace C. Scrubb discuss everything from the best director of all time to the movie they wish they could be a real-life character in. The winner is receiving a free six-month Ricochet membership extension. Check the post to see who won!
Kelly D Johnston: End This Spectacle. Cancel Future State of the Union Speeches
As a former college thespian and a US Senate and Cabinet-level speechwriter, I watched the event as I would watch a Shakesperean drama (tragedy?), with the US House of Representatives serving as a stage full of actors. I was instantly reminded of Paul Begala’s cliche that “Washington is Hollywood for ugly people.”
If you found the State of the Union address to be poorly done, you’re not alone. Kelly D Johnston was also underwhelmed. Here, he provides a thorough critique of President Joe Biden’s speech, calling out the missteps and what was missing. Our favorite observation: “Biden’s isn’t ‘leading from behind.’ He’s just behind.” Great turn of phrase there. And yes, we do agree with Kelly’s assessment that the State of the Union address need not be spoken — or even annual. How do we make that happen? One can always dream …
Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patriot): Prof. John Mearsheimer on Ukraine
I see a number of claims that Putin is a madman, and that Putin has ambitions of restoring the Soviet empire in eastern Europe. I am very skeptical of these claims, though I can’t know his heart of hearts.
One thing we appreciate about the Ricochet community is that we can encourage each other to think about topics in a different way and then hash out our thoughts. In this post, after acknowledging that his thoughts on Ukraine are not popular with everyone, Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patriot) invites us to consider what University of Chicago Professor John Mearsheimer has to say about the Ukraine crisis being the West’s fault. Jerry links to an article and shares a video. The post has generated quite a bit of conversation, with over 60 comments last time we checked.
Chowderhead: EMP
This is one of my least favorite subjects because it is so terrifying. An EMP or ElectroMagnetic Pulse is a nuclear weapon designed to be detonated over an enemy to destroy anything with a chip. The victim of an EMP will not receive a lethal dose of radiation nor will it destroy buildings. A big misconception is that it targets a country’s electrical grid. Yes, that will happen but the reality is far worse.
With an opening like that, it’s hard to not keep reading — and to become alarmed (if you weren’t already) about what an electromagnetic pulse could do. Chowderhead summarizes how EMPs were discovered, how they work, and how they could potentially affect the world around us. It’s an interesting read, as is the comments section, where members consider what we do and don’t know about the power of EMPs to change the way we live.
But Wait, There’s More
Richard O’Shea: Report From the Post-Mask Public School System
Of the half of the students wearing masks, half of those wear them under their chins. Reportedly, parents told these kids to wear their masks while they were in school, so they are, sort of. Obeying the letter of their parents’ wishes, if not the spirit.
We enjoy reading personal anecdotes from our members, and Richard O’Shea has an interesting one. He shares what happened at the middle school where his wife teaches on the first day masking became voluntary. It was far from mass chaos. What struck us most was that last sentence, as it succinctly drives home how COVID has affected education.
Mark Alexander: New Macs and Security
Call me crazy, but I do not trust that Internet access is continuous. I want access to my stuff 24/7 whether or not the Internet is working. That’s why I still own a ton of books, CDs, and DVDs. I know everything not material can just go away.
We’re not going to call Mark Alexander crazy. It seems reasonable to expect that you can easily access the files on your computer. But as Mark found out, that’s not always the case, and it can be maddening. If you’ve ever bought a new computer and been unpleasantly surprised by how technological advances are making it harder for you to do what you want to do, this post is for you.
‘Take Back Our Schools’ Recording Live Episode With Scott Walker
We promised you more events and gatherings, so here’s a great one to keep in mind: On March 30, former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, president of Young America’s Foundation, will join Ricochet Editor Bethany Mandel and Andrew Gutmann to record a live episode of their “Take Back Our Schools” podcast. The trio will discuss the parent-led battle to restore K-12 education. Here is your link for more information.
Location: 11480 Commerce Park Drive, Reston, VA, 20191.
Time and date: Event registration starts at 10:30 a.m. ET March 30. The podcast, hosted on the Ricochet network, will record from 11 a.m. to noon ET. A light lunch will follow.
This promises to be a fascinating conversation, so if you can attend, register today! If you can’t, don’t worry. We’ll record the event on video and share it at a later date.
Participate in Our Winter Membership Drive
We’d love for you to be part of our winter membership drive, as it will help us grow our terrific Ricochet community. As you know, we have a lot to offer, including these recently added features:
“No Dumb Questions” webcast.
Ricochet Editor-in-Chief Jon Gabriel’s show “The Nightcap.”
Free memberships for college students.
And there’s more to come, including new member-only opportunities such as early access and invites to happy hours, newsmaker interviews, and New York and Washington, D.C., parties and networking events.
Encourage people to sign up today at ricochet.com/join. They’ll get 14 days of free access!
As always, thank you for your support!
Reminder: Nightcap Cocktail Recipe Competition
Don’t forget! In honor of our new Callin show, “The Nightcap,” we’re having a competition for the best nightcap cocktail recipe. Ricochet members can share their favorite nightcap, both alcoholic and booze-free. Winners of each category will be announced on the Wednesday, March 16, episode of the show by two special guests: Ricochet’s own Peter Robinson and Callin CEO David Sacks. Winners will also receive a set of handcrafted cocktail glasses with the Nightcap logo.
While you’re hard at work on your recipe, be sure to tune in to “The Nightcap,” our freewheeling nightly wrapup of the day’s news, hosted by Ricochet Editor-in-Chief Jon Gabriel. The show is live Mondays through Thursdays at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on the Callin app.
As a reminder, to call into The Nightcap and participate, you’ll have to download the Callin app for iOS or Android.
Know someone who isn’t yet a Ricochet member who’d like to participate in our cocktail recipe contest? Share a Ricochet gift membership.
Ricochet 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. Go to Ricochet.com/college.
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 Henry Racette, pulled from Chowderhead’s post about the damage electromagnetic pulses could cause.
Remember, if you know someone who’d enjoy being part of the Ricochet community, we’re offering their first 14 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.