Time to set things straight

[RRS]

Sorry, guys this is going to be a bit long. Go get a beer and kick back while you read this.

I am talking to you from an account name that I have always used on this board. I am the operator responsible for Radio Ronin Shortwave. As most know I did get the knock from our friendly federal civil servants a few weeks ago.

I have received many emails from friends and listeners which were all supportive. Thank you very much! Some just expressed sadness of my demise while others did the same and suggested that a fellow operator dropped a dime on me that resulted on my knock. Others asked what was my “hunch” on how it all came down.

I disseminated some limited and general information within my close circle of trusted people with the expressed request that the information be treated with confidentiality. Well, some of that information has now appeared on a blog. Two things have resulted from that first, my circle of friends has gotten smaller. Second it has fired up people on that blog site. I attempted to cool things down last night by posting an anonymous comment there. I should have known better than to think that would be well received there considering past history and past accusations. For my trouble I was called among other things a Moron. Thanks, that was real nice but, as I said maybe I asked for it unintentionally.

OK so here is the deal, so I got the knock. Even to my most trusted friends only segments of the information acquired during this process with our federal friends was revealed to them.  But is seems that even with that very incomplete information set some people have drawn the conclusion that another op MUST have dropped a dime on me resulting in my knock.

First, let me say that I am sure that the feds may choose to use deception when they feel that is to their advantage. Also, that the first sentence of the NOUO can, off the top of my head be interpreted in at least six different manners only one of which involves a dime dropped on me by anther op.

As, I said in the blog last night “The operator of RRS he has NO indication or information that would lead him to believe that any op dropped a dime on him”.

Of course everyone is free to think, write, and, say what they want. My purpose here is the answer the question “I wonder what the op thinks happened”. Keeping in mind the only other person that knows more about this other than myself is the friendly federal civil servant that knocked on my door. Also I have had over two weeks to think about and analyze the situation.

Think what you like, but you now you know both my public and private position on the matter. If someone wants to think or call me a fool or moron so be it.

We live the USA and despite the position of our federal government in the last couple of administrations this is still the “land of innocent until proven guilty”. If you have accusations then show us the evidence.


I have always attempted to promote good will in the community including across both sides of the divide that we now seem to be living with.
 
In closing, I have few regrets; I really liked what I did and how I did it. If that exposed me more to our federal friends so be it! I have always believed that it is important to live life big as doing otherwise was like not living at all.

My intension is to continue to participate in the community in several capacities as I have in the past.

Long Live Free Radio!!

[Zane]

Thanks for your thoughts RRS . When these things happen, the community spends a lot of time speculating on
the how and why. In the end, it happened. The result is that another unique pirate station has to move on and the rest of us keep the recordings, QSL's and the memories.

Thanks for all your work in the past. Good shows, a quality signal, and some of the best QSL's out there!

Z

[Chanter]

Not sure I'm going to contribute all that much to the conversation by saying this, but I had no idea you'd gotten the knock (TM).  I'm very sorry.    Glad to hear you're not vanishing, though.  I'll be keeping that QSL card from last year, I can tell you that!  Thank you for the great shows. 

[radiogaga]

 
In closing, I have few regrets; I really liked what I did and how I did it. If that exposed me more to our federal friends so be it! I have always believed that it is important to live life big as doing otherwise was like not living at all.

My intension is to continue to participate in the community in several capacities as I have in the past.

Long Live Free Radio!!

Although we never met in person, a true friend, til the end....
Been a great ride, thanks for all you do/did 
Long live pirate radio!
Radio GA-GA

[BBR]

Henry Sheppard,

I always enjoyed Ronin's signal, its audio quality and music. You will be missed!!!
When I started Boombox Radio in February it was Radio Ronin SW that was my inspiration.
Long Live The Shogun!

-DJ LT

[Osborne White]

Dear Ronin:

I am very sorry for your recent troubles.  Thank you for setting some things straight; I did not see any evidence at all of any denunciations in the NUOU etc. and, while I have no doubts that there have been such cowardly stoolpigeon acts such as fellow pirates dropping dimes in the past, as well I pretty well had concluded  that it did NOT occur in your case.  So, that leaves me wondering why all of a sudden you were the lucky winner of the "bag of sh*t" rather than some other (much) more frequent, prolific, controveersial, high-powered, etc. stations!  I would rather not hear of ANY stations getting shut down, but....Your operations were not especially high profile, your location is not THAT close to any Field Office, etc. and there does not appear to have been any other "high priority" enforcement nearby e.g. FM Pirate closures, or CB truck stop stuff, or hams playing obscene tapes, etc. to "justify" the FCC Agent overtime that it cost to come to see you.  There is still a LOT about this that is not clear to me here....

If you do not mind, then, I shall ask you outright:  Why do you think they picked RRS to come and see?   Coincidence?  Neighbors' complaint?  Some sort of inflammatory programming?  Somehow, they picked RRS out of all the other operations in the USA, but I guess that I cannot quite fathom why this is!   Whaddaya think?

In any event, I completely agree with you, you gotta live big or else you have not lived at all, or (to quote myself) "Ya gotta live big & die small, live rich & die poor!"  Thank you for the programs and etc. and remember (here I will again quote myself) that "Every time 'they' build a better mousetrap, we end up with smarter mice!"   Best wishes from


Osborne White et al.
Mysterious Mystic Radio

[ff]

I really liked what I did and how I did it... I have always believed that it is important to live life big as doing otherwise was like not living at all...

Amen, Ronin!

I only knew you from your signal, which was usually strong, proud, and clean.  I would imagine you to be of similar character.  I am sorry to hear about your situation but I know that your Samurai heart will prevail, and you will get beyond this.  I will certainly miss you occasionally booming in here with your good music shows.  Take good care my faceless friend and 73!

[jFarley]

You ended your shows with "Until next time", which was always appreciated by me as an optimistic outlook.  Now it's clear that there will be no next time, and that is a shame.

Your voice will truly be missed.

Some day some time some one will relay one of your shows, and until that next time, take care and Thank You for everything, RRS!

[rdla4]

Very sorry to hear this news. As others have said, always a good show, great signal as well. I always appreciated your thoughts for our service people everywhere.

Best....

[hsmith77]

 I always enjoyed R Ronins music as well  but the thing i liked best was the the tribute to "My brother and sisters serving in our armed forces " Class act  R. Ronin Long live free radio .  Its not  goodbye  its see you later.