How did you choose your Appleseed username?

[EZ3]

It's short, easy to spell, and if you turn it upside down and backwards, it still says the same thing.     

[ID_Hezekiah]

Started as ID_Rifleman, but changed it because of this:

http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=18272.0

[SkyHawk]

I chose a name to honor my relative Casper Hendershott who faught as a member of the Sussex county NJ militia during the Revolution.  Sussex county NJ mascot is the "Skyhawk."

[06en]

Well when I started getting into the MilSurp thing, it was U.S. platforms that caught my eye. The first MilSurp I bought was a low numbered Springfield M1903. I never fired a single round from it and later sold it.

The history of the 1903s naturally lead me to other 30-06 military rifles. U.S. Model of 1917, M1903A3, M1 Garand. My hunting rifle is sporterized 1903. I'm able to shoot <2MOA with factory Remington. Other cals are great but I just really like that 06en round.

[Longshot]

So, it's wed. before the '07 Osage Beach Bootcamp, and I'm a co-host of the event. I can't reach anyone at AS by phone, I have no idea what's going on, and THEN I discover this forum.

Hmmm, seems as though I MUST register a nickname in order to communicate with AS Central. "Well," I think, "this whole thing's a LONGSHOT at this point.....  

My friends, co-workers, and all the AS instructors who know me call me KR, and I have been admonished to change my nickname accordingly, I just haven't wanted to deal with the hassle.


KR

[Winkin not Blinkin]

 I needed a name and a very awesome group of trainers created one for me!

TY!!

  I did not blink....  really 

[Stephen Lilley]

The Roman historian Titus Livius wrote of the 5th century Roman hero Cincinnatus.  During the republic, Romans valued virtue, honor, and service above all else and distrusted government power.  In times of crisis, the Romans would appoint a dicatator who would have unlimited authority for a limited time to deal with the emergency.  Cincinnatus answered such a call when Rome faced invasion.  Once he had saved the republic, he resigned the dictatorship and returned to his humble life even though he could have retained power longer.

In the lull that followed his victory at Yorktown, George Washington faced a genuine opportunity to lead his disgruntled and unpaid troops in a revolt that might have made him king.  When Colonel Lewis Nicola recommended exactly that scheme, Washington rejected it in scathing terms.  In doing this, he helped set the United States on a path towards legal, peaceful government by the people, a precedent which still serves this country well.  Many referred to him as the American Cincinnatus and formed the Society of the Cincinnati to honor him and the principle of unselfish service.

I don't claim to be such a man, but I think it good for Americans to reflect upon this principle.

Perhaps before taking the oath of office, all U.S. government officials should be required to hear the story of Washington's concept of service and and of his willingness to lay down the mantle of power.

[Andre]

A very dear Friend gave the name Andre to me.  He literally saved me from the pit of hell.  I looked up the meaning to the name, and found that it meant "manly, brave."  That puzzled me for quite a while - sure didn't think it fit me, but it sure did apply to Him.  Finally got to thinking that He was trying to tell me something about how I needed to change my attitude - my way of thinking and behaving, live more like Him.  So I asked, "why Andre"?  Sure enough, it was the message, time for me to change.

So, when AS came along, and I learned about the men of April 19, 1775, I saw (read/heard about) many "manly and brave" men.  I am working on living up to the challenge.  I am reminded every time I hear "Andre" at an AS, that I need to rise to that standard, and to encourage those I am with to take one more step away from that couch, also.  Since AS is not something I just do for fun, but is part of a lifestyle, the challenge is continually before me.  Choosing to use the name Andre helps me focus on what is truly important, and at the same time, I hope it brings a smile to my Friend's face, for it's my way of saying thanks for caring.

Andre

[Xeyed]

Wish I had a wonderful historical story to share about an obscure inspiring character.

But i needed a forum name when i signed up

Xeyed short for Crosseyed was the first one that came to mind.

Left eye dominate, right handed shooter.

[Josey Wales]

..Watch the movie "The Outlaw Josey Wales" then asses the way you feel about the character at the end of the movie. I felt JW was righteous. He did what he had to do no matter what. He protected the weak and fought the oppressor. The movie made me feel good about JW. Little boys who play cowboys love to be JW, and I am still a child at heart..........I want to be JW.......

......Strength & Honor..............Josey Wales...............

[Wade]

To confuse all of you  I picked this name it just fit some how


Wade

[didactic]

When my daughter was in middle school or early in high school, her English class had a weekly vocabularly list.  One week, "didactic," which means teacher or lecturer, now always with the most pleasant connotation, was on the list.  When that word came up, she just piped up "Daddy!"

So, like Popeye, I yam what I yam.  Gotta be proud or ashamed, so I might as well be proud.

[TheEditor]

I write a lot, am good at proofing and editing, and until recently was the editor of GunNews, www.gunssavelife.com.

I purposely ran the words together to see if someone would notice. 

So far, no one has...

TheEditor

[Gopher Boy]

What's with the "Choose" stuff.  I thought the name had to be given to you.

As for were mine came from...  Let's just say I know how Dinky organizes the trunk of her car and if I'm at a shoot with PosterBoy I know where the nearest starbucks is.

When it was first proposed I thought, "You can fight it and most likely lose or just embrace it"  I choose to embrace it.

Now I like that it's just been shortened to...

G.B.

[MeanStreaker]

Good stuff in this thread.

Mine doesn't have much of a story.  Back when I was signing up for all these crazy gun forums, I was riding a Kawasaki Mean Streak motorcycle.

Hence............ MeanStreaker.

Nope, I'm not an angry, naked runner.

I still remember writing a web story about my first Appleseed and Fred PM'd me on the old forum and suggested I join the team, but "I should pick a different name that sounds a little nicer."  

Hehe.

[Cooper]

Let's see:
1) It's my name 
2) I have 3 Cooper ancestors that fought in the Revolutionary War in the NY Militia, and another that served in the War of 1812 
3) Samuel Whittemore took his stand behind Cooper Tavern in Menotomy 
4) LTC Jeff Cooper, USMCR, is a distant cousin who had the wisdom to fall in love with and marry a woman named Janelle 
5) My usual call sign, Mom4rmHell, was deemed to be not "family friendly" enough for AS purposes   

Coop

[Blue Five]

Well... mine is kind of cheesy, but brings back plenty of memories. 

At my first Appleseed, June of 2010, I was placed on the line where my number on the target was number five with a blue background.

PLUS, my favorite color is blue and my lucky number is five, and my birthday is on January 5....

So, I thought it was a good sign and rolled with it. 

B5

[TaosGlock]

We lived in Taos, NM for nearly 2 decades.
I worked on and off for a friend who owned a gun shop called Taos Gun.
We pushed a lot of Glocks at the time and I was one of the first guys in town to get a Glock 20 in 10mm and then it's little brother the Glock 29.
I use that username on all my forums, even if they are non-firearms related.
Even though we since moved to southern NM and my Glocks see less action compared to my 1911's or MBR's, I kept the name.

[Scarecrow]

A forum name/handle/nickname... Simple, effective, easily remembered (catchy).
A name and character to live up to.

In this case NOT the more recent usage in Batman genre.
Partly - Wizard of OZ, . . . "If I only had a brain. . .", "What would you do with a brain if you had one?"

Primarily -
U.S. "Agency" operative Lee Stetson, code name "Scarecrow". Guarding the security of the nation.
Sadly, I look more like a cornfield scarecrow than I do Bruce Boxlietner.  

[bulletsnbows]

This is a cool thread.

I don't have a nifty story.   I'm just into archery/bowhunting/bowfishing as much as firearms.   

On other sites I usually use the highly creative (not!) username of 'Christine'. 

[Johnnyappleseed]

My Appleseed username is TravelPatriot.  The construction of my name is quite simple.  I am a consultant and I Travel for a living.  I believe in promoting the mission of Appleseed and the principles of our founding fathers, thus Patriot.  


But the inspiration for my name actually grew from a particular spectacle that I have made of myself.  If any of you have traveled through the world's busiest airport (Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport) in Atlanta, GA and have caught a glimpse of a precocious 30 something toting a green, hard-sided suitcase covered in patriotic bumper stickers, then you have been witness to the birth of TravelPatriot.

As mentioned, I travel for a living; not just some, but about 80% of the year.  About a year ago, invigorated by the overreach of the Federal government and impassioned by the words of our founding fathers, I slapped 5 non-partisan bumper stickers onto my hard-sided suitcase and caused an immediate stir in ticket lines, security checkpoints and baggage claim turnstiles.

The messages I chose were patriotic, non-partisan, and most importantly, contained a message of truth that came from lips other than my own.  In order, and appearing from top to bottom of the suitcase, they are as follows:

1.   "A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have."  ~Thomas Jefferson.

2.   "The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."  ~Thomas Jefferson.

3.   "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money."  ~Margaret Thatcher.

4.   "Who is John Galt?  Read Atlas Shrugged."  

5.   "Work harder.  Millions on welfare depend on you!"


Over time, these stickers wear out and I periodically rotate the message, but the approach does not change.  

To date, this spectacle has generated only positive comments and a few looks of surprise.   I often position myself in the busiest areas of the world's busiest airport.  It's a simple act, but I like to think I'm making a difference.  

At some point, I will pause long enough to take a photo of the suitcase and post it as my icon.

Special thanks to my wife for putting up with me.  

That's my story.  What's yours?

Sincerely,

TravelPatriot (AKA Jake)

Jake --- Love your story --- ^5
Who is John Galt ? IM sure gets lots of smiles from those in the know.

Enjoyed your Dad's FN and what it means -- well educated and  very well stated 

[Son of Isaac]

I don't know but maybe it's a curse. It seems I'm always looking for answers and I'm drawn to the root causes of problems. The story of Two Wolves helps me put my life in perspective and I enjoy sharing the story with others.

I have Cherokee and Apache ancestry also.  (Guess I could have gone for Mixed Breed)



A Cherokee Legend
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.
"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Two Wolves,

Excellent story.  I am really impressed by the thought that may people have invested in their name.  This has been a very enjoyable and enlightening thread.

~TravelPatriot

[Roundhouse]

I wanted something gender generic and I was discussing martial arts kicks briefly with an instructor at one of my first appleseeds and so... viola.

[nyrasgt]

Hit "easy" button:
NYRA = New York Racing Association (thoroughbred horse racing @ Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Courses) Security Dept., 1970 - present (a college job I never quit) as sworn Peace Officer/Sergeant.
  Alter ego madMark (initials of Mark A. Dupper - ask my parents...) given me by crak because there are three upstate NY Appleseed "Marks":  Mark R - R1sgx2, aka Stick Mark- new SB, Mark A-AnotherDOM,  newly crowned NYS Coord relieving Ed/B9, and I, apparently the runt of the family...
Excelsior (the NY State motto..."higher"),
mad

[V]

Try googling or datamining for a letter of the alphabet...

When Appleseed came knocking I was in my dark gloomy mood of hiding and keeping a low profile, a gray man.

So many great quotes for liberty in V for Vendetta so it seemed a good fit.

Appleseed has changed me. I wouldn't choose it now. We mustn't hide, stand up, fight the good fight.

The more I found out about him the more my hero is Samuel Whittemore, there are some parallels with my own life story. But I will never be fit to bear that name or anything derived from it so I'll stick with V.

Verily, this vichysousse of verbiage doth veer most verbose...

Cheers
V

[Sir Not Appearing In This Film]

To confuse all of you  I picked this name it just fit some how


Wade

Who is that ugly group of characters on your trailer, Wade?  

I joined the forum to get information prior to my RBC @ Davilla in 11/07, so I had to pick my own.

I was a secret squirrel (kinda like V) and a fan of the Monty Python and the Holy Grail film. My user name is mentioned very briefly in the film. If you aren't paying attention you will miss it.

I planned to attend the boot camp and "disappear" aka "not appear" after. Little did I know I would not be able to resist Jr. Birdman's Borg-like "you will be assimilated - be an instructor" pitch.  

It also fits well with my aversion to news cameras.  


DERP - just realized this was in the Georgia forum. I guess my post counts since my first Appleseed Away Mission was Toccoa, GA. 

[Shoot Squirrel Yes]

To confuse all of you  I picked this name it just fit some how


Wade

Who is that ugly group of characters on your trailer, Wade?  

I joined the forum to get information prior to my RBC @ Davilla in 11/07, so I had to pick my own.

I was a secret squirrel (kinda like V) and a fan of the Monty Python and the Holy Grail film. My user name is mentioned very briefly in the film. If you aren't paying attention you will miss it.

I planned to attend the boot camp and "disappear" aka "not appear" after. Little did I know I would not be able to resist Jr. Birdman's Borg-like "you will be assimilated - be an instructor" pitch.  

It also fits well with my aversion to news cameras.  


DERP - just realized this was in the Georgia forum. I guess my post counts since my first Appleseed Away Mission was Toccoa, GA. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLJ8ILIE780

[MrHappy]

Because I'm happy to be involved in waking up the sleeping patriots.

[Son of Isaac]

My name choice is very random. It was just after my first Appleseed and I wanted to comment on the AAR. I thought "Hmmm, who should I be" and then randomly typed "Who_Me?"

yay random! 


hmmm, maybe i shouldn't have posted, i'm not from Georgia

Happy to have you, Who_Me!  Come join us at a shoot in GA sometime!

~TravelPatriot

[Puff-TMD]

Puff-TMD = Puff the Magic Dragon from the song of same name.  With true liberty, I believe we will never lose the magic dragon inside of all of us and will be happier for it.  Also, dragons can be wise and downright formidable.  Kind of seemed like traits a rifleman should aspire to.  I have used versions of Puff before.  Originally used for a username for Internet service while stationed in Japan.