A "call sign" is radio transmission tradition; it's a nickname or code used to designate the speaker (either as a particular person, location, or vehicle).
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| Like "14 Aelous Umbra", which still mystifies me. |
Truckers with CB radios use call signs (or, as they call them, "handles").
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| Like, "Razorback". |
Ham radio operators use(d) them.
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| Like the discoverer of life on Mars, W6XRL4. |
They remain popular in aviation, particular military aviation.
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| Like USAF aviator Captain Hal "Highball" Jordan. |
I, for one, however, find Hal's call sign ambiguous and inappropriate. Most people think it has something to do with Hal being a drinker. But really the only credible evidence for that is the slurring of his Filmation voice actor, Gerald Mohr.
"Eazhe ofph, To'-omm...."
In fact, it's certainly from the other, more obscure meaning of "highball": "to go at full or high speed", which you could easily imagine as applying to Hal as an aviator.
But I think DC really missed the mark when they chose "Highball" as Hal Jordan's call sign. Hal "Head Injury" Jordan would be asking for too much, I suppose.
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| "Headstrong"; I meant to type 'Hal "Headstrong" Jordan'. |
But watching Hal in the old Filmation cartoons made me realize there's another better call sign for him...
"Captain Obvious".
