Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Virtue signalling or depravity by Kathy Griffin....Your decision

The problem with the left is that they are all about virtue signalling to each other to see who is the "purest" of the pure.  To an average leftist, this is what it is all about.  To be relevant to the cause, and especially to a celebrity, they have to be on the cutting edge of the social movement because Hollywood is one huge echo chamber and grouphivethink and if you deviate it from one iota, you are cast out.  To the average leftist it is important to be on the cutting edge because this is all that they are about, they have no soul anymore, they have sold it off a long time ago. They have no depth of character anymore, it is gone, also sold off with their integrity. 
     This is a danger, I have touched on this subject before, they have demonized their political opponents to such a degree that they believe that we are sub human and we deserve everything bad that happens to us.  This is the precursor to genocide.
I shamelessly ripped this off from a friend of mine in FB,  This guy is a retired Army EOD, working as an air marshal and studying to be a lawyer...Don't hold the last one against him, he is a real good guy.

There's a picture of Kathy Griffin holding a beheaded Donald Trump. There is no difference between the four pictures, they are all equally disgusting. Kathy Griffin is not funny nor entertaining. She's annoying, and her annual New Years Eve with Anderson Cooper leaves me asking "why is this on the air?"
I think the picture is reprehensible. If that had been a picture of President Obama, I think you would see a whole different response. Why is she not under investigation by the Secret Service. This is not art or freedom of expression, it's hate speech and it is threatening.
I'm sure more than a few snowflakes got a big chuckle over this. Note, its not remotely funny. The liberals cheer for his demise, root for his failure, and leak classified and sensitive information without regard to US Laws or the oath of office they took when taking the position. Disclosure is against the law and a violation of your security clearance.
If you are a US Citizen, he is your President. He represents you and me equally. You may not have voted for him, but to go to this level of depravity is inexcusable.
Kathy Griffin's disgusting behavior is symbolic of what the left thinks and believes. Like a moderate Muslim who would never strap on an explosive device and walk into a crowed market, Liberals like them, will give the act tactile approval of the event, fund it, watch it, laugh about it and hope for the caliphate. Or in this case, a change in executive leadership.
You are free to disagree, you are free to peacefully protest, you can voice your opinion, what you cannot do is commit to violence as a way of social change.
We have lost the ability to talk about what we disagree on, we have lost the ability to discuss issues, we have become polarized to the point where if you do not believe the same things or way I believe, then you are my enemy. We have become the nation of the offended. I'm sorry to say this will be the legacy of our generation.

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Monday Music "Voices that Care" Assorted Artist

This will post on Tuesday, this is intential because Monday is Memorial day, I didn't think it was appropiate...
   Strange I know... 
 
I remember when that song came out, we had just kicked off the ground war and this song was making the rounds on
AFDN and I though it was interesting that we were being treated different than the Vietnam vets.  We were being 
treated like we were on some crusade and it did feel like it from all the support we had gotten from the American 
Public.   I have my copy of this song and video upstairs in my bonus room.  Unfortunately we got burned out by this 
 song and Lee Greenwood "Born to be an American".  They severely overplayed these songs during this time.  Even
now I still grit my teeth when "Born to be an American" comes on somewhere.  I haven't listened to voices that care
since I came back from the Gulf.    This was the last time that Hollywood supported the U.S. Military.  I am somewhat
cynical now ...I think it was the older ones working off their Vietnam guilt.   
 
 
"Voices That Care" is a 1991 song written by David Foster, Linda Thompson and Peter Cetera and recorded by a supergroup of popular musicians, entertainers and athletes. The group of people involved was also collectively known as Voices That Care and was shown as such on the single release and marketing materials. The single and supporting documentary music video were intended to help boost the morale of U.S. troops involved in Operation Desert Storm, as well as supporting the International Red Cross organization. The documentary, which followed the recording of the single to the music video's presentation to the troops in the Middle East, aired on Fox on February 28, 1991, coincidentally the day fighting in Desert Storm ended.


"Voices That Care" reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 6 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. Warren Wiebe, a friend of Foster and little-known vocalist at the time who recorded the demo of the song, was invited by Foster to sing lead and deliver the last solo lines of the song. Wiebe died on October 25, 1998 (aged 45). The music video was directed by Jim Yukich (who, three years later, helmed the movie Double Dragon) and produced by Paul Flattery for FYI (Flattery Yukich Inc.)

Lead vocalists

The following is the order of appearance in the song:

In the music video, footage is shown of Ahmad Rashād, Clyde Drexler, Dominique Wilkins, David Robinson, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson singing the song on a basketball court, but they are not present at the actual choir session. Wayne Gretzky is also seen in a brief clip.

The band

  • Keyboards: David Foster
  • Synclavier programming: Simon Franglen
  • Acoustic guitar: Dean Parks
  • Guitar solo: Mark Knopfler
  • Saxophone solo: Kenny G
  • Background vocals: Brian Adler, Morgan Ames, Lois Blaisch, Joy Burnworth, Kenny Cetera, Barry Coffing, Marshall Connors, Laura Creamer, Randy Crenshaw, Lorraine Feather, Tim Feehan, Roger Freeland, David Freeman, Robin Hild, Peter Hix, Jeannie Jackson, Linda Jackson, Liz Jackson, Angie Jaree, David Joyce, Gael MacGregor


 

Monday, May 29, 2017

Memorial Day today.

I will not be posting my Monday Music on Monday, this time it is on purpose.  I will post it on Tuesday intentionally and not by outside pressures, lol.

Memorial Day is to honor those that Military servicemen that died usually in the line of duty.  We also honor those Veterans that have died.  I had gotten into a discussion about Memorial Day with Old NFO and Mac.   We were lamenting the loss of good friends through out our journey, totally understandable.  We as Veterans have to deal with loss of good friends that in many cases, left too early while they are still young and we just get older and grapple with the loss and guilt. I had commented that we honor the ones that have crossed over and we will hoist a few in their honor, eventually we will be the ones honored in such a way.



  FIDDLER'S GREEN

  Halfway down the road to hell,
  In a shady meadow green,
  Are the souls of all dead troopers camped
  Near a good old-time canteen.
  And this eternal resting place
  Is known as Fiddler's Green.

  Marching past, straight through to hell,
  The infantry are seen,
  Accompanied by the Engineers,
  Artillery and Marine,
  For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
  Dismount at Fiddler's Green.

  Though some go curving down the trail
  To seek a warmer scene,
  No trooper ever gets to hell
  Ere he's emptied his canteen,
  And so rides back to drink again
  With friends at Fiddler's Green.

  And so when man and horse go down
  Beneath a saber keen,
  Or in a roaring charge or fierce melee
  You stop a bullet clean,
  And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
  Just empty your canteen,
  And put your pistol to your head
  And go to Fiddler's Green.
  
 

      

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Battleship Potemkin (Soviet Propaganda Movie) Red Storm Rising

Continuing my Red Storm Rising theme I have been following, is this movie that was also mentioned.   No I ain't going communist.  When I was in the service, my specialty was the Soviet Army, I studied its tactics and how they fight.  I started learning Russian from the linguists we had in my unit to improve my craft.    I was hoping to get a slot to the language school in DLI or the local branch in Munich, I wanted to learn as much as I can, when you might have to fight someone, you learn as much as you can about them, the phrase "know your enemy" holds true. 
   Say what you want about the godless communist, they could make a good propaganda movie.  It helps when you can control the information that the people receive and make sure that it fits a narrative, it is easier to sway and control the population. 

Battleship Potemkin (Russian: Бронено́сец «Потёмкин», Bronenosets Patyomkin), sometimes rendered as Battleship Potyomkin, is a 1925 Soviet silent film directed by Sergei Eisenstein and produced by Mosfilm. It presents a dramatized version of the mutiny that occurred in 1905 when the crew of the Russian battleship Potemkin rebelled against their officers.
Battleship Potemkin was named the greatest film of all time at the Brussels World's Fair in 1958.


The film is set in June 1905; the protagonists of the film are the members of the crew of the Potemkin, a battleship of the Imperial Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet. Eisenstein divided the plot into five acts, each with its own title:

The scene begins with two sailors, Matyushenko and Vakulinchuk, discussing the need for the crew of the Potemkin to support the revolution taking place within Russia. While the Potemkin is anchored off the island of Tendra, off-duty sailors are sleeping in their bunks. As an officer inspects the quarters, he stumbles and takes out his aggression on a sleeping sailor. The ruckus causes Vakulinchuk to awake, and he gives a speech to the men as they come to. Vakulinchuk says, "Comrades! The time has come when we too must speak out. Why wait? All of Russia has risen! Are we to be the last?" The scene cuts to morning above deck, where sailors are remarking on the poor quality of the meat for the crew. The meat appears to be rotten and covered in worms, and the sailors say that "even a dog wouldn't eat this!" The ship's doctor, Smirnov, is called over to inspect the meat by the captain. Rather than worms, the doctor says that the insects are maggots, and they can be washed off prior to cooking. The sailors further complain about the poor quality of the rations, but the doctor declares the meat edible and ends the discussion. Senior officer Giliarovsky forces the sailors still looking over the rotten meat to leave the area, and the cook begins to prepare borscht although he too questions the quality of the meat. The crew refuses to eat the borscht, instead choosing bread and water, and canned goods. While cleaning dishes, one of the sailors sees an inscription on a plate, which reads "give us this day our daily bread." After considering the meaning of this phrase, the sailor smashes the plate and the scene ends.

 All those who refuse the meat are judged guilty of insubordination and are brought to the fore-deck where they receive religious last rites. The sailors are obliged to kneel and a canvas cover is thrown over them as a firing squad marches onto the deck. The First Officer gives the order to fire, but in response to Vakulinchuk's pleas the sailors in the firing squad lower their rifles and the uprising begins. The sailors overwhelm the outnumbered officers and take control of the ship. The officers are thrown overboard, the ship's priest is dragged out of hiding, and finally the doctor is thrown into the ocean as "food for the fish".

The mutiny is successful but Vakulinchuk, the charismatic leader of the rebels, is killed. The Potemkin arrives at the port of Odessa. Vakulinchuk's body is taken ashore and displayed publicly by his companions in a tent with a sign on his chest that says "For a spoonful of soup" (Изъ-за ложки борща). The sailors gather to make a final farewell and praise Vakulinchuk as a hero. The people of Odessa welcome the sailors, but they attract the police.
 The Odessa steps in silent movie format
The best-known sequence of the film is set on the Odessa steps, connecting the waterfront with the central city. A detachment of dismounted Cossacks forms a line at the top of the steps and march towards a crowd of unarmed civilians including women and children. The soldiers halt to fire a volley into the crowd and then continue their impersonal, machine-like advance. Brief sequences show individuals amongst the people fleeing or falling, a baby's pram rolling down the steps, a woman shot in the face, broken spectacles and the high boots of the soldiers moving in unison.
In retaliation, the sailors of the Potemkin decide to fire on a military headquarters with the guns of the battleship. Meanwhile, there is news that a squadron of loyal warships is coming to quell the revolt of Potemkin.

The sailors of the Potemkin decide to go all the way and lead the battleship from the port of Odessa to face the fleet of the Tsar. Just when the battle seems inevitable, the sailors of the formerly loyal ships incredibly refuse to open fire on their comrades, externalizing with songs and shouts of joy their solidarity with the mutineers and allowing them to pass unmolested through the fleet, waving the red flag.
 Full Movie with English Subtitles
On the 20th anniversary of the first Russian revolution, commemorative Commission of the Central Executive Committee decided to stage a number of performances dedicated to the revolutionary events of 1905. In addition, as part of the celebrations was suggested a "grand film shown in a special program, with an oratory introduction, musical (solo and orchestral) and a dramatic accompaniment based on a specially written text". Nina Agadzhanova was asked to write the script and direction of the picture was assigned to 27-year-old Sergei Eisenstein.
In the original script the film was to highlight a number of episodes of the 1905 revolution: Russo-Japanese War, massacre of the Armenians, revolutionary events in St. Petersburg, Moscow uprising. Filming was supposed to be conducted in a number of cities of the USSR.
Eisenstein hired many non-professional actors for the film; he sought people who had a specific type instead of famous stars.
Shooting began on March 31, 1925. Sergei began with filming in Leningrad and had time to shoot the railway strike episode, horsecar, city at night and the strike crackdown on Sadovaya Street. Further shooting was prevented by the deterioration weather: permanent fog began. At the same time the director was placed in tight time constraints: the film was needed to be finished by the end of the year, although the script was approved only at the 4th of June. Objectively assessing the situation, Sergei Eisenstein decided to give up the original script consisting of eight episodes to focus only on one – the uprising on the battleship "Potemkin", which in the all-encompassing scenario of Agadzhanova took up only a few pages (41 frames). Sergei Eisenstein together with Grigori Aleksandrov essentially recycled and extended the script. In addition during the progress of making the picture some episodes were added which were not provided by Agadzhanova's scenario or by Eisenstein's scenic sketches, such as the storm scene with which the film begins. As a result, the content of the film was very far from the original script by Agadzhanova.
The film was shot in Odessa which at that time was one of the centers of film production and where it was possible to find a suitable boat for shooting.
The first screening of the film took place December 21, 1925 at the ceremonial meeting dedicated to the anniversary of the 1905 revolution in the Bolshoi Theatre.
The premiere took place in Moscow on January 18, 1926 in the 1st Goskinoteatre (now called the Khudozhestvenny).
The silent film received a voice dubbing in 1930 (during the life of director Sergei Eisenstein), restored in 1950 (composer Nikolai Kryukov) and reissued in 1976 (composer Dmitri Shostakovich) at Mosfilm with the participation of the USSR State Film Fund and the Museum of S.M. Eisenstein under the artistic direction of Sergei Yutkevich.
In 1925, after sale of the film negative to Germany and reediting by director Phil Jutzi, "Battleship Potemkin" was released in the world in a different version of the author's intention: the shooting of sailors was moved from the beginning to the end of the film. Later it was subjected to censorship and in the USSR some frames and intermediate titles were removed, words of Leon Trotsky in the prologue were replaced with a quote from Lenin. In 2005, under the overall guidance of the Foundation Deutsche Kinemathek, with the participation of the State Film Fund and the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, the author's version of the film was restored with the music by Edmund Meisel.
Battleship "Prince Potemkin-Tauride" at the time of the shooting of the film was written off, prepared for recycling and was in poor condition. Instead the battleship "Twelve Apostles" residing in the port of Odessa was shot in the film. By this time it was turned into a warehouse of floating mines making it difficult for the shooting. Scenes taking place indoors were filmed on the cruiser "Komintern".
In the film the rebels raise the red flag on the battleship. However, with the limitations of that time the red flag in the black and white transmission looked black. Therefore, in the movie a white flag was shot. In the copy intended for the premiere at the Grand Theatre, 108 frames, the scene where the flag appears was hand-painted in red which greatly impressed the audience.

Saturday, May 27, 2017

blog issues...

I inadvertently changed something in my settings, I used to have multiple post on the same page and for some reason I get 1 post per page.  I don't like that setup and I am trying to figure out what I did wrong.   I was changing the background pic to update my blog and messed something up.   dangit...

Friday, May 26, 2017

One of the best propaganda movies ever made.





This movie was mentioned in "Red Storm Rising", as one of the movies used to inflame the passions of the Russian against the Invaders.  The movie is a production of the 1930's and the director was  Sergei M. Eisenstein. The characters are right out of a John Ford Movie,  The stand alone heroic figure in Prince Alexander Nevsky, the 2 buffoonish sidekicks and the expected love interest.   The German invaders are arrogant and mostly faceless behind helmets designed by Eisenstein.  The invading Germans have already partitioned Russia amongst themselves, one knight was made "Prince of Pskov", and in a horrible example of pacification, would throw babies on bonfires and kill anybody that resisted.    The battle was a truly epic affair on a frozen lake and the German knights attacked with casual disregard for tactics and the Russian peasants supurbly lead by Alexander Nevsky defeated the Germans in a cannae like maneuver then vanquished the leader in a one on one battle.  The rest of the movie resolved the love interests and liberated Pskov,  Alexander hoist a bunch of children onto the saddle as they ride in and disregarding any love interest, he started a sermon standing by himself and talking about what happens to those that invade Russia.  Alexander plays the strong father figure and he emulated Joseph Stalin mannerism, this was by design since Stalin commissioned the movie.






ALEXANDER NEVSKY

     In the 13th century, Russian lands suffer from foreign invasions.  The opening shows an undulating field with relics of a battle: moldering uniforms, human skulls with helmets and a horse's skeleton.  In 1242, attacks come from the East by Mongols and from the West by Teutonic Knights of the Holy Roman Empire.  The first sight of Alexander (Nikolai Cherkasov) is as a fisherman.  A courier arrives with news that neighboring Pskov has been conquered by Teutonic knights.  A Mongol governor in an impressive carriage escorted by soldier’s approaches.  Soldiers force the fishermen to kneel and answer questions.  When the soldiers consider the attitude of a young fisherman insolent, they whip him and a skirmish starts, but stops as Alexander approaches.  Alexander was known to the Mongols for having chased a Swedish army away.

     The Mongol ruler is looking for Alexander to propose for him to join his forces with the rank of captain.  Nevsky diplomatically refuses and replies: "Die in your homeland, don't leave it".  He intends to fish, build ships and trade.  Nevsky warns his followers that the Germans are a more dangerous enemy.  The scene shifts to Novgorod, busy with trade, the last unconquered city in Russia.  A pretty maid Olga (Vera Ivashova) is shopping for fabrics.  Two friends who have recently fought in battle, Vasily and Gavrilo (Nikolai Okhlopkov and Andrei Abrikosov) are looking at weapons made by Ignat, a Master Armorer (Dmitriy Orlov).They talk about wanting a peaceful life with a wife and family, and recognize Olga.  They are both attracted to Olga, and Gavrilo approaches speaks to her asking permission to send a matchmaker to her father.

    Gavrilo is serious and devoted, while Vasily is jolly and garrulous.  Vasily says he is just as interested, and asks Olga to choose between the two, but she smiles and says she needs time to think it over.  In the square in front of the church, a wounded warrior speaks to the crowd, giving news of the conquest of neighboring Pskov by the Germans, and telling of their bloody oppression.  More inhabitants join the crowd as various individuals give speeches.  Rich merchants want to purchase their liberty, but the common people want to resist.  Olga, Gavrilo, and others say they want Alexander as their leader to fight.  Despite opposition from the boyars and merchants of Novgorod, urged on by the monk Ananias, the crowd in Novgorod to decides to battle the invaders.

     Visitors from Pskov are present and wholeheartedly approve.  It is arranged for emissaries, led by Gavrilo to call on Prince Aleksandr Nevsky, who had led the battle against the Swedes, to organize a defense.  Nevsky is busy with fishing when the emissaries arrive, He first asks to be dressed in his prince costume, and receives the envoys.  He agrees to lead, but not for defense, as he prefers to attack.  He takes charge with the condition they all fight for Russia and not for themselves. Putting aside petty differences and issues, an army is raised from peasant volunteers.  The scene shifts to Pskov.  Pskov is burning, conquered with the help of the traitor Tverdilo.  The marauding occupation forces distribute the loot.

     The Grand Master of the Teutonic Order (Vladimir Yershov) speaks: a blond, cold, arrogant man of regal bearing and extreme pride.  The Teutonic knights feel invincible and have just a smug smile for the Russian women who witness helplessly how their fathers and sons are killed at the least sign of resistance.  When a prominent Pskov elder speaks in protest, he is bound in ropes. Before he is led to hang over the large fire, his daughter Vasilisa ( Aleksandra Danilova) pleads for his life but she is yanked off him and he is led to his death.  As punishment for resistance offered, children are ripped from their mothers arms and thrown in the fire while high dignitaries of the church look on.  Back in Novgorod, Nevsky arrives, and the inhabitants promise to make weapons and armor for a thousand fighters.  Vasilisa puts on a helmet and armor.  In scenes at the invaders camp, the invaders attend religious services and boast of wanting to bait the "Russian bear".

     On the Russian camp, Nevsky's plans are described. He decides to battle on the ice.  His men know the territory but the Germans, who are heavier, will break through the ice...Olga promises to marry whoever proves the more valiant of her two suitors, each of whom is given command of an important sector.  The night before the battle, the Russian troops gather on shore, and the old man tells a funny fable about how a hare trapped a wolf.  In the battle with the Germans, Nevsky uses his fisherman's knowledge of the ice as well as his experience of their military tactics to defeat them.  Battle scenes follow: masterful, repetitive, with people advancing, swinging weapons around, people riding horses, people getting bopped on heads, some arrows flying.  The Germans have heavier steel weapons, and more horses but the Russians have poles, hooks and axes of greater reach.  Close-ups of the battle concentrate on Vasily, Gavrilo, a blond youth, an old man, and Vasilisa, who come to rescue each other from time to time.

Wave after wave of advancing Germans are defeated, so they regroup and move in again.  After some give and take, the entire German fighting force forms a sort of fort surrounded by a shield wall, and sallies from the inner protected area take a heavy toll on the Russians.  In a wedge attack, Gavrilo breaks the shield wall, the fight continues inside the formerly protected area, and when attacked in a pincers movement from outside, they are forced to regroup and mass towards the West side of the lake, where the ice is thinner.  The turning point of the battle comes when Gavrilo battles single handedly against the Grand Master, a duel with ordinary fighters from both camps surrounding and watching

The old man who came to the battle is killed by treachery by Tverdilo after feigning surrender, and only because his iron shirt was too short and the knife pierced him in the open part of his neck.  In the disordered rout of the Germans, most knights are killed or drowned as the thin ice cracks and breaks.  At the end of the battle, heaps of corpses are plunged in cosmic light under an endless horizon.

    At nightfall, Olga and other women search with torches for survivors.    A devoted falcon sits on his master's dead body while a crow waits for the right moment to pick out the eyes of the deceased.  The song after the battle as Olga is looking for her suitors is emotionally devastating.  Olga finds Vasily and Gavrilo, wounded and unable to walk without help, and holds them up as they walk very slowly back.  In the early morning, victors and vanquished file into the walled area of the town, first the dead, then the prisoners, and finally the victors Slain heroes are conveyed on sleds, burning candles in their hands.  The most striking is the blond youth, shown on the screen in profile from head to hands.  The wind is blowing and his blond hair is dancing in the wind, in tune with the flicker of the candle flame.

     At the end, Nevsky displays his generosity, as he pardons and frees the foot soldiers and keeps the knights as prisoners for ransom.  Only the bearded traitor Tverdilo and a traitorous cleric who played organ are turned over to the mob.  We see the gloomy faces of the angry Russians who had lost their relatives in the battle, and when they start tearing the traitor apart.  The trials have ended. The time for celebrations arrives.  Vasily publicly states that neither he nor Gavrilo was the bravest in battle: that honor goes to Vasilisa, and that after her came Gavrilo.  Vasilys mother (Varvara Massalitinova) objects that her son has never been second to anyone, but Vasily respectfully insists.  Gavrilo and Olga are united, while Vasily chooses Vasilisa as his bride to be, with her consent amply expressed in body language, and his mother acquiescing with broad smiles.  Nevsky gives a final warning: He who comes to Russia with sword in hand will die by the sword.