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.
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 documentarymusic 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:
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
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
