Justin Moore - The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home

My Son-In-Law the Chief returned from deployment last week. His homecoming was what you'd expect - military deployments are hard for military families and the reunion is sweeter because of the long absence.

But today is a day when we remember those who didn't come home, and their families who waited forever.  It always seems strange when someone wishes me a "Happy Memorial Day".  It's a nice sentiment, but today we're surrounded by ghosts.

Not forgotten, but gone.

Today is the traditional start of summer, celebrated at barbecues from sea to shining sea.  And that's OK - I don't think that the ghosts among us would begrudge us our celebration with our families.  Just remember to hold up a beer for the ones that didn't make it home.

The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home (Songwriters: Justin Moore, Paul DiGiovanni, Chase McGill, and Jeremy Stover)

Tour was up, middle of June
She was planning a welcome home barbeque
Green bean casserole, Grandma's recipe
There was a knock on the door 'round two o'clock
Two uniforms and her heart stopped
Yellow ribbon 'round an oak tree
Blowin' in the breeze

Here's to the ones that didn't make it back home
The ones we ain't seen in so long
The hold up a beer ones, the wish they were here ones
The not forgotten but gone
They're in a better place up there
But they sure left a hole down here
We just go on livin' and go on missin' the ones
The ones that didn't make it back home

The whole town shut down, the whole town showed up
Sang Amazing Grace, watched a slideshow of
His 22 years
There was laughs and there was tears
And that preacher talked about sacrifice
And traffic stopped for them Cadillac lights
Johnny sold beer half price that night
And everybody raised 'em high, singin'

Here's to the ones that didn't make it back home
The ones we ain't seen in so long
The hold up a beer ones, the wish they were here ones
The not forgotten but gone
They're in a better place up there
But they sure left a hole down here
We just go on livin' and go on missin' the ones
The ones that didn't make it back home

Back to that front porch
Back through that front door
To the life they were fightin' for

Here's to the ones that didn't make it back home
The ones we ain't seen in so long
The hold up a beer ones, the wish they were here ones
The not forgotten but gone
They're in a better place up there
But they sure left a hole down here
We just go on livin' and go on missin' the ones
The ones that didn't make it back home

The ones that didn't make it back home

John Williams - Hymn for the Fallen

Tomorrow is Memorial Day, a day for reflection on those who gave everything they had and everything they would ever be for something larger than them.  That something is us, and the world is filled with the graves of the fallen, and will likely see new ones until the World is remade.

A lot of people seem to think that Memorial Day is "thank a veteran" Day.  I guess that could work, but only if you were at a cemetery.  The roots of Memorial Day go deep, all the way back to the American War of Southern Independence*, where "Decoration Day" was reserved to take flowers to the graves of the Fallen.  Late May was chosen because flowers would be in bloom in every corner of the Republic.

Nowadays it's the long weekend that starts the summer season.  Trips to the lake, grilling out, and cold beer push the original meaning aside.  Few take flowers to the graves anymore, which is a damn shame.  The Fallen deserve a day of remembrance.

This weekend, we are called to reflect on these fallen.  Art at its best is there to help lead the way.  Classical music used to offer many selections for solemn days like this before it was degraded like all modern art.  Fortunately, Classical music has found a niche where it yet thrives, with talented composers writing new music for the cinema.  Perhaps the greatest of these in our age is John Williams.  He wrote this for the film Saving Private Ryan, where it played during the final credits.  This is a tour of those graves.  Sadly, many Americans have not been to any of these places.

The Fallen remain forever 20 years old.  Remember them tomorrow as you fire up your grill.  I don't think they - or the boys from Gettysburg or Fredericksburg or Cold Harbor or Pearl Harbor or Normandy or a thousand other hallowed grounds -  would begrudge you your family enjoyment.  But remember them.

That's what Memorial Day is about.

* It is vulgarly called the "Civil War".  It wasn't.  The South didn't want to take over the North, it wanted to leave it.

Dad joke LXXX

What do you call a boat that's fifty percent off?

A sale boat. 

Radney Foster - Angel Flight

Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.

- Inscription on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington Virgina

War is a serious business, in which young men and women sometimes die. Some lie in foreign soil, far from their loved one's reach. Some are never found, and are listed as "missing" - a wound that never quite heals for those they left behind. Lately, most have been brought back home, to help their families find closure, and for us to honor.

But not to forget.

Country music is perhaps unique among this nation's art forms in that it doesn't forget. Radney Foster sings of that final ride home, of those who make the trip, the quick and the dead.

 

Angel Flight (songwriters: Radney Foster, Darden Smith)

All I ever wanted to do was fly
Leave this world and live in the sky
I left the C130 out of Fort Worth town
I go up some days I don't wanna come down

Well I fly that plane called the Angel Flight
Come on brother you're with me tonight
Between Heaven and earth you're never alone
On the Angel Flight
Come on brother I'm taking you home

I love my family and I love this land
But tonight this flight's for another man
We do what we do because we heard the call
Some gave a little, but he gave it all

I fly that plane called the Angel Flight
Come on brother you're with me tonight
(Come on brother you're with me tonight)
Between Heaven and earth you're never alone
On the Angel Flight
Come on brother I'm taking you home
Come on brother I'm taking you home

Well, the cockpit's quiet and the stars are bright
Feels kinda like church in here tonight
It don't matter where we touch down
On the Angel Flight its sacred ground

I fly that plane called the Angel Flight
Gotta hero riding with us tonight
Between Heaven and earth you're never alone
On the Angel Flight
Come on brother I'm taking you home
Come on brother I'm taking you home
Come on brother I'm taking you home
Come on brother I'm taking you home

This Memorial Day weekend, remember those who gave that last full measure of devotion for the rest of us. Those that came home, and those that didn't.

Best war movies of all time

Aesop corrects the list posted by Art Of Manliness.  His is a good list.  I offer these quibbles because, well, you know how I am ...

Glory.  What I think is best about this film is how the Fort Wagner scene captures the how the troops knew they were likely doomed, but fought anyway.  This scene transcends the obvious "racism bad, mkay?" that hits you between the eyes all through the film - and for once the black soldiers were just soldiers.  And yeah, Denzel was pretty awesome.

Stripes.  Comedy doesn't get any respect in Hollywood (scan through the list of Bet Picture winners if you don't believe me).  But the Queen Anne's Drill scene in this film makes it the best military comedy filk ever made.

Band Of Brothers.  Not a film, but made for TV - but simply the best made for TV military show ever made.  It's so epic that people make Lego stop action scenes from it.  Srlsy:

And if we are talking "epic", we need a shout out to John Banner for his portrayal of Sgt. Schultz in Hogan's Heroes which has become part of the modern vernacular.  Sure, it's TV and it's comedy, but it's still epic.

As I said, these are quibbles and you should go read Aesop's list.  I agree 100% with his choice of Zulu as #1 - and ASM826 posted a great review of that film last year.

Go, read.

UPDATE 30 May 2021 15:01:  Dwight weighs in.  Well worth a read.

UPDATE 30 May 2021 23:09: Adam Piggott also weighs in, and brings in some films that others hadn't.  I have to agree that Ran should be on the list.  And comedy gets if not respect, then at least a head nod from him with Kelly's Heroes.

Dad joke LXXIX

What's the difference between an African Elephant and an Indian Elephant?

About 5,000 miles. 

New ATF "Ghost Gun" 80% lower rule makes NERF guns into 80% lowers

LOLOLOLOL:

There we go. Every nerf gun is now an 80% or greater receiver. If you have a kid with a nerf gun, please let the ATF know you don't want your kid charged with purchasing a firearm while under 21. pic.twitter.com/giHRwDLDK0

— 00MEAT (@00meat) May 23, 2021

You can follow his series of tweets here.  Whatever you do, don't tell the nominee for ATF director.  He likes to go after kids.

Pro tip for the ATF and liberals (but I repeat myself): governmenting is hard, amirite?

(via)

Dad joke LXXVII

What type of car does an egg drive?

A Yolkswagen. 

Screw it - let's ride

This is an awesome advert from Taiwan.  It isn't selling motorcycles, and it's not really about motorcycling.  It's entirely awesome.

Hat tip: American Digest.

Otto Klemperer - Symphony No.2

Co-blogger ASM826 posts about the pogroms against the Jews in this country. He writes:

Get out of New York. Find a state where you can carry means of self defense.

We've seen this before.  Otto Klemperer was born in the Imperial Reich and fled the Third, as their anti-jewish ideology metastasized.   Friends with Gustav Mahler, his reputation was such that when he fled with his family to the United States he became the conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic where his son Werner began his acting career*.

Klemperer followed ASM826's advice, and the United States benefited from his talents - and Germany lost them.  Jews in New York and other liberal States can follow Klemperer's example, or they can wait for the coming Kristalnacht.

Klemperer was known for his conducting but composed a number of original works, including this symphony.

* He was best known for his role as Col. Klink in Hogan's Heroes.

Milestone

 OldNFO has been blogging for 14 (!) years.  Go leave him some commenty love.

Good overview of SCOTUS' decision on warrantless searches

Lawrence has a long but info-rich post about the Supreme Court's unanimous decision that the local Po-Po can't just grab your guns without a warrant.  This seems a good summary:

In some ways this was a very narrowly tailored opinion, in that the Second Amendment was not invoked at all, only the Fourth. And indeed, Justice Samuel Alito’ concurring opinion specifically states that “Our decision today does not address those issues” in relation to the constitutionality of red flag laws. However, the decision was a blow for individual rights against warrentless police seizures in the home. Also, by explicitly including guns as property that is equally protected from such warrentless seizures, the Supreme Court has properly supported Second Amendment rights against the state’s overreach.

Now if they could do something about civil asset forfeitures…

Yup.

Dad joke LXXVI

 I don't believe in "i before e except after c".  It's been disproved by science.

Dispatches from Joe Biden's America

Helpful safety tip: don't put bags or open containers of gasoline in your car.

The Democrats are turning into Florida Man in every state ...

Hat tip: American Digest. 

Happy Birthday, Wolfgang

 That deer is out there ...

NRA news

Via Sebastian, here's a blog about what's going on with the NRA.  NRA In Danger.   It's pretty interesting reading.

Dad joke LXXV

Did you hear about the robbery at the Tokyo Origami museum?  New reports say the story is still unfolding. 

Off to the range

Taking a neighbor - former Marine who had to qualify on an M14 in basic.  Blog later. 

Stop protecting stupid people

Peter finds the Fed.Gov offering advice to stupid people ("Don't put gasoline in grocery bags.")  He is (naturally) horrified.  But he's a Man Of The Cloth, and you would expect that charitable reaction from him.  

Me, not so much ...

 (Language warning)

Wives. Wadda ya going to do?

No, you cannot go all shiny and chrome.

I feel your pain, Miguel J.KB. (Can you guys get the posts tagged with the author's name?)

Dad Joke LXXIV

I was watching a video on my computer and the cat kept stopping it.  He must have discovered the paws button.

Oh no, Canada!

Remember this from 7 years ago?  Ukranian priests are badass.

It looks like they're now matched in badassitude by Canadian priests who need a SWAT team to take them down for holding church services:

But He knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside.

- Job 23:10-11

This post tagged "fascists" because, well, you know, eh?

Uncle Kracker - No Time To Be Sober

A friend turned me on to this hilarious song about the virus lockdown.  I can't figure out what my favorite line is; probably this:

I used to crack a beer and throw on CMT But now I'm sipping vodka with the CDC

 Made. Of. Win.

No Time To Be Sober (Songwriter: ?)

I'm at my local Winn Dixie, feeling kinda risky 'Cause I forgot my surgical mask And it seems the town is with me, 'cause man the looks are shifty I get from every person I pass I'm just here to stock up on spirits and get a few things for my home So please just someone tell me why all the toilet paper's gone This ain't no time to be sober This ain't no time to be sober There's a time and place to hide your face And I got nothing but time to waste This ain't no time to be sober I've had my fellow zoom meetings Emotional eating since five o'clock till arriving 'round noon And I swear this paranoia, man it can destroy ya Every time I cough I swear that I'm through I'm like six feet from my sanity, just trying to get back And figure out why Carole Baskin fed her husband to that cat This ain't no time to be sober This ain't no time to be sober There's a time and place to hide your face And I got nothing but time to waste This ain't no time to be sober I used to crack a beer and throw on CMT But now I'm sipping vodka with the CDC and This ain't no time to be sober (this ain't no time to be sober) This ain't no time to be sober There's a time and place to hide your face And I got nothing but time to waste This ain't no time to be sober I do believe we should share cheer But I'll do mine from over here and This ain't no time to be sober I can't wait 'till it's over

Quote of the Day: Politicians and fowling pieces edition

 Dick Cheney, take your daughter hunting.

Snerk.

Dad Joke LXXIII

Continuing with our vulcanized rubber theme:

What's the difference between a well-dressed man on a unicycle and a poorly-dressed man on a bicycle?

Attire. 

Dad Joke LXXII

I had a joke about a flat tire but I think I'll spare you. 

Weird battle day

May 5th is the anniversary of two strange battles.  

1862 saw the French defeated by the Mexicans at Puebla.  What's strange is that the French went on to defeat the Mexicans, with "Emperor" Maximilian seizing control of most of that country for the next several years.  For some (strange) reason, Americans (not Mexicans) celebrate this day.  Me, I think it's the marketing department at Corona Brewing that's behind it all.

In 1945, the Battle of Castle Itter saw US GIs and Wehrmacht soldiers fighting on the same side - the only time this happened in the entire war.  All in all, I expect the GIs would rather have had a frosty Corona ...

Dad Joke LXXI

What does a house wear?

Address. 

So why didn't Michelangelo paint The Last Supper?

There's very little argument to the proposition that Michelangelo was the greatest Renaissance artist of all time (and not much argument that he was the greatest artist who ever lived, period).  Not only did he set the standard for sculpture (Pieta, David, etc), but he painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

So how come he didn't get the job to paint The Last Supper, which is Leonardo Da Vinci's most famous painting (along with the Mona Lisa)?  Monty Python explains it all for you.

Quote of the Day - Collapse of Civilization edition

Tolerance, good temper and sympathy are no longer enough in a world where ignorance rules, and Science, which ought to have ruled, plays the pimp. Tolerance, good temper and sympathy — they are what matter really, and if the human race is not to collapse they must come to the front before long.

- E. M. Forster, 1938

Dad Joke LXX

The restaurant burned my Hawaiian  pizza yesterday.  I told them that they should have put the oven on aloha temperature.

Alan Menken and Howard Ashman - Beauty and the Beast

The composer who has won the most Academy Awards for original songs is someone who you might not expect.  Alan Menken has several unusual stats to his name: he has won eight Oscars, more than any other composer.*  He won the Oscar for this in 1991; two of the songs nominated that this one beat were also by him and Howard Ashburn, from this same film.  Lastly, the Academy of Motion Pictures changed the rules of the game.  Since Menken had won the Oscar in 1989 (The Little Mermaid), 1992 (Beauty and the Beast). and 1992 (Aladdin), they added an award for "Best Original Musical or Comedy Score" which was won by (wait for it) - Alan Menken in 1996 for Pocahontas.

Oh, yeah - he also has 11 Grammys, a Tony, and an Emmy.  The's one of only 16 people to have collected each of the Big Four awards: Oscar, Grammy, Tony, and Emmy.

You might recognize some of this other music as well, notably Little Shop Of Horrors.

I'm not a fan of the recent Disney releases, but their films from the early 1990s were pretty spectacular.

* Alfred Newman, Twentieth Century Fox' music director won nine Oscars, but these were not for compositions.

Carter Sampson - Queen of Oklahoma

If you, like me, think it's really hard to find actual country music in Nashville, you have to look elsewhere.  As it turns out, Oklahoma is a renewable resource for real country music indy artists.

Artists like singer-songwriter Carter Sampson who is a breath of fresh air in a genre of over-produced cooky cutter sounds. (*cough* Bro-country *cough)

Making a living as an independent act is hard work, and for a long time she would bartend in the evenings and write songs during the day.  Gigs first came slowly and then more frequent.  She recounted on a radio interview how she got a call one day from the restaurant where she worked.  She hadn't had a shift in 2 months and they wanted to take her off the rotation.  She realized that she was a full time singer.

Her voice is distinctive, in some ways reminiscent of Elle King, only country.  Real country, not Nashville Country-Pop.  With seven albums to her credit, there's a lot to like.  This is perhaps her signature number.

Dad Joke LXVIIII

Patio doors can be a real drag.  Windows can be a pane.