9/20/2003: Digital bugle

Problem: there are more veterans dying than there are available bugle players to play taps for them.

Awkward solution: someone brings along a boom box and plays it. Highly unsatisfying, inappropriate, undignified, etc.

Best solution: hire hundreds more bugle players. Too expensive.

Good compromise: record the best playing of taps you can find, store it digitally in a device that fits in the horn of any ordinary bugle and can play loud, and play with the press of a single button. Now anybody can play taps as long as they're willing to maintain their dignity while faking it.

That looks more like a cop with a radar gun.

If I can't have the real deal, just hum it.

May seem like a dumb question but how hard is it to learn how to play a bugle? I don't think it has any 'keys' or 'plungers' or whatever they're called so it seems to me that it's kinda like blowing into a conch shell. I can't play an instument to save my life but I can blow a conch shell like Hawaiian native and it didn't take that long to learn.

I think the army still gives K.P. duty. If they offered bugle lessons as an alternate choice, I think I know what I'd be doing....

Speaking from personal experience, it can be rather difficult. You have to have a lot of wind power, and yet you have to blow into it just right to get the desired sound, pitch, and crispness.

Syc is right...there are few experiences more painful, both auditorially and aesthetically, than listening to someone *try* to play a bugle.

True, brass isn't hard to play, but it's hard to play well. Your lips need to be toned just right so it doesn't sound like you're blowing raspberries through a conch shell. Further, it's not too hard to play out of tune, even if the horn is in tune. (I used to play french horn; fun in retrospect, but I didn't like all the practicing.)

Getting soldiers to play the bugle isn't hard. It's called a direct order, Which is about the best incentive you can get. But I think the point was, with thousands of veteran's funerals every month getting enough bugle players up to speed and out to where the funerals are, is an expensive logistics nightmare.

Lack of bugle players. US unemployment getting worse.
Time to recruit!

Here is a way they could solve the problem to some extent. Get the word out to local Boy Scout Troops. Many Troops still have Bugler as a position of responsibility. Have them provide a bugler as a voluntary service to the veterans. Won't completely solve the problem but it could help.

Darn! I thought this thread was "Digital BULGE" -- 'bout time we got some juicy pix up for the ladies!

El, my dear, longhaired, pagan friend ...

I suspect you are not one of the "few good men" that they are looking for ...

The problem with "Boy Scouts" or "Others" (which would work) is that it's supposed to be a MILITARY bugler. Hey, want the job, no problem. There's usually a place down on Main St in most towns where the man in the nice uniform would be willing to talk to you if your of the right age. Just think, you get to know who your employer will be for the next 4 or so years

I'd say it would depend on the funeral.

I've wanted to try out a New Orleans Style Jazz Funeral. They look like a good time.

And I've been to Native American crossing ceremonies, as well as Wiccan ones that don't leave me depressed and irritable in the same way a Catholic High Mass funerary service does.

My dad made me promise to hire a dixieland band at his funeral. And he's from England.

I'd think that perhaps you'd be able to tell a difference in the sound.

Each bugler plays a bit differently from what I understand.

I've always preferred "Amazing Grace" played by Bagpipes.

I can't make it through that without bursting into tears.

Personally, I find the lyrics to that song to be very offensive. I won't call myself a wretch, and I think any ideology that encouages such thinking is potentially quite dangerous. It's like, the complete opposite of the philosophy I described in the Lovebugz thread.

Of course, I'm not dissing anyone that likes the song (that'd be everyone). It's just my opinion regarding my interpretation of the message.

I didn't say that I liked it, just that it makes me cry.

(Those who know me understand that "things that make me cry" is a pretty short list. "Things that make me reload" is a pretty long list.)

Quote:

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce From the picture I'd say most people wouldn't know.

That <i>is</i> the definition I'm using. Interesting link, anyway. I never knew the song's origins!

This quote from the link describes the problem I have with the song:<i><blockquote>For the rest of his life he observed the anniversary of May 10, 1748 as the day of his conversion, a day of humiliation in which he subjected his will to a higher power.</blockquote></i>I just think that's terrible. And I think being humble is a pretty important quality in a person.

http://www.snopes.com/religion/amazing.htm for more info.

On a partially unrelated thought, I decided some years ago that when I died, I wanted to be posed rather than placed in a box, and would like "Prop me up beside the jukebox when I die" played, in lieu of any really meaningful stuff.

It's important to get last licks when you can.

My brother also suggested a push button that would activate a remote control system which would point my arm to a random person and in my voice, cry, "You Killed Me!"

From the link on Newton's story;

Quote:

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce Ah, but that little speaker is as big as the sound in a normal bugle at that point. The horn takes over after that. Mr Bose made a fortune with that concept.

Bruce -

That is how Christians try to justify other Christians' behavior. "He raped and killed that little girl, but he used lube and the killing was as humane as possible." Ridiculous, isn't it?

beefcake

I don't know what they're complaining about. They've got Nothing But Net.

Quote:

Originally posted by juju I know. I just figured my view was rare and crazy enough that it might be interesting on it's own.

Re: beefcake

Quote:

Originally posted by SteveDallas Nobody's stopping anybody... post some yourself!

Back home the small town Memorial parade had the usual accoutrements of old vets trying to squeeze into old uniforms, decorated firetrucks, scouts from Eagle to Brownies, convertibles, horses and politicians.
One annual feature was the Highlanders bagpipe and drum corp from Melha Shrine Temple in Springfield, MA. About 10 drummers and 20 pipers in full Scottish regalia and really quite impressive although they usually freaked the horses.
The Shriners in town would throw a barbecue, after the parade and ceremony at the town cannon, for the band. It was usually at my Dad's house because he had a big yard, pool, room for lots of parking (including the Shriners bus) and a 34x24 carport in case the weather went to hell as it's wont to do on Memorial Day. He also had tone deaf neighbors.
They'd drink and eat and drink and play bocce and drink and laugh and drink. At least once every hour anywhere from 3 to 20 pipers would decide it was time to play Amazing Grace. Early in the day this would be very somber and call for another round of drinks to toast the departed. Well let me tell you, after about 10 hours it got down right maudlin.