by ToastyKen
This is an automatic bugle that plays Taps all by itself. Here's the full text of the caption:
The U.S. military has found the perfect way to demonstrate that it's purely the thought that counts. This bugle emulator sits in a real bugle and plays a collection of calls, including "Taps." Due to a shortage of actual bugle players, the Pentagon had already ordered 700 of these to be used at military funerals in 2003.Is it just me, or does "shortage of actual bugle players" sound like a euphemism for "a surplus" of, well, the need for bugle players? :P Morbid, yes, but, on the other hand, I also find the phrase "shortage of actual bugle players" kinda hilarious, too. It just sounds so ridiculous. :P
(Found via /., where some comments point out that military funerals have been using CD players more and more, so this is an improvement.)
(Whoa! Another /. comment points out that there's actually an organization of volunteer bugle players called Bugles Across America. Now this post is actually linked to the activism theme of this blog. :) )
