AUGUST SEVENTEENTH NEWS ROUNDUP

 Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog is here with another current events roundup.

FEMALE ROLE MODEL KELLYANNE CONWAY, THE FIRST WOMAN TO MANAGE A WINNING PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, POINTS OUT OCASIO-CORTEZ’s MANY FAILURES. AOC (“Always On Camera” as Conway jokes) only passed ONE bill during the years Biden was in the White House. And one-percenter AOC still hasn’t paid her student loans HERE.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY ON LYSENKOIST AND ANIMAL TORTURER ANTHONY FAUCI “He knew that he was lying, and there was something about his character that made him feel that that was okay.”

EXPERT AND FDA COMMISSIONER FLAGGED LYSENKOIST FAUCI AS EARLY AS MAY 2021 ABOUT THE ADVERSE EFFECTS THE COVID SHOTS HAD ON PREGNANT WOMEN. See also Fauci’s wife’s connections with the FDA and more.

WITH IMPEACHMENT HANGING OVER HER HEAD THANKS TO ANDY OGLES, OBAMA-APPOINTED JUDGE REVERSES HER OWN UNCONSTITUTIONAL RULING THAT SHE MADE IGNORING THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION. Luckily, Ogles learned to fight back like President Trump does.  

DEMOCRAT HAKEEM JEFFRIES DISCUSSES HOW HIS POLITICAL PARTY WILL PACK THE SUPREME COURT AND MORE IF THEY TAKE BACK CONGRESS IN NOVEMBER.

DEMOCRAT PARTY

DEMOCRAT SENATE CANDIDATE EL-SAYED DOES AN EVENT WITH AN IMAM WHO FORCED A THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD NIECE INTO A MARRIAGE AND VIEWS NINE-YEAR-OLDS AS SEX OBJECTS. Democrats, can you please leave children alone?

COTTO WITH A REMINDER ABOUT HOW PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDED AMERICA GETTING UNFAIR TREATMENT IN TRADE DEALS.

NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF PARENTS WHO FOUGHT THE OUTRAGEOUS DEMOCRAT BIAS AT THEIR CHILDREN’S SCHOOL. Among the school’s bigoted teachings was “Republicans are white supremacists.” Thankfully, these parents fought back, unlike so many other parents in the same situation. You can’t win if you don’t fight, Republicans. Continue reading

4 Comments

Filed under Anti-Donald Trump hysteria, LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, opinion

FOOL KILLER PART SEVENTY-THREE: JULY 1914

Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of the many facets of Fool Killer lore. FOR PART ONE, INCLUDING THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT IN THE 1850s, CLICK HERE.

PART 73 – Some of the Fool Killer’s targets on both sides of the aisle in the July of 1914 edition of James Larkin Pearson’s version of the folk figure.

*** Former Republican President Theodore Roosevelt for the media blitz accompanying his hunting trip to South America. Pearson and his Fool Killer liked Theodore as president but he was tired of the media circus surrounding every move of Roosevelt’s post-presidency life.

*** The federal government, for allowing starvation inside the U.S. while sending out millions to feed people overseas.

*** Tycoon John D. Rockefeller, Jr. for trying to distract from his slaughter of miners and their women and children in Ludlow back in April by teaching Sunday School and doing charitable work to help prostitutes find another way of life. The jokes that were made about the kind of “work” that Rockefeller was doing with the Red Light Ladies should be obvious.

*** Treasury Secretary William McAdoo, who had pushed for the reintroduction of the Income Tax the previous year. Pearson, though a self-confessed socialist, did not meet the 2026 definition of socialism because he opposed income taxes as a blow against the working class and not the wealthy.

*** Democrat President Woodrow Wilson, whom he blamed for destroying the U.S. economy. Continue reading

8 Comments

Filed under opinion

ANCIENT GREEK COMEDY: MARIKAS (C 421 B.C.)

EupolisBalladeer’s Blog presents another look at an ancient Greek Comedy. This time around it’s one written by Eupolis who – along with Aristophanes and Cratinus – was one of the Big Three of Attic Old Comedy.

MARIKAS (c 421 B.C.) – This was the second comedy to emerge in the new subgenre of Attic Old Comedy called “the Demagogue Comedy”. Aristophanes led the way a few years earlier with The Knights, his comedy attacking the politician Cleon. The play Marikas finds Eupolis attacking the demagogue Hyperbolus, whose reputation for character assassination by way of overstatement lives on in our language by way of the word “hyperbole”.  

As with most ancient Greek comedies Marikas has survived only in fragmentary form. Those fragments, along with contemporary references in surviving works, provide what is known about the play. Marikas, the title character, was used by Eupolis to represent the politician Hyperbolus the same way Aristophanes had used the Paphlagonian to represent Cleon in The Knights.

The ancient Greek comedies made a point of breaking the fourth wall on a regular basis (despite the way so many people have convinced themselves that that is a “postmodern” development) and Marikas opened up with a character assuring the audience that the play they were about to see was NOT just a rehashing of The Knights. Continue reading

14 Comments

Filed under Ancient Greek Comedy

PEACEMAKER BEFORE D.C. COMICS OWNED THE CHARACTER

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog will look at the Charlton Comics hero Peacemaker BEFORE DC Comics bought him and changed him. 

PEACEMAKER

Secret Identity: Christopher Smith

First Appearance: Fightin’ 5 #40 (November 1966)

Origin: American diplomat and scientist Christopher Smith was a noted pacifist in his public persona but was secretly affiliated with the Pax Institute’s covert operations arm in Geneva, Switzerland.

When peaceful solutions to an international situation hit a dead end, Smith donned the costume of his alter ego Peacemaker, who used violence against global dictators and other aggressors to nip potentially larger conflicts in the bud. 

This hero’s adventures were every bit as focused on Cold War situations as early Marvel Comics stories were in Iron Man and the The Hulk

Powers: Peacemaker was in peak physical condition and was a master of armed and unarmed combat. He designed and tested his own weapons in his secret “Peace Palace” lair in the Swiss Alps. Peacemaker’s action outfit included body armor, a jetpack for flight, plus a helmet for protection AND for radio communication. This hero’s weapons included his powered laser gun and the sonic beams shot from his helmet.

Comment: Peacemaker was the model for the Comedian in Watchmen, but the original Charlton version was neither the violent maniac of Watchmen nor the buffoonish character from recent movies and television shows.

FIGHTIN’ FIVE Vol 1 #40 (Nov 1966)

Title: Introducing the Peacemaker

Villain: Emil Bork, Arms Dealer

Synopsis: Diplomat Christopher Smith is in his car in Geneva, Switzerland being briefed about international arms dealer Emil Bork by his secretary Miss Blair. The weapons merchant has agents in two fictional South American countries egging on their war so that Bork can make more and more money. Two agents of Bork try to kill Smith and Blair but fail.   

The following day Christopher attends an embassy dinner in Geneva, at which Bork and Smith needle each other. Smith dons his Peacemaker outfit and assembles his weapons, then flies out to Bork’s mansion in the Alps. Bork’s private army tries to kill Peacemaker but he outfights them all.

He then interrogates a defeated mercenary and learns that Emil has just flown off for South America to exacerbate the war between the two nations he is profiting from. Our hero flies off after Bork’s overhead jet but the villain fires a missile at him. Peacemaker damages it with his laser but the missile still goes off with him in the blast range.    Continue reading

10 Comments

Filed under Superheroes

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE THOMAS JOHNSON

Previously, Balladeer’s Blog examined the first six Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court when six was the full roster on that court. Here is a look at the 7th Justice, appointed by George Washington to fill the vacancy of Associate Justice John Rutledge, who resigned.

ASSOCIATE JUSTICE THOMAS JOHNSON

Served: September 19th, 1791 – January 16th, 1793. (Resigned over poor health.)

Brethren on the Court: Chief Justice John Jay. Associate Justices William Cushing, James Wilson, John Blair and James Iredell.

Some Highlights: Johnson served the least amount of time out of all Supreme Court Justices ever. He wrote the Court’s decision in Georgia v Brailsford (1792) which established that the Supreme Court had jurisdiction over suits and cases involving states. Riding his Circuit, Johnson heard the initial trial in Ware v Hylton, which dragged on for years and wasn’t settled until long after Thomas had left the Court. Continue reading

6 Comments

Filed under Neglected History

NEWS ROUNDUP: AUGUST FOURTEENTH

Here’s a Friday current events roundup from Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog.

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S POLICIES ARE STILL CAUSING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES TO FALL AT A RECORD PACE. The greatest president for the working class and the poor during my lifetime. 

KURT SCHLICHTER LISTS ALL OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS

ROBERT F. KENNEDY DISCUSSES HOW THE BIDEN REGIME LEFT THE HHS WIDE OPEN FOR FRAUD.

PRESIDENT TRUMP GETS BIG WIN IN TARIFF CASE

ICE’S RECENT ACTIONS DEAL WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CONVICTED OF RAPE, ATTEMPTED MURDER, DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MANSLAUGHTER. And the only reason they were still at large was because of Democrat policies that protect illegals but not victims.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT RELEASED FROM JAIL UNDER CALIFORNIA’S DEMOCRAT “SANCTUARY” POLICIES STABS A SIXTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD MAN TO DEATH THE VERY NEXT DAY. Never any sanctuary for the victims under Democrat rule.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT IN KENTUCKY CHARGED WITH RAPING FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND TRAFFICKING. But to some lunatics the people who arrested him are the bad guys.

ARIZONA SCHOOL TEACHER FIRED AFTER ARREST FOR SEX CRIMES AGAINST UNDERAGE STUDENT. Democrats, can you please leave children alone?  

DEMOCRAT SENATORIAL CANDIDATE IN MAINE MIRED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SCANDAL. All this on top of the scandal over his marriage to his cousin.

CHINESE INTELLIGENCE PRESENCE JUST SIX HUNDRED FIFTY FEET FROM THE WHITE HOUSE DRAWS CONCERNS.

MASKED DEMOCRAT BROWNSHIRTS IN SEATTLE INFLICT INTIMIDATION TACTICS ON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO QUESTION “TRANS” RELIGION. Democrats are still the REAL fascists. 

TRUMP EFFECT: NEW FACTORY IN HOUSTON AND ITS IMPACT ON AMERICAN JOBS. Remember when Obama claimed “Them jobs ain’t comin’ back.”

MINNESOTA DEMOCRATS OUTRAGED OVER ELECTION INTEGRITY REQUIREMENTS. Why are Democrats the only ones who oppose attempts to fight vote fraud?

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S BORDER ENFORCEMENT POLICIES SERIOUSLY DAMAGING HUMAN TRAFFICKERS.

FLASHBACK: NEVER FORGET JOE BIDEN’S AFGHANISTAN DEBACLE IN AUGUST OF 2021. Fifth anniversary year. Continue reading

12 Comments

Filed under Anti-Donald Trump hysteria, LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, opinion

ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: SIX THOUSAND YEARS HENCE (1891)

SIX THOUSAND YEARS HENCE (1891) – Written by Milton W. Ramsey. Regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog may remember that I’m usually enthusiastic about these works of “ancient” science fiction and look for any bright spots. In this novel’s case that is very, very difficult. For a book written in 1891 it seems more like an 1820s piece.

The central character is General Morton, a former military man who has become incredibly wealthy through a land deal. One night he starts tracking an odd dot in space with his telescope. The object turns out to be a wandering planet that is headed for the Earth.

In the event, the planet throws Earth’s moon out of orbit and into the sun. It does not collide with our planet but it comes close enough to capture General Morton’s city in its gravity and drags the metropolis out into space with it. And you ain’t seen nothin’ yet in terms of this book’s WTF attempts at “science.”

As the rogue planet drags the city behind it, the individual buildings in it form a long “tail”. The people inside those buildings stay alive by keeping the doors and windows shut so that they have air to breathe inside. Continue reading

12 Comments

Filed under Ancient Science Fiction

THREE NEW COLLEGES LAUNCH SPORTS TEAMS IN THE NJCAA

The NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) accepted three new sports teams which will begin competing this fall. Here are the three:

Institution: VALLEY FORGE MILITARY COLLEGE

Team Name: TROJANS

Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania

*** Continue reading

8 Comments

Filed under college sports, Cool names and cool logos

B-MOVIE HOSTS OF “SCREAM-IN” (1969-1971)

SCREAM-IN (June 20th, 1969 to August ?, 1971) – Love-Ins begat Laugh-In which begat Scream-In, a Bad Movie Show that went off the air when the station broadcasting it went bankrupt. Scream-In was previously titled Shock it to Me, a clever combination of the old Shock syndicated horror film package and the Laugh-In catch-phrase “Sock it to me!”

This Movie Host Show aired on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s WPGH Saturday nights at 7:00pm and sometimes 6:30pm to avoid having to go head-to-head with Pittsburgh’s iconic Movie Host Chilly Billy Cardilly (Bill Cardille) on Chiller Theater. Here are Scream-In‘s three hosts – Coagulus, Count Von Thirstenburg and Tarantula, who had a ghoulish sidekick called Hugo. 

COAGULUS – The name of the actor playing this vampire character has not come down to us. Some sources state that Coagulus hosted WPGH’s original version of Scream-In titled just Supernatural Movie (later Shock It to Me) beginning in February 1969 – the same month the station started broadcasting.

This figure has been described by those who remember him as very much in the sarcastic style of Ghoulardi (Cleveland) and Sinister Seymour (Los Angeles). Coagulus leaned heavily into the So Bad They’re Good spirit that so many of us love about these old shows.

In late July, 1969 this host was fired, supposedly for wanting a raise. He was immediately replaced by another Movie Host character. See below. Continue reading

8 Comments

Filed under Bad and weird movies, Movie Hosts

AUGUST TWELFTH NEWS ROUNDUP

Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog presents a Wednesday current events roundup.

EVEN MORE OF CORRUPT ANTHONY FAUCI’S LIES CONTINUE TO BE REVEALED.

ANOTHER FAUCI BOMBSHELL: HE LIED TO PREGNANT WOMEN ABOUT THE RISK FOR MISCARRIAGES IF GETTING VACCINATED BY HIS BIG PHARMA ACCOMPLICES.

MARGOLIS: “THESE NEWLY RELEASED TEXTS PROVE WHAT A MONSTER FAUCI REALLY IS.” Never let him forget.

ANTI-TRUMP DEMOCRATS: A HATE GROUP WARRING ON A CREATION OF THEIR OWN PSYCHOSES.

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S POLICIES CREDITED WITH RECORD LOW CRIME RATES IN AMERICAN CITIES. The working class and the poor support Trump, but privileged one-percenter entertainers and privileged one-percenter Democrat media outlet employees hate him.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED FOR PRODUCING CHILD PORN, FOR KILLING A FOURTEEN-MONTH OLD, AND FOR TRAFFICKING WEAPONS. ICE and DHS arrest them, Democrats adore them.

FLASHBACK FROM AUGUST EIGHTEENTH, 2014: NEW YORK TIMES WRITER CALLS OBAMA THE GREATEST THREAT TO PRESS FREEDOM IN A GENERATION. Continue reading

12 Comments

Filed under Anti-Donald Trump hysteria, LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, opinion