NEWS ROUNDUP FOR JUNE TENTH

Time for another current events roundup from Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog.

DEMOCRATS ONCE AGAIN PROVE WHO THEY ARE BY ELECTING GRAHAM “NAZI TATTOO” PLATNER AS THEIR CANDIDATE IN NOVEMBER’S SENATE ELECTION. His brutality toward women, bizarre port-o-john fetish and slush fund perfectly represent that political party. More HERE.

DEMOCRAT MOB PARTICIPANT TAUNTS WIDOW ERIKA KIRK BY ACTING OUT HER LATE HUSBAND’S MURDER. Stay classy, Democrats.

CHEATING IS STILL THE DEMOCRAT PARTY WAY: HOMELESS IN LOS ANGELES SPEAK OUT ABOUT DEMOCRATS PAYING THEM TO VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORED CANDIDATES. Plus more cheating HERE. And HERE.

CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS SO BRAZEN THEY ARE NOW STEALING ELECTIONS IN PRIMETIME. More HERE. And HERE.

CALIFORNIA TECH BOSS JAMSHID GHOMI CHARGED WITH SENDING MATERIAL AID TO THE CURRENT IRANIAN REGIME AND ITS MILITARY. Let’s face it, Ghomi would win election to high office in Democrat-held California.

LATEST ICE ARRESTS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, THIS TIME FOR BEING CONVICTED OF ARMED ASSAULT AND DRUG CONSPIRACIES.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SENTENCED FOR REPEATEDLY RAPING ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD-GIRL. Someone ask privileged white one percenter Bruce Springsteen about this.

ANOTHER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CONVICTED OF RAPING A THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL. Remember, Democrats don’t even want perpetrators like this to be arrested, let alone deported. 

HOUSE REPUBLICANS PASS ICE AND BORDER PATROL FUNDING DESPITE DEMOCRAT OPPOSITION. “Illegal immigrants uber alles” is still the Democrat motto. Continue reading

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FOOL KILLER PART SIXTY-EIGHT: FEBRUARY 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 68 – Some of the Fool Killer’s targets on both sides of the aisle in the February 1914 edition of James Larkin Pearson’s version of the folk figure:

*** The Eugenicists of 1913 and 1914.

*** Kentucky’s Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper for its hypocritical editorials blasting air pollution from factory chimney stacks while simultaneously hyping the tobacco industry despite the “air pollution” caused by smoking.

*** Republican and Democrat newspapers for amping up their combined attacks on Catholics. (Pearson found Catholic priests as disgusting as politicians, but found the newspapers’ attacks hypocritical.)

*** Joe Knowles, artist and Forest Survival enthusiast, for failing at his stunt of going into the Maine forests naked and insisting he would not only survive but would emerge after several weeks having made himself clothing that would be fitting for High Society. Knowles did survive but looked like a wild man and his clothing was like something Fred Flintstone would wear.

*** Miss Bana Douglass of Stratton, Maine. She was inspired by Joe Knowles’ stunt and announced her plan to go naked into the Maine forests herself in the summer of 1914. She too claimed she would thrive and create all the clothing and comforts of home for herself. The Fool Killer jokingly predicted that the Maine woods would be loaded with men that summer, all of them hoping to meet up with Bana Douglass.

*** What Pearson and his Fool Killer called “the Four Percent” (today we call them “the One Percent”) for their callousness toward the suffering of the working class and the poor.  Continue reading

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THE SACK OF TROY (C 770s B.C.)

fall of troyPreviously Balladeer’s Blog examined three of the neglected tales from the Epic Cycle which dealt with the Trojan War. First came Cypria, then after skipping The Iliad because of how well-known it is I moved on to Aethiopis and then most recently I examined Iliad Minor.

SACK OF TROY aka Sack of Ilion is credited to Arktinos of Miletos in the 770’s BCE. The previous epic Iliad Minor wrapped up with the Greek warriors springing out of the Trojan Horse and at last triumphing over King Priam and his Trojans. Sack of Troy rehashes a few story elements, backing up to cover the construction of the Trojan Horse and the Trojans ignoring the prophet Cassandra’s warnings about the Horse. New elements are the arguments the Trojans have about possibly burning the Horse or rolling it off a cliff into the sea before deciding to take it inside the city gates.

BALLADEER’S BLOG

During the celebrations for what the Trojans think is their victory over the Greeks two serpents bit and killed the priest of Apollo named Laocoon and one of his sons. The Trojans called an end to the feast and retired for the evening, their spirits dampened. The Greek soldiers emerged from the Trojan Horse after most of the Trojans were asleep and started slaying the Trojans, taking time out to allow their returned comrades to enter Troy to bring their numbers up.

Much pride was taken over which Greek warrior killed which Trojan and also, given the time period, which Trojan woman or women they took as sex-toys. Taking Trojan women who had been aristocrats was a particular sign of status. To name just a few Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, killed King Priam and Odysseus killed Astyanax (Hector’s son) by throwing him from the top of the city walls to his death. Neoptolemus then seized Astyanax’s wife Andromache. Continue reading

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FORGOTTEN TELEVISION: THE LIVES OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1974-1975)

THE LIVES OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1974-1975) – This was a series of four 90-minute (with commercials) dramas depicting America’s magnificently unorthodox genius at various stages of his life. Eddie Albert and Melvyn Douglas (husband of Helen Gahagan Douglas) depicted Franklin in his 70s and 80s, with flashback storylines in each episode. The Lives of Benjamin Franklin won five Primetime Emmys including Outstanding Limited Series.

Glenn Jordan directed, while Edward Adler, Howard Fast and Loring Mandel wrote the episodes. 

ONE: THE AMBASSADOR (Nov 21st, 1974) – The title is a bit deceptive as this episode’s emphasis is on the way cosmopolitan experiences in his youth prepared Benjamin Franklin for his later career in diplomatic posts, including Ambassador. Believe it or not Willie Aames portrays Franklin at age twelve. 

Also starring in The Ambassador were Alexis Smith, Clive Revill, Gig Young, Rene Auberjonois, Frank Langella, Victor Buono and Edward Mulhare. Continue reading

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JUNE EIGHTH NEWS ROUNDUP

Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog starts the week with this current events roundup.

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S ECONOMIC POLICIES DELIVER FOR THE WORKING CLASS: REAL WAGES AND MANUFACTURING SOAR. More HERE. And HERE. And HERE. MOORE SAYS TRUMP HAS BEEN RIGHT THE ENTIRE TIME ON JOBS CREATION.

TEACHER IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON ARRESTED FOR THEIR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR TWO ADOPTEES. Democrats, can you please stop this already?

VICTORY GIRLS ON AMERICA 250: TRUMP IS NOT THE PROBLEM.

NO SURPRISE: CALIFORNIA MIRACULOUSLY “FOUND” ENOUGH VOTES TO STOP SPENCER PRATT’S CANDIDACY. AS ALWAYS, CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS DELAY THE COUNTING – IN THIS CASE FOR NEARLY A FULL WEEK – SO THEY CAN FIND OUT HOW MANY VOTES THEIR PREFERRED CANDIDATES NEED TO “FIND.” More HERE. And HERE. And HERE.

ELECTION FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY AS CALIFORNIA SLEAZE REPEATS ITSELF. More HERE. And HERE. And HERE.

FLASHBACK: TO QUOTE FROM MY 2018 BLOG POST EXPLAINING THIS FAMILIAR DEMOCRAT CON: “Miraculously” this only ever happens in districts controlled by the Democrats and equally miraculously these “discovered uncounted votes” ALWAYS help the Democrat candidates. This has been going on for AT LEAST two decades but the clueless Republicans have always failed to do anything about it.

If Republican areas did this every two years by discovering boxes full of uncounted votes that help THEIR candidates they would rightfully be nailed to the wall by the media, but the Democrats’ media outlets so massively outnumber the Republicans’ media outlets that the Dems’ obvious chicanery is never given the coverage it deserves.” Continue reading

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HAPPY NATIONAL VCR DAY 2026!

We pause in memory of the many Blockbuster Video store owners who fell on the beaches of – Oh, wait! I’m a day behind! As usual for National VCR Day, here’s a look at several VHS movies that I’ll probably never find the time to write full-length reviews about.

CAR CRASH (1981) – Travolta … Joey Travolta. Yes, it’s Barbarino’s older brother in this Italian-Spanish coproduction. Ever wonder what the Fast and Furious franchise would be like if Frank Stallone was the overall star? This movie provides the answer – sped up footage to (unsuccessfully) lend the illusion of speed, and model cars just one step above Hot Wheels toys passing for the race cars much of the time!

Travolta stars as the fast and fatuous driver Paul Little. He wins a race, infuriating the crime boss who rigged the event to let his own driver win. Paul then faces the gangster, his men and several other competitors in a race called the Imperial Crash. With Johnny Carson’s frequent 1980s joke Ana Obregon. Continue reading

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DEMOCRAT TOTALITARIANS REMIND US THEY HAVE NO IDENTITY OUTSIDE OF THEIR POLITICAL OPINIONS

A 250th “birthday” for a nation is a remarkable milestone. Because Democrat “activists” are empty, hate-filled people afflicted with Trump Derangement Syndrome they are going beyond just sitting out the celebrations themselves. No, typical of 21st Century Democrats if they don’t like something they try to prevent anyone else from enjoying it as well, all because of their irrational hatred of everyone who votes differently than they do. 

If a Democrat is in the White House the Party uses their overwhelming superiority in media outlets to push the false consensus that the country is happy with that president, so “naturally” it’s not political to celebrate milestones with them, or for a winning team to show up at the White House to be photographed with that president.

So, here in 2026 if a Democrat was president none of the tiresome entertainers or sports figures or office holders who are Democrats first and human beings second would insist it’s “partisan” to participate in national milestones like a 250th anniversary. The rest of us are rational people who realize you are not endorsing an elected figure just by behaving in a civil manner. Hell, in 1976 America celebrated our Bicentennial with events featuring a sitting president who was RUNNING FOR ELECTION THAT SAME YEAR.

Because that was back before the Democrat party was filled with immature fanatics, people understood that because the figure was president OF COURSE he would take part in various ceremonies and events. Back then, Democrats also refrained from trying to stop the government from operating if the candidate they opposed won the most recent election so it shows how far they’ve sunk. 

First, let me remind everyone that I can link to several of my blog posts bashing politicians from both major U.S. political parties. I also defend some politicians from BOTH the Democrats and Republicans, too. In recent years the Democrats have become so intolerant and so violent that I don’t waste my time pretending that both parties are still equally divisive. The Democrats have long been far more hate-filled, violent, deceptive and willing to deprive people they disagree with of their right to express opinions or leave them alone to live their lives.

Democrats made graduation and guest speaker events in schools, colleges and universities one-sided affairs where they threaten to get violent if anyone they disagree with is invited to speak. Democrats now applaud the killing of people they disagree with and pretend that the very act of disagreeing with THEM is the equivalent of violence and that they are justified in using any means to prevent being exposed to alternate opinions.

When Democrats lose elections, they have also come to flatly refuse to remain civil and simply wait until the next election – and we have federal elections every two years. No, the Democrats try to halt the functioning of any political offices occupied by candidates they personally did not vote for. Continue reading

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BAD MOVIE REVIEW: D-DAY ON MARS (1945, 1966)

D-DAY ON MARS (1945, 1966) – Obviously, the Sixth of June marks the solemn remembrance of World War Two’s Normandy Invasion, but I did my annual salute recently. For today I’m reviewing D-Day on Mars, the edited down feature film version of the 1945 serial The Purple Monster Strikes.

During the 1960s, various studios truncated their old 1940s and 1950s movie serials down into feature film length and released them on television. For instance, the Commando Cody serial Radar Men from the Moon was edited down into the telefilm Retik the Moon Menace and Zombies of the Stratosphere was edited down into Satan’s Satellites.

In 1966 D-Day on Mars was broadcast as a very, very shortened version of The Purple Monster Strikes.

THE MOVIE: Continue reading

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BLACK GOLIATH: HIS 1970s STORIES

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog looks at the early stories of Marvel’s Black Goliath (Bill Foster, PhD). 

POWER MAN Vol 1 #24 (April 1975) 

Title: Among Us Walks Black Goliath

Villain: Black Goliath

Synopsis: In California, Luke and his white friend D.W. find the missing Claire Temple, and the couple have a private talk while D.W. leaves them alone. Claire admits she left to help her ex-husband, Bill Foster, PhD, the former colleague of Dr. Henry Pym aka Ant-Man aka Giant Man aka Goliath aka Yellowjacket.

NOTE: Bill Foster had worked with Hank Pym since the 1960s and had appeared in old issues of the Avengers with him.

Since Pym has given up his Goliath identity, Bill experimented with Pym Particles to try to gain Pym’s old growing powers. A misfire caused Dr. Foster to be unable to shrink back down to normal size, stranding him at 25 feet in height. While working on a cure, Bill has been hiding with a traveling circus.

Claire says she cannot abandon Bill during a moment of crisis like this and was afraid Luke wouldn’t understand. Dr. Foster unexpectedly finds Power Man and Claire together and misunderstands the situation. Revealing to Luke that he is now the costumed figure Black Goliath, he attacks Power Man.

After a while, their clash is interrupted when the people who run the circus that Black Goliath has been hiding with reveal that they are really the longtime supervillain team called the Circus of Crime. (And who had battled Spider-Man, Daredevil, the Hulk, Thor and the Avengers up to this point.)  Continue reading

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THE HOME STRETCH TOWARD AMERICA’S TWO HUNDRED FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY

We are less than a month away from America’s 250th birthday! I’ll be making additional seasonal posts between now and then but let’s open up the home stretch with some of the top neglected historical moments in U.S. history.

THE PENOBSCOT CAMPAIGN: AMERICA’S REVOLUTIONARY WAR TRAGEDY. The largest land and sea offensive launched by the U.S. during the war.

AND EVEN MORE NEGLECTED BATTLES OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. AND MORE HERE.

THE PETTICOAT REVOLUTION OF DECEMBER 5th, 1916. The most fascinating female maneuvering this side of the Aristophanes comedy The Assemblywomen (Ecclesiazusae).

NEGLECTED REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLES: LATE 1781.

NEGLECTED REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLES: MARCH 1777The title says it all.

THE GREAT ADVENTURE (1963-1964). Dramatizations of fascinating moments in American history.

FIVE NATURAL DISASTERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY: 1811-1937.

D-DAY AND OTHER JUNE SIXTHS IN HISTORY.

THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS: BLACK WARRIORS OF THE OLD WEST.

GOVERNOR BENT ASSASSINATED: JANUARY NINETEENTH, 1847. Continue reading

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