Monthly Archives: February 2025

ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: ELEKTROPOLIS (1928)

ELEKTROPOLIS (1928) – By Otfrid von Hanstein. Readers are introduced to Fritz, a young German engineer who has been having trouble finding a job. On what turns out to be a lucky Friday the Thirteenth for him, he gets a job offer from a mysterious Mr. Schmidt.

The pay is too good to turn down, but Fritz is sworn to secrecy and must abide by certain other peculiar terms. The engineer loves the money and is increasingly intrigued by the mysterious circumstances.

Fritz does as instructed and is taken to Australia, part of the way via a high-tech airplane which has no pilot and is completely automated. Similarly, once in Australia he boards a fully automated train which takes him to a cluster of iron huts in the desert of the Australian Outback.  Continue reading

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BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE: COOL NAMED SPORTS TEAM

Time to commend another college sports team for not going with the incredibly overused names like Eagles, Tigers, Bulldogs and Wildcats.

BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE Continue reading

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Filed under Cool names and cool logos

NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS ROUNDUP: FEB TENTH

Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog brings you another current events roundup.

THE HISTORIC CLASH BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP’S REFORM FORCES AND AMERICA’S CESSPOOL OF CORRUPTION CONTINUES. Will Congressional Republicans revert to their usual spineless selves to betray their constituents and the rule of law?

STATELY MCDANIEL MANOR ON USAID: THE COCKROACHES BEGIN TO BE CRUSHED. An incredible article that deserves to be read and passed on.

COURAGEOUS BLACK TRUMP SUPPORTERS SUING NEW YORK MAGAZINE OVER AN ARTICLE WHICH ACCUSED THEM OF BEING “WHITE SUPREMACISTS.” Pushing race hatred and division is in the DNA of the Democrats.

ANOTHER SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CAUGHT PUSHING THE TRANS RELIGION ON SMALL CHILDREN. Democrats, can you please leave children alone?

REMINDERS TO DEMOCRAT BUFFOONS WHO SNIVEL THAT MUSK WAS “NOT ELECTED” – CIA HEADS AREN’T ELECTED, FBI HEADS AREN’T ELECTED, FUNCTIONARIES IN FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AREN’T ELECTED, ANTHONY FAUCI WASN’T ELECTED, ETC. Democrats who support corruption still don’t comprehend how things work, do they?

ZELENSKY BEING PERSUADED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP’S PEACE PROPOSALS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP BRINGS JOBS AND ROOTS OUT POLITICAL CORRUPTION. The Great Reformer is hated and feared by the graft-grabbing white-collar criminals of Washington DC. But I do disagree with his Gaza statements.

TRUMP CONTINUES TO LAY BARE THE ROT AT THE CORE OF OUR POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT. More HERE.

EVEN MORE USAID MISDEEDS. And it’s repulsive seeing bureaucrats so eager to defend their own jobs even though they were so callous toward the working class losing their jobs. Continue reading

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

NAMATHON: A JOE NAMATH MARATHON FOR SUPERBOWL SUNDAY

Joe Namath started life as a Pennsylvania boy. Later in life he became the quarterback for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide under iconic football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. After college he was signed by the New York Jets for what was then the highest-ever contract for a quarterback.

Before long, he earned a place in NFL history by leading the underdog Jets to a victory over the (then) Baltimore Colts in Superbowl III. Though the rest of his football career was – let’s be honest – less than impressive, Joe’s charisma and appeal to the ladies carried him into a minor career as a piece of kitsch-casting in movies and on television. 

NORWOOD (1970) – The stunning sequel to True Grit. Okay, I’m kidding! I couldn’t resist since Norwood came out a year after True Grit, was based on another novel by the author of True Grit and starred Glen Campbell and Kim Darby, also from True Grit. Marguerite Roberts wrote the screenplay for both flicks, too. 

Glen stars as one of the few Vietnam War veterans not depicted by Hollywood as PTSD-riddled. As Norwood Pratt, the returning vet winds up in a job transporting cars from Texas to New York City but soon learns he’s driving stolen merchandise.

Joe William Namath plays Joe William Reese, a friend of Norwood who sees him become a singing sensation. Also in the strange circle of friends are dwarf actor Billy Curtis and runaway bride Rita (Darby).

A scene in which Namath tosses a football back and forth with Billy Curtis deserves to stand alongside the football-tossing scenes in The Room. Plus there’s Dom Deluise, Carol Lynley, David Huddleston and Joann, the intelligent chicken.      Continue reading

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BALLADEER’S BLOG: COLLEGE BASKETBALL – FEBRUARY EIGHTH EDITION

NJCAA DIVISION TWO

CENTURY CLUB – Teams scoring 100 or more points in Regulation: The DAVIDSON-DAVIE COLLEGE STORM defeated the visiting CLEVELAND COLLEGE YETIS by a score of 104-80   ###   Meanwhile, the TERRA STATE TITANS triumphed 108-80 over the OWENS COLLEGE EXPRESS   ###   And the MARION MILITARY INSTITUTE TIGERS downed the ENTERPRISE STATE BOLL WEEVILS 108-86.

SEVEN HUNDRED WINS – Coach Brian Peabody of the PIMA COLLEGE AZTECS notched his 700th win in style at the SCOTTSDALE COLLEGE FIGHTING ARTICHOKES (yes, really). At Halftime the Aztecs were clinging to a mere 39-37 edge. From there Pima College left the Fighting Artichokes further and further behind in a 95-71 victory led by Cohenj Gonzales’ 17 points. Continue reading

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MEXICO’S SUPERHEROES

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog looks at some of Mexico’s homemade superheroes (non-wrestling division). 

RELAMPAGO (Lightning)

Secret Identity: Rod Harrelson 

Debuted: 1964

Origin: When Rod Harrelson was killed he was figuratively brought back to life by Professor Hacket with his mind inhabiting an android version of himself. He adopted the costumed identity Relampago. 

Powers: This hero could fly, shoot electrical blasts from his hands and deliver electric-powered punches.

LLANERA VENGADORA (Plains Avenger)

Secret Identity: Flor Silvestre

Debuted: 1950

Origin: Singer and actress Flor Silvestre adopted the costumed identity of la Llanera Vengadora to fight crime and supernatural menaces without endangering her family and friends.

Powers: This heroine was in peak physical condition, was a skilled fighter and had mastered pistols, whips and lariats. In addition, la Llanera Vengadora could stunt-drive her 1950s motorcycle. Continue reading

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FEBRUARY SEVENTH ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS

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

THE SCANDAL OVER THE WAY DEMOCRATS USED USAID TO COVERTLY FINANCE DEMOCRAT MEDIA OUTLETS, TARGET DEMOCRAT ENEMIES AND PUSH GROTESQUE SIDE PROJECTS CONTINUES TO GROW. More HERE. And HERE. This will join the Teapot Dome Scandal, the Credit Mobilier Scandal and other monumental scandals in American history. Even more HERE. And HERE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SENATOR TUBERVILLE PURSUING LEGISLATION TO END THE TAXING OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS. Another campaign promise is addressed.

TRUMP ONCE AGAIN IMPROVING THINGS FOR THE WORKING CLASS AND THE POOR, LIKE HE DID IN HIS FIRST TERM, TOO. He has been and still is the best president for the working class and the poor during my lifetime.

FEMALE ATHLETES PRAISE PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR KEEPING MEN OUT OF WOMEN’S SPORTS. Videos HERE. And HERE. And HERE.

DEMOCRAT OBSESSION WITH MUTILATING THE GENITALS OF CHILDREN CONTINUES. Democrats, can you please leave children alone?

TRUMP CLEANUP OF THE SEWER AT THE CIA IS IN THE SPIRIT OF JFK’s LONG-AGO PLAN TO CURB THAT AGENCY’S COUNTLESS ABUSES. Let’s hope President Trump keeps himself safe.

TREN DE ARAGUA GANG MEMBERS STILL BEING ARRESTED IN AURORA, CO. Remember when Democrats tried pretending that the gang wasn’t even in Colorado and that Trump was making it up?. Continue reading

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

THE BELLE STARR STORY (1968) SPAGHETTI WESTERN

THE BELLE STARR STORY (1968) – (Original title Il Mio Corpo per un Poker) This movie was directed by Lina Wertmuller, making it the only Spaghetti Western directed by a woman. It has nothing to do with the real Belle Starr, but for name recognition you can’t beat that title!

In any event, our heroine Belle (Elsa Martinelli) faces the ugly issues a lot of women faced in the old west regarding predatory men but rises above it all to become a sharp-shooting, butt kicking, hard drinking ball of fire. She blazes a trail across the west, becoming one of the greatest outlaws of her time.

Early in the film, Belle is in a high stakes poker game at a saloon. The other players fall one by one until it’s just her and the handsome, devil-may-care bandit Larry Blackie (Larry Blackie?). Continue reading

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Filed under FRONTIERADO, Spaghetti Westerns

REMINDER ABOUT KRIS STRAUB’S LOCAL 58: THE NEW EPISODES

Where does the time go? It was 2020 when Balladeer’s Blog first covered the ongoing masterpiece and trailblazer of Analog Horror – Local 58TV. My post yesterday about the very real Lucky 7 pirate channel from 1978 prompted me to check up on any new episodes of Kris Straub’s fictional Local 58TV.

There are FOUR new installments since 2020 – one from three years ago, one from two years ago and two from Halloween of 2024! As always, the months and sometimes years between episodes are the biggest weakness of this Straub storyline. It’s been purely on faith in his talent that so many of us are still interested after all this time. 

If you’re new to the whole Local 58TV Analog Horror series the YT Channel is HERE. You’ll get to enjoy all twelve episodes up to now without the long wait the rest of us had to endure.

My take on the four new installments:  Continue reading

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Filed under Halloween Season, opinion

LUCKY SEVEN: SYRACUSE’S PIRATE TELEVISION STATION (1978)

LUCKY SEVEN (1978) – Years before the hacker calling himself Captain Midnight hijacked HBO airtime to protest their high prices and years before the weird Max Headroom parody hack in Chicago came this forgotten incident in the annals of pirate broadcasting.

As many people know, pirate radio stations were often able to operate for months or even years before getting shut down, but pirate television broadcasting was limited to random hacks of a few minutes tops. The exception was Lucky 7, a rogue outfit that operated on the (then) unused frequency for what would have been Channel Seven in Syracuse, New York.

The host for Lucky 7 was a memorable man wearing a gas mask on his face like he was some kind of late-night Horror Host. This figure would introduce the programs and movies being shown on the channel and would also editorialize about the way corporations and the government held a monopoly on the airwaves. 

Not content to merely hack into other television broadcasts for a few minutes the rebels at Lucky 7, who called themselves the Renegade Broadcasting Company, were seen on thousands of tv screens in Upstate New York for roughly eight hours per night. 8 or 10 PM to 4 or 6 AM are often claimed. Continue reading

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Filed under Forgotten Television, Neglected History