Monthly Archives: July 2025

JULY SEVENTH ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS

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

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL HARMEET DHILLON COME DOWN HARD ON WHITE SUPREMACIST MURDER FOR HIRE PLOT.

A LOOK AT EIGHTEEN OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S GREATEST WINS IN RECENT MONTHS.

DEMOCRAT MAMDANI’S HANNUKAH VIDEO MOCKING JEWS EXPOSED. Well, it’s no secret that Democrats are the party of rabid antisemitism and rabid support of Hamas. 

PRO-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT DEMOCRATS ARE NOW TARGETING THE CHILDREN OF ICE AGENTS. Have I mentioned lately that 21st Century Democrats are the combined Nazis and Mafia?

TRUMP’S U.S. ATTORNEY ALINA HABBA LEADS OPERATION THAT JUST APPREHENDED TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR WANTED CRIMINALS. 95 gang members were among those arrested. More HERE

ABC, NYT, CBS, MARQUETTE POLLS SHOW LARGE MAJORITIES OF THE VOTERS SUPPORT TRUMP’S LARGE-SCALE DEPORTATIONS. But we all know Democrats will continue to lie that the policy is “not popular.” 

LARGE-SCALE NEW YORK BRIBERY RING EXPOSED FOR PROVIDING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WITH FALSE DRIVER’S LICENSES. Continue reading

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LAMAR COLLEGE: COOL NAMED SPORTS TEAM

Here’s another college whose teams have a catchier name than the overused Eagles, Tigers, Bulldogs and Wildcats.

LAMAR COLLEGE Continue reading

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INVADERS FROM MARS (1953) ON THE TEXAS 27 FILM VAULT

Balladeer’s Blog continues its celebration of this 1985-1987 program’s FORTIETH anniversary year.

In the middle 1980s, way down on Level 31 Randy Clower and Richard Malmos, machine-gun toting Film Vault Technicians First Class (EO6) hosted this neglected cult show.

ORIGINAL BROADCAST DATE: Saturday June 7th, 1986 from 10:30pm to 1:00am. Broadcast throughout Texas and Oklahoma. 

SERIAL: Before the movie this week, our members of the Film Vault Corps (“the few, the proud, the sarcastic”) showed another episode of the 1950 Columbia serial Atom Man vs Superman. Kirk Alyn starred as Superman with Lyle Talbot as his archenemy Lex Luthor aka Atom Man.

Especially laughable are the bits when Superman “flies” – an effect achieved by switching from live footage of Kirk Alyn to INSERTED CARTOON FOOTAGE of Superman flying. Think of the ‘Toons in Roger Rabbit interacting with the live backgrounds and you have the idea.

A behind the scenes photo of Laurie Savino, who held the rank of Mystery Clip Technician in the Film Vault Corps.

FILM VAULT LORE: This week Laurie Savino, who held the rank of Mystery Clip Technician in the Film Vault Corps once again presented Channel 27’s Movie Ticket Giveaway.

Correctly identifying the Mystery Clip this time around would win a few lucky viewers tickets to the upcoming release of the 1986 remake of Invaders from Mars, starring Karen Black.

HOST SEGMENTS/ COMEDY MOMENTS – According to fan Dr. Solaranite, one of the comedy bits Randy and Richard injected into the film this time involved Jimmy Hunt, who played David Maclean, the child hero of the movie.

Whenever Hunt would say something harmless like “Gee Whiz” the Film Vault Guys would bleep part of it to make it sound like the kid had said “Jesus” and was getting censored. And so it went throughout the movie. Little Jimmy – but, hilariously, NONE of the adults, would occasionally get bleeped misleadingly as if cursing like a sailor. 

That is one foul-mouthed little boy!

A word beginning with “sh” would be bleeped like Jimmy was saying “shit”, a word beginning with “f” would be bleeped like Jimmy was saying “fuck”, multi-syllable “m” words would be bleeped like he was saying “motherfucking”. It was like a more profane throwback to the old “Cleveland-style” of movie hosting, dating back to the legendary Ghoulardi (Ernie Anderson) in the 1960s.

THE MOVIE: Invaders from Mars is a very fun-bad movie complete with cheap and unconvincing 1950s special effects, stiff and unbelievable characters and a groan-inducing finale. Some elderly critics praise this movie nostalgically and try to present it as a metaphor for 1950s anti-communist paranoia, like the more-deserving Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Continue reading

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ONE HUNDREDTH ISSUE STORIES FROM MARVEL

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog will look at the stories that Marvel Comics offered up for the 100th issue milestone for its various titles.

AVENGERS Vol 1 #100 (Jun 1972)

Title: Whatever Gods There Be

Avengers Roster: Thor, Wasp, Iron Man, Ant-Man, Hulk, Captain America, the Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, the Swordsman, Black Widow, Hercules, Black Panther, the Vision, Black Knight and Captain Marvel (Rick Jones) 

Villains: Ares and the Enchantress

Synopsis: This issue picks up where the previous one left off. Ares, the Greco-Roman God of War, has allied himself with the Avengers’ longtime foe the Enchantress. Ares has imprisoned the other gods and taken over Mount Olympus.

He and the Enchantress are about to unleash armies of monsters from Greek myths to conquer the Earth first and then Asgard. Thanks to the former Avenger Hercules our heroes were brought into all this over the previous two issues. 

The Avengers summon every single hero who had ever served as an Avenger to a meeting at the Black Knight’s Garrett Castle home (at right) to plot strategy against Ares and the Enchantress. From the mystic brazier in Garrett Castle, Sir Percy, the ghost of the current day Black Knight’s ancestor (featured in Marvel’s 1950s comic books) addresses all of the Avengers, Force Ghost style. Continue reading

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HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY 2025

American flagBalladeer’s Blog wishes a happy birthday to the USA! What happened in early July of 1776 certainly needs no rehashing so in keeping with my blog’s theme of addressing more out of the way subjects this post will examine various events that took place on other July 4ths throughout American history.

JULY 4TH, 1778 – George Rogers Clark led his rebel forces in taking the British stronghold of Kaskaskia, near the confluence of the Mississippi and Kaskaskia Rivers. Clark and his Rangers were on a mission for then-Virginia Governor Patrick Henry.

JULY 4TH, 1783 – The Massachusetts Supreme Court is finalizing its written decision holding that slavery has been illegal in the state since adoption of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights in 1780. 

continental soldierJULY 4TH, 1788 – The Constitution of the United States is starting to come into full effect this calendar year, instituting the government we are still officially ruled by. First elections are scheduled for later in the year.

JULY 4TH, 1789 – Congress passes a tariff that taxes goods imported in American ships at a rate 10% lower than on goods imported in ships under foreign flags.

JULY 4TH, 1794 – The “Whiskey Rebellion” is underway in western Pennsylvania. Farmers protesting a federal tax on grain alcohol act against it by refusing to pay it and by tarring and feathering the revenue agents sent to collect the tax money. They also take to burning down the homes of revenue officials. The rebellion ends in November.    Continue reading

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NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS ROUNDUP: JULY FOURTH

Time for an end of the week current events roundup from Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog.

TRUMP’S BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT PASSES IN TIME FOR JULY FOURTH SIGNING CEREMONY. Another win for populist President Donald Trump. Bradley Jaye and others noted: “The bill, which codifies into law much of what Trump has done through executive action and unlocks much more that required Congressional approval, may be considered by history as Trump’s crowning achievement” AND “manages to include almost every campaign promise Trump made …”

        Trump’s bill also fulfills his pledges regarding “no taxes on tips, overtime, or social security.” Plus there’s the biggest middle class tax cut in history and full funding for the Border Wall.

JUNE JOBS REPORT: TRUMP’S POLICIES ADD ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN THOUSAND NEW JOBS AND UNEMPLOYMENT FALLS AGAIN. More HERE. Trump remains the best president for the working class and the poor during my lifetime.

DEMOCRAT MEDIA OUTLET CNN LAMENTS THAT THEY DIDN’T GET THE JOBS SLOWDOWN THEY GLEEFULLY PREDICTED Continue reading

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1776: FOURTH OF JULY MUSICAL

For the first time in years, here’s Balladeer’s Blog’s look at the terrific musical 1776.

1776-musical-movieIt may be my fondness for mythology that makes me love to watch particular movies around particular holidays.  I say that because many of the well- known myths were recited on ancient holidays when their subject matter was relevant to those festivities. The stories helped accentuate the meaning of the special events and that’s the reason I love holiday-themed movies.

At Christmas I watch countless variations of A Christmas Carol, for New Year’s Eve it’s Bloodhounds of Broadway, around Labor Day I watch Matewan and Eight Men Out, at Halloween, naturally, horror films. Thanksgiving Eve I do Oliver! and for Frontierado (which is just a month away now) I do Silverado and other westerns.

Since the actual 4th of July is loaded with activity I always show 1776 on the night before. It’s a great way to get in the mood for Independence Day. It’s a musical but with brilliant dialogue portions and the story involves the political maneuvering surrounding the Original Thirteen Colonies at last announcing their independence from Great Britain, more than a year after the shots fired at Lexington and Concord started the war.

The story is excellently conveyed and is moving, comical, invigorating and poignant all at once. As long as you know which parts of the tale are depicted accurately and which are complete b.s. it’s a terrific way to spend each 3rd of July evening. Continue reading

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THE PENOBSCOT CAMPAIGN: AMERICA’S REVOLUTIONARY WAR TRAGEDY

THE PENOBSCOT CAMPAIGN – Most sources refer to this military campaign as the Penobscot Expedition, but I feel the word campaign is far more accurate. At any rate, if it had been a success this combined land and sea effort against the British in 1779 would be hailed to this very day. Unfortunately, its failure has relegated it to the Memory Hole for most people.

This campaign was an attempt to drive the British out of the portion of Maine that they had seized and renamed New Ireland. Because Maine is central to this affair, I will first clarify a few things that some Americans as well as non-Americans can get thrown off by.

*** In general, we are all familiar with the original 13 Colonies that broke away from England during the American Revolution. Because Maine is not named among those 13 colonies, some people are confused when it is mentioned as the location for various battles of the Revolutionary War.

        Maine was a district of Massachusetts at the time. Similarly, Kentucky was not one of the 13 Colonies, but it was a department of Virginia, which is why Daniel Morgan’s Kentucky Rifles were part of America’s army during the war. Continue reading

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JULY 2nd ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS

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

AS TRUMP-BACKED LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE HEADS TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOW, HE CALLS FOR UNITY. “It’s everyone’s bill” he stated.   JENNINGS REMINDS BEGALA THAT IT WAS DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON WHO ADDED WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAID, NOT TRUMP.    SCHMITT SHOOTS DOWN DEMOCRAT LIES BY POINTING OUT THE MEDICAID CUTS ARE FOR 1.4 MILLION ILLEGALS. Anti-Trumpers are still stuck in the pre-Trump past, when Republican policies were uniformly callous regarding public benefits.

TRUMP’S BBB KEEPS HIS PROMISE TO SENIOR CITIZENS REGARDING NOT HAVING THEIR BENEFITS TAXED. Trump continues to be the new FDR.

EVEN DEMOCRAT MEDIA OUTLET CNN ADMITS FOURTH OF JULY GAS PRICES UNDER TRUMP HAVE DROPPED TO FOUR-YEAR LOW. Now that the corrupt and unfit figurehead Joe Biden and his handlers are gone.

HELEN LEWIS OF THE DEMOCRAT MEDIA OUTLET THE ATLANTIC ADMITS DEMOCRATS PUSH “ZOMBIE FACTS” WHICH ARE NOT TRUE BUT WHICH THE POLITICAL BUBBLES THEY LIVE IN CONVINCE THEM ARE TRUE. As a former Democrat turned Independent, I certainly agree. Uninformed Democrats STILL spout lies about President Trump and other items on a daily basis.

HARVARD CALLED OUT AGAIN FOR THEIR VIOLATIONS OF STUDENT CIVIL RIGHTS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WELCOMES * LEGAL * IMMIGRANTS AND NATURALIZED CITIZENS “INTO OUR NATIONAL FAMILY”. Democrats still pretend they don’t understand the difference between legal and illegal immigration.

Continue reading

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DIONYSALEXANDROS (430s B.C.) ANCIENT GREEK COMEDY

This blog post looks at Dionysalexandros by Cratinus. For my post providing background info on ancient Greek comedies click here: https://glitternight.com/2011/09/22/at-long-last-my-ancient-greek-comedy-posts-begin/ 

Cratinus was one of the Big 3 in Attic Old Comedy along with Aristophanes and Eupolis, both of whom were much younger than he was. From the fragmentary evidence available on Dionysalexandros, it appears to be a possibly unique hybrid of Attic Old Comedy and traditional Satyr Plays.   

THE PLAY

In Dionysalexandros Cratinus pushed the envelope by  blurring the line between comedy and Satyr Plays, which were the traditional mythical burlesques that the ancient Greek tragedians wrote as a comical piece after each of their tragic trilogies.

Satyr plays always featured Dionysus’ followers the satyrs, the drunken Silenus and often Dionysus himself. As in the comedies Dionysus would be depicted in Satyr Plays as a bumbler and a coward, because though the tragedies and comedies were part of the festivals devoted to that god he was able to laugh at himself.

At any rate the tragedians would write the satyrs and their divine leader into traditional myths for comic effect. Think of Simpsons episodes where the characters were written into classical stories or movies. Satyr Plays were, according to some scholars, the origin of the word satire, but others dispute this. (Scholars arguing over something? Big surprise!)  Continue reading

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