Monthly Archives: November 2025

THANKSGIVING STORY FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

truro-massTwo thousand fishermen from Cape Cod had gone off to enlist in the Continental Army, and in their absence the British had repeatedly landed raiding parties to harass the citizens.

Every man, woman and child on the Cape hated the soldiers and sailors of King George and would do anything to work them harm. When the Somerset was wrecked off Truro in 1778 the crew were helped ashore, but they were immediately marched to prison.

It was now November 1779 – the night before Thanksgiving Day in fact – and ugly weather caused a British three-decker warship to yaw wildly and drift toward land with a broken tiller. No warning signal was raised on the bluffs; not a hand was stirred to rescue. The New Englanders who saw the accident watched with sullen satisfaction.

Ezekiel and Josiah Breeze – father and son – stood at the door of their cottage and watched the warship’s peril until three lights twinkling faintly through the gray of driving snow were all that showed where the enemy lay, straining at her cables and tossing on a wrathful sea.

They stood long in silence, but at last the boy Josiah said “I’m going to help the ship.”

“If you stir from here to help King George’s men, you’re no son of mine,” said Ezekiel. Continue reading

16 Comments

Filed under Neglected History

TOM (SELLECK) TURKEY: THE CHINESE TYPEWRITER (1979) – BAD MOVIE REVIEW

In honor of Thanksgiving Week, here’s a genuine turkey from Tom Selleck’s up-and-coming years.

THE CHINESE TYPEWRITER (1979) – It’s tough to remember the time before Tom Selleck was a tv megastar. His looks made him stand out and he had “future success” written all over him. He even showed he had a knack for comedy when he made two appearances on The Rockford Files as the annoyingly perfect and cliche-ridden detective Lance White. (“I’m okay, Jim. It’s just a flesh wound.”)

Television giant Stephen J. Cannell even used Tom’s second Rockford Files episode as a backdoor pilot for a potential series starring Selleck and James Whitmore, Jr. That didn’t work out, but Cannell still had faith in Tom and his unexpected chemistry with Whitmore.

And that brings us to The Chinese Typewriter, a 90-minute (with commercials) pilot movie for a different series to star Selleck and Whitmore. Stephen J. Cannell wrote and executive-produced the telefilm and tv veteran Lou Antonio directed.

With those writing and directing pedigrees behind the project you should have been able to smell several seasons, big money and some Emmy Awards in the offing. 

Instead, it was the most embarrassing production I’ve ever seen either Cannell or Antonio be connected with. The whole thing seems slapped together like the pair were told they had ten minutes to put together ideas for the tv-movie and fifteen minutes to start filming. Continue reading

8 Comments

Filed under Bad and weird movies, Forgotten Television

NEWS ROUNDUP: NOVEMBER TWENTY-FOURTH

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

DEMOCRAT SENATOR SLOTKIN ADMITS PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS NOT GIVEN ILLEGAL ORDERS TO THE MILITARY. Yet anti-Trump imbeciles STILL fall for every absurd lie that Democrats tell about him, even though the lies have gone down in flames over the past ten years. Anti-Trump fundamentalists remain the most ignorant, uninformed and emotionally unstable people I’ve ever seen.

TRUMP EFFECT: THANKSGIVING EXPENSES DROP TO THEIR LOWEST IN FOUR YEARS. Have I mentioned that Donald Trump is the greatest president for the working class and the poor during my lifetime? *** 

FACULTY LOUNGE FASCISTS: VIRGINIA ASSISTANT SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ARRESTED FOR PLOTTING TO ASSASSINATE ICE AGENTS. Democrat control of school systems has brought us to this point.

FURTHER FALLOUT FROM THE DEATH THREATS A NEW JERSEY LEFTIST MADE TO A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. More HERE.

THE DEMOCRAT ORGANIZATION CALLED THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION CRITICIZED OVER LATEST “INSTRUCTIONAL” MATERIALS FOR TRAINING “TEACHERS” TO LABEL PARENTS AND OTHER CRITICS “VILLAINS.” More HERE. To head off anyone sniveling about why I point out that teachers’ unions are democrat organizations just look up their political donations.

ANOTHER REMINDER ABOUT HOW JOE BIDEN ALLIES COORDINATED THE LIES CLAIMING THAT BIDEN FAMILY SCANDALS REVEALED BY HUNTER BIDEN’S LAPTOP WERE “RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION.” And just in time to help Biden in a 2020 debate with Trump.

THE LATEST ON THE DEMOCRAT SCANDAL IN MINNESOTA ABOUT MEDICAID FRAUD BEING USED TO FUND THE TERRORIST GROUP AL-SHABAAB. Another angle HERE. Trump takes action HERE

SENATOR BERNIE MORENO POINTS OUT HOW DEMOCRATS HAVE “GUTTED THE WORKING CLASS“. Continue reading

6 Comments

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

FLASHBACK: AND YET ANOTHER FORMER DEMOCRAT WEIGHS IN

BALLADEER’S BLOG

FROM APRIL 18th, 2016 – Regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog know I used to be a Democrat before leaving the Party to become an Independent Voter because of how unhinged and intolerant Democrats have become. 

“Michael Faraday is another in the long line of people that the increasingly demented political left has driven away. So here are some more reflections from somebody else who became disgusted with the complacent and self-infatuated left – especially the close-minded classroom liberals of the 1960s generation that Faraday came from. His remarks – 

For the millions raised as leftists, it is not an ideology; it is a culture. Since childhood, they have lived and breathed it every day in the home. They know nothing else. Like any culture, it is a way of speaking, thinking and acting, with its own narratives and rituals. Narratives are held sacred, repeated, reinforced and, over time, added to. That which challenges sacred narratives, even reality itself, is met with confusion and hostility.”

Leftists combine child-like naïveté and paranoid aggression in all of their narratives. It is a remarkable and very damaging pairing. The child-like naïveté protects the narrative from facts while the paranoid aggression protects the mind from doubt.”

It (21st century leftism) harnesses together childish emotions and paranoid thought processes. Its narratives are a filter that reality has to try to struggle through, often failing. The child-like thinking solves all problems without pesky details and facts interfering, leading to delusions of intellectual brilliance.” (Balladeer: Especially true of American Democrats Continue reading

4 Comments

Filed under opinion

BALLADEER’S BLOG COLLEGE FOOTBALL POSTSEASON RESULTS: NOV 23rd

NAIA PLAYOFFS

ROUND ONE: GAME ONE – The SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE welcomed the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be Rottweilers). The Fire led 14-7 in the opening Quarter and 21-10 by Halftime. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter, but Reinhardt University mounted a fierce rally in the 4th. Southeastern University held on for a 24-22 victory.

ROUND ONE: GAME TWO – A more lopsided affair was to be had in Oskaloosa, IA as the WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN played host to the TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY RAMS. The 1st Half ended with the Statesmen out in front 21-3. After the break, William Penn U. outscored the Rams 17-6 to win the game 38-9.

ROUND ONE: GAME THREE – The UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS took the field against the visiting EVANGEL UNIVERSITY VALOR. A 7-0 opening Quarter advantage for the Valor became a mere 10-7 edge come Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Cougars within 12-10, then in the 4th they came from behind for a 13-12 triumph. Continue reading

8 Comments

Filed under college football

ZOROASTRIAN END OF THE WORLD MYTH

In the Zoroastrian version of the end times the Big Event will happen 3,000 years after Zoroaster/ Zarathustra introduced the world to the belief system that bears his name. For those who date Zoroaster’s birth to around 1,000 BCE that means the end could come any year now, but for those who date his birth closer to 600 BCE the world still has hundreds of years to go.

The approaching climax to the ancient battle between the chief deity Ahura Mazda/ Ohrmazd and his evil archenemy, the demonic Ahriman/ Angra Mainyu, will be kicked off when the sun and moon are no longer seen in the sky and a long dark winter results. Continue reading

10 Comments

Filed under Mythology

MARVEL COMICS ISSUES FROM JANUARY 1977

BALLADEER’S BLOG

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post here at Balladeer’s Blog provides another look at Marvel’s publications – this time from January of 1977.

Reading superhero stories as a kid served as a gateway to some of my adult passions like mythology and opera, so I will always have a soft spot for them.

MARVEL TEAM-UP Vol 1 #53 (Jan)

Title: Nightmare in New Mexico

Villains: Major Del Tremens and the Tranquility Base troops

Synopsis: This issue picks up from Spider-Man and the X-Men’s shared adventure against the Lords of Light and Darkness in Marvel Team-Up Annual #1. Still in New Mexico, Spider-Man and the current roster of X-Men (Wolverine, Storm, Phoenix, Nightcrawler, Banshee, Colossus and Cyclops) try to check out the deserted town of Liberty. 

The mutants are driven away by the deadly nerve gas that killed all of the town’s inhabitants in the origin story of Marvel’s fairly new hero Woodgod (Marvel Premiere #31). Spider-Man proves immune to the nerve gas so he investigates further.   

The genetically engineered human/ animal hybrid creature Woodgod (at right) – also immune to the nerve gas – is still being contained in the depopulated town by Major Del Tremens and his troops at Tranquility Base, who caused the nerve gas leak.

Hulk arrives in Liberty and winds up fighting Woodgod, his near-equal in strength. Major Tremens and his forces decide to seize the opportunity to kill Hulk, Spider-Man and Woodgod all at once and unleash all their remote-controlled military hardware and aircraft on Liberty.

The three misunderstood heroes are victorious, but an enraged Hulk still wants to fight Woodgod and Spider-Man in the cliffhanger ending. Continue reading

8 Comments

Filed under Superheroes

NOVEMBER TWENTY-FIRST NEWS ROUNDUP

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

DEMOCRAT CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE CHARGED WITH STEALING FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IN FEMA FUNDS. More HERE. Have I mentioned lately that many of America’s elected officials are white-collar criminals?

DEMOCRAT EX-MAYOR CHARGED WITH DRUGGING AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A CHILD. Democrats, can you please leave children alone?

EVEN THE DEMOCRAT MEDIA OUTLET CBS HAD TO ADMIT THAT EPSTEIN VICTIM VIRGINIA GIUFFRE CALLED TRUMP HER “HERO” AND STATED HE WAS CLEAN OF ANY WRONGDOING IN EPSTEIN’S SCANDALS.

AL GORE AND NUMEROUS CLINTON ADMINISTRATION FIGURES REPORTED AS VISITORS TO EPSTEIN’S ISLAND.

DEMOCRATS BLUSTER AS THE EPSTEIN FILES INCRIMINATE MANY, MANY OF THEIR OWN PARTY’S MOVERS AND SHAKERS. Jim Jordan lectures them HERE. And HERE.

DEMOCRAT JASMINE CROCKETT HUMILIATES HERSELF BY WRONGLY ACCUSING OPPOSITION PARTY MEMBERS OF RECEIVING MONEY FROM EPSTEIN. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE WRONG EPSTEIN.

ICE HAS COME TO THE AID OF THIRTY THOUSAND CHILDREN TRAFFICKED UNDER THE BIDEN REGIME. Joe Biden’s creepy attraction to children – including showering with his own daughter when she was a child – is well known.

TRUMP EFFECT: ONE HUNDRED NINETEEN THOUSAND NEW JOBS ADDED IN SEPTEMBER, FAR HIGHER THAN PREDICTED. More HERE. The greatest president for the working class and the poor during my lifetime. 

TRUMP POLICIES CAUSE TWENTY-FOUR PERCENT DROP IN AMERICA’S TRADE DEFICIT. Continue reading

16 Comments

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

NCAA D3 PLAYOFF TEAMS FOR 2025

The NCAA Division Three football playoffs have a field of 40 teams. 16 teams will play in this Saturday’s 1st Round, with the rest having a Bye until November 29th. Here are the matchups this week.

The SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY RIVERHAWKS will host the WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE PRESIDENTS.

Kickoff is at 12:00PM Eastern Time.

The WHEATON COLLEGE THUNDER will host the CROWN COLLEGE POLARS.

Kickoff is at 1:00PM Eastern Time. Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under college football

GODS OF AINU MYTHOLOGY

Ainu mapThe Ainu people of Japan suffered oppression at the hands of the Japanese which was similar to that suffered by various conquered peoples around the world at the hands of the Western World, Russia, China and the Muslim World.

The Ainu migrated south to the Japanese islands from the northern lands of the Inuit. Regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog will recognize the similarities between the Ainu and Inuit belief systems and methods of worship. In addition, certain linguistic similarities will be noted between the Ainu and the Japanese. The Shinto “kami” becomes the Ainu “kamui”, to cite the most prominent example. 

As with the Inuit, exact names and aspects of the following deities can vary, with the most pronounced differences being in Saghalien. 

  • NOTE: I am still working out my entry on the Ainu bear god. If you know the Ainu then you know that that entry alone may double the size of this article. 

RUKORO – The Ainu god of the male privy. No, I’m not kidding. The powerful stench from his domain serves the useful purpose of fending off evil spirits. Because of his association with evacuation and expulsion of things unclean he is regarded as a powerful exorcist. There is no corresponding goddess of the female privy, owing to primitive taboos about menstruation.

CHUP – The sun god of the Ainu. His wife is Tombe, the moon goddess. Ainu homes orient their sacred window toward the east to greet the rising sun. Until recent decades it was customary to salute the sun upon exposure to its rays, similar to the practice of genuflecting to the center of an altar, but done without kneeling.

It was considered disrespectful to bodily cross the rays of sunlight striking the hearth through the sacred window. It was better to wait until the position of the sun changed. An inau, one of the idols or totems of the Ainu people, would be set up to honor the sun. That inau bears an incised outline of the orb of the sun and during rituals libations and praise are offered up to Chup.    Continue reading

12 Comments

Filed under Mythology