Monthly Archives: December 2025

DECEMBER FIFTEENTH NEWS ROUNDUP

Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog makes with a Monday current events roundup.

ANOTHER ANTI-TRUMP FAIL: DEMOCRATS EXPOSED FOR THEIR LATEST FRAUDULENT ATTEMPT TO TIE PRESIDENT TRUMP TO ANTICS ON EPSTEIN ISLAND. More HERE. That picture of Trump posing for the photo with several Hawaiian Tropic models is from a 1986 event at Mar-a-Lago. It wasn’t Epstein Island and the models were all legal age AND it’s the kind of public celebration photo that was fairly common in the 1980s.

        Some legal experts in the media are saying this attempt to smear Trump was so blatant that he may have grounds for another lawsuit against his hysterical, overreaching haters. Democrats sinisterly blacked out part of the faces of the models to make the photo look incriminating. The full photo has been published and the ladies are known.

HEROIC MARIA CORINA MACHADO CONTINUES TO DAZZLE THE WORLD. More HERE. Haters, meanwhile, are outraged that her white pantsuit resembles the kind favored by Tulsi Gabbard.

INTERNATIONAL ROLE MODEL MARIA CORINA MACHADO ALSO SAYS “I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S STRATEGY” ON VENEZUELA.   

DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR TIM WALZ CONTINUES TO TWIST IN THE WIND OVER MINNESOTA’S MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR MEDICAID FRAUD SCANDAL.

A LOOK AT THE FOUR HUNDRED WORST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WITH ADDITIONAL CRIMES ARRESTED BY ICE IN TIM WALZ’S “SANCTUARY STATE” MINNESOTA. Continue reading

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FLASHBACK: THE REAL DIVIDE IN AMERICA – DEMOCRATS VS THE REST OF US

democrat platform hatredFROM MAY 3rd, 2021 – Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog comes to you once again from an America divided by the Democrats’ hatred and racism. It’s no secret that in the United States the REAL division is not black people vs white people or gay people vs straight people or women vs men – it’s DEMOCRATS VS EVERYBODY ELSE.

Yes, people of all colors or religions, etc., can discuss anything calmly and reasonably and without hatred as long as none of them are Democrats. They may not agree, but the debates can be civil and free of vituperative accusations. However, when one or more Democrats enter the conversation, hate-filled hysteria replaces facts and logic. What had been an exchange of ideas degenerates into vitriol and sanctimonious drivel.

It doesn’t help that pompous, hypocritical and snobbish Democrats actually believe in “Democrat Exceptionalism.”

*** Remember, the people who call others White Supremacists do not speak for all black people, they speak for DEMOCRATS, some of whom happen to be black.

aaaaaa

NO DEMOCRAT WOULD ALLOW THIS SIGN IN A CLASSROOM OR OFFICE.

*** People who push for “Defunding (and/or firing) The Police” do not speak for all people of color, they speak for DEMOCRATS, some of whom happen to be people of color.

*** People who insist other people must lose their jobs and/or be driven from an entire profession for expressing opinions that supposedly “offend” or “marginalize” entire groups do not speak for those entire groups, they speak only for DEMOCRATS.

*** People who oppose voter i.d. do not represent all people of color, they represent DEMOCRATS.

*** People who pretend to represent educators do not represent all educators, they represent DEMOCRATS in the education field. Democrats file complaints about or otherwise harass anyone who expresses dissenting opinions. Continue reading

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A REDNECK CHRISTMAS CAROL (1997)

Balladeer’s Blog’s Sixteenth Annual Christmas Carol-a-Thon continues with this new review.

A REDNECK CHRISTMAS CAROL (1997) – Written by John Yow & T. Stacy Helton and illustrated by David Boyd this is a reasonably funny adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Think of the type of jokes that Jeff Foxworthy was telling back when this book came out and you’ll know what to expect.

And speaking of Jeff Foxworthy, the illustrations for his You Might be a Redneck If … series of books had artwork from the same David Boyd who worked on this item. The redneck jokes in A Redneck Christmas Carol are not vicious and are told with a certain charm. 

EUBIE SCROOD, the main character of this adaptation, owns and operates Eubie’s Bait and Tackle Shop near Lake Water Moccasin. Everyone in Sand Mountain, AL considers Scrood to be cheap and mean-spirited.

Scrood’s partner Jake Marley had died a few years earlier but one and all continued to patronize the bait and tackle shop because of its incredible inventory of goods over and above just bait, lures, lines and poles. The book tells us “you could get snuff, nickel hard-boiled eggs, beer, a muffler for a Ford pick-up (years ’82 to ’89), loaf bread and motor oil all in one quick stop.” Continue reading

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BALLADEER’S BLOG’S POSTSEASON COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS: DEC 13th

CCCAA

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The defending champs – the COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO BULLDOGS – battled the GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE RUSTLERS. A 7-0 opening Quarter edge for the Bulldogs became a 21-7 lead at the Half. 28-7 was the score to close the 3rd Quarter and a missed PAT ended a valiant Rustlers rally in the 4th as San Mateo held on to win 28-27.

NAIA

FIRST SEMIFINAL – The KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS took the field against the visiting COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES. The Seahawks watched their 9-0 1st Quarter lead morph into a 21-9 College of Idaho advantage by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Keiser pulling to within 21-16 of the Coyotes and an explosive 4th ended in a 36-27 victory for the Seahawks.  Continue reading

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MARVEL ISSUES: JANUARY 1978

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post here at Balladeer’s Blog looks at every Marvel issue published in January 1978.

SPIDER-MAN Vol 1 #176 (Jan 1978)

Title: He Who Laughs Last …

Villain: Green Goblin III

Synopsis: Peter Parker’s Aunt May has joined the Grey Panthers and has her 987th heart attack at a demonstration. Peter and Mary Jane Watson visit her in the hospital.

Seeing that she is recovering just fine, the pair leave. Peter stops by the office of psychiatrist Dr. Bart Hamilton, who has been treating Peter’s friend Harry Osborn ever since Harry’s drug problems made him become the second Green Goblin. The office has been trashed.

Peter becomes Spider-Man and gets to the apartment that Harry shares with Flash Thompson. He finds Flash unconscious on the floor and the Green Goblin ransacking Harry’s bedroom. Spider-Man attacks the villain, assuming it’s Harry in the costume, but in a few issues it will turn out to be Dr. Hamilton himself, who manipulated his patient Harry Osborn to find his late father Norman Osborn’s Green Goblin costume and weaponry.

For the cliffhanger ending, the hard-pressed Goblin grabs Flash’s unconscious form and throws him out the window, seemingly to his death. Continue reading

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BEST OF APRIL 2025

Balladeer’s Blog’s annual retrospective continues with this look at April’s best.

SCREAMBOOK (1984) – This low, low budget horror anthology film was written, produced and directed by THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Joseph Zaso.

He went on to a still-going career in Psychotronic filmmaking, but this debut effort saw him directing (mostly) his fellow teens, even in the adult and elderly roles. Sort of a Bugsy Mallone feel. Click HERE.   

AIHEC: COOL NAMED TEAMS AND LOGOS – A look at 21 cool-named sports teams and their logos from the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. Meet the Turtle Mountain College Mighty Mikinocks, the Red Lake Nation College Migizi, the Leech Lake College Leech Lakers and more. Click HERE.

WINK MARTINDALE, RIP: HE DID MORE THAN JUST GAME SHOWS – I reviewed some of Mr. Martindale’s other productions, like his role on the sci-fi series Mars Patrol (1953-1955), the Rock and Roll movie Let’s Rock (1958), the 26-minute short about life in the future titled 1999 A.D., and the PureFlix series Hilton Head Island. Click HERE.

VAL KILMER, RIP: TOP SECRET (1984) – Click HERE.

FOR APRIL 1st, THE THIRD FOOL KILLER LETTER – From June 28th, 1861.

The folk figure created by Charles Napoleon Bonaparte Evans in the 1850s expressed his disgust with the fools who brought on the Civil War. Click HERE.

FORGOTTEN TELEVISION – Bracken’s World (1969-1970) Leslie Nielsen as the head of a Hollywood studio with as many stars as The Love Boat. Click HERE.   The Engelbert Humperdinck Show (1969-1970) – Singing and comedy sketches with celebrity guests. Click HERE.   Empire (1962-1963) Ryan O’Neal, Charles Bronson and Richard Egan starred in this modern ranching drama HERE.   

ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION – Consolations in Travel (1830) A journey to see the alien life-forms on the Moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and on comets HERE. The Guardian of Mystery Island (1896) Hemp that grants long lifespans and a large man-eating tree with tentacles for branches. Click HERE. A Story of the Year 2236 (1900) – A war between Earth’s interstellar empire and a hostile alien empire from Sirius. Click HERE.   

ARGENTINA’S SUPERHEROES – I examined the country’s male and female heroes like Caballero Rojo, Cybersix, Sonoman, El Cazador, Alien Girl, Arana Negra and many more. Click HERE.

BAD MOVIES – A look at Werewolves on Wheels (1971), Psychomania (1973), Black Angels (1970), Bigfoot (1970), She-Devils on Wheels and several more HERE.   

THE SUCCESSOR (1965) – Forgotten drama which fictionalized the College of Cardinals’ process for their selection of a new Pope. Click HERE. Continue reading

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NEWS ROUNDUP FOR DECEMBER TWELFTH

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

TRUMP EFFECT: PAYCHECKS CONTINUE TO OUTPACE INFLATION. The greatest president for the working class and the poor during my lifetime.

EVEN THE DEMOCRATS AT CNBC ADMIT NOW THAT JOE BIDEN CAUSED THE “AFFORDABILITY CRISIS” THEY TALK ABOUT. Points for honesty, I guess.

NOBEL LAUREATE MARIA CORINA MACHADO CREDITS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WITH HELPING HER ESCAPE VENEZUELA

DEMOCRAT GOVERNORS OF COLORADO, ILLINOIS AND NEW YORK MOVE TO DEPRIVE THEIR CITIZENS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S NO TAX ON TIPS BENEFIT JUST BECAUSE TRUMP DID IT. Anti-Trump hysteria and Trump Derangement Syndrome sink to new depths. How do service personnel in those states feel about The Party continuing to tax their tips? More HERE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S POLICIES HAVE ALREADY LOWERED AMERICA’S TRADE DEFICIT BY TEN POINT NINE PERCENT. Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans accomplish nothing. 

THE INDIANA LEGISLATURE FAILS TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMOCRATS. More HERE. One side wants it more. Outside of Trump and his allies elected Republicans are worthless.

SOME OF TRUMP’S SUCCESSES IN BRINGING DOWN VIOLENT CRIME NUMBERS.

MINNESOTA’S GROTESQUE MISHANDLING OF MULTIPLE RAPIST ADBIMAHAT BILLE MOHAMED.

BUSH CRIME FAMILY: NEIL BUSH (REMEMBER HIM FROM THE SAVINGS & LOAN SCANDALS A FEW DECADES AGO?) IS NOW CLIMBING INTO BED WITH CHINA. How much more damage will that family do to the U.S.?

BBC EXPOSED FOR LYING ABOUT PRESDENT TRUMP YET AGAIN. Yet they still pretend to be a “news” organization.

TRUMP’S DOJ IS SUING MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS OVER THEIR RACIST AND SEXIST POLICIES Continue reading

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ON THIS DATE THE SULAWESI CAVE ART WAS DISCOVERED

DECEMBER 11th, 2019 – On the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, cave art was discovered that has been recognized as the world’s oldest example of pictorial storytelling, dating to approximately 43,900 years ago. 

The precise location of the discovery was in the limestone cave Leang Bulu’ Sipong 4. The art depicts therianthropes, abstract figures with qualities of human beings and animals combined, hunting wild pigs and dwarf buffaloes. Continue reading

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A DIVA’S CHRISTMAS CAROL (2000) 2025’s CHRISTMAS CAROL-A-THON CONTINUES

A Diva's Christmas CarolA DIVA’S CHRISTMAS CAROL (2000) – Balladeer’s Blog’s Sixteenth Annual Christmas Carol-a-Thon continues with a look at this Vanessa Williams venture. Due to the nature of this adaptation of the Dickens classic it is often categorized as one of the “African-American versions.” Among other such Carols I have reviewed are Christmas is Comin’ Uptown with Gregory Hines and John Grin’s Christmas starring Robert Guillaume. 

The forever-underrated Vanessa Williams is brilliant in this very good film that mixes comedy, music and drama together far better than many stage versions manage to do. Williams stars as Ebony Scrooge, a pop singer who puts on a kind and pleasant public face but who is a … well, a diva behind the scenes.  

Ebony is even more nasty than usual as she pushes her entourage beyond all their limits to get ready for an alleged “charity” show for the homeless on Christmas. Ebony’s demeanor makes it clear that she is really doing it all just for public image reasons and to feed her own ego (Bono – cough – Bono) as she wallows in the plaudits sent her way.   Continue reading

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HOORAY FOR SANTA CLAUS: SEVEN VERSIONS

Mascot and guitar

Balladeer’s Blog

Yes, it’s the song from that notoriously bad movie Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. Decades ago The Christmas Martian supplanted that flick in my Bad Movie Lover heart but Hooray for Santa Claus is still a butt-kicking song.

Starting us off is the Psychotronic movie version of the song by the poor man’s Skitch Henderson – Milton De Lugg – and The Little Eskimos.

And here’s the version by Al “Green Hornet Theme” Hirt: Continue reading

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