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About balladeer

I am passionately interested in college sports, ancient Greek comedies, bad/weird movies, mythology, the American Revolution, Puck Magazine, World War I, U.S. Presidential history, silent movies, the English Civil War, epic, lyric and comic poetry, U.S. Supreme Court history, the Revolutions of 1848, the Philippine War and old pulp heroes like The Moon Man, Pilot G8, Silver John and The Rio Kid.

KILLRAVEN SIX: THE LEGEND ASSASSINS

FOR PART ONE OF BALLADEER’S BLOG’S EXAMINATION OF THIS OLD, OLD MARVEL STORYLINE CLICK HERE  The revisions I would make are scattered throughout the synopsis below.

Killraven six legend assassinsAMAZING ADVENTURES Vol 2 #23 (March 1974)

Title: THE LEGEND ASSASSINS

Revised Title: Since I would save the attempted execution of Killraven for the next issue instead of this one, I would use For He’s A Jolly Dead Rebel as the title for this part and save The Legend Assassins for next time.

Synopsis: Killraven and his Freemen (M’Shulla, Old Skull, Hawk, Carmilla Frost and Grok) continue to battle against hopeless odds at the Lincoln Memorial Slave Market, where the Martians buy and sell humans as either slave labor or to be used as food.

Battling at their side is their fellow rebel Mint Julep, the green-skinned plant/ human hybrid created by Martian science and her unnamed Freewomen. Both bands of guerillas have freed their comrades who were being auctioned off and are trying to fight their way free of the increasing numbers of Martians and their human quislings closing in on the area.

Killraven has no trouble killing the mob of actual Martians that he was thrown to at the end of last issue. Their sluggish movements in Earth’s greater gravity negated the advantage of their superior numbers and their many tentacles. KR fights his way clear with his sword and photo-nuclear pistol and the Martians slink away to shelter since, even now, they have only LIMITED immunity to Earth germs.

A pair of Tripods manage to snair Killraven and carry him off before the other rebels can free him. Mint Julep convinces KR’s Freemen to escape with her since she and her Freewomen have hidden lairs all around this territory of theirs.

Mint JulepREVISION: Writer Don McGregor had not yet hit his stride writing about Killraven’s adventures and I feel he messed up the story structure to this three-parter. I would have had ALL the Freemen – including KR – escape with Mint Julep and her band.

The quisling Sabre (no relation to the later Don McGregor figure) would, like in the real story, salute the fleeing Freemen with his sword, wishing he could be one of them. 

With Killraven using The Power to keep all of them undetected by the sensors and alarms of the aliens (Zetans in my revisions, NOT ridiculous Martians) the rebels all escape to the subterranean hideouts of Mint and her people. They follow abandoned subway lines to a sub-level of the Pentagon, one of their lairs.

Dialogue will make it clear that she and her Freewomen practically rule the comings and goings through the old subway system beneath the city because they know them inside-out and massacare any human quislings like Sabre and his men if they try to pursue them there. And, for reasons not known YET, the aliens themselves are too terrified to personally venture into the old subways OR the sub-levels of the Pentagon.     Continue reading

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AMERICA (1924): A SILENT FILM FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY

America 1924Regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog are familiar with my fondness for old Silent Movies. America was D.W. Griffith’s 1924 production about the Revolutionary War. The movie is pleasant enough for the July 4th holiday season, but don’t expect a classic like The Phantom of the Opera, The Mark of Zorro or many other masterpieces of the silent era.

Batman fans may enjoy the fact that a very young Neil Hamilton – Commissioner Gordon on the much later Adam West Batman show – starred in America as Nathan Holden, a rebel Minute Man in Massachusetts. Nathan is part of a Romeo and Juliet-styled romance and is in love with Nancy Montague (Carol Dempster), who belongs to a Tory family still loyal to England.

America 1924 2The Holdens can’t stand the snobbish Montagues and the Montagues pompously look down on the Holdens and the rest of the rebels. Nancy’s father would rather see Nancy married off to the prominent British military officer Captain Walter Butler, played with aristocratic and sadistic flair by THE Lionel Barrymore.

The star-crossed lovers Nathan and Nancy struggle to keep their romance alive against the backdrop of historical events like the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere’s Ride, the Battle of Bunker Hill and many others.Various actors portray figures like John Hancock, Samuel Adams, William Pitt, King George III, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee and, of course, George Washington. Continue reading

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WOMEN’S COLLEGE GOLF CHAMPIONS FOR 2019

Here’s one last round of congratulations to this year’s women’s golf champions in the 7 divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog:

British Columbia ThunderbirdsNAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)

National Champions – UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA THUNDERBIRDS

Runners-Up – Keiser University Seahawks 

2018 Champions – Savannah College of Art & Design Bees

Biola Eagles NEWNCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)

National Champions – BIOLA UNIVERSITY EAGLES

Runners-Up – Erskine College Flying Fleet

2018 Champions – Dallas Baptist University Patriots Continue reading

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PENNSYLVANIA’S DECLARATION SIGNERS

declaration-of-independence-1776Another look at an individual state’s representatives who signed the Declaration of Independence: 

PENNSYLVANIA – (Nine reps) 
### 1. George Clymer – His home was ransacked by the British who destroyed all his furniture and stole all his booze. After the war Clymer’s business acumen saved the University of Pennsylvania from bankruptcy.

2. Benjamin Franklin – Just about everything is known about him so I’ll throw in two often-forgotten episodes – Continue reading

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DEMOCRATS AND THEIR MEDIA OUTLETS STILL TRYING TO BLAME PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR THE SAME ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT “CAGE” POLICIES IN EFFECT UNDER OBAMA AND GEORGE W BUSH

Martin Sheen in Dead Zone*** TIME FOR ANOTHER REMINDER OF THIS, SINCE ANTI-TRUMP FANATICS ARE SO FUNDAMENTALLY DISHONEST.

Democrats and Republicans love exploiting children to try making cheap political points.

The alleged “cages” at our border were in use under the two previous presidents, too, but since President Trump is our first de facto Third Party President he’s getting double-teamed once again by Democrats AND by Republicans who still worship the criminal Bush clan. 

***

Obama hates childrenIF YOU WEREN’T SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THESE POLICIES UNDER OBAMA AND BUSH YOU’RE JUST BEING PHONY BY PRETENDING YOU CARE NOW THAT TRUMP IS THE PRESIDENT. (Hillary lost, fools, get over it!)

Martin Sheen’s character in The Dead Zone (above photo) was apparently the inspiration for the Democrats and the way they always hold up children to gutlessly protect themselves.

Stolen Lives QuiltDEMOCRATS NEVER CARE ABOUT THE FAMILIES SEPARATED BY THE DEATHS CAUSED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THAT DOESN’T FURTHER THEIR POLITICAL AGENDA.

It’s long past time for Democrats to be asked two of their favorite questions: “WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?” and “HAVE YOU NO DECENCY?”

THE PEOPLE OPPOSING PRESIDENT TRUMP – BE THEY DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN – ARE DAILY PROVING THEMSELVES FAR WORSE THAN HE HAS EVER BEEN.

*** AND BY THE WAY, THAT PHOTO THAT KEEPS MAKING THE ROUNDS ON PLACES LIKE FACEBOOK (“THE CONFIRMATION BIAS COMMUNITY”) WITH THE CRYING CHILD IN A CAGE WAS A POLITICAL STUNT AT A DALLAS DEMONSTRATION SUPPORTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. ***

*** It was NOT a picture of anything the Trump Administration is doing. Trump’s fascist, uninformed foes don’t seem capable of telling the truth about anything. *** 

*** FOR PICTURES OF SUCH CHILDREN SUFFERING EVEN WORSE CONDITIONS UNDER OBAMA CLICK HERE

Obama cages*** OBAMA’S OWN I.C.E. CHIEF ADMITS OBAMA BUILT AND STARTED USING THE “CAGES” FOR CHILDREN – CLICK HERE 

*** AND REMEMBER WHEN OBAMA INEPTLY HANDED CHILDREN AT THE BORDER OVER TO CHILD TRAFFICKERS? WHERE WERE YOU PATHETIC HYPOCRITES THEN? CLICK HERE

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BILLY SQUIER: THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES

Balladeer’s Blog’s Give Them A Shoutout Before They’re Dead gives a second shoutout to Billy Squier. From the Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack it’s The Best Years of Our Lives.

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KILLRAVEN FIVE: WASHINGTON NIGHTMARE

FOR PART ONE OF BALLADEER’S BLOG’S EXAMINATION OF THIS OLD, OLD MARVEL STORYLINE CLICK HERE  The revisions I would make are scattered throughout the synopsis below.

Killraven five washington nightmareAMAZING ADVENTURES Vol 2 #22 (January 1974)

Title: WASHINGTON NIGHTMARE

Revised Title: Since this is Don McGregor writing, let’s go with something absurdly melodramatic like Reflections in a Night-Dark Mirror

NOTE: This story introduces the popular female rebel called Mint Julep. 

Synopsis: This issue begins an unknown number of days or weeks after the conclusion of the previous chapter. Killraven and his Freemen – M’Shulla, Old Skull, Hawk, Carmilla Frost and Grok – are traveling along the Potomac in a boat they commandeered from human quislings sometime after the end of our previous story.

REVISION: In my revision Killraven’s band of Freemen consist of M’Shulla, Old Skull, Hawk, Carmilla Frost and Deathlok – replacing Grok but still a creation of Carmilla’s – and Arrow, a female member. Like KR, M’Shulla, Hawk and Old Skull, Arrow is a former gladiator from the arena circuit run by Earth’s alien conquerors.

Just like Dagger – the female Freeman killed off last issue – Arrow was one of the bland, faceless Freemen introduced in the first two parts of Killraven’s comic book run. Arrow and Dagger were just dropped from the narrative with no explanation so I made them both female to add some variety to the Freemen. Just as Dagger was killed last time around, so Arrow will be killed this time, but at least in my revision their characters will have had some impact on the story AND emphasized the danger of Killraven’s rebellion.

Killraven cornerBack to the story: Rising up from the Potomac to attack the boat is a monstrous subaquatic lifeform – one of the many creatures brought to Earth by the Martians. Our heroes battle the tentacled creature, eventually killing it, but their boat is trashed upon the rocks and is now useless.

REVISION: In my revision the underwater creature kills Arrow during the fight, before our heroes succeed in killing it, furious over the death of their comrade.

Back to the story: Sabre, a Hispanic quisling servant of the Martians (no relation to Don McGregor’s later, more famous character Sabre), attacks the Freemen with his own band of followers. While the battle rages, dialogue makes it clear that Sabre and his men are among the many groups of quislings who round up other human beings for the Martians, who feed on human flesh.

Sabre relishes facing targets who can actually fight back, instead of the usually easily-subdued humans he captures for his Martian masters. After Grok in particular manages to wipe out a large number of Sabre’s men he and his remaining troops retreat with Hawk and Old Skull as their captives.  Continue reading

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FIRST CHAPTERS CONTEST – SUBMIT THROUGH JULY 31st

OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS 

Just over one month left to submit to the inaugural CRAFT First Chapters Contest! The award will be $2800, manuscript critique, and agency review to the top three first chapters of unpublished book-length fiction projects. The contest is open from June 1 to July 31, 2019 and is judged by Naomi Huffman of MCDxFSG and FSG Originals. The first chapters must be excerpted from unpublished novels or novellas, which can be complete or works in progress.

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COLLEGE GOLF CHAMPIONS FOR 2019

Here’s one last round of congratulations to the 2019 golf champions in the 9 divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog. I’ll cover the women’s champions separately. 

Texas Wesleyan RamsNAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)

National Champions – TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY RAMS

Runners-Up – College of Coastal Georgia Mariners

2018 Champions – Oklahoma City University Stars

Erskine Flying FleetNCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)

National Champions – ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

Runners-Up – Ottawa University (AZ) Spirit

2018 Champions – Colorado Christian University Cougars  Continue reading

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DEMOCRAT SANCTUARY CITY HAS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT RAPIST RELEASED – WHEELCHAIR-BOUND VICTIM REPORTS HE RAPED HER AGAIN

Pelosi drunk twisted face

THIS WEEK PELOSI ACTUALLY SAID “WHAT’S THE POINT” OF ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAWS.

THANK DEMOCRATS FOR THIS GROTESQUE STORY COURTESY OF DEMOCRATS’ OBSESSION WITH ABETTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND ENABLING THE ADDITIONAL CRIMES THEY COMMIT.

WHITE, PRIVILEGED ONE-PERCENTER DEMOCRAT NANCY PELOSI AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO HINDERS BORDER SECURITY IS AN ACCOMPLICE TO THIS CRIME.

Francisco Carranza-Ramirez is on the run after serving just nine months for raping a wheelchair-bound woman. He was released on time served THAT SAME DAY after serving even less than the mere one year he was sentenced to (ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT PRIVILEGE) with NO notification to the victim and NO notification to ICE, since Democrats hate the thought of illegal immigrant rapists getting turned over to immigration authorities and deported.

The victim reported Carranza-Ramirez RAPED HER AGAIN and fled. Authorities speculate he is back in Mexico now but Democrats have made it so that he and countless others like him can just stroll back across our unsecured southern border whenever he pleases.

Read this and remember IT WOULD BE THE LEAD STORY ON EVERY NEWS SHOW FOR WEEKS IF NOT FOR THE FACT THAT IT DOESN’T FIT THE DEMOCRATS’ PRECIOUS “NARRATIVE.” As it is, Democrat reporters won’t even ask Democrat candidates about this atrocity.

Francisco Carranza-Ramirez

Francisco Carranza-Ramirez. Democrats are keeping it so he can stroll back across the border at will. He’ll probably run for office as a Democrat some day.

“An illegal alien is wanted by law enforcement officials after he reportedly attacked the woman he raped following his release by the sanctuary city of King County, Washington.

“Francisco Carranza Ramirez, 35, has been living in the United States as an illegal alien for an unknown period of time, a law enforcement official confirmed to KOMO News. Ramirez crossed the southern border during an unknown time from his native Mexico.

“Ramirez, according to court records reviewed by the Seattle Times, raped a 32-year-old woman — who is bound to a wheelchair because of her disability — in King County on September 26, 2018. In the middle of the rape in her bedroom, the woman was able to convince the illegal alien to allow her to use the bathroom.

“While in the bathroom, the woman called the police but had to return to the bedroom after hearing that Ramirez had gotten up from the bed. That’s when she put the phone, still on the line with police, in her wheelchair and went back to her bedroom where the rape continued.

“Eventually, police arrived at the scene of the rape and the illegal alien was arrested and charged with third-degree rape. At trial, Ramirez entered an Alford plea, indicating that he would not admit to the rape but that he understood the evidence against him would lead to his conviction.

“Though the victim pleaded with the judge sentencing Ramirez to give him the highest penalty for the rape under the law, the court gave Ramirez a sentence of only 12 months in prison on June 13.

“That exact same day, the illegal was released by the King County jail because he had already served nine months in prison while awaiting his hearing.” CLICK HERE

AND DEMOCRATS CAN’T WAIT TO GIVE HIM HEALTHCARE AND A FREE EDUCATION PAID FOR BY THE REST OF US. 

Before we get to the main list of additional crimes committed by illegal immigrants recently I’ll post another reminder of the way illegal immigrants can spread disease since they bypass screenings for such diseases – which could be spotted and treated IF we had a secured southern border.

Kelli BallardJournalist and strong female role model Kelli Ballard courageously continues to compile as comprehensive as possible a breakdown of the additional crimes committed by people in the country illegally.

The victims of illegal immigrant crimes and the loved ones of those victims deserve at least as much care and compassion as the corporate media and the Democrats heap upon every criminal alien who commits murders and rapes.

The message has long been clear: Democrats care only about illegal immigrants and never the victims of illegal immigrant crime. And never about the diseases on the uptick in areas with a heavy illegal immigrant presence.

FOR KELLI’S JUNE 13th – 19th ROUNDUP OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS’ ADDITIONAL CRIMES CLICK HERE

 

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