Category Archives: opinion

THE DOLLY MADISON MURDERS (2023) TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY

THE DOLLY MADISON MURDERS (2023) – In September of 2002 24-year-old Mandi Alexander and 79-year-old Mary Drake were found murdered in the Dolly Madison Bakery in Great Bend, KS. Compared to many other unsolved crimes around the world this case has gotten comparatively little attention.

Director Aaron Mull’s 2023 documentary, which runs roughly 53 minutes, delves into the case. The slayings were extremely violent and left blood from the floor to the ceiling. An unknown man was seen pretending to lock up and even advised an approaching customer that “they’re closed” before walking off. 

A police sketch of the man was circulated but ultimately resulted in nearly unbelievable complications and puzzles regarding the case. Continue reading

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NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS ROUNDUP: JUNE SEVENTH

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

DEMOCRATS RIOT IN LOS ANGELES IN VIOLENT ATTEMPTS TO INTERFERE WITH ICE ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAWS. Democrat mob even besieges federal center HERE. More HERE. And HERE.   I WILL ASK DEMOCRATS ONCE AGAIN – GIVEN HOW YOU CLAIM WE LIVE IN A DYSTOPIAN HELLSCAPE UNDER TRUMP, ARE THERE ANY SUFFERING U.S. CITIZENS YOU WOULD CHAMPION INSTEAD OF ONLY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE COMMITTED ADDITIONAL CRIMES?

DEMOCRATS CALLED OUT AGAIN AS “THE PARTY THAT EMBRACES VIOLENCE.”

AS USUAL, THE DEMOCRATS GET VIOLENT IN LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK, WHERE THEY KNOW THEY’LL GET SOFT TREATMENT FROM THE DEMOCRAT AUTHORITIES. The usual gutlessness from the Party. San Francisco, Boston, San Antonio, Seattle and Portland are probably up next.

DEMOCRAT PARTY

DEMOCRATS UNWILLING TO SIDE WITH THE U.S. EVEN IN THE CHINESE NATIONALS SMUGGLING IN BIOWARFARE AGENTS CASE. But if their actions had endangered Hamas you’d certainly hear Democrats speak out.

ARIZONA’S DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS VETOES A BILL BLOCKING ENTITIES CONNECTED WITH CHINA’S COMMUNIST PARTY FROM BUYING FARMLAND, LAND NEAR AMERICAN FARMS, MILITARY BASES, ETC. The bill was introduced long ago to deal with growing concerns about such purchases, even before the recent biowarfare incident.

OBAMA’S OWN DOCTOR CALLS OUT JOE BIDEN’S WHITE HOUSE PHYSICIAN FOR HIS ROLE IN THE COVERUP OF BIDEN’S UNFITNESS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP VOWS YET AGAIN TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. He’s the greatest president for the working class and the poor during my lifetime. He’s been the new FDR going back to his first term. 

UNSTABLE ELON MUSK ALREADY BACKING OFF HIS WILD ATTACKS ON PRESIDENT TRUMP. The bizarre incidents seem to have been triggered by Musk not getting his way on policies that would have favored his personal business interests. Elon has blown his credibility with his unhinged threats and tantrums. More HERE. And HERE. And HERE. Continue reading

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DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JR’S SWASHBUCKLER FILMS

“See how he apes his father” was a saying long associated with contemporary enemies of John Quincy Adams as a complaint about how the younger Adams was as stubborn and single-minded as his father John Adams. He pursued his own ends regardless of political consequences.

On a lighter note, I have always used those words as a compliment to jokingly describe the fun, high-spirited swashbuckler films of Douglas Fairbanks Jr. – especially those moments that were homages to specific scenes from his father’s silent film classics. Here’s a look at Junior’s sword-wielding spectacles.

THE CORSICAN BROTHERS (1941) – Another of the many adaptations of the Alexandre Dumas novel that have very little to do with the original storyline. In this case the tale was transformed into an action-packed sword-fighting, gun blazing, hell-for-leather chase vehicle for Doug Jr.

That’s not a complaint, I’m just letting Dumas purists know in advance. In this movie set in the early 1800s the twin brothers from Corsica are Lucien and Mario Franchi. Due to family vendettas in Corsica the brothers are the sole survivors of their bloodline and as infants are hidden by family friends – Mario in France and Lucien in the Corsican hills.

Each grows into a man of action, Lucien as a bandit chief and Mario as a dueling, gambling ladies’ man. When they are reunited they set out to bring down the man who massacred their family – Baron Colonna (Akim Tamiroff), now the tyrannical ruler of Corsica.

The brothers, with Lucien’s outlaw gang behind them, strike at Colonna and his forces again and again in their quest to free Corsica while avenging their family. Tragically, they both fall in love with the same woman (Ruth Warrick), leading to a bittersweet ending. 111 minutes. Continue reading

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JUNE FOURTH ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS

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

JOB OPENINGS AND HIRINGS CONTINUE RISING, FURTHER PROVING WRONG THE PANIC ABOUT TRUMP’S TARIFFS FROM A FEW MONTHS AGO.

SENATOR HAWLEY OFFERS REMINDER THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS NO CUTS IN MEDICAID BENEFITS.

CHINESE NATIONALS CHARGED WITH SMUGGLING AGRO-TERRORISM BIOLOGICAL WEAPON INTO THE U.S. More HERE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS A HIGHER AVERAGE JOB APPROVAL RATING THAN EITHER BARACK OBAMA OR GEORGE W. BUSH. More HERE

MORE ABOUT BIDEN’S WHITE HOUSE PHYSICIAN AND THE COVERUP OF JOE’S UNFITNESS. An enormous Constitutional Crisis. Kamala Harris supporters should be outraged that the Biden Crime Family robbed her of her opportunity to rise to the presidency, as she SHOULD have at the time.

“CRIMINAL EVIDENCE” OF IMPERSONATING THE PRESIDENT EXPOSED IN BIDEN REGIME’S AUTOPEN SCANDALS.

BIDEN REGIME LACKEYS BLAST KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, JOE’S WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY, FOR LEAVING THE DEMOCRAT PARTY TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT. She also describes “a broken White House” in her new book.

DON SURBER ON HOW TRUMP’S ECONOMIC POLICIES MAKE WAGES RISE AND GROW THE ECONOMY

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE DEAN OUSTED FOR SECRETLY MAINTAINING RACIST POLICIES OF DISCRIMINATION, EXCLUSION AND INTOLERANCE.

SENATE HEARINGS ON JUDICIAL OVERREACH AND NATIONWIDE INJUNCTIONS. Senator Kennedy asks probing questions HERE.

PRICE OF EGGS DOWN SIXTY-ONE PERCENT SINCE TRUMP’S RETURN TO OFFICE. Continue reading

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REBLOG: ALVAREZ GALLOSO’S LOOK AT TRUMP’S UPHILL FIGHT AGAINST POLITICAL CORRUPTION IN BOTH PARTIES

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ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS: JUNE SECOND

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

COLORADO TERRORIST ATTACK SUSPECT IS IN CUSTODY AND IS YET ANOTHER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM THE BIDEN-HARRIS REGIME’S CATASTROPHIC POLICIES.  More HERE. Aftermath of the horrendous attack on people involved with a march calling on Hamas to free hostages HERE. More HERE. Assailant reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” rhetoric.

SANTELLI AT DEMOCRAT MEDIA OUTLET CNBC CREDITS PRESIDENT TRUMP WITH THE PERSONAL INCOME OF REGULAR AMERICANS NEARLY TRIPLING IN RECENT MONTHS AND THE TRADE DEFICIT BEING CUT IN HALF. More HERE. Trump remains the greatest president for the working class and the poor during my lifetime.

TRUMP EFFECT: CORE INFLATION FALLS TO LOWEST IN FOUR YEARS.

KENTUCKY STATE SENATOR ROBIN WEBB BECOMES THE LATEST DEMOCRAT TO LEAVE THAT PARTY TO JOIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. Like so many of us former Democrats she cited how the increasingly unhinged Democrats “increasingly alienated rural Democrats like her.” She also cited the Democrats’ “hyperfocus on policies that hurt workforce and economic development” and added that “It has become untenable and counterproductive to the best interests of my constituents for me to remain a Democrat.”  

SENATOR MARSHA BLACKBURN CALLS FOR DOJ INVESTIGATION INTO NASHVILLE MAYOR FREDDIE O’CONNELL FOR DOXING ICE AGENTS AND ATTEMPTING TO BLOCK THEIR ENFORCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION LAWS. Democrat crimes in support of illegal immigration have exploded into an epidemic.

PITTSBURGH STEELER LEGENDS INCLUDING ROCKY BLEIER JOIN CURRENT PLAYERS IN NAMING PRESIDENT TRUMP AN “HONORARY STEELER” AT EVENT. Appropriately it happened at a Steel Workers gathering.

ASSISTANT AG HARMEET DHILLON PRAISED FOR UNDOING BIDEN REGIME POLICIES THAT MADE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY “AN IMMEDIATE HORROR STORY FOR LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.” Meanwhile, Democrats pander to illegal immigrants who commit additional crimes. Continue reading

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EVERYONE BELIEVES THEY ARE ON “THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY”

I love exploring the mythology behind the world’s various belief systems.

America’s Democrats have regressed into a faith-based belief system that’s every bit as irrational as any other religion, but since Democrats – or “Democrat Fundamentalists” – are such pompous, hypocritical and close-minded fools it’s A LOT of fun to describe their myths as sarcastically as possible.

THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY – This is the Democrat Party’s version of an afterlife. Narcissistic Democrats strive to live their lives in such a way that people every bit as pretentious and snobbish as they are will sit around in the future sipping wine and pompously expressing approval of the worldview and political opinions that today’s Democrat Fundamentalists held while alive.

This notion of an afterlife is every bit as flawed and fantastic as any other religion’s tales about what happens after human beings die. No one alive today knows how the people of the future will feel about any of us or about our worldview.

SnobIf anything history has shown that people – ESPECIALLY the self-congratulatory asses called Democrats – take great delight in loudly and repeatedly condemning people of the past for (GASP) having opinions that differ from their own. It takes no courage and little effort to put on an air of moral superiority toward long-dead human beings.

That being said it’s more likely that American Democrats of the future will look down on even the most self-consciously “progressive” Puritans of today as hopelessly misguided or simply ignorant.

Those future Democrat Fundamentalists very well may just sit around sipping wine and reassuring each other that they are morally superior to every Democrat of this era for not having THE EXACT SAME opinions as they do regarding race, gender, etc. Exactly like pompous Democrat Fundamentalists of today do with people of the past.

Claiming to be on “the right side of history” represents the same flawed thinking process as being convinced that you have God on your side. EVERYBODY tends to feel that way.

#WalkAwayThe obsessive conformity, status-anxiety and insecurities of Democrats prevent them from questioning their faith and thereby realizing that their own condemnation of figures from long ago is every bit as much of a shallow, meaningless pose as the attitude that may be shown toward them by Democrat Fundamentalists of the future. Continue reading

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APOCALYPSE CULTURE (1987) BEFORE THE INTERNET, THERE WERE BOOKS LIKE THIS

This is an extraordinary collection unlike anything I have ever encountered – a remarkable compilation of powerfully disturbing statements. These are the terminal documents of the twentieth century.” – J.G. Ballard 

APOCALYPSE CULTURE (1987) – Call me a purist, but the only Apocalypse Culture book I like is the very first one from 1987, not the later editions nor the sequel from the year 2000. By 2000 the book was pointless and unnecessary since the internet was already replacing such publications as Apocalypse Culture, Answer Me! and much of the Loompanics catalogue. 

The late Adam Palfrey edited this book, collecting the kind of transgressive, fringe, daring, paranoid, insane and sometimes just plain sophomorically shocking writings that when taken as a whole reinforce the importance of freedom of expression against both left-wing AND right-wing censorship.

Apocalypse Culture seems almost wimpy here in 2025 but it’s an interesting reminder to those of us who remember the pre-internet days, when you had to devote a lot of energy to finding such wild reading material.

WARNING! The subjects and opinions covered in Apocalypse Culture are not for people who are easily (or not so easily) offended or who cannot tolerate reading viewpoints contrary to their own. What follows is similar to the fringe horror movies I sometimes review. Mature minds only.  Continue reading

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THE AUTOMATIC MOTORIST (1911) SILENT FILM SHORT

THE AUTOMATIC MOTORIST (1911) – Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at another silent movie short by England’s Walter R. Booth. It’s a remake of his own 1906 short film The Mad Motorist but taken to the extreme. Running time is 6 1/2 minutes.   

Booth more than lives up to his reputation as “the British Melies” with this light-hearted fantasy. A pair of newlyweds – as in the bride is still in her gown and the groom is still in his tux – visit their eccentric inventor friend.

The inventor’s newest creation is a robot which is skilled enough to serve as a chauffeur for the bride, groom and inventor. The robot drives off with its three passengers but the vehicle’s speed gets it pulled over by a traffic cop. When the robot punches the policeman he becomes infuriated. Continue reading

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MAY TWENTY-NINTH ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS

Another current events roundup from Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog

*** NEW TODAY – APPEALS COURT REINSTATES THE TRUMP TARIFFS. And the fighting goes on …

LATEST REVELATIONS IN THE DEMOCRAT SCANDAL OVER WHO WAS USING THE AUTOPEN TO SIGN WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO PRETEND JOE BIDEN HAD SIGNED. More HERE. A monumental scandal for which the Party deserves no forgiveness considering their incessant bluster about “democracy.”

FURTHER SCANDALS ABOUT WHO WAS REALLY RUNNING THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE BIDEN CRIME FAMILY.

OUTGOING SENATE DEMOCRAT MICHAEL BENNET CALLS OUT THE PARTY FOR ITS “RECORD LOW POPULARITY NOW.” He also stated “I don’t think nationally the Democratic brand helps very much anyway…anywhere.

ICE ARRESTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ON CHILD SEX CRIMES, DRUGS AND GUN CHARGES. No wonder AOC is calling to abolish ICE. Democrats are the Party of child sex crimes especially. More HERE.

YET ANOTHER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT RAPIST ARRESTED IN DEMOCRAT “SANCTUARY” MARYLAND. Are Democrats accomplices to these crimes?

DEMOCRAT MEDIA OUTLETS CONTINUE TO GET HUMILIATED OVER THEIR COVERUP OF JOE BIDEN’S UNFITNESS. Anyone paying attention knew he was unfit during his 2020 “hide away” political campaign.

POLL: RECORD HIGH NUMBER OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THE U.S. IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION JUST ENDED EVEN MORE OF THE CRUEL GOVERNMENT ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS.

CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE COURAGEOUSLY SPEAKS OUT ON THE DEEP STATE’S LATEST ANTICS AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP. Continue reading

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