FLASHBACK: “RESISTANCE, INC.” BECOMES THE EQUALLY MORONIC “NO KINGS, INC.”

Electoral map showing Trump’s 2024 victory.

The fascistic imbeciles of the idiotic “No Kings, Inc.” playacting this weekend apparently mean “No elections!” because President Donald Trump was REELECTED for a second term last November. Democrats and other anti-Trumpers are pretending once again to do something rebellious while actually making a threatening show because they hate other people for voting differently than they did.

Elderly, decrepit 1960s generation Democrats and equally shallow youngsters like to engage in performative “resistance” at one of their endless, ENDLESS protest parties where they pretend to be edgy but are in absolutely no danger. If President Trump was the “king” they pretend he is then these protests would not be permitted, and he would not pause when courts rule against him while he appeals to higher courts.

No Kings, Inc. can be described the same way I described Resistance, Inc. back in 2017 during Trump’s first term in an old blog post. – “A collection of bloated rich pigs, brainless celebrities, privileged children of the left, international corporate interests and establishment politicians who’ve been in office for DECADES in many cases.” 

REAL Resistance movements throughout history have been composed of the poor, the working class and courageous nonconformists of all stripes. Those REAL Resistance movements are composed of people who are taking actual RISKS because of the stands they take, unlike the Anti-Trump fascists.” 

HELPFUL HINTS: Continue reading

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BALLADEER’S BLOG’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS: OCTOBER NINETEENTH

HEADLINES

NAIA BEATS NCAA DIVISION TWO – Once again an NAIA team – in this case the KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS – has defeated a team from the higher Division Two of the NCAA – in this case the CENTRAL STATE MARAUDERS. The Knights parlayed their 7-0 1st Quarter lead into a 28-14 advantage at Halftime. From there, they consummated the Upset 35-27.

NUMBER FOUR TAKES A FALL – Staying in the NAIA for the moment, this game pitted the NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS against the visiting number 4 team in the nation – the MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie was unchanged at the Half. After the break, the Red Raiders toppled Morningside 14-13.

AND ANOTHER NUMBER FOUR FALLS – Down in NCAA Division Three, the 13th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT PLATTEVILLE PIONEERS welcomed the number 4 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT LACROSSE EAGLES. A 21-14 Pioneers edge to end the 1st Half became a 28-14 lead in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, UW-Platteville put away the Eagles 38-21. Continue reading

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HORROR HOST: MAD MARVIN (1957-1959)

Halloween Month continues with this look at a Movie Host from the 1950s – Mad Marvin. For several more Movie Hosts from the 1950s to the 1980s click HERE. You’ll find Moona Lisa, Svengoolie and Son of Svengoolie, Stella from Saturday Night Dead and, of course, The Texas 27 Film Vault.

Chicago’s own Mad Marvin (Terry Bennett) was part of the First Wave of B-Movie Hosts and Hostesses of the 1950s. From 1957 to 1959 Terry (joined by his wife Joy soon after the show launched) entertained the Windy City late on Saturday nights with that metropolis’ version of Shock Theater.

Described as a “Mad Beatnik” and a “Mad Hipster”, Bennett’s Mad Marvin character had a macabre sense of humor that has made him a legend with Movie Host fans. In fact, television station management in Chicago and from around the country soon realized that, as with the likes of Vampira and Zacherley the Cool Ghoul, audiences were tuning in just as much (if not more) to watch the antics of Mad Marvin as they were to watch the movies. Continue reading

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HALLOWEEN HEROES AND ANTI-HEROES FROM MARVEL

This weekend’s escapist, light-hearted superhero post here at Balladeer’s Blog looks at Halloween-themed characters from Marvel during the 1970s.  

GHOST RIDER – Daredevil biker Johnny Blaze makes a deal with the devil: Johnny’s soul in exchange for Satan curing the cancer in the body of Blaze’s mentor “Crash” Simpson. We all know how deals with the devil go, and not only does Crash die anyway, but Johnny Blaze is cursed to periodically transform into the flame-headed monster called Ghost Rider.

This horror figure outlasted all of the other 1970s Marvel horror characters, lasting until June of 1983 in his initial run. Along the way he and Roxanne faced Satan himself, a long line of demons, a Native American witch-woman, the eyeball-helmeted biker called the Orb and even other Marvel figures like Son of Satan, Hulk, Black Widow and Dr. Druid.

FIRST APPEARANCE: Marvel Spotlight Vol 1 #5 (Aug 1972) Continue reading

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THE WORLD’S A STAGE (2014) WITH ALEC BALDWIN

With Alec Baldwin back in the news after driving into a tree, here’s an appropriate item.

Would ALEC BALDWIN find the plot of this movie a little too close to reality?

The World’s a Stage (2014 – Glitternight Productions) – This independent film, though set here in the 21st Century, is reminiscent of ancient Greek political satires like the ones penned by Aristophanes, Eupolis and Cratinus as well as the parathespian comedies of Strattis.

A traveling troupe of actors visit an unnamed town and are a huge hit in a play dramatizing the heroics of a group of honest politicians. The citizens are bowled over by their performances and elect the men and women of the theatre troupe to actually govern their town.

Naturally the shallow and vain thespians are in way over their heads when it comes to dealing with real-world responsibilities and problems. Their egotistical need for applause and approval also makes them unfit for office, especially when it comes to complex political problems. Continue reading

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NEWS ROUNDUP: OCTOBER SEVENTEENTH

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

DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER, APPARENTLY FORGETTING THAT THE DEMOCRATS LOST THE CIVIL WAR, KEEPS PRETENDING HE CAN OVERRULE THE ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL LAW. Last time the Democrats warred to protect their “peculiar institution” of slavery, now the Party wants to war over enforcing immigration laws. Pritzker keeps promoting violence against ICE agents as if they’re his personal Fort Sumter that he wants to fire upon.

IN OCTOBER OF 2023 HYPOCRITE JABBA PRITZKER URGED JOE BIDEN TO INTERVENE OVER WHAT PRITZKER CALLED THE “UNTENABLE PACE” OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT INCREASE IN ILLINOIS. The usual monumental hypocrisy of Democrats.

TERRORISM CHARGES AGAINST ANTIFA/ KLANTIFA THUGS.

DEMOCRAT STUDENT GROUP THAT BACKS HAMAS TERRORISTS PRAISES THEIR EXECUTIONS OF ALLEGED “COLLABORATORS.” Bloodthirsty animals.

DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE MAMDANI HATEMONGERS BY TELLING ALL PRO-ISRAEL VOTERS – INCLUDING FELLOW DEMOCRATS – THEY ARE NOT WELCOME IN HIS MOVEMENT.     MAMDANI ALSO VOWS TO ARREST FOREIGN LEADER IF HE BECOMES MAYOR OF NEW YORK. Insanity.

FIRST ARRESTS MADE IN DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR NEWSOM’S ONGOING SCANDAL REGARDING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FUNDING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE HOMELESS IN CALIFORNIA.

COVERUP EXPOSED: HUNDREDS OF WISCONSIN “TEACHERS” INVESTIGATED FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND GROOMING OF STUDENTS. Democrat teachers long ago replaced Catholic priests in the public consciousness when it comes to molesting and grooming children.

DEMOCRATS STILL USING THE SCHUMER SHUTDOWN TO BLACKMAIL THE NATION INTO REVERSING THEIR LEGISLATIVE DEFEATS. Latest threat to democracy from the Democrats – now if you lose elections and therefore get outvoted in legislation going through Congress, just shut down the government to try undoing what was already passed.  Continue reading

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UNIQUE HALLOWEEN NOVEL: ISABELLA OF EGYPT (1812)

Isabella of Egypt Alraune and the GolemHalloween Month rolls along. Here’s a tale set in Europe despite the title and involving a Mandragore, a She-Golem, a Barenhauter and Gypsy mysticism. 

Isabella of Egypt is a very obscure 1812 Gothic Horror novella by Ludwig Achim Von Arnim. Under the more evocative title Alraune and the Golem it was to be filmed as a silent movie in 1919 but unfortunately it was never completed or is one of the countless silent films that have not survived to the present day (sources vary). 

The story is set in the 16th Century and features the real-life Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, but in his teen years, right before he assumed the throne first of Spain and later of the H.R. Empire.

The novella is not a horror classic per se but is very eerie and features an odd variety of horrific supernatural figures in Monster Rally fashion.  Continue reading

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GANJA & HESS (1973) UNUSUAL VAMPIRE FILM

GANJA & HESS (1973) – Duane Jones, immortalized as “the black guy who got screwed over at the end of Night of the Living Dead“, also starred in this offbeat, artsy vampire film which was also released as Blood Couple and many other titles.

Back in 2011, when I reviewed Nine Blaxploitation Horror Movies from the 1970s I mentioned leaving out Ganja & Hess because it was a serious film, not a quickie exploitation flick like Blacula, Blackenstein, Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde and many others. I said I’d review it in the future. Well, 14 years later, here we go!

Duane Jones portrayed Dr. Hess Green, an anthropologist who has discovered the ancient ruins of Myrthia, an African settlement populated by vampires. Green’s assistant George Meda, played by Bill Gunn (this film’s writer and director), becomes possessed by the evil spirit of Myrthia’s ancient queen (Mabel King of What’s Happening!!). Continue reading

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OCTOBER FIFTEENTH NEWS ROUNDUP

Here’s a mid-week current events roundup from Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog.

EGYPT AWARDS PRESIDENT TRUMP THEIR HIGHEST HONOR – THE ORDER OF THE NILE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP AND MIDDLE EASTERN LEADERS SIGN HISTORIC AGREEMENT DURING EGYPTIAN SUMMIT.

DEMOCRATS CALLED OUT FOR ANOTHER HOT-TUB LUXURY PARTY TO CELEBRATE THEIR ONGOING SHUTDOWN. Another “let them eat cake” moment from the Democrats to the rest of the country.

MORE FOOTAGE OF FREED HAMAS HOSTAGES REUNITED WITH THEIR LOVED ONES.

ANOTHER REMINDER THAT IF NOT FOR JOE BIDEN ILLEGALLY THROWING OPEN OUR SOUTHERN BORDER THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR MASS DEPORTATIONS.   

DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR PRITZKER EXPOSED FOR FILMING ONE OF HIS “CHICAGO IS SAFE AND DOESN’T NEED ICE” VIDEOS IN AN AREA AFTER ICE HAD MADE IT SAFE WITH THEIR ROUNDUP OF ILLEGALS.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL “EDUCATOR” ARRESTED FOR SEXUALLY ABUSING A TEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL. Democrats, can you please leave children alone?

PRESIDENT TRUMP AWARDS POSTHUMOUS PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM TO FREE SPEECH MARTYR CHARLIE KIRK.

FORMER HOSTAGE OF HAMAS STATES THAT HAMAS WAS SCARED OF TRUMP AND WANTED KAMALA HARRIS TO WIN THE 2024 ELECTION Continue reading

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ANCIENT GREEK COMEDIES: CRATES

Balladeer’s Blog takes another look at the surviving fragments of an ancient Greek comedian, in this case Crates.

CratesCRATES – Crates’ career spanned from approximately the 450s B.C. to the 430s B.C. We have fragments from nine or ten comedies from an unknown total output. From other sources we know that comedies as stage productions began sometime around 500 B.C. or earlier so Crates came fairly early to the artform.

Crates was credited with being the first Athenian comic poet (the comedies were written in verse and included songs) to introduce drunken characters, still a comic staple over 2,400 years later. Aristotle himself credited Crates as being the first to abandon the “glorified comic monologues” approach of the oldest comedies and introducing fleshed-out plots and storylines.

Be that as it may, there is still a great deal of academic arguing over whether or not Crates’ work simply reflected the influence of Epicharmus, who may well have been the TRUE innovator.

Crates was supposedly an actor before he began writing comedies (But I’m sure he really wanted to direct. – rimshot -) and his brother was Epilycus, one of the Epic Poets. Eusebius’ Chronicles stated that Crates was a well-known comedian by 451 B.C. and Demetrius Lacon in his work On Poetry indicates that Crates may have acted in some of Aeschylus’ tragedies before switching genres. 

KNOWN WORKS 

NeighborsNEIGHBORS – We do not have even a hypothetical year for this work, unfortunately. Since titles sometimes referred to the all-important Chorus of a Greek comedy there is speculation that the chorus members were “Neighbors” of some sort (Duh!) but nothing is known about the plot.

 Athenaeus argued that Crates’ use of a drunken character in this comedy PRE-DATED Epicharmus’ use of stage drunks, so apparently even back in ancient times this was being debated.    Continue reading

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