Balladeer’s Blog resumes its examination of ancient Greek comedies.
POLEIS – In this post I’m looking at Poleis (Cities), written by Eupolis, one of the Big Three of Ancient Greek Comedy along with Aristophanes and Cratinus. This satirical comedy is dated from approximately 422 B.C. to 419 B.C. Like so many other such comedies it has survived only in fragmentary form.
The title refers to the all-important Chorus in ancient Greek comedies. In this case the chorus consisted of actors costumed to represent some of the city-states which were under the influence of Athens at the time.
As for how people can be “costumed” as cities, picture how it would be done with American cities. The chorus member representing New York might be depicted as the Statue of Liberty, Saint Louis as the Arch, Pittsburgh as a steel worker, Los Angeles as a brain-dead movie star and so on.
Part of the political satire dealt with the love-hate relationship that many subject- states had with Athens. Being the combination Paris/ Tokyo/ New York City of its time, Athens had a lot to offer its allied polities, but a certain air of tension always existed because of what some of those locations felt were Athens’ high-handed ways of dealing with them.
Eupolis depicted the personified subject-states/ allied states as workers with a not altogether beloved “boss,” Athens. Continue reading
NO SURVIVORS PLEASE (1964) – This obscure black & white wonder from West Germany is one of the most memorably weird movies of its time. It’s not easy to describe what makes it so appealing. The fundamental story – aliens plan to wipe out all life on Earth – has been done too many times to count. Not even their method is all that unique – the ET’s project their consciousness into the bodies of freshly-dead human beings – which has been done in other movies. 
No Survivors Please
Cyberfrog and Heather Swain are back in action! In the tradition of other great duos like Rocket Raccoon and Groot, Howard the Duck and Beverly Switzler, Rocky and Bullwinkle or Crusader Rabbit and Rags the Tiger, everyone’s favorite frog/ full-grown woman pair have returned in their first new adventure since the 1990s. 
Van Sciver, after legendary runs at Marvel and DC, is the leader of the comic book “outlaws” pursuing their own projects free from the corporate influence of the Big Two publishers. 
Time for another round of Transgress With Me:
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – NCAA Division Two’s 17th ranked COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS traveled to face the country’s number 7 team – the COLORADO STATE AT PUEBLO THUNDERWOLVES. The Orediggers were unintimidated, leading the Thunderwolves 28-7 at the break before coasting to a 34-14 victory.
NUMBER EIGHT TAKES A FALL – In the NAIA the KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS took the field against the visiting number 8 team in the nation – the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Rottweilers). A 7-0 lead for the Seahawks remained unchanged come Halftime. Reinhardt pulled to within 7-6 to end the 3rd Quarter before Keiser U won the game 14-12 in the 4th. 
HAPPY HILLSDALE – Back in NCAA Division Two the storied HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS welcomed the LAKE ERIE COLLEGE STORM. The Chargers led 14-7 at the Half. From there the Storm cut the lead to 20-14 in the 3rd Quarter before Hillsdale College floored it in the 4th for a 34-14 triumph. 
MESSAGES FROM MARS BY THE AID OF THE TELESCOPE PLANT (1892) – Written by Robert D Braine. I shortened the title for the blog post headline. The main character of this novel is a sailor named Nordhausen. After leaving Madagascar our hero winds up shipwrecked on an uncharted island. 
The natives take him through a cave entrance to their hidden village which is a blend of the primitive and the futuristic. For the “sacrilege” of damaging one of the telescope plants Nordhausen is to be executed. The means? A device formed from several of the lens-like leaves which magnify the sunlight into a makeshift heat-ray, like holding a magnifying glass over a piece of paper to catch it on fire. 
“Michaela Chavez (not pictured) is a former Democrat who says she’s been a supporter of Donald Trump from Day One. She likes how his administration is handling the economy and feels he’s negotiating better trade deals for the country.” (Note from Balladeer: I’m a former Democrat, too, now Independent.)
“Ernie Salazar weighed in: ““Hispanic unemployment is at a historical low,” he said. “African American unemployment is at a historic low. He’s (Trump’s) taking care of people of color. If you look in a box of crayons, you’ll see a white crayon, too.”
NUMBER FOURTEEN ROLLS – The NAIA’s 14th ranked UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS welcomed the WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY WARRIORS last night. The Patriots dominated their opponents on both sides of the ball, leading the Warriors 28-0 by Halftime on their way to a 45-14 triumph. 
UNDER THE RADAR CLASSIC – Over in NCAA Division Two the FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS played host to the WEST LIBERTY STATE HILLTOPPERS. The Bobcats held a 17-14 edge at the Half, following which each team added another 10 points as the Bobcats won this 27-24 thriller. 
TUSSLE IN THE TOP TEN – In the NJCAA the 3rd ranked NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE RANGERS battled their guests the number 8 COPIAH-LINCOLN COLLEGE WOLVES. These familiar foes went blow for blow and score for score until the Rangers emerged with a 19-15 victory. 
Balladeer’s Blog presents another neglected epic myth from around the world. In this case, Liberia’s Woi Epic of the Kpelle people. 
PART TWENTY-NINE – As always part of the fun comes from the way the Fool Killer’s opinions are a mix of today’s left-wing and right-wing attitudes. Some you’ll agree with, others you won’t but it’s always interesting. 
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