By reader request here is a blog post featuring a brief synopsis of the subject matter to each of the dozens of reviews I’ve written of ancient Greek comedies. Some of you indicated that you don’t like clicking on one with no idea what it will be about, so here we go.
I will start with the Big Three of Aristophanes, Eupolis and Cratinus.
FIRST – My overview of the themes of ancient Greek political satire. CLICK HERE
ARISTOPHANES
LYSISTRATA – The women of Athens and Sparta conspire to withhold sex from their men until they bring about an end to the Peloponnesian War. CLICK HERE
THE CLOUDS – A comedic look at the lighter side of the Sophist revolution in education and scientific research, with an emphasis on rhetorical ploys used in the courts. CLICK HERE
THE KNIGHTS – Aristophanes takes on the demagogue Cleon in this examination of the way dishonest candidates always have a built-in advantage in political campaigns. CLICK HERE
THE BIRDS – Proto-Orwellian fantasy in which two Athenians seeking to escape the increasingly oppressive atmosphere of their homeland join with birds to form the absurd Cloud-cuckooland. CLICK HERE
THE BANQUETERS – A clash of generations and values begins when an Athenian farmer inducts his two sons into his Phratry. CLICK HERE
MERCHANT SHIPS – Two merchant ships – one from Athens and one from Sparta – carve out a separate peace when they meet at sea. CLICK HERE
THESMOPHORIAZUSAE aka THE POET AND THE WOMEN – The women of Athens call for retribution against the famous tragedian Euripides for his negative portrayal of women in his plays. CLICK HERE
EUPOLIS
DEMOI – An Athenian man brings four dead statesmen back to life to set straight the mess that their political successors have made of the city-state. CLICK HERE
AUTOLYCUS – A less than bright athlete is supported for a political position by his well-to-do gay lover. CLICK HERE
MARIKAS – Eupolis went after the demagogue Hyperbolus the way Aristophanes went after Cleon in this comedy. The corrupt Marikas was a fictional stand-in for Hyperbolus. CLICK HERE Continue reading
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – With last night’s NAIA title game in the books the only divisions left to report on are NCAA Division Two and AIHEC Division One. Yesterday the GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS did battle with the CARROLL COLLEGE (MT) FIGHTING SAINTS for the NAIA crown. 
Balladeer’s Blog kicks off a multi-part examination of the neglected 1800s folk figure called the Fool Killer. I will cover the various stories featuring the Fool Killer and the different ways the character was used by the authors. If I ever examine the related character called the Rascal Whaler it will be in a separate series of blog posts. 
However, since Evans was all about the written word, he used the Fool Killer as a much more active figure. Evans’ Fool Killer – claiming Jesse Holmes as his real name – roamed North Carolina and Virginia (which at the time still consisted of what would become West Virginia) looking for fools to kill with a club/ walking stick he always carried with him. The character would then send letters to Editor Evans explaining why he had chosen victims, defending his actions with puckish commentary. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS and the WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS started things off. The Tigers seized control and by Halftime they were clobbering the Crusaders 42-24. From there Georgetown College simply had to keep WCU at arm’s length, which they did for a 94-83 triumph. Chris Coffey led the Tigers with his Double Double of THIRTY-TWO points and 12 rebounds. 
This blog post is not targeted at you if you are a rational person who simply doesn’t like President Trump. This is targeted ONLY at the Hillary-supporting loons who have been sniveling to me about the Russian Collusion fantasy for years. Watching the unhinged reaction of those fascists to the “No Collusion and No Obstruction” findings from their beloved Robert Mueller has been almost as much fun as Election Night 2016. 
CAREER CRIMINAL HILLARY CLINTON FAILS IN BID FOR WHITE HOUSE
VOTERS TO OBAMA: DROP DEAD
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in this Tournament were the 3 seeds – the VINCENNES UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS – and the Cinderella 8th seeded RANGER COLLEGE RANGERS. The Trailblazers had things firmly in hand with a 50-34 Halftime advantage over the Rangers, then coasted to an 87-77 triumph. Kevin Osawe led Vincennes University with a Double Double of 22 points and 10 rebounds. * THE TRAILBLAZERS ARE NJCAA CHAMPIONS * 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeded KIRKWOOD COLLEGE EAGLES took on the 2 seeds – the JOHNSON COUNTY COLLEGE CAVALIERS – for the NJCAA Division Two national title. The Eagles were on top of the Cavaliers 33-26 at the break. From there Johnson County College could only cut into Kirkwood’s lead by a fraction. The final score was Eagles 64 Cavaliers 58. Kirkwood College was led by Doug Wilson’s Double Double of THIRTY points and 15 rebounds. * THE EAGLES ARE CHAMPIONS OF NJCAA DIVISION TWO * 
FINAL FOUR: FIRST BERTH – In this game the WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS clashed with the UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & ARTS OF OKLAHOMA DROVERS. The Drovers were threatening an Upset at the midpoint with their 51-40 lead. The Crusaders came storming back from there to force Overtime with an 86-86 tie. In the extra session William Carey University emerged with a 102-98 victory. Twenty-one points from Javontae McDavid led the Crusaders. 
With the superhero movie season already upon us Balladeer’s Blog’s examination of another old, old, OLD Marvel Comics hit continues. 
PART TWO
After his clash with Warlock last time around the Magus has alerted his empire’s starships to be on the lookout for any sign of our hero. The first vessel to come across Adam is the spaceship called The Great Divide, commanded by the blue-skinned Captain Autolycus of the Black Knights of the Church (more on them shortly). 
The proverbial wailing and gnashing of teeth on the part of those anti-Trump fascists who actually believed the Russian Collusion fantasy has been hilarious! Yesterday and today have provided memes aplenty from the comedy gold produced by the slobbering psychopaths who were suckered in by accused suborner of perjury Robert Mueller. 
SECOND SEMIFINAL – In this game the 8th seeded RANGER COLLEGE RANGERS took the court against the 4 seeds – the COFFEYVILLE COLLEGE RED RAVENS. The Rangers provided another Upset, leading the Red Ravens 38-30 at the Half before polishing them off 84-61. Brayan Au led Ranger College with his 27 points. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 2 seeds – the JOHNSON COUNTY COLLEGE CAVALIERS – found themselves facing the 14th seeded CECIL COLLEGE SEAHAWKS. The Cavaliers were chasing the Seahawks 29-28 at the end of a defense-oriented opening Half. From there Johnson County College came back to force Overtime with a 68-68 tie. In the extra session the Cavaliers emerged with an 81-78 victory. Twenty three points from General Williams led Johnson County College. 
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