Tag Archives: Balladeer’s Blog

ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS: JANUARY TWELFTH

raising bidenHere is the latest current events roundup from Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog. As always, everyone is welcome here no matter who they vote for.

MORE AND MORE REVELATIONS ABOUT CORRUPTION IN DEMOCRAT PROSECUTOR FANI WILLIS’ ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL PURSUIT OF OPPOSITION LEADER TO THE BIDEN REGIME. More HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE. When the real corrupt ones run a prosecutor’s office.

biden the fascistBIDEN REGIME INVOLVEMENT IN PROSECUTING POLITICAL OPPOSITION. It’s life here in Joe Biden’s corporate fascist kleptocracy. More HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

JUDGE CALLS OUT WISCONSIN FOR ILLEGAL VOTING ACTIVITIES, THIS TIME FOR THE 2022 MIDTERM ELECTIONS. More from CBS HERE. Well, at least it’s a change of pace from all the revelations of vote fraud in 2020.

POLISH MEMBER OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CITES TRUMP AS AN INSPIRATION. Continue reading

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Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

THE ELUSIVE AVENGERS (Neulovimye Mstiteli) 1967

elusive avengersTHE ELUSIVE AVENGERS (1967) – This movie is often classified as part of the subgenre called “Easterns/ Osterns” – counterparts of Westerns. As an example of global cinema, The Elusive Avengers is worth a watch maybe once in a lifetime, but the cringe factor is heavy as it romanticizes four young guerilla fighters during the Russian Civil War.

The film is based on the 1921 novel Little Red Devils aka Red Devils aka The Hunt for Blue Fox. A 1923 silent movie version was made long before this definitive 1967 adaptation for the big screen. It goes without saying that the story was used as propaganda by Communist tyrants (and just like I never hesitate to say “Nazi tyrants” or “Nazi filth” I’m never going to hesitate to say “Communist tyrants” or “Communist filth”).

elusive posterJudged purely on its production values and competent direction, The Elusive Avengers fascinates as much as it repels. In a world where a piece of garbage like deranged war criminal Vlad Putin runs Russia it can make a film like this a challenge to sit through without the real world intruding on one’s thoughts, but again, for anyone interested in world cinema history the movie is a revelation.  Continue reading

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Filed under Bad and weird movies, opinion

DECKER SHADO: TERRIFIC REVIEWS OF GOOD AND BAD MOVIES

decker shadoFor several years now I’ve meant to make a blog post recommending the YT Channel of Decker Shado, the often-hilarious figure who calls himself “The internet personality with the best hair.” He focuses mostly on genre films – new and old – and offers a lot of fresh insights on anything from schlock to blockbusters.

Decker’s reviews are energetic and informative even when he’s examining movies that he likes. That makes him stand out on an internet filled with snarky reviewers who can only keep a viewer’s attention when they’re insulting truly horrible movies. Continue reading

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Filed under Bad and weird movies, humor, opinion

ELVIS PRESLEY MOVIES FOR JANUARY EIGHTH

Mascot new lookJanuary 8th is the combined marking of Elvis Presley’s birthday and the Battle of New Orleans, in which General Andrew Jackson and French Pirate Jean Lafitte defeated the British in the final battle of the War of 1812.

In the past Balladeer’s Blog has observed this date with looks at the musical Rock’N’Roll vs The Redcoats and with an article on the whole Orion/ Elvis situation. This time I’m taking a quick look at some early Elvis movies.

love me tenderLOVE ME TENDER (1956) – Elvis was the latest reason that the saga of the Reno Gang/ Reno Brothers got distorted on the big screen. The need to turn the Reno story into a vehicle for Elvis Presley made this attempt the most unintentionally funny of them all.

Favorite Part: A scene between Elvis, playing Clint Reno, and Richard Egan, playing Vance Reno. Despite the fact that the long-missing Vance was given up for dead and Elvis married his mourning girlfriend in the meantime the Side-Burned One actually asks “What’s troublin’ you, Vance?”  That question has been a catch-phrase for me ever since I first saw this flick on late-night tv.

Favorite Weirdass Song: Let Me  Continue reading

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Filed under Bad and weird movies, humor

BALLADEER’S BLOG’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL RESULTS FROM JANUARY SIXTH

NAIA

grace college lancers logoONE AND TWO ROLL – The number 1 team in the nation – the GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS – downed their hosts the GOSHEN COLLEGE MAPLE LEAFS by a Century Club score of 108-78.    ###    While elsewhere, the 2nd ranked LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS (should be the Hugheses) obliterated the visiting SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES by another Century Club score of 100-59.

lourdes univ gray wolvesOVERTIME THRILLS – The (14) LOURDES UNIVERSITY GRAY WOLVES used OT to defeat the MADONNA UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS 81-68   ###   Meanwhile, the UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES survived a 109-108 visit to the MIDLAND U. WARRIORS   ###   And the (7) MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS won 85-80 over the (15) ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS. Continue reading

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Filed under College Basketball

JOHN CARTER VS THE AIR-PIRATES

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero blog post takes a look at the early issues of Marvel Comics’ adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ 1911 literary creation John Carter of Mars.

jcm 1JOHN CARTER, WARLORD OF MARS Vol 1 #1 (June 1977)

Title: Air-Pirates of Mars, Chapter One

Villains: The Air-Pirates of Mars

Comment: For my fellow geeks for Burroughs’ John Carter novels, let me point out that this entire Marvel series was set during the 9-year gap between John Carter marrying Dejah Thoris and the malfunctioning of the Atmosphere Plant in the final part of the first book, A Princess of Mars.

When John’s wife Dejah gets abducted by the Air-Pirates of Mars, he sets out to find her and free her from their clutches. Unfortunately, he falls into the hands of the adversarial Warhoon tribe of Green Martians. Naturally, Marvel kept all the swords, aircraft and radium pistols from the novels. Continue reading

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Filed under Pulp Heroes, Superheroes

THE DOORS: THEIR DEBUT ALBUM

the doors coverJanuary 4th of 1967 saw the release of the first album from the Doors. Obviously, Jim Morrison and company achieved fame long before my time, but their work has endured for several decades. My personal affinity for the Doors over other 1960s musical acts comes partly from their precious few years together before Morrison’s death.

I’m assuming that, this many decades later, few people need the one millionth reminder that the band’s name came by way of references to “the doors of perception” from William Blake and Aldous Huxley.

MY FAVORITE SONGS FROM THE ALBUM

other doors picBREAK ON THROUGH – Not only is the song powerful, but it is rightly hailed as one of the most – if not THE most – appropriate opening songs on a first album ever. The Doors’ signature style burst on the scene with a figurative “I’m here, you gotta DEAL with it” boast.

        The music, the lyrics and especially the way Morrison’s voice ranges from Orphic to uncontrollably maniacal make Break on Through imprint itself on a listener’s mind. Continue reading

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CHARLEMAGNE: THE RESCUE OF RUGGIERO

These are the legends about Charlemagne and his Paladins, not the actual history, so there will be dragons, monsters and magic. 

FOR MY FIRST CHAPTER ON CHARLEMAGNE’S PALADINS CLICK HERE.

bradamante another picTHE RESCUE OF RUGGIERO – In the cliffhanger ending of our previous installment, Ruggiero the Saracen was still on the island divided into separate kingdoms by Morgana’s sisters – the evil sorceress Alcina and the good sorceress Logestilla.

Alcina had shanghaied Ruggiero from his quest to reach Logestilla’s kingdom and recruit her help in freeing Alcina’s victims like the Paladin Astolpho from the enchantments that the villainess had trapped them with. Alcina was romancing the enthralled Ruggiero, knowing that when she grew bored she would imprison the Saracen like she had Astolpho and so many others.

mascot sword and gun pic

BALLADEER’S BLOG

Meanwhile, back in Continental Europe, Bradamante, the female Paladin in White Armor (above left), was still searching for her beloved Ruggiero. She was the woman prophesied to lure mighty Ruggiero away from Islam and convert him to Christianity, which was why Muslim sorcerers like Atlantes had caused him to be abducted to the island of Morgana’s sisters.

At her wit’s end, Bradamante turned for aid to Melissa, the good enchantress whom she had met in the Wizard’s Tomb several installments back. Melissa used her mystic abilities to determine Ruggiero’s whereabouts. Continue reading

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Filed under Mythology

BEST OF SEPTEMBER 2023

A bit tardily, Balladeer’s Blog concludes its annual retrospective with this look at the best of September 2023.

14 amazonsTHE 14 AMAZONS (1972) – My review of this terrific movie about the women of the legendary Yang Family in China. This film is set when there were so few male family members left due to losses in war that the women of the family band together and set out for revenge on the Yang enemies. Click HERE

AGZCEAZIGULS – A look at the fictional South American land Agzceaziguls, from a 1919 novel by Charles Derennes. The land is inhabited by descendants of the Incas. Click HERE.

surf nazis must die 1987SURF NAZIS MUST DIE (1987) – My review of the renowned post-apocalypse film about a black woman taking on a gang of Surf Nazis to wipe them out for killing her son. A wild ride. Click HERE.

AN AUTOMATIC ENIGMA (1872) – An “ancient” science fiction story by Julian Hawthorne – Nathaniel’s son. The tale involves an early robot. Click HERE.

THE GREAT MOLASSES FLOOD OF 1911 – Read about it HERE.

of ac and his ruinOF ANTICHRIST AND HIS RUIN (1692) – John Bunyan’s neglected novel about the Antichrist, his methods and the destructive war that is unleashed. Click HERE.

THE SILENT FILMS OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK – His overlooked movies from the silent era. His films from 1922-1929 HERE.

ANOTHER WORLD (1873) – An “ancient” sci fi novel about the history of civilization and technology on the planet Mars. Click HERE.

JUSTICE SOCIETY STORIES: 1950-1951 – The JSA’s final Golden Age adventures vs the Diamond People, the Four Kings, the Circus of Thrills, Bakeelu of the Green Star, the Chameleon Race and the Key. Click HERE Continue reading

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SAM SPADE: DASHIELL HAMMETT’S NEGLECTED SHORT STORIES

dashiell hammett picIn the past I’ve covered my fondness for Dashiell Hammett’s mysteries. Given my whole theme here at Balladeer’s Blog, this time I’ll take a look at Hammett’s often overlooked Sam Spade short stories that followed a few years after the novel The Maltese Falcon.

Three of these tales are complete and one other was left tantalizingly unfinished, I’m afraid. 

a man called spadeA MAN CALLED SPADE – Published in the July 1932 issue of The American Magazine.

The Client: Financier Max Bliss, who calls Sam Spade in a panic and wants him to come to his home immediately because his life has been threatened.

The Mystery: When Spade arrives at Max’s 10th floor apartment home on Nob Hill, Bliss has already been strangled to death. Detective Sergeant Tom Polhaus and Lieutenant Dundy from The Maltese Falcon are on the scene but are more cordial than they were in Spade’s most famous case.

        bogart as sam spadeMax lies on the floor, partially undressed. A five-pointed star has been drawn on his bare chest in black ink and with a Greek letter tau in the center. Spade, hoping Max’s daughter will pay him the fee that her father now cannot, tries selling her on the notion that he’s now working for her late father’s estate, and her.

        As the investigation rolls along, Sam seeks out one of his academic sources, Harry Darrell, who recognizes the star with the tau in the center as the mark of assorted Rosicrucian Lodges. The two nearest lodges are in Point Loma/ San Diego and San Jose. The odd design also shows up on a threatening letter found among the murder victim’s papers.

The Suspects: Continue reading

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