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THE HOLY WAR (1682) – AN OVERLOOKED JOHN BUNYAN WORK

the holy warTHE HOLY WAR (1682) – The work that John Bunyan is most well-known for is The Pilgrim’s Progress, but given the theme of Balladeer’s Blog, rather than write the 2 billionth review of that book I decided to take a general look at one of Bunyan’s often overlooked writings on mythology/ allegory. 

The City of Mansoul was created by Shaddai (God) and is an Ideal State. It is almost impregnable because its Five Gates (the senses) cannot be opened by force, so it is purely up to the gatekeepers who may or may not enter Mansoul.

the holy war cover(Hey, it’s John Bunyan. If you’re looking for subtlety, let me introduce you to Mr. You-Won’t-Find-It-Here. Still, his works can be entertaining and thought provoking in a quaint, fairy-tale way.)

Perpetually menacing the people of Mansoul are the evil forces outside the gate; forces led by a giant named Diabolus (Guess Who) who has already ruined the other cities created by Shaddai. Things have been so good for the citizens of Mansoul for so long that the guardians at the gates have grown less vigilant and get suckered in by the temptations and appeals to their egos offered up by the agents of Diabolus. Continue reading

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HEIMSKRINGLA! OR THE STONED ANGELS (1969) – FORGOTTEN TELEVISION

heimskringla picHEIMSKRINGLA! OR THE STONED ANGELS – This was a pioneering presentation from WNET and first aired on November 6th, 1969. 

Produced by Brice Howard, directed by Tom O’Horgan and performed by New York’s experimental La Mama Theater Troupe, this 90-minute work incorporated live action with the then-new visual arts approach of “Videospace” to retell some of the sagas from the old Norse history collection of the title.

Said Howard – “My version of Heimskringla! is that like an iceberg, it is one-eighth above the surface, seven-eighths below.”

A Nordic bard called a Skald narrated the creation of the world and the subsequent emergence of males and females. Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM AUGUST 26th

Balladeer’s Blog continues its college football coverage on this weekend which kicked off the 2023 season in two of the divisions I deal with here.

NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)

Rocky Mountain CollegeUPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS hosted the 19th ranked DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS yesterday and upset them in a 20-19 nailbiter    ###    And the EVANGEL UNIVERSITY VALOR took down the visiting number 20 KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES.

Morningside MustangsTUSSLE IN THE TOP SEVEN – The number 4 team in the nation – the MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS – took it on the road against the 7th ranked BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. The Mustangs led 7-0 in the 1st Quarter but the Ravens went up 10-7 by Halftime. That turned into a 13-10 edge for Morningside University to end the 3rd Quarter before the Mustangs won out 20-17 in the 4th.

montana state northern lights goldSHUTOUTS – The MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN LIGHTS blanked the MAYVILLE STATE COMETS 14-0   ###   Meanwhile, the UNION COLLEGE BULLDOGS won 27-0 at the CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX   ###   And the UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS clobbered the KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS 44-0. Continue reading

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MARVEL ISSUES FROM JANUARY 1969

For this weekend’s escapist and lighthearted superhero post I will take a look at Marvel’s January issues from 1969. 

xm 52X-MEN Vol 1 #52 (January 1969)

Title: Twilight of the Mutants

X-Men Roster: Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Marvel Girl, Angel, Polaris

Villains: Magneto, Mesmero, and the Demi-Men

NOTE: This is the fourth and final part of the storyline which saw the X-Men get drawn back together after they disbanded following the first of Professor X’s many false “deaths.” Polaris (Lorna Dane) joins the team.

beast iceman cyclops lorna magnetoSynopsis: The recently arrived evil mutant called Erik the Red says he has come to Magneto’s subterranean lair out west to join his forces. Erik demonstrates his powers against the Demi-Men, Magneto’s latest team of mutants intent on conquering humanity.

Polaris, who has joined Magneto’s team under the impression that she is his daughter, learns the truth about his villainous intentions from conversations among Mesmero, Magneto and Erik the Red. While Mesmero plots against Erik, and Magneto assigns Polaris to keep an eye on both figures for him, Marvel Girl, Angel and the Beast slip back into Magneto’s headquarters. Continue reading

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BALLADEER’S BLOG’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM AUGUST 24th

The 2023 college football season kicked off last night in some of the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.

Valley City State Vikings helmetJIMMIES AT VIKINGS – The VALLEY CITY STATE VIKINGS hosted the UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES in NAIA action last night. The Jimmies were on top 8-0 to end the 1st Quarter and 8-7 come Halftime. In the 3rd Quarter the Vikings went up 20-8 before winning the game by a final score of 23-15.

garden-city-broncbusters-helmet-newINSTANT CLASSIC IN KANSAS – In Jayhawk Conference action in the NJCAA the (9) GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS took the field against the visiting (12) BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES. A scoreless opening Quarter was followed by a 7-7 tie at the Half. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Broncbusters clinging to a 13-9 edge. From there Garden City College defeated the Grizzlies 27-22. Continue reading

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LIFE IN A THOUSAND WORLDS (1905) – ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION

life in a thousand worldsLIFE IN A THOUSAND WORLDS (1905) – Written by William Shuler Harris. This is yet another work of “ancient” science fiction that deals with life on other planets. Each celestial body that is visited gets its own chapter.

THE MOON – The inhabitants of the moon are roughly one-fourth the size of Earthlings. Long ago the moon was a much more hospitable place to live, but volcanoes and moonquakes devastated the satellite. The remaining atmosphere is very thin, and those who are still alive must live by eating solid air. 

       Lunar technology is behind that of Earth but the moon people are gifted at the creative arts.

MARS – Called Marsites and Marsmen in this book, the people of the Red Planet are roughly twelve feet tall and their long humanoid bodies have four arms. The ruling class on Mars treats the lower classes horribly, using them as slave labor to produce food for them. Continue reading

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THE FOURTH REICH (1990) – NEGLECTED FILM ABOUT THWARTING NAZI AGENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

the fourth reichTHE FOURTH REICH (1990) – This film’s greatest obstacle to greater renown is its own title. Anyone coming across the title The Fourth Reich will quite reasonably assume it’s a B-movie about Nazi war criminals in hiding trying to resurrect their rightfully defeated cause.

If someone rents or buys it expecting an espionage thriller like The ODESSA File, The Holcroft Covenant or even The Boys from Brazil, they’ll be disappointed that it is instead a quality dramatic account of a NON-FICTIONAL, real-life attempt by Nazi agents to assassinate South African leader Jan Smuts in 1942.   

This movie – produced in South Africa – was partially based on the non-fiction book For Volk and Fuhrer, so even THAT title wouldn’t truly convey the subject matter to anyone outside of people who are so into South African history that they would recognize those words in the context of a thwarted Nazi assassin.

Enough preamble. I started my review this way to hopefully catch the eyes of readers who WERE assuming this is just more warmed-over, regenerate Nazi fiction. Please don’t dismiss this powerful movie due to false assumptions.

the fourth reich another posterTHE FOURTH REICH deals with South African boxer Robey Leibbrandt, who participated in the 1936 Olympics where he met and shook the hand of Adolf Hitler. Leibbrandt was strangely impressed with Hitler and his philosophy of hatred, and after becoming South Africa’s Heavyweight Boxing Champion in 1937 he returned to Germany in 1938.

Robey was studying at the Reich Academy of Gymnastics when World War Two broke out in September 1939, and volunteered to serve the Nazis militarily. After he completed his military training, his commanders felt Leibbrandt would be more effective as a Nazi agent in South Africa, promoting their cause and recruiting saboteurs.

Under the alias Walter Kempf, Robey was sent back to his native land as part of Operation Weissdorn, a plan to assassinate South African leader Jan Smuts for leading South Africa into World War Two as a British ally rather than remaining neutral like his opponents wanted.    Continue reading

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PLEASE DON’T TOUCH ME (1959, 1963) – BAD MOVIE REVIEW

please dont touch mePLEASE DON’T TOUCH ME (Filmed in 1959, released in 1963) – Buy this for the Lash La Rue fan in your life, but mostly for the Ron and June Ormond fan in your life. For people outside of us lovers of Bad Movies I’ll point out that Ron and June Ormond were the famous husband and wife team of low-low-low budget filmmakers.

The Ormonds dabbled in virtually all genres from mainstream movies to exploitation and roadshow flicks. More than a decade ago, Balladeer’s Blog reviewed the infamous Ron Ormond/ Estus Pirkle film If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do? (HERE), a full-color Cold War potboiler about a Communist invasion of the U.S. depicted with graphic violence, inane dialogue and hilariously bad acting. 

This earlier effort from their mind-bending body of work found them collaborating with former cowboy star Lash La Rue, with whom they had made several cheap, short and boring westerns. Lash portrays Dr. Williams, a psychiatrist who is treating a newlywed bride for frigidity.

Mom and VickyThough Please Don’t Touch Me sounds like it would be a sexploitation flick, lurid assault film or Nudie Cutie, rest assured there’s nothing in this 67-minute oddity that your grandmother couldn’t handle. Well, maybe your mother, instead of grandma.

The film plays almost like a parody of Public Service Message shorts, educational videos, army training films about v.d., and tabloid psychiatry movies like Tomorrow’s Children, Glen or Glenda & Maniac. Paying customers who went in hoping for something sexy, explicit and tawdry would have learned that the joke was on them.  Continue reading

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BALLADEER’S BLOG’S PRESEASON RANKINGS FOR D2 AND D3 COLLEGE FOOTBALL

This Thursday, August 24th, the 2023 college football season kicks off in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog. Here are my rankings for NCAA D2 and D3.

Pittsburg State Gorillas*** NCAA DIVISION TWO – 1. PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS   ###   2. FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS (defending national champions)   ###   3. GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS   ###   4. UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS   ###   5. COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS   ###   

delta state6. DELTA STATE STATESMEN   ###   7. MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS   ###   8. NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS   ###   9. INDIANA UNIVERSITY IN PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS   ###   10. ARKANSAS TECH WONDERBOYS   ###    Continue reading

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JUSTICE SOCIETY: 1949 STORIES

For this weekend’s light-hearted, escapist blog post about superheroes, Balladeer’s Blog looks at the 1949 issues of America’s very first superteam in comic books – the Justice Society. 

asc 45ALL STAR COMICS Vol 1 #45 (February 1949)

Title: The Case of the Cosmic Criminals

Justice Society Roster: Dr. Mid-Nite, the 1st Wonder Woman, 1st Flash, 1st Atom, 1st Black Canary, 1st Hawkman and 1st Green Lantern

Villains: The Cosmic Criminals

Synopsis: Professor Felix Egri uses star alignments, stellar energy and a distant nova to provide a charge of cosmic energy to 6 ordinary objects. The Rocky Castle Gang of criminals raid his lab and steal the half-dozen items and begin a crime wave with the powers granted to them by the cosmic energy of those objects. Continue reading

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