Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of the many facets of Fool Killer lore. FOR PART ONE, INCLUDING THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT, CLICK HERE
As always part of the fun comes from the way the Fool Killer – in this case James Larkin Pearson’s version in his monthly publication – took aim at politicians from both parties and at other “fools” of the day. March of 1921’s targets:
** Newly-elected Republican President Warren G Harding, who was inaugurated this month. (The change to January inaugurations did not happen until Franklin Roosevelt) Pearson and his Fool Killer referred to Harding as “a steer that the (political) bosses have broke to faithfully pull Big Business’ yoke.”
** Outgoing Democrat President Woodrow Wilson, whom they referred to as a “mule who never did nothing but act like a fool.”
** Big Businesses from around the world. The Fool Killer blamed them for large-scale unemployment and starvation.
** The way boxers could earn $100,000.00 for a prize fight but Nobel Prize winners only got (back then) $40,000.00
** The series of Russian generals that the Allies supported as the leaders of the “official” Russian government against Lenin and the Bolsheviks. (The White – as in Tsarist – Russians against the Red – as in Communist – Russians) Four generals had been so designated and all four in a row soon went down to defeat as the Russian Civil War (1919-1922) still raged. (Sadly, Pearson’s anti-plutocrat sympathies made him support the Bolsheviks for a time.) Continue reading
DIVISION TWO OVER DIVISION ONE – The KENTUCKY STATE THOROBREDS from NCAA Division 2 traveled to face Division 1’s JACKSON STATE TIGERS. The Thorobreds trailed the Tigers 10-6 in the 1st Quarter before doubling up on them 20-10 come Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Kentucky State up 33-10 but the Thorobreds had to hold on tight in the 4th for a 33-25 Upset triumph. 
DIVISION TWO OVER DIVISION ONE, THE STUNNING SEQUEL THEY SAID COULDN’T BE MADE – In another D2 over D1 Upset D2’s UNIVERSITY OF CHARLESTON (WV) GOLDEN EAGLES visited D1’s VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie turned into a 13-10 Crusaders lead at the Half. The Golden Eagles shut out Valparaiso from there and won the game 19-13. 
NINETY-EIGHT – Meanwhile, in the NJCAA, the ASA COLLEGE (NY) AVENGERS took it on the road against the NEW JERSEY WARRIORS. The Avengers proceeded to fold, spindle and mutilate the Warriors, outclassing them on both sides of the ball. In the end ASA College won it NINETY-EIGHT to NINE! 
I have been getting a lot of readers asking me to review some of the more recent releases from major studios. Balladeer’s Blog regulars know that I tend to focus on incredibly obscure items or hilariously bad movies from decades ago. 
SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY – Thankfully someone FINALLY addressed the elephant in the room of the Star Wars universe: the origin of Han Solo’s last name. 
THE AUTOMATIC MAID-OF-ALL-WORK. A POSSIBLE TALE OF THE NEAR FUTURE (1893) – Written by female author M.L. Campbell. Obviously I shortened the title for my blog post headline. Balladeer’s Blog’s look at “ancient” science fiction continues with this 1893 robot story. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
