#ballard underground

[daveinediting]

He'd bring up professional networking in class for the millionth time and we'd all just roll our eyes.

Yeah.

It will continue to be my penance to proclaim Charlie Kester was right until the end of my days because I blew him off out of hand when I was a young adult and he was a teacher then department head of the Music and Video Business Associate of Arts degree program at the Art Institute of Seattle back when there was such a thing.

In my defense, the things he said were so stupid.

He told us that the Seattle "sound" was due to have its time in the national spotlight. Interesting... but he taught that as if it for sure was gonna happen which is what we'd call wishcasting today if not outright nutty prognostication. Like your grandfather just saying crazy stuff.

One of us then thought to ask what the Seattle "sound" was and Charlie told us it was a dark sound.

Oh dear God.

It went on and on like that from the middle of 1987 right on through to the end of 1989 after which we were all released into the wild and never heard about the Seattle "sound"

Like, ever.

That's not true, of course. Because while we were released into the professional wilderness with Associate of Arts degrees, well, I'll let Wikipedia fill that part in a little.

"Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is an alternative rock genre and subculture which emerged during the mid-1980s in the U.S. state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns."

Oof. Basically, this was all taking shape while we were all in school and Charlie was aware of what was happening in the Seattle music scene while we... were not.

Ignorant as school kids.

And that dark sound Charlie described?

"Grunge fuses elements of punk rock and heavy metal. The genre featured the distorted electric guitar sound used in both genres ... Lyrics are typically angst-filled and introspective, often addressing themes such as social alienation, self-doubt, abuse, neglect, betrayal, social and emotional isolation, addiction, psychological trauma and a desire for freedom."

Okay yeah. That's dark.

I get that now.

So. While we were in school, then, not taking Charlie's premise seriously at all... Soundgarden signed to A&M Records in 1989. Nirvana released its first album that year, signing with Geffen Records the following year. Alice in Chains signed with Columbia Records in 1989, releasing their debut album in August of 1990. Then Nirvana released Nevermind in '91, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" hit MTV and BAM. Seattle Grunge bands were in the national spotlight just.

Like Charlie said was gonna happen. 🤯

What's especially embarrassing is that in 1989 our concert production class put on a show at the Ballard Underground. The headliner was sort of a prog rock band I don't remember.

But the opener?

Yeah. That would be Alice in Chains. Right there on stage for all of us to see in person. They embodied that dark sound in every way possible. And they had a very obvious, dedicated fan base that reveled in that sound.

It was right there in front of us that night and no one, not one of us said

"Hey. This must be what Charlie was talking about."

In the end, we were wrong and Charlie was not only right...

He was vindicated by coincident and subsequent events.

That wasn't the only thing he was right about, though.

And it would take a few more years still to understand it in the context of my career...

And it would take another twenty to thirty to see it play out again in my daughter's generation.

But I absolutely saw it.

[internetcatholicism]

Some statistics

Child Sex Trafficking has been reported in all 50 states

The most human trafficking cases have been reported in California, Texas and Florida.  Las Vegas is also a hot spot.

There are more than 365,000 missing children in the US each year. 30% of those missing are being trafficked (approximately 109,000 children).

The average age of a trafficked child is 15 years old.

You can be a part of the movement to put an end to child trafficking by donating to the cause. Every donation, no matter how small makes a difference!

[optimisticaudience]

Sound of Freedom, Operation Underground Railroad, and Tim Ballard are frauds who hurt the people who fight actual human trafficking.

Talk to anyone who fights real trafficking, they will tell you what is wrong with Ballard. To start with, he used to fight child sexual exploitation as a federal agent but he quit to act as a vigilante. Here is the short version of how OUR works: they go into a foreign country and throw money around until a pimp approaches them. They then tell the pimp they want children, and ask the pimp to bring kids to a secondary location. Then they call the cops, have the police arrest the pimps, streams the arrest on FaceTime for a high tier donor, and then go home. If you don’t get what’s wrong with this let me explain: OUR raises the demand for child sex slaves. A mommy blogger who Ballard brought along wrote an entire article about her experience. He says his team is all sorts of CIA agents and SEALs, but apparently moms from Utah are more reflective. It turns out some of the kids were trafficked for the first time FOR Ballard. He waved money and encouraged that trafficking. Afterwards, he left the country with a handshake promise that the kids would be cared for by the police. He will say the kids got aftercare, but evidence says otherwise.

But maybe that’s not enough for you?

He hired a psychic in Utah to tell him where a child was in the Dominican Republic. He flew a team as well as that child’s father down to the town the psychic indicated and found nothing other than locals scared of the American paramilitary vigilantes who were asking for children.

He and a sister organization said they were evacuating people from Afghanistan. No one has found any evidence to prove that.

He has claimed OUR saved a 12 year old girl from slavery. Then, she was 11. Then it turned out she saved herself a decade ago without his help and they want to get credit for rescuing her.

He claimed to be partnered with American Airlines, who have no idea what he is talking about.

So what actually DOES Ballard do?

He campaigns against drag queens

Promotes Qanon/Wayfair conspiracies

Cast the actor who played Jesus to play himself in his own movie. (The actor actively campaigns on blood libel Q conspiracies)

But beyond all that, just remember the movie isn’t donating to anti trafficking causes. It’s just asking you to buy more tickets to juice the numbers.

Donate to your local shelter. Most trafficking victims are trafficked by loved ones or people close to them. The victims need all the help they can get.

And another thing: People are conflating criticism of this film with apologia for child trafficking. I keep seeing posts say it will “Raise Awareness,” despite it being an incorrect portrayal. If that’s true, then Die Hard is raising awareness about bank robbers.

Here’s an idea: watch or read ANYTHING from real survivors of trafficking.

[airasilver]

@forknightshonor @uncle-mojave @hatesaltrat @beardedmrbean

I have a question. You all can ignore it if you like but I was wondering what you thought of what is going on with Tim Ballard now.

The fact that he is actually doing everything he is supposedly against. I don’t know if it’s true or if people are making it up but I was wondering what you all think about it.

[terriwriting]

Reminder that Qanon, like Pizzagate before it, and all related "protect the children" campaigns, are nothing but distractions from the sex crimes of Evangelical Christianity and the far-right.

Provided with a detailed description of what was in the investigative files, he did not deny that the videos showed him doing what the investigator's description said they did, or dispute that he had felt the trafficking victim's naked breasts. He did dispute that she was a minor, asserting that he had a sworn affidavit from Mexican federal police saying that she was over 18. He did not respond to multiple requests, sent over a period of weeks, to provide a copy of this document.

[cherrytea556]

Okay ok okay, when you make your whole career around rescuing trafficked children and even made a movie about it but then turn around and accuse the 'woke left agenda' of being involved in it, then i nor anyone should take you seriously anymore and should absolutely question your career in general

[kwistowee]

Everyone who can should go see 'Sound of Freedom'. (Hear me out before you block me or dm me.)

It isn't a political film, nor is it a religious film. It doesn't support or propagate conspiracy theories. It is centered on protecting children. It's based on a well-documented rescue conducted in 2014, and mainstream media covered it favorably at the time.

The film was completed five years ago and set to be distributed under FOX, but when Disney acquired FOX, Disney shelved it. After buying back the rights for the film from Disney, the filmmakers, producers, and investors spent the last few years looking for a studio or a streaming service who would release the film. Everyone passed, until Angel Studios stepped up.

'Sound of Freedom' is not graphic or explicit in any way, and it conveys very challenging subject matter with respect, sensitivity, and nuance. But it is difficult to watch because the implications of things happening off screen are heart-wrenching.

If you are in a mental and emotional position to do so, go see it. Free tickets can be claimed here. Allow yourself to lose a little bit of innocence and naïveté to potentially preserve the innocence of children in your life or those who cross your path. Their safety and protection is worth more than our comfort.

[parttimereporter]

Tim Ballard’s exit from Operation Underground Railroad earlier this year followed an investigation into claims of sexual misconduct involving seven women, according to sources with direct knowledge of the organization.

Sources familiar with the situation said that the self-styled anti-slavery activist, who appears to be preparing for a Senate run, invited women to act as his “wife” on undercover overseas missions ostensibly aimed at rescuing victims of sex trafficking. He would then allegedly coerce those women into sharing a bed or showering together, claiming that it was necessary to fool traffickers. Ballard, who was played by Jim Caviezel in the hit film Sound of Freedom, is said to have sent at least one woman a photo of himself in his underwear, festooned with fake tattoos, and to have asked another “how far she was willing to go,” in the words of a source, to save children. These sources requested anonymity because they fear retaliation.

[sachyriel]

"Sound of Freedom" movie was always BS, but recently it came out that one of those involved was just using the Child Trafficking Narratives to make money for himself, the Mormon Church and get himself a higher rank in the church.

[10cities10years]

Sound of Freedom: Across the QAnon-Verse

Is the Sound of Freedom good? Can it help end child sex trafficking? Well, like that issue, it's complicated.

So, here it is: my post on Sound of Freedom, the movie that is storming the charts and doing decent enough business to get a lot of press, both positive and negative. If you don’t live in the U.S. and haven’t heard of this movie, that’s not surprising. It’s only playing Stateside (for now). If you’ve never heard of Sound of Freedom, just know it’s an action film about a paramilitary group taking…

[shortmeteor]

Cal Schenkel is an amazing artist. You know him, mainly, from Zappa cover art. And it's hard to find much other information on him (which is a bit strange, and very annoying).

He has a vision of the world that is very American, very underground art, very counter-culture, but never in a easy way. There is a real bite to the way the disgust mingles with pleasure. And being LP covers, very "commercial" items, adds to the levels of irony.

The world Schenkel conjures is similar to Philip K Dick or Burroughs (or Ballard). A fake world of vacant spaces, sets, of a (filmic?) gaze making us; representation preceding presence. There are strange machines, grotesque mutants, and abstraction, painterly textures and collage.

I love it so so much.

[internetcatholicism]

"I fight because if we only rescue one child, it all will have been worth it."

Please donate to Operation Underground Railroad.

It will be some of the best money you've ever spent - helping to save children from the horrors of child sex trafficking.

Reminder that none of the proceeds from "Sound of Freedom" are going to this cause.

[mormonmouse]

Ballard and Ballard (and Beck) - Birds of a Feather?

When I read the “Breaking News” headline from the Salt Lake Tribune on Sept. 15, 2023 a few minutes after it arrived in my email inbox, even I was surprised: In rare public rebuke, LDS Church condemns Tim Ballard’s ‘morally unacceptable’ behavior At the moment I can’t think of another example of The Church publicly criticizing one of their members by name in the media. I’m rarely surprised by…

[airasilver]

Wow. More on Tim Ballard scandals. From two weeks ago but still…

[terriwriting]

Another protect-the-children type turns out to be a sexual predator

shockedfry.gif

[cherrytea556]

Tell me how this image makes you feel