Monthly Archives: February 2014

REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS: UNDER OBAMA THE U.S. FALLS TO 46th IN THE WORLD FOR PRESS FREEDOM

"Sit down and shut up! My administration will tell you peons everything you need to know!"

“Sit down and shut up! My administration will tell you peons everything you need to know!”

Welcome back to Balladeer’s Blog, the only site on the web that truly criticizes Liberals and Conservatives equally. Reporters Without Borders has been publishing a yearly World Press Freedom Index since 2002. The press here in the United States has been leaned on so heavily by the Obama administration (an administration that Little Barry claimed would be noted for its “transparency”) that in just ONE YEAR the nation’s ranking on that index fell THIRTEEN PLACES. After getting safely reelected (like George W Bush and Richard Nixon did, too … see a pattern?) Obama’s administration apparently felt so secure they stepped up their war on press freedom; a war that even Huffington Post described as ” a dictator’s dream”.

Since Little Barry’s mindless, unquestioning and fascistic followers love to pretend that the only people who criticize their hollow little man are conservatives I will point out again for the sake of new readers that I am not a conservative. I outspokenly supported gay marriage YEARS before Obama gutlessly decided the issue was safe enough for his former opposition to it to “evolve” into support. I’m pro-choice, I oppose censorship, etc. The most repulsive lie that Barack “If you like your doctor you can keep your doctor” Obama has sold is the notion that speaking out about his abuse of his office is just a conservative thing.

So with a Continue reading

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Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Presidential Rap Sheets

BALLADEER’S BLOG’S QUICK LOOK AT PRESIDENTIAL PROS AND CONS: HARRISON TO PIERCE

William Henry Harrison9. WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON – Motto: ” Never overstay your welcome.” *** Nickname: Bushitler *** Pro: Tried to establish a tradition of presidents dying barely a month into their term.  Con: Delivered a two hour long inaugural address during an actual blizzard.

10. JOHN TYLER – Motto: “Because Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too made for one kick- ass campaign slogan!” *** Nickname: Continue reading

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL RANKINGS

Cal State San Marcos CougarsNAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) DIVISION ONE – 1. CAL STATE-SAN MARCOS COUGARS   ###   2. FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY LIONS   ###   3. UNIVERSITY OF PIKEVILLE BEARS   ###   4. TALLADEGA COLLEGE TORNADOES   ###   5. WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS   ###   6.SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS (2013 runners-up)

Cardinal Stritch Wolves logoNAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) DIVISION TWO – 1. CARDINAL STRITCH UNIVERSITY WOLVES (2013 champions)   ###   2. DORDT COLLEGE DEFENDERS   ###   3. INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTHEAST GRENADIERS (2013 runners-up)   ###   4. SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS   ###   5. COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES   ###   6. Continue reading

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BALLADEER’S BLOG’S QUICK LOOK AT PRESIDENTIAL PROS AND CONS: MONROE TO VAN BUREN

James Monroe5. JAMES MONROE – Motto: “I’m sick of hearing about how John Quincy Adams was the real author of The Monroe Doctrine” *** Nickname: The Furnituregate Mastermind *** Pro: Bought Florida from Spain, ensuring America would have a long, phallic peninsula dangling off our mainland.  Con: Got elected president despite being a slave-owner from Virginia … hey, wait a minute!  

6. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS – Motto: “No slaves, no tact, no problem!” *** Nickname: Mr Television *** Pro: Was Continue reading

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL RESULTS FROM FEBRUARY 8th

Babson College BeaversNUMBER THREE TAKES A FALL – The BABSON COLLEGE BEAVERS hosted the 3rd-ranked team in the nation, the WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE ENGINEERS yesterday in a game that shocked the nation. By Halftime the unranked Beavers had compiled a 36-28 lead and didn’t let up in the 2nd Half, notching a 71-62 upset win when all was said and done. Babson was led by Joey Flannery with 20 points.

castleton_logo2YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING! – The CASTLETON STATE COLLEGE SPARTANS scored an unbelievable ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN points yesterday! The Spartans were on the road against the GREEN MOUNTAIN COLLEGE EAGLES and scored 78 points in the FIRST HALF ALONE for a 38 point Halftime lead! That point total would have been enough to win an entire game in many instances but Castleton State was just warming up and went back home with a 137-97 win.  

B with STATE in bar - Tees 2011 FINALCENTURY CLUB – NCAA DIVISION TWO – The BLUEFIELD STATE COLLEGE BIG BLUE open up this section for D2 with the 100 points they registered in their comeback win over the visiting SALEM INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY TIGERS, who scored 91 in the loss   ###   The MCKENDREE UNIVERSITY BEARCATS came back from a 7-point Halftime deficit to win a 106-99 game against the MISSOURI S&T MINERS   ###   The KING (TN) TORNADO smacked down the MT OLIVE COLLEGE WARRIORS to the tune of 115-95   ###   And the Continue reading

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THE BEATLES: THE ROSEMARY ALBUM (DOUBLE-RECORD SET)

Beatles on SullivanToday marks the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show during their first trip to the United States. My older sister Rosemary is a very zealous Beatles fan and to mark this historic occassion she put together this layout for a fictional two-record set featuring what she feels are the Beatles’ best songs after their breakup. The terminal point was 1981 to include the release of John Lennon’s final album, which however means songs like George Harrison’s Got My Heart Set on You cannot be included.  

THE ROSEMARY ALBUM

Side One

IMAGINE (John Lennon)

ALL THINGS MUST PASS (George Harrison)

MY LOVE (Paul McCartney)

PHOTOGRAPH (Ringo Starr)

WHAT IS LIFE (George Harrison)

Side Two Continue reading

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THE SACK OF TROY: THE NEGLECTED ANCIENT GREEK EPIC

fall of troyPreviously Balladeer’s Blog examined three of the neglected tales from the Epic Cycle which dealt with the Trojan War. First came Cypria, then after skipping The Iliad because of how well-known it is I moved on to Aethiopis and then last week I examined Iliad Minor.

SACK OF TROY aka Sack of Ilion is credited to Arktinos of Miletos in the 770’s BCE. The previous epic Iliad Minor wrapped up with the Greek warriors springing out of the Trojan Horse and at last triumphing over King Priam and his Trojans. Sack of Troy rehashes a few story elements, backing up to cover the construction of the Trojan Horse and the Trojans ignoring the prophet Cassandra’s warnings about the Horse. New elements are the arguments the Continue reading

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BALLADEER’S BLOG’S QUICK LOOK AT PROS AND CONS FOR ALL 44 U.S. PRESIDENTS

George WashingtonIn honor of the upcoming President’s Day Holiday weekend  seven days from now Balladeer’s Blog now presents some of my quick takes on each of the 44 men who have stayed one step ahead of the law while occupying the office.

1. GEORGE WASHINGTON – Motto – “Screw taking a salary, just bill ’em outrageously for your expenses!”  *** Nickname: The First Lady of Broadway *** Pro: Established the precedent of stepping down after 2 terms max.  Con: Owned other human beings.

2. JOHN ADAMS – Motto – Continue reading

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Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

VIETNAMESE MYTHOLOGY: THE THUNDER GOD

THIEN LOI – Vietnamese thunder god. The chief deity Ngoc Hoang appointed him as the Divine Judge and put him in charge of punishing criminals, blasphemers, and the seriously immoral. He was also in charge of striking down all those predestined to be struck by lightning, be they human or animal. In addition he often destroyed the Continue reading

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL: BALLADEER’S BLOG’S RANKINGS

azusa pacificNCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) DIVISION ONE – 1. AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY COUGARS   ###   2. SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS   ###   3. INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS   ###  4. ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM   ###   5. COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY COUGARS   ###  

SouthernNazarene_CrimsonStorm_150px6. SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY CRIMSON STORM   ###   7. SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE   ###   8. CINCINATTI CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES   ###   9. POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY SEA LIONS   ###   10. Continue reading

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