Author Archives: balladeer

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About balladeer

I am passionately interested in college sports, ancient Greek comedies, bad/weird movies, mythology, the American Revolution, Puck Magazine, World War I, U.S. Presidential history, silent movies, the English Civil War, epic, lyric and comic poetry, U.S. Supreme Court history, the Revolutions of 1848, the Philippine War and old pulp heroes like The Moon Man, Pilot G8, Silver John and The Rio Kid.

USCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: DAY ONE RESULTS

USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association)

Vermont Tech Green KnightsDAY ONE, GAME ONE – The 10 seeds – the VERMONT TECH GREEN KNIGHTS – took the court against the 7th seeded PENN STATE AT MONT ALTO LIONS. The Green Knights showed they were in it for the win with their 40-36 Halftime lead. After the break Vermont Tech got more and more separation from PSU-MA, ultimately defeating them by a final score of 89-73. Jeremiah Shaw tossed in 21 points to lead the Green Knights.

Penn State at YorkDAY ONE, GAME TWO – This game pitted the 8th seeded PENN STATE AT YORK LIONS against the 9 seeds – the CENTRAL PENN COLLEGE SILVER KNIGHTS. The Lions held a comfortable 34-27 lead by the midpoint but from there the Silver Knights closed the gap. The Central Penn rally fell just short as Penn State at York won it 58-57. John Gillespie’s 14 points led the victors. Continue reading

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DISSENTER.COM – GAB.AI INGENIOUSLY SPREADS FREE SPEECH ACROSS THE INTERNET

Mascot sword and pistolWith more and more of us getting fed up with censorship and attempted censorship by the Techno-Fascists of Silicon Valley (Google, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and others of their ilk), another blow has been struck against those bloated and totalitarian rich pigs. 

The Free Speech Heroes at Gab.ai have struck again, this time with Dissenter.com. Using an app from Dissenter.com a person can comment on anything on the internet, even if it was posted at sites (see above) which have tried to ban people for petty political reasons.

Freedom of expression amnesty international“Dissenter creates a free speech comment section for any URL on the web. Users can access comment threads on a URL by searching for the link on Dissenter’s web app at dissenter.com,” said Gab founder Andrew Torba. “Alternatively, if users install the free and open-source Dissenter browser extension, users can see comments being made on any URL they navigate to displayed in a sidebar in their browser.”

Free speech 6“Dissenter.com thus extends Gab’s reach, and its free speech platform, across the entire internet. Anyone with a Gab.com account can access Dissenter, and utilize it to express themselves on any content on the internet in any way they see fit, as long as their chosen form of expression is legal in the United States,” Torba continued, adding that “Dissenter has become a necessary tool due to rampant corporate censorship of ordinary internet users, whether that takes the form of YouTube demonetizing millions of videos and removing comment sections, Facebook and Instagram banning British activist Tommy Robinson for his political opinions, or Netflix banning comedy shows at the behest of Saudi princes.”

Free Speech 2“A free, open-source utility that allows people to dissent from orthodoxy and express what they are really thinking, without fear of reprisal, is essential in order to wrest control of the Internet and public discourse from Silicon Valley tech giants,” he concluded. “Gab.com and dissenter.com lead the way in keeping the Internet free. All people are welcome to use our products to express themselves freely.”  Continue reading

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Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

COLLEGE BASKETBALL POSTSEASON ACTION CONTINUES

*** NAIA ***

oklahoma city university starsSOONER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in the SAC Tournament were the 5 seeds – the OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY STARS – and the top seeded JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES (should be the Abolitionists). The Stars were chasing the Golden Eagles 37-34 at Halftime but after the break they outscored JBU 40-36 to win this Instant Classic by a final count of 74-73. Chris Williams led Oklahoma City University with 22 points. * THE STARS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE SOONER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT *

SOUTHERN STATES ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Middle Georgia State KnightsFIRST SEMIFINAL – The Cinderella 7 seeds – the MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE KNIGHTS – remain THE story of the SSAC Tournament. The Knights notched another Upset, this time over the 3rd seeded BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS. A 42-33 lead for the Wildcats at the Half became a 74-74 tie to end Regulation. The 1st Overtime ended in an 86-86 deadlock before the Knights emerged with a 94-93 triumph in DOUBLE OVERTIME. Darrell White had THIRTY-ONE points to lead Middle Georgia State.   Continue reading

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JUSTICE SOCIETY 23: THE FORGOTTEN CRIME

HawkgirlBalladeer’s Blog’s examination of the Justice Society’s World War Two-era stories continues. FOR PART ONE CLICK HERE 

I will review the original issue and then detail how I would “script-doctor” the story for modern audiences.

All Star 25ALL STAR COMICS #25 (Summer 1945)

Title: THE FORGOTTEN CRIME

Heroes: FLASH (Original), DOCTOR MIDNITE, GREEN LANTERN (Original), WONDER WOMAN (Original), JOHNNY THUNDER, THE ATOM (Original), HAWKMAN (Original)

Villains: THE HOODED MAN, BIG HUNK ADAMS AND HENGAST KIMBALL THE OIL BARON

WildcatSynopsis: At their Philadelphia headquarters the Justice Society of America encounter an amnesiac man who insists he somehow knows that Rob Victor, a man convicted of murdering wealthy Timothy Kimball years earlier, is really innocent.

The JSA members look into this and are secretly followed by a Hooded Man who often seems to be interfering with their investigation of this old crime involving one of America’s wealthiest families.

Crimelord Big Hunk Adams and his gang try to thwart the Justice Society as well. Adams’ involvement thoroughly baffles the Justice Society members. Continue reading

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SQUEEZE: PULLING MUSSELS (FROM THE SHELL)

Balladeer’s Blog’s Give Them A Shoutout Before They’re Dead feature returns with this look at Squeeze and their song Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)

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ALEXANDRE DUMAS: NEGLECTED NOVELS

Alexandre Dumas

“HELLO DERE!”

Alexandre Dumas pere is synonymous with swashbuckling historical adventures like The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo and The Man in the Iron Mask.

His name became SO associated with swordplay and intrigue that even a Dumas novel like The Corsican Brothers, which in reality lacks any true action elements, has long been adapted as if it’s a swashbuckler. That has always involved altering the original story beyond recognition, which is why no two Corsican Brothers movies bear much resemblance to each other and can’t even seem to agree on a time period.

That’s a shame since plenty of other novels by Alexandre Dumas are loaded with action and historical intrigue yet have been largely overlooked when it comes to movies and television. 

GeorgesGEORGES (1843) – Published just one year before The Three Musketeers, this novel is not only a rollicking adventure full of action, romance and double-crosses but it deals with racial issues in such a way that you would have thought it would have been adapted for film four or five decades ago. The title character uses his sword to fight slavery!  Continue reading

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MORE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT ACTION IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NAIA

FRONTIER CONFERENCE

charlie_toughOREDIGGERSROUND ONE, GAME ONE – The 6 seeds – the MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS – clashed with the 3rd seeded ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS. The Orediggers put the Battlin’ Bears on Upset Alert with a stunning 36-20 Halftime lead then went on to consummate the deal with a 70-59 victory. Taylor England led Montana Tech with a Double Double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. This was the Orediggers’ first Opening Round win since 1999. 

Montana state northern lightsROUND ONE, GAME TWO – The 4th seeded MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN LIGHTS took the court against the 5 seeds – the PROVIDENCE UNIVERSITY ARGONAUTS. At the end of an action-packed 1st Half the Lights were on top 50-37. From there the Argonauts outscored Montana State-Northern 56-51 but in vain. The Lights entered the Century Club with 101 points to the 93 scored by Providence. Adam Huse and Mascio McCadney had 26 points each for the victors. Continue reading

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WRITING AWARD OF $5,000.00 PLUS MORE

The Masters Review presents a list of even more writing contests, including their own which offers a First Prize of $5,000.00. For the entire list click below. 

They say March comes in like a lion, and clearly they’re referring to the sheer amount of writing competitions this month! We’re happy to lend you a hand, though, and present a carefully curated list of the best contests around. Included is our $5000 Anthology Prize in its eighth year. Let’s get started! Continue reading

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QUOTE: “PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DONE MORE FOR BLACK PEOPLE THAN ANY OTHER PRESIDENT IN OUR LIFETIME”

Trump and Diamond and SilkAfrican-American activists known as Diamond and Silk (Lynette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson) once again visited de facto Third Party President Donald Trump at the White House this week with Black History Month coming to a close. (See below)

Donald Trump never called racist till running against DemocratsThe ladies pointed out to their social media followers that President Trump “has done more for black people than any other president of our lifetime.” Diamond and Silk even included a note possibly tweaking the robotic Democrat Winston Smiths who slant history to please “The Party” by adding “There are those that write history but President Trump is making history.”

I like that statement. It puts me in mind of “Those who can – do. Those who can’t – teach.” And let’s face it, President Trump has done more for the working class and poor of all races than any other president in our lifetime. Trump is the new FDR, the new JFK, the new Teddy Roosevelt and the new Harry Truman.    Continue reading

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Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS CONTINUE

NJCAA

Northwest Kansas Tech MavericksDISTRICT 6: ROUND ONE UPSETS – The 13th seeded NORTHWEST KANSAS TECH MAVERICKS stunned the 4 seeds – the COWLEY COLLEGE TIGERS in an 87-84 Instant Classic    ###    And the 11 seeds – the PRATT COLLEGE BEAVERS – toppled the 6th seeded CLOUD COUNTY COLLEGE THUNDERBIRDS by a count of 68-56.   

Hutchinson Blue Dragons LogoDISTRICT 6: HUTCH ADVANCES – The 3 seeds – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS – took on the 14th seeded ALLEN COUNTY COLLEGE RED DEVILS. By Halftime the Blue Dragons had compiled a 52-38 advantage over the Red Devils. After the break Allen County College could merely inch a bit closer as Hutchinson won it 98-88 led by Malique Jacobs with 24 points.

Independence Pirates logoDISTRICT 6: EIGHT OVER NINE – This game pitted the 8th seeded INDEPENDENCE COLLEGE PIRATES against the 9th seeded GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS. The Pirates pounded out a 37-24 lead by the Half then withstood an attempted rally by the Broncbusters to win the game 71-66. Jibril Harris led Independence College with a Double Double of 20 points and 13 rebounds. Continue reading

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