October 7, 2015 · 9:55 pm

MWINDO: EPIC MYTH OF AFRICA PART FIVE

Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of this epic myth of the Nyanga people.

PART FIVE

Nyanga river 2Mwindo now stood before Mukiti, the serpentine river god himself. The semidivine hero still held his conga-sceptre (a riding-crop sized club made from an antelope tail) in one hand, his axe in another and had his pouch of magic implements slung around one shoulder.

Mwindo and Mukiti exchanged challenging words with Mwindo’s being the most overstated and foolhardy. (Remember, part of the point of this epic is that Mwindo eventually learns to be humble and to be a good ruler, similar to Gilgamesh in Sumerian myths.) Before the two powerful figures could engage in all-out combat they were interrupted by the arrival of the woman Iyangura, who was Mwindo’s aunt and Mukiti’s ritual wife.  Continue reading →

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October 7, 2015 · 7:23 pm

MICHAEL MANN DEMANDS A VIRGIN SACRIFICE BUT REFUSES TO BE THE SACRIFICIAL OFFERING

Some people just want to pretend the world is burning.

Some people just want to pretend the world is burning.

Michael Mann, the Clown Prince of Climate Science who gets reviled by scientists on BOTH sides of the man-made global warming debate in the terrific book A Disgrace to the Profession, confided his latest strategy to Balladeer’s Blog exclusively.

With his inaccurate hockey stick ideas being ridiculed as readily as his false claims to be a Nobel Prize winner, Mann has begun calling for a virgin to be sacrificed in order to save the world. When called upon to be said virgin sacrifice Mann refused, saying he has to appear in court to testify in the countless nuisance lawsuits he has filed. Continue reading →

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October 6, 2015 · 8:51 pm

THE FOUR-FINGERED HAND

Balladeer’s Blog presents another neglected American horror legend in honor of Halloween Month.

THE FOUR-FINGERED HAND

Andover, NJ in the years just after the Revolutionary War was the setting for this macabre tale. Four merchants of the area would often get together in the evenings at various taverns for a meal followed by several drinks before staggering home for the night.

Their last names are all that is now known and those were Evans, Bailey and Hill, but the name of the fourth man is no longer mentioned for reasons that will become clear. This fourth man had lost the middle finger of his left hand to a musket ball during the Revolution.  Continue reading →

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October 6, 2015 · 5:04 pm

COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS: USCAA

Here’s Balladeer’s Blog’s unofficial USCAA football rankings.

Williamson Trade HelmetUSCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) – 1. WILLIAMSON TRADE SCHOOL MECHANICS     ###      2. NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS     ###      3. IOWA WESLEYAN COLLEGE TIGERS (Defending Champions)     ###      4. ALFRED STATE PIONEERS     ###      5. CONCORDIA (AL) HORNETS   Continue reading →

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October 6, 2015 · 3:19 am

LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES AND PARTY LOYALTY

The symbol of the nonexistent Balladeer Political Party

The symbol of the nonexistent Balladeer Political Party

Balladeer’s Blog is the only site on the web that truly criticizes American Liberals and Conservatives equally. I was recently asked if there is any real distinction between the rank and file of American Liberals and American Conservatives.

Yes, there is. American Liberals have a simple-minded attitude of “My political party right or wrong” which is even more imbecilic than the old attitude of “My country right or wrong.” Liberals mindlessly and unquestioningly obey the Democratic Party and believe anything they are told to believe from the Party’s talking points on any given week.

American Conservatives have, in recent years, at last broken away from their own knee-jerk allegiance to the Republican Party. Conservatives have got enough backbone to describe their Party’s leadership and elected figures with the contempt they deserve and no longer support a candidate just because they have an (R) after their name. Witness the virtual Cold War between the Party regulars and their own constituents. Continue reading →

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October 6, 2015 · 12:48 am

ASH VS (THE) EVIL DEAD IS STILL COMING OCT 31st

Army of Darkness big skull faceYes, it’s another cover from one of the many Army of Darkness comic book series to come and go over the years. It’s all part of building the mood for the Starz series Ash vs (the) Evil Dead on Halloween!

Ash Williams, the man with the boomstick and the chainsaw hand takes on Deadites galore in the new cable series just like he did in these comic book series.

I’ll have more covers between now and Halloween. Continue reading →

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October 5, 2015 · 8:54 pm

THE SORCEROR FRANCIS WOOLCOTT

Halloween Month continues as Balladeer’s Blog presents another neglected American horror legend.

THE SORCEROR FRANCIS WOOLCOTT

Francis WoolcottFrancis Woolcott lived in Copake, NY in the Berkshire Hills during the first several decades of the 1800’s. Always drawn toward dark and unwholesome studies, Woolcott deciphered markings on the side of a fallen meteor one day in his 30’s.

The markings formed the letters of an unknown alphabet Woolcott claimed, though they defied the efforts of others to understand them. Francis stated that the lessons he learned from the markings on the meteor empowered him with potent magic. Continue reading →

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October 5, 2015 · 7:36 pm

WHAT KIND OF SAVAGES DESTROY WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN THE 21st CENTURY?

Arch of TriumphOh, yeah … Muslim savages.

The Islamic State, spawned by Barack Obama’s premature withdrawal from Iraq, continues to destroy world heritage sites. Most recently the Arch of Triumph in Syria. 

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October 4, 2015 · 9:08 pm

THE BLACK RIVER NUNS

Halloween Month continues as Balladeer’s Blog presents another neglected American horror legend.

THE BLACK RIVER NUNS

Black River NunsAlong New York’s Black River there stood an imposing mansion in between Carthage and Watertown. The home had stood unoccupied for decades until, during the summer that the War of 1812 broke out, four mysterious women arrived to take possession of the home. These ladies dressed all in black, kept their faces concealed behind veils and claimed to be Nuns but by all accounts seldom said they were  from the same order of Sisters twice.

Still, the women caused no difficulties and stayed completely isolated inside their new location. A large contingent of carpenters, painters and upholsterers restored the mansion to its former glory but the village gossips took note of the fact that all the workmen were from far away and could offer no new information on their reclusive employers. They also clucked over the high stone walls that were added, further cutting off the Black River Nuns from prying eyes.   Continue reading →

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October 4, 2015 · 4:23 am

COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM OCTOBER 3rd

* HEADLINES *

HELMETCampbellsville_KYNUMBER THREE TAKES A FALL – The NAIA’s CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS took it on the road against the number 3 team in the nation – the FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Furies). This was a true game for the ages but in the end the Tigers prevailed by a final score of 59-50.

mcmurry warhawks helmetMCMURRY STUNS DIVISION TWO – The NCCAA’s MCMURRY UNIVERSITY WAR HAWKS traveled to face the NCAA Division TWO team the LINCOLN (MO) UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS. In what was a truly unexpected result the War Hawks didn’t just win – they absolutely hammered the Blue Tigers. When all the dust had settled in this resounding upset the final tally was McMurry University 34  Lincoln University 14.   Continue reading →

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