Tag Archives: Balladeer’s Blog

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 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 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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October 3, 2015 · 4:42 pm

THE GNOMES OF THE CATSKILLS

Halloween Month continues! Balladeer’s Blog presents another neglected American horror story. “Workin’ the Catskills” takes on all new meaning in this tale. 

THE GNOMES OF THE CATSKILLS 

Grand HotelThe now-closed Grand Hotel stood in the heart of the Catskills Mountains at Highmount, NY. On either Monka Hill behind the hotel or on Slide Mountain facing the hotel across Big Indian Valley (accounts vary) was the location of the mystic camp of the Catskills Gnomes.

Those gnomes were short humanoids with long beards and eyes like pigs. The intelligent creatures were already considered ancient by the time Europeans arrived in the area. Like the legendary town of Brigadoon the camp of the Catskills Gnomes appeared on Earth only periodically. Continue reading →

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October 3, 2015 · 2:04 pm

MWINDO: EPIC MYTH OF AFRICA PART FOUR

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

PART FOUR

Nyanga riverThe evil Chief Shemwindo believed Mwindo was now dead and he rewarded the men who entrapped the child in the drum and tossed him in the river to drown. He gave each one of them a new bride to show his appreciation.

Mwindo’s mother Nyamwindo was inconsolable at the thought that her baby had been slain. Shemwindo warned her to stop being upset or he would kill her, too. Immediately Nyamwindo went from being the favored wife to being the despised wife of the chief’s seven wives. Continue reading →

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October 2, 2015 · 7:05 pm

THE SKELETAL HORSEMEN

THE SKELETAL HORSEMEN

Skeletons on HorsebackHalloween Month continues! Call this story Gothic Horror if you like or call it American Gothic Horror. It’s been around a very long time in various forms. In the first decade of the 1800’s the area between Goshen, NY and Long Island was being subjected to a periodic reign of terror.

That reign of terror was unleashed once a year in the dead of winter. At the stroke of Midnight on January 22nd skeletal figures with the rags of Colonial- era clothing clinging to their frames would ride the countryside atop skeletal horses and would smash in windows with their swords, drive off horses and cattle or frighten the poor beasts to death and would strike down anyone foolish enough to try to oppose their actions.  

The ghastly raiding would come to a stop at sunrise but the moment the sun went down that night the mayhem would resume until the clock again struck twelve. The horsemen numbered six with the largest of the company riding out in front leading his unliving comrades into action. Continue reading →

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September 29, 2015 · 9:13 pm

COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS FROM BALLADEER’S BLOG

Coffeyville Red Ravens helmetNJCAA – 1. COFFEYVILLE COLLEGE RED RAVENS     ###      2. COPIAH- LINCOLN WOLFPACK     ###      3. BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES     ###      4. NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE RANGERS     ###      5. ROCHESTER TECH YELLOW JACKETS     ###       Continue reading →

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September 28, 2015 · 11:15 pm

THE DRAGON LIVES AGAIN (1977)

The Dragon Lives Again

THE DRAGON LIVES AGAIN (1977) – Category: Brucesploitation with an enjoyably absurd twist   

Even for the bizarre sub-genre of Brucesploitation films this movie is out there! The film starts with the recently – deceased Bruce Lee arriving in the afterlife, where the concubines of the King of the Dead gather around to gawk at the bulge in the pants of the late martials arts superstar. (Just in case you thought NO opening could be more tasteless than the one in The Clones Of Bruce Lee ) In a bit of alleged comic relief the bulge turns out to be caused by a weapon, not Lee’s organ. (Corpse schlong jokes! Who doesn’t love them?)

As head-shaking as that bit is at least it’s coherent, unlike virtually everything else that happens from this point on in the movie. And the time-honored tradition of Brucesploitation films having Continue reading →

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September 27, 2015 · 3:26 am

COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS: THE LATEST

* HEADLINES *

Benedictine RavensNUMBER THREE GOES DOWN – Yesterday the NAIA’s BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS welcomed the number 3 team in the nation – the BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. This game was one for the ages as the Ravens managed a hard-fought 35-31 upset of the Wildcats. Benedictine College was ranked 18th two weeks ago, then fell from the rankings last week and this win will put them right back in again. 

Emory and Henry WaspsWASPS STING DIVISION ONE – The NCAA Division Three team the EMORY & HENRY COLLEGE WASPS took it on the road to face NCAA Division ONE’s EAST TENNESSEE STATE BUCCANEERS. The Wasps trailed 14-7 in the 1st Quarter and 17-14 at Halftime but came back for a 20-17 lead to end the 3rd Quarter. The teams exchanged Touchdowns in the 4th for a shattering 27-24 toppling of the D1 Buccaneers. Emory & Henry QB Kevin Saxton threw for 244 yds and 1 Touchdown.  Continue reading →

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