Monthly Archives: March 2020

BIBLE COLLEGE FINAL FOUR PLUS THE NJCAA TOURNAMENT ELITE EIGHT

BIBLE COLLEGE NIT

blc-header-smallerFIRST SEMIFINAL – The 2 seeds – the BLUE LIGHTS COLLEGE OF APEX THOROUGHBREDS – took the court against the 3rd seeded APPALACHIAN BIBLE COLLEGE WARRIORS. The Thoroughbreds proceeded to fold, spindle and mutilate the Warriors. Appalachian Bible College never knew what hit them as Blue Lights College obliterated them by a Century Club-level score of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY to SIXTY-THREE!

Trinity Baptist College Eagles BIGSECOND SEMIFINAL – This game pitted the top seeded TRINITY BAPTIST COLLEGE EAGLES against the 4 seeds – the DAYSPRING BIBLE COLLEGE & SEMINARY EAGLES (Have I mentioned there are WAY too many college sports teams called Eagles?). This was another blowout, as Trinity Baptist College made Dayspring their prison brides, hammering them by a Century Club-level tally of ONE HUNDRED ONE to FORTY-THREE!

NJCAA DIVISION THREE

eastfield-harvesters1QUARTERFINAL ONE – The 3 seeds – the EASTFIELD COLLEGE HARVESTERS – played the 11th seeded SAINT CLOUD TECHNICAL COLLEGE CYCLONES. The Harvesters were in charge all the way, parlaying a 47-35 Halftime lead over the Cyclones into a 96-63 triumph when all was said and done. Dajuan Ridgeway led Eastfield College with 22 points.  Continue reading

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TWENTY JAMES GARNER MOVIES

James Garner 2Balladeer’s Blog’s theme of Top 20 lists for the year 2020 continues with this look at a score of James Garner films. NOTE: The Great Escape is not included, only because Garner was part of an ensemble cast in that movie. 

Best remembered for his portrayal of slick-talking gambler/ gunslinger Brett Maverick and Westlake-esque private detective Jim Rockford, Garner inspired the term “marshmallow macho”. That description perfectly captured Garner’s special appeal.

James GarnerFor many American males James Garner and the characters he brought to life represented a happy medium between psychotically macho men and unbearably femmey men. I hate the term “role model” but for lack of a better choice that’s what we’ll go with.

In addition Garner served in the Korean War and won two Purple Hearts.

MaverickMAVERICK (1994) – Though James Garner was technically playing a supporting role to Mel Gibson in this film, Gibson was portraying Bret Maverick, the character Garner had turned into a sensation in the 1950s. Since this movie would not exist without the cultural cache built up by James’ portrayal of both Bret AND “Pappy” Beauregard Maverick (in old age makeup) this definitely counts as a Garner film.

NECESSARY SPOILER: The lawman character that Garner portrays in the film turns out to really be Pappy Maverick, with Mel Gibson’s Bret simply playing along with his father’s impersonation. FOR MY FULL-LENGTH REVIEW OF THIS FILM CLICK HERE   

Barbarians at the GateBARBARIANS AT THE GATE (1993) – In this telefilm based on the best-selling non-fiction book, Jim plays F. Ross Johnson, the real-life president of RJR-Nabisco who unleashed one of the most chaotic and frenzied leveraged buyouts in Wall Street history during the “greed is good” 1980s.

The real Ross Johnson was close with Warren Beatty and other major players in the entertainment industry, which may be why he gets painted in a less villainous light in the movie. (Being played by the ever-charming Garner certainly helps.) In reality FEWER jobs were lost by the ultimately triumphant Henry Kravis’ LBO plan than would have been lost if Johnson came out on top.

Teddy Forstmann, the lone Wall Street figure of the 80s who was a voice in the wilderness condemning LBOs and the damage they did to the economy, gets depicted as a virtual loon. Very odd, since Forstmann’s real-life views on LBOs were closer to the sentiments of Larry Gelbart and the others behind this flick than Johnson’s or Kravis’ were.

Ultimately Barbarians at the Gate is a dark comedy classic, it’s true, but read the book if you want the real low-down on the eventful RJR-Nabisco buyout. Continue reading

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FOOL KILLER THIRTY-FIVE: MAY OF 1910

Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of the many facets of Fool Killer lore. FOR PART ONE, INCLUDING THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT, CLICK HERE

Fool Killer timelessPART THIRTY-FIVE: Taking a look at James Larkin Pearson’s version of the Fool Killer and the mythic figure’s targets in the May of 1910 Fool-Killer four-pager. (There was no April issue that year.)

*** Democrat Duncan Brown Cooper and his son Robin. Cooper, who had served in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War, shot Edward W Carmack to death on the streets of Nashville over editorials Carmack had written criticizing Cooper’s preferred politician – Democrat Governor Malcolm R Patterson.

               So even THEN Democrats apparently grew violent with people who disagreed with their political opinions. Robin was granted a second trial and released. Duncan Brown Cooper was found guilty of 2nd Degree Murder … Then pardoned by Democrat Governor Patterson. Some things never change!

*** People who opposed the movement to grant women the vote. 

Mascot sword and pistol*** Pope Pius X. Pearson and his Fool Killer – like the folks at the iconic humor magazine Puck – adored ex-President Theodore Roosevelt and sided with him in the public feud between TR and Pope Pius X over the lack of respect the Pope felt Roosevelt had paid him. Luckily for Pius X the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea kept him safe from the Fool Killer’s wrath. 

*** In a fanciful and poignant vignette featuring a ghost he targeted unappreciative family members who allowed the graves of their forebears to become overgrown and neglected. 

*** The political bosses of Albany, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for their notorious corruption.

*** Cotton millionaire Jim Patten for airily proclaiming that the loss of a million dollars over the past year of a down cotton market was no worse for him than the loss of a dime would be to working class people. Continue reading

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NJCAA TOURNAMENT AND BIBLE COLLEGE NIT RESULTS

BIBLE COLLEGE NIT

Dayspring Bible College EaglesPLAY-IN GAME – In this game the 4 seeds – the DAYSPRING BIBLE COLLEGE & SEMINARY EAGLES – squared off against the 5th seeded WORD OF LIFE COLLEGE HUSKIES for the right to advance to the tournament proper. The Eagles were on top of the Huskies 40-33 come Halftime then got more separation from their opponents from there to win it 82-67. 

NJCAA DIVISION THREE

Herkimer Generals logo BIGDAY ONE: GAME ONE – The 8th seeded HERKIMER COLLEGE GENERALS took on the 9 seeds – the COLUMBUS (OH) STATE COUGARS. The Generals were chasing the Cougars 31-26 at the Half but regrouped in the locker room for a 61-58 comeback victory. Ty Desinor led Herkimer College with a Double-Double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Richland College Thunder ducksDAY ONE: GAME TWO – Next the 5 seeds – the RICHLAND COLLEGE THUNDERDUCKS – did battle with the 12th seeded COLLEGE OF RHODE ISLAND KNIGHTS. The dominant Thunderducks parlayed a 46-38 advantage over the Knights by the break into a 91-75 smackdown win. Donovan Souter tossed in 23 points to lead Richland College. Continue reading

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KID GLOVES (1951): FORGOTTEN TELEVISION

Kid GlovesKID GLOVES (1951) – This joyously tasteless program from the early years of television featured children AGE THREE TO TWELVE beating each other’s brains out in boxing matches. No, I’m not joking.

In a slight concession (NOT “concussion”) to the tender ages of the combatants the matches were limited to just three rounds of 30 seconds each. Still plenty of time for head and facial injuries plus the loss of teeth. Continue reading

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ADRIFT IN THE UNKNOWN (1904): ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION

Adrift in the UnknownADRIFT IN THE UNKNOWN (1904) – Written by William Wallace Cook (like our previous story), this tale was originally serialized in Argosy magazine from December of 1904 to April of 1905. Our previous Cook story dealt with time travel, while this one deals with space exploration.

Burglar Peter Munn stumbles onto a meeting between scientist Professor Quinn and the four Robber Barons he has invited to his home. Those guests are Meigs the Wall Street Baron, Gilhooley the Railroad Baron, Popham the Coal Baron and Markham, who has cornered the market in food supply profiteering.

The uninvited Munn winds up taken along for the ride when the civic-minded Quinn reveals that his home is really a spaceship coated with antigravity paint and flies off with the reluctant tycoons in tow. Eventually the space travelers land on the planet Mercury.  Continue reading

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BRANDON STRAKA AND #WALKAWAY STILL ROLLING

Brandon StrakaOpenly gay Brandon Straka, founder of the #WALKAWAY movement, continues to speak for so many of us former Democrats who were driven away from that increasingly unhinged political party to become Independent voters.

The biggest regret of my life is that I ever belonged to that group of demagogues, pompous snobs, pretentious asses, white-collar criminals and hatemongers called Democrats. 

democrat republican awakeThe Democrats continue to repulsively politicize the Wuhan Coronavirus situation – which they say is SO serious that everything needs shut down except the borders, of course. Uh. Yeah.

To Democrats unchecked, unexamined droves of people pouring across borders without medical checks doesn’t spread disease, but you and your friends going to a restaurant or sporting event DOES. Continue reading

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Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

USCAA CHAMPS CROWNED PLUS MORE COLLEGE BASKETBALL ACTION

USCAA DIVISION TWO

NHTINATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – In this title game the 4 seeds – the NEW HAMPSHIRE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE LYNX – took on the Cinderella 10th seeded PENN STATE AT GREATER ALLEGHENY LIONS. The Lynx were chasing the Lions 39-35 at Halftime. After the break NHTI came from behind to win by a final tally of 74-70. Sean Riley and J’Quavious Thurmond led the Lynx with 19 points each. * THE LYNX ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF USCAA DIVISION TWO *

USCAA DIVISION ONE

Saint Thomas Texas CeltsDAY ONE: GAME ONE – The 2nd seeded UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS (TX) CELTS played the 7 seeds – the NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS. The Celts were on top 35-27 at the Half then kept the Builders at arm’s length from there for a 74-65 triumph. Freddie Ricks III tossed in 17 points to lead the way for the University of Saint Thomas. Continue reading

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CYBERFROG: REKT PLANET IS NOW AVAILABLE!

Rekt PlanetWhat the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were to the 20th Century, CyberFrog has been to the 21st Century! Rekt Planet, the next installment of Ethan Van Sciver’s CyberFrog saga is now available.

Comic book legend Ethan Van Sciver continues blazing new trails in Independent comics. As the Van Sciverization of the world scorches along unabated Ethan has proven once again to be Mozart, with only a few jealous Salieres denying his genius.

Be there to help take back the planet as CyberFrog, his gal-pal Heather Swain and their ally Salamandroid continue battling giant alien wasps and other menaces on a post-apocalyptic Earth. Continue reading

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JOE BIDEN VIRTUAL TOWNHALL IS A DISASTER

Joe Biden befuddled“Send in the clown? He’s already here.” That should be the new campaign slogan for the endlessly entertaining buffoon Joe Biden, the man that the corrupt Democrats have selected to rob Bernie Sanders of their presidential nomination this time around.

Biden held a “Virtual Townhall” on Facebook yesterday and it was a disaster, with technical glitches galore, plus Joe’s usual twiddle-pated rambling and mumbling. The debacle lasted a whole FOUR MINUTES before it had to be shut down after Senile Joe blithered some more classically stupid lines like “I can’t do that for another two year (sic), actually another year between now and November.”

mascot new look donkey and elephant headsNo wonder Bernie Sanders has vowed for now to stay in it! Biden even wandered off-camera while babbling, forcing his handlers to hurriedly place a Biden logo on screen hoping to cover for it. Hilarious!

Bernie Sanders supporters sent me several comments pointing out how Biden should not be the candidate since he can’t beat President Trump and for proof they provided videos of the stock market rising higher and higher while Trump laid out his FDR-style plans for dealing with the Wuhan Coronavirus.

Thank you to the BERNIE BROS who clued me into this Australian News item which hilariously compiles some of Biden’s gaffes accompanied by insightful critiques about how the Democrats’ media outlets try to ignore Joe’s failures. It’s just 4 minutes and 20 seconds:

Continue reading

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