NAIA
FIRST SEMIFINAL – In this game the NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS clashed with the visiting GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS. The Red Raiders parlayed their 7-0 1st Quarter lead into a 14-3 advantage by Halftime. Northwestern College continued to dominate after the break, ultimately winning by a final score of 35-10. Continue reading
Filed under college football
This weekend’s escapist and light-hearted superhero post here at Balladeer’s Blog is my third post about Power Man and my second about Iron Fist. It’s a look at the stories leading to the partnership of the two superheroes in the 1970s.
POWER MAN Vol 1 #48 (December 1977)
Title: Fist of Iron – Heart of Stone
Villains: Bushmaster, Shades and Comanche
Synopsis: Power Man’s old supervillain foes Shades and Comanche return, this time working for a supervillain called Bushmaster, real name John McIver, formerly a Caribbean crime lord. Bushmaster is secretly headquartered in Georgia’s abandoned Seagate Prison, where Power Man first gained his powers when he was a volunteer in unethical government scientific experiments years earlier.
Shades (at right) and Comanche, escaped cons who served time at Seagate Prison with Luke Cage back when he went by his real name Carl Lucas, were sent by Bushmaster to abduct Power Man’s girlfriend Dr. Claire Temple and her colleague Dr. Noah Burstein. They have done so and, per Bushmaster’s orders, they give Luke Cage/ Carl Lucas their boss’s ultimatum.
They make it clear to Power Man that to gain the release of those two doctors he has been close to for years, he must capture and deliver to Bushmaster one of his foes, private investigator Misty Knight. The villain doesn’t just send Shades and Comanche (at left) to abduct her because Misty’s associates, her investigative partner Colleen Wing and the superhero Iron Fist, stand beside her. Continue reading
Filed under Superheroes
A FLINTSTONES CHRISTMAS CAROL (1994) – Balladeer’s Blog’s 14th Annual Christmas Carol-A-Thon continues with a review of this 69-minute version featuring the story tailored to fit the characters from The Flintstones.
Bedrock is presenting their community theater version of A Christmas Carol (Don’t waste time contemplating how a B.C. production of that tale exists, just accept it along with the cars, tvs and other fun nonsense from the cartoon series). Fred Flintstone has won the role of Scrooge, and in his usual blustering way he has let the role go to his head.
Not only does Fred become unbearably snobbish toward the players with “lesser” roles but he grows impatient and short-tempered with everyone around him. In addition, Fred goes Method Actor on everybody, so thoroughly immersing himself in the role of Scrooge that he becomes a stingy figure in “real life” too. Continue reading
Filed under A CHRISTMAS CAROL
With Venezuela’s announcement that they want to annex Guyana we all got another reminder that centuries-old issues can turn hot again at any moment. The 19th Century situation when Venezuela and Great Britain nearly went to war over what was then called (and spelled) “British Guiana” was fodder for my “What if” speculations about another Harry Flashman adventure never completed before George MacDonald Fraser’s death.
IF HE WAS BRITISH, LEE HORSLEY WOULD HAVE MADE A PERFECT HARRY FLASHMAN.
Projected Title: FLASHMAN’S GUIANA
Time Period: 1876-1877
NOTE: The title Flashman’s Guiana is a play on “Booker’s Guiana,” as the colony of British Guiana (19th century spelling) was often sardonically referred to in the 1800s. That reference came about from the way the Booker business empire virtually ran the colony. From a 21st Century standpoint we might look on it in a sinister Weyland-Yutani way.
… Strictly for storytelling purposes, of course, if you’re a lawyer representing the Booker Group. Honest. Really. (Although after this latest merger I don’t know if anybody would still care.) Anyway, as you readers have requested, this time I’ll establish the action then go back to detail the setup.
The Action: Sir Harry Flashman and his wife Elspeth visit British Guiana right after their American Tour ended in August 1876. A combination of Her Majesty’s Government’s interests and Flashman’s own hunger for large amounts of filthy lucre to sustain his and Elspeth’s grand new lifestyle wind up launching the British blackguard into his latest adventure.
Sword and pistols in hand, Harry leaves Elspeth back in the capital city of Georgetown while he takes part in a covert search for gold in the jungle region disputed by Great Britain and Venezuela. Continue reading
Filed under Neglected History, opinion, Pulp Heroes
Here’s another installment of Balladeer’s Blog’s end of year retrospective, reflecting on February’s best.
THE KEEP (1983) – My review of this love-it-or-hate-it movie directed by Michael Mann. Part horror, part fantasy, The Keep could have been a classic but wasn’t. During World War Two, Nazis uncover a site which holds a demonic entity, and while it’s fun watching it prey on the S.S. troopers the entity goes on to prey on innocent people as well.
Scott Glenn played an immortal warrior who has been fighting such vile forces for hundreds of years and he arrives to do battle with the dark monstrosity. Also starring Jurgen Prochnow, Ian McKellan and Alberta Watson. CLICK HERE.
FACULTY LOUNGE FASCIST ROUNDUP – The February 6th, 2023 edition. Now they claim that expecting correct answers in math class is an example of “white cisheteropatriarchy.” I wish I was joking. CLICK HERE.
RAFAEL SABATINI NOVELS – Balladeer’s Blog’s review of several books by the writer of many, many swashbuckling, sword-swinging tales of pirates, rebels, knights and cavaliers. In addition to well-known Sabatini classics like Captain Blood, Scaramouche, The Sea Hawk and The Black Swan I also reviewed overlooked works like The Tavern Knight, Love at Arms and Venetian Masque. CLICK HERE.
COOL-NAMED SPORTS TEAMS – Cuyahoga College HERE, El Paso Community College HERE.
N.E.T. PLAYHOUSE 1970 – Episodes included a Ghanaian adaptaton of Hamlet, a filmed Volpone, a telefilm about Quebec Separatist terrorists in Canada, Australian spy antics during World War Two, and a dystopia ruled by youthful tyrants. With performers like Christopher Walken, George Carlin, Jack Palance, Sam Waterston, Jean Stapleton and Christopher Guest. CLICK HERE.
THUNDER WARRIOR: ALL THREE MOVIES – The trilogy of movies in which cult actor Mark Gregory starred as a combination of Rambo and Billy Jack, waging all-out war on corrupt law enforcement, corrupt businesses and corrupt politicians in unrealistic but kickass ways. CLICK HERE.
ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: THE KE WHONKUS PEOPLE (1890) – The discovery of a hidden civilization near the North Pole, a civilization with advanced technology in a region with unusual creatures. CLICK HERE.
RELIC OF FORT TEJON – Forgotten Television segment about gambler/ gunslinger Bret Maverick (James Garner) winning a camel left over from the ill-fated American Camel Corps in the 1800s. CLICK HERE. Continue reading
Filed under opinion
HOLLYWOOD (1980) – A week ago Balladeer’s Blog took a look at the classic documentaries Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow and Harold Lloyd: The Third Genius, by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill. This time around I’m examining their 1980 documentary series Hollywood: A Celebration of the American Silent Film.
This series was one of the duo’s earliest masterpieces at capturing the appeal and unique beauty of silent movies from the pre-sound era. Like all their subsequent documentaries about silent films, this one features irreplaceable interviews with many stars, directors and staff members who worked in the industry during the early 1900s.
James Mason’s authoritative voice sets the mood for this educational and moving tribute to a long-lost era. The episodes:
THE PIONEERS – A look at the era when movie production was predominantly in New York and New Jersey, until expenses and encroachments by organized crime forced the industry to migrate to Hollywood, CA, a place then known mostly for its lemon groves. Featuring footage from The Great Train Robbery (1903) on up through films from the mid-teens and the 1920s like Ben-Hur (1925), The Black Pirate (1926), The Fire Brigade (1927) and The Wind (1928).
IN THE BEGINNING – An examination of the movie boom’s virtual conquest of the world, with Hollywood becoming the hub of that multi-million dollar enterprise, partly due to the way World War One severely hindered the formerly dynamic European studios. Featuring interviews with industry legends like Lillian Gish (who had advised Annabeth Gish against going into acting), Henry King and Agnes de Mille, Cecil B’s wife.
SINGLE BEDS AND DOUBLE STANDARDS – Stories from the raucous, hard-partying years of Hollywood’s silent movie era. As covered previously here at Balladeer’s Blog, silent movies at first openly portrayed drug use, marital infidelity, drinking at speakeasies, etc. There was even a silent porn industry. When public scandals involving Fatty Arbuckle and others blackened Hollywood’s reputation, the Hays Code was introduced, blocking many adult themes from the big screen well into the 1960s. Continue reading
Filed under Forgotten Television, Neglected History, opinion
The latest current events roundup from Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog. As always, everyone is welcome here no matter who they vote for.
BIDEN CRIME FAMILY: EVEN MORE EVIDENCE SHOWING HUNTER BIDEN FUNNELED MONEY TO CAREER CRIMINAL JOE BIDEN FROM THE MONEY HE RECEIVED FROM CHINA. More HERE. And HERE. Buying Joe Biden was the best investment China’s government ever made. More HERE.
DEMOCRAT SENATOR DICK DURBIN BLOCKS FELLOW SENATOR’S ATTEMPT TO SUBPOENA THE EPSTEIN FLIGHT LOGS. Does Durbin, like so many other American politicians, fear some sort of exposure?
CONGRESS TO TAKE THE ONGOING BIDEN IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
INDIGENOUS ALASKANS BLASTING THE BIDEN REGIME OVER ITS POLICIES IN THEIR STATE. Multiple tribal leaders speaking out. Yet Biden’s predecessor was often praised by Native American leaders for his policies.
ENTIRE PARTY ORGANIZATION IN OHIO ENDORSES DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT. An excerpt from their endorsement: “President Trump has proven time and again that despite the unhinged and relentless attacks from the radical left, he will never give up on fighting for Ohio’s workers, business, and families.”
COURAGEOUS JOURNALIST MATT TAIBBI STILL STANDING STRONG AGAINST CORPORATE MEDIA PROPAGANDISTS MASQUERADING AS SAME. A terrific piece which also features Taibbi discrediting corporate media hacks on social media. NEW VIDEO ON TAIBBI’S REVELATIONS DURING CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY HERE.
ANOTHER DEMOCRAT TEACHER SENTENCED TO PRISON ON MOLESTATION CHARGES. Democrat “teachers” have replaced Catholic priests in the public consciousness when it comes to molesting and grooming.
REPUBLICAN RONNA MCDANIEL’S MANY FAILURES CALLED OUT AGAIN.
DEMOCRAT RAYMOND LOPEZ COURAGEOUSLY BLASTS HIS OWN PARTY FOR POLICIES HARMING THEIR OWN BASE. An excerpt: “the Democratic Party vocalizes all kinds of things and then does not deliver. It actually does quite the opposite and continues to harm its own voting base while still saying that they are caring about their issues …”. Continue reading
Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion
Balladeer’s Blog’s 2023 Christmas Carol-A-Thon continues! This particular blog post will examine episodes of television shows where the Carol was adapted to incorporate the program’s regular cast of characters.
WKRP IN CINCINNATI
Episode Title: Bah, Humbug
Original Broadcast Date: December 20th, 1980
Comment: Mr. Carlson (Gordon Jump), the station owner, is the Scrooge stand-in in this fairly good sitcom version of the Carol.
Eating some of DJ Johnny Fever’s drug-laced brownies, a stressed-out and grumpy Carlson dreams about visits from the Ghost of Christmas Past – sexy Jennifer (Loni Anderson), Present – black DJ Venus Flytrap (Tim Reid) and Yet to Come – Dr. Johnny Fever (Howard Hesseman)
Obviously, as with all such television episodes adapting A Christmas Carol, major liberties are taken, but that’s part of the fun. Johnny Fever’s Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come closes out his time with Carlson/ Scrooge by telling him “They say you can change your fate just by missing a bus” to encourage him in his efforts to reform. Continue reading
Filed under A CHRISTMAS CAROL
FOR PART ONE (2016) OF THIS RETROSPECTIVE FROM INDEPENDENT VOTER SITE BALLADEER’S BLOG CLICK HERE.
PETER SCHWEIZER’S RECENT (back then) BOOK “PROFILES IN CORRUPTION” WHICH EXPOSED EVEN MORE OF THE ROT AT THE CORE OF POWERFUL DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. Read the item HERE.
TWENTY GREAT NEWS ITEMS FOR THE WORKING CLASS AND THE POOR IN AMERICA AS 2020 BEGINS. A look at what was then the latest news regarding de facto Third Party President Donald Trump’s policies helping the working class and the poor. Click HERE.
FOOL KILLER – The political and social commentary publication. JANUARY 1910 covered a corrupt Federal Appeals Court Judge, Thomas Edison foolishly buying into psychic phenomena, the raging arguments about reaching the North Pole and more HERE.
JULY 1921 covered reports that America was still experimenting with poison gas and chemical warfare despite treaty agreements to the contrary, took shots at an early form of “road rage” and at President Warren G. Harding, Henry Ford and others HERE.
TWENTY MORE HILARIOUSLY FAILED PREDICTIONS BY PSYCHICS – Some needed comic relief HERE.
FACULTY LOUNGE FASCIST ROUNDUP – America’s joke of an educational system HERE.
UNDER TRUMP, BLUE-COLLAR WAGES ARE GROWING EVEN FASTER THAN WHITE-COLLAR WAGES – He was the greatest president for the working class and the poor during my lifetime. HERE.
PROS AND CONS OF TWENTY LOSING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES– A light-hearted look in the style of my Pros and Cons of Presidents HERE.
CBS NEWS POINTS OUT TRUMP’S MANY POLICIES WHICH HELPED THE BLACK COMMUNITY – Unprecedented funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Opportunity Zones for black communities, and much more. Click HERE . Continue reading
Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion
NAIA
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES were on the road at the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be Zebras). Grand View U. was on top 3-0 in the 1st Quarter and 9-0 come Halftime. The Coyotes cut their deficit to 17-14 in the 3rd Quarter on their way to a 31-17 comeback victory.
SECOND QUARTERFINAL – Up next the GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS hosted the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. Neither team scored in the opening Quarter but the Tigers took a 21-0 lead with them into the Half. The Wildcats outscored GC 21-10 after the break, but the Tigers won 31-21. Continue reading
Filed under college football
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