BALLADEER’S BLOG COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEPTEMBER 29th

HEADLINES

CAMPBELLSVILLE OVER D2 – In this game the NAIA’s CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS welcomed NCAA Division Two’s ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY LAKERS. The Tigers kept the higher division team off the scoreboard until the 4th Quarter while putting up points themselves all the way. The final score in this Upset was Campbellsville University 24  Lakers 8.

BOBCATS CONQUER DIVISION ONE – Meanwhile, NCAA Division Two’s FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS took it on the road against the NCAA Division One MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY LAKERS. The Bobcats put Mercyhurst on Upset Alert by Halftime with their 17-12 lead. From there Frostburg State had to hold on by their fingertips for a 25-24 victory. Continue reading

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MAGGIE SMITH R.I.P.

maggie smith 1970sMaggie Smith (1934-2024) is no longer with us, unfortunately. To many fans, Smith embodied sophistication and withering wit. She and Sian Phillips were long among the elder stateswomen when it came to traditionally classy British actresses. 

Balladeer’s Blog hasn’t reviewed many of Maggie’s movies because of the oddball topics I cover, but here’s a brief look at Murder by Death, in which she co-starred. Continue reading

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IRON FIST AND SHANG-CHI – TOGETHER (1974-1976)

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog presents some of the 1970s crossover stories between Marvel’s Iron Fist and Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung Fu.

THE DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU SPECIAL Vol 1 #1 (June 1974)

Title: The Master Plan of Fu Manchu

Villain: Fu Manchu

NOTE: This was back when Marvel Comics had licensed the rights to do comic book stories about Sax Rohmer’s iconic villain Fu Manchu and his pursuer Sir Denis Nayland-Smith. Marvel combined their Fu Manchu stories with the 1970s Kung Fu craze by having Shang-Chi the Master of Kung Fu be the son of Fu Manchu. He turned against his evil father.

          Years later, when Marvel no longer had the rights to use the Fu Manchu character they retconned things so that Shang-Chi’s father was really Iron Man’s archenemy the Mandarin.

Synopsis: Storywise, this tale features three separate sections as Iron Fist, the Sons of the Tiger and Shang-Chi the Master of Kung Fu go up against Fu Manchu in three separate stages of his “master plan.” 

Iron Fist is the hero of the opening chapter. He is walking the late-night streets of New York City when a cry for help prompts him to investigate an alleyway he was passing. He discovers a dying Chinese representative from the U.N. He escaped when Fu Manchu had his men abduct him and five other such Chinese representatives. The man dies from the wounds he suffered in his escape after telling Danny to save the others. Continue reading

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BAD MOVIES: SCOTT BRADY TO THE RESCUE

Everyman Scott Brady

Everyman Scott Brady

You can have your Time Lord from Gallifrey or your reporter from INS. When it comes to REAL action against goofy monsters the one and only Scott Brady comes on like Jim Dandy to the rescue. The Pudgy One was always a welcome sight in B-movies from decades ago. Here are four of his most enjoyably bad outings.

Destination Inner SpaceDESTINATION INNER SPACE (1966) – In a true rarity Scott Brady got to be the less-than- hunky action lead in this film! THE Sheree North and The Green Hornet‘s Wende Wagner were along for the ride in this flick that plays like an episode from Jon Pertwee’s Doctor Who era recast with Americans.

Scott Brady portrays Commander Wayne, a courageous Naval Officer who might as well be working for UNIT as he saves the world from a potential invasion by a group of sub-aquatic extraterrestrials. The monsters are as ridiculous as the dialogue in this fair-to- middling bad movie gem. Continue reading

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SEPTEMBER 25th PLAYOFF RESULTS IN THE WNBA

The opening round came to a close last night.

THE SUN ADVANCE – The CONNECTICUT SUN played host to the INDIANA FEVER in this game.

By Halftime the Sun were out in front of Indiana by a score of 41-34. That turned into a 61-52 advantage to end the 3rd Quarter, and ultimately an 87-81 triumph for Connecticut. The Sun win the series 2 games to none and advance to the next round. Alyssa Thomas led the way for Connecticut with her Double Double of 19 points and 13 assists. Continue reading

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DEMOCRAT MEDIA OUTLET CNN FORCED TO APOLOGIZE FOR USING FAKE IMAGERY OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, PLUS MORE

From Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog:

PURE PROPAGANDA: CNN USES DIGITALLY ALTERED IMAGE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND LAURA LOOMER. More about the smear HERE. CNN apologizes for the “error” and issues a retraction. So, how many more such “errors” tying Trump to various figures will the Democrats at CNN use between now and election day?

           Plus, as ignorant, uninformed and emotionally unstable as anti-Trump loons are, they’d probably believe fake footage of Trump robbing a bank or shooting a puppy dog. 

POLL: DEMOCRAT PARTY TOPS THE LIST OF AMERICA’S BIGGEST ENEMIES AT PRESENT. SERIOUSLY. The question was “Who is the biggest enemy America currently faces, Iran, China, Russia, the Democrat party, the Republican party, or domestic extremists?” The respondents were likely voters from Georgia and Pennsylvania.

           Hey, it’s no secret, so I guess none of us should be surprised that people correctly view the Democrats that way. CALL THEM WHAT THEY ARE – DEMOCRATS.

KAMALA HARRIS’ SKYROCKETING FOOD PRICES CRUSHING THE WORKING CLASS AND THE POOR.

THE LATEST INFORMATION IN NANCY PELOSI’S AND HER HUSBAND’S INSIDER TRADING SCANDAL. Privileged white one percenter Democrats still in the news. Continue reading

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HEADMASTER (1970) FORGOTTEN TELEVISION

headmasterHEADMASTER (1970) – Andy Griffith had left the streets of Mayberry behind him to take on a new leading role in this short-lived comedy-drama. Griffith played Andy Thompson, Headmaster of the Concord School, a top-tier private academy in California.

jerry and andyThe star had expressed his pleasure at getting to play an urbane academic rather than a country bumpkin for once. Headmaster was shooting for the same appeal boasted by Room 222, another half-hour series that mixed high school comedy with drama.

Ready for the “with-it” and “relevant” – maybe even “groovy” – advertising blurb for Headmaster? Here it is – “At last! A series that’s really into today’s teen-age world. A co-ed prep school is where it’s at.”

Griffith’s supporting cast included Jerry Van Dyke as Coach Jerry Brownell and Claudette Nevins as Andy’s English teacher wife Margaret. LINDA RONSTADT sang the show’s theme song Only a Man. Continue reading

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WNBA PLAYOFF RESULTS FROM SEPTEMBER 24th

Last night’s pair of games saw two teams advance to Round Two.

ACES WILD – The LAS VEGAS ACES took the court against the visiting SEATTLE STORM.

The Aces grabbed a quick 30-20 advantage in the 1st Quarter but then saw Seattle nibble into that lead as the game went on. By Halftime Las Vegas was on top by just 45-38, and the 3rd Quarter ended with the Storm deficit cut to 62-57. In the 4th the Aces eked out a bit more separation to win the game 83-76 and the series 2 games to none. Kelsey Plum led Vegas with 29 points, while teammate A’ja Wilson logged a Double Double of 24 points and 13 rebounds.  Continue reading

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ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: THE FALLEN RACE (1892)

Fallen RaceTHE FALLEN RACE (1892) – Written by Austyn Granville. If you’ve ever thought to yourself “How come nobody ever combined science fiction, H. Rider Haggard-style Lost Race tales AND kangaroo-human hybrids” then THIS is the story for you.

This novel is presented as if it is the real-life journal of the adventures of Dr Paul Gifford in the Great Australian Desert from 1874-1888. An ill-fated expedition into Australia’s desert is nearly wiped out by dysentery, thirst and spoiled food. The only two survivors are the aforementioned Dr Gifford and Jacky-Jacky, which may sound like the name of a Hip-Hop Artist but is really the name of an Australian Aborigine member of the expedition.   Continue reading

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SEPTEMBER 24th ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS

Another current events roundup courtesy of Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog.

KAMALA HARRIS’ DOJ PUBLISHES LETTER OFFERING REWARD FOR ASSASSINATION OF TRUMP. Can Democrats be any more clear about their intentions? This reminds me of the saying “America’s political functionaries are garbage, so because they hate President Trump so much it must mean Trump is not part of their cesspool of corruption.”

          REPUBLICAN FOOL BILL BARR SAYS HE IS “DUMBFOUNDED” THAT THE DOJ WOULD RELEASE THIS RYAN ROUTH LETTER, INVITING MORE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS. None of the rest of us are, you pathetic excuse for an ex-AG. 

           AND BY THE WAY, THEY STILL HAVEN’T RELEASED ANY INFORMATION ON THE MOTIVES OF THE LAS VEGAS SHOOTER FROM YEARS AGO, BUT THEY JUST HAD TO RUSH OUT THIS ROUTH LETTER. And garbage like Kamala Harris is supported by scum like the DOJ and the IRS. (Why does an organization like the IRS have a union? Answer: Because they’re a crucial part of the Democrat power structure.)

SON OF RYAN ROUTH ARRESTED ON CHILD PORN CHARGES. I guess this makes him qualified to be a teacher in Democrat school districts. Democrats, can you please leave children alone?

AND YET ANOTHER TEACHER CAUGHT BY THE POLICE IN A STING ON PREDATORS PREYING ON MINORS. Democrats, can you please leave children alone?

AND YET ANOTHER OF KAMALA HARRIS’ ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED IN ANOTHER KILLING.

KAMALA STILL REFUSING TO GIVE SPECIFICS ABOUT HER PLAN FOR BLANKET AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS. Does she figure her political party will have Trump killed or arrested, so why should she bother?

ZELENSKY TO PRESENT HIS “VICTORY PLAN” TO BIDEN, HARRIS AND TRUMP. So get ready for the Democrats to LEAK the plan and claim Trump did it as a political ploy. Continue reading

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