Tag Archives: Balladeer’s Blog

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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Filed under Superheroes

THE MASKED MAN: STORY FIVE – THE BIRTH

For this superhero-crazed world Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of B.C. Boyer’s neglected 1980s superhero the Masked Man. For Part One click HERE 

Eclipse Monthly 3ECLIPSE MONTHLY Vol 1 #3 (October 1983)

Title: The Birth

Villain: The Gypsy King

Synopsis: We open on the Masked Man leaving police headquarters after just having defeated and brought in the Jackson Gang. He is being swamped by reporters asking how he subdued the entire gang, the source of his abilities, the dangers of his vigilante career, etc.

Masked Man faceAt last our hero manages to get away from the mob and heads home to the apartment of his alter ego, private detective Dick Carstairs. With him as he arrives home is his newspaper reporter friend Barney McAlister, who publicizes the Masked Man’s deeds while keeping his secret identity confidential.

Dick wants to catch some sleep, anticipating another drab day at the routine tasks of a P.I. the next day. Unfortunately, African American reporter Dan Drekston has dug up the Masked Man’s secret identity and tracked him to his apartment. Continue reading →

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ACCA CHAMPS CROWNED PLUS MORE COLLEGE BASKETBALL RESULTS

ACCA

ULA College of Divinity CubsNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title tilt pitted the 4 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF LOS ANGELES COLLEGE OF DIVINITY BEARS – against the 6th seeded OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE AMBASSADORS. A shootout of a 1st Half ended with the Bears on top of the Ambassadors 52-45 before they went on to win it by a final score of 97-89. Jerron Wilbut led ULACOD with THIRTY-ONE points. * THE BEARS ARE ACCA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS *

USCAA DIV TWO FINAL FOUR

NHTIFIRST SEMIFINAL – The 4th seeded NEW HAMPSHIRE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE LYNX took on the top seeds – the JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. The Lynx had the Wildcats on Upset Alert at Halftime with a 40-38 edge. From there New Hampshire Tech got more and more separation from their opponents for a 98-76 triumph. Sean Riley tossed in 22 points to lead the Lynx.   Continue reading →

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MANDY (2018): NICOLAS CAGE IN THE ROLE HE WAS BORN TO PLAY!

MandyMANDY (2018) – For anyone who was alive back then, 1983 was apparently different than you remember. Panos Cosmatos directed and co-wrote this blood-soaked, trippy combination of Hellraiser, Father’s Day, Werewolves on Wheels and Thou Shalt Not Kill … Except.

Balladeer’s Blog readers who remember how much I enjoyed Cosmatos’ previous film Beyond the Black Rainbow will not be surprised to find that I love this prime example of a “love it or hate it” movie. Despite the story’s 1983 setting, Mandy is not quite as slavish a faux-80s piece as Beyond the Black Rainbow. This psychedelic work mixes in plenty of stylistic touches that are beyond anything a 1980s flick would have served up.

masc graveyard newThe soundtrack by the late Johann Johannsson is so effective it practically deserves a co-director credit. Meanwhile, serving as something of a humanoid special effect is madman-in-residence Nicolas Cage, who stars as Red Miller.

Red is a lumberjack, and he’s okay (Had to be said). He lives in a cabin in the idyllic forests of the Shadow Mountains with his true love, Mandy. The title character is played by Andrea Riseborough, who gives off a kind of creepy Sissy Spaceck/ Shelley Duvall vibe. Continue reading →

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Filed under Bad and weird movies, Halloween Season

THE NEW PEOPLE (1969): FORGOTTEN TELEVISION

TThe New People was part of a brief and very odd experiment with television programs that ran just 45 minutes INCLUDING commercials.

These shows were always paired with a sister program that also ran 45 minutes total, thus the two back- to- back programs filled a total 90 minute block. In the case of The New People that sister show was The Music Scene. 

The New People was sort of like “Lord of the Flies Meets the 60s Counterculture”. Continue reading →

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END OF THE WORLD MYTHS: “THE EGG OF DOOM”

Balladeer’s Blog often looks at the End of the World panics that erupt from time to time. Since we’ve been in the middle of another of those hysterical periods for the past year or so here’s another.

Mascot new lookTHE EGG OF DOOM – Near Leeds, England, in 1806 a hen laid an egg clearly inscribed with the words “Christ is coming”. With no internet and no supermarket tabloids it took longer than we today are used to for the “gullible chump” grapevine to spread the word about this amazing event.

Once word got around hundreds flocked to marvel at this rather silly sign of the End Times. Priests used the farm as a nice recruiting post and converted plenty of Apocalypse-fearing fools, often leading them in huge, impromptu prayer meetings. Continue reading →

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USCAA AND ACCA NATIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS

The college basketball postseason rolls along:

USCAA DIVISION TWO

Vermont Tech Green KnightsDAY ONE: GAME ONE – The 6 seeds – the VERMONT TECH GREEN KNIGHTS – took the court against the 3rd seeded UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI AT CLERMONT COUGARS. This shootout found the Green Knights on top of the favored Cougars 50-39 by Halftime. From there Vermont Tech held off their opponents for a Century Club-level 108-100 Upset win. Drake Perry’s THIRTY points led the Green Knights.  

NHTIDAY ONE: GAME TWO – In this game the 4th seeded NEW HAMPSHIRE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE LYNX faced the 5 seeds – the PENN STATE AT MONT ALTO LIONS. In businesslike fashion the Lynx led 32-27 at the Half on their way to a 76-70 victory over the Lions. Shaquille Barrett led the way for New Hampshire Tech with 18 points.  

Southern Maine College SeaWolvesDAY ONE: GAME THREE – The 8 seeds – the SOUTHERN MAINE COLLEGE SEAWOLVES – tangled with the 9th seeded PENN STATE AT WILKES-BARRE LIONS. This Instant Classic saw the Seawolves holding a mere 37-36 edge at the break before eking out a tiny bit more separation from there to win out 70-68. Twenty-five points from Anthony Lobor led Southern Maine College. Continue reading →

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A ROUND TRIP TO THE YEAR 2000 (1903): ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION

A Round Trip to the Year 2000A ROUND TRIP TO THE YEAR 2000 aka A FLIGHT THROUGH TIME (1903) – Written by THE William Wallace Cook, this story was originally serialized in Argosy magazine from July through November of 1903. 

A Round Trip to the Year 2000 has the same light-hearted, jocular approach that we associate with the Back to the Future movies. The fact that the time travel device is a reconfigured automobile adds another similarity.

In the year 1900, New York author Emerson Lumley has written a book about the possible uses of the subconscious mind. A criminal took advantage of Lumley’s methods in the book to hypnotize the author into robbing a bank and Emerson is now on the run from the law, with his most dogged pursuer being police detective Jasper Klinch.

Lumley is contemplating suicide when he receives help from the midget scientist named Dr Alonso Kelpie. The good doctor takes Emerson to the laboratory on his estate. He offers Lumley the chance to drive Kelpie’s newly-invented time-coupe into the future, specifically the year 2000. In return Alonso wants his chrononaut to bring back assorted information when the coast is clear.

1903 FordSince Lumley was already on the verge of ending his life anyway, he agrees to be the human guinea pig for Dr Kelpie’s time-car. Just as he’s driving off to the future, however, the relentless Detective Klinch shows up and leaps into the vehicle beside our hero.

The pair grapple as the car drives through the time-stream and Lumley knocks Klinch off the car and into the year 1950 while he continues the trip to the year 2000. Continue reading →

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ACCA COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT AND MORE POSTSEASON RESULTS

ACCA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT

Ozark Christian College Ambassadors new logoROUND ONE: GAME ONE – The 6 seeds – the OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE AMBASSADORS – faced the 3rd seeded RHEMA BIBLE COLLEGE EAGLES. The Ambassadors made it clear they were in it to win it with their 50-36 Halftime lead which wound up as a 93-87 Upset victory. Parker Sutton’s 21 points led Ozark Christian College while teammate Brett Campbell notched a Double-Double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Kansas Christian College FalconsROUND ONE: GAME TWO – The 7th seeded KANSAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE FALCONS took on the 10 seeds – the FREE LUTHERAN BIBLE COLLEGE CONQUERORS. The Falcons were manhandling the Conquerors 48-21 at the Half, then coasted from there to an 87-56 blowout win. Jouvens Hyacinthe and Stephone Jackson led Kansas Christian College with 14 points each. Continue reading →

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