Thanksgiving is this Thursday, which means that on Wednesday Night Balladeer’s Blog will be showing its yearly Thanksgiving Eve presentation of Oliver! Yes, I know there’s no connection between Thanksgiving and that musical based on the Dickens novel Oliver Twist.
The Christmas season is too packed with theme movies so I long ago chose Thanksgiving Eve for Oliver! Here’s the song Consider Yourself as Oliver Twist meets the Artful Dodger:
Filed under opinion
College football rivalry games are as much a part of the Thanksgiving season as turkey and pumpkin pie. Here is a look at some of this week’s holiday offerings in the way of in-state grudge matches or other traditional gridiron clashes for the season. To find odds for the upcoming NCAAF games click HERE
The OLE MISS REBELS and the MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS play their rivalry game – also called the Egg Bowl – Thanksgiving night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30pm Eastern Time.
The UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA CAVALIERS take on their arch-foes the VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES this coming Friday. The kickoff is set for 3:30pm Eastern Time.
The OREGON UNIVERSITY DUCKS will square off against the OREGON STATE BEAVERS in the annual clash known as the Civil War. Catch it on Friday at 4:00pm Eastern Time. Continue reading
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These are results in the non-playoff Bowl Games from Saturday. I covered the playoff scores yesterday.
NCAA DIVISION THREE
CENTENNIAL-MAC BOWL – The FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE DIPLOMATS from the Centennial Conference hosted the LYCOMING COLLEGE WARRIORS from the Middle Atlantic Conference. The Diplomats were chasing the Warriors 13-7 in the 1st Quarter and 20-14 at Halftime. Franklin & Marshall went on top 21-20 in the 3rd Quarter, a score that held up as the final tally, too.
WHITELAW BOWL – The UTICA COLLEGE PIONEERS took on the ITHACA COLLEGE BOMBERS in the 2018 Scotty Whitelaw Bowl. The Bombers were leading 28-21 at the break and 35-24 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th the Pioneers exploded for 20 points, winning the game by a count of 44-42.
BUSHNELL BOWL – This year’s Asa Bushnell Bowl pitted the ALFRED UNIVERSITY SAXONS against the SALISBURY UNIVERSITY SEA GULLS. A 7-0 Saxons edge in the opening Quarter became a 7-7 tie at the Half. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter, but Alfred University added 7 more points in the 4th for a 14-7 win. Continue reading
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FOR BALLADEER’S BLOG’S LOOK AT OVER TWENTY FIJIAN GODS CLICK HERE
The people of Fiji believed in an epic journey for the souls of the deceased. That journey is even more detailed than the Soul’s Journey envisioned by the Tupari of Brazil.
I. For four days the spirit of the deceased lingers in the vicinity of its host body’s death. Then it begins the long and perilous journey to Mbulu, the land of the dead.
II. Upon reaching the headlands at Naithobokoboko the spirit encounters the goddess LEWALEVU. This deity tries to prevent the soul from proceeding unless she is propitiated by offerings of leaves.
III. If the deceased successfully passes Lewalevu it next encounters the sandalwood tree at Vuniyasikinikini. The spirit is required to pinch the bark of the Yasi/ sandalwood tree with its fingernails.
If the nails are long and sharp enough to sink into the bark it proves the person did not do much fighting or hard work in life. If its nails are short and dull it proves the deceased worked and fought hard in life and may continue their journey.
IV. Next awaits the goddess NANG-GA NANG-GA, the Devourer of Bachelors. Nang-ga Nang-ga sits on a black rock by the edge of the sea. On one side of her stone perch lap the ocean’s waves and on the other side steep jagged cliffs jut up to the skies. Continue reading
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NAIA
DOUBLE OVERTIME – The BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS hosted the UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS in this 1st Round game. A 17-13 Halftime edge for the Ravens became a 20-17 Patriots lead to end the 3rd Quarter. Benedictine College tied things up at 34-34 to force Overtime. The 1st OT wound up as a 41-41 deadlock but in the 2nd OT the Ravens emerged with a 48-41 triumph.
TROUBLE RIGHT HERE IN ORANGE CITY – The DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS traveled to face Orange City, IA’s NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE RED RAIDERS. After a scoreless opening Quarter the Blue Hawks were on top of the Red Raiders 7-6 come Halftime. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter following which Dickinson State added 7 more points in the 4th for a 14-6 Upset.
UPSET IN INDIANAPOLIS – The SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS took it on the road against their familiar foes the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS in this game. A 14-14 1st Quarter tie was unchanged at the break. In the 3rd Quarter the Cougars grabbed a 24-21 lead then added 10 more points from there to win it 34-21. Continue reading
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GIZMO (1977) – An entertaining documentary about some of the oddest inventions you could possibly imagine. Some never made it anywhere close to actually working, while others worked but proved so hopelessly impractical that you’ll howl with laughter at the wasted effort.
You’ll see failed aircraft and land vehicles as well as in-home contraptions powered by moving animals like the joke appliances on The Flintstones.
Make sure you watch the longer 77 minute version of this Howard Smith work so that you get all the fun. Continue reading
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The NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS have been named the 2018 College Football Champions in the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association). This per Balladeer’s Blog via the Glitternight Index for college football.
The 2018 runners-up are Continue reading
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My fellow fans of J-Horror know that Japan practically invented weirdness. What none of us knew is how far back they go with that mastery of entertaining madness.
Their view of American history is mind-boggling. This 1861 work of “J-History” if you will, features little-known events like JOHN ADAMS FACING A GIANT SNAKE (left) and George Washington hitting a tiger. It also corrects the mistaken assumption that Washington’s wife was named Martha when her real name was apparently “Carol.” (?)
Balladeer’s Blog’s Presidential Action and Horror Films bit only WISHES it could be this mind-bending. Credit Nick Kapur with drawing attention to this item from the Waseda University Library.
My favorite part: the illustration of Benjamin Franklin casually HOLDING A CANNON IN HIS ARMS while firing it at a squadron of Red Coats! Now that’s badass. And begs for a movie – “The Rock IS Benjamin Franklin!” And he’d have to follow up blowing away the Brits with an action hero quip like “A penny saved is a penny earned, you bastards!”
To see every page of this acid trip AND Continue reading
Filed under humor, Neglected History, Samurai Films
Balladeer’s Blog’s look at post-season college football for 2018 continues with the upcoming Bowl Games in the NJCAA.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
The number 1 defending National Champions, the EAST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE LIONS, will do battle with the number 2 team in the nation, the GARDEN CITY COLLEGE 
BRONCBUSTERS.
Yes, the two most recent National Champs will be squaring off for the 2018 title! It happens on Thursday night, November 29th at 8pm Eastern Time.
SALT CITY BOWL
The 13th ranked HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS are going to take on the NAVARRO COLLEGE BULLDOGS. Two storied college football programs fighting it out. Continue reading
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A large number of first-time readers have discovered Balladeer’s Blog recently and some of them have expressed confusion since I trash both Republicans and Democrats. Here’s one of my biggest hits – a tongue-in-cheek look at U.S. Presidents from Eisenhower to Trump so newbies can see that, yes, Virginia, I DO take shots at both major political parties.
DWIGHT EISENHOWER
Character Type: Well-meaning but befuddled sitcom grandfather.
Military Service: World War One and World War Two
Motto: “FOOORE!” (Remember, the traditional cry as you’re teeing off in golf? Oh, never mind!)
Nickname: Uncle Milty
Pro: Knew enough to distrust Richard Nixon long before it became the national pasttime.
Con: Was the first president to pronounce nuclear as “nucular”.
JOHN F KENNEDY
Character Type: Rich playboy who disdained both Liberals and Conservatives and played by his own rules.
Military Service: World War Two
Motto: “Thank God for television!”
Nickname: FDR
Pro: The man was shrewd enough to distrust both liberals and conservatives equally. I can’t praise that attitude highly enough given our present circumstances. Continue reading
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