Two thousand fishermen from Cape Cod had gone off to enlist in the Continental Army, and in their absence the British had repeatedly landed raiding parties to harass the citizens.
Every man, woman and child on the Cape hated the soldiers and sailors of King George and would do anything to work them harm. When the Somerset was wrecked off Truro in 1778 the crew were helped ashore, but they were immediately marched to prison.
It was November – the night before Thanksgiving Day in fact – and ugly weather caused a British three-decker warship to yaw wildly and drift toward land with a broken tiller. No warning signal was raised on the bluffs; not a hand was stirred to rescue. The New Englanders who saw the accident watched with sullen satisfaction.
Ezekiel and Josiah Breeze – father and son – stood at the door of their cottage and watched the warship’s peril until three lights twinkling faintly through the gray of driving snow were all that showed where the enemy lay, straining at her cables and tossing on a wrathful sea.
They stood long in silence, but at last the boy Josiah said “I’m going to help the ship.”
“If you stir from here to help King George’s men, you’re no son of mine,” said Ezekiel. Continue reading
More than eleven years after its posting online, this specially edited trailer for The Wicker Man remake as if it’s a comedy STILL hasn’t gotten nearly as much love as it deserves. So, for a holiday season break here is one of the few reworked trailers that is utterly hilarious because it doesn’t cheat by inserting footage from other movies. This baby is all pure video and audio from the Nicolas “What’s in the bag? … A shaaarrrk?” Cage remake. 
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. 
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 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
