CAPTAIN GARDINER OF THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE (1916) – Robert Allen Dodd wrote this story one hundred years ago under the name Robert Allen. Narration informs us that the story is set 60 years after the conclusion of the then-raging World War. Since we know it ended in 1918 we can look forward to visiting the “far-off future” of 1978.
A multi-national entity called the International Federation is one of the major world powers along with the Chinese-Japanese Alliance and the Muslim Confederation. The International Police have been the Federation’s military and intelligence service but after decades of peace there is emerging pressure to disband the I.P. Amid the ongoing political and bureaucratic wrangling over that prospect our hero Captain Gardiner and his colleague Major Wilkie undertake a dangerous mission. Continue reading
By guest writer Phil Oscarson 
I am always glad to interact with readers of Balladeer’s Blog! Many of you have been asking for a guide to my examination of the surreal horrors in The Songs of Maldoror. Readers asked for it to be the same format I used for the Navajo epic myth about the war god Nayanazgeni battling the dark gods called the Anaye. 
BY A GNAT’S EYELASH – The COLLEGE OF THE REDWOODS CORSAIRS took it on the road against the REEDLEY COLLEGE TIGERS. A game for the ages unfolded as the Corsairs trailed the Tigers 7-6 to end the 1st Quarter. That score was unchanged at Halftime but College of the Redwoods went on top 19-7 in the 3rd Quarter, then had to hold on against a furious Reedley College rally for a 26-22 win. 
ALL-NAME GAME – This game pitted the SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE OLYMPIANS against the visiting COMPTON COLLEGE TARTARS. The team names were the best part in this lopsided affair as the Olympians parlayed a 30-0 score at the break into a FIFTY-FOUR to NINE blowout victory. San Diego Mesa College QB Jeremiah Henderson threw for 3 TD’s on just 188 yds passing. 
A NARRATIVE OF THE TRAVELS AND ADVENTURES OF PAUL AERMONT AMONG THE PLANETS (1873) – I shortened the title when naming this blog post. Paul Aermont was the pseudonym of an unknown author, so full credit cannot be officially given. 
REIVERS BEAT DOWN BUTLER – In a meeting of two power-packed teams the IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS thoroughly dismantled the traditional bullies on the block of the Jayhawk Conference – the BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Reivers went up 14-0 by Halftime and never looked back. Iowa Western won by a final tally of FORTY-NINE to SEVEN! 
DAVENPORT CONQUERS THE WORLD – Every week in college football season NAIA teams topple teams from higher divisions. Yesterday the DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS absolutely hammered NCAA Division TWO’s KENTUCKY WESLEYAN COLLEGE PANTHERS. Davenport U sent KWC back home reeling from a 41-7 head-slam. (As always a win over a higher division counts as 2 wins in the NAIA/NCAA rivalry.) 
TUSKEGEE TOPPLES FAMU – Meanwhile NCAA Division Two’s TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY GOLDEN TIGERS hosted Division ONE’s FLORIDA A&M RATTLERS. The Golden Tigers and Rattlers played 4 bone-crushing Quarters of football and when all of the dust had settled Tuskegee University was the team left standing. The final tally in this game was Golden Tigers 20 FAMU 17. 
PRIVATEERS OVER THE MARINERS – The game of the night on Friday was the clash between the MARITIME COLLEGE PRIVATEERS and the visiting MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY MARINERS. The Privateers trailed the Mariners 7-0 after 1 Quarter of play but pulled to within 7-6 by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with the score knotted up at 13-13 with Maritime College pulling out a 20-16 victory in the 4th. QB Thomas Wright threw for 2 TD’s for the Privateers.
SHUTOUTS – The ROWAN UNIVERSITY PROFS did battle with their guests the WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY PIONEERS and converted a 7-0 edge at the break into a 31-0 masterpiece of defensive play. ### And the traveling FRAMINGHAM STATE RAMS took on the FITCHBURG STATE FALCONS, shutting them out in a much closer 14-0 affair. 
FAIRMONT STATE ON TOP – The FAIRMONT STATE FIGHTING FALCONS traveled to take on the WEST LIBERTY STATE HILLTOPPERS in what turned out to be the game of the night. The Fighting Falcons trailed the Hilltoppers 3-0 in the 1st Quarter, 17-7 at Halftime and 20-7 to end the 3rd. In the 4th Quarter Fairmont State surged from behind for a 21-20 triumph. The Fighting Falcons are now 3-0 for 2016. 
