Tag Archives: blogging

TEEN TITANS: THE 1976 REVIVAL

This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog looks at the 1976 return of DC ‘s Teen Titans team after a few year hiatus.

TEEN TITANS Vol 1 #44 (Nov 1976)

Title: The Man Who Toppled the Titans

Villain: Dr. Light

Synopsis: Dr. Light captures four of the former members of the Teen Titans – Robin, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash and Speedy (should be called Red Arrow to avoid confusion about his m.o.). He wants to use them as bait in a trap to kill the Justice League. 

Malcolm Duncan, the black friend of the Teen Titans, decides that he will need superpowers to save the former teammates. He dons the exo-skeleton and shield of the Golden Age superhero the Guardian.

As the new Guardian he frees Robin, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash and Speedy. The five of them defeat Dr. Light and decide to stay together to revive the Teen Titans team. Continue reading

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AMERICAN PRESIDENTS: PROS AND CONS

In honor of Presidents Day Weekend here’s my updated look at presidential pros and cons. The original was posted in 2012. It’s light-hearted and irreverent so presidents from all parties get insulted. 

1. GEORGE WASHINGTON

Motto: “Screw taking a salary as a general, just bill ’em outrageously for your expenses!”

Nickname: The First Lady of Broadway 

Pro: Established the precedent of stepping down after 2 terms max.

Con: Owned other human beings.

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2. JOHN ADAMS 

Motto:  “A day without alienating someone is like a day without sunshine.”

Nickname: Boom-Boom 

Pro: Was almost fanatically honest and never owned other human beings. 

Con: Alienated nearly everyone except his wife Abigail.

* Continue reading

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DOES LOVE DIE WITH YOU? BY MIA WINHERTT

DOES LOVE DIE WITH YOU? (2025) – This is the first novel from fellow blogger Mia Winhertt, known previously for her excellent short works. The story is a romantic fantasy so it’s outside my usual type of reading material, but I found it a wonderfully written tale that can’t help but inspire emotional reactions from anyone who has ever been in love but was reluctant to open up about it.

Mia gives us Aaron Philip, who has been in love with Diya Awasthi for seven years but has concealed from her the depth of his emotions. On the day he at long last works up the resolve to confess his love for her he dies in an accident on his way to meet with Diya. Continue reading

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U.S. PRESIDENTS IN THE MILITARY (Pierce-Lincoln)

With Presidents Day coming up fast here’s another seasonal post.

FRANKLIN PIERCE

From 1831-1847 Pierce served in the peacetime New Hampshire Militia, rising to the rank of colonel.

Conflict – Mexican War: Service – Because of his experience with military norms and exercises Franklin Pierce was named a General of Volunteers. In 1847 he led his men to Vera Cruz, which had been taken in an amphibious operation in March by General Winfield Scott. He then led his 2,500-strong troop in transporting additional supplies for Scott despite guerilla attacks and fighting in his ongoing campaign to take Mexico City.

General Pierce saw further action in battles at Contreras, Churubusco, Molina del Ray, Chapultepec and Mexico City itself. Pierce had an unfortunate tendency toward undignified injuries, and an early bashing of his testicles caused complications which surfaced again and again throughout the war. Continue reading

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EL MARIACHI: THE SERIES (2014)

With the ongoing tragic events in Mexico, here’s a melancholy repost from several years ago of my look at the short-lived television series version of the El Mariachi movies. 

el mariachi tv seriesEL MARIACHI (2014) – This Mexican television series directed by Salvador Cartas was loosely based on the 1992 Robert Rodriguez movie of the same name and its sequels, Desperado (1995) and Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003). It’s no secret that Rodriguez himself is not fond of this series. According to some sources Sony allegedly made a tentative notification of their plans to the writer/ director and then ran with it without further input from him.

Regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog know how much I love and praise the original El Mariachi movies. The title character, who starts out the trilogy as a struggling mariachi guitar player who winds up having to go all Die Hard on Mexican drug cartels, was played by Carlos Gallardo in 1992 and then Antonio Banderas in 1995 and 2003.

martha h bladeThe series of movies certainly seemed to partially inspire the later Sicario films, but I much prefer Rodriguez’s flicks. The El Mariachi television program is, unfortunately, inferior to both franchises. That’s a shame because lead actor Ivan Arana certainly looks the part and Martha Higareda as the hero’s love interest Celeste is just the right mix of sultriness and butt-kicking badness. For some reason photos of Higareda don’t come close to capturing her full allure but seen in motion she’s even more impressive.

Like in the Robert Rodriguez films, the up-and-coming mariachi player is mistaken for a Mexican criminal who is carrying a similar guitar case. From there he gets caught up in a battle with Mexico’s ever more powerful drug cartels.
Continue reading

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U.S. PRESIDENTS IN THE MILITARY (Polk-Taylor)

Another seasonal post from Balladeer’s Blog with Presidents Day approaching.

JAMES K. POLK

Conflict – Tennessee Unrest: Service – From 1821-1825 Polk served in the Maury County Cavalry unit of the Tennessee Militia. He retained his law practice and political activities throughout his service.

No official wars were fought during this period, so Polk and his comrades policed internal tribal violence among the Cherokee and the Creek. Periodic clashes between Native Americans and settlers had to be dealt with, too.

ZACHARY TAYLOR

Conflict – War of 1812: Service – In May 1808 Taylor enlisted in the U.S. Army as a lieutenant and by the June outbreak of the War of 1812 was a captain. Fort Harrison was under Taylor’s command and in September he led his men to victory defending the fort, the first American land victory of the war.

Promoted to major, Zachary took part in September campaigns into Illinois Territory and Indiana, fighting in November’s Battle of Wildcat Creek and other actions. Taylor spent 1813 at Fort Knox and in the spring of 1814 led troops in the Battle of Credit Island in Iowa. Continue reading

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ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: THE NEW HUMANS (1909)

UgandaTHE NEW HUMANS (1909) – Written by B Vallance. No other name has come to light for the author of this thought-provoking work. Explorer Montgomery Merrick is roaming around the wilds of 1909 Uganda when he falls down a mountainside and into a concealed valley.

Merrick’s injuries are such that he does not expect to survive but he wakes up on an operating table in fine condition. Looking down at him are amoeboid humans who don barrel-shaped exo-skeletons whenever they need to keep their forms stable, as in during the surgery they were performing on Merrick.  

One of the beings speaks English and introduces himself to the recovering patient as the Chief Adaptor, who takes credit for “repairing” our hero. Merrick gradually becomes aware that his ultimate fate is still being debated by his odd saviors. Continue reading

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U.S. PRESIDENTS IN THE MILITARY (Jackson-Harrison)

With Presidents Day approaching, here is another seasonal post.

ANDREW JACKSON

Conflict – Revolutionary War: Service – In June 1780 the 13-year-old Andrew Jackson and his older brother Robert enlisted in the South Carolina Militia and saw action in Southern Theater clashes like the Battle of Hanging Rock.

In April 1781 Andrew and Robert became Prisoners of War and Andrew was slashed across the face and hand by a British officer’s sword. The facial scar is sometimes omitted from painted portraits of the man but is visible in the primitive daguerreotype photograph of an elderly Jackson.   

Conflict – War of 1812: Service – War was declared by Congress on June 18th and by November 1st, General Jackson was placed in charge of Tennessee troops for southeastern campaigns against the British and their Native American allies. By February 1813, his troops saw action all the way to Natchez.

In March and April 1813 Jackson led his men back to Nashville and by then had been nicknamed Hickory and/or Old Hickory by his troops. October saw General Jackson assigned to lead his men against the Red Sticks Creek Tribe, who were allied with England and Spain against the U.S.

Jackson and his forces fought the Red Sticks Creek for months, including battles at Tallushatchee and Talladega. January 1814 brought the Battles of Emuckfaw and Enotachopo Creek. In March, Jackson and his combined force of American, Choctaw, Cherokee and Creek Indians won a major victory over the Red Sticks Creek at Horseshoe Bend. Continue reading

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FORGOTTEN TELEVISION: THE D.A. (1971-1972)

THE D.A. (1971-1972) – For any readers who are not familiar with the topic, D.A. stands for District Attorney. This short-lived series starred Robert Conrad as Deputy D.A. Paul Ryan in Los Angeles. Harry Morgan portrayed H.M. Stafford, Ryan’s investigator. 

A pair of 2-hour made-for-tv movies served as pilots for the potential D.A. series beginning in 1969. The subsequent series was only a half-hour long with the first segment detailing the criminal investigation and the second segment presenting the trial.

MURDER ONE (December 8th, 1969) – Deputy District Attorney Paul Ryan (Robert Conrad) works at convicting a beautiful nurse who is using her medical skills to conceal her murders of her rich husbands and other relatives. It’s an uphill battle since his superiors think the woman is innocent. Also starring Diane Baker, Howard Duff, J.D. Cannon, Dana Elcar, Fredricka Meyers and Scott Brady. (2 hours)  

CONSPIRACY TO KILL (January 8th, 1971) – Ryan convicts a pharmacist of manslaughter for the suspicious shooting of an alleged burglar. He vacates the conviction and tries a murder charge when evidence indicates that the pharmacist is part of a drug ring that the “burglar” was also part of. Also starring THE William Conrad, Belinda Montgomery, Don Stroud, Leslie Parrish and Virginia Gregg. (2 hours)  

THE EPISODES: Continue reading

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FLASHBACK: OBAMA – THE MOST UNFIT PRESIDENT EVER

FROM AUGUST SEVENTH, 2016 came this piece from the Boston Herald reminding the world about Barack Obama’s many failures. 

Obama making a face

The UNFIT Obama at his most presidential

“Balladeer’s Blog has been one of the many sites around the world puncturing the silly myth that Barack Obama is competent. I’ll point out again that I’m sure future African-American presidents really WILL be capable people, but it’s ridiculous to pretend that Little Barry has been anything but a disaster. (Psst! I’m neither a Republican NOR a Democrat, so stop typing your accusation.)

To add some variety to my usual trashing of the weak, inept and crooked little man who thinks he can afford to call anyone ELSE “unfit” for the presidency, here’s a link to a terrific bit from the Boston Herald. Carr nicely lists some of the COUNTLESS incidents we’ve had where Obama was revealed as the idiot that he is. It just never got the apocalyptic coverage that other candidates get subjected to. First an excerpt: 

“Unfit for office?

“Let’s talk about that…

Obama at wheel

The most UNFIT president in American history.

“Brave talk from a guy who thinks there are 57 states, that they speak Austrian in Austria, that they speak Arabic in Afghanistan, who pronounced the state he lived in for three years as “Mass-a-tu-setts,” who pronounced corpsman as “corpseman.” Who thinks the Transcontinental Railroad was “intercontinental.”

“He described Eric Holder’s wife, a physician, as a “nationally renowned ohbee-gynee.” He misspelled “Syracus” on his NCAA brackets sheet. He is utterly tongue-tied without a teleprompter. He makes “recess” appointments when the Senate is not in recess.”

Obama I dont always“If he had a son, he would look like Trayvon Martin. His grandmother was a typical white person. The Cambridge Police Department acted stupidly.”

“It never ends with this buffoon. Yesterday, in Singapore, he mangled the name of the country’s founding father. He can’t be bothered acting like an adult.”  

*** To read the rest Continue reading

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