COUNTERSTRIKE is a tragically forgotten British sci fi television series from 1969. Jon Finch (left) portrayed Simon King, an alien agent who worked for the Intergalactic Council. This council had sent him to Earth to protect it from a group of renegade aliens from a dying planet who wanted to conquer the Earth and make it their new home.
Not the most original of premises, but that inimitable British panache breathed life into the series, which Continue reading
Filed under Forgotten Television
I’m continuing my look at Frederick C Davis’ pulp hero the Moon Man. In reality police detective Stephen Thatcher, the Moon Man stalked the night-darkened streets of fictional Great City clad in his black costume and his helmet made of one-way Argus glass. Armed with an automatic pistol plus limitless courage and ingenuity the Moon Man captured or killed Great City’s most dangerous criminals – both white collar and blue collar – and robbed them of their ill-gotten booty. He would then distribute that money to the city’s Great Depression-ravaged poor. All this made him hunted by both the crooks AND the cops. For more on the Moon Man and other neglected pulp heroes click here: https://glitternight.com/pulp-heroes/
19. BADGE OF BLOOD – No, not Blood On The Badge, Badge of Blood. We are at the mid-way point of the Moon Man’s adventures, with 19 tales down and 19 to go! The opening teaser in this story finds our hero and his sidekick Angel burgling the mansion of tycoon Van Zant Latham. No that’s NOT a typo, and yes, the Moon Man succeeds, making off with jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars IN 1930’s MONEY! Unfortunately during their escape Continue reading
Filed under Pulp Heroes
Two children of privilege who represent everything worth despising about Liberals and Conservatives.
Welcome back to Balladeer’s Blog, the only site on the internet that is truly non-partisan in its criticism of the shrill children called Liberals and Conservatives. Because of my frequent references to the way Liberal fanatics and Conservative fanatics continue to tear the country apart I sometimes get emails from them asking me how I define the word “fanatic”. I’m always delighted when Liberals can tear themselves away from trite racebaiting and Conservatives can tear themselves away from their Bibles long enough to send me a few hate-filled missives so I’ll be happy to clarify my definition of the word.
YOU KNOW YOU’RE A LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE FANATIC IF …
… You actually think the members of one political party are “the good guys” and the members of the other political party are “the bad guys.”
… You’ve deluded yourself into thinking that any facts that don’t fit your political prejudices are propaganda spread by Fox News Channel and talk radio (according to Liberal fanatics) or spread by the Liberal media (according to Conservative fanatics) .
… You avoid any Continue reading
Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES
NEWBURY COLLEGE NIGHTHAWKS
Location: Brookline, MA
Conference Affiliation: New England Collegiate Conference
Comment: It’s good to see Kyle Richmond put his fortune to good use with this institution. Fans of the superhero called Nighthawk will get it. On the serious side Newbury College is Continue reading
Filed under Cool names and cool logos
23. BENJAMIN HARRISON – Motto: “What this country needs right now is a man whose grandfather was president barely a month before dying.” *** Nickname: Baby McKee’s Grandfather *** Pro: Was the president who first had the White House wired for electricity. Con: His administration was slightly overshadowed by the press’ obsession with his terminally “cutesy” grandson, Baby McKee.
24. GROVER CLEVELAND, TERM 2 – Motto: “He’s back … deadlier and more powerful than ever before!” *** Nickname: King of the Wild Frontier *** Pro: 
Was 10 % doughier than in his first term. Con: Came down harder on striking workers than some presidents come down on actual criminal behavior and called Eugene Debs “an enemy of the human race”.
25. WILLIAM MCKINLEY – Motto: “Whatever Ohio Political Machine Boss Mark Hanna thinks my motto should be.” *** Nickname: McStudly *** Pro: Tried to establish a Continue reading
Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Presidential Rap Sheets
Fun Fact: Barbara Bush patterned her “look” after Millard Fillmore
In honor of the upcoming President’s Day Holiday weekend Balladeer’s Blog now presents some of my quick takes on each of the 44 men who have stayed one step ahead of the law while occupying the office.
1. GEORGE WASHINGTON – Motto – “Screw taking a salary, 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.
2. JOHN ADAMS – Motto – ” A day without alienating someone is like a day without sunshine.” *** Nickname: Boom-Boom *** Pro: Was almost fanatically honest. Con: Alienated nearly everyone except his wife Abigail.
3. THOMAS JEFFERSON – Motto: ” What’s with that painting where I look like Bea Arthur?” *** Nickname: The Pompous Hypocrite *** Pro: Never vetoed a single bill, deferring to the will of the people’s representatives. Con: Owned other human beings.
4. JAMES MADISON – Motto: “That’s me on the five thousand dollar bill, babe!” *** Nickname: Continue reading
Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Presidential Rap Sheets
NCAA DIVISION 3 – 1. NORWICH CADETS ### 2. EAU CLAIRE BLUGOLDS ### 3. OSWEGO STATE LAKERS ### 4. UTICA PIONEERS ### 5. HOBART STATESMEN ### 6. ST NORBERT COLLEGE GREEN KNIGHTS (defending champions) ### 7. BOWDOIN POLAR BEARS ### 8. UMASS- BOSTON BEACONS ### 9. GENESEO STATE BLUE KNIGHTS ### 10. AMHERST LORD JEFFS ### 11. ADRIAN BULLDOGS ### 12. Continue reading
Filed under college hockey
NCAA DIVISION 2 – 1. METRO STATE ROADRUNNERS ### 2. WEST LIBERTY HILLTOPPERS ### 3. WESTERN WASHINGTON VIKINGS (defending champs) ### 4. MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS ### 5. CAL POLY- POMONA BRONCOS ### 6. IUP CRIMSON HAWKS ### 7. SEATTLE PACIFIC FALCONS ### 8. EAST STROUDSBURG WARRIORS ### 9. FLORIDA SOUTHERN MOCS ### 10. BELLARMINE KNIGHTS ### 11. SOUTHERN INDIANA SCREAMING EAGLES ### 12. LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY RAILSPLITTERS (love that Continue reading
Filed under College Basketball
The reaction to my latest look at a neglected pantheon of deities has been through the roof! I’ll soon be examining an epic myth from Iroquois mythology but in the meantime here’s a look at six more deities of the various tribes in the Iroquois Confederation.
6. SHAGODIAQDANE – The Iroquois goddess of the summer. She was depicted as an old woman sitting cross-legged in the forest and she sang a song that only birds could hear and their own chirping and singing was considered to be their response to the goddess’ song. As summer started to turn into autumn the entourage of the evil winter god Tawiskaron began to return. First the Continue reading
Filed under Mythology
I’m continuing my look at Frederick C Davis’ pulp hero the Moon Man. In reality police detective Stephen Thatcher, the Moon Man stalked the night-darkened streets of fictional Great City (“Great City ya got here … it’d be a shame if something happened to it …”) clad in his black costume and his helmet made of one-way Argus glass. Armed with an automatic pistol plus limitless courage and ingenuity the Moon Man captured or killed Great City’s most dangerous criminals (white collar and blue collar) and robbed them of their ill-gotten booty. He would then distribute that money to the city’s Great Depression-ravaged poor. ( “Great Depression ya got here … it’d be a shame if – ” oh, forget it!) All this made him hunted by both the crooks AND the cops. For more on the Moon Man and other neglected pulp heroes click here: https://glitternight.com/pulp-heroes/
16. FINGERS OF FEAR – The Moon Man raids an illegal casino where Great City’s wealthiest citizens indulge their gambling habit. Before he can lay his hands on the casino’s several-thousand dollar haul for the night the cops raid the place and he barely escapes himself. Meanwhile, Thayer Barron, a bloated rich pig, uses his financial hold on Great City’s Police Commissioner Mead and forces him to fire Lt Gil McEwen. The excuse given for the firing is McEwen’s failure to capture the Moon Man after all this time, but the real reason is Continue reading
Filed under Pulp Heroes
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