Attribution: Photo by Shah Krish on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper and Phyllis fresh from a lush lunch with son Rick and his wife Becky and grandkids Jessy and Paul. As usual, take-home containers were the order of the day for the keeper and Phyllis as they finished their lunch later at …
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Month:May 2025
Constitutional Anarchy
Attribution: National Archives at College Park – Still Pictures , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition …
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Kickass and War Killing
Attribution: Ray Platnick, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the question posed by a young grandson a long time ago as a family discussion veered into military matters, with the keeper perhaps recounting a combat story or two. “Did you ever kill someone?” the young listener asked. It …
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Kickass and Shot in Ass
Attribution: Leon Schlesinger / Friz Freleng, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper ran across an old report from a Wisconsin DNR warden that seems appropriate for this gloomy morning and its attendant political scenario. A Pepin county man who had smoked some meth, got in …
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Kickass 5/19/25
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, notes how the keeper was reminded of the awesome burden of being an older brother by Taylor and Trevor at a recent gathering by the river. Citing his “older brother” experience with Orville, the keeper refrained from giving advice to Taylor, and only tried …
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Announcing the Publication of “In Bad Faith”
Cover art and Animation by Michael DiMilo Coming June 6th to a Bookstore or Online Outlet Near You: In Bad Faith A New Mystery Novel by Geoff Carter Animation by Michael DiMilo In Bad Faith Nelson West, a former Chicago homicide detective, is hired by wealthy heir Lionel Bing to discreetly help “fix” scandals and …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: Review of “September 5”
Illustration by Michael DiMilo ★★★★☆ The Agony of Defeat: Film Review of September 5 I remember, in my first week as high school sophomore, watching Mark Spitz swimmer dominate the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Spitz was a sensation, winning a total of seven gold medals that year. As always, the Olympics provided a variety …
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Kickass the Bird Killer
Attribution: Alan D. Wilson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper began the day grappling with the question that has plagued him for the better part of his life: As he now lives amicably and supportive of all birds, can he erase that early part of his …
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Kickass and the Birds at the Arboretum
Attribution: Dori, CC BY-SA 3.0 US, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, does not always get involved in the keeper’s scientific projects, but was unable to resist as the keeper and Phyllis had a serious look at how they might share the exciting ongoing seasonal migration with the birds. First they checked …
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Kickass Tries to Do Good
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper rising on this sunny May 16 determined to do good–to accomplish something to make the world a better place than it was yesterday. All the time he was showering and dressing and pouring his first coffee, the keeper thought and thought …
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Kickass Down on Lawns
Attribution: Photo by Mitesh on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, noting that the keeper is never at a loss for things to complain about, hereby offers his annual condemnation of lawns—those boring monocultures of an exotic plant that we groom like surgical-room carpeting, pouring on poison to eliminate native plant growth and killing all insects, …
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Reading the Signs
The Pen in Hand Blog
Illustration by Michael DiMilo