Attribution: The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter She sat in front of the panel like an animatronic Barbie doll (Weird Barbie), glossy and blonde, but radiating an arrogant, overweening and disdainful vibe. She was there to testify to the House Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives about the status …
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Month:February 2026
Kickass and Jesse Jackson
Attribution: Leffler, Warren K., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper’s getting-acquainted-with-Chicago days with his old Army friend Bob Shepherd, a Black Southsider who was the keeper’s personal MLK and then some. As an essential experience the keeper and Bob were in the back row of a …
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Kickass Covers the Courts
Attribution: Brandonrush, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, indulges the keeper in yet another deep dive into his newspaper clipping past with parts of an entry from his covering the courts in Stevens Point in 1958-59. The day-long hearing and trial grew out of an incident at the Parakeet Tavern …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: The Legacy of Robert Duvall
Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Originally published August 15, 2022) By Geoff Carter One of our greatest actors passed away yesterday. He lit up the stage, the big screen, and graced our homes with his indomitable presence. From blockbusters like The Godfather saga, Lonesome Dove, or Apocalypse Now …
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Kickass and the One-Sentence Novel
Attribution: Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, passes along the keeper’s lament that there is risk to a writer in the simple act of walking through a crowded restaurant to get to an empty table. While the keeper uses a walking stick and his pace is not speedy he does manage …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: Review of “Sentimental Value”
Family Values: Review of Sentimental Value ★★★1/2 By Geoff Carter Illustration by Michael DiMilo Leo Tolstoy once said, “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,” and every unhappy family can show their misery in a myriad of ways—they’re only limited by their imaginations. Whether that unhappiness erupts in …
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Kickass and the Clippings
Photo by Samet Kurtkus on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper gratefully accepting the assistance of granddaughter Sarah in once again attempting to deal with the debris of a lifetime as an ink-stained wretch in the newspaper business. “Clippings” they are called. Thousands of them in drawers, files and boxes taking up space …
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Mighty Love
Artwork by Michael DiMilo Originally Published 2/14/2022 By Geoff Carter In her novel Surfacing, Margaret Atwood wrote “The Eskimos had fifty-two names for snow because it was important to them, there ought to be as many for love.” She‘s probably right, although what passes for love today might not be as important to us as snow …
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Kickass and Honorary Silver Badger
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper will be cheering on Phyllis and all the “Silver Badgers” as they gather this afternoon—2 pm, at Gammon Road and Tree Lane for their weekly ICE and company protest. Joining the Silver Badger crowd, which is heavily weighted toward seniors, …
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Kickass and Good Luck
Attribution: See page for author, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper and Phyllis offering to share their good luck on this Friday the 13th with those who need a little extra. Applicants can submit the reasons they need some extra good luck and an appropriate amount will …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: The Ten Best Valentine’s Day Movies
Illustration by Michael DiMilo Top Ten Romantic Films By Geoff Carter (Originally published on February 14, 2024) It’s Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air, but those of us who choose to enjoy a warm and cozy evening inside, finding that perfect romantic movie is the perfect way to enjoy that special someone. So, rather …
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Kickass and Being Redacted
Attribution: Muller, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes In responding to his own question, the keeper concludes that judging from the positive reaction of so many “redacted” rich old men in the Epstein bible, being redacted is a really good thing. Not qualified for inclusion in such rarified redaction ranks as the Epstein …
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