Attribution: Photo: Sgt Andy Malthouse ABIPP/MOD, OGL v1.0OGL v1.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that as the admirals and generals gather today in the big crap game the keeper notes that he has always been seriously intimidated by ranks and titles to the point that he cowers before the …
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Category:Social Commentary
Ungodly
Photo by Geoff Carter By Geoff Carter “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “Love thy neighbor as you would yourself”. “Turn to them the other cheek also”. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth.“ –from the teachings …
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Kickass and Laughing
Attribution: Erin Scott, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joined the keeper and Phyllis in listening to Jimmy’s return monologue not long after hearing the POTUS address the United Nations. As a result, they will be taking turns alternately laughing and crying for most of the rest of the …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: The Legacy of Philip Seymour Hoffman
Attribution: Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter He has been hailed as one of the greatest actors of his generation. Whether he plays the lead or appears in even the smallest of supporting roles, Philip Seymour Hoffman’s presence dominates every frame he appears in. Playing the laconic and decidedly unlikeable baseball …
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Dialogues on American Ennui: Down in the Hole
Illustration by Michael DiMilo Featuring the Fabulous Dadbots: Mark M., Michael D., Dave S., Mark O., Dennis C., John K., and Geoff Carter Hello bots, Are you out there? Have we declared radio silence? Gone undercover? Or are we all laid up with Brewer fever—or the dreaded Parsons Disease? Writing as we’re headed out to …
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Kickass and Meat Diet
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper burdened with the caveman residual survival sense that a life without meat—even one meal, is hardly worth living, while Phyllis promotes a diet of green plants and other things from “Mr. MacGregor’s” garden. The keeper does little to promote his case, …
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Kickass and Foggy Morning
Attribution: Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, with the keeper and Phyllis on the cool, fog-shrouded Sunday morning of 9/14/25: ONE FOGGY DAY “Welcome, Fog, to our world of fools. “Blur, for us if you would “The things we should do if we could: “Pitiful, starving kids, what are the …
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Kickass and 94th Birthday
Attribution: Nicolas Cianca, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, is the first to remind the keeper that there is a lot of sheer luck involved in his being around for his 94th birthday as the most tragic day in US history is noted. On this day in 2001, the keeper …
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Revenge of the Nerds
Attribution: Rhoda Baer (Photographer), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter In the 1984 film Revenge of the Nerds, two socially inept but brilliant—and dorky—misfits go to college and are immediately teased, tortured, and bullied by more popular students. They call them nerds. Denied admittance to any of the fraternities, the nerds, who by this …
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Kickass and Murder at Sea
Attribution: U.S. Department of Defense Current Photos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog asks the keeper and Phyllis and their fellow American citizens how they deal with the designation of accomplices in the murder of 11 passengers on a boat in international waters when the Navy, following Trump’s orders, …
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Kickass and Badass Badger
Attribution: Missouri Historical Society , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, consults with Badass Badger for the best way to contend with a day that includes news and photos of starving children, the narcissistic outrageousness of abusive pedophiles, fresh war casualties, celebrity nonsense, the price of eggs, cheerful messages from …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: Review of “The Legend of Ochi”
Illustration by Michael DiMilo Beauty of the Beast: Review of The Legend of Ochi ★★★★☆ By Geoff Carter As a child in the sixties, I cut my teeth on family films like Old Yeller, Babes in Toyland, 101 Dalmatians, and The Parent Trap, a cinematic universe dominated by Walt Disney, whose influence spread from the big screen into …
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