The Pen in Hand Blog featuring Bill Stokes
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: Review of “Marty Supreme”
Live Wire: Film Review of Marty Supreme ★★★★ By Geoff Carter Illustration by Michael DiMilo When I was a teenager still living at home, I have a vivid memory of rewiring a lamp. During the process of connecting the wires, I somehow managed to grab two live ones at the same time and gave myself …
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Kickass and Minnesota National Guard
Attribution: Photo courtesy of Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper went through Army basic training under a newly activated New Ulm, Minnesota National Guard unit in 1950 at Camp Rucker, Alabama. Close-order drill on the hot Alabama sand was shouted out by Corporal Dormier, and as the keeper …
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Kickass and Burning Theater
Attribution: Courtesy of Orange County Archives, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, shares a quandary with the keeper and Phyllis and everyone else–trapped in a burning theatre of the absurd with only doubtful response to their shouts of “FIRE!” As flames eat through the roof and a madman stars …
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Kickass and January School Morning
Photo by Phyllis Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, on this snowy, cold January morning, joins the keeper and Phyllis in watching the flow of students headed to a variety of schools over along Gammon Road. They come in buses, cars, vans, slogging across the parking lot with big backpacks and one will …
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Kickass and Help for the Elderly
Attribution: Photo by Mobio Marketing on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, notes the keeper and Phyllis’s adjustment to accepting age-related considerations with grace and appreciation. Those appropriate response do not arrive without some early resistance, like when the first overt offers of assistance come as implied insults that you are too old to do it …
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States of the Union
Attribution: Paul Goyette from Chicago, USA, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter During the constitutional conventions that created the foundation of our democracy, the founders sought to balance the powers of a strong central government (like the one they had just gained independence from) and the rights and powers of regional, or state, …
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Kickass and Shoes and Socks
Attribution: Photo by Fotógrafo Samuel Cruz on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper is ever anxious to follow the dictates of nature through the aging process—if running poses a balance issue, don’t run; when your vision fades, get glasses; when your waistline expands buy bigger pants, etc.. So, what to do with the natural …
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Kickass and WORRY Suggestions
Attribution: Photo by Niklas Hamann on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper and Phyllis searching for things to divert thinking away from the cruel absurdity of the government killing off the citizenry. It was after electric starters had replaced hand cranks in the automobile world and engine design was either V-8 or in-line, …
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Dialogues on the Religious Write: Ground Zero-Gate
Attribution: Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash Featuring the Fabulous Dadbots: Mark M., Dave S., Mark O., Dennis C., John K., Michael M., and Geoff Carter Bots, I’m going to revisit the transgender culture war. I don’t really have anything new to say, but I’d like to draw your attention to a recent eruption in said war. Bots …
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Kickass and “Put Down” Decision
Attribution: Nhandler, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reminds the keeper and Phyllis of that time at the shelter when the “put down” decision is made for whatever reason—injury, old age, homelessness, friendlessness, contrary attitude, or etc. Such decision making came to mind Sunday as millions of people came …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: Film Review of “Wake Up Dead Man”
Murder Most Foul: Film Review of Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man ★★★1/2 By Geoff Carter Illustration by Michael DiMilo Start with an eccentric but brilliant detective, a seemingly unsolvable locked-room murder, a cast of characters plucked straight from an Agatha Christie mystery, and some petty small-town political intrigues. Then add a dash of Hollywood …
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