Photo by Phyllis Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper and Phyllis as they discuss “hair,” the occasion being Phyllis’s “perm” that makes her look like a high school girl. Hair is one of those life-long issues that leans heavily on a genetic base and the vagaries of “dumb luck.” The keeper’s …
Read
The Truth of the Matter
Illustration by Michael DiMilo By Geoff Carter The shocking assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was horrifying and despicable, but—unfortunately—not all that surprising, considering the catalog of political violence over the past several years, including the murders of Minnesota lawmakers Melissa and Mark Hortman; the brutal attack on Paul Pelosi; the conspiracy to kidnap Governor …
Read
Kickass September 18, 2025
Illustration by Michael DiMilo By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper and Phyllis in noting that yesterday was “Constitution Day” marking the 250the anniversary of the framers signing the Constitution which more or less informed the king of England to pick up his trinkets and get the hell back to his little …
Read
The Pen in Hand’s Guide to the Movies: The Legacy of Robert Redford
In Memorian: 1936-2025 NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter During his storied career, Robert Redford was not only known as one of the great leading men of his generation, but also as a gifted director, producer, and outspoken advocate of independent film. He will be missed. Founder of the now internationally …
Read
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, …
Read
Kickass Goes to High School
Attribution: Nipponeselover, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper taking morning pleasure in watching the students stride across the parking lot on their way to Memorial High school over across Gammon Road. Tall, long-legged all with backpacks, the students of all shapes take the keeper back to …
Read
Kickass and Gutter Balls
Attribution: Photo courtesy of Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, notes how the keeper spends undue amounts of time reviewing the past to try to figure out if he missed anything. In a recent look at Madison in the 1960’s he discovered that among the many things he missed was the campaign …
Read
The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: The Legacy of Walter Matthau
Attribution: Trailer screenshot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter He certainly doesn’t look like a Hollywood movie star—much less a leading man. His long hangdog face always seems to be locked into either a grimace or a frown full of world-weary disdain. Walter Matthau is the embodiment of an everyman, a guy used …
Read
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 …
Read
Kickass and Migrating to Paoli
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, is at a loss to help the keeper with his current dilemma in which he has this inexplicable urge to go to Paoli, a small crossroads community just south of Madison. It was only through his keen ability to think analytically that the keeper was …
Read
Kickass and Birthday Thanks
Attribution: James Petts from London, England, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, passes along the keeper’s deep appreciation to all of those who, with gifts and best wishes, encouraged him to get on with his 95th year after enough posturing and partying to launch a ship. Thank you. Thank you. …
Read
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 …
Read