Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper’s clan today as it celebrates the birthday of patriarch T. J. Stokes who, if he were still with us, would be 141 years old. Party arrangements and appropriate photo are provided by cousin Pat Turgeson , with fragmentary memories of Grandpa …
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Kickass as a Jackrabbit
Attribution: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, turns it over to the keeper on this wintery Saturday: “They were like the royalty of winter, those big jackrabbits that would spring magically out of nowhere to lope with infinite grace across 40 acres before stopping to reassess the …
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Kickass and Stupid Cupid
Attribution: Photo by Volodymyr Tokar on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper has his application in to replace Cupid with “Stupid” as the Valentines Day symbol in keeping with the current trend for utterly unqualified candidates assuming positions of great responsibility. As the keeper becomes widely known as Valentines Day “Stupid” and …
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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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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 Stays Inside
Attribution: U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Justin Weaver, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, cautions the keeper to restrain his inclination to smugness over the fact that when winter comes roaring back from its AWOL status with ice and snow and cold wind, the keeper’s “Independent Living” lifestyle at …
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Under God
Illustration by Michael DiMilo By Geoff Carter When I was growing up, we were required to say The Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of every school day. From fourth grade on, we studied our country’s history and its government. We were taught that we the people were self-governed, that we chose our own leaders …
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Kickass and Dog Show
Attribution: Photograph: Bohemianroots, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, will be relaxing now that a giant Schnauzer named Monty has taken best-in-show honors at the 2025 Westminster dog show. Adapting the keeper’s philosophy about that kind of thing, which holds that if he had been there he would have …
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Kickass and Driver Numbers
Attribution: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, is not involved in the keeper’s project of more publicly identifying drivers as is done in Japan where drivers over 70 are encouraged to display an identifying symbol to get them “more consideration” from other drivers. The keeper is suggesting that …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: Review of “The Substance”
Illustration by Michael DiMilo Inner Child: Film Review of the Substance ★★★★1/2 By Geoff Carter In a number of recent independent films, including Drive Away Dolls, Love Lies Bleeding, and the X Series there has been a blurring of boundaries. This is particularly true in the horror genre. Subgenres like body horror and hag horror have been reinvigorated …
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Kickass and Bird Photos
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper is thinking of dropping out of the bird photo competition as it is too tough for his obvious limited talents. Photo friends Harry and Jerry and Jim and many others will understand and maybe cheer for a less cluttered display …
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The Fascist Cookbook
Illustration by Michael DiMilo By Geoff Carter (Originally published September 26, 2024) A refresher course on Project 2025. This is where our country is presently headed. I grew up during the late sixties and early seventies when youth counterculture was king. Rock and roll, pot, LSD, free love, and political activism were all part of …
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