Kickass 2/4/25

Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper and Phyllis in appreciating one of life’s truly great moments as the keeper’s granddaughter Natalie hears her and Elliot’s first-born Augie babble “Ma-ma Da-da” for the first time.  In keeping with the keeper’s clan members’ inclination to be talkers as opposed …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: Review of “Conclave”

Illustration by Michael DiMilo Mysterious Ways: Film Review of Conclave ★★★★☆ By Geoff Carter There is probably no more of a secretive or insular institution than the Catholic Church. Steeped in centuries of tradition, rituals, dogma, and mystery, the Catholic Church is like a dinosaur mired in the tarpit of its past. Nearly alone amongst …
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Kickass and Groundhog Day 2025

Attribution: EleetCanoe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper, using his rare ability to know almost everything before it happens, reports on the latest executive order from the current POTUS:             “Executive Order # 365: Starting right now–this very minute, all groundhogs are hereby notified to turn …
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Kickass and Dumbest Politico

Attribution: U.S. Department of Transportation, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, is working with the keeper to reassign the title of dumbest Wisconsin politician from long term champion MAGA-loving Sen. Johnson to former Rep. Sean Duffy who is the new secretary of transportation and made the following statement about …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: Review of “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg”

Illustration by Michael DiMilo ★★★★1/2 Musical History: Review of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg By Geoff Carter The big-budget Hollywood movie musical, probably the gold standard by which the genre is measured, was notoriously and unabashedly larger than life. An American in Paris, Singin’ in the Rain, Gigi, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and of course The Wizard …
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Kickass and Blame

Attribution: Vector Portal, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper is admittedly slow to catch on, but is finally recognizing the importance of “blame” in maintaining relevance in today’s Land of Oz. Under the precepts of the “blame” culture when something bad happens, such as an …
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Registered Offenders

Illustration by Michael DiMilo By Geoff Carter They are living amongst us. They might be your co-worker, your neighbor, your teammate in the volleyball league, or the housewife standing in line at the grocery store staring at the tabloid headlines. Hundreds—more than a thousand—of them were just released from their prisons and are once again …
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Kickass and Old Haircuts

Attribution: François GOGLINS, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, was not involved as the keeper and Phyllis both visited Cheryl at the Vista West hair salon for the usual professional treatment that made them both young and beautiful, more so perhaps in Phyllis’s case. But as it happens with …
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Kickass and Sarah/Boo Visit

Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joined the keeper and Phyllis in hosting the keeper’s granddaughter Sarah and Boo, the small schnauzer that once ruled the keeper’s Mazo house where she played her own piano, did an impressive routine of tricks and expressed a barking opinion on all things great …
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Kickass and River’s Birthday

Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports from the birthday party for the keeper’s great grandson “River” which was held in the house the keeper built 25 years ago on a Mazomanie hilltop and where River now lives with his family. The following is the keeper’s birthday message to River: …
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