That'll Slow Things Down

 

January 18, 2026

 

A St. Louis-area school district is putting its review of challenged books on hold, after challenges from parents surged. The district says it may edit the process in the future. It doesn’t have time to review all the books, nor the resources to procure enough copies of the challenged books for its board members to read. 

 

One parent alone challenged 53 books, only 38 of which are actually in school libraries in the district. The parent cited a website that rates books for appropriate content. 

 

If the district does change its policy, it should include a proviso that the challenger have actually read the book(s) in question. That should cut down on challenges immediately.

 

 

 

Underground Movement

 

September 19, 2025

 

Early Christians used the fish symbol as a secret way to identify themselves in the Roman Empire.

 

Seems like we may need some more secret symbols. Now that Jimmy Kimmel has been suspended for exercising the free speech that Charlie Kirk was so staunchly in favor of, perhaps he, Stephen Colbert, and other comedians should start using code words to do their comedy gigs.

 

Donald Trump has mused about revoking broadcast licenses for networks that “only give me bad publicity”.

 

Code Word: Zeus

 

Censorship Wanted Here

 

April 6, 2025

 

I was looking at birthday cards today, and, as always, was amazed at how frankly vulgar so many cards are. 

 

I feel like calling the people who like fussing about books in libraries and saying, “Why don’t you demand to have these segregated to an adult section of the store?”

 

 

May 26, 2025

Today’s “Dustin” comic has Dustin and his sister looking at the “Funny cards” section. As they read, Dustin says, “They should have a section called ‘actually funny’.”

“Dustin” is written by Steve Kelly and Jeff Parker