Ah, Parker Pens! Once a bulwark of manufacturing in Janesville, Wisconsin, back when America still made things. (One of their high schools is named Parker.) Good union jobs, too. Sadly gone the way of the passenger pigeon. Even worse was when the century-old GM plant closed down. All of this chronicled in the depressing 2017 book Janesville: An American Story by Amy Goldstein.
Footnote to history: Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District was purposely gerrymandered by the Republican-controlled legislature to include a little “thumb” sticking into Janesville that just happened to include the home of Rep. Paul Ryan. But the City of Janesville as a whole is overwhelmingly Democratic, so that was just their friendly way of accommodating Ryan’s desire to be voted on mainly by Republicans.
mr_sherman Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Wasn’t there a Bic pen commercial many years ago about how they kept going and going?
Charliegirl Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Speedy Parker was his name.
fgerbil46 almost 5 years ago
Now that’s funny!
uniquename almost 5 years ago
Apparently, he couldn’t take the heat.
Nuliajuk almost 5 years ago
She’s really Cross with him now. He’ll soon find out it was wrong to Parker and go off looking elsewhere.
P51Strega almost 5 years ago
He’s a smooth roller but he needs to learn when to retract.
Radish the wordsmith almost 5 years ago
Works first time, every time.
MeGoNow Premium Member almost 5 years ago
She knew he’d run out one day.
the lost wizard almost 5 years ago
What’s the point?
Richard S Russell Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Ah, Parker Pens! Once a bulwark of manufacturing in Janesville, Wisconsin, back when America still made things. (One of their high schools is named Parker.) Good union jobs, too. Sadly gone the way of the passenger pigeon. Even worse was when the century-old GM plant closed down. All of this chronicled in the depressing 2017 book Janesville: An American Story by Amy Goldstein.
Footnote to history: Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District was purposely gerrymandered by the Republican-controlled legislature to include a little “thumb” sticking into Janesville that just happened to include the home of Rep. Paul Ryan. But the City of Janesville as a whole is overwhelmingly Democratic, so that was just their friendly way of accommodating Ryan’s desire to be voted on mainly by Republicans.
namelocdet almost 5 years ago
Imagine the shock when the baby came out half Parker, half MontBlanc!
Lablubber almost 5 years ago
That shouldn’t have happened. Didn’t you say you were using spermicidal gel ink?
WCraft Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Can you imagine that? The father disappearing upon finding out the woman is pregnant – Ridiculous! Great work of fiction, Hilburn!
pcolli almost 5 years ago
So, Lady PENelope finally got it together with Parker.
Bilan almost 5 years ago
I’ve never seen a pen with a baby bump before.
Stephen Gilberg almost 5 years ago
Not to be confused with Peni Parker.
Radish the wordsmith almost 5 years ago
He’s not worth the paper he wrote in on.