Jack Mitchell , CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter Meryl Streep is nearly universally acclaimed as the finest actress working in cinema or on the stage today—or any other day. Her name is synonymous with the absolute gold standard of acting, and she has appeared in some of the most outstanding and unusual films …
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Month:September 2021
Kickass and “If You Build It…”
National Archives at College Park , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports on the keeper’s “If you build it they will come” experience in the thick tangle of asters and cattails beside Vermont Creek when he stood in the bright sunshine and imagined old departed trout friends lurking back …
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Kickass and Outhouse Occupants
Photo by Robert Linder on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, supports the keeper in his efforts to adjust to the absurdity of “minority rule” whereby gerrymandered Republican narcissists have locked themselves in what might be considered—judging from odious emissions–the political/public outhouses, thus denying all kinds of relief to a desperate public. That earthy analogy reminds …
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Kickass and Flowing Water
Markheffron2, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper in observing the downstream nature of all things, and in considering how the moving water of flowing streams has been such a powerful source of pleasure through his many years. From boyhood nights alone on Miller Creek, to being …
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Kickass and Treeson
Portable sawmill, Hog Wood by Robin Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, views trees different than the keeper does, but both do so with great respect; and there is guilt involved with the keeper as he views the many trees that were ground into pulp to publish the countless …
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The Good People of Texas
Artwork by Michael DiMilo By Geoff Carter They say everything is bigger in Texas—the hats, the cars, the buildings, the population, the reputation—even the problems. This is the state that produced the larger-than-life personalities Willie Nelson, Matthew McConaughey, Larry McMurtry, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Buddy Holly—to name only a few. Texans have a lot to …
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Kickass and the National Mother
Photo by Pixabay from Pexels By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper in lamenting the fact that their great state of Wisconsin is being rapidly converted from a beautiful, enlightened, compassionate field of dreams into a septic system drain-field for the greedy, narcissistic rich. And apparently all the citizens can do is keep flushing the Republican-owned …
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Kickass in the Land of Odd
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper, fresh from days of self-indulgence over a milestone birthday, wakes up to find himself traveling down a road in the Land of Odd in the company of odd characters seeking the following from the Wizard of Odd: McConnell—a conscience, McCarthy—honesty, …
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The Couch Potato’s Guide to the New Hollywood: The Legacy of Tom Hanks
Yeoman 1st Class Donna Lou Morgan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons In the last few weeks, the Couch Potato has looked at some of old-time Hollywood’s greatest actors, discussing the best films of James Stewart, Paul Newman, Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Katherine Hepburn, and John Wayne. Even though this survey has barely scratched the surface …
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Kickass and Predatory Handoff
Photo by Phyllis Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper’s “digs” was the scene of a big gun/fishing-tackle deal on a recent morning as he–the keeper handed off to his heirs the tools of his life-long predation on the lesser creatures. From the BB gun that killed the first sparrow, …
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Kickass Says Thank You
Dimitri N. (DimiTalen, DimiCalifornia), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, assists the keeper in expressing his deep appreciation for the wonderful 90th birthday bash that his clan produced in Mazomanie Saturday. They all did an outstanding job, and they have plans for a repeat performance on 9/11/31 when the keeper hits …
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Kickass Marks 9/11 and 90
Selena N. B. H. from Fayetteville, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that on this date–9/11– forever marked by death, the keeper celebrates 90 years of life with an open house birthday party at the Promenade in downtown Mazomanie where he will give away books he has …
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