Big White Lies

Artwork by Michael DiMilo By Geoff Carter On the anniversary of the January 6th attack on the Capitol Building, some of our leaders stepped forth to condemn the actions of the rioters as well as those who encouraged and enabled the violence. The enablers have described the attack on the Capitol as an “insurrection” or even—in …
Read

Kickass and Leopold’s Birthday

Pacific Southwest Region 5, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, notes that while the keeper mentioned recent January birthdays, he missed Aldo Leopold’s on Jan.11 which marked 135 years since Leopold’s birth in 1887. (Leopold died in 1948 of a heart attack while fighting a wildfire on neighbor’s property.) …
Read

Kickass and Skunk Style

Photo by Bryan Padron on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper assesses the degree of hibernation necessary to survive a Wisconsin winter, and compares the actions—inactions, actually—of himself and Phyllis to that of the “dumb” animals such as skunks that are dozing through the numbing cold and snow in cozy dens. Skunks …
Read

Kickass and Yon Yonson

The Strobridge Lithographing Co., Cincinnati & New York, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that in the clutter of the keeper’s cranial closet is a version of the nonsense song, “My name is Yon Yonson, I come from Wisconsin….” as it was long ago recited by boyhood pal …
Read

The Couch Potato’s Guide to New Hollywood: The Legacy of Denzel Washington

Falkenauge, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter In the three and one-half decades since he’s been a screen actor, Denzel Washington has pretty much done it all. He’s known as one of the film industry’s most charismatic leading men, which is exceedingly evident in works like the titular role in Malcolm X or as the …
Read

Kickass and January 9th Birthday

Selena N. B. H. from Fayetteville, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that there was a time in the keeper’s life when Jan. 9 marked the birthdays of his late wife Betty, his dog Doc, and the president of the United States—Richard Nixon. It was his custom in …
Read

Kickass and Compression Helmets

Fred Kissel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, is working with the keeper in developing the “Compression helmet,” which will work like compression socks to improve cranial blood circulation, particularly in the brains of those Republicans who suffer from the varicose big lie. Republican mandates to wear the compression …
Read

Kickass Remembers Pearl Harbor

National Archives at College Park , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper recalls the widely used “Remember Pearl Harbor,” catch phrase from WWII days, and suggests its revival along with some editing: “Forget Pearl Harbor and Remember Jan. 6.” If ever there was a day that …
Read

Kickass and January 6th

TapTheForwardAssist, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper and Phyllis will socialize later today with their blind friend Michael Christopher, a fellow resident at Vista West and a former Madison alderman. Mike deals with his circumstance amazingly, and with the occasional help of friends, doesn’t miss a …
Read

Dialogues on Building Big: The Gridlock Letters

Photo by Ian Hutchinson on Unsplash Featuring the Fabulous Dadbots By Mark Mamerow, Mark O., Dave S., Dennis Curley, and Geoff Carter Flaming’ Dadbots,  Joe Manchin has pulled out of Biden’s BBB bill. If he maintains this position, progressives will never trust moderates again.    It’s getting as bad in the Democratic Party as the Republicans have had …
Read