National Archives and Records Administration , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, tries to guide the keeper’s rants into productive subject matter, but is helpless when it comes to his—the keeper’s reminiscing about how the price of gasoline relates to his early “filling station” days. There is obviously a set-in-stone …
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Month:May 2022
Kickass and Morel Rejection
Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, is aware, along with the keeper, that one of life’s important lessons is the ability to handle rejection; but when it is consistently handed out by a fungus, changes need to be made: hence this May, the keeper announces that …
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Dialogues on Free Market Speech: Letters to the Editors
Photo by Gian Cescon on Unsplash Featuring the Fabulous Dadbots: Mark M., Dave S., Mark O., Dennis Curley, and Geoff Carter Kara, Elon, and the Donald ….in that order. This may not stick with you, but I’ve just recently discovered Kara Swisher “On Tech” columnist for the Times. Usually a weekly or bi-weekly column, she’s had …
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Kickass and No More Fetch
Maulor, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, informs the keeper that if the Earth were a tennis ball, no dog would fetch it, there being no fun in playing with what is coming to resemble a rotting meatball being picked over by opportunistic vultures and consumed by rich maggots. …
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Kickass and Sticker Shock
Photo by Mathieu Turle on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that it became a health issue to get the keeper out of the REI store after he checked the price of a pair of lightweight pants for use on an upcoming trip that he and Phyllis have planned. After …
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New Wave Cinema 2.0: The Films of Tim Burton
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Tim Burton: Once Upon a Nightmare The New Wave Cinema 2.0 In The New Wave 2.0 series, The Pen in Hand Blog will be examining the work of today’s most provocative and influential filmmakers, artists whose singular styles and visionary genius have stretched the boundaries of cinema. Drawing …
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Kickass and Naked Gardening Day
Tainted Fruit, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, constantly making excuses for the keeper’s inclination to screw things up, is stepping in to try to explain how he—the keeper, managed to confuse Mother’s Day—the first Sunday in May, with Naked Gardening Day—the first Saturday in May. …
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Kickass and Young Old Eyes
Photo by Aditya Romansa on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper in noting a couple of clan eye-openers this week, one being the first views of the world for Blaize Betty Russell who arrived just in time for Sunny and Kyle to celebrate Mother’s Day; and the other being the …
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Kickass and Mom’s Job Not Over
Legoktm, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper has abandoned all that is sacred and offers the following: MOTHER Mother, Mother, we love you so. You taught us how to stop and go. We learned from you the good and bad, And how they both showed …
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Old Guard
Photo by Geoff Carter By Geoff Carter My family is lucky enough to own lakefront property in Northern Wisconsin. We’ve been going there for over fifty years, ever since my brothers and I were children. My mother would pile us into our red VW bug on the first day of summer vacation, drive for five hours, …
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Kickass and Gravity Vision
Jwisloski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, will hold the keeper’s hand/paw today as he—the keeper, awaits word on the timing of tomorrow’s surgery to address the damage done to his field of vision by the insidious long- term force of gravity. It is one thing for gravity to …
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Kickass and Sleeping in Parking Lot
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, like the keeper, takes sleeping locations for granted—comfortable beds, recliners, couches, all with built in reassurance that waking up will occur in a secure, warm place where a nutritious and delicious breakfast is only a few steps away. It was that kind …
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