Attribution: Krenakarore, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Featuring the Fabulous Dadbots: Mark M., Dave S., Mark O., Dennis C., Paul C., and Geoff Carter …at the risk of breaking my arm patting myself on my back—seems like my mom had these pithy expressions always at the ready—that one to check me when I was declaring …
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Month:September 2023
Kickass and Lunch for the Ages
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, passes along the keeper’s report of a Vista West “lunch for the ages” that he had the distinct privilege of attending as the only male: There was Hilda at 103, Sally at 99, and Phyllis a mere child at 83; and then there was …
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A Rock and a Hard Place
Artwork by Michael DiMilo By Geoff Carter Robin Vos is a dyed-in-the-wool deep-red Republican. He has done everything in his power to keep Wisconsin as red as it can be—by hook and by crook. He has made his name from ruthlessly seizing and consolidating power in the Wisconsin legislature. Since the Republican red wave of …
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Kickass Asks Some Questions
Attribution: Per A.J. Andersson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, sympathizes with the keeper as he tries to remain relevant when faced with such questions as the following: *Does Boebert’s statement that she will be checking party affiliations of future dates mean that it is hard to keep your …
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Dialogues on Tilting the Playing Field: Electile Dysfunction
Artwork by Michael DiMilo Featuring the Fabulous Dadbots: Mark M., Dave S., Mark O., Dennis C., Paul C., and Geoff Carter A blood boiler below. For the 2nd time this week, the same Wisconsin potential impeachment of the newly elected State Supreme Court Justice—Janet Protasiewicz–has made the Times Headlines. Besides ‘splaining a new (to me) …
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Kickass Joins the Dumb
Attribution: Shakib khan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, hears the keeper’s confession that he recently joined the “dumbest” parade by expressing his opinion of some of Wisconsin’s prevailing political gerrymandered dumbness. In assessing the way this puts the keeper right in there with the dumbest of the dumb, …
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Kickass and Wolf In Grandma Wisconsin’s Bed
Attribution: Jessie Willcox Smith (1863 – 1935), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper and Phyllis in noting that it would not be fair to wolves to use them as symbols to represent the devious Vos Repub gang that has been occupying Grandma Wisconsin’s gerrymandered political bed …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: An Embarrassment of Riches
Attribution: Photo by Nicolas J Leclercq on Unsplash By Geoff Carter Since the SAG and screenwriters’ strikes, there has been a lot of anxiety and handwringing about the anticipated dearth of new movies and television series. Without writers or actors, there will be no new productions—no new installments from the Marvel or the D.C. Universe, no new Star …
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Kickass and Grandkids
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, stayed home with Phyllis when the keeper drove across town to watch grandson Beau perform lumber making miracles with his portable sawmill. It was most impressive—Beau manipulating misshapen ash logs into usable planks and boards with deft touches of complicated controls. It is agreed …
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Kickass and the Hollyhocks
Attribution: Photo by Slawek K on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, naps as the keeper suffers a Saturday reminiscence attack: Hollyhock Ladies, where did you go From all the places you used to grow Those tall, old flowers so big and bold? Yours came from Grandma’s, we were told. You stood beside them tall and …
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Kickass Sells Books
Photo by Phyllis Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper and Phyllis took their book-show to the Middleton Senior Center Thursday where the keeper had a nice visit with a modest assembly of those in his age group, telling them of some of his column-writing adventures in “Treeson: an APOLOGIA …
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Kickass and Telling Time
Attribution: Photo by Sonja Langford on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper, undergoing a routine “insurance” exam was asked, among other things, to draw a clock face showing the time at 8:20. The resulting diagram was satisfactory to examiner Rich, though he remarked that the big hand would have traveled off 8 and …
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