Attribution: Paul Goyette from Chicago, USA, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter There is a crime wave, an epidemic of violence that has erupted in the streets of our cities. Armed gangs are randomly accosting and brutalizing innocent citizens in Chicago, Minneapolis, Portland, and other cities. These masked thugs are ramming their victims’ …
Read
Category:Social Commentary
Kickass and Volunteers
Attribution: Photo by Austin Kehmeier on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper and Phyllis in saluting the countless people out there everywhere who really define what it means to be a human being, and specifically an American human–a decent, thoughtful, generous, multiethnic American who wears the “VOLUNTEER” label. The VOLUNTEERS are everywhere, quietly …
Read
Kickass and Minnesota National Guard
Attribution: Photo courtesy of Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper went through Army basic training under a newly activated New Ulm, Minnesota National Guard unit in 1950 at Camp Rucker, Alabama. Close-order drill on the hot Alabama sand was shouted out by Corporal Dormier, and as the keeper …
Read
Kickass and Burning Theater
Attribution: Courtesy of Orange County Archives, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, shares a quandary with the keeper and Phyllis and everyone else–trapped in a burning theatre of the absurd with only doubtful response to their shouts of “FIRE!” As flames eat through the roof and a madman stars …
Read
Kickass and January School Morning
Photo by Phyllis Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, on this snowy, cold January morning, joins the keeper and Phyllis in watching the flow of students headed to a variety of schools over along Gammon Road. They come in buses, cars, vans, slogging across the parking lot with big backpacks and one will …
Read
Kickass and Help for the Elderly
Attribution: Photo by Mobio Marketing on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, notes the keeper and Phyllis’s adjustment to accepting age-related considerations with grace and appreciation. Those appropriate response do not arrive without some early resistance, like when the first overt offers of assistance come as implied insults that you are too old to do it …
Read
States of the Union
Attribution: Paul Goyette from Chicago, USA, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter During the constitutional conventions that created the foundation of our democracy, the founders sought to balance the powers of a strong central government (like the one they had just gained independence from) and the rights and powers of regional, or state, …
Read
Kickass and WORRY Suggestions
Attribution: Photo by Niklas Hamann on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper and Phyllis searching for things to divert thinking away from the cruel absurdity of the government killing off the citizenry. It was after electric starters had replaced hand cranks in the automobile world and engine design was either V-8 or in-line, …
Read
Dialogues on the Religious Write: Ground Zero-Gate
Attribution: Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash Featuring the Fabulous Dadbots: Mark M., Dave S., Mark O., Dennis C., John K., Michael M., and Geoff Carter Bots, I’m going to revisit the transgender culture war. I don’t really have anything new to say, but I’d like to draw your attention to a recent eruption in said war. Bots …
Read
Kickass and “Put Down” Decision
Attribution: Nhandler, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reminds the keeper and Phyllis of that time at the shelter when the “put down” decision is made for whatever reason—injury, old age, homelessness, friendlessness, contrary attitude, or etc. Such decision making came to mind Sunday as millions of people came …
Read
Kickass and NEW Commandments
Attribution: Donald Trump, AI-generated work, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper and Phyllis on this Sunday morning in a review of the ten commandments as written by the POTUS for use by the ICE recruits: 1. Worship only me or I will confiscate your donkey and kick …
Read
What, Me Worry?
Attribution: Bhernandez from miami, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, will be working with the keeper and Phyllis as they put the finishing touches on the revised charter of the “What, Me Worry?” club as membership applications pour in. Genesis for creating the WMW club comes, of course, from …
Read