Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, notes the keeper’s observation that it is not too far past St. Pat’s Day to remember Roundy Coughlin, the one-of-a-kind newspaper columnist who was with the State Journal when the keeper came on board there sixty-plus years ago. Roundy, with the help of his …
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Category:Writing
Kickass and Author Issues
Photo by Phyllis Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, passes along the keeper’s observation that authors work to have their books “bought,” and if that doesn’t work out to their satisfaction, they then seek to have their books banned, in the interest of getting attention, of course. The keeper’s history several years ago …
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Kickass and Moe’s Compliments
Photo by Phyllis Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, joins the keeper and Phyllis in appreciating Doug Moe’s Channel 3000 treatment of the keeper’s publishing of “Treeson: an Apologia to the Trees” used to print his drivel. In keeping with the off-the-wall nature of the publishing venture “Treeson” is missing most of the …
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Kickass and Country Copy
Photo by Phyllis Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that in the manner of country-copy reporting there would be the following item: “Mr. and Mrs. William Stokes enjoyed dinner Thursday at the home of Mr. Stokes’s son Michael in Sac Prairie. A delicious sauerkraut, biscuit sausage dish was served, after which Michael …
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Dialogues from Word World: Letters from the Friendly Skies
Official U.S. Navy Page, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Featuring the Fabulous Dadbots: Mark M., Mark O., Dave S., Paul Carter, Dennis Curley, and Geoff Carter Fellow Bots, I visited the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) festival in Oshkosh last weekend. I have a few observations to share. But first, I have to relate that my teeth …
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Kickass and Old Typewriter
Berit from Redhill/Surrey, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper was thrilled when Phyllis presented him with the perfect piece of art to illustrate his recent dive into writing another (Margaret’s War) novel. The absurdity of using an ancient typewriter is perhaps no greater than …
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Kickass and Banning Books
Artwork by Michael DiMilo By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, is trying to assist the keeper in getting his novel—Margaret’s War banned; and has only succeeded in getting Phyllis to toss it out of the kitchen when the keeper carelessly leaves his ever-present promotional copy too close to a stove burner. Nothing is …
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Kickass and AJ’s Book Review
Photo by Jaredd Craig on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports on how the cold January day was warmed beyond belief when great grandson AJ insisted that his parents—Tony and Kristen, contact the keeper with a preview of his—AJ’s, first book, which he produced as a school project. In a rare session of “face” technology, …
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Kickass Out From Under Porch
Photo by Max Sandelin on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, having joined the keeper in crawling through the dirt under the public communication porch, as revealed Sunday by the 60-Minutes whistleblower, reports that he—the keeper, finds it impossible to stay under there with his mouth shut—Surprise, Surprise!—and will resume ranting on some of the following …
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The Magic in Our History
Photo by C.Catutti By Carmela Cattuti Our history is probably the most important time line that we can explore. In fact, I would argue, it is imperative that we examine the past grounded in the present through a different lens. Some call unearthing the past “shadow work,” but I would frame it as excavating the …
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Kickass and Fall Writing
Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that during the keeper’s long journalistic efforts to stay out of the city room and thus avoid editors and honest labor, he came up with a number of writing schemes built around seasons—“Spring up the Mississippi,” “Around Lake Michigan in …
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Kickass and Reader Letter About Dog Killing Cats
Javier B, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, notes on the keeper’s behalf that two-way communications is not a recent Facebook thing, but was one of the delights of writing a newspaper column back in the keeper’s day. Letters from readers kept a columnist’s ego somewhat in check, and in …
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