Robert K Stephen (CSW)

RKS 2024 Wine: The Berlin Wall, DDR Memories and German Pinot Noir

I was in Berlin in the days of yore when the Berlin Wall was “up and running”. At night lit up it was particularly eerie with bright lights and East German soldiers with dogs patrolling and East German soldiers patrolling the patrolling East German soldiers for fear they’d somehow make a break for it. AndContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: The Berlin Wall, DDR Memories and German Pinot Noir”

RKS 2024 Wine: Ontario Merlot: To Dream the Almost Impossible Dream

Wine writers must suffer boredom reviewing wines if they have no passion. You might want to say I am passionate about discovering good Ontario Merlot despite the fact it might be a Sir Edmund Hillary climb to find one. The majority taste neutered with little power to impress. Sure you can point to terroir toContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Ontario Merlot: To Dream the Almost Impossible Dream”

RKS 2024 Film: “Carol Doda: Topless at the Condor”: Artistic Exploration Sputters to Nostalgia Act

Carol Doda (1937-2015) has been recognized as the first “legal” topless dancer in the United States. Using archival footage including press interviews we trace the history of Carol Doda and perhaps of more interest the evolution of American attitudes towards sexuality and the feminist movement. The film also delves into (although not expressly) the AmericanContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Carol Doda: Topless at the Condor”: Artistic Exploration Sputters to Nostalgia Act”

RKS Literature: Suffering from a Lack of Suffering (Ben Lerner)

“On the one hand, Klaus, surely the only man in Topeka outfitted in white linen, could not take these kids-with their refrigerators full of food, their air conditioning and television, their freedom from stigma and state violence-seriously; what could be more obvious than the fact that they did not know what suffering was, that ifContinue reading “RKS Literature: Suffering from a Lack of Suffering (Ben Lerner)”

RKS 2024 Wine: Affordable Quality Cabernet Sauvignon: Look to Chile?

Perez Cruz rarely fumbles preferring to excel. This wine is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. It has spent 14 months in first, second and third fill French oak barrels. Aroma: Blueberry attack. Black cherry, mint with a hint of dark chocolate. Palate: Youngish wine that needs moreContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Affordable Quality Cabernet Sauvignon: Look to Chile?”

RKS 2024 Film: “The Burning Season”: Raging Hormones, Various Intoxications of the Flesh and Deception from Z to A: The Canadian Film Fest

I have viewed some fine films showing at The Canadian Film Fest. There are so many film festivals in the world it is impossible to keep track of them all and I stumbled into this one by chance. It is certainly not a major festival but based on the festival films I watched great careContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “The Burning Season”: Raging Hormones, Various Intoxications of the Flesh and Deception from Z to A: The Canadian Film Fest”

RKS 2024 Film: “Daughter of the Sun”: Cruel, Bizarre, Mystical and Biblical

“Daughter of the Sun” combines biblical references, “2001 A Space Odyssey”, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Bonny and Clyde” making this one the best Canadian movies in modern times. Ryan Ward as writer, director and actor has quite an accomplishment on the screen. Please don’t hold it against the film that it isContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Daughter of the Sun”: Cruel, Bizarre, Mystical and Biblical”

RKS 2024 Film: “Hailey Rose”: A Mess of Quirkiness, Hate, Selfishness, Deception and Forgiveness: Canadian Film Fest

“Hailey Rose”, a Canadian feature film, is an intriguing mess of emotions, bearing in mind “mess” does not always signify negativity. Hailey (Em Haine) and Rose (Caitlynne Medrek) are Nova Scotian sisters. Hailey is queer living in Calgary and in rural Nova Scotia queer is on par with an exotic animal. Rose is quirky. TheirContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Hailey Rose”: A Mess of Quirkiness, Hate, Selfishness, Deception and Forgiveness: Canadian Film Fest”

RKS 2024 Wine: A Rich South African Blend?

Le Riche Richesse from Stellenbosch uses the term “richesse” to denote the wealth of winemaking traditions in Stellenbosch. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (57%), Cinsault (13%), Cabernet Franc (13%), Petit Verdot and Merlot. Aroma: Blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, red licorice and milk chocolate. Palate: Fair to say this presents a rich palate. Very solid wine.Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Rich South African Blend?”

RKS Literature: Not Having the Right Stuff to be an Executive (Kurt Vonnegut Jr.)

“Both were lighthearted, undaunted by ambition as they sauntered along the factory gate, outside of which was the Acme Grill. It had been made clear to both of them that they didn’t have the priceless stuff of which executives were made. So, unlike so many wide-eyed and hustling men all around them, they were toContinue reading “RKS Literature: Not Having the Right Stuff to be an Executive (Kurt Vonnegut Jr.)”