Ginevra and I flew to Naples via Frankfurt in mid November. Naples was almost warm when we arrived at 11 a.m. We were met by two burly men in the arrivals area. And wouldn’t you know one of the men was that heavily tattooed man with a scar on his face and Iroquois haircut thatContinue reading ““The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous: Chapter 30: Meeting the Cocaine King in Naples: Better Toasted than Being Toast!”
Author Archives: Robert K Stephen (CSW)
RKS Health: The Central Strategy of Big Pharma
“Between 1991 and 2017, drug companies paid more than $38 billion in fines and settlements to federal and state governments: many of those companies-including Merck pleaded guilty to having misled doctors and the public about drug safety and efficacy. (GlaxoSmith Kline led the pack with $7.9 billion in financial penalties). Even so that seemingly enormousContinue reading “RKS Health: The Central Strategy of Big Pharma”
RKS 2023 Film: “Backlash: Misogyny in the Digital Age” (Je vous salue salope, Backlash): Revulsion, Disgust and Frustration
When you watch “Backlash: Misogyny in the Digital Age” unless you are a Proud Boy or a January 6th insurrectionist you might be thoroughly disgusted. Women and men from the United States, Canada, France and Italy tell their story of on-line harassment of themselves or their loved ones by woman hating rednecks. It is notContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “Backlash: Misogyny in the Digital Age” (Je vous salue salope, Backlash): Revulsion, Disgust and Frustration”
RKS 2023 Wine: Perez Cruz: A Tsunami of Winners: Confessions of a Carmenère Convert!
At the Drink Chile 2022 event held last November in Toronto I tasted the Perez Cruz Limited Edition Carmenère and it suddenly dawned on me that perhaps Chilean red wines had turned the corner and escaped their minty characteristics of a decade ago. That was one reason I took a Chilean red wine hiatus forContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Perez Cruz: A Tsunami of Winners: Confessions of a Carmenère Convert!”
RKS Health: Misleading Physicians to Increase Sales
“The Kaiser v. Pfizer trial provided two key lessons about drug company marketing: First, because drug companies fund most of the research about their drugs and control the resulting data, they can (and do) mislead physicians in order to increase sales. And, second, under our current system, it is more profitable for large pharmaceutical companiesContinue reading “RKS Health: Misleading Physicians to Increase Sales”
RKS 2023 Wine: Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon
It is quite remarkable Chile can offer us excellent Cabernet Sauvignon in the under $25 category. Why muck about with Californians in that price range. You’ll often be disappointed. Years ago one might have avoided Chilean red wines due to that minty touch on the palate as one would avoid South African reds due toContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon”
“The Penniless Pensioner” : Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous” : Chapter 29: All Shook Up! The Fat Fox Backs Down
I mean how would you feel receiving a severed goat’s head via Fedex! And how would dear Ginerva feel about her little “currykins” (my nickname) being threatened by her Daddy! We both were all shook up. Ginerva requested we not talk about it until our Saturday “Discover New York Day”. She had a few callsContinue reading ““The Penniless Pensioner” : Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous” : Chapter 29: All Shook Up! The Fat Fox Backs Down”
RKS Health: Should the Real Goal to be Lower Cholesterol?
“Americans and their health care providers must remember that the real goal is not to have the lowest cholesterol level but to have the lowest risk of heart disease and stroke. Had the guidelines Jane’s doctor followed so scrupulously with regard to statin therapy first called for an in-depth program to help Jane overcome herContinue reading “RKS Health: Should the Real Goal to be Lower Cholesterol?”
RKS 2023 Wine: South African Chenin Blanc: A Signature Grape/Wine?
In today’s wine world can one properly speak of a signature wine or grape? Given most wine producing countries produce a variety of wines how can you select a signature grape? By volume produced? By sales? By quality? By exports? The categories are many and varied and who can agree on them? At best oneContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: South African Chenin Blanc: A Signature Grape/Wine?”
“The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous”: Chapter 28: Goat’s Head Special Delivery from Don Lupara?
Ginevra and I had earmarked Saturdays for an exploration of New York City. There were so many sites to see. My favourite site was Central Park an oasis from the urban frantic New York. No matter the mood or weather we had frequent walks. I liked the lagoon with its ducks and benches to watchContinue reading ““The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous”: Chapter 28: Goat’s Head Special Delivery from Don Lupara?”
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 