Robert K Stephen (CSW)

“Travels to a Different Time”: 28July2000: Samos, Greece; Pythagorian: Charming Seaside Town

Took the municipal bus from Vathi to Pythagorian. The bus service is decent but many tourists seem intimidated by public transportation and ride by taxi. I have no complaints. Buses are clean and air conditioned. The drivers are helpful. The schedule is well laid out and the buses are on time. A breakfast of oranges,Continue reading ““Travels to a Different Time”: 28July2000: Samos, Greece; Pythagorian: Charming Seaside Town”

RKS Wine: Kacaba and a Trip Down Memory Lane

Years ago while on a trip the Ontario Wine Society took to several Niagara wineries I picked up a bottle of Kacaba Rebecca Rosé and it was superb. But that was years ago and a trip down memory lane can bring smiles to one’s face but that was then and today is now. So whatContinue reading “RKS Wine: Kacaba and a Trip Down Memory Lane”

Virus # 26” Director’s Cut: Chapter 9 “Lessons Learnt from the COVIDs; People Can Be Such Amoebas”

At least a toddler has some power of rational thought including the power to stand up to parental dictatorship. That may manifest itself in stubbornness, anger or temper tantrums hence the expression “terrible twos”. The overwhelming majority of the population sucked up the steady stream of propaganda shoved down their throats by advertisements from theContinue reading “Virus # 26” Director’s Cut: Chapter 9 “Lessons Learnt from the COVIDs; People Can Be Such Amoebas””

“Travels to a Different Time ” : 27July2000: Samos, Greece: To Kedros Beach and a Catchy Supermarket Jingle

Picked up some liquids and breakfast of cheese, olives, bread and grapes. The supermarket is not that large. They have a catchy jingle playing with the store’s name in it. “Galanos, Galanos” it goes. I am puzzled that the chickens are frozen and are from Denmark. Off to Kedros Beach on the bus. A shortContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time ” : 27July2000: Samos, Greece: To Kedros Beach and a Catchy Supermarket Jingle”

Virus # 26 Director’s Cut: Chapter 8 ” Lessons Learnt from the COVIDs; People Were Treated Like Toddlers”

Now if you have raised children when they get to the terrible twos and have started their growth into toddlerdom you find constant repetition is necessary to correct their behaviour. Keep drilling the message in. In political terms it amounts to parental dictatorship. From the Canadian perspective the COVIDs exposed provincial and federal governments asContinue reading “Virus # 26 Director’s Cut: Chapter 8 ” Lessons Learnt from the COVIDs; People Were Treated Like Toddlers””

RKS Wine: The Dão’s Morgado Silgueiros Touriga Nacional

The Dão region of Portugal may not be as spectacular as the Douro as far as scenery goes but it’s huge glacial boulders give some of the Dão an otherworldly look. This is a co-operative produced wine. I have not been to their production facility but they are headquartered in Viseu a charming city notContinue reading “RKS Wine: The Dão’s Morgado Silgueiros Touriga Nacional”

RKS Film: “My Tree”: The Loss of Ignorance and the Great Repair

For his 1975 Bar Mitzvah in Toronto Jason Sherman received as a gift a certificate issued by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) that a tree had been planted in his honour in Israel. Not having any real emotional connection with Israel Sherman became curious about this tree. With some effort Sherman searched JNF records inContinue reading “RKS Film: “My Tree”: The Loss of Ignorance and the Great Repair”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 26July2000: Samos, Greece: Off to the Agia Paraskevi Religious Festival and Feast

Off to the religious feast and festival at a tiny church on the oceanfront near an area that is called Kedros. The church is a tiny country church overlooking the Aegean. It was a short trip on the municipal bus and was left off at a gas station with a small road leading to theContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 26July2000: Samos, Greece: Off to the Agia Paraskevi Religious Festival and Feast”

Virus # 26: Director’s Cut:” Chapter 7 “Was Reopening Premature?”

From a traditional medical perspective re-opening the economy repeatedly during the COVIDs was an error of huge magnitude. But the medico perspective coming from upper middle-class physicians far removed from the economic realities of the working class and small business owners not surprisingly failed to account for job losses caused by the closure of businessesContinue reading “Virus # 26: Director’s Cut:” Chapter 7 “Was Reopening Premature?””

“Virus # 26: Director’s Cut: Chapter 6 “Why COVID’s Nasty Success’

We have discussed the origins of the various waves of COVID. Why then did it enjoy such a nasty success? The highest kill rate per capita was in just about any country without a socialized medical system or a system that had simply crumbled over the years. Africa, South America, India and Pakistan are primeContinue reading ““Virus # 26: Director’s Cut: Chapter 6 “Why COVID’s Nasty Success’”