Author Archives: Robert K Stephen (CSW)

RKS Film: “The Quiet Epidemic”: Sadness, Rage and Disgust

Ostensibly the American documentary “The Quiet Epidemic” chronicles the steamrolling Lyme Disease (LD) epidemic in the United States but it is far more than that. It is an exposé on the self-destructive greed and failure of the for-profit underpinnings of the American medical system and the moral and ethical corruption if not gross negligence ofContinue reading “RKS Film: “The Quiet Epidemic”: Sadness, Rage and Disgust”

RKS Film: “African Moot”: A Dual Personality Review: Toronto Hot Docs

Ok, what is a “moot”? It is an experience just about all law students suffer or enjoy. It is a mock trial in front of judges based on a fictional case. The judges may be actual judges or legal practitioners. It involves hours of preparation added on to a crushing workload of everyday lectures. SoContinue reading “RKS Film: “African Moot”: A Dual Personality Review: Toronto Hot Docs”

RKS Poetry: “The Beady Eyed Man and Concentration Camps”

The Beady Eyed Man and Ukrainian Concentration Camps The beady eyed Russian manor perhaps the Messiah according to the Grand Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Churchfond of $30,000 watchesestablishes “filtration camps”bolstered by mobile crematoriums on wheelsthe bells of Adolph Eichmann the final solution ring a final pealmass graves full of a killing zealforgetting beady eyedContinue reading “RKS Poetry: “The Beady Eyed Man and Concentration Camps””

RKS Wine: Croix de Bonpas Côtes-du-Rhône Villages

The Croix de Bonpas Côtes-du-Rhône Villages 2019 is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. On the aromatic side notes of big fat almost overly ripe strawberries, blueberries, cactus pear and a tad of black licorice. On the palate moderate tannins, rhubarb pie, white pepper, blackberry and blueberry clafouti. Moderately long finish.Continue reading “RKS Wine: Croix de Bonpas Côtes-du-Rhône Villages”

RKS Wine: Stag’s Hollow 2021 Muscat Frizzante

I know Stag’s Hollow in British Columbia’s Okanagan for some very serious high-quality wines. They are also not shy about pushing the boundaries with their Albariño, Dolcetto and Tempranillo. And they are at it again with a Muscat Frizzante. You will not see much Muscat wine produced in Canada. More than a decade ago IContinue reading “RKS Wine: Stag’s Hollow 2021 Muscat Frizzante”

RKS Film: “Sam Now”: The Cycle Repeats

“Sam Now” is a creative adventure into self-discovery that casualties in life often repeat themselves inflicting harm on the next generation. Sam Harkness and his bother Reed had been amateur filmmakers since childhood especially after discovering an old Super 8 camera in their garage. A favourite character in their movies was a superhero “Blue Panther”Continue reading “RKS Film: “Sam Now”: The Cycle Repeats”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 4July1975: Umea, Sweden: Germans Getting Piggish

Woke up freezing cold and with great bravery uncovered myself and quickly dressed. The Germans were up and stuffing themselves with breakfast and never even offered me some. I had no food. Come on guys have a heart as I got you in free to a couple of discos and beer to boot. Fortunately aContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 4July1975: Umea, Sweden: Germans Getting Piggish”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 3July1975 : Sundvall, Sweden: Up in the Land of the Midnight Sun

Up early and to the German’s Simca heading North into the land of the Midnight Sun. Bought our breakfast supplies on the way and kept bombing around until 15:00 where we stopped at a lake. The owner of the house invited us to swim and use his chairs facing the lake. We ate lunch inContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 3July1975 : Sundvall, Sweden: Up in the Land of the Midnight Sun”

RKS Film: “Atomic Hope”: The Bad Boys of Climate Change Advocacy (Toronto Hot Docs Festival)

There is nothing like documentary film to flip you on your head and make you realize that perhaps nuclear power is the most efficient and quick way to reverse climate change. Initially the anti nuclear power people were on the fringe but decades later they are part of the establishment so the pro nuclear powerContinue reading “RKS Film: “Atomic Hope”: The Bad Boys of Climate Change Advocacy (Toronto Hot Docs Festival)”