Robert K Stephen (CSW)

RKS Wine: A Clownish Wine: No Disrespect Meant!

I see a wine with a “Fitou” appellation please forgive me but I think of a clown. I am not sure why? Perhaps it is my Montreal background where I recall a Quebecois clown Bobino that had a popular television show years ago. But Fitou has no similarity to “Bobino”. Should I report this toContinue reading “RKS Wine: A Clownish Wine: No Disrespect Meant!”

RKS Wine: Quinta do Bom Retiro in The Douro: Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed!

If my memory serves me correct I flew to Porto from Toronto in November 2014 on my very first European media tour. I was travelling with B a writer freelancing for a major Canadian newspaper. From the airport we were picked by our driver Mr. Antonio and guide L from the Instituto dos Vinhos doContinue reading “RKS Wine: Quinta do Bom Retiro in The Douro: Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed!”

“Virus # 26″ Director’s Cut: Chapter 13:”Lessons Learnt from the COVIDs: the Politicos”

The politicos at first glance seemed to be managing the COVID outbreak. Sadly the inability of the medical systems to handle the initial wave was a result of continual cuts made to the medical systems by the politicos. That meant less PPE and less front-line medical workers, no vaccine or anti virals and in effectContinue reading ““Virus # 26″ Director’s Cut: Chapter 13:”Lessons Learnt from the COVIDs: the Politicos””

“Travels to a Different Time “: : 2August2000: Samos, Greece: Bickering, Pale Chicken and Semi Raw Potatoes: Taxi Driver with Bum Ticker

At this small hotel there are often bursts of bickering. It started off in the morning very loud and heated. Over what the bickering is in honour of no idea. I have a limited Greek vocabulary. After breakfast off to the archeological museum in Vathi. Very small but some marble statues from 300-600 BC fromContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time “: : 2August2000: Samos, Greece: Bickering, Pale Chicken and Semi Raw Potatoes: Taxi Driver with Bum Ticker”

“Virus # 26” : Director’s Cut: , “Lessons Learnt From the COVIDs: The Cult of the Front-Line Worker”

There are the medical professionals and politicians who form the top of the pyramid in the COVID narrative but there are also grocers, gas station attendants, bus and taxi drivers and a whole host of people in “essential businesses” that remained open throughout the COVIDs. Hey I was one of those front-line workers as aContinue reading ““Virus # 26” : Director’s Cut: , “Lessons Learnt From the COVIDs: The Cult of the Front-Line Worker””

RKS Wine: Wineflation: Los Clop Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon: Management Discussion with Analysts

Many wine aficionados literally run to the LCBO for highly rated wine. It is a game to snatch a winner before others beat you to it. In this case it is a Los Clop Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 from Argentina rated a 97 by Decanter Magazine. When I see a score like this I thinkContinue reading “RKS Wine: Wineflation: Los Clop Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon: Management Discussion with Analysts”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 1August2000; Samos, Greece: Salivating Dog Wants My Jugular; The Impeccable Logic of Greek Coffee

After breakfast down the hill to Vathi to pick up a ticket on Olympic Airways to Athens. I sometimes go down a dirt path as a shortcut but there is a vicious dog that would like to sink his teeth in my neck and rip it out. Thank goodness the brute is chained but IContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 1August2000; Samos, Greece: Salivating Dog Wants My Jugular; The Impeccable Logic of Greek Coffee”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 31July2000: Samos Greece, Ephesus, Turkey: Off to the Ancient Greek Ruins: Turkish Merchant Harassment

Out the door at 06:15 to the port to catch the boat to Ephesus or rather to Kusadesi in Turkey then a bus to Ephesus a la tour! Breezed through passport control and aboard a small excursion ship at 08:45 to Kusadesi. An hour into the journey on calm waters and one could see theContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 31July2000: Samos Greece, Ephesus, Turkey: Off to the Ancient Greek Ruins: Turkish Merchant Harassment “

“Virus # 26” Director’s Cut: Chapter 11: “Lessons Learnt from COVIDs: The Failure of Social Distancing”

During the COVID-19 waves there was a politico-medico obsession with social distancing to the extent failure to adhere to it could result in warnings from COVID-19 “police forces”, fines, imprisonment and of course the dressing down given by “outraged” municipal, state, provincial and federal governments. These dressing down tantrums were as tedious as the propagandaContinue reading ““Virus # 26” Director’s Cut: Chapter 11: “Lessons Learnt from COVIDs: The Failure of Social Distancing””

“Travels to a Different Time” : 30July2000: Samos, Greece A Beach from a Different Era

The manager of the hotel related a story to me how years ago, many years ago, they swam at a beach called Mauones which is at the far end of Vathi. Being curious about the beach of yesteryear headed down the road. But there was no beach but a break wall with rusted pieces ofContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 30July2000: Samos, Greece A Beach from a Different Era”