The Kazakhstani documentary “We Live Here” unravels a story of criminal negligence or is it state manslaughter? Between 1949-1991 over 456 nuclear tests were conducted by the USSR in a test site area on the Kazakhstani steppes covering an area of 18,300 square kilometers, roughly the size of Israel. Open air testing ceased in 1963Continue reading “Toronto Hot Docs 2025: “We Live Here”: Nuclear Cruelty: Criminal Negligence or is it State Manslaughter?”
Author Archives: Robert K Stephen (CSW)
Toronto 2025 HOT DOCS: “Ultras”: Familial Football Fanaticism of Stadium Schizophrenics
“Ultras” explores rather fittingly the culture of Ultras in 8 countries and 4 continents including England, Sweden, Italy, Morocco, Indonesia, Egypt, Mexico and Argentina. Ultras are those noisy, swaying, boisterous and vociferous masses at football games. Are they suffering from Stadium Schizophrenia? Masses of the life weary, battered by ordinary cares and problems untilContinue reading “Toronto 2025 HOT DOCS: “Ultras”: Familial Football Fanaticism of Stadium Schizophrenics “
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Cave Spring 2023 Cabernet Franc
The wine originates from the Cave Spring Vineyard on a hillside of the Niagara Escarpment known as the Beamsville Bench. The grapes are grown at 410-510ft. The soil the grapes were grown in is composed primarily of limestone and dolostone mixed with sandstone, shale and traces of granite. Fermentation with indigenous yeast. Aged 14 months,Continue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Cave Spring 2023 Cabernet Franc”
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Lighthall Cabernet Franc from “The County”
Two or so hours by car from Toronto and you arrive in Prince Edward County affectionately known as “The County”. Bucolic for the most part with cottages for the rich and famous and a few upscale restaurants to fed them. Summer home for business tycoons, judges and lawyers akin to The Hamptons for Torontonians. AsContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Lighthall Cabernet Franc from “The County””
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Hare Cabernet Merlot from Niagara Ontario: This Hare Got Lost on the Racetrack and Was Beaten by the Snail
For my ex-Canada readers, the Niagara wine region is a couple of hours drive from Toronto God and traffic willing. Ok I admit the automobile trip from Toronto is shall we say diplomatically, less than inspiring but becomes much more interesting once you clear The Burlington Skyway Bridge and fumes of Hamilton and hit theContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Hare Cabernet Merlot from Niagara Ontario: This Hare Got Lost on the Racetrack and Was Beaten by the Snail”
RKS 2025 Film: “Greek Mother’s Never Die”: Authenticity and Stereotypes
Rachel Suissa, writer and director of “Greek Mother’s Never Die”, says the film is a personal journey based on her Greek mother and the happenings in her own life. It started as a one woman show, then a television show and now a movie. Twenty-five-year-old Ella (Abby Miner) was born in Greece to an AmericanContinue reading “RKS 2025 Film: “Greek Mother’s Never Die”: Authenticity and Stereotypes”
RKS 2025 Wine: Chilean Wine Consistently Good and Affordable: Good-Bye to Made in America Kraft Dinner!
If you are a follower of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s (LCBO) bi-monthly Vintages Catalogue you must have noticed a steady increase in prices in the past two years with wines from Ontario no exception. Chilean prices seem less inclined follow the upward trajectory in price. We try a P/K/N/T Platinum 2020 from CasaContinue reading “RKS 2025 Wine: Chilean Wine Consistently Good and Affordable: Good-Bye to Made in America Kraft Dinner!”
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Documentary: “The Spoils”: Morality Butts Heads with Legality and Political Games
Morality dictates the conclusion to be drawn from the “looting” of art by the Nazis in World War II is such art should be returned to the heirs of the owners the Nazis “stole” it from. Legality may dictate otherwise due to the civil law doctrine in Germany (and in common law jurisdictions) a purchaserContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Documentary: “The Spoils”: Morality Butts Heads with Legality and Political Games”
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: CREW 2018 Grand CREW from the Land Beyond
There is some mighty fine wine being produced in the Lake Erie North Shore appellation in Ontario which the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) habitually ignores except for its tokenism in its inventory. Disservice to Ontario vintners and to residents of Ontario. As far as the LCBO treats Lake Erie North Shore it isContinue reading “RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: CREW 2018 Grand CREW from the Land Beyond”
RKS CANADIAN Spirits: Seventh Heaven Premium CANADIAN London Dry Gin
The geographic reference to “London” in London Dry Gin does not mean the gin is distilled in London but rather refers to a particular process how London Dry Gin is made. It requires a neutral base spirit to be distilled to at least 96% ABV. No synthetic botanicals can be used. Post distillation water canContinue reading “RKS CANADIAN Spirits: Seventh Heaven Premium CANADIAN London Dry Gin”
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