Author Archives: Robert K Stephen (CSW)

The Indelible Charm of the Greeks! “’Vicky’s Diner”

We have a complicated cross-cultural situation to deal with here. Vicky Limberis is a Greek immigrant to New York City who worked in a variety of diners before eventually opening up “Vicky’s Diner” way up from midtown New York. She had worked in diners then owned one that burnt down and started Vicky’s Diner toContinue reading “The Indelible Charm of the Greeks! “’Vicky’s Diner””

Greek Middle Class Struggles in “Family Member”

In 2015 Greek Cyprus Sophia (Yioala Klitoa) and her husband Yorgos (Christopher Greco) are owners of a mini-mart and the mega marts and the Greek financial crisis are giving hard times to the family making ends meet. They need an extension from the bank for loan repayments, their daughter “urgently” needs a 50 Euro pairContinue reading “Greek Middle Class Struggles in “Family Member””

The Battle of the Portuguese Sagrados

Several years ago after attending Port Wine Day in Porto, Portugal I had a fantastic lunch with the owner of Quinta do Sagrado José Marie Calem in an outdoor restaurant overlooking the Douro River. It was a warm September day and we really dug into some incredible seafood in the old section of Porto. AfterwardsContinue reading “The Battle of the Portuguese Sagrados”

Chapter 43 “the scramble for immunity: thank you cannabis”

The other totally effective immunity source against Virus # 26 was cannabis and not simply a puff for a novice. As with measles and chicken pox it took time to complete the research on this rather strange anti-viral tool but through the preliminary research and anecdotal evidence what we did know as the outbreak ofContinue reading “Chapter 43 “the scramble for immunity: thank you cannabis””

Poetry Corner: “downtown Treblinka”

Downtown Treblinka Hemmed into the office towers by the awesome guard posts of corporate ideologythe weary beaten staggerstaggering into Calcuttian cubiclesto be transported to prosperous futilitywhisked by gleaming vehicles financed at the public expenseonly marred by the spots of the unhappily assimilatedbroken by their own black bootsstomped through lack of humanitylined up on the wallContinue reading “Poetry Corner: “downtown Treblinka””

Poetry Corner: “Empty Ballad”

Empty Ballad he basks in the spotlightan angelfeels so proud of himselfand the throngs surroundcall for morethe critics raveOnly Time knows he is nothingonly words an music of an eraa face on an album cover Actually they hate him for he is nothing like themmore than they know they will ever behis reality crushes theirContinue reading “Poetry Corner: “Empty Ballad””

Poetry Corner: “Honeymoon in Saratoga Springs (circa 1961)”

Honeymoon at Saratoga Springs (circa 1961) Well it certainly was quite a daylet’s go to bed Wait!I’ve got to brush my teeth You already did Come on let’s go for a walk But it’s two in the morning Oh all rightturn off the light and look the other way OK Robert K. Stephen

Virus # 26: Chapter 42: “the scramble for immunity; thank you chickenpox and measles”

Chapter 42 “the scramble for immunity; thank you chickenpox and measles” Medicine holds few surprises for me as a physician. Just when we thought we had licked a disease like polio, measles, smallpox, chicken pox, syphilis, or rubella then up pops Ebola, AIDS, SARs, MERs, COVIDs and Virus # 26. Countless hours of research andContinue reading “Virus # 26: Chapter 42: “the scramble for immunity; thank you chickenpox and measles””