Robert K Stephen (CSW)

RKS Literature: The Importance of the Family Doctor (Alexsandr Solzhenitsyn)

“The family doctor is a figure without whom the family cannot exist in a developed society. He knows the needs of each member of the family, just as a mother knows their tastes. There’s no shame in taking to him some trivial complaint you’d never take to the outpatient’s clinic, which entails getting an appointmentContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Importance of the Family Doctor (Alexsandr Solzhenitsyn)”

RKS 2024 Film: “Chosen Family”: Romcom in a Free Fall

Ann (Heather Graham) a yoga teacher has a family causing her stress. Her father is a religious fanatic dispensing righteous commands of salvation to Ann. Her mother Dorothy (Julie Halston) laments that her marriage and children ruined her career. Sister Clio (Julia Stiles) is a drug addict in and out of rehab. They ply AnnContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Chosen Family”: Romcom in a Free Fall”

RKS 2024 Wine: A Chilean Pinot Noir That Takes No Prisoners

I rather thought 2024 would be Chile’s year for moderately priced red wine dominance not so much in volume exported but quality wise. We try a San Pedro 1865 Tayú Pinot Noir 2021. Aroma: Dense and muscular as its less than delicate Pinot Noir dark ruby colour suggests. Black plum, blackberry, black cherry and cherryContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Chilean Pinot Noir That Takes No Prisoners”

RKS 2024 Film: “Don’t F* With Ghosts”

In the film “Don’t F* With Ghosts” Stu Stone and Adam Rodness are two Canadian filmmakers without commercial success. They visit studio executives to pitch their “Bigfoot” project but instead are steered towards producing a film that will prove there are ghosts as after all that is where the international interest is according to theContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Don’t F* With Ghosts””

RKS 2024 Wine: Valpolicella Rarely a Stinker

Approachable, friendly and easy drinking are the monikers of Valpolicella. Monikers of course are made to be broken, ignored or tampered with. 45% Corvina. 30% Corvione. 20% Rondinella. Aged 12-18 months in large oak barrels. We take this statement to the test with a 2021 Sartori Valpolicella. Aroma: Blackberry, black cherry, plum, raspberry and milkContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Valpolicella Rarely a Stinker”

RKS 2024 Film: “Compulsus”: Angry Lesbian Serial Attacker and the Bi with an Almost “Fatal Attraction”

Wally (Lesley Smith) is inundated with stories from queer and straight friends of abuse of women by men that goes unpunished. Wally is a part time poet and full-time furniture manual writer. Her rage swells to the point it is time to attack men to achieve “poetic justice”. She is officially an angry lesbian. AndContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Compulsus”: Angry Lesbian Serial Attacker and the Bi with an Almost “Fatal Attraction””

RKS Literature: The Suffering and Mercy of War (Alexsandr Solzhenitsyn)

“The war was merciful to men, it took them away. The women it left to suffer to the end of their days.” Alexsandr Solzhenitsyn, “Cancer Ward”, 1968.

RKS Literature: Growing Dull with The Passing Years (Alexsandr Solzhenitsyn)

“It’s simply that we grow dull with the passing years. We grow tired. We lose all true talent for grief or faithfulness. We surrender to time. Yet every day we swallow food and lick our fingers-in this respect we are unyielding. If we are not fed for two days we go out of our mind,Continue reading “RKS Literature: Growing Dull with The Passing Years (Alexsandr Solzhenitsyn)”

RKS 2024 Wine: Burly Barossa?

Think Aussie Red Barossa think burly? Full bodied but not overly aggressive? Crowd friendly? Too much alcohol? Destination wine lake? Looking for a dainty red from Barossa? Are you hallucinating? Or are we here in Canada suffering with liquor monopoly purchases that are safe from a profit perspective. Is there more than “easy Barossa”? IContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Burly Barossa?”

RKS 2024 Film: “Take Cover”: The Dangers of Retirement

I recently watched an episode of “The Sopranos” where a lower-level member of “the family” inherited two million dollars and wanted to retire to Florida with his wife and young children. You can’t retire from the Mafia. And the British film “Take Cover” starts with Sam Lorde (Scott Adkins) as a sniper for the “Company”Continue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Take Cover”: The Dangers of Retirement”