BEYOND PUPPYDOM: INCIDENTS, ACCIDENTS, EXPLORATIONS AND MAYHEM: RORY DYLAN STEPHEN TELLS IT LIKE IT IS: RORY’S TREATMENT PLAN: MEDITATIVE THERAPY

In our first group session of meditative therapy Dr. Skilos explained the goal of us learning how to and appreciate the effects of meditation.

We had difficulty understanding him when he told us mediation is about being. Once you are in a meditative mind it is you and there is nothing but you. He said we all subject to a racing mind; there are too many distractions in our head; do this, don’t do this, must go for a walk, what is in my bowl for dinner, thinking about chasing a ball and so on. Meditation is an opportunity to displace all these thoughts racing around your head. It puts you in tune with your breath. The key is to focus on your in breath and outbreath and nothing else. Dr. Skilos smiled as he saw our smug faces saying it sounds easy but let’s try it!

So we sat in a circle with Dr. Skilos saying repeatedly, “Relax. You have nothing on your mind but your breath. Breathe in and out, in and out, in and out.”

Skilos was certainly correct. I managed a few times to focus on my breath in and out but invariably my mind focused on all sorts of matters and pardon the expression “barking out commands”. Some of my canine friends fell asleep! Skilos encouraged us by saying we must keep working on it daily and then that sweet spot will be there; ultimate relaxation and self realization.

The very few times I managed to focus on my breath in and out and that’s all, many thoughts about my abduction vanished. If only I could continually focus on my being perhaps those negative thoughts could be controlled and not have so much impact on my psyche.

RKS British Literature: Happiness and the Economic Hazards of Life (John Fowles)

‘Wealth is a monster. It takes a month to learn to control it financially. And many years to learn to control it psychologically. For those many years I lived a selfish life. I offered myself every pleasure. I travelled a great deal. I lost some money in the theatre, but I made much more on the stock market. I gained a great many friends, some of whom now are quiet famous. But I was never happy. However, in the end I did discover what some rich people never discover – that we all have a certain capacity for happiness and unhappiness. And that the economic hazards of life do not seriously affect it.’

John Fowles, “The Magus”, 1977.

RKS British Literature: AN EXCELLENT DEFINITION OF MAN (John Fowles)

‘Victims?’

‘Whatever you call people who are made to suffer without being given the choice.’

‘That sounds like an excellent definition of man.’

John Fowles, “The Magus”, 1977.

RKS British Literature: About Being an Air Hostess (John Fowles)

She began to talk about being an air hostess; about herself.

‘Oh Jesus, excitement. That lasts about a couple of duties. New faces, new cities, new romances with handsome pilots. Most of the pilots think we are part of the aircrew amenities. Just queuing up to be blessed by their miserable old Battle-of-Britain cocks.

I laughed.

“Nicko, it’s not funny. It destroys you. That bloody tin pipe. And all that freedom, that space outside. I just want to pull that safety handle and be sucked out. Just falling, a minute of wonderful lovely passengerless falling…..’

John Fowles, “The Magus”, 1977.

RKS CHINESE FILM: “Operation Hadal”: Beyond the Classic War Movie?

“Operation Hadal” exhibits all the tried-and-true elements of the classic war movie; bad guys, good guys, the old warriors, the young boastful bucks, blood, guts, tension, suspense, bravery, sacrifice for country and fellow warriors and hand to hand combat…and that schmaltzy over the top Top Gunish type music. Let’s not forget the patriotism and pride doffing our hats to the Chinese navy and commando units!

As the film was made for the Chinese audience, a Chinese Navy submarine, its crew and commando units on board are the good guys and the bad guys (all English speaking) are from some fictious country named Siekerman. The bad guys are constantly challenging the supremacy of the Chinese in the Asia Pacific. At one point in time the bad guys from Siekerman had developed powerful nuclear weapons which they then stored in undersea bases (Project Stella) later abandoning their evil efforts ratcheting down their bad boy behaviour by suspending the project but Siekerman rebels became the new bad boys hijacking the bad guys super advanced submarine with the goal of reactivating Project Stella, triggering massive nuclear destruction inflicting heavy damage in the Asia Pacific region including China.

A newly developed Chinese submarine springs into action to hunt down the rebel bad guys and ensure they do not detonate the Project Stella nuclear devices. Chinese audiences will be happy with the results!

Be prepared for a submarine war movie not yet seen on the screen. Not a Gregory Peck, Richard Basehart or Lloyd Bridges manoeuvring a tin can but ultra sophisticated submarines and mini submarines. Tech is king and the Chinese are portrayed as having a good handle on it and defeating the rebel bad guys. What astounding sets portraying the interior of the Chinese submarine!

What underwater action with awesome torpedo scenes, explosions and a tsunami of suspense and tension. You like action here then you have it all including extensive hand to hand combat between rival commando units. For some the action is just too much!

Most war movies of the 1940-1970 era have a heavy propaganda slant to them perhaps broken by such films as “Apocalypse Now” or “Platoon” but one may certainly detect a patriotic effort here praising the military prowess of China defeating an English-speaking nation. No finger pointing please as perhaps it is time China’s military kicks some ass in a fictious adventure. How well this film does in the United States in an era of “Make America Great Again” where Trumpian belligerence accusing China (and Canada for that matter) of “ripping off” America remains to be seen. And if the Chinese don’t give a damn bravo to them.

A simplistic plot with heavy duty action and brilliant cinematography make this a good watch but its traditional and perhaps even American inspired war movie traditional elements do not make it a great watch but how many war movies are really a good watch?

Watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiwzDwDZ7sY

Directed by Dante Lam.

Available on Blu-Ray and DVD exclusively on Amazon 29September2026.

RKS CHINESE FILM RATING 72/100.

RKS Greek Literature: Aphrodite Let Me Win This Round! (Sappho)

Sweet mother, I can’t take shuttle in hand.

There is a boy, and lust

Has crushed my spirit – just

As gentle Aphrodite planned.

Since I have cast my lot, please, golden-crowned

Aphrodite, let me win this round!

Sappho (630 BCE-570BCE), “Come Close”

RKS Greek Literature: Blest Bridegroom (Sappho)

Blest bridegroom, this day of matrimony,

Just as you wished it, has come true:

The bride is whom you wished for…

You

Move gracefully; your eyes are honey;

Charm was showered on your radiant face –

Yes, Aphrodite granted you outstanding praise

The ambrosial mixture

Ready in the mixing bowl,

Hermes went round with a pitcher

And served the gods. When all

Had tipped their goblets and poured offerings,

They prayed that the groom suffer only the good

things.

Because there is no other girl than she,

Bridegroom – a child still of such quality.

Sappho (630 BCE-570BCE), “Come Close”

RKS Greek Literature: Can’t Stand Being the Old One (Sappho)

As you are dear to me, go claim a younger

Bed as your due.

I can’t stand being the old one any longer,

Living with you.

Sappho (630 BCE-570BCE), “Come Close”

RKS British Literature: Hitler Did Not Betray Himself (John Fowles)

‘The human race is unimportant. It is the self that must not be betrayed.’

‘I suppose I could say that Hitler didn’t betray his self.’

He turned.

‘You are right. He did not. That was the tragedy. Not that one man had the courage to be evil. But that millions had not the courage to be good.’

John Fowles, “The Magus”, 1977.