RKS Literature: The World Will Never Be White Again (James Baldwin)

“One of the things that distinguishes Americans from other people is that no other people have ever been so deeply involved in the lives of black men, and vice versa. This fact faced, with all its implications, it can be seen that the history of the American Negro problem is not merely shameful, it is also something of an achievement. For even the worst has been said, it must also be added that the perpetual challenge posed by this problem was always, somehow perpetually met. It is precisely this black-white experience which may prove of indispensable value to us in the world we grace today. The world is white no longer, and it will never be white again.”

James Baldwin, “Notes of a Native Son”, 1955

RKS 2024 Film: “Our Grandmother-The Inlet”

This Canadian short falls into the “angry Indigenous genre” of documentaries. The treatment of Canadian Indigenous nations justifies the anger which is so intense in this short documentary with the distressed Kayah George, a young Indigenous woman that wants to burn “this fucking city down”. Could that be Vancouver?

George, often with skateboard in hand, takes us on a journey communing with her grandmother the water so fundamentally important to her nation but being degraded by the bad guy colonizers and fouling not only the water but Indigenous culture that believes in a human connectivity with nature living in harmony with it and not dominating and eventually destroying it.

Although the cinematography and references to the power and spirit of the water are at times ingenuous and vitally important to understand, the incessant anger of Indigenous people must be understood even if at times it becomes oppressive and choked by negativity. Surely there is a danger this currency of negativity will be devalued. Somewhat of a shame this may happen but constant repetition risks deafening ears and creating a movement towards media productions celebrating positive contributions and a celebration of a rich culture of Indigenous peoples such as APTN’s “The Rez”. What is the maxim “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”? At what time do we move on from the past?

Screens as a short in The Gender Equity in Media Festival in person in Vancouver 5-9March2024 and virtually 12-26March2024.

At times seems somewhat like a music video?

RKS 2024 Film Rating 73/100.

The Penniless Pensioner and His Wines: A Rare Vintages Occurrence From Portugal’s Alentejano: The .95 Obsession

The big wine monopoly in the province of Ontario occasionally graces its shelves with wine that even pensioners can afford. So yes I am back, The Penniless Pensioner, presenting you a $14.95 Portuguese wine. That liquor monopoly has almost all its products with that 95 after the big dollar. Do they think this sways the captive customer when just about all Vintages wines have that .95 on the price tag and a jamessuckling.com rating of 91-93.In the LCBO’s 17February2024 Vintages release of the 86 wines featured 3 do not have a price ending in .95!

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Aragonez and Trincadeira.

Aroma: As a maker of blackberry jam this in indeed infused with blackberry jam, black cherry and vanilla. Just about enough oak picked up on the nose indicative of about 30% new oak. A prime example here of how oak can smooth out a wine without hijacking it.

Palate: Good solid stuff. Firm black cherry and cassis with moderate tannins. Certainly not sophisticated but not quite rustic.

Personality: Given the below poverty line of state pensions in Canada you will come running to me in all my modesty! A true pensioner’s wine assuming first and foremost you have any money remaining after paying for food. If not stick to a Doug Ford Wobbly Pop now available everywhere money is taken in Ontario.

Food Match: A Franchesina if prepared should keep you full for 24 hours.

Cellarbility: Consume by 2024-year end.

Price: $14.95 CDN (Ontario).

RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 88/100.

(Coutada Velha Vinho Tinto Signature 2022, VR Alentejano, Monte Ravasqueira, Arraiolos, Portugal, 750 mL, 13.5%).

RKS 2024 Film: “Cherry”: A Fly on the Wall Not Wanting to be on That Wall

Marie-Lise Chouinard (1986-2002) a beloved Quebecoise dies slowly in front of the camera. At age 36 she has lymphoma with months to live and heroically with vivacity and humour, but not without moments of sadness and distress, lifts her persona to the very end. When I grasped her terminal state I did not want to be the fly on that wall but I asked why she agreed to participate in this documentary. She had asked a priest why now. She was told it is either because he either wants you at his side or to help people on earth. It may very well be this documentary is her wish to help people on earth deal with their death. That is up for you to decide. How much time each of us has varies!

This short is a film by Laurence-Gagné Fregéau.

Screens as a short at the Gender Equity Media Festival running in person from 5-9March2024 in Vancouver and virtually from 12-16 March2024.

RKS 2024 Film Rating 92/100.

“Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: “A Dog Saved My Life”: It’s a Wrap! Chapter Sixty Eight (68)

Four months after our arrival in Darwin we have finished shooting “A Dog Saved My Life”. I worked almost every day and enjoyed every minute of it with Nicole Kidman ensuring my proper hydration as she said this Australian sun can suck the life out of you. I admire the dedication of Nicole as through thick and thin she motored on without showing a bit of fatigue. And we were working 12 hours a day in the heat. I made a few mistakes and never a harsh word from Nicole rather an encouraging statement that she knew I could do better. Nicole is an inspiration for all humans and dogs!

The film goes into postproduction over the next month so Nicole suggested in case of a reshoot I may have to return to Darwin but she thought that would be unlikely. Bob and Fay had their walk on scene which was a 30 second argument before Alice (Nicole Kidman) and her third abusive husband (Mel Gibson) entered a restaurant. Bob and Fay’s cameo went well with only one shoot. Dylan the Westie also had a cameo but I forgot what it was about! Sorry! Bosco stayed with us for the entire shoot as Mr. Gordon Lightfoot’s tour kept extending itself and he’s finishing off recording an album in South Korea and he’ll be heading off home to Toronto soon after we arrive there. Mr. Gordon Lightfoot is now experiencing stardom like he has never seen it before. He is over 80 and barrelling along like he never had that aneurysm in 2002 and stroke onstage in 2006. His song for the film “Paco A Girl’s Best Friend” was number 1 on the Billboard charts for 12 weeks! For the South Korean album both Nicole and I are on the album cover! I do not know what “K-Pop bands” are but Bob said his agent in New York had received requests that I appear with a couple of them in a music video.

The film will preview in Sydney in April then in Los Angeles in May. We have been invited to those two crucial screenings and all sorts of showbiz parties. Stars and celebrities will be as thick as thieves. Nicole has insisted we stay with her and Keith in Los Angeles for as long as we like. That is going to work out well as Bob wants to play golf in Palm Springs and Fay wants to go to Joshua Tree National Park there. Bob knows a fantastic Mexican restaurant there. Fay wants to go shopping. I will nap by the pool with Dylan the Westie. We are “dog tired”.

After a few hugs and tears Nicole waves goodbye and we are off to Darwin Airport to our private jet to take us home. Nicole whispered in my ear that I was the second-best dog in the world. Number one was Julian her oodle of some sort and we would meet him in Sydney or Los Angeles. NICOLE KIDMAN HAS A RESCUE DOG! We stop for refuelling in Sydney and then in Honolulu where we stay the night so the pilots can get some rest. We had a swim on the beach and went out for dinner on the beach so Dylan the Westie and I could be with Bob and Fay. I don’t remember much being so tired so Dylan the Westie and I slept under the table not even waiting for a scrap of food to accidentally fall. Bob and Fay enjoyed their Hawaiian dinner.

Nicole with her RESCUE DOG Julian (photo copyright Nicole Kidman)

In the morning up in the air again refreshed. So much so Dylan the Westie and I chase the ball down the aisle on the jet. We stop for refuelling at an airport in Scottsdale, Arizona and in five hours we are at the airport in Toronto and home before we know it.

Bob orders some pizza a “Barry Sherman Special” with artichokes, sundried tomatoes and chicken. As a treat we dogs get a big chunk. Such rich tomato sauce with the top drizzled with Honey. Murderously delicious!  Now I don’t want to be gross but the Bridle Path is our hood and as Dylan the Westie and I have been away for 5 months there is a lot of pee-mail to mail and check. But it is winter here in Toronto and so cold. Dylan the Westie and I have our “A Girl’s Best Friend” t-shirts on but it is so darn cold here in Toronto we skedaddle back home real quick. Bob watches the news with us dogs and puts us to bed. I noticed in the corner we sleep in just off the kitchen Bob has added an autographed picture of Nicole Kidman. We already have pictures of the King of Sweden, Mr. Gordon Lightfoot, Joe and Jill Biden, the Pope and the Ayatollah. Bob tells me tomorrow Joe Biden wants me to do him a very secret favour. I’d do a lot to help Joe and Jill as they are for us not the President and the First Lady. They are Joe and Jill and if you call him “Sleepy Joe” to my face I just might nip your ankle. Oh to sleep in my wonderful Winnipeg Blue Bombers doggie bed!

Martin Malivoire was medevacked back to his Beamsville estate with Penny by his side. He will be finalizing the special effects over the next few weeks. Russell Crowe is well enough to do my voice in the film.

RKS Literature: Playing the Poverty Game in Paris (James Baldwin)

“In those days in Paris, though I floated, so to speak, on a sea of acquaintances. I knew almost no one. Many people were eliminated from my orbit by virtue of the fact that they had more money than I did which placed me, in my own eyes, in the humiliating role of a free loader and other people were eliminated by virtue of the fact that they enjoyed their poverty, shrilly insisting that this wretched round of hotel rooms, bad food, humiliating concierges, and unpaid bills was the Great Adventure.”

James Baldwin, “Notes from a Native Son”, 1955

RKS Literature: Playing the Poverty Game in Paris (James Baldwin)

“In those days in Paris, though I floated, so to speak, on a sea of acquaintances. I knew almost no one. Many people were eliminated from my orbit by virtue of the fact that they had more money than I did which placed me, in my own eyes, in the humiliating role of a free loader and other people were eliminated by virtue of the fact that they enjoyed their poverty, shrilly insisting that this wretched round of hotel rooms, bad food, humiliating concierges, and unpaid bills was the Great Adventure.”

James Baldwin, “Notes from a Native Son”, 1955

“Travels to a Different Time” :17July2005 Estoril, Portugal: Visit to Cascais and Sintra

Alex is flying back to Toronto from Lisbon today. Breakfast is so “dignified” here. Low voices, Formal settings and service. Might I say “stuffy”? A tremendous buffet breakfast. Years ago while travelling in a just opening up Greece I was starving most of the day particularly with such meagre breakfasts. This breakfast would have been a dream for me then. I particularly enjoyed the smoked salmon and vast selection of Portuguese cheeses. I love the fresh and tangy goat cheese we have eaten every morning. The yogurt is excellent and served in a little bottle jar with a higher fat content than we are accustomed to . A bit of heaven when you add honey to it. Andrew complained about the milk in his cereal being sour so no questions asked it was immediately replaced with a fresh pitcher of milk.

After breakfast we headed to Sintra in our dusty Megan. Sintra is up in the hills and heavily forested. Up to Castelo Mouro at the top of the hill with a spectacular view including the Atlantic coastline. The coolness and scent of the pine forest is refreshing. We headed back to the hotel and at 15:45 a gleaming blue Mercedes picked up Alex to take her to the airport for her return flight to Toronto. While Andrew was having a shower I took a walk in the neighbourhood. Narrow hilly streets with shops everywhere. I discovered a supermarket with an excellent selection of Portuguese wines and nothing but. Unlike Canada there seems a passion to promote local wines. Picked up a couple of bottles along with some Algarvian peaches and oranges. I walked in the local park facing the Estoril Casino. Plenty of palm trees at both ends with pools of murky water flowing into each other from the higher elevations near the casino. I found a couple of restaurants one offering Spigola (sea bass) or octopus for 15 Euros. Drove to nearby Cascais and sat in a massive fish auction almost like being a movie theatre. I believe the city purchases all the fish from the local fishermen and auctions them off. The streets were winding and unfortunately many trashy souvenir shops. Being tired from a long day stopped in a café for a coffee and a Sumol for Andrew. In the shadows of some construction project there were some weed transactions taking place. We found a little restaurant and Andrew wanting to try steak and eggs was delighted finally to tuck into the dish. Fotini and I had grilled fish. An excellent meal. Returned to hotel and watched a couple of music videos and crashed out. Without Alex around we don’t “party” like we used to.

RKS Literature: The American Bohemian in Paris (James Baldwin)

“They are charmed by the reflection that Paris is more than a thousand years old, but it escapes them that the Parisian has been in the making just about that long, and does not, therefore, become Parisian by a Parisian address. This little band of bohemians, as grimly single-minded as any evangelical sect, illustrate, by the ferocity with which they disavow American attitudes, one of the most American attributes, to believe that time is real.”

James Baldwin “Notes of a Native Son”, 1955

RKS Literature: The Splendid Parisian Air (James Baldwin)

“…it is perfectly possible to be enamoured of Paris while remaining totally indifferent, or even hostile to the French. And this is made possible by the one person in Paris whom the legend seems least not to affect, who is not living it all, that is, the Parisian himself. Him with his impenetrable politesse, and with techniques unspeakably more direct keeps the traveller at unmistakeable arm’s length. Unlucky indeed, as well as rare, the traveller who thirsts to know the lives of the people-the people don’t want him in their lives. Neither does the Parisian exhibit the faintest personal interest, or curiosity, concerning the life or habits, of any stranger. So long as he keeps within the law, which, after all, most people have sufficient ingenuity to do, he may stand on his head, for all the Parisian cares. It is this arrogant indifference on the part of the Parisian, with its unpredictable effects on the traveller, which makes so splendid the Paris air, to say nothing whatever of the exhilarating effect it has on the Paris scene”.

James Baldwin, “Notes from a Native Son”, 1955