RKS Literature: Hatred of the Boss (Charles Dickens)

‘I tell you all’, said the manager, ‘that your hypocrisy and meekness – that all the hypocrisy and meekness of this place – is not worth that to me,’ snapping his thumb and finger, ‘and that I see through it as if it were air! There is not a man employed here, standing between myself and the lowest in place (of whom you are very considerate, and with reason, for he is not far off), who wouldn’t be glad at heart to see his master humbled: who does not hate him secretly: who does not wish him evil rather than good: and who would not turn upon him, if he had the power and boldness. The nearer to his favour, the nearer to his insolence; the closer to him the farther from him. That’s the creed here!”

Charles Dickens, “Dombey and Son”

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in The Land Beyond: Time to Leave Earth and Back to The Land Beyond

OK I have had my forty days on earth after I died and at midnight I am off to The Land Beyond. I was on earth to try and help those who mourn me by the little mind control I was given for my short stay on earth. It has been most difficult. I see now the huge impact my death has caused to many people.

It is time to go as there is no more I can do here.

And what about how I feel? As The Stephen Family is devastated Dylan the West Highland Terrier is equally devastated. Give them time to heal. Give me time to heal.

My time was short but rich and I learnt how to be a true West Highland Terrier. Brave, loyal, independent and trustworthy. I am going to The Land Beyond for good until my reincarnation assignment to “a higher life form”. What can be a higher life form than a West Highland Terrier!

So let me end my memoirs with a big West Highland Terrier bark. Did you just hear that! Good-bye.

RKS 2023 Film: “The Battle for Chile”: Part 3 “Popular Power”

This is the third and last part of the seminal and historic Chilean documentary from Patricio Guzmán. Salvador Allende was elected as the President of Chile in 1970 and died in a coup in 1973 which was actively supported and financed by the United States government.

“The Battle for Chile” offers viewers a front row seat into the Allende ascension to power in 1970 culminating with his coup death in 1973. In fact, it is as if you have paid top dollar for seats to a sporting event but this is not a soccer match.

In Part 3 of “Battle for Chile: Popular Power” the concept of popular power supporting Allende is examined. The working class of Chile is poised to seize power to build a socialist state and, in this documentary, the Marxist playbook is evident. But Chile was a capitalist state and a transition to a socialist state was going to be a battle.

Imagine how a capitalist state would react to its copper, iron, coal and nitrate mines being nationalized! Not well. A counterattack of a transport strike in 1972 almost toppled Allende but bringing the military in his cabinet in 1972 looked as if it was a solution to civil war whereas it might have been his execution warrant.

The term “popular power” became a slogan for Allende supporters and consisted of creating “industrial belts” a sort of worker seizure of manufacturing and mining industries, a community commander corps and distribution co-ops.

Right wing opposition supported by the American government hacked away at popular reforms and the great Chilean socialist state was extinguished with Allende’s death in a 1973 coup.

“Battle of Chile” is a masterful documentary as leftist centric as it may be but as a viewer you have a front row seat listening to participants in the struggle including the right wing Christian Democratic party spokesmen. Patricio Guzman as director has offered you a seat amidst the Battle for Chile.

The immaturity of the mass leftist movement was no match for the capitalist backlash of the Chilean ruling classes and the United States government. At points the revolutionary zeal of Allende’s supporters precipitated his downfall?

An elected President and legislative assembly may for some equate with power but realities of a backlash financed by the United States government cause one to query the values of democracy that can be chipped away and destroyed by foreign intervention.

Part Three “Popular Power” will be screening at Anthology in New York from 8-15 September.

The “Battle of Chile” is a new 2K restoration.

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in The Land Beyond: The Greatest Power of West Highland Terriers: Love and Affection

My time on earth before my spirit goes to The Land Beyond is just about upon me. So without pontificating you may ask what my greatest achievement is? Is it defending Mistress Fotini and Master Andrew from a vicious Black Lab attack or doing battle with that demented maniac Sheppard Layla? No, it is winning over Mistress Fotini to the West Highland Terrier camp. Master Robert was an easy sell as he had prior smooth sailing with two other dogs Suzy and Ginny. But Mistress Fotini never had a dog in her family and in fact had one of those bad dog childhood experiences. But it was not long after I arrived from my breeder in Mt. Forest, Ontario in The Stephen Family house that my cute mug and eyes that could melt the heart of anyone captured the soul of Mistress Fotini.  She had a different outlook and philosophy than Master Robert but became a pal and always someone I could rely on. Geez how else could a West Highland Terrier like the Brit show Coronation Street. I wouldn’t miss it for the world if Mistress Fotini was watching it with me!

When you read about my next Memory it will be my last before I leave earth to The Land Beyond. I am so very frightened.

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in The Land Beyond: Mindfulness and Dogs: Live in the Moment

Master Robert has been certified by two universities in mindfulness. I listened in to one or two of his courses on ZOOM during that accursed COVID. Lots of living in the moment, acceptance, forgiveness, meditation and lots of stuff my limited vocabulary prevented me from understanding. On one of our walks Master Robert tried to give an example of mindfulness. Instead of walking me with a mind racing to and fro he explained the mind should be focused in the moment. Feeling the pavement under your feet, focusing on the natural beauty and ugliness about you, sniffing the breeze, feeling the cold. And some psychotherapist called Marsha Linehan in her book “Building a Life Worth Living” (which I think is a doctor of the human brain?) saying radical acceptance is the key to moving on. All this for the moment stuff! As a West Highland Terrier I could be the next John Kabat-Zinn that human mindfulness guru as this is the essence of a dog. It is the moment! So dog owners realize that it is “the moment” that counts for both you and I. Enjoy your dog in the present moment as that is the moment you are living in. And “radical acceptance” and death. We will get to that shortly as my memoirs are soon ending as is my 40 days on earth before I must go up to The Land Beyond.

RKS 2023 Wine: Wallet Friendly Fizz: Prosecco

I suspect many of my readers enjoy a glass of Champagne every once and awhile. Many I know see a bottle of sparkling wine and erroneously call it Champagne. I used to cringe hearing this but saw no use going into a fuller description of how Champagne is made and that it must be made in the Champagne region of France. Forgive them as they do not know what they say!

The price alone should be a tip off. Entry level Champagne costs $50 or so in Ontario. The Prosecco we try now is $16.95. With that price differential the lure of Prosecco is shining! So it is made by the tank method and the bubbles are a bit bigger than the beads from a Champagne.

We try a Pitars 2021 Extra Dry Prosecco. Oh yes Prosecco is from Italy as Champagne and Crémants are from France.

Aroma: Actually the bubbles here are fairly ferocious and numerous! Lemon, lime, tangerine and peach. More fruit than you’ll get in most Champagnes.

Palate: The acidity is far gentler than you would encounter with Champagne and it is fruitier. Quite frankly Prosecco is a different beast!

Food Match: Given its somewhat fruity characteristics this Prosecco would go well with vegetable or seafood curry or one of my favourites Swiss Chard Lasagna backbreaking to make but worth the effort.

Personality: Easy going good for sipping. I may not be Champagne but I got lots of sparkle!

Cellarbility: Drink up to the end of 2024.

Price: $16.95 CDN.

RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 90/100. Jamessuckling.com 90.

(Pitars Extra Dry 2021 Prosecco D.O.C., Pitars, S. Martino, Tagliamento, Italy, 750 mL, 11.5%.).

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in The Land Beyond: To Crate or not to Crate That is the San Quentin Question

Master Robert had strong views against ever crating me. With his last two dogs Suzy and Ginny in the 1960’s and early 1970’s crates were never used. Mistress Fotini and logic prevailed however and a crate was decided upon. A crate provides a safe nook for a West Highland Terrier. A place to call their own. A refuge. A big house all alone as a young pup can be intimidating. So a crate was purchased and I was “eased into it gradually”. I started with a half hour then gradually worked it up so I could happily be crated. There were toys, my blanket and when The Stephen Family was out leaving me alone in my crate there was classical music on the radio. I loved the opera! Saturday from the Met was my favourite.

My crating career was relatively short only a year and a half with the door closed until I felt comfortable roaming about the house alone. It was never that long behind closed doors as after the house was empty on the week-days there was always the dog walker from 11-2 then Master Andrew was home at 4. You know even when the crate was not necessary from a pup perspective I used it as my home for several years because I wanted to.

So for me and hopefully for your pup the crate is not San Quentin. Consider it at worst a minimum-security facility or perhaps what it really is a home for an unsure pup.

If The Stephen Family gets another dog, and they absolutely must, my crate is waiting for the new family member.

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in The Land Beyond: Pure Bliss of a Green West Highland Terrier

A popular question posed by all my canine buddies to each other here in The Land Beyond is what your happiest moment on earth was. Although the answers are different one element in common is FREEDOM. Westies are dogs that relish freedom and being off leash is FREEDOM. Almost all of us realize we are safer in urban areas on leash lest our instincts get the better of us and we decide to race off after some rodent or to greet another dog. So off leash was a huge treat for me. In fact my 4 season walks at a nearby golf course called Don Valley were the happiest times of my life. Yes even better than turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes and carrots on Christmas or lamb and Greek sweet bread (tsoureki) on Greek Easter! I ran, sniffed, jumped over logs, barked and looked (unsuccessfully) for rodents to hunt. Up and down hills, struggling through snow and meeting so many other dogs and people. I remember rolling on the ground in ecstasy. One early spring I rolled in wet grass and became a Green West Highland Terrier! I would return home exhausted and immediately crashed out in my bed for a happy sleep and I would often dream of chasing foxes.

Before I was born Master Robert went up to Don Valley Golf Course to cross country ski. He met a couple with two Westies ready to go for a walk. They said their Westies loved the walk. These two Westies were their fifth and sixth Westies! I am not sure but you might say my fate was sealed after this Westie interaction!

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in the Land Beyond: Oscar Night Flying Leap: Westie Down!!!

Aside from my brief flirtation with skin issues and a wee heart murmur I lived a healthy life. For the 2023 Oscars I was watching them in a room I do not ordinarily watch television in with Mistress Fotini. After the red-carpet fashion nonsense I fell asleep on the sofa. I mean why no Westies on the red carpet! Then Master Robert entered the room and, in a rush, to give him a greeting I took an enormously high leap off a sofa I was not used to and hit the ground hard. West Highland Terrier down! A sharp pain and shock. I limped around shivering and in pain and Master Robert picked me up and rocked me back and forth to calm me down. Man, he has experience with sweet talking dogs so much so the pain numbed.

The next day I had a stiff leg that was difficult to walk on. Damaged tendon. Time to heal weeks. No long walks. Take it easy. I began to realize I was no longer a pup but an ageing 13-year-old West Highland Terrier. 4 months later I was back to “normal”.

Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in the Land Beyond: Playtime! Attack on the Vacuum Cleaner

West Highland Terriers require their play time. Yes dog owners your dog loves to play. You can’t simply abandon your dog and ignore us!

In my younger days I loved chasing the ball or a frisbee. But why was Master Robert always yelling at me to return with the ball or the Frisbee? I could go until my body said enough. Then I’d lie down and catch my breath and Master Robert would quickly get the cue it was time to return home. I would tank up on water like a camel and have the best sleep. I would also chase the ball indoors but outside I could show off my speed. West Highland Terriers can run fast!

Then there was the towel game. Grab a towel and shake it back in forth like I was breaking the back of prey. Yes my instinct again. I also chased stuffed animals and loved their squeak when I shook it back and forth in my jaws. Instinct again.

Then there was the shift and shake game. Master Robert would approach me bent down and shift his legs back and forth. I would do the same and bark and snap in play. So tiring.

I played a soccer goalie too!

Oh yes I liked footsie with Mistress Fotini when she moved her pant legs about and I was nearby I might get close and mouth the pant leg and have a friendly tussle with her wiggling foot.

One activity I would not call play was attacking the vacuum cleaner much to the chagrin of the Stephen Family member operating the vacuum. I would be shooed out of the way. Geez instinct again?