“Andrij the Orphaned Ukrainian Rescue Dog ” : Chapter 21: Ukrainian Orthodox Priest Called to Andrij’s Bed

It is Dylan the Westie here with an update on Bob and Andrij The Orphaned Ukrainian Rescue Dog. Bob remains in critical condition at Sunnybrook Hospital after this surgery. I am sorry to have to tell you a Ukrainian Orthodox priest is rushing to Andrij’s bedside to deliver last rites. A world-renowned veterinarian neurosurgeon from California has been sent by my good friend Nicole Kidman to Toronto and will be arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport within the hour. Buddhists of the world will commence a worldwide Buddhist Kindness and Compassion Meditation to help Andrij at midnight Toronto time. Please keep your prayers coming.

Last rites to be delivered to Andrij

RKS Film: Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival; “The Eclipse”

I have visited Yugoslavia (as it then was) three times in the 1970’s having been from its toes to its head spending most of my time in the republics of Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. As a political science student I studied the rise of Marshall Tito from Partisan leader to President until his death in 1980. After his death his presence and repression could no longer be leveraged to keep the country whole as it broke apart in the midst of violent conflict in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I recall as a teenage traveller in Yugoslavia there were different ethnic groupings including Muslims. Slovenia never seemed part of Yugoslavia and had more in common with its Alpine neighbour Austria. The Serbian and Croats rather remind me of the Russians and Ukrainians today namely being at each other’s throats. I wondered back then what the fate of Yugoslavia would be when Tito died in 1980. It was the end of Yugoslavia that the Partisans had claimed in 1943. It did not end peacefully. As early as 1941 the Croatian Ustaše, a ultra nationalistic and fascist organization murdered Serbs, Jews and Roma. A very understandably sore point was the discovery of the death pit in Golubinka where the Ustaše buried and covered in concrete some murdered 600 Serbians. Is it any wonder the hatred of the Serbs toward Croatians festered and grew until Serbia become a murderous and ethnic cleanser? As a traveller and student of Yugoslavia this was all so saddening.

The film starts with Nataša Urban as narrator and director explaining the 1961 solar eclipse that all were encouraged to see as it wouldn’t be until 1999 for the next solar eclipse of Yugoslavia. The narrator remarked who knew there would be no Yugoslavia in 1999.

Urban weaves a personal picture of Yugoslavia from WW2 until its total dissolution. We hear from relatives, parents, and friends what life was like. If you are not a student of Yugoslavia you need not get lost in the fascinating and complex details of wars and ethnic cleansing. View the documentary as a warning, bolstered by a collection of personal experiences about how conflict and hatred can destroy a country and traumatize its people.

Perhaps in addition to “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” there will be one day a song “Don’t Cry For Me Yugoslavia”. If you have travelled in Yugoslavia perhaps you will shed a tear about its violent demise. I returned to Croatia, specifically to Dubrovnik for the 4th time in the early 2000’s and was shocked that the Serbs had shelled it. After hearing about the Golubinka massacre in this documentary I think I understand it but don’t condone it.

This Norwegian film shows at the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival on March 31st and April 2.

RKS Wine: Brookwalter’s 2018 Columbia Valley Red Blend from Washington State

The wines of Washington State are a bit like the wines of Lake Erie North Share in Ontario that play second fiddle to the wines of Niagara. Washington State wines play second fiddle to the wines of California. It is not a question of quality but consumer confidence or as our Liquor Control Board of Ontario must be thinking to itself, “Follow the money”.

So what goes with the Brookwalter Readers Red Blend from Columbia Valley in Washington State? For aromatics expect a dense cloud of sweet blueberries and blackberries complimented by lavender and Croatian cherry sok in a creamy context. This creates a harbinger of smooth power like a Mercedes limousine cruising down the autobahn at 220 kms an hour. A grand wallop of richness on the palate. A poster boy for the full-bodied wine club. Blueberries that have been weightlifting and are big and muscular. Black cherries that are on steroids like a Russian gymnast. Medium long finish. Tannins are certainly not brutish. The wine seems to be struggling with its 14.8% alcohol and I would suggest it is built for food and it has enough heft to match venison, wild boar or moose. For something less exotic prime rib with Yorkshire pudding and lots of gravy please!

76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Syrah and 8% Malbec.

(Readers 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington, Brookwalter Winery, Richland, Washington , $34.94 (store manger discount at $24.50), Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 13238, 750 mL, 14.8%,  RKS Wine 91/100)

“Andrij the Orphaned Ukrainian Rescue Dog” : Chapter 20: April Fools Assassination: Andrij in Critical Condition

Hello. It is Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog with Dylan the Westie at my side this evening. While on our evening walk on April 1st with myself and Dylan I say with deep regret an assassination attempt was made on Andrij The Orphaned Ukrainian Rescue Dog in the Bridle Path area of Toronto. Two armed men jumped out of a Lada vehicle and opened fire and jabbed poisoned umbrellas at all of us including three Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I would like to say at this time both attackers have been killed along with two of the RCMP agents in the security detail. Bob has been shot three times and was immediately transported to Sunnybrook Hospital where he is undergoing surgery in critical condition. Andrij has been struck in the head by a bullet that ricocheted off the pavement and hit his US Marine helmet. It did not penetrate the helmet but the impact of the bullet caused his brain to swell and he too is in critical condition and being treated at a local veterinarian hospital. Another bullet grazed his hind leg and there has been a life-threatening loss of blood. Two bullets struck his flack jacket and caused severe bruising. I will update you with further details as they become known. Andrij’s last words before he lapsed into unconsciousness were, “May he enjoy a cup of plutonium tea”. We welcome your prayers.

Bob pictured here with Dylan the Westie who asks for your prayers of support in these difficult times
Andrij the Orphaned Ukrainian Rescue Dog currently in critical condition

“Andrij the Orphaned Ukrainian Rescue Dog”: Chapter 20: Hatred is our Weapon

In the Ukraine can we afford the luxury of not hating the Russians?

Hatred is a powerful motivator especially when you have a knife at your throat that the Russian invaders can thrust and sever your jugular.  And when hatred is intertwined with patriotism and desperation it may save our country. Is it nice, safe and secure democracies that have the luxury of compassion when intertwined with homilies to peace are a weakness the Russian Bear can pounce on? Do I feel any guilt in ripping out The Brute’s throat after his unit fired the shells that killed my master and then tried to trick me so he could slit my throat? No I only feel pride and I would do it day at night to fend off these war criminals. I have seen Canadian and American television show some pity to the poor Russian conscripts thinking they were on manoeuvres and not heading into combat. Yet these “poor dupesters” continue their shelling and murdering. Let the Pope and the Buddhists fail to realize what it is like to kill or be killed. Don’t snicker about the musing of a young dog. But you miss an important point and that is I have been in the middle of it all and seen my family wiped out. Where have you been? Shivering in your boots with what a Tsar threatens. I am no historian but wasn’t there a non-aggression pact between Hitler and England in 1938 and between Hitler and Stalin in 1939? Wake up and smell the coffee.

“Travels to a Different Time” : 12August1974: Bled, Northern Italy and up to Kufstein Austria

Happy 19th birthday! Last year of being a teenager. I packed up which I find a bit of a pain as just when I think I am done I see something I have forgotten to pack. And since my Munich bag broke I really have to cram my possessions, as meagre as they may be in my knapsack. I had a farewell bottle of cold Radenska and took a bus trip to the main highway to stick out my thumb. The ride came real quick and what a birthday present with a 55 year old woman heading up through Italy up to Austria. She had a son my age travelling in Greece so I told her some of my adventures there and what life is like on the road. Hopefully she did not suffer a nervous breakdown. I am a regular Jack Kerouac! One day my travel diary may be a book. What incredible scenery in Austria with everything being so green and the majestic mountains. She left me off at Kufstein and I found the youth hostel which was better than the Yugoslav and Romanian barracks. Since it was my birthday I splurged at a German chain Wienerwald with a quarter chicken, fries, salad and a litre of very good Austrian beer and some waffle cookies at $4.20. Expensive! A glorious hot shower and off to bed after talking with two Canadians in my room. No chocolate cake, birthday cards and I briefly thought how and where Randi was. Sigh! I suppose I can feel lonely for one day?

“Travels to a Different Time” : 11August1974: Bled, Yugoslavia: Norwegian Regrets: The Pickled Police Chief

Up at 08:00 and was the last out of the room. Fried eggs, bread, jam and sparkling mineral water which I have turned into a great fan of particularly a brand called Radenska although I think the Romanian brand Borsec is better. A 750 ml bottle is 20 cents. I headed into town to try and find a Herald Tribune newspaper but no such luck. The weather did clear up and it was a beautiful day so why waste it. I ran into two Norwegian girls at breakfast one of which caught my eye and her friend was rather plump and not that attractive. A German had told me go to Vintgar Gorge. So off I went with Randi the good looker and her friend whose name is very complicated. The gorge was spectacular with a rushing river below. We climbed up on some rocks and had a stunning view of a village below and even saw some deer in the forest. Randi and I got along very well and you might want to say a spark existed on both sides which was going to be sealed by a kiss but at exactly the wrong moment the rotund friend shattered that moment. Randi looked at me and said too bad we had not met earlier but asked me if I wanted to return to Greece with both of them. But I am heading north and home in less than two weeks. What a bummer. Right woman but absolutely the wrong time!

Played some soccer had dinner and headed to a bar with a group from the youth hostel. At the bar we met the police chief who was pickled. The dark beer at 17% alcohol might do that to anyone. We ended up heading back to the youth hostel with the police chief and his friend all singing different songs. At the hostel someone was sleeping in my bed so I took my sleeping bag and set up in vacant bed.

“Travels to a Different Time” : 10August1974: Bled, Yugoslavia: Is Nixon Resigning? Playing Soccer

The Germans gave me a lift to the bus terminal so I could take a bus to Bled. Yes back to Bled again. Back to the youth hostel I stayed at on my last visit. I picked up my mail at the post office and there was a letter from Heidi’s mother saying that Heidi and Michael were in Ireland for a 4 week vacation, No mail from Canada. A mail strike? I headed for the lake after getting my room at the youth hostel but it clouded over and I made it back to the hostel just before it started to pour. I acquainted myself with a couple of Frenchmen who were dying to play soccer. Speaking of a strike I phoned Overseas National Airways in Frankfurt and was told there was the possibility of a strike by airport workers. JUST GREAT! I headed into town to buy a Herald Tribune to see what was going on with Nixon. Nothing but rumours and possibilities. Went out with the Frenchmen to play soccer at the field I played at 369 days ago. It turned sunny and we played for a couple of hours and back to that infernal cold-water shower. The freezing cold mountain water evokes screams as it hits the body. We watched a movie “Cincinnati Kid” with Steve McQueen and off to bed at 23:00.

RKS Film: “Love, Deutschemarks and Death”

“Love, Deutschemarks and Death” is a documentary which chronicles the flow of Turkish guestworkers into West Germany (BRD), the music that followed them and the music they created in Germany from 1955 to the present day.

It was in 1955 that the BRD called its first guestworkers to come and work in many of the jobs the Germans simply did not want to undertake or didn’t have the manpower to fuel its economic boom. It was in 1961 that a “recruitment agreement” was signed between Turkey and the BRD. The Turkish workers were to stay for a limited time and then return home to Turkey but family members were eventually permitted to join their male guestworkers swelling Germany’s Turkish population. Could Germany have foreseen there would be 3 million people of Turkish descent today in Germany? It is worth noting that similar agreements were signed with Portugal, Greece, Spain, Italy and Yugoslavia. The lure of riches and the almighty deutschemark attracted a large influx of guestworkers. They came by the trainloads into the BRD.

As immigration brings hardships, discrimination, loneliness, racism and despair the Turks were not spared. The Turks created their own music industry in the BRD but it took decades before it was made available in the German retail network as opposed to Turkish grocery stores and import-export businesses. The Turkish music created in Germany evolved from traditional, rock and roll, hip hop, rap and punk. It was rap and hip hop that created the beginning of cross-cultural pollination between Turks and Germans. Hip hop and rap can be seen as a reaction to attacks on Turks by skinheads and racists as it drew out their anger and frustration into artistic expression. In fact in 1973 Chancellor Willy Brandt of the BRD said about a strike at a Ford plant in the BRD where police arrested Turkish strikers that Germans did not have a hostile attitude to foreign workers but in “this particular situation we must think of our own citizens first”.

A skillful use of archival footage and musings of musicians, poets, vintage film and news footage.

While you might conclude this is a Germancentric documentary it is really a common history of immigration from poorer countries to a perceived land of milk and honey. I think the documentary will be a strong calling for lovers of Turkish music but there is enough history outside of the music to satisfy many viewers. It is dense and what a task to get all the material into 90 minutes. Winner of the Panorama Audience Award at Berlinale 2022.

In Turkish and German with English subtitles. Directed by Cem Kaya.

You can catch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkbGt1Vbums

RKS Film Rating 88/100.

RKS Film: “Ride Till I Die”: Bull Riding Is Not Dangerous

I am not a rodeo guy. Every once in a rare while I might watch a snippet of a bull riding competition. Yes, it is dangerous you might say but watch this documentary about Ricky Ringer and you will most likely conclude bull riding is VERY DANGEROUS!

Ricky Ringer is a professional bull rider and has been so since he was 15 years old. At 40 he is finally determined to go for one more season. Is it passion or some addiction that propels his devotion and love of the sport? He has always been suffering from a never-ending string of injuries including a smashed face requiring 7 plates to repair, cracked ribs, 5 hand surgeries, punctured esophagus and 5 broken jaws.

What keeps him at it? It is the adrenalin rush of the 8 second (if you can last that long) ride on 2,000 pounds of a bucking animal. Ringer admits you have to be half crazy to be in the sport and see the incredible slow-motion shots and you can see just how vicious kicking hoofs and horns can be. Perhaps Ringer has the right attitude when he says he does not like the time to think when he rides preferring reaction to thinking.

You will hear from his mother, wife, friends, rodeo operators and clowns as they piece what makes Ringer tick. His mother and wife have concluded only a life-threatening injury will prevent Ringer from riding the bulls. Are they right?

Ringer has never won a championship although his winning belt buckles attest to his many victories. God help a rider that falls off a bull and his equipment keeps him attached to the bull! And you thought the clowns by the riders are entertainment? They are lifesavers facing enormous risk.

I am still no fan of bull riding but am a fan of this documentary that shows the extreme danger of bull riding and what fuels Ringer’s passion or perhaps addiction. And guess what Ricky Junior like his dad has left home at 15 and is riding bulls.

The film opens on digital platforms on April 8th and was directed and produced by Tony Rammos. The music by David Merulla captures the spirit of the documentary.  

You can catch the trailer here https://vimeo.com/188775918

RKS Film Rating 86/100.