“Mutantism on the March” : Chapter 121 Will a Zortixian Cure for Cancer Lure the Earthlings In?

Squid was not surprised at the choice made by the Zortixian Legislative Assembly about how to approach the Earthlings. They did a great job in quickly understanding Earthling psychology. Squid realized that the Earthlings used technology as a weapon of intimidation so that is why permitting a capture of a Zortixian spacecraft might cause a shift of power on Earth in the favour of any nation that could decipher Zortixian technology on a captured Zortixian spaceship.

The Zortixians thought of a way to worm into the hearts of Earthlings. Dr Zodiac was given several hundred vials of liquid that would cure Earthling cancer a disease unknown in Zortixia. It had taken the most brilliant group of Zortixian scientists a mere 18 days to concoct a cure and Dr. Zodiac under the guise of being a simple country doctor was going to Earth to create some goodwill!

How could a simple country doctor claim he had a cure for cancer? Dr. Zodiac was a laughingstock in the small New Jersey town of Westfield where he administered the liquid to terminally ill cancer patients that were up on their feet in days with no signs of cancer. Desperate people flocked to his office from all parts of the globe for the “cure”. Word spread throughout the world of the “cure”. Big Pharma promised him riches beyond belief for the ingredients of the “cure liquid”.

Dr. Zodiac made himself very clear when he spoke to the world media by saying, “Under no circumstances will I divulge the components of the “cure liquid” to any pharmaceutical company seeking to make a profit from it! Time and time again Big Pharma has shown its insatiable desire for profits over doing much of anything good for mankind. In the United States Big Pharma started taking off after it ensured cannabis was made illegal despite it being used for decades as a remedy for many ailments. Did you know according to United Nation’s research the drug Halium was sold in Colombia at a profit of 932%. These pill pushers have done their utmost to pervert medicine and the concept of healing. If they had their way nations would be drug saturated zombies. It is the good people of the planet Zortixia that have given Earthlings this cure. Thank the Zortixians for the cure not Big Pharma profit mongers. The Zortixians have assured me there is enough of the “cure liquid” for the entire planet. I will set up a “Zortixian Friendship Centre” where this “cure liquid” will be distributed throughout the world.

In no time at all he was beatified as a saint and declared a world hero by the United Nations. May 18th, the day Earth learnt about the “cure liquid”, was declared a world holiday by the United Nations.

The Earthlings were starting to ask who were these Zortixians? No such planet existed on any astronomical map. Zortixia was so distant from Earth it would be centuries before the Earthlings had developed the technology to travel so far into space. The Zortixians and mutants had toyed with the idea of withholding the “cure liquid” further until the United Nations admitted the mutants as members of the United Nations General Assembly but Dr. Zodiac’s view was there was already enough suffering on Earth to justify using this as a “blackmail” technique.

RKS Film: “Try Harder”: A Complex Stereotype Buster or Reinforcer or a Bit of Both?

“Try Harder” is an American documentary released in early December. It recounts the stories of a few students at Lowell High School in San Francisco, California. It is a rigorous academic school attracting a disproportionately high number of Asian American students nearly 70%.

It has such high standards some 150 American university admissions officers visit it each year.

While many of the students are suffering under the weight of parents obsessed with grades and having their children accepted by the top American universities the students have their own minds and face a struggle of balancing them with the ambitions of their parents that result in control and pressure creating even more stress for the students trying to compete for high marks and high SAT test scores. So these may be academic nerds but they are human beings trying to succeed and many are existing facing domineering “its for your own good parents”.

What is success? For most of the students who have no real idea of their passions and interest success is to be accepted into a top American university which in their mind means a secure future. Although they pursue academics the university application process is a life skill that consumes hours of work for the seniors featured in the film. Some students complete more than 30 applications. Quite frankly most of the parents in the documentary are driven by grades and having their children achieve high grades as that was what counted in Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China. One Asian American student states that Lowell is “Tiger Mom Central”.

The students are in a pressure cooker where success is dependent on what university they are accepted into. Some end up cynical about all universities that reject on a seemingly dart board selection approach perhaps tinged by the stereotype that Asian American students are mindless academic machines.

This may cause the viewer to recall their high school experience which in my case was in Montreal in the 1970’s where there may have been 3 Asians in my high school. And at least for me I graduated from CEGEP in Quebec with a 97% average to an entrance scholarship into McGill University. I applied to three universities and was accepted by all three and the one I accepted was a top Canadian university. I do not recall the frenzy and obsession in my day of the university application process that one sees at Lowell. Quite frankly it is alarming.

So what has changed in the Canadian academic system since then? A huge influx of Asians? I see a hugely disproportionately high degree of Asians in the private school system here in Toronto. Is the myth of the Tiger mom true?  I am not sure but once had an experience with one whose behaviour obliterated the confidence of her child who ended up with an eating disorder. No doubt this poor overly driven child will be a “success” but at what price. And what is success? Is it really a matter of landing a job with lots of money?

The film let’s one delve into the heart and soul of Tiger Mom’s victims. No they are not some mindless jellyfish but humans with their own goals and aspirations juggling this with the unrelenting pressure of many of their parents. What has caused this academic obsession that I never experienced? I will let you draw your own conclusion but can try and say the obsessions of the parents are visited upon their children.

A complete picture is obtained by featuring not only students but school administrators, teachers and parents. The great struggle here is amongst parents and their children. Do these parents care about the desires and aspirations of their children or their own obsessive past where marks equalled economic success?

My take in a few words is that I pity the students in this film caught in a vice of parental desires and their own goals and ambitions. At what point does a parent try to control their children through their own insecurities break down and the visions of their children take over? When does parental guidance in effect turn into a type of bullying?

It is both a sad and inspiring story. Sad if your choice for university is not obtained. Inspiring if the students realise his/her wishes in face of so many pressure points.

One is also left with the question of the Lowell admission process that has its school at about 70% Asian Americans. Does not that foster stereotypes? Is it appropriate?

“Try Harder” was produced and directed by Debbie Lum. It may be showing in a theatre near you. If not it will be available on VOD as of December 24.

You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4WZ6nDz-3w

Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog is Back and Living with Nicole Kidman

On our flight to Darwin, Australia we saw 6 Nicole Kidman movies and that lady can act. Bob says she has won an Academy Award. My favourite is “Eyes Wide Shut” I think it is called. She is good looker too! And I am going to be living with her for 4 months in Darwin!

We landed in Darwin and a limo was waiting to take us to our rented villa. It is a grand one with 6 rooms. It was once the home of the founder of Warrego Mines in Darwin. Nicole will not be there until a few days later.

After being in the air for 22 hours we are so tired we can hardly think. Bob and Fay summon up the last of their energy and take us for a walk in a beautiful neighbourhood which is close to a big beach. We head to the beach in the blazing sun. Bob loves the ocean so we go to the beach. Oh no there is a sign warning us of saltwater crocodiles and poisonous jellyfish! Although Dylan the Westie and I are tough I don’t think we could win a fight against these ferocious beasts.

It is blazing hot and thank goodness Dylan the Westie and I had Marine haircuts before we left.

So we head back to our villa and drink lots of water and are sound asleep by 6 p.m. and are woken up at 8 a.m. by the smell of bacon and coffee prepared for us by the day maid. There is fresh fruit galore. There are eggs and yogurt too. Dylan the Westie and I get our chicken kibble and drink lots of water. In this heat we dogs get very thirsty.

Somewhat groggy we start our routine. Shooting of the film starts in 6 days so every morning Bob or Fay reads me the script which I know by heart. We go for a late morning walk to the beach and we are all very nervous about being attacked by a crocodile or stepping on a poisonous jellyfish. We head back home for a lunch of grilled fish, green beans and salad. We dogs get a mall plate of green beans. YUM!! We love our meat but we love most veggies some raw and some cooked.

Nicole Kidman arrives in a couple of days from Los Angeles. Her husband Mr. Urban is not with her as he is on tour in Europe and may join us later. I am not a big fan of his music like I am with the music of Mr. Gordon Lightfoot.

Nicole was born in 1967 so is younger than Bob and Fay. She is smaller than she looks on the screen and as tired as she is she’s a good looker! She speaks softly and talks to us dogs like Bob and Fay do. She is a bit shy. She knows all about me. Almost everything. She calls me her little star!

We have some lunch with her which is grilled kangaroo and tender saltwater crocodile filets with a glass of Viognier from Australia for the humans. Bob has told us Australia is a huge wine producer. Dylan the Westie and I get a chunk of the crocodile and kangaroo. Like chicken we say! WE DOGS NOW LOVE CROCODILE AND KANGAROO MEAT! We are down under as they say and are having a ball. I am a bit nervous about my role in the upcoming movie but Nicole exudes confidence and professionalism and promises me that she has my back! What a lady! She is grand! She is so tired she excuses herself to “crash out”. She can speak with an Australian or American accent but as she is in Australia she is speaking with the Australian accent. It is a bit funny not at all like Canadian or British pronunciation.

Nicole is up early in the morning and she takes us for a walk to show us around. Its s a bit cooler in the morning so there a few people out for walks. Dylan the Westie and I are wearing our Hamilton Tiger Cats jerseys we received as a gift rom the mayor of Hamilton at the Grey Cup game.

Nicole sits us down and gives us a talk. She says see a crocodile stay away and run if you can. There are also poisonous snakes and spiders we must keep an eye out for. People do not recognize Nicole as she has no make up on and is wearing a big hat with sunglasses but they see us and ask Nicole about our Hamilton Tiger Cat jerseys.

Nicole tells us we have a special “Canadian BBQ” tomorrow. Mr. Gordon Lightfoot who has composed the title track for the film is coming and as well Martin Malivoire and his wife will be joining us. Martin is doing the special effects. Russel Crowe who will be doing my voice is coming. I can’t believe this is happening. Pinch me. I must be dreaming. Before bed I say my evening prayers and I see a vision of my first master Anwar who is in the land beyond. He says to me “Merde” and pats me on the head. Merde is a word in France that means shit but when said to an actor it means good luck!

Golf and Your Mental Game; Accepting Pain and Distress

In my own experience as a golfer and as a golf Marshall particularly I see a fair deal of pain and distress amongst golfers which eats away at concentration and ultimate joy of the game. I see now very clearly how pain and distress gnaws away at enjoyment. It can go so deep as to create self-loathing. As I say the last shot is in the past. If you can adopt that attitude that you can’t change that shot you are practicing acceptance. I am not sure if it will improve the technical in your game but hopefully it will improve your enjoyment of your golf game. You might want to call this “living in the moment”.

Pain and distress are part of life and they can’t be entirely removed or avoided. A person who can’t accept this will find themselves in more pain and suffering. Learning how to accept distress, anger and pain is not simply a golfing skill but a life skill.

Passage of the Day: Giving up the Idea That God is a Person

“You can hold on to the security of a concept of God as a person, a kindly old man in the sky who loves you, and you will get through your life just fine. You will feel loved all your life just fine. You will be loved all your life, and you will love God. And you will be safe. But there will be no spiritual growth. Or you can take the risk of letting go of all of that and go on a mystical path, not knowing where it will lead. I wasn’t giving up on God. I was giving up the notion of God as a person-even if she was now female to me-to allow the possibility for spiritual growth. It was one of the most important decisions of my spiritual life, perhaps the most important. “

Marsha M. Linehan “Building a Life Worth Living” 2020 Random House

“Mutantism on the March” :Chapter 120 Should the Zortixians Make an Official Visit to Earth?

How were the Zortixians going to introduce themselves to Earthlings? Only a small percentage of Earthlings believed there was life on another planet. It had only been recently that Earthlings landed on that dump of a planet The Moon! The mutants were perhaps theoretically the best allies the Zortixians had to introduce Earthlings to Zortixians. However mutants were seen with distrust and suspicion by Earthling established institutions so would lack credibility. The poor mutants might be taken for raving lunatics and possibly be carted away to mental institutions.

The fact Zortixians had a humanoid body might be problematic. Weened on weird science fiction books and visual productions Earthlings had the impression non-Earthlings were little green aliens or bizarre creatures with enormous heads. If Zortixians visited Earth there was a danger they would be locked up and used in scientific experiments. Squid suggested perhaps the Zortixians should send a large fleet of ships to major Earthling cities and convince politicians and citizenry Zortixians did in fact exist. The Zortixian craft were like the Earthling DC-10’s and Earthlings were under the impression aliens flew about in flying saucers! Although the Zortixian Legislative Assembly and Zortixian pre-mayor Frizzy the Smicket Boy favoured this plan it was the great Zortixian scholar Muddle Fumble who dissuaded the Zortixians from their “rash plan”. He said in the halls of the Assembly, “The minute our fleet penetrates their atmosphere we will be perceived as an enemy of some sort and goodness knows our penetrating the Earth’s atmosphere could initiate a nuclear war. We really don’t want the responsibility for wiping out a planet we seek to establish diplomatic relationships with! Let’s assume we land unmolested what will happen to us. We might be treated shabbily as Earthling mutants are. If Earthlings start believing in us the powers to be might consider it as a form of insanity and imprison the believers in huge mental camps. Our crews have better things to do than being used as experiments by mad scientists! And if any of our ships are captured it is possible Earthlings will try and decipher our advanced technology and use it to conquer other countries. I think then there must be a sensible alternative and that is to let some friendly Earthlings agitate on our behalf for a few months to “soften up” the Earthlings and then we can talk about visiting Earth en masse. This is not to say we can’t visit in small groups so as not to overwhelm the Earthlings. We should establish an Earthling liaison committee. We can prepare booklets explaining our society and history so the Earthling community can learn about us. We keep it short and sweet with lots of pictures as most Earthlings have short attention spans. Let us not be too rash!”

RKS Films: “Courage”: Political Repression in Belarus

The opening 90 seconds of this 2021 documentary brilliantly depicts the courage of Belarusians demonstrating against the dictatorship of their President Lukashenko who first came to power in the 1994 election. In 1996 a referendum stripped away key powers from the Belarusian Parliament. All elections after that point have been seen as rigged by much of the world except, not surprisingly by Vladimir Putin’s Russia where democracy has been slipping away quickly. After 2001’s presidential election won by Lukashenko two key members of the opposition disappeared probably with great prejudice as they were never seen again.

Belarus was once part of the USSR until that empire collapsed and Lukashenko seems to have learnt the Stalinist playbook well!

Why the title “Courage”? Considering the disappearances, executions, beatings, torture, rapes and other gifts of the Lukashenko regime to the population of Belarus being a protestor is a dangerous if not deadly game. The security forces wade into the crowds beating them, spraying them with water cannons and tear gas. In some instances, live ammunition has been used. If you are arrested you could be beaten, raped, humiliated and sometimes executed.

We follow the lives of some actors from a fringe theatre group in Minsk. Their stories expose the extent of the repression where one says the country has moved from dictatorship to tyranny. They take it for granted they will be arrested. Some have already been arrested and beaten in prison. Some are on the verge of arming themselves for protection. We all know from history that too much repression and intimidation can result in civil war and Belarus seems very close to that point. Canada recently announced a third round of sanctions against Belarus and the United States is on the same page with Canada imposing sanctions on Belarus. Imagine a Belarusian “Mass Gathering Law”.

The members of this Free Theatre are on a blacklist with many plays being censored as “Satanism”. One says now is not the time for theatre in Belarus but instead they should directly challenge the regime.

The closing of the documentary is a scene from a play about the 1999 disappearance of Anatoliy Karsovsky a businessman who had assisted Belarusian democratic forces. Never seen again it would appear he was a victim of an execution.

Very haunting and absolutely perfect Belarusian music at the beginning and ending of the film. The film is both tragic and inspiring.

What we take for granted in Canada as our democratic right is a dream of the courageous in Belarus. You can see the trailer here for this 90-minute German/Belarusian film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7OIMQrjJAs

The film was written and directed by Aliaksei Paluyan and you can expect to see it on the festival circuit or your favourite “indie” cinema.

RKS Wines: The Flow of Inexpensive Bordeaux Keeps on Coming: One Good and One a Clunker!

The flow of $20 and under Bordeaux keeps on coming into the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. And you can score some winners. Given supply chain problems and the rising cost of just about everything in these inflationary times one wonders what 2022 will bring? One would think supply chain issues for wine will not affect Ontario wineries as they might affect ex-Canada wines.

We try a Cap Royal which is a Bordeaux Supérieur. It received a 96 in the 2020 International Wine & Spirit Competition if that makes you feel any better. Is it worth a 96? It would have to be exceptional to deserve that score.

It has aromas of rich black cherry, cassis, red plum and vanilla. It suggests a certain creaminess or softness should follow on the palate. The tannins are soft and the wine is smooth but still has some assertiveness to it with that rich back cherry also present on the palate along with some blackberry, milk chocolate and cactus pear.  Given its nose I would have expected more concentrated flavours on the palate but many Red Bordeaux’s play peek a boo with their fruit and I think this is one of them. The finish is moderate in length. My hope is that the peekaboo game will end in a couple of years and the fruit will present itself. I might suggest why not hold onto this until the summer of 2022.

(Cap Royal Rouge 2018, AC Bordeaux Supérieur, Bottled by LCDR À 3350 for CMGC, Blanquefort, France, $18.95, LCBO # 486761, 13.5%, 750 mL, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 90/100)

We try a 2018 Château Lanbersac Puisseguin Saint-Émilion. Extreme black cherry in colour. On the nose soft and creamy with black cherry, cassis and a slightly floral tinge. There is a bit of a coffee streak as well which causes me some concern as it may indicate the grapes were picked overly ripe. The tannins are mild. Unfortunately I am correct about coffee as a warning sign. I don’t think I have ever used the word “weird” but that’s what this wine is on the palate. I could also use the term “Over-Extracted” or raw. Whatever the word this wine is badly made and this is simply a one-off bad bottle or he knows not what he speaks! I am returning this bottle and I will therefore not rate it. It’s $17.95 which is an attractive price but this is one ugly wine. Zut Alors!

(2018 Château Lanbersac Puisseguin Saint-Émilion AC, Lannoye, France, LCBO # 2117, $17.95, 750 mL, 14%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating UNRATED)

Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog is Back: Our Second Disney Promotional Tour and Reggie Goes to Australia to Film with Nicole Kidman

Yes, finally the sequel to “Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog” has been released by Disney and its breaking all records. I sense Bob and Dylan the Westie are tiring of so many promotional tours. I heard Bob talking to Fay and saying Dylan the Westie is getting older and is having difficulty keeping up with our schedule and that this time he should stay with Fay. I hear Bob saying that he is also having difficulty as these tours are far from glamorous and rather gruelling and he is not doing this for the money as he has already made millions and donated millions to rescue dog societies through Reggie’s Dog Foundation. He is doing it for the children that adore me Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog.

Disney wants Bob to write the next sequel to the film but he has said he will wait until after the promotional tour to make a decision.

So off we go and thank goodness we will be flying again in the Disney corporate jet. I am not going to tell you the cities we went to on the tour but thank goodness we are going to Paris and Bob has insisted upon a three-day break there. I saw Versailles last visit and we are seeing Fontainebleau and eating in a couple of Bob’s favourite restaurants. I love L’Ami Jean with its nouvelle bistro cuisine and I’ll get a few pieces of beautifully cooked meat. The whole restaurant smells of deliciously cooked meat! As I said previously, “WE DOGS LOVE MEAT!”. We have also been invited to dinner with the big guy Ayatollah in Tehran. Iranian children love me as I am a Muslim. A dog to look up to. A dog with accomplishments. In fact before that important dinner the Ayatollah and I are cutting (me biting) a red ribbon on a soon to be built “Reggie’s Tehran Dog Rescue Centre”. Bob has told me he is upset with Tehran’s human rights violations and is going to tell this to the big guy Ayatollah. And he did and the Ayatollah unexpectedly smiled and said as the country had settled a nuclear deal with the United States so political tensions should be relaxed and the government was in the process of planning to release hundreds of political dissidents including Nasrim a famous human rights lawyer/activist. I also prayed with the Ayatollah which was cool as all my prayer have been private and I haave never prayed with a Muslim human before! Bob also told the Israeli Prime Minister Israel really should work on solving the Palestinian problem as its unacceptable actions against these people would forever seal a streak of desperation and hatred amongst the Palestinian people. In the politest terms he was told to mind his own business.

I miss Fay and Dylan the Westie but I have his blanket with me in my Winnipeg Blue Bombers bed I received from the mayor of Winnipeg at the most recent Grey Cup game so I don’t feel homesick! Yes we dogs can become homesick.

Bob and I return home to Toronto to a welcoming Fay and Dylan the Westie who was so excited he accidentally peed on the floor. I heard Bob and Fay talking over a bottle of wine from Galil Mountain Winery in the Golan Heights that Bob and I had visited. They have created a Reggie brand for their export market. Bob tells Fay he is, pardon the expression, “dog tired” and that he has accepted Nicole Kidman’s offer for me to co-star in her upcoming movie “How a Dog Saved My Life”. While on our promotional tour in Sydney, Australia we had dinner with Nicole who asked me if I wanted to do a screen test for the movie the next day which I did “bloody brilliantly” according to the director of the film and Bob was given the contract to review.

Nicole had found a beautiful house in Darwin in the Northern Territories which all of us could live in for 4 months while they were shooting the movie there. Dylan has a cameo appearance where the fierce Scottish Westie defends Nicole’s character from a poisonous snake attack! Bob and Fay also have a cameo appearance as an arguing Canadian couple in a restaurant Nicole is eating at. A family project and we will all be movie stars. Mr. Gordon Lightfoot is involved in the film as he is writing the opening track for the film. Russel Crowe will be doing my voice in the film. Our friend from Beamsville, Ontario Martin Malivoire will be doing the special effects. We Canadians will be red hot in Australia.

After details of the movie are made public as we leave our Bridle Path home for our walk reporters are there asking all sorts of questions. We are in the spotlight again!

” My Life as a Golf Marshall”: Is It Really Possible to Improve Your Golf Game with Mindfulness?

This is a difficult question to answer. After much thought and personal experience with mindfulness on the golf course my answer is that it most likely will not improve the mechanics of the game but it most likely will increase the pleasure of your golfing experience.

It might strike you as a revelation as it did me playing my last game for the season pre COVID era. It was a miserable game. Everything was going wrong. Finally on the 13th hole I thought just forget the misery, anger and frustration growing inside me. You are on the golf course on a beautiful day. Every shot is a new shot and forget the previous holes. I figured I was going to hit over a hundred so what did I have to lose. Well I lost the bad game and started playing quite well including making an impossible shot on the 18th hole in a sand trap over the trees and three feet from the hole. In for a birdie.

As I was driving home from the course I thought of the many times I had driven home in an angry mood disappointed with my game. It usually faded after I returned home but that anger and frustration was a real and a negative force.

This year I have given mindfulness a serious trial on the golf course. I have accepted my golf game for what it is. I am stuck in a range for my score from a 77-99 for 18 holes and there is not much I can do about that. I still get frustrated and angry but not always and if I do it doesn’t last for that long. In fact I get more frustrated about my attitude now than I do at my game.

Does it go the identical way for the beautiful shots which occasionally amateur golfers do experience? But if you exhilarate with a bad shot you can lapse into mental deterioration. There is that possible little defect in golf mindfulness. So you can down your exhilaration or learn to completely be in the moment and realize that fantastic shot was a previous shot lost in the past. Heavy duty discipline.

We will discuss some mindfulness hacks so you can try them out next year. As a parting thought mindfulness most likely will not improve your score but it will improve how you feel mentally about your game and of course if you are feeling mentally good it is possible your score will improve but I would say at the end of the day it’s like “Groundhog Day” as you are stuck in a range game after game!