RKS Films: Canadian 2021 European Union Film Festival: Antonio Variações-Guardian Angel

This 2019 Portuguese film chronicles the brief but massively influential musical career of singer Antonio Variações who died of AIDS related complications in 1984 but his music is still loved by the Portuguese.

As a young boy he listened to the soulful traditional music of Portugal and I don’t mean American soul music but music from the heart and soul that influenced his unique vocal talents whether it be pop, rock, punk or folk all of it is deeply soulful. Why not think of the film a sort of “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

Variações had the uncanny ability to appeal to a wide range of ages that perhaps Freddy Mercury never could command.

Variações was a barber with an eccentric dress style who never really strayed from the influence of his inspiration Amália Rodrigues and listen to one of her songs near the end of the film and you’ll immediately understand the soulfulness of her music and how it influenced Variações.

You can see the trailer here https://watch.eventive.org/euff2021/play/61535210b053a1004cb38e4d?m=1

The film was directed by Joäo Maia. Sérgio Praia portrays Variações convincingly.

The film plays between November 28-30 virtually. You can check out the Festival’s website at https://www.euffonline.ca/welcome

The film can only be accessed for the Festival in Canada.

RKS Wine: Graham’s Late Bottled 2015 Vintage Port

Why is it that I have never had a corked Port or one that has suffered from volatile acidity? It may lie with the IDVP the body that regulates Douro wines. The quality control process is rigid and thorough and I have seen these people evaluating and tasting Ports and wines with an incredible thoroughness in a quality control laboratory. Or could it be the producers themselves fearing a no go from the IDVP? Whatever it is I have yet to encounter a faulty Port or Douro wine in the 12 years I have been tasting Douro wine and Ports.

So what about the Graham’s 2015 LBV Port? Graham’s has been producing Port for over 200 years. Obviously, they have a bit of experience under their belts. LBV’s come from a single vintage and are aged in the barrel for 4-6 years before being bottled. LBV’s are of outstanding quality but not as lush or decadent as Vintage Ports. But they are more affordable and for the casual drinker of Port the difference between an LBV and a Vintage Port is razor thin. For this razor edge an LBV can cost under $25 but a Vintage Port can cost you in the three figures. But Vintage Ports can last forever. I have had an 1867 Vintage Port and it still had many years left to it. Vintage Ports may be for your grandchildren but LBV’s are for you now! LBV’s may be the best for the here and now. Vintage Ports that I have are for the next generation and they are so marked in my cellar.

Four estates were used to source the grapes for this LBV. It should be served at 16-18 degrees and a chill will reduce the alcohol on the palate and necessary to balance the acidity with the sweetness. It pairs very well with chocolate and old blue cheese and matches game well.

A nose of dense blueberry, black cherry and cassis. On the palate at 20% if properly chilled is unnoticeable. A wickedly delicious combination of blueberry pie and chocolate covered cherries. I may be on the outside of Port combinations and say this would suit duck, Portuguese ox or Canadian beef.

As a French marketer I met on my first Port Wine Day in Porto said Port is luxury at a discount price. Such truer words have remained with me and just try this LBV and you’ll be convinced. Don’t be deterred by the snobby and incorrect notion this Port is for old British men sitting in a London club. It is here and now and absolutely brilliant. If this LBV doesn’t win you over I’ll eat my shirt. And at $16.25 I am stunned as they are giving away the crown jewels.

(Graham’s 2015 Late Bottled Vintage Port, Symington Family Estates, Villa Nova d. Gaia, Portugal, $ 16.25, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 191239, 750 mL, 20%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating, 94/100).

“My Life as a Golf Marshall” : Final Final Last Thoughts! Golf as Ballet

I just recalled a few wonderful experiences I had on the golf course that I think only a Marshall can relate to. It struck me early in the summer halfway into my shift. The golf course was crowded but everything was running absolutely perfectly. Everyone spaced out like a golf Marshall’s dream. No gaps. No laggards. It was a beautiful form of ballet perhaps only understood by a golf Marshall. A rare occurrence. Almost a fantasy. To the golfers participating in this ballet a smooth well paced game but to the Marshall with an overall picture a masterpiece of synchronicity that took me through some terrible Sundays where it felt like a loss of control and meltdown that only God could fix as it was too overwhelming for a human to deal with.

Have a good winter and if you have any space in your private jet take me somewhere warm with a low COVID rate. With my mindfulness strategy I’ll take ten strokes off your score! Wine consulting included!

Actually coming up withdrawal therapy for Golf Marshalls……..

What are the five major types of anxiety disorders?

The five major types of anxiety disorders are:

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder
    Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD, is an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it.
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
    Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors such as hand washing, counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed with the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. Performing these so-called “rituals,” however, provides only temporary relief, and not performing them markedly increases anxiety.
  • Panic Disorder
    Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat.
  • Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)
    Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety Disorder, is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation – such as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others – or, in its most severe form, may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms almost anytime they are around other people.

(National Institutes of Mental Health)

“My Life as a Golf Marshall” : Time to Say Good-Bye

What a miserable last couple of days. Yesterday 4 hours of bone chilling weather at 5 degrees but add on the wind chill I was shivering after hour three and suffering a bad windburn. I mean it looked like I’d spent too long at the beach in Cancun!

Then this morning I think that weather gave rise to a mild cold. Stuffy nose and a bit of a sore throat. And today I decided to call in to determine if they required my services. The answer was no. Its pouring rain and maybe even some snow mixed in. So I am glad the elements will not batter me but I wanted to say a good-bye to the golf course I worked two days each week and played golf two days in that week. I have worked through hail, sleet and nasty humidity that left you drenched in sweat at 10:30 a.m. I have seen coyotes, foxes, rabbits, deer and a whole lot of very poor golfers.

So what are my parting thoughts?

  • Would I do it again? My shifts were the “shit shifts” given to the new guy. Saturday morning was not that bad as the better golfers are out early. Sunday afternoon you hold your breath and hope for the best. Newbies, children and the drinkers. Try and go out on Saturday night after getting up to Marshall at 6 a.m.
  • Most golfers are good people. Golfers would not be out on the course unless they loved the game. That is what unites us. They are mostly polite and like to talk about golf and if I ask them to speed it up most will apologize and help the pace quicken. There are dickheads and racists out there that tell you explicitly and implicitly to fuck off. Then there are the painfully slow golfers making far too many practice swings, walking too slowly and waiting for others to hit. I used to call them selfish and rude but their appalling slow play I think is more a question of any mandatory etiquette courses not in place.
  • Golf is twisted game. Almost all golfers suffer from good day bad day syndrome. You are hot one day and pathetic the next. The mindful golfer accepts the bad days and the good days as inevitable and laughs about their erratic game. Too much thinking about that last bad shot or the awful game you are in the midst of ruins your mindset. Yes before I took a mindful approach I recall leaving the course either angry or upset. It’s simply not worth it. Move on and appreciate the camaraderie and beautiful settings.
  • I have become an extrovert. I am naturally an introvert and there is nothing wrong with that despite society seeming to value extroverts. Dale Carnegie wanabees. I find I am not shy approaching golfers and starting a brief conversation and giving advice when asked for.
  • Was I a good Marshall? At my golf course no one sits down and gives you a performance review. If I had done a bad job I would have been told or fired. Any compliments or negative vibes come from golfers. I have received many appreciative comments but no negative ones although some frustration about the pace may be directed my way.
  • Pace is king! Golfers want a quick game. That is me too. I play ready golf. One practice swing and not tortuous set ups for a shot. No practice putt swings either. It could be my Scottish heritage but I play Scotch golf. If there is any “management pressure” on a Marshall it is keep the round at 4:20. That’s a Marshall’s job and you have to be polite. No arguing just gentle persuasion.
  • A sense of humour is sometimes worth its weight in gold! A little trick I use is to give golf balls my Marshall blessing. It gets a good chuckle and even requests to bless sleeves of golf balls. I feel a bit like the Pope. And giving out candies on Halloween paid for out of my own budget.
  • Unlike Rodney Dangerfield I get respect. Respect is a two-way street. You have to earn it as a Marshall and the best way is find the laggards and get them sped up and go back to golfers behind them and letting them know you have asked for a “speed up”. They appreciate that and respect you because this shows you care about them. I suppose you can call this good service.
  • I am not the traditional grumpy old man Marshall. In all my years of playing golf my view of the Marshalls are that they are grumpy old men hiding behind the bushes and never engaging in conversation. They remind me of spies. If your only interaction with a Marshall is to be told to speed up what relationship can you have with the invisible man.
  • The compensation is miserable. At least I am getting paid half in cash and half in golf. Sneaky accounting indeed. However many Marshalls volunteer in exchange for free golf. However we all know very few things are free. Time for unionization.

Well I suppose its time to hibernate, Well not exactly as “Golf Cart Buddha” is coming your way focusing on mindfulness in golf as I am certified in mindfulness by the University of Leiden and the University of Toronto. We will offer mindfulness training, yoga and meditation on course. Golf Marshall training and etiquette courses will be available. International and corporate sessions can be available. Food and beverage consulting as well. Franchise opportunities will be available.

Health Canada authorizes the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine as a booster shot

From: Health Canada

Statement

November 9, 2021 | Ottawa, ON | Health Canada

Health Canada has authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine as a booster shot.

A COVID-19 booster shot is an extra dose of the vaccine given after completion of the primary vaccine series. The booster shot is designed to help people maintain their protection against COVID-19 over time.

Health Canada received Pfizer’s submission to approve a booster on October 1, 2021. After a thorough, independent review of the evidence, Health Canada has determined that the Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine booster shot meets the Department’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements.

The booster is authorized for adults 18 years of age and older, to be used at least six months after an individual has completed their primary vaccine series. The Comirnaty COVID-19 booster is a full dose of the regular vaccine (30 mcg).

Evidence continues to show that being fully vaccinated provides strong protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19, including against the Delta variants.

People in Canada should consult their local public health guidance, informed by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, for details on which individuals or groups of people are recommended to receive a booster dose at this time.

For information on authorized vaccines and treatments in Canada, visit the COVID-19 vaccines and treatments portal.

RKS Wine: Portugal’s Quinta da Rede: “The Douro Got Talent”

Can we expect yet another solid red wine from Portugal’s Douro Valley? Based on their track record with me over the years I am nodding my head up and down.

We try a Quinta da Rede 2017 Reserva. The nose shouts out “full bodied”! Rich black cherry, blackberry, blueberry at times touched with a floral tinge. If a proper descriptive term to describe an aroma is “creamy” I will say that this fits the bill.

On the palate there are creeping tannins that aren’t instantaneously noticeable. Great purity of black fruit with a moderately long finish. On the upper end of elegance whereas it could very well have been brutish. To paraphrase an awful American television show we should say the “Douro Has Got Talent” except there are only highly polished professionals participating in this wine show!

Give me this wine with a traditional Douro Duck Casserole or just about any duck like “Duck in a Can” from Montreal’s “Au Pied de Cochon”. Although I eat very little meat I may have this with a rare Prime Rib and Yorkshire Pudding on New Year’s Day.

While the wine is drinking beautifully now I can see it becoming more elegant in 3 years. A blend of indigenous Tinta Roriz, Tinta Franca and Touriga Nacional. The wine has been skillfully aged in French oak for 8 months.

(Quinta da Rede 2017 Reserva, Douro DOC, Quinta da Rede, Santa Cristina, Portugal, $18.95, 750 mL, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 431742, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 92/100).

“Mutantism on the March” Chapter 111 Is a Zorollian-Zortixian Friendship Possible?

A Zortixian spacecraft landed on Mount Royal that evening to take passengers back to Zortixia. Switchboards lit up at police stations throughout the island of Montreal reporting sightings of a UFO over the city! Squid had asked 10 earthling mutants to join him as a guest on the voyage but only two accepted. The first earthlings to visit another planet where there was a civilization opposed to rocks and an uninhabitable atmosphere. Montenez was staying behind for this trip and he gave Squid a warm embrace and suggested they make the next visit back to Zortixia together. Bertie Foonbean was there as well to say good-bye. Foonbean had just been released from jail after having embarked on a Canada wide tour advocating for the abolishment of psychiatric institutions except those for the most dangerous offenders. He had been picked up in Wa Wa, Ontario by the RCMP on a trumped-up charge of jay walking.

The Zortixian captain was anxious to get going as sensors had detected a large crowd of humans running up towards the mountain and the last thing the city wanted after the attack of the mutant killer ants was a confirmed UFO sighting!

The voyage from Earth to Zortixia took some twenty Earth hours and the two mutant earth observers aboard were given mild sedatives to calm them down for what they were about to see. One of them moaned “Shit….I’ve never even been in a plane before!”

Thousands of Zortixians were cheering as the craft docked in a landing station. A feverish excitement swept the crowd waiting to see the mutant Earthlings. When Squid emerged from the spacecraft the silence of the crowd was deafening. He waved and shouted, “Ami Tsech Curvi” the standard Zortixian greeting sending the crowd into orgasmic delight. A more restrained applause greeted the Earthlings. Garth Reseudo and Ergot stayed onboard the ship as they were travelling incognito lest they arouse suspicion of Zorollian spies who were no doubt on Zortixia.

The visitors were whisked to a State Hostel for a good sleep after their voyage and the next day there was a massive banquet in their honour. Eno had blown his cover after too many drinks of rum and marijuana after discovering them in his pirate and smuggling days on Earth. The Zortixians loved the rum and the weed and several prominent businessmen were already thinking about building a rum distillery and planting cannabis plantations.

Rumours began swirling about that Eno Ergot was on Zortixia to launch a mission to topple his despot uncle Redbeard. Zortixians has suffered under Oppositism for many years and they sympathized with Zorollians currently suffering under its oppressive yoke. The Zortixians had already executed one Jiber and they hoped Eno would do the same to Redbeard.

Eno was persuaded to take to the podium and say a few words, “There have been too many victims of Oppositism on both Zorollia and Zortixia. Zorollia must be liberated from the yoke of Oppositism eternally. The Zorollian status quo must be toppled by the Zorollian people and there is nothing that the tyrant Redbeard can do to stop it. Let Zorollians implement a government based on justice truth and equality.” After a round of hearty applause Eno lit up a cigarette (a bad habit he had developed on Earth) and continued, “I am positive there are Zorollian intelligence officers in our midst working for my evil uncle Redbeard and urge them to warn Redbeard that his time has come. Look to my left and you will see Garth Reseudo, an early protestor of the Redbeard regime, who was exiled to Earth for his beliefs. He will join me in my fight in a non-violent capacity. Both Squid and Reseudo have tirelessly carried on a struggle on Earth for dignity and civility. When we vanquish Redbeard I would be pleased to welcome Squid as an ambassador to Zorollia. We must thank Squid for the wonderful corruption smelling and battles against despotic rulers on Earth. My friends a toast to Zorollian-Zortixian friendship.

Poetry Corner :Big Bird A Member of Hitler Youth?

Yes a cute and a seemingly innocent and loveable character Big Bird
seemed to choke on his impartial turd
by saying to little children on November 6th in a Twitter Tweet get vaccinated and be safe
on my ass his comments chafe
he will soon be forming a Hitler Youth to be called “Vaccination Safe”
turn in your parents, friends and anyone at all that is not buying in to vaccination safety that
according to statistics is less than safe and effective
except for the sacred profits of Big Pharma and their media and political backers
really for profit hackers
brainwashing children to get the jab
you political-medico opportunistic scum
beat the drum of the politico-medico elite

Boom boom boom
you don’t say what we order
you are destined to deathly doom
an untested vaccine
a profit making no liability Big Pharma Dream
welcome to the brainwashed team
if not all the masses agree with your profit ridden dream
you’ll threaten us with a death statistic paper ream

RKS Wines: Ventoux Wines: Pesquié

If you hear the name Rhône you might be braced for sticker shock thinking of Châteauneuf de Pape or Gigondas. But Ventoux is not about ready just now to empty your wallet and again if you know the producers you can walk away with a smile on your face from both the price and the quality. One very respected producer is the Chaudiére brothers with their Pesquié label. By comparison just because you see or hear about a Bordeaux wine there are humdinger expensive wines but search within Bordeaux, you’ll find many regions long known for their quality and reasonable prices such as Côtes de Blaye. But isn’t searching part of the fun unless you are the consumer who just wants the same steady Eddy. I know a couple of friends that continually drink the same wines which are very poor representations of Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. But if ignorance is bliss and I am just a nut that looks for Romanian, Hungarian, Israeli, Brazilian and Bulgarian wines!

Although summers can be hot the cool winds flowing down Mt. Ventoux in the evening keep the grapes cool and fresh.

Wine critic Robert Parker has given the 2019 Pesquié Edition 1912M a 90 rating and knowing his preferred style for favouring richer wines and that the predominant grape is Grenache in the blend I don’t expect it will be pussyfooting around your palate. Grenache always reminds me of very ripe strawberries, almost overripe! You might want to say it is just about the direct opposite of Pinot Noir.

Sorry for the blah blah blah.

On the nose there is a lightness I was not expecting with Grenache and I am attributing that to the cool winds flowing down Mt. Ventoux. While there is some strawberry there is a heavy raspberry streak, cherry cola and blackberry. It was very difficult to single out distinct influencers on the nose as they are tightly intertwined into a delightfully complex bouquet. I could wimp out by saying “a complex combination and black and red fruits” but that might confuse you more than I may have already confused you.

Some mild and broad tannins but a delightfully complex palate makes describing this wine like jumping over the Berlin Wall from the DDR to the GDR! But at the risk of an East German bullet in my back I’ll start by saying the palate is a beautiful mixture of fruit designed by the Chaudiére brothers to thwart a Canadian wine writer deprived of European travel and wine media trips for two years. His palate moans for drinking European wine and eating food IN EUROPE PLEASE! As I rant get me out of this COVID prison quick. Now getting back to the palate lots of black cherry, blueberry pie with a crosscurrent of black licorice and root beer. The finish is moderate with a bit of spice and heat. With 15% alcohol content to beat US tariff restrictions on French wine no wonder there is a bit of heat. A classic Trumpian era French wine!

Now as for food after not being in France for 3 years and eating almost exclusively Vietnamese food when I was last there except when staying at my friend’s Parisian condo where I ate far too much dirt-cheap French cheese, rillette, paté, tomatoes and baguettes which would suit this wine perfectly of course with a great Parisian jazz radio station.

To conclude this wine is no heavy hitter. It is an elusive mid-weight like Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao. Tight, muscular and determined not to lose.

As for ageing Parker suggests 10 years I will beg to differ and say the wine is so well integrated right now it might improve in the bottle for a couple of years but I say drink up to 2025. Looking for a Christmas party wine if the COVID police are permitting it this might do the trick if you have munchies going of course with French cheeses, paté and that Parisian jazz station of which I have forgotten the co-ordinates for. Switzerland has a few great jazz stations so happy internet searching.

(Edition 1912M 2018, Appellation Ventoux Protégée, Famille Chaudiére, Momorion, France, $17.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 636159, 750 mL, 15%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 92/100).