Yes we are numbed by the politico-medico propaganda campaign (oops I meant public health service messages) what’s several millions spent on public relations firms trying to terrorize our brain but from these boring and incessant messages it is clear they think we have the brain of a toad and with a television advertisement by the Ontario Government they have resorted to create more fear and goad
A group of people enjoying a gathering not obviously squealed upon by COVID snitches suddenly a happy guest is wheeled down a hospital corridor with an oxygen mask on their face with the weighty message is this is where a little social gathering will get you in these days of lockdown remember this has been cleverly devised by teams of skilled advertising executives trying to make a buck and for us they couldn’t give a
More used to selling laundry detergent, cars and toothpaste now gathered to manufacture fear as a commodity in this pandemic a disgusting and demeaning oddity
Yes our lockdown in Toronto has been extended for another two weeks the battered spouse and the cancer patient awaiting surgery weeps our Toronto mayor says just be patient until the lockdown expires on March 8th same old message on my mind is beginning to grate
The politico-medicos have us imprisoned behind fear and frightening stats mates having lost control of our collective fates
The Island of The Greek Gods was the island of Samos in, of course, Greece and was in the Eastern Aegean some 20 kilometres from the Turkish Coast. Aside from some pirate attacks it had largely been a peaceful island and its inhabitants carried on with life as they had done for centuries. The Greek Gods had an enormous track of land up in the pine forested hills disguising themselves, when necessary, as monks of a strange and obscure order. And the locals left them alone to continue making their brandy.
This serene scenario dissolved beginning in the 1960’s with hordes of Athenian tourists discovering the ancient ruins of Samos and its many pristine beaches, Samos offered cheap wine and sun for the increasingly large influx of Northern European tourist particularly the Dutch and the Germans. As the tourist industry began to flourish so did inequalities of wealth for those who had invested in the tourist business and those that failed to do so. It was common for some of the more aggressive developers to buy land from local farmers near beaches and then in a few months develop the land into a tourist resort or sell the land at a handsome price. Even simple items that had been in family’s kitchens and living rooms such as icons and copper pots were purchased by savvy merchants who resold them as antiques in Western Europe and North America. This tourist culture was poisoning both the people and the land transforming this once placid agricultural community into a Tivoli.
The Gods were not impressed with this New Civilization and its increasingly profit motive hectic pace. Their quiet island was becoming a boomtown. Not even the constant threat of Turkish invasion could scare the tourists away. Drunken tourists stumbled about at all hours of the night and early morning. The locals endured it with a forced smile as many of them were dependent on the tourist trade for a living. Public criticisms of the naughty tourists were rare as polite behaviour ensured a flow of money.
The Gods were being literally pushed out of their land. At first they thought of fighting back and opening up their own businesses. Aphrodite ran a beauty salon; Zeus purchased a hotel and Dionysus a liquor store. The once great rulers of civilization were demoted to the degrading ranks of petite bourgeoisie. The Gods could not compete with the large multinationals who had pushed into the island. Dionysus suffered a nervous breakdown when his liquor business slipped into bankruptcy as mega discount supermarket chains from France and Germany with stores on the island undercut his prices. Well at least for a time he had his own vineyard near the monastery but unfortunately a group of conventioneers from the Whinekol Chemical Company GMBH had trampled down all the vines during one of their alcohol-soaked picnics. For Dionysus wine was a way of life and increasing beer consumption was putting an end to that way of life.
If matters were not progressing well for Dionysus they were also deteriorating for Aphrodite whose beauty salon had initially done well with her quaint if not ancient hair styling receiving much praise for their creativity but as the new Samos airport had opened it was attracting a lower class tourist with package deals. Fat German patrons insulted her and her staff for their antiquated cuts and styling. Tips dried up along with dwindling business.
Herme’s bar and disco once the only game in town was now being shunned by tourists in favour of the new Refines Disco furnished with all the latest furniture from Paris and an extremely expensive German sound system.
Business failures amongst the Gods had increased. Dinner time had always been the time for insightful philosophical discussion in a peaceful and respectful fashion. That had been replaced by increasing alcohol consumption, arguments and even food fights. It reached a point that Zeus feared violence. One evening he called an assembly to discuss the nature of their situation including whether to remain on the island or move to a new more tranquil location. Some of the Gods attended the meeting with their suitcases packed. After reaching the podium Zeus spoke, “Good evening one and all. We are assembled to discuss an important and pressing matter. Should we remain in Samos and bear the pressures of the New Civilization or shall we remove ourselves to a quieter and more dignified location? The New Civilization seems to have frustrated our ability to control world civilization. This tourist influx has shattered our last refuge. The situation can only worsen. Every summer the crowds increase and the rudeness and uncivility as well. I heard yesterday from a contact at the Greek Ministry of Tourism a promotional campaign will be launched in the United States of America that will highlight the island. This island will soon become a living hell and I can no longer tolerate these rude tourists and greedy grasping local businessmen. By the looks on your faces I think you agree with me. And we thought we had helped eradicate barbarity amongst the mortals!
In the beginning it was fun as we catered to an educated and respectful group of tourists. However the construction of the new airport has brought in lower class lager louts disrupting the peaceful life of the people unleashing a never-ending stream of greed. Imagine, even us Gods, struggling to make it financially with failing businesses. I am impatient acting as a hotel manager slavishly grovelling at the feet of these tourists and having my staff clean up their nightly vomit stinking of cheap Retsina. These mortals should be grovelling at OUR feet! Who in Hades do they think they are. I propose a vote on whether we leave and if in favour of the move I have a location in mind.”
As fate would have it Attis excitedly stormed into the room shouting we are done! A vote became not if but where do the Gods go.
Dr. Zodiac, physician to the Greek Gods, and his good friend, Zeus, were treading on the beach of their island home Samos, as it is known in modern day Greece. They were deeply absorbed in discussing the nature of the universe and failed to notice the elongated battered metal object on the beach until after they had very nearly tripped over it. Both looked at each other with astonishment. In this strange object was a babe. Zeus stuttered, “This is some sort of miracle. We have not yet finished our plans to create mankind yet in front of us we see a baby. How has this incredible event happened. Even I as leader of the Gods and an all powerful do not know how this child has landed in our midst. Is there a message to us in this? Are more powerful gods testing our compassion? Is it a message from some other planet? Is it a blessing or a curse?”
Zodiac was too perplexed to respond immediately but after a couple of minutes of reflection spoke, “Perhaps Zeus some of your ideas may be correct and deserve closer study. Perhaps it is some sort of omen but for now let us cease this speculation. The babe is bleeding from the toe and I must see the wounds are attended to. Let us take him to our retreat.”
And so Willie Jr. was taken to the domicile of the Greek Gods and his arrival sparked great interest. After a brief discussion the Gods decided to adopt him as one of their own. They bestowed immortality upon him and were resolved to impart their godly wisdom to him to ensure a regal upbringing. After consulting with some of the more scholarly gods Zeus managed to decipher the strange language on the babe’s bracelet….”Willie Montenez Jr”.
Willie was raised without any knowledge of his past because what that was were a set of facts totally unknown to the Greek Gods. Like any youth he frolicked his days away on the beach but not all was play as he received daily instruction from the Gods on philosophy and morals. Hundreds of earth years passed and Willie grew to adulthood. These were spectacular years that witnessed the creation of man and animals. Willie was a popular figure amongst the Greek Gods. His wit, intelligence and honesty charmed them all and they were proud he had evolved into such a fine lad. The Gods were particularly impressed with his insatiable desire to discover the truth on all matters he considered.
Willie had been too young to participate in the adventures at Troy but had participated in the French Revolution and the 1906 Serbian Croatian Pig War and with charming ease he had reconciled angry pig farmers and politicians. Even to this date you can see faded pictures of Willie shaking hands with the Ministers of Agriculture of Serbia and Croatia. Of course, Willie had not told them of his origin as he knew not what it was nor did he admit he was a consort to the Greek Gods. He was simply known as Josif Montenegro.
After so many epic adventures in the hands of earthlings the Greek Gods would assemble and discuss the direction of world history and where it should be flowing. However as time passed it was increasingly obvious that the course of history was spinning out of their control and even beyond the power of the Gods. Nuclear bombs and chemical and biological warfare were hideous to them but for the moment they refused to capitulate. Computers were baffling to them and they had difficulty, even as great scholars, to understand the writings of Fanon, Marx, Hitler and Lenin. This new civilization was baffling and was overtaking them. The once mighty masters of humankind were now becoming obsolete. Shortly a series of uncontrollable events would drive them off the planet they had strived to rule justly.
In this corner at 14% we have a contender from New Zealand from a veteran winery called Thornbury from the Central Otago region in New Zealand’s South Island. Wine fans you may know that New Zealand can be a top-quality producer of not only Sauvignon Blanc and now increasingly Pinot Noir.
The nose suggests a broody Pinot Noir one would wish to avoid in a dark alleyway. Deep raspberry and red cherry are tightly wound on the nose. On the palate smooth with almost clinging raspberry notes tinged with loganberry and a hint of mocha. Short finish. A decent Pinot Noir but not definitely heavyweight champion material.
(Thornbury 2019 Central Otago Pinot Noir, Thornbury Wines, Mangere, New Zealand, $29.90, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 926245, 14%, 750 mL, Robert K. Stephen a little birdie told me Rating 91/100).
Alright a Canadian Pinot Noir steps into the ring. It is a Henry of Pelham 2019 Pinot Noir. On the nose sweet red cherries and freshly picked raspberries. On the palate there are some light tannins. On the palate overlaying the red cherry would be a gentle net of smoke. A very gentle cut of acid. A good but simple Pinot Noir. Quick finish. As for food a mushroom Stroganoff will win the day. Here’s the recipe https://www.ocregister.com/2020/02/22/recipe-mushroom-stroganoff-delivers-flavor-without-the-meat/amp/
(Henry of Pelham Estate Pinot Noir 2019, VQA Short Hills Bench, Henry of Pelham Family Estates Winery, St. Catharines, Ontario, $ 24.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 268391, 750 mL, 13%, Robert K. Stephen a little birdie told me Rating 91/100).
Might improve with some ageing but consume by end of 2025.
So the judges have made their decision and it is a draw.
Yes today another extension of lockdown for 4 public health regions in Ontario including Toronto of course with deference to the whomever they may be Ontario Public Health Table an imprisoning health fable for politicians running under the public accountability gable you have put us under a for the good of the public fable ruinous public health advice to the doctors ruining our economy many thanks for your concern in the hell fires of mental illness, cancelled cancer surgeries we burn of course you leaders of public health get the jab but on the sidelines my friends about you we blab do you have any connection with reality other than numbers and charts treating us like febrile tarts
Our first is a Marsanne from Tahbilk. Yes you see it occasionally as a single varietal in Australia but you also see it blended with Rousanne.
On the nose apricot, peach, mango with some very sweet white grapefruit. On the palate Portuguese custard tart, canned pineapple, jasmine tea and apricot nectar. Light on the acids but enough to give it a gentle force. Not a powerful wine yet not overly delicate. Short finish.
Good sipper and for me I sense a delight with clam linguine in a white wine sauce and lots of local garlic.
Tahbilk has the largest single holding of Marsanne in the world and it was planted on the estate in the 1860’s.
They suggest cellaring it for 8-10 years with marmalade and honeyed characteristics developing. Given their experience with Marsanne I am not going to argue with this. Call it instinct but this wine may achieve greatness in the next few years. If you have a place to cellar it great and buy 3 or 4 bottles to try over the coming years.
(Tahbilk Marsanne 2019, Nagambie Lakes Central Victoria, Tahbilk, Tablik, Victoria, Australia, $17.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 117495, 12%, 750 mL, Robert K. Stephen Set The Bar Rating 90/100).
Our next white is from Xanadu and I know this label but it has been some time since I have had any of their wines. This is an Exmoor 2018 from the Margaret River in Western Australia an area which produces some of Australia’s elegant Cabernet Sauvignon. Vines have been planted in western Australia since 1829 but in the Margaret River vines were planted in the late 1960’s. It has a maritime location where the warm Indian Ocean and cold Southern Ocean merge. Karen MacNeil in her “Wine Bible” mentions the “almost magical affinity” Chardonnay has for the region.
On the nose baked pear tart, apple, mango, apricot and tangerine. Quite busy and intriguing. On the palate there is a gravelly texture to it and it is slightly grippy on the palate remining me of wines made from the Encruzado grape in the Dão region of Portugal grown often in granitic soils. On the palate pineapple upside down cake, Bulgarian pear nectar juice, applesauce all with a persistent mouthfeel and a moderately long finish. It has been fermented in the barrel but lacking an oaky nose I would have to say this would seem to be older French oak? Whatever oak it is it is discrete making the wine fall out of the ABC (Anything but Chardonnay) camp a term thrown around by Chardonnay drinkers turned off the overly oaked Chardonnays of years ago not only from Australia but from elsewhere around the world.
Now it is a good sipper but that slight gravelly and raspy side to it sort of has it begging for food and as Margaret River is by the ocean I am sure some local seafood, particularly shellfish, might be a great match but not having yet been invited on an Australian wine media tour to Western Australia I wish I could tell you what they might eat with this Chardonnay. I might endeavour to say rabbit might be a good match grilled after it has been marinated in yogurt and tarragon. But my goodness to be in Australia at the winery with glass in hand I am sure they would know exactly what local cuisine pairs with this Exmoor! In fact the winery restaurant ranks in the top 50 of Western Australia’s restaurants. Of course after this pandemic is over I will be whisked on their corporate jet for a meal or two there!
As an aside it is remarkably interesting that there are no media trips to Australia for wine whereas for Europe they abound. I wonder why this is. Sort of like Canada that produces some excellent wine but formally organized tours for Canadian and foreign wine media types seems non-existent. Oh well I suppose I will have to get my in-depth experience in Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain where the EU is not adverse to spilling out some cash to bring in wine media types for the skinny on their local wines. Too bad for Australia!
The technical sheet can be accessed here and I see I was right about the oak being old! How good it feels to be a savvy Canuck wine writer!!! And modest too!
(Xanadu, Exmoor 2018 Chardonnay, Margaret River, Xanadu Wines, Margaret River, Western Australia, $19.95 (currently $20 AUS$), Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 12696, 750 mL, 12.5%, Robert K. Stephen Set The Bar Rating 90/100).
We finish off with another Chardonnay from Australia. It is a Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay from South Australia. On the nose this light gold Chardonnay has notes of apple, pear with moderate oaking. On the palate some pineapple, butterscotch and baked pear. A full-bodied Chard finishing with a little cut of apricot and tangerine.
No benefit to ageing. Serve cool and not cold.
I think this would pair well with crustaceans with lots of garlic butter for dipping.
(Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay 2018, Penfolds Wine, South Australia, $16.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 321943, 750 mL, 12.5%, Robert K. Stephen Set The Bar Rating 87/100).
As for 2020 in Australia:
The top 5 markets by value were:
Mainland China, down 14 per cent to $1.01 billion
United Kingdom (UK), up 29 per cent to $456 million
United States of America (USA), up 4 per cent to $434 million
Canada, up 5 per cent to $192 million, and
Hong Kong, up 27 per cent to $132 million.
The top five destinations by volume were:
UK, up 19 per cent to 266 million litres
USA, down 1 per cent to 136 million litres
Mainland China, down 29 per cent to 96 million litres
Albo Jiber had once sat in the Legislative Assembly of Zortixia. He was known to be extremely intelligent but with ambition bordering on dangerous. His career as a Zortixian Legislative Assembly member came crashing down as he was implicated in several illegal land deals resulting in his expulsion from the Legislative Assembly. But now he had seized power and was anxiously awaiting vindication by “appropriately” dealing with those who had “betrayed him”.
His closest followers were the fanatical blackbooters, a highly effective and loyal band of cutthroats. On instructions of Jiber they had executed many of his opponents. Prominent citizens vanished mysteriously and the once vacant prisons were overcrowded. The thousands of Zortixians who had supported the Jiber now had their doubts about the veracity of their decision but it was too late.
The execution of Montenez might be problematic due to his huge popularity. Other Opposite Party leaders in The Federation reported difficulties when they executed popular political leaders. For instance, Lako, leader of the Prizoian Opposite Party, was torn to pieces by angry mobs after he had ordered the execution of Blurd, the hugely popular leader of the Prizoian People’s Assembly. The reigns of power throughout The Federation were tenuous and of course their future was maintaining power.
Jiber’s safest course of action was the exile of Montenez. It would be to a planet so very far away he would never return. The Jiber gambled that if he exiled Montenez and publicly guaranteed his safety Zortixians would be placated. The planet of exile was a ragged and primitive planet called Earth. There was not even any sign of civilized life.
Jiber was correct. The Zortixian anger subsided knowing their leader at least would be safe. However the re-entry programme into Earth on the exile’s spaceship had been altered so that the craft would burn to pieces upon entering the Earth’s atmosphere. Those sucker Zortixians would have no idea about the murder of Willie.
There exist countless legends pertaining to the exile voyage so we will never know the truth except that the rocket had a rough entry into the Earth’s atmosphere and Willie and his wife died and their child enclosed in a “indestructible” metal cannister was thrown clear of the plummeting fireball of a spacecraft. Willie Jr. managed to escape injury other than a severed baby toe that sunk to the bottom of the ocean while his cannister bobbed in the undulating waves.
I have watched this film twice and it took the second view to say this Canadian film is a gem. Personally, I would advise you to watch it more than once. It is one of those films that beg for interpretation. The elements to keep an eye and mind on could be sexual assault, PTSD, familial disfunction, rape- revenge and cruelty.
The film starts rolling and the credits are a bit blurred. Now that sparked a thought why? In fact it started a mini trance of extreme curiosity. Were the directors trying to make a statement and if so what was it?
Could it be the link between reality and fiction is blurry or have I watched too many French and Italian art films always looking for subtle symbolism! My take is the film vacillates upon fantasy and reality. That nice girl Miriam (Sims-Fewer) really didn’t do that horrific act. Perhaps it is her fantasy? Perhaps it is reality and a vicious one at that.
And what about that wolf in the beginning grabbing a rabbit pretending to be dead? Does the fact that Dylan (Jesse LaVercombe) also hunts rabbits somehow a message of a predator in Dylan? Is Miriam also a predator and what about the numerous shots of insects? Symbolic of decay?
The storyline is relatively simple Miriam and Caleb (Obi Abili) head up to Dylan’s beautiful lakeside cottage for an annual visit. Dylan is married to Miriam’s sister Greta (Anna Maguire). Miriam and Greta appear to have a solid relationship as the film begins but in reality their relationship is permeated by jealousy if not great spite.
Set in the woods and isolated from the day to day lets the characters interact intensely. Throw in some infidelity to spice things up and a barbaric act by Miriam but that may just be fantasy. If that nasty act by Miriam is real what a violent and dangerous lady. Did Dylan deserve his fate or fantasy as the case may be. Is he guilty of sexual assault?
What I can say that this is an engaging film and, in my view, capable of differing interpretations. I don’t see much symbolism in Canadian films but I see it here. The cinematography is stunning and artsy (but not overdone) and the music both angelic and eerie.
Sims-Fewer dominates the screen. The film has done the festival circuit including Sundance. “Violation” has been honoured with 3 nominations from the Vancouver Film Critics Circle: Best Picture, Best Director and Best Female Actor.
It is directed, written and produced by Madeline Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli and hard to believe this is their debut film although they have experience with shorts.
Digital TIFF Bell Lightbox will have an exclusive digital film release on March 19 and the VIFF Connect Virtual Theatre starts a run on March 26th.
“Pausing interrupts entrenched patterns of interaction. When the downward spiral of judging and misunderstanding is stopped even for a brief time, it becomes possible to recognize the unconscious beliefs and feelings that lie behind the problem. Such insight naturally leads to making wiser choices.
We learn Radical Acceptance by practicing pausing again and again. At the very moment when we’re about to lash out in verbal outrage, we don’t. When we feel anxious, instead of turning on the TV or making a phone call or mentally obsessing, we sit still and feel our discomfort or restlessness. In this pause we let go of thinking and we become intimate with what is happening in our body, heart and mind.”
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