RKS Japanese Literature: Mothers of Their “Disappeared” Sons and Daughters Congregate at Las Casa de Gobierno in Buenos Aires : Part Two (Yoshimoto Banana)

“Whenever I caught a cold. My mother would mix up a drink for me, dissolving honey in hot water, adding a splash of whisky, squeezing in the juice of a lemon. She was still doing that for me when I was at high school. On one of those evenings when children were bleeding and being tortured here, I was being pampered by her. Maybe that is what this world is. Precisely that? For some reason my mother called her drink “bee honey”. No matter how many times I pointed out it was really more like ‘honey lemon’’ she said her name was better and kept it. I seemed to feel the hot, sweet taste of it filling my mouth. It’s the same all around the world. A mother’s scent. A whiff of the female body, and something heavy, sweet, endlessly deep. That scent was here now, filling the plaza, circling it, because there was no other outlet, going around and around.”

Yoshimoto Banana, “Bee Honey”, 2000.

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: BOB, MASTER OF RORY D. STEPHEN ARRIVES IN SINGAPORE: TO MEET WITH PRIME MINISTER WONG AND REUNITE WITH RORY HIS WESTIE

BOB, MASTER OF RORY D. STEPHEN ARRIVES IN SINGAPORE: TO MEET WITH PRIME MINISTER WONG

THE SINGAPORE TIMES (Lok Bok reporter at large and gossip columnist)

Bob, Master of West Highland Terrier Rory D. Stephen, recently liberated by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), arrived early this morning from Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific.

Thoroughly exhausted from flying from Toronto he was just about seeing double and required assistance in completing his Singapore Arrival Card. He refused to be photographed but we did sneak an attempt without much success.

Bob did briefly converse with our “team on the ground” thanking the SPF and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong for their efforts in “busting free” Rory.

Bob was whisked off to the Singapore Shangri-la in an unmarked SPF vehicle. A previous visitor to Singapore and the Shangri-la he said a cold Tiger Lager, Singaporean noodles and a hot bath was a necessity.

Bob is scheduled for reunification with Rory at a private lunch hosted by Prime Minister Wong tomorrow at Sri Temasek.

RKS Japanese Literature: Mothers of Their “Disappeared” Sons and Daughters Congregate at Las Casa de Gobierno in Buenos Aires (Yoshimoto Banana): Part One

“One morning her son, at the height of his teenage cockiness, goes off to school as always, hardly taking a sip of coffee, long and lanky in his favourite jeans. To his mother, he looks the same as he always has, ever since he was a boy. That look is where all her memories reside-it’s only natural. He never mentioned to her that he once participated in a demonstration, just for a little while, and maybe just because his friends were going. What would that feel like? No one can say what happened after the rash of political upheavals that follow in the wake of the coup d’etat. No one tries to help, because everyone is too scared. Terrible rumours keep circulating, throwing her into confusion; there are no good rumuors.”

Yoshimoto Banana, “Bee Honey”, 2000.

RKS Literature: Suicidal Execution in Maabar (Marco Polo)

“When a man has committed a crime that warrants the death sentence and the king has decreed his execution. The condemned man declares he wishes to kill himself in honour and adoration of such-and-such idol. The king replies that he approves of this. Then all the relatives and friends of the man who must kill himself take him and sit him in a chair and give him twelve knives or swords and they carry him around the city proclaiming at every step, ‘This brave man is going to kill himself out of devotion to such-and-such an idol.”

Marco Polo (1254-1324), “Travels in the Land of Serpents and Pearls”

RKS Literature: Warmest Climes Nurse Cruellest Fangs (Herman Melville)

 “Warmest climes but nurse the cruellest fangs: the tiger of Bengal crouches in spiced groves of ceaseless verdure. Skies the most effulgent but basket the deadliest thunders. Cuba knows tornadoes that never swept tame northern lands. So, too, it is. That in these resplendent Japanese seas the mariner encounters the direst of all storms, the Typhoon. It will sometimes burst out from that cloudless sky, like an exploding bomb upon a dazed and sleepy town.”

Herman Melville, “Moby Dick”, 1851.

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: RORY D. STEPHEN’S OWNER ARRIVES IN HONG KONG: IS THERE A MOVIE ROLE FOR FORMER MISS HONG KONG?

RORY D. STEPHEN’S OWNER ARRIVES IN HONG KONG: IS THERE A MOVIE ROLE FOR FORMER MISS HONG KONG?

NEW TERRITORIES POST DAILY

Bob, owner of recently liberated Rory D. Stephen, currently residing with Singaporean Prime Minister Wong in Singapore, after a daring rescue arrived at Hong Kong International Airport from Toronto connecting to Singapore.

The Post’s reporter’s sharp eyes detected Bob in costume as a Cambodian vacuum cleaner salesman and managed a few words with him.

Bob is most anxious to collect Rory, hold him in his arms and give him a huge hug. Bob stated, “This has been an emotional time for our family and in fact for our neighborhood. Rory is known and loved by dog owners and their pets. His best puppy friend Billy a King Charles Cavalier has been so upset with his disappearance he hardly eats a morsel!”

Bob expressed gratitude to a Cathay Pacific baggage handler at the airport who was instrumental in providing leads to the Singapore Police Force that led to the liberation of Rory. Bob also tipped his hat to THE HONG KONG SOCIETY AGAINST CANINE TRAFFICKING.

Bob noted he is currently contemplating a movie about this event. “I have written a novel “Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog” which won a Nobel Peace Prize for Literature and has resulted in two animated Disney Films of the same name. I have also worked with my former Westie, Dylan the Westie along with Nicole (Kidman) and Russel (Crowe) in “A Dog Saved My Life” who have expressed interest in roles in this possible film. My agent will be contacting former Miss Hong Kong Lisa Marie Tse-Ga-Ye for a supporting role. Lisa Marie knows full well the suffering caused by animal cruelty having lost two of her dogs Peachy and Summer to rampant dog poisoning endemic to Hong Kong.”

Bob had to rush to his connecting flight to Singapore but departed saying call him anytime!

RKS Literature: The Fate of a Whale Boat Jumper (Part One): (Herman Melville)

 “Stubb suddenly dropped all advice, and concluded with a peremptory command, ‘Stick to the boat Pip, or by the Lord, I won’t pick you up if you jump; mind that. We can’t afford to lose whales by the like of you; a whale would sell for thirty times what you would in Alabama. Bear that in mind, and don’t jump anymore’. Hereby perhaps Stubb indirectly hinted, that though man loved his fellow, yet man is a money-making animal, which propensity too often interferes with his benevolence.”

Herman Melville, “Moby Dick”, 1851.

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: STATEMENT FROM THE HONG KONG SOCIETY AGAINST CANINE TRAFFICKING

STATEMENT FROM THE HONG KONG SOCIETY AGAINST CANINE TRAFFICKING

The Hong Kong Society Against Canine Trafficking issued the following statement today.

We thank the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lawrence Wong, for crediting The Hong Kong Society Against Canine Trafficking, for assisting in the liberation of the Canadian West Highland Terrier Rory D. Stephen.

The Society has long been involved in eradicating trafficking of canines through Hong Kong. Most of our efforts have resulted in thwarting the burgeoning canine meat trade in Vietnam. Of course, no such consumption of dog meat occurs in mainland China!  Recent reports of tourists in mainland China noting Hot Dog Pot Specials in restaurants there are referring to 100% pork hot dogs.

One of our members, a baggage handler at the Hong Kong International Airport handling transferring cargo from Toronto to Singapore noticed a snarling highly shaved West Highland Terrier being abused and threatened by two burly men at Gate 24 on a Cathay Pacific flight destined for Singapore. How these men gained access to the baggage handling area remains a puzzle. Strangely they shouted to the poor Westie to “shut up” or he would be transported to Cambodia to sniff landmines. They repeatedly kicked his transport cage throwing BBQ peanuts at him swearing like truck drivers. These noted oddities resulted in an urgent communication from Cathay Pacific to Singaporean officials at Singapore Changi Airport to question the claimants of the crate imprisoning this Westie beyond a perfunctory review of their Singapore Arrival Card. From arrival at Changi the rest is “history”.

RKS 2026 ONTARIO WINE: Can a Premium Priced Niagara Syrah Deliver?: Kacaba 2021 Terraced Vineyard Syrah

As a single varietal in Ontario Syrah struggles. At $35 you move into premium priced Syrah for Ontario.

Aroma: Solid and ripe red cherry down to its core. Secondary notes of strawberry and raspberry. Tertiary notes of streaky bacon.

Palate: Delicate tannins. Gentleness of red cherry and cherry liqueur. Perhaps too gentle and faded. Syrah lite.

Personality: A faded Miss Niagara 2021 the star at one Hamilton Tiger Cats playoff game presently a greeter at Walmart in Niagara Falls.

Food Match: Serve chilled with Crispy Fried Redfish in a Spicy Remoulade Sauce (get recipe at Food Network).

Cellarbility: Consume ASAP.

RKS 2026 ONTARIO WINE RATING: 83/100. Natalie MacLean 91.

Kacaba 2021 Terraced Vineyard Syrah, VQA Niagara Escarpment, KACABA Vineyards, Vineland, Ontario, 750 mL, 13%).

Tasted 18April2026

RKS Literature: Seagulls as Air Sharks (Herman Melville)

 “There’s a most doleful and most mocking funeral! The sea vultures all in pious mourning, the air-sharks all punctiliously in black or speckled. In life but few of them would have helped the whale, I ween, if peradventure he had needed it; but upon the banquet of his funeral, they most piously do bounce. Oh horrible vultureism of earth! from not which the mightiest whale is free!”

Herman Melville, “Moby Dick”, 1851.