RKS Literature: Paying Attention to the Gulag Hierarchy (Solzhenitsyn)

“The foreman matters more than anything else in a prison camp: a new one gives you a new lease of life, a bad one can land you six feet under. Shukov had known Andrei Profofyevich Tyurin back in Ust-Izhma. He hadn’t worked under him there, but when all the “traitors” had been shunted from the ordinary penal camp to hard labor, Tyurin had singled him out. Shukov had no dealings with the camp commander, the Production Planning Section, the site managers, or the engineers: his foreman was always there standing up for him: a chest of steel, Tyurin had. But if he twitched an eyebrow or lifted a finger-you ran and did whatever he wanted. Cheat anyone you liked as long as you didn’t cheat Tyurin, and you’d get by.”

“One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich”, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, 1962.

Press Release: Caravans of Migrant Americans Head to Canadian Border Crossings

2February2025: Spoof News Services: Toronto

Thousands of Americans are flooding to the Canadian border waving state flags and chanting, “Gotta get out now or we’ll be a POW!” Unlike Central American caravans that have lately been repelled by tear gas and machine gun bullets at the United States- Mexican border by patriots Canadians have met the crowds of frightened migrants with warm pancake breakfasts with Quebec maple syrup for morning arrivals, peameal bacon sandwiches for afternoon arrivals and poutine or Le Gros Jean baked beans and freshly pressed apple juice for evening arrivals.

Canadian Minister for Foreign Affairs Mabel Jolly was seen at the Vermont/Quebec border crossing welcoming Americans with French dictionaries, health cards for provincial medical care and discounted passes for VIA Rail travel throughout Canada. Special welcome booths were established at border crossings offering jobs to American doctors and nurses to address the ravages of a Canadian healthcare system. High net worth migrants were welcome to VIP tents provided their suitcases and trunks contained a minimum $5 million USD and provided signed agreements of purchase and sale for homes and condominiums were produced before admission to the VIP tents.

Minister Jolly noted the migrants may be just that or they may be refugees fearing persecution. Jolly stated, “We have seen a great many former FBI agents, air traffic controllers, DOJ lawyers involved in the 6January coup attempt investigation, the investigation of certain “politicos” and anyone employed in a DEI capacity or who were hired under DEI principles. We have previously accepted 40,000 Syrian refugees so what difference do a few thousand Americans make.”

The White House press secretary (Jacob Chansley) at the latest briefing in Washington expressed concern with the Canadian government’s attitude and position facilitating the escape of “anti governmental” elements and promised the immediate establishment of a White House Information Line where patriots could advise of those who do not believe in the Golden Age of America in order that they can be re-educated.

(Trumpian Tariff War): Department of Finance of Canada Lists Various Types of American Beer, Wine, Spirits and Alcoholic Beverages Subject to 4February2025 Tariff of 25%

The 25% tariff is effective 4February2025 and will remain in effect until Trump tariffs end.

The Department of Finance product list and backgrounder can be accessed below.

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2025/02/list-of-products-from-the-united-states-subject-to-25-per-cent-tariffs-effective-february-4-2025.html

(Trump Tariff Wars) News Release – Manitoba- Sales of United States Alcohol in the Province of Manitoba

February 2, 2025

Manitoba Government to Pull American Alcohol Products Off Shelves

In response to United States President Donald Trump’s tariffs, the Manitoba government is issuing a directive to Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries (MBLL) to stop the sale of American products in the province, Premier Wab Kinew announced today. 

“Trump’s tariff tax is an attack on Canadians,” said Kinew. “We support the federal response to these tariffs and here in Manitoba, we’re stopping the sale of American products at Manitoba liquor marts. How you choose to spend your money is one of the most important decisions you as a consumer can make. There are plenty of great Manitoba breweries and distilleries to support instead.” 

Effective Tuesday, Feb. 4, MBLL will be directed to pull American products off the shelves of liquor marts and will stop ordering American alcohol, the premier noted. 

The premier added the province will roll out more supports for Manitoba businesses and workers throughout the week in response to the U.S. tariffs. 

Manitoba’s U.S. Trade Council will meet on Monday to discuss the impacts of the tariffs and the province’s response. 

For more information, Manitoba businesses or workers impacted by tariffs can contact the Manitoba government tariff hotline at 1-877-827-4330 (toll-free) or 204-945-8011, Manitoba Government Inquiry at 204-945-3744 or visit https://manitoba.ca/tariffresponse/. 

RKS Trumpian Tariff War: The Province of Nova Scotia Removes All United States Liquor from Its Stores

The Premier of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, Tim Huston, announced he will direct the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation to remove all United States alcohol from its shelves effective 4February2025.

RKS Trumpian Tariff War: British Columbia To Restrict U.S. Liquor Sales

Premier David Eby of the Canadian province of British Columbia announced countermeasures on 2February2025 to “stand up” for British Columbian workers and businesses after the United States announced incoming tariffs of 25% on incoming goods and 25% on Canadian energy.

As a first step the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch will immediately stop purchasing liquor from “red states” and remove the top selling “red state” brands from the shelves of public liquor stores”.

Premier Eby provided no definition of “red state” in his statement but traditionally such term means any state that awarded a majority of electoral votes to President Trump in the last United States Presidential election. States with significant wine production imported into British Columbia would be California, Washington and Oregon and all such states are “blue States” (Democratic).

The top five states importing into British Columbia are Washington ($9.8 billion), California ($3.2 billion), Illinois ($2.1 billion), Texas ($1.5 billion) and Oregon ($1.3 billion). Other than Texas all such states are blue.

RKS 2025 Wine: A South African Red Blend

This Kloof Street Swartland Rouge is a blend of Syrah (41%), Grenache (32%), Tinta Barocca (17%) and Cinsault (10%) which have been fermented using indigenous yeasts.

From sustainably farmed vineyard parcels in different parts of the Swartland, up to 48 years in age: Two parcels of Syrah and one parcel of Cinsault and Grenache from the stony shale and schist based soils of Roundstone Farm on the Kasteelberg; and one parcel of dry land, bushvine Syrah, and Tinta Barocca, planted in the decomposed granite soils of the Paardeberg.

The wine spent 11 months in 3rd and 4th fill French oak 225L barrels & 500L demi-muids.

Aroma: Enveloped in moderate oak with an occasional whiff of may I say “almost traditional” earthiness of so many South African reds. Bright red cherry, ripe raspberry with hints of cranberry.

Palate: Light on the tannins but don’t expect silky and smooth. Chalky and delicate bitterness. Slightly reticent with its fruit which  might emerge more prominently with some ageing.

Personality: Fresh but not sassy.

Food Match: Fully condimented Southern Cali cheeseburger with Waffle Fries.

Cellarbility: Give it until 2026 to flourish. Will sail through to 2028.

Price: $24.95 CDN.

RKS 2025 Wine Rating: 89/100. Timatkin.com 93.

(Swartland Rouge, 2022 Kloof Street, W.O. Swartland, Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines, Malmesbury, South Africa).

RKS 2025 Film: “Exhibiting Forgiveness”: Bible Thumpers Curing Horrific Wrongs?

Forgiveness is an essential component of Christian and mindfulness ideology. Forgiving is perceived as liberating and healing. But are there certain dastardly and evil deeds that simply can’t be forgiven such as the endless episodes of genocide plaguing world history? Tarrell (André Holland) is a black artist seemingly living the good life, a real up and comer with a musician wife and a son. He drives a vintage Mercedes. He lives in a beautiful house with an enormous studio. Everything perfect right?

Not really as Tarrell suffers from nightmares leaving him waking up in a panic or a rage. Flashes in his mind of a nail on a board, a lawnmower, fire in a drum, glass shattering etc. Eventually it is revealed his once loving father had morphed into a crackhead turning into an abusive monster abusing Tarrell and his mother to the point after numerous relapses he is living in the street in a dirty disheveled state wheeling around a shopping cart with his belongings.

Beaten and bloodied by an armed robber in a liquor store robbery he limps to his brother who cleans him up but as he has robbed his brother and wife blind he is not welcome in their house. He is accepted by a pastor giving him refuge in a dank basement on the condition he attend recovery meetings to the point he has recovered, yet again, and has become somewhat of a Bible Thumper.

Tarrell’s mother, a Bible Thumper, begs Tarrell to forgive his monstrous father as the Bible says if you can’t forgive a person, you will not be able to forgive yourself. After an argument with Tarrell she is hospitalized and on her death bed due to a preexisting condition. Will the film be yet another sappy dysfunctional family saved on the deathbed wishes genre? Only partially and that along with solid acting throughout makes the film a worthy watch.

Available on VOD now.

Directed and written by Titus Kaphar.

RKS 2025 Film Rating 79/100. You may watch the trailer here https://www.imdb.com/video/vi343590425/?ref_=tt_vi_i_1

RKS Literature: The Perpetual Sentence in the Gulag (Solzhenitsyn)

“Another thing the searchers looked for in the morning: men wearing civilian dress under prison clothes. Never mind that everybody had been stripped of his civilian belongings long ago and told that he’d get them back the day his sentence ended (a day nobody in the camp had yet seen).”

“One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich”, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, 1962.

RKS Literature: Everyone Taking Their Cut of Bread at the Gulag (Solzhenitsyn)

“Shukov had drawn a few thousand bread rations in jails and prison camps, and though he’d never had the chance to weigh his portion on the scales, and anyway was too timid to kick up a fuss and demand his rights, he knew better than most prisoners, that a bread cutter who gave full measure wouldn’t last long at the job. Every portion was underweight-the only question was by how much. Twice a day you looked at it and tried to set your mind at rest. Maybe it’s only a couple of grams short.”

“One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” Alexander Solzhenitsyn, 1962.