“An ordinary person in the USSR has no prospects except for being trapped in misery and trudging directly toward the grave. All of the friends and even casual acquaintances we talked to were in a bleak mood: there was nothing ahead, just emptiness. No goals to set, nothing to look forward to. We knew theContinue reading “RKS Literature: Why One Must Defect from the USSR (Vladimir Rott)”
Category Archives: history
RKS Literature: Timid Warrior Whalemen at Breakfast (Herman Melville)
“These reflections just here are occasioned by the circumstances that after we were all seated at the table, and I was preparing to hear some good stories about whaling; to my no small surprise, nearly every man maintained a profound silence. And not only that, but they looked embarrassed. Yes, here were a set ofContinue reading “RKS Literature: Timid Warrior Whalemen at Breakfast (Herman Melville)”
RKS Literature: “The Communist Manifesto”: Your Horror at the Communists’ Intention to Do Away with Private Property
“You are horrified at our intending to do away with private property. But in your existing society, private property is already done away with for nine-tenths of the population; its existence for the few is solely due to its non-existence in the hands of those nine-tenths. You reproach us therefore, with intending to do awayContinue reading “RKS Literature: “The Communist Manifesto”: Your Horror at the Communists’ Intention to Do Away with Private Property”
RKS Literature: The Distinction Between Nationalism and Patriotism (George Orwell)
“By “patriotism” I mean a devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best place in the world but has no wish to force upon other people. Patriotism by its very nature is defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable fromContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Distinction Between Nationalism and Patriotism (George Orwell)”
RKS Poetry Anthology (All We Get Are The Coffee Grinds):”Russian “liberators” of the Ukraine Heard Singing a Nancy Sinatra Tune”
Russian “liberators” of the Ukraine Heard Singing a Nancy Sinatra Tune “These boots are made for walking And that’s just what they’ll do One of these days these boots are going to walk all over you” Robert K. Stephen
RKS Sports: Up the Mekong into the Heart of Darkness: An Evening in the Heart of THE LEAF NATION
Given the conflagration occurring in the Middle East with missiles and drones flying here and there one might say there was militarism in the air or at least on the CNN/FOX/CBC airwaves. My goodness even the Grand Pouba fell as a martyr in the heat of the moment but was no doubt dancing with theContinue reading “RKS Sports: Up the Mekong into the Heart of Darkness: An Evening in the Heart of THE LEAF NATION”
RKS Literature: “Trimalchio’s Feast”: Circumcision and Snoring in Ancient Rome (Petronious)
“He’s never had any real training. I just had him taught by sending him along to peddlers on the street corner. There’s no one equal to him if he wants to imitate mule-drivers or hawkers. He’s terribly clever, really. He’s a cobbler, a cook, a confectioner-a man that can turn his head to anything. ButContinue reading “RKS Literature: “Trimalchio’s Feast”: Circumcision and Snoring in Ancient Rome (Petronious)”
RKS Literature: The Torment of Holding Yourself In: “Trimalchio’s Feast” (Petronious)
“Excuse me, dear people, my inside has not been answering the call for several days now. The doctors are puzzled. But some pomegranate rind in water and resin in vinegar has dome me good. But I hope now it will be back in good behaviour. Otherwise my stomach rumbles like a bull. So if anyContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Torment of Holding Yourself In: “Trimalchio’s Feast” (Petronious)”
RKS Literature: “Trimalchio’s Feast”: Trimalchio’s Wife A Magpie with a Rough Tongue! (Petronious)
“Who was the woman running around this place? ‘Trimalchio’s wife’ he told me, ‘Fortunata is her name and she counts her money by the sackful. And before, before what was she? You’ll pardon me for saying so, but you wouldn’t have touched a bit of bread from her hand. Nowadays-and who knows how or why-Continue reading “RKS Literature: “Trimalchio’s Feast”: Trimalchio’s Wife A Magpie with a Rough Tongue! (Petronious)”
RKS Literature: “Trimalchio’s Feast” : What’s on the Menu (Petronious)
“After our applause the next course was brought in. Actually it was not as grand as we expected, but it was so novel that everyone stared. It was a deep circular tray with the twelve signs of the Zodiac arranged around the edge. Over each of them the chef had placed some appropriate dainty suggestedContinue reading “RKS Literature: “Trimalchio’s Feast” : What’s on the Menu (Petronious)”
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 