RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version):Singapore 10October2025: Yet Another Parsimonious “Welcome Reception to Meet Your Fellow Travellers” Singapore 10October2025: Yet Another Parsimonious “Welcome Reception to Meet Your Fellow Travellers” Given the hefty sum…

RKS 2026 CANADIAN Wine: Tempranillo in British Columbia! Look out Rioja! Tempranillo has appeared yet again in British Columbia, Canada. The first Tempranillo I encountered was from Stag’s Hollow in the Okanagan area of British Columbia and it was mighty impressive. This is far less so.…

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version):Singapore 10October2025: A Gringo and His Singaporean Dollars Are Soon Separated Singapore 10October2025: A Gringo and His Singaporean Dollars Are Soon Separated We met a few fellow tour members in the lobby of Singapore…

RKS 2026 CANADIAN WINE: Jackson-Triggs Shiraz from Niagara You are more likely to see “Syrah” instead of “Shiraz” on Ontario wine labels. Is Jackson-Triggs hinting at an Australian Shiraz experience with their label for this wine? Aged in a combination of American and French oak. AROMA: Indeed,…

RKS Literature: Frankenstein’s Creation Wretched, Miserable and Alone (Mary Shelley) “Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different than mine in every other respect. He had come forward from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy…

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: RORY CONTEMPLATES HIS DESTINY AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY RORY CONTEMPLATES HIS DESTINY AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY I was born late August 2025 in Denfield, Ontario. I have 4 brothers and sisters all destined to leave the warmth and protection of their…

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version): Singapore 10October2025: Garden of Eden at Singapore Shangri-La Singapore 10October2025: Garden of Eden at Singapore Shangri-La After breakfast up to room to smear on sunscreen and take it easy. We arrived a day before our…

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: RORY’S POSEIDON ADVENTURE RORY’S POSEIDON ADVENTURE Bob and I watched “The Poseidon Adventure” with Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine and Shelley Winters the other day on Turner Classic Movies. A passenger ship sinking! We are in the midst of a…

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: I AM THE WHITE ROCKET BUT SOMETIMES SMELL LIKE AN EARTHWORM I AM THE WHITE ROCKET BUT SOMETIMES SMELL LIKE AN EARTHWORM Over and over you read and hear West Highland Terriers have a digging and a strong prey instinct. Rory the White Rocket Bob has…

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version):Singapore 10October2025: Breakfast at Singapore’s Shangri-La Beyond Belief: Dazed and Confused With a Happy Gut Singapore 10October2025: Breakfast at Singapore’s Shangri-La Beyond Belief: Dazed and Confused With a Happy Gut…

RKS 2026 Wine: A Good Perspective on Portugal’s Douro? 2025 witnessed a dearth of Douro wine in Ontario for reasons unknown but we start 2026 with a LCBO Vintages 10January release with 5 Portuguese wines 3 of which are from the Douro. What about Perspectiva 2020 Red from the Douro? Does it offer…

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version): SINGAPORE ARRIVAL 9October2025RKS 2025 Travel: SINGAPORE ARRIVAL 9October2025 Arrived in Hong Kong from Toronto late afternoon. Beaten and bedraggled after 15 hours on Cathay Pacific. Huge airport. Boarded Cathay Pacific…

United States National Guard Seizes Canadian Portion of Niagara Falls and Wine Growing Regions of Niagara Spoof News Services: 12January2026: National Guard detachments based in Buffalo and Finger Lakes, New York seized control of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake and all wineries in…

RKS Literature: Frankenstein’s Creation Laments His Deformity (Mary Shelley) “I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers-their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions: but how I was terrified when I viewed myself in a transparent pool. At first I started back, unable to believe that it was…

El Clásico Supercopa: Barça Triumph, Alonso Out, Arbeloa In Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3–2 in a dramatic Supercopa de España final, highlighted by a Raphinha brace. Less than a day later, Real Madrid parted ways with Xabi Alonso and appointed former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as their new head…

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AFTER GERMAN SHEPPARD ATTACK POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AFTER GERMAN SHEPPARD ATTACK Bob and I were taking one of our many daily walks. Bob is of the view a tired dog is a happy dog. He sure has that one right.…

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version): THE TOUR DIRECTOR: The glue that binds the group together THE TOUR DIRECTOR: The glue that binds the group together Your tour will have a tour director travelling with you for your entire tour present when you arrive up to…

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: RORY INSPIRED BY THE SOUND OF MUSIC! RORY INSPIRED BY THE SOUND OF MUSIC! I had been listening to radio and television advertisements promoting a revival of the musical “The Sound of Music”. Bob groans in pain hearing the refrain, “….climb every…

Russian Baller Kasatkin Swapped For Laurent Vinatier Russia and France exchanged French researcher Laurent Vinatier for Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin. Vinatier had faced espionage allegations in Russia, while Kasatkin was detained in France over a U.S. hacking case. Both men returned…

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: MATTERS ARE NOT WHAT THEY APPEAR TO BE: OUR SECURITY TEAM AND BOB’S GLOCK MATTERS ARE NOT WHAT THEY APPEAR TO BE: OUR SECURITY TEAM AND BOB’S GLOCK Bob is fond of saying we inhabit a “modest cottage” on a quiet street in Toronto’s Bridlepath area.…

Latin Davis Leads Express to First Win The Windsor Express split their home‑and‑home series with the Lake Erie Jackals, falling 98–95 on the road before storming back with a 119–96 win in Windsor. Latin Davis led the response with a blistering 44‑point performance and nine threes.

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: RORY SAYS CAREFUL WHEN YOU USE THE EXPRESSION “NAUGHTY PUPPY” RORY SAYS CAREFUL WHEN YOU USE THE EXPRESSION “NAUGHTY PUPPY” I continually hear the expression “naughty puppy” bandied about by humans. It implies malicious intent on innocent little…

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version) GROUP TOUR PERSONALITIES: THE WINDBAG The windbag never stops talking. To fellow travellers. To the tour guide and director. To anyone fortunate to have been born with ears. Then those long-complicated questions with a…

RKS LITERATURE: Frankenstein Verging on a Mental Breakdown (Mary Shelley) “The leaves that year had withered before my work drew near to a close, and now every day showed me more plainly how well I had succeeded. But my enthusiasm was checked by my anxiety, and I appeared rather like one doomed by…

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: BRAVE NEW WORLD BRAVE NEW WORLD As a FOB, as all puppies are, life graduates in excitement day after day assuming you have caring and attentive masters. Arriving at Bob and Fay’s house was an eyeopener after being born in a kennel. The backyard…

RKS Literature: What Drives Frankenstein to Create His Monster? (Mary Shelley) “No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards like a hurricane in the first enthusiasm of success. Life and death appeared to me in ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a…

RKS Literature: The Miserable Details of Commerce (Mary Shelley) “The day of my departure at length arrived. Clerval spent the last evening with us. He had endeavored to persuade his father to permit him to accompany me and to become my fellow student but in vain. His father was a narrow-minded…

Canada, Denmark, Greenland, Columbia and Taiwan to Form Coalition of the Threatened Spoof News Services: Grimsby, Ontario: 5January2026: Reliable sources amply reimbursed by Spoof News Services have learnt of a secret meeting between officials from Canada, Denmark, Greenland, Columbia and Taiwan…

RKS 2025 Wine: The Best Wines of 2025 94 Colchester Estate Winery Grand CREW Cabernet Sauvignon (Canada) 94 Stag’s Hollow 2022 Renaissance Merlot Okanagan Valley (Canada) 94 Hester Creek 2022 Old Vine Cabernet Franc (Canada) 94 Schild Estate Angus Brae Vineyard 2020 Shiraz (Australia) 94 Big Head…

RKS Film: Best Films of 2025 96 Athens Midnight Radio (Greece) 95 Headcase (short) (Canada) 95 Self Driver (Canada) 95 Stelios (Greece) 94 Hole (short) (Korea) 93 Vermiglio (Italy) 93 Loren & Rose (United States) 93 Morningside (Canada) 93 Cloud (Japan) 93 Sweet Angel Baby (Canada) 92 Saigon Kiss…

Bluebirds Outgun Irish in Penalty‑Filled Shootout Tilbury outlasted Stratford 10–7 in a bruising, momentum‑swinging showdown marked by 17 goals, heavy penalty traffic, and standout performances from Jake Durham and goaltender Ryan Polidori. The Bluebirds’ resilience and late scoring secured a…

RKS Film: Best Documentaries of 2025 96 Death Plan for a Man and a Dog (Greece) 95 Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat (Belgium/Netherlands) 95 Mediha (USA) 94 Divia (Ukraine) 93 Ghosts of the Sea (Canada) 92 A Fly on the Wall (India) 92 Queer Acts of Love and Resistance (Canada) 92 Unwelcomed (Chile)

RKS Literature: Parents as Creators Not Tyrants (Mary Shelley) “No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself. My parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence. We felt that they were not the tyrants to rule our lot according to their caprice, but the…

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: THE HOLY GRAIL CALLS BUT I KNOW NOT WHY THE HOLY GRAIL CALLS BUT I KNOW NOT WHY Today it is my third walk around the block. I met Remy for the first time who is three times my size but so very calm. She let me sniff her. Jump on her side. All this…

Canada Holds No. 3 Spot in WBSC Women’s Baseball Rankings Canada finishes 2025 ranked third in the WBSC Women's Baseball World Rankings, following a dramatic World Games campaign and global shifts in women's softball.

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: RORY’S REFLECTIONS ON 2025 AND RESOLUTIONS FOR 2026 RORY’S REFLECTIONS ON 2025 AND RESOLUTIONS FOR 2026 Can anything be more momentous than the year of your birth? Could anything be more disastrous than being placed with an unloving and mean…

Wolverines Outpaced by Manning in Citrus Bowl Michigan led multiple times and controlled possession but couldn’t contain Texas quarterback Arch Manning, whose explosive runs powered a 41–27 Longhorns win in the 2025 Citrus Bowl. Freshman QB Bryce Underwood and WR Andrew Marsh highlighted…

Wolverines Land Veteran Coach Kyle Whittingham Michigan has hired longtime Utah coach Kyle Whittingham to stabilize the program after Sherrone Moore’s dismissal. Whittingham brings a 177–88 record, national credibility, and a reputation for physical, disciplined football as he begins reshaping the…

Loan Controversy Rocks Vancouver FC as Ex‑Coach Files Lawsuit Former Vancouver FC coach Afshin Ghotbi is suing SixFive Sports over an alleged unpaid $500K loan, raising new financial questions for the Canadian Premier League.

USL Players Call for Livable Wages as CBA Deadline Passes USL Championship players issued a forceful open letter urging the league to improve wages, benefits, and professional standards as CBA negotiations stall. Citing low pay, lack of insurance, and seasonal contracts, players call on USL…

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: RORY REFLECTS ON 2025 RORY REFLECTS ON 2025 I will be 4 months old tomorrow. I am blessed. I have Bob, Fay and their son AJ to take care of me. Likewise, I take care of them….in a way. I have a bowl full of kibby (as Bob calls kibble), a bowl full…

Dutch Undermine UK Police Maccabi Claims A review of Dutch police documents, parliamentary testimony, and local political reactions reveals major discrepancies in the intelligence used by West Midlands Police to justify banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a Europa League match in Birmingham. The…

Anthony Joshua Hospitalized After Fatal Car Accident in Nigeria Anthony Joshua was hospitalized after a serious car accident in Lagos that left two people dead. Nigerian officials confirmed the crash and ongoing investigation, which found the vehicle carrying Joshua lost control while overtaking.…

Ryan’s Four‑Goal Night Powers Bluebirds Past Lakers Tilbury defeated Woodstock 12–6 behind a four‑goal, six‑point night from Aidan Ryan and strong support from Josh King and Sammy Banga. The Bluebirds outshot the Lakers 58–44 and controlled the game from start to finish in a dominant home…

Express Push Titans to OT but Fall Short in Home Opener Windsor fell 108–101 in overtime to KW despite strong efforts from Burton, Gaines, and Davis. The Express led through three quarters, but missed free throws and KW’s late surge proved costly. Windsor’s bench outscored KW’s 46–36 in a…

Strong Bench Effort Not Enough in Windsor’s 127–85 Loss to KW Windsor fell 127–85 to KW in the season opener, struggling against the Titans’ efficient shooting and rebounding dominance. Strong outings from Davis, Brown, and Burton highlighted the night, but KW’s interior scoring and second‑chance…

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Hester Creek 2022 Old Vine Cabernet Franc Another red from British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. It is a Hester Creek 2022 Old Vine Cabernet Franc. Aged 18 months in French and American oak. Aroma: Both black and red cherry offer initial welcoming notes with a deep blackberry…

RKS Literature: Leisure, Security and the Stupefaction of Poverty (George Orwell) “For if leisure and security were enjoyed by all alike, the great mass of human beings who are normally stupefied by poverty would become literate and would learn to think for themselves, and when once they had done…

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS HAS RORY BECOME A SMASH AND GRAB ARTIST? IS RORY HEADING TO PUPPY REFORM SCHOOL? ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS HAS RORY BECOME A SMASH AND GRAB ARTIST? IS RORY HEADING TO PUPPY REFORM SCHOOL? On the eighth day of…

RKS Literature: The High, The Middle and the Low of Society “Throughout recorded time, and probably since the end of the Neolithic stage, there have been three kinds of people in the world, the High, the Middle and the Low. They have been subdivided in many ways, they have borne countless…