Michael Royster
The Curmudgeon moved to Rio over forty years ago, and remained there until late 2018. He's been writing political commentary for The Rio Times for nine years. He once referred to himself as a WASP (look it up) but doesn't any more because it embarrasses him.
The Curmudgeon on São Conrado History
Opinon, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - There was a shoot-out in São Conrado early Saturday morning; there was an invasion of high-rise condos;...
It Can’t Happen Here
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - Rio’s major newspaper this week ran a front page picture featuring a Greenpeace activist wearing an oil-sludge-begrimed...
The Curmudgeon on Sticks and Stones (Again)
Opinion, By Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - On the eve of his visit to Iran, President Lula has publicly requested President Ahmadinejad to allow...
The Curmudgeon on The FARC Farces
Opinion, by Michael Royster
What are we to do with the FARC? The US and the EU have classified them as a “terrorist” organization that...
The Curmudgeon on Trains
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - Just last week ANTT, the Brazilian Land Transportation Agency, published the public invitation for bids for the...
The Curmudgeon on Who Hexed the Hexa?
Opinion, by Michael Royster
After their exit from the World Cup last week, here are exactly seventeen Curmudgeonly reasons why Brazil lost to Holland.
1) The...
The Curmudgeon on The Fat Lady
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - “Is there an ear, nose and throat specialist in the house?” This was the medic the Fat...
The Curmudgeon as Smokey The Bear
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - Rio Times readers in Zona Sul this weekend will have seen, or at least sniffed, the results...
The Curmudgeon on Vuvuzelas
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - As Gollum famously said: “We hates it! We hates it!” Tolkien’s character in The Lord of the...
The Curmudgeon on Pulling The Plug
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - It may be time to pull the plug. Not in the sense of taking life support away...
The Curmudgeon on Camelôs
Opinion, By Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - The Mayor of Rio has announced that he wants to turn Av. Rio Branco into a pedestrian...
The Curmudgeon on Iran, Sticks and Stones
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This bromide, used by...
The Curmudgeon on 1979 Amnesty
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - John Le Carré, in his novel “The Honorable Schoolboy” has a minor character define democracy to a...
Cameron of the Jungle Dam
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - It has been ever so well reported, throughout the civilized world, that James Cameron, aka the Avatar...