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 Below the Salt
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Among recent Curmudgeon columns, cash is a recurring theme, because it’s what unites the cats and...
Herding Cats III, or…?
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - All of the Curmudgeon’s dedicated readers are wondering how he was so prescient as to preview...
Herding Cats II, or Along Came Jones
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - As commented on by the Curmudgeon two weeks ago, Chief of Staff Antonio Palocci, during the...
Herding Cats, or The Honeymoon is Over
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Sunday’s paper brought the news from columnist Ancelmo Gois (who knows everybody and everything) that the...
The Curmudgeon on Airports
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - What a difference a week makes! Just last week, as reported in The Rio Times article,...
The Curmudgeon on Pharmacies
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Curmudgeon has always maintained that Le Brésil is a Mediterranean country, save for an accident...
The Curmudgeon on the First 100 Days
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Sunday April 10th marked the 100th day in office of President Dilma, “a Presidenta” as she...
The Curmudgeon on The Trains to Nowhere
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Before the New York Times decided to charge e-readers, it ran an article dealing with a...
The Curmudgeon on Where the Buck Stopped
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - “Yes! Weekend!” was the caption of a cartoon last Saturday, showing a stylized Air Force One...
The Curmudgeon on Carnival
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Bah! Humbug! Sure, Carnival is the “greatest show on earth” south of Munich or New Orleans....
The Curmudgeon on the Minimum Salary
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The battle has been raging, or so they say, over the amount of the “minimum” salary,...
Diretas Já!
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Curmudgeon begs leave of readers under the age of forty (there must be a few...
This is No Time
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - This is no time to be curmudgeonly. Hundreds of people have died up in the mountains...
The Curmudgeon on “Cell” Phones
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - What is it about these people? Why haven’t they gotten it? Don’t they know...