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 The Political Thicket
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Mr. Justice Frankfurter, long ago, exhorted his colleagues on the U.S. Supreme Court not to enter...
The Curmudgeon on 2010
Opinion, by Michael Royseter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Curmudgeon, never having finished a year as a regular contributor to any publication, has decided...
Happy Birthday Dilma and Oscar
Opinion by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - One week ago today, December 14th, the Curmudgeon wished “many happy returns” to Dilma Roussef, President-elect...
The Curmudgeon on Gas and Oil
Opinion, by Michael Royseter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Last Thursday, the two biggest news stories were (1) Russia and Qatar had been chosen to...
The Curmudgeon on Push Coming to Shove
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - One sad piece of last week’s news was that almost 400 people in Cambodia were killed...
The Curmudgeon on Shock Treatment
Opinion by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Last week the Mayor’s office announced, with a discrete amount of pomp, that City Hall was...
The Curmudgeon on Elections Here and There
Opinion by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The results of the U.S. midterm elections, which created a small stir in the world, has...
The Curmudgeon’s Post Election Predictions
Opinion, by Michael Royster
The Curmudgeon had predicted the results of the second round election would be sixty to forty percent in favor of Dilma...
The Curmudgeon on Election Uncertainties
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - In the first round of voting October 3rd, Brazilians elected 513 federal deputies and 54 senators—or...
The Curmudgeon on The Second Round (Part II)
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Okay, okay, the Curmudgeon was wrong. The post two short weeks ago said there wouldn’t be...
The Curmudgeon on Vans
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - Last week the Curmudgeon opined on bicycles on Rio streets, mentioning the dangers of cars, trucks, buses...
The Curmudgeon on Carfree Cycling
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - Last June, the Mayor of Rio announced he wanted to turn Avenida Rio Branco into a pedestrian...
The Curmudgeon on The Second Round
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - First, here’s the good news for all residents of the State of Rio, especially those who run...
The Curmudgeon on São Conrado (Part II)
Opinion, by Michael Royster
RIO DE JANEIRO - There was a shoot-out in São Conrado early Saturday morning August 21st; most of the perps, including...