No sooner had the crippled cruise ship Carnival Triumph, snuggled up to the docks in Mobile, Alabama, than at least one legal beagle was fielding a call from a disgruntled passenger.

Thanks to a fire in its engine room, the C.T. had been bobbing around, powerless, in the Gulf of Mexico since last Sunday.

Nothing worked!  The creature comforts were gone!

The lighting was sporadic, the air-conditioning failed, and the plumbing crapped out…waste sloshing from over-flowing heads into cabins and corridors.

In her suit against the Carnival Corporation, Cassie Terry of Brazoria, Texas, says the conditions were “horrifying.”  She claims she’d suffered physical injury and emotional harm, including anxiety, nervousness …and (the ever popular) loss of the enjoyment of life.

The conditions were “horrifying!?”

Disgusting, yes!  I’d also accept uncomfortable, annoying, inconvenient and maybe at times scary…but “horrifying!?”

Auschwitz was “horrifying.”  Hiroshima was “horrifying.”  9/11 was “horrifying.” 

But four days of roughing it aboard the S.S. Stinky, trying to avoid a slip & slide on the poop deck? 

Not so much.

To my thinking, Miss (Mrs. or Ms.) Terry is either an opportunist dashing to answer that pounding on her door…or an extremely delicate southern flower, who often depends “on the kindness of strangers.”

As the Gump would say, “Life is like a box of chocolates…”

S*** happens.

Listen to The Motts (Paul and Carol) weekdays… 11 til noon at…http://www.themotts.ca

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That woodland philosopher, Thumper, once advised his best bud Bambi, that when speaking of others, “If you can’t say somethin’ nice…don’t say nothin’ at all.”

Well, with that in mind, and with a little help, I’ll refrain from commenting on Dalton McGuinty’s departure…..

Thanks, Carol.

Listen to The Motts (Paul and Carol) weekdays… 11 til noon at…http://www.themotts.ca

When Mc and Mel, of Sydney’s 2dayFM, placed a crank call to London’s King Edward VII Hospital, there’s no way on earth they could have foreseen, that it might play a part in a tragic event like this.

Pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles, the two inquired about the condition of the Duchess of Cambridge, who was battling a severe case of morning sickness.

Apparently fooled by the pair, nurse/receptionist, Jacintha Saldanha, put the call through to the nurse’s station on Kate’s ward. 

What followed was a conversation, more silly than funny, with a still unnamed nurse, updating “The Royals” on Kate’s condition…  information that had already been made public.

Subsequently, a mocking world pointed and laughed, incredulous, that anyone was dumb enough to fall for the gag… the twitterverse was a-giggle, and comedians and talk show hosts feasted on the “stupidity.”

Three days later… the laughing stopped.

Early Friday morning, Jacintha’s body was found in her home near the hospital… it appeared the 47-year of mother of two teens, had taken her own life.

NOW, the world has a new target… those two heartless DJ’s at 2dayFm!

The social media surfers are crying out for justice… they must be punished, persecuted and prosecuted!

Australia’s communication authority has launched an investigation, and the nation’s Prime Minister has expressed her regrets!

Meanwhile, a devastated Mc and Mel have been be benched… their careers on hold.

But what are these two actually guilty of?  Crank calls on radio have been around for at least fifty years, maybe, since Bell met Marconi!

And was it really this gag that led to Saldanha’s apparent suicide?  Did she tell someone or leave a note?  Did she suffer emotional problems and this nudged her over?  Could the timing of her death be just a coincidence? 

I have no idea, but all I’ve heard to this point is a lot of speculation and assumptions… she killed herself, ashamed and embarrassed over being fooled. 

Few of us escape life without being pranked at some point, but, fortunately, most of us have the ability to laugh at ourselves… it’s not only an admirable quality, but a necessary one. 

Maybe Jacintha could take a joke… but, maybe, for her, this one was just too big to handle.

Again, who really knows for sure?

What I do know is, these two young DJ’s don’t deserve the pummeling their taking. 

If YOU’RE  torn up by this tragic event, just imagine how they feel… standing accused of pushing a woman to take her own life!

Hang in there, Mc and Mel…

All the best!

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Listen to The Motts (Paul and Carol) weekdays… 11 til noon at…http://www.themotts.ca

A Judge’s boot to Rob Ford’s behind is NOT an attack on democracy, as some are screeching… in fact it’s just the opposite, it’s democracy in action!

In his Honor’s opinion, Toronto’s good Burgermeister had violated the province’s conflict of interest guidelines… rules adopted by the people’s DEMOCRATICALLY elected representatives. 

The Mayor had addressed and voted on a financial issue that affected him directly… das ist verboten!

Again, those crying foul, who feel that only the people should have the right to remove the Mayor, fail to realize, the people DID!  Mr. Ford had violated the “people’s law”, and the penalty in this case was removal from office.

Why, the Mayor did what he did, or the sum of money involved, is irrelevant… WHAT he did broke the law!

If there are laws on the books that we disagree with, that we deem to be unjust, then obviously, we should fight to change them… employing the means afforded us in our democratic society.

We can’t just toss them off, and condemn those entrusted to enforce them… unless, of course, our goal is anarchy.

But, hey, the game ain’t over for T.O’s, rotund chain bearer.  The law that brought him down, allows Rob Ford, a chance to climb back up!

He’s appealed the Judge’s ruling, and will seek a stay pending the outcome.  If it’s not granted…then he’s out.  

However, he could soon return.

Should Toronto Council choose a by-election, (at a cost in the neighbourhood of $7-million!) as opposed to appointing a replacement, the Mayor’s been given leave, to try and retake his chair.

There are those who claim that the Mayor’s a victim of a left wing conspiracy, done in by the big city Bolsheviks.

Baaaa-loney!

Rob wasn’t robbed… the guy who got him, can be found in his mirror.

Ford fell because of ignorance or defiance… or a little bit of both.

Lesson learned?

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Listen to The Motts (Paul and Carol) weekdays… 11 til noon at…http://www.themotts.ca

Will he soon walk amongst us, embracing our values, lugging a fat wallet, compliments of the taxpayer?  Is this what’s in store for our native son, who was led astray by a fanatical family, sided with the enemy and snuffed out the life of an American G.I. in Afghanistan?

Well, it’s a possibility. 

His parole eligibility date is mere months off, his lawyers claim he wishes a “normal” life… and of course he’s suing us ($10-million) for failing to rescue him from his evil, Yankee captors, who kept him caged for a decade in Guantanamo bay, Cuba.

But the fact is no-one knows for sure what awaits Mr. Khadr, that being the sole knowledge of a much higher source… I refer, of course, to THE MAGIC 8 BALL!

Here goes. 

Will Omar Khadr be released by summer?

Shake, shake, shake… ”Lookin’ good!”

Has he had a change of heart, sorry for what he did?

Shake, shake, shake… ”Highly unlikely!”

Will his suit against the Feds (us) score him a handsome settlement?

Shake, shake, shake… ”Oy vey!”

Facing harassment/persecution, will young Mr. K. eventually flee Canada, scoring hero status in a Muslim state?

Shake, shake, shake… ”I wouldn’t say no!”

If there’s a season this year, will the Leafs have a shot at the Cup?

Shake… ”Save it! I don’t do stupid questions!”

Sorry about that… just one more question.

Should there be such a place, should ma and pa Khadr burn in Hell for twisting the minds of their children, preaching violence and filling them with hate?

Shake, shake, shake… ”Ha! Got him…  awaitin’ her!”

Thank-you, Magic 8.

Shake, shake, shake… ”Don’t mention it.”

Listen to The Motts (Paul and Carol) weekdays… 11 til noon at…http://www.themotts.ca

To suggest she was “asking for it” based on her dress, is not only unjust and hurtful, it’s ridiculous. I’ve yet to meet the woman who seeks to suffer a violent act.

All women should be able to walk our streets day or night, without fear of being attacked. But the fact is SHOULD, won’t stop the bad guys… and never will.

No law, or any amount of education, will ever eliminate society’s predators.

While it may be viewed as “unfair”, or if you prefer, “sexist”, the reality is, unaccompanied women must always be cautious. Not paranoid, but aware of their vulnerability given the time and place.

In response to a series of sexual assaults in Toronto, Krista Ford, niece of Mayor Rob, tweeted some advice to women…. “Stay alert, walk tall, carry mace, take self defence classes… and don’t dress like a whore!”

Not surprisingly, all Hell broke loose… the twitterverse overflowing with scolding tweets, condemnations of her “ignorant” views.

It was pointed out to Ms. Ford that conservative dress was no guaranteed defence against rape… that even women in burkas have been victimized.

She was accused of blaming the victim, that a woman dressed provocatively, was, to some degree, responsible for being attacked… told, that what a woman wears should never be an issue!

I would agree, it shouldn’t be… but in some cases, it COULD be.

To simply dimiss the possibilty, that a woman’s skimpy attire could be a contributing factor in an assault, is not only silly, but dishonest.

The fact is, a woman who dresses to get attention, does, at times, get the unwanted kind… as any hooker will tell you, advertising works.

Beaten down by the critics, Ms. Ford apologized for her tweet, saying she only wanted to keep women safe.

I, for one, believe her, and I don’t think an apology was necessary.

Again, women who suffer an attack, should never, ever, be burdened with blame… but they might be guilty of exercising poor judgement.

Ask any responsible parent, why they don’t allow their teenage daughter to dress like the latest tart-costumed, pop star.

I think they might tell you, that they live in the world that IS… not the world that SHOULD be.

Listen to The Motts (Paul and Carol) weekdays… 11 til noon at…http://www.themotts.ca

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Who, thinking back, doesn’t thank their lucky stars, that the advent of the cell phone was decades off… as far-fetched an idea as the Dick Tracy radio watch?

Admit it, or not, the fact is, most can recall at least one occasion that would have made them a You Tube star… a youthful brain fart, that could’ve  put a nick in the “family’s good name.”

Yes, bonnie Prince Harry is different than most young men.  He’s a member of our Royal family, third in line to the throne.  He’s an officer and a gentleman in Her Majesty’s service… and like his mother, a goodwill ambassador, travelling the globe in support of charitable causes.  He’s also, apparently, a damn fine polo player.

But, like the rest of us, Harry’s a mere mortal, and thus fallible… subject to an act of indiscretion, a yahoo moment… like being caught on camera, sans knickers, up close and personal, with a bare-bottomed lass. 

Obviously, a tad embarrassing, but not a crime… no damage done, no one lost an eye.

So, to all the finger wagers and tsk-tskers out there, lighten up… cut the kid some slack!  There, but for the lack of advanced technology, go most of us!

I think it’s safe to say, our Prince has learned his lesson.  That being, If HIS  isn’t caged… beware the birdie!

Party on, your Highness!

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Listen to The Motts (Paul and Carol) weekdays… 11 til noon at…http://www.themotts.ca

The heat is on, and President Vladimir Putin and the questionably righteous, Russian Orthodox Church, are taking a thumping on the world stage.

Slapped with a two-year prison sentence for their “guerilla” performance in a Moscow cathedral, these young women have become martyrs in the war against injustice.

Around the globe, outraged protesters have taken to the streets, echoing the cry of international rock stars (Madonna, McCartney, Sting, etc.) and Amnesty International… “Release, Pussy Riot!”

While their act of invading a church and banging out a tune, calling on the Virgin Mary to save Russia from Prez Putin, might be deemed a tad offensive, (they apparently have a history of rude and crude) it certainly doesn’t justify two-years in the pokey!

According to the judge, the gals were guilty of “hooliganism on grounds of religious hatred”… their actions, “sacrilegious and blasphemous!”

Really? THAT, was the crime? A cynical person might suspect, that had the target of their musical attack NOT been “Czar” Putin, had they instead belted out a rendition of say, ‘Hang on Sloopy’, their authoritarian overlords might have been more lenient.

It’s a well known fact that Herr Putin, a former KGB bigwig, has a very high opinion of himself.

His mirror, mirror on the wall, reflects a tough guy, an athletic adventurer… savior of the Russian people! (If you want a giggle, Google the guy)

This would be why he doesn’t let things like elections stand in his way, and why he and his lackeys will continue to stifle criticism.

IF, the Russian people have had enough, and truly want to put Putin in his place, they may want to praise the Pussy pretties… and stop behaving like the group’s moniker.

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Listen to The Motts (Paul and Carol) weekdays… 11 til noon at…http://www.themotts.ca

And, once again we wonder why they didn’t do better… being oh, so careful, not to minimize their achievements.

They, after all, are the ones who step up, our flag-bearing Olympians, devoted to bringing glory to the Great White North.

Our goal in London wasn’t unreasonable… score more medals, including three gold, than we won in Beijing.  Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.  While we did tie that medal count, we walked away with two less gold.

Now, the question is, do we really care?  Just how much importance, do we as a nation, put on the Olympic Games?

If we truly do care, than obviously, we need to make some changes.

More dedicated athletes?  Don’t think so.  We’d be hard pressed to find such an animal.

Better coaching?

No.  The answer is money… a LOT more money?  To compete, and WIN, on the international stage, is an expensive proposition.

While we can never expect to top the giants, like the U.S. and China, we can, with increased funding, improve our chances of moving up the ladder… leaving all the “Uwhatsastans” eating our dust.

As we can’t count on corporate Canada to pitch in more, and tax dollars are a no go, (not a good time) the only other source of cash would be a lottery… an Olympic Lottery! Not a new idea, but a good one…it seemed to work well for the Brits!

Like it or not, the price of gold is going up, and if we’re not going to put out… maybe we should drop out. 

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Listen to The Motts (Paul and Carol) weekdays… 11 til noon at…http://www.themotts.ca

At the ’48 games in London, Germany and Japan were ‘persona non grata’, for the part they played in World War Two.  Despite suffering a well deserved thrashing at the hands of the Allies, they were tagged as “aggressor nations”, still unworthy to play with others.

Yet, on Friday night, as the world looked on, delegations from “black hat” nations were warmly welcomed, as they strode proudly into the stadium.

There was Ahmadinejad’s, Jew hating Iran.  Kim Jong-un’s, sabre-rattling North Korea… and unbelievably, Bashar al-Assad’s, blood-soaked Syria! 

Might these be classified as “aggressor nations?”  Do ya think!

There were many others of course, Communist states and dictatorships, monarchies and theocracies… oppressive, misogynistic, world hoods, always plotting to expand their influence.

It’s an ugly fact, that from time to time, dealing with these “devils” is unavoidable.  Because of our need for goods, or for national security reasons, we may not have much of a choice… but do we have to PLAY with them, invite them to the party!?  Put me down, for NO!

Major international events, like the Olympic Games, should be open to free and democratic societies, ONLY!  And never AGAIN, should the undemocratic be awarded the games!

The IOC (International Olympic Committee) should no more invite nations like Iran, than I would invite the neo-Nazi skinhead living down the street, (if there was one) to a backyard bar-b-cue!  

There are those who argue, that by “playing” with these despotic nations, we’re afforded the opportunity to influence them, help them see the “light”… win their hearts and minds.

Really? 

Tell that to a billion plus, oppressed Chinese, whose leadership, by the way, along with Russia’s new Czar, Putin, are still onside with the Syrian butcher, Assad!

Any good parent will tell you, you don’t reward bad behavior… maybe the IOC should speak to one.

Listen to The Motts (Paul and Carol) weekdays… 11 til noon at…http://www.themotts.ca

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