Porter airlines, Polish funeral, Larry King divorces

Prime Minister Steven Harper certainly endeared himself to Polish Canadians by attending a memorial service at Maxi Million Kolbe Church in Mississauga, Ontario, honouring the victims of last week's catastrophic plane crash that took the lives of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and almost 100 other dignitaries. The contingent crashed on Russian soil, near their destination of the Katyn forest, where they were to attend a 70th anniverserary of the brutal mass slaying of 22,000 Polish officers and intelligentsia in 1940. Harper's statement that “When Poland grieves. Canada grieves” was poignant and appreciated; a tribute to the many Polish contributions in North America.

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As a Polish Canadian, the events of the horrific crash affected me deeply but I have to admit that I am truly disturbed at the many questions that remain of what led up to the heartbreaking tragedy near Smolensk. Why did the pilot attempt numerous landings during such horrid weather conditions, especially since reports of numerous appeals by Russian air controllers to divert to Minsk or Moscow? Was the pilot ordered to land by powers within the aircraft? And why were so many dignitaries all on one flight? A Tupelo 154, more commonly referred to as a flying coffin as a presidential plane? So many questions with few answers forthcoming. We will have to wait and see.

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On a lighter subject, CNN talk show host and media icon Larry King has been in the news when he and his 8th wife filed for divorce claiming irreconcilable differences. Rumors are abounding that the 148-year-old King may have slept with a close relative of his current spouse, Shawn Southwick. I just pray to the highest powers that a Larry King sex tape never surfaces. That could do more to erectile dysfunction than a bevy of swollen prostates.

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Some very serious allegations have emerged against movie and television actor Steven Seagall recently by a young woman who claims that the action star had sexually assaulted her several times during her employment with him as a personal assistant. Actually, calling the second coming of Pinocchio an actor is like claiming you’re the greatest bullfighter in Norway. It just doesn’t fit. In all seriousness though, sexual misconduct of this degree, if proven guilty should be dealt with harshly. Contrary to political correctness, public figures SHOULD be held to a higher standard. These are the people that are disgustingly put on public display to our children. And what a disservice it is to the law enforcement community that he so openly represents.

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Is there a bigger success story in Canada than Porter Airlines? I think not. Brandishing a hip new ad campaign, ever growing destinations and actually showing a profit, Porter is catching the eye of the American media including the Washington Post, which has been extolling its virtues. But an airline actually making money? That’s just plain un Canadian! And personally, I think the Toronto Island Airport just adds to Porters' coolness. I love it!