The "cultural misunderstanding" defence employed again

This is further to "You don't understand! It's part of our culture!", WWW 15/4/26. In that case an Afghan "refugee" was found abusing a sheep in a sexual way -- don't make me spell this out for you -- and convicted of bestiality, in spite of his plea that he was just acting within the norms of his culture.

Closer to  home, Ontario meeja have (for a change) named and shamed a 37-year-old man from... wait for it... Brampton ON, who was found guilty of abducting a child almost three years ago in Thessalon, a town in northern Ontario. 

A boy was fishing by himself at a river when pedophile approached, saying he was a real estate agent looking for property in the area. He lured the boy into his car using promises of ice cream and a fidget spinner -- "Hey kid, wanna learn how to spin your fidget?" -- which the Crown argued was grooming. The child was not physically harmed in the case and was rescued by his father, who contacted police

Manoj Govindbalunikam (for it was he) will spend 18 month (or less) in a provincial prison, after being convicted at the Sault Ste Marie courthouse on April 21st. In passing sentence Judge Michael Varpio said he wanted to send a clear message of "denunciation and deterrence" to both the perpetrator and society as a whole.

The defence for the former Brampton Realtor had argued previously that the situation was a "cultural misunderstanding", adding that an extended sentence could negatively impact Govindbalunikam’s ability to stay in Canada.

Judge Varpio rejected both arguments, saying that the accused has been in Canada for 12 years and is educated enough to know Canadian cultural norms. The judge said that Mr Govindbalunikam's risk of deportation was not a factor in his decision. He took judicial notice of the fact that less than 3% of deportation orders are ever carried out.

However, the judge said he was not presented with any evidence suggesting there was a sexual intent as part of the abduction. In addition to the 18-month prison sentence, the convicted pedophile will be on probation for three years following his release. 

He also has a non-contact order with the victim, a DNA order, a weapons prohibition and must undertake counselling. Whether the immigratin police will be waiting at the prison gates when Mr Govindbalunikam is released remains to be seen. Don't bother staying tuned.

Music VIDEO: Dorothy Dandridge sings "A Jig In The Jungle"

Before there was DEI, before affirmative action, even before the Civil Rights Act, a black... or non-white... actress could still make it big in Hollywood. All she needed was talent. Here's song-and-dance artiste Dorothy Dandrige singing "A Jig in the Jungle" (Walt knows what you're thinking) in front of Cee Pee Johnson and his Orchestra.

Dorothy Jean Dandridge was an American actress and singer, born on 9 November 1922. That makes her 18 at the time this video was recorded. 

Ms Dandridge was the first black American to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, for Carmen Jones (1954). She performed as a vocalist in venues such as the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater. 

During her early career, she performed as a part of the Wonder Children, later the Dandridge Sisters, and appeared, usually in uncredited roles, in a succession of films, including a Marx Brothers picture. Can you think which one? Keep reading and Walt will tell you.

In 1959, Ms Dandridge was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Porgy and Bess. She was the subject of the 1999 biographical film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, with the well-chosen Halle Berry portraying her. She had been recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Ms Dandridge was married and divorced twice, first to dancer Harold Nicholas (the father of her daughter, Harolyn Suzanne) and then to hotel owner Jack Denison. She died on 8 September 1965 at the age of 42. 

[Well? What about that Marx Brothers movie, then? Ed.]  Oh. Sorry. It was A Day at the Races, 1937.

Is this the year the Habs bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada?

Ed. here. We welcome the return of our National Sports (As Long As It's Hockey) Editor, Poor Len Canayen.

Tank youse, Hed. The last Canadian (or Canada-based) team to win the Stanley Cup, emblematic of the championship of the National Hockey League, was the Montréal Canadiens, who brought Lord Stanley's silverware home in 1993. They defeated the Los Angeles Kings in that year's final series. 

Since then, no Canadian team has won the Cup. And no Canadian team has played in the finals since 2021, when the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Habs (for it was them, again) 4 games to 1.

In about 200 minutes, the same two teams will do battle again. in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. They finished the 2025-26 season 2nd (Lightning) and 3rd in the Atlantic Division, behind the surprising Buffalo Sabres by a mere 2 points. Whichever team wins this round will likely meet the Sabres next. 

Who will win tonight? As I point my TV antenna towards Florida, I think of the last match between the Habs and the Bolts in the regular season. It was like the old Henny Youngman joke: I went to the fights the other night and a hockey game broke out! 

Les Glorieux gave as good as they got, and I don't think they're going to be bested in the rough stuff department tonight. I also think the Habs can compete in goal. They have the luxury of two goalies -- the two Jakes -- with save percentages of over.900. TB has only the one. 

As for scoring, Habs are better per the stats after an amazing season. How can anyone stop a power play unit consisting of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov and Lane Hutson?! The question is defence. 

The loss of Noah Dobson hurts. Alexandre Carrier may be able to play, maybe not. So that puts a lot of pressure on Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj. They've improved greatly in the second half of the season, but can they handle 20 minutes per game? It may come to that because coach will be reluctant to give much ice time to David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom who, IMHO, aren't yet ready for prime time yet. 

I hear you asking for a prediction. My heart tells me Habs in 7, but I wouldn't bet on it! Ed. says some blog posts end suddenly and inconclusively. This is one of them.

True story: Be careful what you wish for...

This picture of a charging African elephant was taken by Gary Freeman (left) a longtime safari guide in South Africa.

We must emphasize that the late Mr Freeman [Wut?! Ed.] was not your typical Great White Hunter, but a guide. He loved animals in general, and elephants in particular. He allegedly once declared that he "would rather be killed by" an elephant than shoot one. 

And so he was. Mr Freeman was leading a walking safari at Klaserie Private Nature Reserve in the Limpopo province of South Africa on April 9th when he died in an elephant attack. Mr Freeman was taking a tour group through the reserve, which he owned. 

The group had got out of their vehicle to proceed on foot when, according to the polisie, "an elephant suddenly emerged and charged at him. He tried to scare it off with the revolver he was carrying, but he was ultimately attacked by the elephant."

Sometimes life has a sudden yet inconclusive end. Blog posts too.

Yeah, sure, Holy Father... if such you are! Investigation under way!

Seriously? Is it possible even that the Wokest Pope Ever can be that naïve? 

Or is it possible (as some "radtrad" Catholics argue) that Leo XIV is not really the Pope? In a post published a couple of days ago on his Return to Tradition vlog but since taken down, Anthony Stine repeated a story that originated with Italian journalist Andrea Cionci. John-Henry Westen's exclusive on LifeSite News is headlined thus:

Vatican court confirms ongoing investigation into validity of 

Pope Benedict’s resignation 

This is the first time the Vatican’s criminal investigative office has put in writing that multi-year claims have triggered an active investigation file on the validity of Benedict’s renunciation.

In a letter dated 30 March 2026 (reproduced in the article), the authenticity of which has been proven, ), Professor Alessandro Diddi, the Vatican's Promoter of Justice, rejected a request for access to the investigative file. The rejection was made solely on procedural grounds during an ongoing inquiry, not because the petition was deemed without merit.

Cazart! If the court finds that Pope Benedict's resignation was made under durerss, and was therefore invalid, everything done by Francis the Talking Pope and his minions, is invalid! That would include the elevation of Father Robert Francis Prevost, who was named a bishop and then a cardinal by Francis, who his Leonine successor is now rushing to canonize.

The Vatican is doing all it can to deep six the fact of the investigation. Walt guesses that pressure was brought on Dr Stine, perhaps by the bishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, in which he resides. And, other than Mr Westen, no Catholic commentator that I follow has picked up the report. I'm waiting to hear from Dr Taylor Marshall and Michael Matt, but they have been silent so far.  

Of course it could turn out to be nothing. Do we really think a Vatican court will rule that nothing said or done by anyone since 13 March 2013 [A numerologist might have some fun with this date. Ed.] is of any effect? Still... stay tuned!

From the Babylon Bee: the clash of the holiest

Why yes, we do have the link to the Babylon Bee article.

Black trio barred from Coachella because of racist name

We don't normally do "entertainment news" because that's an oxymoron, isn't it. However, the lickspittle media have buried reports of a controversy at the Coachella Valley Arts & Music Festival, so it's up to us to bring it to the attention of those concerned that not enough has been done to ensure that the popular festival is fully DEI.

We have it on good authority that the three girl singers of the Black persuasion were kept off the stage because of the name they chose for themselves. We're told that when they were discussing what to call themselves, the conversation went something like this:

Velveeta: How about "the Pointer Sisters"?

Vizine: That name's already taken!

Vakeesha: What about "Andrews Sisters"?

Vizine: There's already "Andrews Sisters", and dey's white!

Velveeta: You so smart, you come up wid something!

Vizine: I got it! "The Three Niggers!"

Vakeesha: What's the matter wid you? That's racist! Why you want us to use a name like dat?

Vizine: Hey, dat's what they's gonna call us anyway!