I should be out enjoying this:

But instead I’m playing
this, with this idiot.

I’m sure this will simply add to a long list of similar cases, but I am heartily sick of newspapers publishing quasi press release materials in the letters section of their paper.
Today (Tues 25th Oct) this was published in The Age’s letters page:

Hooked on roads

Patrice Le Miere of Mill Park Lakes can only hope to see his train line built when the Greens get Victoria’s balance of power (Focus, 24/10). Transport Minister Batchelor and his bureaucrats, like the Coalition, only understand public transport that runs (infrequently, on incomprehensible routes and mostly empty) on their beloved roads, roads, roads.
Alison Clarke, Northcote

Now this letter had a very pro green bent. It also showed a high degree of knowledge about the Greens policies- making me suspicious… So I did a Google search of The Age’s website using her name (FYI the search in this case is worded site:www.theage.com.au “Alison Clarke” )http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/04/1057179164764.html

Freeway approved, but fears it will play Merri hell with wildlife

July 5 2003
By Andrew Heasley
Transport Reporter
Environmental campaigners suffered a setback in the Federal Court yesterday after Justice Ray Finkelstein dismissed a challenge to the $308 million Craigieburn Bypass.
The federally funded freeway duplicates the last 17 kilometres of the Hume Highway into Melbourne, and will feed into the Metropolitan Ring Road. It is designed to alleviate the congestion on the Hume as traffic enters and leaves Melbourne’s northern outskirts. The court decision gives the freeway the green light. A community group, the Friends of Merri Creek, and the Australian Greens, fear the road and associated pollution will be disastrous for the local flora and fauna, and could decimate populations, including the growling grass frog. Friends of Merri Creek president Max Sargent said it was a sad day for the ecosystem in the area, which included 250 native plant species and 180 birds and animals. “We are disappointed by the ruling because it clears the way for the destruction of the wildflower grasslands listed on the register of the National Estate,” he said. He said improvements to public transport and improvements to the existing Hume Highway would have been a better alternative.
“We believe that neither the state nor the commonwealth governments properly considered this sensible, cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative to a freeway through the grasslands,” he said.
Australian Greens transport spokesman Alison Clarke said the outcome was “no comfort for the frogs”.
The court found the Federal Government had adequately taken into account the Australian Heritage Commission Act.

Now if I can find out in one minute that Alison Clarke is the Greens transport spokesperson, why can’t they? Why doesn’t Alison Clarke declare her interest/position?

I studied about five minutes of law when i was at uni, but hell, I reckon I could do a better job than Bradley Murdoch’s barrister.

Today The “missing” man’s partner Joanne Lees was challenged to show how she got her hands (which were bound together behind her back) in front of her “so easily”. She did a demo- and did it less than a minute. Christ, don’t ask a question that has a potentially embarrassing answer.

How I would win

Eventually they are going to call Joy Kuhl to the stand:

Thomasr As Barrister (TAB): “Mrs Kuhl, you have been a forensic scientist for how many years?”
Her (Mrs Kuhl): “More than 25 years”
TAB: “More than 25? wow, you must have worked on some big cases”
Her: “I have”
TAB: “Some cases with a big media interest”
Her: “ummm, one or two”
TAB: “Lots of pressure to get a conviction in those cases is there not?”
Prosecution: “Objection…”
judge: “TAB, please limit yourself to this case…?”
TAB: “I assure you judge I have a purpose here”
Judge: “Continue”
TAB: “Mrs Kuhl- were you not the forensic witness in the Lindy Chamberlain trial”
Her: [tentative] “…yes?”
TAB: “And your evidence regarding the presence of infant blood in the Chamberlain car helped convict Mrs Chamberlain?”
Her: “There was other evidence…”
TAB: “But nothing as important?”
Her: “That’s not for me to say”
TAB: “So you are saying that forensic evidence should not form the cornerstone of a case?”
Her: “It can”
TAB: “Mrs Kuhl, please tell the juryabout the infants blood in the Chamberlain car. What was it really?”
Her: “…a glue used in automotive manufacture, [gasps from galleries] but that was before we had DNA evidence”
TAB: “I put it to you Mrs Kuhl- you manipulated your results to get a conviction in the Chamberlain trial and you have really stepped it up this time by planting evidence in this case! Are the police pressuring you Mrs Kuh? Or is this a “nod, wink, she’ll be right” sort of thing?”
Prosecution: “I really must object- not only is TAB calling into question the abilities and honesty of the witness, but of the whole NT police and judicial system”
Judge: [considers] “The witness must answer”
Her: [sobs] “no, … never”
TAB: “you may step down…”

Lees shows court escape moves

Our landlord has kindly decided to sell our bayside perfection from under us.

Rachel spotted this on the billboard out the front:

Look, when Rachel spots a typo, you have really screwed up…