Jaywalkers look out... and hang on to your peppermints

The story about British Professor Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, who was allegedly overpowered by five US police officers, handcuffed and charged with jaywalking, has been widely reported in the world media. Apparently even his peppermints were confiscated.

The BBC report has a range of reader comments from around the world which reveal both the diversity of laws against (and, in a few instances, for) jaywalking and mixed views about their efficacy and desirability.

The Professor has struck back with an article in the Times and a YouTube video (which you can access via this link).

The Atlanta police have not remained silent, as a copy of the police report of the incident has, as such things are apt to do nowadays, made its way onto the web.

While I may not always be strict in my observance of the laws relating to pedestrians (whatever they may be), a friend of mine is an inveterate jaywalker. I'll bring this story to his notice in the hope that he'll reflect upon his own behaviour (and its effect upon others who walk with him).

Seeking advice about stocks? You could do worse than ask a psychic

Today's Australian at p18 (not online) has a piece "Expert stock tips 2006: how they fared" reporting the results of its annual stock tipping challenge, in which several "experts" each chose 10 stocks which they believed would perform best over the year.

The competitors included six fund managers, the Oz's Business desk team and, for the first time, a psychic.

The results: everyone, unlike the previous year, achieved positive gains, ranging from 7.7% to 71.5%. And Mr Turnbull (the psychic)? 18.3% with a cautious selection of blue chip stocks (inc BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, four major banks and News Corp).

There's plenty of scope for this to be used in other fields, eg horse racing and, with a federal election due later this year, politics. Had it been used for the Ashes series which concluded today there'd be some very red faces among cricket commentators.

Update 6 December

Today's Weekend Australian (at p32) has the tips for 2007, including predictions for the price of oil, gold and the value of the $A: $US.

Iraq veteran's bum steer

I can't resist mentioning this story about a UK bonfire night prank which went horribly wrong. The victim- perpetrator was trying to reenact a stunt from the movie Jackass, but the outcome showed that life does not always imitate art...

PS The Age report also includes what is claimed to be a photo of the take off.