It just annoys your friends and family.

So, there was this trial down in Central Florida, standard thing – a bunch of Midwesterners moved to Florida so they could be really weird without bothering people who really mattered.

Any way, for whatever reason, the media decided to obsess about it, giving it 24/7 coverage. One of the media’s “crime pundits” went all out Madame Defarge, knitting nooses on the air every day, and she gathered together a Committee of Vigilance [aka a lynch mob] of like-minded pundits to ensure “justice was done”.

I avoided the entire thing as much as possible, but had to endure several hours of the coverage while in waiting rooms.

People would ask me what I thought about the entire thing, and I made the mistake of giving them my honest opinion based on ten years of experience in the criminal justice system. That just started arguments. But the worse of it was today when the jury did exactly what I told people they would do.

It takes a long time for people to forgive you for being right. That’s probably why all of the talking heads have such long lists of being wrong.

From FIFA’s official site:

After taking yesterday off, the Women’s World Cup is completing the Group Stage by play four games per day.

In Group B it was England 2-0 Japan and New Zealand 2-2 Mexico. The final ranking for the Group is:

1. England
2. Japan
3. Mexico
4. New Zealand

In Group A it was France 2-4 Germany and Canada 0-1 Nigeria. The final ranking for the Group is:

1. Germany
2. France
3. Nigeria
4. Canada

The first two teams in each Group move on to the Quarter Finals.

ESPN has the replay on the ‘Net.

Lorient – Mur de Bretagne

Distance: 172.5 kilometers.

The stage starts out nice enough with a ride through the countryside, the finish is a 7.5% [a rise of 7.5 units for every 100 units traveled] Category 3 climb. There will be a lot of passing at the end.

Adding to the fun today was rain and a photo finish between Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador. Alberto was attempting to gain time on Thor, but that didn’t happen. Although he moved up in the rankings from 69 to 41, Alberto is still a minute, 42 seconds behind.

Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 ) [Yellow] 13h 58′ 25″
Jose Joaquin Rojas ( Esp – MOV – 088 ) [Green] 82 points
Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 141 ) [Polka Dot] 2 points
Geraint Thomas ( GBr – SKY – 117 ) 7 [White]

Team: Garmin-Cervelo ( 051-059 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 141 )
Combative: Jérémy Roy ( Fra – FDJ – 138 ) [Red numbers]

They’ve gone 585.0 kilometers [363.5 miles] at an average speed of 41.9 kph [26.0 mph] ↓.

OVERALL STANDINGS:

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Another successful day of minimal growth and continuing containment. The fire is being split into thirds from halves to make it easier to manage.

The change in wind direction has helped on the East side of the fire, blowing the fire back into areas already burned over, and allowing for effective back fires.

Information from the current Las Conchas Wildfire InciWeb Page

• Date Started: 6/26/2011
• Location: Jemez Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest; approximately 12 miles southwest of Los Alamos off NM 4 at mile marker 35, New Mexico
• Cause: Falling tree hit power lines
• Size: 127,821 acres [200 miles² 517 km²] based on infrared data
• Percent Contained: 27%
• Injuries to Date: 4
• Residences: 410 threatened; 63 destroyed; 3 damaged
• Commercial Property: 45 threatened; 5 destroyed; 3 damaged
• Outbuildings: 110 threatened; 32 destroyed
• Number of Personnel: Approximately 2,196 including 54 hand crews
• Equipment: 10 dozers, 81 engines, 35 watertenders
• Aircraft: 18 helicopters, 5 air tankers available
• Incident Commander: Dan Oltrogge, Area Command Team 1

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