Madeleine McCann and Bianca Jones

Circuit Judge Wanda R Evans has ruled that canine expert, Martin Grimes can testify at the murder trial of missing todder Bianca Jones.  Her father D'Andre Lane stands accused.

Lane claimed Bianca was in the back seat of his 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis on the morning of 2nd December when he was approached by armed carjackers near Brush Street and Grand River.  The vehicle was found shortly after, but the child was not inside. Her body has not been found.

Forensic canine expert Martin Grime testified Friday and at Lane's prior preliminary examination that he brought in his victim recovery dog, Morse, two days after the girl went missing. He said the dog detected a cadaver scent inside Lane's car, on the child's blanket and car seat, and in the girl's bedroom and Lane's home.

You may remember Mr Grime and his involvement with the Madeleine McCann case. Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry claim that Madeleine was abducted from their holiday apartment while they apparently dined and drank with friends in a local restaurant.

Mr Grime brought in his victim recovery dog, Eddie, two months after Madeleine went missing.  The dog detected a cadaver scent in the McCanns car, on the child's cuddly toy, on Mrs McCann's clothes and in the McCanns bedroom and living area.

Two todders, missing without a trace.

Disappearances under murky circumstances.

Parents implicated.

Multiple alerts to the scent of death.

I've no doubt this case and it's similarities to the McCann case will again be briskly swept under the carpet by the British media.  However the fact that this particular canine expert is giving evidence in a first degree murder and child abuse case, where the child is still missing, has dire undertones for the McCanns and their supporters.

Poor children...


The Detroit News : Canine Expert Can Testify on Cadaver Scent, 24 August

Double Standards?...

Brecon mother, 20, jailed for leaving baby home alone

A mother has been jailed for 15 months for leaving her baby daughter at home alone every day for a week while she went out drinking.

The woman, 20, of Brecon, Powys, admitted neglect of the 15-month old while she went out at Christmas.

Neighbours raised the alarm when they heard cries, Merthyr Crown Court heard.

Judge John Curran said: "You may have gone back to the house on occasions but the fact is you neglected her for a very long time."

The court heard how the woman left the girl in the cot and would go home every day to give the baby breakfast cereal and a microwave meal before going back to a friend's flat to continue partying.

Prosecutor Michael Hammett said that police officers alerted by neighbours found the house to be cold and dark, and with all its rooms in a mess.

Well, well, well...

This little girl is now safe.  I wonder what the sentence would have been had the child vanished without a trace, or if she'd been left alone and neglected along with her brother and sister?

This similar case smacks to the very heart of the McCann case (until the scent of death is remembered).  The same charge in Portugal carries a hefty loss of liberty, no wonder the McCanns fled with their tails between their legs.

You cannot change the past, Madeleine is still missing yet the McCanns are enjoying the the life of Riley?

The scum of this country do not just appear on the Jeremy Kyle show - they hide under the cloak of middle class society with their upper class friends.  Time this whole charade came to an end and all involved held accountable.

RIP Winnie Johnson

The notorious letter (if there is one...) has opened up the old death penalty debate again. 

Hang 'em or throw away the key?

I've always been of the opinion that if found guilty, they should live long lives and be left to rot, regardless of the cost.  Especially in this horrific case where they not only committed the most barbaric crimes but then went on to torment the families involved.

The death penalty was abolished shortly before the trial.  I cant help wondering what kind of life Winnie Johnson would have lived, had Brady found the noose around his neck way back in 1966.

The invisible cord that he has tugged over the years would never have existed and despite living with the horror of losing a child in the darkest of circumstances, Winnie's life would have most certainly been different. Perhaps the fact that the murderous, evil scum was still alive and witholding whatever knowledge was what really kept her going?

I do hope that Brady carries on rotting with the realisation that he has lost his last hold and when his day eventually comes, may he continue to rot in hell.

Sincere condolences to all the family.  I also hope that the police continue to investigate and search for Keith.  It's not just the family who want to see him given a decent burial, we all do.

The dignity, courage and hope of Winnie Johnson cannot be surpassed.  This woman should be commended for her dedicated, lifelong search for Keith.

May you be at peace now, dear lady and finally be safely reunited with your darling child.

The Ambassadeurs... a brief analysis

The Ambassadeurs (1002) is a painting by Hans Upguv the Elder which hangs in the Regional Gallery, Dewsbury. As well as being a double portrait, the painting contains a still life of several meticulously rendered objects, the meaning of which is the cause of much debate. 

Among the clues to the figures' explorative associations are a selection of scientific instruments including two globes (one terrestrial and one of the wider agenda), a baby monitor, a watch and a fridge, as well as various textiles including the floor mosaic, based on a design from Aldi (Leicester) and the carpet on the upper shelf, which is most notably Carpet Kingdom. The inclusion of the two figures can furthermore be seen as symbolic - the figure on the left is in secular attire while the figure on the right is dressed in clerical clothes (both outfits available from Next 2012 Winter Collection).  Their flanking of the table, which displays open diaries, symbols of religious knowledge and even a symbolic link to the Virgin, is therefore believed by some critics to be a blatant front to show association to the Church.

The Skull

The most notable and famous of Hans Upguv's symbols in the work is the distorted skull which is placed in the bottom centre of the composition. The skull, rendered in anamorphic perspective is meant to be a visual puzzle as from a blinkered view, the skull has come to no harm and therefore cannot be seen. 

Interpretation

Before the publication of Marjorie F.S. Hensch's 'Upguv's Ambassadeurs', the identity of the two figures in the picture had long been a subject of intense debate. Petula Gurney was the first to propose the figure on the left as the Marquis of Rothley. Shortly afterwards, the cleaning of the picture revealed that his seat of Stig is one of only four places marked on the globe.  Hensch identified the figure on the right as Healy Hottlipple, Bishop of Soar. 

According to art historian Peter Wolfe, it is still difficult to accurately pinpoint the dates and people in this painting.  A deliberate act by the artist, he supposes.  Scholars have argued that this earlier identification was incorrect. Wolfe, for example, remarks that "This was a natural enough supposition to be made by a person with limited local knowledge, since the two lived on the family estate together, but with numerous lies told over time, it is almost certainly mistaken".  He points to a letter written by the Marquis on 28 March 1030, in which he talks of an imminent meeting with the pope and makes no mention of visiting home. Wolfe's book analyzes the painting and shows it to be representing an earlier time frame through various clues on the instruments.

The Role of a Brand Ambassador

Brand ambassadors market a brand, product or service on behalf of a business organisation. They promote the brand name, products and services by interacting with customers, business partners and the media. Brand ambassadors are basically company marketing representatives and customer relationship managers. The objective of the brand ambassador position is to provide information about a brand, product or service, generate income and build preference of a brand name.

The charity Missing People have (in my opinion) made the wrong decision in appointing Kate McCann as ambassador - wrong because although Mrs McCann has publicly associated herself with the charity in the past, she has never volunteered her services.  She was also one of the prime suspects in her missing daughter's case and to this day has never been cleared.

In the case of a donation based charity, public opinion is tantamount and I've already read of many horrified fundraisers refusing to donate any further monies to Missing People.  Which is a shame.

There are many comparisons popping up online, such as Karen Matthews as Mrs McCann's assistant and right hand umm man, and...

Harold Shipman as ambassador for Help the Aged.

Peter Sutcliffe as ambassador for Battered Women.

Hitler as ambassador for Dove soap.

Sick comparisons, but just as sick as the Queen of Neglect championing missing children?

With the help from friends in high places, the McCanns seem to be on a roll with their 'wider agenda' so hey ho, here are some familiar and easy suggestions for Mrs McCann to further her non-diplomatic ambassadorship career...

Institute of Babysitters

Legal and Fighting Funds

Ministry of Sad Faces

Tapas Drinks and Nibbles Chamber of Commerce

Whether she likes it or not, being directly implicated in her own daughter's disappearance means that Kate McCann will always be the best ambassadorial reminder that you should never, ever leave your children alone.  For the good of all the children that are still here and not already missing...

However, the 'snooty, cadaver scent under the nose' look is NOT a good marketing ploy - she really should go au naturelle (and I definitely don't mean commando).