Party of Three

Last week, a 19th century Spanish fresco was ruined after a good Samaritan attempted a DIY restoration of the artwork. That's right, three separate photographs of “Ecce Homo” by painter Elias Garcia Martinez show extensive damage caused by an elderly woman who decided the masterpiece needed a little refurbishment. But in a time of austerity, rather than calling in a professional to complete the job, the unnamed woman attempted to restore the mural herself – at a devastating cost. The result (pictured) was a botched repair where the intricate brush strokes of Martinez were replaced with a haphazard splattering of the octogenarian's paint. Years of carefully calculated depth of expression simply washed out by copious amounts of red and brown. But at least it looks better than when Mr. Bean attempted a similar amateur repair on a painting he sneezed on. Fast-forward to today, where a notary in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo has sparked controversy by accepting a civil union between three people. Public Notary Claudia do Nascimento Domingues has said the man and two women should be entitled to family rights. She says there is nothing in the law to prevent such an arrangement. I agree. But the move has angered some religious groups, while one lawyer described it as absurd and totally illegal. And you know what I have to say to the union's detractors? Get a life. It's not like they're dressing up as the Joker and shooting up the local cinema.