I keep reading these 2 message boards related to the local woman's murder, and at first, I was so freaked out my legs were shaking, but I think I am starting to get back to normal. Or normal-lite. I have a hard time taking these people seriously when they misuse they're/there/their and except/accept and effect/affect--not to mention ridiculous misspellings, my favorite being: discuised instead of disguised. I suppose I should thank these people, their (I almost typed there just to be funny) grammatical/spelling errors are helping me be less hysterical. But seriously, it is making me nuts the way they keep throwing legal terms around (misusing them along the way). Damn law shows and CSI type shows have made everyone experts on law and crime. I have wasted the past 3 years in school--all I really needed was the Ally McBeal box set.

For the record, hearsay is an out of court statement intended to prove the matter asserted. Hearsay is not the same thing as a rumor or speculation. Hearsay and rumor are not interchangeable words. The concept of hearsay is tricky even for experienced lawyers according to my professor. And most Evidence professors spend a month or more on the topic of hearsay and its many exceptions. So stop using this word unless you are a trained attorney, and even then if you use it, you will probably come off as a pompous blowhard.

I hate criminals.