CSI: Wild West and Other Stuff

Greetings and welcome to The Un-Zone, the semi-regularly updated and official site to all things related to Un.

In today's update, it will be about the odd crumbs and detrius that one can find lurking in the corners of the Internet.

Up first, is a case that makes no sense what-so-ever and yet is taught in Evidence class. It also has an interesting local connection, which makes this doubly interesting. It combines the law and colorful local history: Mutual Life Insurance Co. v. Hillmon, 145 U.S. 285 (1892). Apparently, Brown said that he was going to Colorado with Hillmon was held admissible to show that he had in fact done so. Basically, if you make a statement about intent, it can be used to circumstantially prove you did what you said. For example, if you say, "I'm going to Paris," you can use that statement to circumstantially prove you went to Paris. There are some problems with this doctrine.
1. People change their minds. I can easily say, "I'm going to Manhattan, KS for a week to make fun of those dumb Wildcats" and go to Las Vegas to play blackjack and Texas Hold-Em. If someone finds out, I can easily claim, "I changed my mind." So much for proving intent.
2. The tough third-party issue. With the Hillmon case, there was no real evidence that Hillmon actually went to Colorado. Is the letter enough proof to show that Hillmon actually went? Depending on the jurisdiction, it may be allowed or it may not be allowed.
Now two researchers are going to use modern tools to solve the problem of the Hillmon case: is the body in the grave really Hillmon or someone else. If it's Hillmon, then the story in the Hillmon case is probably true. Else, you've got another mystery. Who is the dead guy? Where is the crew from CSI when you need them?
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/jan/30/gravesite_lawrences_oak_hill_cemetery_might_hold_c/?city_local

You're lost in the middle of the woods. You need a fire and you happen to have a can of Coca Cola and a chocolate bar. What do you do? You make a fire using that can of coke and the chocolate bar. How? Just click on the link below to find out.
http://www.trackertrail.com/survival/fire/cokeandchocolatebar/

President Bust isn't happy that Hamas won. Now that Hamas has won an election and shown the world that democracy is spreading in the Middle East (something that President Bush said was good), they're now the butt of political jokes. One must wonder how they are going to respond to this sort of humor.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060129/ap_on_re_mi_ea/hamas_jokes

Americans aren't buying American cars, but are buying foreign brands like Honda and Toyota. The "Big Three" are wondering why. Now the American public is telling them, quite frankly, why the cars built by the Big Three aren't so great.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10892985/


That's all for now.