Statutes of limitations:

if you murder a man, you can be tried for it any time after that, no matter how many years pass.

For other crimes, not all, but for a small number of them, if you are not tried within certain time period, the law cannot touch you after the period is over.

For instance, if you jaywalk, and your trial is delayed for 24 months, at least in Canada, you are a free man, you walk. But hopefully not jay.

Or if you embezzle less than $5,000, or commit income tax evasion, and nobody discovers it was you who did it for the next seven years, then the statutes of limitations apply, and you can't be tried and convicted for this crime.

All jurisdictions have different time limits for such a period, and the crimes to which they apply, are not the same, either.

Violent crimes against persons is never a crime to which 'statutes of limitations' can be applied, and crimes against humanity are not either.

Also, once you have earned capital punishment, and they execute the penalty, then there is no place for an appeal. That's slightly different, though.

Another way to describe smartness, is to use reflective practise throughout life......constantly re-evaluating better ways to improve it/ourselves.

Ahem.

I made myeslef a cup of tea this morning. I washed myself and dressed myself, then got myself to work, and worked myself almost to death. I got myself some dinner from the freezer, then put myself through watching the news, an activity with which I almost always manage to get myself depressed. I talked myself 'till I was blue in the face with Mother on the phone, then lay myself in bed, and played with myself, then sang myself a lullaby, and slumbered myself off to sleep.

All reflective, all practice, to the day when I can quit practicing and do it on stage at Carnegie Hall.

I dont know if i would call this reflective....if the news depresses you, why watch it? If you are speaking to mother till your blue in the face, then you have not reflected on better ways to communicate with her for your own sake. Being reflective means reflection in actions, always looking at better ways to improve the practise of your life, not just accepting 1 structure, but being open to changes which make it easier to manage.

The combination of these(Ability to learn + Wisdom + Common sense)will enable a person to speak right thing at right place at right moment. Quite smart!

My understanding of being smart is to be able to use your brain to your advantage or being able to make wise decisions and choices.

According to one of my college psychology professors, the only thing that an IQ test measures is how well a person does while taking that particular test.

"I was asked to join Mensa."

Sky's the limit for those who have faith in themselves; otherwise it is better to know our own limit.(in my opinion)

. . . unless you're one of the astronauts on the Space Shuttle Endeavor.

I concur