Loyal dogs

So I came across an article on the web describing Hachiko, the loyal Akita who waited for 10 years for his owner to return. It is a great story and I urge everyone to read it for it is very touching. The article also referenced Futurama and Fry's dog, Seymour. Now, I am a casual Futurama fan so I did not understand this reference. But after reading up on it and watching a few clips of the episode on the internet, I can see why the author referenced Fry's dog.

It's kinda funny how sometimes a "lower being" actually displays valued characteristics that "higher beings" fail to live by sometimes. Anyways, if you are not touched by the story about Hachiko, perhaps an actual clip from the Futurama episode will do the trick.

Hold on there stranger!

"America has lost its sense of values. Fifty years ago, during my parents time, people used to be proud to call themselves an American. People today seem to be more interested in themselves and their well-being than in the greater good, the rule of law, or any sense of morality. We've lost our way."

That was paraphrased from an old man I met early last week. But let me paint a picture for you and have you tell me if you think he was full of it or really a just and noble individual.

Wednesday:
I was browsing around the local school computer store, looking at the various computers they had on display. I noticed this old man talking to a sales associate about computers and which applications he could use to enhance his productivity. I noticed him because (1) the old man was somewhat loud; (2) he was definitely older than the average age of the school computer store's clientèle; and (3) he wore all white. Look, its strange for anyone to wear all white, makes you look like you just escaped from an asylum.

Well, because the store had no other sales associate, I waited for the old man to finish his discussion with the current sales associate. Old man talked about Steve Jobs and the stock backdating scandal, computers in general, yada yada yada, all the while I am patiently waiting for an opportunity to be assisted. Old man eventually noticed I was waiting by and brought me into his conversation too. 

Finally, I had an opportunity to tell the sales associate that I had a problem with my computer. I explained my problem, detailed what I was doing when the problems occurred and detailed the steps I have taken to diagnose and rule out certain causes of my computer problem. I noted that I had a tight budget and did not want to spend a great deal of money.

The sales associate said to come back whenever I am free and they would spend a day looking over my computer. I thought about it and thanked the associate for his help and began to be off on my way. It was at this point that the old man stopped me and told me that if I was interested that he could supply me with an extra copy of a new operating system for my computer.

Me: Really? How much do you want for it?
Him: I said 'give' didn't I? ::winks:: I was a poor college student at one point too so I know how it is.
Me: Oh, well. Thanks. I really appreciate your generosity.
Him: Think nothing of it! Here's my card. Call me anytime and we can set up a date where I can give you a copy of the operating system.
Me: ::Reads card:: Thanks [insert name of old guy]. It was nice meeting you and I will definitely give you a call.

Friday:
Fast forward to Friday of that week. We meet in a restaurant and he pulls out a copy of the operating system. So far everything looks legit. He gives me the cd, but instead of letting me keep it, he asks that I burn a copy of the cd onto my hard drive and then later boot up the disk from my hard drive. Interesting. Not necessarily the "extra" copy that he had mentioned earlier.

However, I did burn the disk onto my hard drive. While the cd was being ripped, the old man ordered some food and we talked some more about politics, what he was doing later that day, my job interview earlier in the day and so forth.

I told him about California's recent tailpipe emissions initiative that was blocked by the EPA and how even attorneys at the EPA, in internal memos, concluded that the EPA would lose in any court battle with the State of California. The old man got on his soapbox and said "well, that's great and all but California cannot be trusted with that sort of power."

He talked about the tax that California imposed on purchases of out of state cars and how that was wrong. To treat an individual differently because he bought a virtually identical car out of state as opposed to in state was a pure and simple money grab in his view. That it was noble for two young attorneys to convince their partners to bring a class action lawsuit against California and win. And throughout all of this, he emphasized that the attorneys won $42 million dollars for this class action. I just smiled and let him do his talking.

He went on to talk about computer software and casually asked if I could buy him this piece of software with my student discount. The old man knew exactly how much the software was going to cost and gave me exactly that much in cash. Clearly this guy's "generosity" was premeditated. His plan all along was to allow me to burn a copy of his operating system and in exchange, I would use my student discount to get him software at a cheaper price. My suspicion that this old guy was not as ethical as what he tried to make himself out to be was reinforced when we went up to the counter of the restaurant and had the audacity to claim that his cup of soda had a small hole in it and so he wanted a quick refill.  Bull. Shit. 

So not only was this guy proclaiming the virtues of lawyers getting $42 million from a class action lawsuit and not really giving me a copy of the operating system he had promised but he is also a stingy liar.

So, what do you guys think? Honest, good old man or chintzy sleaze-bag? To me, the moral of the story is clear: Never trust anyone over the age of 30. 

Nostalgia for Analytically Fluffier Times

This was written sometime last week. I didn't want to post an edited version of my email until my professor had seen it first. She was a visiting professor that taught me property my first year. And yes, she does remember me =P

-----

Hi professor,

I don't know if you remember me but I was in your first year property class at [insert law school]. I just wanted to write and thank you for helping me "think like a lawyer." Right now I am reading an assignment for professional responsibility and in particular, I am learning about the gradual decline in interest for "cause lawyering" among law students and the author's contention that "thinking like a lawyer" is a possible reason for that decline. As a matter of disclosure, learning to think like a lawyer (and by no means am I done) has not dampened my interest in government/public interest law. It remains an option to consider.

But reading this article made me think back to our property class and some of the "hot" cases we went over like Moore v. UC Regents or Kelo v. City of New London. I remember in particular when you called on me to discuss Loretto v. Teleprompter. You had asked if the per se rule was a good ruling. I gave some fluff answer about how I felt, that the owner shouldn't mind b/c it's only one cable line. But looking back, I can't help but feel kinda stupid. I'm not saying I can cover all the pros and cons of the per se rule now, but I would have given a much better response than what I gave last year. Overall, a lot of these "hot" cases brought out emotional responses that don't seem to satisfy all sides.

Although learning this skill, to remove one's own preferences and apply the facts to the rules dispassionately to come to a certain conclusion is somewhat distasteful, I am strangely complacent. Maybe its because I think a lot of the value judgments that a case brings up ought to be settled by the legislature, or that value judgments have no one right answer, or perhaps something else. But whatever it is, I thought you did your best to push this lousy student to think much more analytically.

I also firmly believe that the smaller, more intimate classroom setting was a big factor in directing me to be more focused in my reasoning. The students got to know each other and to bounce ideas off one another. No student could hide behind other students and you were able to focus your attention on one particular student at a time. Plus it was about as organized as 300+ years of property case law can be. Out of the three classes I had that first semester in that dreaded first year of law school, your class has had the most lasting impact. Although I am only a 2L, although I still have a lot more to add to my foundation of skills before I can say I am a lawyer, I'd like to think I am on the right path and that you helped me (as well as anyone could have) in placing me on that right path. Thanks.

Best wishes from [insert geographical location],

[my name]

WTF was the NY Governor Thinking??

Really. Why would Gollum New York Governor Elliot Spitzer cheat on his wife when (1) he has crafted an image of a "Mr. Clean," (2) in fact has prosecuted high profile prostitution rings as attorney general, (3) has put his career in jeopardy, and (4) when his wife is that hot?!?!

The Smoking Gun has the FBI affidavit and in it, it states that Spitzer ordered a high class escort for five grand, that she was white, "petite, very pretty brunette, 5 foot 5 inches, and 105 pounds." Seems like that is describing Spitzer's wife (minus the probable age difference of course). And to top it all off, Spitzer's wife, Silda Wall Spitzer, is a HLS alum. Jeez, he is married to a hot law school girl (rare) from HLS (rare) and what does he do? Get a 5k escort (not so rare). At least he has good tastes in women. 

Hmm, let me do a little more research.........OH SHIT. 

Silda Spitzer is the same age as my mom. Aww crap. What the hell is wrong with me? Um, beauty is timeless, yea. That's the ticket! 

Ok, on a more serious note, this is really stupid. I really feel bad for Silda to stand next to the man who cheated on her and hear him apologize for his infidelity. To be cheated on is bad enough, but to have the entire global media know and scrutinize your personal life must be terribly embarrassing. I wish her and her entire family the best. 

Squibs of the Day: 03.09.08

* Apparently, even more 1Ls than I thought know who I am. The one downside to everyone knowing who you are but not knowing you is that they call you by your first and last name. It's like seeing a celebrity on the street: "look, it's Diane Keaton" or "hey, isn't that Tom Cruise?" At least these 1Ls hosted a nice party. 

* I am way behind in my studying. 

* I might have a job lined up. Whatever, I'll just go with the flow and see where it takes me. 

* This morning, seeing two ants - the only two ants in the area - crawling in opposite directions, slowly growing further and further apart until it is most likely the case that they will never cross paths again. Just some food for thought and maybe somewhat interesting.