Fun with property
Friday, February 25, 2005
In property class today we discussed two cases, and Mackenzie provided me with yet one more.
The first (in class) was Pierson v. Post, 3 Caines 175, 2 Am. Dec. 264 (1805). Deals with the ownership of a fox when pursued by hunters. The apparent rule, continuing from the code of Justinian is that "pursuit alone vests no property right in the huntsman; and that even pursuit, accompanied by wounding, is equally ineffectual for that purpose, unless the animal be actually taken." It matters not that one hunter has kept a pack of hounds or that such gentleman "at the sound of the horn, and at peep of day, would mount his steed and for hours together... Pursue the windings of this wily quadraped, if, just as night came on and his stratagems and strength were nearly exhausted, a saucy intruder who had not shared in the honors or labours of the chase, were permitted to come in at the death, and bear away in triumph the object of pursuit."
The second case (in class), Ganter v Kapiloff, 69 Md.App. 97, 516 A.2d 611 (1986), put rest to the adage of "Finders Keepers." By stating that a finding is good for possession unless the true owner wants the thing you found, then it is still his. The case hinged on the ownership of a pair of stamps valued at over $100,000.
Finally Mackenzie delivered me one more case during this fray. Go ahead and read the news article, it is short.
I keep telling you, the law can be fun!
posted by ZEUS @ 9:40 AM, No comment,
My week as a MasterCard commercial`
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Car Repairs - $850.00
Sale Sweaters - $10.00
Rental - Paid for by Saab
Gallon of gas for rental - 1.83
The fact that the rental was a chevy cavalier - DISGUSTING
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Brunch with friends - 8.00 each
Being questioned by creepy old man - SCARY
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Tanning Package, Lotion, Goggles...etc..- $80.00
Racketball Goggles - $15.00
Being safe to do things with friends - COOL
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Three movies - $10.00
Trip to grocery store - $55.00
A fun night with a good friend - PRICELESS
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There are some things money can't buy - for everything else, I may have to take a loan out from the bank.
posted by ZEUS @ 3:58 PM, No comment,
BUY METH, get AIDS FREE with EXPRESS SHIPPING to your grave.
Monday, February 14, 2005
A slap in the face to anyone who wants to play Russian Roulette with HIV because it is supposably a "manageable disease."
On the heals of a the major announcement that taking a "morning after*" regimen may reduce your risk of getting HIV comes news of a super strain of HIV. By super strain they mean: immune to over 4 different known medication cocktails. That not only means that there is no "morning after" drug, but that health officials found no effective drugs in their short window of treatment with this patient. While to date the virus' transmission rate is nearly impossible, the use of Crystal Methamphetamine will significantly increase your odds. Further, HIV is among the fastest mutating viruses known to exist. It has mutated this far, let's not help it mutate into a drug resistant virus that needs no help to transmit.
The Dr's believe the man went from HIV to full blown AIDS within 2-3 months (at most 20). The gentleman in question was dead of complications of AIDS within a year. How's that for ONE NIGHT OF PLEASURE.
PLAY SAFE KIDS.
*Note: Still involves taking the drugs that are known to cause all the nasty side effects. Mild side effects are known to include uncontrollably explosive diarrhea.
posted by ZEUS @ 2:11 PM, No comment,
To live the golden rule, you occasionally have to change your shoes
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
I am going to be bluntly honest about a few things. This is not in an effort to be mean, spiteful, or disrespectful (as I fear some of these comments may be read), but it is important to me to be direct and honest. It may be the best way to create understanding.
To me, the teaching that homosexuality is wrong is the preaching of "hatred and closed mindedness." However, I also believe in an inherent right for others to say otherwise. The problem is that there is a difference between this discussion and the culture war that rages in this country. I don't want to ban anyone's right to say they see homosexuality as a choice, or even that it is un-natural. I disagree to my core, but I would not trample my fellow man's freedom of expression. I cannot say the same about those I see in the media preaching against same sex marriage. I would not take away anyone's rights because I am uncomfortable with them, I expect the same in return.
To me, the greatest terrorists to the American way of life are those whose language goes beyond "I disagree with homosexuality" to "same-sex marriage should be outlawed.” This argument, in my mind parallels all other hate speech and is no more acceptable than the anti-racial epithets of the KKK and should carry no more weight than the idea of denying anyone their free exercise of religion. Read the Federalist Papers, especially number 45, you'll get a good sense of why we are a government who protects the rights of all people and not simply that of an alleged majority.
I realize those statements are harsh. I make them for two reasons. First, I have read and listened to countless statements which are equally as harsh and offensive to me all delivered in the name of "understanding" and in some instances "loving Christianity." To deal with similar statements helps others understand more of what a queer youth goes through growing up. Second, I want you to really see who I am and what I have gone through. These statements directly represent nobody but me, but are crucial if you truly want to understand.
I have personally sought out those who were willing to quote phrase after phrase out of the bible and then looked up those phrases for myself. For me and an increasing number of biblical scholars there is not a single passage in the bible which condemns same-sex attractions or same-sex marriage. To those who have used these passages as insults to myself and others like me, such is the plain language of THEIR bible. Now I can go on and on about how the same arguments went back and forth in the 1950 and 60's in reference to interracial marriage. If I take the time I can even find an article citing historical references to a papal marriage ceremony in the 15th century where two men were wed both lawfully and in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church. However, such an exercise would miss my point. I am writing my story, not theirs, and simply cite them as materials I have read.
Here's what I do know, about me. I know that I never, in my whole life, CHOSE to be gay. I don’t know a single heterosexual who “chose” to be who they are, the same is true for me. I have, however, chosen to be open about who I am in the face of those who would hate me for no more than that. When people assert that my sexual orientation is a choice, it hurts, deeply. This is a very personal thing for me to say about myself and my most deeply held beliefs, but there is no other way for me to understand my existence than to know that my creator made me gay.
There is nothing easy about living my life as an out gay man. I wonder, everywhere I go, about whether or not coming out as the individual I know myself to be in the deepest fiber of my core is going to have negative consequences. These consequences do not exist because it is wrong for me to be who I am, but because some people hate me for it. For me, it is no more right to be interested in women for marriage, for sex, or for the intimate relationships which are necessary to form the loving bond necessary for blissful matrimony than the same is true for any of my straight friends to be in a same-sex relationship. However, I accept it when the American Psychological Association tells me that these straight people and I are both acting on inherently "natural" behaviors. That statement becomes dispositive to me when the American Medical Association, and the American Pediatric Association also adopt the same findings.
Respectfully submitted
posted by ZEUS @ 9:53 PM, No comment,
I LOVE YOU MAN!
Friday, February 04, 2005
It's been a while since I have posted (even Drew has managed to get two in since my last), but then again there's too much going on really for me to make a post. In the last two weeks I've had client counseling competition, appellate advocacy briefs, work, class, the general reading, civil procedure assignment from HELL, and other general LIFE issues including being incredibly sick for a few days. As a result I missed Imbolic, birthday parties, a concert, a ton of sleep, major blow up at SPECTRUM meeting, and general fun times with friends.
I miss you guys!
Last night at Jim's was fun. I feel like it was the first time in forever I've been able to let my hair down and have fun. Also first time in a while I've actually had the ability to "speak" with Mandy or Jim. It's not quite the same though. I am hoping things will calm down and we can get back to all seeing one another more often. I really miss you guys/gals.
Ok.. Constitutional Law is starting - here goes me off to busy-land again.
posted by ZEUS @ 10:51 AM, No comment,
