Crime & Federalism: I'm Outta Here, Thanks, And Merry Christmas

They Lost Luttig

Just Move Padilla

I'm Outta Here, Thanks, And Merry Christmas

December 21, 2005

I cleared my docket, and so for the next ten days, I am doing nothing but reading books, smoking cigars, and enjoying Tennessee with my wife. If any Nashville readers want to meet up on the 29th, send me an e-mail. My plans on that day are open, so if I'm able to get to e-mail, I'll try to meet up with you. If you smoke cigars, all the better, as I always travel with good ones.

Also, thanks are due to William Adler, a Nashville civil rights lawyer; and Raymond Chandler. Mr. Chandler deserve congratulations for winning his first trial. Both of these guys gave me great tips on things to see and do in Nashville. Thanks much.

I hope everyone enjoys Christmas, or whatever holiday (or unholiday) you celebrate. I grew up with some religious fanatics who refused to celebrate Christmas. They still gave gifts, mind you. On the day after Christmas, they celebrated "International Gift Giving Day." Which reminds me of one of my favorite stories from Benjamin Franklin's autobiography:

I believe I have omitted mentioning that, in my first voyage from Boston, being becalm'd off Block Island, our people set about catching cod, and hauled up a great many. Hitherto I had stuck to my resolution of not eating animal food, and on this occasion consider'd, with my master Tryon, the taking every fish as a kind of unprovoked murder, since none of them had, or ever could do us any injury that might justify the slaughter. All this seemed very reasonable. But I had formerly been a great lover of fish, and, when this came hot out of the frying-pan, it smelt admirably well. I balanc'd some time between principle and inclination, till I recollected that, when the fish were opened, I saw smaller fish taken out of their stomachs; then thought I, "If you eat one another, I don't see why we mayn't eat you." So I din'd upon cod very heartily, and continued to eat with other people, returning only now and then occasionally to a vegetable diet. So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.

Enjoy the festivities.

Posted at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Comments

I believe I have omitted mentioning that, in my first voyage from Boston, being becalm'd off Block Island, our people set about catching cod, and hauled up a great many. Hitherto I had stuck to my resolution of not eating animal food, and on this occasion consider'd, with my master Tryon, the taking every fish as a kind of unprovoked murder, since none of them had, or ever could do us any injury that might justify the slaughter. All this seemed very reasonable. But I had formerly been a great lover of fish, and, when this came hot out of the frying-pan, it smelt admirably well. I balanc'd some time between principle and inclination, till I recollected that, when the fish were opened, I saw smaller fish taken out of their stomachs; then thought I, "If you eat one another, I don't see why we mayn't eat you." So I din'd upon cod very heartily, and continued to eat with other people, returning only now and then occasionally to a vegetable diet. So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.

Enjoy the festivities.