. . . wherein adverbs are overused and explanations are awaited.
Phone, loudly: *Ring*
Me, responsively: Hello?
Old Person, agitatedly: I'm sorry to bother you, Cindy, but we've got a problem. They've changed the numbers, and they won't tell us the new ones, and I don't know how to get them, so do you think we should call Aging Services about it?
Me, befuddledly: What?
Old Person, frantically: The numbers! They changed them! And they won't give me the new ones, and I don't know what to do. They said they'll only give them to the firemen and emergency services and paid help, and the access cards cost $8, and I told them that you're an unpaid volunteer, but they still wouldn't give them to me. And they told the doctor's office not to give the numbers to me either. Can you believe it? It don't seem right that they'd do something like that. I just don't know what to do. What do you think we should do?
Me, confusedly: I have not the pleasure of understanding you. Of what are you talking?
Old Person, deliberately: The numbers. At the gate. Where you come in. It's locked on Saturdays. They won't give me the new numbers, and they said an access card would cost $8.
Me, comprehendingly: Gotcha. You're saying that they changed the entry code at the gate to your complex.
Old Person, anxiously: Yes, and they won't give me the new ones. You should call my manager and ask for them and explain that you're an unpaid volunteer. And call me back tomorrow after you've talked to her.
Me, reluctantly: Okay.
Old Person, annoyedly: I don't see how they can do that. This is HUD housing, and don't they have to respect the rights of the people? How can they take away our rights like this? You're sort of like a paralegal or something, so what do you think?
Me, patiently: I'm not licensed to practice law; even if I were licensed I wouldn't be licensed in Utah; and even if I were licensed in Utah, I still wouldn't know anything about housing law.
Old Person, resignedly: Okay, well just call me back tomorrow after you talk to my manager.
Me, conclusively: All right. Goodbye.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
compliments from the old person
Yesterday when the old person and I were at Walmart, looking for the 100th time at the bin of cheap DVDs, I saw two girls in my ward. Both of these girls, I must add, are older than I am. However, the old person was shocked when I told her that they lived in my apartment complex. "They do! But you look so much older than them." Pause. "Not that you look old. I think that it's because they're so tiny." Pause. "Not that you look fat. It's just that you're, um, tall, and um, womanly."
Nice recovery there, old person.
Nice recovery there, old person.
strange things taught in church
Relief Society Teacher: "Are any of you mad at God for making us forgive everyone? Like, he made it a commandment, so we have to do it. Does anyone find that really frustrating? Anyone? None of you are annoyed with God for requiring us to forgive others? Well, okay then. Let's move on with the lesson."
Sunday School Teacher: "We all think of Jesus being perfect and all, but let's read Mark 8:22-25. So, the first time Jesus tried to cure the man's blindness, the man couldn't see correctly, and Jesus had to do it again to get it right. That makes me feel better, because it shows that even Jesus didn't get everything right the first time."
Me: Okay then. Maybe I'll just read the scriptures to myself instead of listening.
Sunday School Teacher: "We all think of Jesus being perfect and all, but let's read Mark 8:22-25. So, the first time Jesus tried to cure the man's blindness, the man couldn't see correctly, and Jesus had to do it again to get it right. That makes me feel better, because it shows that even Jesus didn't get everything right the first time."
Me: Okay then. Maybe I'll just read the scriptures to myself instead of listening.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
book tag blog game, take two
The Pickwick Papers, by Charles Dickens
"Now sir," said the little man, as he carefully closed the door, "is there no way of accomodating this matter -- step this way, sir for a moment -- into this window, sir, where we can be alone -- there, sir, there, pray sit down, sir. Now, my dear sir, between you and I, we know very well, my dear sir, that you have run off with this lady for the sake of her money. Don't frown, sir, don't frown; I say, between you and I, we know it.
Wow. Those were some long sentences.
(The book that was closest to me was actually my journal, but page 123 is blank. So, I couldn't use that.)
"Now sir," said the little man, as he carefully closed the door, "is there no way of accomodating this matter -- step this way, sir for a moment -- into this window, sir, where we can be alone -- there, sir, there, pray sit down, sir. Now, my dear sir, between you and I, we know very well, my dear sir, that you have run off with this lady for the sake of her money. Don't frown, sir, don't frown; I say, between you and I, we know it.
Wow. Those were some long sentences.
(The book that was closest to me was actually my journal, but page 123 is blank. So, I couldn't use that.)
book tag blog game (say it fast ten times)
For further enlightment, go to Ben's blog.
The rules of the game:
1. Find the nearest book to you.
2. Name the book and author.
3. Turn to page 123.
4. Go to the fifth sentence on the page.
5. Copy out the next 3 sentences and post to your blog.
6. Tag three other people.
Book: United States Code Annotated, Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure. Author: Congress, with annotations by Westlaw.
Excerpt: "As a necessary adjunct of the exclusive power delegated to Congress to establish uniform rules of naturalization, Congress had power to determine that an alien could not, with impunity, falsely claim to be a citizen when in fact he was not, and to make such false and willful representation a crime. U.S. v. Anzalone, W.D.Pa. 1951, 100 F.Supp. 987, reversed 197 F.2d 714. . . ."
Are you sure you want me to continue? It doesn't get any better.
Maybe I'll find a different book when I get home from work.
The rules of the game:
1. Find the nearest book to you.
2. Name the book and author.
3. Turn to page 123.
4. Go to the fifth sentence on the page.
5. Copy out the next 3 sentences and post to your blog.
6. Tag three other people.
Book: United States Code Annotated, Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure. Author: Congress, with annotations by Westlaw.
Excerpt: "As a necessary adjunct of the exclusive power delegated to Congress to establish uniform rules of naturalization, Congress had power to determine that an alien could not, with impunity, falsely claim to be a citizen when in fact he was not, and to make such false and willful representation a crime. U.S. v. Anzalone, W.D.Pa. 1951, 100 F.Supp. 987, reversed 197 F.2d 714. . . ."
Are you sure you want me to continue? It doesn't get any better.
Maybe I'll find a different book when I get home from work.
Friday, April 13, 2007
on TRAX again
Worst pickup line ever:
"Really, I'm not a stalker. I just want to know all about you. And please, be specific."
"Really, I'm not a stalker. I just want to know all about you. And please, be specific."
Thursday, March 15, 2007
strangers on a train
Things overheard and/or said to me on the bus or on TRAX:
"Hello there, little lady. May I sit here?"
"What do you think of those trans-sexuals?"
"Your hat matches your scarf. I like that."
"I like riding TRAX. It makes me feel high-class."
"Hello there, little lady. May I sit here?"
"What do you think of those trans-sexuals?"
"Your hat matches your scarf. I like that."
"I like riding TRAX. It makes me feel high-class."
Sunday, March 04, 2007
old people are interesting to shop with
A conversation with the old person.
Old person: I need to get some DVDs for presents for my family. Let's see what they've got here.
[Some time later . . . ]
Me: Here's one I like. Have you seen About A Boy? It does have a fair amount of swearing, but I like it.
Old person: What's it about?
Me: Well, it's about how a guy learns that we need other people, that we don't live for ourselves alone, stuff like that. It's a really sweet movie.
Old person: No, that doesn't sound like something my family would like.
[Some time later . . . ]
Old person: Oh, this looks like a good one.
Back of movie cover: Fifteen-year old Girl falls in love with Boy who mysteriously appears at her grandfather's ranch. Although her grandfather forbids their love, they don't let that bother them. When she becomes pregnant, her grandfather sends Boy away and explains that Boy is actually her half-brother. She marries Some Other Guy, who helps her raise her kid, but that marriage ends in divorce. Twelve years later, she runs into Boy again, but she's now dying of cancer. Will their love cure her cancer?
Me: Okay then.
Old person: I need to get some DVDs for presents for my family. Let's see what they've got here.
[Some time later . . . ]
Me: Here's one I like. Have you seen About A Boy? It does have a fair amount of swearing, but I like it.
Old person: What's it about?
Me: Well, it's about how a guy learns that we need other people, that we don't live for ourselves alone, stuff like that. It's a really sweet movie.
Old person: No, that doesn't sound like something my family would like.
[Some time later . . . ]
Old person: Oh, this looks like a good one.
Back of movie cover: Fifteen-year old Girl falls in love with Boy who mysteriously appears at her grandfather's ranch. Although her grandfather forbids their love, they don't let that bother them. When she becomes pregnant, her grandfather sends Boy away and explains that Boy is actually her half-brother. She marries Some Other Guy, who helps her raise her kid, but that marriage ends in divorce. Twelve years later, she runs into Boy again, but she's now dying of cancer. Will their love cure her cancer?
Me: Okay then.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
old people give interesting career advice
Another conversation with the old person:
Old Person: So what do you do at your job? Do you run the typewriter?
Me: No, I use a computer. I do legal research and writing. On a computer.
Old Person: So you just do paperwork?
Me: Not exactly. I look up cases and other legal information on the internet, and I draft opinions and stuff like that.
Old Person: That's kind of weird. When nurses go to nursing school, they practice doing the kinds of things they'll do as nurses, but you're just doing paperwork, which isn't what lawyers do.
Me: Actually, lawyers do a lot of legal research and writing like I do.
Old Person: Well, lawyers talk a lot. Are you sure you can be a lawyer? You'll have to talk a lot more if you become one.
Me: It kind of depends on what kind of law I decide to practice. Many lawyers spend a fair amount of time sitting in their offices and doing legal research and writing, not talking.
Old Person: Well I think you should become a paralegal. Then you wouldn't need to talk.
Old Person: So what do you do at your job? Do you run the typewriter?
Me: No, I use a computer. I do legal research and writing. On a computer.
Old Person: So you just do paperwork?
Me: Not exactly. I look up cases and other legal information on the internet, and I draft opinions and stuff like that.
Old Person: That's kind of weird. When nurses go to nursing school, they practice doing the kinds of things they'll do as nurses, but you're just doing paperwork, which isn't what lawyers do.
Me: Actually, lawyers do a lot of legal research and writing like I do.
Old Person: Well, lawyers talk a lot. Are you sure you can be a lawyer? You'll have to talk a lot more if you become one.
Me: It kind of depends on what kind of law I decide to practice. Many lawyers spend a fair amount of time sitting in their offices and doing legal research and writing, not talking.
Old Person: Well I think you should become a paralegal. Then you wouldn't need to talk.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
but only in my dreams
In the past few days, I have dreamed that I have done the following things:
1) taken my little sister to see Ursula, the sea witch, so she could get a Snickers bar;
2) produced a musical about seasonal depression;
3) run through a hurricane to try to stop my fellow physician from taking a performance-enhancing drug that he thought was innocuous, but which I had discovered would cause his skin to rot and fall off; and
4) become a really good driver.
1) taken my little sister to see Ursula, the sea witch, so she could get a Snickers bar;
2) produced a musical about seasonal depression;
3) run through a hurricane to try to stop my fellow physician from taking a performance-enhancing drug that he thought was innocuous, but which I had discovered would cause his skin to rot and fall off; and
4) become a really good driver.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
say what?
The court reporter seems to have had some difficulty taking down the lawyer's argument here:
"Many of us have been taught to love thy neighbors theist but not to love thy neighbor nor unanimous oust."
It sounds like the biblical spam I get on my school email account.
"Many of us have been taught to love thy neighbors theist but not to love thy neighbor nor unanimous oust."
It sounds like the biblical spam I get on my school email account.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
crazy men and old people
Scene: The McDonalds inside of Walmart
Characters: The Crazy Man, The Old Person, and Me
Old Person: Look at this food. This MacDonalds has sure cut back on their quality. I can't believe they sell this stuff. They don't even give you fry sauce. Isn't that weird!
Crazy Man (from behind me): [something unintelligible]
Old Person: That man is talking to himself. He's probably doped up -- you know, on drugs. You'd be surprised how many people are on drugs.
Me: Probably not. That's what I spend the majority of my time on at work.
Old Person: What's he drinking? It's green. I've never seen any kind of drink like that before.
Me: I think it's some kind of sports drink, like Gatorade.
Old Person: I don't know what it is. It's really weird, isn't it? It don't look like soda or anything.
Me: Yes, but it looks like Gatorade.
Old Person: I don't know. It's really weird.
Crazy Man: Rosemary!
Old Person: So, you're a lawyer, right?
Me: Sort of. I'm not licensed.
Old Person: Okay, so is there like some law or something saying that cleaning services can't abuse the elderly?
Me: Um, I can't give legal advice.
Old Person: They always abuse me, like that one girl -- she was a Polynesian, and they're not that clean, you know -- and she drank from my soda. Can you believe that? See, she brought my soda to me, and there was a straw already in it. They don't give it to you like that, so I know she must have been drinking out of it. And I asked her why she drank out of it, and she said, 'I never drank out of your soda.' But I know she did, and who knows what kinds of diseases she's got. Can you believe she did that? And then when I complain, Aging Services say that the cleaning people say I abuse them, but I never abused anyone in my life.
Crazy Man: Cilantro!
Me: I don't know anything about that area of law, and even if I did, I couldn't give legal advice.
Crazy Man: Vinegar!
Old Person: Well, it seems real weird that they can abuse the elderly and there's no law against it. And then they accuse me of abusing them. You wouldn't believe the kinds of people they send to clean our houses. They're all mentally ill.
Crazy Man: Parsley!
Old Person: I don't think they should let that man in here when he's on drugs. Who knows what he might do people. And he's drinking that weird stuff.
Me: I really think it's Gatorade.
[Silence for a few moments as we eat our surprisingly low-quality McDonalds food.]
Old Person: I can't believe how hard it is to find clothes here nowadays. They don't have good stuff like they used to. And it's all two-piece. Just shirts and skirts -- all two-piece. Isn't that weird?
Me: Umm . . .
Crazy Man: Rosemary!
Old Person: And everyone wears jeans nowadays, even if they're fat. I don't think fat people should wear jeans, do you?
Me: I haven't given it that much thought.
Crazy Man: Sage!
[The Old Person speaks to one of the employees.]
Old Person: The girl said that man is not on drugs -- he's just schizophrenic or something. I don't think they should let him in here if he's crazy. Of course, he seems pretty harmless. He just seems to think he's making some kind of a stew. But that still means he's crazy, and who knows what delusions he'll start to have next.
Crazy Man: Rotten milk!!!
Characters: The Crazy Man, The Old Person, and Me
Old Person: Look at this food. This MacDonalds has sure cut back on their quality. I can't believe they sell this stuff. They don't even give you fry sauce. Isn't that weird!
Crazy Man (from behind me): [something unintelligible]
Old Person: That man is talking to himself. He's probably doped up -- you know, on drugs. You'd be surprised how many people are on drugs.
Me: Probably not. That's what I spend the majority of my time on at work.
Old Person: What's he drinking? It's green. I've never seen any kind of drink like that before.
Me: I think it's some kind of sports drink, like Gatorade.
Old Person: I don't know what it is. It's really weird, isn't it? It don't look like soda or anything.
Me: Yes, but it looks like Gatorade.
Old Person: I don't know. It's really weird.
Crazy Man: Rosemary!
Old Person: So, you're a lawyer, right?
Me: Sort of. I'm not licensed.
Old Person: Okay, so is there like some law or something saying that cleaning services can't abuse the elderly?
Me: Um, I can't give legal advice.
Old Person: They always abuse me, like that one girl -- she was a Polynesian, and they're not that clean, you know -- and she drank from my soda. Can you believe that? See, she brought my soda to me, and there was a straw already in it. They don't give it to you like that, so I know she must have been drinking out of it. And I asked her why she drank out of it, and she said, 'I never drank out of your soda.' But I know she did, and who knows what kinds of diseases she's got. Can you believe she did that? And then when I complain, Aging Services say that the cleaning people say I abuse them, but I never abused anyone in my life.
Crazy Man: Cilantro!
Me: I don't know anything about that area of law, and even if I did, I couldn't give legal advice.
Crazy Man: Vinegar!
Old Person: Well, it seems real weird that they can abuse the elderly and there's no law against it. And then they accuse me of abusing them. You wouldn't believe the kinds of people they send to clean our houses. They're all mentally ill.
Crazy Man: Parsley!
Old Person: I don't think they should let that man in here when he's on drugs. Who knows what he might do people. And he's drinking that weird stuff.
Me: I really think it's Gatorade.
[Silence for a few moments as we eat our surprisingly low-quality McDonalds food.]
Old Person: I can't believe how hard it is to find clothes here nowadays. They don't have good stuff like they used to. And it's all two-piece. Just shirts and skirts -- all two-piece. Isn't that weird?
Me: Umm . . .
Crazy Man: Rosemary!
Old Person: And everyone wears jeans nowadays, even if they're fat. I don't think fat people should wear jeans, do you?
Me: I haven't given it that much thought.
Crazy Man: Sage!
[The Old Person speaks to one of the employees.]
Old Person: The girl said that man is not on drugs -- he's just schizophrenic or something. I don't think they should let him in here if he's crazy. Of course, he seems pretty harmless. He just seems to think he's making some kind of a stew. But that still means he's crazy, and who knows what delusions he'll start to have next.
Crazy Man: Rotten milk!!!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
this could be interesting
The judge told me that he wants me to drive him to the airport and then drive his car back the office tomorrow. This could be interesting. It would be bad if I ran into something with my boss's car. I was definitely not hired for this job based on my driving skills.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
old people are not politically correct
More conversations with the same old person:
Old person (pointing to some men taking a lunch break on the lawn near their work equipment): Look at those Mexicans sitting around instead of raking leaves. Don't that beat all? Of course, they like doing it.
Me: ????
Old person: Blah, blah, blah . . . Mexicans . . . blah blah blah. So, are you ever going to get married?
Me: Um, well, I would have to be dating someone first.
Old person: I guess that's true. But don't wait too long to start a family, or you'll have retarded kids.
I guess I know what I'll be getting as a wedding present -- this very special book.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
another dream
On Sunday night, I had a rather interesting dream. I learned in my dream that I've only got a year left to live. I'd more likely be concerned that the dream was prophetic if I had dreamed that I was going to die of something credible, like cancer or a car accident or polar bears, but I somehow can't seem to muster up much concern about dying of tooth decay.
Dream dentist: If you'd only come in earlier, we could have done something to help you. But it's too late now. The decay is irreversible, and you'll be dead within the year.
Dream me: I didn't even know that people could die of tooth decay.
Dream dentist: Well, you're about to find out that they can. And, as you'll discover, it's a rather ignominious way to die.
Let that be a lesson to you all. Go to the dentist, or else.
Dream dentist: If you'd only come in earlier, we could have done something to help you. But it's too late now. The decay is irreversible, and you'll be dead within the year.
Dream me: I didn't even know that people could die of tooth decay.
Dream dentist: Well, you're about to find out that they can. And, as you'll discover, it's a rather ignominious way to die.
Let that be a lesson to you all. Go to the dentist, or else.
how rude!
My roommate told me that her former roommate was coming over to visit her tonight. Sure enough, about 30 minutes ago I heard the doorbell ring and my roommate went to get the door. Her friend came in, sat down on the couch, and continued talking on her cell phone for the next 25 minutes, completely ignoring my roommate. I thought this was extremely rude. Either hang up the phone and continue that conversation later, or else sit outside (or maybe in your car, so you don't freeze to death) until you've finished talking. Is that too much to ask?
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
happy day
The judge told us that chambers would officially close at noon today and stay closed for the rest of the week. Technically, only tomorrow is a federal holiday, but our judge is nice enough to let us have more time off. (One of the other judges in the building is making his clerks work Friday. Yet another reason why my judge is so cool.)
When I woke up this morning, I thought, "I'm so glad it's a minimum day today." I hadn't thought about it in those terms before, but it really is very similar to having a minimum day in high school. I'm all in favor of it. Sure, it might be nice to have the whole day off instead, but a half day is long enough that you feel like you've been productive, while you still get that great holiday feeling of having guilt-free time off.
That said, it's time for me to leave the office. And I'm determined not to worry about my cases over the break. They'll still be waiting for me when I get back.
When I woke up this morning, I thought, "I'm so glad it's a minimum day today." I hadn't thought about it in those terms before, but it really is very similar to having a minimum day in high school. I'm all in favor of it. Sure, it might be nice to have the whole day off instead, but a half day is long enough that you feel like you've been productive, while you still get that great holiday feeling of having guilt-free time off.
That said, it's time for me to leave the office. And I'm determined not to worry about my cases over the break. They'll still be waiting for me when I get back.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
not for the weak of stomach
I detest cats. And they can tell. No matter how standoffish a cat generally is with new people, it always tries to slink around my feet and jump onto my lap and try to get me to pet it. Sometimes naive pet owners believe that this is the cat's way of being friendly. I know better. The cats can sense my dislike, and this is their way of getting back at me. They're clever little fiends.
Recently, however, they decided to step up their level of aggression against me. Their previous sort of obnoxiousess wasn't bothering me enough, I guess. And so they've changed tactics. Every couple days or so, they leave a dead mouse or dead bird in the hallway outside of my apartment door. And, to really make sure that they really get their message across, they like to disembowel the dead animals on my doorstep. There's nothing like blood and guts on your welcome mat to let you know that you're not welcome.
The neighbors and maintenance men have apparently lived under the cats' reign of terror for too long to defy them. No one will touch the cats' friendly little messages, although the cats sometimes move the dead animals a few feet, just to let us know that they're still out there.
When I was younger, I really liked the song "There are no cats in America." I only wish that it were true.
Recently, however, they decided to step up their level of aggression against me. Their previous sort of obnoxiousess wasn't bothering me enough, I guess. And so they've changed tactics. Every couple days or so, they leave a dead mouse or dead bird in the hallway outside of my apartment door. And, to really make sure that they really get their message across, they like to disembowel the dead animals on my doorstep. There's nothing like blood and guts on your welcome mat to let you know that you're not welcome.
The neighbors and maintenance men have apparently lived under the cats' reign of terror for too long to defy them. No one will touch the cats' friendly little messages, although the cats sometimes move the dead animals a few feet, just to let us know that they're still out there.
When I was younger, I really liked the song "There are no cats in America." I only wish that it were true.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
old people are funny
Two recent conversations:
Old person: So, I heard you were interested in the law. Are you going to become a paralegal?
Me: No. I've graduated from law school already.
Old person: So you used to be a paralegal?
Me: No, you don't need to be a paralegal to go to law school.
Old person: But wouldn't you like to be a paralegal? It will be good experience for you if you want to become a lawyer some day.
Me: I already went to law school. I don't need to work as a paralegal to become a lawyer.
Old person: That's too bad. Being a paralegal is a really good job.
A week later . . . .
Old person: Tell me what you do at your job.
Me: Well, I work for a judge, so I help him do the sorts of things that judges do.
Old person: So, you're like a secretary?
Me: No, I do legal work.
Old person: Like a paralegal, then.
Me: I'm not a paralegal. I went to law school.
[Pause in conversation]
Old person: Why did you move here? Aren't there jobs in California?
Me: Well, I wanted this particular type of job, and this is where I got the job offer.
Old person: Maybe if you went to school to become a paralegal you could find more work.
Old person: So, I heard you were interested in the law. Are you going to become a paralegal?
Me: No. I've graduated from law school already.
Old person: So you used to be a paralegal?
Me: No, you don't need to be a paralegal to go to law school.
Old person: But wouldn't you like to be a paralegal? It will be good experience for you if you want to become a lawyer some day.
Me: I already went to law school. I don't need to work as a paralegal to become a lawyer.
Old person: That's too bad. Being a paralegal is a really good job.
A week later . . . .
Old person: Tell me what you do at your job.
Me: Well, I work for a judge, so I help him do the sorts of things that judges do.
Old person: So, you're like a secretary?
Me: No, I do legal work.
Old person: Like a paralegal, then.
Me: I'm not a paralegal. I went to law school.
[Pause in conversation]
Old person: Why did you move here? Aren't there jobs in California?
Me: Well, I wanted this particular type of job, and this is where I got the job offer.
Old person: Maybe if you went to school to become a paralegal you could find more work.
amazing logic
Dave and I have been really impressed by some of the very logical arguments we've read recently. These aren't direct quotations, but this is the gist of the arguments made:
1. At trial, the witness testified -- under oath -- that he was an untrustworthy person. Therefore, we can't believe anything he said at trial.
2. [Background -- you only have Fourth Amendment protection against warrantless searches and seizures if you have a reasonable expectation of privacy in the place searched. So, the question of reasonable expectation of privacy is frequently litigated.] The defendant clearly had a reasonable expectation of privacy here. This is obvious from the fact that he kept his drugs there. If he didn't expect that it would be private, he obviously wouldn't have left incriminating evidence there where police could get access to it without a warrant. He's not an idiot.
3. [In this case, police knocked and announced several minutes before someone answered the door, and they heard people running around inside trying to destroy and hide evidence during that time.] There's no evidence that the firearm was used in furtherance of drug trafficking. The drugs were inside the house, while police found the gun in the bushes outside the window. The government didn't present any evidence that the gun was stored anywhere else, so obviously it was stored outside the window. And since it was stored outside his window, obviously he wasn't using it during the drug crimes that took place inside his house.
1. At trial, the witness testified -- under oath -- that he was an untrustworthy person. Therefore, we can't believe anything he said at trial.
2. [Background -- you only have Fourth Amendment protection against warrantless searches and seizures if you have a reasonable expectation of privacy in the place searched. So, the question of reasonable expectation of privacy is frequently litigated.] The defendant clearly had a reasonable expectation of privacy here. This is obvious from the fact that he kept his drugs there. If he didn't expect that it would be private, he obviously wouldn't have left incriminating evidence there where police could get access to it without a warrant. He's not an idiot.
3. [In this case, police knocked and announced several minutes before someone answered the door, and they heard people running around inside trying to destroy and hide evidence during that time.] There's no evidence that the firearm was used in furtherance of drug trafficking. The drugs were inside the house, while police found the gun in the bushes outside the window. The government didn't present any evidence that the gun was stored anywhere else, so obviously it was stored outside the window. And since it was stored outside his window, obviously he wasn't using it during the drug crimes that took place inside his house.
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