Genuine Pennsylvania coal...
... anthracite, not bituminous
What to get the dirt lawyer in your life for the holidays? Charlie Brown got a bag of rocks for Halloween, so there's that. Or there are the old reliable origami boulders (see below). But you are better than that and want to be a good gifter.
So here are our 2022 suggestions for stocking stuffers that will make property mavens celebrate the season. Some of these are return visitors to the list, and some are new. Suggest your own in the comments below.
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A Lump of Genuine Pennsylvania Coal. We start with this, perhaps the most appropriate gift on this, the 100th Anniversary of Mahon. Is there a more appropriate gift for that property law professional on your list than a lump of Pennsylvania coal? (Anthracite of course.) But let's say you don't live in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania, and thus do not have ready access to coal-in-the-wild. Well, you are in luck: the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton has a store, and you can have it shipped.
Usually, finding a lump of coal in one's stocking results in a long face, but there's not a dirt lawyer out there who would be unhappy receiving this one.
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M. Nolan Gray, Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It (Island Press 2022).
Is someone in your life constantly muttering "zoning sucks!"? If so, then all your gifting problems are solved with a copy of M. Nolan Grey's book "Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It" (Island Press 2022). But even if your recipient is not a dyed-in-the-wool YIMBY zoning skeptic, this book will still make a great gift because it is an accessible summary of what zoning is and what it isn't and isn't simply a polemic, but a thoughtful laying out of why the author (a former planner for New York City) believes that zoning's time is up. The book also offers solutions for what might replace zoning (Houston, we're looking at you).
Besides, it will give the recipient all the information needed to bring up zoning and bolster her arguments for abolishing or overruling Euclid at the holiday dinner table with relatives.
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Erwin G. Gudde, California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names (4th ed. 2010).
This one's been on our list before, but we like it so much, it's making a return visit. A fascinating title, equally good for lovers of geography and etymology. Even non-Californians will appreciate this one, for their next trip west.
"What’s in a name? Sometimes rich history and intriguing stories. The 40th-anniversary edition of California Place Names animates many local geographic names we take for granted. Like Golden Gate, named Chrysopylae (Greek for golden gate) in 1846 by explorer John C. Fremont, who envisioned its future commercial importance. Or Menlo Park, named after the ranches of two brothers-in-law from Menlough, Ireland, whose arched entrance gate inscribed “Menlo Park” stood from 1854 until a wayward car destroyed it in 1922. Or Contra Costa County, from the Spanish term referring to the “coast opposite” San Francisco. In 1853, that name became less appropriate when most of the county’s coastal section was incorporated into Alameda County. The book is also a fun companion for trips to other parts of the state. In the late 1800s, residents of Groveland (near Yosemite) chose that peaceful name to replace the original, Garrote, which commemorated a hanging in their town." -Sue Rosenthal, Bay Nature.
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Eminent Domaine wines. Next up is the classic; an oft-repeat guest on our holiday list because there's no way that your condemnation lawyer won't love this: wines from Oregon's Eminent Domaine vintner.
From their web site: "The name, Eminent Domaine, is a reflection of our experience with the legal term, eminent domain, our dedication to the Oregon wine industry and our love of the wines produced in our region. In 2002 the City of Portland cited eminent domain as reason for claiming an office building we owned downtown. We began negotiations, as we agreed with the intent of the law, which states that the property would be used for the public good in exchange for a price based on fair market value. However, when both qualifiers came into question, a lengthy legal process ensued. Despite having a more favorable outcome from arbitration, the compensation was low and the property was used for undisclosed purposes. Having been brought up on a small farm in Hillsboro Oregon, Jeff Meader always wanted to go back to the land. Already entrenched in Oregon’s wine industry and looking to the future, it was a natural progression to re-invest in a small piece of land in the coveted Ribbon Ridge AVA. In 2009, we set about planting the 7-acre parcel with selected Pinot Noir clones and harvested our first estate fruit in 2011."
Hurry down the chimney, Santa!* * * *
Beegie Adair, Winter Romance (CD or streaming 2009).
From pianist Beegie Adair, a collection of your fave holiday tunes. We especially like "Sleigh Ride," "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," and "I'll Be Home For Christmas."
Light the fireplace, warm up some hot cocoa, and cue this up. From our favorite pianist, whom we unfortunately lost this year. But a great way to remember her.
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A bag of dirt. Want to go literal (or maybe really, really meta)? How about an actual bag of dirt.
That's right, for a mere $17.99 USD, you can get a bag of Readi-SOIL RSAPVB-8 All Purpose Vegetable Blend Total Organic Soil Remedy. Straight from Tractor Supply Company. (Last time we featured this on our list, the price was only $14.99...ah, inflation.)
As described by the seller, "a naturally perfect blend of our own, site-managed worm castings combined with distinctly homorganic deep woods peat moss, resulting in the perfect planting soil."
What dirt lawyer could not love actual dirt? Beats a bag of rocks, Charlie Brown!
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An Introduction to Constitutional Law: The Illustrated Coffee Table Book Aspen 2022)From lawprofs Randy Barnett and Josh Blackman comes this coffee table con law book (really). In addition to summaries of the most important Supreme Court cases on separation of powers, individual liberties, free speech and the like, there are summaries of some of the major takings cases.
Check it out.* * * *
Last-Minute Gifts. And finally, not all of our gift suggestions are going to cost you a lot of simoleons. Even the most frugal gift-giver can be assured that the dirt lawyer in your life will appreciate these classics
SCOTUS origami boulders made with old print-outs of important takings cases. Save a few pages from the blue bin and you are in business! No skills necessary. Also good for the procrastinators, since you don't need an open store to show your recipient how much you care.
There's creative origami ... and not so creative origami.
And we could not end the list without returning to this old reliable: the Classic Bundle of Sticks.
Show 'em how much you appreciate their expertise and skill with this "insiders" gift. No one else will get it, but they will.
Best of all is that these are out there for the taking (no just compensation required), just waiting for you to pick them up. Go on, you know you want to.
Also good for starting your Yule Log.
Happy holidays, everyone.
