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January 2023
Think Before You Post How Social Media Posts Can Affect Your Case
FROM THE DESK OF
Jeffery L. Robinette
The Power of One Thing: Randy Carlson, a nationally recognized author and family counselor, published the book The Power of One Thing several years ago, but the truths he brings to light are timeless. Have you ever been overwhelmed when setting out to undertake a big project or when faced with a growing list of responsibilities at work or home and wondered
how you will ever get it all done? Perhaps you’ve struggled for years to overcome a bad habit. You may even have licked it for a while, only to relapse. Over the years, I’ve learned that intentional living is the only way out.
Either you let circumstances
Social media has connected our world in a way that would have been hard to imagine just a few decades ago. If you are an avid social media user, every little thought, passive-aggressive comment, and proud accomplishment you’ve made can be shared on the internet for everyone to see. But sometimes, posting too much can actually do more harm than anticipated. It is a good rule of thumb to assume that nothing on the internet is private, and when it comes to posting on social media during a legal case, I have found that this couldn’t ring more true. The information documented on these platforms is often spontaneous and inspirational; sometimes, it can even be a place to vent your frustrations about life events.
control you or you take responsibility for what’s under your
control. You may not be able to make big life changes overnight, but by committing to follow through on one small thing every day, you can inch yourself closer and closer to your goal. There are many ways to fail in life, but the only way to succeed is to be intentional. Identify the “one thing” that would bring you the greatest relief or change. One small change could alter the dynamic in your life and prevent you from feeling unproductive frustration. Move forward simply by becoming intentional about addressing what is in your control—one small step
But social media sites are increasingly becoming the focus of discovery, and such information may be significant evidence in legal proceedings.
Whether your court case relates to personal injury or family law matters like divorce or custody, posting the wrong things on social media — even if your
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accounts are private — could negatively impact your case. The fact is that insurance companies and investigators can find posts on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. This evidence can then be manipulated during litigation, and the opposing party will try to use it against you. I like to think of it this way: If you have been in an automobile accident and claim that you were severely injured but are posting pictures of yourself soaking up sun at the beach, chances are you may not be as seriously injured as you claim. Even the seemingly “good” posts can be turned negative depending on the context. Posts about everyday life — going out to a nice dinner, meeting friends in town, etc. — can be easily misconstrued. This
post derogatory statements about their situations. Even if those accounts are set to private or if you have blocked involved parties, the chances of a judge seeing them are still exponentially high. The other party can request the submission of your social media posts as part of the discovery process. In addition to this, any outright negative statements may make you appear impulsive and angry — which never looks good in court. Despite that, these posts don’t even need to be negative in an obvious way to become an issue. There was a custody case in 2015 when a judge allowed a man to use
his wife’s Facebook profile as evidence. The wife constantly posted updates about her professional travels, and her husband believed it showed she didn’t have time to be a primary caregiver for their young children.
is why we advise clients to stay away from social media in general to avoid any of those possibilities. When it comes to divorce and custody cases, it can be an arduous legal process. Overwhelming emotions
tend to follow, and many people turn to social media to vent their feelings or message friends or family to discuss what is happening. I have seen plenty of clients The best way to prevent your social media from becoming evidence in court is to not post anything at all. It is better to be safe than sorry — so think before you post! Volunteer to Keep Your Body and Mind Active! Sharing Your Time Can Become Your Favorite Exercise
Staying active is increasingly vital to our health as we age. But pain, injury, or the lack of an exercise location can limit how we keep fit. Luckily, there is an easy way to have an active lifestyle without lifting weights or joining a gym: volunteer! Here are three reasons volunteering can be your new favorite exercise if you’re looking to flex some physical, mental, or social “muscle.” IT MOVES YOU. Volunteering offers different ways to move your body! Even small things like strolling through a park to pick up litter, navigating around a soup kitchen, or directing visitors at your local donation center keep you active. Most organizations are happy to modify more strenuous activities (like lifting heavy boxes or walking up a steep hill) to fit your abilities. So, even if
you’re just beginning an exercise habit, volunteering is a perfect initial step in your fitness journey. YOUR BRAIN EXPANDS. When you volunteer with others, you usually have a common goal, like feeding the community, cleaning up a park, or planting a garden. Joining others to accomplish a task provides a significant brain boost, and studies show camaraderie increases positive thoughts and feelings. On top of feeling better, volunteering keeps your mind agile. By working hard to solve a problem, you’re using more neural pathways, which helps keep mental decline at bay. YOU FORM CONNECTIONS. As we mentioned earlier, when you show up to volunteer, others usually attend
for the same reason. Socializing with the group can help you feel less isolated and more connected to others, and some of these people may even become friends when the job is complete. If you want to get active but don’t know of volunteer opportunities in your area, visit VolunteerMatch.org/ and enter your zip code to find local in-person options. Help yourself and others by making volunteer work your go-to exercise!
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Are the Ads You See Real or Fake? CELEBRITY LAWSUIT CALLS TIKTOK ‘BREEDING GROUND FOR SCAMS’ protect her reputation and allowing users to post fake ads, calling it “a breeding ground for scams.” If you use TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook, Frankel’s story should serve as a warning: The ads you see sliding by on your smartphone screen may not be legitimate. To protect yourself from scammers, take these three steps. 1. Go to the source for celebrity endorsements. Visit the celebrity’s official social media page and/or website. Any products they’re advertising should be visible there. 2. Avoid in-app purchases. It’s easy to buy products on Instagram with a single click — but should you? To avoid scams, leave the app and visit the company’s official website to ensure you’re purchasing the real thing. 3. Look for signs of photoshopping, editing, and manipulation. Does the celebrity’s face look tacked onto another person’s body, or does their phrasing sound broken and clipped together? Is the celebrity sponsoring the ad, or is the brand just using their name (perhaps misspelled) for cachet? Look for these signs before you buy. Ultimately, when buying online, just remember to think before you click. Skepticism is a TikTok user’s best friend.
Imagine you’re scrolling through your social media feed when an ad pops up starring one of your favorite celebrities. Maybe it’s quarterback Tom Brady talking about his favorite brand of beer or actress Julia Roberts showing off her new shoes. You’re intrigued enough to buy the product. But when it arrives, your jaw drops. This isn’t the hottest new luxury item! It’s just a cheap knockoff of Budweiser or Jimmy Choo. How would you feel about your celebrity “friend”? According to Page Six, this exact situation happened to fans of “Real Housewives of New York City” actress and Skinnygirl founder Bethenny Frankel. A scam artist stole clips of her promoting a designer product and edited them, making it appear as if she were selling knockoff cardigans. Frankel posted her own video decrying the scammer, only to watch TikTok remove it for “abusive content.” In a last-ditch attempt to protect her reputation, she sued the platform for failing to
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at a time— to move beyond anxiety and find renewed hope. In my life, my practice, I have discovered that one reason people don’t make progress toward their goals is that they get overwhelmed with the enormity of the task. There are many ways to fail in life, but the only way to succeed is to be intentional. You may have done things the same way for ten, twenty, forty, or more years, and doing things differently and better seems impossible. I’ve learned that by taking a step-by-step approach that breaks down the journey from here to there into doable chunks, I can get there. I can do one small thing today that will improve all my tomorrows. The same is true for you. Doing just one small thing will give you a feeling of accomplishment and hope that you will be able to keep taking action to improve your
Air Fryer Roasted Salmon With Sautéed Balsamic Spinach
Ingredients
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
• 3 tsp olive oil, divided • 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each) • 1 1/2 tsp reduced-sodium seafood seasoning • 1/4 tsp pepper • 1 garlic clove, sliced
• Dash of crushed red pepper flakes • 10 cups fresh baby spinach (about 10 oz) • 6 small tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
Directions
1. Preheat air fryer to 450 F. Rub 1 tsp oil over both sides of salmon, then sprinkle with seafood seasoning and pepper. In a greased air fryer basket, place salmon. 2. Cook about 10–12 minutes until fish flakes easily. 3. In a 6-qt stockpot, place remaining oil, garlic, and pepper flakes. Heat over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Stir in tomatoes; heat through. 4. In a small saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil. Cook until vinegar is reduced by half, then remove from heat. 5. Arrange spinach on serving dish. Place salmon over spinach mixture and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
situation. I’m convinced that doing one thing each day, just one small but important thing—can change your life.
-Jeff Robinette
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Jeffery L. Robinette PAGE 1 The Dangers of Social Media in Legal Proceedings PAGE 1 Volunteer to Stay Active PAGE 2 The Dirty Truth About TikTok Ads PAGE 3 Inspiration Corner PAGE 3 Air Fryer Roasted Salmon With Sautéed Balsamic Spinach PAGE 3 All About Knocker-Ups: England’s Human Alarm Clocks PAGE 4
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Before Alarm Clocks, Knocker-Ups Helped People
How These Early Morning Heroes Roused the Sleeping
Until the 1940s, alarm clocks were a luxury few people in the English working class could afford. Unfortunately, some of these devices could be unreliable and caused people to miss appointments or oversleep. This ultimately gave birth to “knocker- ups,” the human alarm clocks people hired to wake them up. Being a knocker-up became popular during the Industrial Revolution, especially in cities where technical innovation boomed, and many citizens were due at factory jobs before the sun came up. In some towns, residents set slate boards against their outside walls to write their weekly work schedule; this way, any knocker-up would know when to wake them. These boards became so common that people referred to them as “knocky-up boards” or “wake-up slates.” Knocker-ups were paid a few pence each week to wake their clients before work, and each knocker-up generally had a route full of clients to wake at different times. The thing is, they didn’t just stand at the door and knock. Knocker-ups became famous for using poles to tap on clients’ second-story bedroom windows. Some even attached soft hammers or rattles to the ends of the rods to create a more startling sound when they tapped.
Typically, this job was taken on by older men who were past their working age or women who needed income to support their families. Police officers also considered this a good side job to earn extra money. Many of them simply completed their morning patrol, then stopped by to wake clients living along their regular routes. However, the most famous knocker-up, and allegedly the last to exist, is Mrs. Molly Moore. Her mother was a knocker-up, and Molly continued her legacy after she passed. This mother-daughter duo became known for their unique knocking methods; instead of long poles, the two used a rubber tube as a make-shift pea shooter and pelted clients’ windows with dried peas.
Whatever the method, a knocker-up wouldn’t leave until their client came out the door and headed on their way to work. While history may have long forgotten about these early-morning heroes, their reliability and commitment are what ultimately allowed thousands of employees to make it to work on time.
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