FEBRUARY 2019
916.962.2896 | TRAVISBLACKLAW.COM
LEARNING LIFE LESSONS AND PASSING THEM ON BEING A MENTOR
My first mentor was a training officer in the police force when I was a trainee. His name was Richard Drake, and in essence, he taught me how to be a police officer. Throughout my law enforcement career, there were many times I reached out to him and asked how he would handle the various situations I faced. Officer Drake was always willing to give me advice and help steer me in the right direction, and I looked up to him. He’d been in law enforcement for 15 years before I came on, and I knew he’d seen just about everything. When I had the opportunity, I became a training officer, just like my mentor. While I was training young officers, I found myself often referring to the training I had received. While under Drake, I often thought I had the best trainer in the whole department, and as a mentor, I wanted to pass that knowledge and experience down to my trainees. I wanted to be as good as he had been to me, and in turn, I wanted the young officers to say their experience was impressive. As I moved on to become an attorney, I met a retiring attorney, Andy Woll. The interesting thing about law school is that they don’t teach you how to be an attorney, they teach you the law — and very little of it. Woll was very important to me because he taught me so many lessons that I continue to implement to this day. It was enlightening to be able to reach out to him and ask for advice and guidance.
About four years ago, Andy passed away from brain cancer. He had never married and didn’t have any family to comfort him during this moment in his life, so I visited him when I could. At one of my last visits, I sat next to him and told him that I wanted him to know how important he was to me as a person, mentor, and teacher. I told him how much it meant to me that he had taken the time to teach me everything he did, and I promised him that I would pass it on. “When someone has to take the time to think about processes and then implement those ideas into developing a game plan, they truly learn.” Today, I mentor several attorneys, and I incorporate many of the same lessons and methods Andy used to teach me. Andy never gave me the answers to every question I had; instead, he let me work them out on my own while pointing me in the right direction, which is how I now teach my mentees. When they call me up to ask me how I would do something, I first ask them what their approach is and what their take is on the problem. More often than not, they’ll tell me they hadn’t thought too much about it. “Well,” I say, “you need to find an idea and get back to me, then I’ll guide you from that point.”
When someone has to take the time to think about processes and then implement those ideas into developing a game plan, they truly learn. It may be all wrong, but they’re thinking about the problem, and that’s what matters. As a mentor, I need to help guide them and look at the process they’ve come up with and say, “Okay, I see how you’re thinking. What if you thought of it this way?” Now they’ve learned something. They’ve challenged themselves, and even if they make mistakes, they can learn from them, becoming better than they were before. In a way, being a mentor is almost the same as being a father — you’re passing down the lessons and skills you learned from your mentor to a younger generation. In the same way my sons are teaching their kids the lessons I taught them, I’m passing on to the next generation of young officers and attorneys the teachings of Officer Drake and Andy. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it hadn’t been for the efforts of these two great men, and I aim to share their teachings for years to come. -Travis Black
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Motorcyclists have to be more vigilant about the traffic around them than other motorists. They are often overlooked on the road by other drivers because they are smaller than cars, trucks, and other vehicles, making them harder to see. Drivers’ inattentiveness can lead to devastating collisions for motorcyclists. An accident that might be minor to a truck can lead to brain injuries, paralysis, or even death for an individual on a motorcycle. Several factors can contribute to a motorcycle accident, including hazards on the road — like potholes and cracks — and drivers who aren’t paying attention. Typically, when a collision of this kind occurs, the driver of the larger vehicle blames the motorcyclist for the accident, even when the motorcyclist is not at fault. Luckily, California follows the comparative fault doctrine. Each party is held to the percentage of fault they caused. In addition to this rule, a motorcyclist can collect from the city, county, or driver of the other vehicle if the crash was caused by a combination of road hazards and other motorists. MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS CAUSES AND LIABILITY 1. KEEP YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN CHECK. When a child first encounters a new food, they’re going to give it the side-eye. That’s natural. In fact, according to a 2003 study, it may take as many as 12 “exposures” to a new food for it to become familiar, much less something they want to eat. If you put too much pressure on them to eat every last bit of the new food, that particular food won’t fare well in their memories and you’ll have to fight those negative associations from then on. Instead, talk about the new food as you’re preparing it, involve your child in the preparation, and have them check it out on their own terms. Normalizing those Brussels sprouts is half the battle. When you’re trying to feed your child, keep them healthy, and prevent them from becoming one of those weird adults with the stunted palate of a 2-year-old, it may feel like you’re faced with an uphill climb. Research shows that fussy eating may be as linked to genetics as it is to upbringing, not to mention the tangle of other psychosocial factors that can fuel a child’s inscrutable food preferences. 3 TIPS TO PREVENT RAISING A PICKY EATER That said, there are ways to help your child foster a healthy relationship with food and encourage them to be adventurous eaters.
2. AVOID TURNING VEGETABLES INTO CHORES. You might think that offering your child a reward in return for finishing their green beans is a good way to make sure your child gets their nutrients, but it causes more problems than it’s worth. It just reinforces your child’s perception that the green beans are the “bad” food they have to choke down before getting to the good stuff. 3. MAKE A VARIETY OF DISHES. The more monotonous your nightly menu is, the fewer new foods your child will be exposed to, and the harder it will become to introduce healthy newcomers to the table. If your kids like green beans, great, but don’t start serving green beans with every meal just because you know those are the only veggies they’ll eat. Keep it varied and fun, and your kid’s palate will follow. You shouldn’t force your kid to eat food they don’t want to eat, but you shouldn’t cater too closely to their fussy habits either. Present them with a wide variety of the healthy options you want them to eat, and let them discover the joys of taste and texture as they grow.
If you ride a motorcycle and find yourself in an accident, it’s vital to not talk to the other motorist’s insurance company. Anything you say can and will be used against you to keep you from the compensation you deserve. Instead, contact an attorney. They will advise you on the best way to approach your case and are willing to do what they can to ensure you’re taken care of. Call our offices today at 916-962-2896 to speak to one of our attorneys for a free consultation.
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WHY DO WE NEED A LEAP YEAR? THE CALCULATIONS THAT LEAVE US IN NEED OF AN EXTRA DAY
Every four years, February gains an extra day at the end of the month. But what does this contribute to the year as a whole? You might be surprised by what this one day does for us! The 365 days in each year represent the time it takes for the Earth to circle the sun. However, the orbit actually takes nearly a quarter of a day longer than that. The additional 0.2421 of a day might not seem like it would make a significant impact, but after a few decades, it adds up. To ensure the calendar and seasons stay on the right timeline, the leap day was created. THE START OF THE LEAP YEAR The Egyptians were the first to officially calculate how many days it takes to orbit the sun, revealing the need for a leap year. Europeans at the time used a calendar that followed a lunar model, which needed an entire month added to retain consistency. The leap year wasn’t introduced into Europe until the reign of Julius Caesar. With the help of astronomer Sosigenes, Caesar created the Julian Calendar, which included 12 months and 365 days, with a single day added every fourth year.
However, the Julian Calendar wasn’t perfect, because 0.2421 of a day can’t be rounded to a multiple of five, so it caused the calendar to have an extra 11 minutes every four years. Pope Gregory XIII fixed the problem in 1582 by creating the Gregorian Calendar. Now, a leap year occurs every four years except for the years that are evenly divisible by 100 and not 400. For instance, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years because they were divisible by 100. A LEAP DAY BIRTHDAY The odds of being born on Feb. 29 are about 1 in 1,500, which leaves approximately 187,000 people in the U.S. and 4 million people around the world celebrating their birthdays on Feb. 28 or March 1. People born on a Leap Day are faced with dilemmas such as which date they should receive their driver’s license. Although it varies from state to state, most consider March 1 the appropriate day for leap- year 16-year-olds — who are celebrating their fourth “official” birthday — to receive their license. With all the changes the calendar has undergone, it still isn’t quite perfect. Experts say that in about 10,000 years, it will need to be changed yet again.
SPICY SALMON TARTARE
INSPIRED BY NATURE
INGREDIENTS • 1 8-ounce boneless, skinless salmon fillet • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice • 1/4 teaspoon lime zest • 1/4 cup cucumber, seeded and finely diced • 1 1/2 teaspoons jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced • 1 1/2 teaspoons shallots, minced
• 3/4 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated • 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh cilantro, minced • 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh chives, minced • 1 1/2 teaspoons grapeseed or vegetable oil • Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste • Crackers or chips, for serving
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Place salmon in freezer for 20 minutes to make slicing easier. 2. Meanwhile, prepare other ingredients for mixing. 3. Thinly slice salmon into sheets and cut sheets into strips and strips into cubes. When finished, you should have 1/8-inch cubes. 4. In a mixing bowl, combine salmon with all other ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. 5. Garnish with chips or crackers and serve. Inspired by Epicurious CALL NOW! 916.962.2896 • 3
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1839 Iron Point Rd. #160 Folsom, CA 95630 Phone: 916.962.2896 travisblacklaw.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE The Importance of Being a Mentor PAGE 1 How to Raise Adventurous Eaters PAGE 2 Motorcycle Accident Info PAGE 2 Why Do We Need a Leap Year? PAGE 3 Spicy Salmon Tartare PAGE 3 Local Events Just for You! PAGE 4
FEBRUARY EVENTS HAVE FUN AND ENJOY YOURSELF! Enjoy yourself this February with these upcoming events! Whether you’re looking to rekindle your resolutions or simply have fun, here are a few options.
SPECIAL VALENTINE’S DAY DINNERS WHERE: Wise Villa Winery WHEN: Feb. 13–15, 5–9 p.m. ADMISSION: Free Entry! WEBSITE: wisevillawinery.com
MONTHLY BOOK CLUB WHERE: Folsom Public Library WHEN: Reccurring first Tuesday, 6:30–7:30 p.m. or third Thursday, 1–2 p.m. of each month ADMISSION: Free! WEBSITE: folsom.ca.us/city_hall/depts/ library/events/adult/book_discussions.asp Join the Folsom Book Club every month at the public library. All adults are welcome to participate in a group discussion of each month’s reading. This is the perfect opportunity to reach out to fellow bookworms and open your world to new and exciting reads. You can see the future book selection by visiting the website above. You can also check out the books at the adult information desk in the library.
SMS COMMUNITY CHALLENGE WHERE: Maidu Regional Park WHEN: Reccurring Sundays until Feb. 17, 10–11 a.m. ADMISSION: $0–$32.99 WEBSITE: singlemomstrong.org Single Mom Strong hosts this running event to help support and encourage people to complete their 5K goals. Whether you’ve participated in a race already and wish to better your time or it’s your first time running, all are welcome to attend. The community challenge is a five-week course ending with a 5K — admission covers the 5K fee and includes a Single Mom Strong T-shirt. All funds will benefit the Single Mom Strong nonprofit organization.
If you’re unsure what to do or where to take your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day, look no further! The Wise Villa Winery is hosting a three-day event. Each night has its own theme: Romantic Dinner, Special Valentine’s Dinner, and Live Music & Dinner. Reservations are required for interested couples, and you can make yours by visiting the website above. Have a remarkable evening creating memories with your valentine this February!
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MY PERSONAL PROMISE TO YOU
As a valued client, I want you to be 100% SATISFIED with your decision to hire me as your lawyer. You should know within 90 days whether or not I am the right lawyer for you. So I offer you a RISK-FREE PROMISE, NO-QUESTIONS-ASKED GUARANTEE!
If you are NOT 100% SATISFIED with my services, you can fire me and NOT OWE ME ONE PENNY!
CALL NOW! 916.962.2896 -Travis Black
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