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SAVED BY THE 80S — FROM DISCO TO NEW WAVE! OCTOBER 2023 GIBSONLAWGROUP.COM (817) 769-4044 DIVING DOWN WITH GLG
My First-Ever Album (Yes, Actual Vinyl)
This summer, Michelle and I went to see Duran Duran at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. I didn’t love their music back in the ‘80s — it was a little too mellow for my long-haired teen years, but now that I’m old and stressed out, I love their vibe! Of course, I was itching for Simon and the boys to take the stage. But looking back on the opening act, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, is the one that really stuck in my mind. When Nile started playing “Le Freak,” I was suddenly a 10-year-old kid again, sitting on Kim Colors’ porch listening to 45s with all the other kids in the neighborhood. Kim owned the one and only record player amongst the preteen set in our Corpus Christi neighborhood and was, therefore, very popular. That experience also reminded me of the first album I ever bought, a collection of 70s classics from 1974. Turns out “Le Freak” wasn’t on that LP, or my second one, “Fun Rock!” from 1975, but my third album “A Night at Studio 54” (1979). That I remember anything from 1974 is a bit of
a surprise, but I know for certain that my 1974 LP was the first one I ever bought on my own — secretly from an ad on Channel 39 out of Houston, the channel you could only get with the little wire loop on the back of the TV. For some reason, I thought I’d get in trouble with my dad for buying that album, but that might have been because his record collection was full of old-school country with a little Elvis thrown in for flavor. Every day, I came home from school and went straight to the mailbox to check for the album, thinking, “God forbid Dad finds it first!” Naturally, when the record showed up six weeks later, it was so badly bent I couldn’t even get it out of the cover. I had to send off for another one and repeat the whole mailbox process! Eventually, I got a flat copy and played the heck out of it. I felt like the coolest kid on the block jammin’ to “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero” and “The Night Chicago Died.” Looking back, the only song on that album that was actually a classic is “I Shot the Sheriff,” which is still in heavy rotation today. That third album, though — Studio 54 — was full of ’70s disco nonsense like “Le Freak” and “I Love the Night Life,” but it spent a lot of time on that neighbor girl’s record player, a little red and white striped thing that folded up like a suitcase, complete with a handle. My friends and I lived on a steady diet of ’70s pop and disco until New Wave came along in high school and saved me. Even then, it was just me and Dean Morton driving around in his primer-colored Mustang bobbing along to Devo, Depeche Mode, and some obscure bands called The Police, Blondie, and The Cars.
When my dad passed away last August, I found that old striped record player up in his attic. It was nasty as could be after 40 years of dust and pests! I can’t recall how I came into possession of it, but seeing it again brought all of my old music memories flooding back: my first records; Kim Colors and her porch; lying on the floor in the dark blasting prog rock favs like Rush, Queen, and Pink Floyd through my headphones; and plopping down on the couch after work to watch MTV for hours … sometimes even to when it came time to go to school. It’s funny that songs I thought were a flash in the pan back then — like “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves and “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles — are still playing on the radio today. Don’t even get me started on the dark age of music when eight-track tapes were the next great thing (worst tech ever and bloody hard to explain to those who did not experience them). Given my long-standing love of music, maybe it’s no surprise my wife Michelle and I were once owners of Club Dada in Deep Ellum. Our claim to fame from that era is booking Zac Brown before he was famous. Now, he’s a three-time Grammy winner! And, even better, we got to hang out with Paul Simon while his wife, Eddie Brickel, was performing. Yes, that Paul Simon. I’m curious — what was your first album? Do you still have it? Shoot me a text at 214-697-3034 to let me know. I’m always ready to talk music.
–David Gibson
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FROM APPLICANT TO ARRESTED: The Fugitive Who Applied for a Police Job
Even most criminals need traditional employment to pay the bills, but Zyeama Johnson looked for work in all the wrong places. Perhaps Johnson imagined her previous experience with law enforcement would give her a leg up in her application to the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office in New Jersey in 2022. But unfortunately for her, all of Johnson’s past and future involvement with the police would be on the wrong side of the law. Johnson was looking for a legal way to earn a living when she applied for a job as a security guard at the sheriff’s office. But her past money-making ventures
check before hiring — or that this office specializes in resolving outstanding warrants. When processing her application, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office discovered the active bench warrant in Pennsylvania. The routine investigation also found 10 additional active bench warrants in Jersey City, New Jersey; Johnson had allegedly failed to appear on traffic charges. Most employers in this situation would probably move on to the next applicant, but the sheriff’s department decided to call Johnson in for an “interview” instead. Unsurprisingly, they had no
question, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” a new meaning. After taking Johnson into custody, the police proceeded to search her property. Incredibly, they found two credit cards in her possession they believed were stolen. Police added credit card theft charges to Johnson’s already considerable rap sheet. To make matters worse for her, the sheriff’s office also contacted Johnson’s former employer, the United States Postal Service, which launched its own investigation into her conduct. As of October 2022, Johnson was being held in a Hudson County jail awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania for the most serious charge against her. It’s unclear why she thought applying for a law enforcement position with outstanding warrants was a wise career move, but at least she made her would-be coworkers’ jobs easy that day.
allegedly involved fraud, and she had failed to appear in a Pennsylvania court on the charges. Presumably, Johnson did not realize
intention of hiring her and arrested the fugitive on the spot. It gave the standard interview
a police station would perform a background
Unlock the Secrets of a Calming Bedtime Routine
Does it always seem like your kids get a burst of energy right before bedtime? After a jam-packed day, your child’s pent-up stress and energy will likely spike when it’s time to head to bed. The key is implementing a consistent bedtime routine to help them transition into sleep mode. Try therapeutic techniques to soothe your child for a full night of shuteye. Squeeze ’em tight (add pressure). Just like you would swaddle a baby, you should wrap your kids up like tiny burritos! When you add pressure that squeezes them tight, your child’s tactile and proprioceptive senses are activated, which creates a sense of calm and relaxation. You can also do this with weighted blankets, tight cuddles, or by tucking them in nice and snug with pillows placed around them to add more pressure. Get them warm and cozy. Warmth is another element that can increase calm and signal bedtime! Put their
blankets in the dryer so they’ll have them nice and warm when it’s time to lie down. Additionally, you can give them a warm drink with a straw, as the warmth not only relaxes them but the straw also encourages sucking motions, which are incredibly soothing for children. Create gentle movements. Repetitive and rhythmic movements like rocking back and forth generate vestibular input for the nervous system. This will help your children feel comfortable and ready to sleep! You can try these motions by rocking them on a yoga ball for a few minutes, reading a bedtime story in a rocking chair, or sitting with them in a porch swing or hammock right before bed. Turn the screens off. We already know that looking at screens harms our sleep, so why would that be any different for children? Decrease screen time as the day advances and completely turn off any screens at least two hours
before bedtime. Not only do you want to cut these harsh lights, but you should also add comforting ones! Unwind in dim lighting as the day ends, and place lava lamps or a night light in your children’s rooms to help soothe them. Also, adding a white noise machine or playing calm music can do wonders! Combine these therapeutic methods to create the perfect bedtime routine that will have your energetic kiddos in bed without a hitch.
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TAKE A BREAK
THE REVENGE OF THE RONIN Unveiling the Historic Massacre of Kira Yoshinaka
Never has there been a tale of revenge so blood-filled and epic as the 47 Ronin. Honorable and loyal to the end, these samurai warriors proved their dedication to their master in an incident that would become immortalized in Japanese literature, theater, and film. So, what led these samurai on a vengeful rampage? It started in April 1701, when nobleman Asano Naganori, also known as the lord of Ako, was treated with complete disrespect and arrogance by Kira Yoshinaka, a court official. After holding back his anger, Asano finally snapped. Asano revealed his sword and attacked Kira in the middle of the palace’s main hall. Although Kira lived to tell the tale, Asano broke court rules and was ordered to kill himself. Following the court’s ruling, Asano ended his life on April 21, 1701. After his demise, Asano left behind his faithful 47 samurai, whose status was lowered to ronin (samurai with no leader). Crushed by his death, the ruthless men created a plan. The 47 Ronin laid low for two years by dispersing and living in “retirement.” The years passed, and the men were able to lower Kira’s guard. At this point, one of the ronin had reached his 80s and could not participate in the vengeful plan. However, the remaining 46 men raided Kira’s estate on an early January morning in 1703. They fearlessly battled Kira’s samurai and decapitated Kira. The ronin then carried his head in a basket for miles to their deceased lord’s grave.
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Authorities were intensely conflicted on how to treat the vengeful massacre. While it broke the shogun’s rules,
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the act followed the respected samurai warrior code. Yet, in the end, all 46 men were ordered to kill themselves via self-
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disembowelment, hara-kiri . The ronin ranged in age from 15 to 77 years old.
After their deaths, the ronin became legends and were buried alongside their master, Asano Naganori. You can visit this famous site at Sengakuji Temple in Tokyo.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
David Shares His Dark Disco Past
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Criminal’s Job Hunt Backfires: Arrested During Interview!
Tips to Soothe Your Energetic Kids Before Bedtime
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
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The Legendary Tale of the 47 Ronin
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The Troubling Saga of Sherri Papini’s Disappearance
THE SHOCKING TRUTH BEHIND SHERRI’S KIDNAPPING REVEALED
4 GIBSONLAWGROUP.COM When the police questioned Sherri, she was hesitant and frightened. She claimed two Hispanic women abducted her, took her to an unknown location, chained her up, and tortured her before planning to traffic her. The story horrified Three weeks passed before Sherri was finally found alone on a freeway nearly 146 miles from her home on Thanksgiving Day. She was cut and bruised, her long hair chopped short, and her back branded with a Bible verse. Sherri Papini vanished out of thin air in November 2016. The day she went missing, her husband, Keith Papini, came home expecting to see his wife and kids but found the residence eerily empty. Keith called the children’s day care to ask when his wife picked them up, but they informed him she never did. While the kids were safe, Sherri was missing.
the community and made many Hispanic women fear wrongful persecution. At the time, male DNA was found on Sherri’s clothing, despite her insistence no men were involved in her kidnapping. Years later, in 2020, the authorities used genetic DNA technology to track down the man, Sherri’s ex-boyfriend, James Reyes. This was when Sherri’s tale began to fall apart. Reyes was questioned by police, who exposed the truth about Sherri’s vanishing act. He revealed that Sherri told him her husband, Keith, was abusing her, and she needed his help to escape. She convinced him to brand her, but all her other injuries were self-inflicted. Reyes had no idea about Sherri’s fabricated story involving two Hispanic kidnappers. At first, Sherri stuck with her story when questioned again but eventually admitted it was all a hoax.
In 2023, Sherri Papini was charged with false statements and mail fraud and sentenced to 18 months in prison for her long-winded lies that wasted police resources and federal financial assistance. Her story resulted in numerous innocent Hispanic women being wrongly questioned by authorities. But now, these women can rest easy knowing the case is finally closed.
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