JANUARY 2020
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AND HELPED ME FIND MY FATHER’S CHILDHOOD HOME HOW MOTORCYCLING OPENED MY EYES
A few years ago, I took a motorcycle trip on my own for an entire month touring the United States. During the trip, I made sure to pass through Missouri, where my father was born and raised. I never knew what town he grew up in or where it might be, but I wanted to see if I could find it. The only thing I had as a reference was an old newspaper clipping of my father when he was around 18 years old. When my dad was younger, he and his brother were barnstormers around the time airplanes started to become pretty popular. They owned a World War I fighter plane, and every once in awhile, they’d fly over to a nearby town, land on either the main street or a strip of land, and take people up for a ride for a penny a pound. During one of these excursions, someone snapped a picture of him on the plane and wrote a small article about him, which included an address. But there was nothing in there that told me what city it had taken place in. As I passed through Missouri, I found myself in the town of St. Joseph and, as I settled into my hotel, decided to put the address and the nearest intersection into my GPS “When I was younger, I had always been interested in motorcycles, but I didn’t get my first one until I was 16.”
device to see if anything popped up. To my surprise, I got a hit — the address was only 1.5 miles from where I was staying. The next day, I drove my motorcycle over there, and this little old lady came to the door. She was very understanding and let me take a look at the house my grandfather had built in 1890, the house where my dad grew up. Motorcycle touring has opened my eyes to a lot of things. I’d have missed out on a lot of experiences in my life, like visiting my dad’s childhood home, had it not been for jumping on my motorcycle and taking a ride. When I was younger, I had always been interested in motorcycles, but I didn’t get my first one until I was 16. In high school, I remember telling my dad how much I wanted one, and he thought I was nuts. But he let me have one with two conditions: I had to buy it myself, and I couldn’t get in an accident. I’ve been motorcycling ever since and have owned a lot of motorcycles. In 2006, I joined Blue Knights International, an organization of active and retired police officers throughout the U.S. I’m part of the branch here in Sacramento, where we have about 88 members. Before joining, I had no idea who the Blue Knights were until I heard a couple of guys talking about the group at a local motorcycle store. I didn’t pay much attention to the conversation until I heard, “We need to get more retired cops.” At that point, I walked over and said, “I’m a retired cop. Tell me
what you’re talking about,” and they invited me to attend their monthly Blue Knights breakfast. I met some awesome people, and that first experience was so great that I joined immediately. Over the years, I’ve gone on some great trips as part of the Blue Knights. One of our main goals is to enjoy the beauty of the country, and to do that, we avoid the highways, freeways, and interstates. We made a trip a number of years ago where we drove around 450 miles, only 7 of which were spent driving on the interstate. We also never speed. We believe that if you’re riding a motorcycle, then you’re riding for fun — you’re never in a hurry. The experiences I’ve had thanks to motorcycling are ones I remember fondly. I’ve always been passionate about motorcycling, and I always will be. For 2020, I look forward to heading out on new adventures and making even more memories. – Travis Black
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Dogs are colloquially known as “man’s best friend,” but they can still pose danger to people of all ages. Dogs may attack familiar people or strangers, which can result in devastating injuries or, far worse, fatalities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 4.7 million dog bites occur annually, 800,000 of which require medical attention. Half of these occur with children. Of the injuries received, the scarring, disfigurement, pain, and medical treatment can be fatally serious. Anyone who is the victim of a serious dog bite or animal attack must seek medical attention right away. STRICT LIABILITY California has “strict liability” laws that make pet owners responsible for most dog bite injuries, regardless of the usual temperament of the dog or its history. When victims sue for compensation for their damages, it doesn’t matter whether or not the owner knew their dog had ever been vicious before. They can’t argue they were unaware of their dog’s risk or that their good care of the animal removes them from liability. COMPREHENSIVE COMPENSATION The compensation you receive in a dog attack claim consists of any losses or damages you suffered, present and future, in the incident. This includes current and future medical bills, pain and suffering, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DOG BITE CLAIMS THE TIME AND RESOURCES YOU NEED TO RECOVER With every new year comes an opportunity to reinvent ourselves or start down a new path toward self-improvement. Making resolutions is a big part of many families’ New Year’s traditions, and parents often have a desire for their kids to take part in that tradition when they’re old enough. Following through on resolutions is tough, especially for young children, but with your help, they can achieve their goals. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH. You are your children’s role model for almost everything, including following through on New Year’s resolutions. So, ask yourself if you follow through on your own resolutions. When you proclaim that you will read more books or finally get a gym membership, do you actually try to do it? Your kids will assign as much importance to New Year’s resolutions as you do, so by sticking to your own commitments, you can help them stay on track too. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE AND ACHIEVABLE. When your kids are forming their resolutions, their first attempts will probably be very broad. Statements like “I want to be more kind” or “I HELP YOUR KIDS ACHIEVE MORE THIS YEAR WITH SIMPLE AND ACTIONABLE GOALS
will try to help more around the house” incorporate good values but don’t include any actionable steps. Help your kids think of tangible ways to act on those goals. For example, if they want to be tidier, a good resolution might be for them to clean their room once a week or take responsibility for one household chore every day. DON’T DO ALL THE WORK FOR THEM. While it’s important for you to help your kids formulate their goals, be sure that you aren’t taking over. If they’re ultimately responsible for their resolutions, they’ll feel more compelled to keep them. Instead, suggest different goal areas they could improve, such as home, school, or sports, and let them elaborate. When it comes to creating habits, nobody is perfect, so even if your kids falter on their goals in the middle of February, don’t worry. The important thing is that you continue to encourage them every step of the way.
scarring and disfigurement, permanent injury, lost wages, emotional trauma, and any psychological treatment needed to recover.
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS Claims for dog bite injuries are considered personal injury lawsuits, which means victims have a time limit to make a claim. In the state of California, the statute of limitations requires a person to file a case no more than two years after the bite occurs. The various types of California dog bite laws can be very confusing. If you or a loved one have been injured by a dog, it is important for you to speak with a California attorney who specializes in California dog bites and dog attacks. The attorneys at Travis Black Law who specialize in dog attacks have extensive experience representing victims of dog bites. We can help you on your road to recovery.
Contact us today by visiting our website at TravisBlackLaw.com or calling our office at 916.962.2896.
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CTRL, ALT, DELETE YOUR CLUTTER TIPS FOR NATIONAL CLEAN UP YOUR COMPUTER MONTH Everyone relies on technology. Computers, laptops, tablets, and phones are staples of modern life. However, it’s easy for these devices to become cluttered with old photos, files, and general disorganization. Luckily, January is National Clean Up Your Computer Month and an excellent time to get your technology in order. START BY DUSTING Over time, computer towers can become clogged with dust, which creates additional, unwanted heat within your computer. Regular cleanings will increase the lifespan of your computer and protect its essential components. Compressed air is great for removing most of the dust and other particulates. If the fans or filters are too dirty, you can remove them from the tower to clean them better. If you use water or liquid cleaning products on them, be sure they are completely dry before placing them back into your computer. ORGANIZE YOUR FILES Naming and arranging the files on your computer in such a way that they’re easy for you to find can end up saving you a lot of time. BE INSPIRED “THINGS WORK OUT BEST FOR THOSE WHO MAKE THE BEST OF HOW THINGS WORK OUT.” – JOHN WOODEN
INGREDIENTS • DIRECTIONS 1. Rinse rice until water runs clear. Cook rice as instructed on package with 1 cup water. 2. While rice is cooking, prepare chives. Set aside. 3. Also while rice cooks, crumble tofu over a fine strainer. As you crumble tofu, press it into the strainer to release as much water as possible. Let drain. Press and drain again. 4. Once rice is cooked, set aside. In a nonstick pan, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. 5. Crumble tofu into the hot pan, cooking until brown. 6. Add chives and cook for 1 minute longer. 7. Add cooked rice and mirin, cooking until rice is dry. (You can make rice one day in advance to dry it out even more.) 8. Turn off the heat and add soy sauce, tossing until fully incorporated. 9. Add salt to taste and serve. Any files you’ll never use again should be deleted. Likewise, any programs you haven’t used in a while should be uninstalled. Check your hard drive for files that might be taking up unintended space on your computer. And remember to empty the recycling bin — it’s easy to forget just how much goes in there. VEGAN FRIED RICE Declutter your workspace by creating one file for pictures, one for Word documents, one for spreadsheets, and one for programs to eliminate the hassle of frantically searching for the files you need. BACK UP YOUR COMPUTER Be sure to back up your computer before you start deleting things. This acts as a safety net in case you delete something you didn’t mean to. Additionally, consider installing a second hard drive. The extra space can help with storing important files without having to worry about how much room is left. CLEAN UP SPACE 2/3 cup brown rice • • • 1 cup water 2/3 cup chives, chopped 1 block tofu, extra firm • • • • 2 tsp vegetable oil 1 tsp mirin, optional 2 tsp soy sauce Salt, to taste
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1839 Iron Point Rd. #160, Folsom, CA 95630 Phone: 916.962.2896 travisblacklaw.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Riding Down Memory Lane PAGE 1 Helping Your Kids Make New Year’s Resolutions PAGE 2 The Devastating Impact of a Dog Bite PAGE 2
Enter 2020 With an Organized Computer PAGE 3 Vegan Fried Rice PAGE 3 GET YOURSELF MOVING THIS YEAR
WITH EVENTS CLOSE TO HOME
January is full of events to attend and enjoy. Take a look at these three experiences that are sure to heighten your new year! FOLSOM LAKE SWEETWATER TRAIL RUN WHERE: Folsom Lake State Recreation Area WHEN: Jan. 25; 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Get a running start for this year by participating in this annual run. The Sweetwater Trail Run includes several categories ranging from 5K to 50K, giving people of varying skills a chance to participate. Day-of registration will be available for an extra fee of $10. Each race category begins at 8 a.m. with a nine-hour time limit. The course runs along the South Side Trail, giving participants ADMISSION: $40–$100 WEBSITE: TCTRuns.com
ideal running conditions and stunning views. Visit their website to stay updated and register for this event. FROM BIG GULCH TO HINKLE CREEK WHERE: Robert H. Miller III Rotary Clubhouse WHEN: Jan. 14; 6:30–8 p.m. ADMISSION: Free! WEBSITE: Folsom.CA.US/parks/events/rental/ clubhouse/default.asp In this event, author Kevin Knauss will lead you through the past of Hinkle Creek. As one of the hot spots for California’s historical miners, Hinkle Creek, known in 1849 as Big Gulch, changed once Isaac Hinkle moved into the area. Guests are asked to register beforehand, as there is limited space. Reach out to the Rotary Clubhouse for more information.
TRAP SKATE NIGHT 21+ WHERE: Roller King WHEN: Feb. 8–9; 11:59 p.m. – 3 a.m. ADMISSION: $15–$25 WEBSITE: Eventbrite.com/e/trap-skate- night-21-tickets-81227639055 When was the last time you strapped on some skates for a fun evening? The Roller King wants adults 21 and up to strap on their skates and roll with the best R&B and hip-hop from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and today! Skaters and Rollerbladers can also take a break and enjoy food and dessert while supplies last. Whether you roll with Rollerblades or skates, head over to Roller King and prepare to skate your heart out!
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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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