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By the Book MEET ATTORNEY JENNIFER RUBIN
My name is Jennifer Rubin, and it was probably no surprise to my family that I became an attorney. Growing up in Philadelphia, I was always a rule follower. My parents weren’t particularly rigid, so I’m not sure where it came from, but I loved knowing the rules and following them to the letter. Not many kids at school actually read the student handbook, but I did because I wanted to know all the expectations to avoid breaking any of them. So, despite my affinity for math and science, I went into law because I get to problem-solve within strict guidelines every day. It also probably didn’t hurt that the first DVD I owned was “Legally Blonde”! But while a career as an attorney was long a part of my plans, working in family law wasn’t. For many years, I aspired to do entertainment law. I minored in music business and thought I’d become a high-powered agent in the music industry. That all changed after I picked up a family law elective in law school at the University of Miami. I immediately fell in love and joined the university’s Children and Youth Law Clinic. My time at the law clinic involved learning dependency law. I acted as the attorney ad litem for foster children, representing their best interests in court. During that time, I had many unique experiences with the teens I represented and saw how the law affects them up close. While children are no longer my clients, my prior work helps me keep their needs at the forefront of my mind when working on divorce and time-sharing cases. All of my colleagues at the Bruce Law Firm encourage me in that endeavor — and any other way you can think of. I rely on their expertise regularly to secure the best outcomes for my clients, and I return the favor whenever possible. Our firm takes on many challenging cases involving abuse, manipulation, and narcissism, so the reliable support we provide each other keeps us clear-eyed, sharp, and ready for anything. I particularly love that my work allows me to help people directly. Many of my friends from law school have ended up in corporate law. It might pay well, but they’re not directly impacting another person’s life, and they can leave
their job behind at the end of the day. While that has its benefits, I’ve always wanted to do more rewarding work than that.
My work allows me to be a direct line of support for my clients going through incredibly challenging times. Of course, that can take an emotional toll, so I like to unwind by attending as many concerts as possible. I also try to make time for my young dog Nellie, who looks much like Toto from “The Wizard of Oz.” She’s adorable, and she knows it! My work today has a much greater impact than I ever imagined when I first dreamed of being an attorney in the music business. It’s a little less glamorous, but I have the incredible privilege of getting to know my clients and making a real difference in their lives. I work hard because I care about what happens to them and consider that a true gift. –Jennifer Rubin
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Who Decides? Understanding Shared Parental Responsibility
Parenting is a full-time responsibility, whether or not your child is always with you. When a child lives across two different households, it’s natural that each one will have its own rules, routines, and expectations. But some decisions are too big for one parent to make alone. That’s where shared parental responsibility comes into play. Shared parental responsibility is the standard in Florida and dictates that both parents have a say in significant decisions about their child’s life and welfare. Of course, everyday decisions like what the child wears to school, watches on television, or eats for dinner will depend on the parent currently caring for them. But matters that carry greater weight, like where the child attends school, what type of major discipline is appropriate, and the kind of nonemergency health care the child will receive, require dual input. Many parents wish they had sole parental responsibility — especially when the other parent has not previously taken an interest in the child or does not appear to have their best interests at heart. But sole parental responsibility is rare and generally limited to cases where one parent has abused, neglected, or abandoned the child. A parent unable to make sound decisions due to mental illness or substance abuse may also lose parental responsibility rights. The court will always make this decision in the child’s best interests. It’s only slightly more common for a parenting plan to assign final decision-making authority on particular child care issues. It may occur, for example, when a mother has been much more involved in a child’s special needs at school or a father has taken primary responsibility for a child’s ongoing medical condition. In these cases, the parents still have shared responsibility and have to discuss major decisions. But in an impasse, the parent with final decision-making authority has the ultimate say. So, where does that leave co-parents who disagree on whether their child should attend a private or public school? In most cases, the parents will need to talk the matter out, and someone will need to compromise. But if they cannot agree, one parent can file a motion to have the courts intervene and make a final decision in the child’s best interest. It’s best to avoid this step whenever possible — but when necessary, ensure you have the representation of an experienced family law attorney.
2 Strategies to Remove Rug Stains
Have you ever gone to mop your bathroom floors and found yellow stains on the floor where your bath rugs usually are? No matter how often you mop and scrub, it seems like these stains will never come out. But how do the stains happen? Can they be removed? Why are there stains on the floor? If your rugs stay in the same place for long periods — whether it has a rubber backing or not — they can leave a yellow stain on your floor. If sunlight does not enter your bathroom, the materials on your rug and flooring can oxidize, creating a yellow tint on the floor. Additionally, if you have vinyl flooring, the materials used to create the flooring could cause a chemical reaction with the rug. If your rug has rubber backing, it can also have a chemical reaction with the materials in the vinyl flooring. How can rug stains be removed? Some stains, such as the ones caused by the rubber backing of certain rugs, are permanent. However, you can remove the stain if you have yellow stains from mats without rubber backing. The first strategy involves using sunlight. You want to remove all of your rugs and allow your floor to get as much sunlight as possible — do not put your mats back until the stains have faded. The cons to this method are that some bathrooms do not have windows (or have small windows), and it can take a long time to regain color. Another strategy is to use baking soda. After mopping your floor, wet the stained areas with water and cover the stains with baking soda. Allow the baking soda to set for 10–15 minutes before wiping it away. Repeat this process until the stains are gone. Can yellow stains be prevented? The best thing you can do with rubber and non-rubber backing rugs is to remove the mats when they aren’t used. While some of the yellow stains on your bathroom tiles could be permanent, you can ensure that it will never happen again. These strategies can be used for all rugs on your bathroom, kitchen, living room, and dining room floors.
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–Ashley and Chris Bruce
Sunny Side Up Maintaining Optimism in Difficult Times
March is National Optimism Month, but the outlook comes easier to some of us than others. Regardless of your natural disposition, even the sunniest people can have difficulty keeping a cheerful disposition during the most challenging periods in their lives. Those who lean more toward pessimism have an even worse time seeing a brighter future for themselves. But while it might not come easy, your low points are when it’s most crucial to let optimism guide you. Optimism describes an overall outlook on life. Optimistic people tend to focus on the good things around them and see them as predictors of the future. When bad things happen, optimists generally believe they’re isolated incidents, not indicators of things to come. But that’s much harder to do when life throws you a major curveball, like a serious health diagnosis, financial loss, or divorce. But anyone can learn to embrace optimism, even in the most trying times. And those who do are likely better off for it. Research shows that people with a positive mindset are happier and more
motivated to reach their goals. Optimists are also more likely to experience reduced stress levels and improved mental and physical well-being.
So, how can you be optimistic when times are tough? Start by keeping an open mind. Remember that we sometimes look back at our most challenging experiences and see how they taught us a great deal or inspired us to grow. You can turn most challenges into an opportunity to create something better. Instead of asking yourself, “Why is this happening to me?” try to think, “What can I learn from this?” Humans are also capable of retraining their brains, something scientists call cognitive restructuring. Our minds take shortcuts and tend to think the same ways they have in the past. But you can make a conscious effort to redirect your thoughts. Take time to notice your negative thought patterns and assumptions. Then ask yourself whether they’re accurate and how you can re-frame them more positively. Remember, too, that optimism is not the same as feeling happy constantly. It’s normal, natural, and healthy to be sad or angry. But optimists learn to process their feelings while not giving up hope for something better. Seeing the world in a brighter light gives you the strength to keep going and come out happier on the other side.
Inspired by TheKitchyKitchen.com Irish Pancakes
Ingredients
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2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking soda
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1 large egg, beaten 1 cup buttermilk
Attorneys Christopher, Liana, Ashley, Sarina, Rosalie, and Rebecca, at an Inns of Court meeting.
1/2 tsp kosher salt 1 tbsp white sugar
2 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
Directions
1.
In a bowl, sift the dry ingredients together. Set aside.
2.
In a skillet, brown 1 tbsp of butter.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the beaten egg, buttermilk, and browned butter. 4. In a constant stream, add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients while stirring. Do not overbeat! 5. Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Add 1 tbsp of butter, stir until the skillet is coated, and then add a few large dollops of batter (about 3 inches wide) to the pan. Do not overcrowd. 6. Cook 4–5 minutes a side, until golden brown and cooked through. Serve with butter, jam, and syrup. 561-810-0170 • 3
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Attorney Jennifer Rubin’s Passion for Family Law page 1 Why Do My Rugs Leave Yellow Stains? What Is Shared Parental Responsibility? page 2
Finding the Brighter Side Irish Pancakes page 3
Number Stations’ Creepy Transmissions page 4
The Enduring Mystery of Numbers Stations
WHAT THE SECRET TRANSMISSIONS MEAN
Fans of the mid-2000s mystery television show “Lost” will be familiar with the concept of a radio station that transmits nothing but a robotic voice reading a string of numbers. But many don’t realize that the show’s writers took inspiration from real-life events. So-called “numbers stations” have existed since World War I and continue broadcasting today. Numbers stations got off to a quiet and inauspicious start when they were first transmitted via Morse code on low and medium radio wave frequencies. But shortwave radio technology soon hit the scene, allowing broadcasts to reach worldwide. Numbers stations followed suit and began broadcasting with human voices. Amateur radio fans took notice. While scanning for transmissions, they’d sometimes encounter bizarre, unexplained broadcasts. After starting with beeps or strange music, a voice recites several digits repeatedly. The messages were in many languages, and some even
used children’s voices, making the mysterious stations even more spooky. So, what does it all mean?
The creepy transmissions are most likely instances of spies working in plain sight. Experts believe intelligence agencies use these stations to send encrypted messages to operatives in other countries. And publicly sending these coded messages worldwide is safer than you think. Intelligence agencies running numbers stations use a mathematically unbreakable coding system called the one-time pad. A one-time pad involves a randomly generated key of numbers that correspond to letters. Since each key is only used once, other intelligence agencies listening to the broadcast will never detect a pattern in the coding and will be unable to decipher the messages.
of the tactic, their use dropped considerably after the fall of the Soviet Union. Still, some stations remain in use, and groups dedicate themselves to tracking their activity. Most number station broadcasts are linked to Eastern European countries like Russia, Poland, and Ukraine, but Egypt, Cuba, and North Korea may also use the system. While the stations are less common, the internet has made it easier to hear the broadcasts than ever. Enthusiasts have cataloged and recorded stations and any curious listener can usually tune in online. You’re unlikely to uncover a mystery, let alone any government secrets — but even adults can have fun pretending to be a spy.
Numbers stations became popular intelligence tools in the 1960s. But since the KGB was one of the biggest fans
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