CRONIN CALLER
THE
June/July 2021
SUMMER!
Gotta love summer! And this year, it’s not just the warmer weather that makes us feel more alive; it’s the heightened energy and spirit of everyone around us! As vaccination campaigns continue and businesses reopen, this summer feels extra special, almost like summertime as a child — that feeling of complete freedom from school and other obligations — which never lasted long enough! Let’s hope this new-found energy magnifies tenfold and businesses and people flourish! By the time you receive this newsletter, we will officially be in the middle of summer. Fourth of Julywill have passed, and with that, many Fourth of July holiday celebrations will have been enjoyed. While celebrating our nation’s Independence Day dates back to the 18th century and the American Revolution, it has only been a federal holiday since 1941. This American tradition originally began when the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, signifying the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. From 1776 to present day, the meaning of the Fourth of July — American independence — has been celebrated with festivities like fireworks, parades, and barbecues! I hope you were all able to celebrate the Fourth of July this summer, especially after last year, when most communities were not able to celebrate in the traditional sense due to COVID-19. I have always been grateful for the freedoms this country affords its citizens, and I do not take these freedoms lightly. Our country is far from perfect, but the principles upon which it was founded are something of which I, as an American citizen, am very proud. Our Founding Fathers worked tirelessly for our independence from Great Britain and created a frame of government for the United States of America. While we still have a long way to go as a nation, I believe it is important to remember how far we’ve come, what we have accomplished, the growth we have made, and how amazing it is to be an American. Too often, our
country is criticized by the very citizens that occupy it and benefit from it. How can a country be loyal to its citizens if its citizens aren’t loyal to their country? As John F. Kennedy famously stated in his Inaugural Address in 1961, “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country … ask not what America will do for you, but what together, we can do for the freedom of man.” I sincerely hope you, too, are proud of our great nation. I know that if something isn’t growing or evolving, it is dying. This can be said of people, businesses, and even our country. I believe strongly that we, as a nation, will continue to grow in positive ways, exponentially, so long as we treat each other as we would want to be treated, remain respectful, and are proud to be Americans. Let us continue to believe in the greatness of our country and celebrate it in ways both big and small, from grand Fourth of July festivities to being kind to those who have differing political views. While the latter may not be as grand a gesture as a fireworks display, it is just as — if not more — meaningful and impactful. Imagine how awesome our country could be if these little acts of kindness rippled into a tidal wave of strength and unity. And until next time, I hope you soak in the warm sunshine, longer days, and starry nights of summer!
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THE DUI DEBATE
THEY EAT WHAT ON PIZZA?!
Strict Measures or Showing Compassion?
5 Wacky Pizza Trends From Around the World Here in the U.S., pineapple is considered a wild and controversial pizza topping. Even celebrities take a stand. Justin Bieber is pro-pineapple, but Jimmy Kimmel is against it. According to a 2019 YouGov Omnibus study, only anchovies and eggplant are more hated. But in other parts of the world, the tangy yellow fruit is far from the strangest topping you’ll see! Here are five wacky pizza trends from around the globe that will either make you hungry or inspire you to sprint the other way. You may want to order a comforting cheese pie from your favorite local pizzeria before reading this, just in case. 1. Banana-Curry Pizza (Sweden) —The Swedes first accessed bananas in 1944, and since then, they’ve put them on everything , including pizza which they top with tomato sauce, smoked cheese, banana slices, and curry powder. 2. Ketchup and Corn Pizza (Brazil) — According to several sources, Brazilians swap pizza sauce for ketchup or tomato slices and top their pies with strange combinations of local ingredients like corn, beets, hearts of palm, and potato sticks. 3. Haggis Pizza (Scotland) — Pizza may be the only semi-enjoyable way to eat haggis: a mix of sheep or calf offal, oatmeal, suet, and seasonings that are boiled in an animal’s stomach. Last year, Papa John’s got in on the action when it released a limited-edition haggis pizza in honor of a Scottish poet, Robert Burns. 4. Mockba Pizza (Russia) — This local pie comes topped with four kinds of fish (sardines, tuna, mackerel, and salmon), onions, herbs, and occasionally fish eggs. Most troubling of all, it’s served cold! 5. Chickpea Pancake Pizza (Argentina) — In Buenos Aires, locals top their super-cheesy pizza slices with fainá — chickpea pancakes cooked separately from the pies and balanced on top of each slice. Keep these pizzas in mind when planning your next international vacation! They might be tastier than they sound, and if not, they’ll still make great Instagram fodder. As actor Cole Sprouse once tweeted, “You’re losing followers
In many states, June brings the first taste of summer — and with it, an annual rise in DUI-related arrests and accidents. As you can imagine, there’s much debate as to why this occurs, but more surprisingly, there’s also a debate over the best way to stem the tide, with both state and local governments trying to find a solution to a problem that kills thousands of Americans every year. For some, the answer is simple: higher penalties, more jail time, and harsh consequences for the offender’s driving record. This is the old-school criminal justice logic. Scare someone badly enough, and they’ll stop doing something. The most recent movement among states in this camp is to lower the definition of intoxication from the common .08 blood alcohol content (BAC) to .05, .02, or even any detectable amount of alcohol at all. On the other side are those preaching compassionate criminal justice reform. These communities are more inclined to take a holistic view of crime and punishment; they recognize that DUIs are often a warning sign for other issues in a person’s life and argue that the penalties can cause someone to become a less productive member of society as opposed to a more upstanding citizen. The thinking goes that if you get your first DUI and lose your license, then you lose your job. Now you don’t have health insurance, and you need the state to help with unemployment and food stamps. Who is benefiting here? Nobody. The answer may lie in the middle of these two views. Some enlightened communities are pushing for lower limits on BAC but also lower penalties for a DUI — or at least penalties that don’t ruin a person’s life, especially for the first infraction. There is also a correlation between access to Uber or other ride service and lower DUIs. We encourage everyone not to drink and drive this summer — no, not even one drink! We also encourage you to get involved in community efforts to curb DUIs. Smart policymaking makes everyone a little bit safer.
because you’re not relatable enough. Try mentioning that you eat pizza. If that doesn’t work, play the ukulele.”
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MICHIGAN OLYMPIANS WE’RE PROUD TO ROOT FOR!
After a yearlong hiatus, the Summer Olympics are set to begin in Tokyo this July. We’re proudly supporting Team USA here at Cronin Law Firm, with special attention paid to our Michigan born and raised athletes. Below are just a few of our all-time favorite Michigan Olympians who ran and skated into our hearts.
and another three championships during their climb to the Winter Olympics stage. He and Chock competed in the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics, while Bates competed with another partner, Emily Samuelson, at the 2010 Olympics. Bates also stayed local during his childhood and for his higher education, attending the University of Michigan for college.
ALANWEBB — TRACK AND FIELD
MEGAN KELLER —WOMEN’S HOCKEY
Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Webb competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics, earning the title of America’s fastest mile runner with a time of 3 minutes and 46.91 seconds. (Talk about fast!) Webb continued to dominate the Track and Field competition, competing in world championships and for Nike until 2013. Today, Webb serves his alma mater, the University of Arkansas Little Rock, as its assistant cross country and track and field coach.
Megan Keller has had a lustrous career on the ice — and she’s still going! Born and raised in Farmington, Michigan, Keller and Team USA have gone on to win multiple championships and a gold medal in the 2018 Winter Olympics. Keller plays defense and formerly played for Boston College’s hockey team. Off the ice, she’s been honored for her play and dedication. She was named Hockey East Player of the year for the 2018–2019 season during her junior year of college and was named to First-Team Hockey East honors at Boston College.
EVAN BATES — FIGURE SKATING
Another Ann Arbor baby, Evan Bates, dazzled crowds at the 2014 and 2018 Olympics with his skating partner Madison Chock. The duo won six medals
Good luck to all our Michigan athletes this year in Tokyo!
TRAIN YOUR BRAIN!
THE BEST TEXAS-STYLE SMOKED BRISKET
INGREDIENTS •
Wood chips
• • • • • • •
1/4 cup paprika
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
1/4 cup white sugar 1/4 cup ground cumin 1/4 cup cayenne pepper 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup chili powder 1/4 cup garlic powder
• • • •
1/4 cup onion powder
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup pepper 10 lbs brisket
DIRECTIONS 1. In a bowl, soak wood chips in water overnight. 2. In a large bowl, mix paprika, white sugar, cumin, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. 3. Rub spice mixture on the brisket and refrigerate for 24 hours. 4. Preheat smoker to 230 F. Drain wood chips and place them in the smoker. 5. Smoke brisket until it has an internal temperature of 165 F. 6. Remove brisket and wrap it in aluminum foil. 7. Smoke brisket further until it reaches an internal temperature of 185 F.
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INSIDE
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Summer!
How Hybrid Work Models Are Shifting Workplaces The DUI Debate 5 Wacky Pizza Trends From Around the World Michigan Olympians We’re Proud to Root For! The Best Texas-Style Smoked Brisket
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THE HYBRID PROBLEM
A Look at Shifting Work Spaces In March 2020, many businesses converted most operations to a work-from- home digital format. Employees’ kitchens and living rooms turned into offices, while corporate buildings sat vacant to slow the spread of COVID-19. It was an unprecedented but necessary change for many businesses.
and come into the office when necessary. Employees can also plan appointments and out-of-office needs around the hybrid model, benefiting each party. THE CONS Office culture has changed dramatically in the past two years. The ability to strike up a conversation with your desk mate or make friends in the breakroom is incredibly limited with this hybrid model. A hybrid and
As vaccination campaigns continue and we enter the final phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, this response may be here to stay.
Some companies — like Google and Apple — are adapting a hybrid approach to work environments rather than requiring their employees to return to the office full time. Employees are being asked to come into the office a few times each week, with the option to work remotely for the remainder of the week. There are numerous thoughts about this work style, but like anything, it comes with its own perks and pitfalls. THE PROS At the start of the pandemic, companies shelled out gross amounts of money on digital tools. They have found that this large investment was worth it. Productivity continued, if not improved, and many businesses were able to sustain themselves throughout the past year.
work-from-home option has forever changed the culture at many companies, and it may not be easy to make that transition. Businesses may also face increased expenses as they outfit their spaces with COVID-19 and other disease precautions. You may be part of a company whose business space is changing, and it may create some hurdles. Be communicative with your team and your managers and do your best to make your work environment one that works for you. You need a job that fits your lifestyle best. Cronin Law Firm can be found on Facebook at Facebook.com/ CroninLawFirm, on Instagram @thecroninlawfirm, on YouTube @The Cronin Law Firm, and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts @The Cronin Challenge2Change Cronin Law Firm.
Additionally, the hybrid model gives employees options. It allows them to go on vacation without taking too much time off, potentially save on child care,
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