Brauns Law's online newsletter for July 2017
404-418-8244
JULY 2017
WWW.DAVIDBRAUNS.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 325, DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096
The History of Fourth of July Celebrations Food, Fireworks, and American Values
I really look forward to the Fourth of July. My family and I usually spend the day barbecuing before hitting the local fairgrounds to watch the fireworks after dusk. Growing up in a beach town meant I always had to work on Fourth of July. My first job was cooking up french fries on a boardwalk, so Fourth of July was basically our Black Friday. I never got to go out and spend time with my family or watch the fireworks until very recently, so these days, I fully embrace the opportunity to celebrate our independence. One of our founding fathers, John Adams, had ideas for what America’s independence celebrations would look like even before the Declaration of Independence had officially been ratified. In a letter to his wife, Abigail, written on July 3, 1776, he spoke of celebrations “with pomp and parade, with [shows], games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” A year later, the first Fourth of July fireworks display was held in Philadelphia. However, it wasn’t until the war ended in 1783 that Independence Day was recognized as a holiday across the country. It replaced March 5, the date of the Boston Massacre, as the major patriotic holiday in Massachusetts. Around this time, fireworks also became commercially available all over our young nation. After the War of 1812 ended and American independence was solidified further, celebrations reached greater heights. John Philip Sousa’s 1897 march “The Stars and Stripes Forever” became a Fourth of July standard. “Stars and Stripes” would eventually be joined by “God Bless America,” “This Land is Your Land,” and “America the Beautiful” as Independence Day classics. Another integral part of Fourth of July celebrations is, without question, the food. As I said, Fourth of July was our Black Friday on the boardwalk, because who doesn’t love to celebrate with some great all-American fare? From hot dogs and hamburgers to baby back ribs, there’s no food more American than barbecue. Barbecue has been a Fourth of July tradition, especially in the South, for over a century. When the great American ornithologist John J. Audubon visited Kentucky in the early 19th century to
research the local birds, he was treated to an Independence Day barbecue. He never forgot that day and wrote of the event, “Although more than 20 years have elapsed since I joined a Kentucky barbecue, my spirit is refreshed every Fourth of July by the recollection of that day’s merriment.”
“This year, as we dig into a hot cheeseburger and watch the fireworks light up the night sky, let’s celebrate all the values that make the United States the greatest country on Earth.”
The Fourth of July, though, isn’t just about food and festivities — it’s also a day to remember the ideals our country was created to embody. Thomas Jefferson, the writer of the Declaration of Independence, certainly felt that the holiday was a time to reflect on these values. In the last letter he ever wrote, from his home at Monticello on June 24, 1826, he advocated that annual celebrations “forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.” This year, as we dig into a hot cheeseburger and watch the fireworks light up the night sky, let’s celebrate all the values that make the United States the greatest country on Earth.
- David Brauns
Happy Fourth of July!
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GROW CRYSTALS WITH YOUR KIDS Keep Your Child’s Mind Active With This Fun Summer Experiment!
A mentally sedentary summer can cause your child’s learning to stagnate and backslide, erasing the equivalent of as much as two months of in-school learning. But you can have fun with your kid this summer and help them learn at the same time. Try this project from sciencebob.com, which demonstrates how geodes are formed and gives a primer on the science of crystals. The results are stunning! All you need are some clean eggshells, water, several different soluble materials (salt, sugar, baking soda, borax, cream of tartar), coffee cups, spoons, food coloring, and egg cartons. First, crack the eggs as close to the narrow end as possible. Then, clean the eggshells in hot water, which allows you to pull the skin out of the inside. Place the shells in an egg carton lined with wax paper to hold them upright. Boil the water and pour half a cup into each coffee mug, followed by ¼ cup of one of the soluble materials, stirring until it dissolves. Keep adding the solid slowly until the water is supersaturated — this simply means that the water has absorbed all it can and any additional solid won’t dissolve.
Then, add food coloring to the solutions. See what creative color combinations your child can come up with.
Carefully pour the solution into an eggshell, filling it as full as you can without the solution overflowing or the egg tipping over. As the water evaporates (be patient!) crystals will begin to form inside the eggshells. But how? As the water is heated, it expands, allowing more space for the dissolved solution. When it cools and evaporates, that space goes away, and the solids are forced to become solid again. See, science is fun and educational! Check out further science experiments on sciencebob.com, sciencekids.co.nz, or redtri.com/ classic-science-experiments!
Testimonials DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT
I have been recommending this firm to every one of my friends and family members who have been having accidents lately. They worked hard on my case and strived for excellence. Thanks, y’all, for your help. - Caitlin L.
David and his staff handled my car accident quickly and
communicated well throughout the process. Highly recommend him! - Robert T.
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SAFE BOATING 101
What You Need to Know to Keep Your Family Safe on the Water
WORD SEARCH July DEVELOP A FLOAT PLAN Before you head out, it’s important to have a float plan. Let someone know where you’re going and when you plan to return. If something happens while you’re boating, there is someone aware of the situation who can notify the authorities. The American Sailing Association offers information about creating a float plan at asa. com/news/2016/03/02/whats-a-float-plan. WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET We’re not going to pretend life jackets are stylish or comfortable, but they can save your life. Seventy-eight percent of boating deaths are due to drowning, and the Coast Guard reports that 84 percent of victims weren’t wearing a life jacket. Ensure every passenger on your boat is wearing secure, properly fitted life jackets before you get out on the water. Whether you’re looking to fish or cruise around the lake for a few hours, boating is a great way to spend a summer day. Make sure the day stays fun by remembering these safety tips.
During a summer heat wave, nothing beats a trip out on the boat. However, it’s easy for a boating excursion to become an emergency. In 2014, the United States Coast Guard responded to over 4,000 boating accidents, which resulted in 610 deaths, 2,678 injuries, and $39 million in damages. Follow these rules to keep yourself and all your passengers as safe as possible. ENROLL IN A BOATING COURSE In the state of Georgia, individuals born after January 1, 1998 must take a boating education course. Nearly 80 percent of boating deaths occurred when the driver had no safety instruction. Visit boat- ed.com/georgia to learn more about becoming boating certified. KEEP AN EYE ON THE SKY Before you go boating, check the local weather reports to ensure favorable conditions. If you’re already on the water and you spot clouds rolling in, head back to shore. A light drizzle can quickly become a raging storm, and the last situation you want is to have your family isolated on a boat in turbulent waters.
SIMPLE SUMMER BROWN BUTTER AND CORN PASTA
There are a lot more ways to enjoy fresh summer corn than just on the cob. Try this simple, delicious pasta dish and up your summer game!
Directions: 1. Bring a large pot of salted Ingredients: • 4 medium ears corn • 1 pound pasta • 6 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese • ¼ cup packed fresh basil leaves
Reduce heat to medium, add corn, and cook about 2 minutes or until corn is heated through. Add salt and pepper to taste. 3. Drain pasta and return to pot. Add corn mixture, Parmesan, basil, and reserved cooking water. Stir until combined and adjust seasonings as needed. Enjoy!
water to a boil. Cut kernels off ears of corn; set aside.
2. Cook pasta according to package instructions and
reserve ¼ cup cooking water. While pasta cooks, melt butter on medium-high in 3-quart saucepan. Cook 3-4 minutes, swirling frequently, until browned and very fragrant.
AMERICA BLUE EAGLE FIREWORKS FLAG FOURTH OF JULY
FREEDOM INDEPENDENCE JULY LIBERTY
PICNICS RED SPARKLERS STARS STRIPES WHITE
PARADES PATRIOTIC
Recipe inspired by goodhousekeeping.com.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
404-418-8244 | WWW.DAVIDBRAUNS.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 325 DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096
Page 1
Food, Fireworks, and American Values
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Grow Crystals With Your Kids
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Client Testimonials
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Don’t Go Boating Without Doing These 4 Things
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Simple Summer Brown Butter and Corn Pasta
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3 Ways to Use Coconut Oil for Immediate Results
NATURE’S GREAT MULTITASKER 3 Ways to Use Coconut Oil and See Results! Coconut oil is one of nature’s great multitaskers. You can cook with it, bake with it, use it as a dietary supplement, apply it to your skin, and run it through your hair, all of which deliver unique benefits. In this issue, we’re going to look at three of the most immediate benefits you can enjoy by using coconut oil. Rejuvenate your skin. Instead of reaching for lotion or body oil, reach for the coconut oil. It’s a single ingredient, so you know exactly what you’re putting on your skin, which means you don’t have to worry about any sort of reaction. That is, as long as you aren’t already allergic to coconut! It helps keep skin hydrated and youthful-looking, plus it can treat symptoms related to dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, and numerous other skin conditions. Just keep in mind, it cannot treat the base cause of any of these conditions. Give your hair extra luster. The plant-based fatty acids in coconut oil help alleviate dry hair, dry scalp, and dandruff. At the same time, it can help reduce the effects of everyday damage, including sun damage. Use coconut oil as-is, or combine it with an essential oil for an extra punch. Apply it about 30 minutes before showering and let it soak in. Just be sure not to use your typical shampoo to wash away the oil; hot water alone should do the trick. It may take a little longer to rinse the oil residue, but you’ll be left with soft, clean hair.
Freshen your smile. When swished around in the mouth, coconut oil can reduce bacteria and freshen your breath. It’s all thanks to coconut oil’s antibacterial properties, and the fact that it literally pulls bacteria away from your teeth and gums as you swish it around. All it takes is a tablespoon of oil and about 20 minutes. Once you’re done, spit the oil into the trash. That may sound a little gross, but avoid spitting in the sink. The oil may solidify and cause a clog.
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