The Moak Law Firm June 2019
Ancient Skeletons and New Temples
A Bankruptcy and Personal Injury Attorney You Can Trust
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Our Adventures in Europe
W e’ve reached the start of summer, and I know many people are looking forward to taking a much-needed summer vacation. It’s good to get away for a while and spend time with your loved ones. Just this past spring, my wife and I enjoyed an incredible trip to Europe. various ports in Italy, Spain, and France. I might sound a little biased, but my wife is the best person to bring along when you’re visiting that part of Europe. Marie was born in Spain, grew up in France, and served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Italy. She speaks Spanish, French, Italian, and English, and she’s so outgoing, she’s ready to talk to everyone we meet. Marie and I went on a cruise that took us to
Despite the crowds, and the occasional skeleton, it was an incredible trip. There’s so much art and history in the cities and the beautiful countryside. In America, we regard anything older than 100 years as ancient; in Europe, if a building is just 1,000 years old, it’s still basically new! That said, the highlight of the trip was visiting the brand-new LDS temple that opened in Rome at the beginning of this year. We had an excursion with several other people from our church. There was a group of 150 of us making this trip, but my wife may have felt the experience the most deeply. During her mission, Marie was a pioneer in Italy for the church. She invested so much of herself into the people and the community. It was a highly emotional experience for her to see a magnificent temple built in a place she invested so much time in.
“Despite the crowds, and the occasional skeleton, it was an incredible trip.”
We have the best time together. I really liked seeing the Sistine Chapel and learning about how Michelangelo painted that famous fresco, though it was pretty crowded. The Colosseum was also full of tourist crowds, which was a bit of a drawback. One place that wasn’t so crowded was the Catacombs of Rome. The underground burial site is like something out of a horror movie: dark with skeletons hanging on the walls. If you’re ever in Rome, I wouldn’t recommend getting tickets to the Catacombs unless you enjoy being creeped out.
This was a really good break. It was a bit exhausting — with
so many things to see, we were always on the move — but sharing the adventures with people who have similar experiences is highly rewarding. Getting away from home and work for a while, whether you’re on a flight to Rome or a road trip to Mount Rushmore, is always good for you. It’s a chance to take a breath, let your shoulders relax, and spend time with the people you love. I hope this summer gives you the opportunity to have a good break with your family and make some new adventures together. –Walter E. “Pete” Moak
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June 2019
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COOL FOR THE SUMMER
Healthy Summertime Popsicles Ingredients
7 Tips for the Perfect Popsicle
• 2 cups berries • 2 tbsp honey • 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
There’s nothing like an icy treat to cool down with on a hot summer day. But ice cream and store-bought popsicles tend to be full of processed sugar and artificial flavors. Beat the heat with a homemade treat instead! Here are some tips for creating the perfect homemade popsicles. Invest in a popsicle mold. You can make popsicles with ice cube trays or paper cups, but an inexpensive popsicle mold can completely change the aesthetic of your popsicles, making them even more fun and delicious. Use a pastry bag or freezer bag with a corner cut off to easily fill popsicle molds without making a mess. When filling the molds, leave a 1/4 inch of space at the top. The mixture will expand when it freezes. • • •
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If your popsicle mold comes with a snap-on lid, leave the lid unsealed. Opening the lid when the molds are frozen can crack the brittle plastic. Turn your freezer to the coldest setting and put your molds at the back of the freezer. The quicker your popsicles freeze, the creamier they will be because fewer ice crystals will form. When you’re ready to eat your popsicles, carefully run the molds under warm water until they loosen. Gently wiggle the popsicle back and forth until it easily slides free.
Directions
1. Blend berries in a food processor or blender until nearly liquified. Feel free to use your favorite kind of berry for this recipe. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries all work great!
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2. Pour berry mixture into large bowl. Stir in honey, and then gently mix in yogurt.
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3. Pour mixture into molds and freeze for 4–6 hours.
4. Enjoy with your family on a hot summer day!
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Store uneaten popsicles in airtight freezer bags to prevent freezer burn.
Ready to get started? Use the above tips to mix up the delicious guilt-free popsicle recipe below.
When Man’s Best Friend Goes Bad
The Hard Truth About Dog Bites
Dogs have earned their place as man’s best friend. They’ve saved lives in military combat, helped people with disabilities live independently, and been there to greet us after a hard day. But man’s best friend can also be a real problem if they aren’t properly trained.
insurers paid out $675 million in liability claims for dog bites and other dog-related injuries. While most people worry about pit bulls or other bully dog breeds, German shepherds are actually more likely to be involved in dog bite cases — 2 to 1 over all other breeds. But the truth is any dog can bite if startled or provoked. Dog attacks can quickly become life- threatening, which is why every dog bite should be addressed with quick action. Some states have a “one free bite” rule, which means that unless a dog owner had a reason to believe their dog could be vicious, the owner isn’t held liable if their dog bites someone for the first time. This isn’t the case in Arizona. A few years ago, lawmakers passed a statute that makes dog owners liable for any damage caused by their dog, unless the dog was provoked before the attack.
Most adults know not to tease or surprise any dog, strange or familiar, but children often don’t realize the danger. Research found that 51 percent of dog-attack victims are children under the age of 5. Parents must teach their kids never to tease a dog, poke a dog with a stick, reach through a fence to pet a dog, approach dogs that are alone, or try to pet a dog while the dog is eating. For the most part, dogs are loving and loyal, but all animals act on instinct, which is why it’s important to always be careful around dogs. However, being careful isn’t always enough. If you or someone in your family has been attacked by a dog, you are entitled to seek compensation. An experienced dog-bite attorney can help. Call 480-755-8000 to learn how to handle your case and keep something like this from happening again.
In the United States, there are over 4.5 million dog bites each year, and in 2018, homeowners
Do you know anyone overwhelmed with debt o
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How to Rebuild After Bankruptcy: Part 5
What Matters Most?
Installment Loans Let’s say you’re in the market for a good used car. Even if you’re able to pay for that car in cash, your credit score will be better off if you get a small car loan instead. Even a $10,000 loan can make a big difference in your credit score once you’ve been making the payments for a few months. Home Loan It’s not mandatory to have a home loan in order to get good credit, but if you are ready to buy a new house, this loan can really boost your credit score — provided you can make the payments each month. None of this is to say you should go out right now and start opening credit cards or get car loans just to boost your credit score. Getting a car you don’t need and using a loan with a high interest rate that you can’t afford will only cause you more stress and ultimately damage your credit score. Only finance something because you need it, and shop around to make sure you’re getting a good deal.
Over the last few months, we’ve been looking at strategies to help rebuild a bad credit score after filing for bankruptcy and construct the foundation for good credit. Once you’ve reached a decent credit score — something in the low 600s — you can shift to focusing on turning it into a great credit score. This means you have to get back in the game and open lines of credit. That said, there are specific lines of credit that will boost the credit score algorithm more than other types. Major Credit Cards Your Macy’s store card or Chevron credit card aren’t going to make a huge difference to your credit score. If you want to see improvement, you need to apply for major credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. Ideally, you should have 3–5 different major credit cards. Then, you need to use them. Now, don’t start running up charges you can’t pay off. That’s how you end up in another mess with bad credit. Keep your spending under 20 percent of the credit card limit. As we’ve mentioned in the past, this ratio will also help improve your credit score.
No. 1 Dad Hash Browns
Word Search
June Word Search
Creating golden, crisp, and delicious hash browns at home requires a little diligence and elbow grease, but that’s exactly what Dad deserves to start his special day.
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W I I M R V E F D Y W A Q H J G T M T R L A P N H M Z C N J A U H B A P K Z P U T A N H E S P R X S C X B J V S U M E D G O D K J V A U Y A L P S X I O V J B Y L N V T T N T M A S P O D B Q E E O H R U P H O T N M N N Z H H S D M F T O E U F L C U Y C B N E D V Q Q P O F K T D B W S J G V M N C A E B S M W A Y L G G G C B V X Y C D U D G U X F D X K D H Y A I Q G M I A G T R A V E L E H
Ingredients:
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, or 6 tbsp ghee 3 russet potatoes (about 1/2 lb.), peeled 1 tsp Kosher salt, plus more to taste Freshly ground black pepper, to taste Pinch of cayenne pepper, plus more to taste Directions: 1. In a small saucepan, heat butter over medium heat until foamy. Reduce heat if needed to avoid browning. Skim off white milk solids to make clarified butter (ghee). Transfer to a bowl and reserve. (This step won’t be needed if using ghee.) 2. Using the large holes on a box grater, grate potatoes. Transfer to a large bowl of cold water and stir until water becomes cloudy. Rinse • • • •
potatoes under cold water, then squeeze out liquid using cheesecloth or a kitchen towel, removing as much moisture as possible. Season potatoes. 3. In a large nonstick skillet, heat ghee to medium-high. Add potatoes and cook until a crust forms underneath, about 5 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, break up potatoes and continue to cook, adding more ghee if potatoes begin to stick. 4. Cook until golden brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels; season with salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste. Serve.
BEACH HOT PLAY TAN BREAK
JUNE SUMMER TRAVEL FUN OUTSIDE
SUN VACATION
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SUMMER TRAVEL
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who was injured in an accident? We can help!
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INSIDE This Issue
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Something Old, Something New
Make the Ultimate Summer Treat Does Arizona Have a ‘One Free Bite’ Rule? The Best Credit to Improve Your Score Hash Browns for the Best Dad
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Take a Break From Your Smartphone
Siempo After you install Siempo on your phone, it will ask which apps are likely to distract you. Once you select them, the app will move those apps away from the home screen and place the important ones, such as the messaging, contacts, email, and calendar apps, on the first screen. You can also designate times for specific apps to be used throughout the day. Stay Focused Stay Focused is like Siempo, but there are some significant differences. You can set times to access certain apps and put the most distracting ones on lock. Stay Focused also has a “strict mode” that prevents you from uninstalling it, so be sure to think carefully before activating the lockdown because you won’t have access to those specific apps until the timer runs out.
Setting some time aside to be with family is important, but it can be difficult when everyone is always on their cellphones. Constant cellphone use has become a global problem, and the habit is hard to break because we rely on mobile devices heavily for work, school, and keeping in contact with friends and family. Luckily, there are plenty of apps that can reduce how often you’re on your phone and minimize distractions.
limit, the app starts growing a tree. Once the tree is fully grown, your time is up, and it joins the other trees that were grown during other breaks. If you pick up your phone and try to access an app, Forest will send you a notification asking you if you want to kill your baby tree by giving up. Who says guilt isn’t a good motivator? Besides Apps Aside from using these apps, silencing your phone and putting it in another room, leaving it in your car if you’re out at dinner, or keeping it in your purse or back pocket during a social event can also reduce your screen time. Having your phone out of sight and out of reach will keep the temptation of pulling it out at bay. Spending time with your family is crucial, and with these apps and tips, you’ll enjoy each other’s company without too many screen distractions.
Forest In the time that Forest takes control of your device for a set time
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