Claggett & Sykes Law Firm - October 2022

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LETTING THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG A Lesson About the History of English

One of my favorite pastimes is listening to podcasts while I walk my dog in the evenings. I listen to all sorts of topics: news, business, true crime, and sports. One of my favorite podcasts is “History of English” because it’s all about how the English language originated. I learned about this one from a Twitter comment by Elon Musk a few years ago — it’s apparently one of his favorites.

The podcast explores the historical development of the English language, starting with the Indo- European language — a proto-language many current European languages share.

The podcast’s narrator often explains the origins of common English phrases, many of which stem from medieval times and are centuries old. An example of this is the phrase “let the cat out of the bag,” which means to reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake. If you think about it, this phrase makes absolutely no sense. But once you understand the origin, you realize this would’ve made sense to medieval villagers because of a common experience many people had during that time. According to the most heavily cited explanation, in medieval times, vendors would often purchase young livestock (usually pigs) in bags because this was an easy way to carry them. Sometimes, a shady villager would try to swindle vendors and would instead place a cat in the bag. It wasn’t until the villager left the market that the vendor would discover they had actually purchased a cat — an animal of low value compared to livestock. So, letting the cat out of the bag was a way to reveal the secret — in this exact case, about a nefarious transaction.

“Pig in a poke” is another less common phrase based on a similar situation. A “poke” is an old word for “bag,” and the phrase means to make a purchase or deal without validating it.

If you enjoy history and English, I highly recommend the podcast “History of English.” I think you’ll love it and learn a lot along the way.

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EXPLORING NEVADA’S HAUNTED HISTORY Interested in visiting a haunted house this Halloween? This has long been a favorite pastime, especially in Las Vegas and Reno, where it seems every parking lot has a pop-up haunted house during Halloween. Where did this tradition come from? The answer might surprise you. energy. Communities created trick-or-treat, parties, parades, and, you guessed it, haunted houses.

Early haunted houses were small, community organized, and nonprofit. As time went on, companies noticed their popularity and opened larger haunted houses for commercial purposes. One of the most popular and well-known haunted houses is Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, which opened in 1969. Although some of its features seem gimmicky today, at the time, they were state of the art. American Haunts estimates there are now over 1,200 “haunted” attractions that charge admission. This doesn’t count the thousands of small-scale private haunted houses put on by churches, neighborhoods, and schools all across the United States.

According to History.com, the origins of America’s obsession with haunted houses can be traced back to the Great Depression. The economic crash increased young men’s Halloween antics to an unprecedented level. Around Halloween in 1933, the news reported that

teenage boys all over the country flipped over cars, sawed off telephone poles, and performed other acts of vandalism. Some communities considered banning Halloween, but most decided to organize activities for youths to redirect their

EMBRACING THE POWER OF NOW 4 Tips for Practicing Mindfulness

Use the power of meditation. You don’t need to meditate for a long time, and it certainly doesn’t require special poses or guidance. But taking just five minutes out of your day to focus on your breathing and clear your mind counts as meditation. It can help you to be more aware, present, and productive, especially in times of stress. Slow down. Try savoring the process of a task, even if it isn’t your favorite thing to do. Paying deliberate attention to your daily actions and activities, like doing the dishes or even folding laundry, promotes healthy focus and reduces feelings of being overwhelmed. Get moving. Incorporating exercise and movement into your daily routine helps you to become aware of your body’s sensations. You’ll be more appreciative of how your body responds to different stimuli and movements, and this trains you to be more aware of yourself.

Have you ever sat down to eat a bowl of ice cream, then looked down a minute or two later to notice you only have one bite left? What about reaching your destination in the car and not recalling one thing about the entire trip? With the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s tough to be present

100% of the time, but we shouldn’t let our minds go on autopilot. Not only can this be a safety hazard, but it may also impact important relationships and reduce our enjoyment and satisfaction.

With busy schedules and long to-do lists, how can we be more mindful? Practice mindful eating. Do you always eat in front of the television or computer? Try eating without distractions, dine in good company, or pay closer attention to flavors and textures of the meal — it’s good for both your body and soul! 2 725-867-8495 | WWW.CLAGGETTLAW.COM | WORKERS’ COMPENSATION AND PERSONAL INJURY Here are four tips to help you embrace the power of now!

BRAIN WORK

On Sept. 15–16, I attended the 10th Annual Nevada Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference. “Emerging Stronger Together” was this year’s theme. They educated those participating in the Nevada workers’ compensation system regarding current rules, procedures, policies, and forms and provided an opportunity for dialogue among these participants. I got to visit with many of my colleagues, some of whom I had not seen since the beginning of COVID. I especially enjoyed the legislative update by Christopher Eccles, Esq. Mr. Eccles detailed DIR’s progress in processing pending complaints as well as issuing benefit penalties. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CORNER

SPOOKY SPAGHETTI AND EYEBALLS

Inspired by FavFamilyRecipes.com

Ingredients

• 24 oz frozen meatballs • 16 oz spaghetti noodles • 24-oz jar spaghetti sauce • 2–3 slices of mozzarella cheese • Sliced black olives

I also enjoyed the presentation by Dr. Andrei Razsadin regarding the origins of chiropractic.

In addition to this, the conference focused on the impact COVID made on the workers’ compensation community and injured workers, including the lasting effects of long COVID.

Overall, I enjoyed this great conference, and I look forward to attending next year.

Directions

1. Cook frozen meatballs according to package instructions, then keep warm in oven on low heat. 2. In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add spaghetti noodles. Cook until tender and drain. 3. In a small pot, heat spaghetti sauce over medium heat until warm. 4. After everything is cooked, mix noodles and spaghetti sauce together, then put the mixture into a serving bowl. 5. Slice the meatballs in half and mix half of the slices into spaghetti. Top the spaghetti with the remaining meatball slices with the flat sides up. 6. Cut slices of mozzarella cheese into circles and place one slice on each of the flat- topped meatballs. Then, put one black olive over each cheese circle to form the eyeballs. Serve and enjoy!

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INSIDE

1 A Lesson About the History of English 2 History Behind Haunted Houses 3 Workers’ Compensation Corner Spooky Spaghetti and Eyeballs 4 Tips for Being More Mindful 4 3 Picture-Perfect Destinations

FALL IN LOVE WITH THE SCENERY!

3 Places to Travel This Season

Fall is the perfect time to plan a scenic vacation. You can find lower prices and fewer crowds at many popular destinations right now. Best of all, the views are incredible. From the changing colors of leaves to sunsets and mountains — a picture-perfect getaway awaits you! Here are three popular destinations to fall in love with this season. 1. Asheville, North Carolina Everyone can find something to enjoy in the mountains of the Carolinas. You can drive the Blue Ridge Parkway or hike the Appalachian Trail for breathtaking views of mountains and sunsets. For history fans, get lost at the Biltmore Estate and learn more about the Vanderbilts. If you’re a fan of the nightlife, Asheville is known as Beer City USA, with more than 30 breweries and over 100 local brews. 2. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming The wildlife in Yellowstone is active in the fall, so you’ll get a chance to see bison, elk, and eagles during your stay. You may even observe bears preparing for hibernation. If you love to be outdoors during the cooler months, then you will love biking, fishing, and hiking here during the fall. However, be aware that some roads will close for the winter in mid-October, so review park information ahead of time for accessibility.

3. Sedona, Arizona It may be too hot to visit Arizona during the summer, but the fall months are perfect because the temperatures drop somewhat. If you love to see trees bursting with colorful leaves, hike the Baldwin Trail and Cookstove Trail. Sycamore, oak, and maple trees will shade you with their colorful canopies. Also, each year, the city holds a Day of the Dead celebration you can attend at the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village in late October. These are only three of the many breathtaking destinations you can visit this season. For more locations, go to TravelAndLeisure.com/trip-ideas/fall- vacations/best-fall-vacations. So, what are you waiting for? Book your trip now, and don’t forget to pack a camera to capture the picture-perfect views!

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