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June 2021
Why I Skipped My Prom to Go Fishing (Yes, Really) Expressway Tower • 6116 N. Central Expy., #1201, Dal las, TX 75206 • 214-682-7132 Alps Building - Historic Stockyards • 222 W Exchange Ave., Suite 106, Fort Worth, Texas 76164 • 817-382-8387
school to learn the latest tips, lure, strategies, and methods for catching fish. In middle school and high school, it was a great hobby and stress reliever. I could go out and spend as much time as I wanted on the water without getting in trouble. Fishing might be genetic, too, since my mom and her whole family like to fish. She grew up fishing in the beautiful Ozarks area of Missouri. Most moms ask to go to brunch or the spa on Mother’s Day, but not mine. She always wanted to go to the lake, and since she’s incredibly lucky, she never failed to catch the biggest fish! Back then, I mostly caught freshwater fish like bass and trout, but later on, my wife’s family introduced me to the joys of saltwater fishing on the Texas coast. Now, I’d take a saltwater adventure over fresh any day of the week! Fish from the ocean come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, so you never know what you’re going to catch. It could even be a shark. If I had to choose a favorite, I’d have to say that redfish (aka red drum) are near the top of the list. They fight like bass on steroids, and the battle is half the fun! Plus, saltwater fish like speckled trout and red drum are better eating than bass and trout. I introduced my kids to the joys of fishing as soon as I could, and they love it, too! I think the trick to converting a kid is making sure they catch a lot of fish on their first time out. Once they feel that tug on the line
When I learned that Friday, June 18, is National Go Fishing Day, I couldn’t help but laugh. I don’t need an excuse to go fishing. I’ve been finding time to sneak off and bait a hook my whole life! These days, work and family are my top priorities, but when I was a teenager, there were times when fishing was No. 1 — including the day of my senior prom. Yes, you read that right. At a moment in high school when the rest of the boys in my class were picking out tuxedos and freaking out about finding dates, I was planning a fishing trip. I got a few of my friends in on it, too. As you can imagine, my girlfriend at the time wasn’t very happy with me! Our relationship didn’t last long after that. Even so, I don’t regret skipping prom to fish. My buddies and I went to one of my favorite spots, Purtis Creek State Park, and spent the whole weekend pulling in largemouth bass. It was fantastic! (Side note: One great thing about Texas’ state parks is that you can go there to fish without a fishing license.) My obsession with fishing didn’t start in high school. When I was very young, my parents would take me trout fishing, and we’d bait our hooks with salmon eggs. Standing on the edge of the creek and watching fish wiggle in the water helped me appreciate the outdoors for the first time.
and the excitement kicks in, they become lifelong fans of the sport. Today, whenever we have downtime at home, the kids beg me to grab their poles and take them to a creek or pond in the neighborhood. We’ve spent hours fishing for bluegill and catfish as a family. I’m glad I can pass my passion and knowledge on to them. It amazes me that no matter how many fish I pull out of the water, that first little tug on the line is still enough to make my heart race. I love the feeling of anticipation as I wonder whether it’s a bite, and it never gets old! If you have a favorite fishing spot in the Dallas- Fort Worth area, I’d love to hear about it. Email me at Patrick@prk-law.com and maybe we can cast our lines together sometime.
I started reading fishing magazines, like In-Fisherman and Bassmaster, in elementary
-Patrick R. Kelly
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The Super Benefits of Yoga
Multiple studies agree: Yoga can significantly decrease the secretion of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. In one study, 64 women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) participated in a 10-week program, performing yoga at least once a week. By the end of the 10 weeks, 52% of participants no longer met the criteria for PTSD at all. As with starting any new hobby or regular exercise, it may help to set clear goals for yourself. By doing yoga regularly, there are several physical improvements you can look forward to, such as:
June 21 is International Yoga Day, which makes it a great time of year to talk about the unique benefits of yoga — the “superfood” of fitness. As a mixture of exercise and mindfulness, yoga is not only challenging but also has myriad health benefits. Many people assume yoga is mainly useful for increasing your flexibility. However, it’s also excellent for further developing your strength, mobility, and balance. These can be key benefits for living a healthier lifestyle, whether you’re an athlete or concerned about aging.
• Improved range of motion or ease of movement
Kaitlyn Hochart, a yoga instructor from San Diego, California, writes on Healthline, “During yoga, your body goes through a full range and variety of motion that can counteract aches and pains associated with tension or poor postural habits.” Yoga can help you become more aware of these habits, “[allowing] you to fix these imbalances and improve overall athleticism.” Many forms of exercise are useful against depression and cardiovascular disease, but in yoga’s case, you don’t have to break a sweat to start benefiting from its stress-relieving properties. “The breathing exercises you practice during yoga can help lower your heart rate and shift your nervous system into a more relaxed state. It also promotes better sleep and increased focus,” Hochart writes.
• A reduction in pain, discomfort, or other symptoms
• An increase in physical strength and endurance
• Less weight fluctuation
• Changes in the way your clothes fit
• Better-quality sleeping habits and increased or stabilized energy levels One of the best qualities of yoga is that you can be of any age or fitness level. So, pull up a YouTube video, find a soft surface, and give it a try!
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However, more restrictions have come up. In Miller v. California (1973), the U.S. Supreme Court found that the First Amendment’s freedom of speech doesn’t apply to obscenity.
How does the court define obscenity? There are three things they’ll take into account:
1. Will the average person (applying contemporary “community standards”) find the work appealing to the overly sexual interests?
2. Does the work depict or describe, in an offensive way, sexual conduct or excretory functions as defined by state law?
deletes a post, these actions don’t count as violations of free speech. Could that change?
3. Does the work, when taken as a whole, lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value?
According to legal experts, the big question now is how to treat large social media platforms. Clay Calvert, professor of law at the Levin College of Law, asks, “Should we treat them differently and regulate them more closely? Have we reached that stage where we need to antitrust litigation, perhaps, and say they have such powerful platforms, they’re like near-monopolies that we should do some trust-busting and break them up?”
Certain types of hate speech are legal, so long as they don’t incite violence and cannot be categorized as obscenity as described above. But what about more ordinary political opinions? Can those be legally censored?
The First Amendment’s Boundary
Corporate censorship and censorship by private entities are legal because the First Amendment only applies to government censorship. That’s why when Twitter bans an account or Facebook
Would it be a good idea for the First Amendment to apply to private entities? We’ll leave that to the future debates that are sure to come.
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TAKE A BREAK
ARE GROCERY SUBSCRIPTION BOXES WORTH IT?
June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month, so let’s explore one popular way to get more fresh produce into our lives: subscription-based delivery services like Full Circle and Imperfect Food. Are these services actually worth it? Do they save money and provide what they promise? Here’s what the research turned up. Can they save you time? The Verdict: Yes, without a doubt. Subscription-based grocery delivery services appeal to consumers because they save time. With somebody else doing your grocery shopping, you don’t have to think about when you’re making a trip to the grocery store this week. Someone else is doing it for you! Plus, some services even offer meal kits if you can’t decide what to make. There’s no argument here — these services definitely save you time. Can they save you money? The Verdict: Sometimes, since it depends on your existing shopping habits. If you find yourself making impulsive purchases while strolling down the aisles at the grocery store, then a set (but customizable) weekly list of delivered groceries might be a great way to stick to your budget. Unfortunately, not many grocery subscription-box delivery services offer nonfood items like toilet paper or cleaning products, so you may still have to make a trip to the store every once in a while. Is the food quality great? The Verdict: Yes, but it depends on your area. You have a higher chance of getting better grocery items if you buy from an organic grocery box service, like Imperfect Foods or Farm Fresh to You, since these companies work closely with your local farms. Keep in mind that some services, like Imperfect Foods, are designed to deliver fresh foods that are a little “imperfect” in size, shape, or color to help prevent food waste — but, as a benefit, it’s more affordable! However, we’ve found some services, like Full Circle, will prepackage their boxes from warehouses that may not be local to you, so do a little research before picking one. All in all, we’ve been pleasantly surprised to find that these boxes aren’t such a bad idea. Consider looking into it if you’re tired of the weekly grocery store time crunch!
GRILLED CHICKEN SHAWARMA
Inspired by FeastingAtHome.com
A spice-filled marinade and time do all the work in this recipe that features Middle Eastern flavors.
Ingredients
• 2 tsp allspice • 8 garlic cloves, minced • 6 tbsp olive oil • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 2 tbsp ground coriander • 2 tsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper • 2 tsp turmeric • 1 tsp ground ginger • 1 tsp ground black pepper
Directions
1. To create marinade, whisk all spices with the garlic and olive oil in a medium bowl. 2. Add chicken to the bowl, coat well with marinade, cover, and let sit in the fridge for at least 20 minutes — or up to 48 hours. Strain off excess marinade before cooking. 3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill thighs for 10–12 minutes
on each side, or until a meat thermometer reads 165 F. 4. Serve with rice, vegetables, or pita bread with tzatziki.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Why I Skipped My Prom to Go Fishing
1
The Super Benefits of Yoga
2
Grilled Chicken Shawarma Are Grocery Subscription Boxes Worth It?
3
Legally Speaking, What Is Censorship?
4
Legally Speaking, What Is Censorship? A Brief Dive Into the First Amendment
The Freedom to Speak — Without Obscenity or Inciting Violence
The First Amendment has been the centerpiece of a contentious debate about what can legally be posted (and deleted) on social media like Twitter and Facebook. But before we can define “censorship,” we need to know what is defined as “free speech.” What exactly does the First Amendment say about free speech? What are the boundaries for what people can and cannot do?
The First Amendment covers the freedom of speech, press, and religion. It’s arguably one of the most fundamental amendments to American democracy, but its interpretations can vary significantly. This is how the full First Amendment reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Why is it that the Ku Klux Klan and Westboro Baptist Church have gotten into legal trouble for expressing their opinions? Their groups often promote acts of violence against another group, which violates the “peaceably” qualifier to the people’s right to assemble.
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