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JANUARY 2026
It’s no secret that most of us are stubborn when it comes to our ideas, beliefs, and values. When we believe something should be done one way, it’s nearly impossible to convince us otherwise. It doesn’t matter if an expert is telling you something different or your research finds a different conclusion; we still hold firm to our initial beliefs. While this can be beneficial at certain times of our lives, such as ensuring we don’t fall victim to peer pressure, this way of thinking and acting could prevent us from making meaningful changes that could improve our lives. Throughout 2025, I struggled with my vision. To be clear, this isn’t necessarily something new, but my frustration finally reached a boiling point. I couldn’t even read the hymnal at church anymore! I went to see my eye doctor, adamant that I needed some type of hard contact lens to fix the problem. He quickly informed me that he couldn’t fix it. I had horrible astigmatism, so he sent me to a specialist, who told me I needed surgery to correct cataracts. However, I was stubborn and even a little fearful of surgery, so I stuck to my initial plan and persistently asked for a contact lens. The specialist saw they were fighting a losing battle and agreed to prescribe me a new contact lens, which provided marginally better vision for a short period of time. However, the specialist insisted that surgery would go far beyond that, giving me 20/20 vision up close and far away without needing glasses and contacts. It wasn’t until Dave questioned why I chose contacts over a potentially life- changing surgery that I decided to do more research and ask questions. I got a second opinion and even talked with the doctor in Cincinnati responsible for inventing many of the details involved in modern cataract surgeries. I had to trust what the experts were saying, which wasn’t always easy, but I am so glad I did. My vision has never been better, and I couldn’t be happier! And the Lessons I Learned Along the Way 20/20 Vision for the Future
This situation gave me a new perspective on a common struggle we’ve seen our clients experience. When we provide options after you’ve experienced a wreck, they may seem scary or overwhelming. It can be daunting to hear that you may need to use your auto insurance to cover the first $10,000 of your medical bills as the legal proceedings play out. We ask our clients to trust us to bring them out safely on the other side of a wreck. We’ll do our part to keep your insurance intact and put your best interests first. Nobody ever plans to be in a car accident, but we consistently help our clients end up in a better position than if they had never met or worked with us. It may be difficult to trust the process, but you can put yourself in a great position moving forward if you listen to and rely on the experts. This has been a life-changing experience for me. I’ve been regularly awe-struck by the beauty of the trees and leaves, and my phone is even at the standard font size now! It’s truly unbelievable, and I’m incredibly grateful to Dr. Tenkman, my eye surgeon, and Dr. McGiffin, my eye doctor. I highly recommend them if anyone else is considering improving their vision!
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WHEN TOILETS WERE TABOO The Rise and Fall of the Hays Code
In old Hollywood, even the simplest things could cause trouble. A silly sound effect, a bathroom door, or a joke at the wrong person’s expense might get a film pulled before audiences ever saw it. From the 1930s through the 1960s, studios followed the Hays Code, a list of rules meant to keep movies “clean” after scandals in the 1920s made Hollywood look like a bad influence. What began as an attempt to save the industry from outside censorship quickly turned into decades of odd restrictions. One of the strangest bans was the raspberry, or “Bronx cheer.” The harmless noise, created by placing one’s tongue between the lips and blowing, was labeled vulgar and lumped in with forbidden words like “lousy” and “cripes.” Even the famous Clark Gable line, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn,” from “Gone With the Wind” nearly didn’t make it past censors. Religion was another topic of strict censorship. Priests, ministers, and nuns could be stern or gentle but never the butt of a joke or the villain of a story. That’s why Bing Crosby’s Father O’Malley in “Going My Way” was
always portrayed with a mix of effortless charm and reverence that kept him safe from censors.
Childbirth was also considered improper. Labor scenes were banned outright, and even a shadow on the wall was too much. “Gone With the Wind” managed to slip in a softened moment with Olivia de Havilland’s character, but only after lengthy arguments with the Code’s enforcers. But bathrooms held the most absurd taboo of all. Toilets and the humor around them simply didn’t exist on screen. Then, Alfred Hitchcock released “Psycho” in 1960 and showed a toilet and a flush. Audiences had never seen anything like it, and the Code’s hold began to crumble. By the end of the 1960s, the system had collapsed, and the rating system we still use today replaced it. Looking back, it’s hard not to believe censors wasted their energy. What once seemed scandalous now feels tame, and the real surprise is just how many everyday things were once off-limits on screen.
KEEP YOUR EYES ROAD-READY A CLEAR VIEW AHEAD
Those with impaired vision can grow accustomed to not seeing things clearly, which can cause further difficulties when driving. While glasses or contacts can help your eyesight, you may still see halos or streaks when you look at headlights or street lights. You could have difficulty seeing street signs or debris in the road. Worse yet, you may not even notice when your vision worsens, opening up the potential for accidents or traffic tickets. One of the first things I realized after having eye surgery was that I probably was not as good a driver as I thought I was. I couldn’t see street or traffic signs until I was right in front of them. When I talked with my eye doctor about it, he informed me that the state of Kentucky was trying to address the potential problems that arise when someone with poor vision gets behind the wheel. They recently passed legislation that requires everyone to take a vision test whenever they renew their driver’s license. If you’ve had to
renew your driver’s license in the last year, you probably experienced this firsthand.
While this vision test is certainly a step in the right direction, it may not be as effective as one would hope. Reading a few letters off a monitor is not equivalent to driving at night or trying to make out what a street sign reads. Instead, you should consider seeing an optometrist for an eye exam before renewing your license. Not only will they give you paperwork that can bypass the vision test requirement, but their efforts will help improve your eyesight so you can be the best driver possible. An eye doctor will ensure you have the right prescription, and they’ll also look for issues with your eyes. I’ve heard multiple stories of people attending their annual checkup, only to learn they have a hole in their retina, or their retina is starting to detach. Because they went in for their
appointment, they were able to get immediate help with a budding emergency.
Your eyes play a significant role while driving. Go to your regular vision appointments, wear corrective lenses if necessary, and take extra precautions if you have trouble seeing at night or are dealing with astigmatism.
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Have a Laugh!
EMBRACING TECH ISN’T SO BAD AFTER ALL The Bright Side of the Digital Age
RUSTIC FRENCH PISTACHIO CAKE
Nearly every day, there is a new technological advancement that propels us further into the future. While there’s certainly a little fear right now over where technology is headed, thanks to the development and evolution of artificial intelligence, it’s worth noting that most tech has been a net positive for us. Tech allows us to connect more efficiently with our loved ones who live far away, learn about new topics that are completely foreign to us, and live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. There’s always plenty of chatter whenever a groundbreaking advancement is unveiled to the public. Whether you view it as good or bad is entirely dependent on its potential impact on your life. However, many new pieces of technology fly under the radar, failing to gain the appreciation or attention they deserve. Take e-readers like the Kindle as a great example. Humans have been reading for centuries, but there have been constant challenges that have prevented us from furthering our knowledge. You had to depend on light to see the pages, and you had to turn to reading glasses if your vision started to fade. E-readers completely discarded these issues. You can easily adjust the brightness and font size to ensure you can read comfortably. The advancement of cellphones is another one that many people don’t think about too often. Twenty years ago, many people were just starting to get comfortable with flip phones, and now, we have the power of an entire computer in our pocket. We can browse the internet, map directions to anywhere in the world, and use applications to better our lives and stay safe. Some apps like FlashFood and Too Good To Go even help people afford necessities. It might be annoying to feel like people can reach you at any time, but there’s no doubt cellphone technology has been a huge benefit to society. While new technology can cause concern about the future, it’s worth mentioning that most tech benefits our lives. Ideas like artificial intelligence may seem scary when first introduced, but give it some time. It may change the way you see the world for the better!
Ingredients •
2 cups heavy cream, cold 1 1/2 cups (minus 1 tbsp) all-purpose flour
•
• • • • • •
2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cups sugar 1 tbsp vanilla paste
1/2 cup shelled pistachios, finely chopped, plus extra for topping Powdered sugar for dusting
•
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F, then butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan. 2. Whip cold cream until it forms firm peaks, then refrigerate. 3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt, then set aside. 4. Beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. 5. Fold pistachios and flour mixture into egg mixture. 6. Gently fold cream into the batter until no streaks remain. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. 7. Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until puffed and golden on top. Let the cake cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pan. 8. Dust with powdered sugar and top with pistachios. Serve warm or at room temperature!
Inspired by TheViewFromGreatIsland.com
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INSIDE
TRUSTING THE EXPERTS CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING 1
THE STRANGE RULES OF OLD HOLLYWOOD
YOUR VISION COULD BE YOUR BIGGEST DRIVING HAZARD 2
INNOVATION ISN’T THE ENEMY
RUSTIC FRENCH PISTACHIO CAKE 3
TINY PAWS, BIG RESCUE: KITTEN HELPS MAN SURVIVE MOUNTAIN ORDEAL 4
Small Heartbeat, Big Rescue KITTEN KEEPS TRAPPED CLIMBER ALIVE IN MOUNTAIN BLIZZARD
Trapped in an icy mountain ravine, soaked and nearly frozen, 28-year-old Vladislav Duda contemplated what he feared would be the last night of his life. Escape from the ravine, more than 430 yards deep, was out of the question. Suffering from fatigue as hypothermia set in, Duda believed only one thing separated him from death: the furry warmth of his months-old kitten, Peach, huddled against his chest beneath his coat. Duda, a Ukrainian journalist, had undertaken a perilous journey in late 2024 across the Carpathian Mountains into Romania to avoid being drafted to fight in Ukraine’s war against Russia. Four days earlier, he had run out of food for his cat and himself, and they were surviving on icy water from melted snow.
Rescue workers from a regional mountain team had tried to reach Duda by helicopter, but hazardous blizzard conditions forced them to turn back. Instead, more than a dozen ground workers battled through deep snow in 14-degree temperatures into the ravine. When they finally reached Duda, they opened his coat and found the tiny orange tabby kitten curled against Duda’s chest. “The cat was warm, and was warming him,” Dan Benga, director of the Maramures Mountain Rescue Service, told The Associated Press. “He saved his life.” Asked if he was okay, Benga says that Duda told his rescuers, “I’m happy because my cat is alive. I got a chance from God for a new life. The happiest moment is because the cat is here with me.”
Although climbing out of the ravine took more than five hours, Duda held Peach close to his chest the entire way. Forced to turn the kitten over to rescue workers when he was placed in an ambulance, Duda begged them, “Please take care of the cat.” When Duda was rescued, he was one of roughly 160 Ukrainian men saved while crossing the mountains to avoid the draft. Sixteen others died trying. The rescue was “like a dream, after all I have been through,” Duda said. “Peach kept my heart warm, and he kept my faith alive.” Duda was treated for hypothermia at a nearby hospital. Peach was taken to a veterinary clinic nearby and, at last report, survived the ordeal in good health.
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