Law Office of Matthew Konecky - January 2020

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THE KONECKY

JANUARY 2020

JOURNAL

561.671.5995 | 954.272.6187 | www.matthewkoneckypa.com 110 SE 6th Street, Suite 1700, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 4440 PGA Blvd, Suite 204 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

Why Does ‘Florida Man’ Always Make National Headlines?

Across the country and around the world, “Florida Man” constantly makes headlines. It seems that every week, “Florida Man” is caught doing something out of the ordinary. Past headlines include these:

or some sort of crime. Florida Man, it seems, is capable of anything, which may be why he has captured

“Florida Man Attacked During Selfie With Squirrel”

the imagination of millions of people across the country.

“Florida Man in ‘No, Seriously, I Have Drugs’ T-Shirt Arrested for Possession of Drugs”

There’s a scene in the FX show “Atlanta” that showcases what much of the rest

• “Florida Man Says He Danced on Patrol Car in Order to Escape Vampires”

of the country sees in Florida Man. In the scene, Earn (played by Donald Glover) mentions his parents are driving to Florida. His friend Darius (played by Lakeith Stanfield) has a warning for Earn: “Make sure you tell them to watch out for Florida Man.” Earn responds, “What’s Florida Man?” Darius then explains, “Florida Man is responsible for a large percentage of abnormal incidents that occur in Florida. No one knows his true identity, date of birth, what he looks like. That’s why headlines always say ‘Florida Man.’” As Darius suggests, the headlines can often make it look like one person is doing all of these extraordinary things. Sometimes the stories are humorous, but other times they’re unfortunate, if not tragic. But that comes back to the nature of Florida Man — he, she, or they can be anyone. There is another reason why Florida Man makes so many headlines. Florida has freedom of information laws that are unlike many of the laws you find in just about every other state. Because of these laws, journalists, bloggers, and others can get ahold of a lot of information out of Florida, including arrests and police reports. Off-the-wall events happen in every state, but because so much of these stories aren’t made available by law enforcement, you don’t see them — with the notable exception of Florida.

• “Florida Man Charged With Assault With a Deadly Weapon After Throwing Alligator Through Wendy’s Drive-Thru Window” The list goes on. More recently, we had headlines not of Florida Man but of Florida Dog. A black Labrador named Max managed to drive his owner’s car in circles for about an hour as neighbors looked on in disbelief. The video started circulating in November and went viral. I have a theory on this phenomenon. People come from all over the country, and all over the world, to visit Florida. They come for the weather and our many great attractions. However, many people who come to experience Florida for a vacation end up staying. They love it here. This state brings together people from all walks of life. With our extraordinary diversity of people, anything can happen. Of course, when Florida Man makes headlines, people associate this person as the quintessential Floridian. It doesn’t matter if the person has been in Florida one week or their entire life; when they do something out of the ordinary or completely preposterous, they become Florida Man, Florida Woman, or Florida Dog. Florida Man also seems to capture hillbilly stereotypes. Sometimes an alligator is involved, sometimes there’s a loss of limb, and sometimes it’s both. A lot of headlines also involve shady dealings But why is this? Why does Florida Man, the so-called antihero of the Sunshine State, keep making headlines?

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And so, as Florida remains diverse and its information public, Florida Man will live on in headlines and in our hearts.

–Matthew Konecky

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HOW TO SET A FAMILY MEDIA USE PLAN Screen-Time Strategies

With 24/7 media exposure from TVs, computers, and smartphones, it feels like life is dominated by screens. Consider implementing a media use plan for your family so they don’t miss out on the real world. Set a Curfew Limiting the time your children spend staring at a screen is good for their health. Try to keep screen time usage to under two hours per day. Implement a rule for no screens at mealtimes, and keep all screens out of bedrooms at night. Keep track of the devices by having a communal charging dock in a shared area where you can make sure everything is plugged in for the night. Have a Chat Don’t shy away from warning your kids about what exists in the digital world. Explain to them that certain content isn’t age-appropriate, and teach them what movie and TV ratings mean. Remind them to be careful about what they put on the internet because anything they upload never really goes away. Teach them to be smart with their decisions. Connect with them on social media if it helps you keep an eye on things. Construct a ‘Media Diet’ Take an active role in what your children watch by co-viewing programs with them. You’ll have a better sense of what they’re seeing and can point them toward the programming that’s right for them. Look for educational media choices that teach good values. There are a lot of great educational opportunities

on the internet, but there’s also a lot of room for negative exposure. If this is a concern, keep the family computer in a public part of your home so you can see what they’re accessing online. It’s important to educate your children about proper media health, but it’s even more important to encourage your kids to be healthy in other ways. Beyond the tips mentioned above, encourage them to play outdoors and even have them read physical books so they can participate more actively in the real world.

CLIENT SUCCESS STORIES

Download these books today ! YOUR LEGAL RESOURCE When it comes to the legal process,

you may have a lot of questions. Well, I have answers! Right now, I am offering my two resource books for free. “One Bad Night” If you or a loved one has been arrested for domestic violence, you may not know what to do. Get answers and find insight into the criminal justice process. “What You Must Know About Your DUI Case” Being convicted of a DUI charge can drastically change your life. Learn what goes into a DUI case and what your first step should be. Head over to matthewkoneckypa.com today for your free downloads!

“Mr. Konecky was a complete godsend during our very traumatic and emotional ordeal. Although it was difficult to deal with the loss of a beloved pet, attorney Konecky guided us every step of the way. He was able to broker a satisfactory resolution in a matter of weeks, which gave us the opportunity to move on from the event as quickly as possible.” –Laura

“Matthew was very knowledgeable and upfront when asked specific questions. He listens to all you have to say and then lays out your options as he sees them, allowing you to make educated decisions.” –Krista

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Are Dashcams Worth the Investment? and others attach to your rearview mirror. They are designed to work in just about every type of vehicle, from electric scooters all the way up to 18-wheelers.

Dashboard-mounted cameras, or dashcams, are becoming increasingly popular. Many drivers in countries where insurance fraud is common, like Russia and China, rely on dashcams to record all kinds of craziness on the road, including people diving in front of traffic in hopes of securing an insurance payout! Here in the U.S., this piece of tech is not as common, but people are starting to see the benefits. Many people invest in dashcams as a way to catch collisions and other bad driving behaviors on camera for liability purposes. Should they have to file a claim, these drivers have footage they can share. But are dashcams worth the investment only to catch a few seconds of footage? Dashcams are available in several different configurations. You can find them priced anywhere between $50 and $150 depending on the features and video quality. Some cams rest on your dash,

But when it comes to insurance savings, don’t expect to receive any for using a dashcam. There aren’t any insurance carriers that offer discounts for it. For instance, State Farm insurance says, “While a dashcam may provide information about why a crash occurred, it is not a device that is designed to inhibit the crash from happening in the first place.” This is true. A dashcam can only record, not prevent, an accident. That said, a dashcam can still offer some level of protection. It may be able to protect you if someone files a claim or lawsuit against you or if you need to file against someone else. A dashcam can provide footage of a wreck and give everyone involved, including insurance companies and attorneys, more information to potentially determine fault or reach a settlement. Keep in mind, however, dashcam footage doesn’t guarantee any of this. For example, some dashcams provide clearer footage than others. It’s also possible the footage is rendered unusable by poor lighting, glare, or if the camera completely missed the incident. Many factors can result in the footage being unusable. More than anything, dashcams give drivers peace of mind. If you’re concerned about driving on Florida roads, a dashcam is worth the investment, just in case.

MEME CORNER

Cooking With Ashley

EASY TOMATO SOUP

Inspired by Nom Nom Paleo

Who doesn’t love a bowl of tomato soup on a cold winter’s day? This recipe packs a lot more flavor — and a lot fewer additives — than your average store-bought soup without requiring hours of hard labor over the stove.

Ingredients

• • • •

2 tbsp coconut oil

• • • •

1 cup chicken broth 8.5 oz coconut milk

4 leeks, white parts only, thinly sliced

6 cloves garlic, minced

Kosher salt

1 28-oz can roasted and diced tomatoes (Muir Glen Organic is a good brand)

Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. In a skillet over medium heat, sauté leeks in coconut oil until softened and translucent, about 7–10 minutes. 2. Add garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds. Remove from heat. 3. Meanwhile, in a blender, purée entire can of tomatoes, including juice, until smooth. 4. Add sautéed leeks and garlic and purée again. 5. Transfer purée to a saucepan and add chicken broth and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, then drop to simmer and cook for 10 minutes. 6. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

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The ‘Florida Man’ Phenomenon

Tips to Establish a Family Media Use Plan

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Hear From Our Clients

Are Dashcams Worth It?

Easy Tomato Soup

Do You Know When Sherlock Holmes Was Born?

Can Your Family Solve the Mystery of Sherlock Holmes’ Birthday?

1. Read: Dive into the original stories that created the world’s most famous detective. Read and exchange the books as a family, or have your little one practice reading out loud before bedtime. There’s no better way to experience the stories that have captivated audiences than by rereading them in any order, and you just may find a clue others have missed. 2. Research: Channel Holmes and Dr. Watson

Readers have loved adventuring with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson as they solve some of England’s most dastardly mysteries for the past 100 years, but there’s one huge mystery that no one can seem to solve: When is Sherlock Holmes’ birthday? On Jan. 6, 2020, Holmes fans will celebrate the famed fictional detective’s 166th birthday, but it’s a day author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle never specified in any of the books. In “His Last Bow,” Doyle describes Holmes as 60 years old in the year 1914. That places Holmes’ birth year in 1854, but why was Jan. 6 chosen as his day of birth? In the 1930s, Holmes superfan, journalist, and novelist Christopher Morley decided Jan. 6 must be Holmes’ birthday because an astrologer suggested it. Fans doubled down on this belief because Holmes quotes William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” twice in the series — the only literary work he ever mentions — and Jan. 6 is 12 days after Christmas. Additionally, in “The Valley of Fear,” Holmes wakes up disoriented on Jan. 7, almost as if he was out the night before celebrating something special!

and become detectives yourselves! Read up on the clues, examine all the angles, and see what you discover about this mysterious birthday. 3. Host a Party: Host a Sherlock-themed bash to celebrate the famed supersleuth’s birthday! Debate the clues of Holmes’ mysterious birthday, and see if any of your guests have interesting theories. We may never know the day the world’s most beloved inspector was born in fictional London, but as Holmes himself said, “... When you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

So, are you and your family up to the challenge of solving this mystery? Here are a few ways you can put the clues together.

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