Dunaway Law May 2019
May 2019
DUNAWAY DIGEST
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Lifelong Learners How Do We Find Great Teachers?
“In order to truly appreciate great books, we must understand the context in which they were written.”
Not long ago, I was driving my daughter to school when we started talking about teachers. She was frustrated because a teacher she really liked at the beginning of the year had really checked out during the second semester. It’s never fun to be stuck with a bad teacher, but the reality is that we’re going to have good and bad teachers at each phase of our education. Even after you’ve graduated, it’s important to keep learning, which means we’re eventually responsible for finding our own teachers at a certain point. I believe that, outside the classroom, the best learning can come from reading books. This month, I want to continue my 100 Fundamental Books list that I started earlier this year. The first books I listed were all fiction or art. My idea of fundamental books also includes books on history, economics, and philosophy. In order to truly appreciate great books, we must understand the context in which they were written. The books I’m covering here aren’t necessarily 11–20 on my list, but they are essential titles I recommend everyone read. I’m already cheating a little here. Bauer has written a three-volume set covering around four thousand years of history: the “Ancient World”, the “Medieval World” and the “Renaissance World.” If you’re worried that you don’t know anything about history, Bauer’s works are a great way to start. “History of the ___ World” by SusanWise Bauer
“AHistory of theAmerican People” by Paul Johnson
This is the single best volume history of the United States, in my opinion. I already talked about this book in my recommendation article last August, so I’ll just say that if you ever wanted to understand our history better, this is the book to read. “Basic Economics” byThomas Sowell Economics is a difficult topic that can get extraordinarily complicated, but economics play a big role in our lives. Sowell is able to talk about economics in a way anyone can understand. This is one of the better single-volume histories on philosophy. Russell is able to give readers a sense of what people have thought about over the years and how those thoughts developed, for better or worse. “AShort History of Modern Philosophy” by Roger Scruton Philosophy isn’t just something the Greeks were thinking about. It still applies and is changing to this day. “AHistory ofWestern Philosophy” by Bertrand Russell
20th century, from 1920–1980. Dramatic changes took place around the world during those times. This is an important book to understand howwe got to where we are today. “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” by Edward Gibbon There are more modern histories of the Roman Empire, but I say this one is as good, and, in some ways, more accurate. Gibbon’s work also offers a great deal of literary value. I’m cheating again here. This is an eight-volume work, which isn’t surprising, considering how long and expansive the history of the Christian church is. If you’re interested in learning more about Christianity or history, this is an important read. “Howto Read andWhy” byHarold Bloom This is a relatively short book, but if you’re embarking on a lifelong reading program, it’s essential. The way you approach reading is almost as important as what you’re reading. Bloom is a professor of English at Yale, and he is great at exploring whywe read and what reading can teach us as human beings. “History of the Christian Church” by Philip Schaff
“History of Political Philosophy” by Leo Strauss and Joseph Cropsey This one is actually a textbook edited by
American political philosophers Leo Strauss and Joseph Cropsey, so it really fits in with the idea of finding good teachers. “Modern Times” by Paul Johnson Back to historywith Paul Johnson, who’s so good he makes this list twice. This is the history of the
We should never stop learning and finding teachers who can help broaden our minds. Books are one of the best ways to do this.
–Matt Dunaway
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Popular Streaming Services Finding that perfect streaming service for your family can cause parents some stress. There are so many options, and it can be difficult to determine which services provide child-appropriate content AND won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Luckily there are plenty of affordable platforms that have family-friendly content. Netflix and Hulu Known as two of the most popular streaming services that offer family- friendly content, Netflix and Hulu feature plenty of shows and movies that are perfect for kids. For families who own smart TVs or a digital media device, like Roku or Apple TV, both services are available after a quick app download. Both of these platforms have parental controls, allowing parents to set up accounts and restrictions for what their children can watch. You’ll never miss an episode of “Ninjago” or “Sesame Street” again! Their prices are reasonable as well, with Netflix plans ranging from $8.99–$15.99 a month and Hulu being slightly cheaper at $5.99–$11.99 a month. Amazon Prime Video For parents who are already Amazon Prime members, Amazon Prime Video is included with their membership. Those who aren’t can enjoy this streaming service by itself for $8.99 a month. Offering an extensive collection of titles of multiple genres, Amazon Prime Video is a great streaming service. Movies range from “The Daniel Tiger Movie: Won’t You Be Our Neighbor” for your toddler to the more serious “The Dark Crystal” for kids who are a little older. As with Netflix and Hulu, this service also has a parental control feature, ensuring kids don’t watch anything that may be inappropriate. Disney+ Disney+ will be the newest streaming service, which is set to be released later this year. Families will have access to classic Disney movies as well as other content that Disney has influenced. They’ll even have exclusive access to the newest Disney creations. It’s been speculated that anticipated titles “Captain Marvel,” “Toy Story 4,” and “Frozen 2,” will only be available to stream on Disney+. Parents can rest easy knowing that R-rated films won’t be available through this new service as Disney wants to keep its family-friendly approach. Which Services Are Right for You?
“I had to use Matt many years ago and remembered how much he helped me then. This past year I again found myself in a situation that seemed, at the time, hopeless. I contacted Matt to find out about my options, and he helped me through my situation and was never judgmental. Matt was thorough, organized, and informative. His guidance and knowledge once again gave me a sense of peace about my situation.” -Anonymous “If you have any problems related to consumer law and need legal representation, Matthew Dunaway is an expert in this field. He has represented me approximately five times, and each outcome was in my favor. Mr. Dunaway displays integrity, professionalism, and exceptional interpersonal skills. I felt completely comfortable in my first consultation with him. Mr. Dunaway saved me thousands of dollars by representing me in consumer court.” -Anonymous
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4 Common Sense Anti-Scammer Strategies
The Federal Trade Commission estimates millions of people are defrauded every year. Technology has made it even easier for criminals to scam honest people and steal their hard- earned money. Here are a few strategies to help you avoid becoming a victim. Don’t Respond to Unexpected Requests Legitimate institutions will never reach out to you unexpectedly to request payment or information about your account. If you get a phone call from someone who claims there’s a problem with your bank account and requests your account information to confirm your identity, it’s a scam. This holds true if you get an email from someone inviting you to invest in a financial opportunity or donate to a charity. Legitimate institutions don’t cold-call. Never Send Money Online Unless you are paying for a utility on a legitimate website you have used in the past, never send anyone money online. Debt collectors won’t send you an email asking you to click on a link to Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou
do your research before acting. Search the company, offer, or situation in a search engine with the words “review” or “scam.” Scammers tend to target a lot of people, so you’ll be able to quickly determine if someone is trying to steal your money. If You Suspect a Scam, Stop Paying and Report It This one can be surprisingly hard. Some people pay into a scam dozens of times without ever getting a penny back. Still playing the game means they’re holding out hope that maybe it wasn’t a scam after all. It’s painful to admit you’ve been scammed. But while you might not be able to get your money back, you can stop the criminal from taking more of your money in the future. A terrible fact of life is that crooks will always try to pull a fast on good people. Their scams are getting more complicated. Remember to stay alert and practice caution; you don’t have to fall for their tricks.
make a payment. If your family member is really stranded somewhere, they’ll call you. And there has never been a prince from a foreign country who will pay you back double if you give them a small loan today. Do Your Research Scammers are getting more sophisticated. Some will trick people with irresistible offers. Others will use a little bit of info, like a password from a data breach, to scare people into cooperating. Always
RECIPE: • 3 large eggs • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper INGREDIENTS:
Classic French Omelet
•
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
DIRECTIONS:
1. In medium bowl, beat eggs with plastic fork until last traces of white are just mixed in. Season with salt and pepper. 2. In an 8-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter, swirling over medium heat until foamy but not browned. Add eggs, stirring rapidly with fork, while moving skillet to agitate eggs. Break up all curds by scraping bottom of skillet as they form. Stop stirring when eggs are softly scrambled and creamy (but loose enough to come together into a single mass), 1–2 minutes. 3. Using fork, gently spread egg in an even layer around skillet and scrape down any wispy bits around the edges. The top surface should be loose and creamy, but if still liquid, swirl skillet to bring raw egg to the edge where it will set faster. 4. Remove from heat. Tilt skillet up by handle. Using fork, gently roll omelet down over itself until nearly folded in half. Using fork, push omelet to edge of skillet so that the lower edge of egg just begins to overhang. Use fork to fold overhanging edge of egg back over, closing omelet. 5. Turn omelet out onto plate. It should have the seam on bottom.
dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
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Inside This Issue
100 Fundamental Books — Part 2 Page 1
Streaming Services Perfect for Your Family Our Clients Say It Best Page 2 Protect Yourself from a Scam Classic French Omelet Page 3 How Often Do You Check Your Phone? Page 4
‘Digital Minimalism’ by Cal Newport A Page FromMatt’s Bookshelf
This month, I want to talk about a new book that just came out this past February, “Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a NoisyWorld.” I don’t read a lot of newly released books, but the author, Cal Newport, is one of my favorite writers, so I made an exception for his latest work. As the name implies, “Digital Minimalism” is about creating a framework for how to best use digital devices in our lives without letting them interfere with or eclipse the important things. I should make it clear
focused on work with our phone rather than being present for our child’s baseball game, it’s time to re-evaluate.
One big thing Newport suggests is taking a digital sabbatical. For 30 days, cut out all nonessential digital interactions. Obviously, you might still need to be on your computer at the office or use your phone to call your spouse when you’re meeting for dinner, but things like social media, Netflix, YouTube, or video games are all out. Instead, use that time to do work on physical projects with your hands. After a month, evaluate how you’re feeling. People who have participated in Newport’s digital sabbatical say it’s like taking the red pill in “The Matrix.” They feel awakened from a stupor, no longer fixated on their phones but instead able to find time to really interact with the world. It’s freeing. Technology isn’t bad — far from it — but the attention it demands can threaten to take up all our time and thoughts. I can’t recommend “Digital Minimalism” enough. It’s an insightful, reasonable strategy for taking control of our devices rather than letting them control us.
that this book isn’t a rant against the “dangers of technology.” I’m a tech geek myself and love my gadgets, but I’ll admit there are times when they become a crutch rather than a tool. Newport offers advice for learning how much is just enough. Our digital devices should be tools with benefits, not burdens or habits we can’t break. When we’re texting a friend rather than talking to the friend we’re having lunch with, or when we’re
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