The Medl in News
FEBRUARY 2019
(though perhaps less exciting) trip getting to know the capital city and the surrounding countryside. If it had not been for this second trip, I may have never met the woman who became my wife. On the night before I flew back to the states, I ate dinner at the restaurant across the street frommy hotel and really hit it off with another patron, a young and prettywoman who had stopped in for a cup of tea before going to work. She had degrees in Biology and Education, and between her grasp of English and my smattering of Ukrainian and Russian, we had a great conversation. We ended up exchanging phone numbers that night — her name was Yuliya. Plenty of skype dates and more visits to Kiev followed. Then, one year, I bought a ring through customs and got down on one knee in a Japanese food restaurant. Not realizing the bench we’d been sitting on was nailed to the floor, “popping the question” left me wedged between our seat and the wall. We both had a good laugh, and then she made me the happiest man on earth by saying yes. While there are cultural differences between this Fort Worth boy and a girl raised in the Soviet Union, we’ve always had more in common than these surface level distinctions. We share a deep passion for learning and adventure, and we were both raised to understand the value of family. Upon coming to the U.S., Yuliya enrolled in an accounting program and added another degree to her belt, graduating top of her class. Now she works with us here at the firm and has even acted as a translator for one of our Russian- speaking clients. Together we’ve shared the joy of raising our daughter, Nadia, whose name means “hope” in Ukrainian. When I left for my second trip to Ukraine all those years
FINDING LOVE
With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, I hope you get a chance to spend some time with that special someone in your life. Whether you like to go out for a fancy meal or just have a low-key evening together, it’s nice to have a day to simply appreciate each other’s company. If you don’t have a valentine this year, don’t despair. If I’ve learned one thing from meeting my wife, Yuliya, it’s that you find love when you least expect it. To understand how my wife and I met, I first have to explain how I wound up in a Ukrainian detention cell. It’s not nearly as bad as it sounds, I promise. I’ve always loved to travel, and I used to tour Europe whenever I could. One year I picked up a book written by the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and became fascinated by the country. Not only does it have a rich history, but at the time, it had just emerged from the Orange Revolution and was trending more toward the West. I wanted to see this nation in transition for myself. This book claimed that the country had become so pro-American you could show up with a U.S. passport and get your travel visa right there at the customs office. This turned out to not be the case. I flew into Kiev the following summer, only to stun the officer looking over my paperwork. She said “neit” a lot, and before I knew it, I was spending the night in an airport holding room. They had me on a plane back stateside the very next morning — ironically, the country stopped requiring travel visas from U.S. citizens shortly after. Normally I don’t like to travel to the same place twice in a short time period, but my night spent “locked up abroad” made me that much more determined to see Ukraine. The following year, I arrived with all my paperwork in order and had a wonderful How a Chance Trip Introduced Me to My Wife
ago, I never imagined I’d be starting such a happy chapter of my life. It just goes to show that you can find love in the most unexpected places.
Happy Valentine’s Day,
– Gary L. Medlin, Esq.
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BREAKING THROUGH THE TV TERMINOLOGY
Standard high-definition TVs (1080p) have a vertical resolution of 1,080 pixels and a horizontal resolution of 1,920. Here’s where it gets weird. 4K TVs have a vertical resolution of 2,160 pixels with a horizontal resolution of 3,840. Marketers decided to swap the vertical resolution as their reference point with the horizontal resolution, because higher numbers are more impressive, right? But 4K TVs seem to fall short of the moniker. Regardless, these TVs have improved color and image quality over standard HD, but you have to have devices — such as the PlayStation 4 Pro or a Blu-ray player — or services that output in 4K to take advantage of the boost in pixels. HDR High Dynamic Range, or HDR, is a type of image processing. When an image is processed, HDR is used to increase or decrease the luminosity of the image. It means bright whites, deeper blacks, and improved colors overall. It’s been used in photography for decades and in video since the 1990s. Most 4K TVs have built-in HDR processing, resulting in better color quality, which translates to better image quality overall. OLED Short for organic light-emitting diode, OLED TVs feature a microscopically thin layer of an organic compound that emits light when an electric current is introduced. Typical LED TVs rely on a backlight in order to produce a lit, visible image. These backlights take up space, resulting in a thicker TV. The major advantage of OLED TVs is they are incredibly thin and light, and they produce deeper blacks for an improved color and image quality.
When you shop for a new TV these days, you’re greeted with a bevy of acronyms and numbers — marketing terms you can’t make sense of. These are terms like 4K, HDR, and OLED, just to name a few. TV makers leave it up to you to figure out what these terms mean. Well, look no further. We’re going to cut through the marketing speak and get to the point. Here’s what today’s popular TV marketing terms really mean. 4K The TV buzzword “4K” has replaced “HDTV” and “1080p” as the go-to marketing term. In short, it’s a reference to the number of pixels on the screen.
TRUCK ACCIDENTS
What You Need to Know
In the spring of 2018, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a disturbing statistic. For the 10th year in a row, Texas led the nation in fatal trucking accidents. In 2016, the latest year this data is publicly available, 484 fatal accidents involving large trucks or busses occurred on Texas roadways. Even a non-fatal crash can be life altering, so if you are involved in one of these traumatic events, it’s important that you take action. Take Care of Your Injuries Accidents involving large commercial vehicles like semi trucks are far more likely to cause catastrophic injuries than an average car crash. Broken bones, contusions, head trauma, and other serious physical and mental wounds are frighteningly common. Not only do these types of injuries mean a longer, more expensive stay at the hospital, but they also have the potential to leave you with a lifelong disability. Keep these long-term, life altering factors in mind when pursuing compensation for your injuries.
Know the Law Truck accidents can also be more legally complex than other crashes. Rather than being a simple question of which driver is at fault, there are other parties to consider as well. Depending on the nature of the accident, the truck driver’s employer or even the vehicle manufacturer may bear some responsibility. Identifying which party or parties to pursue claims against and gathering evidence to prove their culpability takes a deep familiarity with both Texas personal injury law and the state’s commercial driving regulations. This is why an expert truck accident attorney can be a huge asset to your case. At the Medlin Law Firm, we believe in fighting for our clients. We’ve seen the physical and emotional struggle people face after these frightening accidents, as well as the good that receiving just compensation can do for them and their families. If you have been injured in an accident with a truck or other large commercial vehicle, please reach out to us. We’ll listen to the details of your case and help you understand the legal avenues available.
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HAVE GUN — WON’T TRAVEL
Don’t Bring a Gun to a TSA Checkpoint
Regardless of whether you’re bringing a carry-on or an entire suite of luggage on your next vacation, it’s vital to check your bags before getting to the airport. Dallas-Fort Worth has the highest rate of firearm confiscations per capita than any other airport in the U.S., and the consequences can be devastating. Here’s what you need to know before you board. Bringing a Gun to a Checkpoint is a Crime Having a firearm — loaded or not — on your person or in your luggage when you reach a TSA checkpoint will result in criminal charges. On top of local and state violations, the TSA can also file federal and civil claims against you, meaning you could face fines up to $13,000. On top of this cost, you can wind up on the “no-fly list,” causing a great deal of travel inconvenience in the future. The Orange Carabiner Rule Most guns found at TSA checkpoints are the result of a simple accident. Maybe you forgot your firearm was in that particular duffle bag, or perhaps your spouse packed for you and didn’t realize your gun was inside. To avoid these mistakes, it’s a great idea to attach an orange carabiner (or any brightly colored tag) to any bag that has a gun in it. Not only is this good gun safety in general, but it will also keep a costly mix-up from happening at the airport.
Know How to Travel With Firearms The TSA’s regulations don’t mean you have to leave your guns at home. By placing your firearm and ammunition in a hard- sided, locked container and declaring it at your airline’s ticketing counter, you can have it checked to your final destination. You can visit the TSA’s website for the latest information on this policy. It’s also a good idea to research the gun laws of your final destination if you’re leaving Texas. If you do find yourself charged for bringing a firearm to a TSA checkpoint, you still have options. An expert Texas criminal defense attorney can help communicate your side of the story to prosecutors and jurors alike and keep a simple accident from having life-altering consequences. Our firm has had many successes getting these types of charges dropped or significantly reduced. Of course, we’d rather these accidents simply not happen in the first place, so check your bags and fly safe!
Bistecca Alla FIORENTINA
Brain Buster
Ingredients
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2 bone-in porterhouse steaks
•
1/4 cup olive oil
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2 sprigs rosemary
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Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
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Lemon wedges, for serving
Directions
4. Flip steaks and baste with
1. 30 minutes before cooking, remove steaks from fridge to bring them to room temperature. 2. Heat a grill or large cast-iron skillet to high. While heating, brush steaks with half the oil and season liberally with salt and pepper. 3. Place steaks on the hottest part of the grill or pan and cook for 5 minutes.
remaining oil, using rosemary sprigs as a brush. If cooking in a pan, place sprigs next to steaks after basting.
5. Cook for 5–6 minutes for medium-rare. 6. Let steaks sit for at least 5
minutes, slice against the grain, and serve with bone.
Inspired by Food Network
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1300 South University Drive Suite 318 Fort Worth, TX 76107
817-900-6000 www.medlinfirm.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1.
How Gary Met Yuliya
2. 3 Terms You Need to Know Before Buying a NewTV
Hit by a Truck:Who’s Responsible?
3. On Guns at the Airport
Bistecca Alla Fiorentina
4. Why DoWe NeedALeap Year?
WHY DO WE NEED A LEAP YEAR? Every four years, February gains an extra day at the end of the month. But what does this contribute to the year as a whole? You might be surprised by what this one day does for us!
However, the Julian Calendar wasn’t perfect, because 0.2421 of a day can’t be rounded to a multiple of five, so it caused the calendar to have an extra 11 minutes every four years. Pope Gregory XIII fixed the problem in 1582 by creating the Gregorian Calendar. Now, a leap year occurs every four years except for the years that are evenly divisible by 100 and not 400. For instance, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years because they were divisible by 100.
The 365 days in each year represent the time it takes for the Earth to circle the sun. However, the orbit actually takes nearly a quarter of a day longer than that. The additional 0.2421 of a day might not
seem like it would make a significant impact, but after a few decades, it adds up. To ensure the calendar and seasons stay on the right timeline, the leap day was created. The Start of the Leap Year The Egyptians were the first to officially calculate how many days it takes to orbit the sun, revealing the need for a leap year. Europeans at the time used a calendar that followed a lunar model, which needed an entire month added to retain consistency. The leap year wasn’t introduced into Europe until the reign of Julius Caesar. With the help of
A Leap Day Birthday The odds of being born on Feb. 29 are about 1 in 1,500, which leaves approximately 187,000 people in the U.S. and 4 million people around the world celebrating their birthdays on Feb. 28 or March 1. People born on a Leap Day are faced with dilemmas such as which date they should receive their driver’s license. Although it varies from state to state, most consider March 1 the appropriate day for leap-year 16-year- olds — who are celebrating their fourth “official” birthday — to receive their license.
astronomer Sosigenes, Caesar created the Julian Calendar, which included 12 months and 365 days, with a single day added every fourth year.
With all the changes the calendar has undergone, it still isn’t quite perfect. Experts say that in about 10,000 years, it will need to be changed yet again.
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