Herrman & Herrman February 2018

Herrman & Herrman's online newsletter for February 2018

february 2018

www.herrmanandherrman.com • 844.567.6399 1201 3rd St, Corpus Christi, TX 78404 • 801 E. Fern Ave. #155, McAllen, TX 78501

What Makes the World Go Round?

Valentine’s Day Celebrations From Across the Globe

Japan In Japan, women take responsibility for gift-giving on Valentine’s Day, and chocolates say more than words. On Feb. 14, women in Japan give the men in their lives gifts of “giri choco” or “honmei choco.” Giri choco translates to “obligation chocolate,” and, as the name would suggest, tends to be cheaper and store-bought. Usually given to friends, colleagues, or bosses, this chocolate comes with no romantic notions attached. Honmei choco is “true-feeling chocolate.” Often homemade, honmei choco is given to romantic partners, including husbands and boyfriends. The ladies of Japan may do all the work on Valentine’s Day, but one month later, on March 14, the country celebrates White Day. This holiday gives men the chance to reciprocate by giving presents to the women in their lives. Typical White Day gifts include cookies, jewelry, white chocolate, white lingerie, and marshmallows. South Korea Japan’s Valentine’s Day and White Day traditions have spread to other countries in Asia, and South Korea has taken it a few steps further. In South Korea, the 14th day of every month is a special day for love and romance. In addition to Valentine’s Day in February and White Day in March, South Koreans celebrate Diary Day on Jan. 14, Black Day in April, Yellow Day in May, Kiss Day in June, Silver Day in July, Green Day in August, Photo Day in September, Wine Day in October, Movie Day in November, and Hug Day in December. Each holiday signifies a special way to celebrate love. Don’t worry; single folks aren’t left out of the festivities. Black Day on April 14 is a holiday for single people to wear black and eat “jajangmyeon,” a Korean black bean noodle dish. Depending on how you look at it, this holiday is either for people to mourn being alone or to celebrate their independence.

In the United States, Valentine’s Day, the most romantic of holidays, is often referred to by cynical souls as a “Hallmark holiday.” It’s hard to argue with that dismissal when the same pink and red greeting cards line the shelves of every department store. If you’re tired of the same old heart-shaped candies and restaurant reservations, it’s time to bring the romantic spark back to Valentine’s Day. Take a trip around the world and see how other countries celebrate the day of love. Denmark In the U.S., red roses are the go-to Valentine’s Day flower thanks to their connection to Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love. However, in Denmark, couples are more likely to exchange snowdrops. These lovely white flowers rarely wait for the warmth of spring to bloom, instead pushing right through the snow, which makes them a wonderful symbol of love that triumphs in harsh conditions. Poems are also popular among Danish couples on Valentine’s Day. Called “gækkebrev,” these anonymous poems are romantic or humorous in nature. If the person who received the poem is able to correctly guess the sender, they are rewarded with an Easter egg later that year on Easter Sunday. South Africa Some people tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves, and on Feb. 14 in South Africa, they do so literally. Women, and sometimes men, will write the name of their sweetheart on a piece of paper and pin it to their sleeve. This is inspired by the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was held on Feb. 15. In South Africa, it’s not uncommon to discover you have a secret admirer by seeing your name written on their sleeve.

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Education in the Kitchen

MAKE IT A FAMILY RESOLUTION With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you’re probably wracking your brain for the perfect recipe to bake for your loved one. There’s nothing wrong with store-bought chocolate, but there’s no topping the personal touch of some homemade baked goods. If you have kids, baking alongside them can be just as rewarding as enjoying the fruits of your labor. As an added bonus, baking is a hands-on opportunity where your child can learn all sorts of important concepts. Here is a short list of some of the educational lessons hiding in your kitchen. MATH Baking is a numbers game. Just take a look at any recipe, and you’ll recognize the importance of math in building a beautiful cake. Having children measure out ingredients helps them learn about fractions and ratios. You can also test your kids by doubling or halving a recipe for multiplication and division practice. With older kids, practice unit conversions by asking, for example, how many pints are in half a gallon. FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS Not unlike computer science, baking requires a strict order of operations. The wet and dry ingredients often need to be mixed separately and then folded together. It only takes one deviation from the instructions for a pastry to go from delicious to disgusting. Spending time in the kitchen, then, is a great way for kids to learn the importance of reading directions carefully

and comprehending what they’ve just read. CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING Cuisine is a Introducing your child to dishes from around the world will expand their horizons. Want your child to be a less picky eater? Involving them in the fundamental part of every culture.

cooking process is the surest way to get them excited about trying new

NUTRITION Now, you might not think that baking cookies will encourage greater nutritional awareness, but hear us out. Sugar is often buried within packaged foods. When you bake something at home, a child gets to see, firsthand, just how much sugar goes into certain sweets. Meanwhile, cooking savory dishes also allows them to learn what constitutes a balanced, healthy diet.

“Lane Diamond’s service was very good. He helped me with everything I needed and was very nice. Thank you.” –Mercedes B. “Excellent firm that I would recommend to my own family and friends. Working with William Privette has been an incredible experience. He is professional, effective, personable, and tenacious. He demonstrates his success by leaving no stone unturned regarding the case, which leads to a very favorable outcome. The firm and William Privette treated me with the upmost respect and kindness, and I can’t stress enough how pleased

I am. You can trust them to do what is in your best interest, 110 percent!” –Daniel G. “Thank you, Herrman & Herrman, for all the help with my accident. Sonia, Maureen, and Lane took good care and handled my case excellently. Very helpful and personal. They helped a lot and were there to answer any questions I had. I would really recommend my family and friends to you.” –Kassandra S. “I had a case with Herrman & Herrman. They worked hard on my case. Maureen, Lane, and Kendra did a great job.

testimonials

don’t just take our word for it

Thanks so much.” –Jessica P.

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What Is Comparative Negligence?

Defining the Legal Term

The Impact of comparative negligence doctrine on other rules:

You may have heard the term “comparative negligence” and not fully understood its meaning. When you’re working with an attorney, it’s a term that comes up from time to time and it’s not always straightforward. In short, it’s a legal defense that can influence the damages the plaintiff receives in a claim.

• Last Clear Chance: Under comparative negligence, the last clear chance doctrine is generally abolished.

• Wanton or Reckless Conduct by Defendant: Such conduct apparently will not affect the comparative negligence doctrine, i.e., the plaintiff’s recovery can still be reduced. But the plaintiff’s negligence is not a factor if the defendant acted intentionally.

To start, there are different forms of comparative negligence.

• “Pure” comparative negligence: Under a pure comparative negligence claim, the plaintiff may recover the percentage of damages for which the defendant is liable, even when the plaintiff’s negligence exceeds the defendant’s. • “Partial” comparative negligence: Under a partial comparative negligence claim, the plaintiff may recover the percentage of damages for which the defendant is liable only if the plaintiff’s own negligence falls below a certain threshold. If there is more than one defendant, most states require that the plaintiff’s negligence be less than the negligence of any of the defendants. A few states permit recovery if the plaintiff’s negligence is less than that of the aggregate.

• Avoidable Consequences: Total relevant fault is apportioned. Thus, failure to mitigate damages is no longer charged solely to the plaintiff.

• Rescuers: Most courts do not allow a rescuer’s negligence to result in a reduction in the rescuer’s award.

• Res ipsa loquitur: Most states no longer require plaintiffs to show freedom from contributory negligence as part of a res ipsa loquitur case.

• Punitive Damages: Plaintiff may not recover punitive damages where the jury has attributed more fault to the plaintiff than to the defendant.

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The Philippines In the Philippines, Valentine’s Day isn’t just a day to say “I love you.” It’s a day to say “I do!” Mass weddings on Feb. 14 have become incredibly popular. In 2010, over 1,500 couples dressed in white and were married simultaneously in a free ceremony in Caloocan City. Three years later, 4,000 couples decided to tie the knot on Valentine’s Day 2013. France You may consider Paris the ultimate romantic destination, but when it comes to Valentine’s Day, a small village 160 miles south of the City of Lights is where you want to be. Saint-Valentin is home to less than 300 people, and on Valentine’s Day, they do their namesake proud. During the week leading up to Feb. 14, locals decorate their homes with hearts and flowers and cover trees with love notes. Many couples come to be married in the village’s “Jardin des Amoureux,” or “Lovers’ Garden.” Whether you’re married or single, there’s always a reason to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This year, why not try your hand at crafting homemade chocolate, write a humorous poem, or eat black bean noodles with your single friends? You might just find a new tradition to fall in love with.

Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tot Bombs

Sure, your showoff pal can wrap a tater tot with a piece of bacon and call it “The Daniel,” but you can take it a step further. Prepare a couple batches of these savory snacks for your Super Bowl party or the next family get-together. Snag a few for yourself before they disappear!

INGREDIENTS

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2 cups frozen tater tots, defrosted 1 ounce sharp cheddar, cut into 1/4-inch squares

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4 slices bacon, quartered 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

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INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 2. Press a cheese square into each tot, then wrap with a piece of bacon. Dredge each tot in brown sugar. 3. Place tots seam side down on baking sheet. Bake for 20–25 minutes, using metal tongs to turn halfway through. 4. Garnish with parsley, if desired, and serve immediately.

–Gregory Herrman

Happy Valentine’s Day!

(Recipe inspired by ThisGrandmaIsFun.com.)

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1201 3rd St Corpus Christi, TX 78404

Inside This ISSUE

How the World Says ‘I Love You’ Page1

Cook Your Way to Better Grades February Testimonials Page2

What ‘Comparative Negligence’ Means Recipe of the Month Page3

A Dog and His Seeing Eye Cat Page4

The Heartwarming Tail of Terfel and Pwditat

Judy Godfrey-Brown of Holyhead, North Wales, was at a loss when her dog, Terfel, began to go blind. Suffering from severe cataracts, the 8-year-old Labrador mix could only distinguish light and dark. Unable to navigate his own home without bumping into furniture, Terfel confined himself to the safety of his sleeping basket, too frightened to leave even when Judy called his name. Unable

bumping into anything, and the pair enjoyed a stroll around the garden before returning indoors. Judy named the newcomer Pwditat, pronounced “puddy tat,” and since that night, the two have been inseparable. Despite the old saying, “hate each other like cats and dogs,” there are plenty of examples of canines and felines getting along swimmingly. The trick is to give your cat enough space

to afford the surgery that would help restore Terfel’s vision, Judy feared what kind of life her old friend would have. Little did she know help was on its way.

and to make sure your dog knows the cat is not something to chase. But when it comes to Terfel and Pwditat, their story is truly one of a kind. “Pwditat immediately seemed to know that Terfel is blind through some sort of sixth sense that animals have,” Judy said in an interview with Huffington Post. “They are glued to each other and even sleep together now.” It’s clear both Terfel and Pwditat’s lives were improved by their amazing bond. Anyone would be lucky to have a friendship like theirs!

One evening, a small gray cat appeared at Judy’s door, seeking shelter from the cold. When Judy let the stray inside, her fearless new houseguest approached the bedridden Terfel. Judy watched in amazement as the cat used her paws to coax Terfel out of his basket, leading the dog into the backyard! Staying right beside the aging dog, the cat kept Terfel from

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