FLATTMANN FILES “Quality Is No Accident”
November 2020
I first learned to drive on the freeways of Southern California when I was 15. During my first year of driving, I used the trial by fire technique to hone my skills, making several trips back and forth to Louisiana. Those were long trips! As my daughter becomes a teenager (yikes!), the thought of her behind the wheel is frightening. It doesn’t help that I’m in the business of knowing how quickly car accidents can change lives and how poorly some people drive these days! According to the DMV, teenage drivers (ages 16–19) are four times more likely to crash than older drivers, and car crashes remain the number one cause of death among teens. In 1998, Louisiana implemented a graduated licensing program known as the RYAN ACT (Reduce Youth Accidents Now). The program allows a 15-year old to get a learner’s permit (driving with a licensed adult), graduate at age 16 to an intermediate license (restricted hours of driving and passenger limitations), and finally gain a full license at age 17. Although well-intentioned, this program is no substitute for hands-on parental instruction and training regarding defensive driving. For more on defensive driving, visit our website! FROM THE DESK OF Grady Flattmann
1920 TO 2020: THE EVOLUTION AND IMPACT OF TELEVISION
For decades, people have been watching television for entertainment, education, and news. World Television Day, celebrated on Nov. 21, aims to highlight the impact TV has had over the past 100 years. Technology has changed dramatically since the 1920s, and this holiday gives us a chance to take a look at just how far TV and video consumption has evolved. It all started with the Baird Model B. The 1920s mark the era of the first televisions in the world, including the Baird Model B and the Octagon television. These looked similar to old-fashioned radios, but they had a small display screen on the front of the device. Though they were considered a huge leap at the time, their poor video and audio quality could make many who are living in 2020 wonder how anyone could see anything on those tiny screens. As TVs developed, video and audio quality became better, and screens grew in size. Many TVs in the 1940s used projectors to make the pictures bigger. Eventually, grayscale imaging began transitioning to color in the late 1960s. In the following decades, TV design, overall quality, and availability skyrocketed.
During the 2000s, TVs began to function as more than just TVs and could connect to a computer and the internet. Moving into the 2010s, 4K, LED, and 3D advancements far outpaced the TV’s meager beginnings. Flatscreens and thinner TVs became the next big thing, leading to the release of the Wallpaper TV, which is only slightly thicker than a credit card. Still, more changes are yet to come. In the 2020s, TVs will continue to evolve, bringing better quality and designs into homes and workplaces with the rollable TV and the double-sided TV. However, these advancements are only part of video media consumption. Phones, laptops, and tablets have also become TVs in their own right, allowing people to watch movies, shows, cartoons, and videos wherever they are in the world. TV is more than a source of entertainment; it’s a symbol of communication and globalization. With all the advancements that have been made, TVs enable access
Stay safe behind the wheel!
-Grady
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to news in a way people have never experienced before. People have never been as connected with the entire world as they are now. You can find out almost instantly what is happening in other parts of the world — a news report can be shared thousands of times within an hour after release. When the United Nations held the first World Television Forum in 1996, it was to discuss the significant impact of TVs. With access to so much information, people were understanding the world far better, becoming more aware of social injustice as well as movements toward peace and security, and focusing more on economic and social problems. The United Nations realized just how powerful TV is and dedicated Nov. 21 as a day to spread awareness and celebrate this impact.
In a way, whenever you turn on your TV, open your phone, or hop on your computer to enjoy a movie or check the news, you’re observing World Television Day — you just didn’t know it. This month, be aware of exactly what the TV has done in the past century and continue its celebration by sharing your favorite form of video media. Ice, Ice, Lawsuit Woman Sues Starbucks Over ‘Too Much Ice’
Sometimes, there is such a thing as “too much ice.” You’re sipping your cold beverage when suddenly, it’s gone far quicker than you expected. All you’re left with is a cup full of ice. It’s disappointing, for sure, but is it so disappointing that you would want to file a lawsuit against the company that supplied the beverage? That’s exactly what Stacy Pincus did in 2016. She ordered an iced coffee from Starbucks, only to find “too much ice” in her drink. The lawsuit, filed in Chicago, alleged that the drink was advertised as a 24-ounce beverage, but once the ice was factored in, Pincus and her lawyers claimed the drink was really only “14 fluid ounces.” “Starbucks’ advertising practices are clearly meant to mislead consumers when combined with the standard practice of filling a cold drink cup with far less liquid than the cup can hold,” the suit claimed. NBC News reported that Pincus sought damages to the tune of $5 million against the coffee chain.
“The plaintiff would not have paid as much,” her lawyers stated in a court document, “if anything, for the cold drinks had she known that they contained less, and in many cases, nearly half as many, fluid ounces than claimed by Starbucks. As a result, the plaintiff suffered injury in fact and lost money or property.” Starbucks’ response: “Our customers understand and expect that ice is an essential component of any ‘iced’ beverage. If a customer is not satisfied with their beverage preparation, we will gladly remake it.” The company also reaffirmed that you can order any iced beverage with “light ice” and receive half the ice normally included. Interestingly, a second lawsuit against Starbucks popped up in Los Angeles a few months later, but both cases were thrown out. Pincus never saw a cent of that $5 million, nor did she recoup her attorneys’ fees. The case went on to be called “one of the most frivolous lawsuits of 2016.”
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PLEASE HELP US FINISH 2020 THE RIGHTWAY P roject Christmas
Gifts/clothes may be delivered to our Covington office any time before Monday, Nov. 30 . Feel free to drop them off beforehand, too! CAUTION!! THIS IS THE EASIEST CHRISTMAS ANGEL PROJECT TO SUPPORT ... EVER! • Help as much as you want. You will be able to select one item or many. • No wrapping! Gifts/clothes must be in original wrapping, and clothes must be new. • Shop and click from the comfort of your own home! Have items shipped directly to our office (213 W. 21st Ave., Covington, LA 70433). Just let us know to look out for them.
Thanks to your amazing support and generosity, we provided Christmas gifts and clothes for 25 children last year! (Overall, St. Tammany Project Christmas provided clothes, gifts, and Christmas dinner for 1,851 children and 720 families.) You guys are awesome!
Flattmann Law is proud to be helping St. Tammany Project Christmas again this year, and we need your help!
What is St. Tammany Project Christmas? St. Tammany Project Christmas is an established, local, needs- based organization committed to providing the magic of Christmas to children who would otherwise not have one. Applicants must provide documentation demonstrating need. (They are thoroughly vetted against the lists of other organizations.) Each child receives a shirt, pants, and a jacket and can request three gifts. Typically,
Anything else? Of course! We will be announcing giveaways and a raffle for all those who help us with this mission! Stay tuned on Facebook.
$100–$150 is spent per child. Project Christmas collects the gifts from community partners, like us, and coordinates with the families to help parents provide the gifts to each child. How can you help? By mid-November, we will receive our list of kids, along with their gift requests and clothing sizes. We will then post a list and instructions using SignUpGenius, where you can sign up to supply one or many specific items. We will email you the link and post it on our Facebook page: Grady J. Flattmann, Attorneys at Law, LLC . (Please be sure we have your email address and that you are following our Facebook page.)
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support throughout the years! I appreciate you.
-Grady
THE STORIES BEHIND 2 ICONIC ANIMAL HEROES IN VIDEO GAMES Y our family might have had the chance to play more video games lately and interact with some of the most famous animal heroes in video game history, like Yoshi or Sonic. But have you ever wondered about their real-world backstories? unconfirmed. Also, Yoshi and K.K. Slider (from Animal Crossing) have the same voice actor! Sonic You could say that random New Yorkers chose Sonic’s ultimate
Yoshi Or should we say, T. Yoshisaur Munchakoopas? That’s Yoshi’s full name according to Nintendo’s official character guide published in 1993. Ever since the first release of Super Mario Bros, Nintendo wanted Mario to have a dinosaur companion. However, the limitations of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) stalled that idea until Nintendo released Super Mario World for the Super NES. The inspiration for Yoshi traces back to the 1984 video game Devil World, which featured green lizards that hatch from eggs, eat enemies with large mouths, and emit the very same signature Yoshi giggle when they hatch.
design. When Sega sought to create a flagship series to rival Nintendo’s Mario, Naoto Ohshima took character designs with him on a trip to New York. He asked random passersby in Central Park to choose a design, and the spiky blue hedgehog won. That wasn’t the end of Sonic’s design alterations, though. He had a rock band phase! Initially, Sonic had fangs, was in a band, and had a human girlfriend named Madonna. The team at Sega of America, led by Madeline Schroeder (who calls herself “Sonic’s mother”), removed those elements to “soften” the character for American audiences. While this led to heated internal debates, Sonic game designer Yuji Naka admitted it was for the best.
Yoshi has received a positive reception since its introduction, making it Japan’s third-favorite video game character in 2008. A few fun facts: Yoshi is often referred to as male, but its gender remains
These famous characters make our video games more energetic
and fun, and their origin stories are just as unique!
Take a Break!
Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
• 4 lbs orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed • 1 tbsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp ground cloves • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed • 4 (2-inch) cinnamon sticks
crosswise into 2-inch pieces, then cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Place sweet potato wedges in a 4-quart baking dish. 3. Sprinkle sugar, salt, and cloves over sweet potatoes. 4. Dot with butter and place cinnamon sticks around sweet potatoes.
5. Bake, turning every 15 minutes, until sweet potatoes are tender and the liquid is syrupy, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. 6. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. 7. Discard cinnamon sticks and serve.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Grady Flattmann PAGE 1 Celebrate World Television Day PAGE 1 Woman Sues Starbucks Over ‘Too Much Ice’ PAGE 2 The Stories Behind 2 Iconic Animal Heroes in Video Games PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes PAGE 3 Celebrity Beards Are Ready for No Shave November PAGE 4
NO SHAVE NOVEMBER Can You Outgrow the Best Beard in Hollywood?
Men are encouraged to donate the money they would typically spend on shaving and grooming to those causes that provide cancer prevention education and aid those fighting it. The cause has since blossomed into a yearly fashion trend among men and even women who want to participate by letting their leg hair grow free for the month. It’s a popular trend for celebrities to follow too, as their influence can help raise even more awareness than the average Joe’s beard would. Beard-growing has become an increasingly popular trend in the world of male celebrities, encouraging many to follow their lead. This is an especially admirable trend when it comes to November, and we can expect the usual uptick in beard growth. Every effort that supports the cause is meaningful, but it’ll be hard to beat the
current champion of Hollywood’s favorite celebrity beards: Ryan Reynolds.
Just as Reynolds’ career has blossomed from raunchy rom-coms to hilariously inappropriate superheroes, his face has matured from approachably clean-shaven cheeks to a full and grizzled jawline. It’s a look that fans can’t get enough of and proves that growing an eye-catching beard doesn’t need a ton of maintenance. We’re excited to see how far Reynolds lets it fly this year. But when it comes to No Shave November, it’s not the look of the beard that counts — it’s the awareness the beard raises that should take the spotlight. Whether you aim for a beard as enticing as a celebrity’s or just want to grow one for a meaningful cause, your hair helps. So don’t trim it, no matter how itchy it might get.
If you’re a man who’s made it through these last eight months of quarantine without succumbing to the lazy scraggle of an unkempt beard, you’ve got some willpower. But November is here, which means No Shave November is underway. If you decide to participate, you’ll finally have a worthy excuse to stop the upkeep. The goal of No Shave November is to increase cancer awareness by embracing hair — which many cancer patients lose — and by letting it grow wild for the entire month.
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