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DOES FANTASY CONTROL REALITY?
Fantasy Football’s Effect on the NFL
This year, could your team go all the way? Fantasy football has made itself an indispensable part of the football season for many fans of the NFL. It’s an $11 billion industry that accounts for 36% of the 40 million fantasy games played across the country. That’s twice as many games as the next most popular sport, and 28 of the 32 pro teams have advertisement deals with fantasy football companies. In just 20 years, this online game has changed how many people watch football. But just how much has it affected actual gameplay? Despite the obvious ways that fantasy football has influenced sports media, there isn’t much of an argument supporting the idea that the online game has influenced the rules and regulations of the NFL. Before fantasy sports, people usually only paid attention to their local teams. But the need to pay attention to players on multiple NFL teams caused overall viewership to explode — and most of the relevant media companies took notice. The lineup of media companies involved in the fantasy football game are heavy hitters to say the least. Disney, Yahoo, and CBS all have stakes in the industry, not to mention smaller upstart companies like DraftKings and FanDuel that are only 10 and 7 years old respectively. And even these smaller companies are worth hundreds of millions of dollars. They advertise fantasy football at stadiums across the country, not to mention advertisements on TV and online, or the ways that it has permeated coverage of different games. Fantasy Football and the Media
Individual player statistics are much more important to NFL fans than they have ever been because of fantasy football, and up-to- the-minute statistics relevant to the game are tossed around by commentators and broadcast at stadiums. Without interest in fantasy football, NFL RedZone, which exists solely to go over highlights and fantasy stats, may not exist. The abundance of fantasy coverage continues to supply an ever-growing demand from the public to know how their carefully constructed team is doing and to know it as soon as possible. The NFL has increasingly become a passing league, with passing plays becoming more and more common over the past five years. This change was spurred on by a desire to create more opportunities for points in the game and to protect quarterbacks, who are increasingly seen as the faces of their respective teams. Many people love games with more points because it helps their fantasy teams, but were these rules and regulations put in place to cater to fantasy leagues? It’s an intriguing thought, but it’s likely there’s a simpler explanation: Fans love games with a lot of points scored, regardless of whether they play fantasy football. The fact that our fantasy teams benefit from it is just a pleasant side effect. Fantasy football may not control the NFL just yet, but you can’t deny that it’s changed how we watch the game. If anything, competing with friends, family, and coworkers has added another element of fun to the football season and given us one more thing to get excited about this fall. Fantasy Football and the NFL
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOWHOM?
THE STRANGE HISTORY OF ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’
a year on royalty charges. The Walt Disney Company paid $5,000 to use the song in a parade, and many documentaries were also impacted by the copyright. The civil rights documentary “Eyes on the Prize” never made it to DVD because the royalties charge on a scene of Martin Luther King celebrating his birthday was so high. Due to its age and popularity, many people have insisted “Happy Birthday” is, or at least should be, in the public domain. When Warner Music tried to charge filmmaker Jennifer Nelson royalties to make a film about the song, she filed a lawsuit. Her attorneys uncovered a 1922 songbook featuring “Happy Birthday” without any copyright notice. They even suggested Warner Music knowingly hid the songbook because it proved “Happy Birthday” had been in the public domain for decades. In 2015, a U.S. judge ruled that “Happy Birthday” is not under copyright. So, the next time you record guests singing “Happy Birthday” at a birthday party, you don’t have to worry about paying royalties if you upload it online.
Is your calendar full of birthday parties this month? You’re not alone. In the United States, more people are born in September than in any other month, meaning Americans will sing many choruses of “Happy Birthday” this month. This popular tune has a surprisingly controversial history. First composed by sisters Mildred and Patty Hill in 1893, the familiar melody originally belonged to a song called “Good Morning to All,” a song the sisters sang to their students every morning. Over time, the word “birthday” entered variations of the song and became a popular party tune. By the 1930s, “Happy Birthday” appeared all over in films and on the radio, prompting Mildred and Patty’s sister, Jessica, to secure the copyright to “Happy Birthday” due to its similarity to “Good Morning to All.” In 1988, Warner Music acquired the copyright, and the song’s ingrained popularity ensured a profit. They reportedly made $2 million
PRACTICE SCHOOL-ZONE SAFETY With These 3 Tips
off children. When its flashing red lights turn on and stop sign swings out to the side, make a full stop until the bus starts moving again. Passing a school bus while it is picking up or dropping off students is extremely unsafe and illegal in all 50 states. Model Safe Driving Habits You set an example for your kids with your driving habits. If you follow the rules of the road, your kids will be more likely to follow suit when they’re old enough to drive. While you should model safe driving practices wherever you drive, obeying all the rules and laws when you take your kids to school is the perfect way to show them what safe driving looks like.
By car, by bus, by bike, or on foot — however they get there — students are starting to make their way to school and turn the once-quiet school zones into some of the busiest sections of road. You might be a parent who drops their kids off at school as part of their morning commute, or you might just drive through a school zone on your way to work. Whatever the case, navigating school zones safely should be a priority. Here are some tips to keep in mind. Obey All Signs and Signals Speed limits decrease, yield lights and signs increase, and crossing guards slow and stop traffic to help young pedestrians across busy streets. Those extra safety precautions aren’t suggestions. Young children aren’t always mindful of busy streets and traffic, so it’s up to you to follow these laws. You should also avoid making risky maneuvers like lane changes and U-turns in school zones. Take Extra Care Around School Buses If you’re following a school bus, make sure to give it more space than you would normally give other vehicles. School buses make frequent stops to pick up and drop
Nearly one-fourth of child pedestrian fatalities happen between the hours of 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., right after school gets out. Driving safely in school zones is the best way to make sure every child gets home safely.
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LIVE TO SCOOT ANOTHER DAY Navigating Accidents During the Electric Scooter Craze Electric scooters have electric scooter), such as a prohibition on riding at night or while carrying cargo that hinders the operation of the scooter. Abiding by regulations can reduce the likelihood of an accident as well as your culpability if an accident does occur.
been popping up in cities all over the country, and Austin is no exception to the trend (or its consequences). Since late 2017, there have been an estimated 1,500 accidents involving electric scooters nationwide, and, since last May, there have been 53 in Austin alone. So, before you download the app and head out on the town, here are a few things to keep in mind. Know the Regulations Knowing the rules and regulations associated with electric scooters, or e-scooters, in your city is half the battle.
Know the Common Causes Causes of electric scooter accidents can be split into three categories: user negligence, other driver negligence, and defective equipment. If user negligence (or not abiding by regulations) is the cause of your accident, you might not have a very strong case. But, if an oblivious driver runs into you while you’re riding the scooter responsibly, you could be entitled to compensation. If the accelerator pedal on your scooter gets jammed or the brakes don’t work, you could have a case against the scooter manufacturer. Know What to Do After a Scooter Accident If you get in an accident while riding an electric scooter, what you do immediately following the accident is very similar to what you would do in most other vehicular accidents. Seek medical attention if necessary, call the police, take pictures and witness statements at the scene, and call a reputable personal injury lawyer to make sure you understand your legal situation and your rights. Electric scooters might have a positive impact on the environment and offer a fun alternative for exploring our beautiful city, but that’s no reason to disregard personal safety. Nevertheless, if you find yourself in an accident, call Zinda Law Group for a free consultation.
Where you can take the scooter, where you can park it, and whether wearing a helmet is required by law varies from city to city. Specific regulations also apply to Bird scooters (a specific brand of
WORD SEARCH
CLASSIC APPLE CRISP
ingredients
Filling: • 5 lbs Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped • 1/4 cup pecans, finely chopped • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp maple syrup • 1 tbsp lemon juice
Topping: • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour • 1/3 cup brown sugar • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/4 tsp salt • 6 tbsp chilled butter, cut into pieces
• 1/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
instructions
1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. In a mixing bowl, mix all filling ingredients together. Transfer to individual serving ramekins. 3. In a different mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the topping. Mix in butter until it forms lumps roughly the size of a pea, then stir in pecans. Sprinkle topping over filling. 4. Bake for 35–40 minutes, let stand for 10 minutes, and serve.
Autumn Apple
Football Quarterback Touchdown Homecoming
Harvest Cider Leaves Sweater
September LaborDay
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inside this issue
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F antasy F ootball and the NFL W ho C an S ing ‘H appy B irthday ’? S chool -Z one S afety T ips H ow to N avigate an E lectric - S cooter A ccident C lassic A pple C risp O rigins of O ktoberfest and P opular E vents
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ROOTS OF OKTOBERFEST
With Oktoberfest right around the corner, you may start hearing some of these fun sayings: “I don’t give a Schnitzel,” “Keep calm, and Prost on,” or “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy beer.” But what exactly is Oktoberfest, and why do so many people celebrate it? Here are some fun facts about it. ROYAL BEGINNINGS Oktoberfest is deeply rooted in Munich culture. It all started with the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen on Oct. 12, 1810, and the citizens of Munich were invited to attend the celebration just outside the gates of the city. The celebration’s main attraction was horse racing, which was also a staple event for the next year but has since been removed from the current celebrations. In 1811, a large agricultural fair was mixed into the event, and in 1817, beer pubs and performers were added. Perhaps one of the most famous events during Oktoberfest is the costume parade, where men and women alike dress in old-fashioned garb and march through the streets in honor of Ludwig and Therese’s marriage. The rest you could say is history, or geschichte ! OKTOBERFEST IN … CANADA? While Oktoberfest in Munich traditionally starts on Sept. 22, the Canadians celebrate during the week of Oct. 6–14. The twin cities Kitchener-Waterloo host the
largest Oktoberfest outside of Munich, boasting more than 700,000 people in attendance each year. The event has a musical concert dubbed “Rocktober” and a dog parade known as “Dogtober.” Even though the Ontario area is becoming more and more popular, you can still enjoy Oktoberfest on a budget. You can find hotels in the area and surrounding cities for well under $100 per night.
Not everyone can make their way to Munich or even Canada to celebrate the fantastical event, but most areas will have
something going on. If you love German culture, do a little bit of digging, and you’re sure to find an Oktoberfest event near you!
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