Check out our June newsletter!
ORIGINS OF FATHER’S DAY It’s Just A Kid, But Give It What It’s Due
In my deep dive on the origin of monthly holidays, we’ve reached Father’s Day. The first thing about Father’s Day is ... it’s complicated. For many, it’s pure joy. Celebrate that, but not with a shirt. Why not write a heartfelt note or just tell him how proud and thankful you are to be his child? For others, it comes with a sense of loss. For you, I pray for comfort and warm memories of the goodness he gave you. For some, there are difficult emotions from a strained relationship. For you, I hope you can find peace and reconciliation.
raised his six children as a single father after Sonora’s mother died giving birth.
Ironically, Father’s Day was initially met with strong resistance from an unlikely source: fathers. We found it unmanly and an underhanded commercial trick to buy gifts we didn’t need with our money. Some more sensitive fathers felt because our society was so dominated by men, mothers deserved singular exaltation. What can I say, we just can’t take a compliment sometimes. Father’s Day became cemented in American tradition over the years, fueled by the support of presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Lyndon Johnson. And surprise, surprise, good ol’ American capitalism figured in. During the Great Depression, stores needed a way to boost sales, so they promoted the day to sell goods Dad wouldn’t buy for himself. Some things never change. Then came World War II, which spurred an intense desire to support fathers who fought on the front lines to save us all. Like the holiday, the role of fathers has evolved. We are no longer sole providers and stern taskmasters who rule our families as overlords. Study after study shows the critical role of a present, loving, active father in the development of a resilient child. For me, Father’s Day is a day of thanks for the good man who raised me. I hope I’m living a life that honors him. As a father of four, it’s also a day of reflection. A prime goal of my life is raising faithful, effective adults. So I ask myself: Am I doing enough? What can I do better? To all you dads out there, you have my deepest respect. Let’s live out a paraphrased quote from a movie I saw as a teenager, “Boyz ‘n the Hood,” that’s stuck with me forever: Any fool can make a baby, it takes a real man to be a daddy.
How We Came to Celebrate Dad in June.
I got my info from two fitting internet sources: The Old Farmer’s Almanac and The Art of Manliness, which offers an interesting podcast. Compared to most holidays, Father’s Day is just a baby. It didn’t become an official federal holiday until 1972, by executive order of President Nixon. The origin story for this holiday is from both sides of our nation at around the same time. Both
initial celebrations evolved from tragedy. Both movements were spearheaded by women. On July 5, 1908, Grace Golden Clayton asked her minister to hold services celebrating fathers who perished in one of the worst coal mine disasters in our nation’s history, which claimed the lives of 361 men. Two years later, Washington state celebrated the first Father’s Day on June 19, 1910. It was the brainchild of Sonora Smart Dodd, who felt, while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon the year before, that her father should also be honored. Her father, a Civil War veteran,
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PUPPY POWER IS SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN
How Do Cute Images Affect Your Mind?
“Kawaii” is the Japanese word for “cute,” which apparently alters our brains more than we thought! During The Power of Kawaii study, Hiroshima University researched the effects of viewing images of cute animals, and what they discovered was shocking. Researchers found that these adorable animals can help us improve our concentration, especially on detail-oriented
tasks. Participants who viewed images of puppies and kittens could accomplish tasks with greater care and attention than those shown other pictures. How did they measure concentration, and why cute animals? What method was used in the initial experiment? In the first experiment, researchers split a group of 48 participants and had each person play a surgery game similar to “Operation.” Using tiny tweezers, the participants had to grasp small objects without touching the edges. Afterward, one group observed images of puppies and kittens, and the other viewed photos of adult dogs and cats. After viewing the pictures, both groups played the game again. The result? The first group had a significant improvement when playing the game. They approached the game more deliberately and at a slower pace to carefully remove the objects without touching the edges.
Meanwhile, the second group showed no difference in their performance. Why do these cute images affect us? After more experiments with increased difficulty, the researchers concluded that the sweet animals made a noticeable impact on our brains. Participants showed higher levels of focus, concentration, and carefulness both mentally and behaviorally. The reasoning may be that seeing baby animals triggers our nurturing side and, in turn, makes us more careful and alert. We sense something needing protection, care, and focus. At a subconscious level, you likely will become more cautious in how you think and behave after looking at pictures of baby animals. So, the next time you need to do something tedious or detail-oriented, prep yourself with a cute puppies and kittens slideshow to ensure you get the job done right!
TESTIMONIAL
Mr. Usry was upfront and honest with me about the outcomes of my case. He is very polite and very attentive. He listens. If you need a good attorney, look no further.
-Caressa M.
Rob is not only courteous and professional, he has a real charisma that immediately puts you at ease. My consternation about my case vanished 10 minutes into my first meeting with him. Above all, the service that he provides is peace of mind. When I engaged his services, I did so confident that this man would do his best for me, and he did not let me down. His confidence is infectious. You will feel better about your case the more he speaks, proving himself an experienced veteran in the court system, while retaining an assuring sense of real humanity. He’s a guy you can get along with. Overall I am totally happy with my experience engaging Rob Usry to represent me. I recommend you do the same.
-JML
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WORTH THE WAIT How We Defeated the 3-Headed Monster
• Head 2: Hospital Lien Because Phoebe was hurt at work, her medical care was covered by federal workers’ compensation. For some reason, many of her hospital bills didn’t get filed with workers’ comp. Thus, the hospital filed a claim against her, called a lien, that could have dramatically reduced what Phoebe got to keep in her settlement. We convinced the feds they needed to pay and made sure that they complied. Finally, we confirmed with the hospital’s lawyer that Phoebe owed nothing. • Head 3: Repaying Federal Workers’ Compensation Like state workers’ compensation, federal workers’ compensation can be repaid from an accident settlement if it is related to the comp case. The feds asked for $94,000 and Phoebe’s settlement was $100,000. We submitted evidence for a reduction, and they agreed to take $19,000. Despite how long the case took, it was worth it and Phoebe was thrilled with the outcome. She’ll be the first to tell you she just couldn’t have done this alone. When you’re hurt as bad as she was, you can’t take on a massive bureaucracy like the hospital and the federal government and expect it to pan out well. If you’re hurt seriously, hand it over to a professional as Phoebe did, so you don’t need to worry. Here at Holland & Usry, we’ve got you covered!
This Laurens, South Carolina, car crash case quickly spun out of control and became a three-headed monster, as our client had to deal with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, the federal government in her workers’ compensation case, and eventually an unjustified claim by a hospital for repayment. Because her case was so complicated, Phoebe, our client, turned to us for help. How It All Started Phoebe was badly hurt while working for the post office as a rural mail carrier. While stopped to put mail in a box, a young driver slammed into the back of her car at 50 mph. Her car flew off the road, then slammed into a tree. She sustained awful low back injuries, worsening her spinal arthritis, disabling nerve damage, and a slipped vertebrae. She underwent numerous spinal shots, and her doctor recommended a procedure to burn off the painful nerve endings. She was warned that they may grow back, thus she may require additional treatments. How We Helped Phoebe’s case became a long and winding road, and based on the doctor’s recommendations, she was out of work for two years.
Here’s how we fought off the three-headed monster:
“I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you Good News • Head 1: Auto Insurance While this is often complicated, it was the easy part! The most important thing we did here was double Phoebe’s settlement by finding extra coverage from the at-fault driver and underinsurance on Phoebe’s policy. Then we convinced the insurance company to pay for it all.
*Past outcomes don’t guarantee future results. Every case is different, and all cases depend on unique facts and laws.
Homemade Dole Whip
Inspired by ThePioneerWoman.com
The summer heat is on! And what better way to cool off after a long day in the sun than a refreshing bowl of Dole whip? This frozen treat has everything you need in a summer dessert: the tangy sweetness of pineapple and the creamy taste of vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients
will not stumble.” –Proverbs 4:11-12
• • •
3/4 cup pineapple juice 1 cup vanilla ice cream 2 cups frozen pineapple
• •
1 tbsp lime juice Pinch of sea salt
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” –Luke 15:20
Directions 1. In a high-powered blender, combine all the ingredients. Blend on medium-high speed until smooth, stopping to push the pineapple chunks down into the blender as needed. 2. Transfer to a bowl; cover and freeze for 30 minutes. 3. Scoop and serve. Alternatively, transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, then pipe into small serving bowls. (This method will make it look like it came out of a soft serve machine.)
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* This newsletter is intended to educate the public about personal injury, workers’ compensation, criminal defense, and family law issues. You can copy and distribute it as long as you copy the entire newsletter. But the newsletter is not intended to be legal advice; you should ask a lawyer about your specific case. Every case is different, and all case outcomes depend on unique facts and laws.
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INSIDE this issue
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1. Celebrating Fathers: How Did We Get Here?
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2. Cute Puppies = Concentration
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2. Testimonial
3. We Go to War for Our Clients
3. Homemade Dole Whip
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4. A Furry Hero in Mexico
If you no longer want to receive this newsletter, call Pam at 864.582.0416 or email Rob@bhollandlawfirm.com .
RESCUE DOG’S LEGACY LIVES ON
How the World Fell for Frida
Dressed in protective goggles, blue booties, and a matching vest, this incredible rescue dog became a symbol of hope in Mexico. Frida, a cheerful yellow Labrador retriever, was a devoted member of the Mexican Navy known for her search and rescue skills. Trained to find people trapped under rubble after earthquakes, Frida always worked hard to save lives. Frida became a national hero when a devastating earthquake hit Mexico City in 2017. The 7.1 magnitude earthquake took more than 300 lives and injured many more. While sifting through dangerous debris and aftershocks, Frida saved 12 people after finding them alive while uncovering more than 40 bodies during her lifesaving career. While the nation was devastated by the disaster, this smiley rescue pup brought worldwide attention to the tragedy. Frida’s
dedication (and impeccable style) quickly made her an internet celebrity, and soon, murals of the lifesaving canine graced the walls of Mexico City. Even Captain America, aka Chris Evans, gave Frida a shoutout on Twitter, adding, “What did we do to deserve dogs?” The hero dog then traveled the world, helping countries suffering from the aftermath of disastrous earthquakes. Frida saved lives in Haiti and Ecuador before retiring from her position in 2019 at 10 years old to live the rest of her days in comfort and love. Sadly, the Mexican Navy announced Frida’s passing in November 2022 due to old age. She was 13 years old. In her honor, a magnificent bronze statue of Frida, clad in goggles and boots, stands in
front of the Mexican Navy office in Mexico City. On the day of her death, the Mexican Navy changed their Twitter banner to an illustration of Frida and spread the hashtag “#HastaSiempreFrida.” Frida will always be remembered for her lifesaving work and the hope she embodied for the entire world.
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