The Medl in News
FEBRUARY 2021
a part of how I enjoy life. Exercising and biking give me joy — why give them up just because they’re a little harder?
WHY I BIKE DESPITE MY INJURIES
In my journey, I’ve realized that it’s all about being faithful and engaging in rehabilitation as necessary. Having the support of family and loved ones can be a huge help, as well. It might be intimidating to get assistance when you’re used to doing certain things alone, but cheerleaders make a difference when you need it most, and that’s worth cherishing. Of course, taking care of the people who support me is also a huge motivation. I want to be in my best health so I can continue taking care of my wife and daughter, so I always try to be smarter than when I was younger. I never bicycle without a helmet, for example. Being aware of the risks in your daily life can help prevent injuries, and stretching before any physical activity can always decrease the risk of injury from overextending yourself. I’m very thankful for where I am today. Speaking of my family, this Valentine’s Day, I’m looking forward to exchanging cards and gifts with a nice family dinner and a bottle of my wife’s favorite pink champagne. My daughter won’t partake in the drinking, of course, but kids are still pretty fun on Valentine’s Day. I’ll probably get her some heart-shaped candies with messages (like Sweethearts) and other candies she likes. Not too many, but just enough to see her second-grader eyes light up. Anyhow, thank you so much for reading, folks. Whatever your goals are this year, I hope you celebrate National Get Up Day by not giving up on them. I look forward to chatting with you again next month
Celebrate ‘National Get Up Day’ By Not Giving Up
Feb. 1 is National Get Up Day, a fascinating holiday I’ve never heard of before. It was introduced by U.S. Figure Skating to celebrate the strength, resilience, and determination it takes to be a figure skater. All skaters and non-skaters alike can recognize the grit, passion, and perseverance needed to get back up in the rink and in life every single day, no matter what risks or failures they may face. This holiday really stuck out to me, especially after a year like 2020, but also because of personal experience. Many of my longtime newsletter readers may be familiar with this backstory, but I like to say I’ve had some literal experience with getting up after falling. When I was in my second year of law school, I suffered a gunshot wound to my lower back. It was a very traumatic injury and leftme with a permanent disability and a pretty big limp. It was difficult to recover from and left me in chronic pain. It forced me, however, to have a positive attitude. I quickly realized that I needed goals to continue reaching for in order to keep moving forward. Ever since then, my physical and mental well-being has been an ongoing battle. I’ve had more injuries along the way, too. Last June I had a biking accident that shattered my left femur. Now that I’m older, it’s harder to recover from injuries, so I’m still recovering from that.
However, recently, I’ve been bicycling again. Some people might say, “Gary, why are you still doing sports?” But for me, sports are
– Gary L. Medlin, Esq.
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THE TRUTH ABOUT DARK CHOCOLATE
As you give and get chocolate for Valentine’s Day (or jump on post- holiday chocolate sales), you’ll probably hear that dark chocolate is healthy for you. Before you decide to incorporate dark chocolate into your daily diet, you should ask yourself what that means. Can dark chocolate really be “healthy”? Studies on dark chocolate’s supposed benefits focus on compounds found within cocoa, specifically flavanols, which are found in most fruits and vegetables (and cocoa!) and help lower blood pressure and reduce low-density lipoproteins, aka “bad” cholesterol. By that notion, dark chocolate does have heart health benefits, but taking advantage of those benefits is not as simple as just eating dark chocolate. Each bar will include a percentage, which indicates the amount of cocoa. The higher the percentage, the better; 70%– 80% is considered the sweet spot in terms of balancing health
benefits and flavor, but as the percentage of cocoa increases, the more bitter the chocolate becomes.
However, the amount of flavanols found in a typical 1-ounce piece of 80% dark chocolate is very small. Alice H. Lichtenstein, a Gershoff professor of nutrition science and policy at Tufts University in Boston, says, “Dark chocolate has more flavanols than other types of chocolate; the data to suggest there is enough to have a health effect is thin at this point.” A 2017 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association that focused on dark chocolate, cocoa, and raw almonds also concluded that the heart benefits were small. Dark chocolate appeared most effective when paired with other heart-healthy foods, such as almonds. So what about other types of chocolate, like milk or semi-sweet? Once the cocoa content falls below 60%, the benefits disappear entirely. The flavanol levels are too low and the sugar and fat content too high, which negates any heart health benefits. As with all good things, moderation is key. Eating too much dark chocolate has the reverse effect and can cause inflammation, and inflammation is the enemy of the heart.
THE MOST UNUSUAL VALENTINE’S DAY LAWSUITS
If you aren’t celebrating Valentine’s Day, don’t feel too bad. By not celebrating, your holiday will likely be significantly better than any of the stories featured here this month. There are plenty of instances where Valentine’s Day caused far more trouble than it was worth for everyone involved. One Toxic Airline Once, an undisclosed airline employee was warned at the start of her job that she’d be exposed to profanity — employees simply “did not know how to act around female coworkers.” As it turned out, that was a complete understatement. After multiple instances of lewd jokes and explicit images filling her desk, she received a Valentine’s Day card that read, “On Valentine’s Day, remember — candy is dandy ... But sex won’t rot your teeth! So, what do you say?” The employee said it created an extraordinarily hostile, sexual ly poisonous work environment . Yet the court disagreed, dismissing her case for failing to rise to the level of “outrageous” conduct.
Dining Alone GoneWrong After eating lunch at a Japanese restaurant and seeing a movie, Kathleen Hampton and her husband planned to eat dinner at an Italian restaurant. Her husband changed his mind because he was still full, but Hampton decided to go on her own anyway. However, the staff seemed to treat her differently immediately. After waiting for over an hour, a group was seated before her. They also refused to seat her indoors, despite there being open tables. Then, after waiting for her order to be taken, a waiter said she’d have to leave. She couldn’t even order takeout when she asked. In interviews, Hampton explained that the difference in treatment was likely because of her dark skin color. Hampton sued for $100,000 and chose to represent herself, saying that she “didn’t want this to happen to anyone else in the Northeast Portland area.” We’ll never know the outcome because the case was settled confidentially. No matter how you spend Feb. 14, we hope it’ll be far better than these two stories! Have a wonderful rest of your month!
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After you’re arrested, it can seem like there’s a lot going on at once, and it can be both scary and disorienting because you may not be sure what to expect. It’s important that you understand the necessary legal steps so that your livelihood and future can be protected by both yourself and your lawyer. Once you’re arrested, you’ll be taken into custody. Usually, within 24 hours, you’ll be taken before a magistrate and bond will be set. Once the bond is set, you’re able to get out of jail. One option is posting a cash bond. For example, if the bond is set at $1,000, then you’ll deposit $1,000, and it will be returned to you after the case is over (minus a small administrative fee, which is usually around $35 or so). Another option is to hire a bondsperson. They typically charge 10%–20% of the face value of the bond. So if the bond is set at $1,000, they’ll usually charge you $100–$200 to write the bond for you. WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT IN THE FIRST 24 HOURS AFTER AN ARREST?
but the money paid to the bondsperson is a fee for their service. That means you don’t get that money back when the case is over.
That’s the financial side of things. Now, keep in mind that any time a person is taken into custody, they have the right to remain silent, the right to not answer any questions, and the right to counsel. However, just because they are in custody doesn’t mean they have the right for an attorney to be appointed immediately and advise them. However, they do have the right to an attorney to advise them prior to answering any questions. If you’ve been arrested, it’s very important that you exercise those rights and not answer any questions. Hire an expert attorney right away! And if you choose Medlin Law Firm, we’ll always be sure to have your back when you need it most.
The bondsman takes on the responsibility of ensuring you show up for court, as well as the risk of losing the money if you don’t,
Strawberry Kissed Almond Butter Muffins
PUZZLE TIME
Ingredients
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1 cup ripe bananas, mashed
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1 cup oat flour
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3/4 cup natural creamy almond butter (can substitute creamy peanut butter)
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1 tsp baking powder
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2 large eggs
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1/4 tsp salt
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1/4 cup pure maple syrup (or honey)
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1/4 cup strawberry fruit spread, divided (we recommend Bonne Maman INTENSE)
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1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions
5. Evenly divide batter into liners. Add 1 tsp strawberry fruit spread to the top of each muffin. 6. Use a butter knife to gently swirl the spread into the batter. 7. Bake for 22–27 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. 8. Transfer muffins to wire rack to cool and enjoy!
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners and spray with nonstick cooking spray. 3. In a large bowl, mix bananas,
almond butter, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
4. Stir in oat flour, baking powder, and salt until smooth.
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Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Why I Bike Despite My Injuries
2. Is Dark Chocolate Really Good for Your Heart?
Strange Valentine’s Day Lawsuits
3. What to Expect in the First 24 Hours After an Arrest
Strawberry Kissed Almond Butter Muffins
4. Teach Your Kids Life Skills This Valentine’s Day!
4 LIFE SKILLS YOU CAN TEACH YOUR KIDS THIS VALENTINE’S DAY
Nothing says “I love you” more than equipping your children with important knowledge they’ll need for the rest of their adult lives. Even if they groan about it now, they’ll be grateful for the know- how when they’re on their own in the future. Keep in mind that your home classroom doesn’t have to mimic a school classroom. Research from the University of Utah shows that kids learn best through hands-on activities and play. Have fun while teaching these life skills, and you’ll earn thank-yous for decades to come. Clean the House Were you ever surprised by how often you have to clean your kitchen? Your child may be too. Although your 10-year-old won’t have to worry about cleaning the stove today, they will need to know how when they move out, so find ways to incentivize cleaning and make it more fun. You can have your kids collect “chore points” that add up to a prize, like an extra hour of playing video games! Develop Cooking Skills You may be hesitant to have a little chef in the house, but if you’re teaching them how to clean up and stay safe while making some
easy dishes, there’s no reason to worry! Even if you’re not a great cook yourself, it’s fun to prepare simple recipes as a family. Plus, your kids will get used to the idea of cooking for themselves, which is both healthy and cost-effective. Learn to Garden What’s a better way to get outdoors with your child than to garden together? From using tools like shovels and rakes to nurturing another living organism, gardening provides plenty of rich life lessons, such as patience. Understand Household Maintenance Whether they’re learning how to use an electric breaker, unclog a drain, or clean out the washer or dryer, your kids can get started learning household maintenance skills with just a little guidance. Who knows, maybe they will be their dorm’s future superhero! There are many lessons you can teach your child at any age, so don’t limit yourself! Be creative with the lessons you pass on, and there’s a chance they’ll never forget them!
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