Take a look at our December newsletter!
THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE THE SEASON
Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. Few things lift the spirit like a great band, and this one is a hidden gem. They offer simple, well-written songs and music with a heartfelt vibe that’s honest and sincere. ‘Tools of the Titans.’ I’m not even done reading this book yet. Author/podcaster Tim Ferriss shares the habits of some of the world’s highest-performing people, as told by them. It’s divided into sections called “Healthy,” “Wealthy,” and “Wise.” It’s not a book about how to get rich, but it could help you live a richer life. There’s something here for everybody. I’ve learned a ton about how my mindset and worldview are critical to living a fuller life. My wish for you in this season of hope is that you’ll celebrate the little things that bring joy — and commit to experiencing them more often.
Folks, I hope you’re truly enjoying the Christmas holiday season! Contrary to what the big-box retail world wants us to believe, it really is the “little things” that make this season pulse with joy: the music, the children, the extra time with family and friends. As a gift to you, I’m passing on some little things that’ve made my life more joyous this year. Maybe you’ll try one, or better yet, reflect on the little things in your life that enhance its love and light.
Avocados. I can’t believe I’ve missed their luscious goodness my whole life.
The Atlanta Braves. Never give up — even when the season is half over, you’ve got a losing record, and you just lost your best player. With faith in each other and some shrewd business moves, you can still win the World Series! Meditation. Can you improve your life by sitting still and doing nothing? Oh, yes! You just need a little help with it. And it’s not intended to replace prayer, but it’s a whole lot easier to pray with a clear heart and head. Check out Headspace.com.
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RUDOLPH, YOU’LL GO DOWN IN HISTORY Behind the Evergreen Christmas Special
You know Dasher and Dancer, and you definitely know Rudolph. Everyone’s favorite red-nosed reindeer was first born as a 1939 short story, but he truly shot to fame when his tale was adapted into a song by Gene Autry in 1949. Rivaling even the song’s fame is the Rankin/Bass stop-motion special that airs like clockwork every year around Christmas. Generations have now grown up with Rudolph, so it may be surprising to learn that his journey to the small screen started as a General Electric promotion. The company had a running television special on NBC called the “GE Fantasy Hour,” which they used to market their products directly to viewers. The better the story they told, the more viewers they got — and the more toasters they could sell. The script introduced crucial new characters like Hermey the elf, Yukon Cornelius the prospector, and of course, Bumble the abominable snowman. GE hired innovative Japanese animators to create the film using stop-motion techniques that were highly advanced for the time. GE invested the modern equivalent of $4.5 million into the production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and the special first aired in 1964. Those who are familiar with the film know that it ends with Rudolph enlisting Santa to save the Misfit Toys from earlier in the movie — but it didn’t originally. The version that aired in 1964 concludes with Rudolph
leading Santa’s sleigh but forgetting all about his homeless friends. The backlash was swift, and viewers wrote in to express displeasure at the heartless resolution. GE decided the special had to be corrected and played again with the proper ending in 1965. And so, a tradition of annual airings was born. Today, “Rudolph” is the longest-running Christmas special in history, and our favorite misfit deer shows no signs of slowing down after 57 years. The movie has transformed into a marketing bonanza, with new Christmas decorations, figurines, and toys being produced each year.
Though it’s somewhat shocking to our modern sensibilities to see Santa bullying his reindeer employees and their children, fond childhood memories mean that parents continue to pass the special down to their kids. Even as we recognize its flaws, the dazzling animation and famous songs continue to bring joy and Christmas spirit to households around the country. Just as sure as Santa comes every year, so does Rudolph.
Testimonials
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED “I am not sure I have ever met a more professional, kind, and caring legal team in my life. I have worked for law offices before, and Rob Usry and his team are one of a kind. They were extremely respectful throughout the legal process, not only with us, but also to doctors, vendors, and opposing council involved in our case. I appreciated his view of all players as “human,” with value and due respect. I believe this core belief helped to bring us to a successful conclusion.
Rob was honest, upfront, patient, and extremely knowledgeable; a true expert in his field. I would recommend him wholeheartedly to anyone who needed legal support. His team is exceptional, especially Ms. Rose, with whom I had the pleasure of working with throughout our case. Thank you Rob, Rose, Pam, and the entire Team at Holland & Usry for your support and care throughout a very difficult situation. You guys are the BEST!”
–Susan B.
www.bhollandlawfirm.com
Picture this: You get badly hurt in a crash, which you didn’t cause, and you find out the police put you at fault. This truly is adding insult to injury. So many questions race through your head, but let me answer the most important one first. WHAT HAPPENS If the Crash Report Is Wrong or Someone Lied?
• Evidence from the scene, which could show the other driver’s story doesn’t add up. If the crash occurred near a business, you might even get surveillance video to prove exactly how it went down. • An accident reconstructionist, if the crash is serious enough. These experts analyze crash evidence to make a detailed determination on who caused the accident.
HOW COULD THIS EVEN HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE?
DO I STILL HAVE A CASE?
Well, we’re all human. The officer didn’t witness the crash and may have received bad information at the scene, especially if you were on the way to the hospital when they arrived. Naturally, the other driver wants to protect themselves, even if it’s at your expense.
It’s definitely worth pursuing. Remember this: Police reports aren’t admissible in evidence. So, you can relax; the ultimate decision about fault is decided based on live testimony. And here’s a shocker: If the officer testifies, he often cannot give an opinion on who was at fault.
RIGHT THIS WRONG.
Insurance companies know this, so you can counteract an inaccurate police report to get a settlement.
To have any hope of obtaining compensation, you’ll need professional help. The insurance company will adamantly stand behind the report until you convincingly prove it wrong. That requires a compelling presentation of admissible evidence. You need a skilled, determined attorney who can investigate your case and convince the insurance company to let go of the mistaken police report. A lot is at risk when you try to take on the insurance company by yourself!
HOW DO I OVERCOME THE ACCIDENT REPORT?
You gather and present other evidence showing the officer is mistaken. That’s where an experienced car accident attorney makes the difference. For example, you may get: • Other witness statements. You might even have witnesses the officer didn’t speak to, and they might tell a different story from the one in the police report.
To answer your questions, we are always here to help! Call us today!
Good News
DIY HOLIDAY EGGNOG
Inspired by TastesBetterFromScratch.com
Ingredients
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” “Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known.” –John 1:4–5, 14, 16–18
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6 egg yolks
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1/2 tsp nutmeg
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1/2 cup sugar
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1 pinch salt
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1 cup heavy whipping cream
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1/4 tsp vanilla extract
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2 cups milk
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Cinnamon and whipped cream, for garnish
Directions 1. In a medium bowl, whisk
4. When most of the milk is whisked in, add the egg mixture to the saucepan.
the egg yolks and sugar until light and creamy. Set aside.
5. Whisk until the liquid
2. In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the cream, milk, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to a simmer.
thickens slightly or reaches 160 F. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract.
6. Pour the eggnog into a glass container and cover. Refrigerate.
3. Add a spoonful of the
milk mixture to the egg mixture. Whisk vigorously and repeat, one spoonful at a time.
7. When the eggnog has thickened, pour it into
glasses, garnish, and enjoy!
864.582.0416
* 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 1. The Little Things That Make the Season
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2
2.
How Rudolph Became a TV Institution
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2.
Testimonial
3.
False Crash Reports
4
3.
DIY Holiday Eggnog
4.
Helping Hands Monkey Helpers for the Win
If you no longer want to receive this newsletter, call Pam at 864.582.0416 or email rob@bhollandlawfirm.com .
No Monkeying Around HELPING HANDS MONKEY HELPERS FOR THE WIN
You’ve heard of service dogs, but what about service monkeys? For many years now, capuchin monkeys have been lending helping hands to people with disabilities! Helping Hands Monkey Helpers, located at Monkey College in Boston, Massachusetts, is a nonprofit organization designed to help people with disabilities and mobility issues, such as quadriplegia, by pairing them with a monkey service animal. These simian helpers are specifically trained to help with daily tasks while providing companionship, happiness, and a renewed sense of purpose that many struggle with when navigating an injury or disability. When monkeys graduate, they will have developed the ability to navigate major household appliances and electronics as well as basic items within the home. They can even retrieve a canned beverage from the refrigerator, open it, and put a straw in it!
in a book, scratching an itch, pushing buttons on electronic devices, and performing other menial tasks within the home. Each human applicant and the capuchin monkeys undergo a pairing process to find the best fit for placement! A social worker and placement specialist work together to sift through applications and determine which monkeys will be the right choice for the applicants based on lifestyle preferences and the tasks that will be most helpful to the person with disabilities. Plus, Helping Hands Monkey Helpers ensures that the monkeys are completely free of charge to the recipients! The human-animal bond created along the journey after placement is absolutely beautiful. Helping Hands Monkey Helpers brings love, companionship, and laughter to many who are fortunate enough to work with the organization. These monkeys are the best, hands down. And, monkeys, thank you for going to monkey college, and thank you for your service!
A service monkey can also assist with retrieving things that are dropped or out of reach, turning pages
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