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August 2024
The Lawyer’s Library Timeless Classics and Modern Reads
These days, many prefer to stream movies or television shows from their couch. But to me, nothing can beat the comfort, inspiration, and knowledge books can provide. In my den, I have a personal library of classic literature I come back to, like an old friend, from time to time. With Aug. 9 being National Book Lovers Day, I wanted to discuss my favorite books and which have had the biggest impact on me lately. ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ The first time I read “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck, I must have been in high school. Maybe it was because I grew up in a blue-collar town with textile mills, but the themes of worker exploitation and leaving home to seek fortunes elsewhere spoke to me. The book follows a farming family forced to move west from Oklahoma to California as the Dust Bowl destroyed farming. It is set against the hardships of the Great Depression, underscoring the squalor and desperation at the time. The book demonstrates the importance of family and the strength and resilience it takes to persevere through difficult times. It is a metaphor for life and the obstacles that stand in the way of a brighter future. When I see “The Grapes of Wrath” on my shelf after enough time has passed, I am inevitably drawn back to its pages once again. That is why I reread the book at least once every five years or so. Of course, books have different meanings depending on when one reads them, as different experiences shape us over time. In other words, our perspectives can change. When I was younger, I saw the book as a critique of capitalism. I saw the bankers in Oklahoma as evil and the corporate farmers in California as greedy. But as I got older, I realized, in many cases, the behavior of these organizations was often justified. Banks may have to foreclose on your property if you do not pay your mortgage. If too many people migrate to an area searching for work, a shortage of available jobs is inevitable. Capitalism, or more aptly, entrepreneurship, helps spread good around the world — despite the greed that sometimes follows. ‘Of Mice and Men’ Another of John Steinbeck’s books, “Of Mice and Men,” has a quote I absolutely love. It is a description of one of its main characters, Lenny Small, and perfectly describes him in a beautifully fascinating way: “Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, and wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely.” In those details, you understand a great deal about him, and it sets the stage for the character’s arc going forward.
A Question to Ask (or Answer for) a Loved One Asking and answering important questions helps preserve your family’s values and life lessons for generations to come. What books helped shape your life?
‘The Science of Making Friends’ My son has autism and experiences difficulty with certain social situations. To help, I have been reading a book called “The Science of Making Friends: Helping Socially Challenged Teens and Young Adults” with him this summer. It explains the importance of improving relationships and social skills and has exercises you can follow to understand better how to communicate properly in certain situations. One example, which many of us may take for granted, is how to leave a voicemail. It teaches you that you need to know and explain the reason for calling, whom you are calling for, as well as a phone number they can use to call you back. And most importantly, to remember to say “Goodbye.” It may seem simple, but think of how many voicemails you get that never get to the point and really don’t say anything at all. A copy of the book sits right beside my chair in my den, and I am excited to read through the rest of it with my son.
So, in the spirit of National Book Lovers Day, I encourage you to find a good book to read or dig out an old classic you haven’t read in a while! You may be surprised by how differently you see it!
“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” – Psalm 119:105 Philip J. Corson, Founder
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FURRY FRIENDS, HAPPY HOMES Create a Comfortable Haven for Your Canine Companion
We consistently adjust and add things to our homes to make them more comfortable, but we should remember our furry friends, too! Our dogs also deserve a comfy spot to rest, and it’s as easy as picking up a few items from your local home improvement store.
to this behavior. The next time you’re out, pick up a bitter apple spray and use it on your baseboards, furniture legs, and anything else your dog may chew on to prevent them from tearing up your home. You might not think you need to buy new appliances when you get a dog, but it can help you maintain your home better. Certain vacuum cleaners pick up pet hair better than others. Additionally, you will need to run their beds and toys through the washer and dryer at some point, so ensure your appliances are up for the task. Finally, make sure you have a doormat or something for the dogs to walk over near your doors. This will prevent them from tracking mud, dirt, and other debris into your home. Bringing home a dog can be fun but requires preparation. Take these steps to ensure your dog is comfortable and your house is fully puppy-
Since dogs spend most of their time on the ground, especially if you don’t allow your pups on furniture, you should make extra efforts to ensure the floor fits their needs. As dogs grow older, they will need more traction to move around. Soft rugs can provide them with a snug spot to rest. You might think that installing carpet is a better option, but dogs can have
accidents and get sick more frequently as they age, putting your carpet at risk. Many stores also sell comfy, machine-washable dog beds at reasonable prices.
Another area of your home you should pay attention to is your baseboards, as your furry friend may mistake them for chew toys. This is much more common in puppies, but dogs of all ages are susceptible
proofed for their arrival.
Bulls, Bears, and Ballots — Oh, My! DECODING ELECTION YEAR STOCK MARKET TRENDS
Making money in the stock market can often evolve into a pattern recognition game, with investors searching for any repetition in past data. Many traders and analysts have noticed a particular market trend in election years — and some wonder what that means for 2024. Let’s look at the data gleaned from previous years and uncover how (if at all) it applies now. Emerging Patterns A bull market is an economically stable time when prices are increasing. In contrast, a bear market is when stocks are losing
value. Typically, stock market patterns in presidential election years show a weaker first half (bear), followed by a dip around May. After June, the index usually rises (bull), and the Dow’s second-half return in election years is an average of 8.6% as opposed to 3% in other years. So, based on history, the stock market usually performs weaker at the beginning of an election year due to economic uncertainty surrounding the candidate’s policies. As the year goes on and the parties solidify their plans throughout their campaigns, that ambiguity wanes, and the market picks back up. Looking to the Future Investors are always trying to hedge their bets and plan for long-term economic downturns, another pattern worth looking into. According to T. Rowe Price, a global investment management firm, there’s a 22% probability of an election happening
during a recession. What’s interesting, however, are the numbers in the years that follow. There’s a 57% chance the following 365 days will have a recession, with the second and third years coming in at 30% and 17%, respectively. The big question remains: Will the winner of this year’s race create an unstable market? Rob Haworth, senior investment strategy director at U.S. Bank Wealth Management, says, “At the presidential level, the differences between the candidates, from
an investor’s perspective, are not as significant as many would expect.”
Change is constant in the markets, so don’t base your entire portfolio on this historical data. Trends like this are never guaranteed to repeat — they’re simply interesting patterns discerned in previous years. Instead, use this information to inspire your investments and empower yourself with clever strategies for cultivating long-term financial stability.
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While France may be known for its artwork, culture, and cuisine, the French Revolution was anything but beautiful, cultured, or tasteful. Instead, it was a brutal, vengeful affair, culminating in the ruthless execution of the French royal family and the end of their royal line. One of the most famous characters from this brutal time was the French queen, Marie Antoinette. She became a symbol for all complaints levied against the French throne, from extravagant spending to their brutal crackdowns on dissent, even though she wasn’t the actual perpetrator. In the end, it didn’t matter. Marie Antoinette, at age 37, was beheaded by guillotine in October 1793. Here are three true facts about Marie Antoinette. Cake: Not on the Menu Although many ascribe the infamous words, “Let them eat cake,” to Marie Antoinette, she likely never uttered them at all. Many other royals, including the French noblewoman Marie Therese more than a century earlier, had been credited with uttering the notorious sentence. So, someone else had likely said it before the French Revolution ever happened. Young Newlyweds Talk about a crowded household: Marie Antoinette was the 11th daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I, the head of the powerful and influential Habsburg dynasty. She did not spend many years at home, however, because she was just 14 years old when she married the future king of France, Louis XVI. Faux Farmer Despite her regal estate and lavish lifestyle, one of Marie Antoinette’s favorite pastimes was pretending to work as a farmer. She had an entire fake farm built on the grounds of her palace in Versailles, where she and other noblewomen would dress in costumes and pretend to be sheepherders and milkmaids. Facts About the Late French Queen Marie Antoinette Headless of State
TAKE A BREAK
BACKPACK BEES
MELON MOON
MUSTARD OLYMPICS PEACH SANDCASTLE SCHOOL TWINS
VACATION ZUCCHINI
TASTY CUCUMBER SUSHI ROLLS
• 1 cup uncooked sushi rice • 1 1/2 cups water • 2 tbsp rice vinegar • 1 tbsp sugar Ingredients
• 1 tsp salt • 2 sheets of nori • 1/2 a cucumber, sliced
lengthwise into thin strips
Directions 1. To make sushi rice, combine rice with water in a small saucepot. Add vinegar, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 15–20 minutes until water is absorbed. Let cool. 2. Lay a piece of nori on a flat surface. Spread half of the sushi rice evenly over the nori, leaving a 1/2-inch border on one end. 3. Place half the cucumber strips along the other end of the nori. 4. Using your fingers, moisten the 1/2-inch border of the nori with water. 5. Gently roll up the nori, starting from the end with the cucumbers. Then press to seal. Repeat with a second sheet of nori and remaining cucumber. 6. Slice with a serrated knife into 1-inch sections and serve.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
A Lawyer’s Favorite Books
1 2
Create a Dog-Friendly Home With Simple Upgrades
Do Elections Affect the Stock Market?
Tasty Cucumber Sushi Rolls
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The Truth About France’s Marie Antoinette
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Don’t Make the Same Financial Mistake as Chadwick Boseman
A Stark Reminder of the Importance of Wills and Trusts Chadwick Boseman’s Estate Debacle Photo: Gage Skidmore
Everyone needs to have a will or trust set up for their financial future. Even if you feel too young to think about it, it’s never too early to prepare for the only guaranteed milestone in life. Take Chadwick Boseman’s estate as an example. Back in 2016, the actor (best known for his starring role in Marvel’s “Black Panther”) was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer, and he hadn’t even turned 40 yet. After quietly battling this awful disease in private, Boseman died only four years later on Aug. 28, 2020, leaving behind his parents, a wife, and many more family members who were devastated by their loss. Tragically, he didn’t leave behind a trust for his estate. When this happens, the deceased’s financial assets must go through probate, a court-supervised process for
identifying and distributing those funds to the deceased’s beneficiaries.
In California, where Boseman lived, intestacy laws require the probate courts to decide where someone’s assets can go. His widow petitioned the court to become the estate’s representative, which she was granted, allowing her to allot her late husband’s inheritance to be split evenly between herself and Boseman’s parents. However, because he didn’t establish a trust for these funds, legal fees and the U.S. government claimed a third of his net worth, a cut worth $1.5 million. And Uncle Sam could have taken even more of his estate if Boseman had lived in a different state without intestacy laws. If this is what the system can do to a celebrity with millions of dollars, imagine what can happen to the estates of
everyday people. All your planning, saving, and preparing for your family’s future in the wake of your absence could be gone overnight if you don’t have the right legal documents in place.
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