Matthew Dunaway February 2019
www.matthewdunaway.com · 205-705-3590
February 2019
WHAT’S CHANGED? Exploring Stories to Lead a Fruitful Life
As a book lover, one of my greatest challenges is accepting the fact that I will never get to read all the books that have been written. I’ll never even be able to read all the “must-read” books that have been written. The best I can hope to do is find those books that I consider essential — the books that help build a foundation to live a fruitful, productive life. So that’s exactly what I’ve decided to do. I’m building a list I call “100 Fundamental Books.” These are books I should have read before or need to read multiple times — books that help you become a more well-rounded person. I have just started to compile this list, with only the top 10 books nailed down.
3. “The Greek Plays” by Mary Lefkowitz and James Romm 4. Plato’s “Republic” 5. Aristotle 6. Virgil’s “Aeneid” 7. “The Divine Comedy” by Dante Alighieri 8. “The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer” 9. “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes 10. “The Complete Works of Shakespeare” This isn’t a list of the “best” or “most important” books. This is my list of books that I believe speak to some core fundamentals about life. Someone else may have a completely different essential reading list. Take the Bible, for example. The Bible isn’t just another book; I believe it is the inspired word of God. Not everyone would include the Bible in this kind of list, but I have it as No. 1 because I read everything else through the prism of truth revealed in the Bible. These are only the first 10 books on my list, and I wasn’t surprised that they are all old, classic literature. I read newer works from great modern authors, but the more I read of the new stuff and the old stuff, the more it seems like the new stuff is just rehashing the old stuff. This might sound like a sign of doom or like there are no new ideas. But I choose to see it as evidence that there’s something about the human experience that’s so common, regardless of whether we’re living it today or 3,000 years ago. Technologies,
economies, and cultures may change, but the human experience is the same.
When I read these old stories that speak to such fundamentals, I’m reminded of my law practice. I’ve been a lawyer for 22 years. Over that time, the practice of law has changed dramatically. The technology we use, our culture, and the economy have changed; they’re not what they used to be. Yet, when I look back at what it means to truly be a lawyer — understanding your clients, listening, guiding them through the legal process — things really haven’t changed that much at all. To a certain extent, my list of 100 Fundamental Books is intrinsically tied to my law practice. The themes and messages of these books speak to the core of what it means to be a lawyer. When I’m speaking with a client, it’s not enough for me to understand how to navigate the legal waters; I need to also understand life. When we read books that address core fundamentals, from Homer to Shakespeare, it helps us become more well-rounded people. We broaden our thinking, begin to recognize trends, and understand other people better. As a lawyer, this helps me better understand my clients and offer them better advice going forward.
1. The Bible 2. Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odyssey”
When I read these old stories that speak to such fundamentals, I’m reminded of my law practice.
Call today – 205-705-3590 1. –Matt Dunaway
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HOW STARBUCKS HELPS THE DEAF COMMUNITY Ordering Coffee Just Got Easier
Education
Sudoku The store’s grand opening took place in October in Washington, D.C. Its overall success relies primarily on its purposeful operation and design elements. In 2005, the ASL Deaf Studies Department at Gallaudet If you’ve ever visited a Starbucks coffee shop, you’ve likely heard a patron rattle off a drink order that was more specific than your grandma’s pecan pie recipe. For example, they might say, “I’ll take a Grande, four- pump, nonfat, no-whip, extra-hot mocha.” Without missing a beat, the barista scribbles the order on the cup and starts making the drink. Orders like this one are a mouthful for even the most seasoned Starbucks guru, but for deaf people, it can be difficult to even order a cup of black coffee. Adam Novsam, a deaf utility analyst at Starbucks headquarters in Seattle, set out to address that difficulty by heading the launch of the company’s first deaf-friendly signing store. Operation
University created the DeafSpace Project using design elements, such as space and proximity, sensory reach, mobility, light, and acoustics, to address potential challenges for deaf people. Starbucks’ signing store incorporates these aspects of DeafSpace to make their store more accessible. For customers new to sign language, the store features some high-tech options for assisting with communication, ordering drinks, and receiving beverages at the handoff counter, including digital notepads and a console with two-way keyboards for back-and-forth conversations. All store partners at the signing store are proficient in ASL, whether they are hearing, hearing-impaired, or deaf. However, deaf partners wear special green aprons embroidered with the ASL spelling of Starbucks. What’s more, these aprons were created by a deaf supplier! Aprons
For hearing customers who aren’t fluent in ASL — even those just ducking in to grab a cup of coffee to go — the signing store offers an opportunity to learn something new. For example, they can learn how to sign a word like “espresso” in ASL merely by reading the chalkboard above the register with the “sign of the week.” Starbucks’ decision to make their product more accessible has benefited thousands of customers all along the East Coast. Hopefully, as time goes on, other corporations will choose to follow suit so we can make a more deaf-friendly society.
“Matt is an amazing lawyer and is absolutely the best at what he does. If you want a lawyer to be right there with you every step of the way and you want to know the process, step by step, that is about to take place, then Mr. Matt Dunaway is definitely the lawyer you need. I can’t express enough the gratitude and appreciation I have for Mr. Dunaway and all he did for my case. Thank you again! If ever again an unfortunate situation like this arises and I need a lawyer, Mr. Matt Dunaway will be the one I call.”
— Shawna Humes
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3 Times the Division of Assets Got Out of Control WILD DIVORCE SETTLEMENTS
When you’re untying the knot, it’s important to be specific about the assets you hope to walk away with. These three over-the-top divorce settlements are good examples
relatives cut the home down the middle, dismantled his portion, and hauled it away. Vat’s half was left standing with one wall missing.
‘Here, My Dear ’
of what not to do when dissolving your marriage.
In the divorce agreement between the late Marvin Gaye and his ex, Anna Gordy, it was decided that Anna would be paid from the royalties of Gaye’s next album since he had gone broke from his lavish spending. At first, Gaye decided he’d phone in the production, but he quickly discovered an opportunity to make a unique artistic statement: “I’ll give her my next album, but it’ll be something she won’t want to play and it’ll be something she won’t want the world to hear because I’m gonna tell the world the truth.” In the end, the album was a commercial flop, though critics continue to praise its raw, emotional core. Valentine’s Day Cookie Cards Recipe of the Month
You’ve Got to Be Kidney Me
Back in 2001, Dr. Richard Batista donated his kidney to his ailing wife, Dawnell, to save her life. Sweet, right? It was — until Dawnell filed for divorce
A Life Rent in Two
in 2005 and Dr. Batista demanded she give back his kidney or compensate him for $1.5 million in damages. In the end, his request was thrown out in court because the kidney was a gift — and because removing it would be potentially fatal to his ex-spouse.
When Moeun Sarim and Vat Navy decided to divorce after 18 years of marriage, Moeun apparently decided that, to keep the split equitable, he and his wife should divide their assets in half — literally. Moeun and his
Good News
Roll this classic sugar cookie recipe into thin sheets and cut into rectangles for delicious valentines. neighbors, making it an important part of America’s culinary history. It’s also easy to make and delicious to eat.
Ingredients • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour • 3/4 cup sugar • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 2 sticks unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1/2-inch cubes Directions 1. Heat oven to 375 F. 2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour with sugar and salt. Add butter and combine using a mixer at low speed, until butter breaks down into small, crumbly pieces. Increase mixing speed to medium and mix until butter and flour clump. 3. Add egg yolks and vanilla extract to bowl, return mixer to low, and mix until dough congeals.
John 15: 12-13
• 2 large egg yolks • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract • Royal icing, sprinkles, and edible markers, for decorating
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
4. Carefully roll dough into a sheet 1/16-inch thick and cut into 4x6-inch cards. 5. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, bake cookie cards for 6 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. 6. Let cookies cool completely, decorate, and distribute.
Inspired by Food & Wine magazine.
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NSIDE 100 Fundamental Books ............................. page 1 Ordering Coffee Just Got Easier................... page 2 Our Clients Say It Best .................................. page 2 3 Wild Divorce Settlements......................... page 3 Valentine’s Day Cookie Cards....................... page 3 Bigger Screens, Shorter Attention Spans ... page 4
‘The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains’ by Nicholas Carr A Page FromMatt’s Bookshelf
A few years ago, I read Nicholas Carr’s “The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains.” Whenever an author writes about technology, they often take a negative approach. What I like about Carr’s book is he’s able to address the very
The internet is a form of media, like a book or television. It’s not inherently better or worse than any other media, but the internet does affect us in ways we don’t immediately realize.
that will encourage you to click on another link after only a few sentences.
Thanks to the internet, we are aware of many different topics, but we aren’t given the opportunity to learn a lot about these topics. Our knowledge is broad but thin, like pancakes. As Carr points out, the structure of the internet means we get bored or distracted more easily. “The Shallows” is a great book for those who are interested in learning more about the double-edged sword that is the internet. It is a wonderful breakthrough of human invention, but there are negative impacts we need to make allowances for. There is no incentive for the internet to change, so it’s up to us to step back and be aware of how this amazing technology is changing us.
In his book, Carr mentions a study that conducted brain scans on people who spend a lot of time on the internet. Researchers found that using the internet literally changes our brains. It reroutes neural pathways, changing the way we think. It becomes harder for us to focus and learn subjects more deeply. That is because the internet, or at least companies that profit on the internet, make money when people click on their websites. More clicks mean more money, so websites encourage quick consumption of a lot of information
real problems about our growing internet use without making it a rant against modern technology. Carr isn’t calling for us to stop using the internet. He makes a point to address all the good things the internet provides as a medium for information and communication.
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