Take a look at our June newsletter!
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June 2021
Nothing relaxes me more than riding my motorcycle — a 2001 BMW R1100RT, to be exact. The moment I stop my bike, swing my leg over, and stand firmly back on the ground is the most relaxed I ever feel. It’s that rush of freedom and excitement that calms my nerves, and I love to spend most of a full Saturday or a Sunday afternoon chasing it. I started riding motorcycles at my Papaw’s farm when I was just a little kid. I loved feeling the wind on my face and the adrenaline of speeding from one spot to the other. When a friend convinced me to start riding again in 2011, I thought back to Papaw’s farm and knew I couldn’t say no. Since then, I’ve become a long-distance rider. I once rode 800 miles to Florida and back in a day, just to get a picture by the ocean! Someday, a friend and I want to join the Iron Butt Association. To do so, you have to ride 1,000 miles in 24 hours, and you need gas receipts and signed affidavits from witnesses where you began and ended to prove it. Our plan is to ride from Greenville, South Carolina, all the way to the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The trip will take one day out and probably three days back. We already have a friend who will sign at our starting location, and I know a Texas Ranger who will sign for us in Texas. While our Iron Butt ride may be on the horizon, my dream ride is still a lofty goal. Many bikers may know it as the Four Corners Ride. I would start by riding down to Key West, Florida, and then trek across the bottom of the country to San Diego, California. From there, I’d head north to Seattle, Washington, and then back across the top of the United States to Bangor, Maine, before heading home. In total, this trip takes about one month to complete, but by doing so, I will have traveled to each of the four outermost corners of the continental United States and also enter every state of the lower 48. WHY I LOVE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE The Freedom of the Road
That ride is just a dream for now, but I’m determined to make it a reality. Imagine the beauty one could see traveling across this great nation on their motorcycle, completely resigned to the road and the landscape. If I can finally complete this ride, I’ll likely do so by myself or with my friend. My wife refuses to get on the bike! She won’t even sit on it inside of the garage, with the door down and the key in the house. She thinks I’m insane for riding, but I like to think it eases her fears to know I’m a stickler for safety. Despite how freeing riding a motorcycle can be, you have to remain hyper-vigilant. Riders have to assume they’re invisible to every driver they cross, and equipment is a must for any rider. I’ve seen bikers wearing shorts and T-shirts and shuddered at the thought of what could happen if they were to get into an accident. You need a helmet, riding pants, boots, and a jacket. Remain visible and be smart out on the road. The same goes for motorists — as summer continues, more bikers will be on the road sneaking in rides whenever they can. Just as it’s their responsibility to watch for you, it’s your responsibility to watch for them.
I can say for certain that riding down the open highway and feeling that rush of the wind is about as close to a perfect world as I can get. Stay safe on the roadways this summer and see you out on the road!
–Bryan Ramey
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The Super Benefits of Yoga
June 21 is International Yoga Day, which makes it a great time of year to talk about the unique benefits of yoga — the “superfood” of fitness. As a mixture of exercise and mindfulness, yoga is not only challenging but also has myriad health benefits. Many people assume yoga is mainly useful for increasing your flexibility. However, it’s also excellent for further developing your strength, mobility, and balance. These can be key benefits for living a healthier lifestyle, whether you’re an athlete or concerned about aging.
Multiple studies agree: Yoga can significantly decrease the secretion of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. In one study, 64 women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) participated in a 10-week program, performing yoga at least once a week. By the end of the 10 weeks, 52% of participants no longer met the criteria for PTSD at all. As with starting any new hobby or regular exercise, it may help to set clear goals for yourself. By doing yoga regularly, there are several physical improvements you can look forward to, such as:
• Improved range of motion or ease of movement
Kaitlyn Hochart, a yoga instructor from San Diego, California, writes on Healthline, “During yoga, your body goes through a full range and variety of motion that can counteract aches and pains associated with tension or poor postural habits.” Yoga can help you become more aware of these habits, “[allowing] you to fix these imbalances and improve overall athleticism.” Many forms of exercise are useful against depression and cardiovascular disease, but in yoga’s case, you don’t have to break a sweat to start benefiting from its stress-relieving properties. “The breathing exercises you practice during yoga can help lower your heart rate and shift your nervous system into a more relaxed state. It also promotes better sleep and increased focus,” Hochart writes.
• A reduction in pain, discomfort, or other symptoms
• An increase in physical strength and endurance
• Less weight fluctuation
• Changes in the way your clothes fit
• Better-quality sleeping habits and increased or stabilized energy levels One of the best qualities of yoga is that you can be of any age or fitness level. So, pull up a YouTube video, find a soft surface, and give it a try!
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However, more restrictions have come up. In Miller v. California (1973), the U.S. Supreme Court found that the First Amendment’s freedom of speech doesn’t apply to obscenity.
How does the court define obscenity? There are three things they’ll take into account:
1. Will the average person (applying contemporary “community standards”) find the work appealing to the overly sexual interests?
2. Does the work depict or describe, in an offensive way, sexual conduct or excretory functions as defined by state law?
3. Does the work, when taken as a whole, lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value?
deletes a post, these actions don’t count as violations of free speech. Could that change?
Certain types of hate speech are legal, so long as they don’t incite violence and cannot be categorized as obscenity as described above. But what about more ordinary political opinions? Can those be legally censored?
According to legal experts, the big question now is how to treat large social media platforms. Clay Calvert, professor of law at the Levin College of Law, asks, “Should we treat them differently and regulate them more closely? Have we reached that stage where we need antitrust litigation, perhaps, and say they have such powerful platforms, they’re like near-monopolies that we should do some trust-busting and break them up?”
The First Amendment’s Boundary
Corporate censorship and censorship by private entities are legal because the First Amendment only applies to government censorship. That’s why when Twitter bans an account or Facebook
Would it be a good idea for the First Amendment to apply to private entities? We’ll leave that to the future debates that are sure to come.
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TAKE A BREAK
ARE GROCERY SUBSCRIPTION BOXES WORTH IT?
June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month, so let’s explore one popular way to get more fresh produce into our lives: subscription-based delivery services like Full Circle and Imperfect Food. Are these services actually worth it? Do they save money and provide what they promise? Here’s what the research turned up. Can they save you time? The Verdict: Yes, without a doubt. Subscription-based grocery delivery services appeal to consumers because they save time. With somebody else doing your grocery shopping, you don’t have to think about when you’re making a trip to the grocery store this week. Someone else is doing it for you! Plus, some services even offer meal kits if you can’t decide what to make. There’s no argument here — these services definitely save you time. Can they save you money? The Verdict: Sometimes, since it depends on your existing shopping habits. If you find yourself making impulsive purchases while strolling down the aisles at the grocery store, then a set (but customizable) weekly list of delivered groceries might be a great way to stick to your budget. Unfortunately, not many grocery subscription-box delivery services offer nonfood items like toilet paper or cleaning products, so you may still have to make a trip to the store every once in a while. Is the food quality great? The Verdict: Yes, but it depends on your area. You have a higher chance of getting better grocery items if you buy from an organic grocery box service, like Imperfect Foods or Farm Fresh to You, since these companies work closely with your local farms. Keep in mind that some services, like Imperfect Foods, are designed to deliver fresh foods that are a little “imperfect” in size, shape, or color to help prevent food waste — but, as a benefit, it’s more affordable! However, we’ve found some services, like Full Circle, will prepackage their boxes from warehouses that may not be local to you, so do a little research before picking one. All in all, we’ve been pleasantly surprised to find that these boxes aren’t such a bad idea. Consider looking into it if you’re tired of the weekly grocery store time crunch!
GRILLED CHICKEN SHAWARMA
Inspired by FeastingAtHome.com
A spice-filled marinade and time do all the work in this recipe that features Middle Eastern flavors.
Ingredients
• 2 tbsp ground coriander • 2 tsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper • 2 tsp turmeric • 1 tsp ground ginger • 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tsp allspice • 8 garlic cloves, minced • 6 tbsp olive oil • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Directions
1. To create marinade, whisk all spices with the garlic and olive oil in a medium bowl. 2. Add chicken to the bowl, coat well with marinade, cover, and let sit in the fridge for at least 20 minutes — or up to 48 hours. Strain off excess marinade before cooking. 3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill thighs for 10–12 minutes
on each side, or until a meat thermometer reads 165 F. 4. Serve with rice, vegetables, or pita bread with tzatziki.
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33 Market Point Drive Greenville, SC 29607 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Bryan Ramey’s Summertime Hobby Takes Him to the Open Road!
1
The Super Benefits of Yoga
2
Grilled Chicken Shawarma Are Grocery Subscription Boxes Worth It?
3
Legally Speaking, What Is Censorship?
4
Legally Speaking, What Is Censorship? A Brief Dive Into the First Amendment
The Freedom to Speak — Without Obscenity or Inciting Violence
The First Amendment has been the centerpiece of a contentious debate about what can legally be posted (and deleted) on social media like Twitter and Facebook. But before we can define “censorship,” we need to know what is defined as “free speech.” What exactly does the First Amendment say about free speech? What are the boundaries for what people can and cannot do?
The First Amendment covers the freedom of speech, press, and religion. It’s arguably one of the most fundamental amendments to American democracy, but its interpretations can vary significantly. This is how the full First Amendment reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Why is it that the Ku Klux Klan and Westboro Baptist Church have gotten into legal trouble for expressing their opinions? Their groups often promote acts of violence against another group, which violates the “peaceably” qualifier to the people’s right to assemble.
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