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FLATTMANN FILES “Quality Is No Accident”
July 2018
WATCH OUTWORLD; FLATTMANN LAW IS ON FACEBOOK ANDTWITTER! Sometimes I feel like technology is passing FROM THE DESK OF Grady Flattmann equipment. Everything got faster! But when the dust settled (literally) and I couldn’t figure out how to scan a document from the wireless printer stationed two feet away frommy desk, I felt defeated. At that point, I actually fought the temptation of askingmy 10-year-old daughter for help. But just when I thought I was down and out, I regrouped, gavemyself a pep talk, got another cup of coffee, googled“How to fix your scanner,”and figured out what I had to do. Fiveminutes after I called him, the tech guy hadmy scanner back on track! Welcome to the 21st century! Please check out Flattmann Law on Facebook andTwitter. Entertainment guaranteed! Facebook: Like and share our page at: Grady J. Flattmann, Attorneys at Law, LLC Twitter: Tweet Tweet! @flattmannlaw me by.We recently invested in amajor overhaul of our law firm’s computer
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT T he S tory of the D eclaration of I ndependence
Every American knows that the Fourth of July commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 — it’s also called Independence Day, after all. The story behind the document, however, gets less attention than it deserves. It’s a fascinating tale, culminating with the birth of the United States of America as we know it.
THE ROAD TO DECLARATION
Even after the early battles of the American Revolution, which began in earnest during April of 1775, it was unclear what shape the rebellion would take. At that point, independence was still far from certain. As the Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia in May of that year, two groups formed around polar opinions. “The fundamental issue between them was were they fighting for their rights as Englishmen within the British Empire, or were they going to fight for independence?” says historian Richard Slotkin. It was not an easy choice, and both sides held passionate opinions. As the calendar changed to 1776, those in favor of breaking from King George III began to gain momentum. The growth of the revolutionary movement had a number of causes, but two in particular stand out. In late 1775, King George III spoke to Parliament with the goal of enlarging the Royal Army and Navy to quash the rebellion. He went so far as to solicit help from foreign mercenaries. Word of this decision reached the colonies in January 1776, making reconciliation seem less likely than ever before. During the same month, Thomas Paine published his famous pamphlet “Common Sense,” which advocated for outright independence. “The custom of all Courts is against us, and will
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be so, until by an independence we take rank with other nations,” Paine wrote. “Common Sense”was wildly popular, selling more than 150,000 copies in its first weeks of publication, and created a groundswell of colonist support for independence. Once a route forward was agreed upon, Congress set about drafting a formal document to dissolve all ties with Great Britain. They assigned a group of five congressmen, now known as the Committee of Five, to begin work on what would become the Declaration of Independence. That group comprised John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Most people believed that Adams, one of the earliest supporters of revolution, should be the man to pen the document. Adams, on the other hand, was insistent that Jefferson was the man for the job. DRAFTING THE DOCUMENT
that he presented it to Congress on June 28, 1776. The original draft was heavily revised over the next few days with input from all Congress members. This revision process coincided with convincing the final holdout states to move toward independence. By July 2, independence had been decided, with 12 states voting in favor, one absenting, and zero against. Jefferson thought that July 2 would become a national holiday as a result of this vote. Turns out he was two days off. That’s because two days later, the final text of the Declaration was approved and sent to the printer, and this event became the moment synonymous with the birth of our nation.
While this remarkable passage is the one everyone remembers, it’s only a small portion of the Declaration. Structurally, the text proceeds like a classic example of a rhetorical argument. It begins by proposing that if a government is oppressive and unjust, it should be overthrown. Then, it lists the ways the British government has been unjust to its colonial citizens. Finally, it concludes that because of these grievances, it is time for the U.S. to establish a government of its own. It’s also a literary achievement, full of timeless sentences that are as compelling to read today as when they were written. Somehow, the text achieves both clarity of argument and an overflow of emotion. It was so powerful that it stirred revolutionary emotions across the world, most notably in France. This Fourth of July, why not take the time to read the Declaration of Independence? It’s something few U.S. citizens do, and you’ll likely find it about as awe-inspiring as the biggest display of fireworks you can imagine.
THE POWER OF THE PROSE
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Not much is known about how Jefferson wrote the document, but we are certain
–The Declaration of Independence
Warning Signs You Can’t Ignore Is Your Child Being Bullied?
Somewhere along the line, our society accepted bullying as a social norm for children. “How can kids learn to cope with the real world if they can’t handle a bully?” is a common misguided justification. Kids who don’t meet the standards of what they are socially expected to be aren’t accepted among their peers. Rather, they are treated like emotional punching bags for anyone deemed more culturally acceptable. But the life of a child is truly a special force in this world, and just because someone differs from physical, social, or cultural normativity doesn’t give anyone the right to treat them poorly. Differences should be celebrated, and bullying needs to be eradicated. The best way we can start is by making an effort to notice bullying and put a stop to it. Here are three warning signs.
CONFIDENCE ISSUES Bullying has the potential to drop kids into a volatile cycle of confidence-killing self-talk. Bullyingmay produce external damage, but what goes on internally can be catastrophic for children. The continually progressing, technology-based environment our children live in nearly outpaces their ability to adjust and cope. Children often internalize their emotions, and when they are being bullied by someone online, their distress can be even harder to detect. The best way to be aware of how your children are feeling is to talk to themopenly about their social interactions both online and offline. Summer is the perfect opportunity to discuss these issues with your child because they likely will be relaxed, comfortable, and out of school, where bullying often occurs. Then they can approach the new school year with confidence and self-worth. What parent doesn’t want that?
HEADACHES AND STOMACH ACHES Anxiety is an emotional complexity that tends to manifest itself in physical ways. If you notice your child has stress-related symptoms like headaches, ask them about their emotional well-being. An open-ended question like, “I’ve noticed you haven’t been feeling well a lot lately, can you tell me more about that?”will help open lines of communication.
CHANGE IN FRIENDS There are bound to be changes in friend groups throughout your child’s life, but that doesn’t mean parents shouldn’t take notice when this happens. When a child expresses disinterest in spending time with specific people, it could be a sign of bullying. Connecting with other parents who have children in the same circle could be a way to gauge the pulse of your child’s friend group.
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Can I Have S’more? You’re just three ingredients away from the perfect summertime treat: chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows. The s’more is a fan favorite on camping trips and at backyard bonfires alike. Though they say you can’t improve perfection, we’ve found a few creative twists on the classic treat that will make your summer a little sweeter.
Creative Twists on the Campfire Classic
S’MOREO
A simple but memorable twist on the campfire classic. Grab a box of Oreo cookies, pull a cookie apart, and use that in place of your graham cracker. The cream filling will pair nicely with the chocolate and toasted marshmallow.
THE ELVIS
S’MORES MILKSHAKE
A campfire snack fit for a king — of rock ’n’ roll, that is. This s’more pays homage to Elvis Presley’s love of peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Swap out the chocolate bar for a peanut butter cup candy and add a few slices of fresh banana between the graham cracker and marshmallow. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can even add some bacon.
Too hot for a campfire? Cool down with a s’mores milkshake! The trick is to lightly toast the marshmallows in the oven so they mix well with the other ingredients in the blender. Get the recipe at spoonfulofflavor. com/2013/08/30/smores- milkshake to enjoy this sweet treat even in the heat of summer. It’s the simple recipe that opens the door for creative interpretations of the classic s’more. Be adventurous this summer and see what great new s’mores you can create!
S’MORES IN A JAR
Here are s’mores you can enjoy all year long. Layers of crushed graham cracker, melted marshmallow, and creamy chocolate turn a simple jar into a great dessert! Learn how to make the perfect s’mores on the go at family.disney.com/recipe/smores-in-a-jar.
STRAWBERRY S’MORE-CAKE
If you really want to wow your guests at the next bonfire, try your hand at this creative take on the summertime classic. Gooey s’mores meet fresh strawberry shortcake in a dessert that’s as delicious as it is original. Find the whole recipe, including tips on making the perfect shortcake, at aspicyperspective.com/smores-strawberry-shortcake-recipe.
Take a Break!
CHARRED CHILI-CHEESE CORN Ingredients
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4 ears of corn, husked
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1/2 red chili (such as Freson) or jalapeño, thinly sliced
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4 tablespoons high smoke- point oil, such as canola or vegetable
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1/4 cup fresh lime juice
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2 ounces fresh cotija cheese (or feta), crumbled
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1 large shallot, thinly sliced
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1/4 cup cilantro
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Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
1. Heat grill to medium. 2. Brush corn with 2 tablespoons oil and grill until visibly charred, 10–12 minutes. 3. Cut kernels off cob and combine with shallots, chilis, lime juice, cheese, and remaining oil. 4. Season with salt and pepper, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
Independence Day Barbecue Freedom America
Washington Revolution Parade Fireworks
Colonial July USA Congress
Inspired by Bon Appetit magazine
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Grady PAGE 1 The Founding Document of America PAGE 1 How to Tell if Your Kids Are Being Bullied PAGE 2 Take Your S’mores to the Next Level PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Charred Chili-Cheese Corn PAGE 3 Should You Stop Eating Raw Cookie Dough Right Now? PAGE 4
COOKIE DOUGH: Is It Really Bad for You? We all do it. You make a batch of chocolate chip cookies and spoon yourself a sample of the dough. Then the kids clamor for a taste. By the time the first batch of cookies comes out of the oven, everyone’s had their fill. The danger, instead, comes from raw flour. Dry flour, as it sits in your kitchen cabinet, can harbor harmful bacteria, including E. coli. Research by both the U.S. Food and Drug If you or your kids really love cookie dough— never fear! There are many recipes available online for flourless (as well as eggless) cookie dough. These recipes are great for anyone with food allergies and anyone who loves to indulge in raw cookie dough but doesn’t want the risk. Check them out!
Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed the dangers present in flour. Both organizations have investigated illnesses across the country that have been traced to raw flour. What makes flour problematic? The flour you buy in the supermarket is minimally treated from the moment the grain is harvested to the moment you add it to your favorite cookie recipe. Bacteria in the wheat field can travel all the way to your home. The FDA recommends you avoid eating raw dough or batter and use proper kitchen hygiene —wash your hands, utensils, and work surfaces before and after contact with raw flour. Wait until the cookies are fully baked and cooled before enjoying their amazingness.
But is eating raw cookie dough, or even cake batter, a bad idea?
We’ve all heard about the dangers of eating raw cookie dough, but how many of us actually know someone who has gotten sick after eating it? Years ago, conventional wisdom suggested that the raw eggs in cookie dough harbored bacteria that would make you sick. Everyone seemed to worry about anything that had to do with raw eggs. As it turns out, raw eggs are surprisingly safe. If the eggs are properly handled and stored, chances are they won’t make you sick, even if consumed raw. The danger of salmonella poisoning is negligible.
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