Dunaway Law April 2019
April 2019
DUNAWAY DIGEST
One Perimeter Park South, Suite 100 North, Birmingham, AL 35243 • 205.705.3590 • MatthewDunaway.com
Reality Check It Sounds Great, but Is It Good?
Recently, I decided to make my law office paperless. A lot of businesses are going paperless, and since I’m just a small, one- man show, I figured I could go paperless pretty easily. Turns out I was very wrong. I’ve tried to go paperless several times, in several different ways, and while I’ve been able to dramatically reduce the amount of paper I use, there are still stacks of paper at my office. Ultimately, I had to accept two things. First, I will always have paper. And second, all the paper is actually good; it helps with my workflow and productivity. This won’t be the case for everyone, but I’ve found that, no matter how good going paperless sounds, it’s not the best practice for my business. This led me to reflect on the phenomenon of theory versus reality. There are a lot of things in life that sound like a great idea. On paper, they just make sense. But in practice, they don’t always work out, because life is messy. Take credit cards, for example. In theory, the rewards credit cards offer are great. We all have to spend money anyway, so why not get cash back or points to our favorite stories or airline miles while we’re doing it? However, the reality is very different for most people. While a small minority may be able to enjoy the rewards without complication, for most people, the rewards are just bait to get them trapped in a bottomless pit of debt. It is uncomfortably easy to lose sight of our goals in favor of chasing theories that sound good. Our society is teaching us that
It’s important that we don’t let the theory of what’s good win out over the reality of what’s actually good for us. Sometimes, facing this reality means accepting certain truths about ourselves. I would love to work out for an hour every day. But if I did that, it would mean I’m not at the office when I need to be, or that I’m spending time at the gym instead of having dinner with my family. In theory, the “best” thing would be for me to work out every day. But in practice, is spending that kind of time at the gym really what’s best for my life? Whenever we’re faced with something that sounds great, we need to give ourselves a reality check. Sure, getting 2 percent back on groceries would be great, but will the interest rates come back to bite me? The bank says I’m qualified for this car loan, but will I be able to afford the monthly payments?
“It’s important that we don’t let the theory of what’s good win out over the reality of what’s actually good for us.”
there’s a “best” way to do everything. We’re supposed to ask “How can I ___ the best?” It doesn’t matter if we want to save money, eat better, exercise more, or strengthen our relationships; we should do it the best way. So, we do some research and look online for articles full of strategies that all sound great, but they rarely work out in practice. This is because theories of the “best” way to do things don’t take into account our unique situations. As a result, we get ourselves all twisted up trying to do it the best way that we lose sight of the simple pleasures in life and why we wanted to make this change in the first place.
Going paperless is smart, but is it something my business is capable of doing right now?
If we can recognize our reality before making a decision, we can save ourselves a lot of struggle in the future.
–Matt Dunaway 1 Phone: 205.705.3590
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The Sultan of Swat! The King of Crash! The Colossus of Clout! The Great Bambino!
The Legend of Babe Ruth
On April 27, 1947, the New York Yankees hosted the first Babe Ruth Day to honor the ailing baseball star, who had terminal throat cancer. As he rose to give a speech for the 58,339 fans in the stadium, Ruth’s condition caused him to have a coughing fit. With the thunderous cheers from the stands encouraging him to continue, he lovingly spoke to the thousands of people who had followed his career from his early years as a free-spirited Baltimore school kid to the world-renowned baseball legend he became. Even legends have to start somewhere, and Ruth began his baseball career in the minor league Baltimore Orioles, where his teammates gave him the nickname “Babe.” He was soon acquired by the Boston Red Sox, and he helped them win the World Series in 1916 and 1918. The following year, he was traded to the Yankees. His popularity in the Big Apple allowed the Yankees to move from a shared ballpark to one of their own in the Bronx, which was aptly known as “The House That Ruth Built.” Even through the 1919 World Series gambling debacle, which cast doubt over the sport’s future, the fans’ attention was still centered on the Sultan of Swat and what he would do next. The New York Times reported that as “home runs began to scale off his bat in droves, crowds jammed ballparks in every city in which he appeared.” All those home runs resulted in his record- breaking year in 1927, when he hit 60 over-the-fence home runs in a single season. While his home run record was eventually broken in 1961, the continued celebration of Babe Ruth Day keeps his love for the game and unmatched ability alive. To quote the classic baseball film “The Sandlot,” “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” In the Great Bambino’s case, the legend of his baseball career has survived for over a century and will continue to do so for decades to come.
From the first time I met Matt, he made feel like I wasn’t alone. He took time to listen to why I had to file and assured me he would walk with me through the entire process. Matt is sympathetic, professional, and most of all a Christian man who takes great pride in offering impeccable service to his clients. I highly recommend Matt Dunaway to handle bankruptcy cases. –Steven R. Matt helped me turn a scary and confusing process into a blessing. Matt’s understanding and patience is unparalleled and a rare find. I’ve already recommended him to several people in the same situation. –William M.
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Why Are Americans Paying so Much for Cars?
According to Kelley Blue Book, the average price of vehicles hit $36,000 in 2018 — an all-time high. These rising costs didn’t do anything to slow the purchase of cars in the United States. Americans have accumulated over $1.2 trillion in car debt, another all-time high! Another number reading record-breaking highs? Interest rates on car loans. In January 2018, the average annual interest rate on car loans was 4.99 percent. In January 2019, that number had jumped to 6.19 percent, the highest it has been since the Great Recession. As the cost of cars increases, monthly payments for car buyers are becoming more difficult to manage. Most Americans are paying $550 per month for their new car. According to Experian, the most common loan term is 72 months. The biggest trouble with these car loans is the fact that most dealerships aren’t selling cars based on what people can afford, they’re
How can I avoid paying too much for my car?
First, determine if you really need a car. New cars have become a status symbol in the United States. Some people replace their car as often as they replace their phone! But unlike your iPhone, cars are built to last. A quick way to save tens of thousands of dollars is to not buy a new car unless you absolutely need to. If the time has come and you can’t put off getting a new car any longer, do the math and consider the total amount you’ll be paying over time. Based on the interest rates in January of 2019, an average 60-month loan costs a total of $36,947. If you tack 12 extra months onto the loan, the cost increases to $38,039. If your monthly budget can handle it, opt for a shorter loan with slightly higher monthly payments. You’ll be saving money in the long run.
selling cars based on what they’re qualified for. This is a big difference. Being qualified for a new car doesn’t mean your budget can handle the monthly expense.
RECIPE:
Roasted Radishes With Radish Greens
Isaiah 5:20 “20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that
Radishes start showing up in droves during the spring and summer months, but all too often we only eat the bulbs raw on salads and discard the greens. This recipes bucks both of those trends, with the radishes being roasted alongside their green tops.
INGREDIENTS:
• 3 bunches radishes with greens attached • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • Salt and pepper, to taste
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
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put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat oven to 500 F. While heating, trim radishes and wash greens. Pat both dry using a paper towel. 2. In a large ovenproof skillet, heat oil over high heat until shimmering. Season radishes with salt and pepper, add to skillet, and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Transfer entire skillet to oven rack and roast for 15 minutes. 3. Once removed from oven, return skillet to stove. Over medium heat, stir in butter and add greens. Cook until they are wilted, about 2 minutes. 4. Finish with lemon juice and additional salt if desired. Serve immediately
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Inspired by Food & Wine magazine
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Inside This Issue
Theory vs. Reality Page 1
April 27 Is National Babe Ruth Day! Our Clients Say It Best Page 2 Am I Spending Too Much on My Car? Roasted Radishes With Radish Greens Page 3
The Appeal of Dystopia Page 4
‘Brave NewWorld’ by Aldous Huxley A Page FromMatt’s Bookshelf
“Brave NewWorld” by Aldous Huxley is the kind of book that feels like it came out last year. It’s a work of dystopian fiction that deals with genetically modified people, the suppression of negative emotions, and the banning of knowledge. The book feels like an eerie prediction of the not-so-distant future; it’s crazy to think that it was published in 1932!
everything perfect. This always sounds great in theory, but the reality is horrifying. The world the characters live in is sanitized to the point of being lifeless, colorless, and emotionless. It’s a terrible place, and the story follows one man’s struggle to break free of it. Like with many dystopian books, “Brave NewWorld” doesn’t have what you’d call a happy ending. But that’s part of what makes it so powerful. One thing that really sticks with me when reading “Brave NewWorld” is how intent the society is to ban the knowledge of history in particular. They basically lock up all the information to keep people from learning anything about the past. There’s a trend in our culture to do the same, whether it’s forced, encouraged, or just the product of neglect. We view the past as being less important than what we’re dealing with today. But the past shaped everything our world is right now. If you can’t look at what came before, at the mistakes and triumphs of history, how can you fully judge whether a course of action is good or bad? Without the context of our history, we’ll make the same mistakes society has made before, following plans that sound good in theory without realizing how terrible they would be in practice.
I like dystopian novels in general. They’re an artist’s take on politics, society, and culture, and the impact of this kind story is incredible.
The way George Orwell’s “1984” changed the whole democracy versus communism debate was incalculable. “Brave NewWorld” had the same effect in terms of scientific study and societal norms. It’s no surprise that this book has been named one of the top 100 greatest novels of all time. “Brave NewWorld” is set in a future where the powers that be have gained control and tried to make
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