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LouisBerkLaw.com 407-906-0500 February 2026
Car Accidents | Truck Accidents | Pedestrian Accidents | Slip & Fall/Premises Liability | Wrongful Death
Kindness in Action The Smallest Acts Can Make Incredible Impacts!
We live in a world that often feels like it’s moving too fast. People rush from one place to the next, heads down, minds elsewhere, and interactions become transactional rather than meaningful. But every so often, something small happens that reminds you of the incredible power of kindness, those simple, unexpected acts that can brighten a day and, sometimes, even change a perspective. That’s what makes random acts of kindness so special, and why dedicating a day to them, like Feb. 17, is worth celebrating. Being kind is so simple. Holding a door for someone, paying for the coffee of the person behind you, or just offering a genuine smile can seem small and almost trivial, but they carry enormous weight. These gestures catch people off guard in the best possible way, and there’s a beauty in the surprise. We often underestimate the impact of a small act on someone, yet the truth is that kindness rarely goes unnoticed.
spread joy so effortlessly is a reminder that you don’t need titles, power, or wealth to make a positive difference. You just need a willingness to care. Here’s the thing: Kindness is all about showing up for people in subtle ways. Smiling at a stranger, saying “please” and “thank you,” and holding the door open even when it feels awkward are acts so easy to do, yet they’re startlingly rare outside of the holiday season. And that’s what makes days like Random Acts of Kindness Day so important. It’s a reminder just to be nice! There’s something profoundly rewarding about performing a random act of kindness. Unlike other achievements in life that require effort, skill, or competition, kindness is accessible to everyone, and the beauty is that it’s contagious. One small act can spark a chain reaction. Maybe someone sees you pay for a stranger’s coffee and feels inspired to do the same. Perhaps a simple smile lifts someone’s mood enough to make their day better, and they pass that positivity on. Especially now, after the holiday season has come to an end and we’ve welcomed a new year, it can feel like a slump. People are entrenched in routines, focused on deadlines, and the little niceties tend to fall by the wayside. Now is the perfect time to slow down, look up, and notice the people around us. Kindness, after all, is easy. Being mean takes effort. Holding a grudge, snapping at someone, or wearing a constant frown demands more energy than a simple smile or a courteous gesture. And yet, so often, we forget how easy it is to be nice. Choosing to
be kind, even in the smallest ways, is one of the easiest and most profound things we can do. So, buy someone’s coffee, hold the door, compliment a coworker, or just smile at a stranger. Let’s never let kindness go out of style! -Louis Bernardo Berk
At one of the local coffee shops I love to pop into, a certain man is often there, dressed in a suit and tie. He always buys the coffee for everyone in line behind him, and he’s not doing it for the recognition or for an announcement. He just kindly asks, “Would it be okay if I got this for you?” But here’s the kicker: He’s the president of a university. Yet, despite his status, he treats this everyday act as naturally as breathing. Watching someone like that
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SECRETS OF THE SILENT FILM AGE Silver Screen Speed
Contrary to what the surviving films may suggest, people didn’t move faster during the earliest years of cinema. If you watch an old silent film from decades past, it may appear as though someone’s holding down the “fast- forward” button. Movements seem exaggerated and hyper-fast, bombarding our eyes with visuals that are as surreal as they are comical. However, nothing is wrong with your senses. These films were created this way, and the reasons behind their quicker momentum are an intriguing mix of technology, commerce, and the inventive minds of maverick film directors. Fleeting Frames of Fantasy Here’s a fun fact: Whether we watch a film from a century ago or one released last week, we’re not actually seeing real movement on screen. Instead, we’re viewing a succession of images presented rapidly enough to give us the impression that
someone (or something) is in motion. This technique is called frames per second (fps). One of the earliest pioneers in film, the legendary inventor Thomas Edison, determined that movies ideally needed to be shot at 46 fps or more to produce convincing on-screen movement. However, early filmmakers often faced financial restraints with film stock, causing them to shoot many movies at 12 or 16 fps. As technology advanced over the years, the speed of these primitive films increased considerably when played on more modern equipment. The Cinematic Cranking Craze While most view it today as a retired relic of a bygone era, the Bell and Howell 2709 movie camera was all the rage in the 1920s. Considered revolutionary at the time, the hand-cranked machine enabled users to shoot at varying speeds based on the number of cranks per minute. “Ben-Hur:
A Tale of the Christ” (1925) and Charlie Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush” (1925) were among the movies shot with a 2709. The technology allowed directors to order camera operators to either slow down or speed up their cranking for dramatic effect. From there, the movies would hit theaters, where they’d often appear to move even faster . For example, something shot at 16 fps would appear sped up when shown through projectors running at a quicker pace. In fact, theaters loved to project films at very high speeds, as faster films meant quicker showings, enabling them to sell more tickets per day.
KEYS TO RAISING CRITICAL THINKERS PUZZLES AND PATIENCE
In a culture overwhelmed by algorithms and conflicting media sources, critical thinking is more important than ever. This is especially true of young children, many of whom will become our future CEOs, writers, and world leaders. Here are two simple ways parents can help their little ones develop the thinking skills they’ll need to thrive through life’s challenges. Questions kindle thoughtful truths. Whether you’re raising a young child for the first time or are a veteran grandparent who’s
done it all, you can surely recall moments when a little one hit you with a barrage of questions that tested your patience. Few people would fault you for rushing through your answers to satisfy your tiny inquisitor when stressed, but regularly questioning things is a sign of a critical thinker. Whenever possible, take the time to lean into your child’s questions. Instead of simply giving them an answer, ask them their thoughts about the information you’ve provided. Rather than asking them questions that could be answered with a simple yes or no, prompt them with open-ended ones that will strengthen their reasoning skills and prompt them to consider a topic more deeply. Small struggles make stronger minds. As parents, we want to answer our children’s questions and find solutions to all their problems. While some situations
will always require our intervention (such as a medical emergency), it’s sometimes best to allow kids to find their own path to solving dilemmas or discovering answers. Board games, puzzles, building blocks, and even role-playing games with friends can foster stronger thinking skills, so allow your children plenty of time to engage in activities that expand their minds while they’re having fun. When you see your child struggle to figure out how to complete a playtime task, pause before jumping in to help. Giving them room to sort out the issue instead of immediately coming to their aid will help them think and problem-solve more independently. When we practice patience and give children space to explore the world in their own way, we nurture curious, confident thinkers who are ready for whatever life brings.
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TAKE A BREAK
A Sweet Swindle? The Case of the Skimpy Snack
The concept of “shrinkflation” may be gaining ground in light of today’s economy, but it’s nothing new. In fact, nearly a decade ago, the thought of companies reducing the amount of product available in each sale while charging the same price hit one Midwestern man right in his sweet tooth. In 2017, Robert Bratton of Columbus, Missouri, sued the Hershey Co. for $5 million, claiming that the boxes of Reese’s Pieces and Whoppers he regularly purchased were not filled with enough candy. Citing violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, he alleged that 29% of the Reese’s Pieces boxes he purchased were empty, while only 59% of the Whoppers packaging contained actual product. His suit further alleged that the candy company unjustly enriched itself by knowingly selling boxed items containing considerable empty space. Aiming to avoid leaving a sour taste in court, Hershey’s contended that at least some empty space is common in most packaged goods to allow for “efficient manufacturing and distribution.” Additionally, the company claimed that consumers are made aware of this necessary space before purchasing its goods, as the contents of Whoppers and Reese’s Pieces boxes “audibly rattle.” Despite his multimillion-dollar complaint, Bratton continued to purchase Hershey products, a move that ultimately led to the unraveling of his lawsuit. In 2018, Judge Nanette K. Laughrey dismissed the case after it was revealed that the plaintiff had purchased Reese’s Pieces and Whopper boxes by the hundreds over several years, despite knowing the high likelihood that they would not be full. “Mr. Bratton testified that he initially expected the boxes to be full, but at some point … [he] realized that they’re not,” Laughrey said in her ruling. “Although Mr. Bratton claimed to have always clung to his hope that the boxes would be full, he acknowledged that he did not expect the box to be miraculously filled the next time he bought it.” While Bratton’s love for sugary treats is impossible to deny, his efforts to take down a chocolate giant for shortchanging his confectionery conquests were questionable at best.
MOUTHWATERING MINI CHEESECAKES
Ingredients
• 12-oz package vanilla wafers • 16 oz cream cheese, softened • 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 large eggs • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 21-oz can cherry pie filling
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In two 24-cup miniature muffin pans, line each space with a paper liner. 3. Using a food processor or resealable plastic bag, crush vanilla wafers into a fine crumb. 4. Press 1/2 teaspoon of crumbs into each paper liner. 5. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. 6. Fill each miniature muffin liner with this mixture, almost to the top. 7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the cheesecakes are set. 8. Cool completely in the pan. 9. Top each mini cheesecake with about a teaspoon of cherry pie filling before serving. Enjoy!
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Small Gestures Make Big Differences in Everyday Life
1
The Fast Motion of Old-Time Movies
2
The Future Belongs to Critical Thinkers
3
Mouthwatering Mini Cheesecakes
A Chocoholic’s Day in Court
A Burglary Blown by Brightness
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Sunlit Stupidity Foils a Thief BRIGHT DAY, DIM IDEA
Santa Claus isn’t real. The world doesn’t disappear when you close your eyes. You can be arrested for burglary regardless of the time of day you commit the crime. Most reasonable people accept the above facts as undeniable truths long before they reach 22. Unfortunately (or humorously, depending on your point of view), James Blankenship of Willoughby, Ohio, was unaware of that last fact despite being a legal adult for four years. One day during the summer of 2013, he broke into his mother’s house in the neighboring city of Eastlake by removing a window screen. Already on shaky ground with his parent for reasons not specified in media coverage of the incident, he had been banned from the Eastlake premises for at least three months before attempting to enter it without permission. According to statements his mother later gave to the police, her son had no possessions in the home at the time of the incident.
Because Blankenship chose to commit his crime in broad daylight , his mother spotted him and alerted the police. Rather than fleeing the neighborhood when he was discovered, he hid in a crawl space near his mother’s home. A witness reported seeing him run behind a nearby house, which allowed police to locate him easily. According to an official statement on the Eastlake Police’s Facebook page, Blankenship told the arresting officers, “I thought you could only be charged with burglary if you break in during the nighttime.” After pleading guilty to a lesser charge of breaking and entering, Blankenship served 60 days in prison (with 120 days out of his original 180-day sentence suspended) and was fined $100. Perhaps most significantly, he also learned a valuable lesson on how the sun helps people see things during the day.
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LouisBerkLaw.com 407-906-0500 Febrero 2026
Car Accidents | Truck Accidents | Pedestrian Accidents | Slip & Fall/Premises Liability | Wrongful Death
La bondad en acción ¡Los actos más pequeños pueden generar impactos increíbles!
Vivimos en un mundo que a menudo parece moverse demasiado rápido. La gente corre de un lugar a otro, con la cabeza baja, la mente en otra parte, y las interacciones se vuelven transaccionales en lugar de significativas. Pero, de vez en cuando, ocurre algo pequeño que te recuerda el increíble poder de la bondad: esos actos sencillos e inesperados que pueden alegrar un día y, a veces, incluso cambiar una perspectiva. Eso es lo que hace que los actos de bondad al azar sean tan especiales, y por qué vale la pena celebrar un día dedicado a ellos, como el 17 de febrero. Ser amable es muy sencillo. Sostener la puerta a alguien, pagar el café de la persona que está detrás de ti o simplemente ofrecer una sonrisa sincera puede parecer algo pequeño y casi trivial, pero tiene un peso enorme. Estos gestos toman a la gente por sorpresa de la mejor manera posible, y hay belleza en esa sorpresa. A menudo subestimamos el impacto de un pequeño acto en alguien, pero lo cierto es que la bondad rara vez pasa desapercibida.
es un recordatorio de que no se necesitan títulos, poder o riqueza para marcar una diferencia positiva. Solo se necesita la voluntad de preocuparse por los demás. La cuestión es esta: la bondad consiste en estar presente para los demás de formas sutiles. Sonreír a un extraño, decir “por favor” y “gracias”, y mantener la puerta abierta incluso cuando se siente un poco incómodo son actos muy fáciles de realizar; sin embargo, son sorprendentemente raros fuera de la temporada navideña. Y eso es lo que hace que días como el Día de los Actos de Bondad al Azar sean tan importantes. ¡Es un recordatorio para simplemente ser amables! Hay algo profundamente gratificante en realizar un acto de bondad al azar. A diferencia de otros logros en la vida que requieren esfuerzo, habilidad o competencia, la bondad está al alcance de todos, y lo hermoso es que es contagiosa. Un pequeño acto puede desencadenar una reacción en cadena. Tal vez alguien te vea pagar el café de un extraño y se sienta inspirado a hacer lo mismo. Quizás una simple sonrisa mejore el estado de ánimo de alguien lo suficiente como para alegrar su día, y esa persona transmita esa positividad. Especialmente ahora, después de que las fiestas han terminado y hemos dado la bienvenida a un nuevo año, puede sentirse un cierto desánimo. La gente está sumida en sus rutinas, centrada en los plazos de entrega, y las pequeñas cortesías suelen quedar en el olvido. Ahora es el momento perfecto para bajar el ritmo, levantar la mirada y notar a las personas que nos rodean. Después de todo, la bondad es fácil. Ser desagradable requiere esfuerzo. Guardar un rencor, responder mal a alguien o mantener el ceño fruncido constantemente exige más energía que una simple sonrisa o un gesto cortés. Y, sin embargo, con mucha frecuencia olvidamos lo fácil que es ser agradable. Elegir ser amable, incluso en las formas más pequeñas, es una de las cosas más sencillas y profundas que podemos hacer.
En una de las cafeterías locales a las que me encanta ir, suele haber un hombre vestido de traje y corbata. Siempre compra el café de todos los que están en la fila detrás de él, y no lo hace por reconocimiento ni para que lo anuncien. Simplemente pregunta con amabilidad: “¿Estaría bien si pago esto por usted?”. Pero aquí está el detalle: es el rector de una universidad. Sin embargo, a pesar de su estatus, trata este acto cotidiano con la misma naturalidad con la que respira. Ver a alguien así difundir alegría con tanta naturalidad
Así que, págale el café a alguien, sostén la puerta, felicita a un compañero de trabajo o simplemente sonríele a un extraño. ¡No permitamos nunca que la bondad pase de moda! -Louis Bernardo Berk
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Claves para criar pensadores críticos Rompecabezas y paciencia
En una cultura abrumada por los algoritmos y fuentes de medios de comunicación contradictorias, el pensamiento crítico es más importante que nunca. Esto es especialmente cierto en el caso de los niños pequeños, muchos de los cuales se convertirán en nuestros futuros directores generales, escritores y líderes mundiales. Aquí presentamos dos formas sencillas en las que los padres pueden ayudar a sus pequeños a desarrollar las habilidades de pensamiento que necesitarán para prosperar ante los desafíos de la vida. Las preguntas encienden verdades reflexivas Ya sea que esté criando a un niño pequeño por primera vez o sea un abuelo veterano que lo ha visto todo, seguramente podrá recordar momentos en los que un pequeño le bombardeó con una ráfaga de preguntas que pusieron a prueba su paciencia. Pocas personas le culparían por responder rápido para satisfacer a su pequeño inquisidor cuando está estresado, pero cuestionar las cosas con regularidad es una señal de un pensador crítico.
Siempre que sea posible, tómese el tiempo para profundizar en las preguntas de su hijo. En lugar de limitarse a darles una respuesta, pregúnteles qué opinan sobre la información que usted les ha proporcionado. En lugar de hacerles preguntas que puedan responderse con un simple “sí” o “no”, motívelos con preguntas abiertas que fortalezcan sus habilidades de razonamiento y los impulsen a considerar un tema más profundamente. Las pequeñas dificultades fortalecen la mente Como padres, queremos responder a las preguntas de nuestros hijos y encontrar soluciones a todos sus problemas. Si bien algunas situaciones siempre requerirán nuestra intervención (como una emergencia médica), a veces es mejor permitir que los niños encuentren su propio camino para resolver dilemas o descubrir respuestas. Los juegos de mesa, los rompecabezas, los bloques de construcción e incluso los juegos de rol con amigos pueden fomentar mejores habilidades de pensamiento; por ello,
permita que sus hijos tengan tiempo suficiente para participar en actividades que expandan sus mentes mientras se divierten. Cuando vea que su hijo tiene dificultades para resolver una tarea de juego, haga una pausa antes de intervenir para ayudar. Darle espacio para resolver el problema por sí mismo, en lugar de acudir inmediatamente en su ayuda, le ayudará a pensar y a resolver problemas de forma más independiente. Cuando practicamos la paciencia y damos a los niños espacio para explorar el mundo a su manera, fomentamos pensadores curiosos y seguros de sí mismos que están preparados para cualquier cosa que la vida les depare.
• Paquete de 12 oz de galletas de vainilla (tipo vainillas o wafers) • 16 oz de queso crema, a temperatura ambiente • 3/4 de taza de azúcar blanca Ingredientes
• 2 huevos grandes • 1 cucharadita de extracto de vainilla • Lata de 21 oz de relleno de cerezas para tarta
Instrucciones 1. Precalienta el horno a 350 °F (175 °C). 2. En dos moldes para mini muffins de 24 cavidades, coloca un pirotín de papel en cada espacio. 3. Utilizando un procesador de alimentos o una bolsa de plástico con cierre, tritura las galletas de vainilla hasta obtener una miga fina. 4. Presiona 1/2 cucharadita de migas en el fondo de cada molde con papel. 5. En un recipiente, bate el queso crema, el azúcar, los huevos y la vainilla hasta obtener una mezcla ligera y esponjosa. 6. Llena cada molde de mini muffin con esta mezcla, casi hasta el borde. 7. Hornea en el horno precalentado durante 15 minutos o hasta que las tartas de queso estén firmes. 8. Deja enfriar completamente en el molde. 9. Decora cada mini tarta de queso con aproximadamente una cucharadita de relleno de cereza antes de servir. ¡A disfrutar!
Mini tartas de queso irresistibles
Inspirado en AllRecipes.com
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