NOVEMBER 2020 KunkelCase Files 888-228-9680 • www.KunkelLawFirm.com • GKunkel@KunkelLawFirm.com
FROM THE DESK OF
Gregory Kunkel, Esq.
MAKE EVERY DAY A CELEBRATION WITH THESE ODD HOLIDAYS
Daylight Savings Time Ends at 2 a.m.
Clean Your Refrigerator Day
Look for Circles Day
National Fast-Food Day
Sandwich Day
Take a Hike Day
King Tut Day
Homemade Bread Day
Men Make Dinner Day
Have a PartyWith Your Bear Day
National Nacho Day
1920 TO 2020: The Evolution and Impact of Television
World Hello Day
Book Lovers Day
Last Saturday Before Thanksgiving
Cook Something Bold Day
Go for a Ride Day
For decades, people have been watching television for entertainment, education, and news. World Television Day, celebrated on Nov. 21, aims to highlight the impact TV has had over the past 100 years. Technology has changed dramatically since the 1920s, and this holiday gives us a chance to take a look at just how far TV and video consumption has evolved. It all started with the Baird Model B. The 1920s mark the era of the first televisions in the world, including the Baird Model B and the Octagon television. These looked similar to old-fashioned radios, but they had a small display screen on the front of the device. Though they were considered a huge leap at the time, their poor video and audio quality could make many who are living in 2020 wonder how anyone could see anything on those tiny screens. As TVs developed, video and audio quality became better, and screens grew in size. Many TVs in the 1940s used projectors to make the pictures bigger. Eventually, grayscale imaging began transitioning to color in the late 1960s. In the following decades, TV design, overall quality, and availability skyrocketed. During the 2000s, TVs began to function as more than just TVs and could connect to a computer and the internet. Moving into the 2010s, 4K, LED, and 3D advancements far outpaced the TV’s meager beginnings. Flatscreens and thinner TVs became the next big thing, leading to the release of theWallpaper TV, which is only slightly thicker than a credit card.
World Freedom Day
National Espresso Day
Forget-Me-Not Day
National Cashew Day
Veterans Day
Day Before Thanksgiving
Chicken Soup for the Soul Day
Thanksgiving
Friday the 13th
Black Friday
Operating Room Nurse Day
French Toast Day
Square Dance Day
Stay at Home Because You AreWell Day
–Greg Kunkel
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Still, more changes are yet to come. In the 2020s, TVs will continue to evolve, bringing better quality and designs into homes and workplaces with the rollable TV and the double- sided TV. However, these advancements are only part of video media consumption. Phones, laptops, and tablets have also become TVs in their own right, allowing people to watch movies, shows, cartoons, and videos wherever they are in the world. TV is more than a source of entertainment; it’s a symbol of communication and globalization. With all the advancements that have been made, TVs enable access to news in a way people have never experienced before. People have never been as connected with the entire world as they are now. You can find out almost instantly what is happening in other parts of the world — a news report can be shared thousands of times within an hour after its release. When the United Nations held the first World Television Forum in 1996, it was to discuss the significant impact of TVs. With access to so
In a way, whenever you turn on your TV, open your phone, or hop on your computers to enjoy a movie or check the news, you’re observing World Television Day — you just didn’t know it. This month, be aware of exactly what the TV has done in the past century, and continue its celebration by sharing your favorite form of video media.
much information, people were understanding the world far better, becoming more aware of social injustice as well as movements toward peace and security, and focusing more on economic and social problems. The United Nations realized just how powerful TV is and dedicated Nov. 21 as a day to spread awareness and celebrate this impact.
BLACK FRIDAY: COVID-19 EDITION How to Turn the Shopping Holiday Into a Stay-at-Home Family Event
use store apps, websites like RetailMeNot and Groupon, money-saving browser extensions like Honey, and price-comparison apps like Flipp to score the best deals. REFUEL WITH CAFFEINE. No all-night shopping spree is complete without a coffee run. To keep your family fueled, make sure to stock up on your favorite coffee in advance and set a time for a coffee break. It’s not quite the same as taking a break at the mall’s Starbucks, but it will help you power through the night. For an extra bit of fun, you can even try to recreate your favorite Starbucks drinks at home. ChowHound.com is a great resource for DIY recipes and has hacks for the caramel frappuccino, pumpkin spice latte, and more. CELEBRATE WITH A BIG BREAKFAST. When you’ve finally dropped the last item into your virtual cart, it’s time to celebrate! Depending on how long your spree took, it might be 3 a.m., or you might be able to see the sunlight peeking through your blinds. Either way, you deserve to reward yourself with breakfast. Try cooking your favorite breakfast foods as a family or, if it’s late enough, order home-delivered pancakes and hashbrowns from your favorite local restaurant. Once you’re stuffed, you can crawl into bed knowing that you had a fantastic family night.
A string of retail stores, including JCPenney, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, have declared they won’t be open for the traditional Thanksgiving and/or Black Friday shopping this year. But that doesn’t mean the annual shopping holiday is canceled! If you’re an avid Black Friday shopper, you can keep the tradition going and involve the whole family by using the day to shop online. Here are a few tips to get everyone involved in the fun and turn the holiday into an overnight party. DIVIDE AND CONQUER. Does your whole family love shopping? If they do, it’s time to break out the laptops, cellphones, and tablets. Take the list of items you’re hoping to snag and divide them up so that each person has things to browse for. Then choose a start time — midnight is always good — and let everyone loose to bargain hunt. While you’re shopping, remember to
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THE STORIES BEHIND 2 ICONIC ANIMAL HEROES IN VIDEO GAMES
SONIC You could say that random New Yorkers chose Sonic’s ultimate design. When Sega sought to create a flagship series to rival Nintendo’s Mario, Naoto Ohshima took character designs with him on a trip to New York. He asked random passersby in Central Park to choose a design, and the spiky blue hedgehog won. That wasn’t the end of Sonic’s design alterations, though. He had a rock band phase! Initially, Sonic had fangs, was in a band, and had a human girlfriend named Madonna. The team at Sega of America, led by Madeline Schroeder (who calls herself “Sonic’s mother”), removed those elements to “soften” the character for American audiences. While this led to heated internal debates, Sonic game designer Yuji Naka admitted it was for the best. These famous characters make our video games more energetic and fun, and their origin stories are just as unique!
YOSHI Or should we say, T. Yoshisaur Munchakoopas? That’s Yoshi’s full name according to Nintendo’s official character guide published in 1993. Ever since the first release of Super Mario Bros, Nintendo wanted Mario to have a dinosaur companion. However, the limitations of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) stalled that idea until Nintendo released Super Mario World for the Super NES. The inspiration for Yoshi traces back to the 1984 video game Devil World, which featured green lizards that hatch from eggs, eat enemies with large mouths, and emit the very same signature Yoshi giggle when they hatch. Yoshi has received a positive reception since its introduction, making it Japan’s third-favorite video game character in 2008. A few fun facts: Yoshi is often referred to as male, but its gender remains unconfirmed. Also, Yoshi and K.K. Slider (from Animal Crossing) have the same voice actor!
Your family might have had the chance to play more video games lately and interact with some of the most famous animal heroes in video game history, like Yoshi or Sonic. But have you ever wondered about their real- world backstories?
Inspired by FoodAndWine.com
Take a Break!
CINNAMON-SPICED CANDIED SWEET POTATOES Ingredients
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1 tbsp kosher salt
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4 lbs orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces, then cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges
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1/4 tsp ground cloves
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1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed
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1 cup light brown sugar, packed
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4 (2-inch) cinnamon sticks
Directions
1.
Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Place sweet potato wedges in a 4-quart baking dish.
3. Sprinkle sugar, salt, and cloves over sweet potatoes.
4. Dot with butter and place cinnamon sticks around sweet potatoes.
Turkey Veterans
Novel Sagittarius Thanksgiving Topaz
Cobbler Cranberry
5. Bake, turning every 15 minutes, until sweet potatoes are tender and the liquid is syrupy, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
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6. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes.
7.
Discard cinnamon sticks and serve.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Gregory Kunkel, Esq. PAGE 1 Celebrate World Television Day PAGE 1 Black Friday: COVID-19 Edition PAGE 2 The Stories Behind 2 Iconic Animal Heroes in Video Games PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes PAGE 3 Woman Sues Starbucks Over ‘Too Much Ice’ PAGE 4
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Woman Sues Starbucks Over ‘Too Much Ice’ Ice, Ice, Lawsuit
cases, nearly half as many, fluid ounces than claimed by Starbucks. As a result, the plaintiff suffered injury in fact and lost money or property.” Starbucks’ response: “Our customers understand and expect that ice is an essential component of any ‘iced’ beverage. If a customer is not satisfied with their beverage preparation, we will gladly remake it.” The company also reaffirmed that you can order any iced beverage with “light ice” and receive half the ice normally included. Interestingly, a second lawsuit against Starbucks popped up in Los Angeles a few months later, but both cases were thrown out. Pincus never saw a cent of that $5 million, nor did she recoup her attorneys’ fees. The case went on to be called “one of the most frivolous lawsuits of 2016.”
That’s exactly what Stacy Pincus did in 2016. She ordered an iced coffee from Starbucks, only to find “too much ice” in her drink. The lawsuit, filed in Chicago, alleged that the drink was advertised as a 24-ounce beverage, but once the ice was factored in, Pincus and her lawyers claimed the drink was really only “14 fluid ounces.” “Starbucks’ advertising practices are clearly meant to mislead consumers when combined with the standard practice of filling a cold drink cup with far less liquid than the cup can hold,” the suit claimed. NBC News reported that Pincus sought damages to the tune of $5 million against the coffee chain. “The plaintiff would not have paid as much,” her lawyers stated in a court document, “if anything, for the cold drinks had she known that they contained less, and in many
Sometimes, there is such a thing as “too much ice.”You’re sipping your cold beverage when suddenly, it’s gone far quicker than you expected. All you’re left with is a cup full of ice. It’s disappointing, for sure, but is it so disappointing that you would want to file a lawsuit against the company that supplied the beverage?
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