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The Disability DIGEST
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September 2023
Parenthood Depends On Your Perspective
Don’t Let Daily Challenges Hinder You!
Before having children, I could stay at the office all night or come home and lounge on the couch for hours with my wife. But now, with two elementary-aged children and a 3 year old, my daily life is very different. When I come home, as soon as I put my things down, I immediately go into “dad mode.” I help my kids with their homework, get their lunch and other school items ready for the next day, and entertain them before it’s time for their bedtime routine. Thankfully, I don’t need to do this alone — my wife takes on these responsibilities with me. However, with two parents working full-time, we still face challenges balancing work and family life. As my wife and I juggle our various responsibilities, it can sometimes get overwhelming! We have days where we want nothing more than to stay in bed, binge-watch our favorite show, and relax. But as many of you know, having children and grandchildren of your own, you must make sacrifices. I want the best for my kids and to provide them with a life that encourages them to grow and develop their skills. And because I value this, the sacrifices I make as a parent are worth it. There are times I feel burnt out. But when this happens, I remind myself that this phase is only temporary. There will come a day when my children are grown and out of the house — and that will be when I will miss having them under my roof. It’s all about your perspective! So even when it gets difficult to balance my work and family life, I like to find ways to embrace the season I’m currently in. Because there will come a day when I’m no longer buying toys for my toddler, playing catch with my son, or taking them to their soccer games. While it may be challenging right now to juggle these responsibilities, I never want to take these experiences for granted. Because in a blink of an eye, my children will be all grown up. I remember talking to a friend about how I can’t wait for my 3 year old to be older because I won’t need to pay for day care. My friend laughed and told me that while my money
may not go to day care, it will go to other things like summer camps, extracurricular activities, uniforms, and much more as my children age. And this got me thinking — if you’re trying to convince yourself that things will get easier when your kids get older, you will be disappointed once you realize that no matter what age your child is, you will face challenges. After hearing that from my friend, I formed a deeper appreciation for the present. My wife and I don’t plan on having more kids, so this will be the last time I can experience having a toddler — so I should embrace it! And this can be said for all my children. They’re only going to be each age once, so now I find ways to enjoy the life phase I’m in, even if things get tough. Because while there will be obstacles to face, the memories we can create together will outshine everything else. So, whether you’re in the same boat my wife and I are in, or if you’re facing hardships with work, loved ones, or a legal case, just know you’re not alone. And while it may be difficult to see clearly with everything going on, try to find ways to embrace your current situation and use it as a chance to learn something new. If there is anything I can do to help you during this time, please don’t hesitate to call me!
–Joel Thrift
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AI Scams: Voice Cloning Could Drain Your Bank Account!
With AI capabilities growing daily, you need to be even more vigilant against potential scammers. We’ve already heard about AI’s power to create written content and,
to the face and chest, which, when injured, can be severe or even fatal. Finally, for those who are shorter and frustrated by the increased distance, you can contact a professional to adjust your pedals. You can have your pedals modified or new ones installed to ensure your feet reach them while still maintaining a safe distance from the wheel. Just these few easy steps can change the outcome of a potentially fatal car crash. Change the way you sit in the driver’s seat today! Never send money without first verifying whether it is or isn’t your relative. Some online users advise creating secret code words to exchange over the phone to confirm their family member is requesting the money. Always contact your relative and ask if they actually made the call. Remember, anyone who has posted a short clip of their voice can find it cloned with AI and used to scam their families. Stay safe! Scammers looking to steal thousands of dollars will use AI to replicate the voices of people who’ve posted their voices online via videos like TikTok. They’ll clone a person’s voice and then use it to call their relatives and pretend to be their children or grandchildren who need money as soon as possible. The person on the phone is a scammer, not your family member, even though they sound just like them.
more recently, use musicians’ voices to sing different songs. So, how does this relate to scammers? Well, TikTok users and other online users have shared a new scam that utilizes AI to drain the bank accounts of their family members called voice cloning.
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collide with their steering wheel, leading to severe injuries to their upper body. Airbags and steering wheel aside, when a driver is sitting too close to the wheel, they run the risk of windshield glass severely cutting them during a crash. These drivers can also find themselves trapped between the seat and steering wheel after a collision crushes their vehicle. Clearly, there are numerous reasons why sitting too close to the steering wheel is dangerous. Conversely, what is a safe distance between the driver and the wheel? Simple changes can save your life! Both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have confirmed that there should be 10 or more inches between the driver and the steering wheel. To be even safer, you should recline the upper part of your seat to add maximum distance while still being able to reach the pedals. Scoot the entire seat back as far as you reasonably can! Another simple step that can save your life is lowering the placement of your steering wheel so that it’s tilted below your face and chest. This will also minimize the impact
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TAKE A BREAK
THE GREATEST HEIST IN HISTORY How Pirate King Henry Every Vanished
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The history of pirates is rich with countless stories of lawless thieves and fearless captains. Yet the accounts of what exactly happened to the “King of Pirates” after he led the largest pirate heist in history are still muddled. Henry Every isn’t a household name compared to other famous pirates. However, what makes Every exceptional is that, unlike his counterparts, he was never captured. The first reports of Every were of his service in the British Navy before boarding the warship Charles II as a first mate to battle French ships for their freight. However, after the captain delayed the mission and payment was stalled, Every conspired with the angry crew to mutiny. Renaming the ship the Fancy, Every and his team sailed the coastline of Africa to steal riches. Their final heist against a Mughal Empire fleet returning to India led to the treasure of a lifetime. After accruing more and more crewmates, Every and his gang overtook the various ships and all the gold and jewels they carried. The loot is estimated to be tens of millions of modern-day dollars.
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com COZY FRENCH ONION SOUP
Ingredients
• 5 tbsp olive oil, divided • 1 tbsp butter • 8 cups sliced onions • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 1/2 cup port wine • 2 32-oz cartons beef broth
• Salt and pepper, to taste • 24 slices baguette (1/2-inch thick) • 3/4 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
Every and his crew dispersed with their share and were never to be seen again. Some pirates were
Directions 1. In a Dutch oven, heat 2 tbsp oil and butter over medium heat. Add onions and cook until softened, then reduce heat. Occasionally stir until brown (around 30 minutes). Add garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. 2. Stir in wine and bring to a boil. When liquid has reduced by half, add broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 1 hour. 3. Preheat oven to 400 F. On a baking sheet, brush baguette slices with remaining oil. Bake until golden (3–5 minutes each side). 4. In 12 broiler-safe 8-oz bowls, place 2 toast slices and pour soup into each. Top with cheese and broil until melted.
believed to have found refuge in the U.S., but Every was never located despite Britain’s fierce manhunt. His title as the King of Pirates was rightfully earned.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Embrace the Season You’re Currently In!
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AI Scams: Voice Cloning Could Drain Your Bank Account!
Cozy French Onion Soup
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Vanished With Millions: The Intriguing Story of Pirate King Henry Every
4 Could Your Steering Wheel Position Be Putting You at Risk? COULD YOUR STEERING WHEEL POSITION BE PUTTING YOU AT RISK? When you get into the driver’s seat, you may check all your mirrors or settings, but are you adjusting your steering wheel? This one factor can prevent a car accident from becoming fatal. The proximity and placement of your steering wheel are significant factors in an accident because of the sheer force of the vehicle’s airbags. Unfortunately, shorter individuals will naturally bring their seats incredibly close to the steering wheel due to the distance between their feet and the pedals. Specifically, women and older people under 5 feet, 5 inches tall will scoot their seats dangerously close. However, there are ways to keep yourself safe while driving. How is sitting too close to the wheel dangerous? When airbags activate during a collision, they can create nearly 2,000 pounds of force and expand at almost 200 mph!
That’s a lot of pressure and speed aimed directly at your chest. This impact can lead to severe injury or even death for smaller individuals. Whiplash, neck injuries, fractures, and spinal damage are all possibilities when an airbag impacts your chest or neck. Airbags save countless lives, but if a driver is sitting too close to the wheel, it can do the opposite. Even faulty airbags that don’t deploy can cause an up-close driver to dangerously
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