DiBartolomeo Law Offices - November 2020

Makin’ It Better NEWSLETTER

November 2020

Oregon Workers’ Compensation | Personal Injury | Social Security Disability

1139 Exchange St., Astoria, OR 97103 • 503-325-8600 • JoeDiBartolomeo.com

Turn Your Fall Walks Into Art! A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO CREATING LEAF SKELETONS

STEP 3: REVEAL THE LEAF SKELETONS. Put on your gloves. Then, using your tongs, remove the leaves from the water. At this point, it’s time to start stripping down the leaves. Use your tweezers to hold a leaf by its stem, then brush away the leaf pulp with your paint brush. Make sure to do both sides of each leaf, revealing the delicate skeletons as you go.

Some people thrive in the summer heat, while others can’t wait for the first flurries of snow to arrive every year. For me, though, no season will ever beat fall. There’s something invigorating about the morning chill in the air during these months, and I always look forward to watching the leaves change color. One of my favorite ways to enjoy the season is by taking long walks through my neighborhood — something I’d definitely recommend if you haven’t tried it yet! This year, a friend of mine let me in on a secret that helped me take my walks to the next level. She suggested that when I’m strolling along, I should take the time to gather some of the most unique, interesting leaves I see. Then, she told me, I could turn those discards into an art project! That conversation was the first time I’d heard about “leaf skeletons,” which are a trendy type of wall art. They sound like Halloween decorations, but leaf skeletons are actually beautiful, delicate arrangements of stripped-down leaves that end up as thin and translucent as dragonfly wings. The method originated in China way back during the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644 A.D.), but it’s just recently caught on in the U.S. as a fun DIY project. Since making leaf skeletons is fun for everyone from kids to grandparents, I thought I’d share a how-to guide in case you’d like to try it.

STEP 4: RINSE, BLEACH, AND DRY THEM.

STEP 1: COLLECT YOUR INGREDIENTS. To make your leaf skeletons, you’ll need:

Once your leaves are translucent, carefully dip them in water to rinse them. Then, if you’d like white leaf skeletons, soak the leaves in bleach for 20 minutes. If you’d rather have colorful leaves, mix your food coloring with water and soak the leaves in that mixture instead. After 20 minutes, place the leaves onto the napkins to dry.

• Metal pot or saucepan • 1/2 cup of washing soda • Leaves (shiny ones work best) • Water • Rubber gloves • Tongs • Tweezers • Soft paint brush • Bleach (or food coloring for colorful leaves) • Paper napkins

STEP 5: CREATE YOUR ART! This is the fun part! Once your leaf

skeletons are finished, you can use them however you’d like. Try arranging them against black paper, adding them to a painting, or creating a shadow box. Odds are you’ll make something beautiful to hang on your wall or give away this Christmas. To watch Jenn Savedge’s video of the process, go to Treehugger.com/how-make- leaf-skeletons-4868589.

STEP 2: BOIL YOUR LEAVES. In your pot, combine washing soda, leaves, and enough water to cover the leaves completely. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer 1 1/2–2 hours, adding water as needed to keep the leaves covered. If you have a fan over your stove, make sure to turn it on and avoid breathing the steam from the pot.

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

| 1

WHY IS SPINACH SO GOOD FOR YOU?

POTENT PROTECTION AGAINST DISEASE

If the reason you know spinach is good for you is because either your mother told you, or you saw Popeye the Sailor down a can before a fight and gain superhuman strength, you might not understand exactly why it’s so good for you. Rest assured, your mom wasn’t lying (although Popeye might have been stretching the truth). Spinach is actually one of the most nutritious and versatile foods you can add to your diet. Here’s why.

The abundant antioxidants in spinach mitigate a staggering number of health problems. For starters, spinach has kaempferol, an antioxidant that can protect the body against cancer. Additionally, the antioxidant quercetin, also found in spinach, has been shown to have positive effects on brain health, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes. Other components of spinach can also improve blood pressure and protect eye health. VERSATILE IN MEAL PREPARATION Aside from the more scientific reasons that make spinach a superfood, you can prepare and consume spinach in so many creative ways. You can eat it raw as a part of a salad, throw a few leaves in a smoothie, cook it in stir fry, or bake it into some brownies. If you have a bag of spinach in your fridge, there’s no shortage of ways you can get some of those amazing health benefits. Just don’t expect to suddenly vanquish all your foes like Popeye did.

INCREDIBLE NUTRIENT- PER-CALORIE COUNT

Three cups of spinach contain about 20 calories. However, those 3 cups also contain almost no fat, 2 grams of protein, 3 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of fiber. On top of that, you get more than 300% of your daily dose of vitamin K, which supports bone growth; 160% of your daily dose of vitamin A; and around 25%–40% of your daily dose of vitamin C, both of which help the immune system function properly.

DISABILITY AND SSDI BENEFITS FOR VETERANS Qualifying and Receiving Both — Yes, It’s Possible

Veterans Day is celebrated each year on Nov. 11, honoring all military veterans who’ve fought and survived all wars. For these veterans and survivors, it can, at times, be difficult to integrate back into civilian life. To help them continue their education, support their families, buy homes, or even afford assisted living, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has set up disability programs for veterans. While these can assist veterans, at times, they might not be enough. In these circumstances, it can be beneficial to sign up for both Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits as well as veterans’ benefits. A veteran who has both VA compensation and SSDI at the same time is not unheard of; however, not everyone can qualify for both. The Social Security Administration (SSA) states, “It is possible to receive benefits from both; however, the criteria for receiving disability benefits through Social Security are different from the criteria for receiving disability benefits from the VA, and you must file separate applications.” When it comes to VA compensation, a person doesn’t need to be completely disabled to be eligible. The VA determines a person’s disability and the amount they should receive through a rating

system. If, for example, a veteran has a low disability rating, the monthly monetary payment they receive will reflect that rating. This is unlike SSDI. To the SSA, an individual is either not disabled or completely disabled. In order to receive SSDI benefits, an individual must prove that they are, in fact, disabled and that disability directly impacts their employment. It’s important to keep in mind that, while you may qualify for both, being approved for one program does not guarantee you’ll be approved for the other. Yet, this wasn’t always the case. Before 2017, a veteran who had a VA rating of 70% or higher usually had a good chance of being approved for SSDI. However, new regulations published in 2017 stated the SSA would no longer consider VA ratings when granting SSDI benefits. To learn if you qualify for both SSDI and veterans’ disability benefits and apply for each, visit Benefits.VA.gov and SSA. gov. If you need guidance through this complex process, don’t hesitate to call the Di Bartolomeo Law Offices at 503‑325‑8600.

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

2 |

No matter how minor or severe an accident is, it is one of the most frightening experiences people have in life. However, when that accident involves a semitruck, it becomes even more terrifying. Because semitrucks and other large vehicles are typically so much larger and heavier than the average car or truck, the damage done to the smaller vehicles, their drivers, and passengers is substantial. Yet, when victims of these accidents start looking for answers as to who’s responsible, things can get complicated. ASSERTING RESPONSIBILITIES Unlike an accident between two cars, usually more parties are involved than just the drivers in an accident involving

a semitruck. Within the trucking industry, federal laws and regulations are in place to establish standards that the drivers, trucking companies, and their owners must meet. This means that when those standards aren’t met, the responsibility for an accident can include: • The driver of the semitruck • The owner of the semitruck, trailer, bus, or log truck • The company or person the truck is leased from • The manufacturer of the vehicle itself and other parts of the truck • The loader or shipper of the truck’s contents PURSUING LEGAL ACTION Because there are so many factors involving a truck accident, when a person seeks legal action, they need to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney. Not only will they guide victims through the complex process involving a personal injury case, but they will also investigate who the at-fault party is. Whether it is one or all of the individuals mentioned above, the attorney will find them and ensure they take responsibility for what happened. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident involving a truck or other large vehicle, reach out to our offices today. Our team can help you decide what actions are best and take you through each step of your case.

Cinnamon-Spiced CANDIED SWEET POTATOES Inspired by FoodAndWine.com

Ingredients

• 4 lbs orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces, then cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed

• 1 tbsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp ground cloves • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed • 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.

5. Bake, turning every 15 minutes, until sweet potatoes are tender and the liquid is syrupy, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. 6. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. 7. Discard cinnamon sticks and serve.

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

| 3

503-325-8600 JoeDiBartolomeo.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

1139 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103

What’s Inside

1

Turn Your Fall Walks Into Art!

2

What Makes Spinach a Superfood? Receiving Disability Benefits From 2 Sources

3

Who’s Responsible in a Truck Accident? Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes

4

Which Smartphones Take the Best Pictures?

THE BATTLE OF THE SMARTPHONE CAMERAS

THE BEST MOBILE CAMERAS OF 2020

Year after year, smartphone technology improves. Devices get faster, screens get sharper, and cameras get better — for the most part. It can be a challenge to find your ideal smartphone that’s also paired with a great set of lenses. Many smartphone manufacturers are inconsistent when it comes to cameras because they pair great phones with not-so-great cameras to cut costs. So, if you want to take exceptional pictures, which current smartphone has the features you’re looking for?

software then “stitches” the images together to create one superior image. Other phones do this, too, particularly the Apple iPhone, but the Pixel 5 does it best. APPLE IPHONE 12 (IOS) Much like the Pixel line, Apple’s iPhones are known for taking great pictures. But there’s a big difference! Apple incorporates great camera hardware into their higher-end products. The end result produces great photos and videos. (The Pixel 5 struggles in the video category.) Many photography enthusiasts choose the iPhone over the competition simply because it’s so reliable. But is it really better than the Pixel 5 at taking pictures? At a glance, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference. It all comes down to personal preference. BONUS: GOOGLE PIXEL 4A (ANDROID) Both the Pixel 5 and iPhone 12 are higher-end products with prices to match (both over $700). If you’re interested in taking great pictures but don’t want to drop a lot of dough on a high-end device, the Pixel 4a can’t be beat. At about $350, it produces top-notch photos and is an all-around great device. Plus, it has a headphone jack, something both the Pixel 5 and iPhone 12 are lacking!

GOOGLE PIXEL 5 (ANDROID) Google’s Pixel line has long been associated with exceptional photos, but not because of the camera hardware. It is average at best, but that doesn’t matter because Google knows how to make exceptional image processing software. When you take one picture with the Pixel, the camera actually takes several. The processing

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

4 |