Houston & Alexander - August/September 2022

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2022

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TACKLE THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR EASILY

Tour the school. No more following the leader or standing in line! Middle schoolers have to make their way to classes all on their own. So, it helps to navigate the hallways before the school year starts, locating the essential areas they will be using, like the cafeteria or the library. In fact, you can take this time to use your middle schooler’s class schedule to help them find the perfect route from class to class. Organize materials according to the subject. With little time in between classes, it’s important to keep class materials organized so middle schoolers don’t grab the wrong notebook or textbook. A great way to do this is by color-coding materials. It makes items easy to spot in a messy locker or backpack, especially if students are trying to be quick! High Schoolers The first year of high school can be an overwhelming experience. Students are slowly beginning the process of transitioning into adulthood, with more responsibilities and stricter routines. It can become intense with all the test prepping, exploring ideal colleges, and searching for scholarships. Lessen the worry by taking these steps to ensure there are no difficulties. Map it out. It is essential to have your high schooler track their deadlines and important dates. This will allow them to schedule their workload accordingly throughout the week and have reminders of upcoming assignments. You can use agendas, calendars, or even their phones to help organize their schedules. Check in with their guidance counselor. Your high schooler shouldn’t rely on you for everything, but you can utilize the guidance counselor in their school if it’s something beyond your reach. Guidance counselors are able to keep your high schooler on the right track with their classes and ensure they meet all the requirements for graduation. Going back to school can be an overwhelming task in itself, so assure your kids it’ll take time to get into the groove of things as you both tackle the new school year. 1 423-267-6715 | HoustonAlexander.com

As summer comes to an end and the kids get ready to return to school, I find myself wondering how we’ll transition back into our normal schedule. The school environment demands many things that summer activities don’t — the ability to sit still and stay on track, get organized, and adapt to a structured daily routine. Making sure children can adjust smoothly is a parent’s main priority, so these tips will get kids of all ages ready to tackle the new year. Elementary School Kids Our little ones can have mixed feelings about the new school year starting, as it can be a grueling process trying to reinforce sleep schedules and homework routines. But, there are a few tricks to get them motivated, all while having fun getting ready for the school year. Go back-to-school shopping. If you involve the little ones in shopping, you can set spending limits and allow them to pick out supplies that express their own interests and creativity. When younger kids have the freedom to choose their supplies, they’re more excited to attend school and show these items to their classmates. And if you do it early enough, before the start of the school year, you’ll save yourself some time, money, and stress. Create a homework/study station. Setting up a space for your child to study or do their homework can help enhance their concentration. I suggest putting a desk in a quiet area of the house, so there are little to no distractions. You can also have them personalize their desk with art to make them feel more comfortable. Middle Schoolers Transitioning from elementary school to middle school is a big step for kids. The workload is more rigorous, and the social aspect becomes more complex. Middle schoolers have to make some major adjustments in their routines all while navigating through a bigger environment. Try these two tips to keep their transition smooth.

As summer slowly comes to an end, so does the peak season of gardening. But there are still some short-seasoned edibles and other ornamental plants to refresh any flower bed before winter rolls in. Fast-growing cucumber plants can be ready in about 40 days. This is a great fall harvesting veggie that can have 10–15 cucumbers ready by the end of their season. EVEN IN AUGUST KEEP UP WITH YOUR GARDEN

Spinach is a hardy green that can withstand colder temperatures. You can sprinkle seeds along a row or even interplant between taller crops to provide shelter from the late summer sun. Marigolds are sturdy annual plants that will stay strong until the first hard frost comes along. They come in bright yellows, orange, or even cream and can be great for dressing up beds or adding a pop of color in any room. Another gorgeous annual flower is the snapdragon . You can get plenty of colorful blooms before a hard freeze because they still grow well in cooler weather. And as an added bonus, pollinators love them!

Understanding the Streisand Effect

Don’t Throw a Fit

Examples of the Streisand Effect During the 2013 Super Bowl, Beyonce executed an energetic show and BuzzFeed posted photos of the “Fiercest

If you want to avoid getting unwanted attention in a situation, it’s best to not make a big deal out of it. But if you’re an international superstar, like Barbra Streisand, a seemingly small reaction can become much more than intended. The Streisand Effect The Streisand Effect is a phenomenon that occurs where an act of suppressing information can make the information more widespread. In 2003, photographer Kenneth Adelman of California Coastal Records Project took an aerial photograph of Barbra Streisand’s Malibu estate. Adelman was documenting California’s coast for a project that would provide over 12,000 photos for researchers and scientists to study coastal erosion. But at the time, Streisand believed the photos explicitly showed people how to gain access to her private residence, so she sued Adelman for $50 million. The photo of Streisand’s residence was originally seen a total of six times — twice by her lawyers. Her outburst brought in news outlets who reported her outrage, and in turn, the photo of her residence got blasted everywhere. Not only did she do the exact opposite of what she wanted, but she also lost the lawsuit and had to cover all of Adelman’s legal fees.

Moments” from her performance. Beyonce’s publicist asked BuzzFeed to remove some of the unflattering photos, and instead they created a new post titled, “The Unflattering Photos Beyonce’s Publicist Doesn’t Want You To See.” Ralph Lauren has fallen victim to the Streisand Effect. An image of a horribly photoshopped model was posted on two blogs: Photoshop Disasters and Boing Boing. Ralph Lauren caught wind of this and took action by sending cease-and-desist letters to the blogs, claiming that it was a violation of copyright law and should be removed. But the image fell under fair use, which allows usage for news and commentaries. Ralph Lauren apologized for the distorted ad but still received backlash. The best way to counter the Streisand Effect is to avoid aggressive tactics when faced with negative information and think carefully and calculatingly in your response. So, if we learned anything from Barbra Streisand, don’t throw a fit if something doesn’t turn out the way you want it to.

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have to take the stand and give their testimony for it to be acknowledged and used in a trial.

Johnny Depp took Amber Heard to court and sued her for defamation of character because of her op-ed to The Washington Post, which cost Depp several brand deals and movie opportunities. Heard’s lawyer said that almost everything Depp said was hearsay during his testimony, but what is hearsay? The technical definition of “hearsay” is “an out-of-court statement admitted for the truth of the matter asserted.” In other words, it’s a statement that an individual says is something that another person said. For example, the sentence, “ My friend told me she saw the accused around lunchtime.” This is hearsay because you did not see that person with your own eyes. OBJECTION! THAT’S HEARSAY! But What Does ‘Hearsay’ Even Mean?

When is a statement considered hearsay? Under the Federal Rules of Evidence, the judge will use a three-step process. A statement is classified as hearsay if: 1) it’s an asserted statement; 2) the declarant (the person you are referencing) is not in court; and 3) it’s offered to prove that a statement is true. The rules against hearsay are implemented so the person testifying can’t use a statement as a fact unless the person who allegedly made the comment to them can be brought to court to testify. Think of it this way: You will not be able to get to the truth of an issue if you only spoke in “he said, she said” dialogue. Does it only count as hearsay when you’re making a statement? No! If an attorney asks you a question while testifying, like “Can you read me what the text said?” the other side can object to hearsay. Evidence can also be qualified as hearsay, but there are some exceptions. Look at your state’s rules of evidence for a complete list of exceptions. There are many technicalities regarding hearsay, and it can be difficult to understand. Contact your attorney if you have any questions or concerns about what qualifies as hearsay. They will be able to guide you through the process and help you build a strong case.

The court must hear from the actual person who said it for it to be counted as evidence. Therefore, your friend would

“Back in October, I made the massive mistake of driving after some drinks at a concert because I felt like I was fine to do so. I was pulled over for gliding off the road for a second due to falling asleep, as it was very late, and taken to jail for the first time in my life. Despite some difficult facts of my case (BAC was over the limit at .11%), Mr. Houston was able to persuade the DA to reduce my charge to reckless driving. I want to thank Mr. Houston and the rest of the team for their hard work on my case and for giving me their best. If you need an attorney, hire these guys. They will shoot you straight and work hard for you.” –T.Y. our clients say it best

Happy Birthday Dexter! Dexter just turned 9 years old! He has been through a lot over his lifetime. He started out as the cute runt of the litter but tipped the scales at an even 100 pounds a year and a half later. He has had a hip surgery, knee surgery, and like his owner, has a bit of a bad back, BUT he is otherwise a healthy, happy guy and actually one cool customer as you can see from the picture.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE Tips to Ensure Students Transition Smoothly PAGE 1

Plants You Can Grow in Late Summer

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How Censorship Can Backfire

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No More ‘He Said, She Said’!

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Tasty Bruschetta Chicken

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‘The Best Decision for My Worst Mistake’

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The 50-Yard Challenge

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HELPING BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER ONE LAWN AT A TIME

communities by taking on the 50-yard challenge. Kids contribute by mowing lawns for single parents, veterans, seniors, and people who have disabilities. Once they reach their goal, kids will receive T-shirts, a brand-new mower, a weed eater, and a leaf blower. Smith Jr. will also come out to your community and help you with your lawn care services. At first, the 50-yard challenge took place locally in Alabama. But in the last few years, kids across the U.S. have begun participating. “Right now, we have over 2,400 kids nationwide taking part in our challenge. We also have kids in eight other countries taking part as well,” Smith Jr. says. This challenge teaches children the value of giving back to their communities, but it also encourages them to learn

skills in lawn service — which not a lot of young adults know how to do. It also helps them interact with others who they wouldn’t typically talk with. “[Unity and interaction] is important in this day and age. A lot of elderly people are stuck at home, and they don’t get to have a lot of human interaction. So when kids come by, they can talk, get to know each other, and build relationships. They can learn things from each other,” Smith Jr. says. Are you and your kids up for the 50-yard challenge? Send a picture of your child holding a sign that says, “I Accept The 50 Yard Challenge” to WeAreRaisingMen.com/The-50-Yard- Challenge to join. If you’re looking for someone to tend to your yard, you can use the form on WeAreRaisingMen.com/ Find-A-Mower to search for kids who are mowing lawns in your area.

Today, there is a divide between younger and older generations, but one man is trying to bridge that gap by encouraging boys and girls to give back to their community. In 2016, Rodney A. Smith Jr. saw an elderly man struggling to mow his lawn and decided to finish the job for him. It inspired him to start a movement for children aged 7–17 to give back to their

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