Jones & Hill - April 2019

The Must-Read, Change-Your-Life Newsletter helping seriously injured people for over 30 years

APRIL 2019

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AN AMERICAN MUSIC TRADITION

A HISTORY OF JAZZ IN NEW ORLEANS

Jazz is an undisputedly American tradition born from the intermingling of races and cultures synonymous with New Orleans, where jazz was born. Since the Smithsonian declared the month of April to be Jazz Appreciation Month in 2001, we would like to take some space to appreciate it ourselves in this edition. As far as jazz might travel, and as renowned as it may be the world over, New Orleans and jazz will always be inherently linked. It couldn’t have happened anywhere else. Its roots in the French colony of Louisiana and ties to Catholicism immediately differentiated it from the rest of the Anglican and Protestant cultural norms of the rest of the United States. This culture created a people who had a more liberal outlook on life and enjoyed good food, wine, and dancing. At various points in time — from before the Louisiana Purchase until after the Civil War — French, German, Irish, Italian, African, and many other cultures all contributed to the melting pot that New Orleans became. Many neighborhoods were unsegregated, unlike the rest of the South at that time, and there was a large community of both European and African descent who were highly educated. Some of them played in the best orchestras in New Orleans.

Kid Ory

on precise composition, relying more on feeling the music and letting your emotions show through every note. It wasn’t just something people watched; it was something people danced to. Jazz musicians began springing up in New Orleans as early as the 1890s, starting with cornet player Buddy Holden and followed by Kid Ory’s Creole Band, Joe Oliver, Nick LaRocca and his Original Dixieland Jazz Band, and eventually Louis Armstrong. After jazz gained traction in New Orleans, its musicians traveled far and wide, reaching Chicago, New York, Kansas City, and Los Angeles. The 1920s became known as the “Jazz Age,” representing the booming lifestyle of post-World War I America. As jazz became more ubiquitous, it also strayed farther and farther from its origins in New Orleans, with distinct versions sounding forth in every city where jazz musicians put down roots. All the while, however, musicians in New Orleans still regularly performed jazz that was closer to its roots, which drew enthusiasts back to the Big Easy. The traditions that drew their attention persist to this day.

“AS FAR AS JAZZ MIGHT TRAVEL, AND AS RENOWNED AS IT MAY BE THE WORLD OVER, NEW ORLEANS AND JAZZ WILL ALWAYS BE INHERENTLY LINKED.”

As different as all these groups might have been, music and dancing were central to the lives of everyone in New Orleans. Every group contributed something to the music scene, whether it was the blues and spiritual tunes of the African American community, the classical traditions of Europe, or American ragtime piano. Just as the people mixed and mingled, so did the elements of these musical traditions, and jazz was born. While it retained elements of its antecedents, what it became was less dependent

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‘The Sultan of Swat! The King of Crash! The Colossus of Clout! The Great Bambino!’

THE LEGEND OF BABE RUTH

On April 27, 1947, the New York Yankees hosted the first Babe Ruth Day to honor the ailing baseball star, who had terminal throat cancer. As he rose to give a speech for the 58,339 fans in the stadium, Ruth’s condition caused him to have a coughing fit. With the thunderous cheers from the stands encouraging him to continue, he lovingly spoke to the thousands of people who had followed his career from his early years as a free-spirited Baltimore school kid to the world-renowned baseball legend he became. Even legends have to start somewhere, and Ruth began his baseball career in the minor league Baltimore Orioles, where his teammates gave him the nickname “Babe.” He was soon acquired by the Boston Red Sox, and he helped them win the World Series in 1916 and 1918. The following year, he was traded to the Yankees. His popularity in the Big Apple allowed the Yankees to move from a shared ballpark to one of their own in the Bronx, which was aptly known as “The House That Ruth Built.” Even through the 1919 World Series gambling debacle, which cast doubt over the sport’s future, the fans’ attention was still centered on the Sultan of Swat and what he would do next. The New York Times reported that as “home runs began to scale off his bat in droves, crowds jammed ballparks in every city in which he appeared.” All those home runs resulted in his record-breaking year in 1927, when he hit 60 over-the-fence home runs in a single season.

While his home run record was eventually broken in 1961, the continued celebration of Babe Ruth Day keeps his love for the game and unmatched ability alive. To quote the classic baseball film “The Sandlot,” “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” In the Great Bambino’s case, the legend of his baseball career has survived for over a century and will continue to do so for decades to come.

READY TO HUNT GOBBLERS SOME STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PREP FOR TURKEY HUNTING SEASON

A great way to get out and enjoy the warmer weather begins in April. It’s almost turkey hunting season! From April 6–28, Louisianans can get out, find those roosts, and nab themselves a gobbler. But before you don that new camo gear you got for Christmas and trek out into the woods, there are a few steps you should take to make sure you’re ready for turkey season. Readying Your Gear Three things that warrant inspection at the beginning of the season: your weapon, your mouth calls, and your camo. Properly service your gun or bow, and make sure that all the components are in proper working condition. Neglecting this step could cause danger out on the hunt. You will want to check your calls to know if any of them rotted over winter and need to be replaced. Finally, make sure you have all the

camo you need to cover up completely and guard yourself from the gobbler’s razor-sharp gaze. You also want your gear to be as quiet as possible so you don’t make any sounds unfamiliar to your target. Shooting Practice Get in some time at the shooting range to get used to your gun again and to make sure it’s patterning correctly. Experiment with different kinds of choke tubes for your shotgun to get the pattern you want. If you hunt with a bow, practice could be even more important because it’s harder to take down a turkey and potentially harder to recover when you shoot it with an arrow. Scout the Perfect Location If you’re hunting on private land, make sure you get permission from the owner before you do anything. Scout out where the turkeys roost

in the evening and feed in the daytime. Look for the gobbler’s strut zone. This is something that you can do year-round, but keep in mind that turkeys have different movement patterns in winter than in spring. Perfect Your Turkey Call There are many different types of calls, and it’s worth your time to learn at least a few of them. Whether it’s a box, friction, slate, or diaphragm call, there’s no reason to wait until the last minute to practice. Some might advise against practicing with real turkeys before the season starts, for fear of making them skittish before the hunt even begins, but you can always practice at home as well.

Happy hunting!

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No one wants to find themselves in an auto accident, but it can definitely pay to know what to do if you are caught in one. Knowing what to do in the immediate aftermath of a wreck could mean preventing future trouble in the courts and with your insurer. Here are some important actions you should take in order to ensure the situation is interpreted fairly and that you are properly compensated. Stay Safe but in Sight Never leave the scene of an accident. If you are able, move your vehicle to the side of the road to prevent further accidents. If you cannot move your vehicle, keep your distance from it since it is unsafe to be near an unstable vehicle. However, if you suspect you or someone in your car is too injured to move, stay where you are until first responders arrive. Call the Police Even if the injuries sustained are minor, it’s still a good idea to call 911. Minor injuries can potentially worsen over time, and you might need a copy of the accident report to file a claim with your insurer. When they arrive, get the names and badge numbers of the officers. Also remember that in Louisiana, it is illegal to leave the scene of an accident until the police have a full report of what happened. Protecting Your Interests STEPS TO TAKE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING AN AUTO ACCIDENT

Document the Crash and Talk to Witnesses After making sure everyone involved in the accident is okay, get their contact info, insurance info, vehicle info, and driver’s license number. Get contact info from any witnesses to the accident, and ask them what they saw. If your phone has a camera on it, document the scene to include any injuries you or others have sustained. Make sure to keep all this information organized somewhere safe. State the Facts Talk to the police and your insurance provider as soon as you can, and do not speculate, admit fault, or accuse other drivers of anything. State only the facts as you saw them. Even if you think you are sure you know what happened, speculating and admitting fault can create liability problems in the future. Talk to an Attorney Our attorneys understand the potential financial and medical consequences of an auto accident. Please give us a call at our Oakdale or Oberlin offices, and we can give you a free consultation about your case.

TAKE A BREAK

Easy Bacon and Spinach Stir-Fry

Ingredients

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3 slices bacon

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3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

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2 bunches spinach

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1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

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Salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Heat a large skillet to medium. 2. While skillet is warming, cut bacon into squares.

3. Cook bacon until fat is rendered and bacon is almost to your desired doneness. If desired, you can remove bacon fat from skillet and replace with 1 tablespoon oil. However, keeping the fat is recommended for flavor. 4. Add garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes. 5. Add spinach and crushed red pepper and stir-fry for 10 minutes. 6. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.

Inspired by OhSnapLetsEat.com

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Phone: (888) 481-1333 Monday–Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.joneshilllaw.com

Jones & Hill Injury Lawyers 131 Highway 165 South Oakdale, LA 71463

YORKIE DOODLE DANDY

Considering the stress of combat, it’s no wonder military dogs tend to be tough breeds known for their size and strength. German shepherds, boxers, and various bully breeds are well-acquainted with the battlefield. But in World War II, the most famous military dog weighed only 4 pounds and stood a mere 7 inches tall. Smoky the Yorkshire Terrier wasn’t exactly what most people associated with Shakespeare’s “let slip the dogs of war,” but her small size is part of what made her such a hero. In 1944, after being discovered beside a foxhole in the jungles of New Guinea, Smoky met Corporal William A. Wynne, an American soldier from Cleveland, Ohio. The two quickly became inseparable, and she stayed by Wynne’s side the entire time he was stationed in the South Pacific. Smoky is credited with going on 12 combat missions, surviving 150 air raids, parachuting 30 feet, and earning eight battle stars. Smoky’s sensitive hearing allowed her to alert Wynne and other soldiers of incoming air raids. Smoky’s most famous act of heroism occurred when she went where no man could go at an air base at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. The engineers needed help, so Wynne tied a strand of telephone wire to her collar and

Smoky ran through a 70-foot-long pipe in a matter of minutes. Without Smoky, it would have taken three

days to lay the wire. Her work kept over 250 ground crewmen and 40 fighter and reconnaissance planes out of danger from enemy bombings.

In addition to saving lives on the battlefield, Smoky is also considered to be the first recorded therapy dog. She learned a number of tricks to cheer up troops and would visit injured soldiers at the hospital in New Guinea. After World War II, Smoky and Wynne visited veteran hospitals across the United States. “Corporal” Smoky lived for another 10 years after the war before dying on Feb. 21, 1957, at approximately 14 years old. Wynne would go on to write a memoir about his time with Smoky titled “Yorkie Doodle Dandy.” Almost 50 years after her death, a life-sized bronze statue of Smoky was erected at her final resting place in Lakewood, Ohio. Her statue is dedicated to the bravery of all war dogs, and it is a reminder that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

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