Kunkel Law Firm - March 2021

Kunkel Law Firm - March 2021

MARCH 2021 KunkelCase Files 888-228-9680 • www.KunkelLawFirm.com • [email protected]

FROM THE DESK OF

Gregory Kunkel, Esq.

EVEN THE BOSS CAN GET A DUI!

Bruce Springsteen (“the Boss”) recently made headlines after being arrested for driving while intoxicated in a New Jersey park. Springsteen admitted to drinking two shots of tequila with fans and failed standard field sobriety testing. Springsteen’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was .02%, well below the legal limit of .08%. It’s too early to tell if prosecutors will continue to pursue these charges given Springsteen’s low BAC. If I had a client who presented these same facts, I would also want to know if they had taken any prescription medications that could have interacted with alcohol to impair their ability to drive. Under Pennsylvania law, a person with a BAC below the legal limit can still be charged with DUI under Section (D)(3) of the statute, which focuses on individuals operating a vehicle under the combined influence of alcohol and a drug that would impair the individual’s ability to drive safely. We offer a free DUI Defense Strategy Session to new clients interested in discussing the details of their case and our plan to get the best possible outcome to protect your liberty.

No matter what your body fat percentage is, stomach fat is a common thing people think about. As we get older, it is natural to lose muscle mass and gain weight more easily. Also, everyone is healthy at different levels of body fat. But are you at your ideal level? There’s a reason why doctors and researchers are often concerned with stomach fat when it comes to improving your long-term health. Several studies have shown that people with “above average” waist circumferences (for their height and body mass index) have a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, dementia, asthma, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. I know it might sound surprising, but burning stomach fat can seriously reduce your risk of these diseases. Before you get started, though, you need to understand how stomach fat actually works — one step at a time. More Than Skin Deep Your body fat contains biologically active cells, and it doesn’t just sit there; it supplies a ton of energy to your body. Over 90% of your body fat is known as subcutaneous fat, which is the layer of fat right beneath your skin. However, there’s also another type. Unlike most areas of your body (such as your thighs), your stomach has an inner layer of fat that surrounds your organs, known as visceral fat. Both types of fat are useful for your body. Without your visceral fat, your organs would have far less protection when you take a fall, for example. But if you have too much visceral fat, it can be very risky for your health. Additionally, if your body stores too much fat, it will start storing it in your organs, which can lead to many health problems. Reducing stomach fat will help flatten your stomach while also reducing your risk of severe or chronic diseases. LET’S TALK STOMACH FAT: HOW DOES IT WORK?

–Greg Kunkel

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How to Lose Stomach Fat There are no quick fixes for stomach fat. Believe it or not, liposuction and other fat treatments don’t remove or improve your visceral fat. Products like pills and milkshakes (often scams) for burning off stomach fat can’t do anything without proper exercise. The best plan for losing stomach fat is to increase the effectiveness of your metabolic rate (or ability to burn fat) by eating healthier, low carb, and low-calorie foods and getting plenty of exercise.

work on your body. Use an online calculator to determine what calorie count and macros would be best for you and create a meal plan you can stick to. Secondly, you’ll want to cut out as much sugar from your diet as possible. It’s no secret that large quantities of sugar can add unhealthy calories to your body. Additionally, increasing your calcium intake may help you lose visceral fat, according to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Another important factor is to not smoke. Smokers are more likely to store fat in the abdomen than in their hips and thighs. A study also showed that adults under age 40 who slept five hours or less usually accumulated significantly more visceral fat. However, sleeping over 8 hours can add visceral fat, too (although the same age correlation wasn’t found, so it could apply to anyone). Lastly, mind your mental health. In the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, middle-aged women who showed hostility and depressive symptoms also had more visceral fat. Self-care isn’t just about nutrition or working out; it’s also about being considerate of your mental and emotional needs and taking breaks (whether you need a bath or indulge in a hobby) to refresh your spirit.

When you consume an amount of healthy food that’s appropriate for your height and BMI, your exercise will do a lot more good

I hope these tips help you lose your stomach fat this year! Start today and make 2021 your healthiest year yet.

3 IRISH TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FOR YOUR BUCKET LIST Don’t Miss These Historic Spots!

Traveling to Ireland might not be an option for you right now, but like a leprechaun hoarding gold, you can still fill up your bucket list with all of the pubs, rolling hills, and lucky sites you’d love to see. This month when you’re planning your trip to Dublin, Galway, or Cork, add these spots to your itinerary. The Oldest Bar in the World – Athlone, County Westmeath When Sean’s Bar closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire country of Ireland groaned. The pub is famous for its Irish whiskey, music, and history, which stretches back to 900 A.D., far enough to earn it the title of “Oldest Bar in the World.” As of this writing, Sean’s is slated to reopen when it’s safe again, and considering it has already survived the bubonic plague and the Spanish flu, odds are good that it will make it through this, too! Soon, you’ll be able to raise a glass in the same rooms where the noblemen of nearby Athlone Castle shared drinks in the 12th century. Find more historical tidbits at SeansBar.ie. Ireland’s Spookiest Castle – Coolderry, County Offaly If you’re a fan of thrillers and true crime podcasts, you won’t want to leave Ireland without visiting Leap Castle . This 16th-century haunt was built by the fierce O’Bannon clan, who famously ordered two brothers to throw themselves off a rocky cliff as a test of strength. The survivor

was named clan chief, and later Leap Castle was built on that very site — beginning its long and bloody history. Read more about its haunted priest’s house, murder hole room, and bloody chapel at LeapCastle. net and meet the many ghosts that haunt its halls. A Famous Smugglers’ Shortcut – Newcastle, County Down Get ready to tie up your hiking boots! This roughly 2-mile hike, called Hare’s Gap, is one of the most famous and beautiful routes in Ireland. When you climb through this pass in the Mourne Mountains, you’ll be rewarded with views of glacial cliffs, boulder fields, and ancient-looking stone walls. Legend has it that the pass was part of the Brandy Pad smuggling route, used to ferry goods like soap, leather, spices, and coffee.

Safe travels, and ádh mór (good luck)!

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THE MEATBALL SHOP SUED SNOOKI! (And Another ‘Jersey Shore’ Star, Too)

Reality TV stars Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Deena Cortese are gearing up for a court battle. But this isn’t a showdown with another celebrity: It’s a fight to the death over merchandise with ... a New York City-based meatball restaurant! This case sounds laughable, but there’s some real “meat” to dig into. The controversy started when the celebrity duo — known as “The Meatballs” since their time together on “Jersey Shore” — launched a clothing brand/ online store called The Meatball Shop late last year. The brand sells meatball-themed T-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats with slogans like “Team Meatball Forever” and “Meatball Squad.” Over the holidays, they even offered a sweater with a checklist reading, “Pour wine, wrap gifts, decorate, be a meatball.” All of this merchandise plays off the pair’s “Jersey Shore” nickname, which Polizzi and Cortese earned because, as Food & Wine puts it, “The party girls are both very tan, curvy, and short.” Even with this claim to the moniker, the legality of the celebrities’ clothing line has some competition from, well, places that sell actual meatballs. According to

Page Six, the New York City- based restaurant The Meatball Shop sued Polizzi and Cortese

in December of 2020, claiming their clothing infringes on its trademark. As of writing this, a

judge is considering The Meatball Shop’s

request to shut Polizzi and Cortese’s operation down.

To add even more meat to the argument, it was the owners of The Meatball Shop restaurant (Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow) who first taught Polizzi and Cortese how to make edible meatballs in 2017. The lesson was documented in a photo shoot with “In Touch.” Does it get more ironic than that? If you want to keep up with the drama, check PageSix.com, and if this article made you crave meatballs, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. Visit Epicurious.com and search “classic beef meatballs’’ for a recipe that will knock your socks off.

Take a Break!

Inspired by EatingWell.com

ASPARAGUS AND SMOKED MOZZARELLA PIZZETTES Ingredients Directions

• 1 lb prepared whole- wheat pizza dough, divided into 6 equal portions • 12 oz asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 1/4 tsp salt • 1 cup shredded smoked mozzarella cheese • 1/3 cup scallions, thinly sliced • 2 tbsp walnuts, toasted and chopped • 1 sprig of fresh mint leaves, torn • Zest of 1 orange

1. Preheat oven to 500 F and ensure there are two racks in your oven. 2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, stretch each piece of dough into a 7-by- 3-inch oval and arrange evenly on the pan. 3. On a second baking sheet, toss asparagus with oil and 1/4 tsp salt. 4. Place dough on top rack and asparagus on bottom and bake for 3 minutes. 5. Remove both trays from the oven, sprinkle cheese over the dough, then top with asparagus and scallions. 6. Return pizzettes to oven and bake until the crusts’ edges are golden, about 8–10 minutes. 7. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with walnuts, mint, and orange zest before serving.

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One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, Suite 4300 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Gregory Kunkel, Esq. PAGE 1 Let’s Talk Stomach Fat PAGE 1 3 Irish Travel Destinations for Your Bucket List PAGE 2 ‘Jersey Shore’ Stars Battle a New York Restaurant Over Meatball Merch PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Asparagus & Smoked Mozzarella Pizzettes PAGE 3 Could an Electric Bike Replace Your Second Family Car? PAGE 4

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Could an Electric Bike Replace Your Second Family Car?

range is affected by speed and terrain. At a minimum, riders can expect to go 30 miles round-trip without a problem.

The U.S. has the most extensive road system in the world, so it probably comes as no surprise that U.S. households have two cars (1.88, to be exact) on average. This number has remained relatively steady since 2001, but in the last year, many people began to reconsider their driving habits in light of the pandemic. With professionals working from home and students schooling remotely, many family cars stayed parked in the driveway. While this helped save on fuel costs, car owners still had to pay for insurance, maintenance, and registration, which left some people wondering if owning two vehicles was necessary.

Some bikes can travel up to 100 miles on a single charge, and, as with electric cars, the technology improves every year. If range is less of a concern than speed, swapping a car for an e-bike may mean slower speeds and longer travel times, but not always. Top speeds

vary by model and brand, but many get up to 20–30 mph. Also, you’ll save time by avoiding traffic and having to look for parking. There are, of course, some drawbacks. Highly rated e-bikes come with a hefty price tag — $1,200 at the low end and over $7,000 at the high end — which can be more than a good used car. They’re also heavy, which is bad news for anyone who needs to bring theirs up a flight of stairs. Finally, depending on where you live, e-bikes might not be a viable option for year-round riding. The bottom line is that if you’re looking to decrease your car- ownership costs, an e-bike might be a viable alternative worth looking into.

Enter the electric bike (e-bike), an eco-friendly alternative, especially for those in two-car households.

Forbes contributor Scott Kramer traded his second family car for an e-bike in late 2019 and says he has no regrets. “I can share our other car with my wife when needed. Or just take an Uber. I love the two electric bikes that I own and ride them religiously to do errands within 5 miles of the house.” What if your trek is longer than 5 miles? It’s tricky to say precisely how far a rider can go on a fully charged battery because an e-bike’s

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