Rinehardt Law - May 2020

Rinehardt Law - May 2020

SMALL TOWN VALUES BIG CITY RESULTS Rinehardt Law | www.rinehardtlawfirm.com | 419-LAW-2020

MAY 2020

EVERY DAY IS A NEW ADVENTURE The last couple months have been an adjustment for all of us. Everyone is dealing with their own challenges amid this global crisis. For a while, I was in the habit of waking up in the morning and reaching for my phone to check the news. Anyone else? I realized

While libraries have been closed, I’ve been appreciating e-books and audiobooks. I’ve been impressed with the resources educational companies are making available for kids and families through this time. I’m grateful for all the resources that can help people stay in the right frame of mind through all of this.

that this habit was not serving me and often made me feel more stressed out and anxious. Lately, I’ve been scrolling through the news less and only staying up to date on what I need to know.

Both of my kids have had many questions about everything going on, and we’ve had a lot of conversations about what is happening and how we can stay informed and still find moments of joy. My older son is staying at his college apartment because it’s easier for him to focus on his classes there. Thank goodness we live in an age when we have access to technological tools like FaceTime and Zoom that help us stay connected with the people we love. My high schooler is home with me, and we’re trying to make the most of this time and create positive habits. Neither of my kids is fond of online learning, which is funny considering they’re fine with it for entertainment. My younger son is the type to ask a lot of questions and stay after class to talk to the teacher, so this has been a shift for him. My kids are at an age where I don’t try to protect them from the news. Instead, I try to help them stay informed and find reliable sources to get information. They’re both old enough to make decisions without me, and I feel the need to make sure they know what’s going on and why it’s important to stay home For my part, I’m trying to stay positive and look at each day as a new adventure. To do that, I’ve had to adjust some of my habits.

It’s tough, but we have to figure out how to get through this.

I’ve been thinking a lot about our clients and what they are going through. I know this time can’t be easy. For those who’ve suffered injuries that confine them to their homes, they may have already gone through a period of removal from society that so many of us have been experiencing the last couple months. It’s hard to have your life disrupted and be separated from your loved ones. Let’s use this as a reminder to show extra compassion to one another. We are all in this together. We can help one another get through it. Find your “new” normal that helps you stay positive and healthy. Reach out to a loved one just to see how they’re doing. And when you’re looking for something light and positive to watch, I’d recommend turning to Mr. Rogers.

I’m also not the type of person who can watch thrillers or movies about pandemics through all this — I don’t have enough mental energy for that. Instead, I look for lighter entertainment that doesn’t require as much focus. Last month, I watched “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” the film about Mr. Rogers, a journalist who interviewed him, and how the PBS star impacted that journalist’s life. Let me tell you, I needed that uplifting story in my life! It was a very touching movie. My go-to entertainment is a bit more on the humorous side. When I’m stressed and need something light, I turn to “The Office.” It never fails to make me laugh, and it’s comforting to return to the familiar storylines and characters.

–Melanie Fahey

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With most of us spending more time at home over the last month, we thought we’d share some of our favorite ways to stay active, organize our space, and enjoy what we have at home. STAY INSPIRED AND WITH THESE ACTIV

THE $60,000 HEIST YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF Crimeless Theft in Cyberspace In 2017, sometime between Sept. 11 and 12, a total of $60,000 worth of digital assets were stolen from people around the world. The conspirators didn’t hide their identities, and they faced no criminal charges. As it turns out, there are no laws against stealing spaceships in a video game — even if they’re worth thousands of real-world dollars. EVE Online is a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) that was launched in 2003, and it was on this game that the theft occurred. This science-fiction game is all about spacefaring, but one notable feature of the game is that it allows players to purchase in-game assets with real money. This attracts players who can spend large sums on the game, with some of the game’s largest spaceships costing $9,000. But one thing to note in EVE Online is that no matter how much you pay, once you lose an asset, it’s gone forever. Because of the risk-reward nature of the game, many players unite in huge factions for safety and to pool their resources. One of these groups, Circle of Two or CO2, was the target of the 2017 attack. Within a matter of hours, CO2’s bank accounts were drained and the space stations holding their fleets of ships were sold to their enemies. It was clear from the beginning: This was an inside job. The thief was CO2’s own head diplomat, a player called “The Judge.” For years he’d worked his way through the alliance’s ranks, only to use the access he eventually gained to rob it blind. But greed may not have been his only motivation. He’d had public disagreements with CO2’s leader called Gigx, and a rival faction was able to capitalize on this internal conflict. During an in-person EVE Online summit held in Iceland, representatives from The GoonSwarm Federation convinced The Judge to leave CO2 and commit the single largest robbery in gaming history on his way out. In the real world, The Judge’s actions were completely legal — currently, international law doesn’t treat such virtual objects as personal property. But this perception may be changing. As in-game purchases become more widespread in video games, legal lines have blurred, causing an increasing number of lawmakers to rethink what constitutes “ownership” in the digital age. But, for now at least, it seems like a good time to be a space pirate.

MAKE PROGRESS ON YOUR FITNESS GOALS.

Always wanted to be able to do a pullup or improve your downward-facing dog? This is a great time to perfect it! Set yourself a challenge, like doing 50 pushups a day or three yoga classes a week, to work toward your goals. There are many free online fitness resources available too. Snap Fitness Mansfield created a 28-day fitness challenge to help keep people motivated. Mind Body Align in Mansfield has online yoga and mindfulness classes and training. You can find more at MindBodyAlign.com.

TACKLE HOME-IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

You know that shelf you’ve always said you would hang or the space you’ve said you would clean up if you just had the extra time? Well, now’s your chance! Choose a weekend to tackle a larger project, like a garage cleanout. Use the STEPS TO TAKE AFTER A CAR Get the Information You Need to Get the Com

There’s so much to think about after you’ve been in a car accident. First, you need to make sure you are okay. Then, you need to assess your emotional state. You might be dealing with frustration toward the other driver and fear about what happens next. It’s normal to feel a lot of emotions, but you can deal with the aftershock of what just happened and still process everything. A step that can easily slip your mind amid all this is documenting the scene of the accident and collecting information from the other driver. After you’ve made sure you and everyone involved are okay and called for medical help if needed, here are some steps to protect yourself and get the compensation you need after an accident.

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D MOTIVATED VITIES

empty boxes and organizing tools you have on hand and give yourself a pat on the back (and some relaxation time) after you’ve finished!

FIND POSITIVE ENTERTAINMENT. When you want to sit back and relax with a good book or movie, give yourself a break from the intensity of the news and turn to positive, uplifting tales. As Melanie recommended, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” the movie about Mr. Rogers and a journalist who interviewed him, will remind you there are good things in this world. “The King’s Speech” and “Hidden Figures” are also great choices. For books, check out “I AmMalala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban” by Malala Yousafzai, “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play” by Kobe Bryant, and “Endurance: My Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery” by Scott Kelly. ENJOY YOUR BACKYARD. The space just out your back door can be your own oasis. Have dinner outside when the weather is nice. Set up a hammock or lawn chair out back and enjoy a good book or simply soak up the nice weather. May is also a good time to plant any seeds and plants that you’d like to start this year, and many nurseries are offering delivery options.

Rhubarb Cake

We hope these ideas help spark some of your own and help you make the most of this time.

INGREDIENTS

Inspired by AllRecipes.com

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2 1/4 cups white sugar, divided

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1 tsp baking soda

R ACCIDENT

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1/2 tsp salt

mpensation You Deserve

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2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided

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2 eggs, beaten

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1 cup sour cream

First, as soon as you’re able, ask the other driver for their license plate number, phone number, address, driver’s license number, and insurance information, including their policy number and effective dates. Take photos of their license plate, as well. If there are other people at the scene, ask for their contact information for potential witness statements. Next, take photos of any bruises or injuries you’ve sustained and write down any discomfort or pain you are feeling. Take pictures and make note of any damage to your car. All of this can be important in order to make sure you get the medical and auto coverage you need. When talking to others at the scene, never admit fault for the accident. Only discuss the details of the accident with the police or your attorney. If the other driver suggests a roadside settlement, do not accept it. There may be hidden damage to you and your vehicle that this will not cover. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, it can be helpful to discuss the details with an attorney. Our experienced team of attorneys at Rinehardt Law is available to help you. You deserve attention from a team that’s looking out for your best interests. Distracted drivers aren’t thinking about others, and insurance companies look out for their own bottom line; let us look out for you. Visit us online or give our office a call for a free consultation.

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3 cups rhubarb stalks, diced

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1/4 cup butter, softened

DIRECTIONS

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Heat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking dish. In a large bowl, combine 1 1/4 cups sugar, baking soda, salt, and 2 cups flour.

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3. Stir in eggs and sour cream until smooth. 4. Fold in rhubarb and add mixture to the prepared baking dish. 5. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup sugar and butter until smooth. 6. Stir in 1/4 cup flour until mixture is crumbly. 7. Sprinkle mixture on top of cake batter and bake for 45 minutes. 8. Let cake cool for 5–10 minutes and serve.

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INSIDE THIS EDITION

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Melanie Shares How She’s Staying Positive Through Tough Times

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A $60,000 Robbery With No Jail Time Home Projects to Keep You Inspired How to Protect Yourself After an Auto Collision Rhubarb Cake How to Plan a Flower Bombing Campaign

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HOW TO PLAN A FLOWER BOMBING CAMPAIGN Enlist Your Kids to Spread Joy and Beauty This Spring

First, choose a target. Do you have a family friend who has fallen on hard times or a neighbor dealing with a loss who could use some cheering up? Plot a way to surprise them with flowers. Maybe you could deck out their front porch with tulips or cover their car in daffodil and hyacinth blooms. Whatever your choice, just make sure your gift will be a delight and not an inconvenience. Next, acquire the flowers. You could buy a few bouquets, but other options include taking a family daytrip to pick your own wildflowers or explaining your mission to a local florist and asking if they’d like to donate day-old blooms. Their generosity might surprise you! Last but not least, execute your plan when you won’t get caught. There’s nothing quite like waking up to an unexpected flower windfall, and your kids will love spreading joy on the sly! To learn more about the original flower bomb drop, visit Bee-Friendlier.com/flower-bombing

in need with surprise garden makeovers, and in New York City, a 2017 series of florist-led flower bombings covered construction projects in blooms and left giant bouquets on street corners. Wherever flower bombs land, they leave smiling people in their wake. The best news about flower bombing is that you don’t need to own a floral business or a garden center to get in on the fun, and May is the perfect time to start! The May Day tradition of dropping baskets of flowers on neighbors’ stoops — a ritual dating back to an ancient Roman festival of flowers —makes this the ideal time to gather your kids and plot a colorful campaign.

In 2014, a crop duster flew over a field at Cloverleaf Farm in California and dropped its payload — but it wasn’t spraying pesticide. Instead, it released an avalanche of rainbow- colored clay balls containing enough seeds to sprout 1 million wildflowers. When they bounced to earth, the term “flower bombing” was born. The original aim of this flower bomb, part of a campaign headlined by Cascadian Farm, was to save the disappearing bee population, but since 2014, the term has come to mean any unexpected gesture that leaves an explosion of flowers, joy, and beauty behind. In Ohio, Petitti Garden Centers flower bombs homes of those

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