Simon Law May 2019

Simon Law May 2019

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May 2019

Springtime at Simon Law Firm

Here’s What We’ve Been Up To!

Spring has certainly sprung at Simon Law Firm! Between world travels, big life events, and continuing education, our legal experts have kept busy in their personal lives during the beginning of 2019. Read on to learn more about what we have been up to this spring. World Travelers There’s nothing quite like a vacation to leave you refreshed, focused, and, frankly, excited for the next adventure. This spring, some of our employees embarked across the globe, including Alicia, who went to Portugal, and Laynie, who made trips to New York City and Ireland. Chris also voyaged to Italy for a few weeks, enjoying the culture and reminiscing about the 10 years he spent in Europe growing up and the trips he has taken in the past. However, he did learn that it is not a good idea to ride a Vespa through Rome. (It’s quite a story!) Welcome, Hagan!

little boy. His mom and dad are over the moon about his arrival, and we have all enjoyed watching Harrison take on his latest role as doting dad. Congratulations again to the Spires family! Celebrating Talents Chris had a great spring! Besides taking a wonderful trip to Italy, he was also thrilled to watch his alma mater win the men’s NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament Championship for the first time in school history! The Virginia Cavaliers took down Purdue 80–75 in a championship fight for the ages on March 30. Chris was so excited that he could not stop bouncing off the walls with joy and lighting up our law

firm’s sign to celebrate. Meanwhile, Laynie is inching closer to her graduation from Georgia State University, while associate attorney Tyler Bridgers is polishing his tennis swing and studying to get on the game show “Jeopardy.” From everyone at Simon Law Firm, we hope you have had a wonderful spring, and we look forward to hearing about all your adventures. Keep up with all our happenings by giving us a like on Facebook, and for legal resources, visit ChristopherSimon.com.

Associate attorney Harrison Spires and his wife Ashley welcomed their son Hagan Spires this spring. Hagan came into this world weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and he is continuing to grow into a healthy, adorable

–Christopher Simon

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Popular Streaming Services WHICH SERVICES ARE RIGHT FOR YOU?

Finding that perfect streaming service for your family can cause parents some stress. There are so many options, and it can be difficult to determine which services provide child- appropriate content AND won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Luckily there are plenty of affordable platforms that have family-friendly content. Netflix and Hulu Known as two of the most popular streaming services that offer family-friendly content, Netflix and Hulu feature plenty of shows and movies that are perfect for kids. For families who own smart TVs or a digital media device, like Roku or Apple TV, both services are available after a quick app download. Both of these platforms have parental controls, allowing parents to set up accounts and restrictions for what their children can watch. You’ll never miss an episode of “Ninjago” or “Sesame Street” again! Their prices are reasonable as well, with Netflix plans ranging

from $8.99–$15.99 a month and Hulu being slightly cheaper at $5.99–$11.99 a month.

Amazon Prime Video For parents who are already Amazon Prime members, Amazon Prime Video is included with their membership. Those who aren’t can enjoy this streaming service by itself for $8.99 a month. Offering an extensive collection of titles of multiple genres, Amazon Prime Video is a great streaming service. Movies range from “The Daniel Tiger Movie: Won’t You Be Our Neighbor” for your toddler to the more serious “The Dark Crystal” for kids who are a little older. As with Netflix and Hulu, this service also has a parental control feature, ensuring kids don’t watch anything that may be inappropriate. Disney+ Disney+ will be the newest streaming service, which is set to be released later this year. Families will have access to classic Disney movies as well The night before, after imbibing a hefty amount during their vacation in Australia, the men got the harebrained idea to break into SeaWorld and swim with the dolphins. After getting inside, video footage captured them stripping down to their skivvies and running around the facility — until they spotted the penguin enclosure. “Look at them!” one said. Distracted from their original plan, they made their way to the penguins, grabbed one, and left. Dirk, the 7-year-old fairy penguin (the smallest species of penguin), was bred in captivity and had never left his enclosure. The next morning, realizing what they’d done, the three young men panicked and released Dirk into a nearby canal. But Dirk’s misfortunes weren’t quite over. He was chased out of the canal by what onlookers believe was a shark, only to be chased back in by a surprised dog. Fortunately, concerned passers-by called authorities, and SeaWorld workers came to rescue Dirk and bring him back to his family.

as other content that Disney has influenced. They’ll even have exclusive access to the newest Disney creations. It’s been speculated that anticipated titles “Captain Marvel,” “Toy Story 4,” and “Frozen 2,” will only be available to stream on Disney+. Parents can rest easy knowing that R-rated films won’t be available through this new service as Disney wants to keep its family-friendly approach.

THIS ISWHAT HAPPENSWHEN YOU STEAL A PROTECTED ANIMAL

You wake up slowly, still groggy from a raucous night out with your friends. As you look around, taking stock of your surroundings, you see the other inhabitants: a desk, your shoes, a penguin … a penguin?! While footage confirms that two young Welshmen stole Dirk the penguin from his SeaWorld Australia home, the men had little memory of the night’s misadventures the next morning — until they saw Dirk waddling around their rented apartment.

Dirk returned unharmed to his partner, Peaches, but his kidnappers weren’t so lucky. Once a Facebook post recounting their misdeeds made its rounds, police traced the crime back to the two Welshmen. They were charged with trespassing, stealing, and keeping a protected animal, and there was no shortage of public shaming as their crime circulated the internet. Taking note of their letter of apology and admissions of guilt and regret, the judge enforced a heavy fine for the crime in lieu of jail time. Charges for kidnapping a protected animal vary from state to state, but the Endangered Species Act ensures perpetrators face harsh penalties, including fines and maximum sentences. The Animal Legal Defense Fund also provides free legal assistance and training to help protect animals from harm.

Be careful on your next night out, and please, enjoy wildlife without stealing it

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WORD SEARCH

The Power of ‘Mindset’

HOW BEING OPEN TO GROWTH LEADS TO SUCCESS

For decades, Dr. Carol S. Dweck studied the phenomena of success. How is it that some people are able to grow their business, stay fit, or achieve their personal goals while others in similar situations stall out? “Mindset” is Dr. Dweck’s answer to this question. Subtitled “The New Psychology of Success,” this book chronicles the Stanford psychologist’s findings, which suggest an inseparable link between belief and achievement. According to Dr. Dweck, people tend to think about the challenges in front of them in one of two ways. They either have a “fixed” mindset — believing that their talents and abilities are static, intrinsic properties of who they are — or a “growth” mindset — believing they can improve every aspect of themselves with practice and perseverance. Those who approach life’s hurdles as an opportunity for growth are the ones who find long-term success. If you’ve ever said “I’m just not good at math” or “I’m not a natural leader,” you’ve fallen into the fixed mindset trap. If you believe there’s nothing you can do to change your circumstances, you’ll never strive to improve them. The same is true of positive fixed opinions of yourself. Dr. Dweck points out that those who believe themselves to be “a great boss” or “an amazing athlete” are also doing themselves a disservice. Once you think your skills are tied to who you are as a person, you’ll avoid challenging them for fear they might be found wanting. This leads your talents to atrophy as you seek detours rather than facing challenges head-on.

Garden Blooming Day

Memorial Nightingale

Emerald May Remember

Spring Cinco Mayo

Gemini Mother

Strawberry Mango Paletas

INGREDIENTS

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1 1/4 cups strawberries, chopped 1/2 cup granulated sugar

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1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• •

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2 medium ripe mangoes, peeled, pitted, and chopped

Dr. Dweck argues that, instead of falling victim to the pessimism and self-delusion that defines fixed mindset thinking, we need to

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

recognize that the path to success lies in open-minded perseverance. “A person’s true potential is unknown (and unknowable),” she says. “It’s impossible to foresee what can be accomplished with years of passion, toil, and training.” Not only does “Mindset” drive this point home with well-documented experiments and studies, but it also provides a workshop to help people break free of their fixed mindset and find success.

DIRECTIONS 1. In a saucepan, toss strawberries with 1/4 cup sugar and let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. 2. Add 1/4 cup water and bring to a simmer over moderate heat. Cook strawberries until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. 3. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon of lime juice and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Let cool completely, about 45 minutes. 4. Meanwhile, in a blender, purée mangoes with 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons lime juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until smooth. Scrape into a medium bowl and clean the blender. Then, purée strawberry mixture until smooth. 5. Into 8 3-ounce ice pop molds, spoon 2 tablespoons mango purée. Add 2 tablespoons strawberry purée to each mold, then top with remaining mango purée, leaving 1/2 inch between filling and top of mold. 6. Using a small knife, gently swirl layers together. 7. Insert ice pop sticks and freeze until solid. 8. Dip molds in hot water for a few seconds, then unmold paletas and serve immediately.

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Catch Up With Simon Law Firm 1 Streaming Services Perfect for Your Family The Price You Pay for Stealing a Penguin 2 Strawberry Mango Paletas How Being Open to Growth Leads to Success 3 How to Travel Sustainably 4 Vacations can come with great expense, and not just for your bank account. According to a 2018 study published in Nature Climate Change, travel accounts for 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Cut through the greenwashing and do your part to lessen these emissions by traveling sustainably. Travel Green When possible, trains, hybrid buses, and carpooling are great alternatives to larger, more environmentally intrusive travel methods. Large cruise liners are detrimental to oceans, and airplanes emit large amounts of toxins into the air. However, you can cruise and fly with the earth in mind. Some cruise lines are working to reduce their impact by installing more eco-friendly lighting and materials, and flight experts recommend using “green” airports, choosing fuel-efficient airlines, staying longer, and traveling less. If anything, it’s an excuse to extend your European vacation!

Go Green GETOUTTHEREWITHTHESEECO-TOURISMTIPS

Stay Green Where you stay impacts the environment as much as how you get there. Hotels use copious amounts of water for bathing and laundry, and they struggle to reduce energy because guests leave their lights and televisions on. However, many luxury resorts, woodsy cabins, and even entire countries have opted to make eco-tourism easier. If you’re looking for a region of the world committed to preserving nature, look no further than Iceland, Finland, and Sweden, which are ranked the three most environmentally friendly places in the world. pyramids and Machu Picchu are some of the world’s greatest wonders, but Earth itself is pretty breathtaking. Check out natural attractions while hiking or camping in preserved forests, or soak up all the Caribbean has to offer by snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. When you’re Do Green Man-made attractions like the Egyptian

mindful of your surroundings and remain unobtrusive, there are endless outdoor activities you can explore. Some locations even partner with environmentally conscious organizations you can donate to or volunteer with.

Opt for a green vacation and know that while you relax, the earth is getting a little relief too.

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