Risk & Associates County Civil - December 2021

Risk & Associates County Civil - December 2021

COUNTYCIVIL.COM

DECEMBER 2021

Dreading Christmas?

THE SECRET TO LOVING THE HOLIDAYS AGAIN

Hello, friends! It’s exciting to approach the holidays nearly two years after COVID-19 began, but they aren’t exactly the same, are they?

Ultimately, someone out there in the world didn’t wake up today, and your day today is someone else’s most tragic day in their life. We will all have days like that — the best thing we can do is enjoy all of life’s big and little moments until then. We all get excited and nostalgic for the holidays. The gifts, the food, the traditions — it’s the only time of year that stirs a unique longing for the songs of Mariah Carey and Frank Sinatra and all our favorite classic holiday tunes. But there are also downsides to nostalgia. As adults (or anyone that has experienced grief), it can be a time of great pain and remembrance of regrets. You might find yourself thinking about things you used to dream of doing or ways you’ve tried to make things right in the past. But even with all of that regret, even with all of that pain, there’s still joy to be had. Not a little joy, either, but a lot of it. There are people in this world who need you, and there’s so much love out there waiting to be given. In my eyes, the secret ingredient to Christmas and every day before and after is gratitude. So, no matter what holiday you celebrate, I hope you get to give and receive a lot of love this December. Especially after the craziness of last few years, there’s no better time than the present. -Rick E. Risk

If you’re worried about the holidays feeling different this year, you’re not the only one. Whether your family reunion has shrunk because of clashing obligations or loved ones who have passed on, or even if you’ve started enjoying a quieter Christmas (and secretly wonder if you should keep it that way), the “return to normalcy” brings new challenges that mean a little something different to everyone. I’ve said it before, but it’s always something on my mind during the holiday season: It’s important to take a deep breath and pause, look around, and notice who’s not at the table anymore. The pandemic has done something important — it’s reminded us of what’s really important. The holidays are a great time to reflect and think about that, too. Who is gone? What would you like to celebrate about their memory? And, today, who needs you now more than ever? In my family, we’re big huggers. Nobody ever greets each other with a handshake; it’s all big bear hugs. Whenever that’s not present in our lives anymore, it can feel like there’s a void in our life that’s hard to fill. People who work closely with me know my standard response to “How are you?” is always “Well, I woke up today!” It’s a great way to remember to spend time with the people you care most about, especially when they, too, have woken up that day.

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KATY PERRY’S LEGAL BATTLE WITH NUNS

FIGHTING FOR CONVENT REAL ESTATE

Katy Perry is known around the globe for having multiple No. 1 hits, including “I Kissed A Girl,” “Teenage Dream,” and “Firework,” but two nuns in Los Angeles know Perry for a completely different reason. They were in a multiyear legal battle with Perry and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles over the purchase of a convent. In 1972, the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary pooled their money and purchased an eight-acre, French-style chateau in Los Angeles. Sisters Rita Callanan and Catherine Rose Holzman lived in the chateau-turned- convent until 2011, when the Archdiocese of Los Angeles reportedly forced them to relocate.

Two years later, Archbishop José Gomez sold the property to Perry without any input from the sisters, but the nuns felt that the archdiocese did not have the right to do this. Gomez accepted a $14.5 million cash offer from Perry, but the nuns refused to sell to her. Believing they had sole ownership of the convent, they instead sold it to restaurateur and developer Dana Hollister. The archdiocese and Perry both sued Hollister for her involvement, claiming she took advantage of the nuns, and a judge invalidated her purchase months after it was made. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the archdiocese, creating an opportunity for Perry to buy the estate

due to the fact that the nuns did not have the approval of the pope, the Holy See, or the archbishop. In 2017, a jury found that Hollister intentionally interfered with Perry’s legal purchase. She was ordered to pay both Perry and the archdiocese millions of dollars. The sisters continued to support Hollister, and they both accompanied her to bankruptcy court, where Sister Holzman collapsed and died during the court proceeding. Sister Callanan blamed Perry for the death of Holzman. The convent is back on the market, and it does not appear that Perry will move forward with the purchase.

5 Creative, Affordable Gift Ideas for Grandchildren

Being frugal with your finances during the holidays can get tough, especially if you’re still looking for the perfect gift or gifts for your grandkids that they’ll love. Here are a few of our ideas for trending and timeless gifts they’ll certainly enjoy — and they won’t break the bank!

forever with a Rocketbook, which will allow them to scan and save all of their drawings and writings into their phone — no scanner needed! The notebook is also reusable and won’t eat up trees. No. 5: Digital Photo Frame For older grandchildren going away to college, consider buying them a digital photo frame with uploaded family pictures. College can feel like an isolating place, especially now more than ever, but a collage of their family can help remind them that they’re never alone. We hope these gift ideas help! What’s your best universal gift for young kids? We’d love to hear it. From everyone at County Civil, have a wonderful holiday season!

No. 1: Board Games/Card Games Want to spend more time with your

just one month or multiple months for your young relative to look forward to long after Christmas is over. No. 3: LEGO Not all LEGO sets are super affordable, but you can certainly find sets that are fun and enjoyable for your grandchild depending on their interests! Plus, it’s like a real-life version of Minecraft, a building and survival game, except you have to use your imagination for the survival part. No. 4: Mini Rocketbook Do you have an artistic or imaginative grandchild? They can keep their scribbles

grandkids? This is the perfect fun way of doing just that! You don’t have to choose trending games like Exploding Kittens, either. Maybe they’ve never tried the classic game of Twister, or maybe they have never learned how to play chess. Pick one of your favorite games to teach them! No. 2: STEM Exercise Crates Most stores will sell a set to inspire and challenge a child’s STEM abilities; however, you can also order customized subscription boxes that will send your grandchild unique sets at fairly affordable prices! Purchase

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5 CREATIVE, AFFORDABLE GIFT IDEAS FOR GRANDCHILDREN

Why Basketball Is a Christmas Staple MERRY HOOPSMAS!

Nothing says Christmas quite like basketball — at least, that’s been the case since 1947. In addition to stockings, eggnog, and general yuletide cheer, each Christmas Day brings about an annual lineup of basketball games featuring the National Basketball Association’s best of the best, and it’s become a time-honored tradition.

achievements — plus a potential record to watch for this year.

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Kings of Christmas Day: Since their initial 1947 debut, the New York Knicks have gone on to play the most holiday games of any other NBA

But where in the North Pole did this idea come from?

While it’s hard to pinpoint an exact reason, the NBA has hosted Christmas Day games since 1947, when the New York Knicks beat the Providence Steamrollers 89–75. For decades, teams across the league would play their regional rivals on Dec. 25, ensuring the basketball season moved forward and players didn’t have to travel too far from their families. That looks different today. In contrast to the National Football League’s Thanksgiving Day games, when the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys always play, Christmas Day is now reserved for the NBA’s top teams. In many ways, this is a marketing ploy designed to heighten NBA viewership on a day when few other sports host games, and by using their best teams, the NBA can ensure viewers are treated to great games.

team. They have 22 wins and 31 losses, giving them the most losses on Christmas Day. (Until recently, they had the most wins, too, but the Los Angeles Lakers now hold that title.) • Point Pros: This year could be a historic one for the NBA. LeBron James is slated to surpass the late Kobe Bryant for the most points scored on Christmas Day. James just needs 13 points to outpace Bryant when the Lakers host the Brooklyn Nets this year. However, the title for most points scored on a single Christmas Day game goes to Bernard King of the Knicks, who scored 60 points in a 1984 loss to the then-New Jersey Nets.

However, for loyal fans and viewers, the tradition has sparked a few great moments, including the following greatest games, statistics, and

You can catch all five Christmas Day games on ESPN and ABC this Christmas Day!

CANDLES CELEBRATION JINGLE JOLLY MISTLETOE ORNAMENT

PRESENT SANTA SLEIGH STOCKING WASSAIL WREATH

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2383 Tamarack St., Lake Odessa, MI 48849 616-374-7170 | COUNTYCIVIL.COM R isk & A ssociates

Rick Risk is Founder and President of Risk & Associates, a legal support service provider in Michigan, and has assisted hundreds of attorneys, municipalities, courts, Sheriff Offices, businesses, and others with their strategic process needs.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1 2

How to Love Christmas Again

Katy Perry’s Real Estate Battle

5 Creative, Affordable Gift Ideas for Grandchildren

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Why Basketball Is a Christmas Day Tradition

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The Secret History of the Hays Code

Prohibition for the Movies? THE LITTLE-KNOWN STORY OF THE HAYS CODE

If you’ve seen the classic movie “Casablanca,” you might be surprised to learn that the original version was more risque than the one later shown on theater screens. The night Rick and Ilsa shared in Paris was more, ahem, explicitly passionate, but those lines were dropped on the cutting room floor. Why? Well, it wasn’t because of artistic choice. According to Mental Floss, “Joseph I. Breen, the head of the Production Code Administration, personally objected to any reference in ‘Casablanca’ about Rick and Ilsa having possibly slept together in Paris.” What a killjoy! Breen’s objection was backed up by an industry standard of the time called the Hays Code (or officially, the Motion Picture Production Code). This now-forgotten list of rules predated today’s movie rating system and governed Hollywood from 1934 to 1968, restricting expression in countless

movies and TV shows. It was intended to clean up the violent, drug-filled movie business much like Prohibition — which preceded it— had been designed to clean up a drunken America. As the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) puts it, “The code prohibited profanity, suggestive nudity, graphic or realistic violence, sexual persuasions, and rape” — but it also prohibited certain kinds of costumes and dances, censored homosexuality, and banished married movie couples to separate beds! Just a few of the stranger things banned under the Hays Code were justifications of revenge, mockery of the clergy, and showing alcohol “when not required by the plot.” You’ve likely watched movies and TV shows filmed under the restrictions of the Hays Code without realizing it was to blame for the wacky choices the directors made.

For example, Mental Floss reports the code is the reason “I

Love Lucy” never showed Lucy and Rick sharing a bed or used the word “pregnant,” even when Lucy was expecting!

It’s also the reason why Betty Boop temporarily lost her garter belt and why the birth scene in “Gone With the Wind” was filmed in shadows. In fact, even a “silhouette” birth should have been off-limits, but somehow, the producers sneaked it through. To learn more about the origins and ending of the Hays Code, check out the NPR story “Remembering Hollywood’s Hays Code, 40 Years On.”

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