Risk & Associates County Civil - March 2021

Risk & Associates County Civil - March 2021

COUNTYCIVIL.COM

MARCH 2021

Cleaning Up Our Twitter Feed Responsibly

L ast month, I shared a fun story about how I met my wife, and I love doing that — but, this month, I wanted to talk about something else important to me. Misinformation has become a real concern on social media and for good reason. According to a 2019 study, MIT researchers have shown that false rumors spread faster and wider than true information. False information — described as “entirely fabricated and often partisan content presented as factual” — is 70% more likely to be retweeted on Twitter than the truth and reach the first 1,500 people six times faster. This effect is more pronounced with political news than other categories. Researchers hypothesize that it may be because people are drawn to information that is novel and unusual, like false news often is. A lot of social media companies have been trying to crack down on this — but, while President Trump may have coined the phrase “fake news,” it worries me that “false news” is becoming a partisan issue rather than one based on the facts.

No political alignment is immune from the threat of falsified news. The same MIT researchers found that people who share false information are more likely distracted or lazy, rather than biased. Their 2018 study asking people to rate the accuracy of news headlines on Facebook found that people who engage in more analytical thinking are more likely to discern truth from fake news, regardless of their political views.

of security risks are at play when it comes to setting up and sharing your Facebook account with others. But, today, I just wanted to share that we need to be really careful about the information removed from our social media feeds. It might be a relief to see certain content removed if it doesn’t fit your political leanings, yet, I see a real slippery slope. Why

“No political alignment is immune from the threat of falsified news. The same MIT researchers found that people who share false information are more likely distracted or lazy, rather than biased.”

It’s also worth considering that social media can skew opinions because of what people don’t see, or “information gerrymandering.” People tend to live in partisan bubbles and may only receive a partial picture of how others feel about political issues — this can distort what people think about how others plan to vote, possibly even influencing the outcome of elections. There are many reasons why I feel like we need to be careful about social media, like how some criminals use it to discern when to break into peoples’ homes once the homeowners go on vacation. I think plenty

should we trust companies with the power to remove content from the public eye? Do they have an agenda? What will be the grounds for determining “real news”? How can we ensure our timelines and news feeds are accurate? I don’t know the answers to these questions, but after learning about how “fake news” can contribute to partisan bias, I hope a little awareness can make all the difference. -Rick Risk

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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 to make edible meatballs in 2017. The lesson was documented in a photoshoot 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.

3 EDUCATIONAL SUBSCRIPTION BOXES FOR YOUR KIDS Want to Challenge Your Kids Every Month?

PALETTEFUL PACKS Best for: 8 years and older Price per month: Starting at $22.95

Lately, subscription boxes have been all the rage — but have you heard of educational boxes, designed to challenge and develop your kids’ STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) skills? Every month, you and your kids can go on a discovery adventure to unlock the secrets of sciences like chemistry, physics, geology, and more! Here are a few of our favorites. KIWI AND TINKER CRATES Best for: Kiwi Crates, ages 5–8; and Tinker Crate, ages 9–16 Price per month: $16.95 Enjoy projects every month that teach different STEAM principles! Each box comes with supplies and instructions on how to create that month’s project. A Kiwi Crate can include projects like an arcade claw or a study

on shadow, light, and the science of color. A Tinker Crate, designed for older kids, can teach them how to create a trebuchet and provide studies in hydraulics and motors! BITSBOX Best for: Elementary school children Price per month: $24.95 Is your little one interested in coding? Embrace their skills early and get them started on programming apps for real devices today! Projects are done online, and, once complete, kids can play with their very own app. No prior coding experience is necessary, and BitsBox makes coding fun and enjoyable. Plus, every new project focuses on a new coding skill. There are also different subscriptions to choose from, including a digital BitsBox!

No matter what age or ability your artist is at, anyone can appreciate Paletteful Packs! It’s a subscription box that’ll provide the best quality art supplies, helping inspire their projects and develop their talents. Brands include Winsor Newton, Golden, Copic, Strathmore, Prismacolor, and more! The best thing about subscription boxes for your kids is that it can help provide more structure in a time when structure is a little harder to achieve. We hope one of these will be the perfect fit for you and your family!

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THE ‘10 ESSENTIALS’ OF HIKING At County Civil, we love the outdoors, and we know many of our clients do too! But even if you’re an experienced hiker, you may not know about the American Hiking Society’s “10 Essentials” that every hiker should have for their own safety. If you’re not familiar, here they are!

NO. 6: SAFETY ITEMS (I.E., LIGHT, FIRE, AND A WHISTLE) Make sure you have the means to start an emergency fire, signal for help, and see the trail and your map in the dark. NO. 7: FIRST AID KIT Take a class to learn skills for administering first aid and CPR! You never know when it’ll help, like if you have to use a first aid kit during a hike. NO. 8: KNIFE OR MULTITOOL A multitool

NO. 1: APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR Think about traction, support, and protection when choosing your hiking shoes or boots — you want to be comfortable to have a pleasant hike! NO. 2: MAP AND COMPASS/GPS If you’re getting into the backcountry, your phone or GPS may not be reliable. Consider a paper map and compass as a backup and know how to use them. NO. 3: WATER (AND A WAY TO PURIFY IT) Carry a half-liter of water per hour in moderate temperatures/terrain. Carry enough water and know how to treat water while you’re out in nature. NO. 4: FOOD Carry calorie-dense foods to help fuel your hike (and it’ll probably be lighter to carry), plus an extra portion in case you’re out longer than expected. NO. 5: RAIN GEAR & DRY-FAST LAYERS Weather predictions are not always accurate. A foldable waterproof coat should be pretty light to have on hand at all times. Wear moisture-wicking items and carry a warm hat.

has countless uses, such as gear repair and first aid — you’ll thank yourself for having one of these with you. NO. 9: SUN PROTECTION Sunscreen, sunglasses, and sun-protective clothing should be used in every season, regardless of temperature or cloud cover. NO. 10: SHELTER If you’re injured or stranded, protection from the elements is necessary. Take a lightweight, inexpensive space blanket.

We hope these tips help you on your next adventure!

AQUAMARINE BASKETBALL BUTTERFLY CLOVER DAFFODIL GREEN

IDES LEPRECHAUN MADNESS SPRING TANGERINE WOMEN

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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

Cleaning Up Our Twitter Feed Responsibly

‘Jersey Shore’ Stars Battle a New York Restaurant Over Meatball Merch

3 Educational Subscription Boxes for Your Kids

3

Do You Have the ‘10 Essentials’ for Your Next Hike?

4

A Match Made in Cornmeal Batter Heaven

Corn Dogs and Basketball AN AMERICAN TRADITION

It’s no coincidence that National Corn Dog Day is March 20 — the third Saturday of the month. This day is traditionally the first Saturday of March Madness, otherwise known as the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship. But wait. What do corn dogs and a basketball tournament have to do with one another?

creation had popped up at state fairs and drive-in restaurants all over the country.

Turns out, National Corn Dog Day has everything to do with March Madness. The “holiday” began in March 1992 when two Corvallis, Oregon, high school students needed a snack while watching a basketball game. They got some corn dogs and called it good. But somehow, this simple snack and sport pairing turned into something huge. In fact, eating corn dogs while watching March Madness caught on like wildfire — and the teens didn’t even have Instagram to promote it! Though it’s not clear how, it spread across Oregon and eventually the rest of the country. It’s likely that people just heard about it from friends and family and thought it was a great idea. The corn dog, like basketball, is an American creation. In the 1920s, the creators toyed around with the idea of fried foods on a stick. They battered and fried everything from cheese to bananas, but it was the battered sausages that really stood out, and the corn dog was born. By the 1940s, the convenient

In 2012, in honor of the original Corn Dog Day, the then-governor of Oregon issued an official proclamation naming March 17 National Corn Dog Day in the state. Several companies

jumped on the bandwagon as well, including Foster Farms (a maker of frozen corn dogs, among many other meat products) and the Pabst Brewing Company.

While it’s not an “official” national day recognized by the U.S. Congress, it’s celebrated with thousands of events every March. And it’s grown beyond

its U.S. roots. An article printed in The Oregonian in 2009 revealed that National Corn Dog Day parties have been celebrated on nearly every continent — including Antarctica!

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