By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
APRIL 2, 2024 | Seeing a lot of commercials during the NCAA basketball tournament, did you recognize how the many automotive companies advertise their products?
What hit us was the rugged, and sometimes abusive way, the brands portray driving the automobiles. They seem so reckless in the way they promote the vehicles. It often is the opposite of sound, safe driving.
Many drive way too fast. And it seems like every model had to be shown either driving through mudholes or across streams, or scampering to the very edge of many a peak in North America. Why do they show virtually every model each firm builds on top of mountains?
Hit you that way?
Many of you are too young to remember the day when the legal profession never advertised. Today first one lawyer after another pays thousands of dollars to the television people to promote that they are the best firm to represent you in any dispute. Makes you wonder how the TV stations could survive without the lawyer advertisements.
TV attorneys seem to particularly suggest to people who were in accidents that perhaps that stiff neck could mean a big bundle of money….if they called this specific lawyer. (Really?)
If you take the plunge to hire one of these pitchmen, don’t expect money any time soon. Don’t expect to get a big payout from the insurance company quickly. All these TV attorneys want to do is to sign you as a client, then not go to court, but to “settle” with the insurance company. And if you get anything, remember that 33 per cent the lawyer will take.
It was way back in 1977 when the modern era of attorney advertising began. The U.S. Supreme Court in Bates v. State Bar of Arizona essentially struck prohibitions against advertising by attorneys. So blame lawyers advertising on an activist court.
Mickey Merkel of Berkeley Lake wrote: “I laughed out loud when I read your commentary about waking up at three a.m. Thought I was the only one that did that!” No, many others do! Waking up and not immediately going back to sleep is quite common.
When it happens to me, first I think of what day is up next (takes a while), then often I will either plan the next day, or come up with a new idea about something. The next problem is remembering that idea. Some keep a pad and pen beside their bed to write items down, which make sense, though I don’t. So don’t think you are the Lone Ranger when you fail to go back to sleep soon.
What helps me sometimes is to go to the den, relax, and before you know, I am asleep. An hour later, I wake up, then go back to bed and then sleep hard!
How often do you say a real prayer, something as simple as “Thank you, Lord?” That’s always our prayer throughout the day, or particularly when we return from a trip, or sometimes even get back from the grocery store. And I don’t know about you, but every time I’m on an airplane that lands no matter how much the bump, that’s my immediate thought! How do those planes ever fly anyway?
We owe our God above our gratitude for so much, for everyday life and health. We’re not talking religion here, but thinking of how good our God is to us poor souls. We are most blessed. “Thank you, Lord,” again!
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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