Hanging By a Thread

On Georgia Peaches & Writing

The Truckload Sale

On Thursday, I bought a crate of Georgia peaches from the back of a semi truck parked in a Menard's parking lot. I really love a good peach, but it's incredibly hard to get a really good peach, especially in the state of Minnesota. So, I took a chance, standing in that hot parking lot with my boys staring into a mostly empty, big, gleaming, silver semi trailer, and bought a crate of approximately 55 peaches from a fairly questionable character.

I was worried the peaches wouldn't be tasty; I was worried the peaches wouldn't be juicy; I was worried the peaches wouldn't be fresh; I was worried that I had been ripped off. I needn't have worried. The peaches are quite tasty, juicy and fresh. And we have been eating peaches every day with almost every meal for the last three days and loving it.

Even still, a family of 4 can only eat so many fresh peaches before the peaches aren't so fresh anymore. So, I turned to the Internet, my trusty companion, for some scrumptious fresh peach recipes to help use up these sweet golden orbs before they are mushy, brown lumps.

Message from a Blog

In so doing, I came across a foodie blog, Orangette. I had never read it, nor heard of it before, but the author, Molly Wizenberg, has done quite well with it since writing her first post on July 29, 2004, even landing a book deal in 2008. It's beautifully written with lovely recipes, and I liked the author immediately {maybe it's her Oklahoma roots}.

When I was reading about Molly and Orangette, I felt uplifted; I felt inspired to keep trucking along with my nose to the grindstone, honing and sculpting my own little 17 month old blog. Molly, who originally had wished to write for a food magazine, was found by her book editor and agent and Bon Appétit, only 3 or so years after beginning to blog.

While it's not my goal to write for a food magazine....well, let me rephrase that, I certainly would write for a food magazine if given the chance or new magazine or parent magazine, etc. However, the point is, it happens: a person launches a blog and writes to write and does get noticed...at least some of the time. And that's exactly the message I needed to hear.

Recently, someone said to me, "I wouldn't blog if I didn't make any money from mine." when I said I didn't make anything from Motherly Law. And someone else asked me, "What do you hope to gain from your blogging?" Well, it can be a bit disheartening to ponder these things.

I write to gain experience; I write to have exposure; I write to express myself; I write to inform; and I write so that I may have the opportunity to write for a magazine, a website or other publication one day. And I think that's OK.

The Scoop

Incidentally, I didn't find any peach recipes on Orangette, but I did find a number of recipes in various other spots that I will be trying out in the next week or so, including a tasty Insalata con Peche with prosciutto and the Peach & Biscuit Crostata in my oven right now. Over and out....

Anna

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A New Year and A New Set of Goals; Personal and Professional

Motherly Advice: Reaching for the Sun

Work Wanted: Will Write for Money

An Open Door & a New World: Motherly Law's First Anniversary

Baby Steps: Learning to be Patient with Our New Endeavors

The best laid schemes of mice and men, go oft awry.

        ~From the poem, To a Mouse by Robert Burns

 Change is Good

At the end of winter and the beginning of spring this year, along with melting and budding and greening that the changing of the seasons brings, our household was making changes too. Dear Husband, Will, was forced to start looking for a new job; a new career. After a bit of searching, both on the job boards and in the soul, and a whole lot of brainstorming and praying, he decided to make a business plan and start a social media consulting business.

In May of this year, he opened the doors, so to speak, by launching his website for Open Door Consulting, Inc. Each day brings ups and downs in this new endeavor. We are ever hopeful, optimistic and yet realistic too. As with every new business, each step taken is a baby step ...hopefully, a step in the right direction.

We did not plan to open a business. We did not mean to both be self employed, but life happens and we must be resourceful and creative and learn to cope. Little by little, Open Door is gaining momentum.

The Written Word

This week, Will launched Open Door's Blog, The Key Word. His goal is to write interesting, informative, key posts on social media topics that run the gamut from online networking, analytical tools, social media tips in general to specific social media platforms, tricks of the trade, business blogging, Will's own experiences, opinions and practices.

Will intends to post 3 to 5 times per week. And guess what? Yours truly will be helping out by posting once or twice a week over at The Key Word. While these posts will specifically be aimed at businesses using social media, anyone using social media platforms for work or play or a little of both, will likely gain some insight and some know how from these articles.

My first post at The Key Word is up today. So, please go check it out and find out why every business should be have a blog. And feel free to drop Will a line of encouragement over on Open Door's website.

The Scoop

Do you have a business? Do you use social media? Do you hire someone to help with social media? Talk to me, folks. Over and out....

Anna

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Work Wanted: Will Write for Money

Not One Dime

You might not realize this, but I don't get paid a penny to write Motherly Law. Nope, I don't get any money; nada; zip; nothing; zero; nil; zilch. {Aside: Why do all the words for $0 start with "z" or "n"? Interesting...} It has not been all for naught though. I have gained much writing and social media experience, become more introspective and met many grand folks I would have never met otherwise, but these things don't pay the bills. In the last several years, the legal research, writing and editing work that does pay the bills has been shrinking and more uncertain due to the shaky economy.

Since becoming a "prolific online writer" over the past 18 months, I have begun doing some freelance writing, and I'm on the prowl for more. So, this is my online want ad for freelance writing, research and/or speaking work.

Please share, forward, pass along, mention, tweet, discuss or take other action if you have any interest, contacts, work, thoughts, information, tips or other ideas:

Hire Anna.

She's Genuine; She's Passionate; She's Witty; She's Funny; and She Always Has a Lot to Say

Freelance Writing & Speaking

I'm a licensed attorney and kid-tested and sometimes approved parent with a passion for writing. I've spent the last 13 years in legal positions researching, writing and editing myriad issues. I have a Bachelors Degree in English and Political Science and a Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma.

I launched Motherly Law in March of 2010 with the goal of informing, educating and sometimes entertaining parents regarding relevant legal issues that affect families, as well as general parenting topics from the perspective of "someone in the trenches." I post daily with a weekly topic series.

In the past 17 months my readership has quadrupled. My search engine queries now account for over 40 % of my daily traffic. I have readers in every state and over 100 countries. In general, I stick to legal and parenting concerns on Motherly Law, but I can efficiently and effectively write on a number of topics.

I am available on a freelance basis and offer a variety of services:

• Legal Research with Written Summary
• Blog Writing
• Article Writing
• Conference/Event Panelist/Speaker Re: Legal & Social Media Issues

Writing Accomplishments and Recognitions

• Featured on Legal Current, a Thomson Reuters blog, March 2010
• Featured on Minn Post's Blog Cabin Numerous Times
• Featured on BlogHer Home Page Numerous Times
• Featured on MPR.org Minnesota News Fall 2010
• Featured on Twin Cities Spark, August 2010
• Featured in Star Tribune article, November 7, 2010
• Social Media Breakfast MSP, Social Media & the Law, Panelist, March 18, 2011, Eagan, MN
• Consumer Reports and U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Distracted Driving Forum, Panelist, March 7, 2011, Yonkers, NY
• Freelance Articles for CBS Local/WCCO

Please contact me to talk about your freelance researching or writing needs. I look forward to hearing from you: [email protected]; @MotherlyLaw {Twitter} & Motherly Law {Facebook} & Anna Berend {LinkedIn}

Anna Berend

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: The Casey Anthony Verdict

The Verdict

You probably won't agree with me on this, but this is my perspective of the Casey Anthony verdict.  I think that justice was served from a legal perspective.  Take note that I am referring to the jury's verdict; I did not say that I believe Anthony is innocent.

Neither you nor I sat through every minute of testimony, examined every bit of evidence and applied the instructions from the court to the evidence presented. The jurors chosen for the Anthony trial did do these things, and in the end they decided the evidence did not show beyond a reasonable doubt that Anthony murdered her 2 year old daughter, Caylee, in the summer 2008. The jury did find Anthony guilty of four counts of providing false information to the police.

Emotional Reaction

As you most likely know from the heavy media coverage, the jury returned its verdict on July 5, after more than 10 hours of deliberation and after weeks of hearing evidence during the trial. The not guilty verdict was met with anger, frustration, confusion and tears all across the country. People in almost every state have rallied, representing little Caylee, an innocent child who was murdered three years ago, and felt that justice was not served in this case.

I read one article that mentioned a woman who had started a petition to have the judge overturn the verdict. Many people say that they are certain Anthony is a murderer; other articles and comments called the jurors incompetent; and absolute outrage has erupted across the Internet following this verdict.

The Jury

These 12 jurors, 7 women and 5 men, in Orlando, FL, were charged with weighing the evidence presented and determining whether beyond a reasonable doubt Anthony murdered her daughter. They have done their job. They were not asked to go with their gut instincts; they were not asked to decide based on popular public opinion; they were not asked to listen to legal talk shows "experts" and opt for their legal spinnings; they were told to listen to the evidence presented and follow the instructions given to them in order to decide this case based on legal principles. They have done their job.

Standard of Proof

Florida's standard of proof for felony murder is beyond a reasonable doubt. Black's Law Dictionary defines "Reasonable Doubt" as "not a mere possible doubt; because everything relating to human affairs, and depending on moral evidence, is open to some possible or imaginary doubt. It is that state of the case, which, after the entire comparison and consideration of all the evidence, leaves the minds of jurors in that condition that they cannot say they feel an abiding conviction, to a moral certainty, of the truth of the charge."

Black's further provides, "In deciding whether guilt has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury must begin with the presumption that the defendant is innocent." This is not something the general public, media or legal pundits must do. Anyone, who is not on the jury, is free to form his or her own opinion about any given person, incident, evidence or verdict. The jury must stick to the evidence presented.

While the state had an abundance of evidence, there was no "smoking gun" and due to the severely decomposed body, there was a loss of physical evidence, according to State Attorney Lawson Lamar. Beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest standard of proof in the law. The State had the burden to prove the guilt of Anthony beyond a reasonable doubt. They were unable to do that, based on the verdict delivered.

The Justice System

As to the woman who started a petition for the judge to overturn the verdict; that is not how our justice system works. If the prosecution or defense feels there have been errors made during the trial, either party may be able to make an appeal to a higher court.

Our justice system is not arbitrary; it is not based on popular opinion or belief. It is based on evidentiary rules; court rules; and precise legal standards and laws. And if you were the one sitting in the defendant's chair, you wouldn't want it any other way.

Many people have gone to prison maintaining their innocence and years later it's proven they were indeed telling the truth; sometimes far too late for the wrongly convicted and sentenced, but always a horrible tragic injustice...for all of us.

So, was justice serviced in the Anthony case? Yes. It was served because the jury decided the case based on the evidentiary standard of proof of beyond a reasonable doubt and did not simply go with an emotional response. Did Casey Anthony murder her child, know who murdered her child or assist the murderer? I don't know. And that is something we may never know, but in order for our justice system to work we must trust our juries.

The Scoop

Regardless of how you feel about Casey Anthony and the verdict, clearly justice was not served for little Caylee. I recall reading an article about the disappearance of Caylee back in July of 2008, soon after she had been reported missing. I, too, had a 2 year old in July of 2008. I couldn't imagine losing my child; not knowing where he was; what had happened to him. What kind of mother wouldn't report her child missing immediately...immediately?

If I lose sight of my Darling Boys for even a few seconds, my heart begins to pound, my insides feel weak and I do my best not to let my voice go shaky and shrill as I call for them. I have not ever actually, truly lost either of my Boys for more than a few seconds thankfully, but if I did, I would be contacting authorities within minutes of them going missing.

My son who was 2 years old the summer of 2008 when little Caylee lost her life, is 5 years old today, and I thank God for him every day. I'll have more on juries and the justice system this week. Over and out...

Anna

Distracted Vigilance: Tips for Preventing Drownings

Unaware

On a recent early morning, I awoke to find my 2.5 year old Darling 2 sitting next to me holding the orange juice carton, saying "juice please" "juice please". It took me a minute to fully realize the situation. Apparently, he had gotten up out of bed, decided he wanted some juice and finding me still asleep in bed, decided to bring the carton to me to open for him.

While nothing happened to him or the orange juice and later it seemed comical, it still made me think what if he had unlocked a door and gone outside or opened the dishwasher and gotten a knife out or other equally frightening scenario. DH and I are normally fairly light sleepers when it comes to hearing our kiddos in the night. Neither of them are good sleepers, and it's not uncommon for one or both of them to call out in the night or get out of bed, etc. Yet there are times that I am beyond tired and half asleep before my head hits the pillow. And on those nights or mornings, I'm liable to sleep through Darling 2 getting up to fetch himself some juice.

It only takes a minute for my kids to make huge messes, grab things they shouldn't or get themselves into trouble. They are young children, after all. They learn by touching, tasting and trying to do new things on their own. This is why taking precautions and keeping your eyes on your kids near or in a pool is of utmost importance.

Unintentional Drownings

I was reading an article about pool safety that stated in the first four months of 2011 there have already been 37 drownings and 38 near drownings. It occurred to me that many parents, nannies, grandparents and others who are sitting near a pool watching their young charges probably tend to take that time to make a phone call, send a text, a tweet or an email, check Facebook or look up information online. All of these things can be done with ease in virtually any setting thanks to the convenience of today's smartphone.

I have not seen any statistics on the number of drownings that occurred because the person watching the child was preoccupied with his or her phone, but I would be interested to see that information. While this is speculation, it warrants a reminder that one should not do anything that distracts his or her attention from the child(ren) in the pool.

Drowning is silent. There may not be a big splash, thrashing about, screaming or calling for help. If a child accidentally falls into a pool or goes too deep and you aren't paying attention, you might not even realize it until it's too late. If your attention is diverted by your phone conversation or twitter stream, you may be too distracted to even notice a child has fallen in, gone too deep or been trapped under the water.

As the CPSC notes in the tips below, it's important to have a phone nearby the pool area in case of emergency, but the person watching the kids in or near the pool should never be on the phone or using any of the smartphone's applications or capabilities. There are no laws banning using phones around pools, but the same principle applies in these situations as it does while driving; our brains are not capable of true multi-tasking.

This means that no matter how long you intend to be on the phone or checking email, etc. during that time you are not focused on your kids in or near the water. In those few minutes, your child could be severely injured or dead.

Pool Safety Tips

Here's what the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) suggests for those who own a pool or have regular access to a pool:

• Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa
• Always watch your child when he or she is near the water
• Teach children basic water safety tips
• Keep children away from pool drains, pipes, etc. to avoid entrapment
• Keep phone nearby in case of emergency
• If a child is missing, check the pool first
• Make sure family, friends and neighbors know the pool safety information
• Learn to swim and make sure your kids know how to swim
• Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults
• Understand the basics of life-saving to assist in a pool emergency
• Install a 4 ft or taller fence around the pool and spa area with a self-closing or latching gate; ask your neighbors with pools to do the same.
• Install and use a lockable safety cover on your spa
• Install door alarms and use them if your house opens up to the pool with no gate between
• Install pool and gate alarms that alert the adult when children go near the water
• Check to make sure the drain covers are compliant with CPSC standards*
• Maintain pool and spa
• Consider using a surface wave or underwater alarm

www.poolsafely.gov

The Scoop

As summer nears and more and more people flock to the pools and beaches, it's extremely important to make sure you, your spouse, your kids, your nanny, babysitter, neighbors, parents and anyone else who watches your kids are reminded about the pool safety rules. And remember to be clear about no phone usage at all during pool time. Over and out...

A note about pool drain covers: The CPSC is investigating  the safety of pool and spa drain covers and the adequacy of testing procedures used to determine the flow rating of these covers. They have found the testing protocols used by some laboratories may have been improper and some covers certified by these labs may not comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (P&SSAct) and may fail to prevent the hidden hazard of a drain entrapment.  

Anna  

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From the Obituaries: Trailblazing Women & Moms

Leading the Way

There are so many women who have forged ahead of us leaving a path to follow and a map for making our own way. A great number of these women had families and household responsibilities in addition to making great strides for their causes and professions and other women, in general. The majority of these women have gone unnoticed; neither winning awards nor gaining great prestige. And yet we are able to do and be and choose and say because of these women.

From the Obits

As I've mentioned on several occasions the one thing I read on a regular basis is The Week. The Week is a comprehensive guide to news from around the globe with bits representing both sides of an argument with articles on subjects ranging from that week's headlines, politics, science and technology, movie reviews, restaurant reviews, obituaries, etc. Yes, obituaries. There are usually only 2, but sometimes 3 obits listed.

These are not your run of the mill kind of obituaries. Generally, they are written about someone who was well-known in his or her field, but sometimes they are about people who did extraordinary things in his or her life without ever being well known. I always read them and have learned much from these articles.

Dr. Louise Reiss

It was from one such obituary a few months ago that the idea for this post 1^st struck me. The article was on the passing of Dr. Louise Reiss. Heard of her? No? Well, she did amazing work that started with a very simple plan and ended with a ban on certain nuclear testing.

Dr. Louise Reiss, born in 1920, the same year that women won the right to vote, attended medical school and married a fellow medical student. The two moved to St. Louis, MO in the 1950s for her husband, Dr. Eric Reiss, to take a position with the Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Louise Reiss was hired by the St. Louis City Health Department to work on inoculating children with the polio vaccine.

In 1959, the Drs. Reiss, along with an environmental scientist, created the Greater St. Louis Citizens' Committee for Nuclear Information. It was this founding trio who initiated the Baby Tooth Survey and joined forces with Saint Louis University and Washington University of Dental Medicine to carry out the study. Dr. Louise Reiss was named the Director of this study from 1959 to 1961, leading and organizing this project.

The Baby Tooth Survey was a brilliant and simple plan to study the affect above ground nuclear testing was having on humans. Specifically, "The goal was to show that radioactive fallout from nuclear testing was getting into the nation's food supply and ultimately working its way into human bones and teeth. And the study succeeded." Source: NY Times

Youngsters losing teeth were asked to send their baby teeth to researchers. In exchange for the teeth, kids received badges which read, "I gave my tooth to science." Over 12 years, the Baby Tooth Survey researchers collected almost 320,000 baby teeth.

The teeth were sent to the Washington University lab where they were tested for strontium 90, one of over 100 chemicals present in nuclear explosions and reactors. This chemical is similar to calcium, attaching to teeth and bones when ingested through food and water. The baby teeth were the easiest way to test large numbers of people from around the country.

As was reported by The Nation in June 1959, "Dr. Louise Reiss and her assistants have had extraordinary success in getting local schools — public, private and parochial — to help in the teeth collecting. Some 250,000 forms have been distributed to reach all lower-grade students. At present, baby teeth are reaching the little office on West Pine Boulevard at the rate of about 50 a day." Source: NY Times

In one instance, the study found that children born in St. Louis in 1963 had 50 times as much strontium 90 in their teeth than children born in 1950, prior to atomic testing. In 1963, Dr. Eric Reiss testified before a Senate committee in support of the treaty with the Soviet Union and Great Britain to stop above ground nuclear testing; the treaty was signed two months later.

In 1996, in a letter to a colleague involved in the Baby Tooth Survey, Dr. Louise Reiss wrote, "I continue to be moved by the knowledge that a group of organized people can effectively pressure government if they come up with data instead of rhetoric." Source NY Times

My Early Computer

In 2011, it's almost unheard of to not own a computer. In our household, we have two laptops. And yet I did not own a computer of my own until my parents bought me one during my senior year of college. Until that time, when I needed to type and print something from a computer, I went to a computer lab on campus where large, clunky computers lined tables which were linked to two antiquated printers that often jammed on the reams of paper snaking through the machines. There was no Internet to surf, no Facebook to check or emails to return. It's hard to remember those days.

Jean Jennings Bartik

Well, just a few weeks ago, we lost a true pioneer woman; as in technology pioneer. Jean Jennings Bartik, was the only math major in her class at Northwest Missouri State Teachers College. When Bartik learned that the Army was hiring talented mathematicians for a project in Philadelphia she left on the next bus.

Bartik was on a team of 6 women whose task it was to program the ENIAC {Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer} the first all-electronic digital computer. Although it was first billed as plugging in electrical connections, the work actually entailed "converting mathematical calculations into electrical impulses decipherable by machine." It was extremely grueling work. ENIAC was originally intended to calculate the firing trajectories for artillery shells, but it was completed in 1946 and was too late for the war.

Bartik went on to work on the programming of Univac, an early commercial computer, introduced in 1951. She also worked on hardware and software for Univac and Binac, a small computer made for Northrop Airlines.

In 1951, Bartik stopped working to raise three children. Bartik returned to the computer industry in 1967. From 1967 until 1985, when Bartik was layed off, she did work with programming, training and technical publishing in the emerging computer industry.

Although at the time of her work with ENIAC, BINAC and UNIVAC she did not receive recognition, in recent years Bartik was honored for her groundbreaking, transformative work in computers.

The Scoop

These two women are just the tip of a very large iceberg. So many women, both known and unknown, honored and overlooked, young and old have contributed to our societal freedoms, advancements and overall knowledge. These women are our mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers and so on. So much is owed to these brave, strong, innovative, bright, determined women. Let us hope that when our children are adults they can look at our generation and say the same thing. Over and out...

Anna

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My Hero, Princess Diana: The Importance of Role Models

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A Full Calendar: Unofficial Holidays; Useless, fun or Important?

Keeping Up with the Mail

The truth is I used to be on top of all the special days and events occurring in the lives of my dear family and friends. I sent birthday cards, condolence cards, miss you cards, cards from the cat, mother's day cards, father's day cards and anniversary cards. And when my Daddy Mack {Grandpa} became ill I sent him a card, letter or postcard everyday for months on end.

This means that I bought cards, filled them with sentiment, sealed and addressed them, stamped them AND mailed them. These days, it's quite an accomplishment if I EVER get that done for anyone! It may not seem that difficult to do, but if it involves getting extra postage or having to go buy stamps before mailing then odds are it will sit here waiting to journey across the country to that special person for quite a while.

It's not that we've gotten lazy around here, but the calendar pages and to-do lists have been filled with a million more things than my pre-kid, pre-self-employed self had to do on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. I feel bad about sending my brother's birthday card 2 months late, but I congratulate myself for getting it sent at all. My standards have certainly fallen, but that's alright because I'm doing the best I can right now {at least that's what I keep telling myself}.

And while I've been busy and barely getting Mother's Day cards {some of the most important of the year} out to our dear moms and grandmas, the calendar has been gaining holidays and honorary special mentions left and right. I will never get caught up now! Does anyone know if there's a card for Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day?

April, the Month of an Awful Lot

Did you know that April is:

• National Stress Awareness Month;
• National Poetry Month;
• National Child Abuse Prevention Month;
• Autism Awareness Month;
• International Guitar Month;
• Keep America Beautiful Month;
• National Frog Month;
• National Kite Month;
• Financial Literacy Month;
• California Earthquake Preparedness Month;
• National Garden Month;
• National Humor Month;
• National Parkinson's Awareness Month;
• Zoo and Aquarium Month;
• National Volunteer Month; and
• National Mathematics Education Month?

Did you celebrate and/or bring awareness to all of those causes? No? Me neither. I was aware that April is designated as the official observance for several of these organizations or issues, but I was surprised to find just how many.

April is also full of week-long celebrations and specially designated days. The week long observances include: National Library Week (10-16), U.S. National Park Service Week (17-23) & Week of the Young Child (the Third Week of April). If you don't have a month or week to spend observing these causes, perhaps you are interested in one of the 35 special days so designated in April: April Fool's Day, Find-A-Rainbow Day, National Read a Road Map Day, No Housework Day {oops, I celebrate that on most days}, National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day, & National Eggs Benedict Day to name a few! And this doesn't even count the list of firsts, anniversaries, birthdays are actually holidays listed in April.

Just in case you're wondering, today is Hug a Friend Day & National Pretzel Day {take your pick or celebrate both by hugging your friend and giving her a pretzel}, but don't forget to mark your calendar for Tell a Story Day on Wednesday and Take Your Daughter to Work Day on Friday and the list goes on. I'm really not making this up.

A Day for Everything

April is not alone in this onslaught of special day, week and month long commemorative events. Nope, most months have on average 10 official "unofficial holidays" on the calendar. Don't fret if you've missed out on observing, celebrating and bringing awareness to the 16 causes assigned to April. There are 17 causes listed for the month of May.

So, how does an organization go about getting a day, week or month designated as a commemorative holiday? Well, there are a couple of routes to getting a cause close to your heart or wallet a day or even month of its own. Well, of course, the chosen date will more than likely already be taken by another worthy commemorative event. So your day will have to share, but it's the thought that counts, right?

How to Get Piece of the Pie, Other than February {National Pie Month}

When it comes down to it, it's a matter of money for the most part. There are basically three approaches:

1. Hire a lobbyist to get the ball rolling and round up a few senators or representatives to rally behind your cause and have Congress vote on a resolution officially naming your commemorative event on a certain date. This approach takes money, of course. Lobbyists don't work for free;
2. If you have a particularly important, apolitical and popular cause that senators and representatives can easily get on board with like "stop cancer" or "celebrate peace" then you can skip the high cost lobbyists and go straight for the official resolution; or
3. Forget about getting an "official" nod from Congress, if you have enough money or media attention, or both, you can simply designate a certain date or month as "Save the Cupcakes" or whatever your cause is and launch a public relations and marketing campaign aimed at achieving whatever awareness, celebration or observance you intend. Now it helps to have a large budget and a proficient PR firm behind you, but it's worth a shot if you feel strongly about a particular subject.

Publicity Stunt or Pure Intentions?

Does it do any good if few people, if any, realize what day or week or month it is and remember to do something to bring about awareness, celebrate or promote your special interest? Does anyone care that October is National Pizza Month? How many of you went to get your free Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream on April 12^th, designated as Free Cone Day by Ben & Jerry's?

I found two articles albeit dated, that provide a fascinating look at the elaborate and successful PR campaigns promoting a cause, company or product by assigning a commemorative date; one focused specifically on food holidays. Also interesting is the list of Commemorative Events and Holiday Bills that have been introduced and/or passed by the Senate, the House or both this legislative session.

The Scoop

There are a few "holidays" on the horizon to watch for in May: Law Day on May 1^st, Mother's Day on May 8^th and don't forget to take flowers to your child's child care provider on May 6^th {National Child Care Provider's Day}. You can celebrate designated "holidays" the whole month of May by eating strawberries, hamburgers, bar-b-que, eggs, asparagus and salad. Here's a list of all of May’s Commemorative Events with links to other months. Silly, important or both? You be the judge! Over and out...

Anna

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Life After Death: Your Online Digital Legacy

On Death & Dying

By the sound of the posts this week, I'm dwelling on death lately. I'm really not any more than my over-active, paranoid brain usually thinks about what would happen if...{fill-in-the-blank with any horribly sad newspaper headline ending in "leaving behind a devoted husband, two small boys, two giant dogs and three aging cats."} Regardless, these issues of estate planning must be attended to during our active lives to make everything easier on those who we leave behind if....

An Online Presence

I can count on one hand my friends and family members who don't have at least a Facebook account. Yet most have Facebook, Twitter, maybe an old MySpace page, a YouTube account, a blog {or two}, a Flickr or Tumblr account, a LinkedIn page and/or a host of lesser known social media networking sites. And I am going to venture a guess that just about everyone in this country has an email address; even my 87 year old grandma checks and sends email daily. Many people have e-trade accounts with passwords that change frequently or simply do all of their banking and bill paying online, etc. The list of online accounts is endless. We are one big online community.

To which of these groups do you belong? Do you have your accounts and passwords written down somewhere safe? Does your spouse or significant other, parent, child, friend or sibling know your passwords to these accounts? Your answer is probably no. More than likely you keep the passwords in your head and have shared them with no one.

So, what happens if you go to bed and don't wake up in the morning; or on the way home from work, your car is struck and you die? What will happen to your online digital legacy? Will your pages and accounts remain open and online? What do you want to happen to your blog(s) or other online writings, photos, etc.?

Last Digital Wishes

These are issues that have not traditionally been addressed when getting your estate plan in order, but these are now important issues if you have any online accounts. You might want information and photos from Flickr, Tumblr, YouTube, a blog, Facebook, etc. to remain visible and public for friends and family to continue to view, remember, feel close and mourn, but perhaps, you want an investment account, LinkedIn and a PayPal account closed.

On the flip side, if you don't record your wishes regarding your digital legacies, your family might think they should remove all online accounts, pages, etc. immediately. Yet, friends and family, especially those across the miles, may feel doubly sad and lost, losing all written and photographic memories of your times and experiences together.

Regardless of what you wish to be done with your accounts, you must record the information, share it with someone or use a service that will store, back up, secure, get rid of and/or notify loved ones with pre-written letters or videos, etc.

There are several services that have multiple levels with various price points depending on what services and the number of accounts you have. Here are a few to check out: Legacy Locker and Entrustet.

The Digital Afterlife Experts

Evan Carroll and John Romano run the site The Digital Beyond that is dedicated to all things regarding online digital legacies. They recommend naming a digital executor to handle all of your online information. A digital executor must understand the technology involved and that may not be the executor of your estate. Carroll and Romano further suggest making an inventory of the name of the account, passwords, etc. and what you want done with each of the accounts. You could use my free Financial and Legal Documents Records Book download for this purpose.

Terms of Use and Privacy Policies Regarding Death

It's important to review the terms of the online platforms you use to ensure your directions to your digital executor or other pre-designated arrangement upon your death do not violate the Terms of Use of Privacy Policies. For instance, you may not be able to transfer some online accounts to another person.

Twitter and Facebook do have policies handling the death of a site participant, which have some good points and are lacking in other ways. Facebook apparently allows for a memorialized page, but based on the number of comments from distraught family members of deceased Facebook users whose profiles have suddenly been removed or locked, Facebook needs to revisit its policy terms on this subject. The Digital Beyond lists other sites and their policies here.

Other Resources

This is a developing area of information. In the last few months there have been a number of articles written about this topic:

After Death, Protecting Your 'Digital Afterlife'

Digital Estate Planning: The Importance Of Giving Access To Online Accounts

Cyberspace When You're Dead 

2011 is Heating Up!

If you are concerned about digital information left on computers, but not online, such as financial records, photos, articles, drafts of literary or scholarly works, etc. read this article from the Wisconsin Lawyer by Nathan J. Dosch and Joseph W. Boucher where they address property rights, transferability, copyright issues and other matters concerning digital records stored on a deceased computer.

The Scoop

All in all, the moral of the story when it comes to estate planning is to, well...plan ahead. So, be prudent in how and where you list account numbers, passwords, user names and PINs, but do provide an inventory whether it's a list left with your attorney, in a Financial & Legal Records Book like the one in yesterday's post or through an online service, as referenced above.

It's a relatively simple process, but it does take time to keep it up-to-date and involves more than a pen and a stack of post-it notes stuck around the house {which is my preferred method of reminders and bits of important information}. Although 1 or 2 post-it notes left in strategic locations reminding you to take care of your online digital legacies is probably a good idea. Over and out...

Anna

Pop Quiz: Are You Up for a Challenge?

March has Challenged Me

March has been a wonderful, horrible, stressful, exhausting, nonstop, humbling, roller-coaster month for our family. I've been wonderfully blessed with so much support as I continue to write on Motherly Law and elsewhere. And ML continues to gain momentum in various ways. I'm excited to see what each new day brings my way as a result of all the writing and connecting I have done with ML.

I've been intending to update several posts as the laws have changed with some of the topics I have written about. I was going to write that post for today, but I really need to just drop into bed and sleep rather than stay up writing. So, I'll be updating posts on Saturday. Instead, I've come up with a ML Trivia Pop Quiz for you.

A Motherly Law Quiz

Here are some random questions regarding information from various posts. I hope you've been reading, but don't worry if you haven't or have and don't remember the answers. I have provided the answers at the bottom of this post:

1. What was the very 1^st ML post titled?
2. How many states ban the use of hand-held phones while driving?
3. In which post do I reveal the depths of my paranoia by telling you that I printed a photo list of the FBI's Most Wanted List the 1^st time I flew on an airplane after September 11^th, 2001?
4. Does the U.S. have any laws regulating naming a baby?
5. How much paid parental leave is mandatory in the U.S.?
6. Have I ever been bullied?
7. What do I always tell you to eat on Fridays in the Motherly Advice posts?
8. What new federal food safety law promises to reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses?
9. What three blog conferences have I attended?
10. Which two U.S. Reps have guest posted on ML?
11. How do I refer to my sons and husband on the blog?
12. How many months have I been writing ML?
13. On what TV station's website can you find articles written by me?

Answers 1. Taking the Plunge 2. Only 8 3. Pool Safety Tips 4. No 5. There is no mandatory paid parental leave in the U.S. unlike most countries in the world 6. Yes, I have been bullied by a boss 7. Eat Chocolate 8. FSMA 9. BlogHer10, MN Blogger Conference & Blissdom11 10. Rep. Erik Paulsen and Rep. Keith Ellison 11. The Darlings 1 and 2 and DH {Dear Husband} 12. As of next Friday, it will have been a full 13 months 13. CBS Minnesota (WCCO)

The Scoop

How did you do with the quiz? Don't worry; DH couldn't even answer them all. If you want to read more about any of the questions, just click on the link in the answer to the question. I'll be back on Friday with a bit of Motherly Advice and on Saturday I will be writing updates for a handful of previous posts. Over and out...

Anna

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A New Year and A New Set of Goals; Personal and Professional

14 Reasons to Read (& Love) Motherly Law

And we interrupt this program with an important announcement from our sponsors...

I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to my lovely advertisers on Motherly Law. I now have 6 ads on the right sidebar {one is mine that leads you to my advertising information page}. I love the variety of goods and services represented here.

Erin and I Photo. As I wrote in a past post, these two sisters, Erin and Andi were great working with our family to get fabulous shots of all of us, but particularly the Darling Boys. We really enjoyed our photo shoot and got some wonderful photos. If you are in the Twin Cities be sure to check out their site {by clicking on the ad}. And contact them next time you need to update your family's photo album. They are creative and affordable.

Krazier Designs. Micah is a work from home dad of two young boys who juggles the demands of his web design business with that of fatherhood on a daily basis. Micah has designed several of these ads for Motherly Law's use. While Micah is located in the Twin Cities, he's able to work with clients in any location to build new websites or improve existing websites. Click on the Krazier Designs ad to contact Micah to discuss your design needs. I am eternally grateful for his generosity in offering design guidance for several Motherly Law and related projects.

Circle Line Studio. Connie Norsworthy designs fabulous vinyl decals. Until I came across Circle Line Studios when I heard the term "vinyl decals" what I pictured was the tacky decals for baby nurseries that could be had at BabiesRUs. Well, if that's what you picture, think again {and quickly click on her ad}. Connie's designs are super chic and fun at the same time, but NEVER tacky! I'm totally taken by these products. Click on the Circle Line Studio's ad to check out these room transforming designs. In fact, next week, Connie will be hosting a Giveaway on Motherly Law. So, if you like what you see {& you will} be sure to come back next week for a chance to win shop credit at Circle Line Studio.

Fabuliss. Sasha Westin is the woman behind this style assistance biz. Fabuliss offers wardrobe revamping, personal shopping, style and color consults, etc. Sasha assisted me with shopping for a suit for my two recent panel engagements and was a huge help in making my shopping trip successful and efficient. You can read about my personal shopping experience and the results here. Again, Sasha is based in the Twin Cities, but does do remote style consulting from photos, etc. Check out the Fabuliss site by clicking through the ad and get signed up for the Fabuliss Email Newsletter full of great style tips and information.

401(K) Recovery Program. If you lost ANY money with traditional 401(K) programs in the past several years, you should take a minute to check out the K Plan Retirement Advisors site. This is a new product that uses annuities instead of stocks to fund an account. There is no risk of losing any money. I know this is all true because this is my Dad's business and this product was developed by him {and he's a genius... I mean it}. No matter what your age is and no matter how much or how little you have to invest, this product is worth the time to learn more about it and decide if you are ready to stop risking losing your money again with the unpredictable stock market. Don't be the last person to realize the brilliance in this investment plan...click through and learn more.

The Scoop

I do need to tell you that while I truly think these advertisers have great businesses and/or products, I was either paid or exchanged goods and services with these advertisers for the ad space.

I still have more ad spots available. If you are interested in advertising with Motherly Law, please click through the "Your Ad Here" ad and go to my advertising information page for additional information and contact me at [email protected]. Over and out....

Anna

One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure: Tips for Selling on eBay, Craigslist and Amazon

When to Let Go

The dilemma: Whether to get rid of every piece of baby and tot gear, toys and clothes. Yes, the Darlings have outgrown these items; yes, we don't have the room for it in our home; and no, we are NOT having any more kidlets. So, clearly the reasonable answer is, yes.

I'm really not the type to get sentimental over the baby bed {my Darlings rarely slept in their baby beds despite our best efforts} or the pack & play or strollers, etc., but there are a few outfits, blankets, books and toys that I will be putting away for safe keeping. I don't really know why, but for now I'll hold on to a few things from those sweet days of babyhood.

I recently read that people are prone to price items too high for resale whether it's for a garage sale or eBay, Craigslist or other venue because we over value certain items when there's an emotional connection to that item. This is probably very often the case when it comes to baby gear and family heirlooms.

Tips for Great Ads

So, how do you get your online ad to stand out, attract buyers and sell? Here are a few simple tips:

1. Choose the right online classified platform for you: eBay, Craigslist or Amazon, in general. Do a bit of research to learn about the best items to sell on each site, the fees, if any, pricing, additional requirements, etc.;
2. Read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy of the site you choose to ensure your ad will conform with their policies;
3. Write a detailed headline and use keywords in the title that will help your item reach the top of the list when similar items are searched;
4. Write a detailed and accurate description of the item to be sold. Remember to be honest regarding the amount of use, condition, etc. Be sure to include brand, model, size, color and other such information;
5. Provide a number of good quality and detailed photos of the item(s) to be sold. If there's no photo, many people won't even bother to view the ad {and I'm one of those people};
6. Proofread your ad {several times}. An error regarding a detail in the description, price, payment or shipping could cost you; and
7. If you will be shipping the item(s), offer reduced or free shipping. This will help you stand out among other sellers with similar items.

These few simple tips can help you succeed in selling quickly and making a profit, regardless of which site you choose.

What Not to Sell

But is there anything you should just throw away or donate rather than list online to sell? Yes. Each site has a list of items you are prohibited from selling; for Ebay’s list click here and for Craiglist list click here.

Additionally, this U.S. News and World Report list written by Amy Lu details the items you should never buy {or sell} used:

1. Cribs and children's furniture
2. Car seats
3. Bicycle helmets
4. Tires
5. Laptops
6. Software
7. Plasma and HDTVs
8. DVD Players
9. Digital and video cameras
10. Speakers and microphones
11. Camera lenses
12. Photo light bulbs
13. Mattresses and bedding
14. Swimsuits and undergarments
15. Wet suits
16. Shoes
17. Hats
18. Makeup
19. Pet Supplies
20. Vacuum cleaners

For the details as to why this is a list of no-nos to buy and/or sell used, click here for the whole U.S. News and World Reports article.

The Scoop

Tis the season for spring cleaning...I've found that sometimes it helps to have someone with an independent, unattached opinion on hand when going through a pile of discarded items in the basement and pricing these items for resale. Plus, it takes less time if you recruit a friend or family member to help out. I'm still trying to figure out the best option for our gently used goods. Over an out...

Anna

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The Great Sellout: Legal Tips for Using eBay, Craigslist and Amazon to Sell Goods

Hyper-Consumerism

The words, "We're having a baby" are basically synonymous with "We're about to become hyper consumers." If you have children you understand what I'm saying. If you don't, let me explain.

From the moment it's discovered that a little being is developing and will hatch within 9 months, it becomes a race to the finish line to equip yourselves, the fledgling and the fledgling's dwelling area with every possible, state-of-the-art, convenient, aesthetic, new-fangled, already in every celebrities' tiny offspring's boudoir and highly recommended for optimal development humdinger on the market. Even if you fancy yourself to be a reasonable, under consumer who responsibly practices the 3 R's {reuse, reduce and recycle}, you might be surprised at your response to getting the nest ready for the hatchling.

Yet once this flurry of action to thoroughly prepare for every want, need and whim of your soon-to-be born tiny tot is complete and the babe has finally hatched you will soon find there's more to be bought or altered or rejected altogether. And this cycle continues, as far as I can tell for years into the fledgling's life. I'll call this cycle BUD Infinitas; Buy, Use {for a few months}, Discard and Repeat.

The Relentless Cycle

There are several reasons for this: 1) many of the so-called must-have items just aren't so useful or imperative to caring for a child; 2) the tiny tots grow to be medium-sized tots and then large tots quite fast; growing out of the once well-played with and often worn items; and 3) new and better items are continually popping up in the marketplace.

So, the question becomes what to do when you get to the D in the BUD Infinitas cycle. There are a few options: 1) give it away to friends and family in need of such must-have items; 2) donate it to charitable organizations whose needs abound, yet have limitations on the types of baby/child items they can accept; or 3) sell it.

Selling Online

This third option is highly desirable since the discarded item can then partially fund the new item. Additionally, these days there are myriad options for selling baby/child paraphernalia. The old school and least successful method is a garage sale. The easiest yet least profitable option is to find a baby resale shop. And lastly, the best options for making a good profit with varying degrees of convenience are the online classified options: eBay, Craigslist and Amazon.

We have avoided this last choice by giving away items to friends with kidlets younger than ours and donating to charitable organizations. Yet we have accumulated a good number of larger items over the last year as Darling 2, the last of our hatchlings, has transitioned from baby to toddler and is approaching the preschooler title.

Legal Issues

So many people buy and sell on these online platforms daily. We've made purchases through each of these online classified sites without any hitches. And we're ready to switch sides and start listing items from our ever growing pile of outgrown baby items. This got me to thinking about the legal issues surrounding these transactions, how to avoid scams, etc.

Here are some things I found out when I started digging.

1. Read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy of the site you choose to list an item to sell. It's important you understand your responsibilities and theirs. You need to know what you are agreeing to by using their site and how they will use the information you provide;
2. There may be tax repercussions and advantages regarding the money you make from selling online. E-business attorney and author of The eBay Seller's Tax and Legal Answer Book, Cliff Ennico, advises, when in doubt, file a Schedule C;
3. Don't sell {or buy} items that have been subject to a recall. Many baby items fall into this category. FYI: drop-side cribs will no longer be legal to sell beginning in June. It's not a good idea to try to sell them now either. Many have been recalled;
4. Posted item descriptions are legally binding warranties. Your description of your item to be sold must be exactly what you are selling and shipping to the buyer. If they are not, the buyer has legal recourse to return it;
5. Be careful regarding how much information you give out regarding your address, phone number, email address, credit card information, etc. whether you are the buyer or seller. Always trust your instinct and err on the side of caution;
6. On eBay it's recommended that you have clear and concise terms and conditions regarding shipping, payment, returns, etc. on your listing;
7. Make sure you are on the correct site and not a scammer's site. FYI: Craigslist's site is Craigslist.org;
8. If you are wheeling and dealing on Craigslist, it's a good idea to sell only to those who are local. That's really the whole idea of Craigslist, and helps in avoiding scams;
9. Report any questionable activity, inquiries or general abuse regarding your account to the site and/or a law enforcement agency; and
10. Don't engage in practices that artificially inflate your bidding price; it's illegal.

The Scoop

Overall, these sites are simple to set up an account and get started selling your unwanted goods. Tomorrow I will post tips for choosing which site is right for you and how to make your listings stand out and sell your items fast. Have you used any of these sites? Which ones have you found to be most convenient, cost and time effective, etc? Over and out...

Anna

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Too Many Toys: Tips for Buying the “Safest” Toys & Checking for Recalls

The Days Keep On Rolling: Great Websites for Getting the Best Fit for Your Child’s Car Seat

The Law with a Side of Bacon: Social Media Breakfast MSP Panel Discussion on Law & Social Media

BACON

 It's What's For Dinner

 

 

Early Wake Up Call {For This Night Owl}

This morning I participated in the Social Media Breakfast Social Media and the Law panel discussion moderated by Albert Maruggi. Joining me on the panel were three esteemed members of the bar; Teresa Thompson, James Quinn, and Jon Garon. Thomson Reuters sponsored this meeting of SMBMSP. It was a lively discussion of many areas of the law that impact how social media is used and consumed.

Much of the discussion centered on employment issues and use of social media, both as a means of business marketing and a person's private account. We briefly touched on how the courts are using social media as material to be included in discovery requests and as a part of the jury selection process.

I wish we had had more time to discuss the FTC Guidelines regarding disclosure, defamation issues and blogging, whether to trademark and whether there's a need to acquire an insurance policy as a social media participant. That's the beauty of the law; one discussion leads to a host of other interesting legal issues.

The Scoop

So, what's with the bacon and BLTs? Bacon is a part of the Social Media Breakfast's logo/theme. So, Thomson Reuters gave each panel participant a package of Hormel's Fully Cooked Bacon {and a deluxe edition of the newest version of Black's Law Dictionary, published by West, and engraved with each person's name, weighing a full 10 pounds; I'm not exaggerating...I weighed it}.

My Darlings and my dogs were most excited about the bacon. And that's what we had for dinner; BLT's. The bacon is fully cooked, but I still crisped it in the microwave for 2 minutes. It was really tasty; which is much more than I expected from fully cooked bacon that doesn't have to be refrigerated until opened. And just to be on the safe side with the FTC and the disclosure guidelines: Thomson Reuters gave me the bacon as a gift. I followed the directions on the box, ate it and enjoyed it!

Enjoy the weekend. We, in Minnesota, are beginning to see the ground... without snow on it. That's not the case in my yard, but maybe by Monday. Over and out...

Anna

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Social Media Faux Pas: Defamation Lawsuits

Twitter 101: Engage, Build Relationships, Reply...

Our Comfortable Connection: The Information You Post Online Could Be Used Against You

Twitter 101: Engage, Build Relationships, Reply...

What's the Big Deal about Twitter?

If you're a Twitter addict, have you ever watched someone's eyes glaze over as you launch into the benefits and positive attributes of Twitter and tried to explain how you have friends all over the country that you've never met...and probably never will?

If you're new to Twitter or you've never even been on the site, have you ever been thoroughly confused about what the heck someone is talking about with references to @this and @that, #s (hashtags), 140 characters, DMs, shortened words and acronyms thrown in for good measure? And you probably think it's all mundane useless chatter and "who cares that @soandso is having baked chicken and green beans for dinner or that @suchandsuch is watching Glee and doesn't like what Lea Michele is wearing."

My Experience with Twitter

Long, long ago in 2010, I was just starting to learn about social media. I had read I should definitely get a Twitter account if I was going to blog. So, I did; one more thing checked off the list. How Twitter worked remained a mystery. I also figured out how to have my posts automatically go to Twitter. Great, no need to even go over to Twitter, I thought to myself.

So, I launched Motherly Law in March and kept feeding my post titles to Twitter. Then, in mid-April I met with the only blogger I knew in real life and she sat me down and pointed me in the right direction, which led me directly smack in the middle of a slow and trickling Twitter stream.

All of a sudden, the sun was shining, angels were singing, Twitter made sense! Haaaalllllleeelllllluuujjjaahhh! I spent several whole afternoons following people, engaging in conversations and tinkering around on my page. After time, I had regular conversations with the same people; little by little I increased the number of people I follow and follow me; and I actually met local bloggers and tweeters and started to talk to them on Twitter too.

Not a Big Deal on Twitter

Since I'm now an experienced Twitter user, I have started to get frustrated about how so many people and business entities miss the point of Twitter, just as I did when I first started out in the Twitterverse. Additionally, I see a lot of new users struggling to figure it all out and truly engage with Twitter. So, I decided to give you my two-cents on the subject.

I want to be clear that I'm certainly not claiming to be a Twitter expert. If that's what you're looking for, the person closest to that description is @Unmarketing, Scott Stratten. I'm just a girl who uses Twitter on a daily basis and has finally figured it out and made some awesome friends across the country through tweeting.

My Twitter stats:

• 5042 Tweets
• 1418 Following
• 1601 Followers
• On 115 Lists

And changing everyday... What do these numbers mean? Absolutely nothing. I could follow 5 people and have great conversations with only those 5 people or I could be followed by 150, 000 with every one of the 150,000 people hanging on my every tweet {OK, that would be fun}, but the point is that Twitter is what you make it. You get out of it what you put into it, which is the case for most things in life.

Twitter 101

I have most certainly committed these egregious Twitter sins, but I have seen the light, repented and made better choices:

1. The Point of Twitter

   Many new users, nonusers and business entities miss the point of Twitter. Twitter is about finding folks with similar interests and exchanging news, information and tips; supporting and encouraging those people through words during difficult times; having someone to chat with anytime of day or night; and building friendships where distance, schedules and locations don't matter.

    

   Twitter is not a place to simply repeat your message over and over and over. No one will listen to you and you will think Twitter "doesn't work."

    

2. Spend Time on Twitter

   In order to really "get it" and understand how the site works and where these new relationships will come from, you must spend time on Twitter in the beginning finding people to follow, sending tweets, tinkering with your profile and generally getting comfortable with the platform.

    

   In the beginning of really participating in the Twitter stream, I would spend 4 or 5 hours at a time a day or two a week in order to find people and start having some meaningful conversations.

    

   Don't feel compelled to follow back every person who follows you. It's OK to block and report for spam. I do it every day. There's a lot of junk out there too; so, beware that not everyone is who they say they are. After a bit of time on Twitter, it will be easy to spot a spammer though.

    

3. Engage

   Engaging means having actual conversations with people; I saw a wise tweet the other day telling a Twitter Newbie to remember Twitter should be a dialogue. This is so true. It's not a matter of simply pushing your message over and over; it's about building relationships with people and businesses, as I've mentioned.

    

   Engaging means replying to people's random tweets for which you have a response; it's about responding to those who retweet (RT) your tweets, @ you or # something about which you are interested in, promoting, etc.; it's about spreading other's relevant, touching, funny, interesting information with a retweet; it's about sharing what's going on in your life; it's asking a question and getting an answer from people who have been there and done that. It's like having a lifeline to tow all day and all night, every day of the year.

    

4. Don't Send Auto DMs

   This one annoys the heck out of me. Please don't send a Direct Message to thank me for following you and directing me to check out your site and "Like" you on Facebook. I see that as junk mail. Feel free to send me a tweet @MotherlyLaw saying hi, but please don't clog my DMs with junk mail. I'm apt to unfollow you just as quickly as I followed you.

    

   I was guilty of doing this when I first started using Twitter because I noticed people doing that to me. I was learning by watching others and I thought that was proper protocol. And I did it. My only blogging/Twitter-using friend at the time told me in no uncertain terms to stop immediately; and I did.

    

5. Use Your Manners

   You should also remember that hundreds of thousands of people could potentially see your tweet, far beyond your own followers streams. It could be RTed over and over; or be picked up by one of the many bots that seeks out Twitter streams. So, be careful what you say! Don't be rude; don't defame; don't use profanity. Before you hit Tweet, be sure the 140 characters speak the truth and do not harm another.

    

   This is not to say that Twitter doesn't have a sarcastic side; sarcasm is prevalent, but be sure you aren't tweeting something that could potentially be construed as libelous and lead to a lawsuit as it did for the AP Sports Reporter regarding a tweet about an NBA Ref during a MN Timberwolves game in January.

Twitter Apps

There are systems that can help you manage your Twitter account by scheduling tweets, automatically following back those who follow you, delete spammers, etc. I think it's fine to use these applications as long as you also truly engage with the people you are following. I would discourage you from auto-following though. You mustn't feel that you have to follow anyone. You should follow who you want to based on interests, professions, locations, etc.

The Scoop

Are you participating in Twitter and reaping the benefits of engaging? Are you new to Twitter and confused by it all? Or are you a business entity that never follows anyone and neither responds nor engages in a dialogue?

If you don't engage you risk your message, whatever it is, being lost and ignored as static quickly disappearing in the ever moving stream. Don't let that happen. If you're on Twitter, please drop me a line @MotherlyLaw and say hey.

Tomorrow I'll have a guest post from Attorney Kara Jensen Zitnick regarding the importance of trademark registration in regards to online endeavors. Over and out...

Anna

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Social Media Faux Pas: Defamation Lawsuits

Exposed

Have you ever thought {after the fact} you shouldn't have said or written something and wished you could take it back? I certainly have. Well, the advent of Social Media platforms like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and blogs just made those types of faux pas even harder to smooth over, ignore or forgive and forget.

I had intended to write about digital legacies today; that is, what happens to online accounts, websites, etc. when the owner of the accounts dies. While that topic is quite interesting and sure to affect most of us, I'm tabling that post until next week when I discuss other estate planning issues. Instead, I want to talk about a few other social media issues that have been brought to my attention as I prepare for a panel discussion.

On Friday, I will be joining 3 other attorneys on a panel at the MSP Social Media Breakfast hosted by Thomson Reuters. The topic up for discussion is social media and the law. This is a broad subject and will allow for various points to be brought up ranging from employment issues to copyright infringement to use of information from social media accounts in the courts and on and on.

Case Studies

A few months ago, I wrote about courts recently allowing information from personal Facebook accounts to be included in discovery requests. Courts have ruled information on such sites is not confidential even if it's viewable by only certain people or "friends" of the account holder. There are more and more social media issues making their way into the court system.

In the last few weeks, there have been several news stories involving social media and lawsuits. Two of the three I'm going to focus on are actually occurring locally. All three lawsuits involve someone publishing a statement or statements online about another person that didn't go over well with the person in question; in other words, all involve alleged defamation.

• Moore v. Hoff a/k/a Johnny Northside

Hoff authors a well-read blog, The Adventures of Johnny Northside, here in the Twin Cities. Moore filed suit against Hoff back in 2009 claiming he had defamed him in a post and allowing his comment page to become a "defamation zone" that ended up costing Moore his job. This lawsuit was finally tried in court last week. A jury found in favor of Moore, directing Hoff to pay $60,000 in damages to Moore. Hoff has vowed to appeal.

According to court documents and Johnny Northside, the trouble started when Hoff reported that Moore had been involved in mortgage fraud. Hoff argued that his statements and readers' comments regarding Moore were protected speech, but jurors disagreed. Hoff maintains the statements he published were true.

• Spooner v. The Associated Press

NBA Referee Spooner filed suit against the Associated Press and one of its sports reporters, Jon Krawczynski, just yesterday. This suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, also centers on an alleged defamatory statement.

This claim is based on a tweet by AP reporter Krawczynski made during a Minnesota Timberwolves game in January. According to the Complaint, the tweet said, "Ref Bill Spooner told Rambis he'd 'get it back' after a bad call. Then he made an even worse call on Rockets. That's NBA officiating folks."

Spooner claims he did not say that to Rambis {The MN Timberwolves coach} and further alleges that this tweet caused him to be subjected to a disciplinary investigation by his employer and disparaged his professional reputation as a NBA referee.

• Rojas v. Schneider

Schneider has built an entire blog on exposing everything she can about a level 2 sex offender who molested her minor daughter several years ago. In fact, she has included negative information about every member of his family. It's not clear whether these accusations regarding Rojas' family are true or not, but Rojas has filed suit against Schneider because he can't get a job and he blames it on her blog. Now let's recall that Rojas is a level 2 sex offender, which probably has a bit to do with not being able to land a job. Nonetheless, he has filed suit and Schneider has now filed a counter-claim against Rojas.

It's worth noting that Washington state, the venue in this matter, repealed its libel laws in 2009. I was unable to find Rojas' Complaint or find what law his claims are based on.

I will be keeping an eye on these cases and any others that may pop up as they make their way through the court systems.

Avoiding a Lawsuit

Each of these cases has a very different set of facts, but all involve social media and alleged defamatory statements. Whether you have a blog, Twitter account, Facebook account or any other social media networking site account this is something to think about before hitting the publish or share button.

While social media is a new thing, defamation is not. And the same laws apply, even if the location and access of the defamatory material has changed. I found an article with great pointers about steering clear of a lawsuit, entitled How to Avoid a Social Media Lawsuit; bear in mind it was written from a corporate standpoint.

The basic idea is still the same. It doesn't matter if you write or tweet or post about parenting, food, sports, local events, fashion or a potpourri of subjects; you should always choose your words carefully. And think twice before publishing, especially if you are particularly emotional about the subject matter.

The Scoop

While these types of lawsuits in the social media realm are still a rarity, it may become more common place as our online society evolves. However, the reality is that suing bloggers and tweeters {with exception to corporate types like the AP & their sports reporter} isn't going to pay off in the end; quite literally. Most social media participants don't have deep pockets like that of a magazine or TV station, for instance; the type of entity more traditionally slapped with a defamatory lawsuit. I know I certainly don't...in case you were wondering. Over and out...

Anna

A follow-up note to today’s post:

Black’s Law Dictionary defines the following as:

Defamation n. 1. The act of harming the reputation of another by making a false statement to a third person. If the alleged defamation involves a matter of public concern, the plaintiff is constitutionally required to prove both the statement's falsity and the defendant's fault. 2. A false written or oral statement that damages another's reputation. See libel; slander

Libel n. 1. A defamatory statement expressed in a fixed medium, esp. writing but also a picture, sign, or electronic broadcast. Libel is classified as both a crime and a tort but is no longer prosecuted as a crime. — Also termed defamatory libel. 2. The act of making such a statement; publication of defamatory matter by written or printed words, by its embodiment in physical form or by any other form of communication that has the potentially harmful qualities characteristic of written or printed words. See defamation. Cf. slander

Slander n. 1. A defamatory assertion expressed in a transitory form, esp. speech. Damages for slander, unlike those for libel, are not presumed and thus must be proved by the plaintiff (unless the defamation is slander per se). 2. The act of making such a statement. See defamation. Cf. libel

You might also like:

Our Comfortable Connection: The Information You Post Online Could Be Used Against You

Don’t Take It Personally: Tips for Making Social Media Sites Secure Places

Welcome to the 21st Century: Laws to Protect Children Using the Internet

Distracted by Technology: Are Hands-Free Devices in SYNC with Safe Driving?

Meeting with Ford

A few days after I returned from participating in the Distracted Driving Forum in New York, I was invited to talk to Paul Russell, a Ford executive, in town to promote SYNC at the Twin Cities Auto Show. SYNC is Ford's voice-activated system that works with Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players to provide hands-free calling, music selection, etc. with the touch of a button.

Interestingly enough, none of the people I met and talked with knew that I had been in New York on Monday discussing distracted driving issues with Consumer Reports and the U.S. Department of Transportation. In fact, they didn't even know I was an attorney until I gave them my business card. All they knew was that I had a blog and I had written about distracted driving in the past.

Multitasking While Driving

Not only have I written about distracted driving and recently participated in a panel discussion on this issue, I have researched and read numerous articles, interviews, statistics and tweets on the topic. I have come down hard saying it's not OK to EVER use your phone, hand-held or hands-free, while driving, regardless of whether the law allows it or not.

Research done at the University of Utah has shown that only 2.5% of us can truly multitask. This means that 97.5% can't do two or more things at one time and give full attention to all of the tasks engaged in at one time, but many of us probably think we can. I know, as a mom who is forced to multitask much of the day, I like to think I'm in that 2.5%, but if I'm being honest about it, I know I'm not.

Hands-Free Disengagement

Based on this research and other studies, I think that even hands-free options are distracting. Yes, it's true; you can keep your eyes on the road while you make a call, answer a call and have a conversation. The problem is that your brain is engaging with the person on the phone and the conversation you are having, not on the road on which you are driving. You can operate your vehicle and stay within your lane, but your reaction time is delayed: you may miss a turn, an exit, a stop sign, a red light, notice a bit too late that a car is swerving into your lane or a dog or child is darting out from a yard.

An argument that I've heard often is that talking hands-free is no different than having a conversation with a passenger in your vehicle, but there is a crucial difference. A person in your vehicle can see when traffic becomes heavy or when driving conditions have worsened due to weather, etc. The passenger will pick up on these social queues and stop talking or aid the driver in noting a red light or another vehicle careening into your vehicle's lane, etc.

Interesting Choice

Since my stance is that any cell phone use while driving is dangerous, I was a bit surprised when I was contacted to talk with Russell about this hands-free product. However, I went with an open mind and a lot of questions. We sat in the lobby of the dramatic and luxurious W Hotel in downtown Minneapolis to discuss this product. I was disappointed that I did not get a demonstration on a vehicle, as I had been told I would.

Yet, having done my research and emailed my friends at Consumer Reports, I had read about this product and watched a video demonstration for SYNC and the MyFord Touch program that works hand-in-hand with SYNC. I also requested tickets to the Twin Cities Auto Show so that I could see a demonstration of this product and check out other vehicles systems too. So, I was able to do a self-guided demonstration in a Ford vehicle set up for that purpose at the Auto Show.

SYNC

SYNC is convenient and seems to be very simple to set up in your vehicle. Your phone, along with contacts, music files, etc. has to be connected and files downloaded only once. After that, the system will recognize your Bluetooth-enabled phone. The SYNC system itself is relatively simple, having to touch one button on the steering wheel to activate SYNC. Then it just a matter of learning the commands, such as: phone, radio, etc. which the system itself tries to help you with if it doesn't understand the command.

According to the SYNC brochure, this system provides: hands-free calling, texts read aloud (although Russell said it does not do this), music searches, automatic 911 calling should the air bag deploy, vehicle health reports, business directory searches, traffic alerts, turn-by-turn directions, and favorite alerts. SYNC works hand-in-hand with MyFord Touch system which is the 8 inch touch-screen navigation, music, climate control and information system located in the center of the dashboard. With SYNC, MyFord Touch does become voice-activated, as well. I was told, but did not see it demonstrated, that a number of touch-screen options are locked unless the vehicle is in park for added safety.

SYNC is different from many voice-activated systems in vehicles because it can connect to a MP3 Player or iPod and it's powered by Microsoft. This means that you can continue to update your system with new downloads as better programs or new maps and other programs become available. SYNC also supports most smart phones.

Russell agrees that texting in any format, even if it's read/dictated, or using hand-held phones is dangerous. Russell noted that while he wasn't sure of any particular distracted driving tests performed with the SYNC and/or MyFord Touch systems, Ford does conduct rigorous simulated tests on their vehicles as a whole. Russell said that Ford tries to balance safety concerns with the conveniences that drivers want in their vehicles. They feel that SYNC is safe and convenient.

MyFord Touch

I tried out the MyFord Touch with SYNC at the Twin Cities Auto Show. I found that with 2 loud, excited, car-crazed boys in the vehicle with me, SYNC did not always recognize what I was asking it to do. It was able to tune the radio to 89.3 the Current for me and understood a few other commands. It wasn't difficult to touch the button and speak commands, but I did find myself looking at the screen more intently when the system didn't recognize my commands.

Vehicle Manufacturers & Distracted Driving

I did talk to several vehicle manufacturers at the Twin Cities Auto Show. Many of the vehicles in addition to Ford also have voice-activated systems that work with your smart phone to some degree. Most that I spoke with did not have connectivity with MP3 players and/or iPods though. None are powered by Microsoft, setting Ford apart in that respect. It appears that most, if not all of the touch-screen systems do go into lockdown when the car is not in park, as well.

I found that on the whole, the vehicle representatives were not well-versed in their vehicle's voice-activation/touch-screen systems, nor did they have much information to contribute regarding their company's stance on distracted driving, other than to say it's dangerous.

On the back of the SYNC brochure in tiny print it does say, "Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle control. Only use mobile phones and other devices, even with voice commands, when it is safe to do so." Buick also told me that their touch-screen system does have a distracted driving warning message when the car is turned on.

The Scoop

While I will concede that if you absolutely are not able to put your phone down {yet} a hands-free option is better than taking your eyes off the road to use your phone, but not using your phone, hands-free or hand-held, is safest. Here are links to the Consumer Reports article on the Ford systems. Overall, Consumer Reports found SYNC to be helpful, as far as voice-activated systems go, but they thought the MyFord Touch was overly confusing and complicated. Based on my limited experience with it, I concur.

If you don't agree with me, don't worry the laws are in your corner...for now. I liken this to smoking. You know it's not healthy and it's a nasty, stinky habit {and if you don't know this, just trust me; it is}, but you just can't seem to quit. One day, you finally try to quit, maybe your child had told you she doesn't want you to die from cancer; or maybe a close friend or relative has just been diagnosed with cancer. You try, but you still need the nicotine fix; so, you start using the nicotine patches. Little by little, you reduce the amount you need and ever so gently wean yourself off of this addictive drug.

The same goes for cell phone use while driving. You know it's dangerous to you and others on the road, but it's a habit you can't quit...yet. So, go hands-free for a while. Then, maybe one day you'll be ready to stop using the phone in the car; or the laws won't allow it, regardless of how you feel. Over and out...

Anna

You might also like:

 

Driving to Distraction Part II: Why Using Your Cell Phone While Driving is a s Dangerous as Driving Drunk

Phone Down; Eyes Up: Distracted Driving Statistics Update & Driver Challenge

A Funny {or not so funny at the time} Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Travel Distractions & a Focus on Things Learned

Social Media by the Numbers: Fill(ed)-in-the-Blank Statistics

Fair Warning

If you are thinking of starting a blog, be warned. These statistics are fairly grim regarding the number of blogs, blog abandonment, etc. Most of this data comes from 2010 information. The last several years has shown a significant increase in online activity, with the advent of the "smartphone" being a prime reason for this.

A Test of Social Media Knowledge

Below you will find sentences with blanks. If you look further down, you will see words and numbers to use to fill in the blanks. See if you can put the correct answers in the blanks. I will post with the answers filled-in later today. This is an open book test, you may you use the links provided below. Good luck.  (I have now filled in the blanks for you)

Blogs

There are approximately 400 million {English language} blogs, as of 2010, floating out in the blogosphere. 60 to 80% are abandoned after a month; 1.09 million blogs have been abandoned after one post. According to a study done a few years ago, approximately 132,000 blogs are abandoned after 1 year. Most active blogs are updated 2 to 3 times per week; 33% of bloggers update once a day. 63% bloggers spend more than 3 hours per day working on their blogs.

Blogger Demographics

1/4 of bloggers have an annual income of $100,000 per year. 63% blog as a hobby; 21% are self-employed; and 1% are corporate bloggers. Women make up 1/3 of bloggers, with males comprising 2/3 of that group. 40 to 60% of blog readers are women. The state of CA has the most blogs, with 15% of the blogs in the U.S.; NY comes in second with 8%. The ages between 21 to 35 are responsible for 53.3% of the blogs.

Facebook & Twitter, Etc.

There are more than 400 million active Facebook users. When it comes to consumer influence, Facebook (49.7%) is/are slightly more popular than blogs (47.1%). Twitter has over 24 million unique visitors per month. There are 500 million tweets per day, with 600 tweets per second. 78% of bloggers use Twitter with a primary goal of promoting his or her blog; and 87% of bloggers have Facebook, but only 34% have a separate Facebook page for his or her blog.

According to TopRank Marketing, the most effective social media sites to promote blog content are Facebook (28%) and Twitter (26%) followed by LinkedIn (4%) StumbleUpon (3%) Flickr (2%) and YouTube (2%).

Resources for Statistics

Mashable

Graphics MS

E-Junkie.info

Top Rank Marketing

The Scoop

To the Newbies: If you are feeling brave and confident, go for it. To the Experienced Crowd: Have you ever abandoned a blog; or even thought about abandoning a blog? Why do people abandon blogs? Lack of time or interest; or maybe both?

Who knows, but it IS hard work and takes dedication, regardless of whether a person blogs as a career, to promote a fledgling business, to keep Grandma updated on Junior's growth, personality and cutie pie pictures or for the sheer reason of writing a developing a readership. I spend at minimum 30 hours per week on Motherly Law and that number doesn't count my time spent on Twitter & Facebook. It takes dedication, perseverance and love of writing to keep going day after day.

This information will be relevant for the next several weeks of posts. I'll be referring to it. Don't forget to stop by yesterday's Giveaway post to enter to win $52 worth of fabulous skin care products from Mary Kay Cosmetics! Over and out...

Anna

Social Media by the Numbers: Fill-in-the-Blank Statistics

Fair Warning

If you are thinking of starting a blog, be warned. These statistics are fairly grim regarding the number of blogs, blog abandonment, etc. Most of this data comes from 2010 information. The last several years has shown a significant increase in online activity, with the advent of the "smartphone" being a prime reason for this.

A Test of Social Media Knowledge

Below you will find sentences with blanks. If you look further down, you will see words and numbers to use to fill in the blanks. See if you can put the correct answers in the blanks. I will post with the answers filled-in later today. This is an open book test, you may you use the links provided below. Good luck.

Blogs

There are approximately ________million {English language} blogs, as of 2010, floating out in the blogosphere. ____% are abandoned after a month; _____ million blogs have been abandoned after one post. According to a study done a few years ago, approximately 132,000 blogs are abandoned after ___ year(s). Most active blogs are updated _______times per week; _____% of bloggers update once a day. 63% bloggers spend more than _______hours per day working on their blogs.

Blogger Demographics

______ of bloggers have an annual income of $100,000 per year. ____% blog as a hobby; ___% are self-employed; and _____% are corporate bloggers. Women make up _______of bloggers, with males comprising ______of that group. ______% of blog readers are women. The state of _______has the most blogs, with ________% of the blogs in the U.S.; _______comes in second with_______%. The ages between __________ are responsible for _______% of the blogs.

Facebook & Twitter, Etc.

There are more than ________million active Facebook users. When it comes to consumer influence, ___________ (49.7%) is/are slightly more popular than ________(47.1%). Twitter has over ________million unique visitors per month. There are _______million tweets per day, with ______ tweets per second. _______% of bloggers use Twitter with a primary goal of promoting his or her blog; and _______% of bloggers have Facebook, but only ________% have a separate Facebook page for his or her blog.

According to TopRank Marketing, the most effective social media sites to promote blog content are___________ (28%) and________ (26%) followed by__________ (4%) _______________ (3%) __________(2%) and _________ (2%).

 

Answer Box

53.3        1/3        YouTube       34       87       78       400       1       NY           40 to 60         1                 21          3 21 to 35                      Facebook                    8             StumbleUpon              15           63          500            blogs        1/4                  2 to 3         1.09                60 to 80                    400                Flickr            600             Facebook                                     LinkedIn              2/3                33                     CA                      Twitter        24

Resources for Statistics

Mashable

Graphics MS

E-Junkie.info

Top Rank Marketing

 

The Scoop

To the Newbies: If you are feeling brave and confident, go for it. To the Experienced Crowd: Have you ever abandoned a blog; or even thought about abandoning a blog? Why do people abandon blogs? Lack of time or interest; or maybe both?

Who knows, but it IS hard work and takes dedication, regardless of whether a person blogs as a career, to promote a fledgling business, to keep Grandma updated on Junior's growth, personality and cutie pie pictures or for the sheer reason of writing a developing a readership. I spend at minimum 30 hours per week on Motherly Law and that number doesn't count my time spent on Twitter & Facebook. It takes dedication, perseverance and love of writing to keep going day after day.

This information will be relevant for the next several weeks of posts. I'll be referring to it. Don't forget to stop by yesterday's Giveaway post to enter to win $52 worth of fabulous skin care products from Mary Kay Cosmetics! Over and out...

Anna

An Open Door & a New World: Motherly Law’s First Anniversary

The First Year

A door opened and I went through it. ~Temple Grandin

One year ago today, I launched Motherly Law. Since that time, many doors have opened, and I have walked through them; each opening up a new world with new opportunities and new friendships.

When I started this site I knew very little about social media. What I did know is that I love to research and write, and I always have a lot to say. In the past year, I have learned so much about social media, relationships, technology, business and myself. I have poured myself into this endeavor by reading, searching, asking questions, listening, trying and failing and trying and getting it right. I have learned that succeeding in social media takes time, effort, risk and a fair share of business savvy.

In preparing to write this post, I read my very 1st Post dated March 1, 2010, for the first time since posting it. While the premise is still true, I write about law-related issues that affect families for the most part, I have allowed myself to write about anything I'm inspired to write. I have also become more comfortable with the writing process. I noticed technical differences too; my sentences are shorter; so are my paragraphs; I now have subtitles; and all is crisper and cleaner.

One year ago today, I hesitated before clicking the "publish" button and worried how this blog would be perceived; wondering what people would think of me, my writing and my ideas. While I now say a little prayer each time I click "publish" in hopes that my points are clear, I said what I meant to say and that at least one person will be aided, inspired or informed by each and every post, I no longer hesitate. I'm confident that this is what I should be doing right now.

All the Years Before

It's no coincidence that I am writing every day; giving my voice a platform. Writing makes sense to me. In fact, I've been writing for years in my head. I just never bothered to put the words down on paper.

I have been talking a lot for a long time; at least around my family. Though as a child, I was painfully shy. A mere question or comment from a stranger could reduce me to tears. I was aware of this shyness, and I hated it. Little by little, I pushed myself to do things outside of my comfort zone.

In 7^th grade I pushed hard. I signed up to take Speech in 8^th grade. My mother nearly fell over when I told her I had registered for this class. I forged ahead and I got through Speech. I had the great fortune of having Mrs. Becky Stout as my teacher. She inspired me beyond words. So, I took Theatre in 9^th grade; again with Mrs. Stout. You could have knocked my mom over with a feather when I made this announcement.

When I got to high school, I enrolled in yearbook class. I had no idea what all that would entail, but it sounded interesting. I very quickly found my stride writing and designing page layouts by hand {no computers in our class until the following year}. By my junior year, I was co-editor and then editor the following year. Again, I had an amazing teacher; Mrs. Cindy Beasley. Yearbook taught me how to write headlines and make a deadline. This class also gave me the fortitude of sticking with a project and getting it done on time; even if it meant staying up most of the night.

Throughout high school, I was fortunate to be taught English and Latin and to be guided through Italy and Greece by a sassy, super smart, bossy teacher; Mrs. Pat Holland. I adored her wit, wisdom and vintage costume jewelry; I lived to please her.

These women helped to shape, strengthen and stretch me into the person I would become. They gave me a love of writing, the ability to use my voice, the understanding of the power of words and the confidence to put all of these things to good use. These women remain in my heart and are reflected in my actions every day.

I continued to write throughout college and law school. I began researching more and more, especially after the dawn of the Internet. I have spent my legal career writing. This is what I do. This is what I love.

Gratitude

I have been blessed with tremendous support and encouragement from readers, fellow online writers, the media, family and friends. It's because of this support that I continue to tackle these issues and work into the wee hours of the night researching and writing. My readership has steadily increased over the year. I have made countless new friendships from the local social media community, blog conferences, Twitter, Facebook, etc. I am so thankful for all of these people who enrich my life every day.

The Scoop

I'm beginning to feel that my hard work is starting to pay off. Just last week, I received two invitations to participate in panel discussions; one on March 7^th in New York on the extremely important issue of distracted driving sponsored by Consumer Reports and the U.S. Department of Transportation; the other on March 18^th in the Twin Cities on social media and the law sponsored by Social Media Breakfast MSP and Thomson Reuters.

I am honored to have been asked to join both of these groups and look forward to these events {And you will be hearing more about both events in the near future}. I have a few other projects in the works, as well.

A door opened, and I went through it. And I will keep walking through each door that opens. Over and out...

Anna

You might also like:

14 Reasons to Read (& Love) Motherly Law

A New Year and A New Set of Goals; Personal and Professional

I Am an Onion....

Motherly News: Article Roundup

Ideas

I'm still working on figuring out a good series for the weekend. If you're like me, you're interested in the world around you and often see fascinating headlines pop up when checking email or quickly scanning news sites or hear someone discussing a great article about such and such, but don't have the time to click and read a whole article.

My solution has been to save the article to my Favorites Toolbar, but my objective is probably a little different than yours. I have all my sources for recent past posts, articles on subjects I want to write about, resources that I might need to refer to in the future and information I think might interest you, my readers, saved in my Favorites Toolbar.

I'm also an avid reader and huge fan of The Week. If you don't know about this magazine, check it out! It helps me stay "in the know" on just about every subject in the news around the world. Ah, but I digress. The point is I'm a news and information hoarder.

On that note, I thought I would try a weekly article roundup of information that you may have missed, but I think is worth taking a look at, even if you have just a brief time for reading. If you see an article you think should be included, please shoot me an email at [email protected], tweet me {@MotherlyLaw} or give me shout on Facebook {Motherly Law}.

I keep an ever growing list of topic ideas for Motherly Law posts. So, some of the articles involve issues that I plan to write about, but haven't had a chance to do so yet. As always, feel free to share your thoughts with me.

News Worth Your Time

• Research Finds Text-Messaging Improves Children's Spelling Skills from Read Write Web
• EPA reverses Bush-era water safety standards, will regulate contaminants from The Washington Post
• Minnesota Fair Pay Repeal: Fiscal Responsibility in Sheep's Clothing from Politics Daily
• Taco Bell Enlists Superheroes to Bite Back at Beef Lawsuit from NPR
• State officials divided on meaning of judge's health-care ruling from The Washington Post

The Scoop

Next week, I'll be examining food safety standards; the rash food recalls in recent years; tips for buying, preparing and storing food in a safe way to prevent food-borne illnesses, etc. Plus I'll be posting a list of my all-time favorites restaurants. Over and out...

Anna