Motherly Law

Rudolph The Rich Reindeer: A Quite Different & Slightly Legal Version of Rudy the Red-Nosed Reindeer

You Only Think You Know This Story

You may be familiar with the story of a little reindeer named Rudolph who happened to be born with a birth defect. His nose, instead of being black like other reindeer, was big and red and even glowed like a light bulb.

His red nose didn't bother him or hinder him in any way. Rudy grew and developed just like any other little reindeer, but then one day he went to play with the others. Well, you can imagine how the young reindeer girls and boys teased Rudy about his nose. They had never seen such a nose before and they treated him as an outcast.

Reindeer Have Feelings Too

Well, actually it was even worse than making him feel like an outcast. They didn't ever leave him alone. They made jokes about him; they taunted him; they butted him with their little antlers; and they called him names. They were ruthless in the way they bullied poor Rudy. The other cruel reindeer basically cut him off from all reindeer contact; completely isolating him from society.

His father, Donner, was one of Santa's top reindeer. He didn't understand his son with the red nose and didn't think much of the teasing. Donner, a big, strong jock buck, simply told his son to "buck up" and butt back, which really wasn't very supportive.

Rudy ended up quite depressed. He wouldn't eat; he had trouble sleeping; he felt hopeless; and he refused to go to school or out to play with the other young reindeer. Instead, he spent all of his time in his room listening to Britney Spears' Blackout album over and over, which just made him feel worse about his troubles. He sat on his bed with his lights off and his red nose lighting the room.

Santa owned all of the reindeer and he was aware of Rudy's red nose and the physical and mental bullying that went on. In all his years of reindeer ownership he had never seen such a nose. He considered him to be a weak link, an embarrassment and just didn't care how he was treated. In fact, he himself, that right jolly old elf, even gave a hearty "ho, ho, ho" over some of the cruel jokes and nicknames for Rudy, which Rudy heard. Having Santa against him was the last nail in the coffin.

The Lawsuit

Rudy decided to consult with the outcast elf, Hermey, who originally wanted to be a dentist, but after realizing that you have to stick your hands in other elves' mouths, decided to become an attorney and represent the down trodden and outcast characters in the World of Fiction. Hermey decided that Rudy had a good case for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.

While this cause of action is typically quite difficult to prove, Hermey felt that with the specific instances of ridicule and Rudy's doctor certified bouts of depression, Rudy had a good case. Hermey had to show:

1. Santa and his reindeer, hereinafter referred to as Defendants, acted intentional or recklessly; and
2. Defendants' conduct was extreme and outrageous; and
3. Defendants' actions were the cause of the distress; and
4. Rudolph T. Reindeer, hereinafter referred to as Plaintiff, suffers severe emotional distress as a result of Defendants' conduct.

Hermey was a very good attorney with a very convincing argument, and Rudy won the lawsuit.

Part of the damages awarded to Rudy included the right of first refusal to lead Santa's team of reindeer on foggy Christmas Eves as long as he is able. Additional damages included having a Christmas song, children's story and movie written about Rudy's plight as an outcast reindeer due to his uniqueness. The movie must be played on every television channel at least once during the Christmas holiday season for eternity. Of course, Santa had to pay 3.4 million dollars in damages, as well.

The Scoop

So, what happened to poor Rudy? Why he went down in history as the first {but not the last} reindeer to sue Santa and win. But the newly wealthy Rudy didn't let it all go to his nose....er, um, I mean head. No, he became an advocate for all special needs and bullied cartoon and book characters.

Rudy went on to work the speaker's circuit, charging half a million to speak. He became the wealthiest, best known reindeer ever. And Hermey....why, he never wanted for clients again. He became the Gloria Allred of fictional characters. And they all lived happily ever after....except for Santa, perhaps. Over and out...

Anna

The List: End of the Summer Bucket List

The end is upon us. In exactly one month, summer will have ended and school will begin for us. It will be starting sooner than that for many. This year, with Darling 1 starting kindergarten, the end of the summer is even more significant for us.

It's been an outrageously hot summer for most of the country, and the humidity in the Twin Cities has been thick as a wall and as heavy as an iron weight pressing down from the heavens. This kind of weather puts a damper on summer fun in the sun.

With that said, there are still some things I really want to do before the summer is completely gone. So, despite the humidity and heat, I want to get out and get at least some of these things checked off the list.

1. Nine Nights of Music: MN History Center;
2. River Rats Ski Show: Mississippi River;
3. Movie and Music: Walker Art Center ~ Open Field;
4. A to Z Pizza Farm We did this on Tues & you can read about it here! We will go back again;
5. MN State Fair;
6. Swim at Bryant Lake Beach – We did this last weekend. We had so much fun. Again, we will be going back;
7. More Picnics at Lake Harriet;
8. St. Louis Park Splashpad;
9. Pick Fall Raspberries;
10. Breakfast on the Farm; Gale Woods Farm in Minnetrista
11. Paddle Boat Ride: Centennial Lakes.

I didn't have time to link to these things, but I'll do it later.

I really dislike the term "bucket list." But I can't think of another way to convey what I mean. So, I'm using it. Can you think of another way to say it? And what's on your list...whatever you call it?

I'm already working on my fall fun list. Over and out...

Anna

The List: Lessons from Mater

On Saturday morning, after months of talking about it and counting down the days, we went to the theater to see Cars 2. Our State Farm insurance agent had reserved a theater for a special viewing for her clients. We were thrilled to finally see the new Cars movie. Nothing like the first Cars movie story line, this one is an action-packed spy tale, but the main characters are as lovable as ever.

Mater may not be the big, flashy, red star of the movie {whom I do personally adore, both the car and the man}, but he is certainly a central character and without Mater, Cars simply would not have the same appeal. My Darling Boys have watched the movie Cars a million times or more; at least enough times that we all have every line in the movie memorized.

In addition to the Cars movie, they have also viewed Cars Toons, Mater's Tall Tales, too many times to count. In these episodes, Mater tells stories, which may or may not stretch the truth, about his many adventures as a daredevil, a matador, an astronaut, a heavy metal music star, etc. In these episodes and in the movies, Mater is always just himself, and that's enough.

Here are some lessons we can all learn from Mater:

1. Mater is enthusiastic about everything he does;
2. Mater talks to everyone; approaching everyone as a friend;
3. Mater is always ready to try new things;
4. Mater is fiercely loyal to his friends;
5. Mater says it like it is;
6. Mater is trusting and trustworthy;
7. Mater understands that our dents {or memories and experiences} are valuable and unique and make us who we are; and
8. Mater isn't afraid to be himself, using phrases like "dad gum" & "well, shoot"; words I grew up hearing in my native Texas.

All anyone needs to be is himself or herself. This is sometimes forgotten. Life is difficult and complicated when we try to be someone we aren't. We must remember that we are at our best when we are being ourselves. Over and out...

Anna

Twin Cities Auto Show Ticket Giveaway

A Love of Cars

Do you know what I'm talking about if I say:

Mater and Lightning were out tractor tippin' one night when they ran into Fillmore. He and Sarge had been arguing over his organic fuel. Sally and Doc were waiting for them at the Cozy Cone Motel, but Lightning had to make a stop at Luigi's before turning in for evening. Lizzie stopped the duo and told them a car named Chuki had called and wanted to get a quote from Lightning for a story she is working on. Just at that moment, Marco flew overhead; low and fast.

If you immediately knew that I was talking about the Pixar movie Cars, and you can quickly identify all the cars named, then you probably are a parent to boys, and you've watched the movie a gazillion or more times.

We happen to own just about every Cars vehicles available...or at least it looks that way in my living room. We've watched the movie and Cars Toons so many times we all have each line memorized. However, the household is divided: Darling 1's favorite car is Lightning McQueen and Darling 2's favorite is Mater; and specifically Monster Truck Mater, if you're familiar with Mater's Tall Tales.

Twin Cities Auto Show

Well, as I mentioned in yesterday's post, in conjunction with meeting with a Ford executive to discuss their voice-activated system, SYNC, I asked for 4 tickets to go to the Twin Cities Auto Show. I wanted to see their systems in action and have a chance to talk to other vehicle manufacturers about their systems, as well. It turns out that kids under 11 are free. So, we used only 2 of the 4 tickets on Saturday.

What's the movie Cars have to do with the Auto Show? Ah, well, they happen to have a full-size Lightning McQueen {painted up for Cars 2, as Darling 1 immediately pointed out}, Mater and Finn McMissile {a new character, a British spy from Cars 2} out on display. The boys were beside themselves seeing these Cars.

Honestly, the boys loved the whole show. They climbed in countless vehicles, testing out buttons, levers and seatbelts. It was pure heaven for our two car-crazed boys. And DH and I enjoyed it too. There are 33 auto manufacturers represented there, sporting the newest colors, technology and engineering.

The Giveaway

Today is your lucky day. If you {or your kids or spouse} love Cars and cars and you live in the Twin Cities, leave a comment below with your favorite Pixar Cars vehicle to be entered to win the two tickets to the Twin Cities Auto Show. This Giveaway was made possible by Golnik Strategies and Ford.

The Show runs through March 20, 2011 and is open weekdays this week 4 PM to 10 PM, with exception to Wednesday, open 10 AM to 10 PM; Saturday the hours are 10 AM to 10 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 7 PM. The Twin Cities Auto Show is held in the Minneapolis Convention Center. You can find out more information at www.twincitiesautoshow.com

I will randomly choose a winner of the 2 Twin Cities Auto Show tickets with the help of www.random.org at 3 PM (CST) Monday, March 14^.

The Scoop

I'm moving on from cars and driving issues now, but please do accept my challenge to drive without the distraction of phoning/texting. On Tuesday, I will be writing about social media and the law. Over and out...

Anna

Welcome to the Academy Awards; Motherly Law Style

It's the Oscars!

Even though I have seen fewer and fewer movies over the years, I have been tuning into the Academy Awards for many years. I love the formality, the style, the red carpet interviews and the movie clips, both old and new.

The Classics

My parents are avid fans of classic black and white {& color} movies. Yet when I was born, my parents decided to get rid of their T.V. On occasion, my mom would rent a T.V., VCR and classic movies for a weekend treat. My brother and I grew to love these films too. When I was 12 years old, we bought a T.V. and that is when we started watching current programming, but our love of the classic movies and actors remained.

Later, as a teen, I realized how skewed my sense of reality had been as a younger child watching these classic films with the likes of Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Barbara Stanwyck, Jimmy Stewart, Doris Day, Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, William Holden, Ingrid Bergman, etc. I know it seems silly, but at the time I had thought these movie stars to be young and vibrant and the films current.

I'm so thankful that my parents opened up this wonderful world of classic movies to me. The classics are well-made; the stories interesting, engaging, funny and thrilling; and the actors are amazing.

Law Related Oscar Nominated Films from the 1930s to the Present

While I'm a fan of many movies that have nothing to do with the law, I thought it would be fun to find all the law-related films nominated for best picture over the years. I may have missed a few {and if I have, please leave me a comment with the title I missed}. If you haven't seen these law related films, be sure to put them in your Netflix queue. There are some great movies in this list:

• Libeled Lady (1936)
• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
• 12 Angry Men (1957)
• Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
• Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
• Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
• To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
• All the President's Men (1976)
• Kramer v. Kramer (1979)
• The Verdict (1982)
• Witness (1985)
• Fatal Attraction (1987)
• Mississippi Burning (1988)
• A Few Good Men (1992)
• The Fugitive (1993)
• Shawshank Redemption (1994)
• L.A. Confidential (1997)
• The Insider (1999)
• Erin Brockovich (2000)
• Traffic (2000)
• Chicago (2002)
• Crash (2004)
• Michael Clayton (2007)
• Milk (2008)

For the list of all nominated films click here for the Wikipedia List. There are many more great films on the list that have nothing to do with the law. Check Moviefone for predictions of the 2011 Academy Award winners. That way, even if you haven't seen the movies {as I haven't}, you can impress your friends with your knowledge of the nominated films and actors and pick more winners than your friends.

The Scoop

I'm off to the Oscars with my Girls' Night Out Crew; it's one of our traditions. Over the years, we have gotten less and less formal. Now we are to the point that we wear sweats and order take-out, but there was a time that we went all out with the glam and glitz for the Oscar Party. Personally, I'm glad those days are over. Are you heading to an Oscar watching party? Are you dressing up or down? Either way, enjoy! Over and out....

Anna

You might also like:

Motherly Advice

Legal Eagles: Tips for Being Law Abiding Model Citizens (& Parents) and Top Law Movies and TV Shows

Motherly Advice {Racing and Waiting: Education Reform Movies}

Motherly Advice {Racing and Waiting: Education Reform Movies}

Community Announcement

If you are a parent with kids in school or very close to entering the scholastic track, there's a film I think you should see. It's called Race to Nowhere, and the only way to see it is to find a special screening. No worries, there are many scheduled around the country. And if you can't find a screening nearby, you can try to get a screening scheduled by clicking here.

Twin Citians, you're in luck! Race To Nowhere is being shown on Mon., Feb. 28^th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Eden Prairie High School and Thurs., Feb. 17^th from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Minnesota Waldorf School. If you live elsewhere, don't dismay {at least not for that reason}, you can find a screening location near you by clicking here.

Race To Nowhere

Wait! I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me tell you about this film. According to the film's website, Race To Nowhere "is a call to mobilize families, educators, and policy makers to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens."

You will hear the stories of students who are at the breaking point, exasperated educators and parents who want only the best for their children, but aren't sure what that is anymore. This film was produced and co-directed by Vicki Abeles, an attorney and mom of 3, who decided to tackle the often ignored subject of education in our country, and has now made waves throughout our country with her debut film, Race To Nowhere.

Tickets & Happy Hour

The tickets are free, but you must reserve tickets through Eventbrite. There will be time for town-hall style discussions after the movie, as well.

I will be attending the Eden Prairie High School screening. If you are in the area and would like to join me for a cup of coffee or glass of wine before the movie, please contact me and we'll whip up a Motherly Law Pre-Movie Happy Hour.

Race To Nowhere Trailer

   

 

Waiting for Superman

One last note, while we're on the subject of education and the need for reform, there's another film that promises to be as inspiring as it is heart-wrenching: Waiting for Superman. Waiting for Superman focuses specifically on the D.C. school district and will be available on DVD in the next few weeks. I've already reserved it in my Netflix queue.

The Scoop

Have you seen one or both of these films? If so, I would love to hear from you. Were these films inspiring? I'm workifew months. This is an issue that has been on my mind for a while. I'm working on an education reform series that I will be bringing you sometime in the next month or so.

Anna

You might also like:

The Changing Seasons: Types of Schools Available to American Children

Birds of a Feather: Tips for Choosing the Best School for Your Child

For the Love of Books: How and Why Books Get Challenged & Banned Part I

Motherly Advice {Reflections of Motherhood ~ www.nummies.com}

As many of you know, I'm in Nashville at Blissdom Conference. Today in a session on Viral Word of Mouth Marketing {which is not a horrible disease even though that's what it sounds like} I saw this video. What you don't realize at first and what seems totally irrelevant because it tugs at the core of the mommy fibers that run deep inside, it's an advertisement. In fact, it's an ad for attractive nursing bras {www.nummies.com}.

When this video was released online it went viral, which means it quickly spread through the Internet and was viewed hundreds of thousands of times. The video was made by Scott Stratten from www.un-marketing.com, who spoke today and is amazingly funny and brilliant.

Get your Kleenex ready. Go ahead, I'll wait for you.

 

    

 

 Uh, huh. Don't try to hide it. I know you have a tear in your eye. I warned you. The one that got me... "He's going to get sick...and you will sit up all night just watching him breathe." I've done it, and felt so helpless.

It's Friday…. Go eat some chocolate. It's good for you, and you deserve it!

Anna

Nota Bene:I hold these truths to be self-evident, that all parents and kids are not created equally, but are wholly individual in personality and style. Regardless of these differences, the basic needs of love, patience and support remain constant. Here are the weekly affirmations, tips and reminders. Unless otherwise noted, these are entirely my opinion. Take them with a grain of salt, or not!

Legal Eagles: Tips for Being Law Abiding Model Citizens (& Parents) and Top Law Movies and TV Shows

Ally McBeal?

 

I was in law school during the late '90s. During that same time Ally McBeal was on TV. Do you remember that show? Sure, they were lawyers, but the show had nothing to do with the law. Nothing. Despite this minor detail, I was repeatedly asked this question once someone found out that I was a law student: "Do you watch Ally McBeal?" It drove me nuts! And for the record, the answer was No. In fact, I don't think I have ever watched even one episode of Ally McBeal to tell you the truth. Nothing against the show at all, but to equate Ally McBeal with attorneys and the law was crazy! Not to say I wasn't influenced by TV shows and movies. I was. The shows made everything about a lawyer seem so glamorous, dramatic and wealthy. For me, the 3 most influential law related TV shows were L.A. Law, Matlock (OK, not glamorous or wealthy, but dramatic) and Perry Mason. I watched re-runs of Perry Mason from a young age (one of my mom's all-time faves). My top 3 legal movies are To Kill a Mockingbird (love it, of course, who doesn't?), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (OK, not a lawyer movie, but a legislative process movie nonetheless and really, really wonderful), and A Few Good Men (can't beat the courtroom scenes). Of course, TV and movies portray all legal issues and trials as on-the-edge-of-your-seat, thrill-a-minute, the-real-murderer-will-confess-by-the-end courtroom drama, drama, drama (sorry for all the dashes; it was essential to get my point across though).

 

Respecting the Law

 

While most real legal goings-on are not dramatic and are sometimes downright boring, it's a process that's vital to our country as we know it. The legal system must be respected if it is going to work well. For instance, if the law says not to text while driving; you should not text while driving. If the law says you and/or your child must wear bike helmets while riding a bike; you must do so. If the law says the bags you put yard waste in must be compostable; you should do that. Whether you agree with the law or not, you should abide by it. By doing so, you are being a good model to your children. You are teaching your children to respect the law. If you don't agree with a law there are ways to encourage the process for changing it, but don't model to your children that you are above the law or that the law just doesn't matter.

 

Think about it in terms of parenting: the laws and the legal enforcers (police officers, judges, etc) are the parents; you are the child. Your "parents" give you a rule of the house; you choose not to follow it; you get in trouble. It's as simple as that. Now I know all of you want your kids to listen to your rules and follow them, right?! It doesn't matter to you whether your child likes the rule. You expect him or her to follow it because you know it will keep your child safe, teach good manners, respect others, etc. This is a good way to explain laws to your child, as well. It's something even a very small child can understand because everyone has rules to follow.

 

Importance of Laws and Lawyers

 

Laws protect us from harm; provide for equal treatment of everyone, regardless of differences; ensure that all children receive an education free of charge; require every household to contribute money, by way of taxes, to help fund government programs, such as, highways, museums, parks, etc; put criminals away; hold people accountable for their actions and so on and so on…. Laws are important. And so are lawyers. Not all lawyers make the big bucks. In fact, most don't. Yet lawyers toil many, long hours to make sure they have all the facts, evidence and laws they need to present the best cases for their clients; and judges and law clerks go to great pains to guarantee the law has been interpreted and applied correctly. Lawyers may not have the best reputation, but the lawyers I know are honest, bright, respectable and hard working, and they deserve a pat on the back for their service to the legal profession.

Celebrating the Law

Here is a list of ways you can teach your kids (and yourself) about laws, the legal process, the legislative process and about our government, in general:

• Teach your child about rules and consequences. Explain why you have the rules you do.
• Make it clear to your kids that each citizen has responsibilities to be a contributing member of society
• Educate your kids about their rights and freedoms
• Model for your kids what is meant by equality and justice for all
• Be Respectful of others
• Take your child to visit a courthouse
• Take a tour at your state Capital building
• Sit in on a legislative debate; state or federal
• Visit the U.S. Capital and other national historic sites.
• Explain the system of checks and balances and the 3 branches of government: Executive, Legislative and Judicial
• Take a trip to a History Center or History Museum. Most historical events that have shaped our country were either the result of a law or resulted in a law.
• Attend a local Law Day event
• Watch movies about laws/lawyers/legal processes. There are some great ones. See links to lists below.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but is intended to give you a place to start. The activities listed are a great way to show your kids that you think the law is essential and interesting, but they are also fun, parent/child bonding opportunities too. These are things you and your child can do to celebrate the law whether it's law day or any other day of the year.

Top Law Movies and TV Shows

There are many great law movies and numerous law related TV shows. Most are full of exaggerations, inconsistencies and legal errors, but all of them are full of drama! Here are links for lists of top law movies and TV shows:

1. http://faculty.law.lsu.edu/ccorcos/lawctr/TOPTENMOVIES.htm
2. http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/the_25_greatest_legal_movies/
3. http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/the_25_greatest_legal_tv_shows

Which ones are your favorites? You be the Judge!

Wednesday Websites

Lastly, here is the American Bar Association and Find Law websites. They are both great places to start if you are looking for legal information.

1. http://www.abanet.org/publiced/lawday/home.shtml
2. http://www.findlaw.com/

The Scoop

I hope you find these tips useful, yet fun, and can easily be put into practice. These lists of movies and TV shows have reminded me of some good shows that I have not seen in a while and exposed me to a few I don't know. I am going to add them to my Netflix list! Keep these websites handy. They could be useful if you need an attorney (of course, you could just check my Google Adsense ads for that) or other general legal information. On Friday, I will post a bit of Motherly Advice. Over and out…

Anna