Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, June 10, 2017

B2 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, June 10, 2017 
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS B2 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, June 10, 2017 
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS 
Jeff’s Book PicsBy Jeff Brown FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett 


The Nature of Consciousness: Essays onqualified, conditioned, or limited by experience.
the Unity of Mind and Matter by Rupert The knowing with which a feeling of loneliness orSpira , Deepak Chopra MD (Foreword) sorrow is known is the same knowing with which

“Reality is sending us a message we desperatelythe thought of a friend, the sight of a sunset, orneed to hear, and at this moment no messengerthe taste of ice cream is known. Just as a screen 
surpasses Spira and the transformative words inis never disturbed by the action in a movie, sohis essays.”Deepak Chopra,consciousness is never disturbed by experience;

Our world culture is founded on the assumptionthus it is inherently peaceful. The peace that isthat the Big Bang gave rise to matter, which ininherent in us—indeed that is us—is not dependenttime evolved into the world, into which the bodyon the situations or conditions we find ourselves 
was born, inside which a 

in.In a series of essays thatbrain appeared, out of which

draw you, through yourconsciousness at some late 

own direct experience, intostage developed. As a result of

an exploration of the naturethis “matter model,” most of 

of this knowing elementus believe that consciousness 

that each of us calls “I,” The 
is a property of the body. We

Nature of Consciousness 
feel that it is “I,” this body,

posits that consciousness 
that knows or is aware of 

is the fundamental realitythe world. We believe and 

of the apparent duality of 
feel that the knowing with

mind and matter. It shows 
which we are aware of our 

that the overlooking or 
experience is located in and

ignoring of this reality is theshares the limits and destiny

root cause of the existential 
of the body. This is the

unhappiness that pervadesfundamental presumption

and motivates most people’sof mind and matter that 

lives, as well as the wider 
underpins almost all our

conflicts that exist between 
thoughts and feelings and is

communities and nations. 
expressed in our activities

Conversely, the book 
and relationships. The 

suggests that the recognitionNature of 

of the fundamental realityConsciousness suggests that

of consciousness is the 
the matter model has outlived 

first step in the quest forits function and is now 

lasting happiness and the 
destroying the very values it

foundation for world peace. 
once sought to promote.Formany people, the debate as to the ultimate reality ofCamino Island: A Novel by John Grishamthe universe is an academic one, far removed from A gang of thieves stage a daring heist from a securethe concerns and demands of everyday life. Aftervault deep below Princeton University’s Firestoneall, life happens independently of our models of it.Library. Their loot is priceless, but Princeton hasHowever, The Nature of Consciousness will clearlyinsured it for twenty-five million dollars.Bruceshow that the materialist paradigm is a philosophy ofCable owns a popular bookstore in the sleepydespair and, as such, the root cause of unhappinessresort town of Santa Rosa on Camino Island in 
in individuals. It is a philosophy of conflict and,Florida. He makes his real money, though, as aas such, the root cause of hostilities between prominent dealer in rare books. Very few peoplefamilies, communities, and nations. Far from know that he occasionally dabbles in the blackbeing abstract and philosophical, its implicationsmarket of stolen books and manuscripts.Mercertouch each one of us directly and intimately.AnMann is a young novelist with a severe case ofexploration of the nature of consciousness has writer’s block who has recently been laid off fromthe power to reveal the peace and happiness thather teaching position. She is approached by antruly lie at the heart of experience. Our experienceelegant, mysterious woman working for an evennever ceases to change, but the knowing elementmore mysterious company. A generous offer ofin all experience—consciousness, or what wemoney convinces Mercer to go undercover andcall “I”—itself never changes. The knowing withinfiltrate Bruce Cable’s circle of literary friends,
which all experience is known is always the sameideally getting close enough to him to learn hisknowing. Being the common, unchanging elementsecrets.But eventually Mercer learns far tooin all experience, consciousness does not sharemuch, and there’s trouble in paradise as only Johnthe qualities of any particular experience: it is not Grisham can deliver it. 

All Things By Jeff Brown 

TEXTING WHILE DRIVING PROVES FAR GREATER 
DANGER THAN DRUNK DRIVING 

By B.Cornuteradio station, messing with your navigation,” saidResponsible drivers avoid risky behavior whenChuck Wallis.Wallis said seven out of 10 cars in 
navigating traffic, but the irresponsible ones makethe shop are there because of distracted driving.
driving hazardous.What could be worse thanAnd these crashes result in costly repairs.Personaldrunk driving? Researchers say the chance of ainjury attorneys represent a growing number ofcrash for any reason increased 23 times whenaccident victims.“They have to first understandthe driver is texting.Beware of distracted driversthat they are not Superman. They don’t have aall the time!!!Americans are dependent on theirspecial power that allows them to do this and thatvehicles, but there’s growing proof that many areat the same time. They are people playing Russiannot fully focused when driving. Cellphone use isRoulette,” said Ed Herman, managing partner atcausing 1.6 million crashes each year, accordingthe Brown and Crouppen Law Firm.The Nationalto the National Safety Council. The council alsoHighway traffic Administration reports almostreported nearly 330,000 injuries occur each year3,500 Americans died in 2015 in motor vehicle 
from accidents caused by texting while drivingcrashes in which distracted drivers were involved. 
and that 1 out of every 4 car accidents in theAccording to a AAA poll, 35 percent of teenUnited States is caused by texting and driving.drivers admitted to texting and driving, and 21Here’s another troubling finding: Accordingpercent of teen drivers involved in fatal accidentsto the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute,were distracted by their cell phones.’It’s hard totexting while driving diverts your eyes from thehide the cause if you end up in court or dead forroad for an average of five seconds. At 55 mph,taking your eyes off the road.“As a lawyer, whenthat’s enough time to cover the length of a footballwe see that in a case, all of a sudden we say, ‘There’sfield blindfolded.Just ask the folks at Bommarito not going to be any sympathy for this defendant.’
Automotive Group.“It doesn’t have to be texting;Everybody’s going to look at this defendant andit can be talking on a phone. You see people goingsay, ‘You’re going to text and drive? Well, you’redown the street distracted. It can be changing the going to pay the price,’” Herman said. 


ESTATE PLANNING FOR 
MILITARY FAMILIES 

Although Memorial Day just passed, it is importantto continue to honor those that have served our 
country. This time is also a good opportunity formembers of the military and their loved ones toconsider setting up an - or revising an existing estate 
plan. Military families need to consider specialestate-planning issues that others do not. This isparticularly true when one or more family membersare deployed overseas. Beyond this, members ofthe military have access to special benefits andresources. This can become complicated and, forthis reason, it is important that you seek special helpif you are a military family. 

Whether you are just starting out in the military oryou are a seasoned veteran, below are some commonfactors to consider for your estate planning needs. 
Factors to Consider 

Everyone’s estate plan should be customized to the person’s particular circumstances. Some factors thatshould be considered include whether: 

. 
You own real property and, if so, if the real estate is located in different states; 
. 
You are married; 
. 
You have minor children, or children with special needs; 
. 
You have money set aside in 401(k), IRAs, or thrift savings plans; 
. 
You plan to give to charity; and 
. 
You are moving multiple times across state lines or to different countries. 
Estate Planning Necessities 

There are many benefits offered to military families that can help with estate planning. These include: 

Life insurance - an important part of an estate plan and intended for those who are financially dependentupon you, life insurance is especially important if a member of the military is heading to a combat zone.
Active-duty members have access to low-cost life insurance for themselves and loved ones from ServiceMembers’ Life Insurance Group. More information can be found on the Department of Veterans Affairswebsite. When examining your life insurance, work with a trusted lawyer to make sure that the beneficiarydesignation works the way you expect it to. 

Wills and Trusts - a last will and testament to whom and how you want your property distributed, nameswho will administer your estate and specifies who will care for a minor or special needs child. A trust, onthe other hand, is a separate legal entity that can hold property and assets for the benefit of one or morepeople or entities. For most families, a trust-centered estate plan is a better fit, but a will can still work forsome families. 

Other benefits for survivors - survivor benefit plans (SBP) are pension-type plans in the form of anannuity that will pay your surviving spouse and children a monthly benefit. Likewise, dependency andindemnity compensation (D&IC) provides a monthly benefit to eligible survivors of servicemembers orveterans (1) who die while on active duty, (2) whose death is due to a service-related disease or injury or

(3) who are receiving or entitled to receive VA compensation for service-related disability and are totallydisabled. 
You Need Special Help 

Members of the military often experience frequent moves, have access to lots of government benefitsafter service, and can be subject to some unusual tax rules. For these reasons, estate planning for militaryfamilies is more complicated than most. 

You can expect an estate planning professional to assist you with setting up the following: 

. 
Powers of attorney for limited and general financial matters, as well as health care decisions (thereare very helpful when a spouse is deployed);
. 
Funeral and burial arrangements; 
. 
Wills and living wills; 
. 
Organ donation; 
. 
Family care plans; 
. 
Life insurance; 
. 
Trusts; 
. 
Estate taxes; 
. 
Survivor benefits; and 
. 
Estate administration and/or probate. 
An estate plan has multiple objectives: to provide for your family’s financial security, ensure your propertyis preserved and passed on to your beneficiaries, and determine who will manage your assets upon yourdeath, among others. 


Dedicated to empowering your family, building your wealth and securing your legacy, A local attorney 
and father, Marc Garlett is on a mission to help parents protect what they love most. His office is located 
at 49 S. Baldwin Ave., Ste. G, Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Schedule an appointment to sit down and talkabout ensuring a legacy of love and financial security for your family by calling 626.587.3058 or visit www.
GarlettLaw.com for more information. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com 
Peter Pan 
Summer Acting Camp 
July 5 - July 30, 2017 
San Gabriel Valley’s premiere boutique acting camp, where personalized attention and low student 
to staff ratio allows each actor to shine!
Have FUN, build friendships and make memories 
acting, singing and dancing 
as we create professional quality performances 
of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. 
EVERY camper 
experiences the 
thrill of performing 
in a fully-produced 
showwith 
stunning 
costumes, 
professionally 
designed lighting, 
sound, and sets. 
Personalized 
Attention 
Exceptional Staff 
All Levels 
of Experience 
ActingUpWorkshops.com 
626.325.3018 
Ages 8 -17 
Mon – Fri 
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
Frostig School 
Gates Hall 
971 N. Altadena Dr. 
Pasadena