Friday Feed #7

This week on the internet:

5 Alternative Teaching Methods
Lectures, homework and report cards aren't the only school of thought when it comes to teaching. Pun intended.

Fake 'no parking' signs fool Tarpon Springs police, who write 233 tickets near Tarpon Turtle restaurant
Mike Bronson, a local developer, didn't want people parking around a popular Tarpon Springs, FL restaurant, so he put up "No Parking" signs. Well he even faked out the law who over a course of two years wrote over 200 tickets due to the signs. Problem is they were not city sanctioned.

8 Awe-Inspiring Swimming Pools
Women's Day takes a look at 8 amazing swimming pools. Don't know about the one in Utah. Looks kind of creepy, but the World's Largest Pool is amazing.

Good Boy! The World’s Ten Smartest Dogs
PetMD takes a look at the ten smartest dog breeds.

See you Monday! Have a great weekend.

What Is Workers’ Compensation?

To protect an injured worker from loss of income if injured at work and for payment of medical bills, the State Legislature adopted the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act. The legislative intent of the Act is to make employers responsible for the injuries of their employees who were injured by accident in the furtherance of the employer’s business. This Act provides workers with full compensation for medical bills and partial compensation for lost wages if they have been injured on the job. The Act also compensates injured workers for any permanent disability or lasting inability to earn the same wages due to the compensable accident.

While the rules and regulations governing claims under the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act are complex, we believe it is important that you have a basic understanding of what the term “Workers’ Compensation” means. Workers’ compensation is a “no fault” system which means you usually don’t have to show your employer did anything wrong to have caused your injury. You simply have to prove you were injured while working as a result of an accident.

Hardison & Associates Employee Spotlight: Marilyn Beasley

Marilyn Beasley is Hardison & Associates’ Office Manager, Client Advocate and Ken’s Right Hand! Marilyn joined Ken in December 1982! Yes, that’s right Marilyn has put up with Ken for over 25 years!

Marilyn is married to Raeford Beasley and has one daughter, Valerie, who is married and lives in California. No grandchildren, YET! But, Marilyn is hoping and praying for Valerie to change that – soon! Ken Hardison recently stated, “Marilyn is the heart and soul of Hardison & Associates. She not only talks the talk, but walks the walk when it comes to putting Hardison & Associate clients first.” Marilyn has held every position in the firm that a non-lawyer can hold! She was Ken’s receptionist, secretary and bookkeeper in the early 80’s. Then she was a case manager in car accidents and a litigation paralegal. Then she became a case manager in the Workers’ Compensation section and even did Social Security hearings before administrative law judges for several years! She has more than earned the right to manage the firm!

Medical Myths: Take The Test

The USA Today currently has a story posted on their online version about "Medical Myths." Columnist Liz Szabo looks in depth at old wives tales when it comes to the medical field. Check out the article for answers to:

Does sugar make kids hyper?
Should you really wait an hour before you swim after eating?
Is it bad to fall asleep after a concussion has occurred?

Excerpt from the article:

"It's amazing how often doctors will speak with a lot of authority when there's no evidence that they're right and, unfortunately, even when there's some evidence to show that they're wrong, A frighteningly large amount of what we do is just our best guess."

-Pediatrician Aaron Carroll, author of "Don't Swallow Your Gum..." (pictured)

USA Today couldn't just leave it to an article. They created an 11 question test for readers to test their knowledge of medical fact and fiction. CLICK HERE to take the test. We scored a 7 out of 11. Let us know what score you got in the comments section.

Friday Feed #6

A week of odds and ends from the Internet. Enjoy and be sure to watch the video at the end. The National Anthem sung in a unique way.

Have a safe Memorial Weekend and we'll see you on Tuesday.

Are Sleep Problems Normal as We Get Older?
Reports show that a majority of Americans have sleeping troubles as they age. This article shows the cause of these problem and suggestions for what to do about them. It also has a video with a Sleep Specialist from Emory University talking on taking medication to correct poor sleeping habits.

Alaska hosts world beard championships
Just a sample quote from this article as a teaser to read it: "In Alaska, I think I probably have the biggest goatee right now," he said. "It is right about to my belly button." These guys are serious about their facial hair. Disappointing that the article did not mention, not even once, ZZ Top.

Apple's 11 Most Intriguing Computer Designs
See how the Apple computer has evolved over the years.

Food Too Big to Finish: Extreme Eating Feats
Women's Day has tracked day 8 of America's best (and also biggest) eating challenges. Think you have what it takes for a 42 inch pizza. I'd like to the meet the person who hand tossed that dough.

The Future Of Cars, Circa 1999
Every year a majority of car companies will release a concept car that is billed as the car of the future. This website takes a look back at car companies that were doing this in 1999 and compares them to the cars of today to see who way spot on and who was way off. Good thing they went with the design they did with the Dodge Charger. The concept in 1999 doesn't look very symmetrical.

World's Most Interesting Bridges, Part 3
Some fantastic architecture on display in this link. Learning about the bridge being built in China is reason enough alone to visit this site.

And we end this week with the singing of the National Anthem by Marvin Gaye. Without doubt, one of the most unique deliveries of the National Anthem. It worked well, very well.

Social Security Disability Benefit Fairness Act of 2009

Some news you may not be aware of concerning Social Security disability benefits is a bill that is currently in Congress. The bill, entitled "HR 33: Disability Benefit Fairness Act of 2009", was formed to amend the part of the Social Security Act that allows a 5 month waiting period before benefits begin for a claimant.

We have witnessed the hardship that clients have to endure during the waiting period here at Hardison & Associates. Clients that aren't able to work cannot earn income and face some troubling times in that period of time where no benefits are available.

Below are links to more information on this Act:

Disability Benefit Fairness Act of 2009

Disability Benefit Fairness Act of 2009: Open Congress

If you would like to write your Representative about this bill, please use the link below:

Write Your Representative

People With Disabilites Foundation

While writing this blog, each day we check out different blogs around the nation that deal with the same topics we do. A great blog to look at (after you check out ours of course) is Dallas Attorney Bob Kraft's P.I.S.S.D. While we are new to the blog world, Mr. Kraft has been around since 2005 writing daily. It's definitely worth a look.

In one of his recent blog post he spotlighted a link to a Foundation that we felt we needed to also pass along to our readers. Please see the below information about the People With Disabilities Foundation:

The People With Disabilities Foundation is a group dedicated to advocacy for the disabled, especially in legal matters. Here is a description from their Web site:

-Our Mission is to provide education and advocacy for people with psychiatric and/or developmental disabilities, with or without physical disabilities, so that they can achieve equal opportunities in all aspects of life.

-Our goal is to provide total integration of people with mental disabilities into the whole of society. PWDF is an IRS approved § 501(c)(3) public charity. Contributions are tax deductible.

Education/Public Awareness

PWDF puts on free public seminars examples of which include:

1. Disabled students in elementary and secondary schools, coping skills and sensitivity training;

2. Accommodating Students with Psychiatric Disabilities in Colleges and Universities;

3. Health Care Issues for People with Mental and/or Developmental Disabilities (focus: Emergency Room Triage Issues); and

4. Multiculturalism and Psychiatric Disabilities

-Guest speaking.

-Social Security Work Incentive Programs. Available in 1 hour CD.

-Accommodating Employees and Job Applicants with Psychiatric Disabilities in the Workplace. Also in 30 minute training video.

-Housing Issues for People with Psychiatric and Developmental Disabilities. Available in 1 hour CD.

-“Understanding Employees and Job Applicants with Psychiatric Disabilities.” This training video focuses on medical and vocational aspects associated with invisible disabilities in the workplace, functional limitations and ways to provide reasonable accommodations, if necessary.

Friday Feed #5

The Friday Feed: A week's worth of odds and ends from the Internet and this week with video. Enjoy!

Shaq Admits to Taking Performance-Enhancing Cereals
Shaquille O'Neal is one of the best centers in NBA history. Along with that, the guy is pretty funny. With all of the news with steroids in baseball, Shaq clears the air with admitting to taking a performance enhancer.

Surprise! Daydreaming Really Works the Brain
Think daydreaming is a sign of laziness? Think again. Recent studies have found that it may be a catalyst for problem solving.

Top 10 Mysteries of the Mind
This one wasn't originally planned to be on here this week, but after reading the above story it just seemed like it fit right next to it.

8 Amazing Acoustic Guitarist
The video below is from this link. That one is only a teaser to the other 7 that are on here. Some amazing artist with amazing talents. Possibly the best link we offered in the Friday Feed, thus far.

USA Today's Doctor Database

When you are looking for a specialist in health care what is the best way about finding out who may be the best within their field? Well, the USA Today is offering some help in 4 categories of health care. Taking data from Qforma, an information firm, they have built an interactive online database of the most influential doctors in asthma, diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension across the US. The creation of the information comes from a demand from patients that wanted more information about doctors.

The database, which can be found here, breaks down the doctors by State then by metro area. The full article, which explains the method of picking these doctors, can be found here.

Quotes from the article:

"I do feel strongly that this is a good tool to give people a place to start"

- Qforma's CEO Kelly Myers.

"You can get more information about the performance of a refrigerator than about a surgeon"

- Deborah Ness, president of the National Partnership for Children and Families

"Consumers are taking medical care into their own hands. They're saying: 'Wait a minute. It's my body, and I want to know what you're doing."

- Jeffery Kang, medical director of Cigna

Financial Condition of Medicare and Social Security Deteriorating

An article from the NY Times reports that new projections put out by the administration has Medicare exhausting its funds by 2017 and the Social Security fund will be exhausted by 2037. The dates are 2 years and 4 years earlier than projected one year ago, respectively.

The article points toward the current economic status as a cause for the earlier dates of insolvency. With more workers laid off, the government has less payroll taxes to work with. These taxes are a major resource of funds for both of the programs.

In an earlier blog post we talked about Social Security and the lack of a cost of living adjustment (COLA) in the coming years. The NY Times article states the following about COLA and how it will affect Medicare:

The trustees said that one-fourth of Medicare beneficiaries would face sharply higher premiums: about $104 next year and $120 in 2011. This group includes new Medicare beneficiaries...Seventy-five percent of beneficiaries will not pay any increase, so the remaining 25 percent have to pay more to keep the trust fund at the same level, Medicare officials said.

Not Explaining Your Pain and Limitations Can Ruin Your Social Security Disability Claim

When filing for Social Security disability you must be detailed when explaining your pains and limitations. For this to be a credible part of your claim, you must be able to let doctors know exactly what you can and cannot do in full detail. Following are two examples of explanations of pain and limitations.

The following example is very vague and doesn't fully explain what exactly is going on with the patient's pain and limitations:

"Doc, I hurt all over. The pain is everywhere. I can't do things like I used to. Nothing helps and I just feel like I'm walking around in a daze all the time."

While a doctor may come away from a meeting knowing that the patient is in pain, they won't know exactly where it is located and what daily task you can't perform. The line of communication is not clear, therefore, the doctor may walk away confused. When your in pain and can't do things like you used to it is no time for anyone to be confused. Now let's look at a very detailed explanation:

"Doc, my pain is in my lower back and it sometimes goes down the back of both my legs down the knee. I can only bend over far enough to touch my knees and I can't twist without any pain. I can only stand for about 20 minutes before I have to sit down and I can only sit for 10 minutes unless I'm in a recliner. The pain medicine you gave me makes me tired and dizzy for most of the day. I generally fall asleep for a couple hours every day. I have to have help with getting dressed in the morning and I'm not able to do any housework other than light dusting."

A doctor will walk away from this meeting knowing exactly where you stand in your health. The doctor will be able to treat your pains more efficiently and will be able to communicate your pain and limitations to documents that are vital to your claim.

In a nutshell, you must have sound documentation of your pain and limitations when seeking Social Security Disability benefits. It starts with your communication of those pains and limitations. This does not mean you should come into the doctor's office with a laundry list of limitations, but be aware that you need to be detailed as possible.

Friday Feed #4

It's the Friday Feed. A week of articles, pictures, videos, etc. that we have found looking through the Internet this week. Hope you enjoy. See you on Monday!

The Fine Print: What's Really in a Lot of 'Healthy' Foods
Just because "health foods" claim they are healthy, are they really? The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the fine print on such products as salt substitutes, artificial sweeteners, trans fat, wheat bread, fiber and many other foods that claim to be healthy for you.

The Best NASA Satellite Photos from the Last 50 Years
Awesome photo gallery of shots of earth and around space. The Solar Storms are pretty amazing.

Man Gets Paid $120,000 to Sit on Tropical Island and Swim
Yes, simply, the best job in the world.

Introducing Vertical Farming - Farms of the Future
The city of Vancouver recently held a competition that had the goal, "to address climate change plans and to guide greener and denser development, reducing carbon emissions for the future." The winner was Romses Architect, a firm with offices in Canada and China. Their concept takes farm to a whole new level, literally.

Life of Reilly: How do you beat a guy who throws righty and lefty? You don't.
Rick Reilly tells the story of Pat Venditte. He is a 23 year old minor league pitcher who can pitch right and left handed. That's not a typo. Here is some video of him about a year back pitching and causing some confusion at a game with a switch hitter.

North Carolina Boating Information and Safety Links

With summer around the corner and spring in full swing, many people in North Carolina will be making a mad dash to the lakes or ocean to cool off. The relaxed nature that presents its self at these locations can lead to mishaps with boats, jet skis and even kayaks.

Before you head out on your or a friend's watercraft check out these links to North Carolina boating rules and general boating and watercraft safety. If you're going to the waterways of North Carolina this spring or summer make sure you stay safe and have a great time!!!

North Carolina Boating Statutes

North Carolina Boating Accident Stats

North Carolina Boating Safety Course and Exam

North Carolina Boating Law Basics

List of Inland Lakes and Rivers in North Carolina

Jet Ski Safety

We hope these links better educate you as you have fun in the sun this spring and summer!

Social Security Disability Benefits Not Expected to Rise in 2010

A report from the New York Times forecasts that benefits for people on Social Security will not rise in the upcoming year. If predictions are correct, this is the first time this would happen in more than three decades.

The reasoning behind the forecast is the C.O.L.A. (Cost of Living Adjustment), a formula that yields proper adjustments to benefits to meet the requirements of living day-to-day. For a better perspective think about this, increases have been the norm since 1975 and just last year the increase was 5.8 percent.

The forecasts, which were put out by the current administration and the Congressional Budget Office, shows that an increase in C.O.L.A may not arrive until 2012. Then it may just be a 1.4 percent hike from the previous year.

Quotes:

“Most seniors have never been through a year in which there was no Social Security COLA,”

- David M. Certner, legislative counsel at AARP

Want to learn more about C.O.L.A? Click Here

Friday Feed #3

Like every Friday we give you some interesting news, notes, tidbits, photos and information we have found in this past week. Enjoy and have a great weekend!!!

Dancing Birds Feel the Beat
Two new studies find that birds have rythym. Both studies crown a sulfur-crested cockatoo, named Snowball, the disco king of the birds. Snowball might just be a special bird as the scientist found that the parrots are the best at moving their body and legs to steady beats in music. By the way, Snowball prefers rock music.

50 Tools Everyone Should Own (With Tips!)
Is your tool box complete? Look over this guide from Popular Mechanics, a group of people dedicated to building and making things better. The great thing is they just don't provide the list, they give you tips along the way.

Mind how you go: The amazing wheelchair... controlled by the power of thought
It's no secret that technology is advancing rapidly day-to-day, but this is something above and beyond.

Human landscapes from above
The Boston Globe takes a look at 26 human landscapes from a bird's eye view. Awesome gallery of pictures. #7, a picture of a hot spring in Yellowstone, is without a doubt the best.

Pontiac cars through the years
With the recent news that General Motors is not continuing the Pontiac brand the Chicago Tribune takes a look back through the years with pictures. It only took them 5 pictures to get in a Burt Reyonlds reference.


Have a great weekend and we'll see you on Monday!!!