Take a look at our August newsletter!
Makin’ It Better NEWSLETTER
August 2022
Oregon Workers’ Compensation | Personal Injury | Social Security Disability
1139 Exchange St., Astoria, OR 97103 • 503-325-8600 • JoeDiBartolomeo.com
Tackle the New School Year Easily
HIGH SCHOOLERS The first year of high school can be an overwhelming experience. Students are slowly beginning the process of transitioning into adulthood, with more responsibilities and stricter routines. It can become intense with all the test prepping, exploring ideal colleges, and searching for scholarships. Lessen the worry by taking these steps to ensure there are no difficulties. Map it out. It is essential to have your high schooler track their deadlines and important dates. This will allow them to schedule their workload accordingly throughout the week and have reminders of upcoming assignments. You can use agendas, calendars, or even their phones to help organize their schedules. Check in with their guidance counselor. Your high schooler shouldn’t rely on you for everything, but you can utilize the guidance counselor in their school if it’s something beyond your reach. Guidance counselors are able to keep your high schooler on the right track with their classes and ensure that they meet all the requirements for graduation. Going back to school can be an overwhelming task in itself, so assure your kids that it’ll take time to get into the groove of things as you both tackle the new school year. –Joe Di Bartolomeo
As summer comes to an end and the kids get ready to return to school, I find myself wondering how we’ll transition back into our normal schedule. The school environment demands many things that summer activities don’t — the ability to sit still and stay on track, get organized, and adapt to a structured daily routine. Making sure children can adjust smoothly is a parent’s main priority, so these tips will get kids of all ages ready to tackle the new year. ELEMENTARY GRADE KIDS Our little ones can have mixed feelings about the new school year starting, as it can be a grueling process trying to reinforce sleep schedules and homework routines. But, there are a few tricks to get them motivated, all while having fun getting ready for the school year. Go back-to-school shopping. If you involve the little ones in shopping, you can set spending limits and allow them to pick out supplies that express their own interests and creativity. When younger kids have the freedom to choose their supplies, they’re more excited to attend school and show these items to their classmates. And if you do it early enough, before the start of the school year, you’ll save yourself some time, money, and stress. Create a homework/study station. Setting up a space for your child to study or do their homework can help enhance their concentration. I suggest putting a desk in
a quiet area of the house, so there are little to no distractions. You can also have them personalize their desk with art to make them feel more comfortable.
MIDDLE SCHOOLERS Transitioning from elementary school to middle school is a big step for kids. The workload is more rigorous, and the
social aspect becomes more complex. Middle schoolers have to make some major adjustments in their routines all while
navigating through a bigger environment. Try these two tips to keep their transition smooth.
Tour the school. No more following the leader or standing in line! Middle schoolers have to make their way to classes all on their own. So, it helps to navigate the hallways before the school year starts, locating the essential areas they will be using, like the cafeteria or the library. In fact, you can take this time to use your middle schooler’s class schedule to help them find the perfect route from class to class. Organize materials according to the subject. With little time in between classes, it’s important to keep class materials organized so middle schoolers don’t grab the wrong notebook or textbook. A great way to do this is by color-coding materials. It makes items easy to spot in a messy locker or backpack, especially if students are trying to be quick!
The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com
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Choosing Joy Every Day School’s Out! What Can You Do? 3 WAYS TO FOSTER A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
In today’s society, we are faced with tragic stories and upsetting information, no matter where we turn. This can quickly lead us to a negative mindset where we believe things can’t be fixed and will only get worse, so it’s even more important now to establish a positive mindset. Though it might be easier to bury your head in the sand, fostering positivity in your life will provide you with many benefits.
But doing so is easier said than done. If you’re unsure where to begin, try out some of these methods to help you get started.
a gratitude journal and write a few things you are thankful for each day. Over time, that thought process will seep into your daily life.
FOCUS ON THE SILVER LINING. When something bad or unfortunate happens, we are quick to think about the negatives and how they will impact us in the future. Instead, we should be searching for a silver lining. You can find a positive in any situation, but you’ll have to put in the effort to flip your perspective. KEEP A GRATITUDE JOURNAL. When we think about gratitude and thankfulness, our minds usually think about Thanksgiving. But we don’t need to wait for a special day to show gratitude. Things happen to us every day that we should be grateful for. If you’re struggling to acknowledge your blessings, keep
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE. The people we associate with play a huge role in our mental well- being. If you’re constantly around people who put you down or tell you that you can’t accomplish certain things, you will feel worse about yourself — or even believe them. You need to block the negative people from your life and surround yourself with those who think optimistically.
Establishing a positive mindset in today’s world may be difficult, but it is not impossible if you develop a strategy and follow through with it.
KNOW THE SIGNS Injured Workers Need Support, Not Sabotage
When you’re injured as an employee — whether it be in the workplace or from an underlying or previous cause — you tend to expect your employers to be supportive, right? Unfortunately, that is not always the case. It is important to be wary of the signs of a hostile employer because there are times when they will try to undermine a workers’ compensation claim.
Since employees are under a time limit (90 days from an acute injury) to file their claim, an employer may take advantage of that and sabotage the claim. They will tell you to wait until the end of the season or may even refuse to provide the claim form. If that is the case, you can contact Oregon’s Workers’ Compensation Ombudsman. This office advocates for injured workers and helps navigate the claim filing process. You can also go to Oregon’s Workers’ Compensation Division’s “Employer Index” page and find coverage information regarding your employer. ABUSE OF MODIFIED WORK RELEASE While a worker is seeking treatment for an on-the-job injury, Oregon’s Workers’ Compensation allows an employer to offer a modified job in the meantime. Although
in a sense it is good as it allows a worker to get back into the workplace, employers can actually use this to intimidate or harass the injured worker. Employers abuse this by creating menial jobs to demean their employees and won’t honor physical limitations set out in the modified job descriptions. We encourage our clients to have the job description on standby so they can show the supervisor and offer any work within those limitations. If it doesn’t work, you may need to contact an adjuster or see a physician to clarify or confirm what you can and cannot do. Filing a workers’ compensation claim can be a difficult task, so contact us at 503-325-8600 so we can answer any questions you have or provide resources or referrals. We can help you navigate this process and make sure you know where you stand.
Here are some signs to look out for to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
POSTPONING THE CLAIM In the state of Oregon, by law, it is required for employers to have workers’ compensation coverage for their employees. If a worker is injured on the job, the employer is expected and required to send the claim to their insurer within five days.
Sometimes employers will try to convince their workers to postpone filing their claims.
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The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com
CHECK YOUR SURROUNDINGS! IDENTIFYING BLIND SPOTS
Some of the first things we learn in driver’s education are to always wear your seat belt, lock the doors as soon as you get inside your vehicle, and — maybe one of the most important rules — always check your blind spots. Blind spots are the areas or zones on either side of a moving vehicle that a driver cannot see in their side or rearview mirrors. Some common zones where blind spots can prove perilous include the following. INTERSECTIONS AND CROSSWALKS When you’re approaching an intersection or crosswalk, big trees, road signs, and other large objects can make it difficult to see traffic and pedestrians. Be mindful of your surroundings when approaching intersections or crosswalks — since your line of vision shifts as the vehicle moves, you may be able to spot something before you actually reach it. ONCOMING TRAFFIC Always be aware of your surroundings, especially when crossing lanes into oncoming traffic. Cars seem to “come out of nowhere” and can catch you
by surprise if you don’t pay attention or try to rush across the lanes. Take your time, watch the lights, and only turn when you’re sure it is safe.
LANE CHANGES According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), 18% of automobile collisions take place during lane changes. Always double-check over your shoulder(s) and be cautious of traffic in the lane beside you and don’t forget to use your turn signals! REVERSING THE VEHICLE If your vehicle has a backup camera, that’s great! It’s a useful tool, but you should still be checking blind spots. Whether you’re backing out of your driveway or a parking lot, go slowly so that you can watch for passing pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to eliminate all blind spots, but there are ways to still stay cautious and aware of your surroundings. If you have been in a blind spot automobile accident, or have questions regarding it, call Di Bartolomeo Law at 503-325-8600. We want to help guide you through the process, because to us, you’re not just another file.
PUZZLE
Zucchini Corn Fritters Inspired by MakingThymeForHealth.com
If you have a bowl and 30 minutes, you can make these fritters for dinner! Add them to your list of go-to meals that celebrate summer vegetables. Ingredients
• 4 cups shredded zucchini • 1/2 cup corn kernels • 6 green onions, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 1 1/4 cups chickpea flour • 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano • 1 tsp dried thyme • 1 tsp each salt and pepper • 1 tbsp olive oil • Vegan nacho cheese, black beans, salsa, and avocado for toppings zucchini mixture into the skillet. Cook for 3–5 minutes, then flip. Cook for another 3–5 minutes until fritter is golden brown. Repeat with the remaining batter. 3. Serve topped with nacho cheese, black beans, salsa, and avocado.
Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except oil
and toppings. Stir until well combined and let rest for 5 minutes until a batter forms. 2. In a large skillet, warm the oil over medium heat. Scoop 1/4 cup of
The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com
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503-325-8600 JoeDiBartolomeo.com
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1139 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103
What’s Inside
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Tips to Ensure Students Transition Smoothly
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Dealing With Negativity? Try These 3 Things! How Some Employers Interfere with Injured Oregon Workers
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How to Avoid Blind Spot Accidents Zucchini Corn Fritters
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The Future Is Bright With Machine Learning
The Machine Learning Takeover The Possibilities Are Limitless
ADVANCES IN QUANTUM COMPUTING Quantum computing involves
A subfield of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning is how Amazon’s Alexa is so bright — and only gets smarter — or how Netflix can recommend new shows and movies based on previous views. Computers now can see and recognize faces and objects on a photo or video, and thanks to language processing, machines can even talk back to us! With such advances, it’s safe to say we’ll be seeing a lot more AI and robots in the near future! With machine learning, computers are absorbing brand-new information every day and using that data to change the way they make decisions. Efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness within companies that implement machine learning are improving, and it’s enabling beneficial changes in many core processes.
using data from quantum physics to come up with new and improved algorithms and methods of computing. Currently, quantum algorithms and hardware
are not available, but with machine learning, it’s on deck! Academic institutions and areas of the government are working on it. With improved machine learning, quantum computing will soon be possible, and we’ll be able to solve difficult computing issues. FURTHER CUSTOMIZATION Currently, many products on the market are customized to fit our needs. But with advancements in machine learning, companies can revamp existing products to be even more enticing to their target audience. Likewise, new products will be loaded with cutting-edge personalization and customization, thus maximizing their value for customers and organizations. With machine learning taking off, the possibilities are endless. Will we one day have actual robots that can cook for us and take care of housework? At this rate, it may be possible!
Here are some of the advances we can expect in the near future from machine learning.
FINER-TUNED SEARCH RESULTS Without us knowing it, machine learning influences every Google search we do. The order of search hits and their ranking are based on machine learning techniques. In the coming years, deeper learning techniques will enable even more relevant search results, hitting the nail on the head almost every time.
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The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com
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