DiBartolomeo Law Office - August 2019

DiBartolomeo Law Office - August 2019

Makin’ It Better NEWSLETTER

August 2019

Oregon Workers’ Compensation | Personal Injury | Social Security Disability

1139 Exchange St., Astoria, OR 97103 • 503-325-8600 • JoeDiBartolomeo.com

THE MAGICAL PULL OF THE POOL

How to Take the Experience up a Notch

SPLASHTASTIC POOL TOYS

It’s no secret that kids love water. When the summer heat waves peak, kids in bright bathing suits charge through sprinklers, shoot down hose-powered Slip ‘N Slides, and take turns perfecting their cannonballs at the neighborhood pool. This affinity for water is particularly powerful when children are small; the single word “pool” can inspire them to eat broccoli or even clean up their rooms. But what makes the water so alluring? Susan Brown, an assistant director and parent educator at Commonwealth Parenting, has a theory. “I like to think of children’s fingers as if there are little brains on the tip of each finger,” Brown wrote in an article for Community Idea Stations. “When these little brains get stimulated through play, neurons begin to fire. This firing of neurons excites the brain, causing it to grow bigger, stronger, and more facile, setting the brain up for higher levels of cognition. One of the simplest ways to provide sensory play is through water activities.” In other words, kids love water because splashing around in it is literally helping their brains grow. For busy parents, this is a blessing: Letting the kids loose at the pool under the eye of an experienced lifeguard can be an ideal way to keep the summer fun rolling for kids and adults alike. Follow the tips below to enrich the pool experience for your kids and get those neurons firing.

If your kids are old enough for regular pool visits, it’s a good bet you already have a pile of perpetually damp inner tubes and pool noodles in your garage. Still, if you want to cement your “cool parent” status, try upping your pool toy game. The options are endless: Sea-Saw Water Rockers, Boat House Floating Habitats, underwater diving sticks, and many others. Stop by your local big box store or visit Amazon.com to browse the bounty. Once you’re fully stocked with pool toys, the next step is to make swim time competitive. Water sports equipment, like floating basketball hoops and volleyball nets, can keep kids occupied for hours, and brave parents can even snag waterborne trampolines or Starfighter Super Squirters — inflatable command posts that seat one kid each, complete with squirt guns — which are perfect for aquatic squirt gun battles. Just be sure to keep your distance from the pool, or else you’re likely to get soaked, too. GAMES FOR ALL OCCASIONS

summer extravaganza. Let your kids invite their friends, offer up some s’mores, and you’re guaranteed extra “cool” points.

JOIN THE FUN

The younger your kids are, the more they’ll want you to jump in the pool with them. Not only is swimming together an excellent bonding experience, but it’s also the perfect way to cool off and stay in shape for the summer.

TAKE TO THE ROAD

In the mind of an 8-year-old, the only thing better than a trip to the pool is a vacation to the beach or trip to the waterpark. While this option requires more investment than buying a handful of pool toys, it comes with significant upsides: Beaches and waterparks cater to all age groups, and the memories you make will last for years to come.

MAKE IT A PARTY

If you’re lucky enough to have a backyard or neighborhood pool, all it takes is a pack of brats on the grill, a huge bowl of sliced watermelon, and a few neighbors in attendance to turn a simple pool visit into a

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

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STAYING ‘COOL’ WITH YOUR CANINE Enjoy the Weather While Keeping Your Pup Comfortable

With all this late-summer sunshine, it’s the perfect time to take your dog out for some fun. And while spending time basking in nature’s beauty can be a great source of fun and exercise for you and your pets, it’s important to keep a careful watch on your dog’s core temperature to prevent heat exhaustion. There are several detectable signs of heat exhaustion that you can watch for, including abnormal lethargy, vomiting, or a brightly colored blue or red tongue. Here are some tips to keep your canine cool this summer. WATER IN ALL ITS FORMS While certain dog breeds thrive in hotter climates, all pups need a little extra care when it comes to staying hydrated during the summer. For starters, always make sure they have ready access to drinkable water. If you are going on an adventure, consider bringing a collapsible water bowl. If you are doing some backyard chilling, consider filling up a small wading pool with water for your pooch to splash or lounge in. SOME INVALUABLE INVENTIONS There are many contraptions to help you keep your canine cool in the summer heat. Booties to insulate

their toes and protect their paw pads from the hot asphalt, cooling vests that reflect sunlight off darker fur, and pressure-activated cooling pads are just a few of the gizmos you can purchase to stave off those scorching temps. The Dog People, a website powered by Rover.com, also recommends making frozen “pupsicles,” a yogurt-based frozen treat that can satisfy doggy cravings while keeping them cool. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE While fun water toys and helpful cooling inventions are great, the best thing you can do to keep your dog cool is be careful about when you decide to go outside. Taking your pup out in the early morning or later in the evening, when the sun isn’t at its highest point in the sky, will help keep them cooler in the long run. Additionally, keep in mind that some breeds deal with the heat better than others. If you’re unsure, do a little research to determine your dog’s susceptibility to heat exhaustion. Just because the heat is sizzling doesn’t mean your dog should be! Keep these tips in mind before taking your canine out in the summer sun. They will thank you for it!

3 MYTHS ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY It’s Time to Set the Record Straight

Since its creation in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, there have been misconceptions about America’s Social Security program. Over time, those fallacies have grown into full-blown myths — a problem big enough that the Social Security Administration itself has a two-part section on its website dedicated to debunking them. The program’s subsections, like Social Security Disability (one of our specialties), are even more nuanced and misunderstood. Here are a few common myths about disability that deserve to be busted:

to prior work or from holding any other job in the national economy. The process includes an examination of work history, medical records, and statements from friends and family, along with reviews from doctors.

that we are not paid unless your claim is approved.

Even if you’re only thinking about an application, we would be happy to point you in the right direction. Please contact us with any questions you might have — we’d love to do more myth busting.

THERE’S NO POINT IN APPEALING A DENIAL

While successful appeals are rare and the process is long, there is always hope. You can set yourself up for success by securing the help of an experienced lawyer who can guide you through the multi-step appeals process. GETTING HELP TO FILE A CLAIM IS ALWAYS EXPENSIVE This couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s no cost associated with getting help from a firm like DiBartolomeo Law Offices to file a disability claim, as Social Security rules and statutes stipulate

IT’S EASY TO GET SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY

The U.S. government isn’t handing out disability willy-nilly. Applicants must prove they have a serious medical problem that keeps them from returning

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

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Oregon is a unique state in many ways — it’s the only one with an official state nut (the hazelnut), and it boasts the first city to have one-way streets (Eugene) and the deepest lake in the country (Crater Lake). But Oregon is unique for another reason: In the Beaver State, jurors will not tolerate drunk driving. While a sober distracted driver can be forgiven for simply making a mistake, an intoxicated defendant who made the decision to get behind the wheel is rarely given any slack. Oregon juries have been known to deliver harsh verdicts on drunk driving incidents in order to “send a message” about drunk driving not only to the driver but also to the community at large. DUI fines for a first offense in Oregon start at $1,000 but can climb as high as $10,000 depending on the circumstances. In addition, victims of drunk driving-related collisions can claim compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and compensation for losing health (as in any collision),

along with “punitive damages” for criminal behavior. Victims can also make a “dram shop” claim, which holds the bar or restaurant that provided the alcohol accountable as long as there is “clear and convincing evidence” the drunk driver was “visibly intoxicated.” Being injured in an auto collision is hard enough — being injured and ending up a crime victim is

even more stressful. Luckily, the assistance of a good law firm makes the process easier. We help our clients navigate the criminal case, including everything from assisting with the victim impact statement to going to court. If you have questions about claims against drunk drivers and alcohol providers in Oregon, don’t hesitate to contact DiBartolomeo Law Offices.

SENEGALESE LAMB SKEWERS

Inspired by Food & Wine Magazine

Ingredients

For the lamb: • 2 lbs. trimmed leg of lamb, cut into 1-inch cubes • 1 tbsp peanut oil, plus more for grilling • Salt and black pepper, to taste

For the onions: • 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar • 1/2 cup Dijon mustard • 1/2 tbsp agave nectar • 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced • Salt and white pepper, to taste

• Bamboo skewers Equipment

Directions

1. In a bowl, coat lamb with 1 tbsp oil and generously season with salt and pepper. 2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, and agave nectar. Toss in onions and season with salt and pepper.

3. Heat a grill or grill pan to medium and oil the grates. 4. Thread lamb on skewers and grill for 6–8 minutes. 5. Serve alongside onions.

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

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1139 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103

What’s Inside

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Becoming the Cool Pool Parent

Staying ‘Cool’ With Your Canine This Summer

3 Myths About Social Security Disability

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Oregon Injury Claims Against Drunk Drivers

Senegalese Lamb Skewers

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The Laptops of Tomorrow

SEEING DOUBLE

THE LAPTOPS OF TOMORROW

THE ASUS ZENBOOK PRO DUO

This summer, the tech world took another step toward creating the omnifunctional devices that science fiction has been promising us. Multiple big-name computer companies have unveiled their spin on the latest design craze: folding display laptops. The idea of a portable, dual-screen PC seemed like a gimmick a few years ago, but with HP, Intel, and Lenovo all jumping into the game, this may be the future of laptops. Here’s a look at the exciting new designs. Intel is looking to do the impossible: prove once and for all that laptops can work for hardcore gamers. With a 15.6-inch, 1080p display perched above a 12.3-inch, 1920 x 720 touch screen, users certainly have plenty of real estate to play with. The idea is that the primary screen can be dedicated to actual gameplay, while the touch display can be used for anything from minimaps to Discord chats. Throw in a Tobii eye-tracking camera, and you have the potential for an on-the-go Twitch streaming studio. INTEL’S HONEYCOMB GLACIER

This latest addition to the ZenBook line is an artist’s dream — so long as they have the cash. With two 4K displays, the Pro Duo isn’t cheap, but it may well be the new king of function and fidelity. The crisp, responsive 32:9 touch screen is perfect for sketching with a stylus or arranging video clips on a timeline. Meanwhile, the 15-inch primary display can render your handiwork in all its ultra-high definition glory. The most experimental on this list, the teased addition to the ThinkPad line doesn’t have a name yet, let alone a launch date. However, Lenovo feels this mystery model could be the first of an entirely new device that’s neither laptop nor tablet. Mock-ups show a clamshell computer with two nearly seamless displays and no keyboard. Essentially, it’s one big screen that can fold in half. While it’s unclear how users will respond to this laptop-tablet hybrid, it’s certainly an ambitious move from the world’s leading PC company. LENOVO’S THINKPAD X1 (REAL NAME TBA)

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

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