I’ve just built another new workers’ compensation calculator. Actually, it is a look up tool that will help workers’ compensation professionals file documents with EAMS. ((Photo courtesy of Irene on the run))
While I think the recent Verify!® social security number validator may be more intriguing for defense attorneys and claims examiners, I think this new EAMS tool will probably be more useful to Applicant attorneys.
I think we can dispense with the caption, just this once...
A defense attorney friend of mine called me up yesterday to say (I’m paraphrasing here), “You jackass. Thanks to your Ogilvie proof every Applicant’s attorney I know is calling me up, gloating, and asking for 18 points on top of the whole person impairment on every case! Why the hell did you do that???” ((Photo courtesy of giuliomarziale)) My first thought was of my favorite quote from Swingers. ((Just for you Ray!)) What I actually said was something along the lines of:
It’s not like CAAA wouldn’t have found out about Ogilvie if it wasn’t for Jay Shergill mentioning it in a blog post.
Nothing has changed except that now anyone can perform an Ogilvie adjustment calculation in their head. ((And save $129.99 in the process))
For the moment, let’s set aside the issue of whether California’s injured workers have gotten a raw deal since SB899. Suppose there’s an injured worker with a finger injury, stays on temporary disability for two years, and is immediately made permanent and stationary. If instead they get a 0% WPI, they get nothing. If they gets a 1% WPI, Ogilvie tells us this person gets a DFEC adjusted WPI of 19%.
Nearly every litigated case involves an extended period of temporary disability and a whole person impairment less than 45. ((Hell, a permanent irreversible coma is only a WPI of 80.)) Ogilvie effectively removes the first 18% permanent partial disability levels.
I really don’t think the WCAB intended this consequence. Don’t get upset with me – as long as Ogilvie is the law I might as well make Ogilvie calculations easy for you, right? ((Remember, just add 18 to the WPI!))
Broken calculators? Nothing a little duct tape won't fix...
Yesterday from about noon to 4pm the server which hosts this website (and many others) was down. This unfortunately lead to an interruption for which I apologize. ((Photo courtesy of mhuang)) During this time I was unable to send/receive emails and the website was unavailable.
The hosting company I use is very good. When there’s been downtime it normally occurs during non-peak hours and is very short in duration. This was an anomaly.
Anyhow, everything is back on line and open for business.
If you are highly concerned about cost, portability, battery life and not as concerned about optical drives ((DVD/CD drives)) , screen size, or keyboard size you probably want a netbook. It will probably run you between $300 – $500. ((Photo courtesy of Ciccio Pizzettaro))
If cost-be-damned you just must have absolutely everything, well, then get yourself a high end laptop. ((Scroll to the bottom for my pic k.)) The sky’s the limit with a computer like this. You can configure an Alienware laptop that will make Deep Thought hide its processor in shame for $5,000.00 or so.
If you are concerned about cost but just cannot sacrifice optical drives, screen size, or keyboard size, you probably want a basic laptop. A basic laptop is all about compromises. You get the hardware you need from a desktop, but without the thin, light, elegant, and portable design. These laptops typically weigh between 6 and 8 pounds and cost between $600 and $1000 or so.
There are so many nearly indistinguishable computers in this category, there is no real point in suggesting a particular laptop. Just about every manufacturer has several choices for basic laptops.
A while ago a very entrepreneurial friend of mine suggested I read a book called, “The Art of the Start” by Guy Kawasaki. This one book is responsible in no small part for the website you see today. ((So, if you don’t like it – blame him! Haha!)) Guy worked for Apple and later started an influential and innovative venture capital firm, Garage. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s a frequent lecturer, best selling author, and avid blogger.
In one of his recent articles, he talks about “Plan B for Fund Raising.” Here’s my take on Plans A and B:
Plan Bee
Plan A
Anyone who was alive during the late 90’s has heard of “Plan A.” Build a prototype, put together a PowerPoint presentation, get some venture capital, and spend venture capitalist money. You know how this story ends. The company gets bought out and everyone is rich or the company never goes anywhere and its assets are sold for scrap.
Anyone who was alive during the 70’s knows all about “Plan B.” These are the people who started businesses in their garage. I suppose we really only hear about the success “Plan B” stories. No one’s surprised when a home business doesn’t go big so no one talks about it. Plan B is where somebody believes so feverishly in their own idea they work on it nights and weekends after they come home from their day job as a barrista.
The whole reason I’m writing this blog post, indeed the reason why I have this blog and website at all, is because of “Plan B.” At its most hectic in the last year, I was working a day job, doing contract attorney and techie work for various clients, while marketing and programming these calculators. While I didn’t live with my parents, I participated in a surprisingly (and embarrassingly) large number of the activities Guy describes under Plan B.
This is NOT something I intend to do ever again. Thankfully, the hard work of building the calculators is done. ((Well, more accurately, its always almost done. ;) )) These days my only continuing time commitment to this site is writing blog posts and answering fan mail. ((But, mostly blog posts.))
