Medlin Software, Dennis

Many phone calls are carried over the internet.  VOIP, Skype, Ooma, MagicJack, etc., so one has to assume every call is over VOIP since you never know what the other party is using, and you may not even know how your own provider connects.  So no, I do not worry about someone looking for a few voice mail transcriptions out of the many, nor somehow monitoring the conversation - not any more than any phone call at all.  I simply assume they are not private.  Something I started doing with the first phones without cords, since those were easy to monitor, accidentally or on purpose.

And I thought I really was winning a free cruise each evening :).

Joking aside, several years ago I setup several google voice numbers so I can limit my cell number to family and friends.  Also works great for working from out of the office.  The other benefit is gv filters calls, and can route known spam numbers to a spam folder.  Can also receive texts as emails, and the missed or ignored call transcription is good enough to get by (comcast is a little better at transcribing).  Still get random direct to cell spam calls, but unless from family or friends, or is a forward from a GV number within the time frame I setup in GV (business days and hours), they go to voicemail without ringing.

Also use one gv number strictly to give out as a business text message number.  I get the message via email, and reply via email as well.  Easily limits the hours I get "beeped".

Jack - Nope, problem not prevented.  You still have to practice safe hex.  Received a new computer (late '80's) where the hard drive already had something nefarious on it.  It was the person/store who put together the computer who caused the problem.  Could get something internally, via using some sort of media for backup (assuming you are backing up).

Safe hex is the only prevention.  No software or hardware action can protect you.

I am a big proponent of getting a new PC when there is a new OS.  The odds of any OS/Hardware issues are much less.  For the most part, any off the shelf PC is going to be fine, unless you are gaming.  Amazon has been fine for me.  No matter what source, if it does not fail soon after beginning use, it is likely not to fail for a long time.  Leave it on for the first week or two, not sleeping or hibernating, will fairly test the hardware.  If one is inclined, you can run some stress test software as well.

I do add a video card, so I can have multiple monitors.  I like smaller multiple monitors over large screens, given what a person's eyes can easily scan.  The key for me is to keep the tops of the monitors at or lower than my eye level to avoid neck pain at end of day.  Portrait is easiest on the eyes, but landscape can be handy for something with ling lines (like program code).

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For work, I use an old computer.  It is plenty fast, and more closely simulated what our customers might be using.  I have W10 and W7 via dual boot.  The box is probably 10 years old now.  I have personal and other PC's, newer and older, which I can use when needed.  The only time I wish it was faster is for a long program compile, but it is still just seconds, versus tens of minutes in the "old" days.

For those who want to go at it on their own, I would add that if the "reason" is something not black and white in the code or examples, an hour SSDI attorney consult might be wise, just to increase the chance of first time success.  There are many "new" disabilities which may not perfectly align with their internal items and may "throw off" whomever reviews the application.

If there is any doubt, get representation.  (See the last paragraph.)

Getting medical records from what is likely several sources may seem daunting.  The cheapest way is to get their primary care doc to make the requests from all other docs, since these are usually done on a courtesy basis.  Give it time.  If speed is an issue, then you are better off face to face at each medical provider.  2-3 years back may be enough, provided the issue is shown in that time frame.

SSDI attorneys can only get a certain percentage of the "back pay" (the first check covering the application date through the approval date, plus certain expenses.  This is public information which can be confirmed (I cannot remember the specifics at the moment, might even have a dollar cap.).  IIRC the SSA regulates this strictly.

Hourly/Daily life with a friend or family member who has challenges may be more than enough to deal with - any time you can share the work load is most welcome.  It may not be a immediate financial need, or even medical coverage need, it may be a need to set someone up should their current caregiver not be available, or to access services to get the best and fullest support available.  If the applicant is the one who is disabled, I would always suggest an attorney as daily life is already tough enough.

When communication goes awry, and I want to see if it was me, I used to have my spouse read the messages, now it is my daughter.  I have to find someone new every now and again, as they get jaded (as well as protective of me) if I use them too much...  The jaded/protective is why my spouse and daughter never watch me umpire any more (our boys can, since they are also umpires) because they take what the crowd says personally.  Plus my wife is my worst heckler!

I suppose the real "issue" for most here, as well as me, is we have no insulation.  We are the ones doing the work, and have to hear comments regarding our work.  Our customers know that, and make an assumption we not only remember every thing about them, but can understand intent.  When there is a go between, folks tend to be clearer so the "message" gets through.

Not even close to the worse

Business communication has gone "text" and "twitter" for far too many.

Daily, I get communications asking for help, but no actual question.  Messages saying they are having a problem, but no hint as to the problem.  I spend more time trying to ferret out the issue than answering the issue, with more than a fair amount of the issues answered by the error or other message already shown on their screen.  There is also a fair amount who ask for help, then argue that the reply cannot be correct.

It is what it is, and rather than be frustrated, I have to remember to adapt.  Toughest part of the job!

The area bar assn will likely have a web site listing specialties.  This is a definite specialty.  But, unless the person has already been denied, or is not comfortable preparing the application, or it is not a clear cut case, they can do it themselves first, then obtain an attorney if denied.  It is not as horrible a process as one imagines or hears.  The "clock" starts with the first application, which in some cases, needs to be timed for the best benefit.

I was in the same boat.  The atty we met with gave this advice, that we seemed more than capable of making the initial app, that it will likely be approved (legitimate case with multiple factors), and they would be more than willing to help if an appeal was needed.

ON the other hand, the compensation is strictly governed, so if the person just wants someone else to handle it, and the attorney agrees, it might be worth it to the applicant.

Don't read into it at all, ask them to elaborate.  No reason to spend time trying to answer something when something was not asked...

I get something similar many times a day in many forms.  "I have a problem."  "Can you help me?"  "I am seeing an error message?"  I stopped spending time trying to guess and now just answer with a standard pre built reply.  The reply is fairly long, since it has to cover all sorts of unasked questions, but it is an accurate reply.

Every 2 hours.  The frequency of your backup equals the amount of time (beyond the restore) you are willing to spend retyping data.  I am willing to retype 2 hours of data.  I am not willing to retype an entire day's work, let alone a week's work.

What Jack said.

Again, Carbonite and others DEFAULT to only backup certain common folders.  You CAN add additional files and folders to what Carbonite backs up.  If the folder's permissions, or your user permissions do not allow the file to be backed up, you have bigger issues with using that folder.

Carbonite, and most third party backup software, defaults to the more common folders.  It CAN be set to backup other locations as well.  They also skip certain file types (the last time I checked, movie files were not included by default), even in folders they are set to backup.  The "flaw: in such systems IS the impression that no user configuration is needed after installation.  Most don't find out they were not including other folders until it is too late.  The same thing happens when an "expert" moves data to a new computer for you, they only move the common locations.

The missing parts of most backup routines is storing a copy or two at a remote location AND routinely testing your backups by restoring them and making sure you were able to restore what you actually intended to backup.  It is a double whammy when you need a backup, think you were backing up, only to discover what you can restore, if anything, is not what you actually needed.  That is when I get called, asking if we were sending data to some secret undocumented location in the cloud, or sending data to our own computers (which we do not do).

An unexpected error is usually some sort of major fail, for which there is no common message to show.  Consider such message as neither the application nor operating system having any idea how to gracefully get past the error, usually caused by a programming error in the current application, or another which happens to be running.  I would not count on anything working properly after closing the message.

I only deal with NYS employer forms.  In our case, the paper form no longer exists due to mandatory efile.  For the short time the paper form still existed after mandatory efile, we also put a watermark on the "form" we printed to at least prevent us from getting dinged if someone mailed it in.  Now we print a summary of what went into the efile, so it is really clear the paper is not to be sent to NYS.

IIRC the NYS income tax efile info, individuals who use software which "can" efile, "have" to efile.  If that faint memory is correct, assuming ATX can efile, I bet ATX is using the watermark just as I once did.  May not mean the paper "form" is incorrect, just that it should not be mailed to NYS.  (I am a literal person, so I am taking your "not approved for filing" as the watermark, with no mention of it being a draft form.)

I saw this last night, I would love to get away with putting this on a card and handing it out as needed...

While frustrating, we all get nickels because the tax system is arcane and complicated...  I have to repeat this to myself over and over this time of year, usually on every phone ring or email ding

Seen it before.  Either knowingly, unknowingly, or because of bad advice or naivete, an improper method IMO.  Should have been added to taxable wages on their paychecks.

If the employer is only "renting" computers from their employees, then the employee relationship triggers the "rent", so I can see no way to consider it separate from the employment relationship.

The employee is in a bad spot.  Convincing the employer to handle it the proper way is not likely to happen as the employer will give the old "we have always done it this way and have never had an issue" reply.  How it is handled on this return is one thing (I guess Line 21 might make me comfortable enough for a one time deal), but I would probably spend the time with the employee to enlighten them.

Medlin is Windows only.  We do not use Macs, and if one uses internet statistics, no more than 10% of people do use Macs.  If there was a time when Apple desktop OS has ever been above 10%, it was brief.

It is being used in all 50 states.

Two employees?  W-2?  SSA?  Paper forms.  Why?  because it makes it a bit tougher for the employer to neglect to print and retina their own copy.  Especially for a small employer that does not already use something that can print forms, they are more likely to have a need for copies later.  Just sayin' - given many years of experience...

Slight tangent, all the white background is harder on battery life with a current mobile device.  The more you can get your mobile device to not have to light up pixels, the longer your batt lasts between charges.  For mobile, I try to control the background, if the site does not already options for a dark background.  For mobile, the display is the one batt eater you have some control over.

It is a "lose" only situation.  If the employee comes clean and pays their share of taxes, the employer will eventually maybe get caught, and even if not, the employee will probably lose their job.  Been there in my naive youth as the employee.

Thanks for the mentions!  I suspect few, if any, of the others read this BB most every day...

Indeed.  We do think and plan for our future and for succession, but there is no reason to fail by trying to do more.

Ii do not see that in our future...