The Workers' Compensation Executive Forum conducted in St. Louis last week by the Self Insurance Institute of America (SIIA), was a vast improvement from the prior year's San Antonio event. Medical treatment and cost was a priority topic, and information related to managing this growing area of concern seemed to dominate the agenda. One of the…
Multitasking Sex in New Mexico Ends in Premature Ejection
I am supposed to be writing today about the Workers' Compensation Executive Forum conducted in St. Louis last week by the Self Insurance Institute of America (SIIA). It provided very insightful information along a number of tracks, most notably the area concerned with managing medical within claims. I should be writing about that. Unfortunately, while…
My Top 10 Causes of General Befuddlement and Bewilderment
I was flying to St. Louis to attend the SIIA Workers’ Compensation Executive Forum, and as so often seems to be the case, struck up a pre-flight conversation with several seat mates on the plane. It started with questions regarding the flight attendant safety speech, when I openly wondered whether there was anybody left on…
Botswana President Injured On The Job
I am not sure if Botswana has a workers’ compensation system. I’m actually not sure if Botswana has a hospital. I didn’t really know Botswana had a government, let alone a President. One thing is certain: I don’t know jack about Botswana. Nevertheless, the President of the Central African nation, Ian Khama, was slightly injured…
Remembering That Perceptions Are Reality
Recently while visiting my father in New Mexico, we had a conversation that was most likely typical, yet revealing all the same. My father has been a private business owner since 1971, and has owned several businesses in New Mexico since 1977. As we were talking, the discussion turned to workers' compensation, and an incident…
In Workers’ Comp Reform, Restoring Self Worth is Paramount
A recent discussion on LinkedIn proved to be a rather enlightening event for me. The discussion, now closed to further comments after it decayed into the intellectual equivalent of Pee Wee Herman's repeated rebuke of “I know you are, but what am I?”, was centered on the current state of workers' compensation, particularly in comparison…
When Technology Can't be Siri-ous
The two most important women in my life do not get along. As I have recently written, the conflicts between my wife and my virtual assistant Siri started early, and have not abated. I can trace the trouble to the very first night Siri was in our home. I kissed my wife goodnight, then rolled…
Mark Walls on Fire in New Mexico
Last week armed men broke in to a marijuana dispensary in Santa Fe, NM, tied up the employees, and stole the inventory of “medicine. More on that in a moment….. Those who know me recognize that I have no shortage of opinions, and that I freely distribute said opinions at any opportune (and perhaps inopportune)…
California Screamin'
The level of discord and controversy over California’s SB863 reforms seems to have reached a cacophonous level. There is no shortage of opinion on the measures and impact this bill will have on workers’ compensation in the state. Depending on who you ask, you may hear that SB863 will “result in $1.4 billion in system…
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Decorum
Last February I wrote an article about a hook up app called “Bang a Professional”. It was a spinoff of an apparently successful Facebook app called “Bang With Friends”, which allows amorous individuals to signify their carnal interest in another without embarrassment. The app only notifies both individuals if the target of your “banging” desire…