How Dare You Forget That Password!

One of the duties of running a talk radio station is filling out affidavits for all the national programs that we run.

Without getting into all the details, basically I have to digitally sign a form that says we did in fact play the commercials that come with the shows to which we prescribe.

So when the Kim Komando (yes, that's how she spells it) plays every Saturday (1-4 p.m.), I have to mark that her show played and that all the national commercials that were included with her show also played.

It's one of those tedious little jobs that are not fun, but must be done in order to keep KDXU running and om the air. Not fun, but necessary.

I generally do my large pile of affidavits every Monday, but with my recent vacation I was a couple of weeks behind. And to make things worse, my computer's cache (or cookies, or whatever) had been cleared while I was gone, meaning I had to remember a half-dozen user names and passwords to log into these sites and get the task done.

For four of the six sites, I managed to get into their database and get the job done. One of the two remaining sites I'm still waiting to hear back from their IT guys and the affidavits are currently unfinished. And then there's the sixth site.

This is a real email conversation I had with one of their tech guys today. It took about four hours to resolve. I'll leave their name out of it for obvious reasons.

Me: I just got back from vacation and realized I need to get the affidavits done for your XYZ website. But I can't seem to get logged in. Can you help me?

XYZ: Of course, sir. I would love to help you. I just need your user name and password.

Me: Um yeah, that's the problem. I can't remember the password and when I enter the user name I thought it was, the login page says it has no record of that user name.

XYZ: I see, well, what is your email address?

Me: Um, this current one that I'm sending you emails from? I have an old one as well, as our company was recently purchased. It is agriffin@cherrycreekmedia.com, but that one no longer is active.

XYZ: Neither one of those is in our records, sir. Are you certain these are your email addresses?

Me: Uh, yeah.

XYZ: I'm afraid I can't let you into our affidavit database unless I can verify your identity.

Me: Look, I don't really enjoy doing affidavits, but I do them so you can get paid and because it is part of my job. There is no way for me to steal anything if I get logged in and acknowledge that your ads played on our station. I just want is to be caught up. Can you please help make that happen?

XYZ: I'm sorry sir, but there is nothing I can do without verification that you actually do work for the station you say you work for.

Me: And what would that entail? A letter on company letterhead. You want to talk to my boss? Some sort of official ID?

XYZ: I'm sorry sir, but none of those things would assure me that you actually do work for KDXU.

At this point, I decided to take a break and go grab a drink from a local convenience store. As I walked by the KDXU car in the parking garage here, I had an epiphany. I'll send the guy a picture of the back of the KDXU Mitsubishi. The back window has a picture of me next to the KDXU logo and an advertisement for my show.

About an hour or so  later:

XYZ: Sir, why did you send me an attachment?

Me: Have you looked at it?

XYZ: No sir, we are discouraged from opening attachments at our company. It might contain porn or other undesirable images.

Me: Just look at it!

XYZ: I'm afraid that's not possible sir. It is company policy.

Me: *sigh* Is there anything I can do so that you'll let me fill out your stupid affidavits?

XYZ: Yes sir. If you'll send me photographic proof that you work for KDXU, I can process this request.

Me: But you just said you can't open attachments.

XYZ: If I request the attachment, I am allowed to open it.

Me: (After sending the exact same picture) How's that?

XYZ: Very good sir. Your sign-in is *** and your password is ***. Have an excellent day.

Me: *sigh*

Moral of the story: Write down and save your passwords and user names somewhere!

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These 3 Things Are Filling Up St. George's Emergency Room

The Emergency Room at the St. George Regional Hospital has seen plenty over the years, but fortunately will never be full of gunshot wound patients or stabbing victims.

We'll leave that stuff to Chicago or Los Angeles.

But you might be surprised what the top reasons our ER is busting at the seams.

Ashley Butler, whose official title is Trauma Injury Prevention and Community Outreach Coordinator, was on the Andy Griffin Show Wednesday and laid it out for us.

"No. 1 is ground-level falls," she said. "No. 2 is elevated falls, off ladders, scaffolding or even downstairs. And No. 3 is car accidents.

"It hurts to fall as an adult. Falling downstairs ... I fell downstairs holding one of my newborns one time and I couldn't brace myself. It really hurt. And it's not just for the elderly. People fall all the time and can do a lot of damage."

Here are some fascinating facts about GLFs (ground-level falls), courtesy of the CDC:

• One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury
• Each year, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries
• Over 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture
• Each year at least 300,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures
• More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling, usually by falling sideways
• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• In 2015, the total medical costs for falls totaled more than $50 billion. Medicare and Medicaid shouldered 75% of these costs.

Research has identified many conditions that contribute to falling. These are called risk factors. Many risk factors can be changed or modified to help prevent falls. They include:

• Lower body weakness
• Vitamin D deficiency (that is, not enough vitamin D in your system)
• Difficulties with walking and balance
• Use of medicines, such as tranquilizers, sedatives, or antidepressants. Even some over-the-counter medicines can affect balance and how steady you are on your feet.
• Vision problems
• Foot pain or poor footwear
• Home hazards or dangers such as
  • broken or uneven steps, and
  • throw rugs or clutter that can be tripped over.

If you want to avoid a trip to the emergency room, getting rid of that throw rug or buying better shoes may be the simplest way to help.

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