INPUT ARTICLE: Article: People lie for different reasons and it's usually not clear-cut. Though your friend's lying may have hurt you, that may not have been their intention. Think about the underlying goal behind your friend's lie.  What purpose did the lie serve?  Did it get them out of trouble, make them look good in front of others, or prevent someone's feelings from getting hurt? For example, your friend may have told you they weren't seeing anyone, but you later find out they were secretly in a relationship. They may have lied because they weren't ready to introduce their date or weren't sure if the relationship was serious. Your friend may have lied due to extreme pressure or influence from you or someone else. To see if this is the case, look back over your behavior before the lie.  Did you do or say something that influenced the lie? For instance, your best friend lies about seeing your girlfriend with someone else because you just said “Everyone is trying to tear us apart.” They may have lied so they aren't accused of sabotaging your relationship. Before you make up your mind about things, get a second opinion. Talk to a parent, sibling, or another close friend about what happened. Laying out the events to someone else could help you get a different perspective. Say something like, “Hey, Rita, I'm worried that Jen is lying about something. How has she seemed to you lately?” A straightforward confrontation may be the best way to address your best friend’s lying. Stay calm, call out the lie, and ask them to explain themselves. Use “I” statements to cut down on defensiveness.  You might say, “I know you lied to me about having plans this weekend. I heard you on the phone with Sarah. Can you help me understand why you lied?” If you and your friend are in a group, you might pull them aside to confront them privately. Don't let your pal know you’ve caught their scent. Continue the conversation by querying them for more info. Ask clarifying questions that help uncover the truth.  Let's say your friend lies and says, “Yeah, I didn't do anything this weekend, but study.” Don't say, “You're lying!” Go for a more subtle approach, like “Hmph, that’s weird. Josh said he saw you down at the creek on Saturday. He must have been mistaken, huh?” Act as though the lie were funny. Playfully deflect to get your friend to admit the truth.  You might say, “Oh my goodness, I actually think  your nose got bigger just now!” Letting on that you know they’re lying without direct confrontation may ease tension and help you get to the truth. As hard as it may be, sometimes lies aren't worth the effort. If your friend’s lie is minor and not hurting anyone, just overlook it. There's no use creating negative energy between you and your bestie over a little white lie.

SUMMARY: Figure out their motive. Reflect on your own actions. Get someone else's input. Be direct. Play dumb and ask for more info. Laugh it off. Ignore it.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Although it almost goes without saying, you should avoid any physical activities or duties at work that worsen (or are the source of) your chronic pain. If you find that work is exacerbating your pain, speak to your boss about alternate duties you could take on, or look into any disability insurance that you may be eligible for if you need to take time off to recover (or if you are no longer able to continue in a certain line of work).  For instance, if you have a back injury, you should avoid activities that involve heavy lifting (as well as avoiding positions that trigger your back pain, such as sitting or standing for long periods of time). If you have an injury such as carpal tunnel syndrome, you should avoid activities such as typing and ongoing computer use that may worsen your symptoms, if at all possible. If you are struggling getting around your home (such as climbing the stairs, getting in the shower, or using the toilet) due to chronic pain, you may benefit from modifications to your home that can make these day-to-day tasks easier in light of your pain-related disability. Occupational therapists (OTs) are specifically trained to make modifications to your home environment to optimize the ease with which you can perform day-to-day tasks.  Your family doctor can provide you with a referral to see an occupational therapist. Having a formal referral may allow you to receive insurance coverage for OT services.  You can also look up occupational therapists in your area and arrange to see one privately. However, seeing one privately (without a physician's referral) is unlikely to qualify you for coverage. Depending upon the underlying reason for your chronic pain, surgery may be very helpful in alleviating or reducing your pain. It may diminish your reliance on pain medications, both OTC and prescription, and it may help you to regain function that you did not have previously. Speak to your doctor to see if surgery is an option for you.  If the source of your pain is a specific area of your body — such as knee pain or shoulder pain — you may be eligible for arthroscopic joint surgery to "debride" (clean out) the joint and to hopefully reduce the abnormality that was causing the pain. If you have more generalized chronic pain, a neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon experienced in conducting surgery for chronic pain may be able to help you.

SUMMARY: Avoid activities or work duties that exacerbate your pain. Consult an occupational therapist to modify your home environment and thus reduce triggers of your pain. Consider surgery to resolve the underlying issue.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: According to the FDCPA, this statement must include the following to be considered valid.  The amount of the money owed. The name of the original creditor. A statement that if you don't dispute the debt within thirty days, the debt is assumed valid. A statement that if you dispute the debt within thirty days, the agency will obtain proof of the debt and send it to you. A statement that upon request, the agency will provide the name and address of the original creditor, if it differs from the current creditor. It is very important to make sure you actually owe the money the collector says you do. Though it is illegal, creditors could inflate the amount of money you owe to make a greater profit. You legally have thirty days to dispute the charge and ask for validation of the debt. Once you do so, the collector must cease pursuing you for the money until he produces proof of the original debt. The agency must provide one of the following.  Proof that they either own or have been assigned the debt from the original creditor. A copy of a statement from the original creditor. When the agency provides proof that you owe the money, you still have options. Each state has different laws on how long a debt is considered effective. These are mostly, but not universally, less than ten years. When a collection agency comes after you for outdated debt, it is known as zombie debt (Deal with Zombie Debt).  Check the date of the proof the agency provided. Then match it against the statute of limitations for debt in your state. If the date of the original debt is older than the statute of limitations, you can no longer be sued for the debt. They can call you, they can contact you, but they can't sue you or threaten you. If the agency has not provided adequate proof of your debt, their claim is not legitimate. Send a certified letter informing them that their actions are in violation of the FDCPA and you will pursue legal action if they keep trying to collect from you.

SUMMARY:
Examine the bill the agency sends you. Request validation of your debt. Check the statute of limitations on your debt. Threaten to sue if your debt is not legitimate.