Magnum Steno Fan Club

Let's all get together and learn to write shorter, cleaner, and faster the Mark Kislingbury way. "Write Short - Write Fast!"
  • Jenny Griffin, RMR CRR CCRR CRC

    How timely, Tami! I just finished entering all of my did and didn't phrases into my main dix five minutes ago. That's -RPLS for did and -*RPLS for didn't. Good thing I have some new wide asterisk keys - now to get the hang of them after 30+ years without them.
  • Tami

    Yeah, I thought it was overdue.

    You do have to work on that -DZ for -ing next, Jenny. It's just so easy.

    My machine (Mira) is at the Steno Doctor right now. I had taken in an old Flash that I have down on Monday for them to check out, and I had to add wide keys to it. Clay is wanting to use it.

    So I had them build up the vowel keys, which I learned form Mark's first bootcamp that we attended. I had built them up on my Mira using keypads, three high, but the Steno Doctor does it with a hard-key extension with one pad on top.

    I've been doing my free week on the Flash -- the attendees at the seminar last weekend are receiving the Magnum Steno Club free this week -- and I'm loving the new extension. The ones on the Mira do a little bit of a slip and slide from time to time.

    I know Virginia K. had talked about the "extension" vowel keys on somebody's thread before, but I had pictured it in my mind differently.

    So I called the Steno Doc yesterday and told him to put the permanent extensions on my Mira now, too. It brings them up to almost level with all the keys, which is pretty much where they've been, but now I'll have no more slip and slide.

    Does the Grand have the vowel keys up in line with the other keys??

    Oh, and hi, Judy!
  • Tami

    Hi, Trina!
  • Judy

    Hi, Tami! Thanks for the invite. I feel honored that I have the seat right next to you as far as members' pictures go.
  • Tami

    That's where partners in crime belong, side by side!!
  • Jenny Griffin, RMR CRR CCRR CRC

    Tami, the Grand does not have the vowel keys in line with the other keys, but in my case that is a good thing. The main reason why I went from a LightSpeed to the Gemini Grand is because the flat keys on the LightSpeed aggravated my thumbs. Several years ago I had a lot of trouble with my thumbs due to editing with a power mouse which was placed on a board in the middle of my lap. It was completely programmable, and I made tons of editing macros, but in the end it messed my thumbs up. I'm glad you are tweaking your writers to best suit you. Just take your breaks!
  • Tami

    Oh, and Monti thinks this is a girls-with-guns club. HA!

    Monti, why don't you bring your gun and join us. :)
  • Tami

    Hi, Christine!!

    So glad you joined especially since you kicked my rear at the seminar on Saturday. It's obvious the Club has been paying off for you.

    I got all excited when Mark said hi to you, Megan, and Sarah this week on the Club.

    The "super reporter" thing is so goofy but at the same time so CUTE!

    I am a SUPER REPORTER!!!! :)
  • Kim Gibney

    Love Mark Kislingbury and the StenoMagnum Program!
  • Alexis McCutchen

    Girls-with-guns club?!? Hmmm...yeah, Monti! We want to see your guns.
  • Sheila Detwiler

    Hi, Tami: Thank you for inviting me to join. I'm all for writing faster and shorter. I'm constantly looking in my brief book for better ways to write. I'm not familiar with Mark's methods. I recently bought an A3 Mira hoping it would be better than my original Mira, but have been very disappointed with this model too.

    What writer are you using?
  • Brenda Rogers

    I'm in! :)
  • Tami

    Woo-Hoo!! The gang's all here!!

    Sheila, I have the G2. Stenograph did replace it for the first version that I had that was pretty much a lemon. I have been really unhappy with my G2 the past couple years, BUT I am hopeful that the Steno Doctor can turn around my negative feelings for it. They're saying they should be able to fix the stacking and dribbling ails.

    Jeannice M. sent her G2 in last month with the same problems I am having, and she has raved on it ever since. That's why I'm giving Steno Doctor a shot at it. I'm ready to start raving.

    Did you trade in your old Mira, Sheila?

    Does this mean you're headed back to the speed contests?? That is if you get the new machine squared away. I know how frustrating that is.

    I don't think all A3s are created equal -- just ask Kelli -- so make sure you act like a squeaky wheel until you get happy.

    You'll love some of Mark's shortcuts. Some come so easy, like that -DZ for -ing. It really is one of my all-time favorites.

    I should start a discussion on it.
  • KJM

    Hi everyone! Thanks for the invite, Tami!

    I haven't officially joined Magnumsteno yet, but the taste I have gotten of it has me hooked! I know I am going to get a lot out of it. I'm just not quite sure I am fast enough yet to benefit from the dictation. (I'm in the 150-170 class, and I've only passed a couple JCs--one at 150 and one at 160.)

    P.S. Hi Alexis! I hope you get a chance to read this! A little birdie told me Trevor is in qualifiers. Give him a High-5 for me! We miss you guys at Humphreys! Hope you and your family are doing well!
  • Christine Kirley

    Hi Tami!
    Thanks for the invite to the Magnum Steno Club. Thought I'd clear up any confusion Monti had about the girls-with-guns club. The .44 Magnum ought to do the trick.

    What a fun weekend in San Diego with Mark and learning to write shorter and shorter. I was excited and quite surprised when Mark said I got it, but the Magnum Steno Club has helped build my speed. It really does work!

    And, yes, you definitely are a "SUPER REPORTER." Those super heroes are goofy, but we must remember, we are super. That's good stuff.

    Looking forward to all the short-writing posts. I'm sure Clay will be leading the pack!! His mind is amazing!
  • Tami

    PERFECT, Christine!!!

    I forgot about that pic of you and the .44.

    So how do we get that picture permanently in the Text Box. I'm sure everyone agrees with me it needs to stay here FOREVER!
  • Kelli Combs (admin)

    Hello ladies,
    Post the picture you like here and I will be happy to make it fit nicely.
    Does mark have any videos on youtube?
    Someone should tell him hes got a freaking fan club! I am jealous :P
  • Tami

    What are you talking about?? How many members do you have here??

    Your fan club is a lot bigger than Mark's. Monti! :)

    So last Saturday Mark played his video for us when he broke the Guinness World Record at 360 wpm for one minute. Wouldn't that be nice to have here??

    He accomplished the record with another speed champ at his side. Even though she didn't quite pass the 360, it was so awesome seeing the difference in the hand speed. She obviously didn't write as short as Mark.

    Then again, he might want to save the video for his seminar attendees. It's pretty awesome.
  • Kelli Combs (admin)

    Cool, that video would be something.
    So we need a logo, did you think of one yet?
    maybe a picture of him? or something like this

  • Jenny Griffin, RMR CRR CCRR CRC

    That's great!
  • Tami

    U da Bom, Monti!

    Can we get the gun pointing the other direction and the notes on the right??

    Yes, I admit what an anal girl I am. HA!
  • Kelli Combs (admin)

    lol, sure thing Tami... its just one click of the mouse.

  • Alexis McCutchen

    Whaaat! Tami, Mark didn't show us that video. He needs to include the video at all seminars. That would have been awesome to see. He is amazing no matter how you slice it. I can't wait for his school to open. I'm trying to get Trevor's twin brother to check it out. I just wish I had started out learning Mark's theory...right now I have StenEd, Mark's, brief encounters and a mish-mosh of my own briefs/phrases going on.

    Monti, we love you too! Hey, where would we be if you hadn't FIRST started CSR Nation. What great connections I've made as a result. Thank you.

    Christine, love the picture. That is ONE BIG GUN! I agree with Tami - it needs to stay forever.

    Kyla, YES! I am so proud of my baby. He is in quailifiers and still has time to make it to the next CSR test. I have to be careful not to boast too much, but I can't help myself. Trevor suggested Tami and I start some kind of "dorkie" mom club! Hear that Clay?!? What can I say? We LUUUV our boys.

    Anyway, life's great, we're all healthy, but I am sad Tracy, Andrea and I won't be able to make it to New Orleans. There's a seminar in Sac in May Anita and I planning on attending. I think it's about writing short. I'll get more info and pass it along.
  • Kelli Combs (admin)

    Thanks for the kind words Tami and Alexis, this wouldn't be the place it is with out you guys anyway.
    I have learned a lot from CSRnations members, I am glad people like it.
  • Brenda Rogers

    Alexis, Mark showed that video in Portland last month. It's so cool! I thought it was a part of all his seminars.
  • Kelli Combs (admin)

    I posted a picture of him, I dont want to take over your group Tami.. you can delete it if you want by clicking on the "edit" next to the photo.
  • Brenda Rogers

    She wouldn't dare!
  • Sheila Detwiler

    Hi, Tami:

    I was in Chicago and watched Mark break the speed record. That's the thing I remember most about that convention.

    I traded my old Smart Writer in that I did all my speed contests. That was the best writing machine ever built! I wouldn't dare compete with the Mira models. I guess my reflexes are too fast for it. It keeps stacking on me. I sent my new A3 in after using it for a month. I told Stenograph to fix the problems. We'll see if they did. I'm still waiting for its return. If they don't fix it, I'll try Steno Doctor.
    As far as competing again in speed contests, it's just way too much work!
  • April McMillan, CRR, RPR, CSR

    Good for you, Jenny. I've been using the wide keys forever at the initial S, the middle * bank, and the final -DZ. You'll have many more options now for writing.
    Good Luck!
  • Brenda Rogers

    April, I've just gotta ask. Why a wide key on S? You have a finger for that key.
  • Tami

    Monti, I LOVE the pic!! Brenda's right, I wouldn't dare erase it.

    I saw him attempt the record in Reno. I think it was in 2004. That's what I remember most, too, Sheila. It was amazing, and of course not giving up and going at it again and succeeding gives us all courage to do the same.

    Well, not to write 360 maybe, but to at least get faster. :)

    Sheila, if the machine comes back again and you have the same stacking issues, I suggest you go to the top of the company and request a new machine. That's just not acceptable. You know I came off a Smartwriter, too, and the only time it stacked is when it was my own fault, which wasn't all that common.

    Signed: Dorkie Mom No. 1 (Hi, Alexis!)

    Oh, and I'm curious about the wide S-, too, April. I've always wanted it to be split and not attached, BUT what good is it wide?
  • April McMillan, CRR, RPR, CSR

    I do but they're very skinny fingers! Plus I started briefing words that start with DES with the initial STK, and those wide keys make it much easier.
    EX: destination = SDAIGS
    desire = SDAOEUR
    diagnostic = SDIK

    You get the idea
  • April McMillan, CRR, RPR, CSR

    FYI: By skinny, I'm talking about a size 3 1/2 wedding ring.
  • Jaimie

    Love it!!!!
  • Tami

    Hey, welcome everybody!! What an awesome looking group!!!

    AND the boys are here -- Trevor and Clay!! WOO-HOO!

    Signed, once again, Dorkie Mom No. 1.

    (Alexis, you need to back me up on this one!)
  • Tami

    So this is the kind of group we can miss a comma (just noticed I did) or misspell a word or use a "your" for a "you're" and nobody will freak out, right??

    Good. :)
  • Brenda Rogers

    We'll laugh and point . . . but not so you can see. :P
  • Tami

    Oh, you're one of those, Brenday. :)

    I KNOW YOU"RE NOT!
  • Alexis McCutchen

    YAHOOOOOO! Our boys are here. Trevor and Clay are here. What'd Monti say? Girls with guns club?!? Not here. How many of the male persuasion do we have?

    Signed, Dorkie Mom No. 2. (I got your back, Tami.) Now, if this actually becomes a real "fan" club, I think Trevor and Clay may have us committed! Would they dare?