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?

I'm in! :)

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.

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!

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!

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!

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

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.

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

That's great!

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!

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

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.

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.

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

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.

She wouldn't dare!

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!

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!

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

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?

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

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

Love it!!!!

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!)

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. :)

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

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

I KNOW YOU"RE NOT!

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?

PS I am definitely guilty of a missed comma or grammar error every now and then. Who am I to judge?

Ok, I'm the newbie in the group! LOL! Thanks for the tip on the DES words, that's a very cool trick...
Tracy

Hi, Tracy!!

So glad you joined us!

WOW, I go to work for a day, and look what happens. We're up to 32!! WOO-HOO!!

Yes, Alexis,I think we do need more dudes -- even though Gary makes five. :)

Oh, and I got to use some of the new tricks I learned at Mark's seminar in
San Diego a week ago Saturday. This was my first day back to work in a couple weeks.

It looks like "so that" STHAO is here to stay. :)

It came as smooth as silk today. I love it when that happens.

Mark needs to make an appearance on this group.
someone send him an SOS!!



With all honesty. I just wanted a reason to post this video.
this should be the official CSRnation SOS message!

I think it was Morris Code for something like, "Did you know CSRnation is coming up on 4000 members?"

I've been trying to get the courage to break the news to Mark that I started a fan club. Maybe that was the SOS message from the kitty. :)

Luuuuv it!!! STHAO is here to stay.

Oh, BTW. About breaking the news to Mark -- I let the "cat" out of the bag.

Well, I was thinking somebody would. :)

I joined, I joined! I AM a fan of the Magnum Steno Club!! LOL

Tami.... THANK YOU!!! :) You are so kind! (Love your home page and music and family photos - what a blessing they are!)

Yes, Alexis asked me to check it out, so I did!

I figured out something very cool recently, and it's on the instructional video for today:

How hard you work at the MOST DIFFICULT parts of the dictation (first time through) is where you will MOST improve.

Isn't it true that for most tests, we get MOST of it, but mess up in a few hard parts? Well, using super effort at the parts we do worst, TRAINS us to be able to handle those hardest parts when we hit them in a test.

Oh, Tami - and I LOVE the revolver with the Pachmyer grips and the steno! I think that pistol is a Colt Python, but I'm not sure.

WOW!! I can't believe it!!

Make that six dudes. :)

Hi, Mark!

Hi, Tami!

Hi Everyone!

Mark, it was perfect timing today for your "MOST DIFFICULT/MOST IMPROVEMENT" comment. I need it today! Test time is drawing near, and I'm starting to freak out.....I'm still having such a hard time getting the dictation. Your comment was a good motivator for me. See you over on Magnum Steno!

WOW! Mark himself joined CSRnation!
We feel very privileged and special :-)

You have a huge fan base here, not sure how many countess blogs and discussions are about your famous theory.
Thank you for joining our little community.

Just a heads up, I cant type and i cant spell.

I need to fix the gun thingy, its apparently a colt..
is this a magnum?

might as well make it that it would make sense.

I think you need to ask Christine, Monti. :)

Monti, any way you can post a Colt Python? They look similar, and they are almost always .357 magnums. I like Colts much better than S&W. If you look up prices, you'll see the Colts are much more expensive - they're better made and don't make them anymore.

Christine, you ever shot a Colt Python?

Mark,

Monti came up with the gun idea. He really does an awesome job around here keeping everybody happy.

Like Kimberly, I appreciate your advice, too. She shouldn't feel bad about "having a hard time getting the dictation."

I don't think I've ever gotten anything clean when I'm doing the Magnumsteno Club, BUT I wrote lights out today thanks to the incredible PUSH I got from you.

I had a veterinarian who kept wanting to answer while the question was coming, zoming along on a little bit of technical material today, and the lying (extremely nervous) girlfriend trying to get her babies' daddy kept from going to jail.

She was FLYING. The deputy even commented later how fast she was, BUT after doing the Club last week, I didn't have to interrupt one time.

I was realtiming for a visiting judge I never worked for before, so it really felt awesome.

Thanks again, Mark, for everything you do for the common ranks and for joining the group. It's so unexpected, but totally appreciated. :)

MARK!!! I'm so happy you signed on. What would this fan club be without THE MAN HIMSELF?!? Trevor will be so pleased to see you here.

Thanks Monti. I've never been referred to as a "Countess." I like it. We are an awesome group of Countesses, but we need more Counts. And your guns, is it me or are they getting bigger and bigger?

Six guys and counting...

Here's a good Python: There's a real nice one with great resolution, heading in the right direction, at www.jcdevine.com/images/auction_2806/08-157-007.jpg

Anyway, the original pic you have is great, so don't worry about it!