I just love these past few videos. Make me feel like a giddy little school girl. lol. Evertime I feel like I am doing more than I ever could, I get so excited. lol:) YAY!

Yes, Kathryn, hopefully we can scream together someday and show all those "dignified" CRs how it should be done. HA!

Kim, sounds like you killed the machine!! Good for you! Missing the written by one has to be disappointing, though. I think they should give a 20-year curve. :)

I know I needed one after failing the written test for the RMR TWICE! (That's why I'm scared to death to take the RDR.)

It really does makes me feel great, too, Erica, when I feel I've gotten better.

Here's another "Yay" for you!!

We're up to 92 members. WOO-HOOOO!!!!!

Oh, and when my boy qualifies on a leg, well, you don't even want to be in the same room with me. HA!

Loved the "yes, I did" video, Mark!

I recently started using YOEU+A-bank for A. Yes, I did.
So now I have:
NO*I-A-bank: A. No, I didn't and NOI+A-Bank: A. No, I did not
YAOE+A-bank: A. Yes, he did
SYAOE+A-bank: A. Yes, she did
NAO*E+A-bank: A. No, he didn't
NAOE+A-bank: A. No, he did not
SNAO*E+A-bank: A. No, she didn't
SNAOE+A-bank: A. No, she did not

This video also inspired me to work on "did he" (D*E) and "did she" (SD*E), as well as phrases with "go" and "like".

I've shortened my writing a lot and am making heavy adaptations to my StenEd dictionary thanks to you and the many short-writing enthusiasts on these boards

Thanks!

Tami and Kathryn,

It's so nice to see that there are other fellow screamers out there! I have the hardest time containing my excitement. Then I get the goofiest grin -- big as the state of TEXAS -- and my kids just kind of slink away like they don't know me! ; 0 You should see me at their sports events and during NFL season! WOOO-HOOO!!!!

Kim, You Rock on that machine and I think we should all petition for you to have that one error thrown out!!! ;)

Tami, you'll KNOW when Trevor passes his qualifier (he's sooo close) AND when he passes the CSR, you better get earplugs. I'm sure the boys would be very nervous if both you and I were ever in the same room together!!! I promise to bring cow bells...hahahaha

Mark,

It's amazing listening to your videos. After listening to your ludicrously fast speed dictation and then when you slow it down, 225 sounds like 140ish and 280 sounds like 225ish to me. Now, my notes were not very pretty, but I did get something for EVERY stroke. What a great feeling that was. Thank you.

Thanks! They're arranging for me to go over the test. I've got to find a debatable question. It stinks nailing the machine and missing the written by one.

I can't say enough about how Mark's instructional videos helped me to pass that test. He gave me all the pointers to remember, like get a stroke for everything. I was certain I wasn't going to be able to read my notes, and they were almost perfect! I never had so many thoughts going through my mind as I did when I was taking that test, but the one thought in the forefront of my mind was "Get a stroke for everything." As a matter of fact, that thought went through my mind at least 150 times -- haha!

Mark, thank you for the yes, I did video! I have been a member for about three months now and I absolutely love! Thank you so much.

Tami,

I don't have a right-side "talk" or "ask." Any ideas?

Mark

Kim,

Congrats on the passing the machine test so beautifully!

I'm very sorry about being one over on the written. Do they allow you to pass in "legs"? So that now you just have to retake the written?

I don't know if this will help anyone, but if I was taking a court reporting written exam, I'd bone up on my medical terms and legal/latin terms.

Mark

Way to go, Erica!!! I'm very happy for you! Keep it up! One day you'll be an RMR.

Mike, EXCELLENT work!! Those phrases will really help you in Q&A.

Thanks, Alexis! You know, it took me years to realize how valuable high-speed practice is, but it did so much for me, that I love to share it with others, and especially to hear that it's working for you.

You wouldn't believe the resistance I get from skeptics in the schools. lol

Kim, thanks for letting me know!! 150 times, the thought, get a stroke for everything, in 5 minutes, let's see, that's one thought every 2 seconds! LOL I'm so glad it helped.

Dawn,

You're welcome! That video has gotten rave reviews, so I'm going to make more similar ones. Keep a lookout.

Mark,
I don't have a Stenomaster theory book, but from looking at the Magnum theory book, I would suggest ~LTD for ask and ~GSZ for talk. I see it as the last three keys on the right side which don't translate in my theory, but I see asking is a nicer (or higher) way of talking, which means it can be stroked on the top row and talking on the bottom. I am utilizing your visualization techniques that you use in Magnum Steno. What do you think?
How was New York?
Vicki

P.S. Now that I'm thinking more, how could you just have talk on the right hand side? Wouldn't it be he would talk; she would or could or they would or could. It would have to be he talked or talks etc. and I guess you could alternate the d and the z to add the endings for "d" and add an asterisk for "s". Hmmmm, needs more thinking.

You hear a lot of "did you talk" "when you talked" things that would lend themselves nicely to phrasing.

I heard "Did you talk" a lot last week. I was listening for it.

I'm still wondering if *KD would work for "talk." Maybe *KTD for "talked"?

did you talk D*UKD

"When you talk (WH*UKD ) over each other, the court reporter goes CRAZY!"

After typing it, I think I would get it confused with "When did you talk," the asterisk being used for "did."

They talked THE*KTD??

(I'm off this week and left my work at work so can't play around with it to see if it would work for me.)


Alexis, I'm ready to hear the big SCREAM!!

Dorkie Moms United!! :)


Oh, and, Mike, what do you use for "A. Yes, sir."?

I use YOIFRPBLGTS.

I absolutely love Q & A extensions.

If you ever get to criminal court, they make life so easy.

On a busy criminal calendar, taking (FAST) pleas all day long , I use a D- with the answer bank and the vowels for the short answers, and it works out beautifully for realtime.

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir. DIFRPBLGTS
THE DEFENDANT: No, sir. DOIFRPBLGTS
THE DEFENDANT: Yes. DEFRPBLGTS
THE DEFENDANT: No. DOFRPBLGTS
THE DEFENDANT: Thank you. DAUFRPBLGTS.

A little off . . .

THE DEFENDANT: Guilty. G-FRPBLGTS
THE DEFENDANT: Guilty, sir. SG-FRPBLGTS

Same thing with the clerk, I use the K- instead of the D-.

THE CLERK: Yes. KEFRPBLGTS

The bailiff or deputy, I use a B-.

When I'm in juvenile court, I use M- to margin "THE MINOR:"

THE MINOR: YES. MEFRPBLGTS

I know that's off on a little bit of a tangent, but I've been nagging you-know-who to try them out. Maybe if he sees them here in print . . . :)

Oh, and, Mark, I hope you had a wonderful Father's Day yesterday!!

Mark,
Yes, they do let you take the test in "legs." So I won't have to take the machine portion again.

Not only do they give med/legal/latin questions, they also give computer questions.

I tried my best. My only hope now is to find a debatable question on my exam. Or I have to wait until the next test.

Mark, you're speed building is awesome. You're totally the reason I passed, and passed well. Thank you!

THANK YOU Brenda and Tami for explaining that for me. I am sure you guessed I'm a student. It's great to read about your experiences in writing at court.

I get some of my extensions from a book "Q&A A Faster Way", but I love to see what others reporters use, because some extensions just don't click for me.

A. Yes. I use Y-FRPBLGTS

So it makes sense to me to add initial S

A. Yes, sir. SKWR-FRPBLGTS
A. Yes, ma'am. YA-FRPBLGTS
A. No. TPH-FRPBLGTS
A. No, sir. STPH-FRPBLGTS
A. No, ma'am. TPHA-FRPBLGTS

These extentions have saved my butt on fast "popcorn" Q and A

Now I'm starting to incorportate the Q extentions. I don't know what it is, but it's little bit more difficult. My brain seems lazier on that side. lol

Q. All right. STKPWHR-LT
Q. Okay. STKPWHR-BG
Q. And STKPWHR-APBD

Any suggestions on Q. Now

I currently use STKPWHROU, but I'm thinking about using that
for Q. How

I can't get the longer Q extensions like Q. What's your name and address? So I'm just going to stick with the shorter extensions and take them on one word at a time -- baby steps for me.

I use STKPWHROU for Q Now, (including the comma). It's more common than "how," at least for me.

I add a vowel when they say "sir." Your STPH-{A} is too common a misstroke for me when I add a ? to a question -- not that I need to, but sometimes reactions take over.

YEFRPBLGTS A Yes.
NOFRPBLGTS A No.
YOEFRPBLGTS A Yes, sir.
NOEFRPBLGTS A No, sir.
YAUFRPBLGTS A Yeah.
YAOFRPBLGTS A Yep.
NAOFRPBLGTS A Nope.
AUFRPBLGTS A Uh-huh.
HUFRPBLGTS A Huh-uh. (or uh-uh, if you prefer)
WEFRPBLGTS A Well,
KOFRPBLGTS A Okay.
SHUFRPBLGTS A Sure.

STKPWHRE Q Yes.
STKPWHRES Q Yes, sir.
STKPWHREM Q Yes, ma'am.
STKPWHRERBGS Q Well,
STKPWHRUR Q Sure. (I find I use that and respond to it more as an extension than "you are.")

Others just attach the word/stroke, like "I see" "I understand," etc. I don't do the long extensions; getting the first few word or quick little intro phrase is enough to get me over the hump.

STKPWHROURBGS for Q. Now,
STKPWHROU - Q. Now

You could throw the asterisk in for Q. How

Kim,

I would LOVE it if you write a short testimonial about the Magnum Steno Club helping you to pass your test, so that I can put it on our testimonials page. If you have the time! Thanks! I know you'll pass the written knowledge part next time!!

I use
STKPWHROURBGS for Q. Now,

and just OU for "how."

Alexis,

I have the Q & A, A Faster Way. That's what got me started on extensions.

I went off the book a great deal, but it gave me some great ideas.

I love the "I don't" series.

I went with DL-FRPBLGTS for A. I don't recall
DR-FRPBLGTS A. I don't remember
DOE-FRPBLGTS A. I don't know.

I forgot to say earlier that I asterisk all my speaker I.D. extensions, so they don't get in the way with my straight Q & A extensions.

I also had a problem with a (Mira) stack stroke "A. Yes" with "THE COURT: Yes."

"THE COURT: Yes." is

STKPWHR*EFRPBLGTS

I use the vowels with both banks and asterisk for quick responses from THE COURT:

AU Thank you.
A All right.
AEU Sustained.
OE Overruled.
O Okay.
E Yes.
I I

I shared that at my first NCRA convention in 2000, and everybody flipped. It was included in Lesia's steno swap this past summer and seemed to be old news to everyone, but I think they're still golden. :)

I haven't started using this yet, but this is on my to-do list from Dennis Steiner:

Pull up on the S- when the question starts with "And"

So . . .

Q. And did you say

TKPWHR*US

Q. And what did you tell

TKPWHRA*UT

When I get an extra minute and still have a bit of energy after a long testimony day, I'm going to go back and write all my Qs starting with "And" and see how well it works. I'm thinking I shouldn't have any conflicts with the principle.



Do you all think we need to give something out to the 100th member of the Magnum Steno Fan Club??

Maybe we should all put a CONGRATULATIONS, etc., on his or her page!!

Mark,

I noticed a post by you back in the beginning of June about sending testimonials to Gateway Reporting in Phoenix. I am not sure if it is beyond that point, but if not, I would be happy to write to her. I'm a speedbuilding student who was taught StenEd (GULP!!!) and made the decision to change to Stenomaster at 120. So I can talk about the definite advantages of your theory over Stened. Let me know if it is still an open issue at Gateway, and I will send an email.

Back on the Q/A extensions topic: all of you have some great shortcuts that I cannot wait to try!

This is like Christmas. All of these suggestions are like gifts waiting for me to start using.

A great big THANK YOU to all of you and your extension suggestions.

LeAnne -- I am going to throw in that * for Q. How since Brenda pointed out the Q. Now comes up more.

Brenda -- Wow! I love the extra extension suggestions, especially for uh-huh/huh-uh. And I feel the same way about the first few words helping me over that hump.

Tami -- I'm so excited about the Court extensions. Yaaay! I am practising these tonight for my qualifier tomorrow. And passing this on to Trevor. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it will be a court transcript and NOT a depo! Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait. The "I don't" series is awesome!

Have a good night to everyone.

Oh, for the lucky person that hits the century mark, YES. I think we should all congratulate that person by writing on his/her wall and bumping him/her up to Junior status (or whatever status 99 entries make) right off the get-go.

AND -- I think MARK (da man) should send him a personal welcome! I'm just saying...; )

Hi!
I was just wondering if anyone has a brief for the yous being on the outside of did and didn't, such as: What did you, when did you, why did you, why didn't you, etc. Thanks in advance!!

U
I believe the concept is to use * for did, so:
WHA*U - what did you
WH*U - when did you
KWR*U - why did you

Thanks, Brenda!

ohmygarsh. Love the Y*U

beautiful. going to work this phrase in for sure!

Cool! Hadn't learned that one yet.

Tami: I write "Yes, sir" YI+Answer
I'll have to try and work on those extensions Friday in court. It'll probably be another day of calendar...last Friday was way over my head. I'm looking forward to the challenge of continuing to try calendar/arraignments for the speed push, but I really need to pare down the high frequency stuff and try to get a little more familiar with the verbiage used. Sometimes it takes a few seconds to even process the phrases they are rattling off.

Also, I really like AU+Answer for thank you, but I also like Brenda's use as uh-huh. Does anybody use both of these with different outlines?

That's my "A. Yes, sir," too.

NUFRPBLGTS A. Huh-uh.
HU-FRPBLGTS A. Uh-huh.


How about these, Mike, for court:

for the People FAOEPL
on behalf of BAO*F
on behalf of the BAO*FT
on behalf of the defendant BAO*FTD

present in custody PRUD
present out of custody PROUT

counsel table CA*EUBL
jury box JOX
orange jumpsuit OJ

Using *TD for "the defendant" in phrases is BEAUTIFUL in court. (Clay gave me that one.)



Use *KT for "the Court" in phrases.

I use T-KT for "the court" and T-*KT for "the Court" when not in a phrase.

The People T*P

MR-D is the defendant's name (Mr. Smith). Works great in trial with one defendant. If you have a two-defendant case, add the - Z for the second defendant, MR-TS for third, etc. Of course that doesn't work in a calendar courtroom with multi-defendants.

If you have mostly one D.A. in a calendar court, make him or her MR-P

how do you plead HOUPD
guilty or not guilty GORNG
not guilty NOGT or NO*GT
guilty GAELT

waive arraignment WRAEUMT
waive formal arraignment WAF
waive formal arraignment for pronouncement of judgment WAFD
pronouncement of judgment P-J
no legal cause NAOUS
any legal cause NAUS
any legal cause why judgment should not now be pronounced? NAUS/NAUS

constitutional right(s) STRAOEUT(S)
my KRAOEUT is my "cite."

state prison SPRIN
county jail KAEUL

midterm MERM
low term LERM
aggravated term GERM

There's a few to start. :)

I've never used "thank you" in an extension. I'd use THU{A} because TH*U is my brief for thank you. I'm trying to remember the last time I heard a witness say "thank you." A very rare occurrence!

Kathryn, I loved the little nugget!

THANK YOU, Tami! Those will keep me busy for sure! I have been dying to get a list like this!

Holy C#$%!! Oh, did I say that out loud! Tami, you need to write a book. These are going into my four-inch binder of briefs and phrases you've already given me along with Brenda's and others.

I'm also wondering, should I have started the discussing on "extension briefs" in the Brief Club forum rather than here in the Magnum Steno? I'm feeling a little guilty.

Susan,

That would be great. I'm sure Stephanie can still use testimonials. Please send if you have time.

MAGNUM STENO CLUB MEMBERS!!!! URGENT NOTICE!

DO LISTEN TO TODAY'S "BRIEFS GROUP 001" VIDEO! IT WILL GIVE YOU A PLACE TO START ON BRIEFS, AND YOU JUST MOVE TO GROUP 2 WHEN YOU HAVE 1 DOWN, MOVE TO GROUP 3 WHEN YOU HAVE 2 DOWN, AND WE BUILD FROM THERE! WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO OF THIS, YOU'LL WRITE AS SHORT AS ME! I'M GOING TO BRING YOU THERE!!!!

Mark, thank you for adding the briefs to today's video! That is great! I don't feel so overwhelmed on where to start now!!

My Testimonial:
I was unprepared for the Nevada exam that I had to take. I hadn't taken an exam in 20 years. And of those 20 years, I took 12 of them off to raise kids. Ever since I came back to reporting a year ago, I relied a lot on audiosync. (Bad, I know, but this girl had to work) Well, you can't use audiosync on an exam. I only had one week before the exam. Someone suggested Magnum Steno, and I had nothing to lose. Wow, was I glad I joined. I listened to Mark's instructional videos, and I took notes. Practiced his crazy, high-speed dictation, always with the "how to practice" instructions in mind. What a difference it made! The test was to be no slower than 200 and not more than 225. When they started talking, I couldn't believe it. I certainly had the speed. And Mark's words, "Get a stroke for everything" ran through my mind continuously for ten minutes while I got a stroke for everything! I passed with only 8 errors. Magnum Steno is the way to become an excellent court reporter.

Someone?? :)

I swear I'm not on the payroll.

Thanks, Kim! I posted it as the first testimonial, and signed it "K." Really appreciate it!

Linda and Kathryn, thanks!

You're welcome, Mark. You deserve that and a whole lot more.

You're amazing, you're right, and you ROCK!!

I second Kim's remarks!

And great job on that test, Kim!!