Brenda, on Tacoma,

Clay (who woulda thought) is exactly right:

T- + A + -K + O + -M + A = TAOPBLG ("stacked")

Virginia, good job!!! You're my ambassador in class!!!!

I use the -J (-PBLG) as "~come" in phrases, since -J is really -K and -M stacked.

to come TOJ
and come SKP-J
will come HR-J (changed legislate to HR-JT)
did you come TKUJ
did he come TKEJ
when I come WHEUJ
when you come WHEUJ
would you come WAOUJ

Thanks, Mark. I'll see if I can "get" the concept.

Brenda, one simple way is to just add "Tacoma = TAOPBLG" to your daily briefs list, and you'll learn it.

Okay. Mark I am going to try doing that. Sometimes I practice to music to try to find my rhythm.

I don't know what could have been funny! The Super Reporters were off practicing. Glad you're doing so well, Kathryn!

Folks, the dictations are getting harder and faster, aren't they???? The speed contest is EASY compared to these! Three recent days (7-6, 7-7, 7-9) were very challenging, very hard. GOOD for you.

The guy uses a LightSpeed and the lady a Stylus.

Magnum Steno fans,
You're all still here!! Thought everyone was on vacation here, and I haven't had a chance to come check out the latest. Somehow my "follow thread" is not working, so I am not being notified when new posts are put up here. I have been fumbling around for quite a while and can't figure out how to re-set it. Anyone know what to click on? I want to be back in the loop.

I've been in the "cricket choir" -- to use Tami's phrase -- and didn't even know it :)

Hi, Christine!!

Hope you had a great vacation!

Try clicking on the "follow" under "admin options."

I think that's a curse, though. :)

I'll recommend you, but I've never heard of the free month deal before. Mark?

I had a competition back in February, where whoever referred the most people could get either: a Magnum Steno book, some free months. Well, no one referred anyone during the time of the contest, so that didn't work! lol Since then, I had someone refer some people, who both joined and one bought a book, and I gave them a free month.

So currently there's no fixed "refer one, get one free" policy in place.

But if you have any ideas on that score, let me know. Thanks!

Hi. I am listening to jury charge from the archives and the word accommodation keeps popping up. I made a brief that can work: KAOPLGZ and then KAOPLT(S) for accommodate(s) and KAOPLTD for accommodated. I really like the latter two, but I am not sure about accommodation.
Does anyone have a suggestion?

Bece, this is what I use:

Accommodation = KMA-EUGS

accommodation KAOPLGS

I usually two-stroke it because it doesn't come up that often, but I have KOMT and KOMGS in my dix. I like the idea of the A. I tuck that into words like that all the time.

accommodation = KAOGS

Does anyone use -GZ for the -tion endings? I have always used -GS for the -ings endings. My DigiText theory is currently under renovation via Magnum Steno....yippee!

While I don't use it, -GZ is used (also) by Phoenix Theory.

I've never seen DigiText Theory, but I've seen someone post otherwise that it shares a lot in common with Phoenix Theory.

Question: Is Digitext under renovation under renovation by yourself, or is a new edition being made by someone else?

Thanks everyone! Very helpful.

I've seen -GZ for -tion. I learned and use -GS. I think the idea of -GZ was to avoid the -gs/-tion conflict. Of course, if you use -Z for your plurals, that conflict is avoided. I use -Z for plurals when I need to avoid a conflict; otherwise, I use -S.

After incorporating Stenomaster theory into my own a couple years ago, I switched to -Z for plurals and -BGZ for -ction. (That straightened out my "fix/fiction," etc., conflicts.

-GS is -tion in SM, so didn't have to change that one.

Of course I feel Phoenix switched it, in my opinion, just to be able to call it "her" own -- like so many other basic steno concepts that weren't broke and didn't need a fixin'. :)


BOIT, changing to the -Z for plurals did a number on my dictionary, but I'm still glad I made the switch. I no longer have an issue with the "-ings."

Tami, I changed my final x to -BGZ for the fiction/fix, et al., issues. As long as a difference is used, all's good.

And ditto about PHX, but you know my views on THAT one!!

Gary, I was a DigiText student in the 1990s and was writing at 140-160 when the school closed. I'm now re-embarking on my CR journey and just received the StenoMaster books. I'm not sure whether I'll be able to revamp my DigiText theory with SM or if I'll just have to abandon the DigiText ship altogether. Meanwhile I'm being tossed on the sea of indecision while waiting to spot land. Just need to stay afloat! Is that a fin in the water... :-)

Tami,
Thanks. I think I'm re-set to follow the group now. Somehow that setting was turned off. I have been slammed with expedites for 2 weeks and am just coming up for air!! I'll have to read back through the thread here and get caught up.

Feast or famine with depos, it sounds like!!

Glad you're busy, Christine!

Did Megan sit out this week at SWJC?

I just wanted to share a warm fuzzy about the Magnum Steno Club:
I was in a depo last week where the witness's atty kept asking her and the questioning atty to slow down because it was making it difficult for the CR due to the rapid fire Q&A.
I wanted to tell him that the speed was perfectly acceptable because I'm a member of the MAGNUM STENO CLUB!!
Wow, was that ever a good feeling! I just kept thinking to myself "Wow the MSC sure works!"

Mark,
Just wanted to say thanks for the high-speed dictation. My jobs have been coming up the cleanest they ever have and I have been able to hang on through some really speedy sections. Similar to Shelley's comment, I had attorneys saying the same thing, and I was right on top of them. THANKS SO MUCH, MARK!!

Tami,
Yes, currently feast :) I'll e-mail you about Megan.

Yvette, the only thing I miss is the KPW- for "any." In DigiText we use it for "emb-" too. I love all of the "any" KPW- phrases - can't seem to get used to the N- for "any." It's all good! Just happy to be back writing!

Shelley,

Thanks for telling us that! I'm so happy to hear it!

Did you guys see Gromit today?

Gromit is quite the ventriloquist.

Gromit seemed extremely calm during your dictation, Mark, wasn't even close to breaking a sweat. Not like me practicing in my attic room in 100 degree weather. Talk about breaking a sweat!

Gromit is very cute.

Bece, very funny! You ARE dedicated to practice in a nonair-conditioned room!!

Well, losing weight during practice is just a bonus, I guess.

Tina-Marie,

I don't want to comment very much at this time on the KPW stroke at this time other than to say this:

(Mark, please correct me if I am wrong) --

1. If anyone has a better way of doing something, or a shorter way, or an easier way, or a way they find easier to stroke, or an easier whatever that makes an outline easier to read, etc..., then they should use it, or if they are an instructor, or tutor, or mentor, and they know of any of the above, they should pass it on, at least as an option. (As with any theory, when making changes, be careful of conflicts and the like that may be created).

2. If you find something too difficult to do, or it doesn't make sense to you, or the fingering is too awkward for you, etc... et al., then don't use it/do it.

Bottom line, your usage of the KPW- stroke may fit right in (along with the other uses in this theory or that you may find over time elesewhere). And there's nothing wrong with that.

Mark,
I did see Gromit today. I was wondering how she expressed a desire to be on the video. And I think you should express to her she shouldn't be so hyper.

She's great :)

My initial theory learned advocated the below:

KPW (KB) = emp, emb, imp, imb

SPW = int, ent, ind, end

How does this fit with Stenomaster/Magnum theory?

Also, I've picked up KPW- for KN- words/phrases,
- for GN- words/phrases,

and I've played with it for words that have a K_N sound or spelling, or a C_N sound or spelling, such as connection, connive...
knife, knives, knight, knit (Can't think of more right now)...

Would this work?

Gary,

I personally think the KN- is another atrocity from Phoenix.

It's like coming back for the silent -b on "bomb." I think it's totally unnecessary.

When I hear N-, I write "n."

The few conflicts are easily handled.

Monica,

I always like taking the same fast take over a couple times. I used to do it until I could write the take perfectly, but I don't do that anymore. I know I'll never shatter my notes, so I'll move on before I "nail" a super fast take, but I also like the feeling of "Look at me now! I'm actually on it!!"

It's such a great feeling to see progress.

Oh, and unless you have nothing else to do in life, I think below speed/trailing practice is a complete waste of time.

I personally think the KN- is another atrocity from Phoenix.
It's like coming back for the silent -b on "bomb." I think it's totally unnecessary.
When I hear N-, I write "n."
The few conflicts are easily handled.

Tami, I totally agree -- 150%! Big surprise, huh? ;)
I've been distinguishing all the kn/n conflicts my entire career. A separate stroke for KN? Pfft!

I still stay on the speaker every day I work. I don't want to run the risk of all of a sudden somebody decides to take off and I'm already hanging back ten words.

Staying on the speaker is just a good habit to get into. Keep staying out of your comfort zone. It's a good thing!

Yes, Brenda, you and I have been agreeing for a long time now. :)

KN- is not necessarily a stroke standing alone, like the silent -B, but I just feel it's an unnecessary thought process.

I can simply add a * for "knight," etc., and I'm done with it.

YUP!

Gary, I agree with everything you wrote.

Also, my theory is the same as yours as far as KPW- and SPW-. Your further clever use of KPW- for other things is commendable.

Monica,

You have correctly stated my speed building method.

If you have having trouble with accuracy at speeds that you should be writing nearly perfectly, then I suggest you DO slow down and make yourself write perfect at those speeds where you're supposed to.

As a student, if they will allow you to do high speed practice in school, by all means do it!

And I agree with Tami's response to you and Gary as well.

Hey, everyone!

A friend of mine sent me a link to a YouTube video, saying, "Mark, here's some good practice material." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik

I felt really good when I went to it and wrote it. The guy is a FAST talker, no doubt, but he's NOT FAST ENOUGH for Magnum Steno Club material, is he???

I felt great that I was able to write him well! I was able to keep up with pretty good realtime accuracy, BUT leaving out much punctuation in order to STAY ON THE SPEAKER.

Do you guys agree, this guy is gettable for Magnum Steno Club reporters? Most reporters who don't practice would die with this guy.

I'm taking a licking on other forums with some of my ideas, which amazingly enough, look to be many of the ideas you use.

Part of my problem is that I don't know what works, what doesn't, or what may cause problems of one kind or another. So I take the comments of others seriously.

One example is your use of F- (or maybe F*-) for neush V- in some words; boy have I taken a licking on that one when I posed it (and I did not know you do the same in some cases).

KPB- for KN- and GN- words/phrases has been around for a long time, though not seen that often. It was something I saw years ago in Phoenix Theory and liked, although more recently I've seen citations of it maybe going back as far as 1915, certainly the '50's.

I've taken a bashing on extending it, at all, to other uses.

I also had an idea for WHR- to use it for AL- words, phrases. What a bashing I took.

It seems that to work around some problems with it, I used the *

But for many writers, WHRAO is whether or not.

Then I saw KWHRAO for whether or not, and realized it could still work. But what a bashing...

I've also played with using W- as R- in RL- words, like relationship, relay, etc... (Also, maybe using W- for A- in AL- or AH- words). Been afraid to even mention that one to anyone, anywhere.

A long time ago I adopted -FRPBG for -NK

In general, my thinking is that there is nothing wrong with having mulitple ways of writing anything, including the alphabet, as long as each outline is owned and used periodically. The brain sorts it out on the fly and knows when to use which in a given case.
But I take a bashing on that too. Strangely enough, although I dare not speak for the writer, there is a national speed champion who has publicly written this idea, and without criticism.

I think one of the few things we may disagree on, and it's not major, IMHO, is your use of AEU for the letter (or actually word a ) and A- as a prefix. I was taught the reverse, had a teacher who learned your way and then when he saw my theory that I learned way he changed it. Neither way has a true advantage; as I understand it, both have drawbacks. It's just that in everyday life, we use A as a word, so it feels more natural to me.

So far, from what I've seen online, I like your methods of writing. I wish I could afford your books and other things needed to learn.

Ditto for Dennis Steiner's ideas; do you use any of them? What do you think of his ideas?

The other thing I wish I could afford is Realwrite/Realtime by McCormick. I like the idea of an alphabet on both sides of the keyboard, although it can pose some problems for traditional writers. However, IMHO, if it is used primarily and carefully to break conflicts, it can also help shorten writing. But it's not for everyone, and I view it as an add-on, although it too is an excellent stand-alone theory (although not as good as yours in brevity).

Can't wait for your opines...

And Tami, although what you wrote is something I disagree with, it's an exception. I value you, and your son, and both of your opinions. Who knows? I may wind up eventually having the same opinion for my own reasons which I cannot judge now.

Gary, you'd have more clout if you were a practicing reporter -- or even student -- and using these ideas at speed. The fact that you're arguing with seasoned reporters who are able to get these words down quickly and efficiently without conflict is what gets people's backs up. If WHRAO is "whether or not," why add the K into the mix? There's no reason for it. Why try to think "W is an A" when there are single-stroke outline out there using the sensible, intuitive A in al~ words?

Your ideas are cerebral. They're interesting. They're not terribly practical. Practicality wins when we're talking speed. When you can show that these concepts work practically, at speed and on the job, you may get a different response. But you shouldn't expect people to change their simple, unconflicted, strokes to complicated ones just because they're intellectually interesting and physically possible.

Brenda,

You don't know what I am, or am not,

I appreciate your feedback.

I don't know if you are one of those elsewhere who soundly rejected the idea of F- or F*- for neush V- in some cases. If you were one of those, did you read what Mark K. wrote below?

I picked up KWHRAO as a work around from looking for the phrase in Briefpedia; adding a non-pronounced syllable made sense, and for whatever the reasons, it is posted on Briefpedia.

I try not be cerebral, and often my ideas come from other seasoned reporters, who are not even questioned with them.

And I toss ideas out there; some will be liked by some people, others not by others. The feedback I get is useful; what's not useful is the tone which you've verbalized so well.

Mark, again, I hope you will respond to my last post to you. Be advised that are others who say you will agree with anything anyone "says."

And I'd love to send you some threads from elsewhere; I'd also like to fill you in more in depth on my own situation.

If there is a more private email addie for you, please send it to me at garywolpow@msn.com

Gary, you have ideas that are clever, original, and you like them, and that's all that matters. It follows that if you like them, some other people could too.

As far as /AEU or /A for the word "a" and the prefix "a~," reason tells me they are identical. But I just had a thought. /A is also used in the middle, and at the end of words. CAT/A/PULT, A/ROR/A, RAOET/A, so that the way I do it the word "a" (/AEU) is ONLY for the word and never for any word part.

Dennis Steiner is a huge advocate of writing short, and I am too. I do not have his book. I've only seen some of his ways of adding words to Q. and A. symbols, which are very clever. I would like to get his book sometime so I can glean some things I might want to use but haven't done so to date.

I'm sorry to hear some reporters bash other reporters for their steno ideas. That's a shame. And also it's a common thing on internet fora, which is the reason this is the ONLY forum I'm on. People seem to be more rude on internet postings.