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What I Wish I Knew My First Year out - Asking the attorney to slow down

When a lot of reporters start out they are afraid to ask the attorney slow down. They end up with these truly horrendous transcripts. And then you go home and have to figure it out somehow.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK THE ATTORNEY TO SLOW DOWN. And ask again if they don't.

If you're afraid the attorney won't call you back, so what!!!! Do you really want to go back for a second day to take down the hell that is this deposition if it's so fast and he won't slow down. I'm talking… Continue

Added by Kyung on June 15, 2008 at 7:04 — 5 Comments

FINDING A SCOPIST MADE EEEEEEZZZZZEEEEE!

I thought finding some scopists to try out would be a tough search, but learned that all you have to do is hit "ADVANCED MEMBER SEARCH" on the Main Page Tool Bar, and then answer the easy questions, like what CAT program you're on, etc., and you get just the people you're looking for! SIMPLE!

Added by Tracy Perry on June 12, 2008 at 15:51 — 1 Comment

UPS - why they drive me insane

UPS is driving me insane. You can never find ground shipping forms at any of the UPS stores. When I drop packages off at UPS, you can't track them until they've been delivered which kind of defeats the purpose of tracking.

Their last pickup time is at 4:30. AARRGGGHH!!!

I prefer FedEx. When I drop off a package at FedEx, by the time I go home, it's in the tracking on the computer.

You can drop off until 5:30 p.m. for ground.

They have tons of forms.

Added by Kyung on June 12, 2008 at 15:41 — 4 Comments

Sites

Hi everyone,

I find these sites very useful.

www.stenospeed.com
www.typershark.com
courtreportingdvd.com

Have fun!!

Jean-Marie

Added by Jean-Marie A. Browne on June 6, 2008 at 19:32 — No Comments

Another petty rant about attorneys

Now, this is pretty small in the scheme of things, but still rather annoying. Exhibit stickers.

Lately, I've had attorneys coming in asking if I have packets of those stickers so they can mark their exhibits. Well, I give them a sheet, then they number all the sheets. But then they freakin' don't use them all. They're numbering up to 30 or something and they have 10 exhibits.

Hello!!! Exhibit stickers do not grow on trees. I have to pay for those stickers, not you. Stop… Continue

Added by Kyung on June 5, 2008 at 7:00 — 9 Comments

Why I love Houston!

The people here are so great. Yesterday, in a four block walk to my car, three people told me they, a, liked my outfit; b, wanted to help with my equipment; c, just a comment on the weather. That is amazing in a huge city. You get in an elevator, someone usually makes a funny remark or says good morning. In the grocery store, you get in conversations. In fact, almost every line you have to stand in, including DMV, you can get into a pleasant conversation with someone. Very friendly, warm and… Continue

Added by Sue Baker on June 5, 2008 at 6:45 — No Comments

backup proofer/scopist - case catalyst...

Hello~ Just looking to get a backup proofer and/or scopist. I'm on Case Catalyst. I work in court, so my transcripts are on the smaller side right now ~ doing pleas, sentences, prelims, etc... Let me know if you are interested. Thanks so much!

Added by Maria Aliventi on June 4, 2008 at 21:17 — No Comments

Big news for me!!

Well, I applied to the Federal Court for a pro tem position, and I have been hired. I'm very excited.

What does this mean? Well, probably not that big a deal. I will only be filling in if they need coverage for a regular reporter. But we'll have to see how it goes.

I plan on continuing to freelance with the agencies that I usually work for. But this will be an opportunity to look at freelance v. court from a first-hand perspective. I'll share my experiences if you're… Continue

Added by Kyung on June 2, 2008 at 12:08 — 7 Comments

What's Your Story

WHAT'S YOUR STORY

(Who influenced you?)

When I was very young, I met this man that, over the years, was pretty influential in my life. I would see him often and as I was growing up, he would always encourage me to participate in activities, such as sports and do good in school and other things.

I never once heard a cuss word come out of his mouth...never. He was always very respectful to others and everyone seemed to like him and he fit into any crowd and was always… Continue

Added by Breck Record on May 31, 2008 at 12:40 — 5 Comments

Get Free Books!

Go to: http://www.wowio.com/index.asp

Added by Nicolete on May 30, 2008 at 8:30 — No Comments

Here's the good news!!

If I'm all caught up and good, and it's slow, I'm taking the day off and catching Sex and the City.

How about you?

I think a Cosmo and some fun sounds like just the ticket right about now.

Added by Kyung on May 24, 2008 at 20:54 — 1 Comment

My baby is graduating high school

It seems like yesterday a client told me I looked like a big blueberry in my blue maternity dress at a hearing. Or that I packed my little ice pack and pump to pump at lunch. Or the happy little people jumping on me and hugging me at the door when I arrived home. Or the stressful mornings when I had crying babies to drop off at daycare (ripped my heart out daily; dad always got pickup, the happy time). Working on a rush, the baby gate across my office door with babies yearning to get at mommy,… Continue

Added by Sue Baker on May 22, 2008 at 6:36 — 2 Comments

No. 5 is alive (does anyone remember what movie this is from?)

OK, I got through lesson 4 somewhat easier than lesson 3. Of course I made some mistakes but after going over it so many times, the support department told me to move on and so I am. Today is my 3 week anniversary (and they said it wouldn't last!!) into this journey and I still can't believe that I am able to read and write sentences, short as they may be.

I took a peek at the lesson 5 video and see it's got a lot of material so I decided to take a break and check out the CSR site… Continue

Added by Janice on May 21, 2008 at 10:18 — 4 Comments

Beginning Lesson 4

I really didn't think I would ever get here; I still am not sure I SHOULD be here, but I have gone over lesson 3 so many times I just need a break:) There's a lot of material in lesson 4 but I'm excited about getting into it. It still boggles my mind that only 2.5 weeks into this journey, I am able to write and read little sentences.

Now of course, we all have a life outside of CR/school, and yesterday I was treated to a lovely ceremony at my son's school. It was a consecration… Continue

Added by Janice on May 17, 2008 at 5:02 — 2 Comments

Where's my freakin' tax rebate/economy stimulus $/whatever the hell you want to call it?

Has anyone gotten their tax rebate money yet? I certainly haven't. I was planning on spending it on stuff. Now, I'm not sure.

What about you guys? What are you going to do with the money?

Shall I stuff it in my mattress?

Added by Kyung on May 16, 2008 at 11:32 — 14 Comments

How to get that next speed test.

Type it. That's all you've got to do. Of course, you may have to type more than one. But even if it's crap, transcribe it. Learn to read your crap.

It's not just about learning to write faster, it's also about learning to read slop. When you're in the real world taking a deposition, there are going to be times when you're writing slop. Learn to read it.

Add slop to you dictionary. If you consistently misstrokee something, you can either practice, practice, practice, and… Continue

Added by Kyung on May 14, 2008 at 6:00 — No Comments

Lesson 3

Well, I'm in the midst of lesson 3 and as I expected, it's getting harder. I seem to do well with the arbitraries and know the letters, etc.; however, when doing the oral dictation I get stuck on a word and then lose the next few trying to write the one. I'm not sure if I should worry about accuracy at this point or just get the words out. I'm enjoying it though and am surprised that at just less than two weeks, I am in the 3rd of 20 theory lessons. It's impossible to imagine doing this at ANY… Continue

Added by Janice on May 13, 2008 at 13:46 — 4 Comments

Biggest wastes of time known to man - or why my transcript is late.

Just to be perfectly clear, my transcripts are not late. It's just a title. So for all you agencies out there going I can't hire that Kyung chick bec. she's surfing the web or blogging and not working on my transcript, do not worry. My transcripts are very rarely, if ever, late.

But now that we're on the topic. I find myself lately watching Wicked on Youtube, endlessly over and over. I'm going through the London production at the moment. I think Idina Menzel is really good. I'm also… Continue

Added by Kyung on May 9, 2008 at 11:11 — No Comments

First Steps

As they say, all journeys begin with the first step. I took my first steps one week and one day ago, Wed., April 30, 2008. That's the day I started training with the Court Reporting At Home Program. My ultimate goal is to do broadcast captioning, but I must first learn steno and become very proficient in order to transition into captioning.

So far, the program is going great. I am at the end of lesson 2 of the 20 theory lessons. After that, it will be all about speedbuilding and I… Continue

Added by Janice on May 8, 2008 at 5:46 — 2 Comments

Trader Joe's has some pretty cool products

Just came back from Trader Joe's today. They had little tiny frozen cilantro cubes. I am absolutely stoked bec. I always buy cilantro to make guacamole. But you only use a few sprigs, then you're left w/all this cilantro that goes to waste. Now I can just use one frozen cube at a time. So stoked!!!!

Added by Kyung on May 7, 2008 at 17:00 — No Comments