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Kyung's Blog (158)

Realtime versus Livenote

For the longest time, I didn't realize there was a difference between realtime and Livenote. And if you already know the difference, then you can skip this blog and avoid my rantings, ravings, and ramblings.

Realtime is what we do. We provide realtime for ouselves and for the attorney. Realtime is hooking up your writer to your laptop and having the words come up In English. Realtime is hooking up the attorney to your realtime feed somehow via wireless or wire so that they can see… Continue

Added by Kyung on September 17, 2008 at 7:28 — 7 Comments

How to deal with the last-minute call.

The great thing about this profession is the flexibility. You decide to take jobs or not to take jobs.

Of course, there will come a time when you are called for a last-minute depo. And when I say last-minute, I mean last-minute. The agency is calling you at 9:30 for a 10:00 a.m. depo.

Now, a lot of agencies will tell you, we expect you to be showered and ready to go out the door whenever we call. Hmmmm . . .

Well, there are some days that I plan to stay at home… Continue

Added by Kyung on September 13, 2008 at 6:00 — 1 Comment

PAY YOUR TAXES - IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR

Hey,

Don't forget to pay your quarterly taxes.

For the new reporters out there, you are an independent contractor. Nobody is taking money out for the government, but they want their share. I personally pay quarterly. My tax person gives me vouchers that I just send in every three months.

If you say you don't have the money now, better start saving. Because if you don't have it now, they'll want it later. Just estimate an amount.

Added by Kyung on September 5, 2008 at 16:01 — 4 Comments

Airports & travel

So I'm traveling for the Labor Day weekend

San Jose, California, is a great airport to fly in and out of. They have pretty good TSA, not the zoo that is LAX. It's a fairly easy airport to navigate in terms of finding your gate. They have lots of outlets to plug into for your laptop. They also have free wi-fi. Whoo-hoo. Awesome. They got a good mix of restaurants. Of course, they're all overpriced but there's some variety.

John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County,… Continue

Added by Kyung on September 1, 2008 at 12:00 — 1 Comment

Get a Life

It's been a while since I've handed out unsolicited advice to newbie reporters aka what I wish I knew about reporting my first year out. So here's some more. Feel free to turn a deaf ear.

This a great profession. We have a lot flexibility. You're choosing to be buried under work or not. That being said, there are times when you've got to take a moment to breathe. If that means turning down a job bec you're already buried under transcripts or you want a vacation, I am hereby giving… Continue

Added by Kyung on August 28, 2008 at 7:30 — 3 Comments

Pet Peeves & ranting

If you are married to an attorney, perhaps you should skip this blog.

I have come to fear when attorneys say to me, "Oh, I'm married to a court reporter."

Inevitably, these attorneys all talk like the wind and they freakin' always give away the copy order. What!?! Why?

You would think that if they're married to a court reporter, the court reporter would have told them about doing that stupid stipulation and giving away the copy. You would think that they would… Continue

Added by Kyung on August 26, 2008 at 14:30 — 4 Comments

Rankings

Seriously, I am currently third on the leader board. Part of me is like whoo-hoo considering that Monti and Kelli are ranked one and two (and I secretly think Monti has it rigged since he is the admin and does all the tricky behind-the-scenes computer stuff, but I"m just saying.)

Part of me is how silly to even care about ranking. I am such a geek. But I kind of always knew that.

Part of me is a little embarrassed. Oh, my God. I need to get a job. Obviously I am spending… Continue

Added by Kyung on August 20, 2008 at 6:34 — 3 Comments

Third Day in Federal Court and the fun begins

Well, Monday was my third time in federal court. Different judge.

Unbeknowst to me (or I didn't find out until after I said, yes, I'd cover) the Mattel v. MGA case was being tried in this courtroom. Daily copy!!! Yikes!!!

Well, I know nothing about producing a federal court transcript. Talk about baptism by fire.

It was a really hard day in court for me. On top of "regular" civil calendar and criminal matters, they were going over verdict forms and jury… Continue

Added by Kyung on August 19, 2008 at 22:00 — 1 Comment

New Writer Research

I am looking into getting a new writer. But there are so many writers out there and I want to make sure that I look at them all.

So far I have:

Stenograph Mira
Stenograph Fusion
Stenovations Lightspeed
GeminiWriter
ProCAt Stylus
Eclipse Passport

Are there any other writers out there that I should be looking at or that I missed?

Added by Kyung on August 15, 2008 at 6:55 — 3 Comments

First day in Federal Court

I had my first day in federal court and I survived.

I couldn't sleep last night I was so nervous.

It was calendar and we covered 13 different matters. OMG.

I think I got all the speakers, whoo-hoo. Now all I've got to worry about is the words. But that's for another day.

Next thing I've got to do is figure how to upload the notes so I can get paid.

Added by Kyung on August 4, 2008 at 19:30 — 3 Comments

First Day of the CSR Annual Convention aka Vendor CAT training day

Well, day one went well. Registration was pretty smooth. Online voting went well.

I learned some interesting things at my CAT software training session.

The opening happy hour reception was very nice. Tons of food.

I looked for the CSRNation people. I did not see anyone. Where, oh, where are you hiding?

Did not get a chance to see the Exhibition hall, but will try to hit it tomorrow..

Added by Kyung on July 24, 2008 at 20:30 — 4 Comments

Who's getting excited?

The NCRA Annual Convention is less than a week away. Whoo-hoo. I'll be at the Eclipse Advantage seminar on Thursday and definitely all the social events. Would love to meet everybody. I think Marla is trying to set up some kind of group activity.

Okay. Who's going to buy me a… Continue

Added by Kyung on July 17, 2008 at 7:05 — 5 Comments

Not carpal tunnel, but tennis elbow

Well, it seems that I have tennis elbow aka epilateral condilytis. Whoo-hoo.

Has anyone had this? What did you do? I'm seeing a chiro and I just started some anti-inflammatories.

Any other suggestions?

Added by Kyung on July 9, 2008 at 8:38 — 8 Comments

FedEx horror story - It could happen to you.

So I sent a package out by FedEx ground last Monday, June 16, 2008. Checked online tracking. It said it arrived Friday, June 20, 2006 at 3:05 p.m. w/signature proof of delivery. Good to go, I think.

I get e-mail yesterday, uh, where's the package? I don't know. In your office. No. No. We don't have it.

What address did you send it to? The one you told me to. Spent all day on e-mails back & forth. Spent today back & forth in between other things. After much pushback… Continue

Added by Kyung on June 25, 2008 at 15:42 — 9 Comments

Administrative duties - What I wish I knew my first year out.

When you think of court reporting, you think you're going to be out in the "field" taking down the depo or at home producing a transcript.

Well, while you're at home there will be a ton of administrative duties for you to take care of that can quite easily eat away your time and your day.

There's administrative duties at the depo. Get the attorneys' cards and information Make sure you get all the exhibits. Get the witness's address in case the original is going to be sent… Continue

Added by Kyung on June 24, 2008 at 12:47 — 9 Comments

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

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

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

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

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