Last Full Day of Theory

Here it is, the day that everyon- I'VE been waiting for! This is my last full day of theory. We're doing a quiz on the last two chapters and probably going to go over review and everything. I'm leaving theory at 80 WPM takes (I have 2 more 80's to go), which is higher than the 50 WPM that we're supposed to graduate at. So basically I'm ahead of the game when it comes to what the class expects from you.

I'll also announce what writer I ended up getting. Theres a lot of hints, especially after the Diamate Tripod topic. I ended up getting the Wave afterall and I absolutely love it. The touch is just perfect, I love the tilting feature, and it was in my price range. I also have, in the next three years, a trade in ammount for if I want to go to the Diamante. No, this is not a welcoming for you to question this decision though. I already have a paper writer, I didn't need another. I did my research and I'm completely content.

I get a week off before I start going into 60-80, which I'm already ahead of the game on. I'll probably be in there for perhaps a week before I go to the next speed class. It'll give me enough time to get used to the new system we'll be going into.

I'm hecka exited. I'll finally be doing official speeds and be able to practice more, since I'm going to be dedicating all my time strictly to my court reporting classes.

Flooded in paper!

Posted On: Depoman.com -> Student Bootcamp -> Flooded in paper!

So I have this habit of throwing none of the takes I've taken home, and so today I decided I was going to go through my room and toss takes from last quarter. I basically filled my recycle basket up with paper. Its ridiculous! I had it all over. My computer desk was covered, my book shelf had old takes hidden, I found some under my bed, found some inside an old book, its ridiculous. Basically, I must have had old paper coming out of my ears.

What do some of you do with the old paper? I throw it into the recycling bin personally, but I've heard of people reusing old paper, using them to read back later on, etc. etc.

I probably should have taken a picture, but nobody wants to see my rats' nest. Being an overtime student (I'm taking 16 units vs. the typical 12), I don't have time for anything except takes, homework, sleep, eat, and more takes. My little visits online are usually my only break.

Faster is not always better. Accuracy is key.

My intro from Depoman.com:

"I featured a bit of this on my blog. My teacher lately has been mixing it up from what we had been learning. Instead of warming us up slower, and then gradually going faster, she's been doing the opposite. We'll start at an 80 wpm dictation when the real goal may be to only do an 70 WPM dictation later. She always warms us up at least 10 WPM faster than the highest speed level in the class.

While at first this was really irritating, I found once we slowed down to the actual take I was relieved. Less retention, I could keep up with the takes, and instead of elephant stomping around in the dark I was actually keeping up with really good accuracy. Just the other day I actually passed an 80. An 80! They'd really been kicking my kapooty up until she started doing this.

So what I've been doing now is I start my warm up just before homework at the higher speed first, and then work my way back down. Then after the first time around I work myself back up once again, and voila, I find I do a lot better. The extra speed push challenges me to do a bit better, and I fix all the mistakes I did the first time around.

I really hope she keeps doing this in class... Though I probably jinxed it by sharing. "

Everyone knows the big goal is to get to that 255 words-per-minute speed. However, pushing yourself way too quickly can really hurt you in the long run. Accuracy is key, not always speed. If you are going so fast you are misstroking words, or having to guess later what you meant to write down, then you need to stop and slow down. Faster is not the key.

Students should be gaining the accuracy first, and then the speed. Not the other way around. I have an 80 word-per-minute typing certificate myself, and I didn't gain it from madly stomping my fingers around. I used to play a game where it could mock you if you got it wrong. It infuriated me, so accuracy came first. Then I gained the speed like wildfire in my early teens. 80 wpm is the highest level professions using the QWERTY keyboard requires.

However, everyone needs a bit of a push or a challenge sometimes to warm up. So! Instead of starting on the lower speeds first and working your way up do the opposite. Its what we've been doing in our dictation classes at my college and its working. Start 20 words per minute higher than what you are on now. While it will frustrate you a little, it practices retention (holding something in your mind), works your fingers up, and you'll note mistakes. Now, go down to your level on that same dictation. Notice you're a bit more relieved that things have slowed down, better accuracy comes, and you're more relaxed. Then, after doing that do a practice that is 20 words-per minute-lower than where you are now. While its slow and a big agonizing, I know, you'll be able to catch all those errors from the higher speed while also being able to include proper punctuation.

After all that go back to the dictation that was 20 words-per-minute faster than your usual speed. You'll probably find you did a lot better than you did the first time. Viola! You got a speed push, learned from your mistakes from the first time around, and also learned better accuracy.

I really found it weird the first time my teacher did this to us, warming us up for 80 WPM when we were supposed to be doing 70 WPM takes, but that reverse physiology worked great. It really calmed us down for the 70 WPM take because we were relieved at not having to retain so much or stomp our fingers around in the dark. Warm up faster, then work down to the speed you're at.

Before my teacher started doing this the 80 WPM dictation in our class was kicking my kapooty. Yet, just the other day when she did a take I didn't realize it was an 80. When she told the speed to the class I practically jumped in my seat and asked "Are you serious?" ...Yes...I got a weird look from her and she told me she wouldn't lie to me, but I was really excited! I was actually doing better than before.

Sometimes being too safe is a mistake...

WAUGH!!

Boy do I have something to rant about: myself. I wanted to get my check and investment sheet tracked to Stenograph so I knew when they got it. I did the stupid of asking for 'Registered Mail' instead of 'Tracked Mail,' so not only did I waste $13 dollars for something I didn't want, but its also delayed the process of getting my machine ordered. Isn't that just peachy?

I checked my USPS tracking confirmation, which I was reportedly not supposed to get according to the lady I called, and it says that they tried to deliver it on a Saturday...um...Stenograph is in a business center. USPS should be smart enough to realize its not open! So I gave USPS a call, and guess what, I can't ask them to redeliver it. Stenograph has to call for it it, so the check I wrote is reportedly under lock and key until they pick it up. Stenograph has no idea how to fix the situation, and nobody is authorized to make that call.

I'm so happy that Stenograph is so on it and so polite. Not only did they put up with my screaming, irritating bird but they are also putting up with this huge mistake I made. I'm falling in love with Stenograph customer service as we speak. They are fantastic and so understanding.

So! Sometimes being too safe is a mistake. I just wanted to tracked so if anything comes up saying 'Oh we never received the check' I could find out who was responsible, but being as I never send mail any other way except the usual stamp and pop it in the mailbox I didn't know the registered mail details, and being as USPS is broke the guy who was at the counter didn't care to explain. So now my check is being safe guarded like it was from Fort Nox...

This sad panda needs a hug...Sob.

I Shimmed! I Shimmed!

CheapandSleazy.net -> Do It Yourself Shim

I shimmed my manual Sentura 200! While I'm awaiting my realtime machine, tortuously mind you, I'm getting a little antsy. I can't wait to get my own copy of Case Catalyst too, but at the same time I want that soft touch everyone brags about when they use a realtime machine. Even the SRT's have a lighter touch than my manual one. So! I decided I was going to follow the Cheap and Sleazy guide to shimming your machine.

It was incredibly simple, and I did it in about 10 minutes. I'm a little unsatisfied with 2 cards, but this 5-year-old Quizno's card is gonna get chopped once again in a little while. I couldn't believe it when I pressed down that metal bar just below the gears and it made the keys go further down! No wonder people shim their machines.

So! I actually highly recommend following this guide (click here) for an cheap, sleazy, and easy way to shim your machines. I'm really, really liking this. Hopefully my wrists won't feel so tired because of it. All you need is a pair of scissors, an old and expired credit card, library card, or some old gift card, and a ruler. Everything else is incredibly simple. No risk too! Well, unless you consider getting ink and oil on your hands risky.

...Still can't wait for my own realtime writer and software though. Curse being manual, no-techy, court reporting student....

Computer Revived!

So I guess my computer didn't die. I didn't know it was possible, but apparently we had a virus in our router. The router! I almost didn't believe it, but somehow a virus had gotten into our router and its settings and changed it so it had to go through a proxy server that redirected sites like e-mail and online bank statements to a sites that required you to download a 'Sexy Calculator' or required you to do a survey on 'How to know if you're an Idiot' to get to the page you wanted to go. Even though we always pressed back on our browser and never did download or do any of these things, I still somehow got a virus!

We had to not only install a new OS onto my hard drive (of which we recovered all of my old files) but we had to reset the router to factory settings to get rid of the virus in the first place! We had to also give it a new passcode to access our internet. Its scary!

So yes, somehow we got a virus in our router. I didn't believe it either until I saw it! However, my desktop is recovered and all my files, including my music, is intact. Thank God! Computer Revived!

Computer Died!

Just wanted to let everyone know yesterday while checking my e-mail my primary hard drive decided to die. I've lost everything including my music, my documents, and my favorite audio clips. I'm looking for my StenED CD's so I can recover my primary audio.

It won't be until the end of the week that my computer will be fixed with a new hard drive. So if you don't see me my computer decided to kapoot.

And yes, it was a blue screen and crash. Then it started turning itself on and on by itself. It was crazy. I had to unplug my computer to get it to stop going koo koo for coco puffs.

See you when my baby is fixed. . . Sob.

Another Site Update

So I decided the panda bears really made it hard to read, at least for me, so I went for a new template and played with it a bit. I had a lot to do with this Blog since I've sorta been neglecting it due to time pressures. Thank goodness for this weekend!

Anyway the new template features bamboo. Tell me what you think guys! I'd love to get your comments and e-mails on what you think. I'm not just writing for myself, I'm writing for others too.

Unfortunately today's "Sunday's Dictation" will have to be postponed, much as I wanted to do it, because what I was going to feature as audio were just random drills you typed from hardcopy. Boring! I'll try to find something. If you have any suggestions I'm begging you please tell me.

Name Change

After my oatmeal incident, and my new quote/signature for forums, I decided to rename Nev's CR to 'The Court Reporter's Oatmeal.' Nev's CR isn't really memorable, and I want to keep people coming back to my blog if I can. I think the new name is catchy and memorable, and would come up better on searches for those who may look for my blog. So voila, Nev's CR is now "The Court Reporter's Oatmeal."

Of course the topics are the same, just the name has changed.

On another note, I must be a huge smooch. I was looking at my stats and someone posted my blog on Pingy which promotes blogs and their websites. I got some traffic from Pingy, and because I really love having followers that I can e-mail and talk to, I decided to do it too. So whoever posted it, thank you and love you bunches! Now excuse me while I spam Pingy...