TCRA

THE VOLUNTEER REPORTER

president’s message

In 1989 Stephen R. Covey wrote“The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” In it he suggested:1. Be proactive2. Begin with the end in

mind3. Put first things first

4. Think “win-win”5. Seek first to understand, then to be

understood6. Synergize7. Sharpen the saw; that is, undergo

frequent self-renewalHabit 2 is my personal favorite. For a

long time I didn’t “get” the concept of beginning with the end in mind. It’s really

pretty simple. It’s fashioning our lives with a vision toward who and what we really want to be. Often we get caught up in our everyday struggles in the blink of an eye. We have witnessed that often with our members this year.

As we end 2012, I challenge you to start each day with a goal, and work toward bringing it to fruition. It could be honing your skills, volunteering in your association and/or community, mentoring, or any host of other things. End the day knowing you have made strides toward accomplishing your goal. Let’s make 2013 the year we each become the person we always hoped we would be!

“Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right.” - Oprah Winfrey

contentsCCR committee 2convention committee 2legislative committee 2fundraising committee 2just for voicewriters 3boxers or briefs 3from the blogs 6NCRA newsflash 8ask mr. modem 10calendar 11

Lake County Courthouse, Tiptonville TN

in the newsCourt reporters pitted against electronic recording in Ohio courts and nationwideCourt’s virtualized interpreters bridge linguistic and digital divideAn easy way to back up, but it costs

Sheila Wilson

november 2012

welcome new members

Joyce CaseySoddy Daisy, TN

Sandra Ventura

Bardstown, KY

CCR committeeBy offering online seminars, TCRA makes it easy to earn CEUs. So please visit TCRA’s website today for CEU opportunities. There are several seminars to choose from where you can earn anywhere from 0.1 to 0.15 CEUs.

Remember, 2.0 CEUs are required within a three-year cycle. Please do not let your certification lapse. It is more difficult to reinstate your CCR than it is to keep up your CEUs.

We currently have 106 CCRs. If you are not currently a CCR, I encourage you to submit your

CCR application today.

Happy Holidays!

conventionIt may seem like a long time off, but we are already hard at work preparing for TCRA’s Annual Convention to be held May 3 – 5, 2013. In our ever-changing profession, keeping ourselves up-to-date on everything from the latest products and technology to the ethics and laws that keep our work in good standing, we strive to keep you informed, and convention time is one of the best ways we can do just that.

Holiday Inn World's Fair Park in Knoxville, Tennessee, is the location we have selected. With newly renovated "green" guest rooms, convention facilities, Windows on the Park restaurant and lounge and interesting pieces of art, this property located in Downtown Knoxville is sure to please. Check out their website and see what this newly renovated property has to offer.

There will be more details to share with you in the near future. We look forward to seeing you all there!

legislativeBy the time this newsletter is printed, we will have had our Boot Camp seminar in Nashville. If you didn’t attend, you missed a phenomenal opportunity!

As you know, by vote at May 2012’s convention you vo t ed t o f o r TCRA t o endeavor strengthening our anti-contracting language in our state. The legislative committee has been working hard in researching different language

from other states around the country in an effort to make this the most concise and comprehensive

language possible. We have hired a lobbyist team to assist us in this whole process. Once the language is approved by the Board and filed, it will be disseminated to all members.

It is quiet for now, but once the legislative process begins we will be asking for your assistance and participation in many different areas. You have voiced your concerns regarding contracting issues, and your board and its committees have heard you and are ready to act. This must be a unified effort on our behalf. We will all be asked to step outside our comfort zone to ensure the success of this bill. It will surely be a long, hard and arduous road, and one which will likely be met with many obstacles. As has proven true in past, TCRA’s members are amongst the best in the nation, and we can and will prevail together.

fundraisingThe Fundraising Committee has been working very hard to secure

advertising for our newsletters and/or website by making telephone calls and sending emails. We’ve contacted businesses and reporters that have advertised with us in the past and we’ve also contacted businesses and individuals that have not advertised with us. Let’s keep these businesses placing ads with us by doing business with them and remember to take advantage of our member benefits.

Do you have any equipment to buy or sell? Maybe you have something to promote. Consider placing a classified ad in our newsletter and website, 70 words or less, for only $25 for

one month! Discover the variety of options there are for adver tising by going under the “marketplace” tab at www.tncra.com.

Lori Wells

Kristin Schultz

Burke

Pat Gildea

Tammy

Spooner

just for voicewriters

positive outlook for the future of court reportersSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections

Employment of court reporters is expected to grow by 14 percent from 2010 to 2020, as fast as the average for all occupations. Demand for court reporter services will be influenced by new federal legislation requiring increased captioning for the Internet and other technologies.

Reporters will increasingly be needed for captioning outside of legal proceedings. All new television programming will continue to need closed captioning, while broadcasters are adding closed captioning to their online programming in order to comply with new federal regulations.

Growth of the elderly population will also increase demand for court reporters who provide Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) services and can accompany their clients to doctor’s appointments, town hall meetings, and religious services. In addition, movie theaters and sports stadiums will provide closed captioning for disabled customers.

Employment growth may be negatively affected by the increased use of digital audio recording technology (DART). Some states have already replaced court reporters with this technology, while some others are currently assessing the reliability, accuracy, and costs associated with installing and maintaining recorders. Even with the increased use of DART, however, court reporters will still be needed to verify, check, and supervise the production of the transcripts after the proceedings have been digitally recorded. Despite the cost-savings that may be associated with DART, some state and federal courts may still prefer the quality provided by highly-trained court reporters.

Job prospects for graduates of court reporting programs are expected to be very good. Many training programs report that nearly all graduates are able to find jobs. Those with experience and training in CART and real-time captioning will have the best job prospects.

Excerpted from NVRA’s eVoice October, 2012

boxers or briefsSteno briefs on disabilities submitted by Jim Beres.

Accessibility SBILT

Accessible SBIL

ADA Y*AD

Administer DMEUN

Administered DMEUND

Administering DMEUNG

Administers DMEUNS

Administration on Aging AO*G

Administration DMEUNGS

Architecture TRAURBG

Administrative DMEUF

Administratively DMEUFL

Administrator DMEUN/YOR, DMEURN

Advocacy VA*EUS

Advocate VA*EUT

Advocated KRA*M

Advocating VA*EUGT

AGBell GA*BL

ALD A*LD

ALDA YALD

ALDAcon YALD/KON

ALDAn YALD/AN

ALS A*LS

American Sign Language SLA-Z

Americans with Disabilities Act DAKT, Y*ADZ

Amplification PLEUGS

Amplified PLEUFD

Amplifier PLAOEUFR

Amplifier PLEUFR

Amplifies PLEUFS

Amplify PLEUF

Amplifying PLEUFG, AO*J

ASL SLA

Assisted listening device ALD

Assistive listening system ALS

Assistive listening systems ALZ

Assistive technology ST*EUFT

Assistive ST*EUF

boxers or briefs, cont.Association of Late Deafened Adults YALDZ

Bilateral BLAT

BlueCross BLOS

BlueShield BLAOELD

Burglar alarm (s) BLARM (S)

Bylaw BLAU

CapTel KAP/TEL

Caregiver (s) KEUFR (s)

Caregiving PKEUFRG

CART KA*RT, KART, K-RT

CDI (s) SDAOEU (S)

Cell phone SPOENCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services

KR-MZ, KR*MZ, K-MZ, K*MZ

Certified deaf interpreter SDAOEUZ

Close caption K-K

CMS KR-MS, KR*MS, K-MS, K*MS

Cochlear implant KOEMT, KPLANT, KR*-EU

Collaborate KLABT

Collaborated KLABD

Collaborating KLABGT

Collaboration KLABGS

Commission KM*EUGS, KMEUGS

Commissioner KMEURGS

Community-based KM-BDConsumer Planning & Implementation Group KPL-EUG, KPL*EUG

Council (s) on Aging KAOJ (S)

Court of Appeals KPAOELS

Courthouse KHOUS

Deaf and hard-of-hearing DAFG, DHARG

Deaf or hard-of-hearing DOFG

Deaf D*EF, DEF

Deaf, late deafened and hard of hearing DLAFG

Deaf, late deafened or hard-of-hearing DLOFG

Deaf-blind or deaf/blind DBLEUND

Deafen DEFN

Deafened DEFND

Deafening DEFG

Deafening DEFNG

Department of (initial cap) DEFPT

Department of Justice DO*JZ

Descriptive video service D*FZ, D-FZ

Desegregating SGRA*EUGT, SGRA*EUGS

Desegregrate SGRA*EUT

Disability D-B, D-BLT, SD-BLT

Discriminate DRAEUT

Discriminated DRAEUD

Discriminating DRAEUGT

Discrimination DRAEUGS

D-Link D*/LINK, DOF

DOJ DO*J

DVS D*FS, D-FS

EEOC (caution: eek) AOEK, O*EK, YAOEK

Electronic L-RNGEqual Employment Opportunity Commission AOEKZ

FCC F-*K

FDA F*AD

Federal Communication Commission F-*KZ

Federal FRA*L, FRAL

Fire alarm FLARM

FM system F-MS, F-MZ

Food & Drug Administration F*ADZ, FRABLGS

Gallaudet University G-UFT

General Laws GLAUS

Groundwork GROURK

Handicap H-K, HAOERLGS, HAOERLS

Hard-of-hearing H-G, HOF, H-RG

Hard-of-hearing person HOFP, HARG

Healthcare Maintenance Organization HO*MZ

Hearing aid HAEUD, HAID

Hearing impaired H*EU

Hearing in noise test #H*EUNT

Hearing loss H-LS, HO-LS

Hearing-impaired consumer H*EUK

Hearing-impaired people H*EUPL

Hearing in noise test #H*EUNT

Hearing lossn H-LS, HAOERLGS, HAOERLS

HINT H*EUNT

HMO HO*M, HO*, HO*F, HOF, HOFG

Human service HAOUMS

Human services HAOUMZ

Idea (s) YEUD (Z)

IDEA Y*EUD

IEP YAO*EP, YAOEP

Independence Plus Y*EUP

Individual Education Plan (IEP) YAOEPZIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act Y*EUDZ

Infrared FRA-RD

Initiative NEURBT

Institute STAOUT

Institution STAUGS

Integrate SPWRAEUT

Integrating SPWRAEUGT

Integration SPWRAEUGS

Interpret TERPT

Interpretation TERPGS

boxers or briefs, cont.Interpreted TERPD

Interpreter TERP

Interpreting

TERPG, K*MS, K*MZ, KMAID, KMAIR, KMAOUBD, K-MS, K-MZ, KPL*EUG, KR*MS, KR*MZ

Late Deaf L-D

Late Deafened L-FD

Long-term care L-ERK

Medicaid #MAID

Medicare #MAIR

Meniere's MAOERNZ

Mental retardation M-RGS

Mentally retarded M-RD

Minority MEURNT, M-RNT, M-NZ

NAD NAD, NAOEULD

National Association of the Deaf NADZ

Neurofibromatosis N-F

No Child Left Behind NEULD, O*EKZ, OEMZ

Olmstead OMZ,PEJ

People with disabilities PLAOEPDZ

Persons with disabilities PAOERDZ

Pilot PILT

Public health PELGT

Real Choices R-KZ

Reasonable accommodations R-DZ

Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf R*EUDZ

Rehabilitate RAEBLT

Rehabilitation RAEBLGS,R-B

Relay service R-LS

RID R*EUD, SA*EUZ

Segregate SGRAEUT

Segregating SGRAEUGT

Segregation SGRAEUGS

Self-advocacy SA*EUS

Self-advocate SA*EUTSelf-Help for Hard of Hearing People SH-PZ

Self-Help for Hard of Hearing SH*Z

Sensorineural SNAOURL, SNAOURL

Service dog SDOG

Settlement S-MT

Settlement agreement SRAEMT

SHHH SH*

Sign language interpreter SLERP

Sign language SL-NG, SLAIJ, SKOURT, SLIRP, SLURP, SMERG, SMERJ

Smoke alarm SLARM

Social Security Act S-RKT

Social Security Administration S-RKD

Social Security S-RK, SPR*EUNT

Sprint SPR-NT

SSDI (caution: CDI - SKAOEU) STKEU

SSI SAO*EU, ST#-EUF, ST#-EUFT

State government SGOFT

State House SHOUS

State level SLEFL

State plan SPLAN

Statistic ST-T, STEUFLD, STEUFLS, STEUFLZ

Superior Court SPOURT, T*EL, TAO*EL, TEFN, TEFRN

Tele TLAOE

Telecoil TLOEUL

Telecommunications Act TLAKT, TLAOEKT

Telephone T-FN, T-FRN

Ticket to Work TWORK, TI-FGS

Tinnitus TAOEUNTS, TLAOEFN

TTY TWAO*EU, V*RS

Verizon VERNZ

Video relay service VRZ

Voc rehab FRAB

Vocational rehabilitation VOELGS

Voice over the Internet protocol VOIPZ

VOIP or VoIP VOIP

VR V-R, VRS

Wheelchair W-FP, WHAEUR

White House WHOUS

Work Incentive Act WEUKZ

Workforce development WOFMT

Workforce WOFS

Workgroup WROUP, YAO*EPZ, YAOEKZ

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appreciating a c o u r t r e p o r t e r ’ s skill set

SOURCE: Planet Depos Blog

Court reporters must “write” (stroke) between 225 and 280 words a minute on a court reporting machine in order to become certified by the state in which they practice or to receive a nationally recognized certification by the National Court Reporters Association. Although each state has its own certification criteria, most of them mirror the criteria established by the National Court Reporters Association. There is a lot of discussion among court reporters these days about the lawyers and witnesses speaking faster and faster. So how do reporters get it all down?

Stenographic court reporters are taught machine shorthand; that is, they learn how to “write on a stenotype machine, which is a specially designed and configured machine containing some letters of the alphabet. Because not all of the letters of the alphabet are represented on the machine, the reporter must press down two or more keys simultaneously to represent other letters or sounds. The best way to understand how the stenotype machine works is to compare it to a piano. If one key is depressed, you have a note; if multiple keys are depressed, you have a chord.

Learning to write on a stenotype machine is like learning and entirely new “language” and alphabet. Court reporters write what they hear phonetically, depressing multiple keys simultaneously to represent the sounds, syllables or words they hear. The stenotype machine is connected to a laptop computer which contains a “dictionary,” which has been programmed by the court reporter to interpret or translate stenotype outlines into English. Words that are not in the court reporter’s dictionary will be translated phonetically or will appear in stenotype on the court reporter’s laptop or the attorneys’ laptops receiving the realtime feed from the court reporter.

The stenotype keyboard is divided into four distinct areas: The number bar located across the top of the keyboard; the left and right side of the machine, each with an upper and lower bank; and the vowels, which are located at the center bottom of the machine. The left side of the machine, upper and lower banks, represent the consonants and dipthongs used to begin words or syllables; and the right side of the machine, upper and lower banks, represent the consonants and dipthongs used at the end of words or syllables.

Left fingers are placed in the middle of the keys on the left; right fingers are placed in the middle of the keys on the right, and each thumb controls two vowels.

A court reporter often must depress a number of keys on the left and/or right side of the machine in order to create the sound of one consonant. As with the consonants, the court reporter must depress multiple vowels to represent different sounds, such as long and short vowels — What this means is if a reporter misses a key or depresses the incorrect key, an entirely different consonant or vowel may be translated by the dictionary, resulting in an incorrect “translation” of the stenotype letter combination into English. To illustrate how this works, the word “world” is written by depressing the W-O-R-L-D keys simultaneously, with the left ring finger depressing the “W” key; the

left thumb depressing the “O” key, the right index finger depressing the “R” key; the right ring finger depressing the “L” key and the right pinky finger depressing the “D” key.

The three-letter word “net” is a bit more complicated, since there is no “N” represented on the left side of the keyboard. “N” on the left side of the keyboard is represented by depressing three letters simultaneously, the “T-P-H” letter combination. Therefore, in order to type the word “net” on the stenotype machine, the reporter must depress the following keys at the same time: “T-P-H-E-T.” If the reporter doesn’t press down hard enough on the initial “T,” or if the reporter does not depress the “T” key at all, or if the reporter depresses the “S” key instead, it will cause a mistranslate or an untranslate. For example, “met” instead of “net” or “S-P-H-E-T” will appear on the realtime feed since the dictionary will likely be unable to translate the word into English.

To complicate matters further, the reporter must hear and understand the word and depress the correct keys within a split second or risk missing every single word being spoken. It’s a sort of mental gymnastics that the reporter must do with every word spoken.

Court reporters cannot become certified realtime reporters unless their steno-to-English translation rate exceeds 96 percent for a 5-minute take of two-voice testimony. Certified realtime reporters have achieved this level of expertise by practicing for many hours and investing in new software and hardware. Additionally, counsel can help increase the accuracy and readability of the realtime transcript by providing the court reporter or agency with a word list of proper names, acronyms or technical terms that may be used throughout the course of the proceeding.

Court reporters must also have exemplary English skills, an expansive vocabulary, a strong work ethic, and the ability to focus for hours on end. Court reporters serve a vital role in the judicial process. In fact, the State of Wisconsin dedicates an entire week to appreciating its court reporters. Planet Depos would like to take this opportunity to thank its court reporters for their ongoing commitment to improving their skills and providing accurate verbatim transcripts for our valued clients.

Have you often wondered how your court reporter does it? If the court reporter has to press all those keys for just one letter or how do they ever keep up?

from the blogs

electronic and digital signatures for court reportersKeeping abreast of technology for court reporters, I feel, is extremely important, as I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts. Technology is definitely one of many distinguishing factors utilized by me and my colleagues every day. We strive to highlight and market our technology to our clients and potential clients as well. After all, the technology we use, ultimately, is of great benefit to attorneys and legal professionals, too!

Every electronic transcript produced in our office carries both an electronic and a digital signature so that our clients can be sure they are receiving a certified transcript and that no changes have been made to the document since our signing. We apply them to both the condensed and the full-page formatted files. You may ask, “What is the difference between the two?”

An electronic signature, according to Wikipedia, means “an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.”  What that means, in layman’s terms, is simply that it is an image of your handwritten signature, like so:

A digital signature as defined by BusinessDictionary.com is, “binary code that, like a handwritten signature, authenticates and executes a document and identifies the signatory.” In other words, the code ensures that the signer is, indeed, the one who originated the document. Here is an image of what my digital signature looks like on my certified transcript:

How to create an electronic signature is quite easy. Simply write your signature, scan it, and then use software to create a .jpg image. The digital signature, on the other hand, requires a few additional steps.

1. First, one needs to select a company from which to purchase your digital signature. There are several options available. I chose VeriSign.

2. Purchase your digital ID. Remember that digital signatures are good for one year only.

3. Download and install the ID, per the vendor’s instructions.

If you choose to utilize VeriSign’s service as I did, please keep the following cautionary instructions in mind.

• Keep safe your challenge phrase. You will need it when it comes time for renewal or in the event you need to transfer it to another computer.

• Purchase the digital ID on the computer where you will be using the digital ID.

• Use Internet Explorer when purchasing your digital ID, even though the site has instructions for using other browsers.

When it came time for my renewal, I used Chrome, one of my favorite browsers. The company has browser-specific step-by-step instructions on their site for downloading the digital ID; right? So what difference would that make? Wrong! According to the support department, Chrome is not supported. Needless to say, I had to go through several additional steps to retrieve my renewed signature.

There is only email support with VeriSign, but they were so helpful and responded to my messages very timely. I have now placed all of my email correspondence from the support department and the instructions for replacing my digital ID in Evernote, one of my favorite apps, so that next year, come renewal time, I will remember to check for the correct steps before blithely proceeding to renew my digital signature!

TRAIN: taking realtime awareness and innovation nationwide (NCRA)

Based on feedback provided by members through Writing Our Future, NCRA has established the TRAIN program to help court reporters get past their reluctance to writing realtime.

• The goal of the TRAIN Program is to create an influx of realtime reporters to meet marketplace demand and to allow court reporters to differentiate themselves from other methods of making the record. 

• Designed for delivery in small-group settings at the local level, the TRAIN program will rely on state associations and individual members to carry the message to reporters that experience has shown is the ideal setting for helping them make the transition to realtime. 

Read more...

from the blogs

grassroots lobbyingNCRA is committed to ser v ing you! Our primary objective is to p ro t ec t t he cour t reporting profession. Ultimately, however, p r o t e c t i n g y o u r livelihood depends on eac h one o f you

individually. You are the real troops and it is your efforts that are the key to our success.

What is grassroots lobbying?

Grassroots lobbying is simply citizen participation in government. The key to successful grassroots lobbying efforts is assembling people who share common goals and concerns. Grassroots communications are vital in educating legislators to the concerns of the voting population in their state. If you do not share your views with your representative, then your views will not be considered by your state representative when he votes on an issue which affects you. You can make a difference by simply writing, calling, meeting, or faxing your representative!

Why should you utilize grassroots lobbying?

Grassroots efforts are our best weapon to protect you because it ensures that we will successfully reach and influence every member of Congress. In the past, political decisions were primarily made in Washington, D.C. Today, more politicians are focusing more on what is being said by the local communities and the people. As former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill stated, "All politics is local."

It is incumbent on every court reporter to let your elected officials know your concerns. It is also your duty to educate your elected officials on how any proposed legislation will affect the court reporting profession. The time to act is now--not after legislation has passed that could adversely affect court reporters! Remember, if an issue doesn’t have constituent support, the Member might ignore it.

Why does grassroots lobbying work?

As a voter, you have the most powerful tool available on Capitol Hill, your vote. You have the ability to hold each representative accountable to you as a constituent. Without hearing from you, your legislator does not know what is important to you as a court reporter. Your recommendation may be the deciding factor in a member’s decision to vote for or against a bill. You make a difference!

How can you get started?

Contact  NCRA's Government Relations Department today and get assistance organizing your grassroots campaign. Take a few minutes out of your schedule to protect your profession. Remember, if you don’t take action who will?

court reporters make headlines working with veterans

In the wake of Veterans Day yesterday, court reporters are making headlines nationwide because of their participation in transcribing veterans histories as a part of NCRF’s “Make the Promise” initiative.  From coast to coast, various media outlets reported on the suitable pairing of our nation’s veterans and the stenographers who took down their every word.

The National Court Reporters Foundation called for NCRA members and court reporters to participate in “Make the Promise,” an initiative with the goal of adding 3,000 veterans’ histories to the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project (VHP) by Veterans Day 2013. In nine years, NCRF has collected roughly 2,750 stories from vets by matching them with stenographers. The foundation hopes to achieve this milestone in celebration of their tenth anniversary with the VHP next year. 

In order to fulfill the “Make the Promise” goal, NCRF needs the help of volunteer court reporters.  For NCRA certified court reporters, transcribing a story has a special incentive:  Participation in the project earns NCRA members .25 PDCs per story, for which NCRF will pay all processing fees.

To get involved now, click here and get connected with a local vet.  Your contribution to “Make the Promise” will ensure that these invaluable histories are remembered forever. 

Mr. Modem’s DME (Don’t Miss ‘Em) Sites of the Month

npr.org/music/genres/classicalHere you will find all sorts of articles about Classical music and can listen to live audio streams. Be sure to take a look at the items listed under Features on the Navigation strip. If you love classical music, this is one site worth visiting. Visit it once and you'll definitely keep coming Bach for more.

fedspending.orgHave you ever wondered what boondoggles the government is squandering our money on? If your blood pressure is running too low and it needs a boost, examine federal spending for yourself at this site. Visit the About the Data section (top right of the page) and see how the data is aggregated. There is even a handy Data Dictionary that can help you translate bureaucratic gobbledygook. Use any of the tabs on the left side of the page to check out the different sections. The Recovery section tracks the loans, grants, contracts and bailouts that were frittered away under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

mymedicare.govYou will have to establish an account and provide your Social Security number, but if you do, you will have access to your Medicare account. Among other information, you can see what your doctors billed Medicare and how much (more likely how little) Medicare reimbursed them.

For more information about Mr. Modem’s technology-tips eBooks and a wa rd - w i n n i n g c o m p u t e r - h e l p newsletter, featuring his personal answers to your questions by email, visit www.MrModem.com

beware of security scamsQ.  SpeedyPCPro appeared out of nowhere on my computer and warned me of a number of security problems that it can fix if I pay them. My McAfee Security runs daily and shows no such problem. I'm inclined to think this is a scam. What do you think, Mr. M?

A.  Any program that appears out of nowhere and tells you anything about your computer should be considered a scam, malware or worse. Think of it this way: Even if the program was legitimate, for it to analyze your computer without your permission means that your computer was hacked -- broken into -- which is illegal, not to mention how it can ruin your day. Beyond that, a company that actually hacked into your system would have to be incredibly stupid to announce, "Hey, we just accessed your computer without your permis s ion and we found some problems. If you pay us X dollars, we'll fix the problems.”

That would be like somebody breaking into your home, determining that your toaster wasn't working properly and leaving you a note, “Hi, there! We broke into your home, looked around and discovered that your toaster isn't working. Mail us $25 and we'll come back and fix it for you."

This type of scam is very successful because many users react instead of thinking it through. They see the alert message and think, “Eek! My computer has problems. I'd better get them fixed," so they click the accompanying link, which then swings open the doors to their computer. Victims then pay to supposedly fix a problem that never existed in the first place.

Q.  My health club sent out some promotional CDs that are smaller than

normal, l ike mini CDs. Does my computer need some kind of special adapter for these? I put one in the slot but I'm afraid to push the tray in for fear it will somehow get stuck in the computer. Help!

A.  As long as the center hole is the standard diameter of any other CD, and the CD doesn't physically fall through the slider tray, the CD should be fine to use. 

If the tray does not physically support the CD, then a mini CD adapter would be needed. Run a Google search for “mini CD adapter” and you will have a lovely assortment from which to choose.

Q.  I've got a really dumb question, Mr. M., so here goes: When you scan a document, does it use ink from your printer? I just bought an HP printer/scanner. It has three color cartridges and a black cartridge, which is more expensive than my previous printer, so I want to be careful and not needlessly waste ink. I'm just not sure how this all works, so any light you can shed would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for being there and not making people like me feel like an idiot.

A.  There are NEVER any dumb questions here in Mr. Modemville, so I'm glad you asked. When you scan a document, it doesn't use any ink at all. The act of scanning simply creates a digital image (file) of whatever is being scanned. Think of it as taking a photo of the item being scanned.

When you print a scanned document, you are printing a file and that process is identical to printing any other file and does consume printer ink. So if your printer isn't churning out a printed sheet, it's not consuming ink.

Published by: Newsletter CommitteeThe Volunteer Reporter is a publication produced quarterly for members of TCRA and other interested parties and is dedicated to the improvement of our profession and to provide a link between TCRA and its members.

Letters for the newsletter are welcomed and will be printed according to space availability.  The Newsletter Committee reserves the right to edit letters according to space and formatting requirements or as ethics require, so long as the original meaning remains intact. Additionally, research articles may be written to earn TCRA CEU credits. Author must submit online and receive approval of such in order to earn CEUs. Contact the Newsletter Committee for details. 

Submission and advertising deadline is 15 days before publication date. Material received less than 15 days after deadline will be held for next issue.

Statement of fact, opinion, and all advertisements are made on the responsibility of the author and do not imply endorsement on the part of TCRA or its officers. Reprint rights are granted to all NCRA-affiliated publications, with appropriate attribution.

Send comments to:Tennessee Court Reporters Association

109 Walton AveSmyrna, TN 37167

administrator@tncra.com

december january february

8-9CLVS Production Exam

For a complete listing of events, visit our TCRA online calendar.

3-52013 NCRA Firm Owners Executive Conference

12Freelance Best Practices Chat

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