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Carolyn Bodley - Legal Verbatim Transcriptionist of Audio, Video & Digital Files
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Services and BLOG
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blog
entries are strictly the opinion of Carolyn Bodley and may not reflect the opinion of others
(to see archived blog
entries, click on the links to the right of the top blog)
Some photos are compressed or removed in archived blog postings,
leaving only a description of the photo. The blog postings remain complete and unchanged.
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Friday, October 31, 2008
BLOG - What's in it for me?
The mid-part of October my son's scooter got stolen. If you've browsed
my site, then you will see the details and a photo. There are approximately 250 posters plastered throughout the Denver-Metro
area with a description, photo, phone numbers and offering a reward.
Several calls have been received with spottings,
however, none have actually panned out -- i.e., if it is the scooter, it was traveling down the street going one way and the
caller was traveling the other way, so the exact destination is not known; or, it was seen at such and such place, but upon
arriving, it was already gone.
All calls are appreciated and all leads followed through! THANK YOU!
When
I receive a spotting call, I always take down the particulars and ask their name and number -- so if it is *the* scooter,
they can be paid the reward. "That is not the reason I am calling -- I just want to help, and please let me know
if that was it!" Not ONE of the callers have wanted a reward -- not until a call a few minutes ago. A message was left
on my cell stating that they saw the scooter for sale and that I needed to call ASAP and they would give me the price. Returning
the call, the conversation goes something like:
"Uh, yeah, what's the reward?" $100.00. Where
did you see it at? "Oh, only $100?" Yes, where did you see it? "I don't know if it's
worth my time looking for it."
Amazing, just amazing - if it looks like a duck and quacks like
a duck -- it sure sounds like a thief to me -- wanting to get paid for something he stole because why does the voice message
go from seeing it for sale, to the return call seeing if it's worth my time to look for it? [end of blog]
11:19 am mdt
Thursday, October 30, 2008
BLOG - Yes, the economy sucks
The economy has taken a nose dive and who knows when it will improve -- with that
said, however, do not contact me regarding transcription services, and in the same breath, once you find me, tell me how difficult
it is finding someone that does this without being a court reporter -- and, oh yeah, your funds are limited.
Shouldn't being a service provider in limited quantity, place a higher value on my services? You'd think so,
wouldn't you? (Notice I said VALUE -- not cost.) Not everyone needs my services, but when you do, just how valuable am
I in the scheme of things? Can you do it yourself?
Just to get everyone's head straight, I'm operating
a business -- and no, that business is not to listen to you tell me how expensive everything is, and that you really have
to watch your budget -- if you want to discuss budgets, try living within a self-employment budget when people want everything,
but don't want to pay for anything!
Now I feel better that I've gotten that off my chest. [end of
blog]
4:10 pm mdt
Friday, October 24, 2008
BLOG - The election can't be over soon enough
My husband and I voted by absentee ballot two weeks ago -- before a major part of
the mudslinging "crap" got out-of-control. No matter what time of day or evening, you can't turn on the television
or change the station without an attack ad being aired -- it kind of reminds me of the Bible Thumpers when I was young--"if
you don't join our denomination, you will most surely go to Hell" -- ironically, I was in several different churches
and denominations, and heard this statement more than once.
In actuality, this political campaign is no different
than any other -- just the faces and names have been changed. However, what I do see different, is the public making
the campaign and the attacks personal. People/friends that I thought I knew are showing me an entirely different side of themselves
-- and I might add, not a very pretty side -- and the hatred attacks on the Internet directed at someone just because their
political view doesn't agree with that of the attacker's.
Two things I was raised not to discuss or express
my opinion are religion and politics. I've mentioned both in this blog entry -- however, I have not etched or shoved my
personal opinion for either religion or politics down someone's throat -- WHICH IS EXACTLY HOW IT SHOULD BE! [end
of blog]
1:53 pm mdt
Thursday, October 23, 2008
BLOG - Mrs. Elmer J. Fudd
I just got home from the grocery store and must go back because I forgot half of
what I had intended to get. I'm almost positive that many of the shoppers will find themselves in the same predicament.
Mrs. Elmer Fudd was doing her grocery shopping at none other than my grocery store -- apparently, Elmer is having
a problem with his hunting skills. They say you begin looking like your spouse, and I can attest that Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Fudd
are spittin' images of the other.
I didn't want to bring any more publicity to Mrs. Fudd by using my camera
phone -- because most of the shoppers were already tripping over one another trying not to gawk, so I will just give you a
detailed description -- she had a brown skirt, pantyhose and hiking boots, a vest and a very attractive hunting cap with the
puffy ear muffs built in.
Just imagine Elmer in a skirt ...
[end of blog]
3:36 pm mdt
BLOG - $13,000 cosmetic makeover in September
Unless someone is living under a rock, in seclusion or without electricity, it's
hard to miss the fact that the world is facing a financial crisis -- so let me get this right -- since announcing Sarah Palin
as a Vice Presidential candidate, $150,000.00 (ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS) has been spent on clothing at Saks Fifth
Avenue and Neiman Marcus -- clothing and accessories, which is now reported, will go to a charitable purpose after the campaign
-- so does this mean that if she becomes our next Vice President, her brand spankin' new $150,000 wardrobe will still
go to charity?--and if so, what will the clothing/makeup price tag be for an actual Vice President, or will she be going back
to her 'plain Jane' style?
--and $13,000 spent on makeup and hair in a two-month period? Gosh, golly,
darn -- tell me it ain't so.
And no, this is not a political dig at either side! It's actually a slap in
the face on the price tag placed on image, instead of focusing on what is inside a person -- ANY PERSON and not
just a public figure. We've definitely got our priorities in the wrong place -- which goes full circle to why the
world is in a financial crisis. P.S. How ironic -- I just received a broadcast spam email from the Republican party
"3 Reasons Why You Need To Contribute Today" -- hmmmm, I didn't waste my time opening the email to see
what the three reasons were, but possibly the money is needed for teeth whitening, hair spray, maybe a bobby pin, ...
 [end of blog]
7:41 am mdt
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
BLOG - Customer Service at it's B-E-S-T
Last night my husband and I took three of his business associates from Denmark to
the Texas Roadhouse in Arvada, CO. Last year we took two of them (about this same time of year) and they enjoyed it so
much, that they requested we go there again. The third one has never been to Colorado before.
The first server
appeared at our table and she had no patience in trying to understand them. She left our table and the next young lady
that appeared said that there'd been a change and that she was now going to assist us. The three Danish gentlemen graciously
smiled and said "Okay" -- I was sitting on the outside of the booth and I told her that the men were from Denmark
and that she would need to speak slower, and she said no problem. We helped in explaining to them what she was asking, and
did likewise in explaining to her what they were saying.
The next person that appeared at our table was the Manager
holding a plate with one slab of ribs. He asked if we had all been there before and the two from last year said "yes,
the four of us had, but one had not." He placed the ribs in front of the "new" Danish gentleman and said that
it was complimentary ribs so he could "taste test" for what he was in for. We were in the restaurant for a
total of two hours, and I didn't see the Manager offer anyone else a food sampling.
Now granted, the complimentary
ribs didn't break the Roadhouse's bank, so to speak, but they eased some tension because of the language difficulties
and the differences in the ways Americans do things and the Danish do things.
I have no way of knowing whose idea
it was that we get a different server -- but I can tell you that the first one missed out on an excellent tip. The Roadhouse
staff wear tee-shirts that say "I LOVE MY JOB" -- one of the guys went crazy over them, and I asked our "new"
server if the shirts were for sale, and she said she wasn't sure but she would check. Now, it's not a shirt I would
want to wear, but ... a short time later she appeared at our table and asked what size he wanted. Tomorrow he
will leave on an airplane headed back home to Denmark wearing his new shirt.
No doubt, next year we
will be taking the Danish back to the Texas Roadhouse. [end of blog]
10:52 am mdt
Monday, October 13, 2008
BLOG - If anyone needs a break, it's Dennis
There are people that no matter what they do, they just can't get a break. They have a black cloud over their head that
follows them everywhere. My son, Dennis, is one such person - he has a heart of gold, but for every two steps forward, he
gets pushed back six.
On Sunday, October 12, 2008 his scooter was stolen from 606 E. 13th Ave., Denver, CO (Capitol
Hill). His scooter (and sole means of transportation) is a 1983 Honda Passport 70cc. Scooters less than a certain cc
are not required to be licensed in Colorado. Therefore, the scooter does not have a license plate. It is blue and white with
some turn signal damage.
The scooter does not resemble the numerous "newer" scooters that are seen
on today's streets. In fact, I have never seen another scooter that even resembles Dennis' Passport -- the body is
narrower; the tires are narrower and taller.
Please if you spot it, either being ridden or parked, please call
my cell phone immediately - 303-594-6453. A reward is being offered. [end of blog]
10:07 am mdt
BLOG - Rehash of bare legs/feet
I recently ranted about how lax office dress code has become. I suppose there isn't
much I can do about it -- short of dressing everyone each morning.
 Having too much time on my hands the past couple of weeks, I had the opportunity to do some "people watching"
while downtown. I've come to the conclusion that I can force myself to deal with some of the more casual attire,
however, I refuse to get off my soapbox when it comes to any woman past her mid-20's thinking her bare legs and feet
are attractive and refusing to wear hose, pantyhose, tights, whatever ... [end of blog]
8:46 am mdt
Thursday, October 9, 2008
BLOG - WindowsXP SP3
Be careful, very careful if you are running XP on your computer and you see the message
"updates are ready to be installed."
Do a Google search and you will see that there are numerous problems
with this SP3 update -- it renders computers unusable. I have spent more than a month getting my Internet/Network to work
after the installation and removal of the update. I have printed out reams of paper for "fixes" -- not sure exactly
which fix finally worked or if it was a combination of many.
Microsoft, although not admitting fault, are offering
free support until April 2009 in an attempt to fix the problems the update has caused on affected computers. Correct me if
I'm wrong, but wouldn't the sensible thing to do--would be to remove the downloading of the update, correct the bugs,
and then re-release it? [end of blog]
8:21 am mdt
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
BLOG-It's time to raise my rates
Even with the poor and uncertain economy, when people quit complaining about my charge
rates, the best marketing books advise raising my rates -- my rates have been the same for two years, so it's time to
raise them to get rid of the dead wood -- the people whose demands want the moon, sun and stars that expect to pay only loose
change -- the people that have no clue as to the time involved to complete a project.
While a few clients will
cease using my services when I raise my rates, my professional clientele will increase -- professionals that know how
quality and charge rates equate -- professionals that know the definition of value and the dollar -- professionals that know
that a cheaper rate doesn't mean the project will end up costing less -- professionals, the same as me, whose rates attract
the "type" of clientele they service.
Maybe I'm just a little touchy after the past two weeks --
I was approached for two large jobs -- one was transcribing approximately 75 interviews. We went back and forth for several
days and finally *nothing* after I wouldn't agree to charge a single digit (less than 10 cents) per line rate. The next
was a discussion group of 16 students -- needing it ASAP -- 24-hours turnaround, using the speaker of the computer sitting
in the middle of the group to record the audio. Quoting 10-13 hours to complete the transcript (because of the number of people
and the thought of listening to audio recorded using a laptop computer speaker), and questioning whether 24-hours meant NEXT
DAY or 2-1/2 to 3 days, I never heard another sound. People just don't have a clue when it comes to what is involved in
transcribing an audio discussion/interview or the length of time it takes. The third blow that actually put me over the edge
was when a friend pointed out to me that she doesn't understand why a school bus driver makes less than a secretary!
You really do get what you pay for! [end of blog]
6:23 pm mdt
Friday, October 3, 2008
BLOG - The sticker shock game
As a professional transcriptionist, I believe I am one of the fairest and
honest service providers an attorney, business or individual will come across.
With that said, however, I am not
a "kitchen table setup" working for milk money -- however, with a gallon of milk inching closer and closer to $6.00/gallon,
milk money isn't the same as it was when I was a school child.
People that don't regularly have a need
for a lot of "spoken words being put to paper," are usually of the belief that a one hour recording will take one
hour to type. As was said in last night's Vice Presidential Debate "It's just not so, Joe!"
There
are just too many variables that determine a finished price without first hearing the audio: the number of speakers --
the more speakers, the longer it will take; the clarity of the recording -- was it professionally recorded? How many microphones
and where were the microphones placed?; What about background noise?--was the audio recorded in a locked up and sealed room?--most
likely not, or is there noise from traffic, air conditioning, paper shuffling, coughing/sneezing, phone intercom announcements?,
etc.
Anytime you are dealing with more than two voices, the time to transcribe increases -- dealing with a group
of five or more increases considerably, and any group over 12 people, increases drastically.
Requesting verbatim
- putting EVERYTHING said on paper costs more than just getting down the "gist" of what was said. A group of people,
all with different voices, different tones, different dialogues/dialects increases the total transcription time.
Browse around my site and see EXACTLY what you get when you hire me -- still not sure, then please check around and inquire
about other's prices and exactly what they provide and what YOU get in return. If my quoted rate and someone else's
are way apart, ask yourself "why is that?" [end of blog]
1:28 pm mdt
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
BLOG - We all have a price ...
It was almost noon this past Saturday when I received a call from an attorney in
search of someone to type approximately a 10-page brief he was dictating -- that he needed by Monday noon. He would not be
finished dictating until Sunday mid-morning -- if he pushed himself.
Now anyone working with attorneys and the
courts know that the filing process is time-sensitive ... you have 10 days for this, 20 days for this, 30 days for this, etc.,
etc. Therefore, the attorney knows about each and every filing deadline, and it's not just something that popped up last
minute, or something he knew nothing about. If the filing deadline caught him by surprise, he has no one to blame but himself!
Although many transcription service providers charge additional RUSH charges or weekend surcharge charges, as a whole,
I don't. I've even been known to "work" with my clients by slightly adjusting my charge rates in special
circumstances -- a client that gives me work regularly, or for an unusually large project. However, in this case and for this
unknown attorney who obviously had procrastinated, I quoted my normal hourly rate and my time estimate of a low of 3:1
to a high of 8:1 (without first hearing his dictation). There was this uggh from his end of the phone and he told
me that he is used to paying in the $20/hr. range. IF THAT IS THE CASE, WHERE IS YOUR $20/HR. TRANSCRIPTIONIST THIS WEEKEND?--and
why does he/she place such a low value on their time and skills?
Additionally, this attorney was approximately
30-35 miles from me. He did not offer to bring the dictation to me, nor to compensate me for my time/mileage to pick
up the material on a Sunday. He begrudgingly told me that if he couldn't find someone more in-line with his budget, he
would meet me about 3/4 of the way (3/4 for me and 1/4 for him).
My charge rates are based on my experience, expertise,
knowledge and skills. I would never place my own personal outcome in the hands of a public defender and would find the money
-- some how, some way -- to pay a reputable and knowledgeable attorney to represent me.
While I agree that there
is a lot of excess and waste, and the time has come for many of us to tighten our belts when it comes to the economy, there
are places to cut and places to spend -- the smart person is the one that knows the difference.
It is sad that there are attorneys who feel that all transcriptionists are equal, and that the quality of their
work is the same. [end of blog]
7:50 am mdt
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