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I had one too!! a 1979 piece of junk.

Posted By: MMT on 2006-07-14
In Reply to: Was a piece of junk..but my favorite. - OP gal

And if that wasn't bad enough it was chocolate brown.


My blinker knob fell off and I had to shove a pair of tweezers in there to work the blinkers.  I couldn't wear heels or they'd get wedged in the holes in the floor board and one tire had a big bubble in it.


I can't believe I even dared drive that thing.




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Was a piece of junk..but my favorite.

It was a 1980 Chevette (or as we called it..the Shove It) lol.  When I got it, it was already falling apart, but I didn't care, I was 17 and had wheels.  It had NO power steering, NO power brakes, NO air, NO power at all.  The seat was falling through the bottom, so when you drove, your body was tilted to the left.  The horn didn't BEEP, it MOOed (not kidding).  The speakers were blown so my brother wired a speaker through the front and sat it in the console...lol.  Like I said it was piece of junk but was a lot of fun to drive around and I could fill it up with about $8.00.  A few years later when I was working I bought a Geo Storm and I loved that car.  It was actually a very nice car..but nothing tops the "Shove It."


 


Aria Platform - anyone use this piece of junk?

We're transitioning to an EMR platform called Aria with a god-awful transcription section that is a step backward from the typewriter.  It's largely mouse-dependent, slow (it's through their VPN so there's often a lag on the text) and it doesn't recognize a lot of the hot keys I've utilized in Word for years.  It takes me half again as long to get through a report.  I'm usually busy at least 8 hours a day as it is using Word with most of the people I type - it would take me 12 hours if everyone were on this system right now. 


They've also changed to a "per dictated minute" rate of pay from 65 cpl w/spaces.  It's a generous per-minute rate compared to most places I've worked, and they've stated they don't want anyone losing any money in the transition, but it would take a pretty steep increase in this rate to match what I was making previously.


I'm seriously considering changing jobs, although these guys have been wonderful to work with.  Does anyone out there have any experience with this platform or any tips, websites, etc., that have information on utilizing this POS to its fullest?  Hate to jump ship prematurely - I know what's out there and it ain't purty!  


it's not all junk on tv. you just have to weed out the junk. some is very informative.
don't watch "fake tv" as in mysteries or situation comedy so ruling that out, there is plenty of good stuff left. always wanting to learn new stuff.
yeah me too...junk, junk, more junk. But...(sm)

tech guy setup SpamBayes on my computer so that they go into a junk mail file automatically.  Hope this helps...it sure helped me...don't have to see them and no danger in opening in them. 


Junk faxes?? Do you know how much money you can collect from junk faxes??? It's sm
illegal and every offense is worth 100.00. I don't eveistory think you have to go to court. I'd look into it! I heard of a guy who made thousands off receiving junk faxes. I don't have a fax machine anymore..
You must not have been around in 1979...
We had lines that were BLOCKS LONG!  It was ridiculous.  I sure hope that doesn't happen again.  I'll just stay home and swim in my pool.  The heck with driving.
me too. I started in 1979 at the age of 24 sm
I turned 50 this past May. We had selectric typewriters and the dictation was done on some kind of dictaphone system that had these little disks that were that floppy plastic kind of like when you would get kids records out of the cereal boxes. Remember that stuff. They were the size of a CD now. I remember when we first got cassette tapes. I thought I was in hog heaven. When I started with Transcriptions Limited in 1983 (now Medquist), we had selectric typwriters, typed on paper, different kind for each report and each account and got paid by the page. They delivered the cassette tapes to your door (at least where there were offices in the area) and picked up the work the next day. At least back then I actually knew people and saw them every day and got acquainted. Not like today. If you had too many accounts and too many types of paper you wound up getting paper "mites". For you younguns who don't know what paper mites are, they are little tiny creatures you cannot see but they will bite at your anikles. You have to spray for them! Kind of like fleas but smaller. I use to hire my two sons when they were small to separate the paper and pile it up by accounts and type or report. The little guys were 6 and 8 and they learned a lot quick. I paid them so much a page and finally my oldest asked me one day, how much I made page! He was 8 years old. I knew I was in trouble. But, then again this was the kid who took his Twinkies to school and sold one for a quarter and ate the other!

Now I sound old, but those really were the good old days.

O yes, I remember when Transcriptions Limited/Medquist got the IBM wheelwriter and then finally one day computers! I had been on the MTs system since tehy developed it in the late 80s and just this past March went on the DQS system. If they change again, I won't be here. Don't want to learn another one. haha

O yes, I learned in highschool on an old black manual typewriter (Olivetti I think), not sure and then we went to the really sophisticated stuff, the ELECTRIC TYPEWRITER which at the time I hated as much as I hated the computer the first time I used it!

Thanks for the memories!

P.S. You yunguns, 50 is not that old!
Carter was I think 1979 - not old at all.....nm

I am making less now than in 1979
but I am not working 2 full time jobs, have cut down to part time and loving it.
1979 vs 2009

First, don't get me wrong, I definitely think we should be paid more.


However, in 1979, you were likely using a typewriter, no such thing as computer and delete/backspace, no such thing as Google, no such thing as sending in reports with the push of a button, which makes things much, much quicker and efficient, which makes more typed.  We should have better insurance, though.


I imagine it took at least three times longer to type a report then than it does now with computers, Google, better references, et.


1979 and 2009
I don't know what went on in 1979 because I was 10 but I do know that in 1990, the school I trained with was still using typewriters and in my first job, although they had computers, were using tapes, which we had to use a magnetic to erase.  Heaven forbid that someone erased the wrong tape.  Talk about a doctor being PO'd.
I lived in So. Cal in 1979 and they lines were atrocious.
x
Started in 1979 when I was 18, worked in office at MQ while it was still
.
I'm making less per hour in 2009 than in 1979!

I'm making less per hour in 2009 than in 1979!

I'm making less per hour in 2009 than in 1979!
In 1977/78, I made 6 cpl. at a transcription company. Had full medical benefits, paid sick days, a cushy, comfortable office, and monthly CASH (like, real paper dollars!) bonuses for 'Transcriber of the Month'. Of course, back in 1977, I could fill a 20-plus gallon gas tank for just under $18-20, too.
I'm making less per hour in 2009 than in 1979!
In 1977/78, I made 6 cpl. at a transcription company. Had full medical benefits, paid sick days, a cushy, comfortable office, and monthly CASH (like, real paper dollars!) bonuses for 'Transcriber of the Month'. Of course, back in 1977, I could fill a 20-plus gallon gas tank for just under $18-20, too.
I'm making less per hour in 2009 than in 1979!
In 1977/78, I made 6 cpl. at a transcription company. Had full medical benefits, paid sick days, a cushy, comfortable office, and monthly CASH (like, real paper dollars!) bonuses for 'Transcriber of the Month'. Of course, back in 1977, I could fill a 20-plus gallon gas tank for just under $18-20, too.
IBM Selectives before, but In 1979 where I worked we had computers
and loved them; however right before then we had IBM Selective typewriters and you could honestly fly on those, well I could anyway. I think anyone who ever used the IBMs would tell you they loved the keyboard. I don't think it took 3 times as long because we were trained better to start with. I spent a year studying before being turned loose on actual incentive pay plus payroll. The typewriters had correction tape you put on and used that way. When making an error you simply backed up, hit the same error again, your new letter and on you went. It was fast and seems like then you did not have as many to go back and say, oh add this, erase that, start over and so on. The first computer we got was honey also. Don't remember the name but I do remember having a Wang in the 80s, loved that one and no internet but still did straight over 2000 a day. We were our own good references, did not rely on the internet.
Junk shows.
Sad commentary, but they try to please the majority of viewers. Glad to hear I'm not the only one offended.
Junk e-mail

I get tons of junk e-mails, you know, the pass around type.  I never read them.  I don't have time and I have no reason to read them.  I am trying to make a living!  My sisters are the worst culprits!  How can I get them to quit forwarding all their junk e-mails to me!  One sister is always asking me "did you read the one about....."  to which I respond, "No, I don't have time to read those things."  She just never catches on.  I don't want to be rude, but it's getting on my nerves!  I know the simple answer would be to just aske them to quit but things are touchy between us and I don't want to antagonize and already less-than-perfect relationship with my sisters.



Thanks!


Don't get a Shark---it's junk. sm
I had one for about 3 months then it quit sucking altogether. I was livid. I paid $100 for it. I'm hard on vacs, too, with 2 dogs and 4 men in and out of the house and living by a cement mill. The one I have now is a Eureka EZ Kleen. My next one will be an Oreck I think.
I've tried junk in the trunk before!
Now that is one delicous cake!!!!  My husband just loves it. He refers to it as the "honey bun" cake! 
The only thing left IS junk ESL-sm

Seems to me that newbies are getting trained on VR with many companies.  VR gets the better dictators.  Offshore is getting the simple stuff and other half of the better dictators because that's all they can handle.  Experienced MTs are left with a trunk of JUNK on their systems and getting paid no more than the new grads and offshore MTs, and very few are offering us more for our skills, accuracy and ability to transcribe the more difficult accounts. 


I've seen things change pretty drastically just in the few years I've been doing this work.  I cannot land a decent cpl for IC anymore.  I was landing better offers as a new grad than I am today with experience, and forget about landing a gravy account if you have experience.  Just isn't happening!  Bottom of the barrel crap is all I get with a bottom of the barrel paycheck to go along with it.   You have to work till your eyes bleed, your head's about to explode and fingers ache to make a fairly decent living, then people wonder why we are sometimes short on patience and PO'd all the time.  That's exactly why!  May as well be gum on a filthy shoe!


Ugh - 42 minutes of that boring junk.
Do they really think anybody is going to read all of that? Didn't any English teacher ever tell him the secret to good writing is LESS IS MORE??

How lazy not to be able to shorten it up to something brief yet complete. Shame on him. You poor thing.
Hoax junk mail
I finally stopped getting these disgusting e-mails. I e-mailed back with big red letters - "F.... you! This e-mail is forwarded to the FBI, Homeland Security, Interpol, and you are being traced as we speak." I never received another one again.
I have too much junk on my desk for a lamp LOL
i guess i need to make room!
check out the junk stores
like Salvation Army. I paid $40 for a few at Office Depot type store and then found a few for $1.99 at our alcoholism junk store. They are Dell and great, and when they wear out, don't feel bad about just trashing them.
How long do you think it will be until MQ throws everything on ASR even the junk to get the reduced
line rate. Should be interesting to see. I do think they are looking for a big exit also. There is no work in a lot of the offices especially Amherst and my understanding is the work will be delegated from a national office and not regional and they will put people on accounts that need work. Not sure what that means but maybe the days of having a main are coming to an end. Should be great for quality.
Did you check your junk mail or spam folder? Sometimes they in there

Good advice...Iams is junk food anymore....
It used to be good, but it's gone by way of most of the rest of them...  Anything that can be purchased in a grocery store is garbage.  I recommend Wellness, Innova, or California Natural.  Only pet stores stock premium dog foods.  However, Labs and GAS seem to go hand in hand, having owned 2 of them.  Rice and some boiled chicken mixed with a good healthy kibble might help. 
Only by the mounds of junk mail every day...cc apps, advertising circulars, etc. nm
x
I carry my mail in, sort it immediately, and put the junk in the trash.
c
Right away it looked to me like the kind of junk that spreads in email. Good eye. nm
x
Just looking for a piece of the pie.
x
try the ear piece...
I have never had that problem...but there are a number of different ear pieces that would probably work just as well. I am referring to the ear buds or the ear pieces that you put on/in your ear.  When I use to work at a local hospital we would have the ear pieces that you put in your ears like ear plugs...I of course hated those though but they are there....just food for thought. 
that piece a little further down
about belarc..reads like some kind of magazine article. It's not what she's saying, it's how she's saying it. It's kind of preachy. There are plenty of people on this board who know more than I do about all kinds of things, but they don't have the attitude.

& I don't think it's great advice to discount something on someone else's behalf without knowing everything about her situation. Who knows? It might work for OP.
The junk faxers aren't leaving correct info so you can track them down.
.
Escription users: I have a question. I've about had it with Dell junk computers.
and their Indian call centers..nothing like getting help from someone whom you cant understand. Even if they hear you, they have NO comprehension skills. Anyway, I have like 3 Dell computers which goes from bad to worse. For Christmas, I got my husband an Mac IBook ...wow..what a difference, now that's a computer. Anyhoo, they now have Microsoft office programs for Macs..anyone know if this computer would be compatible at all with the Escription platform since it's so picky. If not, any laptop computers suggestions that are not a piece of junk.
Piece of my Heart
When I'm stressed I get to let it all out with that song.  lol
I did look at your piece of research
and I am not seeing it. I don't think that all MTs will be out of work. There will be demand for editors, etc. I will stay in the field until I am told they don't need me anymore.
piece of cake?
Decided to try transcription after I tired of nursing (management). Thought it would be a snap. Suffice it to say that a good MT has a broader knowledge base than a registered nurse.
You are a piece of work.
Just not a worker.
LOL I did all of the above as well, but she is still a piece of work! sm
Actually, she was not rude to me much until one day I was talking to her on the phone about a concern with one of my accounts, and she had me on speaker phone and proceeded to YELL at me out of nowhere. It was very odd. They begged me not to quit, but I couldn't stand all of the weirdness. The platform seemed archaic to me, but they have changed that, right? The IT is an odd bird, isn't he? We got a kick out of him. No one wanted to have to ask him anything! :-)
Piece of Cake....

I made the transition from doing multispecialty clinic and acute care transcription to Radiology about five years ago, and it was one of the easiest transitions I've ever made.  Just have a couple of good radiology reference books and I don't think you'll have any problem at all.  The cpl sounds very good, too.


If you have any questions, feel free to email me.  I attempted to email you a couple of good reference materials, but the email came back as undeliverable. 


Good luck


Forgot to Add - QA also gets a piece of the pie now. nm
x
Well that's a nice piece of news then!!! THANK YOU
..
I do not work for MQ, but another piece of -- company. SM
The platform has its own line counter. When I went to see how many lines I did the other day, I had a huge number of lines. I almost fell off the chair. I made sure the total was for that day alone and there were lines of 1500, after four hours of work.

I did this twice and came up with same total. Third time, however, I got the correct total, which was exactly half that amount. I found this strange. That's all. Strange.
Did you give him a piece of your mind yet?
Seriously - and check into the whole legality of it all too!
Transcriber is a piece of equipment.

I think you, like me, thought this would be a piece of cake
I had worked in hospital settings, doctor offices, etc. and when I started training (on the job for a year) I kept my nose in dictionaries, English and medical. Just because you have any background in something medically related does not mean you can be a transcriptionist. I trained for a year and before I was able to have production, had to have less than 3 errors (either English or medical) on each page and yet type 75 minutes of dictation a day- sorry but so long ago do not know now how much that was but quite a bit. I think you have probably gotten in over your head with no training per se and having said that yes I most certainly think you should do at least 1200 per day- you need speed as well as training to make a go of this. People who say no background should consider themselves very lucky to have made it.