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Need alternative to usual Labor Day cookout

Posted By: tired of burgers & hot dogs on 2006-08-31
In Reply to:

We are having a family get-together on Labor Day. We usually grill hamburgers and hot dogs, but I was trying to think of something different this year. Any suggestions? There will be young kids there, so it would have to be something they could enjoy as well. Thanks!


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cookout
my husband makes a great beercan chicken. get a whole chicker, half can of beer, stick the can of beer up the chicken butt, (spice chicken as you like) and smoke it, takes about 3 to 4 hours, but is excellent.
Enjoy your cookout.
This is my third try with this message!  The bad language police told me I used a bad word twice and my message was dumped.  I did not .. repeat did not use any bad language at all .. what I have been trying to say is that there has to be some significance in shooting into the Sea of Japan and I wonder if we still have active bases there?  To get to us .. all they need is a bigger booster rocket and since we have cut back money for everything to fight hand to hand in Iraq .. I wonder if the silo situation with our rockets to take out their rockets still is in working order!!  Typing this makes me think of a bunch of little boys playing war and it is really not doing much to keep me in a celebratory mood .. God help us all.
Labor Stats from Dept of Labor for MT inside

This is quite interesting...it is too long to post here but I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the statistics.  Thanks!


 


tp://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:eGxrU1X5lOEJ:www.bls.gov/oco/ocos271.htm+how+much+to+become+certified+Medical+Transcription&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us


SM for alternative
It runs up and down with the text sideways on the start menu. Mine says Windows XP Professional.

You can right-click on My Computer, select properties, and a window should pop up that shows your system information.
Here's a better alternative..
Medifast 5 and 1 plan. You eat 5 of their meals a day and then what they call a Lean and Green that you prepare yourself. I've only just started, but have lost 9 pounds in 4 days. Check out the website... Medifast1.com

Read the info and check out the message boards. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

You can spend 17+ thousand dollars for a band and eat 6 small meals a day or spend a couple of hundred dollars a month and eat 6 small meals a day.
Not OP, but I think this is an alternative to.
Trick or Treat. Instead of going to stranger's house the kids go to the church and people pass out candy from their decorated car trunks.
alternative

My docs just attach the voice file to the email and send it to me.  There is no encryption.  If you don't want to use email, you could use an FTP site I suppose for a safer transfer...


Another alternative.
Not sure about that but the program, Switch, can change one audio file into any other type of audio file to play on whatever player you want to use.  I love it.  It has a free demo.
Alternative
I thought it might be an alternative to having to rename WP 5.1 documents with .doc extension if they could be loaded on Google docs.  I have not researched it extensively, either. 
Unfortunately I have no answers but I have an alternative for others...sm

If your computer is about to bite the dust, if you have ANY computer geek friends who can build you a computer, ask them to do so.  My husband always rebuilds and updates my computer.  The cost for parts is about the same as the "sale" price on new computers and the advantage is that you can have it custom-built to your specifications.


Even if you have to go to a computer shop to have a computer built, it is still less expensive in the long run.  Initially it may cost $100 or more than that "sale" computer, but you won't run into problems like being forced to have Vista as your OS and trying to retrofit everything.


We have had a computer since about 1990 and, besides our very first, DOS-based computer, we have only bought two "brand new" computers.  One was when Windows first came out, and the second  was when I started working at home and needed my own computer.  At that time, Windows 95 had been out for a couple of years and most of the bugs had been worked out, so we took the plunge and bought a new one.  Since then, we have simply updated and upgraded, including adding a new hard drive, new motherboard, sound/video cards, flat screen monitor....


Just wanted to show you can get a "new" computer without buying a "brand-new" computer. If you see what I mean.....


Housekeeping as an alternative ...
... has anyone gone from MTing to housekeeping in a hotel?  I can't support myself as an IC and can't meet the requirements for employee status.  What are the going wages in the South?  Do I have a snowball's change of being hired in my 50's???  I'm desperate.
Please email me! I was considering an alternative..
like this one, because at this time I also have a 2yr old that I'm trying to keep at home during the day by starting and ending early in the day.  I have some more questions if you don't mind.  Thanks so much!
alternative keyboards
Is anybody using an alternative keyboard? I have seen some pretty nifty designs and wonder which one has the most sensitive touch. Any users of the kinesis contoured keyboard?? Please give your comments, as I am currently shopping...
An alternative would be to purchase and download
a product called Phone Tools by BVRP.  It functions as both a fax and answering machine. I've been using it for >5 years now and have never had any problems. 
Foot pedal Alternative
is there an alternative to the traditional foot pedal? I know i could probably use the keyboard, but I am wondering about devices.
Has anyone tried the 'shared work' layoff alternative
plan? I know they have this in New York state and actually know someone whose employer does this. The employer must participate but you can always ask about it. There are very specific requirements but it seems if your company does not pay down time, wouldn't it be to their benefit also to keep good MTs this way?
AS USUAL
x
The usual (sm)
eggs, rabbit, all that good fertility stuff. Why o why do you assume everyone celebrates the same Hallmark holidays in the same benefit-the-American-manufacturer way that you do?
I don't think so...no more than usual anyway
Our system is back up at MQ, and we have the largest backlog in MQ history. So apparently...it didn't go anywhere.
*a little longer than usual...
nm
PIZZA, it's the usual.
x
What is YOUR USUAL English?...sm
the SLANG English?
Unfortunately, this is business as usual - sm
I was a lab supervisor in Pathology for many years. I watched my lab downsize from 27 people to 7 in 5 years, all because of the almighty dollar. We still had to do ALL the work that 27 people used to. They kept the best and hardest-working, and showed the door to the rest. In our economy, this is the reality of business now. Through the years I have learned to accept this. My only option is to find a new employer and hope that the new job doesn't go the way the other did, but the reality is, it will. So I have to continue to adjust if I want to make it financially. I am a long-divorced mother of 3, have a good work ethic, and by God, I WILL make it! It's sad that we have to work harder just to make the same money, or even less, but this is not a phenomenon unique to our careers. Everyone else is feeling it, too. I feel the responsible thing to do is to provide the services demanded by my employer or seek employment elsewhere.
Easy free alternative to FTP for uploading lots of files?
I currently have a temp account that wants to send me a large # of files. I have tried to set them up with a free FTP utility but she is having trouble using it. For some reason she can receive files from me fine but cannot upload them from her computer, and I am stumped as to why this would be. So I am wondering if there is an alternative out there to FTP that is both easy and free (or low-cost). She's willing to FedEx them to me on CD if all else fails but any suggestions would be helpful! Thanks.
slow periods, seek alternative extra cash? sm
Docs, like us, have busy family lives. I found that after Hannukah and Christmas (or sometimes with a break from family stuff) they "catch up" on dictation. Hopefully, this is what still happens. I have a son who is a professional and he likes to go in on Christmas Eve morning because it's so "slow" that he can get a lot of paperwork done. So hang in. Another aspect of today's world is that docs are carrying laptops now as is my family PCP and they are all doing their own notes. I think it's a "wait and see" thing, the world is changing and hopefully there is a survival tool for us somewhere. We are all being replaced by technology, sadly. Only time will tell. I was told several years ago that I should go into "scoping" which is kind of like editing, etc., you go into public stenographers machine gibberish and make sense out of it, kind of like making sense out of what comes back from India. I was offered this but refused to clean up someone else's "mess." Everyone should be thinking of alternative ways to get by, it's never easy. It's sad, as I have put a lot of time and $$$ into a profession that doesn't appreciate my knowledge. From your posts, Blondie, you have a good heart. I hope things get better for you. Try to have a happy holiday. How did you make out with those dogs you took in? Did the owner take them back or at least pay you? This may be an alternative few extra bucks for you. You seem to be an animal lover and a caring person.I don't live near you, but I would rather leave my Golden with you than some kennels around here. Thus, I do not go away if I can't take my dog. Hope things pick up for you work-wise.
Usual ratio is 3:1 of dictation, so 2-1/2 to 3 hrs NM
xx
Are you sure it is a google ad? It's where the usual paid ads
are but it might be a Google ad. Maybe it is a yahoo ad. I am looking at a yahoo ad now up there. Google ads are smaller but I guess I have never seen yahoo ads that I paid attention to.
It's RAINING here in San Francisco, as usual!
So far in April we have had only 2 sunny days. In March we had 27 rainy days. It's getting ridiculous!
Work as usual on holiday - sm
As an IC, if I can find time, I will work as usual on a holiday. Being an IC means you kinda need to fulfill your client's needs. So, if they need me to work a little extra or work on the holiday, I will do my best to meet their needs. Sometimes, I can not, but most times I will do what they need.

Mind you, I have my own clients, not an MT company. It is my philosphy that I need to keep my clients happy and exceed their expectations in fulfilling their needs or they will look somewhere else for my services.

Hope this helps you, even if in a small way.

I would like to say, it is an adjustment going from employee to IC. Some need to change their way of thinking and start thinking like a "business" owner. It is not just a job, but your business and your career.




Another assumer, as usual wrong!
By the way you sign in, MTmom, hmmmmmmmm sounds like the ones I have been talking about, trying to supermom it and work and complaining all the time. If you had read the post above mine, the person stated MTing was boring as sin and yet saying I was whining? I lead now the most perfect existence I could never have imagined and it has taken me years to get to where I am in life. Everyone should be so blessed! Oh by the way, what a really bad thing to do is to call another human ignorant. I just let Karma handle things like that. I am saying what I read here all the time and if you are offended, then you probably are one that the shoe fits.
obvious management post here as usual nm
x
Right as usual Hayseed! And what about British dialects - sm
such as a strong Cockney accent compared to upper-crust Londoners.... it's like a different language. Every country in the world has similarities in their respective languages as well. Has less to do with color than it does social class, location, education (or lack thereof), etc.
blame the victims as usual shame on you

Profession has turned into a prodution line and its the MTs themselves that are turning it into that, not the MTSOs.
Easy backup file transfer alternative for non-tech-savvy client
Hello all,

I have a new client who is not tech-savvy at all. She lost her Transcriptionist and transcriptions are backing up. She is so desperate she is willing to try digital with me. (yay) I hope everything with the FTP setup goes easily for her, but if for some unforseeable reason we cannot get it to work, I was wondering if someone here could recommend an easy alternative, if only to get the first few dictations to me while we work out the FTP. She is incredibly frustrated and on edge at the moment, so anything to ease this transition would be a lifesaver!

Thank you all so much for your help!
Just the usual clerical crud that temp companies have. nm
x
Ditto. Go to hospital. Not usual symptoms for a migraine. nm
nm
The usual green grass and blue sky that looks like the Teletubbies backdrop. :) nm
.
Seems like usual holiday slow-down period. Should pick back up this week or next. nm

Oh yeah, I did 2800 lines last Thurs and I had 10,500 for week to my usual 8K sheesh I'm a
nm
What are you doing for labor day?
xxx
Not til the Wed. after Labor Day ...
here near Rochester, NY.
I don't. It is just as labor-intensive and-
you end up fixing things like changing "were" to "are", "a" to "an", that kind of thing.  Easier in my opinion to type from scratch, not to mention that you are usually making half what a normal line rate is to do VR.
I am, too, wonder if it's just because of the Labor Day holiday?
nm
No, its cheap labor.
x
7 or even 7.5 cpl is slave labor

I had a company offer me 7.5 cents recently and I said no, perservered it out, and found a great company that pays 10 cents a line and they actually care about their MTs, not treat them like a number.   Hold out for what you deserve to be paid and don't compromise.  A company paying 7 cents is looking for slave labor.    


Slave labor
... sounds like someone is on their high horse in a third world country and expects American MTs to get with the slave labor mentality!
You can also go to the Dept. of Labor. (n/m)
x
They use overseas labor.
.
Need labor union
After 20 years in this industry I can't wait to get out of it - early retirement here I come...They want to pay highly skilled translators (which is more what we do) at rate of a typist.
Labor Board
Forget the state - go to the Department of Labor on website - I had to, my company "borrowed" from my IRA and although I got my money, I did not get my interest, cap gains etc. The labor board is helping me now, including filing charges against them for bouncing checks etc. The problem is if no one complains when the check bounces not much you can do. Bounce a check at walmart and go to court possible jail- bounce a paycheck and do nothing if they send out another to you, doesn't matter when they do, just that they do.  If it happens often, don't request a new check file charges and then get your money. They won't do it again.
What you doing over the Labor Day holiday?