I'm getting bored of trying to hire decent freelance writers on typical freelancing websites. This lead me to either spending more time fixing what I got from these writers than it would have taken me to just write my content myself. This obviously didn't work, so I had to look into finding another solution. Nuance Communication is the creator of the successful line of Dragon NaturallySpeaking speech recognition programs for Microsoft Windows. The latest release, version 9, provides up to 99% accuracy, which is unheard of in the industry. Version 9 is 20% better than the previous release and a 40% improvement in accuracy over version 7. The software learns the speech habits and patterns of the user over time providing additional accuracy. Even if the software has not had time to adjust to your voice, you can still expect accuracy to be in the mid nineties. This is also the first speech recognition program that eliminates the need to train the software to recognize your voice. Previous releases made the user read script after script in order for the software to adjust to the user's voice pattern. This made it difficult for new users to jump right in and start using the software. If you needed to use a friend's computer you would have to reread the scripts all over again so they program could adjust to your voice as well. Most people did not venture to buy speck recognition programs just due to this fact. This program is not only reliable but also fast. You can dictate 160 words per minute. At almost three words a second, it is impossible to match the software in speed simply by typing. I professional typist could not come close in speed compared to this software. Even if you could type that fast, sustaining a 99% accuracy rate would be extremely difficult to pull off. The software is faster and much more reliable than typing. You can also enjoy this innovative software with Bluetooth capable headsets, microphones, tablet PCs and a host of other new mobile devices. This provides the freedom of 'writing' on the go as you dictate away from the home and office. The program is Section 508 certified to allow hand free use of the PC for those who are unable through disability or repetitive stress injury. This program has also reduced insurance premiums and temporary labor costs by reducing repetitive stress relates injuries and worker compensation. The headset that comes with the software is easy to adjust for maximum accuracy. The hard plastic earpiece will start to feel uncomfortable after prolonged use. There are many headsets you could get for your PC including blue tooth. Blue tooth would allow you to be away from your PC while dictating. Version 9 works well with Microsoft Office, Outlook, Internet Explorer, Corel WordPerfect, Mozilla, Firefox and Thunderbird. Nuance's Dragon NaturallySpeaking Version 9 retails at $100 and it well worth the investment.
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The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: A Review of Baylor University's Performance3/12/2018 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde is not just an English comedy of manners that while a satire of the upper class in London, but a perfect comedy that answers only to itself. In the words of dramaturg DeAnna Toten Beard, "The play delights in its very existence and in doing so it involves the audience in an independent, self-sustaining world of comedy." The comedy tells the story of Earnest, real name Jack, who is about to ask Gwendolen for her hand in marriage, only she could not love a man not named Earnest. Jack has been "bunburying" as his friend Algernon calls it, Jack is known as Earnest in town when he is visiting his "evil" brother, but Jack decides to "kill" his brother now that he is to marry Gwendolen.
Most importantly both of Jack's parents are dead and Gwendolen's mother Lady Bracknell refuses to allow her daughter to marry a man born in a handbag. In the second act Jack's friend Algernon shows up in Jack's country estate as the wicked brother Earnest whom Jack has just killed. Algernon pretending to be Earnest proposes to Jack's ward Cecily when Gwendolen shows up at Jack's estate and they both find out that they are marrying an "Earnest Worthing". The play resolves with a dues ex machine when Lady Bracknell meets Cecily's governance Ms. Prism and remembers that she left a baby in a hand bag many years ago. In addition Jack's real name is Earnest which means he has a parent and Gwendolen can marry a man named Earnest. The Baylor Theatre production on Saturday April 28, 2007 at the Mabee Theatre did the classic play justice and Oscar Wilde would surely have approved. One of the strongest points of the Baylor production was the intricate attention to detail by the set designers. While the first act had a bit of a scant stage, two couches, a table and some windows the scenery in acts two and three blew away act one. Act two took place in the garden of Jack's country estate complete with a twenty foot tall front skeleton of a house and act two took place inside of Jack's house, with Victorian era furniture. I feel that the grand scenery really added to realism of the play due to the fact that the actors interacted so much with the props. The first act had Jack and Algernon constantly laying on the couch, standing on window sills or eating cucumber sandwiches. The presence of working doors allowed Jack's butler to comically enter the door, or leave in horror when he met Lady Bracknell. Overall the Baylor production was top notch in all technical aspects which helped me fall into the world created by Oscar Wilde. The most important part of any play, the actors did a magnificent job portraying the characters of Wilde's Victorian era high society. The cast seemed to bounce off of one another and give the other actor a chance to shine. This was especially true when Jack's butler would have things ready before Algernon would ask for them. The actors themselves obviously worked on believable British accents save for the actress playing Lady Bracknell who used such a hackneyed accent that she bordered on being a parody of the character and almost a detraction from the wonderful actors surrounding her. That is not to say Haley was not a hit with the crowd, but in this reviewers opinion her cast mates were more than willing to share the spot and set each other up while Ms. Phillips stole the show from the other actors and actresses. In the end I believe that the Baylor production stayed faithful to the spirit of Oscar Wilde's original intent to have this play not to profess any moral message but to be a self sustaining play to amuse oneself and distract from the doldrums of life. The actors did an excellent job at making the audience feel angst and embarrassed when Jack must reveal that he has been leading a double life. Austin Terrell plays a smarmy Algernon who the audience couldn't help but love to hate. In addition, my teacher Whitney Smith attended and I saw her handing out will call tickets, which proves that I actually went and saw the play. I've seen a lot of weird performances before but this performance might have been the icing on the cake. I went to go see the preview of the staged performance of the Faux King on Wednesday April 12, 2006 performed in the Santa Fe Community College black box. This performance written by Gregg Jones is quite an original and unique performance. While watching this play there are a lot of technical elements presented in the show that makes the show run smoothly.
The stagecraft elements were very noticeable before the performance. I took part in helping get ready for the performance. I helped paint the throne used in the play, I helped paint the platform green, helped build the rocks held by the audience, and I help with the light hang in the black box, and lets not forget about the backbreaking lifting I did. I wouldn't trade the experience I got from all these things. I learned a lot during this time and seeing whatever little things I did to make the show run was well worth the effort. The Faux King is a play that no matter what, makes one feel like they are apart of the performance. The first you notice even before you walk into the show are these huge rocks. These rocks were giving to members of the audience to make them feel as if they were part of the play. I actually got to help make many of these rocks during my hours spent in the shop. These rocks were made from Styrofoam and paper drenched in water and the two were put together by glue and time to dry. It was a very good feeling knowing that the rock I was given at the performance may have been created by me. I thought the performance was going to be ran on the main stage. When you walk into the black box you notice that it is a lot smaller than the main stage and a platform is used as a stage. Another thing very interesting thing about the show is there are no seats. You either sit on a constructed rock or you sit on the floor very close the platform. These rocks held by audience members along with being so close the platform made it seem as if the audience was in the show. Lighting was a great part of the show. The lighting in this show brought out a lot of emphasis throughout the show. Personally my favorite part of the show was when the characters were sent of to war to capture the dragon. They were fighting in slow motion. While they were fighting there was a strobe light that did two things for me. While they were hunting for the dragon you can tell what the setting is, when the lights are flashing it makes it seem like bombs dropping at night. While they were fighting, the strobe lights emphasize the fighting in slow motion and it looked really fascinating. Light always seems to emphasize a character. During a couple parts in the play, Struik was being personified as a puppet tied to string. It looked as if he was dizzy. The gobos in the lights emphasized this effect. Another key element in the show was the constructed scenery and costumes. The play was split up into two different worlds. These worlds differed by a number of things. There were the flats that painted two unparallel worlds. There was also the throne, which I thought was really well constructed, and the big tree on the other side that contrasted the throne. There were also two different colored tapes running along the floor which stressed the two different worlds. The costumes are very original. The whole time I was watching the play I was amazed at the huge head characters, especially the one that resembled George W. Bush so much. Every character in the performance was masked. This allows equality of characters throughout the story, except for the big headed characters which draws the audience attention stressing the importance of this character. Lighting was a great part of the show. The lighting in this show brought out a lot of emphasis throughout the show. Personally my favorite part of the show was when the characters were sent of to war to capture the dragon. They were fighting in slow motion. While they were fighting there was a strobe light that did two things for me. While they were hunting for the dragon you can tell what the setting is, when the lights are flashing it makes it seem like bombs dropping at night. While they were fighting, the strobe lights emphasize the fighting in slow motion and it looked really fascinating. Light always seems to emphasize a character. During a couple parts in the play, Struik was being personified as a puppet tied to string. It looked as if he was dizzy. The gobos in the lights emphasized this effect. Another key element in the show was the constructed scenery and costumes. The play was split up into two different worlds. These worlds differed by a number of things. There were the flats that painted two unparallel worlds. There was also the throne, which I thought was really well constructed, and the big tree on the other side that contrasted the throne. There were also two different colored tapes running along the floor which stressed the two different worlds. The costumes are very original. The whole time I was watching the play I was amazed at the huge head characters, especially the one that resembled George W. Bush so much. Every character in the performance was masked. This allows equality of characters throughout the story, except for the big headed characters which draws the audience attention stressing the importance of this character. There are many technical elements present in the show that cannot go unnoticed. From props to lighting it all is important. I learned a lot I gained a lot of experience and knowledge working in theatre. I learned that every little bit counts in theatre and everybody's role is important. Working on this show gave me a new found respect for not only for the people you see performing but the people behind the performance, the people who do all the dirty work, the people who deserve more credit then they receive. It's a typical college student dream: to be featured in the media from the New York Times to Time Magazine, to create a written work so intriguing it goes viral. But for recent Duke University grad Karen Owen, having her PowerPoint thesis distributed in the print and online media has been a nightmare.
Duke University graduate Karen Owens thought her distribution of a sex thesis PowerPoint to select friends was a joke. That is, until Owen's PowerPoint rating past "hook-ups" with male Duke jocks went viral. The sex thesis was published in full at Jezebel, and the media latched onto it. The private world of Owen and the Duke University men she featured in her thesis is now public. Owen is publicly known as the woman who disclosed the private details of sexual encounters, judging, rating, sometimes mocking. The thesis discusses the mens' conversational skill, body attributes, and sexual prowess. Details of what was once intimate conversation and activity are now available for anyone to read on the Internet. Owen belatedly realizes that publishing reviews of sexual partners as a PowerPoint presentation was a mistake. She told Jezebel, " I regret it with all my heart. I would never intentionally hurt the people that are mentioned on that." It was not Owen but an unidentified friend who publicly distributed the sex thesis, causing it to go viral and become news fodder for mainstream media. Nevertheless, Owen's conduct in creating a presentation rating sexual activity that her partners would reasonably expect to keep private may raise liability questions. Jason Fortuny came to be identified in the media as the Craigslist sex troll after he re-posted an apparently bona fide sex ad, collected the responses, and posted them in an online encyclopedia, including photographs and contact information. Fortuny was sued and a $74,000 default judgment issued against him by the Northern Illinois Federal District Court. The judgment encompassed both copyright violations and tort claims, including public disclosure of private facts and intrusion upon seclusion. The tort public disclosure of private facts allows a party to recover damages for unwarranted publication of truthful, non-newsworthy, private and offensive facts. To prove this tort, a Duke student featured in the PowerPoint would have to show that the facts Owen disclosed about him were private. That doesn't seem too hard with a sexual encounter, provided he himself is not a braggart, but where he may run into difficulty is with the publication requirement. Owen distributed her sex thesis to three people, according to media reports. It was an unnamed friend of hers who allegedly redistributed the file, causing it to go viral. Intrusion upon seclusion is another possible avenue for tort liability. This tort addresses the manner in which information is obtained, involving furtive information gathering in a place where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Owens apparently engaged in consensual, genuine sexual encounters; the facts which have come to light thus far suggest that, unlike Fortuny, Owen did not enter into these sexual encounters with nefarious motives but chose to exploit them after the fact. As such, she would appear to be a welcome participant, not an intruder. |
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