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I wish that I could set up a message rule in Outlook to send off an auto-reply to all messages received containing spelling errors. The auto-reply would read something like, "I'm sorry, but your message contained spelling errors and has been marked as spam. Please correct all spelling errors and try again." As a courtesy I would provide a link to tutorials on how to set up Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, and other popular email programs to automatically check spelling before sending. The message rule would either move all these messages to a special folder or delete them.
Perhaps the message rule could check for people in my contact list. This way, it doesn't hurt anyone's feelings. ;-) (The sender may not be bad at spelling, but simply suffer from typlexia.)
I think that this would be the Ultimate Spam Blocker... What do you think?
Posted by ~Angela | | | Permalink
Comment from
Lisa
on 5/25/2004
The it's/its thing is my biggie... but alas, no spell check on earth would let my last name through - or yours, for that matter. Maybe if there was a 'smart' spell check that recognized names and such, but no such creature exists yet - thus the constant red squiggly line underneath my own name :(
That's true, last names would be a problem for sure. At least if the blocker checked subject lines only we wouldn't have the problem. :-) ~Angela
Comment from
Cavan
on 5/21/2004
I was going to send you an email, with some questions, but now i am scared, hehe.
I am horrible at spelling and suffer greatly from typlexia. But oh dear if someone uses improper grammar around me. They will get an earful. And I never remember to click the "Spell Check" button.
:)
Hehehe :-) Don't be scared. I haven't figured out how to make it check spelling on the way in yet.
I wish my grammar were better. Oh well, I have copy editors for my books at least ;-)
Hmmm, how about this? You don't tease me about my grammar and I don't tease you about your spelling. Sounds more than fair to me! You're lucky, you can hide your spelling/typlexia deficiency by enabling the automatically check spelling option. In both Outlook and Outlook Express, you'll find the option by choosing Tools> Options and then clicking on the Spelling tab. ;-) ~Angela
Comment from
Andy Wilson
on 5/21/2004
Unfortunately spell-checkers don't take care of the confusion of "your" with "you're", the single most annoying spelling issue for many of us. I'd be happy bunny if someone could create a rule that ditched the miscreants into the spam pile. But then I'm a grumpy old man I guess.....
Hi Andy,
Conjunctions can certainly be confusing; I know that I've been confused before. However, your vs. you're is not confusing, and it bugs me when I see that mistake too. :-) (I've made the mistake accidentally a time or three too, and it bugs me even more when I've done it!)
Personally, I would consider that more a grammatical error than a spelling one and let it slide through my filter. Let's face it, most folks (especially myself) don't use proper grammer. I suppose there could be a grammar filter that pokes fun at grammar errors in email... The auto-reply would have to be something very good natured if I were to use it though.
~Angela
Yesterday's presentation was my first time presenting using Breeze Live. It seemed the presentation was well received despite that I wasn't as collected in my thoughts as I usually am. Had the hours prior to the session not been so hectic, I'd have been more "together". Although friends present said they couldn't tell anything was wrong, it still affected me to a small degree.
To do a Breeze Live presentation, it is recommended that you have a second computer set up in the meeting as a guest. This computer is used to see what your audience sees so that you can account for delays.
So I turn on my desktop and the mouse is busted. I run out to Circuit City to pick up a new one. I get back, restart, and my keyboard doesn't work! I have a required login, so I can't even get logged in. I try everything, finally resorting to an old keyboard from another computer (that won't start either and can't connect to the internet). Luckily, it worked!
Now it is nearing time for me to join the meeting. I have to be hardwired (as oposed to my wireless connection) during the presentation. I switch over and my entire internet connection dies on the network. I'm frantic by now, thinking I'm not going to make it. With some sound advice and calming words from Dan, I rebooted the router and after a couple of minutes the internet came back up. Phew!
Once I'm in the meeting, I am looking around for the special Presenter controls and I'm not finding them. I buzzed the moderator and didn't get a reply. I'm in the room only as a guest, uh oh. I try to send a message to her, and accidentally send it to the whole meeting...D'oh! Amy called me, and got me hooked up just in time.
I didn't have my usual couple of minutes to collect my thoughts and get in presenter mode, but it went fine. After a few minutes, I was alright.
It's tricky doing Breeze Live, and next time it will be much easier. There is so much to pay attention to. You have to watch the other monitor to be sure it is updating for the audience. You need to remember to click a few buttons (wish it were just one) to share the screen. You have to remember to then switch back to slides. All the while you are supposed to try and ignore the chat window that's whizzing past you. Then your other computer goes to screensaver and you have to wake it up so you can make sure what the audience is seeing is the same thing you're talking about.
As overwhelming as it was, I loved it. I know I could give the same presentation again much better, and hope to have the opportunity to do so. Even if I do a different one, now I know what to expect with Breeze Live and it will go much smoother next time.
Thanks to all who attended for being there, especially the Cartweaver customers who joined us. It was nice to see so many familiar names present. The thanks and grattitude was overwhelming. Thanks again to those who sent private chats and email. You're all so very kind!
Of course, thanks to Dan for helping me out -- both with the internet connection and fielding questions during the presentation.
If any of you have any feedback, I'd be happy to hear it as it really helps me to do better in the future. I'm really looking forward to doing this again.
Posted by ~Angela | | | Permalink
Comment from
jjshea
on 5/24/2004
Sounds like what you need is a breeze checklist.
1. Make sure all equipment works.
2. Reboot router
3. Disable Screensaver
4. Login as guest
5. Login as presenter
6. Click a few buttons
7. Switch to slides
8. Ignore chat
9. Check other screen for latencies.
10. Don't forget you are presenting while doing all this. (The audience is listening.)
11. Chew gum.
12. Repeat steps 6-11 until presentation completes.
YOU DID GREAT! Let's face it; we are nowhere near to replacing physical presence. We are not even close with video conferencing; the video quality is to poor. The key to presenting on-line and participating on-line is to realize this and enjoy the free in free, or significant cost and time savings. There was a presentation the previous day that had multiple presenters and was pure chaos, but I even found enjoyment in that one. There still no substitution for facial expressions and body language.
I guess we will just have to endure until our implants become available. I personally look forward to the MP3 implant that will fuse directly to my ear drum and allow music at any time, in random order no less. Or the wireless antenna that links the company network directly to the retina, wakes you up at 6, logs you in, displays your email, and stimulates your senses with a virtual cup of java. Imagine, "Sir, no one is logged in today. Seems there was a virus out break last night and we can't wake anyone up." "What's the fix?" "We'll have to format! We may lose some brain cell data in the process, but we should have full recovery by midday. I will even set the cell membranes to 6 a.m. They will never even know it hit them."
Sorry for the tangent...sometimes I just have to go with it...thanks again for the presentation.
No need to apologize; it was fun reading! :-) You're very welcome, and thanks for sharing your thoughts. It actually sparked me to think that my laptop should be built into my legs. ;-) ~Angela
Comment from
Bryan
on 5/19/2004
I wanted to see your preso but, as usual, I lost track of time. Before I knew it it was after 7pm CST (preso started at 6pm CST). I'm just hoping it was recorded and you allow it to be saved.
As for your performance, I'm sure it was great.
Thanks :-) If it becomes available I'll post the info to it here on the blog. ~Angela
Comment from
Cavan
on 5/19/2004
Don't be so hard on yourself, it was excellent. I did catch that message and ignored it, as i am sure all did. I like the idea of breeze, but it would be better, if they speed it up a bit, i have cable, and found too many studders. Also a great idea for breeze, would be to be able to dock those panels in DW, so you can work with the program at the same time, i have a horrible memory. that is why i am buying the book.
Grats on the Preso:)
I'm always my worst critic :-) Thank you for the kind words yet again. I do appreciate it.
Some of the studders were probably due to my own fumblings. A few times I forgot to hit a few buttons to switch between slides and Dreamweaver. Sorry about that!
In any case, I like your ideas about Breeze. You should definitely voice your opinions and suggestions directly to Macromedia so that the right people hear it. (If you're reading this and agree, you should let Macromedia know it. The more feedback they get, the better the product will become.)
Quite a few of the tips weren't in the book, so if you have a recollection of something and just can't remember it all, feel free to email me and I'll refresh your memory. :-)
~Angela
I'll be giving a live online presentation tomorrow, Tuesday May 18th at 4pm Pacific, for Macromedia's Community Week. Here's the official description:
Dreamweaver MX 2004 Killer Tips with ColdFusion
Discover little-known features and pick up some tips-n-tricks for Dreamweaver MX 2004 specifically geared towards ColdFusion users. This presentation covers concepts that range from basic to advanced.
You must register (it's free!) for this presentation as participation is limited. (You will need to scroll to the bottom of the table Tuesday May 18th.)
Posted by ~Angela | | | Permalink
Comment from
Cavan
on 5/19/2004
It was very good, however, now i want to buy the book and cant find it? anywhere i can get an autogaphed one:)
Thanks Cavan! Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004 Killer Tips is available all over the web and in traditional bookstores as well. There are links to some online retailers on the book's companion site. :-)
As for a signed copy, I'd be happy to sign one and send it back if you really wanted. Perhaps we'll get the opportunity to meet at a conference? It's always nice to put faces to the names I know online. :-) ~Angela
Comment from
jjshea
on 5/18/2004
hey, took your advice and joined in..good presentation and well done. Well what I saw of it, left early. Sorry but the hockey game was on at 4:30 pst..
Just wanted to say thank you and good job! I have always been impressed with the MM community. Some really great people...see ya
Thanks :-) I thought that was you in there! Glad you made it and hope your team won. ~Angela
Comment from
jjshea
on 5/17/2004
Not much use for ColdFusion but I am really looking forward to
CSS for Dreamweaver w/Greg.
I participated in 3 of the 4 today and really enjoyed them. Best of all, they were free! Thanks to all of the presenters for their time!
Glad you're enjoying them so far. If you use another server model, some of what I'll be showing can apply so it might be worth a look anyhow. :-) ~Angela