I hate transcribing and working from tapes, which is why I just take notes. I know some people love tape recorders -- for me, the time and bother of listening and transcribing outweighs the accuracy advantage.

Yeeah, this is totally a pain and not worth it. Now I'm just listening and taking notes, and transcribing if something sounds quotable.

Is Aimee putting on her makeup while nursing, because if so, she and the Princessa just have it going on with their efficient while gorgeous selves.

Aimee's my freakin' hero. Damn the girl is good.

Ok, P-C, do NOT allow your mother to see the photos of you holding Emeline - she will doubtless increase her clamour for a daughter-in-law and the subsequent grandbabies.

All buffistas pictured = foamy.

I just tried the mirror thing, and I now believe my left side is the better one. Something just a bit more delicate about the features.

Since turning 35, I have suddenly become all girly. Wore lipstick to work this week, and am now in the process of applying L'oreal Bomber perle Jet-Set nail polish. Apparently to impress my therapist, and then the guys at the bike shop, where I am going to peruse the book racks and saddlebags. And? Helmets. I need a new one.

To be completely crazy, I may add a smidge of powder to my nose. It claims to have micro-sponges in it to prevent shinyness - but after a bike ride of 7 or so miles, it'll probably give out.

I hope Emmett's better this morning.

He's about 101 this morning. So sick and uncomfortable, but not dire. I'm guessing it'll have a three day course, and he'll be pretty schlumpy this weekend. Poor little poot. On the other hand, he'll be at home watching cartoons all day when he's not sleeping on the couch, so that is one of his favorite activities.

Bay Area Bitches: Two-day class in corset-making at Lacis.

YOu know, P-C, tapes might be worth it if you ever interview someone who later claims you misquoted him/her. Taking notes off the tape sounds damned sensible, but it couldn't hurt to have an actual record of the interview. Maybe now it's not so crucial, but when you're the science editor for the New York Times it'll probably come in handy.

Taking notes off the tape sounds damned sensible, but it couldn't hurt to have an actual record of the interview.

Oh, no, I'm definitely still always taping (need to get my own tape recorder), but today I used it as a substitute for taking notes, and I should have been taking notes and just making marks as to where I should cue to quote directly. I also need to get one of those neat flippy reporter-type notebooks.

I also need to get one of those neat flippy reporter-type notebooks.

And a fedora and a little "PRESS" tag you can stick in it....

Connie, I understand your opinion. For what it's worth, I've never had any problems as a reporter caused by not taping stuff. But, then, I'm not writing for the New York Times, either.

(It seems to me like most reporters I know only tape in specific circumstances -- e.g., if a source has been difficult in the past, or if there's likely to be a lot of technical language -- but I haven't done an exhaustive survey. Also, a lot of modern reporting is phone work, and I've never known any reporter who hooked a tape recorder up to their phone. I'm not sure if it's a technical thing, or just that we don't want to feel like Linda Tripp.)

I also need to get one of those neat flippy reporter-type notebooks.

Two words: steno pad. There's more room to write than the special reporter's notebooks.

The few times I used a tape I was sorry, but P-C will not have the dexterity problems I've got.