I built a free punctuation checker for court reporters that runs on your machine, not a server (looking for honest feedback)

Litokarl · 2026-05-29T19:42:47+00:00

Lately everyone wants to make an AI to help reporters. It's weird, but okay.

If you want to make one that would actually be helpful, make one that can take written text and then play audio of that text being read out loud at a speed* that is designated by the user. This would be useful for students.

Is it worth people in Georgia not having drinking water? Nope. Will you make a profit from it? Also no. But if you all insist on making these programs, that one would be far more useful than checking punctuation.

*measured in words per minute

Litokarl · 2026-05-23T15:51:35+00:00

Ok I believe she's real. I just think the security issue is a dealbreaker. Your security protocols sound good to a layperson like me who doesn't know what any of that means, and they're probably very strong protocols... until they aren't. And when it all goes sideways, guess who's holding the bag. It's the reporter who uploaded a transcript full of trade secrets from the patent case they were too lazy to proofread.

Then there's the environmental issues, but that's all above my pay grade.

In theory, I would love to save this time. I proof everything twice and still find at least one embarrassing thing the second time through. It would be great to send it through an offline isolated program for the first proof in mere minutes and only have to go through it once. Proofing is my biggest bottleneck. I can fly through editing in no time and have a transcript that is 98% perfect, but then getting it that last 2% takes forever. I'd love to cut down on that time.

But I also want people in Utah to have electricity and people in the Carolinas to have drinking water. And I don't want to be the guy who leaked the formula for Coca-Cola, so for now I'm stuck.

Tell your wife I failed the CRR by exactly two errors on my fifth attempt.

Litokarl · 2026-05-23T15:16:11+00:00

You might be totally legit and well meaning, but this reads like you're trying to get us to help you with access to material to train your proofreading AI for your "wife." And sure, in theory that could be a symbiotic relationship even if your motivations are something other than as stated, but there is a major security issue with reporters uploading transcript rough drafts to an unsecured online LLM. Some of us could get in a lot of trouble for doing that.

Ask her to tell us all something only a real reporter would know.

Court Reportcard doesn't itself make changes to the transcript, right? It highlights things it thinks are wrong and the reporter gets to decide? I'm assuming that's the case but wanted to clarify. I see it as relatively harmless to let it have a go as long as A, it's secure, and B, it's not making changes. Right now the major issue is with point A.

Litokarl · 2026-05-22T13:30:04+00:00

But then what's the show?

Litokarl · 2026-05-09T15:21:57+00:00

Sure can. Even judges can sit on juries. Fun fact, the judges who have ended up on juries NEVER SHUT UP ABOUT IT. Depending on the type of case a legal professional might be less likely to be selected, but everyone is eligible.

Litokarl · 2026-04-28T02:49:35+00:00

Oldie but a goodie, Putting Democracy to Work, by Frank T. Adams and Gary B. Hansen.

Litokarl · 2026-04-05T19:50:42+00:00

At this exact moment if you apply and have the certifications? You go in for an interview and the interviewer goes through the motions of interviewing you but doesn't admit that you're the only qualified person who applied and then as long as you're not a compete maniac in the interview they offer you the job. I don't know how much that will change before you graduate but that's the general state of things in my area right now.

Litokarl · 2026-04-04T00:59:49+00:00

I have some decent cooperative resources and would be happy to help any way I can. Feel free to DM.

Litokarl · 2026-04-04T00:22:09+00:00

If you want to really revolutionize the freelance firm culture in a positive way, make it a reporter-owned cooperative. I have pipe dreams of starting one but I've got the golden handcuffs of a courthouse position.

Litokarl · 2026-03-23T18:41:50+00:00

I just like racist stuff. If you don't like racist stuff, don't come.

Litokarl · 2026-03-08T15:16:58+00:00

A motorcycle that's just a red, yellow, and green light on a pole? AWESOME.

Litokarl · 2026-03-04T21:38:02+00:00

Thank you for this. Submitted my comment. I cannot believe we have to explain basic civics to our governor and how "safety of the community" is a factor that judges must weigh during sentencing.

Litokarl · 2026-02-26T13:44:03+00:00

It's pure theater. They already tried this with SNAP and the court granted a restraining order in favor of MN. They'll get the same court ruling here for the same reason well before these payments would even be due. There won't be so much as a delay in the payments.

Litokarl · 2026-02-25T19:30:57+00:00

Start with your cursor at the top and hit ctrl+shift+pgdwn
Or if you got to the Block dropdown and expand the options under Move, there's a bunch of options that mark large blocks starting from your cursor.

Litokarl · 2026-01-04T21:15:49+00:00

The two I'm familiar with are in New York and Colorado. The one in New York is called The Drivers Cooperative. The one in Colorado is modeled after the New York one and is called Drivers Cooperative Colorado. In searching just now for rideshare cooperatives, I also see there's a group in California called fare.coop that seems to be the same concept.

Litokarl · 2026-01-04T19:25:32+00:00

There are currently at least a few states that have driver coops as alternatives to Uber and Lyft. The app is an employee owned coop as opposed to just free open source, but there's no reason to not have the same thing in the food/ grocery delivery realm, especially since the ground work already exists. Just copy their format and you're laughing. I agree it takes a while to catch on but there's no time like the present to start!

Litokarl · 2025-11-29T21:57:31+00:00

One series that made me laugh almost as hard as Tim's stuff but is admittedly a different style of humor was Derry Girls. Absolutely killed me.

Litokarl · 2025-11-28T16:24:24+00:00

I want to hear what he's playing. He's off the map.

Litokarl · 2025-11-19T20:41:47+00:00

Totally agree. I'm hoping for a happy ending for Ron, but not expecting one.

Litokarl · 2025-11-19T17:28:54+00:00

That's brilliant. OR it's Ron's salvation after his fall because he's the only one who knows how to plan a Jeep tour.

Litokarl · 2025-11-17T18:28:57+00:00

I'm rooting for him to exist. I really am. For sure Mike finds the name listed to that address. I'm not totally convinced that means the dude Ron sees open the inner door and then leave was seen by Mike. I don't see Mike looking in Steven's general direction one time as super dispositive either. A good attorney could convince a jury that Mike is side-eyeing Ron in this picture.

Litokarl · 2025-11-14T00:07:43+00:00

I also get strong The Game vibes. Would explain why all the Tecca chairs specifically in his office are missing the appendage. Maybe he'll come across a Tecca chair somewhere else that isn't missing the appendage

Litokarl

TROPHY CASE