10
STAR*TECH JOURNAL/NOVEMBER 1983
VIDEODISC
MAINTENANCE
O.E.M. Replacement
Monitor
13"-$170
19"-$188
Videodiscs are made of plastic, and the
following precautions must be taken.
The disc may be dusted with a clean,
lint-free, 100% cotton cloth. When
necessary, the disc may be cleaned by using
a mild, alcohol-free, non-abrasive cleanser
such as a non-aerosol window cleaner or an
ammonia/water solution. Before using any
cleaner, READ THE LABEL to determine
advisability of use on a plastic surface.
Guarantee 90 Days Exchange
Superior
Brightness,
Clarity, Sharpness.
READING EFFECTIVELY
By Cheryl MacDonald
For Info. Call: (213) 768-7144
• spectra
Do you feel swamped by the amount of material
you have to read? In the effort to keep up with
current events and professional news, many of
us do. Is there a way out of the jungle ofletters,
reports, periodicals and books which absolutely
must be read?
Yes there is! The five steps listed here can
save you time and still keep you well informed.
-VIS/On
Sun Valley, California
I. ESTABLISH YOUR READING
GOALS. What are you trying to accomplish
through your reading? Why do you need to
read a particular report, book, or magazine?
"Because it relates to my job" or "I'm on the
mailing list" are not valid reasons. Neither is
"everyone else does" unless you're talking
about a publication which is regularly discussed
by colleagues and which contains information
you can't obtain elsewhere.
Your reading goals can be personal or
professional, long or short term, but it' s impor-
tant that you know exactly what they are.
Whether you're contemplating a trip or visit to
a trade show or convention, or trying to keep up
to date with the latest breakthroughs in your
industry, your reading should reflect these
goals.
~VIDEO
~GAME
TROUBIBHOmNG
GUIDE
FOR
VIDEO
GAMES
• CUT TO THE PROBLEM IN SECONDS
• EASY TO UNDERSTAND
• DESIGNED FOR OPERATORS,
ARCADE OWNERS & TECHNICIANS
• LAMINATED FOR DURABILITY
• UNCONDITIONAL MONEY BACK
GUARANTEE
CHECK OR
MONEY ORDER OR
SEND
■
COD
$12 95
VIDEO
Please send
I TROUBLESHOOTING
I
GUIDE
I
I
I
I
VIDEO CHARTS.
TOTAL ENCLOSED
515 s. SHAW
----
RICHMOND, MO 64085 SH IP. CHG. INC.
TO SEND C.O.D. CALL 816/776-5938
NAME - - - - --
ADDRESS_ __
---
_ _ __ __
L _:'~::El:::. - - - -
It is suggested that the videodisc be
handled by its edges or between the center
hole and one edge.
When not in the player, the videodiscs
should lie flat in their container to lessen the
possibility of their becoming warped.
Please read the important information on
loading and removing discs in the Player
Operation section of your manual.
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
- - - - J
2. BE SELECTIVE. Wouldyoueatevery-
thing in sight just to be well nourished? Of
course not! Apply the same principle to your
reading. Since it's impossible to read everything,
you must select specific goals and gear your
reading accordingly, as well as select specific
sources of information reflecting those goals.
You should also be selective about what
portions of books, magazines and other mater-
ials you read Again, choose those related to
your goals. If you find the piece isn't pertinent
or isn't telling you anything new, stop reading.
Unless you have to report to someone on the
contents of the piece, there's absolutely no
need to finish it.
This is especially important when you' re
pressed for time. In fact, you can eliminate a lot
of reading material. Take newspapers. A good
report usually is written in the " inverted pyramid"
style: the first paragraph summariz~s the story,
with each succeeding paragraph providing more
detail. By reading headlines and the first few
paragraphs, you' ll stay well informed.
You might even do away with reading
newspapers entirely if you're really busy. You
can keep informed through radio or television
newscasts combined with a weekly news
magazine if you need more background
information.
Where books are concerned, skim the table
of contents and index for topics which relate to
your goals. Read those sections first. Whether
you complete the book or not depends entirely
on how closely linked it is to your goals.
3. SET DEADLINES. What you read
also depends on how much time you have.
After you've selected material and set a certain
amount of time aside to read it, establish
reasonable deadlines. If you don't read the
newspaper the day it's published, throw it out.
Same applies to May's newsletter if it's still
hanging around on June 1st. Don't feel you'll
miss something vital. Important topics are sure
to be featured again.
4. WRITE AS YOU READ. Underline,
make notes in the margin, put question marks
beside confusing statements. By marking the
text as you read you're effectively outlining the
main points it makes. This way, when you refer
to it again, you won't have to reread the entire
piece to refresh your memory.
5. DELETE AND DELEGATE. Get rid
of any material which is useless to you. If you
don't read it, cancel your magazine subscrip-
tion or have your name removed from the
mailing list.
Still find yourself swamped? It can happen
from time to time. This is when you should try
delegation. Enlist a co-worker, spouse, friend
or relative to help. Have them read and
summarize the article for you. Alternatively,
find a co-worker whose reading requirements
overlap your own. Then share the overlap.
Suppose you both have to read the same four
reports each month. If each of you reads two,
discuss them or trade marked-up copies (see
Step 4). You' ll both save time and still
accomplish your reading goals.
There' s nothing difficult about reading
effectively. All it takes is a little bit of thought
and organization. Follow the suggestions above
and you' ll probably find most of your reading
overload will disappear.