So where do I put my fingers?

On the keys of course.  But there’s a special place known as the “Home Keys” where fingers should start and always gravitate back to as you learn typing.

The Home Keys are shown in white on the image below.

But which fingers do I use for each key?

Good question.  You’ll see from the above image that each key has a small number in either the top right or top left corner.  This number represents which particular finger should be used to press each key.  As follows:-

• Index Fingers – No 1
• Middle Fingers – No 2
• Wedding Fingers – No 3
• Pinky Fingers – No 4

What’s the Blue and Red all about?

You are paying attention.  Blue represents the keys that should be pressed by right hand fingers.  Red represents the keys that should be pressed by left hand fingers.

So what now?

So, you start on the Home Keys and follow the fingering.  I told you it was simple.

I know what you’re thinking – but how can you remember all that – right?

Learn Typing with Keyboard Genius

The image is available as a set of stickers that are easily applied to the keys on your keyboard.  This means that every time you sit at your computer or desk top you are reminded where to put your fingers (on the home keys) and which finger to use for each key (1, 2, 3 or 4).

With practice, your fingers will soon get used to typing in the correct position, until typing becomes automatic – and you’ll wonder why you waited so long to learn to type correctly.

Learn Typing – it’s so simple, even adults will understand it!

Learn typing now – without software.  Click on Home and About pages to find out more.  Or click on Learn Typing Now to purchase online.

Thanks for reading and best of luck as you learn typing!

Jan Littlehales

]]> http://keyboardgenius.com/learn-typing/without-software/feed/ 8 http://keyboardgenius.com/learn-typing/dog-training/ http://keyboardgenius.com/learn-typing/dog-training/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 05:11:40 +0000 Jan Littlehales http://keyboardgenius.com/?p=328 Continue reading →]]> Welcome to the second post in my Learn Typing and blog about series.  I want to talk about dog training – is it worth it and does it work?

Most Sunday mornings during school term time you’ll find me walking around Sydney’s Centennial Park, while my son has his 2 hour drama lesson at nearby NIDA.  It’s a half hour drive from where we live, so not worth driving home and back again.

My usual walking route takes me through an area designated for Sunday morning dog training and it’s my observations through this particular area that I’d like to share with you.

First of all…

Without a dog in tow I’m definitely the odd one out here, but with dark sun glasses and iPod ear-phones visible I can usually walk through without anybody noticing that I’m observing them.

Secondly…

There appear to be several groups of owners and their dogs being trained by dog-less individuals.  I haven’t been able to work out if the groups have any heirachy, but regardless they all seem to be doing similar things – which doesn’t appear to amount to very much in the short time it takes me to pass through.

Thirdly…

Many of the dogs look so placid and uninterested in what’s going on you could let loose a warren of rabbits and they wouldn’t stir.  On the other hand, some dogs appear more enthusiastic and excitable than their owners would perhaps prefer.

Just what are dog owners trying to achieve?

There are 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week and I can’t quite see how an hour or so at the dog training on a Sunday morning is going to train your dog to behave how you want it to.  I have friends whose dogs have gone through dog training, yet their dogs still jump all over me, despite being told not to.

What I know about dogs

I’m not a dog owner now, but I do have past experience with dogs.  When I was growing up in the north of England we bred English Springer Spaniels.  My memory is that all dogs are individuals and have to be treated differently.  Just like children really.

There are underlying habits that have to be taught, like not jumping all over strangers or the furniture, not barking incessantly and pooing in appropriate places.  But beyond that it’s very much an individual thing.

Our oldest dog, Jack, (who looked very much like the above photo) liked to go on super long walks and explore everything and anything in sight.  The bitch, Bess, was happy to stay at home and just take enough exercise to keep her healthy.  Jack loved to role around and play-fight with anybody who was keen to take him on, while Bess was far too dignified to take part in such childish frolicking.

Have I got it wrong?

Maybe things have changed.  Perhaps I’m missing something important at the dog training sessions.  What’s your experience with dogs?  If you’ve tried dog training, was it worth it? did it work?  I’d love to hear your opinion.

Learn Typing and blog about…

What a wonderful thing it is to be able to blog about just about anything – and being able to type makes the process so much easier.  If you use a computer keyboard then why not make a decision to learn typing.  Keyboard Genius can show you how.  Just visit Home and About pages for more information.

Please visit again and check out  my next Learn Typing and blog about… post.

I look forward to your comments.

Jan Littlehales

Of course, being able to type makes this task a simple one for me.  My hope is that if you can’t already type correctly you will endeavour to do so soon.  Click on the About page to find out more about how to learn typing – but remember to come back and read about… no drinking water at Manchester airport.

Can you believe it?

I have just returned from a wonderful family holiday in the north west of England – walking in the Lake District.  I loved every single day.  We flew from Australia to Manchester (via Dubai) with Emirates (who, by the way, were fabulous).

On our arrival at Manchester airport we were to be met by a courier bus/driver who would take us to our destination, some 2 hours drive away.

It was a glorious day (I mean it – it was sunny and hot in the north of England) so we all decided we should fill up our water bottles for the drive.  No sign of any bubblers, so we headed to the girls and boys rooms.

Only hot water?  I thought I’d check to see how the boys got on.  Alas, it was the same.  A cleaner just happened to be going by so I asked her where I could get some cold water to fill up our bottles.  “You want water, you buy it” was her reply.  I really couldn’t believe it.

Badly done Manchester airport

Reluctantly I bought water, at airport prices, and we survived the English heatwave.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I have a ‘thing’ about buying water in a country where the water is perfectly good to drink.  I’m from the north of England originally, so I know the water there is good quality – you don’t even have to filter it (which I do in Sydney by the way).

I can’t remember being at any airport where drinking water was not freely available.  Can you?  I’ve flown into London’s Gatwick and Heathrow airports many times and, unless things have changed, they have free cold water.  Dubai certainly did – and it was chilled.

Surely on the way home?

Manchester airport’s arrival area is very small so I guessed things would be better for the return journey some three weeks later.  But alas no.  We went through security check with high hopes and  empty bottles in hand – only to find hot water on the other side.

All that plastic!

Back in Sydney where I live, my local beach at Manly has actually installed filtered water dispensers along the beach front, encouraging drinkers to fill up their existing bottles, rather than buying more and more plastic.  You can read all about it.  All that plastic is really not good for the environment after all – and Manly Council were getting fed up of continually clearing away all those discarded plastic bottles.

Hear what CBS News has to say about all that plastic waste:-

Click here to view the embedded video.

Talking about Plastic Bottles – Plastiki has just arrived in Sydney

If you haven’t yet heard about Plastiki I suggest you check it out.  8,ooo nautical miles over more than 130 days – floating on plastic!  Well done Plastiki.

What do you think?

So what do you think?  Should airports provide drinking water?

And Don’t forget to Learn Typing

And remember – you can make your blogging easier if you learn typing?  Keyboard Genius can show you how.

Looking forward to reading your comments on… no drinking water at Manchester airport.

Until next time – stay healthy and drink plenty of water.

Jan Littlehales