[ale] Paranoia (was Re: [ale] OT: pc cameras and linux)

[Geoffrey]

John Wells wrote:
> Geoffrey,
> 
> Thanks for the advice.  I actually telecommuted for Alltel for a long
> while when I first moved to Atlanta.  I was very careful to make my
> presence felt, as I know how perceptions can become shifted by the
> slightest deviation...  I loved telecommuting and was much more effective
> employee, but I left the company two years ago for a better position. 
> However, this better position is 25 miles from my home, which sucks!
> 
> My current employeer is very hesitant when it comes to telecommuting.  If
> I was moving, say, to another state, he'd have no problem with it.  We
> have a few people who do that currently, and do it quite well.  However,
> he's stance is that if you're close enough to the office, you should have
> to be here. I'm trying to change that.

I hear you, but there's still a gain of no-commute, regardless.  I don't 
know how your property managment stuff works, but for AT&T the savings 
alone there are substantial.  That is, the cost of the space, phone and 
such that I would require in an office complex.

Good luck.

> 
> Thanks again for your suggestions!
> 
> John
> 
> 
> Geoffrey said:
> 
>>John Wells wrote:
>>
>>>lol.  Joe, my plan is to take away every argument my employer comes up
>>>with to say no to telecommuting.  I don't expect the whole camera
>>>thing to last, but it was one the things "they" mentioned in a meeting
>>>we held about it.  They're concerned about certain employees not
>>>working when at home.  I would tell them that those same employees
>>>don't do anything at *work* either, but they'll find out eventually
>>>;-)
>>
>>Some suggestions from someone who has been successful at this for a
>>while.
>>
>>Up front show them you're not afraid to be reached.  I provided my work
>>phone, home phone and cell phone.
>>
>>Be agressive about answering the phone and returning calls.
>>
>>Be 'heard' on conference calls, even if you don't really have anything
>>to add, let them know you're there, either by vocal agreement to
>>suggestions and/or comments.
>>
>>Be up front and open about your schedule.  If you're going to 'leave the
>> office for lunch' and that's not your ordinary approach, send an email.
>>
>>  Any derivation from your normal schedule should be announced via email
>>
>>or voice mail.  Email is better as you have documented proof, and it's
>>easier to send one email to a lot of folks then to make multiple phone
>>calls.
>>
>>Don't be afraid to answer the phone when you're eating lunch or
>>something.  Once folks get that comfort level with knowing they can get
>>to you, you can let calls to go to voicemail.
>>
>>Keep your voicemail updated.  If you're going to take a day off or even
>>1/2 a day, note it on your message.  If you're going to take an extended
>> lunch or go to a doctor appointment, send email or update your
>>voicemail  to reflect that.
>>
>>
>>>John
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>On Thu, 2002-08-15 at 23:38, Joseph A Knapka wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>John Wells wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Since the MSACS at KSU is pretty close to fully web-based, I need a
>>>>>web cam that can do color video at a reasonable price.  This just
>>>>>gives the professors a way to see my expressions of wonder and
>>>>>confusion. I'm also trying to turn my employer on to telecommuting,
>>>>>and one of the
>>>>>trust-builders I've offered is to tune a web cam on me while at work.
>>>>>Paranoia is rampant -- "If I can't see you, you're not working
>>>>>damnit!" ;).
>>>>
>>>>Ugh. I just can't understand that attitude, especially for
>>>>software-type jobs. If I sat staring at a CRT eight solid
>>>>hours a day, I would go completely insane. If I can't understand why
>>>>the code isn't working, I don't sit there typing madly at
>>>>it in an attempt to emulate the hundred monkeys - I might go for a
>>>>walk and think it over, or whatever. Doesn't mean I'm
>>>>failing to "add value". IMO one of the major advantages of
>>>>telecommuting for employers and employees alike is that
>>>>lower stress levels (from not having to deal with rush hour,
>>>>not having people looking over your shoulder all the time,
>>>>etc) can make a person *more* productive.
>>>>
>>>>Cheers,
>>>>
>>>>-- Joe
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Which mustek camera do you have?  Do you *have* to use a capture card
>>>>>with it?  They list a usb cam on their site.
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks!
>>>>>John
>>>>>
>>>>>On Thu, 2002-08-15 at 21:18, Geoffrey wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>John Wells wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Can anyone recommend a good, cheap pc camera that works under
>>>>>>>linux?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>You might need to define pc camera.  I've got a couple set up.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I've got   a pci captivator capture card, has rca input. I've got a
>>>>>>mustek color camera on it, works great.  I got the card for about
>>>>>>$20 and the camera for about $20.  I've got two of these cameras,
>>>>>>the second is connected to the s-video on my wintv card.  Works very
>>>>>>well as well.
>>>>>> Works meaning I can capture stills just find and motion is fluid
>>>>>>when
>>>>>>viewed under X.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I've also got a b/w motorola camera that I've used with the above
>>>>>>capture cards.  The image is a bit grainy, but it's designed for
>>>>>>security type stuff, and has a very nice 60' cable.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>All three of the above cameras have audio as well, but I've never
>>>>>>taken advantage of it or even tried using it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I've also got a Logitech express which is usb.  It works, but the
>>>>>>image is limited to two resolutions.  Motion is poor, I don't know
>>>>>>what the fps is but it's poor.  Capture works okay, but the images
>>>>>>are not that good.  With this driver loaded it hits the cpu for
>>>>>>about 80%.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The capture cards and cameras noted above have virtually no impact
>>>>>>on the cpu.  I have run motion, which is a motion detecting software
>>>>>>with my capture card/camera setups and it works very well.  It's
>>>>>>quite cpu intensive as well.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Thanks!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>John
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>---
>>>>>>>This message has been sent through the ALE general discussion list.
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>>>>>>>should be sent to listmaster at ale dot org.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>--
>>>>>>Until later: Geoffrey         esoteric at 3times25.net
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I didn't have to buy my radio from a specific company to listen to
>>>>>>FM, why doesn't that apply to the Internet (anymore...)?
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>---
>>>>>This message has been sent through the ALE general discussion list.
>>>>>See http://www.ale.org/mailing-lists.shtml for more info. Problems
>>>>>should be sent to listmaster at ale dot org.
>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>"I'd rather chew my leg off than maintain Java code, which
>>>>sucks, 'cause I have a lot of Java code to maintain and the
>>>>leg surgery is starting to get expensive." - J. Knapka
>>>>
>>>>---
>>>>This message has been sent through the ALE general discussion list.
>>>>See http://www.ale.org/mailing-lists.shtml for more info. Problems
>>>>should be  sent to listmaster at ale dot org.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>---
>>>This message has been sent through the ALE general discussion list.
>>>See http://www.ale.org/mailing-lists.shtml for more info. Problems
>>>should be  sent to listmaster at ale dot org.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric at 3times25.net
>>
>>I didn't have to buy my radio from a specific company to listen
>>to FM, why doesn't that apply to the Internet (anymore...)?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 


-- 
Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric at 3times25.net

I didn't have to buy my radio from a specific company to listen
to FM, why doesn't that apply to the Internet (anymore...)?


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