Indeed, try using google to crack open any one of the national labor relations websites, and you'll find that your union DUES money CAN'T be used in any way whatsoever for political action without your knowledge and consent TO BEGIN WITH. Only money from separate donations can be used by a union for political action. As much whining and drinking the kool-aid as was represented above about "the union doesn't want you to know about and they'll attack you for getting out", I don't know what Al Capone fantasy world you live in about people breaking legs in unions but that doesn't even remotely represent what happens today.
And just for side references on how I know? I'm a member, union steward, and I am a chairman on the financial committee for a Communications Workers of America Local.
SCO is taking shots at linux on its own (and in part Microsoft's) behalf. I would bet that SCO has been working a deal with Microsoft to get some code licensed that SCO has. Suddenly SCO realizes that some of the code microsoft wants is already out. Seeing this might cause a problem with how "edible" they look to microsoft they start hammering away at whoever they can (IBM) for infringement on those same rights previously.
So in part, I think its that they wanted to look better for Microsoft, but I don't think it was a ploy to have someone buy them out necessarily.
I'd assume that in the end this will be a gestapo tactic like someone mentioned earlier and also a strategy to kill off linux as competition.
If you have a significant other or not, results may vary but:
1. Seperate Everything - Seperate Room for the "home office" (don't chill the leather couch in the middle of your den)Seperate computers, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT use the same computers for work/play/home and all that jazz. (UT2003 is probably one of those apps that someone at a real workplace wouldn't let you have.) Seperate Phone Line / Cell Phone / Paging / Wireless Devices. Don't use your home phone for business calls and vice-versa don't use your business phone for home calls. Do not answer business calls after hours or answer home calls when you are working your local phone service has this dope-ass feature called Voice Messaging, use it in both instances. Establish some ground rules so your colleauges/customers aren't calling you at 2 A.M.
2. Don't alienate your family (some people say "when this door is shut I am at work"). Don't pull that kind of crap, you have been given an opportunity to stay at home and accomplish your day job. Its not solitary. On the other hand: Don't have the kids on your lap during the 9:00am conference call while they are watching "Transformers - Armada". Give them the chance to have some lives too: take them to day care if you can afford it.
3.Take breaks, actually do what those instructional videos told you to do, stand up - take a breather, wander around a bit, say hi to the wife and kids. Get out of the house! If you can take a trip to your local Chevron/Texaco/7-11/Shell/whathaveyou. Drink some Mnt. Dew and have a snack, or if its time - take a lunch. This is the tip: Take lunch outside your house, if you can't go down to the local subway or mcdonalds then eat at your house and go for a drive or a walk or something.
4. Make sure to maintain good contact with your colleagues and your superiors. Ask for more reviews, or more office time if that is what you need. I know that I am always accused of "beating off" while I should be coding. Its probably because no one can actually verify that because I'm not at the local coffee pot talking about who you showed your "oh face" to that weekend. Make sure to set goals with your supervisors. Make sure that those goals are met and are visible to your colleagues.
5. Attend functions if you can. If you are close enough, or can work a deal in - go to the damn barbeque. Don't be a recluse. Definitely attend meetings if it is at all possible. Conference calls are great, but since you are working from home, a little "office time" can work wonders for people.
6. Don't forget that you are a living breathing person in the workforce. Just because you are currently banging away on the keys trying to get that new webapp up, doesn't mean that you can ignore the fact that you sure as f#ck better be looking for some upward movement in your company. Don't let yourself be labeled as worker ID# 100101, you should have some movement in your job functions / job titles every once in a while.
7. The most important tip I can give: Use your head, somehow you got a telecommuting job in this day and age, you probably aren't an idiot. Make sure you make some good decisions. Also give yourself some discipline (no UT2003) or Learning channel while you are on the job.
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Indeed, try using google to crack open any one of the national labor relations websites, and you'll find that your union DUES money CAN'T be used in any way whatsoever for political action without your knowledge and consent TO BEGIN WITH. Only money from separate donations can be used by a union for political action. As much whining and drinking the kool-aid as was represented above about "the union doesn't want you to know about and they'll attack you for getting out", I don't know what Al Capone fantasy world you live in about people breaking legs in unions but that doesn't even remotely represent what happens today.
And just for side references on how I know? I'm a member, union steward, and I am a chairman on the financial committee for a Communications Workers of America Local.
This is so obvious:
SCO is taking shots at linux on its own (and in part Microsoft's) behalf. I would bet that SCO has been working a deal with Microsoft to get some code licensed that SCO has. Suddenly SCO realizes that some of the code microsoft wants is already out. Seeing this might cause a problem with how "edible" they look to microsoft they start hammering away at whoever they can (IBM) for infringement on those same rights previously.
So in part, I think its that they wanted to look better for Microsoft, but I don't think it was a ploy to have someone buy them out necessarily.
I'd assume that in the end this will be a gestapo tactic like someone mentioned earlier and also a strategy to kill off linux as competition.
If you have a significant other or not, results may vary but:
1. Seperate Everything - Seperate Room for the "home office" (don't chill the leather couch in the middle of your den)Seperate computers, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT use the same computers for work/play/home and all that jazz. (UT2003 is probably one of those apps that someone at a real workplace wouldn't let you have.) Seperate Phone Line / Cell Phone / Paging / Wireless Devices. Don't use your home phone for business calls and vice-versa don't use your business phone for home calls. Do not answer business calls after hours or answer home calls when you are working your local phone service has this dope-ass feature called Voice Messaging, use it in both instances. Establish some ground rules so your colleauges/customers aren't calling you at 2 A.M.
2. Don't alienate your family (some people say "when this door is shut I am at work"). Don't pull that kind of crap, you have been given an opportunity to stay at home and accomplish your day job. Its not solitary. On the other hand: Don't have the kids on your lap during the 9:00am conference call while they are watching "Transformers - Armada". Give them the chance to have some lives too: take them to day care if you can afford it.
3.Take breaks, actually do what those instructional videos told you to do, stand up - take a breather, wander around a bit, say hi to the wife and kids. Get out of the house! If you can take a trip to your local Chevron/Texaco/7-11/Shell/whathaveyou. Drink some Mnt. Dew and have a snack, or if its time - take a lunch. This is the tip: Take lunch outside your house, if you can't go down to the local subway or mcdonalds then eat at your house and go for a drive or a walk or something.
4. Make sure to maintain good contact with your colleagues and your superiors. Ask for more reviews, or more office time if that is what you need. I know that I am always accused of "beating off" while I should be coding. Its probably because no one can actually verify that because I'm not at the local coffee pot talking about who you showed your "oh face" to that weekend. Make sure to set goals with your supervisors. Make sure that those goals are met and are visible to your colleagues.
5. Attend functions if you can. If you are close enough, or can work a deal in - go to the damn barbeque. Don't be a recluse. Definitely attend meetings if it is at all possible. Conference calls are great, but since you are working from home, a little "office time" can work wonders for people.
6. Don't forget that you are a living breathing person in the workforce. Just because you are currently banging away on the keys trying to get that new webapp up, doesn't mean that you can ignore the fact that you sure as f#ck better be looking for some upward movement in your company. Don't let yourself be labeled as worker ID# 100101, you should have some movement in your job functions / job titles every once in a while.
7. The most important tip I can give: Use your head, somehow you got a telecommuting job in this day and age, you probably aren't an idiot. Make sure you make some good decisions. Also give yourself some discipline (no UT2003) or Learning channel while you are on the job.