Guide

Work for a Call Center from Your Home Office? You're 'homeshoring.'

Last summer, I had work from home doubts so I went on a few interviews for a “real” job as many of my family members might say. I’m glad I didn’t follow through, but I carried one moment from my interview experience back to my home office.

I was babbling along about my telecommuting experience and spinning it into why I was the best potential employee ever, normal interview gibberish, when my interviewee stopped me. A gentleman in his 50s, he nodded his head and tilted back in his seat as if pondering how to stop global warming. “Telecommuting,” he said. “I never get used to hearing that word.” To him, telecommuting was a fluke, something he thought would die off, but seemed to be gaining steam. “This is one out of touch old dude,” I remember thinking to myself.

Tonight I found a story that made me the out of touch old non-dude, at age 26, almost 27, my birthday is Nov. 24. After the jump, I’ll share with you the new work at home term I learned, and what you need to know to snag a job.

Home call agents have been in the news lately, Good Morning America highlighted call center positions on a work from home job club segment. And, I came across a Wall Street Journal article about homeshoring rather than offshoring call center jobs. Wait, homeshoring?

Homeshoring will be the last thing on anybody’s mind as call centers are a place where you need to maintain decorum while homes are a comfort zone where you can be yourself so therefore if you insist on it then it is better to learn about chairs and get a nice chair and table that gives you the office vibes to keep yourself in check.

I read the article, and immediately thought, great article, and I love being one of the first in my group to use a new term. I knew there was nothing new about home call center agents, but really thought I found something fresh with homeshoring. A quick Google search told me I was wrong. I found articles from 2004 about the concept, which makes me that old person behind on the new web-derived terms.

For those of you who are also “old people” like me, I’ll give a quick definition. Homeshoring describes call center agents working from home offices answering customer service questions and tech-support questions. It comes from the term offshoring, or moving call centers to foreign countries to save a lot of money at the expense of customer aggravation. I’m all for learning about new cultures, but not when I’m trying to figure out why my phone bill came to an extra $200 a month.

Apparently, the cost of these overseas call centers is rising, prompting the move back to the U.S. With well over 100,000 people employed as at home call center agents, the job openings and companies hiring are bountiful.

And, customer service positions appear on many recession proof job lists. If the economical forces ruined your hopes of starting an at-home business why not consider working as a call center agent for the stable paycheck while working on making your dream career happen.

Call center job leads:

Alpine Access, According to the WSJ article about homshoring Alpine will add 1,200 new agents in 2009. Hires agents to work on different lines and the worker experience seems to depend on the line you’re working.

U-Haul, Offers low-paying ($7 an hour) e-hotline positions to help motorists. Hours are extremely flexible, so might be good as a second job to help in an emergency situation. Type the word “e-hotline” in their job search box to apply.

Teletech, Currently hiring for home CSRs and according to its Web site currently employs 50,000 CSRS worldwide.

And, just to make sure we all stay up to date on work at home lingo, a Bright hub page that includes a glossary of home office tech terms.

Softwares

What Are The 12 Ways To Make Money With Photoshop & Photo Editing?

The adobe photoshop mac free can be used on the different operating systems, whether it is an android operating system or Mac operating system. All the processing is the same, but there is a slight change in the features of using photoshop. We all are acknowledged about photoshop as it is considered for changing effects and editing the image. It is done so that your picture will look interesting as well as effective. Photoshop was published by Adobe in 1988 and which are considered with different raster graphics and editing tools. There are multiple layers through which one can compose as well as edit the images by using color models. 

Color models are considered so that one can use duotones as well as a spot color for editing the image. There are lots of ways to edit the image, and for this, there are several different tools through which we can perform it. The great way of considering adobe photoshop mac free is that we can also earn money through it. There are lots of ways such as clipping paths, 3D graphics, videos, and raster graphics through which we can use and improve the techniques of photoshop. These multiple features help in using the image so that we can apply features and effects on it. Now, in the lower section, you will be going to read about the 12 techniques through which one can easily make money by using photoshop and photo editing tools.

12 ways to make money with photoshop and photo editing:

We all know that a cameraman didn’t upload and rendered the same picture, which he has shot on his camera. They always consider photoshopping as well as editing before posting the picture. This editing and photoshopping are used so that we can add more grace as well as quality in the picture. 

  • The first way is that a person can start their own photo editing service through which we can consider the digital picture and image optimization. Photo editor is also known as a photo doctor, and with the help of them, one can easily consider adobe photoshop mac free.
  • The second way is to write photoshop tutorials, and if you consider it, then it might help you to earn money in a great way by photoshop.
  • You can make your own tutorial site so that through this website, you can perform advertisements for photoshop. Despite of this, you can also make blogs because it is an effective way through which you can earn money by doing photoshop. 
  • It would be beneficial for you if you will create video tutorials because it will give a glimpse of your editing to the audience. 
  • If you create stock photos, then it will also help you to make money because it will enhance your photography skills as well as you will get more interaction with the audience. 
  • You can also start your own restoration service, and by considering it, you can improve the quality of your picture. Not only this, but you can also manage the picture if it is faded or damaged due to water. There are a lot of things which can be considered by you for making money through adobe photoshop mac free.
  • You can also start your own graphic design business because it is a great way to start photoshop editing. There are lots of websites as well as applications through which you will get contacts as well as customers. Here you can create pictures and design them according to the requirement of the customer. It is a great way through which you can make money and good cash. 
  • You can also start a social media page and application, or it is also beneficial to create a logo business. There are different social networking sites where you can create your own page and attract more and more number of viewers. We all know that for promoting a business or person skills, you can consider social networking sites because it helps a lot in making social contacts as well as rendering skills. 
  • Starting your own web designing business is a new start in the field of adobe photoshop mac free. You can also create photographic templates and web designing graphics through which more number of people will show interest in your work and pictures. There are lots of opportunities in the field of photoshop. All you need to consider is to accommodate them wisely.
  • You can also start a t-shirt design business because it is the right method for you to photoshop images. It is one of the coolest artwork and mostly loved by the audience. It requires lots of creativity and can be used on a small scale too. 
  • You can also open your own greeting card business because it is somehow a part of making money through photoshop. You can use it by creating images and designs, whether they are graphical images or abstract designs. It also looks beautiful, as well as a great start being a beginner.

  • Last but not least is to start an art design business which can be represented in the form of CDs, magazines, postcards, billboards, etc. 

All the 12 ways through which one can make money by doing photoshop is listed in the above section. You can consider them in an appropriate way, and it will surely help you to consider adobe photoshop and editing tools. 

Guide

Learn How to Properly Take Care of a Pet Chinchilla

Chinchillas are very interesting and beautiful animals. They make great pets because they are so lovable, entertaining, and curious. However, they do have special care requirements and are usually rather expensive. Be sure you do plenty of research before you purchase a chinchilla and for that research Critter Nation is your best choice that is there online. 

Chinchillas originally come from South America by the Andes mountain range. In the early 1900’s they were mainly used for fur trading. They didn’t become popular as pets until the 1960s. There are two different species of chinchillas, brevicaudata, and laniger. Brevicaudata is the species that is most often kept by people. This animal still isn’t all that popular as a pet but its popularity is growing.

Chinchillas get to be about eight inches long and four inches tall. They have very long tails, big ears, and large eyes. Their beautiful, soft coat comes in many colors such as gray, black, ebony, velvet, white, beige, sapphire, violet, and mosaic. Mosaic is a blend of colors.

If you get a chinchilla, it needs to be conditioned to human contact at a very young age so that it will get used to people. If you handle them a lot, they will be very social and lovable.

Chinchillas need to have pine or spruce shavings in their cage for bedding. Do not use cedar or redwood shavings because these can be very harmful to them. Also, be sure that the bedding you get is not chemically treated.

There are several commercial pellet diets that are made specifically for chinchillas. These diets are formulated to provide the correct nutrition that your pet needs. In addition to these pellets, you can also give apples, carrots, or celery as treats. They should only be fed about two or three tablespoons of food each day. If you feed them too much then they will get fat and won’t live as long. Freshwater should also be available to them at all times. Water bottles work better than bowls because they cannot be tipped over and don’t get dirty.

The minimum cage size for chinchillas is 30 inches long by 29 inches wide by 18 inches tall. Try to get a large cage so that your chinchilla will be happy. Make sure you put a hiding house in the cage so they can have some privacy. They will also need to have things to chew on in the cage so their teeth get filed down. Chinchillas’ teeth never stop growing so this is very important. The cage and all accessories need to be cleaned once a week.

Chinchillas need to take dust baths twice a week. This will remove excess oils and moisture from them. The dust is readily available at most pet stores. You can reuse the dust until it gets clumpy. If you have a female that gives birth, be sure that you don’t let her have a dust bath for three weeks after she gives birth. When you watch your chinchilla take a dust bath, it will be very entertaining to watch!

Chinchillas are practically odorless and don’t get fleas or other parasites! However, they can be prone to getting heatstroke, loss of appetite, male penis complications, and overgrown teeth.

Make sure you learn as much as you can about chinchillas before you get one. They make wonderful pets if you care for them properly and spend lots of time with them. They will even form strong bonds with their owners!

GardeningHome Improvement

DIY Landscaping for Your Backyard

Getting tired of that patch of balding lawn behind your house? If you dream of turning your backyard into a garden from paradise but don’t have the money to hire an expert to do it, why not try your hand at landscaping?

Although it might seem a bit overwhelming going into a nursery or landscaping shop and seeing all your options, if you have a plan, you will be just fine. The trick is to decide what you want before you step foot in the nursery. This can be accomplished by buying a whole bunch of gardening and landscape magazines. Better Homes and Gardens is a good choice.

To save money, you might want to hit the local library and take a look at back issues of your favorite magazines. You could also look at gardening books to get ideas. Write down or sketch elements that you like from the gardens pictured in the magazines, and if they are yours, go ahead and clip them out.

Once you have a good idea of what you want, it is time to draw up a landscaping plan. Although you can do this by hand, it is much more entertaining to do it with a piece of special software. There are several landscaping programs on the market, so download some demos from the internet and see which you like best.

You will need accurate measurements of everything in your backyard, from the width and length to the position of any existing shrubs or trees, as well as the porch, doors, windows etc. Plug these into your landscaping program and start fooling around with the design elements you wrote down from the magazines.

For example, perhaps you like the idea of having a water feature in one corner, a couple of benches to sit on throughout the space, and undulating flower beds. You might like an open design where every part of the garden can be seen from every other part, or perhaps you prefer having trellises and gazebos hiding sections of the garden, making it a delight to discover.

Whatever style you choose, you need to get the general idea down on paper or into the landscaping software. You might not be able to choose all the exact plants, but you can decide what colors you want where and the approximate height of the plants in each part of the yard. Now it is time to go shopping.

Take a copy of your landscaping plan with you when you hit the nursery and get some help from the experts there. If you know you want something climbing up the side of the house, but aren’t sure what, the salesperson can explain the various climbing plants available so you can choose the right one.

It is also recommended to use the right tools and equipment when doing a DIY project. For instance, impact driver DeWalt are one of the best that you can find in the market. Using the right tools will help you make the work easier and properly. 

Once you buy your plants, the hard work starts. Enlisting your children or friends is a good way to get everything dug up quickly and all your new plants into the ground otherwise; you will just have to take it slowly. Learn all you can about landscaping through websites or books and remember that you can change things around later if you don’t like how they look after the first bloom.

Gaming

The Worst Characters in the Final Fantasy Series

In the past I’ve written articles about the best Final Fantasy games, the best Final Fantasy villains and the best Final Fantasy supporting characters. It should be no surprise that I am a Final Fantasy fan, which means I have played Final Fantasy XIII. Playing Final Fantasy XIII made me want to write more about Final Fantasy. Enough with the best of lists though. Not everything about Final Fantasy is good. There are some great stories and there are some bad ones. There are some great villains and some weak villains. There are some awesome characters and then there are some that are completely lame. These are the worst characters from the Final Fantasy franchise.

Worst Characters in the Final Fantasy Series: Strago Magus

Strago is the old fart from Final Fantasy VI and he’s a blue mage. A blue mage? What is that crap? If you’re not a black mage or white mage then get that garbage out of here.

It is difficult to categorize him even as a character as he seems so deviated from the plot as well as one of the most irritating and would constantly remind you of Meow from Pokemon go accounts. I have always said that Final Fantasy Series would have been much better without him.

Worst Characters in the Final Fantasy Series: Relm Arrowny

Besides being an annoying little brat, Relm also has one of the dumbest special abilities. There are some cool abilities in Final Fantasy VI. Edgar can use cool weapons. Sabin has great attacks. Gogo can mimic anybody’s movies. What does Relm do? She paints.

Worst Characters in the Final Fantasy Series: Hope Estheim

Hope Estheim is one of the main characters from the most recent Final Fantasy installment, Final Fantasy XIII. Hope is a whiny little brat and is annoying throughout the entire game. Hope is also a pansy. It’s a shame his last name is Estheim, it should be Less, as in HopeLess.

Worst Characters in the Final Fantasy Series: Zidane Tribal

A lot of people rank Final Fantasy IX pretty high but I don’t remember it being that good. I think it is simply because it was the worst cast of characters ever and I can’t remember anything beyond that. After the awesome group of characters in FFVI, Cloud in FFVII and Squall in FFVIII the main character in FFIX had a lot to live up to. Instead Final Fantasy fans get this stupid little kid with a tail? Seriously?

Worst Characters in the Final Fantasy Series: Seymour Guado

Final Fantasy X’s biggest flaw was in the villain department. Seymour Guado was one of the major protagonist and I just couldn’t take him seriously. Seymour’s outfit looked like he was wearing a dress, he has the most ridiculous hair cut ever and his name is Seymour! Have you ever met somebody named Seymour that was actually badass? I don’t think so.

Worst Characters in the Final Fantasy Series: Quina Quen

I would love to tell you all about Quina Quen from Final Fantasy IX, but the truth is I have no idea what the heck Quina is. He…she..whatever it is seems to be wearing a dress, something similar to a bonnet and has a very large tongue.

Worst Characters in the Final Fantasy Series: Cait Sith

Quina Quen was strange but kind of belonged in that cast of misfits in Final Fantaxy IX. Cait Sith was just out of place though. Final Fantasy VII had the spikey-haired hero with the giant sword, the pissed off black guy with a gun for an arm, the badass chick that could beat the crap out of people and the mysterious Vincent. They even had some kind of lion in their group. Then there is this freakish looking creature named Cait Sith. He looked like a miniature Stay Puft Marshmallow man with dragon wings and a cat that sat on his head. Weird.

Gift IdeasGuide

Stocking Stuffer Gift Ideas For Your Husband

I love to shop. And I’ve never had a problem finding gifts for my husband. However, I’m not sure that what I’ve purchased has always the ideal gift, at least in his mind. So I decided to ask him what he thinks would be a good stocking stuffer. Here’s what he had to say.

Gift cards

Some men do like to shop. It’s just that they are very purposeful, they know where they are going and what they are looking for. Amazon.com, Best Buy, Itunes, Borders, Barnes  amp; Noble, and even the Home Depot are good choices for him.

DVDs

This is one of those items that men like to collect, so take note when you hear him mention a movie he’s really interested in, or if you know of one he has seen, but does not have yet.

A New Wallet

I thought his current wallet was in great condition, and therefore, never considered that he might want another one, but apparently, this is a gift that he would approve of. You can find nice wallets in a variety of prices from around $15 at Target to designer names in the department stores. For a nice deal on a designer wallet, check out Overstock (www.overstock.com). You can also get a thin minimalist wallet for men from ed charly. This store offers wide variety of wallets that are stylish, minimalist and fashionable. If you want a wallet that is not bulky, you can try this product as a gift idea for your husband.

A Watch

This doesn’t have to been extravagant, just a nice looking watch for him to wear whether dressing up for church or a dinner out, or for business casual at the office. Perhaps he has this already, and would appreciate a sportier model, appropriate for wearing to the gym. Either way, you can get a nice watch (or maybe two!) for under $100, especially with all of the sales this time of year.

Skincare

OK, so I added this one. But seriously, my husband is always losing his lip balm, so a few extra can’t hurt. And he usually doesn’t warn me when he’s running low on toiletries, so grabbing a few new products for him is a good idea. I’m going to get him the Burt’s Bees Men’s Natural Grooming Kit, which is complete with shaving cream, aftershave, body wash, bar soap and lip balm in a black zippered bag ($20, www.burtsbees.com).

Love Coupons

Yes, I added this too. This is a virtually free gift that just requires some time and creativity on your part. I did this one year for my husband’s birthday, and he loved it. You just think of anything that he can redeem by giving you the coupon, and type it up in a fancy font, add some clip art if you like, and print them out on photo paper for a nice effect. Many marriage website have templates to use with your printer as well as ideas for the coupons, such as breakfast in bed, a night out with friends, a backrub, time alone, an intimate night, etc. Get creative and think of your own, too. After all, you know your husband better than anyone else.

DrinksFood

Coffee Supplier- Necessary Tool for Perfect Brewing

What are the factors that contribute to the success of any venture? Well, that entirely depends on what the project is and what all assets are required and what is the exact budget of the entire venture.

Not that all of it matters in one go as any project takes atleast a few years to begin its process and planning is made well in advance so therefore, most people hardly bother about the final results in the initial stages.

The world is grappling the deadliest pandemic to have come out since the past century and the federal government of all countries have come together to get rid of it once and for all and this project too will take its own sweet time.

Coffee Lover

Given the above scenario, people have found a perfect opportunity to try out some new tasks and most men do not even know how to make coffee and tea. Yes, that’s right, it would be astonishing to hear but men who slog it out in office from morning till night are ignorant in making the two beverages that they consume every day.

What gives coffee a clear cut edge over tea is that it can be consumed for different reasons but is more popular as a remedy for insomnia and is the perfect drink to be consumed to get rid of tiredness and fatigue.

Coffee is completely harmless if you drink after attaining a certain age because it has a high dose of caffeine in it which makes it dangerous for children, which is why they are fed with Bournvita and Horlicks at a young age.

Some people do prefer tea over coffee because you don’t run the risk of getting high after regular consumption but that doesn’t mean that it won’t be having side effects concerned with health.

Tea addicts are suckers to the drink and can exist without water and even alcohol but never without tea. There is a famous story when a well known actor down Hollywood used to frequent a nearby tea store to take time off from shooting to have tea and was known to drink atleast 10-12 cups a day.

You can find coffee addicts of similar nature but it can’t be denied that despite the strong presence of drugs in it, working class people find it as their savior that keeps them from falling asleep during night time as they have important tasks to complete.

Proper Supply

The most important think for making coffee is to first purchase a coffee maker and supplier and of the highest order as you need to heat the leaves and beans to extract chemicals, roots and barks from the surface that is called decoction.

Coffee suppliers are not quite easy to find as you need to find the model that takes coffee beans of the highest quality from hill stations, where the temperature keeps it pure and fresh where there is no scope for it to be infected by pollutants and dust particles.

Steps for choosing coffee supplier:

  1. Coffee is extracted from two types of strains: Arabica and Robusta and is quite popular in Sydney so that is the first place to look
  2. Coffee suppliers in Singapore are of the opinion that the brands and samples need to be analyzed in the laboratories before going ahead with anything
  3. The supplier needs to have sound knowledge about coffee plants and a few years of experience to be considered as a worthy option for coffee
  4. The region where the coffee beans have originated from are important as that will give an idea of whether they are perfect for use or not
Guide

Refinish Cabinets Without Sanding with Modern Masters Cabinet Transformations

If your kitchen or bathroom cabinets are less than attractive but are in otherwise good condition, there’s really no need to replace them. Instead, you can save a lot of money by refinishing your cabinets with Modern Masters Cabinet Transformations. Each convenient kit contains most of the supplies you’ll need to refinish cabinets and is available in over 70 different colors and finishes! The process will take a few days but will cost much less than replacing your existing cabinetry.

Purchase the kits at Lowe’s Home Improvement, Home Depot, and other select retailers. There are select kits for kitchen cabinets and bathroom cabinets, each one available in small and large sizes, depending on how much coverage you need. They range in price from just under $ 100.00 up to over $ 300.00. Select from light or dark colors, ajouter une balise wood, or painted tones. Compare that to the cost of completely replacing or professional refinishing your cabinets!

What you need to know before using Modern Masters Cabinet Transformations

Know what you’re in for – The process of refinishing cabinets with Modern Masters Cabinet Transformations is time-consuming and requires multiple application steps. This is not a one day job!! Arguably the best thing about these kits, though, is that the daunting task of sanding is absolutely eliminated. You won’t have to spend time sanding or stripping the cabinets, and you don’t need to prime beforehand, which is an attractive feature for most.

Protect yourself – The coatings you’ll be working within the Modern Masters Cabinet Transformations kit have a very strong odor. You will need to wear a respirator mask and work in a well-ventilated area while using the materials in the kit. Old clothing and protective eyewear and gloves should also be worn.

Be prepared – The kit comes with an instructional DVD. Watch it! In fact, watch it several times. You need to be comfortable with the application process before beginning. It’s important to follow all instructions and guidelines to ensure that your cabinet refinishing will look good and hold up over time.

How long will it take to refinish cabinets with Modern Masters Countertop Transformations take?

The box says the entire process will take one weekend, but that’s not necessarily true. If you are refinishing a large kitchen, you will spend more time working than someone with a small bathroom. Each step has its own dry time, and the cabinets don’t actually finish curing for up to 10 days after application. Yes, that will mean going without cabinets for a while. Thus, you’ll want to be sure that you aren’t on a limited schedule before beginning. In other words, don’t start the project a few days before a big holiday dinner or get together. Consider working one small area at a time so you still have an available workspace that is accessible.

Want to learn more about Modern Masters Cabinet Transformations? See available colors on the Rustoleum website. Watch a video of how to refinish cabinets with Modern Masters Cabinet Transformations.