Mook, it's obviously a lot different than north america. You can expect to pay $500 for a comfortable apartment, or split a nicer house with someone. Utilities are very cheap, electric is around $15/month, phone the same depending on how much you use it. You can get international phone card service for around $.10/min. Water is practically free, but you want to drink bottled. You have to worry about petty crimes like people trying to take your wallet or cellphone. Burglary has to be the top problem here. If you're used to big city living in the states, you should have enough common sense to avoid most problems. The books will hire practically anyone that speaks english around August. Don't expect more than $5/hr. unless you know people in advance. The longer you're here, the more used you get to it. It's best to set aside some money and check it out for a football season before making any major life changes and having a fire sale back home. Good Luck.
Huck Finn, where do you buy good phone cards? RACSA's #199 service seems quite expensive (~$0.50/min).
Medical is also cheap, pharmaceuticals cheap and much more accessible, taxis are incredibly cheap but cars are very expensive. Gas, I've never bothered to covert liters to gallons to figure it out.
$750 I pay for a 3+ bedroom in Rohmoser, much less than comparable in Seattle but probably on par with any decent suburb of Dallas.
Medical is also cheap, pharmaceuticals cheap and much more accessible, taxis are incredibly cheap but cars are very expensive. Gas, I've never bothered to covert liters to gallons to figure it out.
$750 I pay for a 3+ bedroom in Rohmoser, much less than comparable in Seattle but probably on par with any decent suburb of Dallas.
For the most part, the only way to make a decent living here job-wise is to run your own business or be a partner in one. That's actually a reason I moved here, in the States it was too easy to pick up lucrative consulting contracts and leave the business ideas always on the back burner.
Decent jobs at books, not easy, unless you build marketable expertise. English skills are not enough, those are cheap here.
Decent jobs at books, not easy, unless you build marketable expertise. English skills are not enough, those are cheap here.
Thanks guys. I'm still interested. I've got more than 10 years experience covering NFL, MLB, and college football/basketball for major newspapers. How that might translate to "marketable experience" down there, I don't know.
Any thoughts? (I'm assuming $5/hour, even in a low-cost country, isn't going to cut it.)
Any thoughts? (I'm assuming $5/hour, even in a low-cost country, isn't going to cut it.)
I've personally trained, hired, and fired hundreds of sportsbook employees. Not to belittle the position, but it doesn't require marketable expertise to take phone wagers. If you don't believe me, just dial any call center and evaluate the person on the other end of the phone. If you are a native English speaker, your inherent ability to clearly understand slang and regional accents is something that a local would require at least 2 or 3 years on the phone to match. If you opt to stay away from the books, there are many English schools looking for native teachers. Again, Good Luck.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Huck Finn:
If you're looking for your own business, based on your experience, create a high quality, low-cost news information feed to compete with sportsnetwork.com. They offer a good product, but lack of competition has created inflated monthly fees.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Huck - what would you use as your source?
Adam - get Packet8.net or call Tyson 828-1111
Tyson offers an IP phone solution. $125 a month UNLIMITED calls to us and Canada. It also comes with a stateside area code. Ex you have family that lives in San Diego so you request an 858 area code. Your family can make local calls to you. Your IP phone is just a regular phone with a adapter, the adapter plugs into your LAN or Modem.
Packet8.net is cheaper if you are using less minutes. I think it is from 3 - 5 cents a minute.
It is actually a great service. Needs 256k or better for best performance.
If you're looking for your own business, based on your experience, create a high quality, low-cost news information feed to compete with sportsnetwork.com. They offer a good product, but lack of competition has created inflated monthly fees.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Huck - what would you use as your source?
Adam - get Packet8.net or call Tyson 828-1111
Tyson offers an IP phone solution. $125 a month UNLIMITED calls to us and Canada. It also comes with a stateside area code. Ex you have family that lives in San Diego so you request an 858 area code. Your family can make local calls to you. Your IP phone is just a regular phone with a adapter, the adapter plugs into your LAN or Modem.
Packet8.net is cheaper if you are using less minutes. I think it is from 3 - 5 cents a minute.
It is actually a great service. Needs 256k or better for best performance.
Yeah, we have a Vonage IP phone at the office. $35/mo for unlimited US/Canada calling, choice of area code for incoming calls. $125/mo seems expensive compared to the competitors, what's the advantage?
I notice it breaks up sometimes though. Too many machines on the AMNET cable modem, RACSA network problems, whatever, so it's nice to say f*ck it and just call on the land line when you need to.
I notice it breaks up sometimes though. Too many machines on the AMNET cable modem, RACSA network problems, whatever, so it's nice to say f*ck it and just call on the land line when you need to.
Adam, (and all in the industry)
I have contacts at every major college in the country and many of the NBA, NFL and MLB franchises. I understand how they work. What you said about providing play-by-play data sounds interesting. (Yes, I know they shudder at the thought of catering to gamblers. But there are ways around that.)
I need a way to study this concept more.
I have contacts at every major college in the country and many of the NBA, NFL and MLB franchises. I understand how they work. What you said about providing play-by-play data sounds interesting. (Yes, I know they shudder at the thought of catering to gamblers. But there are ways around that.)
I need a way to study this concept more.
For play-by-play data and game statistics, I see several uses:
a) Feed a play-by-play flash interface the so players can watch the game (in abstract) from the sportsbook site. For this, the data quality and timeliness is not critical.
b) Create a statistical database from which create good lines on props. Live is no longer a factor here, and historical is.
c) Automatically create and grade props on common game statistics (how many strike outs, fly outs, missed field goals, etc).
d) Data to assist line manager for live lines or spread betting, especially if the time delay is significantly less than cable.
e) Live wagering on game events in above mentioned interface. For example, next pitch: strike, ball, or hit. For this, the feed must be faster than broadcast/cable television and must correct mistakes (something definitely not true of the feed Yahoo uses).
a) Feed a play-by-play flash interface the so players can watch the game (in abstract) from the sportsbook site. For this, the data quality and timeliness is not critical.
b) Create a statistical database from which create good lines on props. Live is no longer a factor here, and historical is.
c) Automatically create and grade props on common game statistics (how many strike outs, fly outs, missed field goals, etc).
d) Data to assist line manager for live lines or spread betting, especially if the time delay is significantly less than cable.
e) Live wagering on game events in above mentioned interface. For example, next pitch: strike, ball, or hit. For this, the feed must be faster than broadcast/cable television and must correct mistakes (something definitely not true of the feed Yahoo uses).
www.vonage.com
You can order Vonage phone thru an AeroCasillas address and have it shipped down here. They won't sell to a non-US address.
I've suspected some of the people offering phones for $100-200/mo here are just reselling these $35/mo services, but I could be wrong.
A quote from news.com:
"Despite having just 75,000 subscribers, Vonage has built a reputation as a major broadband phone company because of its battle with state regulators over whether its telephone service should be regulated."
You can order Vonage phone thru an AeroCasillas address and have it shipped down here. They won't sell to a non-US address.
I've suspected some of the people offering phones for $100-200/mo here are just reselling these $35/mo services, but I could be wrong.
A quote from news.com:
"Despite having just 75,000 subscribers, Vonage has built a reputation as a major broadband phone company because of its battle with state regulators over whether its telephone service should be regulated."
Cisco ATA 186, yes, but Vonage just switched to the Motorola VT1000v ATA as their standard.
http://news.com.com/2100-7352-5116832.html
http://news.com.com/2100-7352-5116832.html
