Try These Yoga Poses for Jet Lag

Jet lag appears definitely to be one these things: A Condition resulting when travel across time zones leaves a person feeling ?out of sync? with local time at his or her destination. That considered, to get you 'back in sync', one highly recommended solution will be Yoga

What, with the poses balancing effects on the body (namely the inversions), yoga helps immensely to deal with the effects of jet lag, of course when used correctly.

The two main poses will be the Shoulder stand (and its counter poses) and if possible, the Sun Salutations.

In regards to the latter choice, the Sun Exercises, these are definitely a wise choice in that they stimulate and balance all the systems of the body including the endocrine, circulatory, reproductive and digestive system.

The main benefit one can look to attain from using Yoga for Jet lag will be restoration and balancing which it brings about as one executes the use of some of its poses.

This perhaps reiterates why using the shoulder-stand yoga pose for jet lag as previously mentioned may indeed be a great and wise choice as this pose as well affects all the bodily organs. By pressing the chin-lock, it stimulates the thyroid gland, balancing the circulatory, digestive, nervous, reproductive and endocrine systems. It tranquilizes the mind, alleviates stress and psychological disturbances. It is indeed a panacea, a cure all

One can also try the yoga-esque Hindu-Push-ups as this helps drain the brain of unwanted ?debris? and the incorporation of the Yoga Relaxation Pose does just as its name suggests, relaxes the entire body while simultaneously relieving stress and speeding up the elimination of metabolic wastes.

It's safe to say Yoga has something for everything and everyone so for Jet Lag; you will do very well to strike some Yoga poses!

In Friendship,

Foras Aje is an independent researcher and co-founder of BodyHealthSoul LLC. Stop by His Website today for more on Healthy Living Tips and information on Yoga for Beginners.

Get Your MBA in Real Estate Investing In Less Than 12 Months: Your Mega Bank Account

I used to be one of the many people who think that you have to have a lot of money to get started in real estate investing. But it's just not true!

But on the other side we've all heard the gurus talk about how easy it is to invest in real estate with Other People's Money (OPM). But that's not entirely true either.

What is true is that there are many ways to accumulate lots of money through real estate if you have the right team and are using the right strategies at the right time.

The team is such an important piece of the puzzle - these are the people that are going to make each deal happen. Real Estate is a networking business, and I didn't say a NOT-work business. The more people you know, the easier it is to run your business. Period.

When your team is in place is when your MBA starts accelerating. I have a lot of people on my team, and yes, that means I have to share the profits. But I can do more deals in less time with fewer headaches. Makes sense to me.

This is one of the most important concepts for building wealth quickly. One that almost every type of guru out there tells us to do. But one that seems to get the most resistance. Many people want to do it themselves because they don't want to split the profits, or pay for the help.

I'm telling you from experience that you need to do whatever you need to do to build your team. Contractors, lawyers, mentors, coaches, project managers, assistants, bookkeepers, CPAs, and the list goes on.

I've paid for many coaches. I'm grateful that I have a mentor who is congruent with my own dreams. I've also created many joint ventures with other team players that have cost me nothing but my time or my experience, and made me lots of money. But it's because I built my team that I was able to do that.

Now let's talk about the strategies. There are many ways to do real estate deals with OPM, but if you're in a hurry to make some money, the fastest way that I have found to work is the Assignment of Contract method.

Here's what this means: you find and negotiate a deal with the seller, for a certain price with certain conditions, giving you so many days to find a buyer. Whether it's you or somebody else. When you're assigning the contract you're entering into with the same exact terms as you got into.

This contract is where all the details are: How much you'll pay for the house (even though you're not going to pay for it personally), how long you have to come up with the money (This gives you the time to find the end buyer for the deal - another reason to build your team).

Then when you find the buyer - you sell this contract to the buyer - with the same specified terms. So if you say that you'd close in 30 days, and it takes you 15 days to line up a buyer, you have 15 days to close. Or whatever other terms you stipulated in the contract.

Preferably you're working with great deals, properties you can get for 70 or 80 cents on the dollar. And that's because you will ALWAYS find buyers for these deals.

Once you have the seller under contract, you start promoting the deal through your network, list with a realtor, put an ad in the paper, whatever works. Then you have the seller, you have the buyer - you simply sell the contract.

Once you get started and get your feet wet, you can do 3 or 4 or 5 of these a month - or as much as your team can handle. I've done many projects where I've sold the contracts for a flat fee to another investor or rehabber. It's a great way to build your bank account when you don't have a lot to start with.

Like I said: Get Your MBA (Mega Bank Account) in Less Than 12 Months!

Raul Luna officially became a millionaire before he turned 21! This successful speaker and educator is turning ordinary people into millionaires. Discover his secrets: http://www.moonvesting.com

Thinking of Buying a Condo Hotel? Here Are 20 Things You Need to Know!

1. What is a condo hotel or condotel?
Think of a condo hotel (also sometimes called a condotel or hotel condo) as buying a condominium, although one that is part of a four-star caliber hotel. Therefore, as an owner, when you are on vacation, you?ll get the benefit of more four-star services and amenities than you'd get in a typical condominium.

2. What types of services and amenities are found in condo hotels?
If you can imagine the niceties you?d find in an upscale hotel, then you can picture a condo hotel. Among the features are often resort-style pools, full-service spas, state-of-the-art fitness centers, fine dining restaurants, concierge services and room service.

In some locations, like Las Vegas, you?ll find condo hotels with their own casinos, retail areas, and entertainment venues. In places like Orlando, you?ll find condo hotels with their own water parks and convention facilities.

3. What is the difference between a condo hotel and a traditional condominium?
The big difference between a hotel and a condo hotel is that a hotel typically has one owner, either individual or corporate, but a condo hotel is sold off unit by unit. Therefore, a 300-room condo hotel could have as many as 300 unit owners.

4. Is it evident to hotel guests whether they?re staying in a condo hotel or a traditional hotel?
A hotel guest will likely never know that the hotel has multiple owners because the property is operated just like a traditional hotel and often under the management of a well-known hotel company like Hilton, Hyatt, Starwood, Trump or W. Also, each of the individual condo hotel units will look identical in design and d?cor to every other, just as they would in a traditional hotel.

5. Who typically buys condo hotels?
They?re primarily sold to people who want a vacation home but do not want to deal with the hassles typically associated with second home ownership such as maintaining the property or finding renters in the off season.

6. What is the demographic of the typical condo hotel buyer?
The spectrum of condo hotel buyers is pretty broad. There are families that want a second home in a vacation destination. There are baby boomers who are at or nearing retirement and want somewhere they can ?winter.? There are also plenty of investors who purchase a condo hotel unit with little intention of ever using it; they?re in it for the potential appreciation of the real estate.

7. Can you live in a condo hotel?
Condo hotels are not typically offered as primary residences. In fact, many of them limit the unit owner's usage of the condo hotel unit (typically 30-60 days per year) because the unit is expected and needed in the hotel's nightly rental program where it can be offered to guests and generate revenue.

8. Who gets the money when your condo hotel is rented out?
The hotel management company splits the rental revenue with the individual condo hotel owner. While the exact percentages vary from property to property, the typical rental split is in the 50%-50% range.

9. Who finds hotel guests and then cleans and maintains the condo hotel units?
The hotel management company markets the property and books hotel guests. It also maintains the unit and ensures the smooth operation of all of the hotel?s services and amenities.

10. What are the advantages / disadvantages of purchasing a condotel over purchasing typical rental properties?
Advantages include:
? Hassle-free ownership; no landlord issues
? Rental revenue to offset some or maybe all ownership expenses
? A fantastic vacation home available for use whenever you want
? A real estate investment at a time when other investments may seem less attractive
? Strong likelihood of appreciation
? Pride of ownership --I own a piece of a Trump

Disadvantages include:
? Annual cash flow could be equal to or less than annual ownership costs
? Pets are usually not welcome.
? An owner?s condo hotel unit may be rented when the owner wants to it, so advance reservations are required to guarantee availability.
? The condo hotel unit is subject to the same dips in the market that affect all hotels in the competitive market set: hurricanes, terrorist threats, warm winters up north, price of gas, etc., all of which can affect a unit's occupancy rate and the amount of revenue it generates.

11. Are condo hotel units difficult to finance?
Not at all, but they do take 20% down typically, whereas condos can be purchased with less cash down. It's also important to make sure you use a mortgage broker who has had success in getting condo hotel financing deals done. Many banks still do not do them, but more and more are getting involved as condo hotels become more widely available.

12. How long have condo hotels been around and where are they located?
Condo hotels have been around for several decades, but the huge surge of four-star and five-star condo hotels that have been making their way across the country, started around year 2000 in the Miami area. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale area still has the most condo hotels, but areas like Orlando and Las Vegas are developing condo hotel properties at an even faster rate and will likely surpass South Florida soon. Other up-and-coming areas are places like the Bahamas, Panama, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Canada and Dubai.

13. How much do condo hotel units cost?
That?s like asking how much a car costs. There are different quality condo hotels. Some require greater amounts of money than others, obviously.

There are inexpensive condo hotels out there for as little as $100,000. These are typically found in properties that have converted their use from an existing hotel. They are hotel room-sized, lack kitchen facilities, luxury franchises, and other first-class amenities.

Then there are the four-star or greater properties that may start in the $300,000 to $400,000 range, but can go all the way up to $800,000 just for a studio unit. One- and two-bedroom units cost substantially more than a studio. Of course, the studios do come fully furnished and finished, and will be significantly larger in size than a typical hotel room, and may attract guests because of its name like St. Regis, Ritz or W.

14. What are typical maintenance costs?
On average about $1.00 to $1.50 per sq. ft., but the range can exceed $2.00 sq. ft. in the most luxurious properties.

15. Do you buy condo hotel units after they have been built, or can you purchase condo hotels in pre-construction?
Unless you are in a hurry to get started vacationing or you need to complete a 1031 exchange, it's best to buy condo hotels in pre-construction as early as possible. That?s when prices are lowest and unit selection is greatest. You will likely wait two years or longer before closing on and taking possession of your condo hotel unit, but you will have locked in the price and will get the benefit of maximum appreciation.

16. Is there anything else investors should want to know about condotels?
There is more to buying this type of real estate than the old phrase, location, location, location. While most condo hotels are located in desirable resort and business area locations, what is most important is a good franchise with a strong reservation system.

Also, do not be fooled by an aggressive rental split. One way or the other, the developer of the property will have to staff, maintain and operate the hotel and its services like the restaurants, bars, spas and pools from his share of the proceeds. If he's giving you a very favorable share of the rental, he's also more likely to be charging you a higher monthly maintenance fee. Of course, this goes both ways. If the maintenance split that is offered is closer to 50-50, then your maintenance should be more reasonable too.

17. Any suggestions to investors in choosing which condo hotel to buy?
Get good advice. That means you don?t want to rely only on the pitch provided by an onsite salesperson at a condo hotel. You want to talk with a broker who specializes in condo hotels and who knows and understands the entire condo hotel market, not just the facts pertaining to a single property. He or she will listen to your wants and needs and then offer recommendations as to which properties best match your requirements. You?ll have an opportunity to comparison shop and consider the pros and cons of each available property.

A good broker can be the difference between your buying a condo hotel that will be problematic and not live up to your expectations or one that will provide you with years of great vacations, good annual revenue and a substantial profit when you sell.

18. Does it cost more to use a real estate broker to purchase a condo hotel than buying a unit on one?s own?
No. With new condo hotel properties, the prices are always set by the developer and are exactly the same whether you buy directly from an onsite salesperson at the property or using a broker.

The broker?s commission is always paid by the developer and is already built into the price regardless of whether an outside broker participates in the sale or not. Since a broker?s representation is free to buyers, it does make sense to enlist their aid and get the benefit of their advice before making a purchase.

19. How can prospective buyers find a good condo hotel broker?
Ask friends for broker recommendations or search online for ?condo hotel broker.? Visit condo hotel broker websites and see if the information they provide seems comprehensive and unbiased. If their website seems to focus on selling homes or office space, and the condo hotel information appears to be an afterthought, steer clear. Your best bet is to work with a condo hotel broker who specializes.

20. How can buyers learn about new condo hotel properties coming on the market?
Condo hotel brokers can be good information sources as they often learn about properties prior to their release to the general public. Another option is for them to subscribe to a condo hotel newsletter such as the one we publish called Condo Hotel Property Alert. We offer it for free on our website www.CondoHotelCenter.com and it features a different condo hotel property coming on the market each edition.

Joel Greene is president of Condo Hotel Center which specializes in the sale of condo hotels around the U.S. and the world. His detailed website contains condo hotel property listings, photos and detailed information. Visit http://www.CondoHotelCenter.com and http://www.CondoHotelsDubai.com. Be sure to sign up for his Condo Hotel Property Alert newsletter to be notified when new condo hotels come on the market.

Tips and Tricks for Living with a Busty Figure

As women, we know how important it is to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and perform self breast exams every month. Women with large breasts, in particular, know how vital this information really is. Living with a large bust presents its own challenges in addition to the ones faced by women with average bust sizes. Although some of the following tips and tricks for living with a busty figure can be applied to the not-so-busty woman, these helpful hints were created specifically to assist the large breasted woman in taking care of her body and bust line.

Taking care of your breasts

• Maintain your weight.
• Weight fluctuations affect the chest more than anything else.
• Find a complete health program that allows you to control every dimension of weight control.
• Avoid 'miracle diets' because you will lose weight very fast and gain it back at the same speed.
• These weight fluctuations cause the breasts to sag.
• Maintain your physical fitness.
• Stand up straight. Bad posture is also a major enemy of a beautiful bust.
• Good posture gives the bust correct support.
• Slouching or hunching the shoulders to hide a large bust can cause more back pain than the weight of the breasts.
• If you have problems with your posture, try to join a high-quality fitness program and seek help of a chiropractor.
• Regular exercise strengthens the muscles that support the bust.
• Push-ups are a wonderful way to maintain a healthy back, shoulders, and chest area.
• Apply moisturizers
• The bust and the d?collet? are very delicate areas and most women do not apply moisturizers in this area.
• The d?collet? gets sun directly and thus it requires sun block and the use of creams to preserve the youthful look.
• Examine your bust regularly.
• In order to detect any abnormalities, doctors recommend examining the bust monthly.
• Select specific dates in a month and stick to the same dates because hormonal changes during ovulation or menstruation can cause the breast tissue to change slightly.
• During a shower, raise one arm and with the other hand softly massage your breasts upward, using circular movements in a figure-eight fashion, checking for any abnormalities as you go along.

Lastly, after the revelation on Oprah that 80% of women are not wearing the correct bra, it is even more important that the busty woman is getting the proper fit and support in her bra! So, find a bra that fits, ladies! You'll be much more comfortable and your body and bust line will thank you for it!

For busty women who are having a difficult time finding clothing that fits, we have the solution! Visit us at http://www.erisapparel.com

Oregon Home Buying

Maybe you?re buying your first home in Oregon, or perhaps you?re relocating to Oregon from another state. Either way, it?s important that you educate yourself on Oregon home loans before shopping for a home and mortgage. This article explains what you?ll need to know before buying a home in Oregon:

The median price of a home in Oregon is $152,000, and homes in Oregon have appreciation rates higher than the national average. The rate of job growth in Oregon is among the top five states in the nation. Additionally, mortgage interest rates have recently been lower than the national average, and many Oregon residents have been refinancing their adjustable rate mortgages.

Home prices in Oregon can vary greatly between zip codes. For example, in Portland, Oregon, the median price of a home in the summer of 2005 was $262,000; however, in Beaverton, Oregon, the median price of a home was $187,000.

The Homeowner Education Collaborative of Oregon offers a training course, The ABC?s of Homebuying, to Oregon residents planning to buy a home. This course covers the basic information a homebuyer needs to know about housing decisions, financial preparation, mortgages, shopping for a home, closing your loan, and protecting your investment.

If you?re buying a home in the state of Oregon, you qualify for both federal and state FHA and VA loans. First-time home buyers qualify for Oregon FHA loans with below-market interest rates, and, depending on their income, may also qualify for down payment assistance. The Residential Loan Program offers below-market interest rates to first-time homebuyers with low to moderate incomes, and the Downpayment Assistance Program offers down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers who meet certain income requirements. The income requirements vary from county to county.

Jessica Elliott recommends that you visit Mortgage Lenders Plus.com for more information about Oregon Mortgage Rates and Loans.

Are Traditional Family Games a Thing of the Past

Board games have evolved massively over the years. As a child my memories of board games were Monopoly, Draughts, Cluedo, Guess Who and many many more. All games that we could play as a family to pass the time away. Hours of fun was had by all.

My favorite game was Monopoly a game that give me an insight to Real Estate (ironically enough, I now have a career as an Estate Agent). Is that a coincidence or did my childhood obsession with Monopoly play on by subconscious?

Many Sunday afternoons were spent with my four sisters playing, or should I say rowing over this fabulous game. The first row would normally be about who would like to be the iron, shoe, car etc (these were the items that you had to chose from to represent you on the board as you played). My favourite was always the dog!

By John Gibb

The next row would be about who went first, and then the next would be about who would play the role of the Banker.

Finally the game would begin, and how much fun we had. Hours and hours of fun week after week.

How things have changed? Today, whilst we still have the old traditional Board games, and I guess we always will, Games are far more advanced, and are often played on computers, or via DVD Players using your Television sets.

You can now play a board game on your own against a Computer (who will act as your opponent) as opposed to playing with friends and/or family. I find this quite sad, especially knowing how much fun we had as children interacting with each other, and observing each other as we rowed over such meaningless but then important issues.

I now see my own nephews spending hours on their own in front of a computer playing games without any physical human interaction, whilst their parents get on with other things. I guess one advantage is that if you are an only child you dont miss out on not playing games just because you had no-one else to play it with you. The Traditional games such as monopoly can now be played on a computer and the Computer can act as your opponent. You can even set what level of difficulty you want to play at.

The disadvantage to this, in my opinion is that the family getting together and interacting with each other seems to be a thing of the past.

Jon Gibb is the owner of Content Rewriter Pro, for more information on .... chekout http://www.boardgames-sources.info

Children's Board Games Are They Boring

Children today seem obsessed with technology and while I love gadgets and technology myself, with all the advantages that it can bring. I feel we have lost something when our children only play on computer games.

My 3 children each have a ds lite and I frequently see them all sitting on their own, playing on their individual games consoles. You see I am as much to blame as everyone else. When I was growing up, and yes that does make me sound old, I remember very little of my childhood which was not related to games, sitting around at Christmas for example with my family playing cards, trivial pursuits, monopoly etc. I believe playing games is the way for children to learn, they develop life skills by participating and interacting with others.

Turn-taking children's games are not only fun to play, they're educational on so many levels, including social and economical.

Kids learn about waiting to take a turn, winning and losing, along with co-operation and economics (with monopoly in mind and handling money), the whole time while they have fun. Games come in and out of fashion, and new games appear, whilst the classics get revamped year after year with new themes and are always popular.

Children's games are made to stretch the child's mind and even the parents sometimes, without frustrating the child and turning him or her off the game, thus making learning enjoyable. Most kids games are also quite fun to play with mum or dad, with family games being designed to be entertaining for both children and adults alike.

If you are looking for something to bring a family together, then you can't go far wrong with any sort of board game. Whilst playing it a family can often get lost inside the game for hours on end.

If you are stuck for what to buy a child as a present then you could do worse than buy a board game. I believe it is one of the best presents you can give, because they bring friends and family together and can provide more hours of fun than any book, DVD, or cd you can find. A board game is a team-building exercise (or team pulling apart exercise if you have been sat around our table on many a heated night) you cannot ignore. It is a way of exercising your mind and social skills are built.

If you sit and examine the rules and the layout of most games, they all have a common feature, you will see they reflect on everyday life. Whether we are playing snap with a game of cards which is teaching us turn taking for example, exercising the mind to keep it alert and helping with learning difficulties, matching numbers and pictures, or trivial pursuits with team building, knowledge learning and strategy development.

Quality educational games are so engaging for most people to play with; children rarely even know they are learning valuable skills, which makes this a fantastic way for them to learn, as information and skills learnt like this, in my opinion, stick in the mind much better than when rules and education is forced.

Today, children's games are well thought out, they are fun and compete well with the lure of the solitary video game, if only we give them the chance.

Rachel Harding is a qualified nurse and mum of 3. She has a great deal of expertise with children and offers valuable support and free resources including stories, forums, recipes, article's, gifts and books at => http://www.yourkidsshop.com

By Rachel Harding

eBay Sellers' High Price Guide To Famous Board Game Manufacturers And Subject Themes

All countries have their own famous makers, some people collecting purely domestic manufacturers, others choose from a wide range of internationally popular designers from the late 1800s to early twentieth century, the likes of the McLoughlin Brothers, Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, Chad Valley, Spears, Waddingtons.

It's important that you check past sales of specific makers and type of board game on individual eBay country sites before deciding where to list your product. In general UK designed games will fare better on ebay.co.uk and their American counterparts on ebay.com but you can never be certain what market forces dictate at any time so always check before listing any potentially valuable items. Visit www.vintage-games.co.uk for a goldmine of information about makers, countries of origin, prices, and board game contents. The site even has thumbnail illustrations of particular games which when clicked upon open to reveal items inside the box which can be compared against your acquisitions.

Note that in the UK vintage board games go under: Toys and Games > Games > Board / Traditional Games; in the USA they belong under Toys and Hobbies > Games > Board, Traditional Games, each country with additional sub-categories such as 'Snakes and Ladders', 'Chess', 'Card Games'.

Very Important: Many board games sell at high prices on eBay for other than game value, sometimes because a popular caricature features on the game such as Bonzo dog or Felix the cat, often because the game relates to a popular sport such as horse racing featured on the likes of 'Totopoly' and 'Ascot'. In all cases it's wise to choose a second category for your listing which depicts that other interest.

Avril Harper is an eBay PowerSeller and author of BANK BIG PROFITS SELLING VINTAGE TOPOGRAPHICAL VIEW POSTCARDS ON EBAY which you can read about at: http://www.sellpostcardsonebay.com and MAKE MONEY TEARING UP OLD BOOKS AND MAGAZINES AND SELLING THEM ON EBAY which you can read about at: http://www.magstoriches.com.

By Avril Harper

Ten Fun Family Friendly Board Games

What can be better than spending an evening around the table with your family? For me, not much! I love Family Game Night, which doesn't happen nearly as often as I'd like it to, but my family tries to schedule at least one per month. It's a treasured time of togetherness, reconnecting amidst our hectic schedules, as well as a whole lot of laughter and FUN!

Here is a list of fifteen family friendly games you'll want to include in your Family Game Night.

1. SORRY. Have a blast chasing each other around the board, trying to get home. And no need to feel sorry for sending someone back to start. That's the name of the game! Recommended for ages 6+

2. ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER? Aha! The perfect way for you to prove to your kids that you ARE just as smart as they are. You'll love getting those questions right and they'll love it when you mess up. Recommended for ages 8+

3. MONOPOLY. The world's most popular board game sometimes also turns out to be the world's longest. But this classic game is fun, entertaining, and educational. Tired of the original version? Try the Sponge Bob, Speed Die, or Disney version! Recommended for ages 8+

4. CRANIUM'S WHOONU. This game doesn't actually come with a board but it's one of my family's favorites. Played with cards and chips, it gives family members a chance to see how well they know each other. Plus, each round only takes a few minutes so it's a nice reprieve after an endless game of Monopoly. Recommended for ages 8+

5. CLUE. Okay you mystery lovers, this one's for you! See if you can figure out who, where and how in this crime solver's dream game. Also available as a DVD game and in a Junior edition. Recommended for ages 8+

6. A TO Z. This fast-paced word game was named as the 1997 best word game of the year by Games magazine. Race the clock and your opponents as you come up with as many words as you can for pre-selected categories. Recommended for ages 8+

7. SEQUENCE. The ultimate board game and card game, combined. Play with the cards in your hand to make sequences on the board. Super addicting and loads of fun. Recommended for ages 7+

8. YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING! Would you rather run across a hungry alligator's back or underneath an angry elephant? These are the kinds of questions you'll have to answer in the kids version of Zobmondo's Would You Rather Game. This is a totally goofy game that will make you think and keep you laughing. Recommended for ages 7+

9. THE GAME OF LIFE. Take a test drive down your life's road. Earn money, get married, and have kids along the way! Different versions, such as Sponge Bob and Pirates of the Caribbean are also available. Recommended for ages 9+

10. BEAT THE PARENTS. Pit the parents against the kids in this challenging trivia game. Who knows more about the others' generation? Recommended for ages 8+

FUN is something every home can use more of and hopefully this list of games will help add some fun to your family. But no matter what games you end up playing, the important thing is that you're spending time together. When you do, everybody wins!

Access Thousands of Christian Articles and Christian Poems. Discuss all Christian topics at our Christian Forums.

By Lynn Powers

The 10 Worst Traits of a Nintendo Made Game

Nintendo does some dumb stuff in their games on a consistent basis. I keep intros short on a consistent basis. Enjoy.

10. Animal Slaughter on a Grand Scale is Okay

So you're standing there minding your own business and a turtle comes waddling up to you. If you're a sane human being, you just watch it go by on its merry little way or pick it up and try to feed it dirt or something. If you're a Nintendo character, however, you stomp on that little terrorist's head and then kick his dead, lifeless corpse at his friends and kill them too! It doesn't end there. Innocent alligators in Donkey Kong get hit with barrels until they die of blunt force trauma (all because they're between DK and his bananas). If you come upon a bear cub in Poke'mon, you better dragon-kick that sucker in the melon until he passes out or you won't be able to fit him in your little apple-sized container. Samus is the sole reason that some species of bats are extinct. The animal crossing guy puts live fish in his pants and laughs as they die of suffocation! The list goes on and on, getting only worse. The atrocities committed in the average Nintendo release would make a PETA member's head explode. Disgusting.

9. Voice Acting (or lack thereof)

Everyone knows those few, sad little sound files. Mario jumps and he w00ts. Mario double jumps and he wahs. Mario triple jumps and it sounds like he just won the Kentucky lottery. Other than that you won't get too much out of everyone's favorite obese Italian. He's like some kind of overweight, spring-loaded caveman with a disturbing sense of fashion. And when he DOES speak actual words players are confronted with the serious consideration of whether or not to fill their own ears with silly putty to escape the helium-fueled horror. There are moments when I just want to uppercut that voice actor in the kidney, as seen in SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUPER MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARIO GAAAAAAAAAAALAXY!!! WOOOOOOOHOOOO!

The intro to that game alone probably makes at least 1 out of 3 respectable adults return it immediately.

Link, Samus, and Donkey Kong, on the other hand pretty much keep to themselves. In fact, when asked a question they'll just stare down the other person until they continue the conversation un-fazed. At least Link and Donkey Kong grunt or scream in pain every once in a while. Samus is some kind of deaf-mute. And what if she sneezes in that helmet? How sick would that be?

8. Spontaneously Combusting Defeated Bosses

As if gigantic octopuses, massive screaming robot pterodactyls, one-eyed spider monsters, and overgrown evil vegetation as boss characters
weren't weird enough, they all have a really strange way of cashing out. I can't for the life of me figure out why kicking coconuts at a giant octopus in Super Mario Galaxy would cause it to EXPLODE. I've heard of allergic reactions, but that's ridiculous. Gohma in The Legend of Zelda does the same thing. All I did was hit it in the eye with a slingshot and a midget sword! Isn't there a Visine for that?! These musings bring me to my next complaint, however.

7. Hindu Bosses

Apparently ALL of Nintendo's developers are led by people who believe in reincarnation. Oh look, I get to fight the Phantom Link again... I was really rusty on my volleyball skills since the last time I fought him was 30 MINUTES AGO. Oh joy it's Bowser again! This time he HOPS BEFORE HE SHOOTS FIREBALLS!! OH SWEET MOTHER OF MOSES, HE'S THROWING POINTY OBJECTS INNACURATELY!

I could do a three hour rant on Metroid Prime: Hunters. You had to suck at life to ever lose to one of the other hunters, and there were literally only two bosses that you fought about 6 times EACH. So much of the code for that game was copy-pasted that it was more reminiscent of a Kotaku article than a game.

6. Almost No Plot, But Still Has Cut Scenes

Games don't HAVE to have a story. I recognize that. But when the plot of the game I'm playing is THEPRINCESSGOTKIDNAPPEDBYTHEBIGMIS-SHAPENDINOSAURGOGETSOMESTARS (See next point) I don't want to see cut scenes. Especially not ones of the entire universe exploding or of Mario getting a kiss ON THE NOSE after all the crap he just went through. And don't even get me started on Fire Emblem. Those cut scenes don't even make sense. Just write SEE PLOT OF FIRE EMBLEM 1-9 and start the fight.

PS - Your Rival being the leader of the Elite Four was the lamest and most predictable plot twist I've ever seen. I hate you, Game Freak.

5. You lost your Power Suit/Princess/Bananas!!!

Almost every Nintendo game starts out the same. The hero/heroine is standing around, just chillin', and ALL THE SUDDEN some mushroom-headed/furry-butt/pointy-eared homie comes bobbin' out with the worst news possible. It doesn't matter if Link has saved Zelda 37 times. That chick keeps getting Natalie Holloway-ed out the castle. Same with Mario's story. Bowser doesn't even have a real REASON to kidnap Peach, unless he wants to make some kind of human/dinosaur baby with her (and I'm fairly confident that THAT wouldn't even work. I mean, I'm no doctor, but sweet mercy)

Donkey Kong's quests don't even BEGIN to make sense. It's BANANAS. They grow on trees, man. They're everywhere. But that punk goes running off to a sure death anyway. Good stuff, Nintendo writers, good stuff. The worst of the lot is the Mario Party series, though. Somehow, they manage to give a quick, 30 second explanation for why these guys are playing a board game (they're saving the world). As if the game itself wasn't bad enough...

4. Increasingly Bad Supporting Cast Over Each Iteration

Waluigi... Tatl and Tael... Lanky Kong... I'm sure that at some point in development of their respective games, somebody thought that these fools would a good idea. And then you see them. Waluigi is the most anorexic and badly groomed character I've ever seen. Tatl and Tael are like Navi, but even more obnoxious. And Lanky Kong... I'll be danged if Lanky Kong isn't some kind of sick riff on retarded kids. That's messed up, Nintendo. You've got a special spot in Hell for that.

3. Mind-Blowingly Fluctuating Difficulty

So I'm cruising through Mario Galaxy (Which I reference an obscene amount of times in this list), not having any real problems. Sure, there's a level or two that I have to retry a couple times, but besides the random boss, nothing is really too demanding. All the sudden I get to the Dreadnought Galaxy Purple Coin Challenge. I capitalized that because it's the single hardest thing I've ever had to do in a game. I spent THREE HOURS redoing and redoing that thing and STILL DIDN'T GET THE STAR. Your aim with the Wiimote has to be better than O.J. Simpson's aim with a knife if you even want to stand a chance. It was totally out of the blue and about 10 times as hard as the final level and boss fight. Thanks, Mario, for warping my mind. (I did eventually beat it, btw) Oh, and the Elite Four in Poke'mon? I get that it's the final challenge or whatever but I mean REALLY. You suck at that game if you ever get a game over screen before that point, but if you don't spend FOREEEVER leveling up before that you're just straight outta luck. That was probably the worst part about the 90's for me.

2. No Real Co-Op EVER

How many children around the world have the complexion of a dead polar bear because they spent 43 and a half straight hours playing the new Zelda game indoors and alone? The number of kids who are now friendless because they discovered Super Metroid at a young age is probably in the quabahatrillions. Something must be done to introduce these kids back to the concept of FRIENDS. Co-op mode, maybe? Nah. Co-Star mode will do just fine, won't it Nintendo? WON'T IT!?!? Until Brawl, with its supposedly good 2 player adventure mode, those kids have just had to be friendless, and hate see-saws.

1. DELAYED

Animal Crossing: Wild World
Mario Kart Wii
Super Smash Bros Brawl (LIKE SEVEN TIMES)
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Pretty much every game involving a Zelda character ever

That's just a short list off the top of my head of Nintendo games that were announced for a certain date, and then delayed right when anticipation was at its highest. Basically, if Nintendo announces a release date for a game, that day can be freed up on your schedule because NOTHING is going to happen then. 5 million Smash fans cried themselves to sleep every time Brawl got delayed. As such, I think November 3rd should be national Hate Reggie Fils-Aime Day... where everyone on the planet posts a Youtube video of themselves crying onto their own keyboards until it they get an electrical shock from the damaged equipment strong enough to knock them out until at LEAST February 2nd, because it's coming out then, right?

-Ryan Rigney, editor, http://www.SlapStic.com

Top 5 Board Games for Adults

Who said adults can't play board games? It's as if we lose our sense of having fun or maybe that we are embarassed by the prospect of having fun as an adult. Our lives revolve around our children and our work and we tend to lose sight of some of the most enjoyable things in our lives. It amazes me to think that many adults live much of their adult lives in that state of mind, thinking that they shouldn't have fun. In fact most adults tend to spend insane amounts of money to have fun, when there are simple ways to relive some of the days of your lives when it didn't cost you a dime to have fun. What the heck is wrong with society today? Do you remember how much fun it can be playing board games. Think back to a time when you were young and carefree...you could sit for hours and play board games. It might be a good idea to reflect back on that lifestyle for a moment, just so you can remember what it was like to have a little bit of uncomplicated fun. Do you remember sitting down for hours over a Monopoly board game, or playing the game of Life and taking yourself into the future...or how about the classic game of Clue where you could be a detective for the evening? The truth is, these board games are still fun for children and adults alike, but there are board games that are specifically designed for adults that are great for entertaining and for your own personal enjoyment. For social gatherings some of the best board games are inexpensive and can be used over and over again for an evening of entertainment for your friends and family. Below is a list of some of the best board games for adults, their price range, and links on where to find them.

1.Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Games- These games are absolutely perfect for entertaining a group of friends. Each game has a central theme and includes recipes for your dinner party to fit the mood of the game. Each game consists of a character listing, clothing requirements for your guest-so that they can arrive in character, dinner invitations and a script for each of your guests. Once your guests arrive, you sit together, dine and let the game unfold as each participant acts out the themed murder mystery. Each person at your party is a suspect to the murder and everyone must participate in this fun-filled murder mystery event. You are sure to get a lot of laughs and praise for your wonderful murder mystery dinner event. These board games are not traditional in the sense that they do not use an acutal game board, but it tops my list for a night full of hilarity and pure social enjoyment. These games can be found on Amazon.com ranging in price from $19.99-$29.99. Some of the listed games are, A Taste for Wine and Murder, Lethal Lua, and A Murder on the Grill. You can see how easily these games will work for a themed party. Throw in a bottle of wine or a cooler full of your favorite alcohol of choice and you have yourself a night to remember. Alcohol is optional.

2. Survivor- If you haven't seen the hit show, Survivor, you probably know what it is about. Well, Mattel has released several versions of the game. The game runs much like the show, pinning two teams of people against each other in a battle of wits. The great thing about this game is that it is mentally challenging and does involve some skill and strategy in order to keep yourself from getting voted off of the island. Beware...there may be a bit of backstabbing involved, but no one will get hurt. Just keep your eyes open and watch your back, because in this game-everyone is your enemy. Different versions of the Survivor game can be found on Amazon.com or through local retail superstores, ranging from $10.00- $20.00- Depending on which version you choose. You can make the evening more entertaining by requiring your guests to dress up as Survivors and see what crazy outfits they show up in. The true test is...can you Survive a night of Survivor with your friends?

3. Pictionary- Pictionary is still a classic board game and it is great fun, no matter what your age. Pictionary is so much fun because you must draw the action, person, or place given on the game card as a timer is running and hope that your art skills are good enough for your team to guess the answer before time runs out. If your team does not guess the correct answer, the other team can guess and steal your points. With a diverse group of people, this can be fun and challenging...becuase not everyone is an artist and so the real challenge is knowing your teammates very well. Pictionary retails from $25.00 to $30.00 on Amazon.com

4. Catch Phrase- Hasbro developed an electronic game called Catch Phrase and it is a lot of fun. This fast paced game makes you think fast, talk fast, and keep moving. Two teams alternate turns guessing clues to the eleven categories. This trivia game is set on an electronic timer and you must work quickly, before the time runs out. People tend to get very nervous playing this game and it is funny to see how people freeze up answering questions because of the beeping mechanisim that runs the entire time you are answering questions. This game is a laugh out loud, hilarious time. Catch Phrase retails on Amazon.com for about $20.00.

5. Pirates of the Caribbean DVD game- Get ready for a swashbuckling adventure with this game, rated by the 2007 Creative Child Award's Seal of Excellence Award as being an excellent game. This game is great for friends and family for a night of pirate adventure as you play this interactive boardgame that links into your DVD player. The board game is shaped like a treasure map and will get you into the mood for a night of pirate adventures and trivia while searching for treasure and booty galore. The DVD includes clips from the actual movie, Pirates of the Caribbean. You will have to use your skill to outwit the other players in an attempt to answer pirate trivia, find hidden treasure and collect booty cards as you advance across the board while battling other pirate ships. This game retails for about $30.00 on Amazon.com and other retailers.

These are my picks for the top five board games for adults. Whatever adventure you choose, just remember to have fun and don't forget what it used to be like as a kid, in the days of reading by flashlight, and playing Monopoly all night long. Adventure is as close as your nearest board game!

By Heidi Adams, www.associatedcontent.com

Board Games Have Deep Historical Roots Buried In The Sands Of Time

Monopoly, Risk and Clue have roots buried deep in the sands of ancient Mesopotamia.

British archeologist Charles Leonard Woolley unearthed the earliest known board game in the late 1920s. He was excavating a burial tomb in Ur, what is now southern Iraq. The game, buried with other treasure, had been interred nearly 4,500 years earlier. The Royal Game of Ur is the earliest known board game. Not only did Woolley find the game board and game pieces, he also found instructions for playing the game. They were engraved in cuneiform texts located at the site. The Royal Game of Ur, or the game of 20 squares was a race game with two players racing to the end of the board. Since that time similar game boards have been found throughout the ancient world, from Egypt to India. The game Woolley found can still be played today, just as the ancient Sumerians enjoyed it.

Board games have been popular in nearly every known civilization. Many civilizations were playing board games before they developed any form of written language.

Board games come in two basic types. The first uses strategy to win the game. The object is to block or capture opposing game pieces or to capture larger portions of the game board. Monopoly and checkers are both examples of the strategy game. Strategy alone does not insure victory.

Chance plays a significant role in most board games, but not all. Some of the most respectable board games, chess for example, focus on skill with very little luck involved.

Purists feel that luck is an undesirable element. They feel the games should be based entirely on strategy and skill. Others feel the element of chance gives these games more complexity with many more possible strategies. These people feel the element of luck makes these games more exciting. On the other hand, games that are completely games of chance, where no or few decisions are made, quickly become boring to most adults. Many childrens board games are games of luck with few decisions to be made.

The second types of board games are race games. Two or more players move pieces in a race from one point on the board to another. Backgammon is an example of a race game. Again, the element of chance is an essential ingredient in these games.

Luck is introduced into the game in a number of ways. One of the popular ways is by using dice. The dice can determine how many units a play can move, how forces fare in battle or which resources a player gains. Another common method of introducing change is by using a deck of special cards. In yet other games spinners or other such devices are used to determine the play.

A third type of board games is a combination both of the above types. These games employ strategies to conduct a race.

Board Games Pre-date Reading And Writing

Board games have been popular for centuries. The game of 20 squares was played from Egypt to India more than 4,000 years ago. Nearly 3,000 years ago a game that resembles backgammon was developed in the same region. Games using stone marbles were developed in Egypt nearly 1,000 years later.

A board game is a game played with a pre-marked surface and counters or pieces that are moved across the board. Methods of chance are often used, usually dice or cards, to determine the movement of the pieces or counters across the surface of the board.

We are not really sure why early board games were developed. Some argue these games were a device for conducting religious services. Others claim they were employed to teach strategies of war. Todays board games are recreational and considered good family entertainment.

Board games became popular in the U.S. in the early 1900s. As the population moved off the farm, people had more time and more money to pursue leisure activities. Board games were a family recreation easily played in the home. Chess, checkers and backgammon became tremendously popular.

The most popular board game of all time is Monopoly. In 1904 Elizabeth Maggie patented The Landlords Game an early version of Monopoly. It was based upon economic principles and was designed to teach real estate ownership and management.

In 1933, Clarence Darrow copyrighted a version of The Landlords Game. He called it Monopoly. He went to the game company, Parker Brothers, for help producing the game. They turned him down because they said it would never sell. He began selling Monopoly for the 1934 Christmas season. He was overwhelmed with orders. Parker Brothers agreed to produce the game the following year. Monopoly is now printed in 15 languages and sold worldwide.

Favorite old board games have recently been redeveloped for a whole new generation. These classics have been developed as electronic games. Most popular board games have now been successfully adapted as electronic games. These games are played on game consoles and on personal computers.

Board games have come along way since the days of ancient Sumerians when they were played around campfires of camel trains. Astronauts millions of miles above the earth have played board games. Now, with the Internet, players half a world apart can come together in cyberspace and enjoy the challenge of board games.

About the author: Royce Armstrong is a successful freelance writer with a business and banking background who believes consumers should get the best value for their money when shopping for leading board games such as monopoly , yahtzee and scrabble.

By Royce Armstrong

The Backgammon Board Game And Its Long Journey Through Time

If we could travel back in history through our time machine, to view the earliest origins of the backgammon board game some five thousand years ago, we might well find ourselves on the edge of a mud-brick village by the might river Euphrates. Under the shade of a palm tree, two men sit around a roughly carved primitive backgammon board. They discuss in animated terms the first ever backgammon instructions and perhaps express some difference of opinion about how the backgammon setup. If we stay a little longer to observe their play, we would probably recognize some of their backgammon strategy, and perhaps even acquire some valuable tips for improving our own play. Although the stone counters and the bone dice would be strikingly different from the counters and dice we commonly use, and their backgammon boards divisions would certainly not show the same precision with which our contemporary boards are divided into their twenty four points, it would be amazing how much of the game would be recognizable.

Now what if we could reverse the direction of travel of our time machine, and take these ancient players away from their riverside game and bring them into the twenty first century. While they would certainly be astonished by modern technology, they might be even more astounded to see how their favorite pastime survived all the travails of some five millenniums. The backgammon boards on sale in the games retailers, would no doubt remind them of the game they once played, and even todays common backgammon set up would have a familiar look to it.

The big question of course, is how would they react to the concept of free backgammon games, with a backgammon download available from a range of Internet backgammon sites? It seems reasonable to speculate that after the initial shock with the amazing technology that makes Internet backgammon possible, they would start to be impressed by how these downloads bring to the screen backgammon sets displayed in 3-D and a variety of colors, presenting an excellent reproduction of the manufactured backgammon sets. With a little further acquaintance with online backgammon, they would doubtless start to appreciate the pleasures of playing backgammon against a sophisticated computer, not to mention the enjoyment to be had from being able to play against opponents from all around the world. If, as seems likely, the first backgammon players were also backgammon gaming enthusiasts, they would be astounded by the amounts skilled players can win on the Internet.

True, it is possible that our imaginary time travelers could find themselves missing the simplicity of the backgammon games that they enjoyed back in their village, when contrasted with the speed and sound of Internet backgammon. Nevertheless, it is hard to imagine they would not derive satisfaction from the way their favorite village pastime has become a game enjoyed by millions of people, both online and offline. It would be hard to find a comparable ancient game to match backgammons long life and popularity.

Online backgammon authority Gene Marshall is commissioned by a few different top internet backgammon web sites. He specializes in articles about backgammon game download and backgammon gaming. More material and writings published by Gene Marshall on the theme of backgammon can be found on line.

By Gene Marshall

The Best Backgammon Board Games

In the 1970's, it was estimated that nearly every American household owned a copy of the common backgammon board. Over the years, backgammon has remained a consistently popular game around the world. Yet who could have imagined that people would one day be able to play their favorite board game online?

Internet backgammon has helped bring the game to a brand new audience and has rekindled the interest of older backgammon fans. Even if you belong to one of the generations that didn't grow up with a computer in the living room, learning how to play backgammon online is fun and simple to master. One of the many advantages to playing online is that you don't even need to remember the backgammon setup. The computer does it all for you, leaving you to get on with playing and winning.

As the backgammon game has evolved online, so too has its audience and the variations they can find to play. Backgammon fans come from all age groups and backgrounds. Some are fans of backgammon gambling and so prefer to play standard versions of the game at pay for money sites, and to compete against other players in online tournaments.

Others however, prefer to play the game purely for fun and so play several different variations of backgammon that have found their way online in the last few years. Among these are Turkish backgammon, or Tawula, and American and European versions of Acey-Deucey. Both of these games have been popular for decades but today offer online gaming fans greater challenges and a new spin on the standard backgammon game. These and other backgammon versions are growing more and more in popularity as a result and are especially fun if you're already familiar with the game and want to test your skills under different rules. For example, instead of starting with 15 checkers on the board, you start with just two checkers playing Tawula. You have to roll the die to bring your other 13 checkers onto the board before you move your other checkers. In this way, backgammon is given a new twist to hold players' attention.

If you've never played backgammon on the internet before and the idea of trying out board games online looks appealing, you can access a range of free sites to bring your gaming skills up to date. Free backgammon games are available all over the internet and can teach you the basics on how to play in no time. They are also useful training grounds for testing out new theories and strategies and for building up your confidence levels.

Some gaming sites even offer backgammon software which you can download for free and instal on your PC. Once you have this software, you can play it any time as much as you like to prepare you for live friendly games or for money games.

You can also make contact with thousands of fellow backgammon fans by visiting backgammon forum sites. These sites are a wonderful source of information and allow you to post questions, access the latest industry news, learn about new online sites and tournaments and share your backgammon experiences with like-minded people.

Expert backgammon writer Gene Marshall is commissioned by several recognized online backgammon magazines. The author writes commentaries about backgammon setup and advanced backgammon strategy. More info and articles by Gene Marshall on the topic of backgammon are obtainable on line.

By Gene Marshall

9 Foot Shuffle Board Game Room Set A Critical Review

Are you thinking of building a recreational or game room at your home? This is a good idea considering the fact that it is not possible to go out every night. A recreational room at home can help your family to bond well. You can spend time in the game room playing games, chatting and simply spending quality time with each other. Moreover, no recreational room is complete without the gaming table. You may have one or more than one gaming table in your recreational room depending on the size of the room.

The question that must be rising in your mind is what exactly a gaming table is. It is an indispensable item of your recreational room. Gaming tables are of various types. Some of them can be used both for playing games as well as for having your dinner. These are special tables that have been particularly designed to play games on it.

They also enhance the look of your gaming room. To have the best effect, get yourself matching chairs to add to the mood. These tables are ideal for having card games and you can have the dinner by flipping the table to avoid it being stained. The gaming tables are also the perfect place for setting down as well as showing various items.

Gaming tables are ideal for your living room as well where it is a nice addition to other furniture and can be used to play board games. There are a number of gaming tables available for sale in the Internet. This makes the task of choosing the right one a difficult proposition. While making a purchase it is important to find out its durability. Surely, you do not wish to buy another gaming table the next year.

Among these, the 9 Foot Shuffle Board Game Set is the right type of shuffleboard that has been specially designed to suit the domestic purposes. In order to ensure durability the surface on which games are to be played is made of the kiln dried rock maple of the finest quality.

You can depend upon the 9 Foot Shuffle Board Game Set's durability with yours eyes closed. The foul lines, scoring zones and the numbers that has been especially silk-screened on the face of it. The surface of the 9 Foot Shuffle Board Game Set is coated with selected hard and clear synthetic lacquer.

The 9 Foot Shuffle Board Game Set, as its name suggests, is nine feet long and is a solid wood construction. Its dimension is 9 x 3 x 2 feet and is usually shipped in two boxes. The table is carefully packed so that no damage occurs to the product while shipping.

In addition, it takes one business day for the delivery of the gaming table. 9 Foot Shuffle Board table is priced attractively and is worth every penny. These good quality tables will surely last a lifetime.

Therefore, do not waste any time, give your recreational room the wonderful 9 Foot Shuffle Board Game Set, and watch your family and friends share a good time together. Surely, this is one thing that you will not regret purchasing.

Brian Garvin and Jeff West offer Free Articles and Drastically Discounted Gaming Tables and you'll find Poker Stars Direct is your number one choice to obtain Poker Chips and other Poker Supplies.

By Brian Garvin

Board Games Leveling the Parental Playing Field

Youre a lousy pirate, Mom.

Given all the things a 14-year-old could accuse a parent of being, I got off easy with disparagement of my abilities as a pirate. Still I held my ground. Im raiding your port. I grabbed the dice and shook vigorously; I rolled too low a number and was defeated.

See?

My son had already won top honors in the game, which among other things allowed him to put a flag on his pirate ship and to use three dice for every move instead of my meager two. He sailed on to his next conquest in his steady march to defeat me.

I remember board games from my childhood, when a snowy Sunday afternoon meant games of Parcheesi at the dining room table. Yes, it was a quieter, simpler time when there were no dehumanizing electronics in every corner, but focusing on that misses a greater point. Playing board games evens up the score in the parent-child relationship. Its a welcome break from being the supreme lawgiver and authoritarian deluxe, sometimes benevolent and other times not so.

As a parent, I establish and uphold rules and consequences that are safe and fair for all, with appropriate expectations and accompanying consequences (to the upside and the down). Without those boundaries how can we guide our children toward good decision-making and responsible behavior? Still, every so often, I think its good to level the proverbial playing field.

There is nothing more effective than a board game for doing that. When we play, we are equal opponents. Since Pat is no longer at the young age at which he has to win most of the time (I became a master at throwing Chutes and Ladders to preserve a five-year-old ego), we can really battle it out. My son can beat me, showing me that he is the boss for once, and there are no consequences. I can be sent back to square one (grounded, as it were) for making a wrong move.

On a slow Saturday night, while my husband looked on with bemusement from the living room sofa, Pat and I hunched over the board game called The Dread Pirate. It involves strategies such as plundering ports or trading gold coins for treasures, and when and how to take on your opponents to force a surrender of some of their pirate booty.

As a pirate, I am decidedly a wimp. I had to borrow a gold coin so I could make a trade. (Pirates dont give loans, Mom, Pat said, until I pitifully pleaded for mercy.) As soon as Pat sailed to my corner of the playing board, Id high-tail it away.

Need I say the obvious that he won beating me something like 48 to 12 (counting treasures, that is)?

I took my licking, endured some trash-talking about my inferior pirating skills, and helped pick up the game pieces. On those few occasions when I actually do win, there is usually a round of good-natured needling about the overall score of all the wins and losses, which is about 4 trillion to six (Pats favor).

As the game was put away, I wondered how much longer well have these little rituals. They are already becoming rare. Teenage years, as expected, have made his friends the center of the universe, while parents orbit the exterior in the far, cold reaches of the galaxy (except when it comes to allowance and transportation). Electronics take precedence over something with a cardboard surface and wooden or plastic dice.

Each time we play a game, I am grateful for this one-on-one time with Pat, or two-on-one when we can coax my husband to join the fun, especially if we are playing cards. Whether as pirates or Monopoly tycoons, we all play by the same rules. Everyone has to face the consequences of landing on the wrong square (and ending up in jail) or getting sent home for the twelfth time (as happens in Parcheesi).

The dynamic changes between parent and child as we become friendly opponents. Then someone wins (usually Pat) and someone loses (usually me). We take our licks and tease each other.

And then we have a rematch.

Patricia B. Crisafulli is a published author and founder of the e-literary magazine, http://www.FaithHopeandFiction.com which features original, quality short stories, essays, poetry, and author interviews that inspire and entertain.

By Patricia Crisafulli

TEFL and ESL Board Games For the Classroom

Classroom board games are probably one of the most effective teaching tools available. Here we see how to stimulate and motivate students, and provide a welcome change to more standard classroom teaching approaches, giving students a refreshing new focus to practice their spoken English.
A few important points to bear in mind when using board games, which will increase their effectiveness and get the students speaking in English are:

1. The first rule to establish is that the game is to be played in English. Give some input vocabulary such as 'Whose turn is it?', 'Pass the dice please' or for a bit of fun 'Hey, stop cheating!'. Then as the game progresses and you see other linguistic requirements, supply them, drill them briefly, and continue to play. I often have students keep a separate booklet for game playing vocabulary. The students motivation is strong, so take advantage of it!
2. Encourage students to speak in only English by establishing the second rule: not speaking in the target language forfeits a turn. This sounds a little dramatic and harsh, but you'll be amazed how well it works. It also creates an enormous amount of spontaneity of language, resulting in increased fluency and a reduction in response times.
3. Teachers usually think in terms of one-class time slots, whereby the material to be used is to be finished by the end of the allotted time. This can lead to unnecessarily self-imposed restrictions on the choice of materials. I often let a game run for 3 or 4 lessons in order to let the students become highly familiar with the vocabulary fields as well as letting them build up a sense of momentum to the outcome.
4. Students should 'earn' the right to take a turn to generate the motive for speaking. This would mean, for example, asking a team to answer a question before being allowed to take a turn. Depending on the the theme of the board game, you may also use relevant video clips, story reconstructions with visuals or maybe role play situations in parallel, which allow students to score points which in turn allow them to throw the dice.
5. Don't just limit yourself to the rules in the game. Feel free to 'play God' and adjust the rules as you find convenient to make the game move more slowly or faster. It's amazing how our knee-jerk reaction to a game's set of rules sometimes leaves us feeling powerless over how to play the game! Such changes may include giving new consequences to the value of a throw on the dice e.g. 'if a player throws a 5, then they get to throw again'. Wham! You've got a new dimension to the game.
6. Keep teacher talking time down! Let the students run the game - you just police it from a distance, supplying language as required. Because a board game generates spontaneous situations within a defined linguistic area, this is the perfect opportunity for the teacher to take back stage, and just give 'hot correction' when required. Error feed back and remedial work can be given at intervals as appropriate.

Adrian Allen is one of the co-founders of http://www.findateacher.es This is a bilingual search tool for private teachers to advertise themselves to students. It can be used either for free, or by paying a small subscription fee for better ranking in the database.

By Adrian Allen

Prehistoric To Playstation A History Of Children's Toys

Traditional toys and games have been a part of society and culture all over the world for thousands of centuries, possibly since the beginning of time. As long ago as 6000 B.C., we know of the existence of games similar to modern day chess. Babylonians in 4000 B.C. also played a board game similar to traditional games of checkers and chess.

The first games of backgammon have been dated back to ancient Samaria in 3000 B.C. In Egypt, toy marbles were first fashioned out of stone. By 2000 B.C., Egyptians were making and playing with a number of children's toys and games. Dolls were made from string, paper, and other easy to find materials and board games much like our traditional game of checkers were played. At the same time, the first skates, constructed of iron, were in use in Scandinavia.

Traditional toys like kites and yo-yos were first introduced in 1000 B.C. Though kites were probably in existence long before, their first recorded appearance was in China during this time period. Greek children begin to play with yo-yos made of stone. Soon after, the first playing cards were dealt in Asia.

Over the next thousand years, many of the kids toys we know of today were designed in their earliest forms from crude materials. Most traditional toy inventions were not a recorded part of history until the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The first roller skates were invented in 1759 by a man named Joseph Merlin, and, like many traditional toys, they are still being refined and altered today to fit modern society.

The 19th century saw the introduction of many traditional toys in America and throughout Europe. Dolls were already being made in several European countries, but in 1840 an American doll maker began the first mass production of this still popular traditional toy. Only three years later, the first American board game was produced, called 'The Mansion of Happiness.'

Board games continued to be popular children's toys throughout the years. The Indian game, Parcheesi, is tone of he oldest toys to still be produced today and was introduced to England in 1867 as Ludo. As the 19th century drew to a close, more and more innovative traditional toys came into production. Traditional toys, like alphabet blocks, stuffed animals, and wagons and sleds, were all being commercially manufactured.

The late 1800's saw the introduction of toy guns and pistols, as well as the BB gun. The concept of talking toy dolls was perfected and high quality wooden toys were produced in a number of traditional toy styles, including train sets. Radio Flyer developed the traditional toy sled for outdoor winter fun and musical toys and soft toys were in mass production.

The early 20th century marked the invention of lots of traditional toys children still adore during playtime today. Battery powered train sets and the famous Lionel trains were invented in the early 1900's and the cherished teddy bear became more and more popular in the United States. Other traditional toys, like rag dolls, stacking rings, and all sorts of block varieties were also introduced during the first part of the 20th century.

Today, video games and electronic toys have gained a fair share of the toy market, but classic, traditional toys still continue to warm the hearts of children around the world. Traditional toys, like dolls, blocks, and board games, have been around for thousands of years and will most likely continue to be an important part of childhoods for thousands more.

Gary Clay is an expert on quality traditional toys and runs the UK's favourite shop for kids, Monkeyshine where you will find a range of luxury traditional toys for children.

By Gary Clay

Reach Your Goals Make A Game Out Of It

Make a game out of reaching your goals

Go to a yard sale and pick up a cheap board game, if you don't have any hrow away games at home. Sit down and brainstorm a way to transform the game into goal-completion fun. Use contact paper to cover the old instructions or commands, and write in new ones with a permanent marker. Use stickers, arts and craft supplies, etc., to dress up the game to fit your needs. Then set the game up somewhere out of the way to play on an on-going fashion until you reach your goal.

Use drinking games as a source of inspiration - for example, you might decide that whenever David Letterman takes a sip from his mug during his show, you have to do a set of crunches or iron a piece of clothing.

Create a Wheel of Fortune spinner (you can re-decorate an old board game spinner) and spin it every morning to discover your mini-goal for the day.

Set up a game board on the fridge and move magnetic pieces that represent various goals ahead one square for every task or mini-goal you complete on the way to the big finale.

If several of you are working toward a common goal, hold casino nights at home or at work, where you bet goal-related tasks (keeping score on paper) and forfeit what you lose. For instance, if you have bet twenty crunches, a mile's walk and skipping two desserts on a losing hand of poker, you have to do everything you bet. You can also write such tasks on poker chips with permanent marker and then claim the forfeits you have in your stash after the game ends during the period between games.

Combine two or more examples for real fun!

(c) Soni Pitts

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Soni Pitts is the Chief Visionary Butt-Kicker of SoniPitts.Com. She specializes in helping others reclaim soul proprietorship in their lives and to begin living the life their Creator always intended for them.

She is the author of the free e-book 50 Ways To Reach Your Goals and over 100 self-help and inspirational articles, as well as other products and resources designed to facilitate this process of personal growth and spiritual development.

By Soni Pitts

Board Games The Best Selling Board Games Of All Time

It must have been a crushing blow. It was 1934, the depths of the Great Depression. Charles Darrow was unemployed. But, he had an idea. Actually, he had a board game. He called the game Monopoly. He liked the board game and felt it was his ticket to financial success and out of the desperation of the depression. Darrow had taken his game to the famous Parker Brothers game company to publish and help him sell.

The Parker Brothers had agreed to look at the board game for Darrow. They were not impressed. Formed in 1883, by 16-year-old George Parker, the game publishing company had been making and selling games and puzzles for 51 years. During that time they had seen success and failure. Parker Brothers knew the game business. They knew what worked and what didnt. They knew what sold and what didnt. Representatives of the giant game company found 59 reasons why they did not think Darrows game could be successful.

Charles Darrow simply didnt agree. He believed. He decided to publish Monopoly himself and market it through department stores. He had 5,000 copies of the board game printed.

Hope was scarce during that harsh Christmas of 1934. Money was even scarcer. And, Monopoly was a hit. Nearly all 5,000 copies of the board game sold. Within a year Parker Brothers was publishing the game. It was the best selling game in America by 1936.

Monopoly is now published in 89 languages and over 200 million copies of the board game have been sold. More than 500 million people have played the game. It has also been adapted as an electronic game. Monopoly is firmly entrenched as the best selling board game of all time.

Monopoly is a relative upstart compared to other popular board games.

The oldest known board game is called The Royal Game of Ur or the Game of 20 Squares. This game was discovered in a 4,500-year-old tomb in southern Iraq. This game was played throughout the Middle East for perhaps 1,000 years or more. In fact, the rules of the game have been found in cuneiform tablets. Game aficionados can play this ancient game yet today, even though it has long ago faded from popularity.

Perhaps the oldest board game still popular today is chess, which first appeared in India by the sixth century A.D. By the year 1,000 it was being played throughout the Middle East and in Europe. The rules and game board design have evolved somewhat over the centuries, but the game is still very much the same as the ancient Indians played it. They could hardly have dreamed, however, of the world-class chess match play or the electronic versions of the game we enjoy today.

Another very old, yet immensely popular board game is checkers, also known as draughts. A form of checkers was being played by the Egyptian Pharaohs as early as 1600 B.C. This game has also evolved over the centuries. By the 12th century the game was adapted to the 64-square chessboard. Four hundred years later the rules involving capture were added, yielding essentially the same game we play today.

There is simply no way to tell how many copies of chess or checkers have been sold or how many people have played these games. If the numbers were known, they would have to be truly staggering.

Popular Board Games Share Common Traits

Other top selling board games include Yahtzee, Scrabble, Mahjong, Trivial Pursuit, Battleship and the Risk game. Most of these games were developed during the 20th century and all are still big sellers and tremendously popular.

These popular board games share some similar traits. Most of them involve specific strategies of play. When these strategies are employed successfully, the games are fun, challenging and intensely rewarding as players attempt to capture portions of the board and/or each other. Another common element in most of these board games is chance, or luck. Luck is introduced usually by drawing cards or rolling dice. The element of chance opens up possibilities for even more strategies of play. A final important trait of these games is that in one way or another they reflect the lessons of life. They teach competition and sportsmanship. They teach strategy and the lesson of never giving up.

Perhaps that is why Charles Darrow was so attracted to Monopoly. He believed that success comes by employing sound strategies to following a dream and never giving up. We are glad that Darrow didnt give up. We are glad he didnt throw the board game with 59 things wrong in the trash bin as he left the Parker Brothers plant in 1934.

About the author: Royce Armstrong is a successful freelance writer with a business and banking background who believes consumers should get the best value for their money when shopping for board games, family games and learning games.

How to Make Board Games for Parties

If you learn how to make up your own board games for parties youll find that you can create an easy themed board game for every party.

Youll need:

Heavy Cardstock or cardboard

Printer

Poker chips

Color ink

Glue

Youll be able to create the playing board for your themed board game with a simple paint program. A basic board game involves moving pieces along a series of spaces until they reach the end and whoever reaches the end of the spaces first is the winner.

So, on your paint program you can experiment with creating your own design of a series of playing spaces. You might pick a colored background or could even download a picture relating to your party theme to stand in as the background on your playing board. Your spaces can be the circles, squares, and triangle shapes that many paint programs allow you to insert. Fill these spaces with white or other lightly colored background and using the text insert tool you can insert instructions associated with your specific game. Instructions can be things like, move forward three spaces, or pick a trivia card and follow instructions.

Once you have your playing board designed you can print it out in sections on pieces of paper. Youll then glue or rubber cement these pieces to the heavy cardstock you purchased that will serve as a backing for your board game.

You can also look up interesting facts related to your partys theme and use them in creating trivia questions for the board game. The players pieces can be represented by poker chips or something other small object. And you can use a pair of dice for the players to roll in deciding who goes next. After that you can create the rules to go with your own created board game.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Free Party Games for every occasion, birthday, holiday and party theme including free printable games and activities. Plus, free baby shower games, bridal shower games, birthday party games, printable party games, TV Trivia, Movie Trivia games. All the games have easy instructions. Over 1,000 free party games for baby showers, bridal showers, holiday celebrations and kids parties. Also, printable activities for kids parties, baby showers and bridal showers.

By Gail Leino

Most Popular Classic Board Games

There are a lot of classic board games in the world. Those games offer people the same thing - fun pastime and learning experience. Another great thing about classic board games is that they are accessible to almost everyone. Practically anyone can play them, unlike some outdoor sporting games where a lot of factors are in play. Board games are not exactly physically strenuous, but it does challenge the mind.

Classic board games offer portability and convenience. The fact that anybody can easily learn how to play means that anyone can be anybody's playmate. There is no need for a large venue such as a soccer field or a coliseum to play board games. Anywhere, even at the comfort of one's own bedroom, can become a battlefield.

Lots of new games are being developed every year. There are only some games that every person must know and must have. Classic board games have been very popular through the years and have stood the test of time. These provide people with very valuable lessons. Thus, every household should never be caught without at least one of these most popular classic games:

1. Checkers - checkers is one of the easiest games to learn with its black and red checkered board and it has been around since the 1500's.

2. Monopoly - Monopoly is just one of the world's most popular board games. It deals about purchasing property (real estate) and developing it. One should prevent their side from losing money before their opponent does. Monopoly has different versions to cater to all age levels - from the young to the grown ups and professionals.

3. Chess - this classic board game improves a player's strategic thinking. It is probably the hardest game to master. It is also the most mentally challenging.

4. Scrabble - another classic game that most people get addicted to is Scrabble. A personal objective here is to improve one's vocabulary. But game-wise, a player's purpose is to really outwit his opponent by scoring more by producing more words. People love this classic board game so much that some even make a career out of playing it.

These classic games have been part of the world culture. That is the reason why they are still extremely popular today. These classic games have transcended time and cultures. Their staying power is a testament on how people never seem to get tired of them. Not only does it improve the thinking process, people find the challenge fun and exciting, too.

Visit Board Games Store A Place Where You Can Find Huge Selection Of Classic Board Games And Find Info On The World's Most Popular Board Games

By Robert Diarioti

Top 6 Significant Board Games

Descent, the board game, is not at all related to Descent the pc game. As a matter of fact this is an improved version of the Doom board game which belongs to Fantasy Flight Games' series of fantasy board games which include Lord of the Rings, War craft III, World of War craft and Rune bound.

In any case, we tried it and it felt like a merging between an MMO and a table top game - You have characters that kill hordes of monsters using brawn, magic and cunning. After playing the game for the first time, as we normally do we discuss the good and bad points of the game. This discussion led to the argument of which was the best board game ever.

Let me breakdown the list of what we came up with from the lowest to highest:

6. Psychologizer is like Fibs or Not only in the sense that the players are required to tell stories about their lives and it is up to the other players to try and psychoanalyze the others. This is a bit of a serious game but it is great for a small group who would like to get to know each other. I personally like this game because the first time I played it, I ended up being the girlfriend of one of the other players.

5. Junta is a fantastic game but results in the complete opposite effect of Psychologizer. The objective of the game is to be able to acquire complete power and wealth in a simulated banana republic. The problem lies in the fact that it is a no holds barred kind of game where in you can do anything to win the game - the more corrupt you are the higher the chances of you winning the game. I have personally seen friendships strained because of this game but as long as you are a good sport it is quite a lot of fun.

4. Chess is the oldest board game around whose original date cannot be fully deciphered as there are numerous variations of it in different cultures in ancient times. The variation that is being used now, however, dates back to the 15th century in Southern Europe. You may think that this is a corny choice but hey, this has been around for centuries, and its lasting power is definitely a testament to it being one of the best games in town.

3. Scrabble is a classic board game. Like Chess, Scrabble's enduring popularity is a testament to its success as a board game. It's not very active but it's intellectually stimulating.

2. Cranium is the one stop shop of board games that will definitely entertain a big group of friends. The categories include trivia, performance, language and the arts. The manner in which you answer the question as well requires a lot of innovation and ingenuity from the players. It is a fantastic game for a party and utilizes the multiple intelligence of each member of the team. I personally love the performance category.

1. Monopoly for me is the best board game. I have to say that I learned how to manage my finances because of Monopoly. It has also taught me how to be ambitious. And Most of all it is absolutely fun. Apart from these lessons it is absolutely fun. Oh how I love it when I own the Boardwalk and they just so happen to stop there. At least, the members of Ibeatyou.com agree with me as far as Monopoly being the best game is concerned.

Yes, I know that there are numerous board games out there that may be better than my list. I do not doubt it but these are the ones that are most significant to me. Why don't you give me your own lists?

Ceinwen Bennett was born in Los Angeles on September 21, 1980. She is a college dropout who decided to pursue her career in acting and theater. She initially entered an economics course in college but realized that her heart was not into it and immediately started auditioning for parts in plays, musicals, commercials and movies. She currently assists in children's dramatic workshops. She intends to eventually finish her studies and dreams of finishing it at the Julliard. She currently lives with her parents in Burbank, California. She shares all her thoughts and experiences in her personal blog

By Ceinwen Bennett

Football Board Games

Football board games are made to, for obvious reasons, simulate a real football game. Why play a board game when people can play the game? Board games are less strenuous, and it is a good way to make people talk. These are three most popular types of football board games:

The Pizza Box Football

The Pizza Box Football was invented by the brothers Erik and Scott Smith when they were still kids. They seriously developed it for almost 10 years before finally releasing it in 2005. As children, the Smiths pictured a football game that generates stats that are realistic, keeps all of the football's strategic elements, and still entertains people of all ages.

Pizza Box Football employs head-to-head play calling. The game starts with a decision on what play to call. The basic options for a play are Run, Short Pass or Long Pass. The players begin the battle by playing rock-paper-scissors to determine who has the advantage. Each participant will have to roll the dice to see how the team fared in the play call. Results are then read in the charts. The dice roll of the defending team can change how their opponents cope in the game. When the offense rolls, both teams get to see action.

The Battle Ball

The Battle Ball is a fun game for players who do not want to take things seriously. It is basically a eer-and-pretzels game where football players are represented by plastic figures. An advantage of the Battle Ball is that it is a well-designed game set with durable plastic game pieces.

The Battle Ball football board game is a fast-paced game that should be taken lightly. Since the Battle Ball is dependent on dice rolls, strategic planning doesn't really play a huge part.

The Card Football

Finally, another type of a football board game is the Card Football. Participants in this game begin with five cards in hand from the deck. Players play their cards simultaneously. The player who has the highest hand or card carries out the play that is shown on the card. The offensive's goal is to acquire as many points as possible, whereas the defense tries to stop him by creating turnovers. As soon as each down has been performed, both of them get another set of five cards.

The key in Card Football is not strategy but efficient hand management. Players need to decide what cards to keep and which ones to play. Although this is a game of luck, it is important that players know their own cards.

Visit Board Games Store A Place Where You Can Find Huge Selection Of Football Board Games And Find Info On The World's Most Popular Board Games

By Robert Diarioti

New Board Games For Kids

Kids now-a-days are part of the X box generation where everything is digitalized and computerized. However, board games for kids are not necessarily out of style. Playing board games is a great way for kids as well as friends and family to get together and have some quality family fun.

Connect Four is one of the new board games for kids that is similar to the good old fashioned tic tac toe. The game is played vertically and its aim is for the first one to get four checkers in a row while preventing your opponents from doing the same wins.

The classic and all time favorite Scrabble is a great type of board games for kids to play with. This is a great way for kids to practice their spelling and vocabulary while having tons of fun. The object of this board game is to score the most number of points by forming words from the letter tiles.

Battleship is a classic kind of board games for kids and adults alike to enjoy. This is a game where skill, strategy, and luck play an important part in winning the game. The aim of the game is locate your opponent's battleships while concealing your own.

As far as board games for kids go, Sorry offers players the chance to use their skills at strategy and planning to win the game. Players must move their game pieces from the Start field to the Home field on the game board. Unlike other games that use dice, Sorry uses game cards with numbers that allow players to take certain actions. Players can even send their opponents pieces back to the Start field and at all cost must avoid the dreaded Sorry cards that are in the deck.

Twister is one of the perfect board games for kids to enjoy during sleep-over nights and parties. A mat with different colored circles or discs is the game board and the players use their own bodies as the pieces to win. The objective of the game is to spin the spinner and follow its instructions on which hand or foot goes to what color of the circle that is selected on the Twister mat. The last player to remain in an upright position with all hands and feet on the correct disc colors wins.

If you don't have enough money to buy yourself a trip to Las Vegas but you are in the mood for a fun game of dice then, the board game, Yahtzee is just what you are looking for. This is one of those board games for kids and adults to enjoy. There are five dice in the game and the objective is to throw them all at the same time. Different combinations of the dice make for different points. A scoring card is used to track down the scores and the player with the most number of points wins the game!

So whether it is a wet rainy day outside, or its one of those days that you simply want to stay home and spend time with the kids, these board games for kids are a perfect way to spend your time together as a family and a great tool for babysitters as well.

Katie Appleby is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about board games for kids, please visit My Babysitting Tips for current articles and discussions.

By Katie Appleby

Strategies Learned From a Board Game That Apply to Work From Home Businesses

Can you really learn work from home business strategies from a board game? Robert Kiyosaki thinks so. He created the game Cashflow. I've heard it described as an MBA version of Monopoly.

In the game, you start out on the inner track called the rat race. Sound familiar? Isn't that where most of us spend our lives? Each player is assigned a certain occupation with corresponding income, expenses, and debts. As you roll the dice and move around the track, you can land on opportunities and have the chance to buy investments that help you build up passive income (money that comes in consistently over time whether you work or not.)

The object is for your passive income to exceed your expenses. When that occurs, you move to the outer track which is called the fast track. And isn't that were we want to be in life?

Looking strictly from a money perspective, I see that we have two choices in life.

Choice One: Live paycheck to paycheck and hope when you retire there's enough to live on.

Choice Two: Have enough passive income to cover your expenses so you can work because you choose to, not because you have to. And this goes hand in hand with not having to make other life choices based on what you can afford.

So, if you choose number 2, the next question is, How do you get there? Here is what I've learned from playing the game.

* Begin with the end in mind. Know what you end game is, your goals, and create a strategy that will get you there.
* Keep focused on that strategy. Every decision you make needs to propel you toward your end goal.
* Start small and continually build. I find that looking for automated businesses is a great way to create passive income, not only in the game, but also in the game of life. Online businesses that can basically run on autopilot (like information product based businesses) are a great investment for creating passive income.
* Realize Cashflow is a game, but so is life. The principles that work in the game, also work in real life.

Is it possible to learn real life lessons from this engaging game? I find the answer to be yes. Not only is it a lot of fun and a great way to spend an evening, it's also a great way to train your mind to think like an entrepreneur and an investor.

And if you want to start an information based online business, check out the free videos at http://8weeks2profits.com/

By Becky Best