Monopoly Tips

Monopoly is a great board game which you can play with the family. But just in case you wanted to come out as the victor, here are some important tips.

1. Buy Everything

I often times see people buying only the high quality stuff, which they think is the secret to the game. No, the secret to the game is to buy everything. Even the lowest property on the board gives you
some sort of cash flow when people land on it.

The more you buy the more likely it is that someone will land on something.

2. Buy the Railroads

I love the railroads because it is an easy and fast way to start making a little bit higher rent. Sure you will not make as much by owning 3 railroads then if you had 1 hotel, but the odds that someone will land on one of those three railroads is much higher than the hotel, and they are much quicker to get too.

Sometimes it pays to look for the quick ways to get high rent.

3. Spread yourself out

You don't want to be the person who owns nothing but 1 hotel, unless you are feeling really, really lucky. Instead it is a much better idea to own smaller houses all across the board. That way you will make more as people will land on them more often.

My philosophy is, hotels get mortgaged, houses pay the bills. At least when it comes to monopoly

4. Go to Jail

When it is later in the game you want to stay in jail as long as possible. In fact if they let you out, beg to go back in. You don't want to walk out unless you own most of what is on the field. Early on in the game it is different, it is probably better to pay to get out of jail. This way you can be free and go buy everything.

For more on monopoly visit http://www.best-family-games.com/monopoly_rules.html

For more on family games visit http://www.best-familiy-games.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Rosenberg

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FreeCell Solitaire - Tips to Win

FreeCell solitaire is a strategy card game that is unique to other games of its kind. One of the reasons it's so popular and interesting is because when the right strategy is used and the right moves made, it's possible to win almost every game. This card game does not primarily depend on luck. Skill is the main factor that determines whether you win or lose the game.

The goal is to place the cards of the same suite in an ascending order (from Ace to King) on the top right hand side of the playing board. On the lower half you place them in descending order (from King to Ace) in alternating colors. The left hand side of the playing board has 4 slots (called free cells) that can be used for storing the cards allowing you to move others around so you can get to the ones that you need.

One thing that makes FreeCell so unique is the fact that all the cards are face up right from the very beginning. You can see the exact location of every card and plan your moves accordingly. It's for this reason the game is based more on the type of strategy you use instead of pure luck. The following tips on how to win at FreeCell solitaire will help to improve your success rate each time you play the game.

* The first thing that you need to do is stop, take a few minutes and examine the board. Look where everything is located and consider what's going to happen next after you make a move.
* Play three or four moves, then stop and re-examine the board to see what options you have at this point before making the next moves.
* Make empty columns as soon as possible to give yourself more room to maneuver other cards.
* Whenever possible start an empty column off with a king.
* Search for the aces and make it a point to get them free as early in the game as possible. While doing this consider where the 2's and 3's are located as well.
* Keep in mind that the moves that seem to be the obvious choice are not always the best choice. You may need to make other moves to free up cards that you will need later.
* Keep the free cells empty whenever possible to give you more options throughout the game.

Maneuverability is the key to winning FreeCell. Once you run out of space to move the cards around and there are no more plays, the game is over and you lose. When planning out your strategy keep this in mind.

As with any game, practice makes prefect so the more you play the easier it will be for you to determine ahead of time what moves to make. Combine the tips listed above with practice and before long, you will be winning more games than you lose.

Lisa is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content. She has also authored her own books and works as a consultant to other writers, Internet marketers and Internet businesses. Professional wordsmith for hire: gamer, wife, mother, entrepreneur, published poet, co-owner of game guides company, public speaker and Internet business consultant. You can learn more or follow Lisa's blog from her website: http://www.freelancewriter4hire.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_A_Mason

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Play Scrabble and Win

Scrabble is a word board game designed for two to four players. It consists of a game board marked with a 15 by 15 grid and a variety of lettered tiles. You score points by forming words across or up and down the board similar to a crossword puzzle. You must be able to find the words that you use for the game in a standard dictionary for it to be used legally. Scrabble has been around for a long time but it's still considered one of the top board games of today.

If you love playing the game but tend to get frustrated because you find yourself staring at the tiles and your mind goes blank, you're not alone. This actually happens to a lot of players but there are a few tips that can help you out. With the tips found here you can play scrabble and win.

* Start by brushing up on your words so you will be more familiar with a variation of different words and that will help you to look at the letters you have and use them to form words faster.

* Shuffle your tiles around often to help you come up with ideas. Seeing the tiles in a different order really can make a big difference and help you see words easier.

* Always look at the board to see what options you have before making a move. There may be something that you can add to that will make you a lot of points.

* Let your mind be open to using unusual words that aren't used everyday. Many players tend to focus on common words when not so common ones can be easier to come up with and earn you more points.

* Having a good balance of consonants and vowels is nice and something all players hope for but this doesn't always happen. Don't let this discourage you. There are many words that are rich in both vowel and consonants that can be legally used in scrabble. The problem is the player usually sees all of one thing and starts to panic and this is part of the reason they experience a mental block.

Since your goal is to score points by making words and the longer the word the more points you receive, many players tend to search for the longest words they can think of. This takes up more time and it's not always the best strategy. Don't rule out using two or three letter words or other short words occasionally throughout the game. These can lead to longer words on down the road especially if you think and plan ahead. Short words can also help you out of tight spot when you find yourself struck for words and you need to buy a little time to review the tiles in front of you.

Lisa is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content. She has also authored her own books and works as a consultant to other writers, Internet marketers and Internet businesses. Professional wordsmith for hire: gamer, wife, mother, entrepreneur, published poet, co-owner of game guides company, public speaker and Internet business consultant. You can learn more or follow Lisa's blog from her website: http://www.freelancewriter4hire.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_A_Mason

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Online Games Vs Gaming Consoles

Which one is better? There is quite a bit of competition between online games and gaming consoles that you play on your television set. It's hard to say which one is better because it really all depends on the personal preference of the player. Still, it would be safe to say that online games are extremely popular toady.

Both ways to play games has something special to offer the gamer so let's take a look at the advantages and disadvantages each of them have to offer.

Gaming Consoles:

* The cost of some of the more modern gaming consoles are reasonably priced considering all the great features they have to offer.
* The HD TV can greatly enhance the graphics on some of the games.
* Once you pay for the console and the games you want to play, there is no ongoing fee each month that you have to pay.
* They're fast and easy to set up.
* They can be played by gamers of all ages.
* There are many excellent and exciting games available for these systems.
* You can gather together with friends or family and have a game night to socialize.

The biggest downfall of the gaming consoles is the fact that updating the system is not normally an option. This means when a new system comes out with better graphics and features, you have to buy new games as well. Although, manufactures are working on this problem and the Xbox 360 is the perfect example. It was designed with backwards compatibility making it possible to continue playing many of the Xbox games with the new console.

Online Games:

* The game options available online can't be beat. There are literally thousands of games that you can choose from.
* There are many free games that you can play online.
* Many games can be downloaded to your PC for convenience.
* Massively multiplayer online role-playing games are available which makes it possible for large groups of gamers to interact together in a virtual world. These games are fun, exciting and challenging.
* When problems occur with online games the developers of those games can install a patch to correct the problem. Upgrades can also be made this way.
* Some games allow you to customize your avatar to make it more personal.
* You can interact with gamers from all over the world. You can always find someone to play with or compete against anytime day or night.
* It's a great way to make new friends with a common interest.
* Online gaming offers both high quality sound and excellent graphics.

Of course, before you can play online games you do need to invest in a good computer system. Depending on the games you choose to play you will most likely need a high speed Internet connection as well. Some games require a monthly fee to participate. Another concern with online gaming is that it's possible to become a little obsessed with the games and some people become anti-social because they spend all of their time playing these games.

When you compare online games to gaming consoles you can see that they all have good and bad issues. You have to decide which one suits your needs the best and offers the type of games that you're the most interested in. Each person is different and what works for one, may not be suited for another. However, there's no reason why you can't enjoy both if you have the time for lots of gaming.

Lisa is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content. She has also authored her own books and works as a consultant to other writers, Internet marketers and Internet businesses. Professional wordsmith for hire: gamer, wife, mother, entrepreneur, published poet, co-owner of game guides company, public speaker and Internet business consultant. You can learn more or follow Lisa's blog from her website: http://www.freelancewriter4hire.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_A_Mason

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in searc of public proxy servers

Public proxy servers are great tools to use particularly for those that have had their Net access limited or blocked. It is also something that users can turn to if they want to remain anonymous and avoid leaving any personal info or preference on any site.

There are many variants, but the way they work is pretty much the same way; the server will intercept the request that your computer is making towards a website and does the procedure itself. By performing this operation, the information about your computer, such as its IP, will not be known by the website.

These public proxy servers usually have their own connections but you can, as an option, manage it from your own computer. This latter method is rarely used by users however, as it is deemed less secure.

Those who search for these types of services on the Internet often end up feeling frustrated, either because there are too many to choose from, or the ones they pick simply are hard to log in to. For new users, the key here is to have some patience. Usually the site will provide some stats on the servers that are listed, and by understanding what they represent, make it easier to access the public proxy servers.

Another thing that can help one find the proper server will be to get the right software. A lot of the utilities and applications on the Internet are free, and they can make managing, establishing and otherwise using these servers much easier. Of course there are some that can make things more complicated but that is usually due to the number of settings that can be configured.

Take the time to study the help file and it will be easier to use. Of course you should also need to ascertain that the application you download is compatible with your system. Otherwise access to public proxy servers will be impossible.

Finally, researching and looking for good and working types is not limited to the free ones. You can also try the ones that charge a fee. This is obviously not for everyone, but if you are the type that needs to have a secure access to the Web, then paying a few dollars may be worth it.

Of occur, you need to spend some time studying the website to make sure that it is worth it. Asking around in forums or getting recommendations from other computer users will also be welcome and even needed.

There is of course no such thing as the perfect public proxy server. But there are a lot out there, and by scrutinizing the website, the software and the lists, you will find yourself using them competently and ably much faster than you may have anticipated.
Peter Garant has written many articles about Proxy Lists for a recently launched website about Proxy Sites.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Garant

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Conceal Your IP Number With a Proxy Server

Do you do things online that you would like to keep private? You might want to protect your privacy with a proxy server. The Internet gives people the illusion of privacy. You can surf unseen by others, use aliases and change email addresses as often as you want. But this does not equate to anonymity. Even if you never give away your personal information, your computer can.

The Internet is nothing but computers connected to one another. When different computers hook up, they identify one another with unique series of numbers called IP addresses. IP stands for "internet protocol." Think of an IP address as an identification number. In the earlier days of the Net, each computer had a unique, permanent IP address that it used to identify itself to other computers. Nowadays when you surf online via your Internet Service Provider, it most likely assigns you a dynamic IP address, meaning this number can change each time you sign in. You may be sharing that IP with others in the Local Area Network or LAN. If you check your assigned IP address online, you'll get the server name and location.

It doesn't end there. Aside from the shared "public" IP address, your computer has a unique "private" IP address. Your ISP uses this to identify all the different computers/users using the network at any moment. The outside world sees only your public IP, but your server sees both the public and private IP. An ISP can keep usage logs for months, or even years. Your network administrator can find out from the logs which subscriber has been using the Internet, when and for what. School and office networks can keep track of you this way too.

How to change your IP address then so you won't be traced? Enter proxy servers. A proxy is like a messenger. It relays messages back and forth between you and the websites you're viewing. But a simple proxy will announce your original (public) IP. To protect your privacy with a proxy, you will need an anonymous one. Such a proxy will serve as a virtual "mask" for you so you can surf, download files, chat, etc. without letting people know where you're coming form.

This doesn't mean you'll have absolute privacy. The bald fact is that you can never get 100% anonymity unless you stop using the Internet altogether. At most, a proxy gives you a higher level of protection that the average snoop won't be able to hack. But proxies and ISPs alike keep records of your logs, and thus your real IP. Given a warrant from a judge, they could be compelled to disclose the information.

You could secure yourself further with encryption software like PGP or BlowCrypt. But the best thing you can do is to avoid illegal activities online, with or without a proxy. If you do nothing wrong, there is less need to worry about your IP address.
Peter Garant has written many articles about Proxy servers for a recently launched website about Proxy Sites.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Garant

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Crossing All Boundaries

Riding to work on the train this morning, I chanced to glance up from my portable phone-camera waffle iron etc. and noticed a very interesting thing. Among commuters, the obsession with tech gadgets crosses all boundaries of age and any other social demographic you care to name. Here we all are, on the train, heading for work in a hospital, heading for work in the financial district or maybe to a parole hearing. We're all on the same train and we all have one intense interest in common - in ignoring everyone else on the train. And our fabulous assortment of high tech gear makes that so very possible.

I was a little embarrassed to be caught looking around the packed car - but once I started taking a catalogue of what was going on I just couldn't stop. There was the old blind guy (white cane and all) with his ear buds in, rocking out to some high tech tunes. There are a dozen or so furious texters in business suites getting a jump on email for the day, and there's an assortment of people chatting with friends on the phone. Almost everyone on the train has some sort of gadget in the ear - we have electronic books and electronic video games. We have the serious workers who are typing away on the laptop computer, and even the digital watch wearers checking the time.

Everyone is looking at the stuff too - not just the typers and texters. The listeners and chatters are pressing buttons and watching screens. We are all very intent on our little devices, and indeed, all of these provide a fantastic and legitimate distraction.

After I hooked myself back into my own devices, and returned to the serious business of not paying any attention to anyone else, I couldn't help pondering the absurdity. I'm sure many have said it, but this my first media-gadget epiphany. We paid for these things (or stole them) just so we can be connected, so we can stay linked in to what's going on. At the same time, they provide the greatest escape from what is really going on with us. It seems to me we are desperate for those connections at a distance and use them to actively evade the connections right beside us. And we all like things just as they are. I begin picturing a sort of dual reality, where the train was ephemeral and the media web was the more lasting and concrete thing. Then I shook my head a bit and resolved not to eat cold pizza for breakfast in the future.

Maybe it's not really so bad - maybe we're not all turning in to cyborgs. Perhaps we are all just making our best attempts to be where we want to be, and not where we are. I don't know if that will end up being a good thing or a bad thing for us in the future. Maybe it's just a passing fad before we return to the business of living in the real world. But until then, I'll ride to work with my music on and my phone out, just so I won't feel alone.
For more information on gadgets, visit http://gadgetmicroblog.com and http://technoob.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Parks

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Search Engine Optimization - How Search Optimization Works

Search engine optimization is a new trend that is sweeping across the internet, and is rapidly becoming more and more popular. However, the constantly increasing number of websites has made it increasingly difficult to stand out in the crowd, and sites generally rely on search engines to draw traffic until they are large and popular enough to stand out on their own. In this article, we'll go over how search engine optimization works, as well as how you can use it to make your site more successful.

Search optimization relies on the fact that most people go online to look for information, and most information is found by using search engines. It follows, therefore, that if one can increase how early one's site appears on a search engine's results page for a key term related to their site, then more users will go from the search engine to their site, thus increasing traffic. The way search engine optimization works is by taking advantage of the way search engines function, because a good site designer knows that since most of their traffic will come from search engines, designing the site with this in mind will make it more successful.

Search engines work by sending out crawlers, which are little electronic pieces of code that browse the web looking for links, websites, media, text, and other content to send back to the search engine. Once the search engine receives data, it indexes it into its list of websites, so that when a user searches for a key term it looks through its sites and picks one out that it thinks is most likely to match the user's desired terms. Search engine optimization takes advantage of this by including key terms that relate to the site on a more regular basis, thus increasing the chance that the search engine will choose that site for related key terms.

If you want to increase traffic to your site for whatever reason, the best way to do so is to optimize your site for search engines. Search engine optimization offers a reliable, effective way to bring more users to a site, and it isn't the same as "tricking" the users because you're simply creating content for your site that relates to its purpose in the first place, thus increasing the chance that someone who finds your site actually gets the thing that they are looking for.
SEO firm, search engine optimization company, SEO company

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_McKernan

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Medical Spa Recession Survival

Traditionally medical spas cater to the vanity and fear of aging in their clients but with the economic downturn these people are more concerned about their mortgages than sagging skin.

So how does a traditionally luxury or vanity based business survive when consumers are cutting luxury purchases out of their lives?

Here are 5 strategies that get you started on realizing you can survive and maybe even thrive during a recession.

#1 Shift Your Luxury & Vanity Message Shift your company message from luxury/non-essential services to what we offer is essential to your life right now. Examples of how you would do that is, focus on how the added stress they are facing is negatively affecting their skin, well being, aging process, body, confidence and much more. Identify the problems that they face and how YOUR services and products solve those problems. Another example, recently laid off clients may need an "image tune up" before they go out on the job hunt because of the increased number of job hunters competing for the same job.

#2 Follow the money not other Spas Survey your clients and patients and see what THEY need and want. Don't focus on "business as usual". Offer them the choices in price, services and education that they are looking for during these changes times. Offer "mini" versions of some of your services at reduced pricing or diversify your products so you can cater to the client who wants to bring the "spa" experience home for a fraction of the cost. Be creative and resourceful

#3 Internet Marketing instead of expensive print marketing Some spas spend thousands of dollars a month on print, TV or radio advertising. During a slower economy a marketing audit is really necessary to weed out the advertising or marketing strategies that aren't paying off RIGHT NOW. Start incorporating the very economical internet marketing options such as, email marketing, enewsletters, pay per click, affiliate marketing and much more. You can reach large numbers at a fraction of the cost.

#4 Create Complimentary Alliances During recessions is a perfect time to band together with others. This is really a way to benefit from other businesses' customers and they benefit from yours. Find complimentary businesses near by that don't offer competing services or products but see "your target audience". Such as hair salons, nail salons, massage therapists, wellness clinics, pharmacies, fitness centers/trainers and many others. Find ways you can do coop advertising together or promote each others business. Be creative on how you can partner to create a win-win for both.

#5 Use Public Relations by being newsworthy Public Relations is your secret weapon during a recession. It's free. It reaches the masses. It brings in new business right away. So why doesn't everyone do it? They're intimidated by the media. All you have to do is tie in something that you're doing or offering to local news, trends, national news or a current social issue to get a reporter, editor or producer to bite. For example, maybe you're offering 10 mini image boot camp sessions for newly unemployed people-in order to gain an advantage in their job search. Call local media to cover this story and say you're offering this new service now for X price. If you still don't feel comfortable with this process hire a PR specialist or media training firm to guide you through the process.

A recession doesn't mark the end of your medical spa it just means a shift in perspective, diversifying how you help your clients and being open to charting new frontiers in marketing
Shari Kingston Adams is the founder and CEO of The Sykia Group, a Public Relations & Internet Marketing Training Company that offers training and services to grow and expand companies in the wellness and healthy lifestyles industry for over 18 years. Now offering website services. For more info view our website http://www.Sykiagroup.com

shari@sykiagroup.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shari_Kingston_Adams

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Pc Gaming: Not Just For Couch Potatoes

Now the fights are usually conformed to pc gaming or gaming with game consoles for that matter. It seems girls are not as much interested in pc gaming as boys and men are. Or is it a discriminatory observation? Any way, most households can see boys spending time pc gaming, while girls spending their time in the kitchen, at the garden, before the TV, and filling their scrapbooks.

Video games, brick games, puzzle games, there isn't a game category that is not available for PC gaming. The choices of PC gaming is endless and you can't possibly try all the PC games available today. By the time you try a small percentage of games, the pc gaming industry would have expanded beyond your reach. Anyway, it is fun to spend hours and days before the pc, tying a new game and remaining unsuccessful cracking the final frontier after one month of toiling.

PC gaming is not always a one man affair. Sometimes it can be interactive too. With broadband internet becoming norm of the day, you can play high graphics games with your friend, who can be at Sydney or in Paris, just like would play face to face. You can get the thrills of challenging your friend, without having to feel embarrassed if defeated. Online interactive games go far beyond the online chess games available at hundreds of different websites.

You can find dozens (sometimes hundreds) of titles at your local mall, local computer centre and online. Free to download games, paid to download, and games available in DVDs and CDs, the world of pc gaming is quite fascinating one, you don't ever have to play the same game more than you like to. If you are fed up with one game, just throw it away and there are dozens of others on the queue, vying for your attention.

Good graphics card, sound card, joy stick, etc are needed for pc gaming. The speed and memory of the computer also are important components of good gaming experience. Computers that support super speed games are in demand.

Reading this you might think pc gaming is a post 2000 phenomena. It is not. PC gaming has been around since 1960s. Spacewar! of 1961 is the first PC game. Several games have come and gone since then. The unfettered interest to pc gaming knows no bounds. It can't be explained. Only people who spend time before their pc, gaming could understand what it means to be pc gaming.

By: Sam Jose

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jenguu game

Jenguu is match-3 but its mechanics are much different from what we are used to playing for this genre. In each level, you are presented with pillars and blocks constantly falling from nowhere and filling them up. Your task is to stack same-colored blocks in order from largest to smallest until such time that the base of a pillar lights up. Clicking the base afterwards will blast away the stacked blocks, thus collecting the material representing the type of block that had been blown off.

Making double stacks before blowing them off are worth more points and coins, but the best points can be made by making a Jenguu. A Jenguu is basically groups of three stacks that you make on a single pillar before blowing them to smithereens. Earn enough coins and you can then buy upgrades for power-ups which is available in the shopping part of the game after each level.

Each pillar can only hold up to ten blocks though, and when it fills up, vines will grow on the pillar which will render it useless for the rest of the level. You must avoid this at all cost since in every level, you have to complete specific tasks assigned for you to complete within a time limit. You must imagine that making a Jenguu is definitely a pain. Just when you had already stacked nine blocks, a random falling block can foil all your plans and even cripple your chances for the rest of the level.

By: Ruff B.

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