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boompa

2007-04-21T15:03:00.001-07:00

boompa

Gleevec stops return of rare stomach cancer

2007-04-21T12:54:00.039-07:00

Filed under: Drug, Chemotherapy, Stomach Cancer, Research, Daily news

Cancer drug Gleevec, used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), has been pulled out of another round of testing so it can get to work stopping the return of a rare stomach cancer. It's that good, according to findings announced on Thursday.

The promise of Gleevec should make it standard treatment for people with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a stomach and intestine cancer diagnosed in 5,000 to 6,000 Americans each year.

The drug has already been used for patients whose disease is too advanced for surgery. Now it will be used for those whose tumors can be removed. The drug will be administered for at least one year post-surgery.

More than 600 people participated in this Gleevec trial. Each person took either Gleevec or a sugar pill for one year after surgery. After the one-year mark, cancer returned in 17 percent of people taking the sugar pill and in 3 percent of people taking the actual drug.

Since 50 to 90 percent of GIST cases recur over time, this is great news, say researchers who call Gleevec a highly targeted cancer drug with few side effects.

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Resource for helping those close to you diagnosed with cancer

2007-04-21T12:54:00.037-07:00

Filed under: All Cancers, Books, Cancer Caregivers

While reading the spring issue of Cure Magazine I came across an article on a book called Help Me Live: 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know.

I have not read the book but I think it would be a great resource for those who have a family or friend with cancer. There is a need for a guide --I think this book can fill that gap.

Why would a guide be needed? I have found throughout my cancer journey that fellow survivors have many stories of unthoughtful, tasteless, ridiculous and sometimes funny comments from those around them. We can laugh at a lot of the comments because we know the person means well -- but sometimes it does go too far and can hurt.

What this book does is give the friend or family member some insight on what would be most helpful to the cancer patient. Based on the author's own experience with the disease and other survivors, each chapter tells intimate stories about one of the 20 most important messages people with cancer want to convey.

Help Me Live will help you find the word or gestures to show how much you care. There is never a 'right thing' to say or do but learning how to communicate effectively is very important.

This book can also be helpful to the cancer survivors themselves says Kathy Latour who wrote the article in Cure Magazine. She says "This book is not just for its intended audience of friends and caregivers, but for cancer patients too. In part, it affirms the cutting edge comments we made when Uncle Jack said something tasteless and painful. But in addition to reminding me of the many challenging people in my journey, the stories also revealed ways I could have handled them a little better"

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Thought for the Day: The facts on fish

2007-04-21T12:54:00.035-07:00

Filed under: All Cancers, Research, Diets, Thought for the Day

Ever wonder what fish to eat, what fish to avoid, what fish is healthy, what fish is cancer-causing? I do.

I'm looking into this whole fish thing. And while my search for information is in no way exhaustive and my findings are far from conclusive, I have found some interesting fishy facts and figures.

Think about this:

Fish definitely has health benefits. It's low in fat, high in protein, and rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Americans love this. How do I know? Because on average, each of us eats a record 16.6 pounds of fish every year. Our intake of shrimp and salmon has doubled, in fact, since 1994.

Fish definitely has its drawbacks too. Headlines repeatedly warn us of dangerous contaminants in lakes, rivers, and oceans. Don't forget about mercury, the biggest fish health hazard. It's been linked to neurological problems in developing fetuses and children, making consumption of shark, swordfish, tilefish (aka golden snapper or golden bass), king mackeral, canned albacore tuna, and tuna steaks a no-no for hoards of women and children.

For just about everyone else, the benefits of eating moderate amounts of seafood greatly outweigh the risks. Just watch out for those PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) -- possible carcinogenic chemical compounds that end up in some seafood.

To avoid PCBs, steer clear of farmed salmon which contains high levels of these compounds or limit your intake to less than one single eight-ounce meal per month. Opt for the wild variety of salmon to avoid this concern altogether. Or take the side of the FDA. Their reports say salmon is a powerhouse when it comes to protecting heart and developing cancer from this source is much lower than the risk of heart disease.

Source: Good Housekeeping, April 2007

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Yoga good for the soul and breast cancer too

2007-04-21T12:54:00.033-07:00

Filed under: Breast Cancer, Research, Stress Reduction, Exercise, Daily news

Surely, everyone can benefit in some way from yoga. Women with breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast, however, may benefit greatly from a tailored program featuring gentle yoga postures, breathing exercises, and meditation.

The great benefits: less pain and fatigue and more vigor, relaxation, and acceptance," says Dr. James W. Carson from Duke University Medical Center and lead of a study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.

Carson says women with advanced breast cancer need effective methods for curbing cancer-related symptoms.

The pilot study included 13 women who attended yoga classes once per week for eight weeks. The women, with an average age of 59 and with diagnoses occurring an average of seven years earlier, were helped significantly. They felt more invigorated and gained a greater sense of acceptance. They also found they felt better not only on the day they practiced yoga but the next day too.

This study offers the first, small-scale evidence for yoga's potential benefits for women with limited life expectancy.

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Marijuana halts lung cancer growth by half

2007-04-21T12:54:00.031-07:00

Filed under: Drug, Lung Cancer, Research, Daily news

More and more media reports are mentioning the potential merits of marijuana. The most recent headlines say the active ingredient in the drug cuts tumor growth in common lung cancers in half and greatly reduces the ability of the cancer to spread.

Researchers at Harvard University tested marijuana's main ingredient, delta-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, in both lab and mouse studies and say their experiments are the first to show THC inhibits the growth of cancer.

Researchers are not certain why THC inhibits tumor growth, but it could be that the substance activates molecules that arrest the cell cycle. THC may also interfere with angiogenesis and vascularization, which promotes cancer growth.

There is a long way to go in the study of THC. Yet "the beauty of this study is that we are showing that a substance of abuse, if used prudently, may offer a new road to therapy against lung cancer," says Anju Preet, Ph.D., a researcher in the Division of Experimental Medicine.

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Thought for the Day: Lucy arrives in heaven

2007-04-21T12:54:00.029-07:00

Filed under: Breast Cancer, Cancer Survivors, Thought for the Day

I'd never met Lucy. And I don't know how she died. I do know she was a loving pet for my friend Adriene, a breast cancer survivor diagnosed with the disease at the same time I was told the dreaded beast was living in my body.

I've never met Adriene. We've communicated only through e-mail and letters and packages and holiday cards. Still, we have a friendship, anchored in shared experience.

Through our friendship, I've come to learn that Adriene and Lucy were the best of friends who relied on one another through good times and bad. Their love was mutual, strong, and evident to those who knew the pair.

Lucy passed away on Monday. I was notified by Adriene who directed me to a new post on her photo journal.

Think about this, a message from Adriene:

Lucy was sent to the heavens on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. I was lucky to have her in my arms as I gave her over to her spiritual playmates who will take care of her and give her the room to play and be the loving dog that she was here on earth. I was blessed to have Lucy as my constant companion. She traveled the U.S. trekking cross-country three times, traveled up and down the eastern seaboard, road the subways of Boston, and graced the pages of American Photography magazine not once, but twice. She was a famous dog who had a reputation for the devilish behavior she possessed. We all loved her for the spirit she was and I will always respect the gifts she gave me as she carried my soul from illness to wellness. Rest in Peace, Lucy. I will always keep you close to my heart.

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Cancer husbands setting a strong example

2007-04-21T12:54:00.027-07:00

Filed under: Breast Cancer, All Cancers, Fundraisers, Cancer Caregivers

Listed here are three organizations that set a strong example to help the cause of cancer research:

Men With Heart --Their mission as seen on their website:

We are husbands who are doing something constructive rather than resigning ourselves to helplessness. We are sons who have seen our mothers courageously fight an insidious disease. We are brothers who want to stand beside our sisters in this battle. We are relatives, friends, lovers, colleagues, neighbors, and admirers of the women who are struggling with, often beating, and, regrettably, sometimes losing the fight with breast cancer.

We do our best to raise awareness, funds, and smiles. We participate in a variety of breast cancer events, wearing our trademark yellow shirts, including the Avon 2-Day Walks, the Komen 3-Day Walks, and the American Cancer Society Making Strides Walk. We walk with the goals of spreading good cheer, encouraging a spirit of camaraderie, and helping our fellow walkers. We also host a gala party every year and a racing event in the fall. We support and get involved with a variety of other breast cancer causes, organizations, and events.

Since our inception in 2001, Men With Heart has raised over $600,000 for breast cancer prevention, treatment, and awareness.

Men Against Breast Cancer -- The MABC mission is to provide targeted support services to educate and empower men to be effective caregivers when breast cancer strikes the family of a loved one: as well as target and mobilize men to be active participants in a fight to eradicate breast cancer as a life threatening disease.

MABC recognizes breast cancer is a family issue that devastates the entire family. Our philosophy is to leverage the support of the whole family to help the patient, with special emphasis on the important role of the husband/partner in caring for the woman he loves. At the same time, MABC recognizes and supports that the ultimate decisions regarding treatment and care are those of the patient.

Together in Breast Cancer Survival: A Men's Caregiver Support Group --Their mission to be a presence that will give you the support and tools you will need to be a proactive and informed caregiver to your loved one. Our goal is to be here for you as you journey with your loved one through the cancer diagnosis, surgery, prognosis, recovery and beyond.

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Thought for the Day: What kind of world do you want?

2007-04-21T12:54:00.025-07:00

Filed under: Breast Cancer, Fundraisers, Thought for the Day

John Ondrasik, the man and musician behind the band Five for Fighting, has released a new album and a new website that just happens to benefit the Breast Cancer 3-Day, a 3-day, 60-mile walk sponsored by Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

Think about this:

Ondrasik's new album, "Two Lights," features a song called "World" which is in heavy rotation on pop radio stations across the country. This single is the inspiration for Ondrasik's new website, What Kind of World Do You Want -- the first video community that gives back by allowing visitors a chance to make a difference.

This is how it works: reveal what kind of world you want and help raise money for charity by watching videos or creating and uploading a video of yourself, your friends, or your family. In your video, answer the question What Kind of World Do You Want? and then choose which charity you wish to help fund.

In addition to the Breast Cancer 3-Day, selected charities include the Fisher House, Save the Children, Autism Speaks, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, and NY Police and Fire Widows & Children. Video clips describing each charity, a message from Ondrasik, and a video of the song "World," are all featured on the site.

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Sean Connery in good health, despite cancer fears

2007-04-21T12:54:00.023-07:00

Filed under: Throat Cancer, Daily news, Celebrity news

You may not have known it but actor Sean Connery has been fearing cancer for the past two decades.

The Scottish Connery, 76, has been seeing doctors for 20 years so growths in his throat could be monitored. Fearing the worst -- cancer -- Connery wanted to stay on top of things.

Results from a recent medical appointment reveal Connery has been given the all-clear, according to his brother Neil who is also plagued by throat polyps.

Some were concerned about Connery's absence from a New York Tartan Week charity show he was scheduled to host two weeks ago. Apparently, there was nothing to worry about. He was just just getting his check-up, and he later assured fans he is in good health.

"It is something which needs to be followed through," says his brother. "You have to have yearly checks and that is why Sean went to the hospital, just to make sure everything was all right."

Connery's father died of throat cancer at age 69. Connery himself was rushed home from filming in Africa in 1993 due to throat problems. He later received radiotherapy treatment.

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Thought for the Day: Stomped into oblivion

2007-04-21T12:54:00.021-07:00

Filed under: Breast Cancer, Exercise, Magazines, Cancer Survivors, Thought for the Day

I've said it before. Every time I go running I feel like I'm crushing cancer with each and every step I pound onto the pavement. It's exhilarating, knowing I'm doing something good for my body and my soul, knowing every day I run is one more day I've survived a nasty disease. Apparently, others agree.

Think about this:

A new Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure magazine advertisement features a close-up shot of the bottom of a running shoe. Woven into the tread on the bottom of the shoe are these words:

Every step resounds with the satisfying crunch of breast cancer being stomped into oblivion.

This is exactly how I feel.

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Thought for the Day: A vaccine for breast cancer too

2007-04-21T12:54:00.019-07:00

Filed under: Breast Cancer, Drug, Research, Daily news, Thought for the Day

There's a new vaccine out there that stimulates the immune system to find and destroy breast cancer cells. In early experiments, the vaccine held off or stopped the growth of tumors in all of the mice studied. Some mice were even cured.

Think about this:

Research presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research reveals this vaccine is different from most under development that help kick-start the immune systems of sick patients. In this case, the vaccine tells the immune system to recognize breast cancer cells and to attack and kill them on the spot.

One researcher says breast cancer cells usually fly under the radar of the immune system. To combat this problem, the injectable vaccine uses a bacteria-type substance that is altered to contain the gene HER2/neu and also antibodies that rev up the immune system. This makes the body react and wipe out cells containing HER2/neu.

If continued studies prove promising, the vaccine would work for the 15 to 25 percent of women whose breast cancers overexpress HER2/neu.

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Congresswoman Millender-McDonald diagnosed with cancer

2007-04-21T12:54:00.017-07:00

Filed under: Politics, Daily news

California Democratic Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald has been diagnosed with cancer and will take a four to six-week leave of absence from the House.

Details about the congresswoman's condition have not been revealed but a statement from her office reports, "The congresswoman has been diagnosed with cancer and is recuperating with her family. The congresswoman wishes to thank everyone for their expressions of love, well wishes and prayers. She will maintain a limited schedule in her district and is requesting respect of her privacy at this time."

Millender-McDonald, 68, has been representing for seven terms a Southern California district that includes Compton, Long Beach, and parts of Los Angeles. She is also chair of the Committee on House Administration and oversees House operations and federal election procedures.

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Cisplatin works for triple-nagative breast cancer

2007-04-21T12:54:00.015-07:00

Filed under: Breast Cancer, Drug, Chemotherapy, Research, Daily news

It's called triple-negative breast cancer and it manifests itself in the lack of expression of two cell surface proteins -- estrogen and progesterone receptors -- and also the protein HER2.

It's a disease that does not typically respond to treatment with standard chemotherapy drugs and therefore, diagnosis can come with a poor prognosis. But a new study out of Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center in Boston indicates this type of disease is sensitive to the drug cisplatin.

The study, appearing online in the April 19 Journal of Clinical Investigation and in the journal's May print issue, shows that triple-negative breast cancer expresses larger amounts of two proteins, delta-Np63 and TAp73. Delta-Np63 binds to TAp73 and prevents it from killing cancerous cells. Cisplatin does the trick, though, and releases TAp73 from delta-Np63. This causes the cells to die and offers hope for a sometimes hopeless disease.

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President Bush authorizes cancer screening program

2007-04-21T12:54:00.013-07:00

Filed under: Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Politics, Daily news

On Friday, President Bush re-authorized a federal program designed to help low-income women get screening for both breast and cervical cancer.

While funding has not yet been allocated for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, the President's support for this outreach initiative is considered by many a victory in the fight against cancer.

Bush, whose mother-in-law survived cancer, says "early detection makes treatment more effective. It gives hope to patients and it saves lives."

Currently, the government spends $202 million on this program and has reached three million women who may not have otherwise received screening. With the President's new stamp of approval, the program is authorized to spend up to $275 million.

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Running Bear invests in fight against brain tumors

2007-04-21T12:54:00.011-07:00

Filed under: Brain Cancer, Cancer events, Fundraisers

The Boston Marathon takes place today. And one runner -- known to friends and family as Running Bear -- will run to raise money for brain tumor research. She's already collected more than $3,500.

Harvard student Sarah MacCarthy, 25, will run for her Uncle Tim, who is battling glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive form of the primary brain tumors known collectively as gliomas.

If Uncle Tim can fight for his life, MacCarthy can use her privilege of good health to make a difference -- even if it means stepping up her casual running to marathon standards.

The Brain Tumor Society will benefit from MacCarthy's determination. Dedicated to improving quality of life for patients, survivors, and families affected by this disease, BTS is committed to being a national leader in the quest for a cure.

It seems MacCarthy is pretty committed herself. To contribute to her efforts and check on her progress, click here.

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Soy and broccoli's effect on cancer cells

2007-04-21T12:54:00.009-07:00

Filed under: Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Prevention, All Cancers, Research, Diets, Nutrition, Cancer prevention foods

It is not new to hear that soy and broccoli have been linked to lowering cancer rates, if they are a part of your daily diet. California researchers think they understand what the effect of these veggies have on the cancer cell.

The researchers are convinced that there is a biological mechanism behind the protective effect. It is explained in the article that a compound resulting from the digestion of cruciferous vegetables, and genistein, an isofavone in soy, reduce the two proteins needed for breast and ovarian cancer to spread.

Cancer cells can be drawn to metastasize by having high levels of a surface recepter on the cell. The organs in which the cancer spreads also secrete high levels of a different receptor that binds to the cancer cell's receptor. This attraction stimulates the invasive properties of cancer cells and acts like a homing device, drawing the cancer cells to organs like the liver or brain.

The study found that when cancer cells were treated with high levels of compounds found in broccoli and soy, the drawing mechanism to the organs was reduced by 80 percent compared to untreated cells.

Dr. Alan Kristal, associate head of the cancer prevention program at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center says "This is an entirely unique mechanism...Preventing the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells is crucial"

More studies are needed but the research suggests that this attraction can play a role in the development of more than 23 different types of cancer.

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The clouds parted, the rain fell

2007-04-21T12:54:00.007-07:00

Filed under: Liver Cancer, Hospice

My friend's husband lost his mother to liver cancer during the wee hours of Sunday morning. He had traveled with his family from Ohio to Florida expecting to take his mom home with him so she could spend her last months where she once lived.

Steve never got to take his mom home. She died just days after he landed in Florida. Still, I am confident he won't return to Ohio empty-handed. His positive and healthy perspective on losing his mom will surely keep him company.

I got to see Steve and Kim -- my very best friend whose bouncy ringlets I envied long before I got my own post-chemotherapy curls -- on the same day Steve's mom died. They needed to get away and wanted a distraction for their two small children.

I am honored to have been chosen as my friends' destination -- not only so they could begin to heal from their loss, but because I gained a renewed sense of calm about death and dying during the time we talked and laughed and reminisced.

Steve's mom, 69, died at home in the loving arms of hospice caretakers who offered her round-the-clock care. During her final hours, she received a bath, a back rub, and a massage with body lotion. She sent non-verbal messages to her family members indicating she wished to be alone and once she had convinced everyone to head for bed, she took her final breaths. She died facing a wall, in contrast to her usual position in which she faced the door, as if to welcome all visitors. Her final resting pose was perhaps her way of saying good-bye. Steve sees it this way.

Just moments after Steve's mom was driven away in a funeral home car, Steve saw the clouds part. And then the rain fell. "Mom just figured out how to turn on the water," Steve said.

I don't think I'll ever forget this remark. Or the fact that the rain didn't last for very long on Sunday. The day Steve's mom died was gorgeous, glorious, and sunny.

There's so much more we talked about -- like the convertible Steve's mom drove and how he thought about placing her urn, her photo, and a scarf in the seat and taking his mom for one last spin before turning the car in -- and we passed the day in a celebratory manner. This, I think, is exactly what Steve's mom would have wanted.

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Eat your vegetables, fend off cancer

2007-04-21T12:54:00.005-07:00

Filed under: Research, Diets, Cancer prevention foods, Daily news, Head and Neck cancer

If your mom was one to harp on you about eating your vegetables, it was likely because she knew how good veggies are for the body. Moms everywhere now have research on their side.

A large study of 500,000 American retirees has shown that increasing consumption of fruits or vegetables is enough to reduce the risk of head and neck cancer. Specifically, eating six servings of fruit and vegetables per day per 1,000 calories cut the risk of these cancers by 29 percent compared to eating one and a half servings.

"It may not sound like news that vegetables protect from cancer, but there is actually some controversy in the literature," says Dr. Alan Kristal, associate head of the cancer prevention program at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

Clearly, diet plays a role in cancer. Experts believe that up to two-thirds of all cancer cases stem from lifestyle factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, and diet. So keep crunching those carrots and growing those green beans. You'll make your momma proud.

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My sweet Cleo

2007-04-21T12:54:00.003-07:00

Filed under: Animal, Liver Cancer

Cleopatra was her name, she died yesterday. She was eleven and half years old. What a sweet girl she was and I am going to miss her so much. She died of a liver tumor that was diagnosed yesterday. I took her to the emergency animal hospital after I noticed that she looked very lethargic.

Cleo was part of my life for such a long time. One thing that sticks in my mind about her was that after I was diagnosed with breast cancer she would always come over to me when I was crying -- like she knew I was upset and she always made me feel better.

Goodbye Cleo -- mommy loves you.

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Breastfeeding blocks breast cancer

2007-04-21T12:54:00.001-07:00

Filed under: Breast Cancer, Prevention, Research, Daily news

When my babies were born, those who promote breastfeeding as the only effective method for nourishing a child and preventing illness urged and pushed and prodded me to embrace their beliefs. I did believe them, never doubted them, and sometimes felt guilty I wasn't able to nurse my children -- a previous breast reduction surgery disabled my milk flow.

I got over it. Bottles and formula worked well for my family, allowed my husband to share middle-of-the-night feeding duties, and grew my two little boys into sturdy, healthy beings.

What I haven't completely gotten over is that breastfeeding could have done a whole lot of good for me too. It could have prevented the breast cancer I developed just after my second child stopped drinking formula from his bottle.

Research indicates breastfeeding can decrease the risk of breast cancer for women who have their first baby after age 25. I was 31 when my first child was born.

Previous studies showed that having a first baby before the age of 25 or having no children protected against breast cancers fueled by hormones. It did not, however, stop the less common, harder-to-treat tumors not fueled by hormones, like mine. It seems even breastfeeding would not have prevented my cancer.

That was then. This is now.

New studies show women who give birth after age 25 are twice as likely to develop either type of breast cancer. Therefore, breastfeeding really protects all women bearing children after 25 from both forms of the disease. It turns out breastfeeding could have helped me. But I couldn't do it. So it didn't.

What's done is done. I'll get over it. And I may just become one of those women who urge and push and prod others to embrace the benefits of breastfeeding.

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How to Endorsing Your Favorite Band Will Earn You Fans

2007-04-20T21:44:00.000-07:00

A couple of my groupings favourite Celtic Language sets are Enya, Loreena McKennit and the Chieftains. I think I kinda liken the Brobdingnagian Bards to these groups. Like Enya, we play some beautiful romanticist temper music. Like Loreena McKennit we add a popish flame up to our performance. And like the Chieftains, we play many riling Celtic Language tunes.

So what make you think? Pretty good endorsements? Bash you have got an thought what sort of music my set plays? What it sounds like? Guess what? Sure I'd "liken" my sets to those and now when you adjacent hear those names, you will believe of the Brobdingnagian Bards (although you may not be able to state it, at least The Bards) and you will believe of me.

But you cognize what, despite what you believe WE may sound like, you'd probably be wrong. Enya utilizes synth, Loreena is a dad diva, the Chieftains...well, honestly, I'm not to familiar with their music (I apologise to other Celtic Language people out there). We play the autoharp, recording equipment and mandolin. Yes, the sound is quite different from all three of those bands. But hopefully you acquire the "idea" of what we sound like.

By endorsing a popular set or artist, people who have got got not heard you before volition have a general thought of what you sound like, and they will be a small more than susceptiple to hearing to your music. All you necessitate is one opportunity to convert person you are the best and you'll have got a opportunity to win them over.

Of course, you also run the hazard that they will be disappointed and alienated, if you sound nil like the set you are endorsing, but that is a hazard you run day-to-day so it's nothing new.

So your undertaking for this hebdomad is to happen a band, local or national. Start endorsing them. Who knows? Maybe one twenty-four hours you'll even acquire a opportunity to open up up for them...or better yet, they open for you.

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2007-04-20T12:09:00.000-07:00

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2007-04-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

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2007-04-20T03:57:00.000-07:00

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2007-04-20T03:55:00.000-07:00

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Acupressure Acupuncture Amour de soi Analyse des r...

2007-04-20T03:54:00.000-07:00

Acupressure Acupuncture Amour de soi Analyse des rêves Analyse transactionnelle Andc Annuaire développement personnel Annuaire du bien-être Anti-âge Anti-gymnastique Approche centrée sur la personne Approche non directive Aromathèrapie Art-thérapie Astrologie Aura Auteur-conférencier Auteurs Autonomie Ayurveda Bien-etre Biodanza Bioenergie Bioéthique Boudha Centres de développement personnel Centres de thérapies Chant Chemin spirituel Coaching Communication Conférenciers Confiance en soi Conscience Constellations familiales Contrôle de poids Couple Création Croissance personnelle Croyances Culpabilité Décodage biologique Dentaire Dentisterie holistique Déontologie Développement personnel Drainage lymphatique Ebooks échange écologie écoute Emdr émotion énergie Enfant interieur Ennéagramme Enseignement Epicuriens Epicurisme Estime de soi Evolution personnelle Fasciathérapie Feng-shui Fleurs de bach Foi Formations Fréquence vibratoire Géobiologie Gestalt Gestalt thérapie Guérir Guérison Guerison du passe Harmonisation énergetique Herbalife Homéopathie Hypnose ericksonienne Hypnose thérapeutique Images de transformation Inconscient Kamasoutra Kinésiologie Kinésiologie Libération Libération des cuirasses Liberté intérieure Lieux pour stages Lithothérapie Livres Livres développement personnel Livres médecines douces Livres psychologie Livres sur le massage Logothérapie Luminothérapies Maigrir Maîtres Maladies Maladies automimunes Massage Massage sensitif Massages Massages ayurvediques Massages sensuels Médecine Médecine chinoise Médecine douce Médecine du sport Médecine humanitaire Médecine tibétaine Médecine traditionnelle Médecine vétérinaire Médecines alternatives Médecines douces Médical Méditation Mémoire Méthode de libération des cuirasses Mlc Mouvement Musicothérapie Naturopathie Nutrithérapie Nutrition Ostéopathie Ouverture Paramédical Pathologies diverses Pharmacie Pnl Potentiel créateur Projection Psycho-corporel Psychobiologie Psychogénéalogie Psychologies Psychologues Psychosomatique Psychothérapeutes Psychothérapie Psychothérapies Qi kong Réalisation de soi Rebirth Recherches scientifiques Reflexologie Regime Reiki Relaxation Rencontre Rencontres Respiration holotropique Ressources Rêve Sagesse Santé Sexotherapie Sexothérapies Shiatsu Soins du corps Soins esseniens Somatothérapie Sophrologie Soufi Soufisme Spécialistes Spécialités médicales Spiritualité Stages Stages de chant Stages de communication Stages de développement personnel Stages de groupe Stages de massages Stages de musique Tai chi chuan Tantra Tantrique Territoire Thérapies Thérapies brèves Transformation Vaccinations Virus Voix Yoga Zen

Activités Agence de voyages Animations Annonces de...

2007-04-20T03:52:00.000-07:00

Activités Agence de voyages Animations Annonces de location vacances Annonces de locations saisonnières Annonces location vacances Annonces particuliers Annonces vacances Annonces vacances particuliers Annuaire du tourisme Annuaire vacances Appartement Appartement montagne Appartement vue sur mer Avion Bateau Camp de vacances Camping Camping midipyrennées Campings Centre de vacances Chalet Chambres d'hôtes Cheque vacances Circuit vacances Club de vacances Clubs de voile Colonie de vacances Destinations vacances évasion Gastronomie Gite Gîte rural Gites-ruraux ariège Guide tourisme Guide vacances Hébergement Hôtels Hôtels de france Location à la ferme Location appartement Location appartement Location bateau Location bungalow Location caravane Location chalet Location de vacances Location de vacances dans un centre Location gite Location maison djerba Location maison vacances Location mobil home Location mobil home Location saisonnière Location studio Location vacances Location vacances corse Location vacances espagne Location vacances italie Location vacances landes Location vacances languedoc roussillon Location vacances mer Location vacances montagne Location vacances paris Location vacances portugal Location vacances provence Location vacances var Location vacances vendee Location vacances villa Location villa avec piscine Location villa vacances Locations saisonnières Locations saisonnières de vacances Locations saisonnières particuliers Loisirs Louer un gite Louer une maison Louer vacances ariège Luberon Madagascar Maison de vacances Maison vacances Maisons familiales vacances Mobil home Paris sportif Partir en vacances Partir en voyage Produits du terroir Promos vacances Provence Rafting Randonnées Réservation vacances Residence vacances Restaurants en france Séjour maroc Séjours Sélection vacances Studio Tourisme Trouver location vacances Trouver un camping Vacances Vacances Vacances à la mer Vacances algerie Vacances alpes Vacances au soleil Vacances auvergne Vacances belgique Vacances camping Vacances canada Vacances celibataire Vacances crete Vacances derniere minute Vacances discount Vacances egypte Vacances en alsace Vacances en aquitaine Vacances en ariège Vacances en auvergne Vacances en basse normandie Vacances en bourgogne Vacances en bretagne Vacances en centre Vacances en champagne-ardenne Vacances en corse Vacances en corse Vacances en espagne Vacances en famille Vacances en france Vacances en franche-comté Vacances en haute normandie Vacances en ile de france Vacances en ile-de-france Vacances en languedoc-roussillon Vacances en limousin Vacances en lorraine Vacances en lorraine Vacances en midi-pyrénées Vacances en montagne Vacances en nord-pas-de-calais Vacances en outre-mer Vacances en pays-de-la-loire Vacances en picardie Vacances en poitou-charentes Vacances en rhône-alpes Vacances en vvf Vacances enfant Vacances entre particuliers Vacances espagne Vacances famille Vacances ile maurice Vacances irlande Vacances italie Vacances montage Vacances montagne Vacances normandie Vacances pas chères Vacances portugal Vacances provence Vacances pyrenees Vacances sardaigne Vacances scolaire Vacances senegal Vacances ski Vacances sportives Vacances suisse Vacances tunisie Vacances vendee Vacances venise Vacances alsace gites piscine location Village de vacances Village vacances Voyages Voyages évasions Vvf vacances Week-end Week-end à deux Week-end à la mer Week-end à thème Week-end sportif

Abonnement Achat Achat en ligne Achats en ligne Ac...

2007-04-20T03:51:00.001-07:00

Abonnement Achat Achat en ligne Achats en ligne Achats on line Acquisition de partenaires Actif Adresse email Adresse mail Adresses Adresses emails Adsense Adultes Adwords Affaire Affaires Affichage Affichages Affiliation Affiliation de marketing en ligne Affiliation pour vendre des produits Affiliations Affilié Affiliés Agence Agence de publicité Agence en publicité Alimentation Ame soeur Améliorer son alimentation Amitié Amour Annonce Annoncer Annonces Annonces gratuites Annonceur Annonceurs Annoonce Annuaire Annuaire des programmes Annuaires Anonceur Argent Argent à domicile Argent en ligne Argent facile Argent on line Assurances Astuces Autorépondeur Autorépondeur Autorepondeur Autorépondeurs Autorepondeurs Autosurf Autovisiteur Autovisiteurs Avantages Balnéo Bannières Barre Bénéfice Bénéfices Bien etre Blog Blog b plans Blogs Bon plan Bon programme Bon programme d’affiliation Bonnes affaires Bons plans Boule de neige Boutique Boutique virtuelle Boutique carrefour internet Cadeau Cadeaux Campagne Campagne de marketing en ligne Campagnes internet Carrefour Cartes virtuelles Cash Cash machine Cash makers Casino Casting Castings Centre de profit Chez soi Chiffre d’affaires Choix Ciblage Cinéma Cinéma home Clics Client Clients Club positif Coach Coaching Comment rencontrer Comment vivre à deux Commerce Commerce électronique Commerce électronique en ligne Commercialisation à paliers Commission Commission affilié Commissions Communication Complément de revenus Concours Conseil Conseil en publicité Conseils Construction de sites Construire mon site Coopération Coopération entre sites web Couple Courriel Coût Coût par acquisition Coût par action Coût par commande Coût par formulaire Création Création de bannières Création de partenaires Création de rapports en ligne Crédit Crédits Créer Cv Danse Démarrage d'un programme Démarrage d'un programme d'affiliation Démarrer un programme d’affiliation Développement personnel Devenir riche Devenir un affilié Discount Domicile E book E books E business E commerce E-mail E-mailing E-mailings E mails rémunérés E-partenariat E-programme d affiliation Ebook Ebook gratuit économies économiser écrire un livre éditer livre Email Emailing Emails Emarketing Emploi En ligne Entreprise Entreprise de marketing en ligne Etoile Euros Facilement Faire des économies Faire un stage Filleul Filleuls Finance Finances Financier Flash Flux des revenus Formation Formations Forum Forums Fournisseur Fournisseurs Français Francophone Francophonie French French cash machine Frenchcashmachine Gagner Gagner de l'argent Gagner de l'argent à domicile Gagner de l'argent avec les liens Gagner de l'argent avec votre site sur internet Gagner de l'argent en ligne Gagner de l'argent sur internet Gagner des millions Gain Gains Garantie Gestion Gestion des relations partenaires Gîtes Google Google cash Google cash machine Gratuit Hébergement Hebergement Home cinéma Hyper-liens Hyperlien Hyperliens Immobilier nancy Indépendant Indication client Intégration au portail Internet Internet marketing en ligne Javascript Jeux Jeux primés Job Journal La soumission manuelle assure à votre site une grande qualité de référencement Le meilleur mot-clé Lettre Lettre e marketing Lien Liens Liens en dur Liens sponsorisés Liens texte Links Liste de diffusion Liste diffusion Listes de diffusion Listes diffusion Listing Livre Livres Logiciel d'affiliation Logiciels Logos Loterie Love Lycos Machine Mailing Mailing-list Mailing-liste Mailinglist Mails rémunérés Management Mariage Marketing Marketing à la performance Marketing à niveaux multiples Marketing à paliers multiples Marketing affiliation Marketing affilié Marketing d'affiliation Marketing d'affiliation en ligne Marketing de réseau Marketing de sites internet Marketing direct Marketing internet en ligne Marketing internet pour le commerce en ligne Marketing multi niveaux Marketing multiniveaux Marketing viral Marketing viral Marketing,opportunités,affaires,argent,revenus,travaille à domicile Marketing de réseau au maroc Marque Marque Massage Matériel publicitaire Média Meilleur Meilleur prix Meilleur programme Meilleur programme d affiliation Meilleur programme d’affiliation Mille Millions Mirago Mlm Mobiles Mot-clé Mot-clef Moteurs Moteurs de recherche Mots-clefs Mots-clés Msn Multi level marketing Multilevel marketing Multilevel marketing Multiniveau Net Net marketing électronique en ligne Nouveau Nouveaux clients Obtenir des clients On-line Opportunité Opportunité commerciale Opportunité d'affaire à domicile Opportunité de business Outils pour webmasters Paiement Paiement à la performance publicitaire Paiement à la vente Paiement au clic Paiement au clic affilié Paiement au clics Paiement au formulaire Paiement au succès Paiement par période Parrainage Parrainages Partenaire Partenaire affilié Partenaires Particulier à particulier Passer une annonce Pay to click Pay to read Petit prix Petite annonce Petites annonces Petites annonces gratuites Plan d'affiliation Plan de marketing en ligne Plans marketing Pmu Pnl Portage salarial Portail Portail de shopping Positif Pourcentage Prestations de services Prix Production Produit Produits Profit Profits Profits internet Programme d'affiliation de marketing en ligne Programme d'affiliation de qualité Programme d’affiliation Programme d’affiliation francophone Programme francophone Pronostics Ptr Publicité Publier un livre Publipostage Qui veut gagner des millions Recrutement Réductions Referencement Refinancement Refinancer Regime Remboursement Rencontrer Rencontres Réseau Réseau de vente Reseau de vente Réseaux Ressources Réussir Reussir Réussir à vivre à deux Reussite Revenu Revenus Riche Richesse Sante Satisfaction Satisfait ou remboursé Science de la richesse Séminaire Séminaires Services de petites annonces Sexe Site classé x Site web Sites web Sonneries Sonneries et logos pour mobile Soumission Soumission dans les principaux moteurs Soumission dans nos annuaires Soumission manuelle Soumission manuelle dans les principaux moteurs Spam Spectacles Stage Stages Stages de développement personnel Sur internet Surf Tarif Téléléphonie Téléphones Télésecretariat Télétravail Thalasso Thérapies Tous les mots-clé Travail a domicile Travail à domicile Trouver des clients Trucs Turf Vacances Vdi Vendre Vendre en réseau Vendre un produit Vente Vente à niveaux multiples Vente à paliers multiples Vente multi relationnelle Ventes Vidéo Video Vivre à deux Voyage Voyages Vpc Web commerçant Web commerce Web-blog Web-blogs Web-marketing en ligne Web-marketing on line Webmasters Week-end

3d Acheter Activités à domicile Activités de plein...

2007-04-20T03:51:00.000-07:00

3d Acheter Activités à domicile Activités de plein-air Actualité Actualités Acupuncture Adolescents Adultes Aérobic Aéromodélisme Aéronautique Aéronautique Affaires Afrique Agence Agence immobiliere Agences Agences Agences immobilieres Agences matrimoniales Agriculture Aménagement de la maison Amérique du nord Amérique latine Amitiés Angéologie Animation Animaux Annonces Annonces rencontres Annuaire Annuaire entreprise Annuaire francophone Annuaire généraliste Annuaire international Annuaire professionnel Annuaire renseignements Annuaire-webcam Annuaires Annuaires Annuaires gratuits Annuaires professionnels Annulink Anti âge Aquarelle Aquariophilie Aquariophilie Archéologie Architecture Architecture Argent Aromathèrapie Art Art-thérapie Artisans Artistes Arts Arts divinatoires Arts martiaux Asie Assistance Associations Associations sportives Assurances Astrologie Astronomie Astuces Audience Audio Audio Auteur-conférencier Auteurs Autos Autosurfs Avion Ayurveda B to b B to c Bande dessinée Bandes dessinées Bases de données Batiment Bénévoles Bi Bibliothèques Bien etre Bioéthique Biologie Bisexuels Blagues Blog Blogs Blogs Bodybuilding Bouddhisme Boutiques Bricolage Broderie Business Cabale Cadeaux Campings Cartes virtuelles Cartographie Casino Catholique Célébrité Célébrités Centres de développement personnel Chanson Chansons Chat Chats Chevaux Chevaux Chiens Cinéma Cinémas Cirque Classement Clés Clubs Clubs de rencontres Collections Commerçants Commerce en ligne Communiqué de presse Communiqués Communiqués de presse Concours Concours Conférenciers Consoles Construction Construction Contrat Contrôle de poids Cours Créations Créations sites Crédit Crédits Crochet Croyances Cuisine Culture Cv Cyberculture Danse Danse Dauphins Décoration Décoration Défiscalisation Demandes emploi Dentaire Dentisterie holistique Déontologie Dépannage Développement personnel Développement personnel Dictionnaire Discount Divertissement Documentation Dom-tom Domaine Dvd E-mails Ebooks Ecoles spéacialisées écologie écologie écologie économie économie électronique Eleveurs animaliers Emails rémunérés Emplois Énergie énergies renouvelables Enfants Enseignement Entraide Entreprises du tourisme Environnement équitation ésotérisme ésotérisme Europe évènement évènementiel évènements évènements culturels Experts Fan Fan-club Fasciathérapie Fécondité Fédérations sportives Féminin Femme Feng-shui Fertilité Films Finance Finances Fiscalité Fitness Formation Formation professionnelle Formations Forum Forums France Gagner Gain Galerie Galerie artistes Gastronomie Gay Généalogie Géobiologie Géographie Géographique Géomètre Géopolitique Golf Gouache Grandes écoles Graphisme Guide Guides pratiques Hébergement Hébergement Hebergement Hélicoptère Histoire Homéopathie Homme Homosexuels Horaires Horoscopes Hotels Humanitaire Humour Hygiène Hyperliens Hypnose ericksonienne îles Illusions Indépendants Industrie Informatique Institutions Intermittents Internet Investissements Jardin Jardinage Jeux Jeux de société Jeux et activités pour enfants Jeux vidéo Jobs Jobs Joie d'offrir Jonglage Journal Journalistes Journaux Judaïsme francophone Juniors Juridique Kagibi Kinésiologie Législation Les meilleurs vins Lettres type Liens en dur Lieux pour sortir Lieux pour stages Lingerie Linguistique Liste Lithothérapie Littérature Livraisons à domicile Livres Location Locations appartements Locations maisons Locations saisonnières Locations saisonnieres Locations studios Logiciels Logothérapie Loi Loisirs Loisirs Loisirs-créatifs Lookdir Loterie Magiciens Magie Maison Mariage Marketing Masculin Massages Maternité Mathématiques Me faire connaître Médecine Médecine chinoise Médecine du sport Médecine humanitaire Médecine tibétaine Médecine traditionnelle Médecine vétérinaire Médecines alternatives Médias Médical Mer Meta-moteurs Météo Meubles Meubles Mlm Mobiliers Mode Mondial Montagne Moteurs Moteurs de rechche Moteurs de recherche Motos Mots Mp3 Multi-level-marketing Multimédia Musculation Musées Musicothérapie Musique Musique Musique Musique Nature Nature Naturisme Naturopathie News-letters Noms de domaine Nu Nus Nutrithérapie Nutrition Océanie Offres emploi Offres et demandes emploi Offres micro-informatique Oiseaux Opportunité Opportunités Outils de recherche Pages jaunes Paramédical Particulier à particulier Particuliers Partitions Pathologies diverses Paysage Pc Pêche Peinture Peinture Petites annonces Pharmacie Philosophie Philosophie Photo Photographie Photographies Photos Photos Photos de nus Php Piscines Plongée Pmu Poèmes Poésie Poissons Politique Portage salarial Portrait Presse Presse on line Prestations de services Primaire Proche et moyen orient Professionels Professionnels par secteur Professions libérales Programmes Programmeurs Pronostics Protestants Psychobiologie Psychologie Psychologie Psychologue Psychologues Psychosomatique Psychothérapeutes Psychothérapie Publicité Qualité Quotidiens Rachat de crédits Radiodiffusion Raid Randonnée Rebirth Recettes Recherches scientifiques Réductions Référencement Referencement Referencement gratuit Refinancement Régions Reiki Relaxation Religion Religions Rencontres Rencontres sérieuses Renouvelable Ressources Ressources graphiques pour le web Ressources pédagogiques Ressources pour webmasters Restaurants Retraites Rires Route Santé Santé Sciences Sciences parallèles Scoutisme Scripts gratuits Sculpture Secondaire Sécurité Séries télévisées Services Sharewares Shiatsu Site personnel Site pour enfants Sites classés x Sites humoristique Sites juridiques Sites perso Sites personnels Sites pour enfants Société Sonneries et logos pour mobile Sophrologie Sortie Sorties Sous-marine Spécialistes Spécialités médicales Spectacle Spectacles Speed-dating Spiritualité Sport nature Sports Sports Stages Stages Stages de formation Stars Supérieur Syndicats Tableaux Tarologie Technique Technologies Télécommunications Télésecretariat Télétravail Télévisions Théatre Théatres Thèmes Théologie Thérapies Tourisme Tourisme Tradition Traducteurs Trajet Transports Trucs Turf Utilitaire Utilitaires Vacances Vaccinations Végétarien Végétarisme Vendre Vente appartement Vente appartements Vente maison Ventes maisons Ventes studios Vidéo Vidéo Vidéos Ville Vin Virtuel Virtuelle Virus Voip Voiture Voyages Voyance Vpc Web généraliste Weblog Webmasters Webzine Yoga

Full Tilt Poker Review

2007-04-19T18:22:00.000-07:00

Overview: Full Tilt Poker is one of the poker sites that provide first class promotions and poker bonuses.So far, they have been doing almost everything right. They have got some big pros, like Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Jennifer Harman, Howard Lederer and several top pros involved with running the poker site.They have quality support staff. I love their software, specially those avator.To top it all off, Full tilt also offer a very nice bonus, it clears very fast, so everyone is happy. The launch of Full Tilt Poker was 2004 and has since then become a reliable poker site.

Play Online Poker

Sign-Up Bonus: Full Tilt offer 100% match up bonus up to $600. It clears in increments of $10( 100 points for $10, one point per dollar in rake for every pot you are dealt cards in) which is pretty well.It is nice that tournament play counts towards clearning bonuses.

Deposit/Withdrawal Options: Neteller, ePassporte, FirePay, Click2Pay, Money Transfer, check

BONUS CODE: POKERDEAL14

Software: Good

Poker Deal Rating: 7/10

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Too much information...

2007-04-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

2007 Brew Crew Predictions

2007-04-19T03:37:00.000-07:00

The Brewers are one of those teams one would call the exception to the rule. Despite a very modest payroll, Milwaukee showed in 2006 that they will be able to compete for the National League Central title. The Brewers ranked near the bottom of the NL in pitching, hitting, and defense last season due to some costly injuries yet they were able to finish a close fourth in the deep Central division. With the prospects of a solid starting rotation, and growing offensive threats in Bill Hall, Prince Fielder, and Ricky Weeks, this is a team which can give the Cubs and Cards a run for their money.

With Ben Sheets the Brewers have themselves a 20-win caliber pitcher, and with Chris Capuano they have one of the best young lefties in the game. Last season, he only tallied one victory in the second half which really cost this team to move up in the standings. Jeff Suppan comes over from the Cards landing the biggest contract in Brewers team history. He's not worth all those chips, but he will fill one more void in this staff. Dave Bush led the Brew Crew in wins last season, but it was only 12. Vargas also tallied 12 wins for the Diamondbacks last season which was his career high. All five starters in Milwaukee's rotation have 15-win potential. That's the upside. This is the reality. Sheets has never won more than 12 games. As I already mentioned, Capuano fell off in the second half of last season. Suppan has a record of just five games over .500 for his career. In my opinion, the upside outweighs the pessimism here and the Brewers have the makings of a great rotation.

Offensively, Rickie Weeks leads off for the Brewers. He hit over .300 within the Central Division last year and I expect this guy to steal over 30 bases out of that lead off spot. J.J. Hardy is a very weak hitter in the two hole. Bill Hall was a big surprise in 2006 while, Koskie and Jenkins had disappointing seasons. The guy I look to for a breakout season is Prince Fielder. He set a Brewer rookie record by slugging 28 homeruns last season. He is very young and will get better and better each year.

One of the Brewers biggest concerns has to be their defense. Hall makes the move from short to center field ala Robin Yount, but I don't foresee the same success. Get ready for Hall's power numbers to suffer at the plate with the extra pressure there is on outfielders to swing the biggest bats.

Last season was Milwaukee's big chance to take the division when just 84 wins would have won it, but injuries prevented them from doing so. It's going to take a few more wins than that to get it done in 2007 and I don't think Milwaukee has it in them. My best guess is that Milwaukee will be a solid team to back in 2007 from a bettor's perspective though. The perception is that they are still a bad team. The starting pitching staff is going to surprise you and we'll take advantage backing these boys, especially at home where they won their most games in 2006 since 1992.

Next Stop, Vegas

2007-04-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

No blogging for the next few days as I’m in Vegas until Sunday. Should be a fun trip. I’ll most certainly be taking a notepad to keep track of what’s going on. Vera has also supplied me with a fancy digital recorder, though I’ve yet to tutor myself how to work the thing. (In fact, I’m not even sure how to turn it on.) Hopefully I’ll figure it out and come back with some stories to relate.

Thanks again, well wishers! Everybody have a good week.

"You're the blogger."

2007-04-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

Memo Okur Is Out Of His Slump

2007-04-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

Memo Okur was struggling with his play the last two weeks and now suddenly he is not and announced to the basketball world that his slump is over with 32 points during a game against the Charlotte Bobcats which the Jazz won 120 points to 95.

Just after the All Star break, Okur was struggling with his game. He was sidelined for two games after the All Star break because of severe back spasm. He returned to the game and ended up missing 16 of the 19 field goal attempts and this resulted in the Jazz losing 102-94 to the Lakers.

Against the Bobcats, Okur showed everyone that he still had it in him to beat the odds. He scored 6 of the first 7 points for the Jazz and ended the game with more than 30 points to his credit. This was the fourth time this season that Okur has scored more than 30 points in a game.

However, in the second quarter Okur did miss a three pointer and then a 15 foot bank shot when there just 5 minutes of the game remaining. Other than these two misses, Okur was perfect and Bobcats had no reply to his play. The Bobcats were playing without their forward Emeka Okafur who was out of the game because of a strained calf.

According to Andrei Kirilenko, Okur has finally realized that he is an All Star player and at the moment he is the one who is leading the team by scoring at crucial moments. We will get back with more news with respect to Okur later on.

Rhodes development update...

2007-04-17T12:06:00.000-07:00

Because of the local buzz...

2007-04-17T06:44:00.000-07:00

First post

2007-04-17T05:50:00.000-07:00

Hi,

This is the blog of 30GREEN, that is to say me. I gonna tell you more on the way I did make it with 30 GREEN.

But for now, I have work to do.

Cheers.

I Declare; or, Uncle Sam's Rake

2007-04-16T14:28:00.000-07:00

Now my advice to those who die --
Declare the pennies on your eyes.

Will be jetting into McCarran International Airport day after tomorrow. Arrive midday, and so may even be able to sit down at a poker table somewhere there on the strip Wednesday afternoon.

Yesterday Vera Valmore and I went ahead and reserved tickets to one show -- O -- which we’ll be seeing in the theatre at the Bellagio on Thursday night. Gotta admit, I haven’t the first clue what it is about . . . but hey, why not? Would’ve preferred to see Love, that other Cirque du Soleil show featuring the music of the Beatles, but that one is shut down this week.

I suppose about everyone who has a pulse likes the Beatles. I do, too, thanks in no small part to my father, who saw A Hard Day’s Night in college and then soon was playing covers of early Beatles tunes in his band.

Some years after that experience, he could frequently be found driving around a young Shamus in a miserable, dirty white Plymouth Valiant (affectionately referred to as “the Bomb” around the house), the only redeeming feature of which was an eight-track player. Soon after acquisition of said Bomb, the glove compartment became home to four items -- the two cartridges of The Beatles 1962-1966 (a.k.a., the “red album”), and the two of The Beatles 1967-1970 (a.k.a., the “blue album”). The soundtrack to my youth. Almost typed the “uninterrupted” soundtrack, but as anyone who remembers 8-tracks knows, there were interruptions -- about every eleven minutes or so, as I recall. Eventually I’d pick up one of the many acoustic guitars we had laying around the house and learn to play by following the chords detailed in The New York Times’ Great Songs of Lennon & McCartney (compiled by Milton Okun).

Harrison’s “Taxman” doesn’t appear on the Red album. (I’d eventually get to Revolver and the rest.) Nor, obviously, is “Taxman” in the NY Times songbook. The tune is on the mind, though, as we Americans have until tomorrow to do our annual duty and file taxes on last year’s income. For that small percentage of us who play poker online and who managed to come out ahead for 2006, we face a decision: To declare or not to declare?

Have written before about getting started with online poker. After a few months of play money fun, I made my first $50 deposit on Stars in November 2004. Started out playing for pennies, and about three months later was still sitting on that initial fifty bucks. As I didn’t see a profit for the end of ’04, it didn’t occur to me even to think about taxes for that year. But by the end of ’05 I did earn enough to make me decide to go ahead and list what I’d won as “gambling winnings.” Am doing the same for ’06, reporting a good bit more this time around. By running the numbers both with and without those poker profits, I can see that I am giving back around 31%-33% of my winnings to Uncle Sam. Not as bad as “one for you, nineteen for me,” but still a hell of a rake.

At any given moment over on 2+2, there are usually at least a few active threads in the Legislation section where posters debate whether or not to claim their winnings. Some say they never pay; others insist paying is the only +EV option. Much of the discussion over there concerns those who list themselves as professionals (or are considering doing so), and so all the talk of deductions and whatnot doesn’t apply to me.

I know there are those who probably would view me as a sucker for paying anything at all. Some would probably look at the amount I’m reporting and say it falls under what they’d consider the minimum one needs to be worrying about when it comes to declaring. To be honest, if I’d made the money in a brick-and-mortar poker room, and received no W-2’s or other documentation recording how much I’d taken home, I probably wouldn’t bother declaring. Having played online, however, I did leave that electronic paper trail through the various poker sites, Neteller, and my bank, and so I figure I might as well own up.

As I’ve said before here many times, I ain’t so keen on gambling, and so regard this as another example of my having chosen not to take an unnecessary risk. What you do is your call. (I ain’t the taxman, so I’ve no opinion on that subject.)

Elsevier Up in Arms, Under Fire

2007-04-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

This just in from The Scientist:

The science publishing giant Elsevier--whose name you've probably encountered if you've ever looked up journal articles--is also involved in organizing international weapons exhibitions. This clearly undermines its expressed goal of broadcasting medical and science news. Researchers have responded by passing around two petitions--one stating that Elsevier should simply cease its organizations, and a more strongly worded one saying that they will boycott Elsevier completely until all exhibitions are ended.

You've really got to wonder why a major publisher in the sciences would moonlight as an arms exhibition organizer...

Government Affairs Committee gets spotlight...

2007-04-16T08:20:00.001-07:00

Government Affairs Committee gets spotlight...

2007-04-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

Pocket Pairs In Texas Holdem - The Power You Hold

2007-04-16T07:38:00.000-07:00

Do you know the power of a pocket pair?

Everyone new to poker thinks that AJ, AQ , AK are better then pocket pairs.

I have a secret to tell you, those hands are not!

Pocket Pairs are one of the best kept secrets for professionals in poker.

There are so many opportunities when you receive one.
You are head of hands like AK and AQ. You can hit a set. Nobody really expects you to have it.

The biggest beats put on players are usually done by pocket pairs.

What is your chance of hitting a set on the flop with a pocket pair?

1 out of 38

In Texas Hold'em you need to know the odds of every hand you enter. If you are not armed with the right information on odds, hand rankings, and probability then you are behind the game right away.

You need to look for an edge in any tournament you are in.

I suggest always playing a pocket pair if it is above 6's. This mean's if there is a standard raise, call it.
If you just need to call the big blind, then just limp in the pot.

When you finally hit that set, chances are you are going to do a lot of damage to anyone else that is in the pot.

Always be aware of your opponent holding a pocket pair that turns into a monster set. It is hard to put your opponent on or detect they have three of a kind (also known as set, trips)
You really just have to do your best to detect this silent assassin.

Until next time, good luck at the tables!

Paving Way for Poker in England's Gaming Clubs?

2007-04-15T22:06:00.000-07:00

Were the legal issues associated with playing poker in the United States a cause of concern to you? Wait till you unearth poker playing laws in other nations. In an inevitable debate of whether poker is a game of ability or a game of fortune, English law officials and club owners are anticipating the decision.

The reasons for these potential decisions is because of the recent insurgence and poplarity of online casinos and poker rooms worldwide! It is these same online casinos and poker rooms that are dominating the online market place for gambling and are slowly taking the large market share away from land based casinos.

A year-long investigation into one of London's most prominent private card clubs, The Gutshot, has led forced magistrates to reconsider the old law. Whether or not the law likes it, people are going to gamble and play poker, be it legal or not. The government is now beginning to realise they might as well legalize the gambling activity in order to better maintain control of the situation.

The scope of the investigation into Gustshot has been quite the undertaking since the club has over 12,000 members, but the investigation has only led to two charges. It was learnt that the owner of the Gutshot club, the tournaments held at the venue are the actions of a private club whose members slot in a game of expertise rather then playing at one of their favorite casinos one evening.

It was understood that Poker is a game conquered by dexterity. Provided you are cleverer, eventually you will be the victor.

According to clubs and vice unit's Darren Warner, this case was imperative to clarify the laws. Apparently, there seems to be a prima facia case of violation of the Gaming Act. The Gaming Act makes place for explicit offences. This case was definitely a tough nut to crack where the inputs from police and offenders were equally condescending.

Large number of casino clubs have mushroomed post Gutshot's arrival. A bad ruling for Kelly and the Gutshot would allow police to shut down the other clubs. If Kelly wins, it could pave the way for other card rooms to open wherever suitable sites arise.

quick hand summary

2007-04-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

Decent but not great player on my left at the 1-3 table.

I am on the button and raise it to 10. SB on my left reraises to 35 and the lone limper folds...

If he is playing AK out of position, I might punish him badly. If its JJ, I am so dead. I call to see the flop.

Flop is 677
He bets 35. You have about 90 behind.
Call? Raise? Fold? Me I called.

Turn was a 3 and he bets 35 again.
I get very suspicious. Why?

Well, if you have JJ, don't you go for me stack here knowing I am either behind or drawing?!

I consider a turn bet that is the same size as a flop bets, head up, a significant sign of worry. I think I am good here.
I push all in and he calls with 2 overs, the AK. The river is a 9 and I take about 120 off him.

Thanks to the folks from over at Topix..

2007-04-15T07:42:00.000-07:00

How To Break A #1 Hit Song On MP3.com

2007-04-14T22:37:00.000-07:00

At the end of August 2000, I read some advertisement transcript at CelticWays.com. In it Toilet Wilmott, NMA Promoter, spoke of a new way in the music market. He predicted CDs were going out of style to be replaced by MP3s and the new digital technology. And he awoke in me a desire to look into the new music theoretical account establish in MP3.com.

Three calendar months later, the Brobdingnagian Bards are nearly $4000 richer, and have got been #1 on the World/Folk and Celtic Language charts, plus, a Top MP3.com creative person for a over two hebdomads in January 2000.

So the inquiry many of you are asking is how did we make it? Are there a peculiar formula that you used to accomplish this success? At the hazard of creating some awful competition, I'm going to give you my step-by-step formula for making a number ONE hit on MP3.com.

First, allow me state you some rudiments about us. We execute regularly throughout Southwest. Yes, we have got a mailing listing with nearly 400 subscribers. But quite honestly, I don't believe that those were the head factors in our success, because our success struck nearly two calendar months after our last gig!

No, rather, it flexible joints on something else. And here it goes.

1. Pick a song. Any song. While I believe with adequate promotion you can do any song a hit, it assists tremendously that it is your best. So do it the best recording, the best songwriting, the best at everything. If the production sucks! Remake it. Hell, record a unrecorded version professionally. You can do a good solid recording of one song for under $40. So make your best.

2. Name your song creatively. Quite honestly, you might necessitate to rename it a few times to happen one that gaining controls the attending of MP3.com visitors. I establish out through experience that "The Bridge" was no where as interesting as "Tolkien", or even better "Tolkien (The Hobbit & Godhead of the Rings).

Now prove it out. See if people are willing to chink that name. How? Ask some friends. Post to newsgroups. Join mailing listings and inquire them. Contact other instrumentalists and see what name lodges out. Ask your mailing list.

Also, see naming it something with which people can associate it. The amusement industry is a good start. Political events can be hot if timed right.

Remember that on the MP3.com charts, it's not about what your song sounds like, it's all about the song title! Desire some more than great tips? Order a transcript of "50+ Tips On How To Maximize Your Income on MP3.com."

3. Instrumental songs make better. So if you have got an instrumental songs, see using that as your chief hit to break. Quite honestly, instrumentals make better on the charts because they can be anything to everyone. If you don't desire to utilize an instrumental fine. But you will probably accomplish greater success if you lodge with an instrumental ballad. The cool thing is when your instrumental songs starts climbing the charts, you can utilize its success to pushing up your non-instrumental tunes. You see my whole end was not to force "Tolkien" to the top, but rather acquire all of our melodies up the charts. The success of "Tolkien" brought us over twenty melodies in the Top 40 throughout MP3.com!

4. Post the song in the right genre. From twenty-four hours one, "Tolkien" was in the Celtic Language genre. It could've gone in "mood music" or some other classical genre, but we picked one that tantrums the style of the song. It's named after a phantasy author. Most phantasy music could suit in that genre.

However, there is one of import short letter here. The Celtic Language genre is not an easy one. While I state the right genre, the right genre is the 1 that gives you maximal exposure with minimal effort. Remember that it usually works best to start your song in a class as deep as possible. The ground is that once you acquire to the top of one chart, you will automatically be moved into the adjacent peak chart.

For instance, "Tolkien" was posted in > World/Folk > Traditions > European > Celtic. As it climbed it moved to the #1 place in each of those classes before hitting #1 in World/Folk and finally #34 on all MP3.com.

5. Add song short letters and lyrics. Though it is up for argument just how much clicking through to read the song short letters and words really increases your payback, it makes supply interest. So add some short letters about your song. State your hearers how your song came about. It do the song more personal. Plus, many sites will utilize the line drive short letters for reviews. If you don't have got any, you might acquire lean reviews.

6. Brand the song available for download. Yes, you can fervently seek to protect all your music from being pirated, or you can have got a figure 1 hit. It's your choice. I have got yet to see a Top 40 hit that was not available for free downloading.

People desire to take your music with them...so they can state their friends. Plus, believe of it in this terms. A visitant come ups to your website, listens in HiFi. He wishes your song. So he downloads your tune. You've just gained TWO listens from one listener! If that individual listens and wishes more than of your tunes, you'll derive a batch more.

Now a speedy tip. MP3.com makes not properly label MP3s. The lone label
that you have got control over that they make properly tag is the lyrics. So, whether you have got words or not, include some contact information in the words section. That way, when they start sharing your MP3 with their friends, their friends will cognize how to acquire back to your website to download more music, and purchase your CDs!

A amusing short letter about "Tolkien", our MP3.com top 40 hit in January."Tolkien" was originally spelled "Tolkein" because that name is one very commonly misspelled name by fans. But despite the mis-spelling it still was a major hit on the charts.

7. Your dam CD. Just like in the world outside of MP3.com, cadmium gross sales bid the charts. If you are selling well, your songs ascent the charts. If not, they don't. For two months, "Tolkien" sat just outside the Celtic Language Top 40. Finally, in early January, I was talking to my friend Rimbo, he decided to travel ahead and purchase a transcript of our new CD, the "Best of the Bards". The adjacent day, we leapt in to the Celtic Language Top 40 and kept climbing! Honestly, I am forever thankful to Rimbo for his assistance, so delight driblet by his site and listen to some slayer music (including another J. R. R. Tolkien tune).

8. Price Your cadmium Low. While we're talking about merchandising CDs, retrieve to terms your cadmium LOW. That agency $6.99. Why? Well there are many reasons. First and first is you will sell more than CDs, especially overseas. All of our cadmium gross sales this calendar month have got been from outside of the United States. Basically, foreign transportation is expensive. If your cadmium terms are low, other countries will see purchasing your cadmium more.

Also, you can follow Ernesto Cortazar's illustration (and now our own) and apparatus regional distributors. Thus, you can promote your fans to purchase big measures of your CDs and sell them in their regions. This manner you sell more than CDs and your songs go on to climb up the charts. Check out our Bard Distribution programme for an example.

9. Use Your Mailing List. While the mailing listing did not acquire us going, it did impel us to the top. I had a good mark of Nagians who were listening and downloading our music day-to-day to give us an other manus at pushing our music up the charts. Your fans are an invaluable resource so usage them, but don't maltreatment them. Also, retrieve to offer inducements now and then. It'll do the the success all that morning.

11. Pay It Forward. Some of you may retrieve the article I wrote a few calendar months back on effectively using the the "email a friend" mathematical function on MP3.com. Well after start the Pay It Forward plan, where we put up a web page with just email golf course and told people, if they enjoyed our songs to "Pay It Forward" and share the music with a friend, we started having 5-20 people emailing others with our music per day. That was up from zero before the program. So see encouraging your fans to "pay it forward".

12. Play live. Alright, this is of course the most obvious, and I surmise everyone's saying, "yeah, yeah, I know, and I read it elsewhere about a twelve times". Well of course it is deserving mentioning because after "Tolkien" took off. We started having gigs a few hebdomads later. And at those gigs, people began requesting this song. It also gave us an chance to stop up the song. "Yes, caput over to MP3.com and you can download it free. Just see mp3.com/thebards". It worked. When our stats started to sag, the unrecorded gigs kept the song at the top. So acquire out there and stopper your music live!

13. Custom HTML. This was one of my absolute favourite small fast ones that really helped our music to soar. Head over to http://mp3.com/thebard and expression at the usage hypertext markup language we set up there. There's quite a few golf course listed, right?

Well all of those golf course were indispensable to our success. You see, when I started adding golf course directly to our page, I had only a few. Immediately, I noticed that every song in that listing was climbing the charts. Basically, people dropped by proverb some golf course and downloaded or listened using our links. Well, while the MP3.com affiliate programme was going I saw 100s and then thousands of people clicking each of those golf course so I added more.

Then I added direct golf course to the audio data files on my other sites. If you travel to the Brobdingnagian site and hunt for "(Princess Bride) Buttercup's Lament", or "Eleanor Plunkett" you won't happen them. You see, both of those songs are listed on different sites (Marc Gunn, Bard & Classical Celtic, respectively). But anyone who came to the Bards site could listen to songs from these other sites and these other sites would acquire paid for the listens!

So now I have got three sites making money. Next thing you know, you could've checked out our MP3.com net income while we had a #1 hit, and you would've seen only $100 per day. But we were actually making about $130-150 thanks to those other two sites (and not including the affiliate income).

Then, I started the BardsCrier Network to assist out some friends. So adjacent thing I cognize all of my NMA people like Rimbo and Carol Stober started making an other vaulting horse or two from people at our site downloading like crazy!

What it boiled down to was that having easy entree golf course on your website is invaluable. People will utilize them and your songs will acquire more than listens, than if they remain in the MP3.com format. And since all of those Custom linked songs were climbing the charts, it helped pushing and maintain "Tolkien" at the top!

So what are you waiting for!? Start adding your Custom HTML!

14. Payola. Payola is variable auction bridge advertising. You can offer your song for placement in one or respective of the many genres on MP3.com. This placement travels on every page in the genre you win, so you're getting a batch of visibility.

Back in January. I offer for the top Payola places in about four different genres, including genres in which "Tolkien" is not normally associated (such as Classical, Easy Listening, World/Folk, and Books/Spoken). I offer for the top place and usually won one of the top three in each of those genres. I
received a good 15-40% of my hits from payola as a result.

But now, MP3.com have added respective other word forms of payola that are even more than valuable including: Main Page Promotions, Greeting Cards, and Search Engine Promotions.

While none of these promotional tools are the end-all and be-all of getting your song to #1. Each tin be an unbelievable tool for pushing you up the charts.

One Concluding Note About Payola. How make you offer with payola? Well if you travel to the Bards Weeper mp3 page you will happen some "secrets" in audio form. But allow me start by saying if you're not making money, it really is not wise to start command on payola. I used payola to force us over the edge, not as a crutch. Instead, start by making certain you're making a few dollars from free promotion. Once you maestro that and have got earned a few bucks, then start using payola to force you over the edge.

Rhodes development in Golden Valley

2007-04-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

A Change in the Cards?

2007-04-14T07:23:00.000-07:00

I am a member of the Poker Players Alliance. I joined about a week after the UIGEA was signed into law back in October. Ponied up the twenty bucks and got my t-shirt, lapel pin, and PPA membership card that now rides around in my wallet next to an old laundry receipt, business cards of unremembered origin, and a sadly useless Subway Sub Club card. The membership card is one of those fancy lenticular cards where the image changes when you tilt it back and forth. Symbolizing the PPA’s intention to create change, perhaps? Or to create groovy-lookin’ cards.

The membership number on the back of the card suggests I was among the first 20,000 to join. (I suppose that might be true.) Today the PPA is reporting a membership of over 330,000 -- impressive, to be sure, although with free sign-ups via the internet there are several reasons one might question the legitimacy of that figure. Still, anyone who joins is -- theoretically -- of voting age and thus of tangible relevance to elected officials.

There’s been a lot of speculation about the PPA and its efficacy as a grass-roots, agenda-affecting organization. Some of the doubts are well-founded, though I’m going to give the PPA some credit here for doing what it can to marshall together a group whose numbers might well impress those who need impressing. Thursday’s webcast “chat” with Chairman of the Board Alphonse D’Amato clearly demonstrated the PPA’s number one priority right now is to attract more members into the fold. The webcast was open to anyone -- not just those of us with the fancy cards in our wallets -- and amounted to a thirty-minute rallying cry. (The PPA has posted an excerpt of the webcast over on YouTube; they intend to post the entire show in the near future.)

D’Amato was actually fairly communicative and (for the most part) actually answered the 15-20 questions that had been emailed to him. There was one misstep early on by D’Amato during his opening remarks. After running through the various reasons why the UIGEA is objectionable, he then lamented how people are “now” being arrested for playing poker. A couple of problems, here. For one, D’Amato seemed to imply a causal link between the UIGEA and the arrests of individuals running illegal live poker clubs such as has occurred recently in Cary, North Carolina, Indianapolis, and Atlanta. Obviously not true. The other, equally false implication here is that people are being arrested for playing poker online -- as if that were part of the UIGEA’s purview. I don’t think D’Amato intended either of these connections, but as the group’s spokesperson he should strive to be precise whenever referring to particulars of the present situation.

As I say, from a rhetorical standpoint the webcast amounted to a rallying cry for those already in the fold, and (perhaps) a recruitment tool for those yet to join. Makes sense, since it is fairly apparent that as of today, the PPA is clearly the short stack at the legislative table. As D’Amato mentioned in the webcast, Barney Frank does not intend to make any distinctions on the House floor that would consider poker any differently from other forms of gambling. As I mentioned in that note I added to my last post, this statement indicates to me that we will not be seeing any attempt here in the near term to introduce a poker “carve out” into the UIGEA. One can further surmise that since poker isn’t going to be given any special treatment next week -- or whenever Frank does introduce to Congress the subject of revisiting the UIGEA (reports from week’s end suggest it might in fact be some time before Frank makes his move) -- an organization of poker players, no matter how large, ain’t really part of the discussion. Now that I think about it, the PPA isn’t the short stack -- they’re on the rail.

Which is where they (ahem, I mean “we”) will be staying, it is likely, unless membership grows to something like NRA numbers (i.e., the millions). Even then -- as I’ve said before here -- it is hard to imagine the right to play online poker ever becoming a significant concern of legislators.

There is hope, though. As one 2+2 poster succinctly pointed out this week, “We have to remember that this issue is really a small blip on the national radar. But that fact was what allowed the UIGEA to get ‘passed’ in the first place, and it can be used to get it undone too.” Unnecessary scare quotes aside, the poster has a point. The issue’s relative obscurity may well reduce the stakes (as it were), enabling members of Congress to support a repeal of the dubiously-passed legislation without necessarily facing any meaningful political backlash.

Nifty how these cards work. One wishes the UIGEA could be changed as easily.

Brilliant Diamonds

2007-04-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

If you are a man who is getting ready to propose to your girlfriend, or if you are a woman that wants to purchase some diamonds for yourself or a loved one, then I have the site for you. It's called www.brilliantdiamonds.com, and on it you can browse hand-selected, beautiful diamonds completely online, look through the highest quality of loose stones, learn all about diamonds and diamond purchases, and even create and purchase your dream ring or other jewelry.

So check them out today. One of the biggest problems with conventional diamond shopping is the fear that you're being pressured to make a big purchase. Now you can completely avoid that and choose your favorite diamond on your own time with brilliantdiamonds.com.

Thank you for reading this sponsored post.

Korean Wolf Cloning Study

2007-04-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello There,

Here's a little science news that I read about in The Scientist...

Cloning and Stem Cells Journal epub-ed a paper on the first reported cloning of the Korean Wolf, however, as quickly as it was published, it's been taken down. Apparently, there were substantive errors in the manuscript; enough so that the authors couldn't just edit and submit for printing.

The South Korean research team was, in the past, spearheaded by Hwang, the scientist who has since been exiled from the scientific community for fabricating data (which, by the way, is becoming more and more of an issue with advances in software such as Photoshop and Illustrator that make it easy and enticing for researchers to "pretty-up" an image).

Certainly there must be a major breach in the data for the journal to pull the paper altogether, but in general, authorities are staying hush-hush. Evidently, there was an issue with data misrepresentation in one of the tables, but that could easily be the tip of the iceberg.

I'll update with more as I hear about it.

Agent Organizer

2007-04-13T06:59:00.000-07:00

Hello There,

Since my husband and I just bought a home, I have been very interested in learning all about the real estate market for the past few months. If you're getting ready to buy or sell a home for the first time, I urge you to learn as much as you possibly can about the market. I've learned that people in this market can be quite vindictive and sneaky, and in this case, your best defense is education.

As a new real estate agent, you of course need to know even more than the average buyer or seller, because you will be on the forefront of all negotiations. My recommendation for you is Real Estate Software by Agent Organizer. I explored it when my husband and I first decided to purchase a home, and it was incredibly helpful. Even though I am not a real estate agent, I wanted to see how they are trained, and it was the best way to get a quick overview of the real estate business from an unbiased source.

Everything you want to do, from creating flyers to organizing meetings, can be accomplished through Agent Organizer. Plus, if you are a real estate agent yourself, you can actually try out the FULL version for free at http://www.agentorganizer.com. Check it out today!

Thank you for reading this sponsored post.

Metastasis Genes

2007-04-13T05:47:00.000-07:00

A major cancer breakthrough was recently published in Nature, and you can read an abridged, more conversational version in The Scientist.

The progression of cancer is marked by metastasis, when cancerous cells invade the blood stream or lymph and migrate to a different tissue environment, where they re-colonize and multiply. This is a huge step from the point of view of the tumor, because as soon as it branches off and migrates, treatment becomes much more complicated and difficult.

In the case of breast cancer, tumor cells often metastasize to the lungs, and that's where this paper comes in. Four genes have been identified that work together to promote a higher risk of metastasis in people with breast cancer. Inhibiting the actions of these genes can contribute to keeping tumors localized and thus more treatable. This is a great advance in cancer biology with great therapeutic potential, so stay tuned for more.

Eight Online Hands: Cracking Zeem, Rivering Quads,...

2007-04-13T05:37:00.000-07:00

Eight Online Hands: Cracking Zeem, Rivering Quads, and More Puerile Donkament

By Pauly

I've been playing a slew of 8/16 and 10/20 Limit on Full Tilt during the last couple of days. Those games have been juicy with tremendous swings. That 10/20 full ring is difficult to find during the times I've been lurking online. At those limits there are a few solid players, but the rest of them are weak-tight or outright horrendous. In the end, I don't make money beating good players. I make the majority of my money by exploiting weaknesses and mistakes from a core group that consists of marginal players, newbies, and bad players. Conversely, I lose most of my money on bad reads, simply getting outplayed, and making rookie mistakes.

Here are eight interesting hands that I encountered in the last few days.

Ah-Jc at 10/20 Limit on Full Tilt: The subtitle of this hand is "Why I'm Glad You Overplay K-J." I found Ah-Jc at an eight-handed table in MP and raised. The button and both blinds called. Four way pot and the flop was Jh-8h-4h. I flopped top pair with the nut flush draw. The blinds checked, I bet, the button raised, and the small blind check-raised. Bastard. The big blind folded and I capped it. The button folded and the SB called. Heads-up. The turn was 10s. The SB bet and I raised. The SB went into the tank and called at the last second. The river was the Kh and I picked up my nut flush. He checked-called my river bet. He showed Ks-Js and I scooped a pot over $300.

6c-6s at 8/16 Limit on Full Tilt: It's an unexciting table and I'm in the big blind at a table with eight players. MP raised and the cutoff called. The small blind re-raised. I called three bets with 6-6 hoping that I flop the Anti-Christ in a four-way pot. The other two players called. Flop was Ks-6h-4s and on cue I flopped a set on a board with two flush cards. I dug in deep to my chair because I knew that was going to be a big pot. Either I was gonna lose big or win big. The small blind bet out and I raised. MP called and the cutoff re-raised. The small blind mucked and by then I put him on Queens or Jacks since he three bet pre-flop. I re-raised to cap it. The other two players called. I put one of my opponents on a flush draw and the other on Big Slick. The turn was Kd as I picked up a boat. I bet out and MP called. The cutoff raised all in for $25 total. I re-raised to $41 and the MP called. The river was 5d. I bet out with a boat and MP called with only $14 left. I won the side pot and the main pot. MP had Ad-Kc and the cutoff had 4h-4d. Too bad they were both short-stacked and all in. The $333 pot would have been bigger if they had more chips. Ugly cooler hand on that flop of K-6-4. Top pair and set over set. Online poker is rigged.

6d-6s at 8/16 Limit on Full Tilt: More wacky adventures with pocket sixes. I subtitle this one... "Cracking Zeem's Over Pair." I'm in the small blind with 6d-6s and Zeem raised UTG. He got one player in MP to call along with myself and the big blind. The flop was 3s-2h-2d. Both of us in the blinds checked-called Zeem's bet. Turn was 5d. The blinds checked and Zeem bet. I check-raised from the SB with a gutshot hoping to find out where Zeem was at... did he have Big Slick or a big pair? The BB folded and Zeem called. I found myself heads-up with Zeem. The river was a lucky 6c. I rivered a six outer. Sweet Jesus. Zeem had 10s-10h. Sorry for the suckout Zeem. It's not my fault. Online poker is rigged.

7h-7c at 8/16 Limit on Full Tilt: I'm in the small blind with a middle pair 7h-7c. I called a raise in a four player pot. I'd been on a "flopping a set" rush and decided to press my good fortune. The flop was a blood-curling As-7s-5s. Although I flopped a set, it was on an all spades board. Obviously not too thrilled about that. Even though I considered check-raising, I pussed out and check-called a bet from the original pre-flop raiser. The other two players folded. Heads-up. Turn was 4d and I check-called again. The river was 7d. I wish poker were that simple. I asked the poker gods to pair the board and they did. Rivering quads after flopping a set is like getting a hummer after you just got laid. Or for you female readers, it's like getting the kitten kissed after a tender love making session. I was ahead all the way. My opponent had Ac-Qd. More proof that online poker is rigged.

Ac-10c at 8/16 Limit on Full Tilt: Seven-handed table and I had been catching a blitz of big cards that held up. I was on a mini-rush when I found Ac-10c UTG and raised it up. There was one caller and the button re-raised. I called along with the second player. Flop was Jc-10s-3c. I flopped second pair and a nut flush draw. Time to jam. I bet out knowing that I'd get raised. The second player called and the button re-raised. I three-bet it and the second player mucked. The button capped it and I called. The turn was Jd. I bet out and the button only called. The river was the Qs. I missed my draw big time. I checked and so did the button. He turned over As-Ah for two pair... Aces and Jacks. That beat my paltry Jacks and Tens.

Js-Jc at 8/16 Limit on Full Tilt: Only four hands after I lost a big pot against A-A, I found myself heads-up with the same player. And guess what? He got Aces twice inside of four hands. Both times they held up as he raided a couple hundred bucks from my stack. Unreal. I found Jc-Js on the button. UTG + 1 raised and I re-raised. Everyone else folded and he smooth called. The flop was 10c-3d-2h. He bet out and I popped him for a quick raise. When he three-bet the flop, I knew I was in trouble but called anyway because I'm the fucker who can't fold a big pair in Limit Hold'em. I called bets on the turn and river when the 10h, then the 8d fell. He turned over As-Ad. Ouch. Aces twice in four hands? So rigged.

8c-7c at NL MTT on Full Tilt: I ended up taking 13th out of 339 players in a MTT early one morning last weekend. I was shocked because not only did I actually play a non-blogger MTT but I actually cashed in it! I played super loose and ended up amassing a stack early when I cracked pocket Aces. My opponent was a maniac at the table. Based on his erratic play and weird bet amounts, I suspected that he was some sort of whacked out druggie who was a habitual shoe-polish huffer or someone addicted to over the counter cough medicine who had been up all night with the cold sweats running around gnawing on dog biscuits and playing fourteen tables at once. Regardless, I had no respect for his raises. The blinds were 50/100 and I found 8c-7c. Maniac huffer raised to 300, which was an actual normal sized bet. He had been betting 4x or 5x or 6x the BB every hand pre-flop. I called the raise and the flop was 7s-6c-3c. Top pair and a flush draw against the maniac huffer looked promising for me. He underbet the pot about and I raised. He called. The turn was 5h. I picked up more outs an open-ended straight draw. He checked and I moved all in for about 2K. I had him covered by 400 and he called. He showed Ah-Ad. Two red aces. Yikes. He trapped me for all my chips but I still had outs. The river was 8s. I missed my flush draw but I rivered two pair which was good enough to crack pocket aces. Rigged. So fuckin' rigged. That hand put my stack over 7K in chips. In the second level, I was among the chipleaders.

8s-5h-5c-3d at a PLO MTT on Full Tilt: I had 8s-5h-5c-3d in the small blind at a six-handed table. Blinds were 60/120 and I was the big stack at my table. Three players limped and I called from the SB as the BB checked. Five out of the six players saw the flop of 10h-9c-5d. I flopped bottom set which means I'm gonna go broke or double up. I was first to act and checked. The BB bet the minimum and the button called. I check-raised to 1K. The BB folded and the button called. The turn was the 2h. I bet close to 3K. The button had 1550 remaining and was all in. The river was 6h. I had a set of 5s while he showed As-Jh-Tc-9s for just two pair. He busted out and I ended up making the final table of that PLO tournament. Of course, I bubbled out of the money in 8th place.

The leading candidate for Bad Beat of 2007 has to be a hand that happened on Wednesday night. I suffered one brutal river suckout where my soul was shattered into a billion fragments, but I'll spare the specific details. Let's just say it was tough enough to stomach what I thought was a two-outer on the river, but the testicle-numbing pain intensified as I hurdled into the upper stratum of Mega-tilt when one of the players piped up in the chat, "I folded the other King pre-flop."

* * * * *
I finally finished my Amsterdam II photo gallery over at Flickr which features 90 pics that I took last week during my 60 hour getaway. You can also check out the Amsterdam II slide show, if you like those sorts of things.

Original content written and provided by Pauly from Tao of Poker. All rights reserved. RSS feeds are for non-commercial use only.

Passive Income for Musicians - My Top Music Affiliate Programs

2007-04-12T22:35:00.000-07:00

Recently, there was a treatment on the MusicThoughts listing regarding how to develop inactive income as a musician. Of course, there are many types of inactive income unfastened to musicians, but this treatment in peculiar involved using affiliate programmes to gain money.

For the newbie, affiliate programmes are programme online that let you to gain money by merchandising merchandises or services that you make not own. Companies like Committee Junction, LinkShare, ClickBank offering a assortment of a affiliate programmes on every subject. While companies like Amazon.com (books, music, and more), MP3DownloadHQ (free music downloads) offering more than specific merchandises or services.

Building a successful affiliate income is NOT easy. And as cyberspace companies come up and go, they are also not a hugely dependable beginning of income for the long-term. I prefer to concentrate on offering merchandises and services for my active websites, but most of my websites were created with affiliates in mind. Consequently, I've learned the affiliate game quite well.

Most people don't like sharing how much they gain from inactive income. So determination those stats Will be difficult. But frankly, I prefer helping folks with facts.

So, here's a couple short letters on the assorted passive voice cyberspace income beginnings I gain or have got earned in the past:

1. Google Adsense. Google can be great, but a batch of it depends on what keywords your site is focused on. Head over to PixelFast offers a great Overture Keywords and Command Amounts Tool and you can happen out how much people command on certain types of keywords through overture.

Having done testing which got me banned from Google Iodine learned a few things when I was using Google Adsense. I establish on the average, I made about pittance on each of my random websites. Some however, did much better. Namely the 'free music downloads' websites.

You'll observe at PixelFast that companies command heavily for those keywords with clickthrus averaging at about 45c per click. Seventy percentage of the income I earned on Google was from one free music download website that somehow made it high on the hunt results. I'm not allowed to state how much Iodine made, but you can make the mathematics when a site acquires approximately 500 alone visits a twenty-four hours and have a 5-10% clickthru rate.

The point is if you make and advance webpages with high impact keywords, you will make fairly well.

2. Affiliate Programs. Since I'm no longer with Google, I've feel learned to happen other options using Google style ads. You can those on my Directory of Free Music Downloads as an example.

I've establish other affiliate programmes to fill up the spreads lost by Google through:
Clickbank. I've focused primarily on free music downloads. The large job I have got with Clickbank is that my Mozilla browser at place doesn't like their redirects. But I still gain about $500 per calendar month from Clickbank.

MP3Dollars. This is a free music downloads site for MP3DownloadHQ. Their affiliate golf course are good redirects. So I've made them much more than outstanding so as not to lose income that might've been lost from Clickbank. The affiliate programme is solid paying 50% of the money they earn. So I gain about $500 per calendar month from them. Best of all, it's paid weekly!

Amazon.com. Usually gains me about $50 a month. And this come ups from a batch of heavy referrals from my Celtic Language MP3s Music Magazine.

Commission Junction. Their redirects look to have got the same job as Clickbank. I mainly utilize them for web hosting services that gain about $150 per month.

Linkshare. I've used it for years. Earned no money (like the huge bulk of affiliate programmes I've tried). I did mark up for iTunes earlier this month. And we'll see if that alterations substances at all. I also gain another $100-150 per calendar month from the Bards Weeper Music Selling and Promotion Ezine's assorted associations with IMHO some of the best music sellers out there. Course, I also have got got a nice online cadmium gross sales income, and other artistic undertakings that gain me money (and I still have a twenty-four hours occupation for at least another year).

3. The Key to retrieve when you're making money with affiliate programmes is really to intermix it into your website. For instance, if you travel to thebards.net. You can download our MP3 "Tolkien (The Hobbit & Godhead of the Rings)" on the homepage. It downloads from amazon.com using my affiliate link. So it makes another cooky which hopefully will gain me more than income from future amazon.com orders from that customer.

Prominent advertisements also work like at my Directory of Free Music Downloads. Meaning, Google have really hit upon a great style of advertising. Oh, and Vertical advertisements out execute horizontal ads.

I'm also a large advocate of creating a website that volition gain you income as well as popularity. Again, bank check out the Celtic Language MP3s Music Magazine. The site is designed for two purposes:
Promote independent Celtic Language Language music by luring in signed Celtic music fans of Enya, The Chieftains, etc. It's a technique I learned from Saint David Nevue's How to Successfully Promote Your Music on the Internet and have proved exceptionally profitable, and
Promote my music. You'll see a batch of golf course and information about the Brobdingnagian Bards and my ain solo Celtic Language music recordings. There is one other facet I would wish to point out that volition make whatever you do more than money. It's sales letters. Quite honestly, I detest difficult sales. I don't typically care for gross sales letters online. But they bash execute well.

Some of the best-selling webpages are composed of one long gross sales missive like some of the material you'll see at indiebiz.com. I've no uncertainty that Saint David do well-over $3000 a calendar month for any of his webpages just from some of his inactive income gross sales letters. By learning about copywriting, you can make webpages to execute just as well to advance your affiliate programs. It's an astonishing accomplishment to have.

One Last Important Note: I have got got NO Religion in most of my cyberspace affiliate income. Sure Iodine believe Amazon will be there for old age to come. But the passionateness for 'free music downloads' volition dice with the adjacent cyberspace fad.

My suggestion is to make a difficult merchandise that you can sell. For instance, make and sell ebooks using your cognition and those gross sales letters I mentioned. People are willing to pay fo your cognition of the most everyday things. It's not about being stupid, it's about ease. If you can collect that cognition and sell it, more than powerfulness to you!

You will constantly necessitate to mulct melody everything. And larn how the hunt engines work.

Passive money on the cyberspace is not unreasonable. But it's also not easy. It takes quite a spot o'work and a batch of forbearance because it can take calendar months for hunt engines to happen out if you're website is important.

Hope that assists some folks, slainte!

Baby Clothes

2007-04-12T16:11:00.000-07:00

Is it weird that I like to check out baby clothes when I am out shopping, even if I don't have a baby (or even one on the way). Well, maybe I will just go to babycz.com instead of getting weird looks out in the stores. They have a bigger selection than most stores anyway (well, maybe not more than Babies 'R Us...but their prices are better I believe). Don't get me wrong, I do want to have kids some day, but for now I just think the tiny little clothes are really cute. But since I already do most of my shopping online (Amazon anyone?), I'll probably do my baby clothes shopping online...probably at babycz.com!

Thank you for reading this sponsored post.

Why Our Drugs are No Match for HIV

2007-04-12T15:25:00.000-07:00

I recently received the following question regarding anti-HIV therapy:

“What do you think is the solution for these multiple drug resistant strains of HIV and other viruses? There's got to be a limit to the viral genome, to how many resistant mechanisms a virus can store, right? Seems to me the persistence of human researchers has got to wear these viruses down eventually since evolution only gave them so many tools.”

If there were ever a professional evolver, HIV would be it. I took the following statistics from Principles of Virology, which has a great background discussion of HIV, in case anyone is interested in learning more.

-At least 10¹⁰ virions are released into the blood per day

-Because of the high mutation rate of HIV, on average, every possible mutation at every position in the genome is predicted to occur numerous times each day

-Based on the high rates of mutation and virus propagation, it has been estimated that the genetic diversity of HIV produced in a single infected individual can be greater than the worldwide diversity of influenza virus during an epidemic

The idea that there is a limit to the HIV genome may seem sound, but in thinking about viral evolution, we cannot simply apply our framework of eukaryote evolution. For instance, given the rate of human reproduction, it would make no sense for us to have high mutation rates, because eventually we’d die off (as a general rule, mutations overwhelmingly cause decreases rather than increases in viability). However, the case is different for HIV. Although MANY of the viruses that result from mutation events are incapable of infection, the magnitude of viruses that are produced, and the small chance that a mutant will be more infectious given the conditions at the time, far outweighs the energy required to make all those viruses. This brings up another point. For humans, there is a significant energy output to create another human, so it becomes important to have a high degree of genomic fidelity and protect against deleterious mutations. In contrast, the virus has no reason to “care” about the energy expelled on inviable mutants over the course of replication and evolution, because ultimately, it’s the human host that expends the energy for these processes anyway. For the virus, it’s a win-win situation. This becomes especially true when the virus is not just attempting to evade the host’s natural immune defenses but also has to resist the drugs the host may take.

Currently, the best therapeutic strategy is to defend against viral proliferation with a suite of drugs. These drugs are administered simultaneously, and each targets a different facet of the viral infectious cycle. The idea behind this strategy is probabilistic: although a mutant virus may arise that is resistant to one of the drugs being administered, it will be less likely that that same virus will survive in the presence of two drugs, and less likely still that it will survive under the pressure of three drugs, etc. Of course, implicating this kind of treatment is not a trivial undertaking—it requires the patient to take as many as fifty pills each day, complete with devastating side effects. And yet, given the degree of viral replication and mutation, preliminary results from these treatments have been far from promising. One critical issue is that the virus infects and replicates in the host for as long as a decade before the infection becomes apparent. If treatment is not begun until symptoms arise, the individual already harbors a viral population of enormous genetic diversity. In these cases, it is theoretically impossible to combat every viral variant. In fact, it's likely that such a patient will harbor an HIV mutant resistant to any drug or combination of drugs that could ever be tested.

Case in point: viral mutants resistant to AZT appeared almost immediately after the drug was approved.

The quest against HIV looks grim, although HIV researchers are constantly uncovering new information that can be applied to novel treatments. It’s possible that an effective HIV vaccine or drug will result one day, but I strongly suspect that it will not be a matter of wearing down the evolution of the virus. Evolution did not give HIV a finite number of “tools” to use to evade human defense. Rather, evolution is continuously conferring on HIV the mutations necessary to resist the attacks of researchers and health care professionals alike. As is used so often to describe virus:host interactions, it is truly an arms race, and HIV is a massive and unpredictable army.

SO many ways to go broke

2007-04-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

Select your spot to go broke:

Lost $150 playing 1-3. I did not play perfect, but never did I miss so many flops when playing tight aggr. Even with JJ, the flop would be A88 and both opponents hit.

I could not hit the side of a barn with KQ. or ANYTHING for that matter. Made so many second best hands, I felt like Bill Fillmath.

Then this gem comes up: Select you "going broke" point:

Somewhat loose but overbetting the pot player joins the game.
First raise I make in 20 hands. He re-raises like 4 times the pot. I fold KQo.

Few hands later, he make is $10 UtG.

I look down at AcKc.

Call or rasie? I have position, and a shorter stack. I expect all my money can go in here. But you could be worried. Why? Because you have not made the best hand all night.

Flop 8T6 with 2 clubs. Now you have a nut flush draw and 2 overs vs. an over aggressive player. He bets... Going broke YET?

Turn is a King. Now you have TP AND the flush draw? Gone broke yet?
I am playing this strong here... But...

The board pairs the ten on the river. He shows TT and felts me and IGHN-DQB. Argh.

TOPIC CHANGE
On a "hoy-type" related note:

what's with the whiney bitches who complain that there is not enough money in the pots and yet they are playing 1-3? Want big pots? Go play 10-20 NL. There, big pots. Now shut the frack up.

Dear Fellow KGVAR Members...

2007-04-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

Some great quotes for a Thursday morning...

2007-04-12T08:38:00.001-07:00

"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." (Darwin)

...and...

"The role of the infinitely small, in nature is infinitely large." (Pasteur)

Put them together, and they sort of make you want to learn more about the evolution of infinitely small things...retroviruses, maybe?

Anime

2007-04-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

I don't think that I have mentioned this on this blog before, but I am a pretty big fan of anime. I had a friend in college who was a very talented anime artist. He did this awesome drawing of me in the anime style, I still have the picture years later as it is that awesome.

So, although I usually try to keep on task here with strictly science articles, I could not pass up this exclusive opportunity to review a new anime cartoon. When I say exclusive, I mean that I was given the opportunity to view clips from the show that are not available to the general public. If that doesn't make an anime fan like me feel special, then I don't know what will.

As you can see from this sample clip, the animation is pretty cool (and this picture is a public picture, so you're not all cool like me, I got the exclusive VIDEO). The name of the cartoon is going to be Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, try saying that 5 times fast. I wonder how much debating the creators did about getting the exact right number of "bo"s and the placement of the hyphens. If you want to see some more pictures and get information (but still not see my EXCLUSIVE video) you can check out the Official Website for Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo by clicking that link.

This show is going to be airing on Cartoon Network, which has quickly become the official American home to check out anime. Let me do a little talking about the clip I was able to see. Let me start by saying I watch anime for the animation. The plot and what not is of little consequence to me. I think it has to do with the fact that I am such a poor artist, but wish I could be amazing like the people that make these. The animation in this show looks incredible, definitely on pace with some of my other favorites. The main difference that I might add (if there was a main difference at all) is that the colors in this cartoon seem more vibrant and bright. I think that's awesome and it kinda sets itself apart a little bit. I can't wait until this comes out on TV... maybe I'll have TiVo by then and I can capture them all and give them a more detailed review here on my blog!

Thank you for reading this sponsored post.

Making Plans

2007-04-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

The Hard-Boiled Poker World Tour rolls into Vegas in less than a week. Starting to make plans. Gonna meet up with some folks, play a little poker, get over to the Gambler’s Bookshop at some point, and perhaps do some stargazing over at the Bellagio since I’ll be there during the lead-up to the WPT World Championship that begins Saturday the 21st.

Meanwhile, I have registered for that “Poker Players Alliance Chat with Senator Alfonse D’Amato Webcast” thingamabob occurring later this afternoon. We’ll see if my operating system is sufficiently compatible for me to be able to listen in. The event is scheduled to last for thirty minutes. I’m guessing rather than a “chat” we’ll be more likely treated to another monologue (of sorts) from the Rambling Gambling Man. I also can’t imagine we’ll be hearing much that is new today. Nonetheless, I am curious to hear how the Chairman of the Board will choose to address the organization he’s being paid to represent.

It is possible that D’Amato might say something about the legislation that Barney Frank, the Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts, will apparently be introducing on the floor of the House next week. Recent reports have suggested Wednesday, April 18th will be the day Frank will play his hand. (Same day I’m flying to Vegas, so I suppose that countdown I’ve added over on the right-column is serving a dual purpose.) A Poker Player Newspaper article from March 28th reported Frank to be “consulting widely before moving forward with the drafting of legislation which will include but not be limited to a poker carve out from [the] UIGEA.” The article also says that Frank is not consulting with either D’Amato or the PPA, which makes me think D’Amato will be necessarily vague today when responding to any questions about upcoming legislation.

Making some sort of attempt now to repeal (or at least alter) the UIGEA is certainly appropriate. Federal regulators have yet to issue their instructions to “designated payment systems” and “financial transaction providers” to stop their clients from dealing with online gambling sites. But that rumbling we’re hearing in the distance indicates the storm’s approach. Online gambling-foe Jon Kyl -- the Republican senator from Arizona who was involved in the drafting of earlier versions of what became the UIGEA -- apparently wrote a letter to President Bush last month urging the executive branch to get moving with those instructions. (I say “apparently” because there seems to be some doubt about the authenticity of Kyl’s letter -- see this Kick Ass Poker post for links/details.)

I would think that preventing the delivery of those instructions to federal regulators would be a high priority for those desirous to preserve the precarious stability of the online poker industry. Since Frist pulled his ruse in the dead of night last September, we’ve experienced a couple of “calamity”-type events that have shaken the online poker world -- e.g., the day Party announced it was pulling out, the day Neteller bailed. Neither of those setbacks will compare to the tidal wave of paranoia-slash-anxiety that will crash down on us once the U.S. Attorney General and those who serve on the Federal Reserve send their instructions to the banks. I guarantee it. (Am hoping with everyone else that day does not come.)

The day the UIGEA was signed into law, I wrote a post saying I didn’t think we’d ever see a carve out for poker. Can’t really say I’m thinking much differently six months later. That opinion was/is partially based on my belief that no matter what they might be saying in Russia at the moment, poker is “a game based on chance.” The fact that most everything in this life might be described that way is beside the point. As long as the U.S. government does not explicitly exclude poker from the category -- and I don’t think they ever will -- poker is covered by the UIGEA.

My opinion that we won’t see a poker carve out also stems from my experience living in America and being acquainted with the culture here. I just cannot imagine a majority of Congress ever finding it useful politically to identify themselves as supporters of poker, especially online poker. So while Frank may be consulting about the feasibility of seeking a carve out, it is much more likely we’ll see a more comprehensive argument from him about how the entire Act violates our civil liberties and should therefore be repealed outright.

(EDIT [added 4/12/07, 3:40 p.m.]: During the session, D’Amato confirmed that Congressman Frank would be introducing legislation next week. At first, D'Amato said -- ambiguously -- that such legislation would be to “amend this law, to do away with this law.” Later he was asked specifically whether or not Frank would be making any distinctions between poker and other forms of gambling. D’Amato said that while he was not privy to details, he understood that Frank’s proposed legislation would not distinguish between poker and other forms of gambling. It appears evident, then, that Frank will not be seeking any “carve out” for poker next week, but rather a wholesale repeal of the UIGEA.)

Can’t say I’m all that optimistic about that plan, either. But how does that saying go? He who fails to plan plans to fail . . . ?

Speaking of . . . . Anybody have any suggestions about where I might want to play low limit HE -- no higher than $3/$6, I’m afraid -- when I go to Vegas next week? I might also be able to withstand a $1/$2 PLO game, if such an animal exists on the strip. All advice is welcome.

How to Win in an Online Poker Game

2007-04-12T06:31:00.000-07:00

How to win in an online poker game? Over the years there have been a lot of strategies devised to beat online poker gaming. Here we go over some of the few winning tips you could consider to win in the game.

Bear in mind that these are just tips not set in stone methods that guarantee you to show you how to win online 100% of the time.

1. Always make sure you play your starting hands using hands with higher value.

2. Know when to hold 'em and when to fold'em. As a player you need to learn the best time to fold a hand in online poker. You will not know how to win online playing every hand. As every profession poker player say, winning or losing depends mostly on the player and not just luck.

3. If you have just started to play poker or if winning is what you always want to do, then make sure you pick easy opponents to bet. This may sound like a very obvious way but it is a fact that some players know how to win better than others because of their experience or sheer good luck although the latter is of secondary importance. Also, if you are having a bad time, decrease the size of bet or simply walk away and leave it for another day.

4. Study your opponents. See if you can read their play and if you can pick patterns in their betting strategy. Knowing how your opponents play will allow you to outsmart them.

5. Learn the art of betting. When you bet you should always do so in a defensive style; another good thing about knowing the proper time to make a bet is that it gives you an idea of your opponent's hand.

6. Putting yourself in the situation of your opponent will help you determine his next moves.

7. Learn how to bluff. This is a technique that professional players use most of the time to confuse opponents and is lethal against beginners who often will fall for it.

8. Knowing how to win at online poker will mean learning how to play the different types of hands. It is an asset in poker to have high flexibility with different types of hands. Professionals are able to glean right away what a beginner's hand is as well as knowing when they have bad hands so that they can take advantage. So you must practice continuously using different types of hands so that you can taylor your
play in such a way that you do not give away the fact that you are a new player or an experienced one.

9. How the players are seated at the table should also be considered. It is always to your best advantage when you are the last player to take action because this will allow you to observe your opponents action making it more easy for you to create a game plan.

10. Spend a lot of time researching online, read books and articles about poker and most of all learn from your mistakes. Being prepared with al the information and skills is how you will know how to win in an online game or any game of poker.

By following these simple tips, you may now have an idea about how to win in an online poker game; however you could also incorporate your own style because not everything fits for everybody. Just have fun playing the game.

In The Market For Benidorm Apartments

2007-04-12T05:25:00.000-07:00

There are many apartments that are available to rent when in Benidorm. Mostly in the area of Costa Blanca where they are located in high rise Benidorm apartments. In most cases the price of these apartments will vary based on the length of stay and of course whether you want city or shore view.

Extras In The Cost

Usually an apartment will cost in the same range as a mid priced hotel. However that is usually with the minimum of a week long stay as well. Rates will increase in most cases if the stay is less than a week and it is possible that the rates would decrease if the stay were to last longer.

In many cases many of the high rise apartments that you can say at will have a large balcony that will allow you to look out into the large expanse of the city. Many of the apartments also come with all of the furnishings one would need including appliances. This will allow you to cook and clean much as you would at your own home to possibly save money on eating out and not having to pack so much for a trip.

Since Benidorm has a reputation for the party it is likely that you will need to placer a breakage deposit on your apartment. This is a normal fee that you pay in the event that one or more items in your apartment are damaged as a result of your acts.

Usually the apartments that you rent will be either 1 or 2 bedroom and will have pull out sofas to allow for extra guests. However, usually the manager will have a limit to the number of people that will be allowed to stay in the apartment at one time. Check the guidelines that they have in order to know for sure.

Nearby Areas To Visit

Since this is one of the most visited cities in Spain they are well aware of how to treat and embrace tourists. They are aware of all the amenities that they are looking for in the way of nightlife and food. They know that everyone needs a to eat and offer a variety of restaurants and different places to dine.

Travel To Benidorm

Since it is so close to Alicante there are many ways to get to Benidorm. Being that Alicante has such a large airport to take advantage of and a large number of ways to get oneself from the airport and into the city.

Jack Chalker

2007-04-12T01:07:00.000-07:00

Perhaps my favorite science-fiction series ever was the original five books of the Well World series by Jack Chalker.

The series was wild: a planet where over 1500 different races lived side by side was perfect reading material during my formative D&D years. And to have a main character who was also "the Wandering Jew" was a little something extra thrown in just for me (it didn't have the negative association with the myth).

Unlike some things which I returned to as an adult where I no longer know why I liked it at all, the original Well World series holds up as a great rollicking ride through a wild imagination and fine storytelleing.

I also very much enjoyed a number of his other books from the late 70s and early 80s, such as The Four Lords of the Diamond series and The Web of the Chozen. I failed to connect to his later stuff, but what I liked already earned him a place on my limited shelf of sci-fi classics.

When it would stay on the shelf, that is. I think between my family and me we must have bought the first book of the Well World series, Midnight at the Well of Souls, a good ten or eleven times. It was the book that we lent out the most and failed to be returned to us the most.

Anyhoo ...

So it was a delight to discover this week that Jack's son, David, is involved in the gaming scene and writes for Critical Hits. Apparently both Jack and David loved to play Loopin' Louis. And it was even more of a delight when I noticed that he visited my profile on one of the social networking sites, MyBlogLog.

It was a terrible shock to discover, however, that Jack had passed away two years ago. That's sad. My very belated condolences to Jack's family.

Last night Kurt Vonnegut also passed away. Sigh.

Did you ever notice how we know when people who have affected our lives pass away but we never know when they are born? That means we're always saying goodbye to important things, never hello.

Yehuda

Making Money in Bad Companies

2007-04-11T19:50:00.000-07:00

How Counterintuitive Investments Can Improve Your Results
Sometimes, you can make more money by buying the least attractive stock in a particular industry if you believe the sector is due for a turnaround. Although it is counterintuitive, a little bit of simple math can show why it makes perfect sense and can leave the shrewd analyst with a much fatter pocketbook. These types of operations are for investors that have already built their complete portfolio and are on financially sound footing; they should not represent a substantial portion of your assets and are best left to those who have a good grasp of the economics and risks of the situation.

An Example in the Oil Industry
Imagine it is the late 1990’s and crude oil is $10 per barrel.
You have some spare capital with which you wish to speculate. It is your belief that oil will soon skyrocket to $30 per barrel and you’d like to find a way to take advantage of your hunch. Ordinarily, as a long-term investor you would look for the company with the best economics and stick your capital in the shares, parking them for decades as you collected and reinvested the dividends. However, you remember a technique taught in Security Analysis and actually seek out the least profitable oil companies and begin buying up shares.

Why would you do this? Imagine you are looking at two different fictional oil companies:

Company A is a great business. Crude is currently $10 per barrel, and its exploration and other costs are $6 per barrel, leaving a $4 per barrel profit.
Company B is a terrible business in comparison. It has exploration and other expenses of $9 per barrel, leaving only $1 per barrel in profit at the current crude price of $10 per barrel.

Now, imagine that crude skyrockets to $30 per barrel. Here are the numbers for each company:

Company A makes $24 per barrel in profit. ($30 per barrel crude price - $6 in expenses = $24 profit).
Company B makes $21 per barrel in profit ($30 per barrel crude price - $9 in expenses = $21).

Although Company A makes more money in an absolute sense, its profit only increased 600% from $4 per barrel to $24 per barrel compared to Company B which increased its profit 2, 100%. These differences are likely to be reflected in the share price meaning that although the first enterprise is a better business the second is a better stock.

More Information
Typically, these operations are most successful in industries that are dependent upon underlying commodity prices for their profitability such as copper producers, gold mines, oil companies, etc. The wild fluctuations in the underlying commodity can result in huge swings in the earnings of the business, making them good candidates. Of course, unless you are a professional, you should not engage in these types of transactions, instead focusing on building long-term wealth through value based, intelligent, and discipline investments that focus on getting the most earnings at the least risk.

From Joshua Kennon
beginnersinvest.about.com

I am refinancing, should I get new title insurance?

2007-04-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

Leadership Decisions

2007-04-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

Two Easy Steps to Describing Your Band for Greater Web Traffic and More Fans

2007-04-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

It goes on to boggle my head how many sets don't take the time to come up up with a nice verbal description of their music. It's extremely important, and when you're marketing yourself online, it's essential.

So catch some paper, we're gonna make two simple set verbal descriptions that volition aid you gain you web traffic and assist you with all facets of your music promotion. Whether you're looking to advance your set to person in an elevator, on the telephone or submitting to a directory, these two verbal descriptions will function you well.

1. The Ten-Word Elevator Description
Saint David Hooper of Kathode Raye music utilizes the term "Elevator Description" as a manner of describing your music quickly. Your Elevator Description is the words you would utilize in an lift if you had to state what type of music you make quickly... in just 10 words.

This mightiness look like the most-difficult part about describing your band, but it's also the most utile all around. To make it, focusing on an intense verbal description combined with a benefit for your audience. I set this speedy verbal description in the first sentence on our homepage.

"The Master Celtic Language Language Renaissance music grouping from Austin, Texas offering free Celtic mp3 downloads."

Obviously it's not ten-words exactly. But it acquires acquires the point across.
Musical style: "original Celtic Language Language Renaissance music"
Location: Austin, Texas
Benefit: free Celtic MP3 downloads

Short sweet and to the point. Obviously, not everyone is as focused on downloading music. Coming up with benefits, but make some brainstorming and you'll happen your niche. Check out these descriptions:

The Rogues
A Houston based Pipe and Drum Set with an attitude.
http://www.therogues.com/

Gilli Moon
Melodic-Kinda-Folkie-Indie with a multi-layered guitar
(and all-sorts) wall of sound.
http://www.gillimoon.com/

Mountain Mirrors
Psychedelic Zen Buddhism Rock. Fans of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd
or Spiritualized will bask this music. Free MP3 Downloads!
http://www.mountainmirrors.com/

Add your lift verbal description to your "Description" META Tag. Also add an even shorter verbal description in your statute title tag, and you'll hike your traffic for people looking for those keywords.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of "Two Easy Steps to Describing Your Set for Greater Web Traffic and More Fans."

If you're looking for more than great web traffic tips for your music, Saint David Nevue wrote the book on it, literally. See how he earned over $4000 per calendar month turning music into a full-time profession. It's all in this book How to Successfully Promote Your Music the the Internet.

Tribal Junction

2007-04-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I want to take this post to tell you all about Tribal Junction, a great site you can check out with your family. With Tribal Junction, you get the chance to build your family tree and find out about distant ancestors you never knew you had!

I'm always interested in knowing where I came from, so this site is right up my alley. I loved how quickly I was able to get started with it, and I was able to add my relatives as users, and they were able to modify the family tree as well. It ended up becoming a big project that we all worked on together and unveiled at our last family reunion. It was so cool to see the whole family tree all set up, and as soon as we add new members to our family, we'll put them right into the tree!

With Tribal Junction, creating your family tree has never been easier, and Tribal Junction allows you to include the whole family in the fun. Plus, in addition to your own modifications to the tree, Tribal Junction also adds it's own automatic links and checks that duplications aren't accidentally included.

Check it out today. With features like group email and user profiles, you might just grow closer to your relatives in the process, and what could be better than that?

Keep in touch and get to know your family better with Tribal Junction.

Thank you for reading this sponsored post.

Master of the Obvious

2007-04-10T15:24:00.000-07:00

Doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realize when it comes to poker, we’re living in a Hold ’em world at the moment. So I know not everyone reading this here blog will be all that enthralled by discussions of pot limit Omaha hands. Take a ride with me, though, on this here brief voyage of discovery . . . .

At least two factors in PLO make reading hands after the flop relatively less difficult than in hold ’em (especially no limit). For me, anyway. One is the number of hands in play -- at a nine-handed table, I’m essentially looking at 54 different two-card combinations that can be matched with those three flopped community cards. That means, of course, that when assessing the board, just about any possible hand I can think of is probably going to be out there -- particularly when there’s several players seeing the flop. So if I ain’t holding the best possible hand, someone else probably is. (Something one really shouldn’t assume so readily in hold ’em.)

The other factor that makes hand-reading a simpler matter is the fact that the game is pot limit. In this game I never face the ambiguity of an all-in raise wildly disproportionate to the size of the pot. That is not say there is no guesswork at all here -- but with certain flops, a pot-sized bet is usually a pretty strong indicator of what a player is holding. And the relative purity of your own outs is usually easier to calculate as well.

Let’s say it’s a $0.10/$0.25 PLO game and I’m in late postion. Seven players have limped in. The flop comes 569-rainbow and a player in early position bets pot. It is reasonable to assume here that two of his cards are probably 7 and 8 (or perhaps he has a set). And anyone who calls and/or raises before the action gets to me probably has a set (or perhaps a 7 and an 8). So if I don’t also hold the nut straight -- or at the very least a set of nines -- I’m basically ignoring the evidence before me if I don’t let it go. (I’m talking lower limits here, of course -- $25 or $50 max. buy-in -- and so can’t really speak to the sort of meta-games happenin’ over at the $100/$200 PLO tables on Full Tilt.)

So, in a sense, what I’m saying here is that doing well at PLO requires -- among other things -- at least being able to master the obvious. Here are three hands where I’ve determined being in possession of this here much-underrated skill to have been a factor.

Hand No. 1

I limp in early position with . Six of us see a flop of (pot $1.50). I’ve flopped the second-best straight, but I’m also holding two of the queens, which makes someone else holding KQ just a bit less likely than it would have been otherwise. The big blind bets a quarter. (I’ve seen a lot of people try this nuisance-minimum bet either with very little or to disguise a monster.) I go ahead and bet pot -- $1.75 -- to see what’s what. Folds around to a player in late position who fires out $7.00 (again, a pot-sized bet). And the big blind calls. What once seemed unlikely now seems undeniable. I fold. Sure enough, both players hold KQ.

Hand No. 2

I’m on the button with and again I just limp, as do three others (pot $1.00). Flop comes . Early position player opens with a probe bet of $0.50 and the other two players call. I don’t have much, but call as well with my overpair. Pot is $3.00. Turn comes . Again, EP bets half-pot -- $1.50 -- and again both of the other players call. I’ve got the up-and-down draw (plus the Q-high flush draw) and 5-to-1 to call, so I do. Pot is $9.00. The river is a and all three players rapidly check to me. I’ve missed my draw. There are several straight possibilities out there, but it is pretty damn clear no one has the Q9. If EP had it, he’d have bet here. And if anyone else had it, they’d have raised the turn. Rarely do I outright bluff in PLO. I’ll semi-bluff or open bet big draws, but almost never do I stone cold bluff. At this particular table, I’d cultivated the tight image, only showing down winners. I take the plunge and plunk down $7.00 -- a little over 3/4 the pot. Thinking I obviously have the nut straight, all fold. (I would have, too.)

Hand No. 3

So as not to give the impression I don’t screw up from time to time, here’s a blunder-filled mess of a hand for you that also demonstrates the principle. On this one I make a dubious call from the button with . Six are in, so the pot is $1.50. The flop comes . I’ve flopped the nut straight with my sketchy holding. A player in early position bets half-pot, and I hastily make a pot-sized raise -- telling the table, essentially, I’ve got J9. He quickly calls. Pot is $9.00. The turn is the and my opponent checks. What might he have? Immediately I assumed QJ -- not because I am a pessimist, but because I am a realist. But I bet $5.00 anyway. (Really.) Like a shot he raises to $10. Now it’s obvious. He has the better straight. But I look at my once-proud straight, my two pair, my baby flush draw, my chance to counterfeit if a queen comes . . . and I talk myself into calling. Terrible. Pot is $29.00. The river is a . Three pair no good. EP bets his last $11.00. Everyone at the table knows he’s got the nuts, including me. But somehow I decide that with 4-to-1 to call, the bluff might be possible (yeah, right), and pay the man off. I drop $25.00 on the hand, $21.00 of which I could have easily saved if only I had mastered the obvious.

As that last hand illustrates, I do occasionally run into trouble when flopping the nuts then stubbornly hangin’ on after a ruinous turn card. Sometimes you just don’t want to believe what you’re seeing. (Like that boat up there -- that’s a static image, I promise you. Read more here.) In fact, I’m starting to figure out that it’s much better to turn the nuts -- that’s where one really gets paid (as my opponent did in Hand No. 3).

For the most part, though, I think I’m doing fairly well believing what I’m seeing. One encounters a lot of subtleties playing pot limit Omaha. But one also encounters a lot that’s obvious, too.

March Sales Report (2007)

2007-04-10T07:49:00.001-07:00

March Sales Report (2007)

2007-04-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

Caught my eye...

2007-04-10T07:32:00.000-07:00

A little spring cleaning of my own...

2007-04-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

The Bad Bad day

2007-04-07T17:24:00.000-07:00

So right after point bubbling the riverchasers, I had to transition into the worst day every. This Saturday, I had my basement flood a scant 5 minutes before in-laws came over to afternoon Easter festivities (on a saturday?), which all occurred on the DAY that my company is officially swallowed by giant bureaucratic company.

Dun-dun-DUN!!!

2 techs working on the interconnect bridge, 16 people on the check-in call.

SIXTEEN?! How many people need a status update that quickly?!

So then, after spending FOUR hours mopping up water... And $250 bucks for the plumber to run a 50 ft snake line under the house... And after cleaning up after a group of people who apparently like popcorn enough to carry it around, but not enough for a majority of it to actually reach their mouths…

I am going to see the MIDNIGHT FREAKING showing of GRINDHOUSE!!! I am even going to sneak beers in like a high school punk!!! And laugh as I do it!

Next week it’s off to Vegas on what the wife refers to a “business”. (She adds the quotes). A week of work by day, cards by night… (I already sent in the OMM to ante-up!)

The riverchasers implosion was so interesting that it may be a OMM, so I have decided not to post it…

Speaking of Poker: What You Can and Cannot Say

2007-04-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

I had not seen the “Talking Heads” tournament on Poker After Dark when it first aired back in February. PAD reaired those episodes this week -- if you haven’t seen ’em yet, you can check ’em out over on the NBC site where they stream the show. As you might expect with a table full of announcers, the banter is definitely above average. All six of the players -- Howard Lederer, Chad Brown, Gabe Kaplan, Mike Sexton, Michael Konik, and Phil Gordon -- are funny and engaging, and their non-stop anecdotes and jokes make for some worthwhile viewing.

Early on Thursday’s show (at the beginning of segment 2), there occurs an interesting discussion in which a couple of the players revealed restrictions they face when commentating on their respective shows.

The exchange was precipitated by a relatively non-eventful hand. With the blinds $400/$800, Gordon is dealt UTG and raises to $2,400. The table folds around to Konik in the big blind who prior to looking at his cards makes a comment about how Gordon had similarly raised his big blind the previous round. He then looks down at and begins to chuckle. Clearly Konik would like to see a flop, but doesn’t have the courage to call. (By now, he’s already well established himself as the least daring of the six.) As Konik pretends to contemplate his move, Gordon tells him that if he folds he’d gladly plug his book for him (again). Konik says that’s sounds good to him, and as he mucks his hand a smiling Gordon quickly says “Get Michael’s new book. It’s called The Smart Money. All about sports gambling . . . .”

As the next hand is dealt and everyone is laughing about the humorous transaction that just took place, Konik speaks up.

“You know . . . there’s actually a show that I do on another network where we are not allowed to say that particular word,” says Konik.

“Gambling?” asks Sexton.

“Yeah.”

“What’s the world coming to?” bemoans Gordon. Lederer then speaks up.

“Actually, yeah, when I do Poker Superstars . . . my number one . . . the number one thing I do -- although I catch myself now, I actually stop them and say we have to go back -- is the word ‘money.’ If I say ‘he got his money in good’ we gotta go back and say ‘he got his chips in . . . .’”

“Wow,” says Gordon.

Konik has actually provided commentary on a number of poker shows, so it isn’t clear to which he’s referring. Poker Superstars is, of course, the show that airs on Fox Sports Net. In fact, Konik provided commentary for Poker Superstars for its first two seasons before Lederer came on board last spring.

Seems odd -- on the surface, anyway -- that commentators on some poker shows would be instructed not to use the words “gambling” or “money.” Such guidelines obviously do not apply to other game shows (are poker shows “game shows,” per se?), nor do they even apply to all poker shows. In fact, Chad Brown’s show is called Cash Poker (on which Beyond the Table co-host Tom Schneider is appearing this week -- check it out, if you’re able). And shows like High Stakes Poker -- where players frequently toss around large bricks of bills -- obviously don’t shy away from reminding viewers what those chips represent.

Why, do you suppose, some poker shows wish to avoid references to gambling and/or reminders that the players are playing for real money? Without speaking to those involved in the making of the shows, I cannot give a definitive answer. A few thoughts do occur to me, though.

First of all, I think it is safe to presume that such guidelines certainly are self-imposed. (The fact that only some poker shows appear mindful of them indicates as much.) That is to say, while the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act that was signed into law last summer can -- and probably should -- inspire paranoid visions of Big Brother, it is clear that references to gambling and/or money in the context of discussing a game of poker aren’t the sort of “obscene, indecent, or profane” matter covered by the Act. So it isn’t fear of the BDEA’s stiff fines that motivates such self-censorship, but something else.

Secondly, when I say “self-imposed” I refer not to the announcers (who clearly would use such terms if they could), nor to the individual shows’ production teams, but to the decision-making that occurs at the network level -- i.e., for the Poker Superstars, the Fox Network. I say that because the creative team behind Poker Superstars, where one apparently cannot say the word “money,” is the same one responsible for High Stakes Poker, Poker After Dark, and several other poker shows where announcers appear to be able to speak more freely. That leads me to believe that it isn’t Mori Eskandani and Eric Drache (executive producers for these shows) who make such decisions, but rather the network censors.

So why do some networks prevent announcers on poker shows from making explicit reference to the fact that the actions they describe are examples of people gambling for real money? What’s your answer?

The only answer I can think of is that certain networks simply do not want to risk provoking the ire of the still-politically-powerful Christian right.

Many have observed how the UIGEA’s sponsors and chief proponents aligned themselves politically with Christian conservatives, thereby making their arguments against online gambling sound like arguments for Christian values. In his CardPlayer interview, Poker Players Alliance Chairman of the Board Alphonse D’Amato reiterates that charge, saying that then-majority leader Bill Frist attached the UIGEA to the Safe Port Act “not so much that he thought online gaming is horrendous, but to carry favor with the Christian right.” Indeed, only days after the UIGEA was passed through the Senate, Frist wrote a column for the Southern Baptist Press in which he claimed “The new law passed because members of the pro-family movement -- including a great many Southern Baptists -- brought the issue to the attention of both Democrats and Republicans.”

D’Amato’s suggestion that Frist didn’t really believe online gaming (or gambling) is wrong is probably disingeneous. We have to acknowledge that some people really do think gambling is wrong, and I don’t see the point in denying our opponents’ their position. It’s clear, though, that Frist was certainly desirous to please those who consider it immoral to gamble for money. I think the networks who censor their poker announcers are similarly fearful of being perceived as promoting sinful behavior by this influential segment of their audience.

Whatever the true causes, the fact that people describing a poker game on television sometimes cannot use the words “gambling” or “money” clearly indicates at least one truth about American culture -- that some of us (perhaps most of us) have a lot of difficulty recognizing the relationship between words and things.

14 Ways Musicians Can Increase Their Tips

2007-04-06T22:44:00.000-07:00

I was listening to NPR the other day when they did a report on tipping in the restaurant industry. One they had a list of tips on how wait staff can increase their tips.

That got me brainstorming and surfing the net for other ideas to boost tips. That combined with lots of performances at Renaissance Festivals helped me to develop my own list of ways musicians can improve their tips.

1. Introduce yourself by name

Too often musicians forget to introduce themselves on stage. Make sure you tell the audience your band name, but to really boost your tips, you should also introduce yourselves individually. Let people know who you are as an individual and you'll see greater tips.

2. Go out into the audience with a tip jar

You really can't be passive when it comes to getting tips. You have to walk out into the audience with some visual reference that says "Tip Me!", and they will tip you.

3. Meet your audience at their level

Take the time to talk to your audience members at their level. Holding a discussion from a stage puts a wall between you and them. So instead, go out into the audience and talk to them face to face. Kneel if they're at a table, so you're at eye level. And if you have ayour tip jar with you, you will you will not only gain a fan, but you will also improve your tips.

4. Make your appearance personal

We wear kilts to most of our gigs. A kilt adds a very personal touch It links us to a certain culture and makes people take notice. Course you don't have to go that route, instead find some piece of clothing that reflects your personality and you will boost your tips.

5. Recommend your favorite CD

If you have multiple CDs, your audience will always ask for your favorite. Tell them what it is. If you only have one, you can do the same by recommending other artists that you like. That adds a two-fold advantage of helping your audience find music they like and helping your fellow musicians.

6. Smile

A bright, confident smile will bring fans back again and again with lots o'big tips.

7. Involve your audience in the music with a joke or game

Next time you're up on stage, see what happens when you joke around with the audience. Your personality will glow all the more and so will your tips.

8. Chat with fans by name

Music fans love nothing more than to be recognized by the bands they love. So do your best to remember their names. They will feel that much more attached to your music and feel like your friend. And these friends will tip you better for the courtesy.

9. Touch your audience

When you're out socializing with your audience, touch them (in a non-sexual way). Whether you shake their hand, pat them on the shoulder or back, or just brush against them, wait staff find that that even that will boost their tips 50%. And it will yours too.

10. Use tip jars with the VISA/Mastercard Logo

According to studies done in restaurants, just seeing those logos is enough to encourage customers to tip more. I know it sounds crazy, but give it a try. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results.

11. Give your audience something in return for their tip

People love feeling like they're getting their money's worth. And many people don't realize you should tip bands. So give something in return. It could be something as big as a sticker or magnet, or as simple as a business card that might include a $1 off your CDs. Or hey what about feeding their sweet tooth with a piece of candy. Whatever the case, that little gift will mean big tipping results.

12. Draw a picture

On a similar note, if you give them a business card, draw or make a comment on it. That piece will be more valuable to them and will result in bigger tips.

13. Make tipping a part of the show

Why wait until the end of the set to ask for tips. Sing a song about tipping, or get your audience involved in the tipping process by shouting something. Or offer a prize to the first tipper. But integrate it into your show and it won't seem like you're just begging for money, rather you're making it fun to tip.

14. Thank your audience

No gig would be complete without an audience. So thank them for taking the time to watch you perform. They will feel the personal touch and respond when you ask for money.

15. Bonus Tipping Suggestion:

If the change is five dollars, never return a five-dollar bill. Always give back five ones. This allows the customer to tip you with some of the dollar bills you returned. You will rarely get a $5 tip and returning a $5 bill will turn off tippers. In general, it's good to return all ones if the change is less than $8. You want the customer to have at least two ones so they can give it back as the tip.

Planning On Going To Florida For The First Time?

2007-04-06T13:24:00.000-07:00

As a first time visitor to Florida and the Disney land area there are many concerns that put families off planning their own trip meaning they opt for a 'package trip' with flights, hotel and theme park transport all included.

Not that there is anything wrong with a 'package' other than planning your own trip and staying in a villa has more flexibility and in most cases works out cheaper.

Having researched the top 3 concerns first time visitors have I have put this very simple guide together to ensure these concerns are eradicated before they begin.

1. Where do I pick my car up from?

Most car hire companies offer an airport pick up for your vehicle so ensure you select your car from one of these companies before you book it. If you are flying direct to Florida you can expect to be picking your car up approximately 2 hours after you land. This is due to having to go through immigration, customs and baggage collection at the airport you first land at, so order your car in accordance with this time frame.

If on the other hand your flight stops en-route in the US it will take you less time from landing at your final destination to car pick up due to the fact that you and your luggage will have been security checked and cleared at the first airport you land at. Therefore allow about 1 hour from landing at your final destination as a selected time to pick your car up.

2. Direction to your holiday villa.

It is a culture shock when driving in the US for the first time, but if you are an experienced driver you can make life so simple, and driving very enjoyable.

When you leave the airport there is always someone who checks your car out who will give you directions in quite a rushed manner, pass you an area map and believe you now know where you are going. So before you leave the UK ask the villa owner to send you a simple 'idiots guide' on leaving the airport to arriving at your destination.

Ask them to supply you with directions that include junction exit numbers to make it easier for you to follow.

Study it with your 'co-pilot' so you are both aware of where to go once you arrive and get a comparative direct guide from Google maps also. As you are probably aware all roads in the US travel north to south and east to west, and visa-versa. So if you do find yourself traveling in the wrong direction a 180 degree turn will put you back on track.

3. Will there be a villa there when we arrive?

I haven't recently heard of any guests arriving at a villa that was rented out under false pretences, however I know this has happened to travelers in the past, where the villa doesn't even exist or worse it is someone else's villa.

There are a few simple rules you need to follow that would ensure the villa and owner are genuine. Firstly check that a villa owners web site has testimonials on it that can be verified (email address and phone numbers supplied). Choose a villa that has testimonials submitted from guests from different parts of the country and indeed other parts of the world. This will ensure the testimonials are genuine and give you a varied view on the villa amenities and location.

Contact these previous guests and ask them why they chose the villa and what advice they would give you to make your stay an enjoyable one.

Secondly choose a villa that will allow you to use PayPal as this is a secure method of payment as PayPal will verify all users for you. Pay the deposit by PayPal which will ensure that the owner is genuine. Some owners may not accept the final balance by using PayPal as there is a 4% charge for monies collected, alternatively some villa owners add this charge on to the final balance.

Don't be too concerned if PayPal cannot be used for the final payment as long as the deposit is paid this way it will be a secure booking.

Planning your own trip will be fun for all the family and if you do your research as guided above you need not worry about was is nothing more than enjoying your time in Florida.

The Hualapai Mountains!

2007-04-06T10:34:00.001-07:00

The Hualapai Mountains!

2007-04-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

Public Health Part II

2007-04-05T13:47:00.000-07:00

Next, it is important to consider the necessity of “epidemic declarations.” The denial of an epidemic’s presence has been detrimental to the response of San Francisco and India’s plague outbreaks. When plague threatened India, its government delayed formal declaration of its epidemic status and continued to ignore basic sanitation and public health. Instead, the government focused on reassuring businesses of its viability and controlling panicked crowds as crucial medications slipped into the black market (Bidwai, p.480). Similarly motivated, San Francisco postponed declaration of its first plague outbreak in an attempt to preserve its economic market (Risse p.262). In both cases, the results were devastating, and concealment of the epidemic’s existence only succeeded in reducing confidence and trust among the local public and foreign nations.
The third criterion is general centralization of both public health branches and medical theory. A public health system must be able to maintain its operations and oversee decision-making; however, it should not be so centralized as to make it vulnerable. Iraq’s public health provides an example of extreme centralization in which electrical power stemmed solely from Baghdad, and its annihilation severely handicapped all water purification, sanitation, and medical sites (Alla p.655). Essentially, centralization left the country susceptible to an unrestricted cholera outbreak.
In contrast, medical professionals should maintain a high degree of uniformity and discourse in order to prevent “quack physicians” from taking advantage of the medical sphere and advertising bogus therapies. Medical centralization includes the establishment of common, reliable therapies and of universal, publicly known beliefs about an epidemic. The lack of common remedies or a “paramount authority” during the New York City cholera outbreak in 1832 and 1848 created skepticism and distrust among patients. With some physicians still practicing humoral techniques, and others using diverse or radical methods, a patient encountered a dizzying array of “cures” upon requesting medical treatment (Rosenberg pp.70-72). Patients quickly lost confidence in their physicians and essentially in their public health system.
The fourth condition is continual, active disease research. Countries lacking access to current research literature or sophisticated laboratories are inevitably less advanced in disease diagnosis and treatment. Iraq’s recent cholera outbreak was aggravated by a delay in laboratory testing of suspected cholera cases due to an embargo placed on operation of their local laboratories. This forced physicians to diagnose all cases symptomatically, and prevented accurate record-keeping (Alla p.656). Active research is also necessary to continually stimulate the development of robust new treatments, and to prepare for predicted health crises. Post-September 11th Americans rely on active research regarding vaccine and bioweapon stockpiles in the unfortunate event of another terrorist attack.
Lastly, an ideal public health system requires public education. Demystifying the aspects of a novel disease often decreases “disease metaphors” connected to the sufferer. The ability to reduce a disease to an etiological phenomenon, and to communicate this to the general public, may decrease discrimination and prejudice toward disease victims (Sontag pp.3-4). It often also contributes to public involvement in combating the epidemic. Public activism was critical in San Francisco’s plague epidemic of 1908. Their Citizen’s Health Committee succeeded in conveying the true nature of plague, based on bacteriological knowledge and proven modes of transmission. The public campaign encouraged prevention against a disease that did not discriminate, and discredited assumptions that Asian-Americans were the source of plague. This created a much different reaction from that displayed during the previous plague outbreak in which Asians were unethically targeted and punished due to the moral preoccupations of their public health system (Risse p.280).
If a public health system abides by the above criteria, it can presumably avoid resistance, yet still enact aggressive remedies to combat an epidemic. Essentially, this system can be regulated by a community which is willing to temporarily forego their rights for the health of the populace, and which understands and supports the actions taken by their government. The measures presented above promote stability in the event of crisis, which is an obvious advantage.
The debate of collective security versus individual liberties is currently being scrutinized concerning public health strategies to combat AIDS. This syndrome is truly pandemic, now encompassing Asia, South America, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe, as well as Africa and America (Kennedy, “Pandemic”). In America, information about this syndrome and appropriate, ethical answers to questions regarding prevention, treatment, and privacy issues are constantly sought. Current questions directly related to United States public health regulations include whether name-reporting of HIV positive test-takers, partner notification, or HIV tests for all pregnant women should be mandated, whether needle exchange programs are truly beneficial, and what information is appropriate for sex education in elementary or middle schools (AIDS Opposing Viewpoints). This open debate stimulates public activism and constant debate regarding measures taken by public health systems.
When regarding the public health guidelines presented above, most public health systems in the United States seem to be striving for the ideal balance between individual rights and authoritative power. Permanent systems are a fixture of every state, and money is available. Moreover, although available funds are not sufficient to cover the many possible routes for the AIDS campaign (some examples include public education about prevention, HIV testing, development and distribution of AIDS therapies, and foreign AIDS assistance), the question of where this money should be concentrated is open for discussion and reform by all Americans. Regarding declaration of AIDS as an epidemic, this criterion was virtually impossible to fulfill, as the symptoms of HIV infection may require ten years to be manifested. By the time the connection between transmission of the disease, the viral source, and the resulting symptoms was made, the epidemic was in full swing and millions were already infected. The criterion of medical and therapeutic centralization is evident—AIDS “cocktails” of multiple HIV inhibitors are most commonly used and people of any class can typically attain publicly-funded medical assistance by a trained physician. Public education is widespread—beginning as early as elementary school. Finally, active research is fervently being conducted by many dedicated scientists. Their advancements have decreased public fear of contracting AIDS by debunking the rumored modes of “casual transmission.”
However, room for improvement still exists concerning preservation of patients’ rights. “High risk groups” still fear infringements on their privacy should their status be disclosed. They may be publicly discriminated, or suffer unemployment and refused insurance policies. This public intolerance stems from the inherent virtues of responsibility and personal choice held by many Americans. AIDS victims are assumed to have chosen taboo behaviors such as drug abuse or unsafe sex, and metaphorically, AIDS is seen as a punishment for this sexual or social deviance (Sontag p.150). In order to prevent this transgression of patients’ liberties, public health systems must uphold strict confidentiality should they choose to release health information.
The question of individual liberties versus collective security during epidemic crisis is a very sensitive one, which cannot easily be answered. Edmund Gibson spoke in the 1720s, yet his observation is still a subject of controversy. This is exemplified by Edward Richards’ comment, made nearly three centuries later:
“…In the case of an evolving epidemic...it may be necessary to choose between protecting the population and collecting evidence that would be admissible in a criminal investigation….”
Richards asserts that this conflict can be minimized “by careful planning,” which may be done through adherence to the criteria presented above. The power implicated by public health will not be deemed coercion if the populace is knowledgeable of the epidemic’s etiology and trusts and supports their system. Above all, a successful public health system requires public cooperation. In this ideal model, public health does not endorse “desperate remedies,” but rather finely-tuned, researched strategies that will eradicate the disease effectively and with the fewest casualties possible.
The ideal public health system proposed above may never exist. As quoted by Paul Slack (Slack p.131, from In Time of Plague),
“…Reactions to threats to public health are never purely “scientific,” carefully judged instrumental responses to precisely identified dangers; and they always involve restrictions on civil liberties of a more or less severe kind….”
The only true conclusion to be made is that public health must be negotiated for it to be successful. Only by coupling adequate power with proper, publicly mandated checks and balances can a public health system truly secure the two most important missions it carries—public well-being, and the support and trust of its community.

A Model Public Health System Part I

2007-04-05T13:38:00.001-07:00

Disease has been a ubiquitous human affliction since the dawn of time, but epidemic disease did not surface until approximately 10,000 years ago when the special case conditions of large populations and poor sanitation became inevitably synonymous with human life (Porter p.17). Fortunately, these changes also spawned the development of sophisticated public health systems to collectively manage epidemic crises. The maintenance of public health has throughout history been one of the most important—yet most difficult—requirements of a thriving community. This is because a public health system must be able to respond to impending epidemic with rapidity and efficiency, but must also acknowledge individuals’ rights to avoid mass resistance. This raises the question of which aspect—collective security waged by public health or the protection of individual liberties—should supersede the other during an epidemic. I intend to provide evidence that a public health system can largely avoid this conflict if it follows certain criteria.
It is important to consider whether personal liberties or the power of public health should be preserved. If public health is granted unrelenting “police powers,” the system may become corrupt. History holds accounts of this, with an example occurring in Tuskegee, Alabama during the 1900s. Syphilitic black men were observed rather than treated in order to map the natural progression of syphilis. This public health system exceedingly transgressed the preservation of individual security in order to attain a disease etiology (HIST171 discussion). Conversely, if a public health system is denied power during a serious epidemic, its strategy to combat the disease may be hindered. There exist incidents of public health struggles, such as the campaign toward worldwide smallpox eradication. In this case, the vaccine for a disfiguring, dangerously fatal disease was available, but was resisted by those who lacked unbiased knowledge of its curative effects and of the necessity for global vaccination. Rather than exhibiting concern for the world at large, their apprehension of an infringement on their rights overruled (Greenough pp.635-639).
When analyzed, representative case studies of epidemic-ridden communities such as these demonstrate the breadth of implicated responses, and help to specify the components which constitute an ideal public health system. I maintain that a public health system can mitigate conflict between individual rights and collective security if it adheres to these stipulations. These include permanence and financial security, regulations to declare outbreaks on local and international levels, some degree of centralization, a promotion of active, continuous disease research, and an incorporation of public education. Most importantly, and in agreement with the observation made during the 1720s by Edmund Gibson, a public health system must be able to override individual rights in the event of epidemic crisis in order to ensure the collective well-being (Slack p.131, from In Time of Plague). The corollary to this last stipulation is of critical importance—the public health system may not dominate individual liberties if its actions reflect moralistic emotions evoked during the initial throes of an impending, novel epidemic. If a public health system uses subjective or racist beliefs to target specific groups without statistical basis or experimental evidence, the resulting strategy will be irrational and ineffective. Susan Sontag suggests, however, that this route has been taken all too often. In AIDS and its Metaphors, she exemplifies the uselessness of one such moralistic strategy (Sontag p.169):
“…The incarceration in detention camps surrounded by barbed wire during World War I of some thirty thousand American women, prostitutes and women suspected of being prostitutes, for the avowed purpose of controlling syphilis among army recruits, caused no drop in the military’s rate of infection….”
In order to prove the significance of an effective public health system, each previously stated aspect will be discussed through historical case studies of cities battling bubonic plague and cholera. Additionally, America’s public health response to AIDS—currently a pandemic disease—will be critiqued according to these public health guidelines.
The first aspect of an ideal public health system is permanence and financial security. Its importance is evident in accounts of the New York City cholera epidemics of 1832, 1849, and 1866. The 1832 and 1849 epidemics were coupled to high morbidity and mortality rates, partly because the advent of cholera generated a hasty appointment of a temporary public health board lacking experience, organization, and sufficient funds. In contrast, the virulence of the 1866 epidemic was significantly hampered. One of the contributing factors of this success was the establishment of the Metropolitan Board of Health, a permanent public health system constituted of practical and socially-minded professionals in multiple disciplines. The Board developed a solid plan and possessed both the stability and confidence to enforce it, as well as the funds to maintain it. The result was the accomplishment of a monumental task twice failed in the past (Rosenberg pp.193-203).

Part II coming soon.

Cards for Women

2007-04-05T13:38:00.000-07:00

Hello There,

Just want to take a minute to tell you about a company that produces ecards that are not your run-of-the-mill Hallmarks. No, these are WomanSavers.com Women's Comedy Adult Ecards. If you or one of your girlfriends has recently been through a bad relationship--particularly one involving infidelity--then these cards are sure to cheer you up. They're just for women, and not for those with a weak stomach. Check them out today--they're sure to change your outlook on men...or at least get a good laugh.

Thank you for reading this sponsored post.
Please note: These ecards are for adults only over the age of 18.

Google Searches MOCO Real

2007-04-05T11:42:00.000-07:00

How To Play Hands Like Jack-Eight Off Suit

2007-04-05T07:42:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Jack/Eight off suit is a favorite against one random hand?

Without the knowledge of knowing what two cards have above average equity, you could be putting yourself at a big disadvantage even if you are the Big Stack. When you are the short stack, it's absolutely critical you understand the percentages to make the correct play. Of course it's not a guarantee to victory, but it is a guarantee you'll more likely than not get your money in with the best of it.

Whether you're in a situation that presents an opportunity to steal or late in a tournament with a short stack, the correct play is to press your advantage against one player.

Simulation work has been done using the Donahue Digital's DD Tournament Edition Poker simulator, for the answers as to what hands had an above average equity against one random hand.

Here are the obvious cases:

* Any pocket pair. Even pocket twos have a 50.35 percent equity against one random hand.

* Any Ace or King. A-2 off suit has a 54.94 percent equity against one random hand, K-2 off suit has a 50.5 percent equity against one random hand.

Of course, there are some less-than-obvious answers. The following combinations are just above even equity, and thus, are "better than average" hands:

* Q-5 off suit or any better unsuited Queen.

* Any Queen if it is suited.

* J-8 off suit or any better Jack.

* J-6 or any better suited Jack.

* T-9 off suit.

* T-7, T-8, T-9 suited.

* 9-8 suited.

All other hands are less than 50 percent equity and should be folded in this situation.
One of the reasons I really love this game is that I'm always discovering the seemingly undiscovered. I've never seen anything like this in print before—it truly was an undiscovered fact.

Prepaid Cards

2007-04-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

Hello There,

This post is all about PAYjr Prepaid Cards.

One of the saddest things these days are college students who are chin deep in credit card debt--it's obvious that they never learned personal finances. Now, as a parent, you can start early with Payjr credit cards.

The Payjr credit card works anyplace that accepts Mastercard debit cards. You can recharge it, and it's just got a declining balance. It's not tied to your child's personal credit, and your child cannot go into debt using it. It's more like a gift card that they can use anywhere. But with it, you can automatically add their allowances or extra pay for chores, and they can easily see how much they have remaining and can budget their expenditures accordingly.

With this card, your child will learn early on that a credit card is not a play toy, and they'll grow into more financially responsible adults. I'm sure there are lots of college students out there who wish that Payjr was around when they were teens. It's a wonderful training tool, and as a parent, you will enjoy the peace of mind of not having to bail your child out of debt.

Check out their website today, they have a great list of FAQs that will assuage any worries you have. Enjoy!

Thank you for reading this sponsored post.

Press Release is Below for your Review

Press Release:

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release

New PAYjr Prepaid Program Assists Parents in Teaching Fiscal Responsibility

Card Program Gives Parents a New Way to Allocate Their Children’s Allowance

DALLAS – November 15, 2006 – Teaching our children fiscal responsibility is the greatest legacy we can leave the next generation. PAYjr®, a free online money management system for teens, is now offering a prepaid MasterCard® card, issued by MetaBank, as a companion to their online PAYjr service that helps parents teach their teenagers how to manage their allowance and develop better spending habits.

“As young people begin to earn more disposable income, it is important that they learn how to effectively manage their finances,” says David S. Jones, CEO of PAYjr. “We are arming teens with a way to save money and make decisions on how to spend it wisely. Extending the PAYjr service with a prepaid MasterCard card helps parents ensure that their children learn the importance of fiscal responsibility and develop into financially savvy adults.”

PAYjr is a free, easy to use allowance and chore management system. Parents can assign chores and associate allowance values to those chores, transferring money directly into the teen’s account once the task is completed. PAYjr now offers a prepaid MasterCard card connected to the service that teens can use to spend the money in their PAYjr account.

“We have provided teens with that safety net that allows them to learn and make wise spending choices. While the card provides teens with financial liberty, we have constraints in place that put parents at ease where their child is spending money, something that cannot be done with cash,” continued Jones. “A great example of our commitment to help parents teach fiscal responsibility is the fact that PAYjr does not profit in the way other teen prepaid card programs do when an overdraft occurs on the card. We have a mission at PAYjr to help teens learn about spending responsibly and are dedicated to keeping fees of all kinds to a minimum.”

Parents can set purchase limits and view all activity on the card through the PAYjr website’s control features. The PAYjr card is also a participant of Allpoint®, America’s largest surcharge free ATM network, giving teens convenient and surcharge free access to their funds. Further, PAYjr limits the type of transactions that are available to teens using the PAYjr prepaid MasterCard, excluding transactions from merchants that offer adult oriented products and services.

The PAYjr Prepaid MasterCard is available and managed through PAYjr.com and is accepted at millions of locations, wherever MasterCard debit cards are accepted.

Today, teenagers contribute $175 billion in annual spending power. PAYjr is dedicated to helping young people realize the financial reward of work, discipline and money management by instilling core values that a last a lifetime.

About PAYjr, Inc.

PAYjr is a free, easy-to-use online budgeting tool to help parents teach children and teens fiscal responsibility, which ultimately establishes a lifetime of smart financial habits. The company's central focus is helping kids and teens make the connection between financial rewards and effort, hard work and discipline with a smart, practical and online money management account. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, PAYjr works closely with national banks, credit unions and youth brands to help create branded and co-branded PAYjr programs that educate consumers on a wide range of financial management topics. For more information, visit www.payjr.com.

About MetaBank

MetaBank is a federally-chartered savings bank headquartered in Storm Lake, Iowa. Meta Financial Group, Inc.® is the bank holding company for MetaBank, MetaBank West Central, Meta Payment Systems®, and Meta Trust Company®. The Meta Payment Systems division of MetaBank based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, serves banks, processors, and third party marketers by providing prepaid cards, credit cards, ACH origination, merchant acquiring, ATM sponsorship, and money transfer. Meta Financial Group is traded on the NASDAQ NM: CASH. For more information call 605.275.8052 or visit http://www.metacash.com.

More Virology

2007-04-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Hello There,

If you want to learn more about virology and my page doesn't whet your palate enough, then head over to All the Virology on the WWW. They have a Big Picture Book of Viruses where you can see what these things actually look like geometrically, and lots more. You can actually search by virus family, by individual virus name, or by genome type, and you get learn lots of basic molecular biology about each species. Enjoy!

(Don't) Play by the Rules

2007-04-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

I was walking on campus today back from our weekly gig at the University of Texas' South Mall, when I heard a member of the Young Conservatives of Texas speak. March 2nd is Texas Independence Day and so this chap was sermon that if you work difficult and play by the rules you too can take a good life.

Maybe it's the sceptic in me, but it made me think, "What a clump of crock!" Most people, including most musicians, work difficult and play by the rules, but did you cognize that Americans carry, on average, $5,800 in recognition card debt from calendar calendar month to month. Well Iodine inquire you, what sort of life is that when a immense bulk of state is in unprofitable debt?

But I've been reading books like "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" recently, in an effort to larn music concern and finance accomplishments from people who do millions. Bash they follow the rules? Yes...sorta.

The inquiries that came to me as I walked by the Young Conservatives were, "Who do the rules?" and "Are we following the Right rules?"

That's really the cardinal that many successful concern people learn. It's not a substance of are you following the rules. It's are you following the Right rules?

You see, our community is filled with rules on what you can't do, but there are also dozens of rules that say what you can do, but most people don't cognize what they are.

Taxes are a great example. The norm instrumentalist might not subtract things like auto traveling to and from gigs, or the cost of their picks, because they may not cognize that they can.

The same travels with promotion. Just because you're on MP3.com and acquire a twelve electronic mails from other instrumentalists in a word word form missive saying, "play my song", makes not intend that you should set together your ain form missive and Spam thousands of musicians.

Or just because most instrumentalists make their best to pull the attending of a Major label A&R Oregon even the President, makes not intend you shouldn't schmooze with the secretary.

The point is cognize the rules, but then look beyond them. The rules are a guide. They are not etched in stone. Interruption the rules. Bash what others are NOT doing and you will make a better of occupation standing out in the crowd.

Spring Cleaning

2007-04-03T14:37:00.001-07:00

Spring Cleaning

2007-04-03T14:37:00.000-07:00

For Romantics

2007-04-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

If you are planning your proposal, here's an idea from my own experience.

First of all, if your fiance-to-be is close to her family, she will probably be happiest if you ask for her parents' blessing first. Plus, then her family will feel included in the whole process, and they'll be even happier for the two of you.

Next, one of the key elements is surprise. So, even if you've talked about getting married, make sure that you don't plan it down to the detail with her...I guarantee that she'll love whatever you come up with more if it's a surprise than if you did everything by the book.

And last of all, try to incorporate as much about your relationship as you can into the night that you propose. Some great ideas are proposing where you first met, proposing at your favorite restaurant, etc. Use your imagination, and be creative!

Check this link for more ideas on adding romance to your relationship, each and every day. At RomanceForEveryone.com you can find more tips for strengthening your relationship, including how to write perfect love letters.

Thank you for reading this sponsored post.

Info on Environmental Engineering

2007-04-03T10:45:00.000-07:00

I'm really hoping to get some more information about environmental engineering from my readers. Tonight, I'm going to read up on the topic after I get home from work. I am considering taking night courses toward a Master's degree in environmental engineering, but first I need to develop a project that I would work on for my thesis. I am thinking about studying how microbial diversity is affected or affects the chemistry of polluted or treated water sources. If anyone has any information about such a project, please send it my way!

The Benefits Of The All Inclusive Ski Vacation

2007-04-03T01:03:00.000-07:00

For many, nothing beats the joy of hitting the slopes; putting on boots, skis, and goggles before facing the mountain at hand. Skiing, even when done with friends and family, is still a solitary sport which is, in part, the reason for its vast popularity. The serenity that comes from being outside - in beautiful environs - and putting your physical prowess and sporting skills to the test, is unparalleled. It's no wonder that, for ski enthusiasts, a vacation means a ski vacation. And one of the best ways to enjoy all that this getaway has to offer is by embarking on an all inclusive ski vacation.

The all inclusive vacation has continued to maintain popularity throughout the years, as travelers enjoy the convenient one-price-for-everything system. It allows them to pay for every part of their vacation up front - including accommodations, meals, activities, even gratuities - and not have to worry about having cash on hand during their time away. The all inclusive ski vacation offers the ultimate relaxation to travelers, allowing them to let go of the details and just enjoy themselves.

Typically, an all inclusive ski vacation will bundle the price of travel, transfer to hotel, accommodations, meals, and ski passes. The variety of meals, level of accommodations, and any restrictions of skiing depend solely on the particular resort in which you are interested. You can work online or with a travel agent to determine those options that are most important to you and cross-reference them to resorts that offer the same. For example, if you would rather have the ability to ski all day - with no restrictions - and have that included in your upfront price, then your travel agent can easily educate you on those resorts that offer an all inclusive ski vacation that best meets your needs. Additionally, if you are traveling with children, your requirements will be vastly different then if planning an adults-only all inclusive ski vacation.

Either way, you will find that an all inclusive ski vacation offers you substantial savings as compared to purchasing each part of your trip separately. Bundling amenities and services together means a world of difference to your wallet.

Consider all the factors that will make your all inclusive ski vacation your dream getaway. And then get down to doing some research. With some flexibility on travel dates and an adventurous attitude, you will soon be on a vacation you are not soon to forget.

Strip Poker

2007-04-02T22:15:00.000-07:00

Is gambling better than sex? Some people compare money to power. Money can give you a batch of power. But it can also strip you of the powerfulness if you lose it. Some gamblers would rather gamble than have got sex. Not me, I desire it all.

I have got had some of my deepest and most intense climaxes after winning large at a casino or a poker table. There is something about money and sexual activity that spell together. Money is quite the aphrodisiac.

The first adult male Iodine married was over 30 old age aged than me. I was immature and a spot of a bimbo when it came to men. He was a gambler, distinguished and loved Blackjack.

He liked to have got me around because I looked good on his arm and I knew how to gamble. It gave us something to speak about. Sexual Activity was very apparent and we did not have got got it very often.

But the gambling was sensational!

There is a balance you have to achieve. It?s like most things in life. Too much of the same thing goes boring. Can you conceive of winning every manus of Texas Holdem or
Blackjack you played? Can you conceive of having sexual activity 24 hours a day? Hell, I?d lose the action in the casino. Just like I?d lose the action in the sleeping room if I stayed in the casino
24 hours a day.

I can retrieve the first time I associated sexual activity with gambling. I was 18 old age old and at my fellow Big Mike?s house. We were all alone as his parents had gone out of town to a funeral. We were playing Blackjack for pennies and then Large Microphone asked me if I wanted to play strip poker.

I agreed ? after all, Big Microphone wasn?t called Big Microphone for nothing. This was the first and only time I ever cheated at gambling. I was a much better poker player than Big Mike.

But I never won a manus and he had me bare in minutes. What happened adjacent I?ll leave of absence to your imagination.

Should You Play Slots Online or at Land Based Casinos?

2007-04-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

There's been a great trade of treatment about online gambling recently with legislators, operators and the planetary community of gamblers trying to fthm composite substances such as as Internet "locality". In the thick of these deliberations, many players have got been wanting to measure the relative virtues of gambling online or at land-based casinos.

Through all of this there have been a deficiency of focusing on the experience of the individual who actually plays money at a casino. How about the gamblers who are cardinal to any issues concerning casinos? We present the reasonable gap inquiry - which are better, online or land-based slot machines?

Land-based slots are the world's most popular casino game. They pay more than winnings to gamblers than all of the other casino games together. But how well makes this precious word form of land-based gambling accommodate to online play? The huge bulk of slots partisans believe it have made the passage splendidly. The online versions of slots have got got go the most-played word form of online casino games, owing in portion to the easiness of determination slots on the Internet (they're also easy adequate to happen and play at land-based casinos) and in portion to the fact that the game play is so simple.

Slot machines at land-based casinos have been controlled by computing machines for many years, so it's relatively easy to accommodate the game to play online. Some players are puzzled when you state them a land-based slot machine is no more than than a computing machine in a fancy case, but this is exactly what it is. These slots are driven by a microprocessor with a built-in random figure generator. They work just like the online versions because the operating software system is hard-coded in the microprocessor. This agency there is not much of a difference between the manner the game plant and how the likelihood calculate for online or land-based slot machines. But there are some differences.

The most obvious difference, the 1 that volition forever separate the two forms, is that you can't physically set your hands on an online slot. Similarly, land-based machines have got much larger and more than dramatic visible light and sound displays, although the artwork on the online slots are sophisticated adequate these years to emulate world pretty well.

There are numerous less apparent advantages of playing online slots. For a start, you take the time, place and the most comfortable place in the house. You can play with your ain refrigerator, DVD music system and other personal creature comforts stopping point to hand. This is one of the great entreaties of online casinos - you can see them and experience all of their exhilaration without stepping outside your ain home! And you can disrupt play whenever you like without worrying that some other gambler is going to annexe your place at the machine.

Possibly the most revealing difference between playing slots at an online compared with a land-based casino is the nature of the comps you receive. At a land-based establishment, the acute slots player may have a voucher or some similar little comp as a wages for slaving away at a machine for respective hours. It's quite different online because the competition among casinos is so intense.

With the Internet it doesn't substance where in the world you live, every online casino would love to entice your custom. As a result you can acquire a comp simply for deciding to play at a given casino regardless of how much you've gambled there. The sign-up bonus is a common online attraction. It gives you a significant value in existent credits at the casino and you can work this bonus to swell your bankroll, pass more than time playing the slots and experience more chances to be a winner.

Many slots players happen it genuinely gratifying to have a comp in advance rather than after having to gain it by achieving a certain degree of play. If you add the comps to the other advantages of online slots, it should be easy to see which version best rans into the demands of the players.

Hoodia Remedy

2007-04-02T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hello There,

I know that weight control is a problem for many Americans, and since I like to talk about potential health remedies on this blog, I wanted to draw your attention to Hoodia.

before and after weight loss pictures using hoodia

These before and after images say it all. But you see images like that with lots of different types of health products. The major draw of Hoodia is it's lack of unwanted side effects. In fact, there are no side effects that I know of. So you get effective weight loss without the problems inherent to the other therapies.

Check out Hoodia today if you're trying to lose significant weight. And good luck.

Thank you for reading this sponsored post.

Environment's Impact

2007-04-02T13:44:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I would like to learn more about the impact environmental effects--such as pollution and water treatment programs--on microbial evolution. There is currently an environmental engineering program that I'm interested in, and I was wondering if anyone knew if such a project was being pursued already. I'm sure there's something similar being research somewhere!

Play Ball...

2007-04-02T09:42:00.001-07:00