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One of the most popular games called Blackjack was invented in France in the 1700’s. Nowadays it is one of the most famous game played both online and in casinos.
It is one of the simplest games to play. You only have to gain total points of 21 in the hand of cards you are dealt to win the game. But if you somehow scored more than 21 points, you lose the game there and then. The main part of blackjack is that the opponent is only the dealer and not the other players sitting at the table.

All the players get two cards both face down in the starting of the game. It is the dealer who deals the cards clockwise and would receive two cards with one of the card of the dealer faced up. The card with the face up is known as the ‘up card’. The rules and regulations for game of blackjack are different from casino to casino and the amount of decks being used in the game. The points are distributed according to the cards, such as ten points are for the Kings, Queens, and Jacks; eleven points are for the Ace and rest of the cards have the same value as on the face of the card.

One of the interesting parts of this game is that the player automatically wins if he or she receives the first two cards as face card (Kings, Queens, Jacks and Ace) or card with a face value of 10. The payout to that player in such a case is 3 -2 and such a condition is called natural or blackjack in this game. There is a standoff if the dealer has the same hand as the player. The dealer wins all of the player’s bets if he or she gets blackjack.

To play the game of blackjack you must be aware about the certain rules and regulations. Even if the rules vary from casino to casino but there are many standard rules. Some of such terms used in blackjack are as under:

Splitting Pairs: Player can split his card into two cards if the first two cards are pairs and can have two separate hands. The player can play each card separately and will bet the same on each hand. For example- the player can split the card of Aces, and if he gets 10 or face card then it would not be counted as blackjack even if it counts twenty one points.

Hit or Stand: It’s not easy to choose between hit and stand. To get a higher total you need to take card from the dealer and for that you will have to hit or draw another card following the correct terminology. For example- you will get 9 points if you get an original hand of a 5 and 4. But remember not to go over 21 otherwise you would lose the game which usually occurs if you draw a card when you have both the face cards. The best way is to take a stand in this case. It is a rule in which the dealer takes a stand when the score is seventeen or more and draw when the score is less than sixteen.

Insurance: The player has the option to take insurance if the up card of the dealer is an Ace. Under insurance the bet by the player is half of the original bet the player placed. In such a case the player would win the game with a 2-1 if the dealer gets a blackjack and the dealer would win if its not blackjack.

Double Down: Player has the choice to double his bet on the original hand and take only one more card to improve the original hand if he uses this option.

Hard Hand: A hand without an Ace is considered as a hard hand. For example- your hand is considered to be a hard 19 if you have a hand of a 10 and a 9.

Surrender: The player may give up the hand after the original hand is dealt and instead of losing the whole bet but he will lose half bet. This rule is not applicable in all casinos.

Playing Blackjack Online: Playing game of blackjack is different from playing the game in real. You have to deal with virtual dealer when playing online blackjack. The cards are dealt using a Random Number Generator and then the game is played similar to the original game.

Soft Hand: A soft hand is when you have an Ace and a 9 in your hand. The main advantage of having a soft hand is that you will not lose the game and would be considered a hard hand (20 points) even if you draw 10 as your next card.

The game of blackjack is very popular and can be easily played in almost every casino. The tables in the casino are according to the minimum bet at the table. So, choose the table that suits your pocket and enjoy.

bestkidsandgames.com bestkidsandgames.com is a website dedicated to providing information about all aspects of online and offline games.
Greg Culver is the owner of the website.

This is it. This is the year.

Princeton me no Princetons. Murray State me no Murray States.

This year, for the first time ever, a 16-seed is going to topple a 1-seed. Mark it down.

In a topsy-turvy world where the U.S. looks doomed in the World Baseball Classic, where George W. Bush’s voodoo has apparently worn off on the nation, and where Michael Douglas has gone on record as saying he thinks Brangelina is a bad idea (hey, Mikey, where’s your 36-year-old wife sleeping tonight?), this would be the final straw. Cats would sleep with dogs. Total chaos.

It will happen. The Jaguars of Southern University have a tough 6-9 forward in Peter Cipriano who can give Shelden Williams all he can handle, and a 40% three-point shooter named Deforrest-Riley Smith. They will rise up and shock Duke on Thursday night.

Or how about those Albany Great Danes? First of all, even the UConn mascot doesn’t stand a chance. A husky against a Great Dane? As if. Sure, Albany may have lost to Harvard, but they kept UCLA close (figure that one out). They go eight-deep, and have a really good sophomore forward named Brent Wilson who can dominate a game. Connecticut is arrogant. They think they’re all that.

And don’t forget about Oral Roberts. You think Memphis stands a chance against a university that was mandated by God? Remember back in the 1980s, when a televangelist named Oral Roberts told his viewership that if they didn’t send money, God was going to “call him home”? Well, the American public responded, and the result was a huge financial empire and a university named after that televangelist. (”Televangelist U.” just didn’t have the same ring.) Jesus loves Ken Tutt and the Golden Eagles.

And finally, the biggest lock of all, is Monmouth over Villanova. Did you see the Hawks absolutely crush hapless Hampton on Tuesday night? These guys are good. They’re a really tight defensive squad, they’ve got a 6-10 center (more than the Wildcats can say), and they’ve been practicing their finger-in-the-eye routine for 48 straight hours. Can Allen Ray and Villanova stand up to that?

No way. Mark it down. A 16 beats a 1.

Or, y’know, not.

What’s your biggest surprise of the NCAA tournament seeding process?

Greg Jorssen, BoDog.com: Where do I begin? How does George Washington, the #6 team in the nation, end up with a #8 seed? Now they will have to face Duke in Round 2, and what should be an early exit from the tournament. How does Cincinnati, a team with the fifth-hardest schedule in the nation and the 40th-highest RPI not get in, yet Air Force, a team that did not beat a team in the top 50 all season, gets in? How does the Missouri Valley get four entries, the same amount as the ACC? Are you telling me these two conferences are equal? Hofstra not making it despite beating George Mason twice in the final 10 days of the season? There are always questions on Selection Sunday; however, that said, this was the worst job by a Selection Committee that I have experienced in a very long time.

Brian Gabrielle, BG Sports: As far as the selection process goes: I put nothing past this crooked old boys’club they refer to as the Selection Committee. I’m disappointed but not surprised that deserving teams like Hofstra and Western Kentucky were left out, and I find it laughable that programs like Arkansas and Alabama were included. As far as the seeding goes: how does Winthrop rank as a 15 seed? How does Tennessee garner a 2 seed? How does Connecticut get a red carpet rolled out to the Final Four with a bracket full of creampuffs? In short: same old same old for this time of year.

What’s the right way for our readers to pick their brackets? Should they aim for a certain number of upsets in each round? Should they lean heavily on the favorites under the assumption that most of the time, the favorites win out?

BG, BG Sports: When looking for upsets, stay with teams who earned their way in as opposed to teams who were let in the back door.

RG, BoDog.com: Chances are a 12-seed will beat a 5-seed. This has happened every year for the past five years. My upset special for Round 1 is Texas A&M defeating America’s Cinderella team, Syracuse. Yes, Syracuse. The same team that was a Gerry McNamara missed three-pointer against Cincinnati away from missing the tournament altogether. The same team that last week I predicted would not make the tournament. The same team that must have read what I wrote, then proceeded to beat UConn, Georgetown, and Pitt to win the Big East. Well, I think their Cinderella story is coming to an end early and you can take that to the bank.

The way I pick my bracket is predict my Final Four teams and work my way backwards. I never have more than two 1-seeded teams in the Finals, thus this year I am going with UConn and Duke. ‘Nova is a question mark due to Ray’s eye, and Memphis does not have the experience, nor were they tested in the regular season. I then pick a few upset specials early on, especially in the second round. One really interesting fact that I heard over the past 24 hours is that in even-numbered years since 1990, a top-seeded team has been eliminated in the second round. And that’s only on even-numbered years, meaning that a top-seeded team has not lost in the second round during odd-numbered years. I don’t think this year will be different: Memphis will be sent packing early! You should also keep in mind trends, such as a 16-seed never beating a top seed. I don’t think you’ll ever see that happen in your lifetime. As well, you should also leave your heart at the door. If you hate Duke, which I do, don’t pick them to lose to George Washington in Round 2. Duke is a better team. Use your head at all times.

What are some of the best wagering or parlay-type opportunities that come around on March Madness?

BG, BG Sports: Moneyline parlay the #1 seeds is guaranteed money. Works like a charm. That ticket is 20-0 lifetime.

RG, BoDog.com: A lot of bettors come to the sportsbook for the first time during March Madness, thus they are quick to throw money down on the favorites like Duke; however they don’t do their homework on ATS records. Duke had a terrible year ATS, finishing at 13-17-1. Gonzaga finished 12-18. Teams like this are very popular for bettors, and those bettors simply drive the price up to a point where it’s higher than the actual difference in ability between the two teams. Spending the extra effort will go a long way when you factor in the spread. The second thing to pay close attention to is who the Cinderella teams are, as lines tend to shift for the wrong reasons due to the media attention they receive. Another opportunity is with the Over/Under in the early rounds. Teams that are ranked highly tend to not play their starters as much when game is out of hand, thus scoring ismuch lower in earlier rounds compared to during the later rounds when the best players are called upon to perform for the entire game. Another thing is to try to ride the team that is hot as long as you can. Betting on them to end their run may not prove to be profitable in the long run. Syracuse is as hot as they get (although I did pick them to lose in the first round about two minutes ago). Finally, always have a look at where games are being played. Some teams will have home-court advantage due to game being played near their hometown. Ohio State has an opening round game in Dayton Arena. Texas is playing in Dallas. Having the backing of your hometown fans often makes the difference when it comes to picking against the spread.

Christopher Harris is a featured writer for the Professional Handicappers League.
Read all of his articles at procappers.com/ procappers.com

You have a your own private workout gym for your sense of humor. A place to keep it toned and healthy. It’s your imagination. And the good news is that if you know how to worry you know how to use your imagination. This means you have no reason not to start your humor exercises right now.

Worry is nothing but your imagination in chains. Humor is your imagination freed.
There is no restricting your imagination. With it you can see yourself flying like a
bird, slaying dragons, being President of the United States., zipping around like
Peter Pan. It’s your imagination that allows you to “see” yourself and your situation
from other than the usual point of view. Most importantly your sense of humor
needs your imagination.

But how do you bring the two together? By practice! That’s the way you learned to
talk, to walk., to ride your bike, to swim. So it is with
imagination and humor. It’s practice

And it’s not difficult. A former editor of a humor magazine once wrote, “Day and
night the staff thought funny and nothing else. We looked over everything for the
joke that might be in it. Consequently, we came up with one-liners, laughable
incongruities and cartoon ideas…” (emphasis added)

That’s the way, you let (not force) your imagination to explore situations for the
“joke that might be in it.” Not all of the time. Not 24-hours a day like the magazine
staff did. That was their job. But you can practice enough to be proficiently aware of
the humor in your living.

One humor workshop leader, Virginia Tooper of California, included a “humor walk”
activity in her Humor Therapy session. Her groups took to the streets looking at the
common and the ordinary through new sets of eyes by “thinking funny.” This is
nothing more than letting their imagination key off of objects and events that met
the eye and waited for something to show itself.

Try the humor walk yourself. You can do it any time, on the street, at work while
walking down hallways, around home, standing in a line.

Signs are good to practice on. One I once saw in the post office: “Over 40,000 pieces
of mail delivers on time every day.” My mind added, “And 80,000 pieces delivered
late.” Not a side splitter but good enough for a little self pleasure.

Using this humor-walk idea in a workshop of my own, a couple came back to the
group carrying a flyer promoting membership in a church hymnal society. The copy
on the flyer included the word “hymn” extensively. When the woman read aloud with
we listeners construing “hymn” as “him,” the comic effect was rollicking. In fact, we
had to take a recess too give time to recover from our laughter.
By giving yourself permission to purposefully think funny, you will be well rewarded
no matter where you are.

Being open and alert to humor does not mean closing yourself off to your other
sensitivities. The sense of humor does not monopolize your system. Just as you can
use your sense of sight, sound, and touch at the some time,so can you your your
sense of humor in conjunction with other needs.

You can be in that heavy meeting, understand the seriousness of the deliberations,
and at the same time see humor in it. Because of that you have freedom to be more
responsive to the issues than you have been before.

It’s too bad that common belief has it that humor is incidental to the important
matters of life; The truth is that our mind and body need humor. Without it life
cannot amount to much. It becomes but a dull routine, with pitifully small rewards
for the labor involved. Life without humor must surely be hell.

Lord Houghton said that the sense of humor was the “just balance” in the faculties
of man. So remember to keep that balance in whatever you do. Live your life with
humor. You’ll be richer for it. Imagination and practice is all you need.

(c) 2006 Cy Eberhart

As a hospital chaplain Cy Eberhart, (now retired) was a firsthand witness to the
entire spectrum of human emotions: personal successes and failures; the deepest
despairs and the great peaks of joy. Two questions remained foremost in his mind:
How was it that some could find inner strengths that brought courage and hope and
others could not? What was to be learned from these experiences that would have a
positive and creative effect for daily, routine living?

His lectures, writings, workshops, book

Mrs. Carol Brady - Florence Henderson
Mr. Mike Brady – Robert Reed
Alice – Ann B. Davis
Marsha Brady - Maureen McCormack
Jan Brady - Eve Plumb
Cindy Brady – Susan Olsen
Greg Brady – Barry Williams
Peter Brady – Christopher Knight
Bobby Brady – Mike Lookinland

The Brady Bunch. In thirty minutes flat, they give us deliciously vapid, refreshingly innocuous programming in syndication that we can “turn on and tune out” to EVERY DAY.

Nowhere else on earth can you follow such exciting escapades as the entire Brady family, say, searching for Cindy’s doll. What other show on television, today or in the past, melds four lovely golden-haired girls and four lonely brunette men together as a family in such a wondrously unrealistic manner?

The cosmos miraculously aligned this show with a time period (1969-74) which showcased the Bradys on the strangely appropriate canvas of olive green carpets, dark wood paneling, pink paisley ties, and polka-dotted mini skirts so short that, at times, one can plainly observe Cindy’s frilly white underwear.

The Brady house itself was a work of art – no doubt because architect Mike Brady had a hand in its design. Strange, though, that such a masterpiece should hold but one bathroom to be shared by all six of the hapless children. No matter; the vaulted ceilings, sprawling staircase, and Astroturf lawn more than make up for this minor defect in planning. Celebrated modern artwork adorns the Brady home’s puce-painted walls, while flowered sofas blend beautifully with vases that exist only to be smashed by Greg, Peter, and Bobby guiltily playing ball in the house.

There is no gender confusion of any sort in the Brady household; Mike plays golf and Carol sews. Marsha and Jan don tutus to practice ballet while Greg and Peter get dirt-smudged playing ball outside. Cindy has her hair ribbons and Bobby has his cowboy hat. Although it is often unclear whether it is Mrs. Brady or Alice cooking, we are assured it is a woman’s job. Mr. Brady brings home the bacon and retires to the living room to read the paper. Mrs. Brady, faithful housewife and mother, runs to greet him each day, hair coiffed perfectly and makeup tastefully applied. All is in its proper place in the universe.

There is, however, conflict in the Brady household from time to time. Consider if you will the plight of Jan: middle child, not as bold (nor as beautiful) as elder sis Marsha –and yet not quite as darling as the curly-haired cherub, younger sis Cindy. A dilemma for the great minds of our time: how to function in a world where you are not special? Enter the wise housekeeper and confidant, Alice, who solves the problem through gentle dialogue with our sullen Jan; Alice was also a middle child, and thus understands and empathizes implicitly with Jan’s misfortune. With just one of Alice’s crisp, caring speeches, Jan is once again content as the patron saint of mediocrity.

Many claim that each Brady member is but a plot device, lacking unique personality traits, motivation, or desire. Perhaps on the surface this is indeed the case. A deeper examination, however, not only reveals the screenwriters’ expert characterization, but also highlights the actors’ brilliantly subtle portrayals of those characters.

Marsha really is, after all, a very groovy chick… but also she is a little bit vain, a shade uncaring. Greg’s cocksure way with the ladies is unquestionably one-of-a-kind. And Mr. Brady’s male chauvinist speeches whisk us back to the magical 70s: the last decade in which any man could even pretend that he was securely positioned as head of household and domain - content with private den and phone, catered to by both housekeeper and wife, and in complete control of the family’s every finance and freedom.

Of course no television show is perfect, and the Brady Bunch is no exception. Even the most forgiving viewer groaned with displeasure when ‘Cousin Oliver’ appeared on the scene, and when the two eldest male Bradys decided to perm their hair, well, let’s just say it wasn’t a pretty sight.

Mistakes and mishaps aside, I still say this: look where you will, gentle viewer; you are unlikely to find such fine fare anywhere else on your television set. The Brady Bunch is a classic, and its popularity will certainly thrive well into the 21st century.

I know this is much more than a hunch.

Amy Wink Krebs is an author on Writing.Com/ Writing.Com/
which is a site for Writing.Com/ Fiction Writing. She lives in upstate New York with one husband, one son, one cat, and one fish.

Christmas Sheet Music is generally like every other kind of sheet music except for one thing; because of the well-known melodies it is more open to re-harmonization. What does that mean exactly? Well, simply by virtue of the fact that everyone knows the melody it’s easier for the piano accompanist to take more harmonic chances.

Christmas songs like Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, Silent Night and Joy to the World are so entrenched in our consciousness that few people even have to think about the words or the melody. It just comes naturally for most of us, at least in western culture, to sing the lyrics and melodies without any thought at all.

That’s what makes it all the more fun for pianists who accompany carolers to take some really neat harmonic chances with the underlying chords. Generally speaking no matter what you do, and as long as you keep the beat going, no one’s going to get lost.

Christmas sheet music is very often notated with accompanying chord symbols to help pianists make good chord choices. Of course, the more talented the pianist the more interesting the choices. That’s why I like chord symbols on Christmas sheet music because, it gives me a general guide to follow and makes it easier to add more chords to the mix.

How is this done? Let’s take a song like Jingle Bells for example. If we’re in the key of F, the basic chord symbols at the chorus are as follows;

| F | | | | Bb | F | C7 | |
| F | | | | Bb | F | C7 | F |

Now, how would one approach re-harmonizing this very simple chord progression? Most jazz players would know the answer to that question but for everyone else the trick lies in something we call the 2-5-1 progression or II – V – I. This basically means that in front of every landing chord we can put a II – V progression with the one (I) being the landing chord or destination chord.

If in the chord progression above you were to put a II – V in front of the Bb landing chord you would get a whole new sound. What is a II – V? In the scale of Bb (our landing chord) C is the second note of the scale and F is the fifth note of the scale. Therefore the chord progression would be C – F – Bb. However, because the second chord of the Bb scale is a C minor chord the progression would be notated like this |C- | F | Bb|.

Would you like to try something a bit trickier? Try adding sevenths to each chord. That means add a seventh interval, either major or minor 7th to each chord as reflected by the Bb major scale. Therefore the final II – V – I progression, with Bb as the landing chord, would be notated as |C-7| F7 | BbM7|.

So how would the chorus of Jingle Bells be notated if you used II – V’s in front of each landing chord? Like this;

| F | | |C-7 F7 | BbM7 | F | G-7 | C7 |
| F | | |C-7 F7 | BbM7 | F | G-7 C7 | FM7 |

As you can likely hear if you play these chords on the piano it makes the progression seem much more interesting and rich. So, the next time you pick up a sheet of Christmas music have a look at the landing chords and see if you can’t put a II – V in front of them. You’re music will have so much extra color to it and everyone will marvel at your new found ability. Merry Christmas Sheet Music Everyone!

The Black Eyed Pea is an International fame American hip-hop group. They are from Los Angeles, California, America. The group is composed of will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo and Fergie. Their music styles are pop-rap and alternative hip hop. The Black Eyed Peas Group was created in 1989 when will.i.am real name William Adams and Apl.de.ap real name Allan Pineda met and started rapping plus performing together around Los Angeles. They also got opportunity of signing to Ruthless Records that is run by Eazy-E, after inviting the attention of the nephew of Jerry Heller who is Eazy-E’s manager. Having another friend in their group, Dante Santiago, they named their trio Atban Klann.

In the beginning of their career, The Group faced some problems. Their first album, “Grass Roots”, was never released as Ruthless did not consider the social themes mirrored in the group’s music to be marketable to their listeners. The Group was renamed as Black Eyed Pods by Atban Klann. However, Finally it was decided to name it Black Eyed Peas, because - as will.i.am stated on the front cover of the Monkey Business album, “Black Eyed Peas are food for the soul”. There were also changes made in the team of the band. The band replaced their original third member with Taboo real name Jaime Gomez, plus had Kim Hill as a steady background singer. Contrary to many hip-hop acts, they opt to perform with a live band and chose a musical and clothing style that wildly different from the “Gangsta Rap” sounds of other Los Angeles-based hip-hop ( events.ixs.net/Rap-Hip-Hop.aspx ) acts at the time.

Most of the performances of the band were exhibited in the local club circuit since the mid-’90s beside fellow acts like Ozomatli and Jurassic 5. Then they launched their second album named Bridging the Gap in 2000. This album contained the hit “Request Line” featuring Macy Gray. In 2003, they released their third album, Elephunk which proved to be a superhit. Importantly, The lovely voice of Stacy “Fergie” was featured in this album.From this very album the anti-war anthem “Where is the Love?” came. (possible protest against the Iraq war which began the same year the song was released. in 2003) featuring an unaccredited Justin Timberlake that proved the band’s first major hit, mounting at #8 on the US Hot 100, in addition topping the charts almost everywhere else, counting six weeks at #1 in the UK where it was the biggest-selling single of 2003.

Another great song of “Elephunk” was “Shut Up” that ranked at #2 in the UK. However, One of the critic commented on this song as “the single most vacuous, pointless, vile and generally loathsome song in a generation”) and topped the charts in many other European countries including France and Germany. Elephunk was an international success and went gold and platinum in the US, UK, Germany and other European markets. The third single from the album, although significantly restyled from the original Elephunk version, “Hey Mama” hit the Top 10 in the UK, Germany and other European countries and reached #23 in the US.

The Black Eyed Peas continued enjoying their work and wrote many new songs.Their next album, Monkey Business, was released on June 7, 2005. The first single of the album, “Don’t Phunk with My Heart”, was an instant hit in the U.S., going to number three on the Billboard Hot 100. This song rested on the highest pinnacle yet of their career and they brought home another Grammy for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group. The song also became three in the UK, and five in Canada, and number one in Australia. Though it also earned some criticism due to its obscenity. Another song form the same album “My Humps”, instantly achieved commercial success in the U.S. and reasonable substantial radio play regardless of the sexually suggestive lyrics; also reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Black Eyed Peas released an iTunes Originals play list of their greatest hits in Sept 2005, as well as some that were re-recorded especially for purchase through iTunes. The play list involved popular songs like “Don’t Lie”, “Shut Up” plus a new version of “Where Is the Love?”

It is worth mentioning here that Black Eyed Peas also involved themselves in the social welfare services. They established the Pea Pod Foundation to help suffering children globally. The foundation is administered by the Entertainment Industry Foundation. On February 6, 2006, At a concert in Hollywood, California the band was joined by Sergio Mendes, Jessica Simpson, and other stars to benefit the foundation.

Keeping in view of the modern trends, Black Eyed Peas also produced a remix album, named “Renegotiations” on March 21, 2006. It is actually the Remixes” to iTunes. It includes remixed versions of Ba Bump, My Style, Feel It, Disco Club, They Don’t Want Music, Audio Delite at Low Fidelity, plus also the standard version and video of “Like That”. And the next week it was released on CD without the music video. Others who took part in it were on the EP included DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Erick Sermon, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Large Professor.
For more information about Black Eyed Peas visit: events.ixs.net/concert-tickets/Rap-Hip-Hop/Black-Eyed-Peas/index.aspx

Heidi Grumm hosts events.ixs.net events.ixs.net and expresses her passion for events through writing and discussion. She works for Less Corporation at hrlady.com hrlady.com Copyright Heidi Grumm

We love to throw a Country Western Party. It gives us a chance to dress up in our finest boots, hats and dress jeans, but when we get tired from line dancing there may not be much to do besides eat great BBQ and what great BBQ, ribs, chicken, surf and turf. All the fixings. Add a Casino theme to that Country Western Party and you’ve got lots of rootin’ tootin’ activities that the guests can really have fun playing.

Set up for this mixed party theme combo is fairly easy. Everyone still comes dressed up for the Country Western Party. You still put up inflatable guitars and paste wall hangings of records to the wall and even play those old mud, blood and the beer songs that Country Bars are most famous for, but you also get to set up some great games and add a few casino decorations to the party area. Put up fuzzy dice. Hang them from the lamps and even put them out on the buffet table. Pick up lots of casino chips and hand out some to each of your guests as they arrive. Tell them that they can turn in their winnings at the end of the party to pick out special treats, which you would otherwise call party favors, but they don’t have to know that. Great gifts are decks of cards, fuzzy dice, light up shot glasses and wine glasses, and even silly items like feather boas.

Also look for some flashing lights or any kind of decorative lights in either a casino or a country western theme. The guests will love to be able to dance or do the electric slide so you’ll want to clear a dance area and this may be just the place to string up your lights for the party.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for partysupplieshut.com birthday party supplies and fun free educational party-games-etc.com party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable partythemeshop.com Party Themes to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or “just because” parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Train to Munich

(October, 1970)

Chapter One

As we got off the train (Ski and I) we were distinguishable as a sack of brown potatoes, amongst white laundry bags, walking through the train station, out its doors, then outside onto the sidewalk, at 5:00 AM, I witnessed right away young folks walking, waking up, from few hours sleep in the corners of the train station, sacks in their hands, or laying beside them, or laying on them, the renowned October Fest, in Germany was going on, and this was the place to be, or at least the place I wanted to be. No reservations needed, just ones body.

Several young Germans were walking on the opposite side of the sidewalk; several blocks from the train station, where Ski and I crossed over to the other side, “You speak English?” asked Ski, to the group. They looked at us strangely; we simply wanted to find our way to the fairgrounds. Ski was abrupt with his way of producing or trying to produce, dialogue.

“American GI´s” a voice from the group said. Ski lifted his eyebrows, I figured this would be a fight, or it was at least in the makings.

“No, we’re reporters from New York City…”said Ski. Thus, we got a lot more respect instantly. “We’re from a …” (a magazine, can’t remember which one he said, but they were impressed, and so was I that we could get away with such a fib).

I felt something like a volt of electricity in the air, after this mirage was created.

See Dennis’ web site: dennissiluk.tripod.com dennissiluk.tripod.com

The Alexander Technique can be particularly helpful to musicians and actors because many of them unknowingly hold far too much tension while playing their instrument or when playing a particular character. The musician, for instance, may be unconsciously gripping his or her instrument while the actor may also be taking on the postural traits of a particular character even when they are off stage. Many of the major music and drama colleges throughout the world employ Alexander Technique teachers to help to combat these types of problem.

The Technique can help musicians or actors to become more aware of balance, posture and co-ordination while performing. Being aware of tension and strain is the first important step in being able to let go of the nervousness that interferes with performance. The technique can engender a sense of calm that can help a performer to act or play with greater spontaneity and freedom of expression.

We all have a series of reflexes throughout the body that support us against the force of gravity and naturally co-ordinate our movements with the minimum of effort. Unfortunately because of the way many musicians hold their instrument, or actors play a part, these natural reflexes may be obstructed to such an extent that a performer can hold four or five times more tension in their bodies than is really necessary. In fact, without realising it, they make the work of performing much harder than it really needs to be.

I have worked with violin or guitar players whose shoulders have become permanently hunched, or with actors and actresses whose necks have become extremely stiff from playing a certain character, so that they hold themselves unconsciously in a very rigid position. The harmful effects of this tension may not be felt for years, when they start to suffer from pain or restricted movement, but eventually, in extreme cases, a performer may have to give up their career altogether.

The Alexander Technique can help musicians and actors to be aware and let go of the muscle tension that is at the root of their problem. This will be achieved by verbal instructions and with help from the teacher’s hands. Students will be taught new ways of playing a musical instrument, or of projecting their voice, that will put less pressure on the joints and muscles. Learning new ways of moving while performing can help dramatically to reduce the strain on the body, thus helping it work more efficiently. F. M. Alexander himself was an actor whose own tension caused him to lose his voice while performing, and this is where the Technique first originated. By becoming aware of how he performed was able to return to the stage with renewed confidence.

In fact, many people who practice the Technique experience a general feeling of lightness throughout their bodies and even describe the sensation as ‘walking on air’ or moving with no effort. Since our physical state directly affects our mental and emotional well-being, people often say that they feel much calmer and happier even after just a few Alexander lessons, often resulting in a greater ability to cope with life in general.

Richard Brennan is the author of several books on the Alexander Technique: he is also the director of the Alexander teacher training college, Ireland. He is the Irish national contact for Alexander Technique International (ATI) and co-founder of the Irish Society of Alexander Technique Teachers. (ISSAT) Further information at alexander.ie alexander.ie

Stone Beds
[Pompeii’s surge]

Advance: after the great eruption of Pompeii’s nearby volcano, Vesuvius, some two-thousand years ago in the heyday of the Roman Empire, what was left of the city were mostly ashes of stone from an unleashing furnace; it is hard to imagine what the people went through (none, not one person survived). I can only guess from the looks of the city today, and in its early excavations, its people were baked alive or asleep, like pottery. In many cases, beds were turned into stones. I have been to Italy twice, and Pompeii, most be the most blazing archeological sites in the world.

For those not familiar with Pompeii, (the city, for there was also a General in the Roman Army, called Pompeii, whom gave his name to the city), for those folks, let me clarify: just the name stimulates deep slurs if not down right nightmarish emotions.

Pompeii is located by the Bay of Neapolis. The time of the eruption, was A.D. 79. Pompeii, was a resort city, as you might think of Los Vegas. It was the Roman Empires richest city, with luxurious villas, and all seemed to live a most enjoyable lifestyle. This city reminds me of the Titanic, and Sodom and Gomorra. Yes, Pompeii was a most corrupt and violent city, or town-let, as some would have it.

The Poem:

Stone Beds

Skin vaporized
Bones incinerated
Brains boiled—

Then exploded!

Skulls stained from
Red cerebral matter,
Like a glass that shattered;

Teeth disintegrated.

Dim and faint was their fate.

Suffocation
Decomposed
Solidified—:

The shapes of bodies…;

Contorted positions—
Buried alive:
Like eggs packed,

In clay pottery!…

Note: 5/8/05 #642

Author/Poet Dennis Siluk, dennissiluk.tripod.com dennissiluk.tripod.com