You Say Tomato

Some people are just contradictory. Logged into my chat lobby before my shift and the "boss" is there. It's almost three in the morning where she lives so I say she is up late for her. Her retort is "you mean early, don't you?". So I type back, you say tomAto, I say tomaTo lol

Do you deal with people every day that are like that? Sometimes it can all be funny, or at least mildly humorous. Other times these people are just a royal pain in the butt.

Can You Do It?

Years ago, while married to my first wife, I read in a Richard Simmon's diet book that diets don't work. Having lived all my life with people constantly trying new diets and desperate to lose weight I'd have to say that this adage is often true, they do not work.
The reason they don't work is that, for many, food is like an addiction to them. As soon as they say they are going on a diet the brain immediately wants to eat a lot. I know this is true, believe me. A couple of weeks ago my wife and daughter came home from a church musical they had attended. One of the things that came to light from the conversation was my wife telling me that she and our daughter were going to go on a diet. Have no clue where that thought came from but I, being a good husband who'd like to live, just nodded in agreement. Since that day I have seen my daughter eat constantly. A little here, a little there, but constant. She is not going to lose weight like that!
Dieting along is not going to help my daughter, nor anyone else. They need to have a little help from weight loss products. You cannot generally say "I'm going to lose weight" and have it happen. Your body is too used to having that food. It's like smokers trying to quit cold turkey. For the vast majority it just doesn't work. They need a little help to wean them off that desire to smoke. Dieters need help to wean them off their constant desire to eat.
There are as many weight loss products on the market today as there are diets. Which one will work for you? How about Fenphedra? Here are a couple of testimonials I found on the website for this product:
I can honestly say this is THE BEST weight loss pill out there. I feel AWESOME, have A LOT of energy with no side-effects whatsoever!! I started taking 8 weeks ago and along with diet & EXERCISE have lost 41 pounds. Eat right & exercise and you WILL see results FAST!! SIMPLY THE BEST!!!!
Gary

I have tried tons of fat burners and none of them have done a lick. I decided to take a chance on Fenphedra – boy was I totally blown away. It helped with my cravings and I could feel the energy boost right away. So far it has been 3 weeks and I have lost 12 pounds. Everyone should try this.
Kathy

This is the most hard core fat burner I have tried. It was easy for me to swallow and didn’t give me the jitters. I was able to lose 5 pounds in 2 weeks. This fat burner worked like a DREAM!
Kristina S

If you are one of the many looking to lose weight, be it for health or better looks, you should check this product out. Break free from your food habit!
Before you take this, or any product like it, you should talk to your doctor to make sure your body can handle it. I am not a medical person so my medical advice is worth nothing. I do hope you'll give it a try though and I hope you lose all the unwanted pounds you desire to lose.

Things You Learn

On a social networking site I ran across an item yesterday where people were complaining about the site using material that users had put on the site that somehow showed up on another site without the users permission. Come to find out that the second site is owned by the first. Still, it rankled a lot of people and they are not happy yet.
So, following the lemmings, I went to google and searched my username on that site. Sure enough, there I was with all my discussions. The listings were not for the site I belong to but some other site. I guess I get around the web lol
Have you ever Googled your name or username? You'd be surprised at how the searcg engine robots find out all the details of your online life, both the good and the bad. Some things you might even be embarrassed by!
When I was a kid we were always told that we shouldn't be caught doing anything that would embarrass our mothers. Time and technology has changed a lot since then but perhaps that adage should be adhered to today.
What if your mother Googled your name? Would she be shocked at who you truly are and what sites you use? Think about that!

It's The Wood

A long time ago, when I was a kid, we played with these things called Lincoln Logs. Lincoln Logs were basically pieces of wood that you used to construct houses and other buildings as your imagination went. Playing with these logs consumed many hours but the end results were always worth it. One can still buy these log sets so I know that they have stood the test of time.
But this blog article is not about Lincoln Logs or even toys. This article is about rustic furniture. What? You went from toys to furniture? yes, I certainly did, dear reader. Because they have something in common.
If you look up the definition of rustic you'll find that, among other things, it means of, pertaining to, or living in the country, as distinguished from towns or cities; rural. So rustic furniture would bring your mind along the lines of simple, basic, yet useful items. Something like the wooden bench you sit on at a park while your kids are playing, right? But that is not the case here. For instance, who would consider this as "simple":

That bed took a lot of craftsmanship. Nothing simple about it at all. And, it's a lovely looking bed! This is the sort of bed that city dwellers would find themselves in when they've spent good money at a Bed and Breakfast. They certainly wouldn't look at it and call it simple.
Beds are not the only furniture the website has. They have outdoor sets, living room sets, even office furniture. Made out of wood, just like stuff we created as kids with those Lincoln Logs, only much fancier and much, much better looking.
These pieces are not just plain old wood. They cover wood from simple Cedar to Hickory and even Aspen. Whatever your tastes in wood they've got it.
And, if your mind is still in Lincoln Log mode these folks can create what your mind can see in furniture, indoors and outdoors.
So, gather up your toys and put them away. Go check out the fine pieces of rustic furniture available now.

Mental Health Week

This coming week is National Mental Health Care week.
You can do your part by remembering to contact at least one unstable person to show you care.

Well .. .. .



my job is done. Your turn!

Stands And Mounts

Sounds like instructions for getting on a horse, doesn't it? But, no horse tales here. This is about relaxing, not horse riding.
We spend an enormous amount of time as hard working people trying to kick back and relax. And to help us relax we spend a lot of time and effort and money buying things that will assist us in this relaxing. These days, seems like any house you visit there is a lot of electronic equipment, be it stereo systems or fancy televisions. Keeping up with the Jones' these days means a very fancy television thinner than ever along with a very large screen. You can hang these things on the wall like a piece of art.
If this is your idea of how your living space should be then you are going to need to check out television stand and mounts. It would surely be a shame to have that expensive television set fall off your wall! But, the mounting is just the beginning.
Now that you have your fancy theater system television set attached where you want it now you need something good to kick back and relax in. You need home theater seating. Something perhaps like this:

This chair would be perfect for kicking back and checking out the latest flick in pure comfort and style. And, if you're one of those that cannot stay awake for the entire movie, great for falling asleep. And, imagine how impressed your family and friends will be when they come to visit and see some great furniture instead of just a normal chair. With furnishings like this you can not only keep up, you can become the Jones' that everyone else wants to keep up with.
So, take a stroll through their website and look at all the goodies they offer to help you enjoy your leisure time. Make your relaxation time truly relaxing!

Never Forget

Although this post is about ANZAC Day and the brave soldiers who fought in the Great War I hope you never forget any soldier who fought in a war. Even if they fought as the "enemy" and lost they deserve to be remembered. They, like soldiers everywhere only fought because it was their duty. Many could have cared less about the politics of it all, they simply did their duty.

What is ANZAC Day?

ANZAC Day – 25 April – is probably Australia's most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

What does ANZAC stand for?

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACs, and the pride they took in that name endures to this day.

Why is this day special to Australians?

When war broke out in 1914, Australia had been a federal commonwealth for only 13 years. The new national government was eager to establish its reputation among the nations of the world. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany.

The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated, after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers had been killed. News of the landing on Gallipoli had made a profound impact on Australians at home, and 25 April soon became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in the war.

Although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the Australian and New Zealand actions during the campaign left us all a powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as the “ANZAC legend” became an important part of the identity of both nations, shaping the ways they viewed both their past and their future.

Early commemorations

The 25th of April was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916. It was marked by a wide variety of ceremonies and services in Australia, a march through London, and a sports day in the Australian camp in Egypt. In London over 2,000 Australian and New Zealand troops marched through the streets. A London newspaper headline dubbed them “the knights of Gallipoli”. Marches were held all over Australia; in the Sydney march, convoys of cars carried wounded soldiers from Gallipoli attended by nurses. For the remaining years of the war, ANZAC Day was used as an occasion for patriotic rallies and recruiting campaigns, and parades of serving members of the AIF were held in most cities.

During the 1920s ANZAC Day became established as a national day of commemoration for the 60,000 Australians who had died during the war. In 1927, for the first time every state observed some form of public holiday on ANZAC Day. By the mid-1930s, all the rituals we now associate with the day – dawn vigils, marches, memorial services, reunions, two-up games – were firmly established as part of ANZAC Day culture.

With the coming of the Second World War, ANZAC Day also served to commemorate the lives of Australians who died in that war. In subsequent years the meaning of the day has been further broadened to include Australians killed in all the military operations in which Australia has been involved.

ANZAC Day was first commemorated at the Memorial in 1942. There were government orders prohibiting large public gatherings in case of a Japanese air attack, so it was a small occasion, with neither a march nor a memorial service. Since then, ANZAC Day has been commemorated at the Memorial every year.

What does it mean today?

Australians recognise 25 April as an occasion of national remembrance, which takes two forms. Commemorative services are held at dawn – the time of the original landing – across the nation. Later in the day, ex-servicemen and women meet to take part in marches through the major cities and in many smaller centres. Commemorative ceremonies are more formal and are held at war memorials around the country. In these ways, ANZAC Day is a time when Australians reflect on the many different meanings of war.

The Dawn Service

The Dawn Service observed on ANZAC Day has its origins in a military routine which is still followed by the Australian Army today. During battle, the half-light of dawn was one of the most favoured times for an attack. Soldiers in defensive positions were woken in the dark before dawn, so by the time first light crept across the battlefield they were awake, alert, and manning their weapons; this is still known as the “stand-to”. As dusk is equally favourable for attacks, the stand-to was repeated at sunset.

After the First World War, returned soldiers sought the comradeship they had felt in those quiet, peaceful moments before dawn. A dawn stand-to, with its symbolic links to the dawn landing at Gallipoli, became a common form of ANZAC Day remembrance during the 1920s. The first official dawn service was held at the Sydney Cenotaph in 1927.

Today dawn services include the presence of a chaplain, but not the presence of dignitaries such as the governor general. They were originally very simple and followed the military routine. In many cases, attendance at the dawn service was restricted to veterans, while the daytime ceremony was for families and other well-wishers. Before dawn, the gathered veterans would be ordered to “stand to” and two minutes’ silence would follow. At the end of this time a lone bugler would play the Last Post and then conclude the service with Reveille, the bugler’s call to wake up.

In more recent times families and young people have been encouraged to take part in dawn services, and services in Australian capital cities have seen some of the largest turnouts ever. Reflecting this change, those services have become more elaborate, incorporating hymns, readings, pipers, and rifle volleys. Other services, though, have retained the simple format of the dawn stand-to, familiar to so many soldiers.

The ANZAC Day Ceremony

At the Australian War Memorial, the ceremony takes place at 10.15 am in the presence of people such as the prime minister and the governor general. Each year the ceremony follows a pattern that is familiar to generations of Australians. A typical ANZAC Day ceremony may include the following features: an introduction, hymn, prayer, an address, laying of wreaths, a recitation, the Last Post, a period of silence, either the Rouse or the Reveille, and the national anthem. After the Memorial’s ceremony, families often place red poppies beside the names of relatives on the Memorial’s Roll of Honour, as they also do after Remembrance Day services.

Acne Is The Pits

Whether you are a teenager or an adult, dealing with acne is the pits. Nobody likes to look in the mirror and see a bunch of pimples where clear skin should be. If you suffer from this problem it seems natural for you to go looking for the best acne cream.
A great acne cream should not only treat acne, but also moisturize the skin so that it can repair itself and prevent future acne breakouts. But as you might have noticed, most acne creams cause side effects like red, peeling, and even painful skin! The reason? Most acne creams use cheap ingredients that do not moisturize, but damage the skin! You definitely do not want to use a cream like that.
So, just how do you find the best one to use? You can always use the internet or a library to research companies and their acne products. But that would be incredibly time consuming not to mention rather boring for you. Better to have someone else do the research for you and you just reap the benefits of that research.
Acne-Creams.org has done the research for you so you don't have to do it. How cool is that? All you need to do is go and read what they have found, pick the cream that sounds like it is the best one for you and then clear up your face with it.
Wouldn't it be so much better to look in a mirror and see your face instead of pimples? Of course it would. Get the acne cream and clear your skin.

Bad Times Three

The weather is bad. Even though, at first, the sun was shining it was raining. The desert is the only place I know of where that happens. But now the sun is gone and only the rain remains. And now it is cold. It shouldn't be cold in April.
My woman is grumpy and that's always bad. Everything seems to be upsetting her today and that's bad.
My game playing is bad. No wait, my game playing is awful. I have had no patience with it the past two days and that cannot ever be good. I need to be more patient and not get all wild.

Blue Light Special

No, I am not talking about someone saying "Attention Shoppers" like they used to do at KMart. I'm talking about skin care actually. What if there was a way for you to not only get rid of acne but heal your skin at the same time? And you could accomplish this feat without creams or ointments, would you be interested?
Blue light therapy is a modern discovery in the fight against acne. Unlike other acne treatment solutions such as medicated creams and expensive dermatological procedures, blue acne light therapy for acne is more effective, affordable, convenient and free from side effects. In only seconds to minutes a day you can clear up your unwanted acne while simultaneously healing your skin.
It looks somewhat like a shower head. Instead of water you get rays of light, blue (hence the name) with a bit of red thrown in to reduce inflammation of skin as well as eliminate fine lines and blemishes. Science has shown that blue light in the 405nm to 420nm spectrum is the ideal wavelength to kill bacteria, such as the P.acnes bacteria that causes acne. As the wavelength of light increases, so does its ability to penetrate further into the skin. Due to this fact, our Blue Acne Light uses two different wavelengths of blue light to treat acne. The 410nm wavelength is optimal for killing bacteria close to the surface of the skin in a short period of time, while the 450nm wavelength is slightly less effective over the same period of time, it reaches deeper into the skin killing the bacteria the shorter wavelength cannot.
So, you can effectively get the best of both worlds here. One, it can help cure and keep away your acne and secondly it can help your skin with fine lines and blemishes. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.
If you are tired of the expense and bother of those skin creams that sometimes do nothing more than waster your money you owe it to yourself to give the blue light treatment a look over and see if it is right for you.

Pop Up Be Gone

On one of the game sites that I use there has been considerable conversation in the chat area of late because of a certain advertisement. The ad is some sort of pop up that does just that, it pops up on your screen. We're all fairly used to these ads, annoying though they may be but this one is different.
This one tells you that your computer has been infected and that you must get rid of the virus by clicking somewhere. They then try to sell you some sort of anti-virus protection.
Sounds simple enough, right? Just close the window of the ad and be done with it. But, it is not as simple as it appears. Many of the members have been infected and they all say that the problem started with this ad. it would appear that the ad itself is a virus.
Last night several hours were spent in the chat area trying to assist one member that had somehow caught this bug and it was playing havoc with her Windows Vista. Her problem was two fold, she not only had gotten something from the ad but she may also have picked up something from Limewire a program that one of her sons had downloaded without her consent. Needless to say she was not a happy camper.
My advice to her as it is to anyone was to make sure you have some sort of anti-virus software on your computer and keep it up to date. Simple measures that work.
I also advidsed her to use a program called TrendMicro Housecall. It's a web based program that will basically search and destroy anything that is harmful to your computer. If it is something that is in your registry Housecall will not delete it but will offer you step by step instructions on how to get rid of it yourself. I use this program every week or so and it has never failed me. And the best part? It is free! Cannot beat that price :)
If you haven't scanned your computer for bugs lately, this is a good time to do it. Now, while you have just finished reading this blog :)

I Made It, Finally

Today I officially became a Moderator at one of the game sites I play on. I have been doing the Mod's job as best I could the past few weeks more or less without all of the good tools that Mods have like being able to turn off someones chat privileges if they misbehave to much.
I have to say that I seriously doubt that this tool will get that much use when I am on my normal shift as the players at that time of the day (Midnight my time) are there more for playing than hanging out in the chat lobby talking.
Occasionally there arises a problem and being a Mod I will be better able to handle those. For instance if someone is misbehaving in one of the game rooms I am now able to go into that room and leave a message asking them politely to stop. Without being a Mod I could go into the room and see what's going on but I couldn't leave a message.
So, I am looking forward to this new task every day. I will be on the site every day from Midnight my time until three in the morning.
For some strange reason they have had some trouble filling this shift. It works out perfectly for me since I am normally on the site playing during those hours anyway.
The big problem for me will be doing both the game and the lobby at the same time. Hopefully I will figure it out quickly as I don't want to have to stop playing the game during those hours just so I can babysit the lobby which is often quiet for long stretches of time.
So, congratulations to me! *Pats self on back*

Toning Up

I hope that, after reading my blog more than once or twice, you realize that you are out of shape. You need to lose that gut that you've been carrying around and become healthier and trimmer. But, dieting alone is not the only thing you need to be doing, you need to be firmer too.
You're busy, always on the go from place to place and don't have time to go to the gym on a regular basis so you don't exercise at all. Not good. You may have seen commercials on television for equipment but it looks too difficult to understand or too darned expensive for your budget. Always you have an excuse. But not any more!
You can buy yourself an elliptical that is not difficult to understand and it is reasonably priced. One that looks like this:



Offering a variety of workouts to help you tone and firm different areas of your body these pieces of equipment can be used in your spare time, perhaps while you are watching the news or your favorite television program. You won't need to make up excuses for why you can't get to a gym or how you do not have time to work out. Great, huh?
So, do your body a favor. Lose some weight and get some exercise to firm up some of that flabbiness. As always, I advise you to see a doctor before you do anything like this. See just what the medical professional says about your body and what exercises you can, and cannot, do.
Become healthier, thinner, better.

Getting Forgetful

I am getting older. I admit that freely and readily. I'm 59 and there isn't anything I can do about that.
Last night I turned the computer off and got things ready for the morning which basically means the coffee maker. I went over to the heater to help me get the kinks out of some of these old joints when it dawned on me that I had forgotten something. Darn!
So, I turned the computer back on and went to my Facebook account and then to Cafe World. Sure enough, there was all my stoves filled with food that needed to be served. I got that taken care of and more food cooking then turned the computer back off and went to bed, chastising myself a little for forgetting that food.
When I got up this morning (actually afternoon) one of the first things my wife said to me was "You let all my food spoil". WTH? What food? I would have sworn that I had gone to her cafe before doing other things online and had seen that her food would not be ready until the next morning.
I have to admit it, I am getting not only forgetful, but carelessly so. It's not good getting old :(

Thermals

If you have a business then you know how important it is these days to have a thermal printer like the tm-t88iv. One of the best selling thermal printer lines in the POS industry, The TM-T88IV is fast reliable and proven. The TM-T88IV can also print in two color red and black with special paper.
POS, or Point Of Sale, software and printers are vital to today's businesses. The software allows you to keep better track of your inventory and also what is selling. This allows you to order more of the items that you need the most without the hassles of manually counting your inventory, which is not only time consuming it is a boring task.
It also allows the customer to see a receipt showing exactly what they purchased, not just the price. Should they need to return an item to your business this helps not only them but you. And, on your end, POS software can assist you in your inventory again by adding the item back into the count.
In order for everything to work smoothly it is important to have a great printer so that receipts are printed well and are visible. It's frustrating to get a receipt that is barely readable. You not really need a great printer like the tm-t88iv. You'll be happy with the printer and how well it works and the customers will be happy with how their receipts look.
Check out all the printers and POS software as well as bar code scanners that are available. You're sure to find all the things you need to help you run your business in a more efficient manner, giving you less headaches and more time to enjoy your business.

Too Late

One of the games that the family plays on Facebook is called Farmville. The idea is to have a farm, plant crops and harvest them when their ready and decorate the place with animals and buildings. It's not hard to play and it is fun.
They added a new feature a few days ago called co-op farming, where several players can combine their farms to grow one certain crop in a set amount of time and get better rewards. So, I thought it might be nice to have the three of us do one of these jobs together. I did the initial planting on all three farms then harvested the crops and re-planted them. We would have to do this three times in order to "win".
Yesterday was a strange day and everyone was dead tired the whole day. I needed to take a nap as I knew I would be up late on a site where I am going to become a moderator of the rules. I told my daughter to harvest the crops at six so that they would be ready to be harvested at around 2 a.m. I got up around 7:30 p.m. only to find that she has just done one of the farms, hers, and the rest were not done.
By the time I got the crops harvested and replanted the largest farm, mine, I knew we would "win' but the crops would not be ready until roughly 4 a.m. *groan*
The nap was nice but I was still very tired. I had a heck of a time keeping myself awake until harvesting time.
Now, 7 hours later I am back up, been up for an hour now. But man, I am beat :( I hope I don't do another one of those co-op jobs like that again!

Help

Insert your favorite words of frustration here. For me I'm sure it would not be any words that I would wish to see in print. There is not much in life that is as frustrating as breaking down no matter where you are. But, imagine if it happens when you are traveling and you really have no familiar surroundings. Breaking down can be downright scary in this situation.
What can be worse than breaking down somewhere? Needing medical assistance is worse, much worse. Who would you call if you were hurt while traveling? Or if you needed a medical evacuation? What if you required an air ambulance service to get you to appropriate medical care? What if you desperately needed emergency assistance?
The answer is Good Sam Emergency Assistance Plus. Good Sam EA+ is a prepaid, medical assistance membership program. Good Sam EA+ is not travel insurance nor is it a healthcare plan. Think of Good Sam EA+ as your personal medical support team, on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, from any place you might be-even a foreign country!
Good Sam is a name that has been around and trusted for many, many years. If you have an RV you may already be a member of the Good Sam Club. That club has been assisting RV-ers for a long time, offering a variety of services for RV-ers like roadside assistance. You can be assured that this emergency service is as good as their roadside assistance plan so, if you have an RV or you simply love to travel you should definitely look into this plan.
You never know when or where you will break down and need help. And, unfortunately, you never know when something in you will break down either. Give yourself some peace of mind while traveling. Look into the Good Sam Club and all its services today.

Work Or Play?

There are days when it is hard to choose between the two. I know I should be doing my work first, but the games are so enticing. Although to be fair, some of those games on Facebook often seem like work. Crops to plant and harvest, food to be served and more food to cook.
But, I realize that it is pure procrastination on my part. Even if the games resemble work they do not require as many brain cells as actually doing some creative work like writing for my blogs.
Maybe I should just admit it. I would rather play than work. LOL

Dieting Time

One of the local churches puts on spectacular musicals several times a year, including Easter. This year a young man came to the door and asked if we would like to attend and they even provided a free bus to and from their church. So, the two females that live in my house said yes.
They had a great time and truly enjoyed the musical as well as the free fancy coffee they got afterward. For some strange reason, in the middle of the excited talk about what they had seen came the thought that the two of them were going to start dieting on Monday. They didn't give a reason for that and I didn't ask. I've lived with dieting people all my life, I know better than to ask something so foolish.
Since I am the one that spends the most amount of time daily on the computer I thought I would do some dieting research. Man, oh man, there is a lot of junk information out there on the web. And, some sites have nothing to do with dieting. Trust me, those females have no weight to lose LOL
I did find a site though that has taken the work out of it, reviewing weight loss pills in a way that makes sense to me.
All I had to do was read their reviews and choose one that I thought would work for my two "girls" and help them lose whatever poundage they wish to lose. Maybe they are planning on wearing swimsuits this year, that would be nice for their self esteem. Or maybe they just want to be healthier and happier as a thinner person. As I said, I'm smart enough not to ask.
If you'd like to be slimmer and healthier too, you should consider looking into a dieting plan that will work for you. Please be sure to consult with a doctor before you start as I am not a medical person and I do not give out valid medical advice.
If you, like them, are going to start dieting, I wish you the best of luck.

Why Baseball Is Complete Garbage

One of the people I love to read is Daniel Negreanu. I read his blog faithfully and I also follow him on Twitter. He's an intelligent young man that makes his living playing poker professionally. I like watching him play, he's very friendly at the tables and seems like a down to earth sort of fellow. Sometimes his thoughts get away from the poker tables and he blogs about other things, like baseball.
I read this blog entry this morning and I have to say that I agree with his points, although I don't totally consider all of baseball as garbage. Yes, the big money teams seem to win a lot of the time but any team can be beaten by any other team on any given day. Like any other sport there is always the luck factor to consider. Maybe that's why teams that don't ever seem to have a chance have such diehard fans, like the Cubs or my team the Pirates. We all hope that someday we shall break out of that losing mold and be a brilliant team that goes all the way.Just like a poker player thinking his pair of tens is really the best hand to wager on and sometimes it is.
Here is his baseball thoughts:
Baseball is a joke. The game is great, awesome actually, but the way major league baseball is structured is just awful. It is the only major sports league in North America without a salary cap and makes it extremely difficult for teams to stay competitive with the big spenders who stack their teams with all-stars. As a fan, I'd personally find it extremely boring to essentially get a bye into the playoffs each season just because you are able to buy the best players available every year. Just doesn't seem fun at all to me. I honestly don't know how a Yankees fan, or even a Red Sox fan can get remotely excited about the regular season anymore.

This is a sick stat, but the Yankees have qualified for the post-season 14 out of the last 15 years! Boston, with the second highest payroll, has made the post-season 6 out of the last 7 seasons. Boston and New York have finished in the top two in the AL East for 10 of the past 12 seasons. Yankees spend over $200 million on their team and finished first overall, while Boston spends $120 million and finished 3rd overall. The Angels have the 4th highest payroll in the league and finished with 97 wins.

It annoys me to no end when people say, "Well the other teams could just spend more to make their teams better." Baloney! All that would do is mean payrolls across the board would escalate, because New York would just spend $230 million and Boston would spend close to $200 million to stay in front.

Teams like Tampa Bay occasionally have a miracle year with a cast of young players, but guess what happens when their contracts are up? They end up in Boston or New York.

I can't bring myself to care about a league that is going to have such rare turnover, not because the team is genius at drafting, but simply because they can just buy a better team with money. Boring. Totally, and insanely boring to me.

TV networks love it, obviously, and wouldn't change the status quo because it's in their best interest to have NY and Boston vying for the World Series each year, but I think they are shortsighted as well and eventually it will come back to bite them in the butt. There is no end in sight to this madness, so I gave up caring. The league will never implement a salary cap, and because of that, I'll never be a baseball fan every again. It's so beyond stupid to me that I'd feel dirty watching it.



If you'd like to read Daniel's blog and I hope you will, it's located here...
http://www.fullcontactpoker.com/poker-journal.php

Night Creams

Once the sun has set your skin, especially your face, gets a break from the UV rays that the sun puts out. And, when you go to bed to sleep the body gets some much needed rest and has a chance to revitalize your skin. For some people this is enough. But for others, their skin needs some help with this rejuvenating process,in the form of night cream.
Night creams provide mandatory hydration for the skin during this process and it facilitates the regenerative process. Many users above the age of 40 have found that the regenerative process for the skin has dramatically slowed. Fortunately, the higher end night creams contain powerful ingredients which actually trigger the stimulation of collagen and skin cell regeneration. Thus slowing and even repairing the effects of aging on the skin. As a man of 59 I can vouch for the fact that my skin doesn't renew itself as well as it did when I was in my twenties.
How does one find the right night cream though? It takes a lot of time to do night cream reviews. Unless you have no life whatsoever, this is time that can be better spent doing other things, work,study or some social activities. Fortunately someone has already performed that research for you.
Take some time to look around the site and see just what products are available. Choose one that is great for your skin. A younger looking you is what you're after and it can be gotten with the right products and, of course, actual rest. In these hectic days sleep is not only important, but more necessary than ever.
Enjoy a younger you!

Great Start

I know it's only the first game of the season, but, wow, what a start! After a mediocre Spring Training season, the Pirates came out swinging.
The final result was the Dodgers scored five runs. Not all that good for the pitching staff, but it was okay. The Dodgers pitchers were worse as the Pirates scored Eleven to more than beat up on the Dodgers!
I do hope this is a great sign for my team :)
LET'S GO BUCS!!!

Get Yourself Seen

Do you have a blog like I do? Or perhaps a website that sells a product? Want it to be seen by more people? I know I wish I had more people looking at my blog. Not that you faithful readers aren't pleasing me, but there is always room for more people.
I found a site that can help make that happen. It submits your website to a variety of different free directories and SEO friendly sites, some of which I must admit I have never heard of before.
They perform this service to you for the greatest price ever. Free. Everyone can afford it, even me.
What they ask in return is simple, they ask that you put a link on your website somewhere. That's it, just a simple link. How difficult can that be? Not hard at all. In fact, I used their service and here is the link they asked me to place on this blog:
best colon cleanser
Now, that was simple enough, right? And it didn't hurt me at all to do. No fancy codes or anything, just a simple copy and paste. Quick, easy and free. My kind of deal.
So, take advantage of this service for yourself. Get yourself seen by many that might never have found you otherwise. It's free and you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Happy Easter

If you are one of those that celebrate the day, then Happy Easter to you. Enjoy the Easter egg hunts with children and all of the candy and chocolate eating.
Please don't forget the reason for the day though, that would be terrible. Sometimes it seems as if Easter has turned into Christmas. Too much junk and not enough celebrating Jesus Christ.
So, whatever your plans, enjoy the day but please take a moment to bow your head.

Looking Old?

I admit it, I am an old man. I am 59 and, some days, feel 90. I'm sure that, underneath my beard, there is an old and wrinkled face. This does not bother me, I've lived what some would consider a hard life but I am a happy man so Life has not been that unkind to me. But, I know that there are a lot of people out there that do care about their looks.
They don't want to look their age, they want to look younger. So they use a variety of products to accomplish this looking younger feat, including creams that will help get rid of the wrinkles that come with age. As a nation, Americans are obsessed with looking younger, feeling healthier and being their best. This strikes me as humorous since so many of us are out of shape, overweight and just look like normal folks for our ages. Perhaps this is why weight loss products and cosmetics products make up billion dollar industries.
Assuming that you are one of the millions that wishes to get rid of your wrinkles you have to find the moisturizing face cream that will work best for you. You try to do the research yourself but get clogged up with web sites filled with products that look right but promise nothing more than they will take your money and smile on the way to the bank. This is not good at all.
But there is a website out there that has done the research for you. They have assembled a list of the products they have found that will do the job you want them to do. All you have to do is choose the one that fits your skin and your pocketbook. Simple, no?
Why waste your time and get stressed out, causing more wrinkles I'm sure, when the work has been done for you? Here is how they have come to their conclusions:



So, pick the one that is right for you, use it and look younger. After all, isn't that what you truly want? Of course it is.

Almost time

Just another day or two and the regular baseball season will have started. I'm excited! I love watching baseball and I enjoy reading about the players.
I am looking forward to the new season and seeing if my poor team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, can finally have a winning season and stop the losing streak! Hopefully the management will not mess around this year but I'm sure that is just wishful thinking on my part.
They put all the pieces together then try their best to re-arrange the puzzle and end up wondering why it didn't work. One day, fans hope and pray, they'll figure it all out. When something works, why fix it? Baseball is sometimes like software, people always feel the need to tweak it. Wish they'd leave things be.
I hope the players will simply go out on the field and have fun. This is what they have been dreaming of doing since they were kids in Little League. They need to realize that they are as good as anyone else on any other team. They also need to realize that they have no pressure whatsoever. None of the so called experts expect the Pirates to do anything this year, or any year actually, so why stress out? Take the field and have fun. Just relax and play your position to the best of your abilities.
The bottom line, for me, is that no matter what happens, win or lose, brilliant or suck big time, you still will be my favorite baseball team. Even though I have spent most of my life living in Dodgers territory, I have always been and will always be a Pirates fan.
So, as the new season gets ready to start I say... LET'S GO BUCS!!!!

Zits Are The Pits

Having acne is a serious problem. Don't think so? Ask any teenager. Or worse, ask anyone that is an adult that has them. They'll tell you, in uncertain terms, how awful having pimples can be.
The problem with acne cleansers though is that they create problems of their own at times. They may help you get rid of the pimples but they can leave your skin dry and harsh. Nobody wants dry skin on their face, that's as bad as having zits.
So, how do you find the best acne cleanser? Like anything else, you turn to the internet to do some research. This is especially true if you are a teenager since we all know that with acne you have no social life to worry about and you have lots of time on your hands to do research.
If you do have some sort of a life that is hectic, work, school, family, you don't have tons of time to research acne cleansers or anything else. You're in luck though as AcneCleansers.org has already spent hours doing the research for you.
What you have to do is look at the products they've researched and pick the one that will best suit you and your pocketbook. Can't get much simpler than that.
So, go to their website, find a great cleanser and get rid of those acne pimples. Get on with Life.

Best Laid Plans

The plan was very simple. I was going to play my games earlier than usual and then get to bed at a decent hour. I did play my games early, but the last part of the plan was not to be.
I play on a site that has a chat lobby in it. The lobby is moderated by volunteers to ensure that the site rules are followed, there is no fighting,arguing, flaming, whatever. As I was about to say good night to all the folks on there I got several messages from the regular moderator asking me if I could spend more time in the lobby. He is trying to get the head mod to make me a mod too as I am often there when he is and there used to be two mods, now it's only him.
His problem is that he needs to get some rest, as he has a child to feed and care for and cannot always be in the lobby looking after things. I can understand that, I've been a parent.
So, instead of getting to bed at midnight or close to it, I was up until 3 a.m. when the next mod showed up for her scheduled three hours. I'm sure it was not making my wife all that happy but I think she was more understanding about it than usual.
I hope that they do make me a mod so I can help the site out. I'll worry about my wife and her reaction when the time comes.
In the meantime I suppose I shouldn't make any plans set in stone.

Get The Home Fires Burning

Okay, I know, I know. It's Spring now and the weather is turning warmer. It is here in the desert anyway. But, the nights are still not all that warm and if the wind is blowing (which is normal for this time of year) it can be downright cold! Certainly would be nice to get warm hanging around a beautiful fireplace all lit up and burning brightly.
And, because the Winter is officially over (the calendar says so) now is a great time to buy a fireplace or, if you're one of those that likes to hang around the patio at night, then you should consider checking out the outdoor fireplaces. Indoor or out, it's time for the Winter Deals at this fireplace site. You can get a great fireplace for warmth and save some of that cold hard cash of yours. It's a win-win situation.
If you're like me and you rent your living space and you'd like a fireplace, they have some great free standing ones too. I personally like this one:



You can have a fireplace and, should you move, you can take the fireplace with you. How cool is that? And, here is the description of the above fireplace:



The nice thing is that, if you just want to enjoy the fireplace without the extra heat you can do that. Just snuggle up with your lover and enjoy the flames. Nice and romantic.
And, you can move some of the fireplaces, like the one I showed above, from room to room or even outdoors to the patio area if you like. But, these fireplaces are affordable so you may wish to buy more than one. And, with the Winter Deals going on now, free shipping and no sales tax (outside of AL) you just can't beat these deals.
You owe it to yourself to go and check them out today. Get those home fires burning.

Up Too Late

Okay, I admit it, I am staying up way too late. I know this because my lovely wife tells me this all the time. Last night she even grumbled that she is beginning to be jealous of my late night game playing. That's not good!
I was up rather late last night, that is the truth. I went to bed at 4 a.m. but, and I think it was a valid excuse, I had good reason to stay up so late.
I was playing games. I was playing games because I was trying to kill time until almost 4 a.m. when someone had food on the stove of their Cafe World that would be ready to be served at almost 4 a.m. See? It wasn't my fault!
Her answer to all this? Next time just let the food spoil! What??? Let virtual food go bad? How could anyone live with the consequences of such an action? What kind of game player is my wife, anyway?
So, I shall do what she asks. Not because I like the idea of rotted food in her Cafe but simply because I like having a happy wife in the bed next to me.