The history of backgammon, the oldest known board game, is an interesting one that began almost 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia. Numerous variations of the game were adopted by other cultures throughout the history of backgammon. Archaeologists continue to discover many similar games in the ruins of ancient civilizations as they explore the intriguing history of backgammon.

The actual name for backgammon comes from a Welsh term meaning “wee battle.” However, the history of backgammon reflects many different names and versions. The aristocracy and slave population of Egypt and Greece played a similar game called, “senat.” The Romans changed the number of dice from two to three and called it “bac gamen” or “back game.” From the Roman civilization, backgammon moved to Persia, where it was again played with two dice in a game called “Takhteh Nard” or “Battle on Wood.” During the time of the Crusades, the Anglo Saxon soldiers and traders played yet another version called “Tables” or “Tabula.”

Throughout the history of backgammon, the Church attempted several times to ban the game, but always failed. Cardinal Woolsey, in the 16th century, ordered all the boards burned, calling the game “the devil’s folly.” Burning the boards was useless, however, since any type of board could be drawn in dirt or sand and played with small pebbles. Dice were often handmade and were small enough to be easily concealed on a person or hidden in someone’s home. Furthermore, the English were very clever and decided to disguise the backgammon board as a folding book. Their innovative craftsmanship is still evident in the board we use today.

Edmund Hoyle, the famous writer and gamesman, documented the rules and the history of backgammon in the mid 1700′s. Colonists from England brought backgammon to their homes in America, along with chess and other board games of the times. Although the game of backgammon lost some popularity in the Victorian era, it quickly reappeared and gained strength in the 20th century. At this time, an unknown inventor devised the doubling cube, which offers players the opportunity to multiply their initial wager by the amount on the doubling cube. Of course, some strategy and experience is needed before using the doubling cube.

Tournaments, books, magazines, and clubs are now a part of the history of backgammon. The introduction of the game on the Internet has increased its popularity to an even greater extent. Backgammon is a fast-paced, challenging, and entertaining game of skill and luck.

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Ever antiquity mankind has entertained him self with strategy board games. The phenomenon continues even today, despite the popularity of video games. Why? Well, strategy board games challenge the mind while giving people a chance to relax with one another. And, they offer a classic form of entertainment that’s not dependant on batteries or electricity.

So, what are the most popular strategy board games on the market? Well, technically there are hundreds, but when it comes to worldwide popularity, there are seven strategy board games that are at the top of the list. They include: Chess, Cribbage, Mahjong, Go Game, Sudoku, Backgammon, and Checkers.

1. Chess

Chess is one of the world’s most popular strategy board games. Originating in ancient India and Persia, the game has emerged in many forms. The most common form is known as Western chess. This is where two opponents must capture each other’s kings. This is done through chess pieces that have different levels of power, (kings, queens, rooks, etc.). Strategy must be used to determine how a particular piece can result in a checkmate.

2. Cribbage

When it comes to strategy board games, cribbage is one of the most unusual. While a ‘board’ is used during the game, cribbage is played with cards. The board is used to help keep score. Either way, cribbage is a great alternative for people who want to play a card game that relies more on thinking than luck.

3. Mahjong

Unlike other strategy board games, mahjong was actually created based on spiritual and philosophical principles. So, if Eastern philosophies are your thing, you could be helping both your soul and you mind after a game of mahjong.

4. Go Game

Go Game is another strategy board game created from Asia. It works like chess, as players must dominate their opponent’s spaces on the board. However, the pieces are much simpler, as they consist of black and white stones.

5. Sudoku

Sudoku is a strategy board game where you must fill in a grid with numbers 1 through 9. However, the catch is you must use the numbers once for each section. It is this characteristic of Sudoku that makes it one of the most sought after strategy board games of all time.

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There are many online casinos available on the world-wide-web – and all of these websites have one common goal – to make a profit. It is important to be knowledgeable about the website you are purchasing game time from because there are many scams out there in the land of the internet.

Questions Ask When Choosing An Online Casino:

Finding a good casino can be a tricky task, especially when you are tight on funding and want to get the best for your buck. I have compiled some questions you may want to ask yourself before signing up for a particular online casino:

o What is the casino’s customer service like?

o Do they offer bonuses? If so, what kind of bonuses do they offer?

o How does the software run? Is it advanced enough to keep up with today’s best technology?

o What is the amount of traffic generated to their website each day? What about each hour?

o What are their payout rates on each casino game?

o How do they conduct their tournaments? Do tournaments seem to be run fairly?

o Is my money safe with them?

The answers to some of these questions about an online casino that might require a little bit of research, but when it comes to playing your money safe, any amount of research needed will be much worth it.

How To Tell If An Online Casino Is Legitimate:

(a) Check for a seal - Many organizations report that they certify and regulate these online casinos but the most trusted organization is eCOGRA. Look for the eCOGRA seal on the homepage of the website to ensure that it has been regulated by this organization.

(b) Check the software - If the software is provided from more popular software brands such as CryptLogic or MicroGaming, then your odds for dealing with a legitimate site greatly increase.

(c) Check the About Me Section - If the company’s bio is very vague or not well put together, it’s even more likely that you are being scammed by an online casino. Look for substance and sophistication.

(d) Check the forums - The best source of information comes from the people who really know the websites – the players. Check for online casino forums and conduct a search to find the discussions of legitimacy – this could be your key to finding a reputable company!

Checking to see if a casino is legitimate is a responsibility you must take seriously. Failure to do so could result in a scam, someone phishing your bank information, or losing out on some big bucks because of your lack of knowledge. Don’t be the one to blame – check your sources.

Remember, it is your responsibility to check all sites you use regularly. It is up to the site to provide Terms and Conditions, but it is the ‘users’ responsibility to ensure those sites are safe to use, as well as ensuring that they meet your entertainment needs.

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Most of us enjoy earning a few bucks through our sheer luck while gambling. With the invention of online casinos, it has become possible for everyone to play their favorite games any time and anywhere they want. It is a great way to enjoy casino games offered by many websites. It is not so easy to take out time off the busy schedule and for to the casino clubs to play games. Casinos online have made it very much possible to play irrespective of day or night.

The difference…

When you actually put your feet down on one of these online casino games, you would realize the difference between online casino gambling and the traditional one. The online casino games provide you with the same atmosphere just as the tradition casinos. There are chat rooms, groups and forums that you would like to join and talk about your success or strategies. There you can even make friends and get to know about online casino tips. The online casinos are more fun, easily accessible and a great way to kill time relative to the offline one.

It’s now in your office…

If you get time in your office, or while doing some work at home, you can easily play online casino games just to relax your mind off work and stress. There are also bonuses and rewards that you can earn just by killing time. It is not always very easy to go to the local casino club but it is extremely easy to play online casino anytime you want. You can start playing from as low as $1 so no worries about paying huge deposit either.

It’s all about the feel…

With these online casino websites, you do not feel that you are limited by any thing which you have access to in the real casino. It looks like you are playing in some hi-fi casino club. They have the best designs to create designs for their websites in order to create interest and enthusiasm similar to the casino clubs.

There are also free strategies and basics that websites offer so that you can learn how to play these online games. You do not have to worry if you are a new player and have no clue on how to become a master. There are many websites who give out casino games tips and tricks for free on the internet.

It is one of the most enjoyed recreational activities which have been going on for a long time. People have been enjoying the big bonuses and rewards from time to time and they love it. Depending on the quality of the casino online, the prices and rewards may also vary. Feel secure and deposit your money after going through the policy and rules and regulations of the website that you may choose. You would really enjoy the overall experience and would want to go back again and again.

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In the summer are you frazzled and tired of your kids at the end of every day? Are you counting the days until school starts? Summer can be a time to help spark your creativity and your child’s creativity as well.

Hold a family meeting where kids can choose an activity they are interested in. Older children can help younger children which can help siblings bond to each other and teach them respect for each other.

Some suggestions of what to do so children don’t get bored and you don’t pull your hair out:

1. Plan a picnic. If you don’t have a park nearby or you don’t have time to travel to a park have it in your backyard. Encourage children to plan the menu and help to shop for the necessary supplies. This is a great time to talk about nutrition, help them shop using a budget and teach them how to pack.

2. At the beginning of the summer plan to let each child make a scrapbook of everything they do this summer. Or get a journal to record their activities. This is a great time to help them learn how to declutter as they will learn to keep only the most important things, that keeping everything is not necessary or important. They can take photos for their scrapbook or draw pictures of each activity. Have a family night once a week where they can share their scrapbook with other family members.

3. Have someone decorate a jar and label it “Brag jar”. When someone does something nice for someone else a family member can write down what the person did and put it in the brag jar. This will encourage your kids to do things for others. Make another jar with suggestions of things they can do for others. It sounds a lot better than “chore jar”. Put fun things they can do for others in the jar as well as jobs.

4. Make a list of things children can do to earn money and put the amount of money they can earn for each job. Children always need money for this and that and it teaches them responsibility and accountability for money.

5. Plan the most outrageous “Staycation” (vacation at home) that your imagination can think of. Lonelyplanet.com/destinations/ has wonderful information about other countries where you can get ideas about your favorite place you want to travel to.

6. How about putting on a play? Have the children write the play, make the costumes, create the set and send out invitations.

7. Plan a couple of hours once a week to organize clutter. Help them go through their toys and down size. Take a look at their clothes in the drawers and in the closets and get rid of what they don’t wear or have grown out of. Donate them to a charity or give to other children in your home that can wear them.

8. Set up a reading program to encourage reading. With the child set a goal of so many books they will read and give a prize when they have reached their goal. They could give an oral book review of their favorite book to the family after they have read 10 books or so many pages depending on the age of the child.

9. Learn how something works and then explain it to the family.

10. Assign a different child one night a week to cook, or a lunch to fix. Encourage them to try new recipes from a simple cookbook. There are wonderful, easy cook books for beginning cooks. Twice during the summer have them make a dish that they have created. Even if it is something as simple as putting nuts in a salad the family likes but it doesn’t call for nuts.

11. Blow up balloons, put notes inside and hand them out to neighbors and friends. Blow up 100 water balloons and have a water balloon fight.

Letting children make summer plans at the beginning of the summer gets them thinking creatively, learning new things and helps make “I’m bored” obsolete.

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You should clean your Singer Featherweight 221 at least once a year, and sometimes even after an extended period (several weeks) of continuous sewing.

Like any machine that needs to be cleaned and oiled, it’s a good idea to work over a layer of newspapers in order to minimize any additional mess. Other items you’ll need are a screwdriver, WD-40 lubricant, baby oil, sewing machine oil, lint free cotton fabric, Q-tips or toothpicks, an old small head toothbrush, and possibly 0000 fine steel wool and kerosene. Do not use alcohol (or Lestoil) to clean your Featherweight as it will dissolve the finish and the machines decals.

Start by scraping off all visible grease with a lint free cotton fabric. If you have not cleaned your Featherweight in some time, or you just purchased one and this is its first cleaning in a while, you may need to dissolve some grease that has hardened. To do this pour a little kerosene (or WD-40) onto the solidified grease and allow it to soften. Very stubborn, hardened grease may need to be soaked overnight in which case you should tip your Featherweight so that the solid material sits on a cloth soaked with kerosene (naturally this should be done in a well ventilated area, and away from open flames). Once all the old grease is removed, reapply approved sewing machine oil only. Refer to your owner’s manual for the appropriate oiling locations.

If you notice bits of grease or grime accumulating around the Singer Featherweight decal, or lettering, these can be easily removed with a Q-tip or toothpick covered with a small section of your lint free cotton. Stubborn bits can be removed by first soaking the end of the Q-tip with WD-40 or kerosene.

Remove the needle plate (throat plate) and remove any thread that may be wound around the shaft. Also clean out any accumulated lint inside the cover and under the thread spindle with a toothbrush.

If you are mechanically inclined, it’s not a bad idea to give your Featherweight 221 a very thorough internal cleaning as well. This means having to remove pretty much every mechanical component that can be unscrewed including the face plate, presser foot, bobbin cover and flywheel, but not the motor. It’s always a good idea to keep the components together (and labeled if necessary) so you know how to put it all back together again. All components should be thoroughly sprayed/soaked with WD-40 and wiped clean. The WD-40 will actually clean, lubricate, and help to protect the metal components.

Remember, although you can wipe down the motor housing, do not lubricate the motor. Electric motors require very little lubricant, and it is very easy to damage the motor by over lubricating it.

After you wipe down the motor, take a moment to check the belt tension. There should only be ½ to ¾ of an inch of play in the belt. Also, if the belt is worn, replace it. This is done by loosening the screw directly under the belt at the base of the machine, almost straight back from the light switch. Loosen the screw just enough so that the motor slides (do not remove the screw) and the belt is able to be removed. Place the new belt on, slide the motor back into position and retighten the screw. Make sure you have the proper belt tension. If the belt is too tight you will strain the motor. If the belt is too loose, you will lose power. To get the best performance out of your machine, take your time and make sure you have the proper belt tension.

If you notice any light surface rust (not deeply pitted) on the metal parts of your machine, this can also be fairly easily removed. Rub the rusted section gently with 0000 fine steel wool. Stubborn spots can be helped off by first spraying the steel wool with WD-40 or dabbing with kerosene. Do not use the steel wool to remove any dirt, grease or debris from the machine surface since it will leave scratch marks on the lacquer finish.

Once you’ve finished cleaning your Singer Featherweight 221, make sure all of the screws have been tightened. Any loose screws can cause grinding or rattling noises and in extreme cases can possibly damage you machine, if it causes a jam.

Finally, put a little dab of baby oil onto a soft lint free cotton fabric and rub it all over the outside of the machine body. Wipe off any excess. Not only will this give the unit a nice shine, but the oil will help to preserve the varnish finish.

Regular cleaning of your Singer Featherweight 221 sewing machine will keep it running smoothly for years.

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Whether playing scratch off is a habit or an obsession, when you are playing lottery games such as this, the least thing you would want is to be cheated on. Everybody deserves a fair chance. And you may be getting the impression that indeed you are given the same opportunity as other players. But the truth is there are a lot going on behind the game of scratch off. And it is wise to be observant if only to maintain the fairness and integrity of the game.

Scratch off ticket cheats case 1: Fishing

There have been reported cases of retail store clerks tampering with scratch off tickets. This is called fishing. What these employees to is that they collect the tickets and fish for the winning ones, buy them and collect their prize while the non winning ones are left for paying customers. So, how do they exactly do it without scratching off the entire ticket surface? The ticket has an embedded security code. This is carefully scratched off. After this, all that is left to do is to plug it into their terminal which will tell the clerk whether the ticket is a winner or a loser.

In case of a loser, the ticket is put back to the pile and sold to customers. Customers do not notice it because the ticket is not entirely scratched off. The reported cases of this illegal activity are met with action. And the perpetrators have been punished. And the good news is scratch off tickets are redesigned so that the security code is more carefully placed in different spots. In addition, lottery officials have implemented additional security measures that will alert their office when a clerk suspiciously scans a ticket. The surveillance tape is then reviewed and appropriate actions are met. In your part as a player, check you ticket carefully and make sure that everything is intact before paying for it.

Scratch off ticket cheats case 2: Second chance tickets

This has been a cause of ongoing debate. Retailers sell scratch tickets when the prizes have already been claimed. They argue that this is legal since prizes are announced anyway. The activity is allowed. But to avoid being cheated on a ticket that is not worth the prize, make sure to check the prizes first before getting the ticket. The big prizes are usually the first to go. When there are small regular prizes at play, unless you really have an eye on them, wait for another play or try some other time.

More than employing any type of strategy to increase your odds of winning a prize, you have to make sure that you are getting a fair chance. You can never be certain of the possibility that scratch off ticket cheats you out of your money. So, take extra precautions. A dollar may not hurt that much but it is all about fairness. It is your right so you have to fight for it. This is not meant to discourage you in any way. The important point to make is that there is something you can do about it. So take action.

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Whether playing scratch off is a habit or an obsession, when you are playing lottery games such as this, the least thing you would want is to be cheated on. Everybody deserves a fair chance. And you may be getting the impression that indeed you are given the same opportunity as other players. But the truth is there are a lot going on behind the game of scratch off. And it is wise to be observant if only to maintain the fairness and integrity of the game.

Scratch off ticket cheats case 1: Fishing

There have been reported cases of retail store clerks tampering with scratch off tickets. This is called fishing. What these employees to is that they collect the tickets and fish for the winning ones, buy them and collect their prize while the non winning ones are left for paying customers. So, how do they exactly do it without scratching off the entire ticket surface? The ticket has an embedded security code. This is carefully scratched off. After this, all that is left to do is to plug it into their terminal which will tell the clerk whether the ticket is a winner or a loser.

In case of a loser, the ticket is put back to the pile and sold to customers. Customers do not notice it because the ticket is not entirely scratched off. The reported cases of this illegal activity are met with action. And the perpetrators have been punished. And the good news is scratch off tickets are redesigned so that the security code is more carefully placed in different spots. In addition, lottery officials have implemented additional security measures that will alert their office when a clerk suspiciously scans a ticket. The surveillance tape is then reviewed and appropriate actions are met. In your part as a player, check you ticket carefully and make sure that everything is intact before paying for it.

Scratch off ticket cheats case 2: Second chance tickets

This has been a cause of ongoing debate. Retailers sell scratch tickets when the prizes have already been claimed. They argue that this is legal since prizes are announced anyway. The activity is allowed. But to avoid being cheated on a ticket that is not worth the prize, make sure to check the prizes first before getting the ticket. The big prizes are usually the first to go. When there are small regular prizes at play, unless you really have an eye on them, wait for another play or try some other time.

More than employing any type of strategy to increase your odds of winning a prize, you have to make sure that you are getting a fair chance. You can never be certain of the possibility that scratch off ticket cheats you out of your money. So, take extra precautions. A dollar may not hurt that much but it is all about fairness. It is your right so you have to fight for it. This is not meant to discourage you in any way. The important point to make is that there is something you can do about it. So take action.

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Almost anyone can play chess or any board game for that matter via their cellular phones and other portable gadgets. The convenience of playing a chess match against your friend miles away is something that we owe to technology. Its not a wonder if kids nowadays won’t recognize a real backgammon set or a monopoly set because most games have gone digital.

But along with these conveniences, there are also some setbacks. One of which is that playing actual games brings a certain interaction that can never be found in video games. Moreover, they strengthen family ties and it brings about a friendly atmosphere for closure. Nothing comes close to the feeling of enjoyment in a game of monopoly with your friends.They are also ideal in camping trips and/or picnics. Can you imagine yourself hooked on your PDA playing some kind of board game on a camping trip?

It also bridges the gap between old and young, its unlikely to challenge your Dad to a video game but I guess he won’t turn down a game of chess. All generations can enjoy these games and that is why it is wrong to throw away those chess boards.

In fact, it would be nice to have several games in your living room for those times when video games feel too tedious.

One misconception about them is that they are only for kids, but in fact, there are those that cater to a certain age group. This means that these games are for everyone.

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Now scientifically proven!

Even our brain needs failures to learn! Because…

Dopamine learns?

Dopamine neurons (don’t ask – but it’s part of the pleasure pain thing our brain learns with – dopamine is all about pleasure reinforcement – I said don’t ask) learn by analyzing mistakes, or failures. Apparently. The neurons learn a pattern (of our behaviour) if this then that will happen. If the pattern becomes broken or is proved false, then relearn, and this history builds up in us as emotional awareness. ‘This feels right. This feels like the right thing to do’

But the feelings are useless if there is no history. No pattern predicted and then found to be wrong. No list of failures.

A study with some young adults: – they were all given tasks, or tests. One group was told ‘O man you aced it – you are so smart. First time!”

The other group was told, “Well you got it done – good job – but we see you had to really work at it. But you came through in the end.

When the two groups were give a choice of further tests. The ‘ace’ group typically took an easier, safe test. The “had to work at it group” were excited about the challenge of the harder tests.They believed they could face anything

Both groups (of course) were told in an arbitrary fashion. It was not dependant on whether they had Actually aced anything. They were told two different ‘stories’

So it seems -we need failure to move forward. If we have nothing but easy success, it doesn’t inspire us, it makes us lazy and safe.

If dopamine neurons (I say again, don’t ask) are missing or dying in a brain – that person can no longer makes decisions. Their lack is also a factor that produces Parkinson’s. An inability to respond.

Deep Blue that IBM computer that beat chess grand master Kasparov at chess (just and only once). Was programmed with all the moves possible, and Kasparov’s play history, that is his weakness. Deep blue had to analyse 200 million moves per second to compete. Kasparov’s brain analysed about 5 moves per second. Because his brain had learned through his previous mistakes. It automatically discarded irrelevant data.

Another program TD-Gammon, a backgammon AI software, learnt, as Kasparov did. By its hundreds of mistakes. It played itself at backgammon thousands and thousands of times and ‘learnt’ the right way. In other words it learned everyway to fail first. TD-Gammon doesn’t run a million options when playing. It has a history of error, it only needs to view a few patterns. TD-Gammon beat all comers, not just once, but again and again.

(Side note – it cant play chess, or even checkers – its a piece of dedicated software – not nearly as clever as WE who learn patterns from an immense variety of failure. And side note 2 – no computer is any good at poker)

In machines its called feedback. That’s how most rockets find their targets, they don’t go directly, they don’t ‘ace’ the course. They go a little bit too much this way, then correction, then a little n bit too much that way, correction…

John Reese always says whenever you do something for the first time (if you pay attention ) its the worst you are going to be at it, because you will learn. Learn from what? – The failures, that bits that didnt work.

Failure is inherent in our make-up from the brain on down. And failure is inherent in any success. Failure is Vital to success.

So you tried one thing once. It didn’t work? Of course not.

By the way when nothing is working and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel – here’s the magic mantra word…

Next.

Just remember that success word.

Next. Next time it’ll work a little better. Next time I’ll understand a little more. Next time I’ll be that much closer to success.

To win, to make it happen, to in fact become rich – the number of times you fail are never counted – its the one time the 1 time you succeed that counts.

Next.

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