Life is a Song68856

Bad landlords are an unfortunate part of many renters' lives, but there are ways to protect yourself from their poor manners, lack of ethics, rudeness and lame excuses. A nasty or difficult landlord makes you really appreciate finding a better place to live, with highly professional rental staff. It pays to be careful when you find an apartment that you like. Interview the landlord and see if this person is someone you can negotiate with, ask for repairs from, and in general expect good treatment from. If the person is abrupt, rude or unfriendly, it's better to walk away than commit to doing business with this person on a monthly basis. Sometimes it is better to rent a higher priced apartment than to go for a bargain, where maintenance may be nonexistent. A cheap apartment may cost you more money in the end in repairs, if your landlord is shady.

Fortunately, most of my apartment dwelling days have been positive experiences. After living for nearly twenty years in the same, reputable apartment complex, I moved down to Florida and took my chances with a new rental in a strange new city. My duplex was really cute, with windows everywhere, nature all around and privacy. It was near downtown St.Petersburg, in a stylish neighborhood. My landlady's backyard was a fence away and she and her daughters weren't home much. It seemed perfect. Recently divorced, Sara was a nurse, and at first glance, seemed to be a good choice for a landlady. Her husband left her for another woman, and to pay the bills, she had this duplex. Little did I know, she had no interest in taking care of it, ever.

A year went by and the toilet acted up the whole time. She fixed it once, and tried to blame me for it malfunctioning. It was old and in disrepair inside, yet she felt the need to blame it on me. She said, "I'll pay for it this time. What did you stick down it?" The truth was that she was trying to get me to pay for a new toilet to replace this ancient one. I told her that it was old, and needed replacing, which was no fault of mine. I didn't add in, that many other things like outlets, window screens and other various problems had never been addressed or fixed, either. The place looked good initially, but underneath it was a disaster waiting to happen. It was a shame, because the place was cute. It had great hardwood floors and a sunny office. I'd overlooked everything because it was so cute and I just had to have it. Big mistake. Sara became meaner and more accusatory as time went on. She hated being called to repair or fix anything and used the opportunity to bash me to any repair personnel who showed up. I would then let her own it and tell her that the place is falling apart, and it was her negligence, nothing more, that led to each problem needing to be fixed. Another nice touch to shut her up was a working security camera, to record her bad behavior for proof later, should it end up in court.

After two years, I had just had enough of the drama and rented a high quality place far from this difficult woman. It was a good place, and I would miss it, but not the stress that went with it. I gave my thirty day notice, and breathed a happy sigh of relief as my movers pulled their truck out of the driveway for one last time. I then walked through my former home, taking photos of everything with my camera. The landlady slithered by, as predicted, seeing that I was now done with moving, to get her last dig in. "The toilet still needs work," she whined. I told her "It's your responsibility, not mine." and she told me she wanted more money. I just chuckled at her brazen attempts to squeeze money out of me. I had photos and witnesses to back up that this place was treated well, and told her so. With that, I left. I mailed her the keys, registered mail with return reciept requested. That way she couldn't say that the key was never given to her. I knew better than to fork over the key to her with no witnesses around to see it.

If you're dealing with a landlord who wants to nickel-and-dime you to death, fight back by documenting everything. Bad landlords may resort to lying and blaming when you move, so it pays to have proof that you left the place in pristine, clean condition. The bad ones don't want to refund your deposit, and will find any little thing wrong, just so they can justify keeping it. Take pictures of doors, windows, faucets, and anything else that a money-grubbing landlord may try to charge you for. I took photos of the peeling paint on the exterior, and the unswept outdoor walkways, buried under large piles of ficus leaves. Be firm, polite and don't take any bullying from anyone. Bad landlords have had practise with previous tenants most of the time, and they know what works and what to charge tenants for. Be smart about it, so you won't be conned. Educate yourself by reading up online about rental rights for your state. Don't just roll over and write a check. If it goes to court, go in there with photographs, and any other evidence and simply prove your case. This situation didn't come to that, but she knew I wasn't afraid to take it further. She was a tough-talking bluffer and I knew it.

The more savvy you are, the less the bully landlords will prey on you. If things get really ugly, before you move, you can always ask for an inspection by the City Inspector. Doing this will anger the landlord, so have a place to go to before doing this. The inspector will write citations to the landlord for any improper issues with the unit itself. If you have bugs, that is something to point out. There are health standards that must be followed by owners of rental property. If you see ants and the super won't take care of the problem, photograph them and show the inspector on your way out. These are major flaws that may get a bad landlord in a lot of financial trouble, paying fines.

A lovely apartment really isn't worth dealing with a terrible landlord. It's better to find a place that treats you with respect, lets you live a life of quiet enjoyment and repairs things without blaming or charging you for it. Be proactive when you rent by asking questions, observing and interviewing other tenants. Know your rights and be professional in dealings with new management. Pretty soon, you'll have a new apartment, that is free of the stress and trouble. Breathe deep and be proud of yourself for being picky, and taking the time to find the right place for your needs.

Carolyn McFann is a scientific and nature illustrator, who owns Two Purring Cats Design Studio, which can be seen at: http://www.cafepress.com/twopurringcats. Educated at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Carolyn is a seasoned, well-traveled artist, writer and photographer. Besides handling numerous assignments in the US, she has lived and worked in Cancun, Mexico. Clients include nature parks, museums, scientists, corporations and private owners. She has been the subject of tv interviews, articles for newspapers and other popular media venues.

The Internet can create unlimited cash from home and is a moneymaking highway if you know how to use it correctly.

I just heard a report the other day that said, by the year 2012 one third of all non-perishable goods will be sold thru the internet. Think about that. Its incredible, 33% of ALL non-perishable goods. Do you have any idea how many trillions of dollars that equates to, I dont know either but it is BIG TIME MONEY. I know that I did about 50% of my Christmas shopping online last year. Who wants to fight the crowds and then to not even be sure if they will have what you are looking for?

There are many different things you can do on the Internet to make money. There is affiliate marketing, web design, if you know how to, niche marketing, auction sites, you can even build a website through all different services to start selling just about anything you can think of. The nice thing about it is if you can market the site properly you can make very good money with little investment.

If you were steering in this direction you should probably try your hand at ebay first. Ebay is one of the easiest things to get started with online because there is really no set-up fees or any complicated system to learn. You can start selling a few items that are lying around the house that you may not want. This will allow you to get the feel of the Internet and what it takes on a small scale to package and ship items to your customers.

On the Internet you can make money selling your items, or selling things from a drop ship company. A drop shipper is a company that allows you, for a monthly fee, to access products that they have and you sell them either on your own site or through an auction site like ebay. The idea of drop shippers is so you will not have to actually stock or ship any of the products you are advertising.

How this works is that you decide which product you want to sell from your drop shipper, copy and paste the already written description for the item in your auction set-up area, maybe do some tweaking to make it sound better, set your starting value add a picture and you are basically ready to sell. Now when some one buys the product you collect their money and then send the money to the drop shipper along with the customer information and they mail the product out to your customer. The thing that I do not like about this idea is where is the follow up sale. You are not able to put any information in the package or create any other sales from that customer unless they get back on another auction of yours.

Remember that the key to marketing anything on the Internet is to collect the customers information so you can promote other products and services to them. If they liked what they bought from you once they will most likely take a look at what you are offering at the time. You still need to build customers trust, but it can be done through the first sale if you sell a good reliable product or service.

Affiliate marketing is basically selling someone elses items and you get a percentage of what you sell from your site and/or links. Through the affiliate marketing you can earn up to 75% of the profit of someones items. Although the normal percentage would be 10-25% I have seen up to 75% of the income goes to you.

In conclusion the main thing is do something you love to do. It will make your journey that much more enjoyable for you and the ones around you.

Mark Bourgelas is an entrepreneur living in Sarasota, FL. He has been in his own home based business for the last nine years and is knowledgeable about the Internet and marketing in general. You can visit my website at http://www.unlimitedcashfromhome.com and pick up a list of home business ideas. Remember Unlimited Cash From Home can help create the future you have always dreamt of.

Think back to when you first took a chew or a dip. Can you remember that day? For others it could have been many, many, years since your first chew or dip.

Does the length of time Ive been using my tobacco make any difference in how hard it will be for me to stop? you might be asking yourself right now.

Does it really matter? I hate to have to say this but, yes, it does matter!

The reason it matters is because as we use tobacco over a period of time, we seem to use it to fill in or compensate for certain coping skills we would normally develop in order to cope with particular situations.

For instance:

Brandon P. has been dipping snuff for 8 years now. He started when he was in the 4th grade and has used it everyday since his first chew!

Brandon really enjoyed the feeling of elation and confidence he experienced when he first started dipping.

Of course, hes been dipping now for 8 years, and he doesnt get those feelings of elation anymore.

All Brandon gets now is a sore and tender place on his inner lip that feels terrible when he first wakes up in the morning.

He deadens this feeling with his first chew of the daytaken from the can on his nightstand as he gets slowly out of bed each and every morning.

Brandon finds himself chewing more when he is under stress.

It doesnt matter if the stress is caused by a nice and exciting surprise that fills him with elation, or by some letdown that leaves him depressed.

Its all the same to Brandon as he reaches for his chew...

The bottom line to Brandons story is...to show you what happens psychologically over a period of time.

The longer you chew or dip the more psychologically dependent you become upon it. It becomes harder for you to disassociate yourself from chewing or dipping because of external stimuli.

Dipping or chewing is used by us as a reward after experiencing happy and excited feelings or, as a consolation prize after becoming depressed or miserable. We often chew to alleviate boredom, or as a reward for attempting something that we dread to do!

The psychological triggers (people, places, or things that make us reach for and take a dip or chew), are mostly what cause us to stumble when we are trying to quit.

The physical addiction only takes about 7 days to overcome, but it takes several weeks or months to lay to rest the psychological triggers that hold us prisoners to that little round can or pouch. How long will it take? That will depend on you. Each person is different.

THE TRACEY M. STORY

One early morning in May, Tracey M. decided that he wasnt going to continue dipping snuff anymore! He was sick and tired of waking up every morning with a raw and tender mouth, and his gums had begun to bleed every time he brushed his teeth!

By god, he just didnt need this anymore! Just as soon as he was finished with the pressures of this rodeo, he was going to throw away his can of snuffforever!

Tonights the big night! he thought to himself, as he felt a rush of adrenalin shoot into his bloodstream.

Im goin to ride that ol bull all the way for the full count! he mused excitedly while washing his face in the bathroom sink of his motel room in Mesquite, Texas.

While Tracey brushed his teeth, he noticed that his tongue seemed to feel a little more sore than it did last week.

It had been getting a little more sore each day for about 6 weeks now!

Guess Id better get it checked out when I get back home tomorrow, he decided while pulling on his boots.

After Traceys event that night, someone shouted, Hey, Tracey! Nice ride, partner! Second place money is still pretty good, aint it?

Tracey grinned and waved his hat towards the crowd. His friend, Dusty, waited by the gates for him.

Hey, Trace, he grinned as Tracey came up beside him, Nice ride, bro!

Thanks, Tracey grinned. Lets load up them ol horses, hit the road, an head the ol truck for home, Dusty!

All right! Dusty readily agreed, while slapping Tracey on the back.

Tracey and Dusty stopped at a cafe around 11:00 oclock that night for a bite of supper .

Tracey told Dusty, Order me a burger and fries while I use that bathroom over there and get rid of this chew.

When he returned to the table, their order was ready. They ate in amiable silence.

After their meal, they gassed up the truck and headed down that long ol highway toward home!

Tracey kept his word to himself and made an appointment with his family doctor. Dr. Thomas frowned apprehensively as he looked at the angry red sore with an ugly, white core on the tongue of Tracey M.

Tracey, I dont like the looks of this thing, he said as he slowly shook his head.

We need to get a biopsy on this as soon as possible and get it up to the lab in Lubbock.

Tracey felt a weakness start in his legs as he looked at the doctors forlorn expression!

I-Is it a cancer, Doc? he asked in a shaky voice barely above a whisper.

Dr. Thomas looked Tracey in the eye, hesitated for a moment and tried to figure out how to tell this fine, athletic 23 year old man that he probably had less than a year to live!

Trace, he solemnly stated, Im afraid that it might be. We wont know for sure until the results of the biopsy get back, but I promise you that Ill do everything possible to help you if it is.

Doc, Tracey whispered, If it is cancer...what will you have to do?

Two weeks later, Tracey underwent radical surgery.

He had waited too long to see his medical professional. The cancer had already spread to the lymph nodes.

He lost most of his tongue, the lower Jaw on the left side, all of the lymph nodes, muscles , and blood vessels in his neck, with the exception of the life-giving carotid artery!

After several more surgeries and radiation treatments were finished, Tracey was not even recognizable without a chin to support his pallid, swollen face!

Tracey put up a tough and dedicated battle against cancer during the following months, only to succumb to it less than two months before the anniversary of his first operation.

Dusty entered the bull riding event in Mesquite, Texas the next year alone.

No faded, white circle will ever develop on the right-rear pocket of his new wranglersfor only a month had passed since he had been a pall-bearer at his best friend Traceys funeral. He rides the bulls now, with the memory of his best friend, Tracey--and a lip free of smokeless tobacco!

COULD THIS HAPPEN TO ME?

Tracey M. isnt a real person.

Hes a composite of hundreds of people who have died from tobacco related cancer!

They are now only memories in the minds and hearts of mothers, wives, fathers, husbands and children across this great nation!

These were people who were cut down in the prime of their lives.

Cut down by a silent, but deadly killer that, until just recently, has been touted as a safe and enjoyable (just a pinch between your cheek and gums) alternative to smoking!

Could this actually happen to me? you ask. "Well...do you chew or dip?"

If your answer to this question is yes... then it could definitely happen to you!

There is a FREE eBook available and can be read at the following link: "Stop Using Smokeless Tobacco Now!"

If the link above isn't working you can copy and paste the following link directly into your browser window: http://www.stopsmokeless.com/freebook.php

Zach Malott is CEO of Stop Smokeless.com, a site that is dedicated to helping others to eliminate the addiction of smokeless tobacco from their lives. Malott has spent most of his life addicted to smokeless tobacco.

In his search for a means to quit and stay quit, a program developed over the years that has helped 1,000's who are ready to quit succeed. This resourse can be found at: Stop Smokeless.com

Don't forget the FREE eBook located at: "Stop Using Smokeless Tobacco Now!"

With all the negative circumstances that can surround a home loan, fortunately there are still countless lenders that will offer a conforming loan due to its safety. With a conforming loan, the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac corporations provide some reliable insurance for the lender. On the other hand, because of the complexity and the risks involved, many loan officers will not offer non-conforming loans.

By definition, a non-conforming loan is one that does not meet the criteria established by the bank. One example is a loan (sometimes referred to as a jumbo loan) which exceeds the conforming loan limit set yearly by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Presently, this limit has been set at $417,000. In addition, non-conforming loans are often issued to those with seasonal contracts, poor credit, and those without the collateral needed. Some borrowers even pursue non-conforming loans to cover the entire cost of the home.

Because lenders are more reluctant to issue a non-conforming loan, the interest rates are often much greater. The borrowers credit is what is used to determine both the interest rate and the LTV, or the ratio of the loan amount to the value of the home. This LTV provides the lender with protection in that the property can be taken and resold if needed.

When selecting a non-conforming lender, a borrower must be extremely careful. He or she is vulnerable, and needs to pay close attention to the rates and terms set by the lender. It is important to understand the market and compare options. The website http://www.1refinanceloan.com is one known to provide a great deal of valuable information. The experts at http://www.1refinanceloan.com have been helping borrowers online since 1997.

When talking about Rental Property Investments, the term working capital has to be understood. There are two concepts of working capital: gross working capital and net working capital. Gross working capital is the total of all current assets. Net working capital is the difference between current assets and current liabilities. It may be mentioned here that though this concept of working capital is commonly used, it is an accounting concept with little economic meaning. It makes little sense to say that a firm manages its net working capital. What a firm really does is to take decisions with respect to various current assets and current liabilities.

The management of working capital refers to the management of current assets as well as current liabilities. The major thrust, of course, is on the management of current assets. This is understandable because current liabilities arise in the context of current assets. Working capital is a significant facet of rental property investments because investment in current assets represents a substantial portion of total investment. Moreover, investment in current assets and the level of current liabilities have to be geared quickly to changes in sales. To be sure, fixed asset investment and long-term financing are also responsive to variation in sales. However, this relationship is not as close and direct as it is in the case of working capital components.

The importance of working capital management is reflected in the fact that financial managers spend a great deal of time in managing current assets and current liabilities. Arranging short-term financing, negotiating favorable credit terms, controlling the movement of cash, administering accounts receivable and monitoring the investment in inventories consume a great deal of time for financial managers.

In the management of working capital two characteristics of current assets must be borne in mind. Firstly, short life span and secondly, swift transformation into other asset forms. Current assets have a short life span. The life span of current assets depends upon the time required in the activities of procurement, production, sales and the degree of synchronization among them.

Investment Properties provides detailed information about investment properties, investment property loans, investment property mortgages, buying investment properties and more. Investment Properties is the sister site of Loan Factoring.

Sara spends much of her summer near the beach. She lives in a mild climate and is very athletic. She loves to swim, bike and play games outdoors. Sara knows the dangers of the sun and so she opts for tanning salons to get her 'golden glow' while being sure to apply sunscreen every day before heading out.

Joseph lives in a cooler, northern climate. The summers can be very humid, but most of the year is mild or even below freezing during the harshest winter months. The beach has never been much of a draw for him and he spends most of his time doing indoor activities or at his job. Joseph doesn't worry about sunscreen and only had one sunburn that he can remember and that was when he was a child.

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Which of these examples do you most associate yourself with? Did you know that Sara and Joseph are both at risk of developing skin cancer? We have all heard the warnings about the dangers of sun exposure. We know all about the importance of wearing sunscreen and hats. But are YOU protected from skin cancer? Consider these myths and facts:

MYTH ONE: Tanning Beds are Safer than the Sun

20 minutes of exposure in a tanning bed is roughly equivalent to four hours in the sun. Although sun beds use UVA rather than UVB rays, 'The Skin Cancer Answer' states that "UV-A penetrates more deeply into the skin than UV-B, can cause skin cancer, and may suppress the immune system."

MYTH TWO: Wearing Sunscreen at the Beach is Protection

85 percent of UV rays can even make it through on cloudy days. That means you are equally at risk in the car, walking the dog or letting your children out to play at any time of year - even when you're not at the beach. Of course, you are usually less attired at the beach and so covering up is recommended even when wearing sunscreen. Sunscreen also wears off with sweat and water and should always be applied every two hours or after getting wet.

MYTH THREE: Taking Care Of Your Skin Now Will Protect You

Sadly, skin cancer can take 20 or more years to develop. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that most people receive about 80 percent of their lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood is estimated to double the risk of melanoma later in life. Taking better care now will reduce the risk, but not eliminate the damage already done.

MYTH FOUR: Having a Tan Means You're More Protected

Dark skinned individuals are less likely to develop cancer, but tanned skin is actually damaged skin. Repeated tanning injures the skin and increases the risk of skin cancer.

MYTH FIVE: You Can't get Burned on Overcast Days

Just because the sun is hidden by some cloud does not mean that you don't need protection from the harmful effects of the suns rays.

So how do you plan to protect your family this year? Some suggestions are to limit exposure to the sun - especially for infants. Examine your skin for early signs of damage. Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and apply it at least 30 minutes before exposure and every two hours after that. Teach your children good safety habits and be sure you and they are covered up when outdoors. Have fun and be safe.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

There is nothing that says you take your grilling seriously quite like a barbeque pit. If you want to feed a small army with a heaping helping of barbeque then a barbeque pit is for you. Anyone can use one, from your grill crazy neighbor down the street to people who cook barbeque for a living. You can get one in any shape, size or price range; it just depends on your needs. There is nothing you can't barbeque on them, except for perhaps a whole cow, but there is probably one out there that can handle that as well.

Not everyone understands what a barbeque pit is. A charcoal filled pit slow cooking a pig all day is what most people envision. Now while that is still a barbequing method that works today, the modern barbeque pit, as most people from barbeque happy parts of the country know, is a modern marvel of grilling magic. In the hands of a skilled griller a barbeque pit will produce mouth watering meals time after time.

The barbeque pits on the market today are built well and can take thousand degree temperatures with ease. You can keep your barbeque pit in tip top shape for many years if you follow these few tips. Before you fire up your barbeque pit for the first time it is a good idea to coat the inside with cooking oil. If you look you can find oil made just for barbeque pits. Once you have a nice coat of oil on the inside of your pit make a small fire in its center and let it heat the pit and the oil until it has burnt out. After about two hours your barbeque pit will be properly seasoned and you can start barbequing.

Andrew Bicknell is a barbeque aficionado with a website about barbequing. For more tips and trick about barbeque pits visit his web site Backyard Barbeque.

The online world has become a very important part of our lives now. The world today is the world of internet. The connectivity which the internet has provided us has changed the life of human race. We do not spend our lives the way we used to only 20 to 30 years back. This is amazing. Things have changed irreversibly at a very fast pace. The internet lifestyle has changed us a lot. Earlier, people used to spend their evenings with their family and friends while having tea. Nowadays, you visit online caf in the evening.

The way people socialize has changed a lot. Earlier people liked to spend time with their friends and family members, now people spend time with their friends online. You may not be able to know your neighbor who lives at a distance of few feet from you, but you may know a person sitting in an entirely different part of the world. Earlier, we preferred to help each other in our lives. Now we do the same online. Book marketing is one such activity by doing which people help each other online. In social book marking people collect the links of web sites related to a particular research and save it for other peoples use.

Social book marking can be a really well paying job. If you can think of those topics on which people need to carry out researches very frequently, you can collect the information and sell it. You can make a lot of money in this way. You can assist people in conducting the researches. People need assistance in researches most of the times. You can help them and make money out of these efforts through social book marking.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Promotion

Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 1574 articles in print and 11 published ebooks.

The modern Hamburger is believed to be an American invention inspired by the "Hamburg steak" which sailors brought with them from Germany a type of meatball, which was popular in this European port city.

With a steady rise in the amount of 'gourmet burgers' that appear on restaurant menu's lately, the days of bland patties and soggy tomato on stale bread rolls, fortunately seem to be over.

In Cape Town, the gourmet burger is almost enjoying celebrity status and can even be found on menus across the city.

But what makes a good burger? In my opinion the patty preferably medium rare and flavourful - probably plays the most pivotal role, although various other ingredients are essential too. One that should definitely not be undervalued, is the hamburger roll: it should be fresh and soft but sturdy enough to support the patty and it's trimmings, and be topped with lightly toasted sesame seeds. And then there's the toppings which can include anything from the classic onion rings and tomato sauce, to chutney, mushrooms, guacamole, sour cream, bacon or a variety of cheeses.

At the quirky Royale in Long Street, a wide variety of gourmet burgers are served in such inspiring variations as ostrich patties with beetroot relish, chicken breast with brie and cranberries, or even the plain 'Royale' with caramelised onions and garlic aioli. The house speciality of sweet potato chips served with sour cream and chili jam adds a delicious twist.

The meanest burger on the menu at the trendy Cafe Caprice in Camps Bay, is also called a 'Royale', but here it's done with bacon, cheddar, chilli and onion rings with an added bonus of consistently good looking clientle and beautiful sunsets.

Opposite the swishy Metropole hotel, in lower Long Street, is the retro but sleek Gourmet Burger where the name says it all. And it's the perfect spot to sit and watch Long Street's cosmopolitan inhabitants stroll by.

In the heart of De Waterkant village in Greenpoint, the cosy Cafe Manhattan serves a deliciously straightforward 'skyscraper' cheese burger, while in downtown Sea Point, Saul's Saloon boast the biggest burgers in town. Not Cape Town's most gourmet burger...and probably best enjoyed in the early hours of the morning, when your stomach desperately needs something to absorb those numerous beers.

But if it's a classic burger you're after, don't despair, they are still around. At the popular Spur steak ranches deliciously smoky char-grilled beef patties accompanied by onion rings and excellent fries, is served with astonishing consistency throughout the country.

Whether you're an adventurous foodie or simply ravenous after a long day's sightseeing, the delicious array of gourmet burger's in Cape Town will surely satisfy your hunger.

Kobus van der Merwe is the editor of CityGuideSA - a comprehensive online travel resource with up-to-date information on where to Eat, Stay and Play in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and the Garden Route.

The backgammon board game has been a feature of human leisure activities from the earliest times of recorded history. Although todays backgammon rules may differ from those known to the Romans and other ancient peoples, the familiar backgammon set with its board divided into twenty-four triangular segments and the fifteen checkers assigned to each player, as well as the dice and the throwing cup we know today, would not have looked strange to our ancestors. Backgammon has been such a favorite of all generations, from schoolchildren enthusiastically learning how to play backgammon from their friends, to experienced players in an international tournament, it is no wonder that it has taken off as a leading Internet game.

Prior to the 1990s the Internet was a subject that the average personal in the street was unfamiliar with, but the spread of personal computers and Internet connections has made it a feature of so many homes in the western world and in many developing countries. Internet gaming has become big business and backgammon software ranks high on the list of the most popular games. The backgammon game download can be found on any number of sites and the free backgammon slogan has proved to be a highly successful way of attracting new players to that extent that it seems appropriate to write of the online backgammon explosion.

A number of factors have come together to account for the success of Internet backgammon. The high qualify of the software now provides an excellent level of visual reproduction of the backgammon set look with 3-D used to good effect. New players are made particularly welcome with sites furnishing full backgammon instructions so that they can easily learn acquire the information they need to understand the rules and objectives of the game. In additional, new players are assisted in developing their skills by the opportunities of playing practice game against a sophisticated backgammon computer. They can begin by playing at a beginners level and increase the level of skill of their computerized opponent as their own competence at the game improves.

The social element of Internet backgammon also pulls in many people. The game brings together a much broader range of players than can be found in the typical backgammon club, not to mention the local caf. It is also an interesting experience to take on an opponent from the other side of the world and perhaps start to notice that players from certain countries favor one backgammon strategy over another, perhaps their play will emphasis hitting the opponents pieces or trying to block their opponents checkers.

Backgammon gambling has become the other key factor accounting for the growth of Internet backgammon. The costs of participating in matches are very moderate and the returns for experienced players are generous. Although not every player can be a winner, most players think they are in with a fair chance and are encouraged to log on. Try a game of online backgammon and get in on the action.

Gene Marshall is a recognized internet backgammon expert that works for a few recognized online backgammon sites. Further articles written by Gene Marshall on the matter of internet backgammon are obtainable on line. The author writes writings about where to play backgammon and backgammon software.