The Importance Of Playing Games

You are probably familiar with the exceptional benefits of playing a game. Regardless of one's age and physical ability, games such as golf , billiards, board games, etc. are considered to be those types of recreational activities that people select to try in order to increase their mental and/or physical skills while enjoying the excitement. But since games are played primarily for the mere enjoyment they offer, some people tend to consider them unnecessary and a waste of time. Nothing could further away from the truth. Games increase a person's capabilities and assist in developing a better understanding of ourselves. Games should be fun for one to want to continue practicing them, but they can also have an educational nature. Most importantly, games can affect a person's psychological state leading to excitement and the feeling of one being proud for an accomplishment. Games are not a waste of free time. Actually free time is the time one should devote in exploring his or her abilities through games and have fun in educating and exercising his or her body and mind.

Generally, a game consists of a goal that its players try to reach and usually has a set of rules within which a person has to succeed accomplishing the desired objective. These commonly agreed boundaries exist so as to test peoples' skills and invite them to develop new ways in managing the obstacles that might hinder them from attaining the game's goal. But, due to the vast variety of known games all around the world, agreeing on a single definition has been rather challenging. People in different time periods, countries, and contexts, have tried to capture the essence of games and come up with a classification that could serve all games' purposes. Upon examining some etymological dictionaries, one can conclude that games are a creative expression of the human spirit through the creation of an activity that has an entertaining, instructive and competing element. Regardless if a game is played by a single individual or requires competing teams, involves physical as well as mental activity, has a concrete or loose set of rules and structure, needs some or all of the available resources, it always leads to an outcome. There is usually a winner and a looser and whether a participant belongs to the one or to the other side of this simple distinction makes all the difference in the world.

With the plethora of existing games for different target groups like kids, teenagers, adults or seniors, anthropologists have proposed their classification under three major clusters. One can decide to play a game of skill, which can be mental or physical. Checkers for example use their mental skills to successfully complete a game of chess, while runners use their body's capacity to overcome natural obstacles like that of wind and gravity, or their own bodies' ability to outrun itself. The second game category is that of strategy games, like the Monopoly board game that requires from participants to reach a particular outcome over a specific time frame based on their available resources. Third, there are games of chance that base their popularity on economic insecurity and are associated with cultures that place a high value on personal responsibility. Finally, people tend to play mixed games. These games, like soccer (football) and basketball, involve both physical skill and strategic thinking and in many cases their outcome is based on chance.

Now that you know how important is for you to play games, next time someone invites you to participate in another friendly baseball match do not try to avoid the invitation because you think it is a waste of time. Games, despite their character can help you clear your mind and can change your mood. Thus, tomorrow get up, pick your favorite game, find your opponents, make it your new hobby, and experience the tremendous effect a game's round can have in your life.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://everythingaboutgames.net/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://totallytraveling.net/ and http://livingtheoutdoorslife.com/.

Russian Blue - The Facts Every Owner Of This Cat Breed Should Know

Little is known about the true origins of the Russian Blue cat. Some think Russian Blues are a natural breed originating in the Archangel Isles in northern Russia. It is thought Russian Blues were brought to England and northern Europe in the 1860s. What is known is that Russian Blues were first shown at the Crystal Palace in England in 1875 in competition, but were not recognized as a separate class of cat until 1912. Though Russian Blues were brought to American in the early 1900s, interest in the breed did not develop until after World War II.

Russian Blues have striking green eyes and an expression that makes it look as if they are always smiling. They have a solid slivery blue coat that is short and thick and feels silky. In fact, it is this legendary silkiness that caused Russian Blues to be hunted for the fur at one point. Some Russian Blues are born with 'ghost stripes' that fade by adulthood.

Their coats do not require much grooming, though Russian Blues do enjoy being groomed by their human companions. Described as shy (especially around strangers), Russian Blues are still excellent pets especially for people and families with busy lifestyles. Russian Blues do not require or crave much human contact and are able to entertain themselves for hours at a time. However, they are affectionate and loyal towards their families. In fact, Russian Blues have been described as sensitive to their families and will try to lighten up the mood of the house by entertaining those around if necessary. They are good with children and other family pets, but do startle easily and prefer to be handle gently. Russian Blues are prone to obesity so it is important to monitor their diet.

There is a website that has great information on Russian Blue and most other breeds of cats. It has details that pertain to a cat breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2006

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25 years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.

Tips on Buying Your Next Car

When shopping for a car, new or used, start by asking yourself a few questions:

How many miles will you be putting on the car weekly?
What are the mpg ratings for the cars you are considering?
How will the car primarily be usedtaking kids to soccer, commuting to work?
What features do you need/want (air conditioning, CD player, anti-lock brakes)?
How large of a car loan can you afford?
How much of a monthly payment can you handle?
How much do you have for a down payment (cash or trade-in)?

Check the online car sites to find out the current pricing, safety records and other information on the makes and models you are interested in buying.

Get your financing first

Getting your auto loan first lets you know how much money you have to work with and sets a realistic focus on the car buying process. Another benefit of having financing in hand before visiting the dealership is that it will keep you out of their high-pressure finance departments.

The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) you will be charged on your car loan will depend on your credit history and FICO score. Other variables include current interest rates, market conditions and any special financial promotions being offered by dealers or manufacturers on the car you are buying.

The difference between the interest rate on a new car loan and a used car loan doesnt vary that much because used vehicles dont depreciate as quickly as newer models. This makes them better short-term collateral for the lender.

A good place to get a free car loan quote is http://www.fastcarfinance.com. Their no-obligation online application will let you now how much you are qualified to borrow.

If you are buying new

Buying new gives you a new-car warranty that lasts for years. It also gives you more control over optional features, and, if you buy the right vehicle, it will have greater resale value down the road.

Shop around to get the best possible price by comparing models and prices in ads and at dealer showrooms. You also may want to contact car-buying services and broker-buying services to make comparisons. Consider ordering your new car if you do not see what you want on the lot.

Negotiate on price. Dealers may be willing to bargain on their profit margin, often between 10 and 20 percent. Usually, this is the difference between the manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) and the invoice price.

If you are buying used

A good used car should last longer than your loan. According to The U.S. Department of Transportation, the average life span of a vehicle is 13 years, with final mileage around 145,000.

If youre shopping for a used car at a dealership, ask for a conditioning report in addition to having your own mechanic check it out. You can also order the vehicles history report from an online service like CarFax or AutoCheck.

If you are buying from a private party, you will want to ask:
How long have you owned the vehicle?
Has the vehicle been in an accident or repainted?
When are the next state inspection and emissions tests due?
How often has the oil and filter been changed?
Why are you selling the vehicle?

Mike Hamel is the author of several articles about mortgage and auto financing. His material is featured on sites like http://www.1-800-bar-none.com