The Pros and Cons of Online Video Poker Games

Whether you consider yourself a casual gamer or a full-on card shark, video poker games have a lot to offer contestants looking for challenge, skill, and fun. But before you dip your toe in the video poker games pool, it is best to know the pros and cons:

Pro #1: The education of video poker games.

For those who are not as well schooled at how to play video poker games, such as Aces and Faces (in which more is paid out for ace and face cards) and Tens or Better (in which a hand is judged on 10-cards and higher), video poker games are great free ways of being able to hone your skills and get down the basics.

Con #1: Video poker games are no substitute for the real thing.

When you are not sitting at the table with your opponent and observing him closely, then you are at a real disadvantage. Not only do you have to contend with body language, but also you have to contend with what your own will or will not give away about the hand you hold.

Pro #2: The minimal risk of video poker games.

It has already been briefly mentioned, but it bears to note in further detail how truly “safe” you are when choosing to play video poker games for free online. No one is forcing you to up the ante until you are ready, both financially and mentally.

Con #2: Playing small-time does not lead to big-time rewards.

Sure, the House is always at an advantage. Everyone knows this. When you lose at free video poker games, you haven’t really lost anything at all. You can make bets you wouldn’t have otherwise made, take losses you otherwise wouldn’t have taken, and cash in higher than bravery would normally allow. You get comfortable while also developing a taste for the game. This can lead to some tricky situations in a real setting.

Pro #3: The variety in video poker games.

Video poker games, like actual poker, do not come in a one-size-fits-all style. Straight poker, the aforementioned Aces and Faces and Tens or Better, Texas Hold ‘Em, and Double Joker, are just a few of the many different options available to you. Playing online video poker games allows you the opportunity to take however long that you need in learning and getting used to the games in question. This will hone your knowledge of the basics and adequately prepare you for a trip to Vegas.

Con #3: You could lose sight of the human element.

Diversifying your understanding of the game is a huge perk of video poker games, but it can also lead you to forget just how much of poker depends on the players at the table. You don’t want to have too much junk in your head, or you will be too caught up on the rules, and not concerned enough with what you and your opponent are revealing to one another.

No matter how serious you take your involvement with video poker games, always make good decisions. As the song says, know when to hold, and know when to fold. That way, each hand you hold can be a winner every time.

Australian Silver Kangaroo: A National Icon Immortalized In Silver

The Royal Mint of Australia, RAM, further immortalized the kangaroo as a national icon when it started in 1993 to mint a coin in its honor: the Australian Silver Kangaroo.  This RAM mintage would be an enriching addition to any coin collection because of its potential intrinsic value.

The Kangaroo, (scientifically classified under the genus Macro), is highly regarded as the official animal icon for Australia as, along with the bird emu, it appears in the country’s coat of arms. The kangaroo and the emu, so many Aussies say, are representative of Australia because these animals can only move forward thus epitomizing the nation’s drive to ever step ahead.

This RAM mintage would be an enriching addition to any coin collection because of its potential intrinsic value. The Australian Silver Kangaroo is an epitome of the high quality of RAM minted coins, world-renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship and design. Investing in this coin could serve as a hedge against inflation owing to the popularity it has acquired, which was bolstered to a great extent 1-oz. silver makeup. This single-ounce concept has proven convenient and effective for trade and purchase purposes, the liquidity aspect characteristically sought by most astute investors.

Early coin editions are highly sought, particularly those of the 1998 vintage. Limited minting by the RAM is what makes the Australian Silver Kangaroo a very attractive investment proposition. In 2007, for instance, RAM minted just 15,000 of this coin bullion. The design of the coin, which varies each year, has also been elegantly rendered for that year. It proudly displays the highly recognizable kangaroo engraving back-dropped against the constellation of the Southern Cross.

Rounding out these distinctive features is the coin’s diameter of 40.6 mm and thickness of 4 mm. Face value of this coin is at 1 Australian dollar, just a mere fraction of the intrinsic value that this silver bullion coin enjoys among collectors and investors all over the world.

Colonel Bob' Henderson 1904 – 1990

Since the birth of the teddy bear in 1902 there have been many famous people who have gone ‘public’ about their relationship with their teddy bear, for example, the famous poet Sir John Betjeman, who wrote about his beloved teddy bear whom he called Archibald Ormsby-Gore.  However, two very famous people who had a very special understanding of teddy bears and the magic that they bring to people was the late actor Peter Bull and his good friend, Colonel Robert (Bob) Henderson.

Robert Henderson was born in 1904, just two years after Richard Steiff created the 55PB teddy bear.  When Robert Henderson’s brother, Charles, was given a magnificant cinnamon centre seam Steiff Teddy Bear for his birthday, his younger brother Robert instantly fell in love with it and soon became it’s owner.

When Robert Henderson was a child he loved playing soldiers and there are numerous photographs around of him playing ‘soldiers’ with his Teddy Boy companion.  As a young soldier, Robert Henderson would be known to always carry a miniature teddy bear with him at all times, just like the famous A.A. Milne, who always carried a mascot dog in his pocket.  During the North West European campaign, Robert Henderson served under the very famous General Montgomery.

Robert Henderson’s home in Edinburgh was indeed crammed full of teddy bears and teddy bear related items which either he had purchased or which had been given to him by friends and family as everyone knew of his love for teddy bears.

Colonel Bob Henderson retired from the Royal Scots Regiment in 1955 after serving as a firearms expert, he then completely devoted his life to the study of teddy bears.  He recognised the support and hidden strength that teddy bears provide from childhood way into adulthood.  In those days, of course, teddy bear collecting was practically unheard of, so his studies must have raised quite a few eyebrows and surely must have been considered quite ecccentric, especially for a Scotsman with his background.

Colonel Bob Henderson began recording people’s reminiscences and tales of the teddy bear in their lives.  He was indeed a great historian who, over the years built up a great deal of knowledge about man and his teddy bear.  He became a great support for his good friend and fellow teddy bear lover, Peter Bull when Bull wrote his famous book called ‘Bear With Me’ which was published in 1969 and is still very popular today, although now quite difficult to find.

Robert Henderson’s daughter Cynthia, was born in 1942 and it was then that Henderson’s beautiful Steiff ‘Teddy Boy’ Bear changed sex and rather than being known as Teddy Boy had now become Teddy Girl, after Cynthia dressed the bear in a frilly dress.

Colonel Robert Henderson had a massive array of beautiful teddy bears but Teddy Girl was always his pride and joy and she carried so many early memories, he adored her right up until his death in 1990.

Teddy Girl was sold at auction at Christie’s in 1994 where she fetched a staggering ?110,000.  Teddy Girl now resides at the Izu Teddy Bear Museum in Japan where she is the star attraction.

Mafia Wars Tips and Guide For Quick and Total Gaming Domination

Mafia Wars by Zynga is an online game playable on multiple platforms like Facebook, Yahoo Games, Myspace and Iphone. Regardless of which online platform that you play Mafia Wars on, the game is extremely fun, exciting and thrilling. It allows you to live the life of a Mafia gang boss and garner much fame, respect and satisfaction from sucessfully playing the game.

In this article, I will show you some of the most highly guarded and powerful tips and tricks that you can use today to totally dominate Mafia Wars and other clueless players. By using these strategies to play your game, you will be sure to become one of the most powerful player in the game.

1. It’s a Fair Fight, But Not So Fair

You can only fight other Mafia Wars players with similar levels which means that the fights are carried out quite fairly. But not so fair, my friend. Although you and your opponents have similar levels, the weapons and armors as well as the strengths of the families are totally different. If you are serious about dominating other players in fights, make sure you read this article full of powerful strategies now.

2. BUilding Your Mafia Wars Empire – The Best Strategy to Get Strong Players

I will say this – the most important part of the game is about building a strong and powerful Mafia organization with you being the top boss. But how do you build a strong mafia? You can recruit up to 501 players and that’s it. Make full use of each opening and recruit only motivated, experienced players.

The best way to do so is go to Mafia Wars fan pages which exist in large numbers. Post a request asking other active players to add you to their team. You can also browse through the other requests and pick some that are made by serious gamers.

3. Money Making Strategies for Mafia Wars

Making money shouldn’t be a challenge for players who know some tricks of the trade. The most important tip is to start making money by completing jobs. Then when you have more money in your account, make sure you buy as many Mafia Mike’s bars as possible. This little trick will add lots of cash flow to your income.

Other than that, always invest your Mafia dollars in ventures, businesses and properties. Too much of money lying in the bank will do you no good. Make the money work hard for you.

4. Weapons and Items

To win at Mafia Wars, it’s important that you have powerful and strong weapons and armors. By having more high level, experienced players in your mafia family gives you another added benefit. You will be able to ask for and receive powerful secret weapons from these high level players. This can be the easiest way to obtain powerful items in Mafia Wars. Although you can randomly get some powerful loot items by attacking and winning against other players, you will be added to the hitlist frequently and get iced out by other stronger hired guns.

Finding Historic Old Rare Chinese Silver Coins

For coin collectors all around the world, one of the most amazing unearths that may ever be got in the market today are old rare Chinese silver coins. For one thing, you do not often find rare Chinese coins from different dynasties in the local Chinese markets without wondering or suspecting if all the merchant’s hordes are mere duplicates or fakes of the real thing.

It is also awfully rare to be ready to get traditional Chinese silver coins for modest costs. So, bear in mind that if you are into the coin picking up business and want to have some of China’s old and rare silver coins, you’re most likely going to need to shell out a ton of cash simply to get them. What you’ll be benefiting from these coins though is a part of the country’s ancient history, a valuable and intangible treasure that nobody can fiddle with unless they completely destroy such artifacts.

The circulation of old rare Chinese Silver Coins first began when the republic of China was founded after the Xinhai Revolution. Because they were forced to develop and issue a new military currency to replace the prior one used in the Qing dynasty, they Nanjing provisional government decided to create a new kind of currency known as the Silver Dollar.

This was established in 1914 by the Countrywide Currency Ordinance and became the nation’s currency of the Republic of China. From then on until the 1930s, much of the designs have changed overtime but the sizes and quantity of valuable metals used remained unchanged.

These coins have a history so rich that the value of these authentic rare coins can be quite compelling for the average coin collector. You will discover that a number of these old rare Chinese Silver Coins can’t be purchased less than a credible coin dealer.