Bunco Party Theme Ideas

Bunco is a great game that is rapidly taking over in our living rooms. It's not your grandmother's canasta game!

Bunco allows for regular get-togethers with family, friends, and neighbors as you can meet on a monthly basis, while rotating hosts. It's fast paced and gets you mixing with all players (usually 12) as you rotate from table to table.

Couples can play together in the group, or increasingly popular is a monthly girls night out. For the girls night out, set up the TV show Desperate Housewives as you play!

Decorations

*Hanging fuzzy dice and lots of black and red balloons.

*Line the area with casino themed posters and art

*Use poster board to create large playing cards and dice

*Playing card piñatas

*Hang large playing cards suit cutouts on the walls.

Invitations

Purchase decks of cards and place an invitation inside. The decks can be mailed or hand-delivered to each recipient.

You can also create your own theme with Bunco related items such as dice and playing cards.

Food/Drink

*Have different stations throughout the room with finger foods and snacks.

*The best drinks include popular mixed drinks and beer.

*Be sure to have soda on hand for the non-alcoholic set as well as water for all.

Music

Play the host' favorite tunes or from his/her era (70s, 80's, 90's, etc.). For a girl's night out, play "chick flick" movies in the background.

Have a great Bunco party!

About The Author
Dee Schrock has put together hundreds of theme party tips and fun ideas for easy (and budget conscious!) party planning.

Visit her website http://www.fun-theme-party-ideas.com for tons of popular theme party ideas, including decoration, costume, game, and party drink ideas, as well as printable invitations.

© Copyright 2006. Feel free to reprint this article on your site as long as the article is not modified in any way and the resource information (about the author) is listed as above.

Game Servers - Rent VS Do It Your Self Server

Online gaming is huge with millions online every day. With multi player components like the mod Counter Strike for the game half-life and game server hosting companies like Zeroservers.net keep games alive long after players have exhausted the single-player aspects of the game. Counter Strike is the most popular multi player gaming genre is the first-person shooter still today. Gaming is so popular that like-minded players form clans and battle against other clans. Gaming has become so serious, there are several professional gaming leagues such as The Online Gaming League and MLG Major League Gaming. Game servers have become the offspring of this new phenomenon. With thousands of servers online. Many hard core gamers host their own servers while others prefer going through a professional game server company such as Zeroservers.net.

To find out more, I decided to compare why some gamers host their own servers as to using a professional service. Why would you want to host a game server? To get more control over your online gaming experience for one! Playing on someone else's server is fun, but hosting your own server can be an even more rewarding experience. Hosting your own server isn't all that easy. First off you need the right hardware, appropriate bandwidth, and a lengthy discussion and experience on how to be a good admin. If upgrading your high speed connection line, building supercomputers, and maintaining your own equipment seems overwhelming, consider renting a game server.

Game server companies allow you to set up servers on their equipment, using their bandwidth. All you do is pay a recurring fee. Asked Scott over at Zeroservers given a choice between a do-it-your-self kit or renting a professional game server what are the differences. His reply " that's like comparing a bike to a car, I would take the latter, for reasons too numerous to list in full. But they include such things as: the server is all ready set up, it's got way better technology, it's faster, if something goes wrong we have a fleet of technical representatives to trouble shot and repair, and you use our bandwidth.

We have more bandwidth available than we would ever need. If you host a game server out of your house, you'll not only see very poor performance due to the lack of bandwidth, but your connection will be saturated at or about eight connecting players or less. Most ISP do not allow any kind of server running on a customer's private home connection. Basically if you run a server out of your home, you're most likely going against your ISP policies, but ISPs don't seem to monitor this as much due to the number of servers running in customers' homes."

He then replies" Let not forget we offer free web hosting( for your clans website or what ever) and redirect server (space to upload maps, skins, voice packs for faster download) for connecting gamers with every game server. ZeroServers.net is the best Game Server providers in the industry. Our Mission is to be recognized as the industry's game server provider, web hosting and voice server's of choice for our customers, employees and investors through innovative, high quality, value-added business solutions delivered with enthusiasm, integrity and professionalism with the utmost regard for our customers. Bottom Line: You get more Bang for your Buck with Zeroservers.net! Just that simple, just check our prices."

With all this noted I do believe the choice is clear. A game server is fine at home so much as you don't have a lot of players onboard. You simply can't get the bandwidth to support a medium or large server. Therefore a small server 6 to 8 players is fine if you know what you are doing. The nice thing about the internet is it's the information highway. Hope this answers your thoughts on renting vs. do it your self game servers. Stay safe and for god sakes FRAG!

REFERENCES: Zeroservers.net

Host The Best Party With These Baby Shower Ideas

An expectant mother is usually anxious. A first time mother however is all the more anxious, nervous, and worried. It is natural for her to think about various things such as the outcome of her labor and delivery. She can be worried about the amount of pain she will experience or she can be thinking about her baby's health after it is born. She might even be wondering whether she will be a good mother or not. The last few months before delivery can be stressful and this is the perfect time to help her loosen up. One of the best ways to do this is to hold a baby shower. If you are the one organizing the shower then you will surely need a number of baby shower ideas.

As much as possible you want the event to go smoothly. If you are planning to hold a surprise baby shower, you will surely want to keep it a secret as much as possible. Planning for a baby shower alone can be tough and you will probably need some assistance. However, you will still be the one who will make the final decision. To help things go smoothly you will need a couple of ideas on planning the perfect baby shower. Planning is an important aspect in hosting an event. If you want the event to be successful, then you will have to plan it carefully.

The following are some ideas you need to consider:

* Location-Just like any party you host, you will need a location. Usually, baby showers are held in the residence of the expectant mother. However, if it is a surprise then you will have to think of some alternative location. The location should be somewhere expectant mother. There are a lot of ideas for locations. You can also check online for some suggestions.

* Themes- There are many themes to consider such as pampering mom, tea party, layette party and brunch date.

* Decorations- Decorations can include oversized feeding bottles, balloons, and toys which you can use to jazz up the location.

* Food- You have to choose the food smartly. It must be in consonance with your theme. If your baby event is lightly-themed, then you can prepare pizzas, dips or pastries. You can also have barbeque or any other food that will let your guests enjoy the baby shower more.

Searching online can definitely give you numerous baby shower ideas. You can also ask family and friends for more exciting ideas.

Coming up with baby shower ideas can be a big task for some people, make it easy on yourself by visiting our site for game, theme ideas, decorations and favors you can use so you'll have everything you need to host the perfect event.

Women's Game Night - Fun Games for Girlfriends

If you can't remember the last time you got together with your girlfriends and really let your hair down, you're probably long overdue for some fun. As women, we always have a million and one things on our "to do" list, but we need to make time for the camaraderie, support, and sustenance we get from our friends. One of the easiest and most fun kinds of get-togethers is a game night.

Planning a Game Night

The key to a successful game night is making sure it's stress-free. Find a night when you and three of your girlfriends are available, and then make childcare arrangements. If you're hosting the game night, it works well to have the teenagers watch the younger kids at one of your friends' houses. Ask each friend to bring over one or two appetizers, and you can provide the drinks and games.

Great Games for Women

There are several terrific games that give women friends an opportunity to deepen their bond and learn more about one another in the process. Here are just a few:

Cowgirls Ride the Trail of Truth - This game is the epitome of a women's game. The board is a map of the Southwest that illustrates the milestones and challenges in a woman's life, such as Career Move Hill and Menopause Mountain. Each player gets her own horse, and as she moves around the board, she lands on spaces that correspond to categories that relate to her life. She then has to draw a card and answer a question like, "What would I like to tell a co-worker?" or "Have I ever turned a frog into a prince?" Cowgirls Ride the Trail of Truth reveals ambitions, disappointments, tales of the past, and hopes for the future.

Go Goddess! - Like Cowgirls, Go Goddess! is designed for women to explore their feelings and beliefs. Question cards challenge you to find your personal power and to honor the other players. It's a wonderful game that enables you to share your life experiences and reinforce the bonds of trust between friends.

Therapy: The Game - How well do you know human nature, and how well do your friends know you? With a therapist's couch as your playing piece, the object of the game is to collect a peg from each of life's stages, from infancy to the cosmos (death). Along the way, you have to answer questions based on actual psychology research, interpret "thinkblot" pictures, and go into (and get out of) therapy by answering questions about your life experiences. It's both hilarious and insightful.

Bunco Party Game - If you want to include more friends, you can buy a Bunco Party Game in a Tin that includes invitations, score pads, bunco dice, and more. For the uninitiated, bunco is a mindless dice game that brings out every player's competitive streak. It's a hoot, and a great way to spend time together.

A women's game night is not only fun, but it also reminds us to nurture our inner child. Let her come out to play on a regular basis, and strengthen your friendships in the process.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Women's Game Night! or Majon's Toys and Games directory.

How To Host A Great Football Party

Every fall and winter people's attention turns to football and they get the craving to gather friends and family around the television for the big game. Throwing a great football party requires more than just the game and a couple of other people. First, you need to get your home in tip-top shape so everyone feels comfortable. Get the rooms cleaned up and take care of any nagging problems like a termite issue. Call in pest control services to ensure your home will be comfortable for your party.

Next, put together a guest list of sports fans. While you may want to invite everyone you know, there is no sense in inviting friends or relatives who do not enjoy football because they are only going to be bored. If you do decide to invite those who will not be paying attention to the game, give them a separate space to chat and catch up with one another. You may want to supply them with a few board games or alternate activities to do. The same is true if you are inviting children to your party. Do not forget to add some spice to your party by inviting fans of other rival teams.

Be sure you host your party in a comfortable room with plenty of places for everyone to sit down and get comfortable. Everyone should have a great view of the television and if yours is not large enough, consider renting a big television for the event. Also be sure everyone has access to the restroom. When planning your guest list, consider the facilities in your home. You do not want to invite a hundred guests over if you only have one bathroom and space for less than a dozen to fit comfortably.

Guests will show up at your football party expecting plenty of great snacks and foods. Serve football style foods like chips and dip, wings, and burgers. You can offer a complete meal and set up a buffet with cold cuts, chili, and other winter favorites, or you can just keep the snacks and beverages flowing all afternoon. If you are concerned about the cost of feeding everyone, ask that they each provide a dish and you can supply beverages and paper products.

Finally, plan other activities that are football related. Most people are going to want to focus on the football games, but betting on the games with friends makes it a lot more fun. If you are uncomfortable gambling for money, wager other prizes like meals out and cases of beer. This is a great way to start a rivalry even if a natural one does not exist. With each of these ingredients, you will have a great football party that everyone will enjoy. Then when everybody asks where the next football party is going to be, you can proudly announce that you will host again because you now know how simple it is and how much fun everyone has at your very own home.

Stewart Wrighter is an expert in the field of exterminating and contributes articles about what to look for in pest control services and how to hire the best. He is very knowledgeable about termite infestation and how to get rid of the problem.

Baby Shower - Hosting an Open-House Style Baby Shower

Planning a baby shower can be hectic. Invitations, refreshments, games, decorations, and location are just a few of the details that can be overwhelming. The location can be the biggest obstacle. Can it accommodate the number of all guests invited at one time? If not, would an open house be a better option? Baby shower open houses are a great idea for allowing a larger-than-space-available invite list. They are also great if you know the guests are not likely to commit to staying the full time because of their busy lives. Who doesn't love a hostess who is accommodating to all lifestyles? Those who are too busy to stay may come and leave on their own time frame. Those who love to stay and chat may be around the entire time. Everyone invited will be happy to come bring their best wishes for the new mother.

This type of shower will also eliminate the need for the ever dreaded games. Instead, guests may write a few baby tips or advice in a journal or scrapbook that gives each person a removable page to write on. Nobody will have to stand around waiting for their turn with the special baby advice book. Their completed pages will be put in a cute bowl or basket and the hostess can assemble them when the shower is over. Guests may sign the matting on a cute frame for the baby room. Provide them with ink in the color scheme of the room and it will be a nice reminder of the shower. Or maybe a quilt can be set up to tie. Baby quilts do not take much room and guests can feel like they enjoyed adding their personal touch to something for their friend. No matter what activity chosen, the planning is much simpler because of the open house style of shower.

Decorations and refreshments can be streamlined. The location can be large or small depending on your preference. It doesn't matter if all the guests show up at the same time because there is no need to sit for long periods of time at an open house. Refreshments can also be finger foods that may be eaten while standing or sitting, just in case there isn't enough sitting room for a few minutes. Let the mom-to-be mingle at her pleasure. The gifts can be displayed away from the refreshments to encourage conversations in a separate area of the room. The guests will appreciate the opportunity to enjoy one another's company as smaller conversation areas are created.

Lastly, have each guest address an envelope for themselves. The new mom will appreciate having the correct address already on an envelope prepared for her thank you note. The guests realize the overwhelming task of motherhood and will smile at your efforts to decrease some of the stress to come.

Planning an open house style baby shower will help ease your preparations also. As you go forward with the planning, consider saving yourself some time by purchasing your baby shower gift online.

Shopping for a baby shower gift? Add style to any baby with a funny baby t-shirt, a unique baby romper, a customized baby hat or a cool baby blanket. We carry punk baby clothes as well as cute infant apparel.

Guild Clan Website Hosting Benefits

For many gamers, guild clan website hosting can mean the difference between a guilds life or death, literally. Whether a new or seasoned guild leader, having a personal home on the internet ensures the groups ability to collaborate, discuss, and plan future events. Guild Clan Website Hosting has many benefits: planning, communication, events/raids, scheduling, privacy, discussion forums, recruitment, and many other intangibles.

Ever try to get a group of people together in real life at the same time? Chances are someone has not shown up or didn't RSVP. With video games the same is true; people need to be able to clearly see a guilds schedule of events on a calendar and be able to plan on attending or letting the guild leader know they can't make it. Without this virtual home on the internet, guilds and clans would be left to hope X amount of members show up for their newest raid, or event. Now with guild hosting a guild leader can assess if they have enough members to go forward with an event rather than canceling.

Guilds and Clans can take advantage of private forums through a guild hosting provider to air out their indifference or discuss latest strategies, events, and recruitment. Without these private forums guilds and clans would be forced to discuss private/personal issues with guild members over a generic forum where non-members could view this. This is not acceptable so the guild host provider gives the guild/clan privacy as well as their own personal space. Discussing family matters at Dunkin Donuts is analgous to discussing recruitment with non members.

With the new age of guild clan website hosting providers springing up such as CharacterPlanet, it is becoming easier to match Virtual Characters looking for Guilds and Guilds looking for Virtual Characters. By taking the approach of matching Virtual Characters to Guilds/Clans rather than Real Life people to Guilds/Clans Character Planet gives its members ability to be virtually matched. Think E-harmony only for the Virtual Worlds. The ability to save hundreds of hours on recruitment is a greatly added benefit of guild clan hosting. When one views a guild site they can easily see what race/class level combinations the guild needs as well as what level equipment one should have or any stipulation such as, real life tournament experience for Counter Strike or Epic gear for World of Warcraft.

Hosting can also mean more notoriety within the gaming community. If you have a guild clan website it immediately gives your organization the credibility it deserves. This landing page for the curious, envious, and even your enemies will solidfy your position for that game or games. Fires of Heaven is a great example as their website received hundreds of thousands of hits. It is forming this buzz about ones guild that also leads to more recruits and of course more enemies.

Depending on what game one plays there are a myriad of guild website hosting templates and clan templates as well. A World of Warcraft guild website will certainly look different than a Halo or EverQuest site but the principles are the same. Whether you want to gain more credibility, become more organized as a leader, or create a sense of teamwork within your own guild/clan, guild clan website hosting is beneficial.

There are of course both paid and free hosting solutions. The paid services in the past have dominated but the free ones have made leaps and bounds to give the same services and better in some instances. Most of the paid providers lack a community wrapped around the hosting to make recruitment more tedious than necessary. Regardless of the route you choose, be sure to utilize the awesome power of immortalizing your Guild on the internet with a place you can call home.

Free guild website hosting, guild hosting, and free clan website hosting.

Hosting a Murder Mystery Party

Murder mystery parties are an exciting way of spicing up plain old office parties and birthday celebrations. During the party, each guest is a suspect trying to guess who among them has committed murder. Murder mysteries allow everyone in a party to get into the action and test out their acting skills.

Games can go on for hours and prevent party lag that usually happens during these types of social events. Being the host for a murder mystery party can be a lot of fun, if you know how to plan your party to give your guest a memorable night.

Body:

Murder mystery parties are an exciting way of spicing up plain old office parties and birthday celebrations. During the party, each guest is a suspect trying to guess who among them has committed murder. Murder mysteries allow everyone in a party to get into the action and test out their acting skills. Games can go on for hours and prevent party lag that usually happens during these types of social events. Being the host for a murder mystery party can be a lot of fun, if you know how to plan your party to give your guest a memorable night.

Plan out Your Guest List

As the host, you need to determine how many guests will be invited to the party. Combining a murder mystery with holiday, birthday and other celebrations are a popular option. By knowing how many guests will be coming you can choose a murder mystery game that is best suited to your party location, occasion and number of participants. For instance, boats and hotels may be the perfect setting for a larger party while smaller parties of 12 to 24 people will work great in the home or office setting. Make sure you invite guest who won't mind letting loose and can get enthusiastic about role playing.

Order a Kit

Thriller kits provide all the details needed for the party. They can be purchased at novelty game stores as well as online. Some games even allow you to download the game instead of waiting for it to be shipped too you. The choice of murder mystery kit will determine how successful your event will be. Though elaborate kits cost more they also help create a unique party experience that will not be repeated, especially if you regularly attend or throw murder mystery parties. Kits tend to include scripts, guest lists, invitations and costume instructions. Theme games are available specifically for younger children, teenagers, Halloween, Christmas and era themes where guest get to dress and act like individuals from past decades.

Interactive murder mystery kits online can easily be customized for 100 or even 200 guests. These games also usually have more elements than just solving a murder and often incorporate more humor. Guests may be required to participate in dance games and solve puzzles as part of the fun. For a murder mystery game for the office, team building skills will be emphasized. These interactive games use themes based around popular TV shows, well known celebrities and familiar places. Though it will require more work, you can also create your own scripts, characters and party theme instead of buying a kit.

Get the Party Started

Depending on which type of murder mystery game you play, you might send out your party invitations with information on which character each guest will be playing. If so, include information on how guests are expected to dress. You can also choose to provide costumes, food, drinks, decorations and party favors that tie into the theme of the murder mystery.

Every guest should be given all the background information on their character when they arrive such as jobs and marriages to create a believable portrayal. Though some murder parties include a sit around the table dinner, buffet or cocktail style dining allows guests to mingle with each other and reveal clues about the murder throughout the party. Popular party favors include items that tie into the theme of the Thriller such as a journal book for writing down clues or magnifying glass to examine the evidence.

About Author
Barbara Lunsford is the owner of http://www.MysteryCrimeScene.com. There she writes about popular mystery crime scene books, TV shows and movies. Additionally she explores law enforcement and crime scene careers. Be sure to visit her site for fun tips on Hosting a Murder Mystery Party.

How to Host a Cornhole Game Tournament

A cornhole game tournament is a great idea if you are having a backyard BBQ, tailgating party, or even having a fundraiser for a charity event. A cornhole tournament can be played anywhere there is flat surface, like at a park, a backyard, or even a parking lot. A cornhole tournament can be played by people of all ages and requires no special skills, so it can be played by young children as well.

Here are some guidelines to consider when thinking about hosting your own cornhole game tournament:

* Announce the Cornhole Tournament in the Invitation
If it important that guests know that there will be a cornhole tournament at the event so that they can prepare and also RSVP to let the you or the host know that they are interested in participating in the tournament.

* Decide if there it will be Singles or Doubles Tournament
Cornhole is a game that can be played one on one or in teams of two. Decide ahead of time whether you will be hosting a singles or double tournament. And it is also important that you let prospective participants know if the host will be choosing the teams (if playing doubles) or if the teams need to be signed up together.

* Gather Necessary Equipment
It is important to know how many participants will be playing the tournament so that you know how many cornhole sets to gather. Cornhole sets can be collected from friends and family members or can be purchased online.

* Decide on Cornhole Game Rules
Every area plays cornhole a little different. When hosting a tournament, you should be sure to figure out what the ground rules will be for the players before the tournament so that there is no confusion. There are official rules that can be found online and forwarded to registered participants before the tournament. And the rules can be established by the host before the tournament even begins so that every player is on the same page and so there are no questions.

* Registration Fee?
If you predict that the cornhole tournament will become quite large, then you or the host may consider a nominal registration fee. If you are hosting the cornhole tournament for a fundraiser or other charity event, then it is expected that there be a registration fee. The fee can be used to purchase cornhole sets, to help purchase a prize for the winning individual or team, or given to the charity. If you are choosing to require a registration fee, then you should certainly let prospective participants know in advance or on the invitation so that they are not caught off-guard.

* Get the Prizes Ready
A cornhole tournament is not complete without prizes. A prize can be something silly if you are hosting a tournament for family and friends. It can also be a percentage of the registration fee because having a cash prize is always fun. Also, before starting the tournament, on the tournament announcement you or the host should let the participants know what the prize will be and if there are prizes just for first place, or for first, second, and third place teams.

Dave Roth runs the site http://www.cornhole-game.org a resource site devoted to the game of corntoss. The site features rules, building dimensions, and cornhole sets and boards.

Hotel Booking For Commonwealth Games 2010

The mega event of Commonwealth Games 2010 is drawing every traveler towards the host city Delhi. As there are huge flow of tourists from all over the world, therefore the city is ready to provide the best accommodation facility for the tourists and the sports lovers.

Many sports enthusiasts participate in this event to showcase their talent and to represent their country. There are more than 50 countries of the world which are participating in the event and there will be more than 4000 athletes and is also expected to complete around the 17 sports events in New Delhi which will make it the biggest ever sports event in the country.

There are many such accommodation facilities that are ready to offer the luxury staying, entertainment facility and catering facilities round the clock. Some of the best staying options in New Delhi are listed below:

• Five Star Luxury Hotels in New Delhi:

(a) Ashok
(b) Crowne Plaza Surya
(c) Imperial
(d) Taj Palace
(e) The Oberoi

• The Five Star Hotels in New Delhi:

(a) The Park
(b) Taj Ambassador
(c) Metropolitan Nikko
(d) Centaur
(e) Qutab

• Four Star Hotels in New Delhi:

(a) Ashok Country Resort
(b) Marina
(c) Oberoi Maidens
(d) Connaught
(e) Janpath

• Three Star Hotels in New Delhi:

(a) Daffodils Resort
(b) Broadway
(c) York
(d) Regent Continental
(e) Surya Continental

• Budget Hotels in New Delhi:

(a) Step In International
(b) Asian International
(c) Bill Palace
(d) Hotel Hilton Palace
(e) Jukaso Inn

• Cheap Hotels in Delhi:

(a) Ajanta
(b) Bright
(c) Host Inn
(d) Orchid
(d) Silver Oak

• Hotels Near Delhi Airport:

(a) Radisson
(b) Ashok Country Resort
(c) D Mark's
(d) International Inn
(e) Grand Hotel

Really Fun Baby Shower Games

Baby Showers can be a lot of fun, especially if the host has a few games lined up for the guests. You should select a few inexpensive but fun prizes and have them ready for the winners. Gift-wrap adds an element of surprise for the winner. The following are some extra fun ideas for games.

1. Pin the Sperm on the Egg

Following in the tradition of pin the tail on the donkey this version is sure to keep the guests laughing.

2. How Many Baby Supplies Can You Name.

Give each participant a pen and pad of paper. Set a timer for five minutes and have everyone write down as many baby items as the can name. It is easy at first but as time ticks on it gets harder. A prize goes to the person who the longest list!

3. Guess the Size of Mom's Tummy.

Everyone has string and scissors and gets to guess how much string will be needed to make it all the way around the tummy of the Mother-to-be. Everyone gets to test his or her string to see if it makes it around the pregnant mom's belly. The person who is the closest wins.

4. Put the Baby on Mommy.

Another yet different, version of the pin the tail on the donkey is place the baby on mommy. Each participant is given a cut out baby and blindfolded. Mom-to-be is the target as the players are spun and attempt to put their baby cut out on mom! The person is closet to moms tummy is the winner.

5. How Many Safety Pins

Have a jar filled with safety pins. Everyone gets to study the jar and guess how many pins are in the jar! The closest to guess is the winner.

6. Make the Mommy's Baby

Have several baby magazines and Mom magazines available as well as scissors. You will also need paper and glue. Each player cuts out the various features of a baby and creates a baby they believe will look the one about to be born! The mom-to-be gets to be the judge. She will pick which baby looks most like the one she will have soon.

For more baby shower games and information about baby showers click here.

How to Host Your Own Treasure Hunt Party

Having a party? Have a party that is exciting, enjoyable and lots of fun for all ages. Host a treasure hunt party! A treasure hunt consists of designing clues for guests to find that will lead them to the next clue until they find what they've been waiting for - the treasure. The team or individual who finds the prize is the winner.

Hosting a treasure hunt will make any party a big hit and have family and friends talking about the host with the most and what great fun they had at the party. A treasure hunt party can be adapted for adults or children. It can be very simple or it could follow a theme, it is up to the host. All it takes for a treasure hunt is imagination and creativity.

The basic for setting up the treasure hunt begins with deciding where the clues will be hidden and then designing the clues. These clues can include riddles, puzzles and rhymes. The next step is hiding the clues. Try not to make the hunt too long, too challenging or too strenuous, the guest need to enjoy the hunt. The guests can be divided into teams or groups depending on the size of the party. The group or team that finds the treasure is the winner. What does the winner get? You guessed it, the treasure!

One example of treasure could be chocolate coins covered in gold foil to resemble a pirate's treasure. If the party is for children, keep in mind that the treasure hunt should be short so it will hold their attention. Developing a theme, buying the decorations and the treasure doesn't have to drain your bank account. Plastic beads, shells, fish nets and pirate maps can be made by the host or hostess. Use things that you would see if you were a pirate but keep them to a minimum because the hunt will be the excitement for the day. Always follow safety rules and appoint an adult to supervise each group.

When designing your clues, the age of the children should be a factor in how many clues you use. If the hunt is too long they may lose interest in it. If they are five to seven years of age, pictures could be used for clues but remember they need to be easy. Also keep the amount of clues low so can they can find the treasure quickly. Once again, young children lose interest if it drags on too long. If the clues lead to buried treasure, then find great hiding spots like under a pillow or in a pot of sand that's not covered all the way. This makes it easier for the children to find and builds their excitement. The treasure hunt will be exciting and a lot of fun for the children. In addition to being fun and exciting, a treasure hunt can also develop their social skills. Children learn to interact with others.

Hosting a treasure hunt party can be used for any occasion and most holidays. Create a treasure hunt for birthdays, picnics and even family reunions. Want to make it educational? Then center it around history, nature or anything educational. So when hosting a party, consider a treasure hunt party. Its guaranteed fun and excitement for all ages.

Hosting a treasure hunt party can be used for any occasion and most holidays. Create a treasure hunt for birthdays, picnics and even family reunions. Want to make it educational? Then center it around history, nature or anything educational. So when hosting a party, consider a treasure hunt party [http://www.treasurehuntideas.net/treasure-hunt-ideas/scavenger-hunt-kids/cool-scavenger-hunts-party-ideas-for-kids]. Its guaranteed fun and excitement for all ages.

Visit [http://treasurehuntideas.net] to discover more fun to have with Scavenger Hunts.

Oktoberfest Party Games - Raise Your Glasses, Everyone!

Oktoberfest is known internationally for its beer, food and frivolity. To get into the spirit, there's absolutely no reason why you can't bring a little bit of Germany to your abode and host an Oktoberfest party. Games like those below will be sure to raise a few laughs and liven up the occasion.

"Beer Jug Relay" Oktoberfest Party Game

This Oktoberfest party game is a great one for when everyone has partaken in a few ales! It needs to be played outside, as it could involve getting wet if you're not careful. All that's needed for this game is 4 large buckets, 2 beer jugs and a fairly long area in which to play the game. Before the game, fill 2 of the buckets and place them side by side at the starting line, and place the 2 empty buckets side by side at the finish line. Players split into two even teams and line up, with the person at the head of each line receiving a beer jug. The object of the game is for players to fill their team's bucket at the finish line, by taking turns to transfer the "beer" from one bucket to the other. The trick is, each player must do this by filling the jug and balancing it on the palm of their hand as they walk down. The first team to transfer all their "beer" is the winner of this Oktoberfest party game.

"A what?" Oktoberfest Party Game

This is also a great game for when festivities are well underway. After a couple of beers, guests won't know their "whits" from their "whats". All that's needed for this game is 2 small objects, for example a knife and a fork. Guests sit in a circle, and the two objects are given out randomly. The game starts by one of the players holding an object passing it to the person on their right, saying "This is a whit". The person on the right replies "A what?" to which the first player responds "A whit". This question-and-answer routine continues halfway around the circle, at which point the second object - a "watt" - is added to the circle and sent around in the opposite direction. Anyone who confuses their "whits" with their "watts" or their "whats" must leave the circle. The last 2 players left are the winners of this hilarious Oktoberfest party game.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for Oktoberfest party supplies and fun free educational Oktoberfest party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Shop has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Theme Parties to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Durban Olympics 2020 - Durban Looks Likely to Bid For the 2020 Summer Olympic Games

Durban in South Africa has just shown the world that it is capable of hosting a major world sports event, by its exceptional hosting of the football World Cup. Fans were welcomed into this great city by the sea and basked in the fantastic winter sunshine and temperatures averaging 25 degrees Celsius, making sipping cocktails on the beach in bright sunshine in the middle of winter a reality!

With the fantastic infrastructure of new stadia already in place, the centrepiece of which is Moses Mabhida Stadium with its distinctive and impressive arch, Durban would be the perfect choice for the Olympics of 2020. There is an abundance of fantastic Durban hotels on the beach and along the Dolphin Coast, as well as a huge choice of Bed and breakfasts and hostels that have sprung up in preparation of the World Cup. The altitude and temperature of Durban in June / July also adds to the appeal of hosting the Summer Olympics in 2020.

As an added bonus to Durban, and sure to boost the city's Olympic bid, the International Olympic Committee have selected Durban as the host city for their 2011 conference, which will surely provide all the first hand evidence they need to prove that the world class city of Durban can host the Olympic Games in 2020.

As well as the huge choice of Durban hotels and attractions, the sheer beauty of the seaside city has delighted those that have just been hosted at the World Cup, and the surrounding areas offer a huge variety of day trips to the famous game reserve of Hluhluwe Umfolozi, which is home to the Big Five. To the west is the impressive Drakensberg mountain range and the Valley of a Thousand Hills and Shakaland Zulu Cultural Village are all within easy day drives from you Durban beach hotel!

To find out more about Durban's bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics, as well as online booking for Durban hotels and Durban attractions, log onto www.durbanhotelshop.com.

Graeme Watson http://www.durbanhotelshop.com

Introduction to Games For Children's Party

The idea of hosting a party for children, which is full of sport, seems to be a fun filled activity. It must be known that the task however is not an easy one, and a person should have knowledge of many things before the party is organised. The coming paragraphs will mention few of the things you should know to have a background knowledge of the sports at children party.

The first thing that we need to know about sports is that there are two types of sports at children parties, indoor games, or outdoor games.

Games such as treasure hunt, blind man's bluff, passing the pillow, etc are usually played indoors. Paintball, baseball and various other games such as Dragon Egg Races, and Velcro kiss darts are played outside. Mostly, parents prefer outdoor games because indoor games leave the interior quite messy, and are often damaged.

Coming to games, there are many types of games, but some are more commonly played. Firstly, there are action games. Squirrel and nut is one of the famous games that can be played. Similarly, there are other action games such as playing musical chairs, freeze tagging, and blind man's bluff. If there are some older children, you can also put up action sports like scavenger hunting, and truth or dare. However, you should dispatch some rules before the sport starts so that no one gets hurt.

The other types of games are relay sports. In this type, mostly relay races are involved. The first type is the bubble gum relay race in which children split into teams, and have to find bubble gum hidden under a whipped cream without using their hands. Then they have to blow a bubble. Whichever team does first, wins. There are other types of relay sports also such as Toothpick Lifesaver Sport, and Tied in Knots Game.

For boys, there is another category of sports, which are the military sports. You can design an obstacle course like those of army members, and it would be much fun if you do it outside in a more messy area. Hot grenade is another game in which children take turns passing a toy grenade as the music plays. As soon as it stops, the one with grenade is out of the game. Similarly, there are other military games such as Tug of War, Simon Says and Backpack Relay.

Survivor games are one of the most famous categories for children party games. One of the games of survivor category is eating competition. To make it more exciting, it is played with things that are not liked by people mostly such as chicken liver. Another example is the ball target game in which a ball has to be passed through few concentric rings. Survivor Trivia and Shelter Challenge are two other games of this category.

The above-mentioned is a brief introduction to the types of games that children usually have on their parties. You can see your resources and facilities, and then go for the games that can provide your child, and his/her friends with a memorable fun time.

Find out more information about Childrens Parties and how to make it special.

50th Birthday - Fun Games For a 50th Birthday Party

So you are hosting a 50th birthday party for a group that likes to have fun, but can't figure out what games to play. Here are some fun game ideas for a 50th birthday party.

Some of these games for a 50th birthday party will take preparation, but they will be worth the effort. Your guest of honor and other attendees of the party will be sure to have a great time and you will have created a memorable event.

World Events Game

Do some research and identify a dozen major events that happened during the guest of honor's life. Find a picture on the Internet print it out with short description of the event. Give three options of dates when the event happened. One will be correct and the others not. Scatter these pictures around your party. Put them on the walls and tables. Give the guests a list where they have to go around and find the events and guess the correct dates. You can do movies, songs, disasters, deaths of celebrities, sports events...be creative.

Crazy Truth

Pass out sheets of paper and have the guests write down something wild or crazy that happened to them during their life-the funnier and crazier the better. Collect all the papers and have someone read them. Everyone will have a great time trying to guess who's "Crazy Truth" goes with whom.

Guess the Price

This can be a fun game and it will really take your older guests back in time. The younger guests will get a kick out of it and be amazed. It will require a little research, but well worth the effort. Research and identify 10 or 15 items that were popular fifty years ago. It is especially fun if these items are no longer in existence or are obsolete. Find out how much the cost was for these products fifty years ago. Like a movie ticket 25 cents, or glass container of milk 30 cents, Typewriter $9.99, three bedroom house $7,999.00 . Have your guests guess what the costs were back then. Play it like the game show on TV and whoever comes closer is the winner. This is best done with teams.

It's Your Life

This isn't as much a game, but something really neat to do at a 50th birthday party. Send a request to the quests with the invitation. Ask them to write about something meaningful they are aware of that took place in the life of the birthday celebrant. Have them send it back to you along with the RSVP. You can read these at the party. Remind them that the idea is to celebrate the guest of honor not a "roast."

The "Who Am I" Ice Breaker

This can be a fun ice breaker game for guests at a 50th birthday party to warm everyone up and get people talking with each other. In advance make out name tags of celebrities, super heroes, or mythical characters (whatever you want). As guests come in they are given a name tag. The catch is that they don't get to see who they are. You place the name tag on their back. The object of the game is that they can ask questions of other guests to try and lean who they are. They can only ask yes or no questions. As soon as they guess correctly who they are the get to wear their name tag on the front of their shirt or blouse.

If you are looking for more fun things to do at a 50th birthday take a look 50th birthday party ideas. In particular here is where you can find creative and unique 50th birthday gift ideas.

Mexican Fiesta Party Games - Tips to Spice Up the Occasion

There are a few elements that are absolutely ESSENTIAL if you're hosting a Mexican fiesta. Party games and Mexican food are among the most enjoyable - especially when you combine the two!! Here are a few Mexican fiesta party game ideas to liven up your fiesta:

"Nachos-Eating Competition" Mexican Fiesta Party Game

This Mexican fiesta party game is deliciously fun. Prior to the party, prepare a plate of nachos (or just corn chips and dip) and divide it among several bowls. Guests have to pair up, and take one bowl of nachos per team. One team-member stands behind the other, acting as their 'arms', and must feed the nachos to their partner. The first team to empty their bowl is the winner of this Mexican fiesta party game. This game could end up being VERY messy, so it's a good idea to play it outside and provide players with 'bibs' to protect their clothes!!

"Chilli-Pepper Challenge" Mexican Fiesta Party Game

Before the party, purchase a variety of chilli-peppers ranging in heat from mild to extremely hot. Guests start out by eating the mildest chillies, and if they can eat the whole chilli without needing a drink, they move onto the next hottest one. The game continues, with any player unable to eat a whole chilli (regardless of how hot it is!) or needing to drink, bowing out of the game. The last player standing - therefore the winner of this feiry Mexican fiesta party game - is the unofficial King or Queen of the Chilli-Pepper challenge!!

Whether they involve indulging in Mexican cuisine or not, Mexican fiesta party games are loads of fun and will really add to your party and make it one to remember.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for Fiesta party supplies and fun free educational party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Shop has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

The Three Big Traps of Managed Web Hosting

Managed web hosting has exploded in the world marketplace since the turn of the century. Both small and large businesses alike are discovering the appeal of having web servers available without the need to maintain large IT staffs to keep them up and running. In addition, the relatively inexpensive cost is good for the budget.

While managed web hosting certainly has many great benefits, it's not always a rosy scenario. Managed web hosting is no different from any other service a business might contract for. It requires due diligence not only in selection of a provider, but also in maintaining a solid relationship with him. With that in mind, there are three big traps in managed web hosting that can break your business if you get caught.

Bandwidth Usage

Managed web hosting is now so popular that competition is driving providers to offer "unlimited" accounts at incredibly low prices. The question is how does a given provider define "unlimited"? Some use the word to describe how much hard disk space a customer can use, how much email they can send and receive, how many sub-domains they are allowed, and so on. But customers really need to know if bandwidth is unlimited, because bandwidth is what drives the effectiveness of a web site.

If bandwidth is truly unlimited, you're golden. If not, and your website really takes off like you hope it will, you could end up paying a fortune in bandwidth charges down the road. And it's not cheap. Make sure you are fully versed in every detail of what your annual fee costs so you're not trapped by bandwidth charges.

Up Time vs. Down Time

Managed web hosting providers are notorious for advertising 100% up time with no service interruptions. But ask yourself how often the computers in your own office suffer down time. It's not realistic to believe your web server will continue running in perpetuity until the end of the world, or your business. So don't believe the claims. Instead, inquire about the redundancy your service provider carries.

In simple terms, redundancy means that a web provider has multiple duplicate servers in other locations separate from the main server. If the main server goes down, all traffic is re-routed to one of the redundant servers. A managed web hosting provider with adequate redundancy should be able to minimize service disruptions to the amount of time it takes to engage a re-route.

Content Protection

Perhaps the biggest trap of managed web hosting is the false assumption that the service provider is as interested in your content as you are. Almost none of them keep backup copies of your site content unless specifically contracted to do so. If your provider loses his server you could be down for the count, so whoever builds and maintains your website should keep a backup copy on an in-house machine at all times, which includes updates, just as you do with your business documents.

Other than managed hosting, you can turn to cloud hosting that has the same level of managed commitment for your websites and applications. At Rackspace Cloud, your businesses are taken seriously. Another form of managed hosting is shared hosting. It rarely guarantees resources, but it's a cheap start. Be sure to use the Dreamhost promo code for substantial discount.

5 Easiest Bridal Shower Games to Play & Plan

Worried about planning elaborate bridal shower games to play with your guests? If you are hosting a bridal shower, you are probably busy enough organizing invitations, food, decorations, and housecleaning! Here are 5 great bridal shower games that require little or no preparation on your part. Even if you've played them before, they are definitely "repeatable," and always a lot of fun!

1. Toilet Paper Wedding Dresses

Preparation time: None

Supplies: Rolls of toilet paper

Arrange your guests into groups of 4-5. Give each group a roll of toilet paper. Tell the groups they have 5 (or 10) minutes to dress one member of the group in the best possible wedding dress, made using only the toilet paper and anything else they may have in their purses. Then set a timer. When time runs out, ask each well-dressed guest to model her gown. Ask the entire group to vote on their favorite. The winning group receives small prizes, or goes first in line for refreshments.

2. Another Toilet Paper Game

Prepartion time: None

Supplies: 1 or 2 rolls of toilet paper

Pass the roll of toilet paper among the guests, instructing each person to "tear off as much as she thinks she needs."

When everyone has their share, go around the room and ask each person to share one piece of advice for the newlyweds for each square of toilet paper. Give a prize to the person with the best advice, funniest advice or most advice.

3. Bridal Shower Purse Game

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Supplies: Paper and pencils for each guest

Before the shower, make a list of about 20-25 items women carry in their purses. Be sure to list common as well as unusual items. Assign a point value to each one, giving the rarer items more points than the ordinary ones. To play the game, give each guest a piece of paper and a pencil. Call out each item on the list, along with its point value. If the guest has that item in her purse, she writes down the corresponding number of points. When you are done reading your list, each guest adds up her own score. The person with the most points is the winner.

4. How Well Do You Know the Bride?

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Supplies: Paper and pencils for each guest

Before the shower, make a list of about 20 questions about the bride and groom. Include information that most guests are sure to know, along with some that only a few will know. Include questions such as, "Where did the bride and groom first meet? When? What is the name of the groom's dog? What is the bride's middle name? Where are they going on their honeymoon?" and so on.

Note: Show your list of questions to the bride in advance, to make sure there is nothing that might become "awkward" for her or any of the guests. This can even be done right before the shower, so you can quickly change a question or two.

To play the game, read each question, giving each guest time to write an answer. If guests do not know the answer, encourage them to guess. These guesses can by themselves be hilarious enough to make the game a success! When you've asked all the questions, ask the bride to give her answers. Award a prize to the winner(s).

5. Were You Paying Attention?

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Supplies: Paper and pencils for each guest

Before the shower*, take a few minutes and make list of things that guests should be able to notice about the bride if they are paying attention. Write questions such as, "Was the bride wearing a necklace? What color are her shoes? How many rings is she wearing? Is she wearing any lipstick? and so on.

Partway through the shower ask the bride to leave the room. Give the guests paper and pencil. Ask your questions, allowing just enough time for guests to write brief answers. Then call the bride back into the room. The right answers will become very apparent! Award a prize to the winner(s).

*Or, write the questions quickly after the bride arrives, so you can tailor your questions more precisely.

There are many, many other great bridal shower games to play, but few are easier than these. So relax, and enjoy the role of bridal shower hostess!

If you prefer printable bridal shower games, click here. You'll find an assortment of free printable word games, wedding word scrambles and a bridal shower mad lib.

While you're there, check out the http://www.word-game-world.com home page and all the other word games on the site. Ann has written a wide assortment of baby shower games, mad libs, anagrams, cryptograms, crosswords, and word searches, along with some fun, original word games you won't find anywhere else.

Finding The Appropriate Web Hosting Service

Each of us has his/her very own reasons in looking for and utilizing a web hosting service. A promising movie director may be in need of a web hosting service that specializes on video streaming, either live or not, to be able to upload and share his/her short films. Another person with musical leanings may be looking for a site to store the music he/she produces, to get feedback and constructive critiques from other people. Just another, a watercolor artist or a digital painter maybe, would need a site to host his/her art for easier access of possible employers or contractors. Storing files online becomes easier with the help of web hosting services.

The hosting service for you usually depends on the kind and amount of files you are going to store. Whether your files are small or large, it would be best to look for the most available bandwidth. In storing image files, for example, you can find sites like Imageshack with available unlimited bandwidth for all your pictures. This is especially useful if you blog with high resolution pictures - blogs don't usually support big images on their directories. Linking them with image hosting sites will greatly improve the effect of your blog for your pictures can be seen in their original high resolution.

In choosing the web hosting site to use, you have two options: first is to directly use your website's domain with the web hosting service's servers. This is the easiest way for every website owner, especially for beginners. But because you're using your own web space, it may run out quite fast especially if the files you upload are more graphic than text heavy. For example, even a small image eats up around 1 MB of your web space while 10 pages of text can only add up to 100 KB, just about 1/10th of the small image. Depending on the requirements of your website, you can choose whether or not to use this kind of webhost.

The other option aside from directly using your website's domain is to use remote access web hosting sites, like Box.Net. In these remote storage websites, you can upload and hotlink all your image, video, game or music files from their server instead of using up your website's space. This method of storing files greatly increases the amount of images and other flashy animations you can include in your website, as the bandwidth you're using up is not your own. On the other hand, a disadvantage of using this method is that you have no control if ever a remote web host goes down - your online files may be deleted. Keeping an extra copy of your files in another server or in your own computer will help you counteract such incidents.

Before deciding which site to finally use, there are a few things you must be clear on first. Make sure to check out what kinds of files you would be storing. Shop around for web hosting services depending on these kinds of files and the benefits you might acquire from them. Most importantly, register with a web hosting service that ensures the protection and security of your files. Choose wisely among the vast number of available services on the Internet.

Vodien Internet Solutions provides all-in-one web hosting packages. Find out more details about their Singapore web hosting packages at their website.

2010 Paralympic Games

This exciting event will be held on 12 to 21 March 2010. The impressive Opening Ceremony is sure to enthral spectators, young and old alike. It will be held in the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver. Canada has hosted the Paralympics before, in the summer of 1976, and seeks to establish its reputation as a superior Host City, however specialised the requirements.
 
This event, as with the Olympic Games, gives Vancouver, and Canada as a whole, the prime opportunity to showcase their amenities, hospitality and world-class status as the Host City of such significant events and as a destination for commercial and leisure pursuits.
 
There will be five different sports on the programme of the 2010 Winter Paralympics. These are 1) Sledge Hockey, 2) Cross-Country Skiing, 3) Alpine Skiing, 4) Wheelchair Curling and 5) a Biathlon. There are specific criteria that are used to define the qualification of the athletes for them to be deemed disabled. Different levels of disability predict which athletes are allocated where.
 
The venues in which the events will be held include the UBC Sports Centre, the Vancouver Olympic / Paralympic Centre, Whistler Creekside and Whistler Paralympic Park. Each of these had been selected for their capacity as well as for their suitability to host events requiring special adaptations for the athletes. Of course, both the Olympic and the Paralympic venues need to be equipped to accommodate disabled spectators as well, and care has been taken to ensure that these are as accessible and convenient as possible. The Main Media Centre, Whistler Media Centre and Whistler Olympic Celebration Plaza are among the venues that will be used for media conferences and other non-sporting events.
 
The mascot for the 2010 Winter Paralympics is called Sumi. This figure is a guardian spirit with powerful wings and a Black Bear's strong legs and promises strength and guidance to each of the sportsmen and -women involved in the events.
 
Vancouver has been preparing for this event in an effort to ensure that both locals and visitors to Canada are catered for in the best way possible. With a host of activities and local attractions apart from the excitement of the games, Vancouver will prove to be the ideal destination for tourists, families, and local residents alike. Its proximity to the United States of America also means that travellers will have access to further destinations at lower travel costs, enabling an all-round touring experience. In addition, an increased number of American residents will be able to attend the Olympics and Paralympics more conveniently and cost-effectively. All of these factors combine to present Vancouver as the exciting and well-equipped Host City for the 2010 Winter Paralympics.

Traveling all my life I love sharing what I've learned and saw with people out to explore the world like I am. http://www.cheapgetawaycanada.com/

Singapore Summer Youth Olympics 2010 - A Herculean Task For A Tiny Nation

It was a close call between the final Youth Olympic Games host contenders Singapore and Moscow. As suggested by the votes of 53 to 44. The island-nation erupted into a collective delirium although there were skeptics amongst the citizens. There are many factors that worked in Singapore's favour which will be further discussed.

To begin with, Singapore did not see itself in contention as recently as July 2007. The Prime Minister believed it was not ready to host the Games. Firstly, the National Stadium was only demolished last year to make way for a new complex. The Singapore Sports Hub, where the Stadium is located is expected to be completed only in 2011.

The city-state may not have any prior record in hosting events the magnitude of the Olympics. However, it has hosted a regional biennial sporting meet thrice. Hence, Singapore is very much experienced in the planning and organising the logistics involved. The biennial event is the Southeast Asian Peninsula [SEAP] Games in 1973; and its successor, the Southeast Asian [SEA] Games in 1983 and 1993.

But in true Singaporean fashion, everyone from the various government agencies, the various corporations and the man in the street rallied together. Ensuring the Youth Olympics Games come to these shores.

What worked towards Singapore's favour? Chiefly amongst which is the emphasis on youth and efficiency. The Bid included integrated sports, youth and cultural educational programmes. Even the official website has "youth" and "vibrancy" stamped all over. As reflected by the music and that cute animated Olympic flame-carrying mascot.

Other factors that come into play:

* Singapore's reputation for delivering results on time and beyond expectations

* Singapore's compactness means travelling between sporting venues takes up at most 30 minutes

* Advanced physical infrastructures, namely transport and technological

* Singapore's multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious background

* The much-vouched safe and secure environment due to harsh legal penalties that are in place

* English is widely spoken and understood as it is Singapore's business and official language

As such, Games participants, their families/chaperones, the international media and dignitaries may just encounter minimal problems during their stay. In the cosmopolitan city which is recently ranked second, after the United States in terms of Most Competitive Economy. With that said, the tagline "Blazing the Trail" is not only apt for Singapore. But for future Youth Olympic host cities too.

Ange Teo is the Founder of e2m expat etiquette mentoring, a Singapore-based Cross-Cultural Communications Solutions Provider.

She has worked with some of the world's leading multinational companies and Singapore-based small medium enterprises for over 20 years. Thus, Ange Teo has a good understanding on the intricacies of Intercultural work relations. Besides her intense belief in the importance of Cross-Cultural Competency - a critical aspect of an organization's global competitive advantage.

For more information about e2m Cultural Intelligence [CQ]-focused Communications Solutions, please visit e2m expat etiquette mentoring. An Interculturalist's perspective on Life, the Cosmoverse and Everything : the blue marble we live in

Baby Shower Bingo

How baby shower bingo saved my life :)... I've had the fortune/misfortune to host 11 different baby showers in the past three years thanks to co-workers, friends, and family members getting pregnant (when you're at the age, everyone is doing it). One thing I've learned is that games are absolutely essential to keeping the party moving forward and making sure everyone is having a good time. I know of almost no other time when people will be coming together for such an intimate party, yet having so many people possibly not knowing each other. My last baby shower I held had mother-in-laws trying to talk with 18-year-old office friends of the mommy-to-be, talking with cousins from across the state. It was awkward. That is, until...

Until I got the games out, everyone was just standing around making really bad small talk. But then I opened up a few bottles of wine (none for the mommy-to-be) and started a game of Baby Shower Bingo. Everyone knows how to play so we went straight into the game. And after the ladies saw that they could win some nice prizes (top prize was a $30 gift certificate to Victoria's Secret, but we had lots of $5 gcs to Starbucks).

The wine helped a lot too, and a few of the ladies started getting pretty animated and at one point, someone fell out of her chair trying to be the first person to yell BABY SHOWER BINGO! We all had a great laugh.

I've found the best way to do baby shower bingo is to just buy the pre-made cards online. There are lots of places to get free ones, but they looked terrible when I downloaded them, and I just didn't have time to make my own for the last party. I'd made my own in the past, but after just buying some, it was so easy that I'll never go back.

I hope this helps a few of you out there, games are the key and can be lots of fun with the help of a little wine and some fun prizes.

Marisa Meidle, the "Baby Shower Queen", is experienced in all aspects of Baby Showers. For more of her ideas you can visit her Baby Shower Bingo page.

Picking A Game Server Provider

Most computer game enthusiasts are hooked onto online gaming. Many popular games can be played online with friends or even unknown gamers on the net. The online gaming experience is an entirely different one and most gamers love it. A great internet gaming experience requires great game servers.

The gaming servers work just like your average web server. Just that, instead of hosting websites, these special servers host computer games that users can join and play. The crucial information related to gaming, like the scores and the rules of the game are in the server and are accessed from there as well. The gamers just log on and play the game that attracts them most.

Even an individual can host a server on his very own computer and play online games. However, such connections can support only a few players and are generally quite slow. If you want a complete online multiplayer gaming experience, you need to go for bigger gaming servers. These server providers have great speed and at the same time, are loaded with advanced hardware. This makes them capable of hosting gaming servers of any size.

The games that rate the highest on the popularity charts are the Battlefield series, Counter Strike, Unreal Tournament and Call of Duty. Most gaming servers provide web hosting, free oral communication and also free support. The amount that you have to pay for playing online multiplayer games depend upon the server and the game you play. Generally, the cost is around $2 for each player. Sometimes, keen gamers make a team and then share the cost of the server. In fact, there are some ardent gamers who dish out the entire amount from their pockets! The gaming servers are usually free but there are certain private servers that demand passwords.

The great gaming servers are a blessing for all game lovers around the world. The players can play against each other and not virtual opponents, as in single player games. This has resulted in the considerable booming in the game server market.

DedicatedServersearch.com enables you to search for dedicated servers and dedicated hosting that matches your exact needs. http://DedicatedServersearch.com site is updated regularly with new dedicated server companies adding their dedicated hosting plans to our searchable database.

Construction Party Games for the Kids

Construction party games can rowdy and fun for the guests attending this party. Here are a couple of ideas.

The first construction party game is called 'Noises Off'. For this funny game you'll need to give each of the kids a piece of paper and a pencil. But if none of the children are able to write yet you can play by just having them yell out their guesses. Players take turns going behind a couch or a sheet hung up in the room and making construction and regular noises. The rest of the group listens intently and tries to guess what piece of machinery, animal or person even the player is imitating. Then they write it down and you tell the player to pick a new noise or they yell out their answers and the person with the correct answer gets to go behind the sheet and make a new noise for the rest of the group to guess.

The second construction party game is called 'word builders'. You'll need to do a little preparation for this game before the party starts. Get 46 large white cards or pieces of paper. You can use 8 ½ by 11 inch sheets of paper if you like and write one letter of the alphabet on each sheet so you have separate sets of sheets with the entire alphabet. So you'll have two sheets with a large letter 'A' on them and two sheets with a large letter 'B' and so on.

Next divide the party into two teams of 12 players. Give each player 2 sheets, with the exception of one player who will get one sheet in each group. Make sure you have enough room in the party area for each group to spell out words.

To start you call out a simple word related to the construction party theme and each group will begin scrambling to form that word by getting in the proper order. Not every player will be used each time, and each player has been assigned to the two letters they are given so no one can trade. The first group that forms the word wins a point for that round.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for Construction party supplies and fun free educational party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Shop has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Animal Party Games for the Kids

Animal party games can get a little out of hand if you are having the party inside, so make sure to move outside when taking part in these two suggested games!

'Nose Ball' is a fun race that all the kids will really get into. Everyone in the race pretends to be an animal of their choice and the must push a ping pong ball to the finish line with their nose. Why? Because as animal they can't use their hands!

You'll need enough ping pong balls for everyone in the animal party race to have one and you'll need to set up a start line and a finish line with masking tape, string or a chalk line. The guests may have a little trouble keeping in a straight line with Nose Ball so you'll want to space everyone fairly far apart. Don't forget to take lots of pictures with the camera.

'Farmyard Frolic' is a game that can give the adults at the animal party a chance to rest. Have the party divide into groups of three or four. Each group must pick their own animal to pretend to be and the adult in the group gets to be the team leader. Before the party started you should have hidden a variety of special objects around the house and made a list of them. Make copies of this list so you can give one to each group.

Next have the team leaders sit in the animal party area while the groups of animals go off on their search. When an 'animal' has found one of the objects they must make the sound that their chosen animal makes, for example, if the chosen animal is a cow then the team player must moo. They do this until their team leader gets up and goes to retrieve the object from the player. The player cannot bring the object to the team leader; the team leader must go to the player, get the object and return to the couch. At the end of the hunt the team with the most objects wins. Hint: if you make the objects toys, games or candy then everyone wins at the animal party.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for Animal party supplies and fun free educational party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Shop has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Quick Tips For a Successful Baby Shower

Here are guidelines or quick shower tips for hosting a successful shower party. Come and explore these quick tips. Read more...

In this section we are discussing few quick tips for a successful shower. As we have discussed earlier. Showers are shifting. From the traditional to the modern fun oriented and realistic showers. Depending upon the ease and preference of the mom-to-be as well as the hostess.

There can be a great number of shower tips. From planning the shower. To inviting the friends to decorating the venue. To serving the shower food.

Whatever the case may be, the purpose of throwing the shower still remains to celebrate the occasion. While helping the expectant couple by giving them shower gifts.

The first concern while planning the shower is who should be the hostess? The older traditional rules suggest that close relatives should not host the shower. This would look like they are simply expecting presents and gifts. To be more realistic, the modern shower. Literally anyone can plan the shower. This would include family members, friends and/or co-workers.

Shower tips concerning if the mom-to-be can have more than one shower - Yes, a mom-to-be can have more than one shower. However, if there are more than one, the hostess of each would be wise to remember what the previous shower theme was. You don't want to have the same shower theme at each party. Also, try finding out what shower gifts were already given to avoid duplicating the shower gifts.

Here are quick shower tips for hosting a successful shower party:

Send invitations in a timely manner. Around 3-4 weeks in advance to the guests who live near by. For long distance shower guests, around 4-6 weeks in advance. Include directions in the invitations, you don't want the shower guests to get lost.

Greet all shower guests at the door as they arrive. It shows how much you care for them. Provide name tags so that everybody can identify the other guests easily, as they may not all know each other. Introduce the shower guests to one another at the beginning of the shower party. If you have a seating arrangement, sit people together who know each other or have something in common.

Engage the shower guests in some games so that they can enjoy their time and interact with each other.
If you have proper space and have a large hall then provide tables for your guests to sit and eat if a meal is planned. Please don't expect them to eat with their plate in their lap.

Instead of placing gifts here and there, it is appreciated to bring the gifts to the mom-to-be as she opens gifts. Don't ask or even expect her to carry anything, especially bulky items (before and after the pregnancy). Because the time of the shower is around 1-2 months before or after, she is likely to feel weak during this time. Write down which shower guest gave which gift. This will help the mom-to-be when it comes time to send thank you cards.

Be sure to have enough shower party favors on hand. A little extra is good just in case! Get the party started on time and keep events moving at a good pace. You would be surprised just how long it can take to eat, open presents, play games, talk and eat cake. Walk guests to the door as they leave and thank them again for coming to the shower. Everybody feels special if they are given due attention.

shower tips for the hostess: You should understand that if you are hosting the party then you should show the utmost responsibility and carefulness. A well-planned shower would be appreciated by everyone invited. You are not just attending the shower party. You are also running and organizing it too. When serving food, serve mom-to-be first and then your shower guests. You as the shower hostess should serve yourself last.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy currently has a website dealing with Hair Removal Products such as shavers, trimmers, and more. He also has a website of Health Monitoring Products [http://www.health-care-product-reviews.com/] such as blood glucose monitors, alcohol monitors, blood pressure monitors, and more.

4 Ways to Stop Computer Freezes and Game Lag

If you are an avid online gamer, you most certainly have suffered from game lag and computer freezes. Many have spent hours trying to tweak in-game graphical settings in order to increase the frame rate and boost the performance of their favorite games. However, in more case than not, those efforts award the player with only a slight improvement in overall game play. Your system might even meet the recommend hardware specs for optimum performance but the game causes computer freezes when the action gets heavy. However, tweaking the in-game specs and upgrading hardware may not be the best way to overcome game lag and computer freezes.

This irritation may be attributed to conflicting software that is competing for your system's resources or improper configuration. Most online games such as World of Warcraft should run smoothly on an average setup. Game manufacturers assure us that their recommended specs should run the game smoothly. However those recommendations are calculated when the games are tested on PCs that were optimized for those particular games. There are very few who are willing to dedicate a whole computer specifically for a single game. Nevertheless, there are a couple steps that you can take to free up more resources for your game play. These tips will allow you to better optimize your PC for smoother game play booth online and off-line. .

Stop Game Lag and Computer Freezes Tip #1: Get more bang out of your bandwidth.

There are literally dozens of services running on your Windows operating system. These programs have no respect for your online play. They need bandwidth and system resources just as much as your online games. Many of the programs automatically startup when you log on to the net or at the moment Windows loads. Windows service programs can perform a host of operations from searching for updates, downloading, and even sharing applications with your games. The task is to cut down on the amount services running while your are playing the game in order to free up bandwidth and resources. This is a great tip to stop game lag and computer freezes. Here is how.

1. Click on "Start"

2. Click "Run"

3. Type services.msc

4. Select "Extended" from the Services Window to view a detailed description. Also note the status of the service in question.

5. To stop the service, select "Stop the service" or right click the service, choose "All task" then click "Stop"

6. Click "OK"

Stop Game Lag and Computer Freezes Tip #2: Turn off your Anti-virus/Anti-spyware programs during play.

I am sure the suggestion scares you. However, these programs are very taxing on your computer. They can cause game play lag and computer freezes by initiating a host of small applications and processes during game play. Turning these programs off during your game play is not entirely risk free but you will be amazed at the results by doing so.

Stop Game Lag and Computer Freezes Tip #3: Making sure hardware and software can "communicate"

This an extremely important step that many gamers tend to miss. DirectX is essential to most next generation Windows games. High multimedia graphics and sound cards require lighting fast APIs, application programming interfaces, to deliver high end graphics and sound. The API acts as a kind of bridge for the hardware and the software. In essence, APIs provide the language for hardware and software to "communicate" with each other. If there is some "miscommunication" caused by improper setup, you will suffer from game lag or computer freezes. The task here is to make sure that your audio and video hardware is properly configured with Windows DirectX technology by using DirectX diagnostics tools. Here is how:

1. Click "Start"

2. Click "Run."

3. Type dxdiag and press enter to load the "Direct X Diagnostic Tool" menu.

4. Click the "Display" and "Sound" tabs.

5. Verify that DX features are enabled and there are no problems.

Perform the test were need. If there are any problems reinstall Direct X and update your hardware drivers. Also you can open the Task Manger by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete and viewing the process tab to gauge which services are taking up the majority of system resources. Visit the "Cause of High CPU Usage" page for more details

Stop Game Lag and Computer Freezes Tip #4: Clean and Organize your Hard Drive.

A simple yet overlooked necessity to stop game lag. The faster your game can find files the less you have to worry about game lag and computer freezes. By defragging you help to cut down on the amount work the hard-drive needs to find files. Cleaning your registry cuts down on the errors and will create more free space for your RAM and CPU to work more efficiently. These two steps are a necessity to stop computer freezes. The link "4 Ways to Speed Up Your Computer" will show you how to perform these steps.

Without a doubt the habit of upgrading your computer's hardware for the next generation of games will allow take advantage new graphic and sound card technology. However, this act makes PC gaming a more expensive hobby than it really needs to be. Hopefully, the tips above rewarded you smoother game play and will help to end your days of computer freezes and game lag.

Make sure to visit http://www.delete-computer-history.com/fix-computer-problems.html These useful pages will provide you with tips and tweaks to speed up your computer performance.

CounterStrike Tips

So you just started playing Counterstrike? With more than 200,000 players online at any given point in time, it remains one of the most popular first person shooter computer games. Let me guess. You're probably getting "pwned." You swear you're shooting directly at the person, yet it seems the bullets don't even touch him. On the other hand, your opponents take you down in seconds with a finely placed head shot. Let me try to help.

Here are some Counterstrike Tips for the weapons used in the game:

1. Knife:
Ahh, the knife. It has two different attacks, the primary attack (fast, but weak) and the secondary attack (slow, strong) So what should you use? In a knife fight, you want to deal the most damage as possible. Therefore you want to go for the UPPER BODY. For beginners, I recommend going at the upper body with the fast attack so you guarantee yourself a hit. As you get better go with the slow attack for even more damage. An addition tip: jumping toward you opponent with the knife and aiming for the head is also an effective and deadly method. If you're jumping and your opponent is slashing at your heard, what is he going to hit? Your feet, of course, for a measly 8 pts of damage.

2. Pistols-

Don't underestimate the power of the pistol. While it is a secondary weapon, it can save your life when you run out of ammo.

Here are some Counter Strike Tips for the most commonly used pistols in the game:

A: USP Tactical:

The counter-terrorist default pistol. This is one of my favorite pistols in the game. It has a relatively fast rate of fire so get ready to work your pointer finger and press that that left mouse button as fast as you can! The USP has a low recoil so aim for the upper torso/head for maximum damage.

B: Glock:

The default counter-terrorist pistol. I don't particularly like it. It packs less punch than its counter-terrorist counterpart and its rate of fire is slower. However, it does have a 3-round burst alternate fire mode which is particularly powerful if fired into the upper torso/head. However the 3 round burst mode has a even slower rate of fire than semi-automatic mode so you better make sure you take your opponent out with the first burst. An effective tactic for the burst would be firing into an opponent and then strafing right or left and then unloading another 3 rounds burst to take him out. Obviously this only works in close quarters battle.

C: Desert Eagle:
Now, we're talking! This baby packs quite a punch than the regular pistol. This along with the USP Tactical is usually the sidearm of choice for most CSers, especially snipers. Three well placed shots to the upper body is usually enough to take down even an armored foe. However, one has to beware of this weapon's recoil. It jumps up a bit after every shot. Therefore I recommend you aim your first shot into the upper part of your opponent's abdomen. Successive shots will hit higher and higher in your opponent's body. Unfortunately, the Deagle is a close range weapon. It's accuracy from afar is horrible.

This concludes Part One of my Counterstrike Tips.

Tried of getting killed without even firing? Is your death count higher than your kill count? Visit John Liu's blog to learn how to shorten the learning curve for Counterstrike and pwn 90% of the players on ANY Counterstrike server.

Part II and Part III of John's Counterstrike Tips Guide which covers the game's shotguns, SMGs, and machine guns is also available at his blog at http://counter-strike-tactics.blogspot.com. John Liu has been playing CS since Version 1.5.