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BA.net feedsburner DumbLittleMan News 29/03/2008

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Jay White2008-03-26T06:37:21.123-05:00Work Smarter for Better Time Management</h3><content type="html"><div id="write"><h7 class="write">Written on 3/26/2008 by <a href="http://www.slowdownfast.com/about/">David B. Bohl</a>, the author of <a href="http://www.slowdownfast.com/ebooks.html">The Happiness Trilogy</a>.</h7></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordsutch/74873411/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dH0q9hvpVHg/R-oyfop0EzI/AAAAAAAABmE/i9Qk5aX7ZIw/s400/clutter.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182009840313307954" border="0" /></a>Today’s business world is constantly changing at breakneck speeds. It requires flexibility, a great deal of organization, and a good sense of humor just to keep up. Companies are retaining fewer employees but the workload continues to increase, making it harder to meet job demands and almost impossible to maintain any kind of work life balance.<br /><br />Many companies have recognized this disparity and have implemented various types of time management training programs; some are good, most aren't. Even so, you need to come up with a well thought out plan in order to meet your goals. Luckily there are several things you can do to make the most of your day, get things done, and still have time left over to relax.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">The Curse of the Information Age </span></span><br />As technology improves, the number of people bombarding us with messages only seems to grow. Every day they have new and improved ways to interrupt our work. Between e-mail, the telephone, cell phone, Twitter, Linked In, and the eighteen other sites that keep you "in touch", we have entered the age of information overload.<br /><br />One of the best things you can do to work smarter is to manage your incoming communications. This will be difficult because many of today's tools are taught to chase you, find you, and interrupt you. Start by separating your work and personal e-mail accounts, and only respond to your work-related messages while you are in your office. Save the personal messages for later. Schedule blocks of time in your calendar specifically for this task, put a time limit on it, and stick to it. Buy an egg timer if you need to.<br /><br />Schedule your important phone calls as well. Allow sufficient time to contact your clients, but do not get entangled with personal conversations. Keep your phone time to a minimum, but do not be short or rude. If you don't use it, learn how to send calls straight to voice mail so you aren't tempted to answer a caller ID you recognize.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Managing Mountains of Paperwork </span></span><br />Develop a desktop organization system for incoming documents and mail. Touch the papers as little as possible, meaning they get filed as soon as you have time. If you come across mail, notes, or memos that will not be filed, shred them as soon as you are finished reading them. The goal is to <a href="http://www.dumblittleman.com/2007/07/10-ways-to-remove-clutter-from-your.html">reduce the amount of clutter</a> on your desk so you can work more efficiently. Handling paperwork wastes almost as much time as e-mail so by making a simple change in how you handle paperwork, you could be saving yourself a great deal of time.<br /><br />Speaking of clutter, organize your desktop. It does not necessarily need to be neat, just functional enough for you to get things done.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Find Some Quiet Time </span></span><br />When you need to read a technical document or if you are working on a task that requires great thought and <a href="http://www.dumblittleman.com/2007/12/6-simple-steps-to-achieve-laser-like.html">concentration</a>, remove yourself from your colleagues, shut down email, turn of <a class="snap_shots" href="http://www.twhirl.org/">twhirl</a>. Interruptions from co-workers can cause you to lose focus, and can cost you a great deal of time when you need to go back and re-read something. Close your office door or go to the library to ensure your success with your project.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Take a Breather </span></span><br />Sometimes we become so focused on getting things done that we forget to <a href="http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/02/step-out-to-achieve-greater-success.html">give ourselves a break</a>. Walk around the office or go outside and get a few minutes of fresh air. Eat your lunch, and have a snack in the afternoon. Getting the blood moving and nourishing our bodies will ensure the ongoing function of our brains. We will be able to stay on task better when we do not feel fatigued, making it easier to accomplish our goals.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Remain Focused </span></span><br />As new projects arrive or circumstances change, we may feel compelled to jump to a new task before we finished the previous one. Unless it is an absolute emergency, avoid this behavior. You interrupt your progress and train of thought, making it difficult to pick up again where you left off with any efficiency. Lack of efficiency only adds to the amount of time it will take you to finish.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Schedule Everything </span></span><br />If you do not already keep a calendar, begin now. Write everything down with an allotted time period. Allow ample time to reasonably accomplish your goals so you do not feel overwhelmed or unduly pressured. Do not stray from your schedule, which should include personal errands and chores as well as work-related appointments.<br /><br />Following a few simple changes will not necessarily change the amount of work you must complete, but it will help you <a href="http://www.dumblittleman.com/2007/06/hack-your-work-23-ways-to-get-ahead.html">complete your work more efficiently</a>. Getting things done in a shorter period gives you the extra time you have been looking for. You can take your extra time and spend it guiltlessly on your spouse, your children, or in a hot bath. Working smarter will help you keep up with the demands of the workplace while still maintaining a good work life balance.<br /><br />-David <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/DumbLittleMan?a=QPNsvd"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/DumbLittleMan?i=QPNsvd" border="0"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=uHff7Af"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=uHff7Af" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=bphVdaf"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=bphVdaf" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=121hb7f"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=121hb7f" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=4eFhiuf"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=4eFhiuf" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=P3FI8nF"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=P3FI8nF" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DumbLittleMan/~4/258258463" height="1" width="1"/></content><author><name>Jay White</name></author></entry><entry><updated>2008-03-25T14:43:48.372-05:00</updated><title type="text">How to Find Happiness Without Buying It</h3><content type="html"><div id="write"><h7 class="write">Written on 3/25/2008 by <a href="http://www.slowdownfast.com/about/">David B. Bohl</a>, the author of <a href="http://www.slowdownfast.com/">Slow Down Fast</a>.</h7></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lanuiop/224624067/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dH0q9hvpVHg/R-lNMop0EyI/AAAAAAAABl8/-FnbzKkbZ4M/s320/overflow.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181757725733032738" border="0" /></a>Our materialistic society has led us to believe that happiness cannot be obtained without having money. Rather than learning to be satisfied with what we have, we are taught to want more. We learn from advertising, and from the media, that we need to buy trinkets and toys in order to make ourselves happy, or to fulfill emotional needs, and that the purchases they are trying to talk us into will provide us with the psychological comfort we are looking for.<br /><br />Unfortunately as a society we have bought into these misguided messages and have come to believe that spending money on certain items will bring us fame, fortune, happiness, beauty, or popularity. We end up using money as a crutch to provide us with something we ultimately must find within ourselves. As we become caught up in this charade, we trade precious hours of our lives trying to earn the money we have been taught to covet so much. We trade hours of our lives working, sacrificing time that could have been spent with our families, for the pursuit of the almighty dollar.<br /><br />In order to find true happiness, we first must learn to change our <a class="snap_shots" href="http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/08/03/how-much-money-do-you-need-to-be-happy-hint-your-sex-life-matters-more/">attitudes about money</a>. We must learn that money, and the spending of it, provides only a temporary relief but does not present us with any real long lasting benefits. We end up owning something we either do not really want or do not really need, and the underlying emotional issues remain.<br /><br />Rather than focus on the temporary satisfaction you may feel from spending money, try the following to bring you happiness without it.<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Imagine Having no Money:</span> Imagine what you would do for happiness if you had no money at all. Think about how you would spend your time, and what you would do for enjoyment. Change your focus from material possessions to other things that bring you enjoyment, such as spending quality time with your family and friends. Rather than focusing on the accumulation of possessions, concentrate instead on playing with or reading to your children, or spending time out enjoying nature.<br /></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Want What you Already Have:</span> Society teaches us to want what <span style="font-style: italic;">others</span> have. Instead, shift your thinking so that you are satisfied with, or want, what is already yours. What tends to happen is once we reach our goals in terms of owning personal possessions, we trade those old goals in for a set of new ones that involves bigger, better, and grander objects.<br /><br />Goals are good to have because they motivate us to work, and to continue to strive for self improvement. The key is to find a balance between having worthy goals and recognizing when we are allowing the desire for possessions to overwhelm the importance of other aspects of our lives. Rather than constantly striving for things we do not have, we need to shift our focus to being thankful for the things we already possess.<br /></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Volunteer Your Time:</span> One way to appreciate what you have is to work with others who have nothing, or who have disabilities that no amount of money can overcome. Volunteering time to work in a food bank, or to work with underprivileged children, can really alter your perspective on where you are in life, and can create a deeper appreciation for the gifts you do have in your life.<br /><br />Helping others can boost your spirits as well. There is a great deal of personal satisfaction to be gained from giving aid to those who are in need of it, leaving you with a sense of satisfaction that will carry over into your own life. Use the experiences of helping others to teach your children compassion and civic responsibility.</li></ul>There are a number of <a href="http://www.dumblittleman.com/2007/06/39-ways-to-live-and-not-merely-exist.html">ways to enjoy life</a> without the need for a great deal of money. Certainly, it is important to work and earn enough to provide for our basic needs and the needs of our families, but it is important to recognize when the desire for personal possessions becomes overly consuming. There needs to be a balance between a satisfying work life and a rich home life, and the best way to achieve such a balance is to ensure the drive for material possessions does not become all consuming.<br /><br />-David <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/DumbLittleMan?a=qhbZlb"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/DumbLittleMan?i=qhbZlb" border="0"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=EiOjWgf"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=EiOjWgf" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=NGJCTzf"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=NGJCTzf" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=t7IaWGf"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=t7IaWGf" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=YAUT8Xf"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=YAUT8Xf" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=c1SvYUF"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=c1SvYUF" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DumbLittleMan/~4/257863960" height="1" width="1"/></content><author><name>Jay White</name></author></entry><entry><updated>2008-03-25T08:21:26.385-05:00</updated><title type="text">The Ancient Method For Creating A Life of Abundance</h3><content type="html"><div id="write"><h7 class="write">Written on 3/25/2008 by Alex Shalman, creator of the of <a href="http://www.alexshalman.com/blog/">Practical Personal Development</a> blog.</h7></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_gin/2249340586/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dH0q9hvpVHg/R-j6lop0ExI/AAAAAAAABl0/RToTwcfwRqg/s320/overflow.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181666895764656914" title="Hole in One" border="0" /></a>My good friend Rabbi Johnny Shippel shared a very interesting and thought provoking concept with me this weekend. He asked me which paradigm I thought was better to have, the cup half empty or the cup half full.<br /><br />Without giving it any thought I played right into his trap! "Half full" is what I said. With a grin he replied, "neither".<br /><br />This confused me a little bit since I know myself to be a very optimistic person and couldn't imagine anything other than a cup half full as the Ace in this deck of cards. You're supposed to work with what you have, right?<br /><br />The next words that came out of his mouth have intrigued me for the past couple of days. Instead of thinking half empty or half full, <span style="font-weight: bold;">if you were to pour the contents of the cup into a smaller cup, you would now in possession of one full cup.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lowering Your Standards For The Win?</span></span><br />The first way that I tried to understand this concept was that by lowering your standards you are setting yourself up for less disappointments in life. In fact when Denmark was considered the <a class="snap_shots" href="http://www.alexshalman.com/blog/2008/02/23/the-secret-is-out-happiest-nation-in-the-world-discloses-everything/"> happiest nation in the world</a>, their lack of standards are what were credited for this happiness.<br /><br />According to the Danes, their lack of great success as a nation has led them to have this national out look on life. Whenever something good happened they were overjoyed because it was a pleasant and unexpected surprise.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Scoring With The Abundance Mentality</span><br /></span></span>I took a couple of days to think about this, and to discuss it with some friends. There was in fact a better reason for the cups over flowing, which had nothing to do with standards, and everything to do with attraction.<br /><br />By looking at our cups as overflowing we are effectively creating the mentality of abundance. This abundance mentality is the way the law of attraction works to bring more of what we are focusing on into our lives.<br /><br />While the cup is said to be overflowing with wine, it is metaphorically applied to every area of our lives. Thinking abundantly about health, money, and relationships will bring more and better into our lives.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Where could you apply this concept to get the biggest returns in your own life? Let us know in the comments below.<br /><br /></span><span>-Alex</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/DumbLittleMan?a=ouoiDJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/DumbLittleMan?i=ouoiDJ" border="0"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=G6KGbkf"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=G6KGbkf" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=IIgnsXf"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=IIgnsXf" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=oAY3iTf"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=oAY3iTf" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=Gb9C2Jf"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=Gb9C2Jf" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?a=7P7oTnF"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/DumbLittleMan?i=7P7oTnF" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DumbLittleMan/~4/257662291" height="1" width="1"/></content><author><name>Alex Shalman</name></author></entry><entry><updated>2008-03-24T17:32:41.696-05:00</updated><title type="text">How to Lose Less on Your Vegas Vacation</h3><content type="html"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mandj98/302306993/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dH0q9hvpVHg/R-gWF4p0EuI/AAAAAAAABlc/_UBaCZQzKSs/s320/vegas.png" alt="Vegas Casino" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181415661652677346" title="New York, New York Casino" border="0" /></a><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">If you ain't just a little scared when you enter a casino, you are either very rich or you haven't studied the games enough. </span>-<span style="font-size:85%;"> VP Pappy</span><br /></blockquote>Later this Spring my wife is off to Las Vegas. Her annual Vegas trip gives her some much needed and deserved R&R; we have two kids and her full time job is dealing with them!<br /><br />While I love my wife, I don't love that she comes home with nothing but the lint in her pockets. Sure, she has fun out there and clearly there is a cost to fun. However, is it <span style="font-weight: bold;">impossible</span> to come home with a little cheese left over? After all, I could use the winnings (or non-losings, if you will) as a reward for <span style="font-style: italic;">my</span> hard work. I mean, this DLM thing isn't a piece of cake - especially when I still have a normal job!<br /><br />So to break this spell, I am coaching her on the games to stay away from, the games to increase the bets on, how to manage her money, etc. Trust me, she is never going to do all of these, but creating this list became fun so if she does a couple, I'm happy.<br /><br />Here is what I came up with. If you have some extra tips, please add them in the comments.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >General Tips</span><br /><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Slow it Down:</span> </span> If you have five or six hours of casino time ahead of you, go to a game that takes a while. Trust me, you are not in a race to blow your wad. Games like Blackjack are one-and-done; each hand, even at a full table, might take 2 minutes. On the other hand, a single thrower at the Craps table could be there for 10-15 minutes. Even if you only play the pass-line, the game is exciting and offers a way to slow down the pace of your losses. (<span style="font-style: italic;">More on individual games in the next section</span>)<br /></li><br /><li><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> You will never see a clock in a casino and you will probably never know that the sun is setting or rising. Wear a watch or set a timer to alert you to the passing hours. At some point, your brain fatigues and so does your decision making ability. Set some limits and head to the pool.<br /></li><br /><li><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Drinks: </span>Do something to ensure you aren't drinking more than one drink per hour. If you want to get hammered, that's fine, but do so in the bar and away from the in-bar video poker machines. Trust me, not following this point will lead to you waking up in the morning asking where your $500 went. Remember, the drinks are free for a reason.<br /></li><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pellis/84289988/"><img style="margin: 0pt 20px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dH0q9hvpVHg/R-gYKop0EvI/AAAAAAAABlk/KtraKIJ9KC0/s320/cage.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181417942280311538" title="Uhhh..." border="0" /></a><li><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cashing in:</span> </span> If your bankroll for the evening is $1,000, <span style="font-weight: bold;">DO NOT</span> get $1,000 in chips right when you get there - break it down. Keep 50% of your bankroll in cash and toss it into your purse or the <span style="font-weight: bold;">front</span> pocket of your pants (front pockets are tougher for pickpockets). Take the other 50% and get some chips and go play.<br /><br />The reason for this is two-fold: mentally, it'll be easier for you to walk away with cash versus chips, and secondly, once you have all chips, it's difficult to get your money back; dealers will not cash you out. To get cash back, you are forced to find the cage which entails walking by eighty other game tables, cheering crowds, waiting in line, etc. That's a lot of temptation that you can avoid simply by retaining some cash.<br /></li><br /><li><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ATM Card:</span> </span>Leave it in the room's safe. Enough said. Don't bring it down to the casino.<br /></li><br /><li><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Winnings: </span> How many times have you heard someone say, 'I was up $500 but I gave it back". Well, use that 50% rule. When you win something, take half of it, stash it, and commit to leaving it alone until you get back to the hotel room. You still have your original bankroll and half of your winnings to play with. Why not plan on leaving with some money in your possession?<br /></li><br /><li><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Club Cards: </span> Don't laugh at the old ladies using these things, they are smarter than you. I went to Vegas three years ago and after 4 days, I was down $200. After at least 25 hours of gambling, I considered this a winning trip. Point being, I didn't win a ton of money or lose a ton. However, I was flagged in some database and for the next year I was getting emails that contained crazy discounts: everything from free airfare to massively discounted rooms. Use the card, get discounts and comps.</li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Do more: </span> Seriously, do more than just gamble. Here is a list of <a class="snap_shots" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5396173/">10 cool things</a> to do in Las Vegas. Don't like those, here are <a class="snap_shots" href="http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/nevada/las-vegas/things-to-do.php">10 more</a> ideas. Should I continue?</li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Help</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">:</span> Don't gamble with your mortgage payment or your family's food money. Gambling is entertainment, just like the movies; it's not an income source. <a class="snap_shots" href="http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/20questions.html">If you have a problem, get some help</a>. Please.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Games</span><br /><br />Here are my opinions on some of the more popular games in Vegas. I am not making any promises, heck, you will probably still lose it all. However, the lesson I want to get across is this:<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> Learn the game, learn the odds. </span> Would you invest in a company without knowing how they operated? <span style="font-weight: bold;">NO</span>. Would you take a job without knowing anything about the company? <span style="font-weight: bold;">NO. </span> Well, then why gamble without knowing the games and knowing how to win?<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Slots: </span> I have to admit, for as lame as these things are, the newer slot machines with interactive screens and bonus rounds are pretty fun. Having said that, you control nothing. All of the reel stops are set by the <a class="snap_shots" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slot_machine#Technology">software on the machine</a>, therefore, your winning was the result of the software and so were all of the "I almost won" moments. The software is set to keep you on the edge of your seat so when you get 2 matching symbols when you need 3, know that the machine is trying to keep you close, <span style="font-weight: bold;">you didn't almost win</span> - there is no almost.<br /><br />One point that is worth discussing is the betting lines. When you walk up to a $0.25 machine, your $0.25 is buying you the lowest payout. In order to get the max payout (you know, the huge number in blinking lights) you have to bet 'max lines'. On some machines it's 10 lines, on some it's 20. If you go with 10 lines, your single pull will cost you 10 x $0.25 or $2.50 per spin. That's slightly more than the quarter you planned to spend isn't it?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/maile/154286768/"><img style="margin: 10pt 0pt 0px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dH0q9hvpVHg/R-gaRop0EwI/AAAAAAAABls/uuvvSeLDtgo/s320/roulette.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181420261562651394" title="roulette" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Odds:</span> Plan to lose unless you sat at the right time. General payouts are anywhere from 80%-98% depending on the casino.<br /></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Roulette:</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> </span> This is my wife's favorite game (which, in my opinion, is why she always loses). It's the easiest game to learn, I mean you are simply picking the number that you feel the little ball will land on. There are 38 numbers to choose from so stare at the board and let the little voice in your head work its magic.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Odds: </span>The house has a 5.x% advantage over the player.<br /></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Blackjack: </span>Yes, there is skill to blackjack. While you have no control over the cards you, the dealer or the other players receive, you have a helluva lot of control over what you do with them. I am not going to give a full tutorial here but this is definitely the game that I have personally had the most success with. Here is a good place to read up on <a class="snap_shots" href="http://wizardofodds.com/blackjack">Blackjack strategy</a>.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Odds: </span> This somewhat depends on the <a class="snap_shots" href="http://wizardofodds.com/blackjack/house-edge-calculator.html">number of decks and the table rules</a>, but all-in-all, the casino will have an .4-.6% advantage over the player in Blackjack. This is a pretty slim advantage.<br /></li><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Let-it-Ride: </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> </span>Think of Jacks or Better, 5-Card Stud but 3 cards are community and they are flipped one at a time. Instead of betting with each flip, the flips give you a chance to reduce your existing bet or choose to <span style="font-style: italic;">let it ride</span>. It is fun, it takes no skill, and at a slow table, the games go quickly so bet small until the table fills up. For more detail than you need, here is a <a class="snap_shots" href="http://wizardofodds.com/letitride">good resource</a>.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Odds:</span> The house has a 3.5% advantage over the player.<br /></li></ul>So the clear lesson is to choose the game with the lowest house advantage. If you hate blackjack, which has one of the lowest house advantages, move on and find something else. Once you have chosen the game you think you'll like, study it. My hope is that you'd do this before perusing the airport's book store because at that point, it's too late. There are tons of books that you can read ahead of time. Then, practice with a buddy or by playing on a free gaming site.<br /><br />Good Luck!<br /><br />By the way - do not take pictures inside casinos. 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