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In the world of video games, there are game categories such as shooters, adventure, action and role playing. Then there is the sims. This game was introduced by Electronic Arts in February of 2000 and became a cultural phenomenon. It sold twenty million copies and generated the development of hundreds of fan sites devoted to their own personal sims environment.

sims was the first game that introduced a significant degree of online socialization through the use of a game platform. A sims player creates his own family, buys or builds his own home, and has numerous encounters with other characters generated by the game's AI (artificial intelligence). Your Sim character, or "avatar", goes through life experiencing career changes, family development - many of the real-life experiences that lurk outside our real-time doors. Its unique character, in-game quirks (such as the gibberish in which sims communicate) and capacity for infinite change made addicts out of millions.

The game makes the player the "deus ex machina:" the off-screen God controlling individuals lives. As a player, you can help your Sim build not only home and family, but an entire neighborhood. Sufficient quirks and human neuroses are built into the game's characters as they are introduced that the game remains an addictive fascination for its players. As one reviewer put it; "Want to play it straight and watch the lives of a typical nuclear family? You can do that. But what if you'd prefer to dress your Sim like a viking and have him play his guitar for spare change in the subway while living with two women - she's a slacker and she's a paranormal - who are a couple? Go for it."

The company followed its initial success with seven expansion packs and in 2004 launched a completely new version, Sims 2. The new version has better graphics and many more choices for your Sims and their families, who happily are still speaking Simlish. The video engine is more 3D than the original 2D; characters in your game have more choices to make and more characteristics that make them interesting, down to genetic similarities when new family members are born. You can customize the family dog - long hair or short? blue eyes or crossed? Intelligent companion or clumsy doofus? It's up to you.

By 2005, the audience for The Sims and its various expansions had swollen to over 52 million worldwide. The game has been translated into 17 languages, and the franchise has seen life on platforms ranging from the xbox to mobile phones.

One of the principal characteristics of the Sims phenomenon - and one that probably made it a uniquely popular game - is that it has drawn large numbers of female players. The Sims has pulled the neat trick of building a player base evenly split along gender lines, drawing in women without alienating male gamers. Game publisher Electronic Arts estimates women could account for up to 60% of Sims players.

According to Psychology Today, "most long-term players say designing Sim households is the chief delight of the game" and in fact, The Sims' construction and interior design aspects are as impressively realized as its "human" element. Players can easily mirror their real-world homes; one game analysis called Sims "the Ikea game." Most video games have a product popularity curve, like every other consumer item. The Sims seems to be either defying or redefining this characteristic for the video game market.

The sounds of engines breaking the silence of Saturday morning and the smell of freshly cut grass tells everyone that summer is in full swing. Up and down the neighborhood people keep an eye out for the fine manicured lawn with the must beautiful lush grass. But for every lawn the neighbors envy, ten others struggle, fight and battle their grass with problems, stress and frustration. For some the idea of artificial grass would solve all their lawn problems.

The Lawn Secret

The secret to that perfect lawn does come down to a perfect fertilizer to produce lush green miracle growth or depending on the yard man to cut the grass every week, or even pay to have a company come by once per once to give the lawn a look. The secret of a great looking lawn all comes down to good old fashion work and sweat.

Taking advantage of professionals to service the lawn for pest and fertilizer may provide some value. However, with a few basic tips and a little know how, your lawn can soon fight for the title of best looking lawn of the neighborhood.

Grass Types

Depending on where you live will help determine the type of grass and type of care your lawn needs. For example, many in the southern states find lawns of St. Augustine grass or many prefer centipede. Moving up into northern climates the best solution may be a mixture of grass types to produce a thick, dense carpet of grass. Check with the local nursery or state extension agency for the recommended grasses for your area.

Mowing the Grass

As tempting as it may be to cut down on the frequency of mowing the lawn, never cut the grass to low as this can cause the grass to burn from the intense summer sun. Bagging or raking the grass is a best practice for lawn care for a number of reasons. Small piles of grass can prevent sunlight from reaching the grass causing brown stops. Also, cut grass will wither and decompose. The decaying grass can be an invitation for bugs and pest.

The frequency of mowing will be determined by the weather conditions, grass health, fertilizer, rainfall or irrigation schedule, time of year and the period between the previous mowing.

Soil Aeration

Aerating the soil golf courses do this all the time - and adding topsoil in the spring can prepare your grass for the hot summer sun. Aeration will help encourage root growth as well as the grass blades while the topsoil adds nutrients and stability.

Watering & Irrigation

Watering the lawn too much can cause just as much harm as watering too little. We should all work to conserve water and not run sprinklers when it is raining. A simple rain sensor should be installed to reduce watering the lawn too much.

Grass as a plant is pretty forgiving, when you see the grass getting crispy, wilting or browning it is time to water. Watering scheduling is always a big debate and topic of water use discussions. Watering twice per week should meet the needs for most lawns. Water long enough to get a good deep watering of the soil moist to about two inches below ground level.

Fertilizing and Weeding

When selecting any fertilizer check at the local garden center for the best formulation for your type of grass and also the best formulation for the time of year applied. Some fertilizers come with a weed and feed formulation to kill weeds and fertilize the grass. Make sure you read the label and apply correctly. Weed and feed fertilizer applications should not be applied when temperatures reach certain levels.

Large weeds should be pulled or dug up then placed in the trash. Simply running a weed eater over them will not make them go away. If you choose to apply a weed eater be careful when spraying. Most weed killers will also kill the grass.

Beautiful lawns do not just happen; they are slowly built over time with tender loving care and attention. Focus on growing a good, strong, healthy root system and youll soon have a lawn the neighborhood will envy.

Lawn Problems? discover the right - fertilizer for grass as Thomas Fryd shares his 25 plus years of plant care and landscape experience at www.Plant-Care.com. Learn practical professional advice on landscaping and houseplant care.

Do I Really need a burglar Alarm?

Almost everyone should consider installing a burglar alarm because none of us is immune to the opportunist burglar, but we don't all need the same level of protection. Are you guarding some priceless antiques, diamond necklaces or just an average household home like most of us ? The information below will help you decide the level of protection necessary for your home and prevent wasted expense on equipment you don't need. Initially you should consider the general security of your home, are all the doors and windows in good solid condition and are they fitted with sound locks ? Your property may be in a high crime area or in a quiet rural area but a good burglar alarm can be just as important in both, providing a safeguard to give you peace of mind, knowing that your home and family are protected.

Government statistics:
Government statistics show that most attempted burglaries on homes fitted with a home security alarm are unsuccessful, which proves that they act as an effective deterrent. Burglars usually avoid breaking into a house fitted with a burglar alarm and look for easier targets elsewhere.

• Protecting your home with a burglar alarm system provides a much safer environment for your family.
• Insurance companies sometimes offer discounts for houses fitted with an alarm because these homes make substantially fewer claims. Many people only install a home alarm system after they have suffered the distress of loss through burglary.

How much will I have to spend, ask yourself this:

• Do you want to protect your house and possessions while you are away from home, or while you are in residence, or both?
• Or do you just want to protect your garden shed, garage or even just your garden ornaments?

Simple yet powerful alarms for your garden or shed can cost from as little as 19.95, and if your concern is to secure your home while you are away a basic home alarm system that will dial your mobile or landline when activated by an intruder can cost a very modest 39.95. Complete wireless burglar alarm systems with auto dial facilities and PIR movement detectors including contact sensors on doors and windows to cover the whole house interior, plus a control panel and an alarm sounder can also be purchased from only 84.95, and can be fitted by anyone with basic diy skills in about an hour.

No need to employ professional installers, and no need to have expensive monthly service and maintenance contracts, with systems like these everyone can afford the luxury of a burglar alarm to protect their property.

http://www.easyalarms.co.uk
info@easyalarms.co.uk

Mike Stephens
Easy Alarms
The Firs
Hillbrow
Liss
GU33 7QE