Las Vegas From Home.com Entertainment Inc.

(TSX VENTURE:LVH.V - News)(OTC BB:LVFHF.OB - News)(Berlin:LVH.BE - News)(FWB: LVH) announces
the sale of its Action Poker Network ("APN") business to
Playsafe Holdings Ltd. ("Playsafe"), a wholly owned subsidiary
of Playsafe Holding AS (Norway), a public company listed
in Norway. The sale price is US$2,350,000 and the transaction
is to be completed on or before November 17, 2006. Playsafe
has deposited a break up fee of US$250,000, which upon Closing
will be applied against the purchase price or, if the agreement
is earlier terminated, refunded to Playsafe or paid to the
Company in accordance with the provisions set out in the
agreement. A finder's fee of US$75,000 is payable to an
arm's length third party upon completion. The arm's length
transaction is subject to regulatory approval.

Google

Have you ever become overwhelmed by the number of documents accessible via a search engine? If you're like most people, then you probably have. There are often millíons of results and not every result is likely to be of equal importance to you.
In addition to that, there is also ambiguity of language. Words often have multiple meanings and people can have different interpretations of the same word. How does a search engine know the difference? Well, at this point, they don't.

They certainly can't read your mind so the only other alternative is to track your online activities in order to custom tailor your search results based on your recorded preferences.

Google is one of the first major search engines to test this new technology. They have released a total of 15 new patent applications this month in relation to this very endeavor.

Actually, I'm not too surprised that Google is taking a closer look at personalization. Google has already begun testing many of these new search features in Google's personalized search, which is currently in beta.

Traditional algorithmic search engines have reached their peak. Personalized search is a natural and necessary progression for Google and other search engines as well. Some alternative search engines have already taken the lead in this endeavor. Eurekster is one of the main ones that comes to mind, using a searchers history to bring them more relevant results.

Here is an abstract from one of the Google patents entitled, "Systems and methods for analyzing a user's web history":

Now, let's talk about all of that in English. Over time, we develop a history of search queries, selected results that were clicked on, advertisements that were clicked on, and a multitude of other browsing activities. Each of these actions reflect our preferences and interests. Other examples of user activity Google may begin tracking include ínstant messaging, word processing, particpation in chat rooms, and internet phone calls.

Talk about an invasion of privacy. Unfortunately, we don't have enough time to get into that issue.

Within the proposed system, users are able to access their past searching and/or browsing activities to enhance their experience. Each of their online activities gives clues to what they might ultimately be looking for or related areas of interests.

In addition, users can also modify their profile information to better represent their interests. For example, a user may delete a search query from his/her history or he/she could also provide updated information as to new areas of interest.

One of the most interesting aspects of the patent filings involves the re-ranking of search results according to the user's preferences.

After a query is made and the results are received, they are then adjusted based upon information from the user's history.

The order of the search results can be adjusted in accördance with a history score and/or any user modified result score.

Search results can also be ordered based upon the combined search result score and the history score to come up with optimal results.

A searcher may also be shown an indication of previously visited pages among the SERPs, including information such as the date and time a page was previously visited and the number of times that the user has visited the site within a certain period of time.

A certain number of the most highly ranked results that the user has previously visited may be displayed in a region above the search results for easy access (kind of like memorized favorites). They could also be displayed in another section of the page, or even in a separate window.

These previously visited pages may be ordered based upon a number of different ranking criteria, including the history score, pagerank, time of last access, number of accesses, etc.

A user's browsing activities may also play a part in the ranking of search results. For example, if a website was previously visited by the user, it could have its score boosted based upon the number of times the user has visited that particular website. Google may also track how long a visitor stays at any given website. A site that is bookmarked and visited frequently will almost always rank higher.

On the other hand, search results that were previously presented to searchers but not clicked through could be lowered in the results.

What does this mean for you as a webmaster and SEO? It means that your focus should be on quality. In creating your website, you must emphasize visitor optimization and content optimization over search engine optimization.

The visitor always comes first and you must create a valuable experience for them. Allow them to quickly and easily bookmark your website. Give them a reason to hang out for a while, whether it be a forum, lots of great content, or fun quizzes.

Life and Tax Changes

Leaving your job

If you're retiring, you're likely ecstatic. But if you're leaving for another job (or have been asked to leave by your employer), the experience might be more bittersweet. Keep these tax issues in mind:

• Retirement plan distributions: What should you do with them? If you're simply changing jobs, it's probably best to transfer your retirement assets - such as a pension and/or 401(k) plan - to a traditional rollover IRA. If you move the funds into your personal account, they will be subject to taxes, and possibly penalties. But if you transfer them to a traditional rollover IRA, you can avoid current taxation. Even better, in an IRA, you're in control of your investment decisions, not some mutual fund manager. It's also possible that you can move your retirement assets directly from your old employer's plan to that of your new employer.
  
  
  


• Retirement payments: If you take your retirement as an annuity, rather than a lump sum, make sure to review your withholding again. It's possible that your tax bracket will change, and you'll have to understand how your new tax rate will affect the taxes (and withholding) on your retirement funds. Alternately, you might opt not to have any withholding taken from your retirement payments. In that case, become aware of how estimated taxes work, and how to play that game to avoid underpayment penalties.
  
  
  
  


• Social Security: If you're fortunate enough to retire, it's possible that you'll be receiving Social Security payments. Did you know that, at certain income levels, up to 85% of your Social Security benefits will be taxable? If this is a surprise to you, you might want to read more about the taxability of Social Security benefits.

Virtually every life event will affect your taxes in some way. Even if your life isn't changing, the tax laws are. It's up to you to be vigilant in keeping as much of your money as you possibly can.

Tags: tax, usa, marriage, new+career

Need a Poker Room now that the SAFE Port act passed?

If you're like many of my fellow Americans after Black Friday, you're probably in need of a Poker Room. Here's the list of Poker Rooms who are still servicing the US Marketplace - commentary inserted where appropriate. Feel free to download one or all of them as you see fit. The poker rooms still open to Americans are as follows:






"Hi this is Doyle Brunson,



I know many of you will be concerned and dismayed about the bill signed into law by the President today.I want to confirm to all existing and potential poker players that it’s business as usual here at Doyle’s Room and we continue to accept players from all over the world including the United States of America.



We at Doyle’s Room have taken extensive legal advice and believe that it is far too early to fully understand the implications of this bill on our industry. Based on the legal advice we have received, the new bill does not make internet poker expressly illegal nor does it take aim at players who enjoy online poker. However, there are some U.S. States that have existing regulations in place that may prohibit online gaming, so we encourage all of our U.S. players to review the laws of the State in which they reside.



Until such time as the law becomes clearer, Doyle’s Room will operate as normal with our full exciting range of games and tournaments at all limits. And finally, please rest assured your money is completely secure at Doyle’s Room.



I personally guarantee it.. "

Tags: usa, poker, casino

UltimateBet

UltimateBet continues to be available for play by all members of the online community worldwide, including US players. The new US legislation expected to be signed on Friday, October 13 does not prohibit the online community playing online poker. At UltimateBet, it's business as usual. All players' deposits are held safely in a segregated account at a Tier 1 legal institution

Tags: usa, family

The Average American: 1967 and Today

As the U.S. population crossed the 300 million mark sometime around 7:46 a.m. Tuesday (according to the U.S. Census Bureau), the typical family is doing a whole lot better than their grandparents were in 1967, the year the population first surpassed 200 million.



Mr. and Mrs. Median's $46,326 in annual income is 32% more than their mid-'60s counterparts, even when adjusted for inflation, and 13% more than those at the median in the economic boom year of 1985. And thanks to ballooning real estate values, average household net worth has increased even faster. The typical American household has a net worth of $465,970, up 83% from 1965, 60% from 1985 and 35% from 1995.



Throw in the low inflation of the past 20 years, a deregulated airline industry that's made travel much cheaper, plus technological progress that's provided the middle class with not only better cars and televisions, but every gadget from DVD players to iPods, all at lower and lower prices, and it's obvious that Mr. and Mrs. Median are living the life of Riley compared to their parents and grandparents.

Tags: usa, family

Train tracks need a barrier

Yet another accident at a railroad crossing ("Man in collision with train remains critical," Sept. 10)! I live near the tracks and listen to very loud, extended train horns blasting throughout the day and all night. When are we going to either slow down the trains or build a barrier that will keep people and vehicles safe?

Most small communities along the tracks are not financially able to build an underpass or a bridge, like Solana Beach. I believe the time has come to build barriers that block traffic and pedestrians well in advance of train traffic.


Increased traffic, and the new Sprinter line, will only make matters worse. Sixty Sprinters a day will run down the east-west corridor from Oceanside to Escondido. That corridor is far more vulnerable than the north-south corridor, because of the proximity of roads closely aligned to both sides of the track.

Creating Your Own Online Radio Station

By Kim Roach (c) 2006


Podcasting has leveled the playing field for people around the world. With just a few tools, you can quickly and easily set up
your own talk show on the topic of your choice. All you need is a computer, a microphone, and a passion to share your knowledge
with others. Whether you are a sports buff, a political guru, a part-time comedian, or a fitness professional, there is an audience
waiting for your voice on the Internet.

As an online marketer, podcasting allows you to step into a market that is largely untapped. However, please don't take it
for granted. A quality podcast can garner the attention of thousands of listeners.

By now you may be wondering how podcasting is different from radio. I am delighted to tell you that podcasting stands head and
shoulders above radio by eliminating the many barriers found in traditional radio.

For example, through podcasting, any person with an MP3 player can choose from a huge number of talk shows and music varieties.
One of the biggest differences is that they can listen to the content on their own schedule. It's like the Tivo for radio. In
addition, as a podcaster, you don't have to worry about the FCC rules and regulations of radio. Simply plug in your microphone
and go to town.

Podcasting is primed for growth, with many big names already entering the arena. Here are just a few of the voices you might be
familiar with who are involved in the podcasting revolution.

Business Week

Wall Street Journal

RealMoney Radio with Jim Cramer

Rich Dad Podcast by Robert Kiyosaki

Even colleges are getting involved. Duke University gives all incoming freshmen an iPod preloaded with Duke-related content such
as information about orientation and the academic calendar.

There is an unlimited variety of what you could do with your podcast. Whether you want to do expert interviews, tutorials, news
broadcasting, sports commentary, or coaching and consulting, podcasting is an excellent platform for your marketing message.

Best of all, podcasting is simple enough for anyone to get involved. Here are the 5 basic steps to creating your own podcast.

1. Get the right equipment.

2. Produce and save your podcast.

3. Create an RSS feed.

4. Upload your podcast to your website.

5. Publicize your podcast.

So, let's dig in. If you want to create a quality radio station, you'll need some quality equipment. Although the built-in
microphone in your computer will work, for better quality, you'll want to invest in a good microphone. I would suggest the
following:

Audio Technica 3035 Microphone

If you're looking for something more portable, check out the Edirol R-9.

As far as software goes, Audacity is a great audio editor and recorder that you can download for free at
http://audacity.sourceforge.net. Using this software you can record live audio,
edit MP3 files, cut, copy, splice, and mix sounds.

However, if you want to go for higher-end recording software, try out Sound Forge Audio Studio software. This professional
software offers advanced audio mixing, editing, and effects processing capabilities.

Now that you've got the right equipment, it's time to start recording your show.

This is the fun part, so let your creative juices flow. Have fun with it and your listeners are sure to enjoy.

If you want to add music intros to your podcast, you can find some Podsafe music at:

http://music.podshow.com

http://www.podsafeaudio.com

http://www.audiofeeds.org

These resources will help you to stay out of any legal trouble.

Once you've finished perfecting your recording, you'll need to export it as an MP3.

Keep in mind that your subscribers will be downloading your podcast from the Web. Therefore, you don't want your file size to
be too large. You can save a lot of bandwidth by using the proper settings during your MP3 conversion.

For talk shows and audio books, I would recommend a bit rate of 48 - 56k Mono. However, if you are recording music or music/talk
combinations, you'll want to choose between 63 - 96k Stereo. A high bit rate (around 160kbps) is great for music but overkill for
a talk show.

Once you convert your audio file to MP3, you also need to edit the ID3 tags. These tags identify the artist, title, and genre.

Now it's time to upload your audio file to your web server.

Once you've done that, you must create an RSS file. This is a crucial step because it allows listeners to subscribe to your
podcast and have it automatically synched to their MP3 players. This is the step that transforms your audio into a true podcast.

An RSS file is created in XML and will contain four main items: title, description, link, and enclosure. You can also use your
RSS feed to provide your listeners with additional information, including file length, file size, file name, category, topics,
and channels.

You can see an example of a podcast RSS feed at
http://scottp.podomatic.com/rss2.xml.

If you don't want to write your RSS file from scratch, there are plenty of RSS file generators available. One of my favorites can
be found at TDScripts.com.

However, if you are using Wordpress to distribute your blog's RSS feed, then turning your blog into a podcast station is quick
and easy. Simply link an audio file (MP3) from your web server into one of your posts.

Once you have linked to the audio file from within your post, WordPress will automatically add the necessary enclosure tag to
your RSS feed to make it useable as a podcast.

If you would like to provide your visitors with convenient play buttons for your podcast, you can do this using
Odeo.com or Audible.com.

How to Publicize Your Podcast

A podcast isn't much use if no one is listening to it. Creating the podcast is just a small part of being a podcaster. To be
truly successful, you must promote your podcast to an eager audience. You can do this in a number of ways.

First, you should tell your website visitors about your podcast. You can do this using a podcast chicklet. Create a custom
chicklet at TwisterMc.com.

Next, complete the ping form at http://audio.weblogs.com to get your podcast listed
there.

Then, submit your podcast into iTunes. This alone can bring you a nice subscriber base.

However, you'll also want to get your podcast into all major and minor podcast directories. You can find a complete list of
directories at: MasterNewMedia.org.

If you are persistent in your promotions, you should see your subscriber base rise fairly quickly.

Podcasting is one of the best ways to increase your online audience. If you do not keep up with these exciting changes, you
will quickly get left behind and your online business will certainly suffer. Therefore, have fun and dig into what I expect to
be a massive transition in the way we communicate online.

Did You Find This Article Useful?
Then Digg It.

About The Author

Kim Roach is a staff writer and editor for the SiteProNews and
SEO-News newsletters. You can also find additional tips and news on webmaster and SEO
topics by Kim at the SiteProNews blog. Kim's email is: kim @ seo-news.com

Backgammon

Backgammon is receiving a lot of interest at the moment because many people in egaming don’t know about it and are looking for the next sector to hype after poker.

It has a good chance of doing well: it is well-known all over the world and large numbers of people know how to play it or have a board in their house. It’s a very cultural game with an ancient history, visually it is interesting to look at and it is exciting to watch on TV.

Monthly player value is similar to casinos, which proves that backgammon players play often, with professionals spending between six and eight hours a day playing. It is hard to say with accuracy which markets will grow in a major way, but Scandinavia is doing very well and obviously Greece and Turkey are expected to do well, while Germany, Italy and Israel are also taking up backgammon in a substantial way.

More research needs to be done on the market and how well cross-selling the product can work, part of the problem at the moment is that there are no conclusive figures for the market and people tend to overestimate its potential. It is mainly a play-for-fun market at the moment and it is difficult to make serious money out of it right now. But as it grows and gathers momentum real money players will come in and grow the sector, but that will probably take up to three years.

Checking account

Checking account

The checking account is the account type used for regular, daily use. It is excellent for frequent deposits and withdrawals. In most cases it earns you no interest. Checking accounts are usually free to open, but many banks will charge you a monthly fee if the average monthly balance of the account will drop below a certain amount. In other words you have to keep in the bank all the times a certain minimum amount of money (varies from bank to bank, but it is usually a few hundred dollars) if you want the monthly fee waived. These monthly fees are usually around $10/month. However some banks offer free checking accounts with no imposed limits called free checking accounts. The best way is to shop around, visit a few banks and ask them.

You should be aware of a "dirty trick" the banks make with your checking account if you are not careful. Usually you won't be warned about this. Here it is. If you spend more money from your checking account than you have available, and the difference is not more than $50-100, the bank will accept your transaction and will "lend" you the difference. For this service you will be charged a $25-30 flat fee called overdraft fee. You will have to pay back not only what you overspent, but the overdraft fee as well. So be careful, monitor your checking account limits and don't go below zero.

What I suggest, from my personal experience, for safety reasons try not to go below $100 on your checking amount balance. In America is quite common to pay for things in "easy monthly payments". This is how TV commercials are luring their customers in buying. Easy monthly payments. And let's say you bought your favorite wonder widget for $400, but instead of paying it off in full, you decide to go for 4 easy payments of $100. Now the problem with this is if you don't write it down to remember it, within two months you will forget it. And by any chance if that time you are running low on money on your checking account, such an "automated charge" can overdraw your account and trigger the overdraft fee.

So watch your checking account limits.