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Game play technology has evolved light years from the simplistic days of Pong to today’s newest innovation. MagiQuest, a unique real-life fantasy environment in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is reinventing the concept of fun from the ground up. People of all ages -- kids, adults, families and friends are discovering the outrageous thrill of magic wands that really work.

Wakefield, RI June 15, 2006 -- When the first game of Pong went public in 1975, a multi-billion dollar industry was born. Today's video and computer games feature stunning lifelike effects, more realistic than anyone could have envisioned in the early days of bitty Pac-Man® and Space Invaders™. Players choose their own adventures,
But even with dazzling visuals and fluid onscreen action, the pursuit of video gaming remains a socially isolating, couch potato experience. Parents are concerned.

Perhaps that's why there's something new on the horizon, a major breakthrough in interactive entertainment designed by a small, award-winning Rhode Island-based company known as Creative Kingdoms, LLC.

Step into the enchanted realm of "MagiQuest" and the world outside vanishes.

MagiQuest is a real-life fantasy experience in a 3-D environment that breaks all the known boundaries of previous game play. Designed for all ages, game play brings kids, adults, families, and friends together. No TV, no computer, no Game Boy™, no gaming console. This is the real thing.

Award-winning MagiQuest has been called the next killer-app-quantum-leap in the world of entertainment technology. Equipped with the powerful magic found only in the patented MagiQuest wand, players are able to breathe life into inanimate objects and creatures on command. This is a first.

Where else would you be able to take on a LIFE-SIZED fire-breathing dragon lurking in a dungeon... challenge a dreaded Goblin Warlord and come to the aid of a hauntingly beautiful Princess who's lost her jewels? It all comes down to this: Can you master the magical arts in time to save this fair kingdom?

In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, people have been lining up to find out since June 2005 when the first MagiQuest opened its portals. More openings are scheduled early this summer in Anaheim, California, and in Pennsylvania's beautiful Poconos soon after. Myrtle Beach guests enter a vast 20,000 sq. ft. realm packed with over 150 dazzling wand-activated events. Laced with secrets, surprises, and rewards, the game is described as outrageously fun. Similar to a kind of techno-scavenger hunt, players select their own quests and adventures while gathering gold and accumulating new powers within their wands.

"Players choose their own adventures," says Denise Weston, co-founder of Creative Kingdoms. "Unlike video games, there's no sitting around; everyone travels through the game at their own pace, teaming up for fun, heading off into different areas where quests lead them. MagiQuest uses interactive technology to bring kids and parents together in amazing new ways."

About Creative Kingdoms, LLC: Creative Kingdoms creates immersive play environments that weave fantasy into reality, by combining elements of fun, imagination, hands-on activities, storytelling and game play into one seamless experience. Co-founder Denise Weston has been developing award-winning entertainment attractions for over 25 years, working with companies from Disney to Six Flags. She's appeared as a guest expert on talk shows, authored 3 books and written more than 75 articles on parenting. Denise has also served on Hasbro's advisory board while providing product development consultation to toy industry world leaders Playskool, Hasbro Toy Group, Kenner and Hasbro Interactive Funware.

Faux rocks and artificial boulders made of concrete can transform virtually any landscape into an island paradise. Homeowners, designers and builders can browse through The Concrete Network’s online water features photo gallery and find the perfect feature for their landscaping project.

Yucaipa, CA (PRWEB) June 16, 2006 –- The Concrete Network, the largest and most comprehensive source for concrete information, offers an online concrete water features photo gallery featuring design ideas for creating artificial rocks and boulders from concrete for waterfalls, swimming pools, and other outdoor environments.

Homeowners, landscape and swimming pool designers, and contractors are turning to faux rocks for water feature construction because of their aesthetic appeal and convenient installation process. While landscapes are often easy to alter by adding flowers and trees, today’s innovative water features offer homeowners a resort-like setting right at home.

Artificial rocks made of concrete offer a multitude of design possibilities without the hassle of having to transport heavy materials, and can often be created on-site. It is clear to see that virtually any landscape can be created through decorative water features. From waterslides in the forms of rocks to fountains decorating a garden, these features can be designed to enhance any existing landscape.

These features offer long lasting durability, are versatile and require low maintenance, and are the perfect option for withstanding outdoor weather. Many of the works in these photos can be replicated and/or tailored to meet the needs of the individual, the home, and space restrictions.

The concrete photo gallery is updated every Friday offering new photos of custom and unique designs and applications. Photos for the photo gallery have been collected from contractors around the country and are for design idea purposes only.

Established in 1999, The Concrete Network’s purpose is to educate consumers, builders, and contractors on popular decorative techniques and applications including stamped concrete, stained concrete floors, concrete countertops, polished concrete, and much more. Over 750,000 visitors research The Concrete Network Web site each month.

The site excels at connecting buyers with local contractors in their area through its Find-A-Contractor service. The service provides visitors with a list of decorative concrete contractors throughout the U.S. and Canada, and is fully searchable by 22 types of decorative concrete work and 198 metropolitan areas throughout North America.

Move over Gold & Platinum
There's a Hot New Metal for Mens Wedding Rings

Men are increasingly choosing alternative metals for their wedding rings. Jewelers across America report there is a trend for younger, (and younger at heart) men to purchase wedding bands made of tungsten carbide.

June 18, 2006 -- Hip, young, men are increasingly choosing alternative metals for their jewelry. While their fathers wear 14kt gold or the more expensive platinum, the Generation X'ers are gravitating in large numbers to tungsten carbide, titanium, carbon fiber, and stainless steel. We've seen the demand for tungsten carbide rings grow exponentially the past couple of years. Jewelry stores are telling us that where customers never heard of tungsten carbide rings just a year or so ago, now guys come in asking for these rings.
For rings, including wedding bands, the most popular trend right now is to purchase tungsten carbide. This composite metal is new to the jewelry industry, but has been used for decades in machine shops around the world. Chad Anderson, of Heavy Stone Rings in Orem, UT, says, "We've seen the demand for tungsten carbide rings grow exponentially the past couple of years. Jewelry stores are telling us that where customers never heard of tungsten carbide rings just a year or so ago, now guys come in asking for these rings."

There are many benefits to choosing a tungsten carbide wedding ring. The biggest advantage is that tungsten carbide is rock hard. (Actually harder than rocks – except diamonds.) Tungsten carbide is a 9 on the Moh’s hardness scale, so it is virtually unscratchable. Imagine wearing a ring that always keeps it’s original shine!

The other advantage to tungsten carbide rings is the affordable price. Most men’s platinum rings are now selling for upwards of $2,000 or more, and they look very worn in short time. White gold rings turn a off-white/yellowish color and scratch easily. However, tungsten carbide rings are available for a couple hundred dollars and keep their new look forever.

The look and feel of a tungsten carbide ring appeals to many fashion conscious shoppers. These rings are very heavy and masculine. They have a cool steely color to them. Many of the tungsten carbide rings are inlaid with white gold, platinum, and diamonds.

Below are some pointers from Ron Yates, founder of Titanium-Jewelry.com, when choosing a tungsten carbide ring:

1. Make sure the ring is "tungsten carbide", not plain tungsten. Plain tungsten, while it is a hard material, scratches much easier.

2. Make sure there is no cobalt in the ring. Many low priced manufacturers use cobalt as a binder. Cobalt reacts to the body’s chemistry and small white spots develop on the ring, which cannot be removed.

3. Tungsten carbide rings cannot be sized. Make sure the retailer has a lifetime size exchange in case you gain (heaven forbid) or lose weight.

4. Tungsten carbide rings are incredibly hard, but also brittle. Should you drop your ring on a hard flooring surface it may crack. Make sure that the retailer has a lifetime free replacement policy to warranty against possible damage.

5. Have fun shopping for your cool new tungsten carbide ring and choose one that matches your personality!

For more information please visit www.titanium-jewelry.com

Gulf Coast Residents Who are Sick of Hurricanes Move to Tucson Arizona, Land of “Perpetual Sunshine” and no Hurricanes

Gulf Coast residents who have made it through hurricane Katrina and hurricane Rita might be thinking they want to live in another geographical location. If so, Tucson Arizona warmly welcomes them with open arms.

June 19, 2006 -- At the Gulf Coast it is once again Hurricane season and it looks like it might be a repeat of the devastation that "Katrina" and "Rita" left in its wake in 2005. We can only hope and pray that such a tragedy is not repeated. No second hand treatment for self-employed, single parents, previous bankruptcies, foreign nationals or someone who just lost everything in a natural disaster.
One can understand why there seems to have been a partial exodus from the gulf coast region. A lot of individuals lost everything. Their homes, their jobs, their security, their peace of mind and in some case their lives or the lives of a loved one.

For those that live in the Gulf Coast region and are not confident enough to "emotionally" or "financially" handle another hurricane season why not entertain the idea of moving to a land of hot weather, constant sunshine and where the closest thing to a hurricane are the warm desert breezes.

Arizona is a beautiful state to live in and the housing market is almost as hot as the weather in AZ. The cost of living is still relatively low and unlike the recently battered Gulf Coast, the worst weather Arizona gets is perpetual sunshine 350 days a year and no hurricanes.

"Tucson - Arizona's second largest city"

Tucson (TOO-sahn) is a growing metropolis of over 950,000 that keeps getting better and better. The city's geography is a postcard image of cactus forests, rolling hills, and craggy mountains. National and State Parks and Forests ring the city.

"From Old Pueblo to Southwestern Metropolis"

Locally, the city is still called the Old Pueblo for the adobe fortress or "presidio" that marked its early borders.

Over the past three centuries, Tucson has grown from Native American farming community, to Spanish outpost, to dusty frontier town, to bustling, territorial days' railroad hub, to the mature Southwestern metropolis it is today.

The weather is mild nearly all the time, just right for all kinds of fun activities.

Tucson enjoys more sunshine than any other city in the United States, about 350 days each year. Temperatures rise in the summer, but low humidity helps even the warmest days feel comfortable. Tucson's surprisingly lush environment is replenished by two rainy seasons. This rain pales in comparison to what a "Gulf Coast" resident is used to though.

Small town feel - big city amenities.

In spite of a relatively small population (950,000) Tucson, Arizona is home to two world-class spas, a prestigious Pac-10 university (Go Wildcats!), Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and the largest private collection of aircraft in the world. Surrounding Tucson, Arizona real estate, you may be surprised by the abundance of palm trees, greenery and wildlife.

Conventional and alternative health facilities abound. There's a Cancer Center, a Heart Center, Children's Research Center and Dr. Andrew Weil's Program in Integrative Medicine at The University of Arizona. Business is diversified, with Tucson laying claim to the title, "Optics Valley." Other significant areas include aerospace, software, biotech and teleservices. The city offers a multicultural experience. It's the gateway to Mexico, and as well, has benefited from a rich Native American heritage. In 2000, American Heritage magazine named Tucson as its "Great American Place."

Tucson, Arizona Statistics

• Elevation: 2,389 feet
• Population: Tucson Metropolitan Area estimated at more than 950,000
• Geographical size: Metropolitan area covers more than 600 square miles
• Proximity to other areas: Phoenix (115 miles); Mexico (63 miles); San Diego (420 miles); Los Angeles (520 miles); Las Vegas (399 miles)
• Third-fastest-growing city in U.S., according to The University of Arizona's Eller College of Business and Public Administration
• Weather: Average high temperature, 81.7; low 54.2

The Quality of Tucson, Arizona Living

• All the major performing arts ‹ from resident theatrical groups to opera to ballet to symphonies
• Active visual arts groups, plus TMA and many private galleries
• Award-winning sports program at prestigious Pac-10 university
• Spring training (only city in country to have three major-league spring training teams)
• Outdoor recreation: trails and bird watching
• Affordability of Tucson, Arizona real estate
• More than 80 percent of the population has earned a high school diploma or higher
• Golf: World-class resorts, courses and clubs
• Superb medical facilities: Cancer Center, Heart Center, Children's Research Center and Dr. Andrew Weil's Program in Integrative Medicine at The University of Arizona
• Laid-back, easy-going environment
• Fashions are typically casual but many charity events are black tie

"Tucson Ranked Fifth Best Place to Live"

The Greater Tucson Economic Council (GTEC) recently reported that Tucson was chosen as the fifth best place in America to live, out of a field of 331 communities. The ranking, by MSN.com, took into account the cost of living, crime rate, education, home prices and weather. The only four cities in the survey that were rated higher were Raleigh, NC; Denver, CO; San Diego, CA and Punta Gorda, FL.

Additionally, the Milkin Institute’s recent "Best Performing Cities" report indicated a 17-point increase for Tucson over the previous listing; the Old Pueblo’s overall rank is an enviable 40.

It also is significant to note that an article in the June 15, 2003 edition of Genetic Engineering News highlighted the city’s growing infrastructure of biotech firms, one of the "clusters" that GTEC is hard at work recruiting to the Greater Tucson Area.

Quality of Business

Diverse economy gives the city the ability to roll with the punches

Big areas are aerospace, optics and astronomy, biotech, teleservices, environmental technology and information technology

Largest private employers in Southern Arizona: University of Arizona, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Raytheon Missile Systems, Carondelet Health Network, TMC HealthCare, University Medical Center, Intuit, Tosco Marketing, AOL, American Airlines, IBM Storage Systems Division, Texas Instruments, Tucson Electric Power Company, Asarco Inc., Phelps Dodge Corp., Bombardier Aerospace, Northwest Medical Center, First Data Corp. Teleservices, Weiser Lock.

Local company Burr-Brown recently sold to Texas Instruments for $7.65 billion.

Tucson International Airport: 10 airlines serve TIA providing non-stop service to 13 cities and connections to more than 75 destinations. 60 daily flights.

Northwest Tucson is just 1 1/2 hours drive to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

Nation's leading metro area in job growth according to U.S. Department of Labor (See Tucson Lifestyle magazine's July 2000 issue)

"How hot does it get?"

It gets Hot…Yes…This is the most common question I get…The highest temperature ever recorded was 117 degrees Fahrenheit on June 26, 1990. The annual average is 82 degrees Fahrenheit/28 degrees Celsius for the high temperature, and 55 degrees Fahrenheit/13 degrees Celsius for the low temperature. Tucson's mild climate is legendary.

"Tucson AZ is still in the middle of a Real Estate Boom while the rest of the nation looks at a bursting bubble"

Real Estate appreciated almost 30% just in Tucson and Pima county AZ in 2005 while the rest of the country averaged about an 8% increase (still not shabby). Analysts are waiting for the "alleged" housing bubble to burst across the USA.

Yes,…the "Real Estate Boom" has slowed down a bit in Arizona. There always has to be a "market correction". Real estate and the mortgage markets are always cyclical and Arizona is no different. The prices and the appreciation rates were going completely nuts here in southern AZ over the past few years. Prices are now leveling out, returning to normal and appreciation rates have slowed. There is more of a housing inventory and homes for sale are staying on the market longer. Tucson is turning back into a more "buyer friendly" market. There is no doubt you can get a great home and / or piece of property for a great price that you will simply love.

The great news is that despite the market slow down it has been predicted that steady "above average" appreciation is expected to continue for at least the next 5 years here in southern Arizona.

If Tucson, Arizona living sounds appealing to you, you must check out Tucson, Arizona real estate and your opportunities to be a part of this dynamic, small town community.

Tucson Arizona is a very unique Real Estate market and there are, nuances and opportunities that might be missed from real estate and mortgage professionals that are not familiar with the Tucson market. You want to make sure you get the best and most current information on the housing market and local mortgage rates and loan programs. The local Tucson professionals from YourLenderForLife.com will definitely be able to give you the best advice for completely FREE with NO obligation.

Appreciation rates in Arizona are still currently 4 times the national average and interest rates are now creeping back up. As interest rates start a slight move back up, many borrowers are locking in their loans at the current interest rates. Typically, the privilege of locking in a rate is only utilized by borrowers with excellent credit One lender in Arizona is offering the opportunity to lock in for those with marginal or questionable credit.

"No second hand treatment for self-employed, single parents, previous bankruptcies, foreign nationals or someone who just lost everything in a natural disaster."

The lending specialists at YourLenderForLife.com understand that tragedies happen and that people make mistakes and that they should not have to pay for these tragedies and mistakes forever. Millions of Americans overextend themselves with credit cards, auto loans, and similar obligations. In addition countless Gulf Coast residents’ lives were completely devastated in the wake of Katrina and Rita. For some this has translated to complete financial devastation due to lack of income from loss of a job or business, destroyed assets and property, and or the mounting debt from medical bills due to hurricane tragedies of 2005. YourLenderForLife.com understands this

YourLenderForLife.com has a lengthy track record of working with current home-owners or first time home buyers who have had financial problems and consistently finds ways to not only approve their loans, but significantly improve their current finances and boost their FICO score. The result in almost every case is a lower monthly obligation and steadily improving credit.

YourLenderForLife.com is an Arizona mortgage lending specialist and has access to a virtual supermarket of loan products: first mortgages, second mortgages, refinances, 15 year, 30 year fixed rates, the new 40 year mortgage, adjustable rate mortgages or ARM’s as they are called, Interest only loans, construction loans, home equity lines of credit, no employment no income verification loans and even the wildly popular 1% "pick-a-pay" option ARM loan.

The specialists at YourLenderForlife.com will show how it is not only possible to own ones own home, if one currently rents, but why it is imperative to own in today’s changing market with high appreciation rates and rising interest rates. Literally any type of loan that you can think of is offered through YourLenderForLife.com. And all can enjoy the lock privilege. The Key is to call or log onto their web site to get the process started ASAP. You can be on your way to being Tucson Arizona’s newest home owner. But doing it quickly is a must, rates and home prices are rising everyday.

"Gulf Coast residents looking for a change, Tucson AZ warmly welcomes you with open arms."

Make sure you consult with an "expert" on the local Tucson Arizona market to know exactly how great and affordable Tucson Arizona really is.

YourLenderForLife.com has years of experience of Real Estate and Mortgage Loan consulting all over the southwest and primarily in Southern AZ. They’ve made thousands of homeowners happy they found YourLenderForLife.com. And many are repeat customers or referrals from previous borrowers. Call Keith J. Gill Loan Executive with YourLenderForLife.com for your FREE no obligation consultation and introduction to the wonders of the community of Tucson Arizona. Call NOW toll free 1-888-411-2877 or log onto their website at www.YourLenderForLife.com

2006 © YourLenderForLife.com is a portal for loan specialists at Barkley Mortgage LLC AZ Mortgage Banker BK-0903101. Barkley Mortgage is an equal opportunity lender.