Traditional Board Games Into The 21st Century (NAPSA)—People have turned to board games for fun since the beginning of civilization. The “Royal Game of Ur” was played as long ago as 3,000 B.C. Board games have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, presumably placed there for afterlife entertainment. Even ancient Romans, Greeks and Egyptians played board games that are still popular today, such as backgammon, checkers, dominos and chess. For centuries, the attraction of board games has been universal—crossing geographic, cultural and age boundaries. According to Jeffery Goldstein, Ph.D., professor at the University of Utrecht’s Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, board games provide a democraticizing function, giving people of all ages and skill levels a chance to win. Dr. Goldstein also contends that, throughout history, board games have served as a metaphor for life in society. For example, agricultural societies who were at the mercy of flood, drought and other natural disasters enjoyed games of chance, such as backgammon. Meanwhile, people in industrial societies, who felt they controlled their own destinies, preferred games of strategy, such as checkers or chess. During America’s Great Depression in the 1930s, Monopoly was introduced, providing an escape where one could acquire wealth and property by rolling the dice. As societies change, so do board games. In the ’70s and ’80s when video games burst onto the scene, some people thought it would be the end of the traditional board game. Today, kids, teens and grownups alike love to gather around the screen for some friendly competition. A multiplayer video game such as Nintendo’s new Mario Party 4 for Nintendo Gamecube provides the best of two worlds: the camaraderie and interaction of traditional board games with the fast You can spend a fun-filled day with Mario and his friends. paced excitement of modern electronic entertainment. Multiplayer video games such as Mario Party 4 provide quality playtime as well as foster communication and exchange between players in a lighthearted, relaxed atmosphere. Multiplayer video games bring members of different generations and backgrounds together. Even if a family member or friend has never played a Mario game before, the various player levels, individual handicaps and variety of games make Mario Party 4 the perfect game for everyone to enjoy. Fifty all-new mini-games, which include racing games, target-shooting games, and games of chance, are designed to get your competitive juices flowing. With various play scenarios, four players can pair off, all four can compete, you can break up into one-on-one contests, and much more. “We need play like we need sleep,” says Dr. Goldstein. With Mario Party 4, the wildest multiplayer get-together Nintendo has ever thrown, there will be little sleep, but lots of play. We’ve seen game board play has survived and thrived through the centuries. No doubt if King Tut were alive today, the boy king would choose Mario Party 4 for a royal party in the pyramid. Mario Party 4 is available for the Nintendo GameCube at any software store or electronics outlet. You can learn more at www.nintendo.com. Digital Imaging (NAPSA)—In a flash, digital photography has become a picture-perfect solution for amateur and professional shutterbugs alike. For someone who’s still a little unsure about the technology that merges cameras and computers, however, a pair of books from the popular “For Dummies” series may be just the right gift to bring things into focus. Digital Photography for Dummies (Wiley Publishing, $24.99), by Julie Adair King, targets the first-time digital camera user who wants to know how to buy the right camera, take great snapshots, edit them on a PC and print quality pictures or share them online. The fourth edition of this handy reference is fully updated to cover the latest cameras, printers and editing software. Photoshop 7 for Dummies (Wiley Publishing, $24.99), by Deke McClelland and Barbara Obermeier, is a terrific tome for anyone who wants to create or edit professional quality images. The book covers both Windows and Mac versions of Photoshop, the industry standard software package for image creation, correction and enhancement. Photoshop pros can leap ahead and discover new tricks they can try out right away, while novices can find ready-to-use instructions so that they can become productive quickly. These books are available wherever books are sold. To learn more, visit www.dummies.com. (NAPSA)—If anyone can be said to have the recipe for spirituality and well-being, it is Deepak Chopra, M.D. Chopra is best known for his work in spirituality, mindbody medicine and anti-aging. He now offers another kind of recipe—the delicious recipes served at the Chopra Center for Well Being. These nutritiously mouthwatering recipes can be found in his cookbook, The Chopra Center Cookbook: Nourishing Body and Soul, written with David Simon, M.D. and Leanne Backer (Wiley, $24.95). For a delicious and healthy holiday dessert, try his Pumpkin Pie. Pumpkin Pie: Serves 8 Crust: 11⁄4 cups whole wheat pastry flour 1 pinch salt 1 ⁄2 cup cold butter, cut into 1⁄2inch pieces 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar 4 to 6 tablespoons ice water Filling: 1 3-pound pumpkin Apple juice 1 cup low-fat vanilla soymilk, milk or cream 1 ⁄2 cup turbinado sugar 2 tablespoons maple syrup 2 eggs or 1⁄4 cup applesauce or mango pure plus 1⁄4 cup canola oil 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 ⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves 1 pinch salt Place the flour and salt in a food processor and pulse to combine. With the machine running, begin to add the butter, one piece at a time. Continue to pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Add the vinegar. With the machine still running, begin to slowly add the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, waiting a moment or two before each addition, until the dough begins to form into a ball in the bowl of the processor. Remove the dough and place on an oil-sprayed surface and roll out into a circle that is 1 inch larger around than the pie pan. Lightly oil the pie pan and place the dough in it, leav- All About Achilles (NAPSA)—The Achilles tendon is the strongest tendon in the body, and it is in one of the most overused and under-appreciated body parts—the foot. Because the foot is subjected to great amounts of stress every day (while running, the pressure on each foot can be four times normal body weight), it is prone to injuries. The Achilles tendon is a thick, cord-like structure that inserts into the back of the heel bone, the tendons attach muscle to the heel bone. A common Achilles injury is tendonitis, a condition that can significantly limit your participation in sports. Achilles tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendon. Symptoms usually include a burning pain or tenderness in the area two inches above the heel bone. There are many causes of Achilles tendonitis, but the most common are training errors, calf muscle inflexibility, and biomechanical abnormalities. Training errors include increasing your workout intensity too suddenly or changing your running terrain too abruptly. Inflexibility of the calf muscles can result from improper or inadequate stretching. This inflexibility can also be due to wearing high-heeled shoes that tend to shorten the tendon. A Healthy Holiday Pie With A Difference Served at the Chopra Center for Well Being, this pumpkin pie is healthy and delicious. ing a 1-inch edge around the perimeter of the pan. Create a nice border around the pie pan, trimming off any excess dough. Place the piecrust in the refrigerator while you make the pumpkin filling. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Wash and cut the pumpkin and remove the seeds. Place cutside down in a baking dish with about 1⁄2 inch of apple juice, cover with parchment paper and foil, and bake for 45 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out easily. Leave the oven on. When the pumpkin is cool enough to handle, scoop out the pulp with a large spoon. Reserve the pulp in a bowl and discard the skin. In a blender or food processor, combine 3 cups of pulp, soymilk, sugar, maple syrup, eggs, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt. Mix well. Remove the piecrust from the refrigerator; pour the batter up to the rim of the dough. Bake for approximately 45 minutes. If the pie begins to brown too much, place some foil over it. Bake until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. The pie should be golden brown. Nutritional Facts: Per 1 ⁄2 inch piece, using eggs. Calories: 291, Total fat: 13.4 g, Saturated fat: 7.7 g, Carbohydrates: 37.5 g, Protein: 4.9 g. No two giraffes have identical markings. Scientists say the coat pattern of each animal is unique. The Achilles tendon has a relatively poor blood supply, and this accounts for the long time these injuries often take to heal. Early treatment is necessary to prevent chronic problems. Initially, you should reduce or stop your sports activities for a time and ice the back of your achilles three times a day for 15 minutes. Using heel cups can help take the stress off the tendon, but be sure to place them in both shoes to avoid an imbalance that can lead to other injuries. If your pain lingers for more than two weeks seek the care of a podiatric physician for a more thorough evaluation. For more information on foot health, visit www.apma.org or call 1-800FOOTCARE. *** Never trust a man who speaks well of everybody. —John Churton Collins *** A flower arrangement should usually be about one and a half times the height or width of the container. 16 *** Look to a gown of gold, and you will at least get a sleeve of it. —Sir Walter Scott ***
