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The entertainment division of Microsoft is riding high as their much anticipated and publicized video game Halo 3 set a record for first day sales with a take of 170 million dollars. The previous record was set by Halo 2 in 2004 at 125 million dollars in the first 24 hours. Microsoft was expecting Halo 3 to make 150 million dollars on September 25, 2007 the day it was released. But this ambitious figure was met and surpassed much to the delight of the people at Microsoft and Bungie Studios, their company owned animation studio.

When the first Halo video game Combat Evolved was released on November 9, 2001 it immediately captured the attention of the people who play video games. It then went on to much greater success. Several more video games like Halo 2 and a list of merchandising products like action figures and comic books were created. They were immediately embraced by a legion of loyal fans known as the Halo Nation. A cultural Icon and a very large following were created with this futuristic video game, much like the Star Trek and Star Wars franchises. xbox 360 was the king of video game consoles and the Halo video game franchise was number one for the longest time.

But things have changed for Microsoft since Playstation 3, PSP and Nintendo Wii came out on the market. They offer a variety of great games like call of duty, Madden NFL 07, Twilight Princess and Tony Hawks Project 8 to name only a few. The latest video game consoles by Sony and Nintendo also offer great technological advances, and this has caught the attention of the video game customers who love innovation with their video games and electronics. Especially the kind of innovations that make it seem like you are actually in the game.

When Nintendo Wii was released about a year ago it offered an exiting new technology with the Wii remote. It is called the motion sensitive feature and it allows one to be right there in the game interacting with 3D characters and special effects. It revolutionized the way people play video games.

The Wii console also sells for less than the xbox 360 console at about 250 dollars compared to 500. This fact has made Nintendo Wii video game consoles more attractive than the xbox 360 to the middle class parents whose Christmas funds for presents this year may be a little low.

Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3 by Sony have both been on top of the video game market for the past year. Suddenly xbox 360 was no longer number 1 in sales of video game consoles and the Halo video game franchise was no longer the best in the world of video games. Prior to September 25, 2007 things were not so merry at the entertainment division of Microsoft.

A few years back Microsoft and Bungie Studios hired a group of talented computer programmers and 3D animation artists that was large enough to fill a high school auditorium. These people were the cream of the crop in the business of making video games. They worked very hard for over 3 years on the production of Halo 3 at an overall cost of about 50 million dollars. The result is a first person shooter video game with sound and graphics that are a feast to the eyes and ears and a storyline that is quite engaging with several twists and turns.

The Halo Nation has shown up in full force at the retail stores to buy Halo 3. There is also a very large following for the online video game version of the Halo franchise. Microsoft has reported that over 1 million online players battled it out in the first 24 hours on xbox Live playing Halo 3. This version of the game pits online members against each in a fight to the death.

Now they are dancing in their corporate offices back at Microsoft and Bungie studios. Their video game Halo 3 made 170 million dollars in the first day on the market and they are projecting that it will make over 560 million dollars overall. If this turns out to be true for Halo 3, which is well on its way to making it so, it will give Microsoft a 90 percent profit for this project. In an industry where most video games lose money this is quite an astounding statistic.

The recent release of Halo 3 has put xbox 360 games and xbox 360 video game consoles back in the spotlight and primed to be back on top of the video game industry. It is a testament to the creativity and marketing skills of Microsoft and its employees who have been known to do a few things right in their remarkable history.

The Ultimate stage Staying off

Hey, are you still with me?? Good. You have made it.

The changes you feel :
You will find a lot of changes in you. Improvements mostly. You feel more umm.. lets say Able. You have more stamina, you can walk faster, you cough less, perhaps your palpitations have stopped, you feel better with yourself. Medically, there are a thousand ways in which you have helped yourself and others.

one laughable change that I noticed was change in my body odor  funny, try sniffing your armpits and notice the difference.

now What??

now you have to protect yourself against a relapse. There is nothing much new to this. The keystones are the same as those for Strengthening Your Resolve.

There are likely to be some psychological effects e.g. depression, anxiety, mood disorder, increased appetite, maybe weight gain etc. but if you have prepared your grounds well, you will be able to overcome these.

If you have consulted a counselor/ friend/ medical worker, continue reporting your progress to them. You will find them co-operative, understanding and encouraging. If you are using any medicines / substitutes, do so under medical supervision and your doctor will wean you off them slowly.

What you really need at this tentative stage is the environment. You need to be around people who dont smoke, who don tolerate smoke, who dont even tolerate the smell of smoke. You need to be in no-smoking zones.

also, this is a very good time to begin some aerobic exercises or better still Yoga. sounds funny, huh? But the truth is, the worst times to control are the ones when you are by yourself. When you are with others, you can stay off. There are enough excuses as well as your pride to keep you off. But alone is the testing time.

This is when you need to occupy yourself with Physical exercises. The reason you can reach out to smoke when you are reading or watching TV, but you wont if you are working out.

I never said that quitting is easy. Its hard, very hard. But since you know that by now, you are prepared for it.

Also, now you begin to notice the smell of smoke. You will find yourself getting intolerant of cigarette smoke.

You will notice how, if someone smokes in your apartment or office, the smell can linger on for DAYS. It is also the time to turn into an evangelist and induce others to stop smoking.

Are you ready to quit smoking?

We can take this quit smoking journey together and make real progress to a healthier life.

This concludes Part two of the Don't Quit Smoking series

There are over 32 000 golf courses around the world and the number is growing every day.

We all know that golf is the business worlds unofficial sport and that a golf courses outline is pretty much designed with luscious green fields, putting greens, bunkers and then of course the 19th hole. The 19th hole is where golfers gather and also lovingly nicknamed the watering hole. It is where the days game is discussed in earnest whilst enjoying a drink or two.

The Golfer
South Africa has generated a new type of golf player: the sophisticated golfer. And where better to play a game of golf than in the Cape Winelands. In recent years the game of golf has had an interesting effect upon this district. Less than an hours drive from Cape town youll be met by lush green valleys, vineyards and dramatic mountains that surround this area. A long leisurely drive through the green countryside, basking in the sun while enjoying a relaxing game of golf proves to be better than an apple a day when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle.

The Cape Winelands truly is the golfers paradise. Here you can play 18 holes of golf and then at the 19th turn into a wine connoisseur while discussing the days game. The 19th hole will never be the same. The exquisite wines of Cape Winelands truly make this golfing experience something to remember.

Combining Golf with Wine
Forming part of this refined golf experience is the Alluvia wine estate. Surrounded by several world class golf courses within easy driving distance, Alluvia wine estate is the perfect base for any golf lover. A holiday combining the world of golf with the wine culture of the Cape Winelands is sure to make anyone envious.

Alluvia has gone the extra mile for their golf enthusiasts by constructing a PGA golf green and bunker on the estate. If you need a bit of help to perfect your backswing, the professional service of Sydney van Rensburg is available at your beck and call. Now you can improve your game whilst overlooking onto the Banhoek Valley and sipping on a top class Cabernet Sauvignon.

If you are planning on enjoying a stay at the Alluvia wine estate, be sure to book ahead to avoid disappointment.

There are many other golf courses within a 30 minute drive from Alluvia. Some are designed by famous players like Gary Player and Peter Matkovich, these golf courses are sure to give even the best players a run for their money. One of the better courses is Erinvale golf and country Club, a beautifully crafted course with challenging holes, set against the foothills of the Hottentots Holland Mountains with panoramic views of False Bay. Gary Player was once quoted as saying that he thought this would be one of the best golf courses in South Africa. He was proved to be right.

Day Tripping
More than just a vineyard lifestyle, Alluvia is a luxury wine estate with five star accommodations to give you that head start. Situated in the Stellenbosch Winelands, you would be close to many other tourist attractions. You can spend a day or two in Cape town, going to Robben Island or up Table Mountains cable car.

Enjoy a day trip to Stellenbosch where you can learn about the South African heritage at the many museums found in Stellenbosch. Or if you want to learn more about the nightlife, be sure to join in at one of Cape Towns many clubs, pubs or discos. No matter your taste, there is something for everyone in this area and all well within easy drive of Alluvia.

Alluvia is truly a golfers paradise. Surrounded with natural beauty, some of the best golf courses and superb food and wine, the Western Cape introduces a new way of enjoying a game of golf.

Author Bio

Alluvia Boutique Wine Estate is just outside of Stellenbosch. Surrounded by several golf courses, the winelands golf also offers private lessons on the newly constructed PGA golf green and bunker available on the Alluvia estate.