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This week's Best Gamesville Avatar was created by Icefiresm of Fairbanks, AK (pictured at left).

Icefiresm says: "My avatar shows several sides of my personality. My upper body features, along with the white hair, represent my age (a young 52). My schoolgirl outfit is representive of my job (school) and my playful side. The ball and chain doesn't represent marriage; if anything, I'm pretty much dedicated to my job(the kids and long hours) ... which is the reason I have no "real" social life and the reason why I can be found most of the time playing "Frantic Fish" or popping bubbles on "Bubble Popper". The fire background represents my mischievous side and the angel halo is representive of my passionate nature towards my charity, my family, my work, my friends, and life in general."

Think you have the Best Gamesville Avatar?

Shine up your Gamesville Avatar, then send your Gamesville member name to: members@gamesville.com We'll check out your avatar and see if it has was it takes to be Best Gamesville Avatar.

Be sure to include a little bit about yourself and your Gamesville Avatar with your entry, so we can understand that special connection between you and your Gamesville Avatar.

If we publish you as "Best Gamesville Avatar", we'll give you 500 GV Rewards.

Don't have a Gamesville Avatar yet? Create your FREE Gamesville Avatar now!

Congratulations are in order: Yesterday, auricman of Niagara Falls, NY, won a whopping $3,249 playing Magic 21. Nicely done!

Useless Fact: The famed Niagara Falls are actually composed of three distinct waterfalls: the American Falls (between Prospect Point and Luna Island); the Bridal Veil Falls (between Luna Island and Goat Island); and Canadian/Horseshoe Falls (between Goat Island and Table Rock). Check out some pictures.

Bonus Useless Fact:  Today is the 50th anniversary of Leave It To Beaver. Perhaps tonight we'll have some squab for dinner to celebrate the occasion!

This week's Best Pet duo is from LaPorte, IN. Useless fact: "La Porte" is French for "the Door"; the town was so named in the 1670's by the French explorers and settlers who made use of the area's wide Indian trail that passed through the forest to the next prairie.

Pet Names:
Holly and Gracie

Pet Owner:
Gamesviller "Heims111"

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Distinguishing Personality Traits:
Heims111 says: "These are my girls, Holly and Gracie. They are my pride and joy, and each one has their own personality. Holly is the instigator and Gracie is all girl."

Want to share photos of your own favorite pet with the Gamesville community?

Send photos to: members@gamesville.com

In addition to your pet's picture, please include:

• your member name
• your pet's most distinguishing personality trait

Please note: All submissions become the sole property of Gamesville, which reserves the right to hold, reject and/or edit submissions without notice and without limitation in perpetuity.

Want to use your Gamesville Avatar as your instant messenger buddy icon or add your Gamesville Avatar to your web page? How about use your Gamesville Avatar as your cell phone wallpaper? Now you can!

Sign into the Gamesville Avatar Creator and download your avatar in four different sizes, for all kinds of occasions!

The first person to send us a picture of their avatar as their cell phone wallpaper wins 5,000 GV Rewards--so get cracking! Send your picture to members@gamesville.com with the subject line "Avatar Cell Phone". 

If you're anything like Gamesviller sydneyfleiss, you're a snappy dresser and you've asked us for a way to say a little something about yourself in your Gamesville Profile.

Well, ask and you shall receive!

We're proud to announce the new "About Me" section in your Gamesville Profile that lets you tell people where you're from, what you're into, and what you believe in. For example:

Making changes to your profile is easy. Simply sign into My Gamesville, update your Profile information, click "Save Changes", and you're good to go.

Gamesville profiles are fun, FREE, and offer a great way to meet other people. If only real life made it this easy to get to know so many people so quickly!

Update your Gamesville Profile today...

This week's Best Gamesville Avatar was created by Afrodyte02 of Los Angeles, CA (pictured at left).

Afrodyte02 says: "The inspiration for my avatar was ME :-) I am a hard working woman (hence the outfit). When I am not working, I love to drink and have a good time; that's why I have my bottle filled with "XXX" right by my side. I think off myself as a little firecracker, wild and crazy; that's why I chose the background to show off my colorful and explosive personality."

Think you have the Best Gamesville Avatar?

Shine up your Gamesville Avatar, then send your Gamesville member name to: members@gamesville.com We'll check out your avatar and see if it has was it takes to be Best Gamesville Avatar.

Be sure to include a little bit about yourself and your Gamesville Avatar with your entry, so we can understand that special connection between you and your Gamesville Avatar.

If we publish you as "Best Gamesville Avatar", we'll give you 500 GV Rewards.

Don't have a Gamesville Avatar yet? Create your FREE Gamesville Avatar now!

This week's Best Pet hails from Narvon, PA. Useless fact: Narvon clay is a naturally-occurring mineral that can be used as a filler material, a water filtration agent, flux and several other uses in several different industries. So says Narvon Minerals.

Pet Name:
Buttwheat

Pet Owner:
Gamesviller "Mmndluvin"

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Distinguishing Personality Traits:
Mmndluvin says: "Buttwheat is 12 years old. He just can't keep up with the late nights in Gamesville anymore! "

Want to share photos of your own favorite pet with the Gamesville community?

Send photos to: members@gamesville.com

In addition to your pet's picture, please include:

• your member name
• your pet's most distinguishing personality trait

Please note: All submissions become the sole property of Gamesville, which reserves the right to hold, reject and/or edit submissions without notice and without limitation in perpetuity.

This recipe for Blackened Braised Short Ribs was sent to us by Gamesviller Ragincajun3000 from Las Vegas, NV.

Ingredients:

• 6 each 18-ounce beef short ribs
• 3 tablespoons Creole seasoning blend
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2.5 cups onions (diced)
• 1.5 cups celery (diced)
• 1.5 cups carrots (diced)
• 3 tablespoons garlic
• 1 cup tomato paste
• 2 bottles dark Louisiana beer
• 8 14-ounce cans beef broth
• 2 14-ounce cans vegetable broth
• 6 sprigs fresh thyme

1. Heat a large shallow stew pot over high heat.
2. Rub short ribs thoroughly with Creole seasoning.
3. Add two tablespoons of vegetable oil to hot pot and sear the short ribs until the spices are blackened on all sides.
4. Remove short ribs from pot and dump out any used oil and burnt spices.
5. Add remaining vegetable oil, onions and carrots. Stir occasionally. Allow vegetables to caramelize.
6. Once vegetables are caramelized, add celery, garlic, and thyme and sauté until celery is tender.
7. Reduce heat to medium and add tomato paste. Cook for two minutes and deglaze with beer.
8. Cook for approximately four minutes until alcohol has cooked out. Add broths. Stir well.
9. Submerge blackened short ribs in seasoned broth.
10. Simmer slowly for 2 - 2.5 hours, skimming off excess fat, until short ribs are fork tender.
11. Gently remove and serve with truffled buttermilk whipped Yukon gold potatoes, young root vegetables and reduced braising jus.

Do you have a favorite recipe to share with the Gamesville community?

Send it to: members@gamesville.com

Please include:

•    your Gamesville member name
•    the complete recipe with ingredients and directions

If we use your recipe as a feature article, you'll receive 500 GV Rewards!