Thursday, December 20, 2012

Square Enix ads pushing Facebook "hits" is nixed as cyberbullying

Game developer Square Enix took down its 'Hitman: Absolution' ad campaign after public outcry over its promotion of cyberbullying; "Square Enix wants you to put a hit on your friends" was the company's email slogan, encouraging gamers to threaten their friends on Facebook.

By Anne Collier,?Guest Blogger / December 18, 2012

Game developer Square Enix was pressured to take down its ad campaign that encouraged players to send death threats to friends on Facebook. Pictured here is a scene from 'Hitman: Absolution'

Square Enix/AP

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This was good to see: What looked like a truly anti-social media company, game developer Square Enix saw irresponsibility for what it was and quickly reversed a stupid marketing decision. I?d like to take it as a sign that ? in this very social media environment where users are co-producers with the providers of their media experiences ? media companies and users alike will be increasingly wise to the power that users have just by the nature of social media.

Skip to next paragraph Anne Collier

Guest Blogger

Anne Collier is editor of NetFamilyNews.org and co-director of ConnectSafely.org, a Web-based interactive forum and information site for teens, parents, educators, and everybody interested in the impact of the social Web on youth and vice versa. She lives in Northern California and has two sons.

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My definition of an anti-social media company is one that fails to treat its users as partners in the social experiences they?re co-creating with it.

But I wonder how sustainable such a company's practices are, because of the transparency and user-driven nature of social media, and what those say about where control ultimately lies (something users haven't completely wakened up to yet) ? more on that?here.

Anyway, the decision Square Enix decided to reverse was to advertise its game "Hitman: Absolution" with a campaign that started with an e-mail which ?literally [said] ?Square Enix Wants You to Put a Hit on Your Friends!?,? reported Geekdad at?Wired. The e-mail instructed players to go to Facebook and use an app that would help them insult and send death threats ostensibly to other players. Only one of the problems with that is that non-players and people who?d never heard of this videogame could?ve gotten those cruel messages.

Maybe some of us get the sort of dark reverse psychology that cruel in-game behavior on display outside the game pulls some people into the ?fold,? but non-gamers don?t. And many younger recipients of such messages would likely be non-gamers, since the game?s about as ?M? as an M-rated game could be (M for ?Mature? because of the gore, violence, sexuality and substance abuse it depicts, according to the game raters at?ESRB). Maybe Square Enix? got that the timing, with online and offline bullying of high concern in our society, was really bad.

Maybe the company even got that a lot of people (e.g., those who hadn?t heard of the game) could get hurt, but I hope it even got that the campaign was modeling as well as enabling social aggression.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/P1OxEDhl6Vo/Square-Enix-ads-pushing-Facebook-hits-is-nixed-as-cyberbullying

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Working late is less optional than you think - Business Management ...

Question: ?Management keeps pushing me to work longer hours, but I don?t believe this is necessary. I think they just want to get more out of me. The technology company where I work has recently begun outsourcing jobs to other countries, so they apparently don?t plan to hire more people here.

?A few months ago, I finally refused to stay late anymore, citing the need to spend time with my family. Since then, I have been deliberately sidelined from important projects. My last performance review included negative comments about my unwillingness to work extra hours.

?Under normal circumstances, I would look for another position, but right now the job market for people in my field is very tight. I can?t afford to lose my paycheck, so what should I do??? Resentful

Answer: You appear to have a serious case of tunnel vision, so let me try to expand your view. Positions in your field are scarce, your company is sending work out of the country, and you can?t afford to be unemployed. Does this seem like a good time to battle with management about working hours?

In the business world, professional people are typically expected to work more than their scheduled 40 hours per week. This is especially true in technology companies, which have always had a ?do whatever it takes? culture.

If you routinely head for home while everyone else is still plugging away, you will look like a slacker, even if you?re not. And your personal ?no overtime? rule will be viewed as a lack of team spirit. If employees in your field were in short supply, you might have more leverage, but that's apparently not the case right now.

Your exclusion from projects and negative performance review represent serious warning signs. These factors could easily put you at the top of a layoff list, so you might want to reevaluate your position on working late. And you might want to do it quickly.

Want to increase your job security? Here's the way to do it: How to Avoid Losing Your Job. ??

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We believe great content should be read and passed around. After all, knowledge IS power. And good business can become great with the right information at their fingertips. If you'd like to share any of the insightful articles on BusinessManagementDaily.com, you may republish or syndicate it without charge.

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

World Briefing | Africa: Somali Refugees Are the Target of a Roundup in Kenya

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Source: www.nytimes.com --- Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The Kenyan government posted a notice in newspapers on Tuesday asking all Somali refugees in the country to report to camps along the Kenya-Somalia border. ...

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/19/world/africa/somali-refugees-are-the-target-of-a-roundup-in-kenya.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Thursday, October 4, 2012

Microsoft says settlement reached in botnet case

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Microsoft says it has settled a computer-fraud case against a website operated by a Chinese businessman that had become a major hub for illicit Internet activity.

The software company announced Tuesday that Peng Yong, the registered owner of 3322.org, has agreed to work with Microsoft and China's computer emergency response team to prevent cybercriminals from using the domain. 3322.org served as home base for the Nitol botnet and more than 500 other types of malware, Microsoft officials said in documents filed in federal court last month.

Peng will steer any infected traffic from 3322.org to a special computer called a sinkhole that will be managed by Chinese authorities, according to the agreement.

Peng initially denied the allegations in the lawsuit, which Microsoft said it dropped after reaching the settlement.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2012-10-02-Cybersecurity-Digital%20Crimes/id-8ecce3d49fa6474eb8c699268923645a

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The BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 Software Update is Here, Bringing ...

Today a free software update has been made available for Wi-Fi? and BlackBerry? PlayBook? tablets. This release brings with it many new features for business customers and IT administrators that make the tablet a seriously enterprise-ready device and a productivity powerhouse. Combined with BlackBerry? Mobile Fusion and the coming BlackBerry? Enterprise Service 10, managing BlackBerry PlayBook tablets just got a whole lot more functional. I?m excited to walk through what?s new when it comes to both management and security as well as features for business end users. Read on for the full scoop!

Features for Business End Users

Print To Go? across Wi-Fi networks

Judging by our LinkedIn? recommendation page, there are quite a few fans of the Print To Go app out there. We?ve also had a lot of suggestions for additional features since the initial launch. With BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1, you now have the ability to deliver documents from your PC to a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet that may be connected on a completely different network, providing a true solution for rapid document transfer to your tablet.

Text Messaging with BlackBerry Bridge

Text messaging or SMS is now supported as a BlackBerry Bridge? application. Head to the BlackBerry Bridge folder on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet?s home screen and get started interacting with SMS.

Improved Android Runtime

One of my favorite features on my BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is the Android? runtime and all of the fantastic apps that it places at my fingertips. With BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1, the experience is improved and even more seamless with features like multi-window applications for a feel consistent with the overall OS, support for the HD cameras on the tablet, and in-app payments for value added experiences.

Portrait Orientation for Messages, Calendar, and Contacts

I often use portrait mode when I?m reading e-books on my BlackBerry PlayBook tablet or playing games like Cut the Rope HD ? and now this functionality extends to the native mail, calendar, and contacts applications. This gives you the flexibility and choice in how you want to view information and interact with the tablet. The layout intelligently arranges the data onscreen to display critical information in portrait mode, and automatically returning to the expanded view in landscape mode.

Folder and Sync Management

Folders within an email account connected through ActiveSync can now be synchronized individually. You can quickly toggle on/off for each folder to round out the mail management experience on the device. If you use an IMAP email account, you can also now get full access to your mail folders. These features together with the current functionality provide a complete mail organization tool in the Messages app.

Streamlined setup and software update experience

When setting up a brand new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet and running through the out-of-box experience, a Wi-Fi connection is no longer required. Software updates can also be delayed until a later time ? and when you do need to update your software, patch-based updating is now supported, which significantly lowers the file size of the updates and increases the speed of the operation.

Management and Security Features

Over-the-air (OTA) enrollment with BlackBerry Mobile Fusion

Employees using BlackBerry PlayBook tablets for work can now enroll with BlackBerry Mobile Fusion wirelessly. Once connected and enrolled, enterprise configurations such as email, Wi-Fi, VPN profiles, or enterprise apps can be pushed directly to the device by IT administrators. With this new feature, you can bring BlackBerry PlayBook tablets onto your corporate network quickly and easily.

New IT policies for added security

IT policies are crucial for enabling IT administrators to manage the wireless devices at play within their organizations. We?ve added new IT policies that administrators can take advantage of through BlackBerry Mobile Fusion. These include the ability to enable full device encryption and to disable development mode for enterprise-connected BlackBerry PlayBook tablets.

ActiveSync Certification Management

Certificate-based authentication can now be configured in order to allow access to work email, calendar, and address book data. These can be securely installed to the tablets over the air with BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, which utilizes Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol (SCEP).

Full device encryption, including personal data

From the Options menu on your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, you can now enable ?Full Device Encryption? by navigating to Security and then Encryption. This secures the data on both the work and personal perimeters of the device with AES 256-bit encryption for ultimate data protection.

What are you waiting for?

Get the update! You will automatically receive a software update notification on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet status ribbon, or you can check for the software update at any time by going to the settings menu under ?Software Updates? and tapping ?Check for Updates?. Then follow the steps to update.

What?s your favorite feature in the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 update? Share in the comments below.

Related Posts

Source: http://bizblog.blackberry.com/2012/10/playbook-os-software-update/

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Tuesday, October 2, 2012

California Governor Vetoes ?Anti-Arizona? Law ~ Causa Oregon ...

This release comes from the National Immigration Forum. Founded in 1982, the National Immigration Forum advocates for the value of immigrants and immigration to our nation. In service to this mission, the Forum promotes responsible federal immigration policies, addressing today?s economic and national security needs while honoring the ideals of our Founding Fathers, who created America as a land of opportunity.

California Governor Vetoes ?Anti-Arizona? Law

Washington, D.C. ? On Sunday, California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the ?Transparency and Responsibility Using State Tools? Act, or TRUST Act (AB1081). This legislation limits local law enforcement implementation of the Secure Communities program by setting clear standards for local governments to comply with requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain people for deportation. The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:

?Gov. Brown missed an opportunity to rein in Secure Communities, a program that has strayed far from its stated goal of identifying only the most dangerous criminals. As the state with the highest number of deportations under Secure Communities, California knows too well the damaging impact of this poorly-designed enforcement program.

?The TRUST Act would have helped California?s law enforcement prioritize their valuable resources to focus on the true threats to public safety. Moreover, by enacting this ?anti-Arizona? law, the Golden State would have sent a clear message that states can do better than Arizona ? that they can still keep Secure Communities within its bounds.

?All may not be lost for the TRUST Act. In his veto message, Gov. Brown promised to work with lawmakers to rework the legislation. We hope that California lawmakers and Gov. Brown can soon find a way forward for this important public safety and government efficiency measure.?

###

Source: http://causaoregon.blogspot.com/2012/10/california-governor-vetoes-anti-arizona.html

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Monday, October 1, 2012

Huge tax increase looms at year-end 'fiscal cliff'

FILE-In this Monday, April 18, 2011, file photo, Max Martinez, dressed as the Statue of Liberty, tries to alert motorists on the final day to file taxes. A typical middle-income family making $40,000 to $64,000 a year could see its taxes go up by $2,000 in 2013 if lawmakers fail to renew a lengthy roster of tax cuts set to expire at the end of 2012, according to a new report Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. Taxpayers across the income spectrum would be hit with large tax hikes, the Tax Policy Center said in its study, with households in the top 1 percent income range seeing an average tax increase of more than $120,000, while a family making between $110,000 to $140,000 could see a tax hike in the $6,000 range. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

FILE-In this Monday, April 18, 2011, file photo, Max Martinez, dressed as the Statue of Liberty, tries to alert motorists on the final day to file taxes. A typical middle-income family making $40,000 to $64,000 a year could see its taxes go up by $2,000 in 2013 if lawmakers fail to renew a lengthy roster of tax cuts set to expire at the end of 2012, according to a new report Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. Taxpayers across the income spectrum would be hit with large tax hikes, the Tax Policy Center said in its study, with households in the top 1 percent income range seeing an average tax increase of more than $120,000, while a family making between $110,000 to $140,000 could see a tax hike in the $6,000 range. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? A typical middle-income family making $40,000 to $64,000 a year could see its taxes go up by $2,000 next year if lawmakers fail to renew a lengthy roster of tax cuts set to expire at the end of the year, according to a new report Monday

Taxpayers across the income spectrum would be hit with large tax hikes, the Tax Policy Center said in its study, with households in the top 1 percent income range seeing an average tax increase of more than $120,000, while a family making between $110,000 to $140,000 could see a tax hike in the $6,000 range.

Taxpayers across the income spectrum will get slammed with increases totaling more than $500 billion ? a more than 20 percent increase ? with nine out of 10 households being affected by the expiration of tax cuts enacted under both President Barack Obama and his predecessor, George W. Bush.

The expiring provisions include Bush-era cuts on wage and investment income and cuts for married couples and families with children, among others. Also expiring is a 2 percentage point temporary payroll tax cut championed by Obama.

The looming expiration of the large roster of tax cuts is one of the issues confronting voters in November, with the chief difference between Obama and GOP candidate Mitt Romney being the tax treatment of wealthier earners. Obama is calling for permitting rates on individual income exceeding $200,000 and family incoming over $250,000 to go back to Clinton-era rates of as much as 39.6 percent.

Both candidates call for rewriting the tax code next year, but any such effort promises to be difficult and could take considerable time.

Monday's study, by the independent Tax Policy Center, deals with the immediate increases set to slap taxpayers in January under the existing framework of the tax code.

Few are talking of renewing Obama's payroll tax cut, even though that would mean a healthy tax increase for many working people. Working families with modest incomes would be hit hard as the child tax credit would shrink from a maximum of $1,000 per child to $500.

As a result, a married couple earning $50,000 with three dependent children that currently receives an almost $1,500 income tax refund largely due to the child tax credit would see their fortunes reversed by more than $3,000 next year and pay more than $1,500 in income taxes while seeing their payroll taxes go up by $1,000 if the full menu of tax cuts expire.

"It's just a huge, huge number," said Eric Toder, one of the authors of the study.

Economists warn that the looming tax hikes, combined with $109 billion in automatic spending cuts scheduled to take effect in January, could throw the fragile economy back into recession if Washington doesn't act. The automatic spending cuts are coming due because of the failure of last year's deficit "supercommittee" to strike a bargain. The combination of the sharp tax hikes and spending cuts has been dubbed a "fiscal cliff."

"The fiscal cliff threatens an unprecedented tax increase at year end," says the report. "Taxes would rise by more than $500 billion in 2013 ? an average of almost $3,500 per household ? as almost every tax cuts enacted since 2001 would expire."

Cumulatively, the country would see a 5 percentage point jump in its average tax rate, which works out to taxes on the top 1 percent jumping by more than 7 percentage points and about 4 percentage points for most people earning below $100,000 a year.

Put another way, people in the $40,000-$64,000 income range would see their average federal tax rate jump from 14 percent to 17.8 percent ? or an increase in their overall federal bill of 27 percent.

All told, almost 90 percent of all households would face a tax increase, though the top 20 percent of earners would bear 60 percent of the overall cost. Across all households the tax increases would average almost $3,500.

The expiration of cuts on capital gains and stock dividends is a key reason why wealthier people would see a higher increase in their tax burdens.

Republicans controlling the House have also called for the expiration of Obama-backed tax cuts for the working poor, including expansions of the earned income and child tax credits.

But all sides are calling for the renewal of Bush-era tax rates for everyone else. Without a renewal of those rates, a married couple would pay a 28 percent rate on taxable income exceeding $72,300 instead of the 25 percent rate they now pay. And the 10 percent rate paid on the first $8,900 of income would jump to 15 percent.

The new top rate of 39.6 percent would kick in for income over $397,000. The current top rate is 35 percent rate.

The Tax Policy Center is a joint project of the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-10-01-US-Fiscal-Cliff-Taxes/id-6b204c6dcc4b4d36a4f590ee9e828e3c

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Marine animals could hold key to looking young: Sea cucumbers, sea urchins can change elasticity of collagen

ScienceDaily (Oct. 1, 2012) ? Sea cucumbers and sea urchins are able to change the elasticity of collagen within their bodies, and could hold the key to maintaining a youthful appearance, according to scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.

The researchers investigated the genes of marine creatures such as sea urchins and sea cucumbers, known as echinoderms. They found the genes for "messenger molecules" known as peptides, which are released by cells and tell other cells in their bodies what to do.

The study was published online in the journals PLOS ONE and General and Comparative Endocrinology.

Project leader Professor Maurice Elphick, from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, said: "Probably the most exciting discovery from our research was finding genes encoding peptides that cause rapid stiffening or softening of collagen in the body wall of sea cucumbers.

"Although sea urchins and sea cucumbers may not look much like us, we are actually quite closely related to them. As we get older, changes in collagen cause wrinkling of our skin, so if we can find out how peptides cause the body wall of a sea cucumber to quickly become stiff or soft then our research might lead to new ways to keeping skin looking young and healthy."

The scientists analysed the DNA sequences of thousands of genes in the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and the edible sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus and specifically searched for genes encoding peptide messenger molecules. Rapid advances in technology used to sequence genes made the research possible.

"When the human genome was sequenced over a decade ago it cost millions of pounds -- now all of the genes in an animal can be sequenced for just a few thousand pounds," Professor Elphick said.

"We also found that sea urchins have a peptide that is very similar to calcitonin, a hormone that regulates our bones to make sure that they remain strong," Professor Elphick said.

"So it will be fascinating to find out if calcitonin-type peptides have a similar sort of role in spiny-skinned creatures like sea urchins."

"These types of advances in basic science are fascinating in their own right but they are also important because they underpin the medical breakthroughs that lead to improvement in the quality of people's lives."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Queen Mary, University of London.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal References:

  1. Maurice R. Elphick. The Protein Precursors of Peptides That Affect the Mechanics of Connective Tissue and/or Muscle in the Echinoderm Apostichopus japonicus. PLoS ONE, 2012; 7 (8): e44492 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044492
  2. Matthew L. Rowe, Maurice R. Elphick. The neuropeptide transcriptome of a model echinoderm, the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 2012; DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.09.009

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/7RV2DqvT-Vs/121001132150.htm

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HP's ElitePad Is the Awesome-Looking Tablet HP Should Sell to the Masses (But Won't) [Tablets]

Over the past few months, HP quietly teased a tablet in ads and marketing materials. It had the appearance of something sleek and premium. As it turns out, that tablet was the ElitePad: a 10-inch, aluminum-cased Windows 8 tablet that has all the makings of something desirable. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/CyMFSi8IeiQ/hps-elitepad-is-the-awesome+looking-tablet-hp-should-sell-to-the-masses-but-wont

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Sunday, September 30, 2012

Ivory Coast arrests former Gbagbo spokesman again

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) ? A lawyer says the spokesman of Ivory Coast's former president was arrested Friday, just days after being released on bail after an extradition hearing.

Lawyer Lucie Bourtoumieux said Saturday her client, Justin Kone Katinan, was arrested for the second time on Friday. Bourtoumieux, who also represents former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo, said Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara's government had new "allegations of blood crimes" against her client.

Katinan, a registered asylum seeker in Ghana, was arrested in August after Ivory Coast issued an international warrant charging him with economic crimes.

Gbagbo is awaiting trial for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court at The Hague. His refusal to concede defeat to now President Ouattara in 2010 plunged the nation into months of violence, killing at least 3,000.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ivory-coast-arrests-former-gbagbo-spokesman-again-140430914.html

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Baghdad to transfer oil payments to Iraq Kurds today

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Oil payments from Baghdad to Iraq's Kurdish region will be transferred today, Kurdish Energy Minister Ashti Hawrami said on Sunday, ending a heated tug-of-war over the issue, at least for now.

Baghdad and Kurdistan agreed earlier this month to draw a line under a dispute over oil payments after the latter pledged to continue exports and Baghdad said it would pay foreign companies working there.

Kurdistan has riled Baghdad by signing deals with foreign oil majors, such as Exxon and Chevron, contracts the central government rejects as illegal.

"Payments will be transferred to the Kurdish regional government today: that's what I've been told in Baghdad today," Hawrami told reporters in the Iraqi capital.

Hawrami was in Baghdad for a meeting also attended by Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul-Kareem Luaibi, at which they were due to discuss a long-awaited oil and gas law.

More than nine years after the toppling of Saddam Hussein, the OPEC member still has no binding hydrocarbon law. A 2007 draft national oil law that aims to resolve the disputes over crude has been caught up in political infighting.

The oil contracts row is part of a broader battle between the Baghdad government and Kurdistan over oil rights, territory and regional autonomy that is straining Iraq's uneasy federal union.

(Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Writing by Isabel Coles; Editing by David Goodman and Patrick Graham)

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/AFRICAWorldNews/~3/pKFdlNoHk9I/idAFBRE88T04J20120930

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Saturday, September 29, 2012

6 Cool Things You Can Avoid And Prevent With The E-Cig | What is ...

Most people know of the harmful effects of smoking such as getting chronic diseases yet they continue to puff away. For a non-smoker, they may not understand why one would continue to smoke in full knowledge of the harmful effects. The smoker on the other hand knows how strong the addiction can be. Smoking is not good for your health and at the most extreme end, it can kill you.

To save your life when you still have it, quit smoking. If you cannot quit entirely, then embrace vaping. The e-cigarette emerged into the market almost a decade ago and most of those who embraced it are glad they are very much alive and made the switch. They save money, can hold babies and eat with peace.

As a smoker, you should understand that the addiction of a smoke is due to not only the nicotine but also the habits that go along with the act. Actually, it is the habits that trigger your cravings and make you desire the puff.

You probably are used to getting out with your workmates during lunchtime to puff as you talk about office politics. You began smoking because you and your brother did so to get away from the pressures at home and it has been a tradition ever since. For most smokers, smoking is not only about the nicotine. It is about the bonding moments and the friendships formed.

The e-cig takes away the harmful effects of smoking and retains the cherished moments for you. You still get to bond with family and friends, tap the cig on the table together and exhale together. It has the look and the feel of the cig but instead of the nicotine, you get to vape on a liquid.

This liquid that even has flavors is vaporized when burnt and then releases a great and dense vapor. It is the perfect and smokeless way to enjoy your dose of tobacco. Apart from preventing you landing in the hospital, the e-cig saves your social and emotional life as well.

1.?????? Avoid the social death of people avoiding you

Many people on the streets and at work will stop avoiding you. They do so because even if you chew gum or spray a good dose of mouthwash after a smoke, everything on you smells like smoke and not just your breath. The e-cig has no smell whatsoever.

2.?????? Avoid accidents

Some road accidents are caused by a smoker removing their head out the window to get a puff.

smokin

(Photo credits: ernop)

In the process, some may lose track of their driving or not have enough time to react to any sudden thing on the road. The percentage of such accidents is minimal but they exist. Save your life; avoid the accident on the road or a fire started by a butt.

3.?????? Deter bad eating habits

Many smokers do not eat well because of the effects of nicotine. Even when you have a chance to eat well, you have to leave the restaurant because you have to smoke. You do not finish your meal. Such bad eating habits bring bout other complications in the body from a lack of the necessary nutrients. Enjoy your e-cig in any restaurant as it does not emit any smoke and you can eat well anytime.

4.?????? Prevent bad work performance

Too many a times you have given your boss work, he or she did not like. You have lost a job here and there because you had to get a break to go out and smoke. With the e-cig, you simply vape from your desk. Enjoy yourself and give highly satisfactory work. Get those with the pen design and no one will be any wiser.

5.?????? Avoid financial death

The truth is cigarettes can be costly.

Just look at how much they cost you in a month. Now take that amount and slash in half. That is approximately, what e-cigs will cost you. Buy them online and with the offers you get, you will spend even less.

6.?????? Avoid aesthetic death

Beauty is important. Take the e-cig and say good-bye to the yellow teeth and brown fingernails. You will look lovely and still enjoy your dose. You may have to go to a dentist to get those teeth whitened but after that, you are sure they will remain that way. Besides, the e-cig uses recyclable parts and the vapor produced get absorbed into the air immediately without any harmful effects.

?

Byline

Chad writes articles and blogs on issues around the electronic cigarette. He is particularly fond of Optima cigs. These are the healthiest option, and the sweetest way to get that nicotine you are so addicted to.

Source: http://www.whatishowto.net/2012/09/28/6-cool-things-you-can-avoid-and-prevent-with-the-e-cig/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=6-cool-things-you-can-avoid-and-prevent-with-the-e-cig

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TheStreet: $15 Facebook: Merry Christmas, Baby http://t.co/UbMC4gL4 by @RoccoPendola