Quitting Smoking: An American Industry

Nicotine addiction, despite a significant decrease in the number of Americans who smoke cigarettes, remains a thorn in the side of health care professionals. There is no shortage of concern over the matter, but if everyone in the country were to crush out their last butts tonight, the result would be a huge hole in our economy tomorrow.

All Manner of Help

Consider the amount of money that is pumped into the various anti-smoking campaigns each year. Then calculate how much money is spent on nicotine-replacement therapies such as gum, patches and electronic cigarettes. Don't forget to add up the money earned by pharmaceutical companies and the "medicines" they produce to help people kick the habit. All told, cessation of smoking has built itself into a rather hefty cottage industry.

No Silver Bullet

There are problems with all of these different approaches. Patches, gum and e-cigs all continue to feed nicotine to the addict, albeit at reduced rates. The efficacy of cessation programs that "walk you down" are dependent on the smoker's self-discipline, however reliable that may be in the face of a substance whose addictive nature is on par with that of heroin. As for prescriptions, the side effects disclosed by the makers of drugs like Chantix can be just as frightening as the prospects of smoking-related diseases.

Hardly anybody does it, but quitting "cold turkey" is still the healthiest alternative to any of the aforementioned methods. Within 24 hours of quitting, a smoker's bloodstream experiences a dramatic plunge in levels of carbon monoxide in the bloodstream. Every day after the first one leads to a healthier human body. And it leaves the quitter with something else that the other programs cannot match - a healthy bank account.

Want more information on Electric Cigarettes?

Where To Meet People (Not How)

When it comes to dating, especially for men looking to pick up women, one of the most common questions that gnaw at the back of people's minds is, "Where do I go to meet the right person?" This may also be one of the easiest questions to answer, although the most frequently heard answer is quite possibly the wrong one. Contrary to the actions of millions of singles on any given weekend, the place to meet the right person is not at the bar.

What Are You Looking For?

Think about the qualities you seek in a mate, the traits you would hope to pass on to your prospective children, the things about a person that will still be endearing long after life's long advance into maturity. The bar environment hardly applies to such pragmatic criteria. What you learn about someone at the bar is that they like to drink whether or not they can dance and converse over the top of blaring music. For that reason, dating is not as easy as it was in more traditional times.

Dating Co-Workers

Another common practice is to date someone from the workplace (although some employers strictly forbid such informal fraternization). To be sure, people who work at the same place have a better opportunity to get to know one another before venturing out into the land of romance, providing a comfort zone that does not exist between people who are meeting each other for the first time. However, many of these "apples and apples" relationships have a hard time getting (and staying) off the ground.

A reasoned approach, obviously, would be to seek out a mate in places where the aforementioned qualities would be on display. If you want to meet a smart person, look for them at the library or in a college classroom. Wholesome people are more likely to be found in church are as part of a volunteer program. If you want to meet someone who wants to live a healthy lifestyle, would require a trip to the health club... Then you ask them out on a date, and go someplace fun to hang out. You know...The bar.

For more information check out dating expert Neil Strauss.

Mythos: A New Online Game

Mythos is a new, and highly anticipated, addition to the massive list of RPG games. RPG games, or rather, role-playing games, are very popular on the Internet scene, especially when pairs with free membership. Throw in an alternative universe where magic reigns, and you have a winning combination for an addition to the free online gaming arena.

Basis of the Game

The game of Mythos is set in a fantasy world called Uld, which has risen from the ashes of a long era of darkness induced by war. Players assume the role of either a human, Satyr, Gremlin, to Cyclops, as they journey through randomized dungeons and environments. Each character class comes with its own variety of skills and items. The game allows players to interact with other players from all over the world. Players search for gold, gems, armor, and weapons, all while unlocking the secrets of Uld.

Availability

This highly anticipated new game of Mythos launches on the 8^th of February. Fans will be able to get an advanced glimpse at the world of Uld in the “beta sneak peak”, running from the 27^th to the 31^st of January. The game will be available in English initially, but will later be offered in other languages as the game appears in other countries. Though the game is free, registration is required and is already underway. During the test phase, monster hunters will be able to explore the first two regions (Greenreach and Bloodbristle Desert) and gets their character up to level 27.

It sounds complicated and intensive, and it probably is, which is why online gamers will be flocking (if they already haven’t) to the Mythos website to register and join in on the anticipated journey through the mythical world of Uld.