Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Lies, Damn Lies, and Vaping

Author's Note: So.... I wasn't going to publish this because it's just a vent, way too snarky, and doesn't really fit with the tone of this blog. Then again, not fitting the tone of this blog seems to be a trend lately. hmmm... Anyway, I'm going to publish it anyway. :) This is pure editorial content. Your thoughts welcome, of course.

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I've thought about doing some sort of news roundup about e-cigs, but to be honest, there's already plenty of folks out there doing it way better than I could. Sometimes, though, it just gets to be a bit much and I have to vent.

Here's two recent "news" articles about vaping that are just astonishing. I completely get that I'm singling out two particular news stories so, in the interest of fairness, let me state that these are just examples that are representative of the misinformation floating out there. Bing that Thing or Google that Shit for plenty more.

First is an excellent example of fictional reporting on limaohio.com titled E-cig Craze Harmful to Pets.

http://www.limaohio.com/news/business-news/50290643/E-cig-craze-harmful-to-pets

Let's play a game. Here are my personal favorite quotes. See if you can find your favorites!

"The Pet Poison Hotline reported early this month that it has had an “uptick” in calls about pets getting into e-cigarettes."

Alas, I could find no actual standardized unit of measure that includes "uptick." Quick poll, without looking, what does "uptick" mean?*

"Shattuck said the clinic she works at ... hasn’t seen any confirmed cases of nicotine poisoning in dogs, but said she “absolutely” expects to see some."

Psychic veterinarians are "absolutely" a reliable source.

"The e-cigarette trend seems to bring along with a trend of nicotine poisoning in pets as during the past six months, cases of the poisoning have more than doubled in pets."

It is quite shocking and concerning that cases of nicotine poisoning has more than doubled in pets in the last six months.  Wait... double what? Is that 2? or 10,000? Hmmm... Inquiring minds.
  
"Pets may eat the cartridges that e-cigarette juice comes in, ingesting harmful nicotine and possibly damaging their esophagus, stomach and intestinal track in the process with sharp edges of chewed up cartridges, said Bill Collins, a veterinarian at Shawnee Veterinary Hospital."

True, Bill. Pets of unmindful owners eat lots of things that they probably shouldn't. Absolutely true. This is obviously happening with alarming frequency because Bill seems very familiar with the consequences of chewing up an e-cigarette cartridge... right? Right? Bill? Diane? Anyone?

"Collins hasn't seen any of the cases either, but expects some as well."

Dafuk??? Okay. This is no longer news. This is comedy. Enough. You're on your own for the rest of the article.

This one from the Daily News Journal by the editorial staff is just packed full of false information and blatant ignorance. 


The one quote that pops out, though, is this:

"They're still cigarettes and represent all the dangers of tobacco wrapped in paper – with a filter or not."

This single statement is so ignorant one wonders . . . I honestly don't know what one should wonder. It's simply impossible with that anyone with any amount of integrity or commonsense would make such a statement without even cursory research. Mindboggling.

The worst part of this crap is the disregard and disrespect these "journalists" show toward vapers. Labelling vaping as a "craze" is irresponsible and dangerous. Stating that PVs are the same as cigarettes is ignorant. Over the years these so-called "journalists" have gotten so wrapped up in the bash smokers bandwagon that, now that cigarettes are on a steep decline, they've lost their punching bag. With no boogeyman to vilify, vaping has become a convenient target to pick up the slack. Accurate reporting and the truth be damned! 

E-cigs are a legitimate way for smokers to quit killing themselves with tobacco products. That's your headline. Belittling that purpose is crass and despicable.

Vape On! Vape Right!

-Cris

* "Uptick" means a small increase. 

Sunday, September 14, 2014

E-Juice 2 Die 4's Death's Delight



Seriously? How could I not grab a juice called "Death's Delight?"

Just take my money, damn it.

My local vape shop (Vegas Vapors) is going to stop carrying this one, but it's available online if you want to tango with Death endorsed banana flavored delight. It really is delightful. With the wickedly decorated dropper bottle, skull charm hanging off the cap, the whimsical angel o' death reclining on the label, and the name, well, I just had vape this one. I sampled it in the shop and got hooked right there.

The Vape Data

Liquid Name: Death's Delight
Produced By: E-Juice 2 Die 4
Blend: PG/VG 50/50
Nicotine: 12mg
Producer's Description: 'N/A'
Taste: 5
Vapor/TH: 4.5
Presentation: 2
Vape Right Score: 4.38

Taste

Banana. On inhale and exhale, that's what you get. What I liked, though, is that it's not that syrupy, candy flavored banana you get with many juices. This has a more natural flavor to it. It's creamy and slightly sweet, not too overpowering but not drab or subtle either. There's a soft nutty factor, as well, an almond flavor, that covertly enhances the banana flavoring.

Juice 2 Die 4 did a great job of getting the cream and the almond to blend into the background to create a definitive banana flavor that makes a deliciously sweet vape. Death's Delight doesn't chuck you into the coffin head first, it lowers you in gently and sweetly with a blissful banana filled smile on your face.

Vapor/TH

There's no indication what the PG/VG mix is, but the online vendors I looked at are pegging it as a 50/50 blend. If so, it's been cut with something because it's not a terribly thick liquid I'd expect with a heavy VG component. It worked nicely in the Kanger T3E tank. It produces considerable and pleasant amounts of vapor and TH, as expected.

At 6 to 8 watts it did nicely, with the flavor dropping out the higher I went. At 8.5 watts I started getting a slightly hard tang indicating that it was getting close to burning, or the atty just couldn't feed the juice fast enough at that temp. If you're vaping at high voltage you'll want to pop on a higher resistance atty in the 2.5 to 3.5 ohm range. Overall, though, it performed well at average temperatures. If this is a 50/50 blend, E-Juice 2 Die 4 did a great job making it perform well in wick fed tank systems.

Presentation

With Death's Delight, two well earned points go for pure presentation factor. The packaging itself is a delight; from the brown glass bottle to the little skull charm that dangles down the side. I'm not huge fan of dropper bottles because I find them to be a bit messy, but this one works well. We all appreciate glass bottles and the price is quite reasonable for this level of packaging and 15ml of juice.

Alas, major points off for labeling. The basic "Keep out of reach of children and pets" is present. The bottle cap, however, is not child proof. While the level of nicotine is indicated on the side of the label, there's no nicotine warning. The word nicotine doesn't even appear on the bottle at all. No list of ingredients other than the rather vague "Contains USP Grade PG & VG and artificial flavors." Excellent presentation does not excuse poor labeling, unfortunately, so in this category I have to rate low.

Verdict

Dubbing this juice "delight" is spot on. I'm not a huge fan of fruit flavors, but E-Liquid 2 Die 4 converted me, at least as far as creamy banana goodness goes. Based on this one, and the level of craftsmanship shown here, I'll be trying more of their flavors. I'll also be keeping the bottle to use as decoration for Halloween! Very cool stuff.

At the time of this writing, I could not find an operating direct website for E-Juice 2 Die 4 (I linked their Facebook page above.) However, several online shops carry the line of juices, including Death's Delight. Since I haven't ordered from any of them I won't link them here, but a quick Bing or Google search on the company and juice name turn up several vendors.

Vape Right Says: Death's Delight is delicious, creamy banana juice perfect for all day vaping or after dinner dessert vape. Two enthusiastic dead thumbs up! 

Vape On! Vape Right!

-Cris

As always, your comments, thoughts, rants, and suggestions are welcome. Just comment below, post to FB or G+, or Tweet!

Monday, September 8, 2014

Vaping is Innocent Until Proven Guilty

I was going to work on the promised post about talking to non-vapers about vaping today. Maybe even finally get around to making a proper header graphic for this blog. Ahem. But this story from ABC News caught my eye this morning and I can't get it out of my noggin.

The article starts off well enough with coverage of a new editorial in the British Journal of General Practice from a research team at University London College. I highly recommend anyone who vapes, or is concerned about vaping, to read the editorial. (If you follow me on Twitter you've already seen it! Hint, hint, nudge, nudge!) The team makes the simple and apt point that vaping can save thousands of lives and questions why this wouldn't be the main focus of the "debate."

The rest of the ABC article goes downhill pretty fast. In particular, two quotes from the article jump right out that are, to be frank, terrifying. We're talking of the fascist variety of scary. I don't use the term fascist loosely here, but you decide.

In the ABC article quoting an editorial in The Lancet:

“A credible case can therefore be made that, unless reliable evidence shows e-cigarettes to be effective cessation aids, there is little justification for their sale,” the editorial reads.

and this quote from the assistant Vice President of the ALA:

“E-cigarettes are guilty until proven innocent," said Erika Sward the assistant vice president of the American Lung Association said, adding that regulation can’t come soon enough.

Are these even real arguments in the 21st century?

Let's set aside any and all favorable research regarding e-cigarettes and the fact that they are significantly less harmful than smoking tobacco. We'll also set aside that this is not a "debate" at all. Let's pretend that we really don't know much about the effects of e-cigarettes. Not true, and i wish people would stop saying that, but we're going to make believe.

Even if we knew absolutely nothing about the dangers or benefits of vaping, "I don't know" is not a valid excuse to ban or heavily regulate a product.  The burden of proof is on the accuser, not the accused. This is a basic tenet of modern society.

It is certainly not an excuse to regulate a product in the same manner as smoking tobacco when the product is not used for smoking tobacco!  It is absolutely not an excuse for "respected" organizations to become radical extremists and spout fascist nonsense that died off as an ideology decades ago. "I don't know" is not justification. Period.

Change the word 'e-cigarettes' to any other issue you favor in the quote above and you'll see what I mean. This is language and "logic" terrorists and radical religious extremists use. It's disgusting and repulsive and one wonders . . .

Why?

As usual, the answer is most likely money. Maybe throw in power, as well. In this case, the power to get people to listen to you.

If WHO or the ALA, or any of the radical anti-vaping groups, come out and state that vaping is a great way to reduce deaths and illnesses from smoking tobacco and that the governments of the world should push through responsible regulation to support and promote these products, what do you think would happen to these organization?

Are there a lot of people and companies out there that will send them millions of dollars in donations and grants to continue to say vaping is okay? 

Is a publication going to get readers to come back again and again for articles that reiterate that there is no debate about vaping and it's a great way to stem the tide of smoking related illnesses?

Of course not. There's no money or eyeballs in it. The money and eyeballs come from controversy and debate. And where there isn't any to be found, just make it up and make it sound good. Throw in a couple of inflammatory snippits and shout loudly enough and you'll get attention. And money. And power.

Which statements would get you more riled up and ready to fight?

  • E-cigarettes are a significant reduction in harm over traditional tobacco cigarettes.
  • E-Cigarettes are an excellent way get smokers to quit and should be pushed through as a cessation aid as soon as possible. 
  • E-cigarettes can save thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of lives around the world.

Or

  • E-cigarettes are dangerous because we don't know anything about them. Buyer beware!
  • There is little to no scientific evidence that e-cigarettes are useful as a cessation aid! Ban them now before it's too late!
  • Your children could get hooked on smoking tobacco, and possibly crack and heroine, because of e-cigarettes!

Head over to casaa.org for link upon link to reports and studies supporting the first set of statements. You'll be hard pressed to prove, scientifically or otherwise, the second set of statements.

We know a lot about vaping, actually. It is quite clear that vaping can and is used successfully as a cessation aid. There is zero evidence even suggesting that kids will take up smoking because of vaping any more than than would do so without vaping.

I support, without hesitation, responsible and reasoned regulation for e-cigarettes. In particular, quality control regulations in the production and manufacture of juice and vaporizers. The heavy handed, draconian regulation and outright banning of vaping products, however, is irresponsible, unwarranted, and verges on criminal. Doing so will cost thousands of lives. 

Vape Right has always been about the joy of vaping with a hobbyists zeal for a product that literally saved my life. I've always tried to keep it positive, even to the point of instituting what some may consider a questionable policy of never publishing a negative review. I just want to be people who read this blog to come away with something they can enjoy, and not worry about the crap that they won't enjoy. 

I use the term radical extremists in the truest sense of the words in this article. The quotes above illustrate it better than anything to date that's cspewing from the anti-vaping crowd. It is shameful and ridiculous and as Plato so aptly put it: "Your silence gives consent." 

I''ll still be keeping this blog as light, happy, and positive as possible. But silence is not something that will be offered. I urge you to get your voice out there and be heard, as well.  

Tell your story. Vape Right. And Vape On!

-Cris

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Kick Ash E-Liquid's RY4



Author's Note: Going to try a new review format with this one. Let me know how it works for you. Details on the About VR page.

I judge all restaurants by the quality of their chicken fried steak. It's the first thing I order anytime I try a new eating place. It's a simple culinary philosophy - if you can make a good chicken fried steak, I know you can cook - that has served me and my stomach well for many years.

For a vape juice shop, I do the same thing with RY4. If you can mix up a good RY4, you can mix some good juice. Surprisingly few mixers seem to get it right. RY4 is generally considered a light tobacco flavor with a sweet caramel component to it and often mixed with a hint of vanilla. Depending on which vaper you ask and who mixes it, though, RY4 can be a bit more complex.

I recently popped by the local vape store (Vegas Vapers in Broken Arrow, OK - be sure to tell them Cris from the Vape Right blog sent you!!!) and picked up Kick Ash E-Liquid's* version. Any new tobacco juice is always a gamble. RY4 is no different. Luckily, Kick Ash nailed it.

The Vape Data

Liquid Name: RY4
Produced By: Kick Ash E-Liquids, Owasso, OK
Blend: PG/VG 70/30
Nicotine: 18mg
Producer's Description: 'Light bodied tobacco'
Taste: 4
Vapor/TH: 3.5
Presentation: 2 
Vape Right Score: 3.55 out of 4

Taste

First vape comes with a hard woodsy tobacco flavor overlayed with a creamy sweetness. After a few vapes the woody flavor of the tobacco recedes, begins tilting slightly toward the nutty side, and the sweet caramel flavor seems to come out more. There does seem to be a wisp of vanilla in there somewhere, but it's sneaky and hard to pin down.

What you end up with is a perky tobacco vape with a nice and dry feel and blended with a rather pleasant and smooth caramel. Many RY4 attempts push too hard on the tobacco side of the taste, while others hit the sweetness too hard.  Kick Ash's mix is nicely balanced and presents the flavors layered in a not too complex but interesting blend that hits the highlights and ends on a satisfyingly sweet note.

Vapor/TH

The 70/30 blend is well mixed. It's not as thick as some 70/30 blends I've seen, which is surprising considering the sweet component that often makes a juice heavier, as well. This is a good thing, though, because this juice pumps out a considerable amount of vapor, yet still flows nicely through the wicks. This is a well thought out and put together juice.

I tested it on an eGo-C twist at ~3.6 - 4.0V on a Kanger T3E at 2.0 ohms, and on the iTaste 134 Mini with the iClear tank at 7.5, 8 and 8.5 watts. Both PVs produced lovely clouds when loaded with Kick Ash RY4 and the juice did well with a little heat applied. The VG component ensures that it will please anyone looking for solid vapor output, regardless of what you're vaping it on.

For throat hit, Kick Ash's RY4 does splendid. It actually comes in just about right for me, but I would judge it on the medium side of my personal scale. Like many juices with 70/30 blends, the TH just doesn't stick after half a dozen back-to-back puffs. Heavy vapers that require lots of continuous TH may find it lacking, but the vast majority of vapers will be quite pleased with it.

Presentation

Kick Ash RY4 comes in standard dropper bottles of the easy squeeze, high flow variety. I really like this kind of bottle with the narrow drip tip. Fits down in the tank nicely. Points off for no born on date, expiration date, or contact information, though. No quality control disclosures on the website, alas. All I could find is a small blurb that reads 'KICK ASH E-Liquid is produced from the finest American-made USP food grade ingredients.'

I did like that they took the time to put proper warning label on the bottle in addition to the mix percentages. Snaps also for shrink wrapping and a child proof safety lid. Always appreciated. However, there is no complete list of ingredients on the packing or the website. Particularly, what's in the "flavoring."

There's nothing particularly fancy in the graphics department as far as the packaging goes. Kick Ash is apparently going for the "it's what's inside that counts" angle. Fair enough! However, when many vape stores are carrying ten different lines of juices from different vendors, we're getting to the point where presentation matters. A little more of a professional and unique look, combined with proper labeling, certainly doesn't hurt.

Verdict

Overall, this is an outstanding example of the RY4 style of mix. I certainly vaped the crap out of it! If you're looking for a sweet caramel and light tobacco blend that works as an all-day-vape, this is a contender. If you're already an RY4 fan, Kick Ash's version is hands down a must try!

Vape Right Says: One the best tasting and well executed RY4 blends I've tried. Must try for RY4 fans!

Vape On! Vape Right!

-Cris

* Apparently "kick ash" is a rather popular name for vape stores! It's rather confusing if you do the Google thing on it. The link provided to Kick Ash E-Liquid will get you to the correct place for the juice reviewed in this article. If you live in the Tulsa, OK area, Vegas Vapers in Broken Arrow carries the line of juices from Kick Ash E-Liquids (among many others). Pop by to see them and tell them I sent you. :)