Electronic Cigarettes

From a New York Times op-ed piece by Sally Satel

“ELECTRONIC cigarettes, battery-powered devices that convert a solution of nicotine and other chemicals into a vapor that can be inhaled, or “vaped,” have the potential to wean a vast number of smokers off cigarettes.”

Here’s what Tristero at Digsby Hullabaloo had to offer:

What an elegant structure! It’s got a clause within a clause terminated by soft, fuzzy positive words – “potential,” “wean” – and a grandiose, hopeful final phrase: “vast number off cigarettes!” The sentence is so complex that many a reader may not notice that Satel openly admits she has zero evidence that so much as a single smoker has – let alone will – trade in her Marlboros for vaping.

I’m normally a huge fan of Hullabaloo, but the “fuzzy headed” journalism by tristero that claims not a single smoker has switched from smoking to vaping e-cigarettes is the biggest bunch of malarkey outside the Flat Earth Society.  I offer myself as an affirmative example of switching from smoking to vaping and there are plenty more here that are easy to find for any  journalist who is actually practicing journalism.  On top of that, the rapid growth in the retail market for ecigs and vaping accessories undermines any argument to the contrary.

On the issue of safety, there’s no way that switching to vaping e-cigarettes or nicotine juice can be anywhere near as damaging to the human body as smoking!  Nicotine may not be a health food but on it’s own the risks are known to be much less toxic than sucking in the hundreds of dangerous chemicals (not listed on the cigarette packages btw) involved with burning tobacco.  To top it off you’ll  never see a report of an ecig smoker falling asleep in bed and burning their house down.

For more information on electronic cigarettes and how to protect your right to access to these devices visit and join casaa.org.

Enjoy.

Birthday Shopping at Goodwill

I spoiled myself yesterday by taking a birthday (57) visit to the local Goodwill store in search of cheap ties to bolster my minimalist wardrobe, as well as a small glass goblet to hold my spare change and a nice ceramic to act as an “ashtray” for my Blu E-cigarettes.  Just a little something to brighten up my ‘home office’.  Two ties and the items shown below?  Five and a half bucks total, (there’s not even any tax because it’s a non-profit purchase!).

You have to catch me in person to see the ties I got for two bucks apiece and even then you won’t be able to tell if they are the Goodwill ties or the expensive ones I got at the Crossroads Mall.  Only my Goodwill checkout girl knows for sure.

Courteous and engaging staff pointed out Xmas sale items!

While I was wandering about the aisles of Goodwill, I couldn’t help but notice all manner of inexpensive and interesting gift possibilities.  With the exception of the framed picture of the Indian and Horse and the girl’s bicycle, I don’t think there’s anything in this photoset over five bucks and most are under three bucks!  Slideshow after the jump.