Schizophretard

Here's an article I saved some time ago regarding the inventor of the ecig:

A high-tech approach to getting a nicotine fix
The electronic cigarette -- a gadget that looks like the real thing and delivers nicotine without smoke -- is established in China, and companies are taking aim at the U.S. market.
By Barbara Demick
April 25, 2009

Reporting from Beijing -- Hon Lik used to light up first thing in the morning. He smoked between lectures at the university where he studied Oriental medicine, between bites at lunch, in the lab where he researched ginseng health products. He'd usually burn through two packs by dusk and smoke a third over dinner and drinks with colleagues.

It wasn't until his father, also a heavy smoker, died of lung cancer that Hon finally kicked the habit.

Hon's story could be that of any other nicotine-addicted, middle-aged man in China, where 60% of the men smoke. What distinguishes the 52-year-old pharmacist and inventor is that he found inspiration in the addiction.



One of the strangest gizmos to come out of China in recent years, Hon's invention, the electronic cigarette, turns the adage "where there's smoke there's fire" on its head.

It doesn't burn at all. Instead, it uses a small lithium battery that atomizes a liquid solution of nicotine. What you inhale looks like smoke, but it's a vapor similar to stage fog. (Take that, smoke-free bars!) It even has a red light at the tip that lights up with each drag.

"It's a much cleaner, safer way to inhale nicotine," said Hon, blowing curlicues of e-smoke as he showed off the cigarette in his Beijing office. (He says he doesn't smoke anymore, except for such demonstrations.)

Hon got his first patent on the e-cigarette in 2003 and introduced it to the Chinese market the next year. The company he worked for, Golden Dragon Holdings, was so inspired that it changed its name to Ruyan (meaning "like smoke") and started selling abroad.

This year, it's planning a big push in the United States. A disposable e-cigarette called the Jazz ($24.95 for the equivalent of five packs) is due to hit 7-Elevens in the Dallas-Fort Worth area shortly. Many rival versions, all made in China, are making their way to the U.S., sold mostly over the Internet by small marketing firms.

Unlike nicotine patches and gum, electronic cigarettes are designed to be fun. There are regulars and menthols, as well as chocolate and strawberry. A company in Japan is selling one that is charged by the USB port of a computer.

The e-cigarettes aren't marketed as a way to quit smoking, but as a smoking alternative.

"It's safe smoking -- like smoking with a condom on," said William Taskas, a Canadian distributor who is marketing a product called Smoke- Stik.

What makes the electronic cigarette more than just the latest curiosity from China is the enthusiasm it has inspired among respected anti-tobacco activists.

"This is exactly what the tobacco companies have been afraid of all these years, an alternative method of delivering nicotine that is actually enjoyable," said David Sweanor, an adjunct law professor at the University of Ottawa who specializes in tobacco issues. "It took the Chinese, who are very entrepreneurial, and not burdened with all kinds of regulation, to take the risk."

Even without smoke or fire, electronic cigarettes are sparking controversy. Australia, Canada and Hong Kong have banned them on the grounds that they have not been sufficiently tested for safety.

"The way they were being sold, there was no control. A kid could buy it and take too many puffs. You could overdose on nicotine," said Ronald Lam, tobacco control chief of the health department in Hong Kong, where 800 shops were raided last month and the entire e-stash confiscated.

The Food and Drug Administration last month confiscated shipments from three Chinese companies on the grounds they were making false health claims. The agency said in a recent letter to prospective importers of electronic cigarettes that it had not decided on their legality, but was "evaluating them on a case-by-case basis."

Although they're not kicking Marlboro off the shelves in China, the electronic cigarettes have a small but loyal following.

"They're quite popular with both men and women," said Sun Shujuan, a clerk at the tobacco counter of the Beijing City Department Store. Each day, she sells one or two of the reusable cigarettes (a $145 appliance), and a much larger number of the replacement cartridges, which run $9 for the equivalent of five packs of cigarettes. "We have many repeat customers."

Chinese smokers complain that the electronic cigarettes are expensive (most brands here are still less than $1 a pack) and can't be easily shared. In China, cigarettes are the essential lubricant for opening a conversation -- the smoke offered to the cop who has pulled you over, the pack held open by a salesman approaching a prospect.

"What is the point of having cigarettes if you can't give one to a friend?" said Liu Hai, who works as a driver and lives in Chengdu, in Sichuan province.

The United States is considered a far more promising market because of the higher price of cigarettes and the prohibition on smoking in many indoor spaces.

"When you're in Minneapolis in the winter, it's a lot more attractive to spend $24.95 on an electronic cigarette than it is to go out to smoke where it is 20 degrees below," said Alex Chong, chief executive of Ruyan America, the Minneapolis-based U.S. affiliate of Hon's company.

E-cigarettes are already sold legally in some British pubs, where smoking is banned.

Even though the devices are not yet widely available in the United States, the battle lines are being drawn.

The electronic cigarette marketers refrain from calling e-cigarettes a smoking-cessation aid -- in part because under U.S. law, if they made any health claims, they would be subject to FDA approval.

Bill Godshall, head of Smokefree Pennsylvania, estimates that at least 100,000 electronic cigarettes have been sold in the United States. (The gizmo got a boost last month when Leonardo DiCaprio was photographed smoking one on a bicycle.)

"You have these abstinence-only extremists who want to eradicate all nicotine product. But as you've seen, whether we're talking about sex or alcohol or nicotine, abstinence doesn't really work," said Godshall, who has collected 4,000 signatures on a petition to allow e-cigarettes to be legally sold in the United States.

Chong, of Ruyan America, said his company was willing to put its product up for safety testing to win U.S. regulatory approval but not immediately, explaining that it is a $20-million, three-year process. He said that seven laboratories the company commissioned to test the product found no dangerous level of chemicals.

Inventor Hon says the idea of the electronic cigarettes came to him in a dream in 2000: Coughing and wheezing, he imagined he was drowning, until suddenly the waters around him lifted into a fog.

He gave one of the first prototypes to his dying father.

"It was too late for my father, but not for me. I switched over myself to electronic cigarettes."

Hi vbear, I promised you a response last night so here it is.

Hey Michelle! I have a Spade and have no problem recommending it! It's a great unit and I love mine. It's a good way to go because you'll also get to start vaping with the best juice I've found so far (VT). For strenght, I would suggest 24mg. I smoked a pack to 1 1/2 packs of Marlboro lights a day and the 24mg worked perfect for me. I started with 18mg and wasn't happy with it. I quickly switched to 24mg and it made a huge differene. You'll find this is a little different. For some 24mg is to much and for others it's not enough. I would start with 24mg.

It's always good to get extra atty's. If it's in your budget, I'd get 2 spare batteries and a couple of extra atty's. A 10ml bottle lasts me about a week. Sometimes more/sometimes less. FYI the VT Traditional Tobacco is my favorite and I vape it 95% of the time.

In my opinion, go a little cheaper right now and get a 510 kit. Basically two ecigs so you have a backup. Spend the money you saved and buy some 24 and 11 mg juice. This way you an mix them to see what is good for you. 50/50 mix gets you 17.5 mg, so this way you get a nice range of nic. Plus you can do what alot of folks do and go 24 in the morning, and a little less later on. If the 11 is too little, oh well. My point is, and I own a spade and think it is great but if it fails, you will have to go to analogs waiting for a repair. Certainly not the end of the world but if you vape for more than a week without analogues, going back is GROSS. So my vote, as if it matters, is to get the 510 kit, save some bucks, and the 510 will be your backup for the spade later on when you get that. All interchangeable parts by the way (510s).

Just got the mail
Ordered Spade 1/20 from VTStore - mailed same day - received 1/22 just 5 mins ago (of course we both are in Calif)
Ordered adapter 1/19 from GoodProphets - mailed 1/20 from PA - received 1/22 just 5 mins ago: Adapter is for 510 bat to 901 atty cuz I have 15 901 attys and don't want them to go to waste.

I like the little sack for the Spade as it holds a variety of juice and spare batt & atty. A little sack like this is great for Princesses cuz most of us carry a girlie purse anyway. Not sure how it works for the dudes.

This Spade is identical (except color) to the VP1-901 I had before from VaprLife. I had the VP1-901 1st version and l loved it. Then I upgraded to protected batts and needed to get the 2nd version and had problems til finally I gave up on it. Hopefully the Spade is v.3 and there will be no issues.

I will keep you posted.

I got this from another forum:

I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

I ordered a burger at McDonald's and the kid behind the
counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?"

CEO's are now playing miniature golf.

If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds,"
you call them and ask if they meant you or them.

Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.

McDonald's is selling the 1/4 ouncer.

Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their
children's names.

A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico .

**** Cheney took his stockbroker hunting.

Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore.

The Mafia is laying off judges.

Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.


Congress says they are looking into this Bernard Madoff scandal. Oh Great!! The guy who made $50 Billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $1.5 Trillion disappear!

And finally, the biggest indicator of them all is.........

I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, global warming, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc., that I called the Suicide Lifeline. I got a call center in Pakistan . When I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a truck.


The person who posted this is with Lecig

General Questions:
How long have electronic cigarettes been around? They've been gaining popularity over the last few years, not sure when they actually hit the market.
How safe is the vapor? (How easy is it to overdose on nicotine?) Vapor is pretty safe, using an e-juice 24mg strength or less makes it fairly difficult to really over do it and make yourself sick. That's not to say you couldn't do it, but you'd have to really be chain vaping and then you have no one to blame but yourself.
Why does Firefox think vapor is not spelled correctly?! (well that one is a little off topic :/) My Firefox is cool with it
How long have you been vaping? Been analog free for over 70 days now, but I had tried the e-cig before that, I just didn't by any spare atomizers, when my only one burned out I went back to analogs for a little bit, now I'm back on track, and I have plenty of spare atomizers at all times.
Did you start vaping to quit smoking, or for just a "safer" switch? I started vaping because I did want to quit smoking, and it worked well. now that I have made the initial investment I'm not in a hurry to quit. It's much less expensive, less damaging to my health, and I enjoy it immensely.
Did it work? Hells yes.
How long did it take you to quit? Took me maybe 24 hours, but took my wife a couple weeks to totally quit. A buddy of mine just quit after 2 days with his first e-cig ever.
Can you give a good reason too start using an electronic cigarette other than health reasons? You'll save money, smell better, and you can use them indoors (most places).


Choice and Price:
In your experience, have you actually saved money by switching? Definitely, and the savings continue to get better after you make the initial investment.
Compared to cartons of cigarettes, what was your start-up cost? You can get a good 510 starter kit for around $50, plus some extra juice, you're lookin' at about $80-$100
What is the difference between a 510 and a pen-style? (Man I hope that's not the same thing) They are just 2 different models of atomizers, 510 is more compact.
Is there a comparison chart for all the brands and/or models? ??? You'll find 510s and 801 penstyles are favorites here.


Usage:
On average, how long does a bottle of juice last you? When I'm at home using my 5V passthrough all day I can go through 3ml in a day. At 3.7V maybe 1.5ml-2ml
On average, how long does a battery last before you have to buy a new one? The manual batteries tend to hold up longer, but I'd recommend buying a mod unit that uses cheaper batteries.
On average, how long does a vaporizer last before you have to buy a new one? Most atomizers should last around 1 month, anything after that is a bonus in my mind. But with good care they can last much longer than 1 month.
Compared to smoking a normal cigarette, do you have to reload (rejuice) your e-cig? If so, how many times? When direct dripping I'd say it's pretty close to about 1/2-1 cig every time I add 3 drops, with a cartridge you get more time between fills.
Compared to smoking a normal cigarette, is smoking an e-cig as satisfying? For me it's more satisfying in many ways, but there is an adjustment phase.
Once the juice is loaded into the cartridges how long does it take to evaporate before it's unusable? Left open to the air I wouldn't leave it more than 24 hrs, but I really don't know, i prefer to direct drip myself and fill cartridges (if I'm using one) right before I use it.

Those are just my opinions and experiences, so keep asking around and you'll find all the answers you need. Welcome to the forum.

Well, Christopher has a big neon pink cast fetish.

Exactly what rights did this bully violate? Was the bullied girl somehow prevented from blocking and ignoring the bully or forced to communicate with her? Who is responsible for the girls death? The girl killing herself out of her own freewill or the bully murdering her with words? If the bully is responsible then are the kids that bullied the Trench Coat Mafia responsible for the Columbine High massacre? If it turns out that the bully was bullied then is the bully no longer responsible? Is driving someone to commit suicide by hurting their feelings murder? If you hurt someone's feelings but they don't commit suicide is it attempted murder? If you legally are only allowed to say something nice or nothing at all then do you really have free speech? Where exactly is the fine line between used in other means than its intended purpose and used as intended?

It's good to be the king!

Exactly! Where would we be if Rosa Parks gave up her seat? Civil disobedience isn't a crime but a duty.