Raymond Padilla

Vaping Diaries #97: Innokin iTaste MVP 2.0 Preview

The original Innokin iTaste MVP offered consistent performance and stellar battery life for a relatively low price. The Innokin iTaste MVP 2.0 has several improvements over its predecessor, both aesthetically and functionally. Here’s a quick look at Innokin’s latest box mod.

The iTaste MVP 2.0’s most notable improvements are the addition of variable-wattage performance and a resistance checker (ohms). These are two features that vapers were clamoring for and it’s great that Innokin has listened to its customers. The wattage range is 6.0 to 11.0, adjustable in increments of 0.5 watts. Like the original, the voltage range is 3.3 to 5.0 volts, adjustable in 0.1-volt increments. Resistance and battery are displayed by hitting the two buttons on the side panel.

There are a few notable physical improvements with the MVP 2.0 as well. The original had a button that was flush against the unit. The MVP 2.0’s button protrudes for a better feel. The silver metal accents have a matte finished, as opposed to the original’s glossy finish. This cuts down on fingerprints. The original’s threading couldn’t accept eGo-threaded parts, while the new model accepts both 510 and eGo-threaded atomizers. Lastly, some people complained about the original’s beauty ring hanging over the side. The MVP 2.0’s beauty ring doesn’t have that problem.

The iTaste MVP 2.0 comes in a plastic box with a charging cable and your choice of two iClear 16 clearomizers or one iClear 30 clearomizer. The MVP 2.0 can be used to charge external device that have Mini USB, Micro USB, and Apple 32-pin connections. I would have liked to have seen Mini USB dropped in favor of an Apple Lightning connection, so that the MVP 2.0 can charge newer iPhones and iPads. However, I understand why Innokin didn’t opt for that connection (I’ll get into that in my review).

At a glance, the Innokin iTaste MVP 2.0 looks like a winner. Last year’s model was a great device and this year’s model has all of the improvements vapers have asked for. I’ll be putting this box mod through its paces before giving it a proper review. Stay tuned!

Twerk Added to Oxford Dictionary (Miley Cyrus!)

Twerk has been added to the Oxford Dictionary. This pains me on multiple levels. First of all, it’s not a real frickin’ word. Secondly, this is clearly Miley Cyrus’ fault. Her whorish, twerk-filled performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards made millions of people aware of the twerking phenomenon. This pains me more than when “immersive” was deemed a proper word, instead of some PR-flak concoction used to hype a videogame. Anyway, here’s the official Oxford Dictionary definition of twerk Continue reading “Twerk Added to Oxford Dictionary (Miley Cyrus!)”

Vaping Diaries #96: Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com Preview/Contest

Generally speaking, e-liquids made with naturally-extracted tobacco are my favorite kinds of e-liquids, so I was psyched to learn about Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com. The company, which just opened shop in July, specializes in vaping juices made from naturally-extracted tobacco. Its lineup includes a variety of e-liquids made with cigar, cigarette, and pipe tobaccos. If that’s not enough to get tobacco e-juice lovers excited, there are a few other things that make this company unique.

Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com gives its customers a choice between plastic dropper bottles or glass bottles with dropper tops. Most e-liquid companies offer one or the other. I love that this company gives you a choice between the two. That’s just smart.

What really makes Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com unique is that it offers two types of tobacco-extractions methods. Heat extraction offers a bolder taste with more throat hit. This is a great choice for vapers that love in-your-face tobacco flavors. Those that want a more nuanced flavor can opt for cold maceration, which brings out the subtleties of the different tobaccos used.

Vapers that like to make their own e-liquids will appreciate Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com’s DIY offerings. The company offers the extracts from its lineup. While they’re pricier than most DIY flavorings, it’s still a more economical way to vape. Plus, the company is one of two that I know of with an extensive line of naturally-extracted tobacco extracts.

While I’ve enjoyed what I’ve dripped so far, I’m still a few weeks away from a proper review of the Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com e-liquids that I have. So let’s have a contest in the meantime!

Contest: Win Three Boge Standard Dripping Atomizers
To enter the contest, all you have to do is go to Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com, peruse the menu, and leave a comment below with the flavor you most want to try and an explanation of why you want that particular flavor. It’s that easy!

[Edit: August 28 12:08PM] Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com will also be providing a 30ml bottle of e-liquid to the winner!

Now for the boring contest rules:

Only one entry per participant
Contest closes on September 4, 2013 11:59PM PDT
Winner will be chosen with a random number generator
Must 18 or older to participate
Must have a U.S. mailing address to be eligible
RPad Productions Inc. is not responsible for the prize being lost or damaged by USPS

Get Your Snooki Couture by Nicole Polizzi Headphones

The press release for the Snooki Couture by Nicole Polizzi line of headphones and accessories is easily the best press release I’ve received this month and one of the best I’ve received all year. I love that the pitch uses Snooki, fashion, and Walgreens in the first sentence, because nothing says high-fashion like Walgreens. Ha! Seriously though, some of the “fashionable” audio products in the Snooki Couture line include zebra earbuds and leopard-print headphones/headband. There’s also a zebra-print iPhone case, which I dare one of you to rock. Also, rhinestones.

Here’s a clip from the press release:

“Snooki Couture by Nicole Polizzi” now offers the much-anticipated line of “Fashion You Can Hear” headphones, ear buds and audio accessories including portable speakers, iPhone and iPad covers and other accessories all with her distinctive style such as rhinestones, sequins, feathers, neon and animal prints. Perfect for listeners of any age and savvy-style taste, iHip serves a multi-functional purpose, combining stellar acoustics with tricked-out personalized style. “Snooki Couture by Nicole Polizzi” brings a fresh and super-stylish perspective to her branded line with iHip. The entire line ranges from $24.99 – $59.99 and will be available at Walgreens and snookisounds.com

Normally, I would link to the product web site provided in the press release, but it currently redirects to a web page that has nothing to do with the products. That’s another dose of win for this press release. Snooki should be pissed at the PR flaks for tarnishing her name. No way she’ll be able to show up at Walgreens after this website-redirect fiasco, right?

Anyway, what do you think of the Snooki Couture by Nicole Polizzi line? What would you pay to see RPadholic Big Blak in Snooki Couture leopard-print headphones/headband?

Vaping Diaries #95: Twik Ekowool Review

A friend of mine from the Ahlusion forums recently started selling Twik Ekowool. This is a modified version of Ekowool silica cord, which is one of the most popular wick materials for rebuildable atomizers. Many vapers love it for its superior flavor (over standard silica) and durability. Twik Ekowool adds an organic cotton core to the mix. On paper, it offers improved wicking and flavor. I’ve been using Twik Ekowool for the last few weeks and was mostly impressed. Here’s a breakdown of my Twik experience (which is like the Jimi Hendrix Experience, but with organic cotton).

Wicking: Twik Ekowool’s super wicking was easily noticeable. I tried it out on a variety of atomizer setups from 0.5-ohms to 1.5-ohms. I purposely took longer-than-normal drags just to see if Twik could keep up…and it did. In the case of my 0.5-ohm dual-coil setup, Twik Ekowool was able to wick longer and faster than standard Ekowool. Generally speaking, the faster wicking was more beneficial as I lowered resistance, which makes sense since e-liquid is being vaporized faster because of the higher heat. If you’re using a dual-coil low-ohm dripping atomizer or a bottom-coil silica atomizer, then you’ll likely benefit from Twik Ekowool’s superior capillary action. (Hmmm, I think I’ll call my next band Superior Capillary Action.)

Flavor: Many vapers believe that cotton offers the cleanest and truest flavor. Flavor is also subjective, so your results will definitely vary. Personally, I have no problem with the flavor that standard Ekowool produces, but a few of my friends think that it adds an earthiness to e-liquid. While I found that Twik Ekowool offers slightly better flavor than standard Ekowool, I can totally understand someone else saying that the cotton core makes a big difference as far as flavor goes.

Workability: For the most part, Twik Ekowool is as easy to work with as the original. Since it’s softer than standard Ekowool, you’re able to squish it (technical term) into atomizers that have tight spaces. One minor drawback is that you can’t torch it when it’s dry. Torching has two benefits: it helps eliminate frayed ends and it stiffens up the fiber. If you like to use atypical shapes for your wicks, the latter comes in handy. For example, when I use a dual-coil setup in a dripping atomizer, I use one piece of wick shaped in a loop (affectionately called The Jacoji Loop). Torching makes it easier to get the precise size and shape of the loop. While I was able to make a Jacoji Loop with Twik Ekowool, it was a little harder because the soft fiber wouldn’t always stay where I wanted it to. All that said, most vapers use a straight setup and shouldn’t have any problems working with Twik Ekowool.

Maintenance: This is one area where standard Ekowool has a clear advantage; maintaining it is idiot-proof. You can torch and dry burn Ekowool all you want. Since Twik Ekowool has a cotton core, you shouldn’t dry burn it, since the cotton will burn. Torching it dry is out of the question too. You can torch the coil while the wick is still wet, but you have to be careful (I’ve messed this up a few times). This isn’t a big issue for vapers that enjoy clean juices, since rinsing will be enough. It can be an issue for vapers that enjoy heavy e-liquids that gunk up coils, like those made with naturally-extracted tobacco. Since it can’t be dry burned or torched dry, more vapers will get longer life out of standard Ekowool than Twik Ekowool.

Price: Twik Ekowool is very fairly priced at $4.99 for two feet with free shipping. That’s inline with prices for small quantities of unmodified Ekowool; Kidney Puncher sells straight Ekowool for $4.45 for two feet, while Stormy’s Vapor Cellar sells two feet for $3.99 — shipping is an additional charge for both vendors. Considering the extra labor it takes to thread the cotton core through hollow Ekowool, Twik’s price is great. Of course some people are going to say that they can buy dozens of feet (or meters, as Ekowool’s Russian creators measure it in) for less, but we’re talking about small quantities here.

Verdict: At the very least, Twik Ekowool is definitely worth trying. The price is comparable to the going rate for small quantities of standard Ekowool. You get superior wicking and better flavor. Just keep in mind that maintaining it isn’t as idiot-proof as caring for standard Ekowool. Vapers that are unsatisfied with the flavor and wicking of Ekowool should definitely give Twik Ekowool a shot. Even those that are happy with Ekowool should try it. The price is low enough that it’s worth experimenting with to see if the addition of a cotton core will make a significant difference in your vaping.

Personally, I’m going to keep buying both. I’ll use Twik Ekowool for most of my setups and standard Ekowool for when I want to build things like The Jacoji Loop. If you try Twik Ekowool, please leave a comment below and share your experience with it.

Buy Twik Ekowool

Random Thoughts on The Newsroom Season 2, Episode 7

I skipped out on recapping last week’s episode of The Newsroom because I found it a bit dull (yet still watched it 11 times). Will had a sweet moment on ACN Morning and the Operation Genoa story continued to unveil, but too much of it was tiresome. I was tired of Lugubrious Will, Cock Blocked Jim, and Not Getting Any Action Don. Thankfully, this week’s episode was thunderous. It was dramatic and ended with a stentorian roar. Let’s start at the ending.

Leona Lansing is Mariano Rivera: Jane Fonda came in at the end of this episode of The Newsroom and made it her bitch. She completely owned it and starred in the best scene of the season (possibly the second-best Newsroom scene ever behind Will’s speech at Northwestern in s1e1). Her character, Atlantis World Media CEO Leona Lansing, dominated the last three and half minutes of the show with a passionate, charged, and hilarious diatribe. It showed so many sides of her character — her toughness, her wonderfully harsh sense of humor, and her hidden love for Atlantis Cable News. It was a thrilling way to close the show and reminded me of Mariano Rivera closing out an exciting Yankee game.

Don Keefer Lights it Up: Naturally, the best episode of the season kicked of with The Newsroom’s best character. Don was at his sardonic best, “working” with ACN’s lawyer. He also had several great moments in the “Red Team” meetings — sharp lines that only Don Keefer can deliver with the proper bite. While Don is no closer to a relationship with Sloan Sabbith than he was in s2e1, he’s still the coolest cat in the newsroom. This character rules.

A Few Good Men (and Women): One of the reasons I enjoyed this episode so much was that it was a legal drama. Twelve Angry Men, A Few Good Men, and Primal Fear are some of my favorite movies of all time. In this episode, The Newsroom’s use of real-world events and romantic comedy took a backseat to the legal drama. Having ACN’s lawyer played by the excellent Marcia Gay Harden helped too. Hmmmm, the people that say that The Newsroom portrays women as fools need to look at the characters played by Jane Fonda and Marcia Gay Harden. Those ladies are tough.

Shot-Clock Violation: ~~Brian Fantana~~ Jerry Dantana doctored some raw footage of a key Operation Genoa interview so that it would tell the story he wanted told. When the interviewee insisted on leaving March Madness basketball games playing in the background (s2e6), I knew that the shot clock would play a role in the Operation Genoa report unraveling. Honestly, I thought it was silly that nobody caught it. You had the news teams from two shows and 30 ACN lawyers combing over the material. While I understand that the enormity of the story was foremost on their minds, I don’t see how all of them missed the shot clock jumping back and forth. I was kind of disappointed that MacKenzie was the one that eventually spotted it. It seemed like something Slumdog Millionaire would have sleuthed.

Sloan Dislocates Her Shoulder: Sloan Sabbith didn’t do a lot in this episode, which means that Olivia Munn didn’t have many opportunities for unbelievable acting (playing a character that has two doctorates is one thing, but playing someone embarrassed by naked photos is completely unbelievable). Since dear Olivia was denied the opportunity to offend, you should watch her dislocate her shoulder. The video is a week old, but it’s still frickin’ hilarious!

MTV Video Music Awards 2013 Highlights (VMAs)

There were several memorable performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). From Lady Gaga to Katy Perry to Justin Timberlake, the VMAs had something for everyone. Let’s take a look at some highlights and kindly talk about your favorite performance at the 2013 VMAs in the comments section.

‘N Sync Reunion
There were so many things that I loved about this VMAs performance. It started with Justin Timberlake repeatedly saying, “You asked for it.” To which I wondered, “Really?!? That’s news to me.” The celebrity crowd reactions were excellent. Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga looked like they were genuinely marking out (though Swift could have been salivating at five potential boyfriends/songwriting toys). One Direction looked positively bored. As for ‘N Sync, I was a little worried about the ones not named Justin Timberlake; Joey Fatone looked more like Joey Fat One and I was impressed/relieved that he made through the act. While Timberlake also had a solo performance, I thought it was incredibly generous of him to share the stage with the four other ~~clowns~~ members of ‘N Sync. Good on him.

Miley Cyrus Medley
If Cyclops from the X-Men and Gizmo from Gremlins had a giant lovechild, it would be the thing that Miley Cyrus emerged from at the beginning of her 2013 VMAs performance. Amazingly, that wasn’t the strangest thing in this bizarre set. I was amazed by how much unintentional comedy Cyrus packed into this act. Her outfit was garish, her dancing was whorish, her vocals were poor, and the stage was full of funky stuffed animals. Some of it was just uncomfortable and I felt bad for Billy Ray Cyrus; it was half a step away from him seeing his daughter perform at a strip club. It was awful, but also mesmerizing — the musical-performance equivalent of a car wreck.

Lady Gaga
You guys and dolls know that I’m a mark for Gaga. I love what she does for people that feel different and I love how she treats her fans. While I enjoy some of her music, there’s a lot of it that’s just okay to me. “Applause” fits into the latter category. That said, she put on a great show at the VMAs. It started with ~~Gaga channeling Liza Minnelli~~ show-tune vocals before shifting into the pop version of the song. Halfway through the act, she unveiled a seashell bikini, which is always hot (you know you wanted Ariel from The Little Mermaid). I thought it was a well-choreographed number and I really enjoyed watching it.

Katy Perry
Closing out the 2013 VMAs was Katy Perry singing “Roar.” It was cool to see an outdoor performance under the Brooklyn Bridge, but I didn’t enjoy this one was much as Gaga’s. The set looked like a LEGO version of the MGM Grand and putting Perry in boxing gear negates her sexiness. The most interesting part of the act was the silly jumprope exhibition in the middle of the song. I figured that there was a 69-percent chance that Perry would knock herself out with one of her boobs. Sadly, that didn’t happen.

Vaping Diaries #94: Clever Vape Review

Clever Vape is a relatively new e-liquid company that sells some interesting juices. There are several unique blends in the Clever Vape lineup and I recently vaped three of them: Nostalgia, Brooklyn Pop, and Abandon Mint. They’re three very different e-liquids that will appeal to all sorts of vapers. For the most part, I was very pleased with my first Clever Vape experience.

The company’s 30ml bottles are glass and feature stylish labels. The juices are fairly priced at $14.99 ($18.99 with a flavor boost). Abandon Mint and Brooklyn Pop vaped very cleanly, while Nostalgia was a “dirty” juice. This wasn’t surprising, since it’s made with real tobacco in a process that the vendor calls “true tobacco synthesis.” Nostalgia gunks up coils quickly and probably isn’t the best choice for a carto/tank.

Abandon Mint and Brooklyn Pop are good to go straight away, with only slight changes after a month of steeping. Nostalgia changed more and I suggest giving it at least two weeks of steeping.

Here are the flavor breakdowns and steeping notes for these Clever Vape juices:

Nostalgia: Vapers looking for a bittersweet tobacco e-liquid should definitely give Nostalgia a try. It’s a lovely melange of tobacco and black honey. The mix is very flavorful, with a medium-strength tobacco playing off the honey flavor nicely. As a huge fan of tobacco e-liquids, I enjoyed this juice. It almost reminded me of something that Heather’s Heavenly Vapes would make.

Just keep in mind that it’s heavy, so you’ll have to dry burn your coils relatively frequently and probably shouldn’t vape it in a carto/tank; when I was dripping it in a Nimbus, I couldn’t even get a full day of vaping before a large chunk of buildup appeared on my coils. As I said before, the taste is worth it.

Brooklyn Pop: This is a great black-cherry-cola juice with an excellent kick of spice. The cola flavor is authentic and not candied. The end result is similar to a gourmet soda. It was a close call between Nostalgia and Brooklyn Pop being my favorite Clever Vape juice of the bunch, but Brooklyn Pop gets a slight edge for its addictive spiciness.

This juice is a good choice for vapers trying to lower their nicotine levels. The spicy kick adds a sensation that helps compensate for loss of throat hit you get as you go down in nicotine. Even though I was born in the Bronx, I have to give it up for Brooklyn Pop. Clever Vape did an excellent job with this juice.

Abandon Mint: This was my least favorite of the bunch, but it’s a good choice for those that want a combination of sweet and minty. When I was dripping it, I could make out the different mints and menthols used in the juice (spearmint, wintergreen, etc.). In a cartomizer and clearomizer, the separation was lost to the sweetness. I would have loved this juice if the sweetness was toned down and the various mints were played up. Vapers that like mint candies will probably enjoy this juice, but for me the sweetness negated the complexity.

Steeping Notes
On the advice of Wlad from Ahlusion, I’ve been trying a new steeping method starting December 27, 2012. When the e-liquids arrive, I leave them uncapped for five minutes. Previously, I left them uncapped for about two days. After the liquids are given a few minutes to oxidize, the caps are put back on. The bottles are shaken every day for at least two weeks before vaping.

Nostalgia
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: July 5, 2013 6:56PM
Vaped: August 18-24, 2013

Brooklyn Pop
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: July 5, 2013 6:56PM
Vaped: August 18-24, 2013

Abandon Mint
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: July 5, 2013 6:56PM
Vaped: August 18-24, 2013

Review Process (Updated February 17, 2013)
RPad.TV e-liquid reviews focus on the flavor of the e-liquids, since throat hit and vapor production can be altered by the PG/VG ratio and nicotine level selected. Each juice is vaped over a period of days in an atomizer, a cartomizer/tank setup, and a clearomizer. The exception is naturally-extracted tobacco (NET) juice; since those are known to clog up cartomizers quickly, those are vaped in atomizers and clearomizers.

Happy Birthday Justin Leeper!

Most of you know my excellent friend Justin Leeper as a former videogame journalist for Game Informer and a former writer for the stellar SmackDown vs. Raw series. In addition to penning the book Still Man Fights, Justin has been working in Hollywood as an actor and stuntman. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit Justin’s days as a pro-wrestler. Below is a match between Helmut Von Strauss (Justin) and “Kamikaze” Ken Anderson (Mr. Kennedy in WWE). Skip to the 9:15 mark for the introductions to Justin’s match and let me know what you think (please!).

Vaping Diaries #93: Mojo’s Chi You Clone Backlash

Style of Mojo’s Chi You is a beautiful and hard-hitting mechanical mod. Its popularity is completely deserved. Its also no surprise that the Chi You has been cloned by several Chinese manufacturers. Recently, there has been some Facebook drama surrounding Chi You clones. While I believe that Style of Mojo has every right to be upset about the situation, I also believe that the company is handling things poorly. Before I get to that, let’s talk about clones in a general sense.

“China clones” are a double-edged sword. On one hand, many clones mimic every element of the original, right down to the logos, engravings, and fonts. Many mod makers feel that these clones rip off the considerable work that went into designing the originals and many also believe that clones devalue the original’s worth. Clones have also been used to fool customers; some dishonest vape-shop owners try to pass off clones as the real deal. Buyers that think they’re buying an authentic item and unwittingly purchase a clone can unfairly get a negative impression of the originator. Lastly, most clones are inferior to the original in terms of workmanship and performance.

On the other hand, clones are more accessible, both in terms of price and availability. High-end mechanical mods can cost upwards of $200, while many clones cost $15 to $50. Many high-end mods are released with limited availability, making them difficult to purchase. Chinese manufacturers have immense capacity and can crank out clones at a far greater pace than the original mod makers can. In rare cases, like the EHPro EA Mod, a clone can outperform the original. While it’s fantastic that vaping has created financial opportunities for many mod makers, at the end of the day it’s all about staying off of cigarettes; because of their lower price and superior availability, clones potentially help more people stay with vaping and away from smoking.

Personally, I don’t mind basic clones. After all, there’s only so much you can do with a metal cylinder. That said, copying logos, engravings, and fonts is just garbage. I’m particularly amused by the Chinese clones of Filipino mods that use the sun from the Filipino flag; depending on your point of view, it’s either funny or sad that Chinese companies are copying that too. Whether it’s videogames, comics, or movies, I’m almost always biased for the creator. It’s one reason I’m a big fan of Janty, the creator of the original eGo e-cigarette and RY4 e-liquid. For the most part, I feel that Chinese manufacturers are unfairly exploiting the creations of mod makers and they should absolutely be pissed off about it. Having said that, I believe that Style of Mojo has taken things too far.

In a Facebook post dated August 20, 2013, Style of Mojo’s CEO posted a list of people that have purchased Chi You clones through a group buy. While I understand his (completely justifiable) frustration with cloners, taking it out on consumers is simply misguided. In most cases, the people on the list have used their real names. They are now open to ridicule from Mojo’s 299 followers and anyone else that reads the post. Why do that? In some cases, these people were never going to buy a real Chi You because of cost. In other cases, Style of Mojo has lost potential customers because of the public outing. If anything the company should be going after the companies that clone its products, like EHPro, Hcigar, and Tobeco. It would have been far more meaningful if the company went through each clone and posted the aspects that are inferior to the original. Antagonizing consumers is…not the smartest thing do.

While many proud Chi You owners are backing Style of Mojo, there are many people that are not. Some believe that the CEO is being a bully, a brat, or a whiner. Some people that were interested in buying a Chi You no longer want one because of the CEO’s actions. The worst part is that some people only know about the Chi You and Style of Mojo because of an ill-advised Facebook post. While there’s no denying that the Chi You is a fantastic vaping device, Style of Mojo is now, to some people, “the company that’s run by that guy that made that dickish Facebook post.” That’s an unfortunate thing.