Raymond Padilla

Vaping Diaries #80: eBaron Dripper Pro by Leo Review

The eBaron Dripper Pro by Leo is a rebuildable dripping atomizer (RDA) that features great build quality, handsome looks, and versatile building options. It’s priced similarly to other high-end RDAs, but the cost is worth it — particularly for ProVari owners and/or vapers that are uncomfortable with the rebuilding process. After using the Dripper Pro for several months, I’m very impressed with it. It’s a great dripper for vapers that want a quality device and are learning the ropes of RDAs.

Build Quality: The Dripper Pro is made from 304 stainless steel. The threads are smooth and I haven’t had any problems with the O-ring after several months of use. It’s a well made RDA that’s built to last.

Design: This is a very handsome dripper with classy looks. Although it was made to match ProVape’s popular ProVari vaping devices, it looks great on many mods. The upper chamber is smooth stainless steel, while the base has a series of dimples, subtle branding, and a serial number.

Performance: The Dripper Pro hits like you’d expect any small RDA to. You get great flavor and vapor production, with more throat hit than other juice delivery systems. Yes, you can get comparable performance from drippers that cost less than $20, but with this device you’re paying for build quality and style.

Ease of Use: This is where the Dripper Pro gets interesting. It uses CE2 ceramic cups to hold the wick and coil. Experienced vapers can rebuild the whole thing. It’s recommended that you use resistance and non-resistance (NR) wire for building coils, which adds a step some people find complicated. It’s possible to use all resistance wire, but I don’t recommend it since the extra heat has the potential to ruin your O-ring.

Those that are uncomfortable with building coils for tight spaces can buy pre-made wicks with NR leads and extra ceramic cups. After placing the wick in the cup, you insert the wires, plop it down, cut the excess wick, and cut the excess wire. It’s a fairly straightforward process that many vapers can handle.

People that are completely uncomfortable with rebuilding can by whole cup/coil units. It doesn’t get any easier than this. You pop the unit into the Dripper Pro and cut the excess wire. This is a nice option for vapers that have difficulty with rebuilding, but want the full flavor of dripping.

Verdict: The eBaron Dripper Pro is a well made device that offers great flavor, vapor, and throat hit. I was impressed by its looks and performance, and really appreciate the versatile rebuilding options. While it’s true that you can get similar performance from a cheaper device like the Youde IGO-S or a number of China clones, you’re getting quality workmanship and sweet style with this dripper. For those that need it, this dripper offers completely simple rebuilding. Whether you’re an experienced vaper or just starting out with RDAs, the Dripper Pro is a great choice that will serve you well.

Beyond: Two Souls Gameplay Video

Here’s a sweet behind-the-scenes video of Beyond: Two Souls by Quantic Dream for PlayStation 3. In the video, the developers explain the features of the gameplay and the thought process behind it. Yes, it’s chockfull of quick-time events (as you’d expect in a Quantic Dream game), but the developers are trying to make things as transparent as possible. There are times when you’ll see the traditional cues for input (square, circle, etc.) but there are also times when you’ll see a simple white dot that indicates that an action has to be made. The goal is to make “the player forget that he has a controller in his hand.”

Also, the video explains why the Quantic Dream crew had to research “fishes swimming underwater.”

As a mark for the developer, I’m completely psyched for this game and really enjoyed this “making of” video. Check out the clip and let me know what you think (please!).

Ryan Braun Suspended Without Pay For PED Use

Do you smell that? It smells like something is burning…. It’s Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun’s pants! They’re on fire because he’s a big liar. (This joke works much better when you look at this story’s featured image.) After denying the use of performance-enhancing drugs and blaming a positive test on specimen collector Dino Laurenzi, Jr., Braun has proven to be a liar and a cheater. According to ESPN, Major League Baseball has suspended Braun for the rest of the year without pay for a violation of the sport’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

We’ve discussed PEDs in sports back in February and PED abuse in baseball last month. How do you feel about Ryan Braun’s suspension? Are you surprised? Is the punishment too harsh, too lenient, or just right? Most importantly, any chance that scumbag Alex Rodriguez gets suspended soon (like Braun, A-Rod was a Biogenesis client) or maybe deported to Uranus? Kindly share your performance-enhanced feelings in the comments section!

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Random Thoughts on The Newsroom Season 2, Episode 2

This week I’m posting my observations on The Newsroom after three viewings instead of the 11 I had for episode one. Ha! It was a decent episode, but far from one of the show’s best. There’s still a lot of setup going on. Still, there were some nice moments and an excellent song closed out the show. Here are some random thoughts on the second episode of The Newsroom.

Anchorman: One of the things I forgot to mention last week was the first episode of The Newsroom season 2 made me think of Anchorman. Will was goofing off a bit and had some Ron Burgundy moments. The substitute senior producer is named Jerry Dantana, which sounds similar to Brian Fantana. Coincidence?!? Probably. Okay, moving onto this week’s episode….

Sloan Becomes Olivia: In this episode the normally brilliant-but-socially-awkward Sloan Sabbith was more like the wretched actress that plays her (~~Lisa~~ Olivia Munn) — conniving and manipulative. She clearly wants Don and is helping Don’s ex-girlfriend Maggie move on. Her ulterior motives are thinly veiled, but Maggie is too frazzled and self-absorbed to notice. I hope this storyline develops to reveal that beneath Sloan’s formidable intellect and goofy charm, she’s a terrible person inside.

The Passion of the Don: Mr. Keefer spends most of this episode trying to get more coverage for the Troy Davis case. He cares deeply about the situation and the man. It consumes him and he’s frustrated that he can’t do more to help clear a man that he believes is innocent. Last week we got Nice Guy Don, which I wasn’t sure about. This week we got Passionate Don, which is an improvement. Still, I’m anxious for the return of Sardonic Dick Don. That guy rules.

Maggie Gets Caught: Everyone’s favorite flustered pixie (not mine) was in damage control this week. Her life has been rearranged because of a YouTube video and she’s frantically trying to cover her lying ass. It all backfires and she’s called out (by her much hotter roommate and best friend Lisa) for being a liar. I loved how coldly Lisa tore her up. Lisa was completely right…and so sexy when she’s angry. Also, Maggie gets her assignment to cover a story in Uganda, paving the way for her to get messed up by Kamala or something.

Jim Mopes: Captain Whiny is still running away from his problems on the Romney bus. He’s developing a strange relationship with another embedded journalist, played by Grace Gummer. She alternates between goofing on him and showing concern. I couldn’t really tell because I was distracted by Gummer’s resemblance to her famous mother.

Slumdog Millionaire Goes to Jail: The adorably earnest Mr. Sampat gets mocked for pitching an Occupy Wall Street story when the first wave of protests ends up being a trickle. He lucks his way into some awesome footage of cops getting violent with the protesters, ends up in jail, and delivers a funny line about prison changing a man (he was locked up for roughly one hour).

Will’s Mini-Explosion: News Night’s main man didn’t carry this episode narratively, but displayed the heart of the show. On the outside he’s gruff and obnoxious, but if you keep chipping away at the numerous layers of Will McAvoy then you’ll find a sensitive man the cares deeply about American and wanting it to change. It all comes to a head when he goes to the police station to bail out Slumdog Millionaire. He explodes on a police officers, mostly for reasons that have nothing to do with the situation.

Please Don’t Stop the Music: I’ve always loved the show’s use of music. I loved that it used Radiohead’s “High and Dry” in an early episode of season 1 (episode 2?). This episode is capped by Willie Nelson’s “You Were Always on My Mind.” It worked so well for the multiple storylines — a great song that helped improved an otherwise okay episode of The Newsroom.

Coffee Talk #596: Your Favorite Comic-Con 2013 Happenings

Comic-Con 2013 — or as it’s known in some circles, Nerd Heaven — is over! There were tons and tons of geeky announcements, trailers, and news bits. Some of the highlights include:

Man of Steel 2 being a Superman/Batman movie
The Avengers 2 being an Age of Ultron movie
A lengthy and awesome Kick-Ass 2 trailer
Lots of information on X-Men: Days of Future Past

…more

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, A-Rod’s unfortunate (not really) quadriceps injury, your favorite summer fruit, or slogging your way through mediocre coffee beans, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Comic-Con 2013 — or as it’s known in some circles, Nerd Heaven — is over! There were tons and tons of geeky announcements, trailers, and news bits. Some of the highlights include:

Man of Steel 2 being a Superman/Batman movie
The Avengers 2 being an Age of Ultron movie
A lengthy and awesome Kick-Ass 2 trailer
Lots of information on X-Men: Days of Future Past
Sweet details on The Amazing Spider-Man 2
More footage from Thor 2
More footage from Captain America 2
The first glimpse of WWE Batista as Drax in the Guardians of the Galaxy movie
The trailer for Cosmos, a new version of the excellent Carl Sagan show hosted by Neil de Grasse Tyson
Updates on A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones season 4

What got your inner nerd fired up at Comic-Con 2013? What got you worried?

As for me, I was totally jazzed by the return of Cosmos and I loved the Kick-Ass 2 clip. I really didn’t like Joss Whedon strongly hinting that Hank Pym will not be part of Ultron’s origin in The Avengers 2. Yeah, there are ways to write around that like altering Ultron’s origin so that it’s an accidental creation by Tony Stark or S.H.I.E.L.D., but as a longtime comic-book nerd, I can’t buy that. The identities of Ultron and Hank Pym are tied together. Yes, I understand that it frees up The Avengers 2 and the upcoming Ant-Man movie, but it just…feels wrong.

Now it’s your turn! Fire away with your Comic-Con 2013 thoughts in the comments section (please!).

Vaping Diaries #79: Five Pawns Review

If you’re looking for complex e-liquids with amazing flavors then you should definitely check out Five Pawns. In a very short time, the company has become one of the best e-liquid vendors in the world, as far as quality goes. Its juices have a complexity that I’ve only seen from a handful of other companies.

Positioned as premium e-liquid, Five Pawns juices come in glass bottles covered with cardboard tubes. The box protects the bottle and adds a classy look. Each bottle lists the mix date, lot number, and bottle number. The packaging reminds me a lot of Apple products; slick labeling and packaging envelope a superior product, enhancing the experience.

A lot of people get sticker shock when they see the price of Five Pawn’s e-liquids — $27.50 for the standard line and $37.50 for the Reserve line (30ml bottles). Yes, they’re expensive compared to other online vendors, but as I learned during my interview with Five Pawns president Rodney Jerabek, the business focuses on retail. Since Five Pawns doesn’t want to undercut its retail partners, the online prices are the same as retail prices. With many brick-and-mortar shops selling average juice (or worse) for $1 per milliliter, the Five Pawns prices are inline. Of course it all comes down to taste. To me, these juices are absolutely worth the price and I’ll definitely be buying more bottles in the future. That said, I totally understand why some people think they’re too expensive. As they say in Thailand, “Up to you.”

The three juices covered in this review are Bowden’s Mate, Absolute Pin, and Castle Long Reserve. The last juice is particularly unique, as it’s aged for three weeks in a treated oak barrel. All three juices are rich, flavorful, and complex. If you’re the type of vaper that enjoys simple and straightforward juices (which can be delicious in their own right) then these might not be for you. If you appreciate complex flavors and unique mixes of multiple ingredients then you should definitely check out these juices. Here are the the flavor breakdowns and steeping notes.

Bowden’s Mate: This is a sweet, creamy, and minty e-liquid. The French vanilla and mint hit me right away on the inhale. A nice chocolate followed those flavors. Yes, there are many vendors that make an “Andes Candies” type of juice, but this one is better than any that I’ve tried. Five Pawns’ French vanilla is wonderfully delicious and totally makes this juice, making it different from the other chocolate/mint flavors out there. Like other Five Pawns e-liquids, it’s finely crafted and the flavors come together splendidly.

Absolute Pin: Absinthe fans must give this juice a try. The tasting notes mention a “subtle absinthe undertone,” but the anise dominated the flavor to me. (To be fair, I’m pretty sensitive to anise due to several unfortunate Jaegermesiter-fueled evenings.) Complementing the anise are caramel, cinnamon, and Irish cream. It all comes together for a ridiculously complex and boldly flavorful juice. It’s definitely not an all-day vape for me, as I can only take anise in small doses, but I really appreciate the blend. I never thought absinthe and caramel would work so well together. A few friends of mine that love absinthe juices mentioned that this is one of the best and most unique blends they’ve tried.

Castle Long Reserve: The insert included with the bottle says, “What’s in this bottle is special.” That’s not pretense or exaggeration. This is a truly special e-liquid. Toasted almond and coconut hit me right away, followed by vanilla. The vanilla flavor in this juice isn’t as dominant as it is in some other Five Pawns flavors; it’s more complementary, while still adding to the deliciousness. Further in the background is a touch of bourbon. The flavors come together amazingly. Castle Long Reserve is a finely crafted juice that’s easily one of the best and most unique I’ve ever had.

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.

Bowden’s Made
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Mix Date: March 22, 2013
Uncapped: May 23, 2013 7:22PM
Vaped: June 6-10, 2013

Absolute Pin
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Mix Date: March 22, 2013
Uncapped: May 23, 2013 7:22PM
Vaped: June 6-10, 2013

Castle Long Reserve
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Mix Date: May 25, 2013
Uncapped: July 5, 2013 6:40PM
Vaped: July 15-19, 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.

RPad.TV 2013 Coffee Mug!

Someone in the vaping community asked for a coffee mug with my face on it. (No, really.) I listen to the people, like my role model, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. If the most electrifying man in all of entertainment listens to the people then the most electrifying man in verbal entertainment should too. Anyway, the RPad.TV 2013 coffee mug has my face on one side and the site logo on the other, both images excellently crafted by RPadholic N8R! Own a piece of history and order yours today. (Imagine me saying that last sentence in a Steven Wright voice.)

WWE Gene Snitsky is an Alex Rodriguez Bodyguard

Remember WWE wrestler Gene Snitsky? His pro-wrestling achievements include punting a (fake) baby, harassing WWE Divas to satisfy his foot fetish, engaging in homoerotic promos with John Heidenreich, and having yellow teeth. He left all that behind to become one of the bodyguards for New York Yankees ~~team idiot~~ third-baseman Alex Rodriguez. According to The Star-Ledger, Snitsky is part of A-Roid’s five-man security detail.

This makes perfect sense to me. More than any other player in Major League Baseball, Alex Rodriguez has the most in common with a pro-wrestling heel. I’m not talking about a dastardly heel or a menacing heel either. A-Rod is 100-percent chickensh*t heel. Like most wrestling villains of this nature, he needs a monster for backup. Of course he’d employ a former WWE monster as his bodyguard. Of course.

Just for kicks, here are a pair of Snitsky’s greatest hits.

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Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians Preview/Interview

Last week I caught a demo of Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians, a unique platform/music game developed by Threaks and being published by Reverb. Executive producer Ted Lange took me through the game and chatted with me after the demo. Beatbuddy features a story by Rhianna Pratchett and music from Austin Wintory (Journey). Lange described the game as being “familiar and different.” It has platform elements that will instantly feel familiar to gamers that have played loads of Mario and Sonic games, but also has a distinct art style and makes very unique use of music.

Beatbuddy stars a globular hero named Beat. He’s one of three musical spirits, along with Harmony and Melody (though he totally looks like a water-type Pokemon to me…perhaps Manaphy’s cousin). The evil Prince Maestro wants to enslave music, while the ethereal music spirits think that music should be free for everyone. It’s up to Beat to lead the charge and liberate music. (Rumor has it that Beat, Harmony, and Melody are in cahoots with Kim Dotcom.)

As I mentioned in the intro, the game features unique use of music. Each level’s track is broken up so that different objects and enemies represent different musical instruments. For example, a menacing creature will pulsate to the rhythm of the track’s bass drum, while obstacles will move in time with the hi-hat. As Beat moves closer to a particular enemy or object, the corresponding instrument’s sound will become louder. The music — and the individual instruments that make the track — define the level as much as the art and layout. It’s a unique twist that adds a cool layer of interactivity.

The game’s art is beautiful and distinct. In an age where 3D rules the roost, it’s refreshing to see a videogame with hand-painted art. The color palette and style give the game a charming look, while the use of layers gives it a pseudo-3D feel.

Check out my interview with Ted to learn more about the game. As a fan of old-school NES and SNES platformers, as well as a fan of music games, I’m really looking forward to Beatbuddy. After you’ve watched the vid, leave your thoughts on the game in the comments section (please!).

Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians will be released on August 6, 2013 for Windows PC, Mac OS X, and Linux for $14.99.

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

This weekend I’m going to jump into some of the iOS freebies I downloaded during the App Store 5th Anniversary Sale. First up is Badland. It’s a platform game with some of the sweetest art I’ve seen in a mobile game. Next on the list is Tiny Wings HD. Lots of my friends were high on the original game when it first came out. I want to see what all the fuss is about, but I’m going to do it with updated graphics. Since I’ll be glued to my iPad, a few games of Civilization: Revolution are inevitable.

How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?