While I’ve generally enjoyed all the Iron Man 3 trailers that I’ve seen, the latest one is easily my favorite. It’s a wonderful blend of action, drama, and scantily clad Gwyneth Paltrow. I’m certain that most of you will agree that this is the most intriguing Iron Man 3 trailer yet. Check out the clip below and share your thoughts on it in the comments section (please!). Continue reading “Iron Man 3 Trailer Kicks Things Up a Notch”
Author: RPadTV
https://rpad.tv
Vaping Diaries #47: Alice in Vapeland Review
Alice in Vapeland offers a combination of utterly charming presentation and inventive e-liquid flavors. Let’s start with the packaging. The 30ml glass bottles are covered in bubble wrap and placed in a box with multicolored shredded paper. You just feel happy when you open the box. Each bottle has a cute charm that corresponds to its flavor. Aesthetics aside, the juices are high-quality mixes that feature creative flavors. The three covered in this review are Sweet Tease, Mystic Mandalime, and B/W Cookie. While I wouldn’t recommend them for people that prefer in-your-face sweetness, I really enjoyed these e-liquids. The subtle flavors blend together wonderfully for some really unique juices. Here are the breakdowns and steeping notes.
Sweet Tease: This a lemon iced with a wonderful sweet tea flavor that’s complemented by the perfect touch of lemon. I really loved this flavors blend of sweetness and tanginess. It comes together so nicely, but I just wanted more flavor all around. While I definitely enjoyed this e-liquid a lot, I’m certain that I would have been over the moon about it with extra flavoring. This one was just a bit too subtle for me, but still fun to vape.
As far as heat goes, I liked this one best in the 7.0 to 7.5 watt range, which is slightly lower than what I normally use. While the flavor was good at higher wattages, the warmer vape made it slightly strange. I’m pretty sure it was a mental thing. The warmer vape turned iced tea into…tea tea?
Mystic Mandalime: A wonderful blend of mandarin orange and lime, this juice serves up a lovely sweet-and-sour flavor. The mandarin orange and lime complement each other perfectly. This was definitely the sweetest of the three, but still subtle compared to many juices I’ve tried. I was impressed by how this e-liquids bursts with flavor without drowning you with sweetness. This was my favorite of the three by a hair.
B/W Cookie: I had high hopes for this one as a transplanted New Yorker that has been searching for a good black-and-white cookie in California for 13 years. This juice is definitely more chocolate than vanilla. The vanilla flavor is there, but it’s more complementary. This is a mildly sweet juice that’s very flavorful. At lower wattages (7.0 to 7.5), I was getting a chocolate liquor taste. At higher wattages (8.5 and above), I was getting a toasty chocolate taste. Either way, the flavors were fantastic. Along with Mystic Mandalime, I loved this juice.
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.
Sweet Tease
House PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Uncapped: January 4, 2013 12:22PM
Vaped: February 28, 2013 – March 5, 2013
Mystic Mandalime
House PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Uncapped: January 4, 2013 12:22PM
Vaped: February 28, 2013 – March 5, 2013
B/W Cookie
House PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Uncapped: January 4, 2013 12:22PM
Vaped: February 28, 2013 – March 5, 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) juices; since those are known to clog up cartomizers quickly, those are vaped in atomizers and clearomizers.
Thief Stealthing its Way to PC and Next-Gen Consoles
Square Enix has announced that Thief is in development for PC and next-generation consoles. The game is a “reinvention” of the classic PC titles made famous by Looking Glass Studios. I’m sure that some of you aren’t old enough to remember those games (stop making me feel old!); they were critically lauded and worked on by several notable developers, including Warren Spector, Ken Levine, Doug Church, Seamus Blackley, and Randy Smith. The game is now in the hands of Eidos Montreal.
Here’s what Eidos Montreal general manager Stephane D’Astous had to say about the reboot:
We’re handling a precious gemstone with Thief. Fans remember the original games very fondly and we want to preserve that essence which we have excellent experience of doing at Eidos Montréal, whilst also introducing Thief to a brand new, next-generation, audience. Our goal is to deliver the fantasy of being Garrett, the master thief, and we’re building this game around that core experience.
Thief was a groundbreaking first-person game. Prior to its 1998 release, first-person games were mainly shooters, with an emphasis on action. Thief brought smarter sensibilities to the mix, adding in several adventure and role-playing elements. It changed the perception and expectation of what these kinds of games could be. It sounds kind of quaint in 2013, but 15 years ago this was a big deal.
Any of you remember those early Thief games? If so, are you looking forward to the new one? If not, are you at all intrigued by Square Enix’s announcement?
Green Throttle Android Gaming System Arrives
Back in November 2012, I wrote about Green Throttle Games. The company is being headed up by the guys that helped start the Guitar Hero craze. For its next act, CEO Charles Huang and crew want to turn your Android phone or tablet into your new videogame console. Unlike several of its competitors that are using Android and mobile chipsets to create dedicated consoles, Green Throttle is offering an app and a controller to complement phones and tablets people already have. That’s what the Green Throttle Arena app and Green Throttle Atlas controller are all about.
To give you an idea of how the Arena software works, check out VentureBeat’s video below.
What do you think of Green Throttle’s system? For you Android users out there, it this something you’d buy? For you iOS fanboys, do you think Apple will do something similar with a Bluetooth controller and an enhanced version of Game Center?
Google Shopping Express Taking on Amazon Prime?
Word on the street is that Google will be launching a shopping service with same-day delivery called Shopping Express. According to TechCrunch, Google’s service will be slightly cheaper than Amazon Prime and will allegedly include several well known retailer partners (Target, Walmart, Walgreens,Safeway, and more). Would you be interested in this service? Or is Amazon Prime’s two-day delivery good enough for you?
As many of you know, I’m a huge fan of Amazon Prime. I’ve been a member since the program started and I’ve been thrilled with the value. As an old-school Prime member, I enjoy the service primarily for its fast delivery, but there are many new customers — particularly Kindle Fire owners — that love Prime for its “free” digital media library. While Google Shopping Express will reportedly be cheaper than Amazon Prime, there hasn’t been any mention of a digital media component. The focus appears to be on same-day delivery, as opposed to Prime’s two-day delivery paired with a digital library.
However, Google has digital goods in place and it would be easy for Shopping Express to compete with Amazon Prime feature-for-feature. If Shopping Express offered same-day delivery and a large library of streaming media from Google Play, then it woud truly belong with us among the clouds (Lando Calrissian) be an Amazon Prime killer. If it doesn’t have a digital media component then the “Amazon Prime killer” label many are using is somewhat inaccurate.
Hmmmm, all this talk of same-day delivery is giving me flashbacks to Kozmo.com. My friend James and I totally abused the service when we were living in San Francisco. It was awesome getting same-day delivery of food, drinks, music, adult movies, and more. Have any of you enjoyed services that offer diverse goods online and deliver them the same day you order? Is this something you want or are you cool with old fashioned shopping? Should Google Shopping Express have a digital media component? Or should it focus on delivering your stuff hella fast? Shout it out in the comments section (please)!
Game of Thrones Season 3 Extended Trailer
March is going to be an outstanding nerd month. On the videogame front, there’s a ton going on with titles like Tomb Raider and BioShock Infinite leading the way. On television, millions of people are counting down the days until March 31, 2013. As some of you know, that’s when the season premiere of Game of Thrones hits. The extended trailer below hints that the third season will have as many epic moments as the first two. As a mark for the books and the TV show, I’m so looking forward to another batch of Game of Thrones episodes.
Check out the clip below and let me know what season three happenings you’re looking forward to. While dragons are always fun, for some reason I can’t wait to see the scene with Brienne in the bear pit. That should be cool.
This Week’s Videogame Releases
March is going to be a great month for videogames, with loads of great franchises coming in like a lion. Kicking things off is Tomb Raider. Lara Croft’s return has been getting some great reviews and there’s just something comforting about having her back in the gaming world. MLB spring training is underway, so baseball fans will want to pick up MLB 13 The Show and MLB 2K13. Since my beloved Yankees are old and broken down, the videogame version of the team is probably the closest they’ll get to the world series. If you need to get your ninja on, then Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 is your game of the week. Has a recent overdose of Twilight given you the urge to slay bloodsuckers? Thankfully, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirror Fate is here. Lastly, Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk will bring a smile to those of you that miss quirky Japanese RPGs with turn-based combat.
Any of you picking up new videogames this week?
The Walking Dead SNL Racial Profiling
Here’s a fun Saturday Night Live sketch that has been getting a lot of play in the nerd world. It’s a parody of The Walking Dead that pokes fun at racial profiling and political correctness. While I found it funny, most of the Internet thinks it’s way funnier. Check out the clip below and see for yourself. Personally, I don’t trust anyone that does the “Thriller” dance. Continue reading “The Walking Dead SNL Racial Profiling”
Vaping Diaries #46: Vapor4Life Vapor Zeus Preview
I haven’t used a cig-alike (vaping devices that look like tobacco cigarettes) in a long time. As some of you know, I started out with V2 e-cigs (still RPadholic N8R’s favorites) but have moved onto bigger and more complicated devices. One of the reasons that I found the upcoming Vapor4Life Vapor Zeus so intriguing is that it blends elements of both device styles. The Vapor Zeus is shaped like a long and thin cigar, so the form factor is pocketable and familiar. Plus, it won’t look like you’re vaping with something that commonly gets confused for a Sonicare toothbrush. Unlike most easy-to-use e-cigs, this one has a lot of powerful features. After vaping a few days with the Vapor Zeus, I’m pleased to say that my expectations have been exceeded. So far, it has produced very satisfying vapes.
Here are a few reasons why I’m digging the Vapor Zeus:
- Power: The device has an output of 5.0 volts for single-coil cartomizers and 4.4 volts for dual-coil cartos. Most “standard” e-cigs have an output of 3.7 volts. This is the main reason why the Vapor Zeus produces a lot of flavor and vapor.
- Cartomizer Capacity: The Zeus Cartomizers are pretty unique. They have a rubber tip that feels very comfortable. More importantly, they hold 3.5ml of e-liquid. We’re talking tank-like capacity and two to three times more than what most standalone cartos hold.
- Battery Life: I still need more time to be sure, but the 900 mAh battery seems to get me through a little more than half a day. If the performance I’ve had so far keeps up, then two of these bad boys should be enough for my daily vaping — totally acceptable for a device this size. It also has passthrough charging, allowing for simultaneous vaping and charging via Mini USB.
The Vapor Zeus comes in automatic and dual-mode models. The automatic model is like smoking a tobacco cigarette — you just puff and vape. The dual-mode model works that way too, but also has the option to work manually, meaning you press a button to activate the device. I have one of each model and right now I prefer the dual-mode device. My initial feeling is that manual mode has a looser and airier draw that I prefer. Again, I’m still forming my opinion on that and will say for certain in the full review.
For vapers that want something more powerful and with more battery life than cig-alikes, but don’t want something too big or complicated, the Vapor Zeus could be a great choice. I was very surprised by the satisfying vapes it served up and I really liked having a large-capacity cartomizer. I still need to spend more time with it before the full review, which should post in the near future. For now, it’s time for a tangent.
Did you see the episode of The Simpsons when the family went to a Planet of the Apes musical that featured a song called “Help Me Dr. Zaius” set to Falco’s “Rock Me Amadeus“? I’ve been thinking about it ever since I’ve started using the Vapor Zeus…because I’ve been calling it the Vapor Zaius. So instead of “Amadeus, Amadeus” or “Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius,” the song in my head goes, “Vapor Zaius, Vapor Zaius.”
That’s funny, right? *sigh* No one gets me.
Anyway, stay tuned for a full review of the Vapor Zeus!
Handmade Gamer/Nerd Jewelry at Fangirl Emporium
My Facebook friend Amanda has a really cool Etsy store called Fangirl Emporium. Right now she has a bunch of awesome necklace pendants for sale. Gamer neckwear includes a Pokeball from Pokemon, the Umbrella logo from Resident Evil, the Halo symbol, and more. Nerd neckwear includes a Klingon symbol from Star Trek, the bloody smiley face from Watchmen, the Starfleet symbol from Star Trek, and more. It’s pretty sweet stuff!
Kindly check out Fangirl Emporium when you get a chance and leave a comment if anything from Amanda’s store catches your eye. I’d totally wear the Pokeball…but put it on a necklace that’s more masculine.