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Vaping Diaries #230: Cuttwood Austin Hopper Interview (ECC 2014)

Cuttwood is one of the fastest-growing e-liquid companies in vaping. Earlier in the year, it had a hugely popular hit in Unicorn Milk, but there was also some controversy about titanium dioxide found in the juice’s coloring. At ECC 2014, I caught up with Cuttwood president Austin Hopper to learn how the company got started, how he dealt with the Unicorn Milk situation, the company’s current lineup, and the upcoming Boss Reserve line. Despite the titanium dioxide issue, Cuttwood has become wildly successful, according to some numbers I was given from a third party (seriously impressive).

In addition to Unicorn Milk, Cuttwood currently has Monster Melons and Sugar Bear in its lineup. The former is obviously a fruit flavor, while the latter is a milky cinnamon e-liquid that’s reminiscent of sweet cereal. Austin didn’t reveal all the details on Boss Reserve, but noted that it has hazelnut flavor and a smokey taste.

The Cuttwood booth was really hopping at ECC 2014. The company drew thousands of fans with free juice, caps, t-shirts, and more. While I’ve met hundreds of friendly people in the vaping business, Austin is one of the most gregarious I’ve encountered. It was fun chatting with him as I learned more about his company. While I’ve enjoyed Unicorn Milk and Sugar Bear, I’m really looking forward to Boss Reserve. From the way Austin described it, the flavor profile seems right up my alley.

Check out the ECC 2014 clip above to get to know Cuttwood and Austin Hopper.

Vaping Diaries #229: The Stash Box DNA 30 Donny Sirivisut Interview (ECC 2014)

Evolv DNA 30 box mods are all the rage in 2014 and the coolest one I’ve seen — by far — is The Stash Box. Made from aircraft aluminum and utilizing a design that houses an atomizer within the mod’s body, The Stash Box is rugged yet light. Its novel design makes it stand out, while also making the mod extremely functional. While there are several box mods that allow vapers to enjoy the benefits of the excellent DNA 30 chip, I haven’t seen one as unique and stylish as The Stash Box. At ECC 2014, I caught up with the mod’s creator, Donny Sirivisut, to learn more about the mod and its design. Donny also teases some details on his next project — The Smash Box. This collaboration with Mankos Mods will have similar features to The Stash Box, but with a wood body.

Now please excuse me, as I go dream about a custom Stash Box with an RPadTV logo engraved on it….

Vaping Diaries 228: Five Pawns Black Flag Fallen Interview (ECC 2014)

Five Pawns is one of my favorite e-liquid companies in vaping. I enjoy the complexity and layers of many Five Pawns juices and really appreciate how the company pushes the envelope on the juice side of the vaping business. Coming in December 2014 is the company’s Black Flag Fallen. At ECC 2014, Five Pawns founder & president Rodney Jerabek told me about this exciting e-liquid. While he wouldn’t reveal all the details of the ingredients at this time, Rodney spoke about some of the core flavors of Black Flag Fallen, such as espresso and black truffle cream. He also spoke about the black-and-chrome box and bottle design, which retains the Five Pawns style while also standing out. Lastly, Rodney talked about a contest-like bottling program for the first run of Black Flag Fallen. Similar to the phenomenal Castle Long Reserve, a single barrel of Black Flag Fallen produces 134 bottles of e-liquid. In a single batch, 133 bottles of Black Flag Fallen will come in clear glass bottles, while one comes in a frosted black glass bottle. If you happen to snag the black bottle then you’ll get a special treat from Five Pawns. It’s like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but with vaping!

Watch my chat with Rodney to learn more about Black Flag Fallen’s flavor, packaging design, and more.

Vaping Diaries #227: Return From ECC 2014

I just got back from the 2014 Electronic Cigarette Convention (ECC 2014) and am still on a high from the show. The ECC crew really impressed me with its professionalism at last year’s convention and I was really looking forward to seeing what kind of progress the organizers have made in one year’s time. In a word — wow! ECC 2014 was a fantastic blend of fun and productivity. The show organizers maintained the professionalism and media-friendly practices that I appreciated (immensely) from last year’s show, but grew the event exponentially. ECC 2014 was at least five times bigger than last year’s event (and that’s a really conservative estimate). There was much more of everything — exhibitors, attendees, hardware, juices, raffles, booth babes, and more. A lot of business was conducted during the B2B hours early on Friday and Saturday, while consumers had a blast the entire weekend. Loads of great companies were promoting products and several launched news ones at the show. Vapers got to try lots of great vaping gear and e-liquids, with many walking away with oodles of freebies. This was easily the best vaping convention I’ve ever attended.

As for the content, the RPadTV crew shot more than 30 interviews at ECC 2014. Expect a bunch of chats with mod makers, juice makers, accessory manufacturers, and more. I had lots of fun catching up with old friends (in vaping years) at Five Pawns, Surefire Vapor, Innokin, Poet and more. It was a pleasure making new friends at Boilermaker, Convict Vapor, Witchers Brew, and other great vaping companies. There may or may not be several models thrown in for good measure. The gang worked hard all weekend and I hope you enjoy the interviews from ECC 2014.

Huge thanks to RPadholics Nate and Lawrence for working long hours and beating up their legs in order to get these interviews filmed. Special thanks to ECC’s Dulce Mac for taking care of the crew and me going into the show.

Vaping Diaries #226: Beyond Vape Neptune Review

Vapers looking for a relatively inexpensive all-in-one solution should take a look at the Beyond Vape Neptune. This hybrid dripper offers sharp looks and strong performance at a relatively low price (for an original product that’s not a clone). Available in a variety of colors, there’s bound to be a shade that’s right for you. While this hybrid dripper brings a lot to the table, there’s one aspect of the device that could make it a poor choice for certain types of vapers. Read on for more details on the Beyond Vape Neptune.

Design and Ergonomics: The Beyond Vape Neptune’s body features a modular design. Pieces of the main body can be mixed and matched, allowing the device to accept batteries as small as 18350 and as large as 18650.

Since it uses a hybrid setup, the device is relatively short no matter what type of battery you use. It’s made primarily from 6061 T6 aircraft-grade aluminum, which is lighter than the brass, copper, and stainless steel used in most mods. Fans of short and light vaping devices will definitely enjoy the way the Beyond Vape Neptune feels in hand.

The atomizer portion of the Beyond Vape Neptune is fairly basic. It features three posts, for easy dual-coil setup, and a decent juice well. Airflow is totally basic, with two fixed holes on the top cap. Vapers that prefer adjustable airflow for different builds or different juices will find the atomizer rather spartan.

Lastly, the button on the Beyond Vape Neptune uses a medium-to-stiff spring with a relatively short throw. While I enjoyed the device’s throw, I wish it had a lighter spring. My preference is for feather-light buttons with extremely short throws. While I wasn’t unhappy with the device’s button, it didn’t impress me either. Button feel is, of course, totally subjective and I’m sure that many vapers will be pleased with firing mechanism on this device.

Build Quality and Construction: For the most part, I was pleased with the Beyond Vape Neptune’s build quality, but there’s one major caveat, which I’ll get to at the end of this section. Out of the box, the threads on the device are heavily lubricated. After a thorough washing, I was happy to see that the threads are fairly smooth.

The atomizer portion of the device is also well made. I’ve heard second-hand that some Beyond Vape Neptune units have inconsistent post holes, but I didn’t encounter that issue. The post holes on the device I’ve been using were accurately placed.

One possible issue with the Beyond Vape Neptune is its use of aluminum. While it’s a strong and light metal, it’s also relatively soft. The device uses a thin cut of aluminum tubing. This makes it a poor choice for clumsy vapers or those that tend to beat up their gear. If you drop it on concrete then you’ll have a nasty dent on your mod. If you’re not mindful when screwing and unscrewing the mod then there’s a good chance that you’ll wear out the threads. While there certainly are some advantages to its light and thin aluminum body, the Beyond Vape Neptune requires a little more care than a brass, copper, or stainless steel mod.

Performance: Thanks to its hybrid design and aluminum construction, the Beyond Vape Neptune is a very strong performer. Going off of raw materials, aluminum is more conductive than brass and stainless steel, though not as conductive as copper. The device uses silver-plated brass contacts for additional performance gains (and easy care). Of course design and workmanship also factor into performance, and the device does well in those departments. Vapers looking for a high-performance setup at a relatively low price will be happy with what the Beyond Vape Neptune offers.

Verdict: The Beyond Vape Neptune brings a lot to the table for only $150. It’s an original product that offers quality construction and great performance. It comes in a variety of colors, making it a nice choice for vapers that want a device that stands out. While it’s possible to buy a clone mod and clone atomizer for less money, there aren’t many combinations out there that offer this level of performance and construction. One mistake I often see with the Beyond Vape Neptune is vapers dismissing the device because they forget that it’s a hybrid. For $150, you get a very good mod and a decent dripper. As long as you can adequately care for its thin aluminum body, the Beyond Vape Neptune is a great choice for a first mechanical device and for vapers that want to add a splash of color to their collection.

Lex Luger Looks Like Gollum

“The Total Package” Lex Luger was known for his Herculean physique and high-impact power moves. His strength and appearance were so impressive that Luger was once tabbed as the heir apparent to Hulk Hogan by Vince McMahon. These days, he looks more like Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. I’ve been watching The Monday Night War on WWE Network and seeing modern Lex Luger made me sad. Years of performance-enhancing and recreational drug abuse combined with a spinal stroke have left Luger a shell of his former self. The Total Package looks more like The Disheveled Packaged and seeing him on The Monday Night War was mildly disturbing. Check out the photo below to see Lex Luger’s uncanny resemblance to Gollum.

Vaping Diaries #225: Ahlusion Review X

For my tenth Ahlusion review, I’ve chosen a trio of coffee and tea e-liquids. These aren’t straight-up, run-of-the-mill coffee and tea juices. Two of them add complementary flavors to coffee, making for unique and complex vapes. The other is the most striking tea e-liquid I’ve ever tried. All three are high-quality juices that you should take a look at if you’re into coffee or tea flavors. Read on for more details on Ahlusion’s JG Blend, Masala Chai, and Boba Tea with Coffee.

JG Blend: Ahlusion makes some of the best tobacco e-liquids on the market. It also makes some great coffee e-liquids. With that in mind, I had high expectations for this coffee-tobacco blend…and my expectations were absolutely met. Like Ahlusion’s other non-aromatic juices, the tobacco in JG Blend is light, but flavorful. The coffee flavor is one of the best I’ve tried (keep in mind that I’m a huge coffee nerd). There are a lot of coffee-tobacco juices on the market and if you’re looking for one in the light to medium range, JG Blend is one of the best you can buy. Like many of my favorite Ahlusion e-liquids, it’s a flavorful mix that’s not overpowering and something I’ll definitely order again.

Juice Specs: 6mg nicotine, 50/50 PG/VG

Masala Chai: “Adult” is a great word for this Ahlusion e-liquid. It doesn’t taste like an overly sweet chai latte that you’d order at Starbucks or Coffee Bean. This is an authentic and complex chai tea. I can’t stress that enough; the popularity of chai lattes at places like Starbucks has given people a “dessert” image of chai. Ahlusion’s Masala Chai is absolutely not a dessert vape.

Having said that, the flavor is remarkable, but divisive. I very much enjoyed its combination of earthiness, spiciness, and sweetness, but if you’re used to artificial or candied juices then Masala Chai might be too much for you. It’s definitely one of the most unique e-liquids I’ve tried, but it’s certainly not for everyone. It’s rich and complex, but doesn’t assault your tastebuds. Depending on your palette, you’ll either find this juice to be delicious or you’ll find it too foreign. At the very least, Masala Chai stands out from other tea e-liquids with a truly distinct flavor.

Juice Specs: 6mg nicotine, 50/50 PG/VG

Boba Tea with Coffee: Raina and I reviewed Ahlusion’s plain Boba Tea early last year. Both of us enjoyed the e-liquid, but felt there was something missing. To my tastebuds, Boba Tea with Coffee is tastier than the plain version. The different flavors come together for a delicious dessert vape. You get the sweet and creamy milk tea complemented by a tasty and pleasantly bitter (slightly) coffee. I order milk tea with coffee at boba shops and this e-liquid does a good job of approximating that flavor, but is really delicious if you think of it as its own thing. While I enjoyed Ahlusion’s plain Boba Tea, adding coffee to the mix cuts down on the sweetness of boba (a bit much for what I enjoy) with some earthiness and bitterness. The complex combination of flavors totally worked for me and this is a juice that I will order again in the future.

Juice Specs: 6mg nicotine, 50/50 PG/VG\

Steeping and Review Notes (Updated December 29, 2013)
On the advice of Wlad from Ahlusion, I’ve been trying a new steeping method as of 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.

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 a bottom-coil silica atomizer (The Russian and Aqua), various rebuildable dripping atomizers, and a clearomizer.

Friends Reunion on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Jimmy Kimmel held a Friends reunion on his show, featuring Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow. Kimmel’s crew did a fantastic job at recreating Monica Geller’s apartment from the hit NBC show. The host boasted that he spent $80,000 on the set (probably not). It’s a goofy bit that has Kimmel playing Friends’ Ross Geller in a sketch based on the character’s love-making prowess. Sadly for fans of Chandler and Joey, Kimmel’s version of Friends has the two other male leads dying from monkey rabies after being bitten by Marcel.

As a longtime fan of Friends, I loved this bit. Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow have aged marvelously. Courtney Cox…has had some nifty plastic surgery. Seeing Monica’s apartment brought back memories and it was fun hearing the crowd reactions from the “surprise” appearances by Cox and Kudrow.

When you have a chance, check out the Friends reunion clip and let me know what you think (please!).

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Coffee Talk #643: Your Favorite Recurring SNL Sketches

After doing website “research” on the “Barry Gibb Talk Show” sketch from Saturday Night Live, I started thinking about my favorite SNL sketches of all time. After performing more “research,” I was bummed to discover that classic bits like “Church Lady” and “Wayne’s World” haven’t held up. I figured that Will Ferrell would have some of my favorite recurring characters, but most of the bits I love from him are one-offs like the outstanding “Behind the Music: More Cowbell” sketch. The exception, of course, is his stellar work in “Celebrity Jeopardy.” In addition to those excellent bits and the “Barry Gibb Talk Show,” there are two other recurring SNL sketches that still slay me. Naturally, I want to hear all about your favorites, but before we get to that, let’s take a look at three recurring SNL sketches.

[Note: I didn’t count “Weekend Update” since that sketch has had a number of hosts…and Norm MacDonald was inarguably the best one.]

“Celebrity Jeopardy” — As much as I loved Will Ferrell playing a straight Alex Trebek, the best part of these SNL sketches were his nemeses. Darrell Hammond rocked it as Sean Connery, constantly insulting Trebek and his mother. His misreadings of categories ruled too — “An Album Cover” became “Anal Bum Cover” and “Therapists” became “The Rapists.” Norm MacDonald did some great work in these bits too, as a rude and idiotic Burt Reynolds. That’s not to undermine Ferrell’s role in these bits; he was the glue that held everything together.

“Brian Fellow’s Safari Planet” — For 10 years, Tracy Morgan was phenomenal in these recurring SNL sketches. He did a wonderful job of infusing Brian Fellow with innocence and belligerence, with just a bit of intelligence. His vacant facials expressions while he blurted out, “I’m Brian Fellow!” and, “That’s crazy!” always crack me up. He’s had great guests to play off of and with. Reverend Al Sharpton did a great job as Brian’s brother, Ryan Fellow.

“The Ambiguously Gay Duo” — These SNL sketches were loaded with talent, featuring the voices of Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell. They’re so silly that it’s hard not to laugh. How can you keep a straight face while watching the Duo fly in a…suggestive position?

Your Turn — I’ve probably left off several SNL sketches that I love. It’s hard going through 40 years of TV shows and not all of them are available online. Naturally, we all have different senses of humor. With both of those factors in mind, I’m looking forward to hearing about your favorite recurring SNL sketches. Fire away in the comments section (please)!

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, the NY Yankees giving fans false playoff hopes, Jimmy Kimmel staging a Friends reunion, or rooting for Roger Federer at the US Open, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Weird Al, Game of Thrones, and the 2014 Emmy Awards

While the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards were a dud compared to last year’s unforgettable show, the legendary “Weird” Al Yankovic saved the week with a thrilling performance at the 2014 Emmy Awards. The world’s most electrifying musical parodist performed a bit where he added lyrics to the theme music from several popular television shows. Mad Men, Scandal, Modern Family, and Homeland all got the Weird Al treatment, but the best work was saved for Game of Thrones. Andy Samberg added to the musical number by coming out as King Joffrey. As expected, Weird Al + Game of Thrones = Pure Awesome. Check out the clip below and let me know what you think of Weird Al’s performance at the 2014 Emmy Awards (please!).