The Internet Absinthe Society

If rumors are true, the largest cigarette manufacturer in the U.S., Philip Morris, will take of control the market for the Electric Cigarette domestically and abroad. Knowing that the FDA now has the ability to regulate tobacco products, as per the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009, this appears a strategic move by the cigarette giant. The intentions of Philip Morris are unclear but rumors are brewing that they may try and shut down the electric cigarette industry completely or possibly release their very own ecig and attempt to stomp out the competition.

Rumors began circulating in July of this year when Quamnet, a financial website based in Hong Kong, leaked information that an independent 3rd party had entered negotiating with Ruyan Group. Ruyan is the original inventor of the e-cigarette and registrar of electric cigarette patents in more than 40 countries. Neither companies have denied or confirmed allegations at this point but negotiations appear to be moving forward.

More recently, in October of this year, Ruyan Group was rumored to have liquidated all of their office space for $3.5 million dollars. The purchaser is currently remaining anonymous. Stock market volatility resulted in the trading of Ruyan's stock being suspended on 11/2/09 due to a pending  "price sensitive announcement". When you look at all of these signs, I would expect PM to own the rights to the company and its patents within the next year at the most. 

You can't watch TV or read a blog without hearing about the benefits of the new electronic cigarette. Users of the smokeless cigarette are totally blown away by how realistic it feels and tastes. I was really mesmerized by how much info there is out there about this ultra-cool gadget. After cruising through many forums, here are the top reasons I found people choose the try and ecig.

-Ability to smoke anywhere. Because there is no combustion, there is no smoke or odor released. You may see a very minute amount of water vapor that immediately evaporates.

-They look, feel and taste like a regular cigarette. Please note, the electronic cigarette is not approved for smoking cessation although many people use them as such. The realistic appearance and tactile sensation completely mimics a tobacco cigarette. Long time smokers really enjoy this advantage.

-Electronic cigarettes are great for traveling. Planes, trains and automobiles are no longer off limits when you want to catch a smoke. The places ecigs are allowed is limitless. You may occasionally find a bar or restaurant that does not understand what an smokeless cigarette is. In this case, you could use the restroom and absolutely no one would know.

-No Odor. The absolute absence of odor means your clothes, car and home will never smell like an ashtray again! If someone was sitting next to you using an electronic cigarette, you would not be able to tell unless you saw them.

-Appetite suppressant. The nicotine in the ecig helps those trying to quit smoking avoid the weight gain associated with quitting. They say it curbs their urge to munch and nibble food all day long normally seen when trying to avoid cigarettes.

-More flavors. Even cigar and pipe smokers are switching to the electronic cigarette because of the huge number of flavors available. Not to mention the fact that there are no toxins or carcinogens associated with the ecig.

-Those in high stress jobs love the fact that they can take a puff here and there without having to take a cig break and leave the building. This is truly a time saver for those with a demanding schedule. Imagine how much time you could save if you added up all of your cigarette breaks.

-No more yellow teeth. No matter how hard you try as a smoker, your teeth are never going to look clean. With the electronic cigarette, there is no tar released so there is nothing to stain your teeth. The only thing you breathe in is water vapor and nicotine.

-Money, money, and more money. 1 electronic cigarette cartridge is equal to a pack of cigarettes and costs about $1.50. Now subtract that from what you pay for a pack of cigarettes and you have the savings you will enjoy per pack. Even when you consider the cost of the ecig starter kit, most users report savings in the range of $150 to $250 dollars monthly.

These are just the most common reasons cited for using and electronic cigarette. I am sure if you try, you can come up with a few of your own that are just as compelling.

Smokers everywhere are trading their tobacco cigarettes for a safer and healthier alternative.They are turning to the new Smokeless Cigarette. With the cost of a pack of cigarettes increasing everyday, the electronic cigarette is an extremely attractive option. A cartridge for the e-cig costs about $1 and is equal to approximately 1 pack of cigarettes. You do the math!

The smokeless cigarette looks and feels just like a traditional cigarette. It is battery powered with a precision electronic control mechanism designed to deliver a controlled amount of nicotine per draw. Because of its design, it feels exactly like smoking a real cigarette by providing the full sensation of smoking without the inhalation of smoke or the bother of second hand smoke.

With no actual smoke production, the smokeless cigarette has numerous other advantages. No more will your hair, clothes, car or home smell like an ashtray. Your teeth will lose that yellow tinge and best of all, your breath won't smell of stale smoke. Add to this the fact that you will no longer be dealing with cigarette butts, ashes or ashtrays and you can see why this product is quickly becoming very popular.

Not to be ignored are the tremendous health benefits you and your family will realize. With smokeless cigarettes, you will inhale no smoke and no second hand smoke will be produced. The benefit for the e-cig user is obvious but many smokers don't realize the dangers of second hand smoke. The Surgeon General warns that "there is no safe amount of second hand smoke." There is no denying that the "2nd Hand Smoker" suffers the same adverse health effects as the smoker themselves.

Smokers, it is time to take a close, hard look at the smokeless cigarette. The benefits for you and your loved ones are endless.

No matter which side you are on, there are indisputable facts that you should consider:

Electronic cigarettes can be used anywhere because they do not give of any combustion products. No smoke or odor is present --  only water vapor. This means you can smoke in all public places you used to. You will of course be questioned by some establishments but once they realize exactly what a smokeless cigarette is, you will have little trouble with them allowing its use.

Smokeless cigarettes will save you tons of money. Conservative estimates put the dollar amount anywhere from $2000 to $3000 dollars. That's because the cost of e-liquid (the component used in e-cigs) is about 1/10 the cost of an equal amount of tobacco cigarettes. Ecig users brag about saving upwards of $200 a month!

There is also the huge benefit of improved sanitation. No longer will you have cigarette butts, ashes, smoke or  hand-held fire hazard. Combine this with the ability to smoke anywhere and the fact that you'll save a butt-load of cash and using an ecig seems to be a no brainer.

Smokeless cigarettes may not be the Holy Grail of smoking cessation but they definitely need a thorough investigation as opposed to the knee jerk reaction they have been receiving.

More important information on cigarettes and smoking cessation.

The most important reason often over looked when making your decision to buy an ecig or electronic cigarette is the elimination of 2nd hand smoke.

Second hand smoke, or environmental smoke, is a combination of smoke exhaled by the smoker and the residual smoke given off by the burning cigarette itself. In the past, many people were exposed to second hand smoke on a daily basis. Today, smoking in public places is virtually unheard of. But the health problems of second hand smoke still exist for family and friends of cigarette smokers.

According to the Surgeon General, there is no safe level of 2nd hand smoke. Those close to a smoker are exposed to smoke in cars or homes and even inhale a considerable amount outdoors. The "Second Hand Smoker" suffers adverse health effects by inhaling the same nasty carcinogens and toxins as the smoker without ever taking a puff!

Some of the adverse health effects associated with second hand smoke include heart disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke and even cancer. Infants exposed to second hand smoke have an increased risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and the development of asthma and other respiratory illness.

When you make the decision to buy an ecig, remember you are actually improving the health of your loved ones that are exposed to your cigarette smoke. When using an electronic cigarette, the only thing given off is water vapor. Nothing else. None of the toxic chemicals -- Just water. The ecig will take away all of the health risks associated with 2nd hand smoke, stop the lingering odor of smoke around your home and stop the staining of the windows in your home or car. And best of all, you breath no longer stinks like an ashtray!

The safety of electronics cigarettes has sparked a huge controversy with both sides gathering steam for what may be the fight of the century. On one side, are the proponents of the ecig who rave about its health benefits and safety compared to tobacco cigarettes. On the other is the government agency the FDA who will be regulating it as either a tobacco product or a nicotine delivery device.

Long time users of electronic cigarettes say they are better than tobacco for numerous reasons including the health benefits, cost savings, convenience and safety. Experts from their camp say the ecig a better alternative to tobacco as users inhale only water vapor and minute amounts of nicotine and propylene glycol  all of which are considered safe. When compared to the 4000 chemicals (43 of which are known carcinogens) inhaled while smoking a normal cigarette, this does indeed sound like an alternative to be considered.

There are also the savings earned with the electronic cigarette. Estimates vary but a conservative savings of 50% is considered accurate. This would mean $1000 per year savings could be enjoyed by a pack a day smoker. If you smoke 2 packs a day, the savings would double that, 3 packs triple and so on.

Next consider the safety and convenience of this product. The ecig does not ignite or give of ashes & smoke so there would be no accidental fire issues (smoking in bed etc.). The absence of combustion also allows the device to be used in places considered "Smoke Free" such as restaurants and nightclubs.

On the other side of the argument is the FDA. On July 22 of this year President Obama signed into law the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control
Act of 2009 allowing the FDA to regulate tobacco products. Before this, there was no regulation of the tobacco industry.

Now the key word here is REGULATE. The FDA, under this act, could not ban tobacco products but could regulate their contents, make public their ingredients, demand larger warning labels and prohibit or control advertising campaigns.

The stumbling block for the government is whether to consider the electronic cigarette a tobacco product or a nicotine delivery device. The FDA regulates medications and medication delivery devices. So if the ecig is determined to be a nicotine delivery device, it will fall under the stringent controls used to regulate the medication industry. If it is determined to be a tobacco product, it will be controlled uner the "Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act".

It appears the electronic cigarette industry has a lot of work to due. For them to succeed, they must convince authorities that the ecig is a tobacco product and it should be regulated as such. If it is deemed a nicotine delivery device, it will most certainly be banned as it is highly unlikey that is can be presented as a medication delivery device.

The first time I saw an electronic cigarette or e-cig, I was totally amazed! It looks exactly like a cigarette and even has an LED light on the end to simulate the burning ash. With smoking banned virtually EVERYWHERE, the e-cig is really an interesting alternative.

The ecig holds a replaceable cartridge of liquid or "e-juice". The liquid is made of propylene glycol and has minute amounts of nicotine and/or flavor added. You can get cartridges with only nicotine, nicotine with flavor added or just plain flavor. There are many flavors to choose from like Strawberry, Chocolate, Watermelon, Coconut, Pepsi, Red Bull & Whiskey just to name a few. The flavors are really tasty and really cheap. A full cartridge is equal to about 15 cigarettes.

The e-cig has a small battery inside that powers the internal micro-electronics and the atomizer that converts the liquid from the cartridge into an inhalable vapor. The rechargeable batteries are lithium ion and will last about a month. They offer many ways to recharge the battery like a USB charger, car charger, pocket charger or AC charger.

People who use electronic cigarettes say that they smoke far fewer cigarettes and some even say they have quit smoking. Currently there are no studies showing this to be true. Even if they don't curb the urge to smoke, the fact that they are odorless and can be used anywhere smoking is banned is reason enough to take a look at them. They are great for the guy whose wife makes him stand outside in the rain and snow to get his nicotine fix.

Part 1: Absinthe Spoon

The first things you learn about absinthe is that the preparation ritual is a time honored art and tradition. The absinthe ritual must be followed precisely to produce the best tasting drink. And using the proper absinthe accessories is just as important as the absinthe ritual itself.

Your first absinthe accessory purchase will likely be an absinthe spoon. Absinthe spoons are specially made for the ritual with holes or slots in them. They are used to melt sugar into the absinthe glass as water is added. The absinthe spoon is placed on top of the absinthe glass with a sugar cube placed atop the spoon. Water is then poured over the cube and drips into the glass forming the louche.

Absinthe spoons come in various sizes, designs and finishes. Longer absinthe spoons are considered the most versatile as they work with long and short absinthe glasses while short spoons won't accommodate a tall glass. The complexity of the design will often dictate the price of the spoon with the most unique and intricate designs fetching higher prices. Popular finishes include Gold, silver, stainless steel and chrome with the premium finishes demanding the highest price. Chrome or stainless steel are the most durable finishes and require little to no maintenance. Gold or silver absinthe spoons will last a lifetime when properly cared for.

The best advice for an absinthe newbie is to by a quality spoon first off. You will have this spoon forever and it will most likely gain collector value. You may also want to purchase an inexpensive absinthe spoon as a portable. I mention this as I have lost many gold plated spoons to a long night of absinthe drinking. Lastly, no matter the finish you choose, always gently hand-clean your spoon with a quality polish (Tarn-X Silver Polish works best) and store it dry when not in use. This will pay off in the long run as you won't be replacing spoons due to rust or corrosion.

If you have seen the news lately, you have noticed huge chatter about the numerous companies bringing TV to the Internet. What you really should ask yourself is why would so many of the Big Guns like Fox, NBC, Viacom & CBS to name just a few, be putting so much money into Internet TV and how will it effect me?

Let me give you the short story. Way back, there was a time when only 3 or 4 TV networks ruled broadcast TV and therefor held the monopoly on TV ad revenue. There were no cable or satellite TV and the Internet was in its infancy. Now, fast forward 10 years. DVR's, video games, DVD's and the Internet are literally stealing more and more viewers every day from broadcast TV providers.

What happens next? As the number of broadcast TV viewers fall, so does the number of TV advertisers. These sponsors see the downward trend and scramble to find better ways to utilize their advertising dollars. Now we begin to notice the "Catch 22". The TV networks see a plummeting income stream and search for cost saving measures -- can anyone say Jay Leno? They begin pumping out cheap to produce game shows and reality TV, show fewer new episodes and increase the number of advertisements but at the same time they begin investing in Internet TV.

Does anyone see it yet? Ahh.. now you're starting to get it. If the networks can't afford to produce a quality product for broadcast TV, how is putting the same crap on the internet going to help? The answer is, it will not..... well it won't help the viewer anyway. It will help the TV networks as the advertisers again start advertising providing them revenue. But the viewer will still be left with the same low quality content only now they can watch it on their TV and their computer.

Sure, the networks will eventually realize this and may even take steps to fix the problem. But this is a long way down the road. For now, we the viewers are stuck with bargain basement, cheap to produce broadcast and Internet TV. I guess the recession hits us from many angles.

Illegal in America for over 100 years, the mythical "Green Fairy" has again taken the United States storm. The century of abstinence has not dampened the mystery behind absinthe and her effects. On the contrary, it has certainly enticed our interest.

Absinthe is an alcohol distilled with a list of herbs and botanicals. The "Holy Trinity" of absinthe herbs, as it is called by aficionados of the drink, are anise, fennel and Artemisia absinthium (from which absinthe gets its name). Most absinthe contain other taste enhancing herbs such as Hyssop, Angelica, Coriander and others. The Artemisia absinthium a.k.a. wormwood contains thujone the component believed to cause the "Absinthe Effect". Due to its high alcohol content, absinthe is prepared by mixing with water to create a "louche"

Our absinthe reviews will focus on the most important aspects of buying an absinthe -- taste, aroma and value. Our goal is to teach you how to purchase a quality absinthe at a reasonable price. The absinthe brands we review vary in price from $60 to $110 with everything in between. You will soon that it is not necessary to pay an arm and a leg to get a quality absinthe.

No matter if you are an experienced absintheur or just beginning your exploration of this grandest of liquors, our unbiased review of the best absinthe brands available in the US will surely help pick the best one for you.

Our Number 1 Pick
Jade $110 - Jade absinthe consists of 4 varieties (3 vertes and 1 blanche). The vertes are PF 1901, Edouard, Nouvelle Orleans and Suisse Verte and the blance (clear absinthe) is Combier Blanchette. These are hands down the finest absinthe you can buy if you can find them.

Our Number 2 Pick
Mansinthe $60 Verte
This absinthe is produced under the supervision of shock rocker Marilyn Manson. Many absintheurs with their head in the sand avoid this one due to the reputation of its producer but it is truly a fine absinthe. And at $60 a bottle, you really can't go wrong.

Our Number 3 Pick
Duplais Verte $70
Made at the same distillery as Mansinthe, it is one of the finest Swiss absinthes available. Ultra smooth with a slight bite of wormwood, Duplais is a top pick.

Our Number 4 Pick
Kubler $50 Blanche
This one is a blanche or clear absinthe. The final coloring step is skipped on the blanche (and La Bleue) absinthe. I normally don't drink blanche as they have a totally different taste than veret but this one is truly refresshing and worth the $50 price tag.

Our Number 5 Pick
Vieux Carre $65 Verte
Produced in the US, this absinthe has a unique, almost caramel flavor I found very enjoyable. In the mid-price range, Vieux Carre has carved a niche among the other home growns.

There are certainly other absinthe brands available in the US worthy of mention but these are the top picks. While shopping, you may also want to keep an eye out for:

Delaware Phoenix, La Charlotte, La Clandestine, Obsello, Pacifique,Vieux Pontarlier