metaphysx

Bill Godshall - Institute of Medicine report to FDA on Smokeless Tobacco an Outrage

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:18:41 -0500

Bill Godshall - Institute of Medicine report to FDA on Smokeless Tobacco an Outrage

Forn Sed: Snus (Swedish Snuff - Trad Tobacco Product)

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:18:00 -0500

Forn Sed: Snus (Swedish Snuff - Trad Tobacco Product):

Snus ( /ˈsnuːs/; Swedish pronunciation: [snʉːs]), or Swedish snuff, is a moist powder tobacco product originated from a variant of drysnuff in the early 19th century in Sweden, consumed by placing it under the lip for…

Do Not Give to The Salvation Army

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:47:33 -0500

This holiday season, I encourage anyone and everyone to think about the charities to which they will contribute. Upon reflection, opt to seek out a local organization that will use your generous donations to support those who are in need and not to lobby world governments to support religious bigotry and hatred.

Do Not Give to The Salvation Army

Clinton criticism sparks Israeli anger

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 06:31:36 -0500

Clinton criticism sparks Israeli anger

I am the 53%

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:10:00 -0500

I am the 53%

Independent IT Contracting versus Consulting

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

I talk to a lot of guys who ask me for advice about consulting. More specifically, these are often technical IT guys struggling with the economy and dismal job market. Fed up with the lack of responses to their resumes and wary or tired of unscrupulous staffing agencies, they often ask me about becoming an independent consultant.

Unfortunately, I find that there are a lot of misconceptions.

First, I think it is necessary to more clearly define the terms.

For me, and as I feel it applies to the IT industry, contractors typically fill an established need. Generally, the way it works is that a company takes on a project or for whatever reason requires either additional staff or staff with specific expertise on a limited-time basis. They recognize that the need is temporary and therefore recruiting a full-time employee is not a cost-effective option.

Either because they don’t know where else to turn or for efficiency, they draft some type of job description and either post this to job boards or engage with an IT staffing agency that specializes in recruiting the kind of talent they are looking for. Many times, however, the skillsets and experience they are looking for are essentially commodities. There is a sufficient supply in the market such that the primary decision-making factor, once a pool of suitable candidates is identified, is price.

Consultants, on the other hand, sell their services to solve a business problem. Sometimes the company realizes they have a problem and need assistance to analyze, develop and implement a solution. Other times the company is not even aware of the problem or opportunity and the consultant makes them aware.

Generally, the typical IT staffing agencies do not and cannot recruit to fill this type of need because the project involves strategic direction that is critical to the success of the company or function. The skills and experience required are not commodities. Rather than competing on price, the consultant competes on a combination of price and ROI. Different consultants will have different value propositions that distinguish what they offer from other consultants. And while many consultants may have the minimum required technical skills to complete a specific task, only one will be the best fit for helping the company realize its strategic objectives.

So, when considering whether to become a “consultant”, I think the first step is to clarify exactly what one intends to do and understand the different models. And while the work itself may vary only slightly, the upfront work will vary dramatically.

Where the contractor is really a temporary employee, the consultant also assumes the role of a business owner and all the responsibilities that come with it.

Why snus should scare you more than Osama Bin Laden

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 01:30:00 -0400

I sit here now enjoying a Nick & Johnny’s Strong realizing it’s been quite some time since I’ve written about snus.

Today I received part of my pre-PACT order. The shopping experience, frankly, wasn’t as great as it’s been in the past. Apparently, since my last order back in February, my favorite online snus shop, GetSnus.com, was acquired by my 2nd favorite store, Northerner. They’re still working out ordering and inventory issues, and the pricing and shipping policies have changed. So it was a bit of a pain.

I got 10 cans of General, 10 Ettan and 20 Nick & Johnny’s; three of my favorite go-to-everyday snuses. As further production has been canceled, I decided to try one can of 1847 by Philip Morris. As I believe Oden’s can no longer be sold in the United States, I decided to finally try Oden’s Extra Stark. And just for kicks I picked up a can of O2 Strong and some Chaini Khaini Spice.

Unfortunately, the N&J’s was out of stock and they forgot to pack the Oden’s. Hopefully they’ll show up in a few days.

In the meantime, I wanted to write something about snus beyond just listing my latest order or a simple product review. I wanted to write something prolific. I had a few ideas for blog post titles that may or may not manifest themselves in reality. What do you think of these?

Why snus should scare you more than Osama Bin Laden
5 BS “facts” about snus everyone thinks are true
7 things snus has in common with a unicorn
8 ways snus has been involved in political scandals
10 ballsy pranks involving snus that failed miserably
8 ways snus can help you survive a zombie outbreak

Ok, that last one I could probably write something about.

National Day of Prayer canceled?

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:00:00 -0400

Not so fast.

Snopes, again, comes to the rescue with a little historical background and status of the National Day of Prayer.

President Obama Canceled the National Day of Prayer: FALSE

And for a little more historical context and on the recent court ruling… Wikipedia: National Day of Prayer.

Mitch, Ändi and Simon provide some basic instructions… an...

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Mitch, Ändi and Simon provide some basic instructions… an introduction to snus.

The orginal movie from swedishsnus.com!

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The orginal movie from swedishsnus.com!

Instructional “how to” video from Zero at SnusOn.com...

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Instructional “how to” video from Zero at SnusOn.com forum.

Snus Review: Ettan Original

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Ettan’s Original Portion was my first Swedish Snus, and remains my favorite to date. The flavor is subtle, but definitely pure tobacco. It most reminds me of the Camel cigarettes I enjoyed so much for the past 15 years. The flavor isn’t “overwhelming”, but it isn’t “missing” either. To me, Ettan is very no-nonsense and straightforward, as there are no “hints” of anything other than what it means to be… and that is an enjoyable snus experience.

The pouch material is of high-quality and not irritating as others have been. Further, the pouch is packed loose enough to allow the snus-er to shape the portion to fit comfortably.

In my opinion:

Flavor: Pure Tobacco

Flavor Strength: Medium

Tobacco Flavor: Medium

Nicotine: Medium

Goes well with: Coffee, Red Wine, Dr. Pepper, Root Beer

Snus Review: General Los (and first-time los experience)

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

I finally tried loose snus. Specifically, I opted go for the General Los. I knew that I liked General, and from everything I read, the los was even better than portions.

I cracked open the tin and took a good look. Loose snus looks like very fine, black potting soil. I mean, it looks just like dirt. On the other hand, it smells so clean, pure and fresh. That, in itself, made my mouth water.

I pulled out the Prismaster and loaded it up. As I’ve read elsewhere, I put my finger over one end and pressed the snus until a little bit of juice began to flow. Rather than sticking it straight into my mouth, I ejected the pris into the palm of my hand to get a good look. I rolled it around and reshaped it a bit, the stuck it under my lip.

The first thing I noticed was how HUGE the pris felt relative to portions. The cylindrical shape, rather than the flat shape of a portion, and what I estimate to be three times as much tobacco contributed to this. The next thing I noticed was that it felt very soft against my gums, with no hint of irritation that I sometimes feel from even the best quality portions.

It took only a minute or so for the pris to start to soften and conforming to the shape of my gums. The juice and nicotine came on and it was great. I realized then that I loved loose snus!

After about 30 minutes, though, I started to feel little bits of tobacco on my tongue. I looked in the mirror and the snus was dripping and running all over my teeth. There was no way I could ever use this in public. I used my finger to scoop it out and found that no matter how hard I tried, the only way to really get it out was to rinse my mouth with water. This is contrary to how I use portions, in that I sometimes leave a portion in for 90 minutes or more… as long as the flavor lasts.

So, I can’t wait to open up and try some of the other loose snuses I have. The problem is that since I can only use it when I’m home alone, it’s going to take forever for me to work through this tin of General. I guess I have something to look forward to.

Snus Review: Nick & Johnny's Strong

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

When you really… and I mean really… want a smoke… Nick & Johnny’s.

I was actually surprised the other night when I read that GrovSnus Svart (Black) was a “strong” snus and contains the same amount of nicotine. I bought it specifically for that purpose. But after using it, I was convinced that I read it wrong. I didn’t feel near the nicotine satisfaction that I do with Nick & Johnny’s.

N&J’s is simple. It has a pure, tho subtle, tobacco flavor with a smooth-but-immediate nic hit that satisfies the cravings. The pouch material is high-quality and doesn’t cause me any of the gum irritation that I sometimes feel with lower-quality portions. The juice is mild and has yet to cause me any throat irritation or choking.

While I love it, I only use 1 portion in the morning and maybe one at night depending on my mood. The nic hit is that quick and strong. Though I haven’t smoked in 2 months, I still get some heavy cravings. N&J’s is the cure. After about 3 minutes I feel like I just chain-smoked 3 Camels.

This is now one of my ‘staples’ that, though I don’t use it all the time nor even every day, I make sure I have a tin handy when I need a little extra.

Snus Review: General Sterk White Portion

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:00:00 -0500

This afternoon I was really Jones-ing for a smoke, but I couldn’t get the nasty, foul smell and taste of the last smoke out of my mind. On the advice of a fellow snus-er at Snuson.com, I cracked open a tin of General Sterk white portion.

As it is a ‘white portion’, the flavor and nicotine hit you a bit slower than the regular portion. But once it does… wow! It tastes just like the General Original, (though not as salt & peppery), and it definitely cured the cigarette craving. I think this will definitely be on my regular order list.

Snus Review: Jakobsson's Ice Fruit

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:00:00 -0500

I packed this along for a 3-hour drive. When I first tried it, the “ice” was a bit overwhelming, but that only lasted about 30 seconds. After that, the flavor was very much like that of Juicy Fruit chewing gum. But, like the chewing gum, it lost its flavor quickly.

During the drive I stopped at Taco Bell for dinner, then popped one of these in afterward. It was perfect. But outside of that, I really don’t care for it much. It’s definitely a ‘dessert’ snus. Given that I like spicey food, I will probably keep some handy, but I don’t think this is an everyday snus

Snus Review: Camel Snus Frost

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:00:00 -0500

Yes, I did buy some Camel Snus Frost to try. The first thing I noticed was the price. It was the same as a pack of cigarettes (about $4.50) while a tin of Ettan is only $3.50. [A side-note about price: as a pack-a-day smoker, a $4.50 pack of 20 cigs last me one day. But a $3.50 tin of 25 snus portions lasts me 3-4 days (5-8 portions/day).] What I liked about the Camels is that they taste REALLY good!

I mean… they smell and taste like candy. The first time was a bit harsh, but after that, very smooth. What I didn’t like so much is that they did next to nothing to curb my nicotine craving. In fact, snus-ing a Camel Frost only made me want to smoke a cig. So, I’m keeping the tin I have as a ‘dessert’, but I doubt very much that I will buy another.

In my opinion:

Flavor: No tobacco. All minty sweetness.

Flavor Strength: Strong

Tobacco Flavor: Little/None

Nicotine: Low

Goes well with: Nothing. Purely a stand-alone snus. Good for after dinner when you wish you had a tic-tac but all you could find was a Camel Snus Frost.

Snus Review: Goteborg's No. 2 White Portion

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:00:00 -0500

A lot of people seem to like Goteborg’s No. 2 White Portion, as their “go to” snus… but I just don’t get it. I mean, it is good, but to me it tastes/smells a bit too flowery. It’s like, well, sucking on a flower. The experience is less like tobacco and more like herbal tea. I don’t hate it, but it’s something I will save for when I’m in the mood.

In my opinion:

Flavor: Little Tobacco and more “flowers”

Flavor Strength: Strong

Tobacco Flavor: Little/None

Nicotine: Medium

Goes well with: Nothing. Purely a stand-alone snus.

Snus Review: Offroad Coffee-Vanilla

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:00:00 -0500

I read a lot of negative reviews on this one, but I think I kinda’ like it… under just the right circumstances. It’s sorta like Corona in how it tastes a bit like piss unless you’re drinking it with spicy Mexican food. Offroad Coffee-Vanilla tastes like ass unless you’re having it with morning coffee. It’s another one that I will put on the shelf in the fridge and save for when I’m in the mood.

In my opinion:

Flavor: Moderate tobacco with artificial coffee/vanilla flavor.

Flavor Strength: Strong

Tobacco Flavor: Moderate

Nicotine: Moderate

Goes well with: Coffee or stand-alone. Definitely not good with beer, wine or tea.

The Demise of the Recording Industry

Mon, 03 Feb 2003 23:00:00 -0500

I was watching ‘True Life’ on MTV the other day when something occurred to me. Back in the day, MTV used to play music videos. Today it seems that a relatively small percentage of MTV (and VH1) programming includes music videos. Are music videos dying?

Just then there was a news blurb about the RIAA and how bad internet music sharing was hurting the record industry so bad.

The more I think about it, is that such a bad thing? In most cases, we seem to welcome technology, even at the expense of jobs. Most factories these days are heavily automated, and desktop computers themselves have allowed companies to do with a few accountants what otherwise would have required a HUGE team of them. Several years ago there was talk and fear of technology and robotics replacing human labor. Today it’s happened all over, in virtually every industry. However, in the face of it, being the adaptive animals we are, when our skills became obsolete, we found other things to do to make ourselves valuable in the job market.

Now, back to the recording industry. The RIAA talks a lot about protection of copyrights for artists. On this issue I agree. Artists should have control over the destiny of their work. However, the ethical ideals behind copyrights are not what concerns the RIAA. Virtually every article on their site, in the end, slips in the idea that the artist and the record label should receive the royalties they are due.

I have a hard time calling people like Brittany Spears, Backstreet Boyz or Snoop Dogg “artists”. These guys are Pop Stars. That’s “Pop” as in “popular”. How did they get to be so popular? The recording industry controls (either through ownership or intimidation) what gets played on MTV and on the radio. They force-feed to us what we ‘are supposed to like if we want to be cool’. We are brainwashed into buying the CD’s. Where exactly does the “art” come in?

In my opinion, it would do the world good, for the sake of the survival and creation of more art, to do away with the recording industry as we know it. Most true artists that I know work all day, then stay up all night writing music and jamming with their buds… and if you’re lucky, you can catch them live at a bar somewhere. That’s art for the sake of art… human manipulation of color, sound, thought and form in an attempt to improve upon nature. (Notice in my definition of ‘art’, there is no mention of ‘royalties’.)

So, in my quest to destroy the recording industry, I ask those who read this to vow, right now, to never again buy a CD (or trade songs over the internet) from any so-called “artist” whose work finds its way to MTV or any Top 40 radio station. Instead, why not be adventurous and attend a few music festivals this summer? Or, search the internet for Shoutcast servers and listen to some music you’ve never heard before by artists you’ve never heard of. Dare to decide for yourself what you like.

With everyone exercising their free will and choosing music of their own taste, the recording industry will have no choice but to stop trying to force crap into those two holes in your head. Their industry will fold, Brittany will have to get a real job, and the demand for more variety will skyrocket.

Video killed the radio star. Now it’s time for the internet to kill the video/pop stars.