Over the years, a number of celebrities have been seen joining the electronic cigarette revolution. And surprise, surprise, more than one of them has been caught using blu. Join us as we take a stroll down memory lane and highlight a few of the more noteworthy celebs who have been caught on camera.

• Leonardo DiCaprio – While on set for his latest feature film project, Django Unchained, this iconic actor took a few minutes to break out a blu Cig.  The Folks over at PopSugar have the full story including more pics of Leonardo vaping away here.

• Stephen Dorff – What better testament to the simple fact that you can smoke an electronic cigarette just about anywhere. Back in December, Immortals star Stephen Dorff was seen puffing away on blu e-Cigs at the JFK International Airport. RadarOnline has the whole story here.  

• Lindsay Lohan: And how did Linsday Lohan pass her time while on house arrest. Apparently she got through it by using blu. E! Online has the whole story about Lindsay using electronic cigarettes during here 35 days of house arrest here.

• Carrie Fisher: A few months back, everyone’s favorite galactric princess, Carrie Fisher, was spotted using a blu e-cigarette during a TODAY Show interview.  In the interview Fisher talks about everything, from her new book to her experience with electroshock treatments, all while calming puffing on blu. You can find the interivew in the TODAY Show archives here  

Here is a fun piece of information:

According to an article by the folks over at The Build Network (the creators of Inc.), there is an actual limit to the number of social relationships a person can manage and cultivate. Citing research conducted by evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar, the Build Network article notes that humans can realistically maintain relationships with roughly 150 people.  After that, things start to get a little unwieldy.

Dunbar formed this hypothesis by studying social connections within primate societies, and comparing these connections to the size of the primate’s Neocortex (that’s the part of the brain that is responsible for sensory perception, motor commands, spatial reasoning, and thought).  After some fancy calculations based on the size of the human Neocortex, he hypothesized that the total number of relationships a person can handle is about 150.

But here is the fun part: it turns out that we kind of already do this naturally. Dunbar also studied the way successful organizations and military groups go about their business. And he discovered that the majority of these groups organize themselves into cliques of about 150.

Great! But What Does This Have to Do With Electronic Cigarettes?

We’ll get to electronic cigarettes and their involvement in maintaining social relationships in a minute, but first some more fun information:

The Build article also cites an excerpt from the book “The Start-up of You: Adapt to the Future,” by Co-founder and Chairman of LinkedIn Ben Hoffman and Entrepreneur and Author Ben Casnocha. In the excerpt, which appeared in the February 6^th edition of Fortune, Hoffman and Casnocha argue that while there may be a limit on the amount of relationships a person can handle, it does not necessarily start and end with the number 150.

It really depends on the intimacy and quality of the relationship as well as the tools you use to cultivate it. Hence the reason social media networking sites, like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, have revolutionized the way we stay in touch. Unlike the primates in Dunbar’s study, technological advancements allow us to maintain a much broader social network.

Enter blu’s Smart Pack

This is what makes the Smart Pack from blu Cigs such a timely innovation. With one push of a button, the Smart E-Cigarette Pack becomes socially aware. It continually monitors the area around you, looking for another blu user, a blu bar, or a retail location where you can shop for starter kits or a myriad of electronic cigarette accessories. The pack then lights up and vibrates to alert you when these people or things get within 50 feet.

This simple social feature on a pack of electronic cigarettes is just another great example of how technology is helping influence, expand and maintain your social relationships. You don’t have to be limited to a number. We are not primates. Instead, with continued advancements from social networking tools like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and even the social feature on your pack of electronic cigarettes, who really knows what the limit is?

Sometime about a decade ago, you first began hearing about electronic cigarettes. They may have been featured on a nightly news program. Or there was a vague mention of them in the backend of a magazine or newspaper.

But, that was it. There was nothing concrete. They were hard to get, you couldn’t buy them in the store, your friends weren’t using them, the advantage of using them was  unclear. And frankly, they just seemed to be another wacky gimmick. Maybe people ‘overseas’ were using them, but here in the U.S, their existence  went virtually unnoticed.

Electronic Cigarette Use Has Quadrupled Over the Last Year1

It’s amazing how far the electronic cigarette industry has come since those early beginnings. E-cig conversations are no longer relegated to the back-ends of magazines and filler promos on nightly news channels. They are no longer the ‘crazy’ invention you hear about but never see. And their advantages are anything but unclear.

With no smoke, no offensive odor, and no ash, it has become clear the electronic cigarette revolution is here to stay. Don’t believe us, just look at the signs:

• Electronic cigarette retailers can now be found all over the United States. In fact, blu Cigs are now sold in more than 12,000 retail locations nationwide, including stores like Walgreens, H.E.B., Meijer, Sheetz, JR Cigar, and Scolari’s.
• Celebs have jumped aboard. As sort of a who’s who of electronic cigarette smokers, celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Katherine Heigl, Lindsay Lohan, and Carrie Fisher have all been seen vaping.
• And of course, maybe the biggest sign of the E-cig industries arrival is the attention they are getting from lawmakers. Visit Casaa.org for a quick glimpse on the potential laws and regulations many states are exploring in regards to electronic cigarettes.

This is only the beginning. The electronic cigarette revolution has just started to take root. Stay tuned to find out what happens next.

References

1-      http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2011/11/new-study-estimates-that-there-are-25.html

In case you haven’t heard, last Wednesday marked a monumental moment here at blu.
In continuing efforts to bring you one of the premiere vaping experiences on the market, blu’s assets have been acquired by one of the largest and oldest companies in America, Lorillard, Inc.

So what does this mean for you …

blu has always been committed to offering The Best electronic cigarette experience on the market. And now, as a part of one of the largest and oldest companies in America – a company with a proud and long tradition – This commitment has been enhanced. With the backing, resources and experience of Lorillard behind us, we will be able to continue our march toward excellence, strengthening our already strong lineup of e-cigs and e-cig accessories.

“I’m happy to say that now as part of Lorillard, blu ecigs will be able to deliver an even greater level of quality and innovation to its customers” – Jason Healy, President and co-founder of blu.

At blu, the bottom line has always been customer satisfaction. The blu Cigs community of vapers has shown outstanding loyalty and support. And our goal is to continue to reward this loyalty by enhancing our line of premium electronic cigarette products.  For our customers, it is business as unusual.  As we work through a “normal transitional period,” we will continue to serve you with the type of exceptional customer service and excellence you have come to expect. Following this transition, we will look toward finding additional ways to enhance your overall vaping experience.

Read the Official Release:

The blu Cigs Press Release

The Lorillard Press Release

Let’s be honest, when it comes to electronic cigarettes, smokers want to know about safety. Forget all the talk about the taste, the feel, and the cost saving advantages.

If you currently smoke tobacco cigarettes, there is little doubt that you are committed to your current brand.  It has the taste and flavor you want. And if pricing was really an obstacle, you would have quit smoking when the cost for a pack of cigarettes first began to creep above the four dollar mark.

The Facts About Tobacco Every Smoker Ignores

But somewhere in the back of your mind – deep in the recesses no tobacco smoker wants to address – lie all the facts about the harmful effects of tobacco cigarettes.

For the most part, smokers are aware that tobacco cigarettes contain over 5,000 chemicals and account for hundreds of thousands of deaths in the United States each year.¹ These facts are backed by tons of research, case studies and real world examples. And just about every smoker knows at least one person whose life has been affected from a lifelong habit of tobacco smoking.

What if there was a smoking alternative?

This of course brings us to back to the topic of electronic cigarettes, their safety, and any possible health effects. A simple internet search will reveal any number of articles and studies on the subject. Some of which are good journalistic pieces based on supported facts and information. Others are unfortunately based on misleading information or even completely incorrect data.

The question becomes, what do you believe? As either an electronic cigarette smoker or tobacco smoker, what is your opinion on electronic cigarettes?

Are you intrigued by their no smoke, no tobacco feature? Or the fact that electronic cigarette brands like blu only have a half dozen ingredients? Or are you still hesitant, wary of making the switch because all the facts and research is not yet in.

Let us know what you think.

Resources

1-http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/

• Cigarettes vs. e-Cigarettes: Which Is Less Environmentally Harmful? This piece by the National Geographic takes a look at the environmental impact of traditional cigarettes. For instance, did you know that a single butt from a tobacco cigarette can take anywhere from 18 months to 10 years to decompose? Compare this to electronic cigarettes, which for the most part use recyclable flavor cartridges.
• FDA’s partial truths and exaggerations endanger health This article from CASAA points out that while some anti-vaping studies and news stories may seem like they are backed up with sound reasoning, they are merely propped up with half-truths and misleading statistics. Remember, before you accept anything as truth, you should always do a little bit of your own self-investigation.
• Should e-cigarette smokers follow traditional tobacco etiquette? A couple of staffers over at Digital Trends had a nice little debate over electronic cigarette use and the etiquette involved. As electronic cigarette use continues to grow (and trust us it is growing at quite the remarkable rate), these types of debates are only going to become more commonplace. But as always, as a vaper, you should be aware of those around you, and how your actions affect them.
• Lawmakers Targeting Electronic Cigarettes The convenience store industry weighs in on the various laws banning or restricting the sale of e-cigs. The folks over at Convenience Store Decisions have put together a nice little piece on the new, but growing industry. In addition to growth predictions, this article breaks down some of the laws and regulations by various states and localities.  
• Why Australia needs to ban outside barbeques NOW This tongue in cheek blog post by the Ashtray Blog helps to illustrate the absurdity of  the arguments for banning outdoor smoking and vaping in certain public areas.

What conversations are you hearing about electronic cigarettes? Please share them.

Tired of explaining to your friends, coworkers, or that annoying neighbor down the street what exactly an e-cig is, and how it compares to smoking tobacco?

Looking for some hard-hitting evidence to convince your boss that “vaping” should be allowed in the workplace?

Or, do you just want to impress your friends with some cool, but pointless, trivia facts?

If you have answered yes to any of the above questions, than this e-cigs infographic from the folks here at blu might just be for you.

 Smoking vs. Electronic Cigarettes

Whether you are looking to save money, concerned about the effects on the environment, want to increase productivity in the workplace or would like a less offensive smoking solution, electronic cigarettes offer a number of advantages:

• Pack a day smokers can save up to  $1,200 a year by making the switch
• 600 million trees are destroyed to provide fuel for drying tobacco
• 4.5 trillion cigarette butts get tossed each year
• Tobacco smoking accounts for 64 minutes of lost daily workplace productivity
• Tobacco Cigarettes contain more than 7,000 chemicals

So why do you want to make the switch? Check out the infographic below for a quick hitting, graphical look at electronic cigarettes and the advantages they offer over traditional cigarettes:

Smoking in the Stadium: A No No

As fans pack the stadiums of their favorite ball clubs, they are greeted by a myriad of sights, sounds, and smells: The green grass, the crack of the bat, the shouts of the hot dog vendor, and the smell of fresh air. And, with hope springing eternal, fans fanatically embrace these signs, as they dig in for one of the sports world’s most grueling seasons.

But for the tobacco smoker, there is one sign that sticks out, slaps them in the face and shouts “you are not welcome.”  This the “No Smoking Sign.”

Smoking Bans at the Ballpark

Overlooking the fact that city sin taxes helped directly fund the building of many of these sporting venues, smoking is prohibited or limited in the vast majority of ballparks, stadiums and arenas. Oft considered the pariah of the modern society, tobacco smokers are then forced to designated smoking areas, or outside the stadium all together. In a game where fortunes can change on a single pitch, this is a banishment which seems far too harsh.

Electronic Cigarette as an Alternative

Electronic cigarettes can help you avoid this banishment. Producing no offensive odor, no smoke, and no ash, electronic cigarettes offer an alternative in areas where smoking is prohibited.

Stadium Smoking Policies on Electronic Cigarettes and Traditional Cigarettes.

If you are unsure of whether the stadium you are visiting permits e-cigs, you may want to visit their website and view their smoking policies. For your convenience, the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF) is offers a listing of Major League Baseball Stadiums and their smoking policies.

While it appears that at least five of Major League stadiums – Safeco Field, Petco Park, Kauffman Stadium, The Great American Ball Park, and Chase Field – have a policy that directly addresses the use of electronic cigarettes, many other ballparks do not. So while you may want to ask before you pull out your e-cig and begin vaping away, e-cigarettes can offer you a way to watch your favorite team, enjoy a e-cig,  and never miss a pitch.

The freedom to vape where and when you want, this is what making the switch to e-cigarettes is all about. Unlike a tobacco cigarette, with an electronic cigarette you don’t have to feel like some kind of leper, or outcast. With no ash and no offensive odor, you don’t have to worry about offending those around you.

Sure, you may get an inquisitive look or two, especially in places where traditional tobacco cigarettes are banned. But as the general population becomes more aware of e-cigarettes and their advantages over tobacco, these types of interactions should subside.

Electronic Cigarettes: Just Where Can You Smoke Them?

What you are left with is the freedom to enjoy your vaping experience, just about anywhere. You can enjoy your electronic cigarette while you are:

• Racing around in your car
• Meeting tight deadlines at work
• Enjoying your favorite meal at your favorite restaurant
• Entertaining guests in your home
• Hanging out with your friends at their homes

The truth is that bans on smoking traditional cigarettes are growing. According to NoSmoke.org, as of April 2012, 35 states and U.S territories had laws in effect that required “non-hospitality workplaces and/or restaurants and/or bars to be 100% smokefree.”¹ This is to say nothing of the hundreds of local municipalities that place restrictions on where and when tobacco cigarettes can be smoked.

So the question becomes, as a vaper, how are you taking advantage of your freedom to smoke where and when you want. Where do you use electronic cigarettes?

Resources

1: NoSmoke.org: http://www.no-smoke.org/pdf/mediaordlist.pdf

According to Popular Science, tobacco companies produce 5.5 trillion cigarettes every year—approximately 900 for each person in the world. Ever wonder what type of effect all this has on our environment? It’s probably a little more harmful than you first suspect.

Manufacturing a tobacco cigarette is not as simple as filling a piece of paper with a few tobacco leaves. No instead, the entire process is lengthy and complex – with each step having a potentialyl negative impact on the environment.

Tobacco, Pesticides, and Fertilization

Consider for a moment that a great portion of the world’s supply of tobacco plants is often grown in poorer countries and communities. And because these plants eat up the nutrients within the soil in which they are grown, they require an immense amount of fertilization. Unfortunately, being the product of poorer communities, tobacco farmers often cannot afford the fertilizer necessary to keep the soil fertile. So instead of replenishing the soil with nutrients, the farmers simply move to a new portion of land, leaving the other portion barren and infertile.

This is to say nothing of the pesticides and toxins used to control pests and disease. Tobacco plants are sprayed on a continuous basis, which in turn contaminates the surrounding landscape with harmful chemicals.

What about the Trees?

According to a June 2006 article by Popular Science, over 600 million trees are felled annually all for the singular purpose of producing a tobacco cigarette. This includes the drying and curing of tobacco. Just think about the effect this causes in terms of greenhouse gases – Not to mention the loss of all those wonderful CO₂ absorbing trees.

One Giant Mound of Cigarette Butts

Of the approximate 5.5 trillion cigarettes produced on an annual basis, only a little over a trillion use biodegradable filters. This leaves somewhere around 4.3 trillion cigarette filters that just end up getting tossed – These filters aren’t going anywhere; we have to dispose of them. They line our streets, our parks, and our dumps. Thus, basically creating one large mound of cigarette butts.

Electronic Cigarettes: and a Recyclable Alternative

Electronic Cigarettes, like those from blu, offer a possible more environmentally friendly alternative. Many of blu’s electronic cigarette cartridges are recyclable, meaning that the smoker is able to reduce their environmental impact simply by making the switch.