While I lived in Vietnam, it was really interesting to see how the culture adjusted to the sudden influx of wealth (the country's economy was growing very quickly and like China, is experiencing a great cultural and technological shift) and how the government and the people were working really hard to modernize. What was weird was, all of these changes were/are happening without some of the intervening stuff that the Western world went through, like the sexual revolution and the gradual movement toward equality between sexes, as well as the adjustment to mass media, going from radio to TV to the internet. Yeah, the major cities aren't as far behind, but in the sticks and even in the smaller cities, it's a big change, really fast. Anyway, when I went to China it was pretty clear that it was going through the same thing, but x 1000. Much as I hate to say it as an Asian guy, but what stood out to me the most was that in both places, for things like their major cities (and their skylines-- everyone needs an iconic skyline these days) things tended to be more about first presenting the image of modernity and then trying to get the country up to speed. Now, a military is not something that a nation can really skimp on, especially not if said nation intends to use it, which I think China is more than willing to do, especially after spending the greater part of the 20th century getting kicked around by major powers. Not to mention that China has a rich, war-filled history. I'm a little surprised that China is still sourcing military stuff from Russia, but I guess I shouldn't be, even though there is a lot of resentment toward the Russians. Anyway, I hope that China's ambitions for expansion will be put in check without resorting to war, especially since some countries near and dear to my heart would be caught up in it.
I wouldn't worry too much. Military power isn't all about war. Think about this, China is arguably the worlds largest exporter and the majority of their economy relies on exports. What would happen to their shipping lanes if the US Navy disappeared from the seas either due to our fall economically or militarily? Who would protect the canals? Who would keep their shipping routes safe? Right now the worlds shipping lanes are kept free and open and safe, primarily by the US Navy. We have deals and protect and fund both the canal owning countries. I don't see the Chinese military expansion as a challenge for war, but more of a hedge bet against unknown futures of other nations and securing their future. China bought their first aircraft carrier from Russia and just recently put it into service, as one example. If they were building them or buying them up like hot cakes I'd think war, but right now their growth really isn't saying war, it's saying protecting their economy and country. Could they go to war with Japan or Taiwan in the distant future? Maybe, but I doubt it. I think it's more that they don't want to rely on the US for protecting their assets, and they need their own military to protect themselves, and in the future possibly their shipping lanes. They need to be able to protect imports too, and possibly project power of protection over countries that supply them oil and raw goods that feed the dragon. There's lot of reasons. War doesn't make a ton of sense anymore these days between super powers, but it does make sense to protect your assets and resources abroad. China is getting more involved in mining and oil in Africa, for one, and they need away to protect that should the need arise to in the future. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_aircraft_carrier_Liaoni... Aritcle about jet engines: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/29/us-china-engine-id...
Oh, I'm old enough to remember the last years of the Cold War. I don't know if you get the New York Times or the New York Times Sunday Magazine, but recently there was an article about China's 9 dash line. You do raise some very good points though. I had read about the numbers of aircraft carriers in the world and while I can't remember the exact numbers, the U.S. has a lot more than other countries. Which, as a citizen, I guess that's a good thing. Though, I was under the impression that China had four aircraft carriers? One of the points that the article I linked point out, is that China is using its civilian craft to do most of the bullying, so that no direct military action can be warranted. Which of course, is exactly the kind of tactic that I would expect from a nation in their position. I agree that war doesn't make a whole lot of sense between super powers, especially not after the Cold War, but given the coverage I've seen so far of China's incursions into what they (in my opinion) ridiculously claim to be their territory and my experience in the countries on whose toes China is stepping, it seems like aggressive action might be taken, though of course China would not be the initiator. I'm glad to be alive at the beginning of this century as it will undoubtedly be a very interesting one, given the technological advances and the social pressures. I would not be surprised in my lifetime to see a major conflict involving China. Oh and as an aside, (a very unrelated aside, unless you consider that China produces certain brands of e-cigs) what methods have you used to clean out clearomizers for new juices?
Awesome transition. I just use a dripping atomizer to test new juices, I never fill a whole clearo up unless I know I'll use it. I'm pretty set with a couple juices right now, so I don't really "clean them". I just buy new heads. I use Kanger MT3S clearos, and when I have switched juices, I just dump it out, rinse it with hot water (with the head removed), and let it dry for a day, then put a new head in it and filler up. I got so tired of the juice hunt, I only buy two now, and vape one 90% of the time, Kentucky Peachwood from Vermillion River Ejuice (it's a delicious tobacco blend, like a KY4 + some peach hint). Then I have a Root Beer Float from JuicyVapor I puff on occasionally to change it up. I have a drawer full of juice that I'll never touch more than the few drops I used to taste it. What do you use for clearos?what methods have you used to clean out clearomizers for new juices?
:) I had a few in rotation from Mt. Baker Vapor that are all running out around now. All the flavors were good, but at the moment the ones that I really wanted to re-up are unavailable (of course), so I just kind of got a grab bag full. I should get a dripping atomizer, though at the moment I'm pretty sure I'll vape them all, even if I'm not a huge fan. I haven't tried any tobacco flavors yet. Should I expect a realistic tobacco flavor? I had a few MT3S for a while, but all but one started leaking like crazy and I couldn't figure out why or fix the issue. I don't think it's the juice since I'd tried them out on the MT3 clearos I'd had. So, though I think the MT3S produces better flavor, I got a bunch of T2 clearos, which work well for me. I figured that taking out the heads and rinsing was the way to go, but just wondering if there's some other thing that I could be doing.
No. In my experience tobacco flavors don't taste like cigarettes, but they do have a certain delicious "harshness" to them that blends so well when paired with a fruit flavor. Most "tobacco flavors" kind of go off of the KY4 formula that is so popular. The base tobacco blend from Vermillion River is a little tobacco flavor, a little caramel, and a little what tastes like hazelnut. I didn't think I'd like tobacco flavors when I first started vaping, but after trying a bunch of fuity flavors I ended up falling in love with Vermillion River's tobacco line up. Their Kentucky Peachwood and Kentucky Bananawood are really good, I'd highly recommend them if you want to try tobacco flavors. Vermillion is a local place here in MN, and their store is about 30 minutes drive from me. They actually sell from their own storefront and webpage, but they also supply all the other brick & mortar shops around here as well. If you want to try tobacco flavors, honestly give them a try. My buddies and I all vape their stuff. Other than the two flavors I mentioned, their Kentuck Premium blend base is good, and so is there "Minnesota Menthol", which has a little menthol and mint in it, plus their kentucky tobacco base. They do have some ones that are supposed to taste like cigarettes, but they are pretty gross. Stick with the Kentucky ones or the KY4 if you ever do give them a try. http://www.vermillionriverejuice.com/All-Premium-E-Juice-_c_... Yeah I don't clean my heads or clearos. The way I look at it, as a former cigarette smoker, who lives in a state with $8+ packs, even if I used a new clearo everyday I'd be saving money, lol. So I just replace the heads like one a week or whenever they leak or start to taste like crap. Heads are only like $1.50 from vapingme.com, and that's where I get all my stuff from.Should I expect a realistic tobacco flavor?
Vapingme rocks. And dude sends you like Pokemon cards and Starship trooper cards, and pictures of dinosaurs and stuff.
Hah, awesome. I got a Street Sharks card last time, and some dinosaur factoids. Definitely nothing as cool as T2 or Star Trek cards yet.