Heard of liquid smoking?

Pretty cool huh? Hope they will sell it here soon and I can buy and try it!!

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1080594/Pour-cigarette-The-new-Liquid-Smoking-drink-promises-instant-high-smokers-trying-beat-ban.html

It’s the sort of news that will make a smoker’s eyes light up.

A company has created a fruit-flavoured herbal drink that claims to deliver the same fix as cigarettes.

Called Liquid Smoking, it promises an instant high followed by a ‘euphoric calming feeling’.

It is targeted at those who can no longer light up inside public premises under the smoking ban but want to feed their cravings.

Pour yourself a cigarette: The new drink that could help smokers beat the smoking ban

Anti-smoking groups fear it could promote addiction at a time when the Government is trying to discourage smoking.

The Dutch supplier, United Drinks and Beauty Corporation, hopes the drink will go on sale here in the week before Christmas.

It says it does not contain the highly addictive drug nicotine, but a potent mix of roots from South African plants, which has been used since the 14th century by bushmen.

The bushmen would chew the concoction of leaves to achieve a high, but the producers of Liquid Smoking distilled the mix into an oil for their drink.

United Drinks and Beauty Corporation hopes to follow Red Bull and have the product sold in pubs and bars as a mixer with spirits such as vodka.

It has less than 21 calories per 275ml can and would cost £1.50 in shops and £2 in bars and pubs.

There will be no lower age limit to buy it, although the makers said they did not think it should be drunk by anyone under 15.

Chief executive of United Drinks and Beauty Corporation Martin Hartman said there was no research proving the drink was harmful in any way.

He said the company is waiting for clearance from health authorities in Holland to be able to sell the product there.

He said: ‘The product we have developed has got similar properties to nicotine, so we are trying to help people out who are affected by the ban on nicotine. People might use this instead of a cigarette or tobacco to help the cravings.

‘It is a relaxing drink, it gives a similar affect to smoking  -  initially you get a little boost which makes you more alert, then a euphoric, calming feeling.

‘It will take the edge off of a need for nicotine for between one to four hours.

‘I think it will help people who feel the need for nicotine in bars, restaurants, long-haul flights and on the train.’

But anti-smoking groups are not impressed. Amanda Sanford, from Action on Smoking and Health, said: ‘We are concerned that we have started to see a number of these novel products on the market which are supposed to be alternatives to smoking.

‘Although we welcome anything which is a genuine alternative, many of these are totally unregulated and we only have the manufacturer’s word about what they contain.

‘We would be concerned about any health claims that are unsubstantiated, and at this stage we wouldn’t encourage people to buy them.’

The group also criticised the packaging, which is designed to look like a pack of cigarettes, saying it could further encourage smoking.

Concern has been growing about the effects of high caffeine drinks, such as Red Bull, on young people.

Drunk in excess, caffeine can lead to insomnia, anxiety and hyperactivity.

Mr Hartman stressed that Liquid Smoking has a relaxing rather than stimulating effect.

A visit to Barolo

From Wikipedia

Barolo is an Italian wine, one of many to claim the title “Wine of kings, and king of wines”.[citation needed] It is produced in Cuneo’s province, south-west of Alba, within the region of Piemonte.

It is produced in the communes of Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d’Alba and parts of the communes of Cherasco, Diano d’Alba, Grinzane Cavour, La Morra, Monforte d’Alba, Novello, Roddi, Verduno, all in the province of Cuneo. Only vineyards in the hills with suitable slopes and orientations are considered adapted to production, and the terrains must be primarily clayey-calcareous in character.

The wine is produced from the Nebbiolo grape variety. The Lampia, Michet and Rosé types are authorized. It matures at the end of September. The clusters are dark blue and greyish with the abundant wax that dresses the grapes. Their form is lengthened, pyramidal, with small, spherical grapes with substantial peel. The leaves are of average size with three or five lobes.

Barolo typically smells of tar and roses, and can take on an unusual orange tinge with age. When subjected to aging of at least five years, the wine can be labeled a Riserva. The initial nose of a barolo is often that of the pine tree.

For connoisseurs it is Italy’s most collected wine; for beginners it is a difficult one to understand

Its actually very relaxing trip except for the fact that it was my first time driving in Italy (in a cool small SMARTfor2. Basically we eat, drink, and sleep for this weekend trip. We also bought like 200 euros worth of wine!!!!

The worst thing that can happen to a consumer…

Paying to be a beta-user!!! N96 is one freaking example!!!

The problem with buying the latest phone

Not hackable, no tricks, old programs not compatible, and firmware unstable. The N96 indeed does not compare well to its predecessors. How I wish my N95-8GB was never stolen… Shit happens, always…

Oktoberfest 2008

One of the best trip ever – great beer and lotsa lotsa meat meals. Sitting in a tent drinking, singing, laughing, and shouting with group of friendly strangers is probably once in a lifetime thingy (at least for me). The other cool thing was how the waitress (wearing nice traditional Bavarian dress) carrying 10 mugs of 1 litre beer!

Worst attitude ever seen

Today Em and I had to go apply for our residence certificate to show that we are living legally in Milano. And apparently, this step is essential for the application of the subsequent italian identity card which is required for many other official purposes. This entire process (as like any other Italian bureaucratic) today is really painful.

PART 1

So anyhow, we arrived there at 8 (opening hours was 8.30am) and there was already a huge crowd! Sgers are not so kiasu afterall huh. At 8.40am, we finally got a number and went to the waiting area and were amazed that non of the counters were running! Apparently, these admin officers had to talk (probably about how shitty their life is) till 9.10am before they decide to start running the counters. Everyone was cursing and swearing while they were doing their after-breakfast talk but (of course) they do not care.

PART 2

While waiting for the almost stationary counter to jump to our number, I decided to ask one of the officers if we have all the required documents before our turn (knowing that the Italian system always ask you to produce some documents last minute). So thing was, just after I said “excuse me” and before asking the question, the officer said “information is on the other side”. And just after I said “but..”, the officer said “information is on the other side” again! So guess what the hell he was doing? Reading newspaper that is!

PART 3

Finally, it was our turn and we were there at the counter. I greeted “good morning” with a smile and she replied “hello” with a “what the fuck do you want face”. Then she added that Em and I cannot be processed together and that Em needs a separate number! Nevertheless, I endured and told her its fine, but I need Em to help me with the translation because I don’t speak Italian well. She said NO and mentioned that only 1 person can be at the counter. I asked if she speaks English and she said NO and went to mumble some stuff which I understood as “that’s your fucking business”. Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with her man.

PART 4

Luckily I had everything ready and so there wasn’t much thing to speak about. Everything was fine till the last minute where she said “why does your passport states only name without separating the surname.” I told her thats the way it is and LIU is my surname and so put that in the computer! She insisted NO (she trusts only the passport) and asked me to go to ROME for declaration that LIU is my surname!!!!! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course, at the end of the day, after spending 3 hours there, nothing was done! Seriously, if Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says Singapore Grand Prix is a ”circus” track, I say the Italian admin system above is a circus itself!!!!