Sure, that wasn't the most punchy title in the history of journalism, but if
you've seen people sucking on those glowing sticks in bars, restaurants, or
any other public area, you've probably asked yourself, "Hey, self, what's
the deal with those things?"

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The deal is that if you see someone smoking where they shouldn't be, they're
either a) breaking the law, or b) smoking an electronic cigarette or e-cig.
E-cigs are generally cigarette-shaped contraptions to serve to help stop
smoking and to satisfy nicotine cravings without the hassle, inconvenience,
or stench of cigarettes. Once almost regarded as a novelty, e-cigs have
snowballed in popularity in recent years due to rising cost of cigarettes,
the increased awareness of the health implications, and the growing
alientation of smokers in American (and world) culture. 

An e-cig uses a mist instead of a smoke, and, as the name would suggest, the
heating element is electronic, so while it's vaporizing the mist, it's not
burning any tobacco at all, which means that you're not taking in the
carcinogens that come from smoking a tobcacco cigarette. If this comparison
helps, it works in exactly the same way a vaporized does for pot smokers,
only the whole apparatus in contained in a cigarette, and doesn't require
trash bags and devices the size of a blender. 

Some e-cigs are replacable - you just take out the nicotine cartridge and
replace it - and some are disposable that you discard as soon as the product
is exhausted. You'll often see people exhaling what appears to be smoke from
these devices. It's not, it's essentially a water vapor that has no smell
and no harmful properties, so don't worry about screaming at the
inconsiderate person next to you, as you really have nothing to complain
about. 

Though e-cigs have been around since the mid-60's, new technologies have
made them more practical. Now, many models allow you to charge the battery
using a USB cord, which is pretty funny when you think about it. Further,
their popularity has grown after being used by such celebrities as Leonardo
DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, Kate Moss, Keven Federline (!), and Lindsay Lohan.
That roster of talent (save for maybe K-Fed) serves the industry as well as
any ad campaign could. 

So next time you see someone lighting up an e-cig, take a moment to crack an
egg of knowledge on those around you with confused looks on their faces. The
things may look like cigarettes, but that's pretty much where the
similarities stop. To figure out what distinguishes one brand from another you'll need a sharper mind than mine when it comes to electronic cigarette reviews, so hit the link and get a quick education.