Electronic cigarettes were introduced to the US market in 2007. Though much of the initial marketing was aimed toward smoking cessation, these devices have quickly become a popular source of nicotine for many individuals, both teens and adults. An e-cigarette is made to deliver nicotine to its user by aerosolizing a nicotine-containing solution. The device has four parts: the battery, the heating element, the vaporizing chamber, and the solution cartridge. Some devices are manually activated by pressing a button. The solution is heated, aerosolized, and the vapor is then inhaled. Other machines automatically activate when the user draws on it…
Browsing: Commentary
I am often asked “Hey Larry, what can I spray for this or that?” Before I answer, I will ask if the weed, insect, fungus or other pest they want to control has been positively identified. The answer is often “no.” Here is a tip: Some garden issues cannot be solved with a spray. Now is an excellent time to collect a sample of the pest or pest damaged plant and have it positively identified. Positive identification can be done by you on some pests such as weeds by pictures and internet research. There are numerous weed identification websites available.…
As I write this, I am beginning the final week of a 28-day journey in South Africa. When you read this, I will have been home for about nine days. The Lord has allowed me to see so many things. There is no way that I can tell you everything that I have experienced on this journey, but I will hit the highlights. This journey has taught me many things about the people group that we are working with, known as the BaPedi. They are predominantly located in the Sekhukhuneland District of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. A people…
Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. I have been kind of handy with tools and stuff for a long time. I helped build my first house…electrical…plumping…drywall, etc. I was young…never done anything like that before. I would just get some repair books and go at it. I always made it work, one way or another, but I have to be honest with you…if I knew then what I know now about how hard and difficult it is to build a house…I would never have tried it while at the same time starting a family and a…
Where were you when you heard about the September 11, 2001 attacks? I was at home getting ready to go to work. The Today Show was on in the background when I heard Katie Couric say something about a plane crash. I turned and watched the report, which said no one knew what had happened other than a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I had a bad feeling and called to my daughter to watch the coverage. You know the rest of the story. That event started a series of events, highlighting organizations and terms that we had…
When I was small, and still today, I had a hero, someone that would help me be strong, that would give me guidance, and teach me about courage, friendship, brotherhood – my father. We all have heroes. We find them in comic books, literature we read, maturing, we find them as sports figures, and as adults, they turn from action figures, to figures of action. We all know the heroes of September 11. Not by name, not by who they were, but by their courage, their bravery and their willingness to help by overcoming their fears. Yet, there was still one,…
The Lashleys have just returned from our very first trip out west, and it was quite the adventure. It was our last hoorah before school started, and a grand adventure for the children to talk about for years to come. My brother lives in Washington on the lovely and magical piece of paradise known as Whidbey Island. My mother had been planning a trip to see him and impulsively invited our little family along. Unfortunately, it was spur of the moment and my darling husband could not come with us, so I traveled with my mother and the children. I…
As Tropical Storm Erika makes its way up the east coast, are you ready? I am presently on the side of the world where these storms form. Though hurricane season runs from June 1- November 1, we seem to see some of the worst storms during this time of the year. Tropical systems in Virginia usually result in rain, wind or both. Tropical systems are usually packed with rain. The problem comes when systems stall, dumping large amounts of rain. Flash flooding becomes the problem in this scenario. Low lying areas are prone to flooding. Some homes and businesses will…
Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. I found something at the local Wal-Mart the other day that brought back many old memories. Let’s see if you can guess what I am talking about. It came in a cardboard box with a handle; was yellow and red, had animals pictured on its side and was made by Nabisco. I am sure the older readers have guessed this by now.It was the old Barnum’s Animals crackers. They were cut in the shape of various wild animals packaged in a circus wagon carton, and it was always fun…
It all started when… It is a lead (newspapers typically spell it lede) that really bothers me. And although I do not particularly like it, some leads start with the date that a particular event will take place or took place. The Village News has just started year 18, covering news, not just Chester to areas such as Bensley, Enon, Ettrick, Matoaca the Courthouse and as much of southeastern Chesterfield as our limited staff can muster. “Your Neighbors, Your Community, Your News.” Although I have been writing articles and opinion since the paper was put together in our dining room,…