Do Smokers Dream of Electric Cigarettes?

If companies like Smoking Everywhere, a distributor of electronic cigarettes (yes, electronic cigarettes), has its way, we may once again see people lighting up in bars, restaurants, offices--well, y'know, everywhere.

It'll be like "Mad Men" without the snazzy suits.

An electronic (or "e") cigarette is a battery-powered nicotine-delivery device that looks like your basic Marlboro but releases an odorless vapor (i.e., steam) instead of tobacco smoke.  Thus, smokers get the sensual and chemical "benefits" of smoking without polluting the air of everyone around them.

If people insist on smoking, this would seem to be a preferable method--at least from the perspective of the commons.  Of course, gadgetry always appeals to the young, so this may just prove to be a new way to get kids to start smoking.  Hell, you slap an "e" or an "i" in front of anything, and it automatically becomes cooler: e-mail, iPhones, e-towels.  OK, we made that last one up.

(Digression: Actually, that could be a great way to get children to eat their vegetables:  "No, Timmy, this isn't broccoli.  It's iBroccoli!  EOD.)

We say, let a thousand e-cigarettes bloom!  At least we won't have to smell 'em!