Black Friday Lunacy

In another stunning display of base, herd mentality by hordes of morons who would likely still insist that there is some difference between 'animals' and 'humans', a Wal Mart employee was trampled to death after crowds tore down the doors:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/business/29walmart.html?ref=business

What the hell is so important in a friggin' Wal Mart that people behave this way? Every year across the country shit like this happens - the thin veneer of civilized behavior is stripped away to show the mindlessness, the shallowness, and the unabashed greed which forms the foundation of people. 'Yay! Let's tear down the doors and run people down so we can buy a bunch of Chinese crap we don't need - at half price!'

People suck.

Nuttin' but Awesome

To anyone who didn't catch the last season of "America's Got Talent", let me turn you on to the duo called 'Nuttin' But Stringz'. Two young men, Julliard-trained, and violin virtuosos, who combine a fresh, hip, urban feel to their flawless performances. And seem like incredibly decent guys to boot. Listen to 'Broken Sorrow' on their website: http://www.nuttinbutstringz.com/ and look for videos of their crowd-electrifying performances on YouTube. Once in awhile, an act comes along that is so talented and fresh you sit up and take notice. These guys kick ass, and are way better than the majority of rappers and synthesized hip-hop artists out there.

I hope they make a ton of money. Buy their CD!

Cheap-ass cigar reviews Pt II

Here I am back with cigars for the person that simply likes a good smoke at a good price, and couldn't care less about fancy bands, dovetailed boxes, or celebrity endorsements.

Garcia Y Vega Engish Corona
Origin: Dominican Republic
Make: Garcia Y Vega
Length: 5 1/4"
Ring Gauge: 41
Wrapper: Natural
Filler: medium

Impressions: Smoking these has been a mixed bag. The first one had a really soft, spongy construction which I hate. Flavor was okay..but it felt like I was holding a slightly soft dog turd. Others seem to be better constructed. They smell good right out of their plastic tubos and some people seem to love them, but they're nothing to write home about. I'd rather have a White Owl to be honest.

Optimo Sports
Origin: USA
Make: Swisher, Intl.
Length: 4 1/2"
Ring Gauge: 41
Wrapper: Candela
Filler: 'natural'

Impressions: Mixed experiences here too. Like AyC Grenadiers, the candela wrapper is very thin - on these tears right out of the box were not uncommon. These have a really good nose - vanilla and chocolate undertones. The first one I smoked burned consistently but had a slightly bitter aftertaste. It certainly didn't taste like it smelled out of the cello. The next one - smoked days later - tasted okay but the burn was retarded. Uneven, guttered down one side, bits of unburned leaf falling all over the place. I don't think I'll pick these ones up again.

Tobacco Place Palma Maduro
Origin:?
Make: Tobacco Place (?)
Length: 5 7/8"
Ring Gauge: 41
Wrapper: Maduro natural leaf
Filler: Medium
Strength: Mild to medium

Impressions: The worst part about these is finding them. I bought them at a Marine base but there is no address or website on the box, and I can find little about them on the net. I don't even know if this 'Tobacco Place' makes them or is only a distributing outfit. The reason I say all this, is that these are really good! Apparently these used to be available at Eckard drugstores, but since they have been bought out by Rite-Aid (at least down here), I don't know if they are still carried. If anyone knows of somewhere I can buy these online please send me an e-mail and I will post what a great guy you are. These have a good, firm construction and stable burn. They have a flavor that I think rivals many tasty handmades. If you see these things anywhere and you like cigars, you owe it to yourself to pick up a pack. Nice, rich Maduro flavor.

UPDATE - You can still get these at Rite-Aid, formerly known as Eckard.

Dutch Masters Panetela

Origin: USA
Make: Altadis
Length: 5 1/2"
Ring Gauge: 36
Wrapper: Natural leaf
Filler: short

Impressions: These are a really old brand, my Pop must have had a couple dozen Dutch Masters boxes holding model train parts and whatnot when I was growing up. The wrap is tight, the flavor consistent, wrapper had some large veins and almost a candela shade. It was a smooth-smoking cigar, but there were some bitter undertones. It's okay, but there are better cheap cigars.

Just to show I'm not a total bum, stayed tuned for reviews on premium sticks in about a month: Zino, Rocky Patel Sungrown, Rocky Patel Vintage 1999, Gurkha, Black Pearl, Camacho, Occidental Reserve and others; also Thompson brands Tusker and Empresario Robusto. And the acrid Arturo Fuente Curly Head deluxe.

I love Christmas.