Soul's Ravings

The Creepiness Continues...

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:21:00 +0000

Little kids taught to praise Dear Leader Obama at B. Bernice Young Elementary School in Burlington, NJ; June 19, 2009.

Mmm, mmm, mmm. Barack Hussein Obama. Very catchy stuff, komrads.

More National Socialist absurdity...USA style

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:26:00 +0000

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125374722116935697.html

I see the day when cigars will be a thing of the past, or so absurdly expensive that only the rich will be able to smoke them. Even those that don't smoke flavored cigars or anything else for that matter should nonetheless be horrified at the socialist thinking that would ban a legal product on the grounds that an existing law covering it (age restriction) is being broken. The banning of products also equals:

loss of profit

which equals:

loss of jobs

All in the name of rescuing us from ourselves, and exactly what we need in this shitty economy. It's like banning cars because some people drive drunk. They came for the Jews and I said nothing because I was not a Jew.....

It is only a matter of time before the FDA says that there is no difference between cigars and cigarettes, and those companies which make both regular cigars and flavors will have to make up the profit loss by raising prices once again. This is a slippery slope that will end with the total prohibition of tobacco products, mark my words. Beyond clove cigarettes, menthols, and some of the Nat Sherman ones that are way too expensive to appeal to the underage, I can't even name one flavored cigarette. Not one, and I've been smoking for 30 years. The pretext of this ban is entirely false.

The dear nanny state is taking care of us helpless little children once again; the lie is simply the spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. A stepping stone to greater and greater restrictions. Shame the FDA sucks so miserably at what is supposed to be their primary function - making sure our food is safe.

Ironically when I see stuff like this I want to smoke more to hasten my demise as much as possible. I see the future, and it ain't pretty. I think about the absurdly over-regulated, baby-ass country my children will inherit, and I feel ashamed. I was always under the impression that the government answered to US, not the other way around.

Sugar - The Bitter Truth

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:29:00 +0000

Here's an eye-opener. It's a pretty long video - an hour and a half - and the good doctor does get into some fairly heavy biochemistry (for a layman) in a couple parts, but trust me it's well worth the watch. Watch it in segments if neccesary, or make yourself comfortable with a nice ethanol beverage:

Scary stuff...I challenge you to go through your cupboards or read the ingredients on products the next time you go shopping. You will be amazed at what high-fructose corn syrup has been added to, and the sheer number of items that have it, even items that aren't supposed to taste sweet. Were I prone to conspiracy theories, I'd swear we are all being intentionally poisoned.

This isn't some crank either, Dr. Lustig is the UCSF Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology.

Oh Brother, you suck

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:54:00 +0000

It's been quite awhile since I came across product quality and service equal to the level of absolute shittiness provided by Brother International®. You know, the people that make printers, faxes, etc.?

http://www.brother-usa.com/

Last Christmas my son gave me this all-in-one printer - printer, fax, scanner made by these people, to replace the HP printer I have been using for 10 years. I dutifully registered it online. Recently I ran out of ink for the first time, or more accurately my kids ran out of ink as I have gotten to print a grand total of three pages. Ink for this thing is roughly the cost of platinum, but I got all new cartridges. Everything works, except black. Cleaning repeatedly, reinstalling, returning the ink cartridge and getting another one, praying to Allah, nothing would cause this thing to print black in any program or even a DOS shell.

So I call their optimistically-named 'tech support' and lo and behold it's my old friend 'perhaps you press button incorrectly' Apu in Calcutta who must be on hiatus from Dell's tech support. He asks my phone number and voila! He pulls up both my name and address in their database. His suggestion (just like on their website) is to do the cleaning process four times and if that doesn't work, well, you're fucked. I sure am glad we have these technical experts on call; their rapid resolutions to our problems springing forth fountainlike from our very telephone receivers. I explain that I've already done it about 6 times and he informs me that the serial number is no longer under warrantee.

How can this be, when it has a year warrantee and the thing was bought brand new about 8 months ago? Well, they have no record of me registering it. Now, how can that be when my name and number is in their database? "You must have called before", says he. Which I never have, because I've never owned a Brother® product in my life. He asks if I have a receipt. Well, of course I don't, it was a Christmas present and who holds on to the receipt of every product they buy for months and months? Who expects that a reasonably expensive product from a major manufacturer is going to be such a collossal piece of shit? I e-mail them thinking perhaps he got the serial number wrong and get a terse reply basically stating once again that I am fucked and that I should drive hours away to pay for repairs at one of their authorized service centers.

Whatever happened to standing behind what you make and customer service? I don't ask that they adopt a policy of 'The Customer is Always Right', only that the customer be given a fair shake. The serial number would probably reveal that the thing wasn't even made over a year ago. These people may as well stamp an expiration date on their products like it's a package of bologna, have no 'tech support' (such as it is), and have no registration process whatsoever because all they have to do is claim you didn't register it. The tech support link on their website may as well just point to a page saying 'Ha ha ha, we got your money and now you're hosed. LOL'.

Even when it worked this thing was an ink pig. It even automatically cleans itself every so often, wasting expensive ink. If you already have one of these abortions you should unplug it when not in use. And if you run out of one color, it won't even print in black & white. All cartridges must be full, a design feature to eke all the money they can from their customers before the P.O.S. printer fails altogether.

Brother® is a steaming pile of dung and I will never buy another one of their crappy products. And I suggest you don't either.

Help identify "Kung Fu Guy"

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:31:00 +0000

The purpose of this post is to bring to light - in yet another place - a video and ongoing investigation into an event that apparently occurred in Dumfries, Virginia, in December of 1984. It is my sincere hope that the victim's identity and status may be established, and that the purpetrators of this vicious assault are punished. If this latter is not possible then at the very least the word gets out about what kind of people they are. A video, since gone viral, was posted by Bobby Joe Blythe to his YouTube channel (since deleted) on 1st April 2009 showing the brutal beating of a black male in a martial arts school he (Blythe) operated, the beating itself being carried out by one of his students - one Willie J. Dennis. This brutal assault has never been punished, and there is speculation on whether the man who was beaten up even survived.

I am hoping that someone can identify the man who was beaten in the video or will come forward if they have any knowledge about the event. Warning: this video is very graphic and may be disturbing:

Still pictures of the man known only as "Kung Fu Guy" as well as additional information on the case and news stories are available at: http://www.justice4kungfuguy.com/

If anyone has any new information on this case or a lead on the identity of the victim please contact me here via e-mail or contact crimevictiminfo@gmail.com

The victim is a black male, 6'2" or 6'3", may have a tiger tattoo on his left forearm, and would be around his late 40's or early 50's if still alive. He may be a devout Christian and have practiced White Crane kung fu in the past. He may have resided in DC or the surrounding area in the early 80's, and *may* have received psychiatric help around that time as well. It is widely reported that he was homeless and living in the woods, although I personally don't think so. Close analysis of stills in the video show that he is well groomed and his trousers are not only clean but wrinkle free and have pressed creases on the legs. It is a possibility though that he received clothing from an area charity or church.

I read that there is no statute of limitations for felonies in Virginia. I seriously hope that those involved could be extradited for felony assault or attempted murder.

Wal-Mart Gestapo

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:03:00 +0000

I never would have thought "Gemeinnutz geht vor Eigennutz" would have been replaced by "Watch for Falling Prices" or that jackbooted, goose-stepping thugs would be supplanted by the mentally disadvantaged and/or elderly with just the faintest smell of cottage cheese. What am I talking about? Wal-Mart greeters.

No, this isn't to make fun of them but rather what they do - besides plastering returns with a rainbow of randomly-colored stickers and showing pictures of themselves clad only in a plastic bag. Does anyone not have a problem with someone calling you over and balancing what you have in your cart with what it says on your receipt? I do, because it's fucking insulting. As far as I'm concerned, if the alarm goes off or they think I've stolen something, they can goddamn well call the police. Also as far as I'm concerned, since I have paid for the stuff in those bags it is now my property and they have no right to rifle through it.

It should piss you off too - what the hell kind of business treats their customers like a bunch of criminals with no probable cause whatsoever? I used to work at Wal-Mart as a kid - back in the glorious days when you could smoke in the store and the company prided itself on selling American-made goods instead of Chinese crap. We didn't have "greeters"; we had cameras - at least half of which were fake anyway, and we had a security guy that prowled around looking for people stealing stuff. Back when you walked in a store, grabbed a cart, and as long as you hadn't shoplifted anything you were left the hell alone. Ironically enough, Wal-Mart tanked in Germany for this very reason - Germans don't want to be dicked around with when they are trying to buy what they need and get home. Perhaps they have had enough with 'showing papers' too.

But, two things have happened:

a) Wal-Mart became a juggernaut and many people have no choice but to shop there.

and

b) People became sheep and seem to take no offense anymore to being treated like shit.

It's not even like they do a good job - a couple cursory glances here and there and some very officious-looking highlighting of the receipt and off you go. I could rob the place blind and they'd say 'have a nice day' as I walked straight out the door - highlighted papiere in hand and a cart chock full o' housed merchandise.

Of course, it's their property so they can do what they like; and they are fully aware that you have no choice but to buy their shit because they've pretty much crushed any competition. Who is going to raise hell with an 80 year old woman or a dude in a wheelchair anyway. But it's BS just the same. If cop starts searching your property with no cause whatsoever people will raise holy hell, but if a drooling geriatric does it that's fine. Wally World FTW!

As of the time of this post, I have contacted Wal-Mart's corporate office and asked why customers are being searched. It is now the 22nd and no response. I encourage anyone reading this to refuse this search and demand the store call the police instead. Ask the greeter if you can search them. Do not allow yourself, as a law-abiding citizen, to be treated this way.

Cash for Clunkers

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:20:00 +0000

Everyone in the media seems all giddy about the Cash Allowance Rebate System..better known as Cash for Clunkers. Dealers are happy, customers are happy, and it's 'good for the environment', a phrase I hear so often now that I want to puke.

It doesn't seem to dawn on anybody that it also depletes the used vehicle market because these cars must be destroyed. While customers that can afford a new, fuel-efficient vehicle are understandably happy, what of a person who simply doesn't have the means to afford a new car and can only get something for 3 or 4K? Screw them, right?

What of the car enthusiast searching for parts for his classic car, or the aforementioned lower income person who needs to get a part to keep their daily driver running? Hard to find parts are being destroyed which in turn raises the cost of parts in the junkyard.

And not all of the cars being turned in for destruction are 'clunkers' either. Seems like every week I hear of one being brought in that has been meticulously maintained depite it's age and high mileage. One that would make a dandy car for a low income family, a single mom, or a struggling student. One that at the very least might make a good car to auction off for charity, give to a youth group, or a high school driver's ed car. But they must be destroyed.

CARS is nothing more than a gesture to say 'look, we're doing something about the environment' while screwing somebody else using your tax dollars.

Support Gun Control

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:52:00 +0000

HMAs

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Sat, 30 May 2009 20:51:00 +0000

It continues to befuddle me how people go through the painful and convoluted process to buy a home (and usually a damn expensive one at that) and yet sign away any semblance of freedom by putting their name on the contract of some ridiculous "Homeowners Association". Agreeing that another group of people will tell you what kind of plants you are allowed to put in your yard, if you can fly Old Glory, when you have to turn your lights off, the precise color you are allowed to paint your house, and whether or not you are permitted to have a motorcycle, vegetable garden, or a pickup truck. WTF happened to the United States, a historically individualistic society, signing away your life to live in a commune? What happened to the 'American Dream'? The horror stories are numerous, here's the latest I'm aware of:

LINK

Only one of many. I've seen million-dollar houses in these "gated communities" where they even specified when trees will be trimmed. Do these people not realize that they could buy a couple acres of land, have a house built on it, and be free to do as they damn well please with it? I invite any who can enlighten me as to the benefit of joining a 'homeowner's association' vs. keeping your testicles to drop me a line.

Why not just rent a house if you want people micromanaging you? To me, if you're dumb enough to sign on to this crap you deserve whatever idiocy follows because you agreed to be a sheep. Have fun, komrad!

Return from Makin Island

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Sat, 23 May 2009 17:42:00 +0000

Nice video on the return of 19 Marine Raiders killed on Makin Island (now Butaritari) for burial in Arlington. The villagers took good care of them, and it is moving that how the only English the elder knew was the 'Marine Song' taught to him in 1942 as a teenager. He still remembered it, and he sang it for them when these Marines left for home in caskets over half a century later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6f_FvZpm3g

On Memorial Day here in the United States, it is proper to think of and honor men like these, their ultimate sacrifice, and the impact they made. The real deal. It isn't just a day off and an excuse to fire up the grill. Always remember those fallen warriors who safeguarded the freedoms we enjoy today, from every service and from every walk of life.

Wm. Penn Panetela - disgusting!

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Sat, 23 May 2009 15:29:00 +0000

I've reneged on my promise to keep reviewing cigars on here. Though I have smoked some real beauties and continue to age and enjoy cigars it became boring and ostentatious to me to write about them. I even stopped keeping 'tasting notes' and simply keep the bands. A good cigar is one you like. Try whatever one strikes your fancy and see what you think.

But I just have to warn people about Wm. Penn panetelas. I don't mind cheap machine mades but these ooze thick black tobacco juice in your mouth like a pipe that hasn't been cleaned in a month. Horrible. Has nobody in that company actually tried one? It makes no difference if you smoke it fast or slow, whether it's humidified or dry, how much of it you smoke, or what the weather's like. Nasty, nasty shit. Don't buy these. The Perfectos are alright - about like a White Owl Invincible. But I won't be buying from these people again, despite their long history.

Nobody thinks

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Sat, 23 May 2009 14:58:00 +0000

Yet more stupidity. Has anyone read a label, listened to an ad, or read a slogan and actually thought about what it said? Obviously the people that write them don't, or they figure that in a country that cares more about the foibles of people on 'American Idol' than the fact that they don't have a damn job it doesn't really matter.

Case in point. On a can of Del Monte fruit: "Same Nutrients as Fresh!" Why the hell wouldn't it have the 'same nutrients as fresh'? It's goddamn fruit.

I saw a semi the other day and the slogan of the trucking company was: 'We Do It Right the First Time'. Let's think about this for a second. The truck goes to point A and the people load goods onto the truck to take to point B. The truck drives to point B and the people there offload the goods. It seems to me that this is a job you either do or you don't do - there is no doing it "right". There is no scale of quality in taking stuff from one place to another. If you go to the wrong place then you haven't done the job...there's no "right" or "wrong" about it. If they do it "right", how in the heck do you do it "wrong"? Drive in reverse while smoking crack the whole way?

I heard a radio ad for some program which purports to be a method for curing alcoholism at home. That's interesting in itself. But what I really found intriguing is that they said "If this isn't the most effective at-home program to stop drinking you've tried we'll refund your money!" I wondered if there are any other ones to compare it with, yes, but I got to thinking...how would you get your money back anyway?

You would have to pay for and do their entire lengthy program and have it fail. Then you would have to pay for and do the entire program from a competitor and have it work. Then you would have to go back to the people from the first program and show that you followed both to the letter, you are no longer a drunk, and that it was the second program that did it so you can get your money back in the unlikely event that that company even exists any more. Gimme a break.

America's Observance Madness

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Sat, 23 May 2009 14:37:00 +0000

Just today, I was looking to see if I might have a paid holiday in June, so I Googled 'June Holidays' and what the hell do I get? This:

http://www.brownielocks.com/june.html

Effing 'Fish are Friends, not Food Week' (what the hell were these people smoking?), 'Upsy Daisy Day', 'Do-Dah' day, and wouldn't you know it - June is goddamn 'Pharmacists Declare War on Alcoholism' Month. Apparently it's unacceptable that people are dependent on alcohol when in the name of all that is right and decent they should be hooked on anti-depressants.

Christ, every day of the calendar commemorates some stupid shit or another in the US. Can't we just have one damn day that is a regular old day? One where you drag your tired old ass into work and then go home and eat dinner? Who in the blue funk celebrates 'World Infertility Month' or 'Find a Mate Week' anyway? Barren spinsters?

For God's sake people. Stop being idiots.

SCHIP tax..what garbage!

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:22:00 +0000

OK, I realize most people don't smoke so they don't care. These people should be asking themselves what things that they enjoy that the tax-man is coming for next. And I fully realize that smoking is bad for you and might even be considered stupid. Last time I checked though, it wasn't the government's place to take care of me by beating the hell out of me for enjoying a legal and voluntary activity.

This is wrong on many levels, not just because I personally enjoy a cigar now and again. This is not a minor tax increase...it is a draconian increase of dramatic proportrion. Over TWO THOUSAND PERCENT on loose tobacco, for example. And for what purpose?

To pay for children's health care for parents that can't afford health insurance. So, in effect, by one's enjoyment of a perfectly legal activity you are paying through the nose for someone else's health care - even if you may not have health insurance yourself. It's Communist bullshit.

They paint it as a way to 'discourage smoking'. Yet if everyone quit like they purport to want, who would fork over the money to take care of these kids? It's illogical. They simply pick on smokers because they are easy to demonize.

How many jobs are being lost, and at what cost to the community by this crap?

http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/i...eir_custo.html

There are a lot of mom n' pop cigar shops, and what of companies like Bugler who offer loose tobacco which don't enjoy huge sales to begin with? It's forcing people out of work for a nanny-state government to enforce a tax-and-spend agenda..against a segment nobody has any sympathy for.

I'm all about smoking-related illnesses and diseases not being covered under Medicaid or any publically-funded program, so you can save that argument.

You may not care now. Wait til they come after your beer and your cheeseburgers.

Obama, despite his lies, cares nothing for the working American. Where's my mortgage bailout? Oh, nevermind, I actually was smart enough to not sign my name to a crap variable interest rate loan so I get nothing. How about a check? Nope, because I actually work and pay taxes I get nothing. Help for my children's health care? Whoops, I made the mistake of actually paying for it myself and working. I should just become a goddamn parasite so I can reap some benefits from our Socialist BS government. Only the greedy, the irresponsible, and the lazy get help.

He was actually considering raising Tri-Care co-pays for veterans and billing veterans' insurance companies for service related injuries. A guy is ordered to Iraq by our government and now would have to pay for part of his treatment because his legs got blown off. I can't believe this idiot was voted into office. He's far more than demonstrably incompetent, he's evil.

And here is a man that gives to the English Prime Minister- in exchange for a unique historical item - a bunch of DVDs that don't even work in England. To the freaking Queen? A godddamn iPod! This is the type of moron we want representing our country?

Mark my words, let's see how many people are hip to the "hope" and "change" in a couple of years. This doesn't stop with the wicked smokers...somebody has to pay for these exhorbitant spending plans. And guess what? It will be YOU.

Gran Torino

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:55:00 +0000

I don't go out to the movies much anymore. What was once an affordable family pasttime has turned pretty expensive and people are often loud and rude in the theater. Much easier to just get the DVD and watch it in the comfort of your own home. If the movie sucks, well at least you haven't lost much - a couple of bucks.

So it's really refreshing to find a film that's worth every penny and more to see on the big screen; a film whose story lingers with you for days afterward. Such is the film 'Gran Torino', masterfully directed and starred in by Clint Eastwood.

Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) is an old retired autoworker and Korean War veteran, who has watched his neighborhood change around him. The homes once occupied by dozens of working-class families are now home to Hmong people. To Walt; a hard, difficult, and racist man to say the least they are just 'gooks' and 'zipperheads'. Walt has nothing left, the movie opens with his wife's funeral. His children are all grown and have no time for him. He views his grandchildren - shallow and piercing-laden with distaste. He is still haunted by the war and has withdrawn, viewing the changed world around him with a barely tolerant scorn.

Meanwhile a drama is unfolding in the neighborhood; a young Hmong boy named Thao (played by Bee Vang, who has never before been on film) is being pressured and bullied to join a gang. Thao, who has no male role model in his life and is a shy, timid kid lives next door to Walt. For his initiation he is to steal Walt's prize possession, a beautiful '72 Gran Torino Sport. He fails miserably at this attempt, Walt scares him off.

Later, the gang attempts to drag Thao from his own porch. A fight ensues and spills over into Walt's yard. Walt comes out with his trusty M1 rifle and warns away the gang members setting into action a chain of events which is by turns gripping, tragic, and remarkable.

This is not an action flick. From the trailer shown on TV one can easily get the impression that it's like Death Wish, regular joe vs. the criminals. But there's far more to it, the action sequences are to further and facilitate the story, not the story itself. And the story is nothing less than magic.

Walt becomes a hero in the Hmong neighborhood, a status he doesn't want in the slightest. With the help of Thao's sister Sue (a very likeable character played by Ahney Her) Walt gets to know something of his Hmong neighbors and he slowly and gradually softens. Sue sees that Walt could be a role model for Thao, which will give him some self-esteem and perhaps keep him away from the gang. The interaction between Walt, Thao and Sue is great to watch, and damned funny at times. The transformation of Walt and Thao is engaging.

But the gang is never far off, and a showdown is inevitable. But it won't be the showdown you expect...

Although it seems a simple plot there really is too much going on in the film to type here. Eastwood has once again surprised me. Just as I thought this was more or less an action movie, when Million Dollar Baby came out I was like 'Pffft...a boxing movie'. But that film was incredible too, not really a 'boxing' story so much as a human story.

You can see an extended trailer and read more about the film and cast at http://www.thegrantorino.com/

I can't imagine anyone seeing this film and coming away disappointed.

Rocky Patel 'The Edge' Lite

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:54:00 +0000

The milder brother of Rocky's powerful 'The Edge', this review is based on the 6" Torpedo, with a 52 ring gauge. This stick is handmade in Honduras, with a smooth and small-veined Ecuador-grown Connecticut wrapper and aged Nicaraguan and Honduran Ligero filler.

Though I've seen these described as 'medium', mine was quite mild in strength. The flavor was exceptional..well-balanced, creamy and very slightly earthy. Consistent taste from start to finish, with a great nose. The old lady didn't even mind me smoking it in the house. No burn issues whatsoever, construction was excellent.

I would definately recommend these.

Thompson Empresario Robusto

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:01:00 +0000

I received these as part of a humidor combo, they are a mild to medium house brand from Thompson cigar measuring 5" X 50 using a Connecticut wrapper and long filler, handmade in the Dominican Republic.

I found these surprisingly mild for a Robusto. There was virtually no resting smoke....you would swear it had gone out, though the draw was excellent. The wrapper was very nice..very smooth, small-veined, and construction was exceptional. However, there is a bitter aftertaste or bite to these. I think they were rushed to market, and that a nice long sit in a humidor might do them wonders. So, that's what I'm doing. I may probably edit this post later if the flavor improves over time. I do think these guys have unrealized potential.

I would not recommend these straight out of the bundle, there are many better cigars which are machine-made. * gasp *

Iguana 'Papa' Candela cigar review

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:17:00 +0000

Many of the cigars I've recently received are going to rest awhile before I review them. However, I'm a huge fan of candelas. Their 'grassy', fresh taste reminds me of the Gyokuro green tea of which I am so fond. So, as I have quite a few of these, off we go.

These are cigars handmade in the Dominican Republic. The wrapper of this one is of course candela (also referred to as 'double claro') - very green as the particular curing process fixes the chlorophyll within the leaves. Like many candelas the wrapper is very delicate and should be treated with care - storing such cigars in a jar resting on their caps will lead to damage, and if dropped will often destroy the cigar. It is very difficult for torcedors to deal with this wrapper, the curing process makes it very difficult to work with as it is thin and breaks easily. The filler is long - Dominican Olor and Piloto Cubano.

Very nice. The cigar burns very well and has an excellent draw..producing large amounts of smoke but yet is still very mild and pleasant. No relight has been neccesary. This is a very substantial cigar, very large. As candelas are appropriate for a morning or daytime smoke, I think I would prefer a smaller size (which are available as well). I usually have little time during the day to smoke such a large vitola. You can easily smoke these for an hour or more. This size would be great for a lazy day at the beach, fishing, or hanging out at the cabin.

If the flavor ever changes over the course of the stick, I cannot detect it. To me it is smooth from start to finish, sometimes 'milky' notes are present. I'm a big fan of candela cigars, and one could not do much better than to pick up some Iguanas if you would like to try these. Candelas have a long history, at one time they accounted for much of the market is the USA. Iguanas are the epitome of the type in my opinion, you don't get greener or 'more candela' than these. In short, these did not disappoint whatsoever.

Iguanas can be purchased from the Thompson Cigar Company at a very reasonable price...$22.50 USD for 10 of the large 'Papa' size (7" X 50).

Cigar Etiquette

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:33:00 +0000

While I'm on the subject of cigars, let me comment on the elitist hoity-toity cigar culture. One hundred years ago, many men smoked cigars. Cigarettes were largely unheard of. If you look at ads and boxes from the old days the main selling point was how cheap they are for a decent product, not how they are some high-falutin' accessory to impress people. Every average joe smoked cigars because they liked them, men wanted a good smoke at a good price - 5 or 10 cents a stick usually. Now we have something called a 'cigar lifestyle', and the internet is filled with ridiculous forums where people ask 'when do I ash?', and 'how much of the cigar do I smoke?'. Who gives a damn? It's a bunch of effing leaves. There is no 'cigar lifestyle', if you like and can afford nice things, then you like and can afford nice things...this doesn't have shit to do with whether you smoke cigars or not.

Even today, 95% of the cigar market is plain old machine-made things or bundles, not Gurkha Warlords. Things like White Owls and Dutch Masters prop up the entire industry, so don't hesitate to fire one up. You have a lot more in common with 99% of the cigar smokers of yesteryear than a guy with his nose in the air lighting up a $5 stick. Wanna find out about 'cigar lifestyle'? Find an old Jewish guy in the park smoking El Productos like he has since the 40's, not some 'cigar aficionado' who concerns himself with the length of ash that his ridiculously overpriced cigar will make before it falls off. I even read one blurb where they describe a long ash as 'sexy'...wtf? Now there is a man that needs to get laid very badly...all the women I've been acquainted with enjoy length, but not of a cigar ash by any means.

Let me turn to Zino Davidoff's cigar etiquette guide from 1967, I will number each and post my personal advice:

Do:

1)Warm the foot of the cigar slightly before starting to puff on it.

2)Remove the band carefully after lighting the cigar.

3)Take your time in smoking it; a puff a minute is about right.

4)Hold the cigar between your index finger and thumb.

5)Let the cigar die a dignified death. After it's smoked half way, it will go out on its own.

6)Dispose of the dead cigar discreetly and quickly.

7)Wait at least fifteen minutes between cigars; anything less indicates obsessive behavior.

Don't:

8)Use a penknife to cut or a lance to pierce the end of the cigar.

9)Touch the flame directly to the foot of the cigar: Instead, simply rotate it around the edge till it starts to burn, then puff lightly.

10)Ask someone else for a light (the lighting of a cigar should be a personal affair).

11)Light your cigar too quickly or too slowly.

12)Indulge in exhibitionism in lighting or any other aspect of smoking.

13)Relight your cigar if less than one quarter of it is leaf.

14)Put the cigar in your mouth to relight it. Just scrape off the ash and turn it in the flame for several seconds till it relights.

15)Clench it between your teeth. Likewise do not get the end of the cigar wet, chew it, or slobber on it.

16)Smoke too quickly.

17)Use a cigar holder, or worse, stick a toothpick or matchstick in the end of the cigar to help hold it in your mouth.

18)Dunk your cigar in port or brandy, a habit attributed to Winston Churchill.

19)Smoke while working.

20)Hold a cigar between your index and middle finger.

21)Smoke when you're walking.

22)Smoke more than half the cigar.

23)Put the cigar out by crushing it in an ashtray.

24)Chain-smoke cigars.

The true shit:

1) This is actually good practice, it prevents the cigar from 'tunneling', where the filler burns inside the binder/wrapper.

2) I remove the band (since my Dad used to rag me with 'Listening to the music?'), apparently it is a matter of personal preference in the States though. So, up to you.

3) Smoke it however you like. It's your cigar.

4) You can hold it between your arse-cheeks if you like. Doesn't matter.

5) True, let it go out by itself.

6) Dispose of it however you like, though preferably not on the damn floor. How about just leave it in the ashtray and dump the ashtray later?

7) Smoke however many you like whenever you like when cigars are permissible. 'Obsessive behaviour' is adhering to a bunch of silly rules.

8) Who cares. If I've got an expensive cigar that's plugged I'll put a friggin' coat hanger in there if I have to.

9) Sure. When it's windy though, I stuff the foot straight into the flame...and lo and behold it lights. Who gives a crap.

10) For heaven's sake. It's a bunch of rolled up leaves that you burn, not a self-induced orgasm.

11) ?? What would constitute 'too quickly' or 'too slowly'? How vague is this? Light your damn dog rocket however you like.

12) Exhibitionism? If you're a hot chick by all means take off your clothes as you light up a cigar.

13) Relight your cigar if you're not done smoking it. Blow out the stale smoke and fire it up again if you like.

14) Light it however you want.

15) Meh.

16)What constitutes 'too quickly'? Smoke it however you like, it's yours.

17) True. Unless it's packed with weed or something.

18) Some cigars are extremely pleasant with the cap lightly dipped in brandy. I did this in the Caribbean with a Cuban Cohiba...it was exquisite. Churchill has an entire type of cigar named after him and was a cigar smoker of the first order. So he probably knew what he was doing. As far as I'm concerned you can dunk it in a cup of urine if that's the way you like it. Uh huh, uh huh.

19) Oh for God's sake. George Burns did!

20) See #4

21) No. Don't smoke when you're swimming in gasoline.

22) Smoke however much you like. Many cigars actually have a better flavor past the halfway point. If I'm spending the money for a good cigar and am enjoying it, I'm smoking that bastard til it burns my fingers.

23) Good advice. Crushing out a cigar is what causes noxious smells and is really ineffective. It's not a cigarette. Let it just go out by itself.

24) Unless you want to.

Some of that crap is so absurd that it's actually comical. Life has way too many rules already without worrying about how you smoke cigars. And way too many grievous displays of absolute lack of consideration. Be considerate and enjoy yourself, don't get wrapped up with anality. And remember, a 'good cigar' is one you personally enjoy - whether it's a Marsh Wheeling or a Perdomo.

Cheap-ass cigar reviews Pt III

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:51:00 +0000

White Owl Invincible
Origin: USA
Make: White Owl
Length: 5 3/8"
RG: 41
Wrapper: Homogenized sheet, 'natural' color
Filler: short ("from five countries")
Strength: Mild

Impressions: Like W.O.'s "New Yorker", this is a mild, well-constructed machine made stick that is consistant cigar after cigar. Another one that's great for everyday..these are what I smoke on my drive home from work. They are difficult to find where I live, but the name 'Invincible' is so cool (and historic - many makers including White Owl from eons ago produced an 'Invincible'), I order them from a place in Philly. Partially closed foot.

Prince Albert Soft Cherry Vanilla
Origin: USA
Make: Prince Albert (John Middleton, inc.)
Length: 4 5/8"
RG: Cigarillo, didn't measure it
Wrapper: Homogenized
Filler: pipe tobacco
Strength: mild

Impressions: It's basically a Black and Mild. Little flavor, very mildly aromatic. It's okay, but they burn the hell out of my tongue..I won't be getting these again.

DeNobili Toscani Longs
Make: DeNobili (Avanti Cigar Company)
Length: 6 1/2"
RG: Approx 34, varies (cheroot)
Wrapper: Natural Maduro leaf
Filler: Natural leaf from Kentucky and Tennesee
Strength: Mild

Impressions: As would be expected from hickory fire cured cheroots, these Toscano style cigars have a dry, slightly woody flavor. Not unpleasant though. Most folks that have tried cigars like these either love 'em or think they're like smoking a twig. The shapes are sometimes bizarre, though not as ridiculous as some of the 'Backwoods' examples. Very mild. At about the 3/4 mark, it got a little juicy so I let it expire. Not bad, would be great for fishing or camping and they last a long time.

Captain Black Caribbean Peach Rum Little Cigars
Origin: USA
Length: 3.875"
RG: 20 (cigarette size)
Wrapper: homogenized, almost like colored paper
Filler: pipe tobacco
Strength: mild

Impressions: Really only nominally a 'cigar', it's a flavored cigarette. Very nice peach smell and flavor though. I like these better than the cherry flavored ones. Good for a quick smoke or while watching TV, they won't get you kicked out of the house.

Parodi Ammezzati
Origin: USA
Make: Parodi (Avanti Cigar Company)
Length: 3 1/2"
RG: 34 (tapers-pyramidal cheroot)
Wrapper: Natural Maduro leaf
Filler: Natural leaf
Strength: Mild to medium

Impressions: Another dry-cured Toscano-style cigar, the midget brother of Toscani Longs. Same tobacco, pretty much the same taste but a little stronger owing to their short size. The first one had a crack, a problem with dry cigars like this. The next one was okay, nothing to write home about. I'm not a big fan of short sticks, it feels like I'm smoking a bum's cigar. With a longer stick, the flavor will often change and sometimes become more complex owing to the smoke flavoring the tobacco as it burns...with a short stick it never has the chance to do this. The slightly 'woody' taste of the Toscano Longs is not as noticeable, probably once again due to the short size. Another in the pack had a damaged foot, dry-cured cigars are very fragile. If you bite down on them a la Clint Eastwood they more often than not will disintegrate in your mouth.

"Kwanzaa"

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:21:00 +0000

Why is this BS holiday given legitimacy in our schools and on our calendars?

Does anyone realize or care that this is not a traditional African holiday, but an invention of a despicable felon and torturer of women:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Karenga

http://dartreview.com/issues/1.15.01/kwanzaa.html

"Deborah Jones, who once was given the Swahili title of an African queen, said she and Gail Davis were whipped with an electrical cord and beaten with a karate baton after being ordered to remove their clothes. She testified that a hot soldering iron was placed in Ms. Davis's mouth and placed against Ms. Davis's face and that one of her own big toes was tightened in a vise. Karenga also put detergent and running hoses in their mouths, she said."

What the hell? If Charles Manson came up with a holiday, would we allow it in our schools and put it on our calendars? Oh, sorry, he's white.

Black Friday Lunacy

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:57:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:05:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:03:00 +0000

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.

Truck Nutz

noreply@blogger.com (Soulend) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:12:00 +0000

Now here is just about the stupidest thing I've ever seen, plastic testicles that you hang from the trailer hitch of your pickup:

http://www.trucknutz.com/

How the hell does anyone come up with such a thing? Well, according to their site: "Let's just say it is amazing what you and your buddies will come up with when your drinking a case of bud and sitting around a camp fire!" Sorry, if you think hanging plastic, hairless male genitals from your vehicle is somehow a cool thing to do and are a male, you probably put a whole lot more to your lips than a beer can that night.

"Hey Joe, you know what we should do?"

"What's that Jeb?"

"We should hang a plastic scrotum from our vehicles!"

"Hell yeah that would be awesome! Then we can buy a big rubber dildo and use it as a hood ornament!"

"I like the way you think, Joe! Hand me another butt-plug and crank up the radio, would ya? Karma Chameleon's on!"

God, people will buy any crap, regardless of how stupid it makes them look. Next time you're adjusting your 'Truck Nutz', do the world a favor and suck the exhaust pipe.