Glass half full or half empty...

In today's economy, it is hard to believe that someone (besides the big bad oil companies) is honestly profiting from high costs. Today's farmers are seeing record prices for their crops because of a global demand that hasn't been seen in 40 years. As fuel prices increase 25% from a year ago, crop selling prices have increased 100%! Last year, corn was selling for $3 a bushel and this year it is selling for $6. So when all is added and subtracted, the net profit for farmers this year is 40% higher than last year. I don't know about you, but my salary hasn't increased 40% this year. Now might be a good time to get into farming if you have the knowledge and a few hundred acres laying around. As you can see my one of my previous posts, I have a tractor so I am ahead of the curve!

Chas

Indiana Jones and the Kindom of the Crystal Skull

Over the long Memorial Day weekend I had a chance to see the new Indiana Jones movie, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I have been a big Indy fan from the first time that I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark. The new movie was a good, entertaining movie from start to finish. It was a movie that Lucas should have made about 10 or 12 years ago because Harrison Ford would have had an easier time making it in his 50's rather than in his 60's. Indy has lost a step or two and his whip cracking has slowed but it wasn't distracting, it was what you would expect from a 60 something year old. The movie was less about the search for the crystal skull artifact and more about the past relationship with Marion and his new relationship with Mutt (Shia LaBeouf). A must see for any Indy fan. Hopefully the movie franchise will continue with the next generation of Jones boys.

Chas

Oil execs do the "Potomac two step" again.

Yesterday Congress called the executives from the large oil companies to once again answer questions on the rising price of petroleum based fuel. And once again the execs tried to spin the focus on "aren't you mister big oil man concerned with your fellow Americans increasing burden of spending more and more of their monthly budget on gas" to "if you let us drill more in the US, then there would be more oil available on the market to lower prices". Then they were asked if they could lower their profits of an average of 600 billion and they reply that they have to answer to their share holders.
One of the main reasons for the expedited rise in Diesel fuel price is that we are EXPORTING diesel to countries like China and India because they pay more for it than we do in America. Shouldn't we be first in line for the fuel? Any surplus can be exported at a higher rate. We are giving this great country away, bit by bit.
Another puzzling thing is the oil reserve. We have been pumping oil into it for decades, yet it never fills up? Who is at the other end draining it out. How big can the storage tanks be? Is this just a shell game? How stupid do they think that we are??

Chas

Would you like some skin with your coffee??

Coffee shops have been one of the biggest growth markets for the past 10 years. We all know that Starbucks is the biggest player. They put up coffee shops on every corner, in every strip mall and right next to the small independent shop trying to squeeze them out of existence. So in order for the little guy to thrive, they have to have either great coffee or a unique atmosphere. Up here in Northern California, there was a coffee shop doing business as "Hot Coffee". All of the baristas wear bikinis as a way of getting customers (mostly male) to frequent their establishment. Unfortunately, Hot Coffee has closed it's doors because quite frankly, they didn't have good coffee to go with their steamy decorations. I just saw on the net, that a town in Washington state has 2 independent drive up coffee houses that are trying the skin and coffee approach. One of them has baristas in bikinis while the other has baristas with pasties! The small town is trying to shut them down. I am sure that they will fade away in time because the novelty with wear off. Click on the link to see the story for yourself.

Enjoy,
Chas

Time to get started again...

Hey there,
After taking a little time off of the blogging, it is time to get back in the game. Those of you whom have read my blogs know that I talk about everything and Cigars. During this past winter, I decided that I needed to get a tractor to help me work my hobby farm. So after doing some research, I decided to go back in time and get a vintage tractor to restore and USE. I bought a 1952 Ferguson TO-30. It was in good running condition. All original and not "farmerized". I went through it, took it apart, painted it and got it into field ready condition with everything working as it should. It was a fun project and I learned a lot along the way. The main site that I used for reference, parts and great advice was yesterdays tractor co. This is one great site with some very helpful people. Check it out. Here are a couple of pictures of my tractor.

Chas

Kristoff Maduro Torpedo Cigar

This evening I have the opportunity to smoke the Kristoff Maduro. Of the 3 sizes available, I am smoking Torpedo (Belicoso) which is a 54x6.25. The cigar comes in a box of 20. This cigar is constructed of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobacco and has a Brazilian maduro wrapper. The wrapper is redish brown with a nice oily sheen. It is slightly spongy to the touch throughout.

The predraw on this cigar give a hint of sweet moca. Once lighted up, the sweetness continues and is enhanced with creamy cedar with a slight tingle on the tongue. It has lots of creamy bluish smoke. Nice draw that is not too easy and not too tight. The ash is rough looking but does not crumble or flake off. As the cigar warms up, the flavours don’t change, but become stronger with absolutely NO bite or harshness! This cigar is medium in strength but full rich flavoured. This is a very Cubanesque cigar in both construction and flavour profile. Pick one up and give it a try. Rating: 8.5

Chas

Smok’em if you Got’em

Adan Y Eva edicion limitada seleccion especial

Today I have the opportunity to smoke the Adan Y Eva edicion limitada seleccion especial (Adam and Eve limited edition special selection). With the longest name in the business this cigar has a lot to live up to. This comes in 2 sizes and I am smoking the 7x50 ring Robusto. This cigar is constructed of all Dominican tobacco from filler to binder to wrapper. The wrapper is maduro in a nice oily brown color with a few veins. It is VERY spongy to the touch throughout and has hardly any weight to it.

The pre-draw on this cigar is all leather. The draw is way too easy and similar to a straw with absolutely NO resistance. Once lit up, the leather goes away and a nasty bite is tasted. No matter how many times that I lit it (5 times within an inch) it would not stay lit. It tunneled like a gopher going for a radish. After 20 minutes of relighting and hyperventilating, I threw it at the goat and she wouldn’t even chew it! Perhaps I got a bad one. I had high hopes for this long named AyE. If I could find one, I would give it another try, very frustrating.

Chas

Smok’em if you Got’em

Torano Noventa La Esperanza

This evening I had the opportunity to smoke the Torano Noventa (90). Of the 3 sizes available, I am smoking La Esperanza (the hope) which is a 52x6.00. The cigar comes in a box of 25. Price point is about $10 each. This cigar is constructed of puro Nicaraguan tobacco that has been aged for 5 years. The wrapper is leather looking and is somewhere in between smooth and toothy. There is a slight oily sheen making it look fresh and not dried out. It is slightly spongy to the touch throughout.

The cigar has a cedar woody flavour on the tongue. It has lots of creamy bluish smoke with a leather aroma. There is a light spice flavour that comes and goes. Nice easy draw. As the cigar warms up about half way through, the spice flavour increases, the leather deepens and a light java flavour becomes present. This is a medium strength and flavoured cigar that burned very evenly from start to finish. Pick one up and give it a try. Rating: 7+

Chas
Smok’em if you Got’em

California Banning Smoking in Car with Minors

According to Associated Press, California has just passed a law prohibiting smoking in an automobile in the presents of a minor. The minor infraction will carry a $100 fine. The offense can only be cited during a routine stop. So even if a peace officer sees someone smoking in a car and and minor is present, they will not stop you unless there is another offense that warrants a stop, such as speeding. While I am opposed to any smoking bans, I feel that if a law is passed, then it should be enforced no matter what the situation. If it is a law, then it should not be a judgement call on the part of the enforcer. Way to go Arnold you ditz, he is soo stupid that he does not see that each little smoking ban, while it doesn't effect him, just makes it easier to pass more bans on our god given right to smoke. Hey Arnold, keep smoking those illegal Cubans!

Chas

FBI wants banks to ban HATS?!?!

The FBI has proposed to federally insured banks that they should ban hat wearing while inside of these institutions today. This is quite ridiculous as the classic G-Man from the days of Hoover were recognized by their signature fedora. What's next, banning long hair or perhaps top (rain) coats?? What a waste of our tax dollars!

Chas

Fidel Castro Still MIA

Fidel Castro has not been seen in public for quit some time now and while rumors are floating around rabidly, the Cuban government still insists that he is still alive. While I have no actual proof that he has in fact gone to the communist afterlife, his absence is quite suspect. The quotes released that are allegedly from him is the only way that the Cuban government can dispell the growing belief that he has infacted passed on. Smoke one for me Dude.

Chas

A New, Old Way to Enjoy Your Cigar

One of the things that I enjoy (besides Cigars) is the period of the 1920's, 30's and 40's. I wear 3 piece suits, bowties, and vintage fedoras on a daily basis. In watching a period movie I saw a gentleman smoking a cigar with a Meerschaum cigar holder.

Back in the day, most women in society would use a cigarette holder so that the tobacco did not stain their gloves. If you have ever seen pictures of Walter O'Malley , owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who was never without a cigar, he always used a white Meerschaum cigar holder.

I wanted to try a cigar holder to see if it enhances the cigar's flavours so I checked on the web and found a few. Once I got them, I grabbed my favourite familiar cigar and lite it up.

The very first noticeable thing is the temperature of the smoke. Because of the added length and porosity of the Meerschaum holder the smoke is noticeably cooler. Also, because there is no physical contact with the cigar wrapper or tobacco, your tongue does not get over exposed with the flavours from contact. The flavours that you taste are ONLY from the nicely cooled smoke.

Cigar holders are also available in Briar. Both the Meerschaum and Briar are similar in construction and design as pipes. And as with pipes there is maintenance that is involved in owning and using cigar holders. They have to be cleaned periodically with pipe cleaners and alcohol to remove build up.

There are draw backs to using cigar holders and one of them is that for the different ring guage cigars that you smoke, you have to own a different size holder for each ring. Another is that inserting the cigar into the holder takes some finesse and patients because you want to get it inserted tight enough to hold it so that it doesn't fall out but not so tight that you tear the wrapper while inserting it. And finally, it is another thing to carry around.

So, give one a try and see if it works for you. Two places that I found online to buy them is www.tobacco-barn.com and www.theladysmokes.com .

Smok'em if you Got'em

Chas

The Bourne Ultimatum

I went to see the new Bourne movie this weekend and it is a roller coaster ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat trying to catch your breath for 2 hours. For those of you who are fans of the Bourne series you will find that this latest installment is true to the first 2. This final chapter helps Jason Bourne find his true identity and helps him find the mastermind behind his brain washing. One of the great things about this series is that even if you have never seen any of the movies, each one is self contained enough to enjoy on it's own.

Enjoy the Show.

Chas

Blockbuster Online Rates and Service Changes

Blockbuster.com has just announced that they would be changing their service plans. The changes will be 2 fold, the first being the current rate will be increased and the second being that limited exchanges at the store will be imposed. Currently the plan that the majority of subscribers have is 3 movies at a time with each envelope being a free rental at the retail locations, you know the "never be without a movie" campaign. Well now is seems that in order to "never be without a movie" will cost you extra. So you get 3 movies at a time with a maximum of 3 exchanges at the store, that is a big change...for more money to boot! Netflix subscriptions are going to be going up.

Chas

Cigar Humidity Level

Storing cigars at the proper temperature and humidity level is something that we have to deal with in order to keep our smokes fresh. The optimum humidity level for cigars is 65 to 70 percent relative humidity which mimics the growing environment where the tobacco is produced. But one thing that you need to take into account is that when you remove your cigars from the humidor for consumption they will start to adapt themselves to the ambient humidity level of where you live. So if you live in the eastern United States where the humidity is greater than 70% and your cigars are already at 70% they will absorb the higher humidity level. So when you smoke them they could be too wet. On the western side of the country, where the humidity is less than 70% the cigars will loose humidity and dry out and may be too dry at smoking time. One thing that I have noticed on the discussion boards is that easterners store their cigars at 65% and westerners store their 70%. This makes perfect sense because whether the cigars absorb or loose humidity during their time out in the atmosphere, they won't loose or gain more than 5% in a 24 hour period hence they will be somewhere between 65 and 70% at consumption time.

Chas

Smok'em if you Got'em