Electronic cigarettes are hasty gaining popularity as tobacco replacement in a society anxious for effective ways to quit smoking. Just this March 2009, an article published by BBC News in the UK revealed that in October of the past year, some retailers were reporting sales of around 1,000 starter packs a month, and Electronic cigarettes, which used to be sold completely online, are now finding its way into sales kiosks and supermarkets. The demand for Electronic cigarettes have escalated enough that it is now beginning to hit the streets.
This growing popularity as a feasible alternative to tobacco is due largely to the fact that the Electronic cigarette is seen as a safe substitute to regular cigarettes. Your average tobacco product contains somewhere around the area of 4000 harmful chemicals, 43 of which are known to cause cancer in humans. These include, but are not limited to: tar, carbon monoxide, benzene-a petrol additive, formaldehyde-an embalming fluid, ammonia-a toilet cleaner, and even arsenic-the rat poison.
Electronic cigarettes have none of these components. The only chemical it retains from its predecessor is nicotine, which allows smokers to still have the feel of smoking a cigarette, even if there is no smoke produced, and thus no second hand smoke that can be harmful to non-smokers. The nicotine is delivered through a propylene glycol solution, which is harmless and found to be extremely safe by clinical tests.
Electronic cigarettes also look, feel and even taste like regular cigarettes, but are far superior because they are by and large safer than tobacco products. Smokers who are serious about going tobacco free should seriously consider the Electronic cigarette as a healthier and safer alternative.
Those who know their cigars well also, by that same token, know Brazil-albeit as a source of great tobacco rather than as a top cigar-producing nation. Brazilian tobacco, mainly produced in the country’s temperate northeastern and southern regions, turns up in such world-class cigars as Carlos Torano’s Toro, but the country’s cigar producers themselves haven’t always gotten the same respect. But that may be about to change. After all, Brazilian cigars-including the Angelina, Dannemann and Dannemann, Le Cigar, Don Pepe, Dom Porfirio, and Dona Flor (named for Jorge Amado’s classic novel Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands)-have already convinced many US cigar aficionados that this country’s cigars are as good as its tobacco.
But Brazil’s own rich history-and its sure-to-be-turbulent future-make it an important place for cigar smokers to understand. How has one of the world’s important tobacco-producing nations come to be the home of one of the strongest anti-smoking movements in the Western Hemisphere? And will these two opposing tendencies continue, uneasily, to coexist? Only a prophet could say-but perhaps a brief backgrounder on this Latin American nation can provide some helpful context.
The first thing to know about Brazil is that it’s big-in resources, landmass, and people. It’s the fifth-largest country in the world, and the fifth most populous. Among the world’s pro forma democracies, it ranks fourth in population size, and it controls a powerful economy, ranking ninth in the world in purchasing power. It’s a diverse country, too, with one hundred-eighty-eight living languages, and, interestingly enough, the world’s largest confirmed reserve of uncontacted peoples-small pre-industrial tribes that, for all practical purposes, have stayed sealed off from the rest of the world. In this single nation, then, an ultramodern economy exists side-by-side with some of the world’s last refuges of pre-industrial life, and gleaming cities (Sao Paulo and Brasilia) share the same boundary with huge swaths of rainforest.
What kind of culture does such a diverse country produce? Well-a similar situation produced artistic riches for the United States, and things are hardly any different for Brazil. Consider tropicalismo, one of the country’s major artistic exports. This musical movement, spearheaded by the legendary band Os Mutantes and the singer-songwriters Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, and manic genius Tom Ze among others, fuses all the diverse musics of this country (along with a hefty dose of Bob Dylan, Velvet Underground and jazz) to create some of the best-regarded music of the 1970s. Whatever political and logistical headaches it may pose, such bursting-at-the-seams diversity is good fortune for any artist lucky enough to benefit from it.
Like many Latin American countries (and like the US), Brazil was originally the colony of an ambitious European nation-in this case, Portugal. Led by its Portuguese-born regent, Pedro I, the country won its independence in 1822. What followed was a long power struggle between Pedro (eventually replaced by his son Pedro II), various rebelling factions of the population, and the country’s economically dominant classes, who found Pedro variously useful and irksome, depending on the situation. Following the deposition of Pedro II in 1889, the country became a republic; during the twentieth century, though, Brazil fell frequently to military coups, some of them (most infamously in 1964) made possible by covert US assistance. Its current relative freedom has lasted only since 1985.
Made up of twenty-six states and a federal district (think Washington, D.C.), the country’s exports include (among others) coffee, iron ore, ethanol, textiles, shoes, and cars. With a major modernizing initiative underway-in 2007, the country’s government, under President Luis Ignacio DaSilva, dedicated three hundred billion dollars to renovating power plants, roads and ports-Brazil clearly intends to keep those exports booming. Including tobacco? Well-that’s dicier. Brazil is incredibly rich in natural resources, but that rainforest shrinks every day. The resulting controversy raises issues for tobacco farmers: only a sustainable ecology will ensure that Brazil continues to yield those fine tobacco crops, and yet some sustainability measures may threaten farmers’ short-term profits (small farmers, many of them, and small profits). It’s a difficult balance.
More threatening, perhaps, for those of us who value Brazil’s contribution to cigar culture, is the strength of its anti-smoking movement. The country has some of the toughest anti-smoking laws in the world, funnels large amounts of money into anti-tobacco campaigns, and forbids tobacco-products advertising in any form. Still, the total number of smokers grew slightly during the past decade. Some business experts forecast that the country’s tobacco industry will have to get used to a shrinking overall population of smokers, and concentrate instead on increasing brand value, making better and safer products. Cigars, designed to be used in moderation and savored, may well flourish in this environment. At any rate, the reported use of genetically-modified tobacco crops in the country’s southern region suggests that tobacco-related controversies will continue in Brazil.
About the Author:
CigarFox
provides you the opportunity to build your own sampler of the finest cigars that include cigar brands like Montecristo, Romeo & Julieta, H Upmann, Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, Gurkha and many more. Choose from more than 1200 different cigars! Other cigar products include cigar humidors, cigar boxes, and cigar accessories like Zippo Lighters.
Today, there are so many groomsmen gift ideas available all over the world. Try to think of this, it might not be the first time of your buddies to play as groomsmen, and they might have been received multiple gifts over and over again. So why add another burden if there are so many unique ideas you can come up for your groomsmen? All you need is a bit of creativity and imagination. In addition to that, you can find thousands of unique groomsmen gifts online. Here are some unique choices you may consider to add in your list.
Personalized Pocket Watches
Personalized Pocket Watch w/ Photo Frame. Like an old fashioned pocket watch, this one has a locket for a treasured photograph of your groomsman or his loved one. This engraved pocket watch can easily become a family heirloom passed down. This makes a gift that is associated with a memorable event that will even be more treasured. This can be engraved with your groomsmen initials or their classic monogram with their last name initial in the center.
Pocket Watch Keychain Locket. This personalized pocket watch can also make a perfect gift for fathers. Even the bride can wrap this gift for his groom! Just don’t forget to put a most treasured photograph into the locket. This heirloom has a brushed silver finish. Engrave it with his initial, to help him remind of the day it was given to him. A unique gift that is useful – a perfect gift for men!
Personalized Flasks And Cigar Accessories
Black Leather Flask and Cigar Case Set. Wow you groomsmen with this perfect gift! A luxurious way of saying ‘thank you’ for the support and effort they have been given to you all the time. Wrapped in rich, supple leather, these pieces are sure to make your groomsmen stand out from the rest. Add a personal touch by engraving your men’s names or initials. Make your groomsmen feel very special by giving such timeless gift they will treasure for years.
Black Leather Hip Flask with Cigarette Case. Let your groomsman carry a sophisticated, elegant lather hip flask. A classic companion whenever they goes out for a night on the town. This wonderful gift will help them keep everything they need in one spot. This sleek black leather hip flask with handy panel can conveniently stows cash, gums, cigarettes or other night-owl necessities. You can make it personalize by engraving your groomsmen initials or your wedding date to commemorate the occasion.
There are still many unique groomsmen gifts to choose from such as personalized pub signs, cufflinks, beer stein, pocket knives, grooming kit, cooler bags and many more. Plan ahead of time so you will have plenty of time to look around the corner. Or you can search for those one of a kind wedding gifts online for more wider choices. Just always remember the rule of thumb when choosing gifts for your groomsmen: choose the one that best suits their personality and taste.
About the Author:
Jnet is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics. If you’re looking for engraved gifts
, visit the website Mygroomsmengifts.com and choose from their products. Shop for groomsmen gifts
online!
What are the basics of cigar smoking? How do you light a cigar? How do you draw on the cigar properly? Do you inhale? What are the dos and don’ts of cigar smoking? If you have ever pondered any of these questions, read on. Here is a simple and accessible primer designed to help you gain familiarity with the sometimes confusing, always enigmatic world of cigar smoking.
First Step: Lighting Up
First, all new cigar smokers should learn how to properly light a cigar. Use a clipper designed for cigars to clip off the edge of the head (the section you put to your mouth). If possible light the foot of your cigar with a cedar match. Avoid regular cigarette lighters. They produce a nasty odor that can linger and ruin a good cigar. If you must use a lighter, use butane lighter. These will keep the odor to a minimum. However, you should always strive to use a wooden match because lighters can easily taint the foot of your cigar. How do you light up? Simply strike a match and hold the edge of your cigar over the flame. Avoid touching the cigar to the fire, simply hold the cigar over the flame and draw deeply until the cigar is lit.
Second Step: Burn it down to a nub?
Should you burn your cigar down to a nub? Experts recommend you leave at least two inches to your cigar. Even the finest cigars will tend to get bitter if you let it burn all the way down. What about ashes? Should you knock the ashes off of your cigar? Rather than knocking the ashes off the edge, let the cigar rest in the ashtray when you’re not smoking it. The ashes will fall off naturally.
Third Step: Relax and Enjoy
A cigar should never be rushed. By design, cigars should be savored, preferably after dinner and with a glass of good brandy. Hold the cigar between your thumb and fingers-anything else might be considered bad taste. Also, don’t inhale deeply. The smoke should not reach your lung. This is very bad for your health, and it will not help you taste the cigar any better. Of course, you should always be considerate of those around you. If possible, smoke in the company of other cigar smokers. A good cigar can be enjoyed alone and even more so with friends.
In the past fifteen years, the premium-cigar industry found itself in rebound. After decades of competition from cigarettes, the aging of its customer base, and overall consumer trends indicating a decline in smoking in general (we’ll return to this in a moment), many observers figured cigars were done for. Then came 1992. The fourth quarter of that year showed some of the first industry growth in years, and this trend metastasized in coming years. By 1996, the industry was seeing 36 percent first-quarter growth.
But cigars returned at an ironic time. High-profile class-action suits, controversy over Joe Camel, and decreasing general consumer interest in smoking, among other things, led to an increase in smoking bans in public buildings, offices, and, eventually, whole cities. Airports helped lead the trend; among the major travel hubs where you’re no longer welcome to light up are Los Angeles’ LAX and Dallas-Fort Worth.
All of which raises a question – if you’re a smoker going on vacation, what are your options?
Thankfully, the web site SmokingSection has, aggregating information sent in by smoking readers, listed and ranked over fifty major airports by their friendliness to smokers. Their rankings, like those of your high-school English teacher, run from A to E: A for airports where you can smoke by the waiting gate; E for airports where you not only can’t smoke indoors, but the nearest smoker-friendly outside areas require a small trip in themselves (and may be unacceptably far from takeoff gates).
So where should you travel if you want to smoke, not only when you reach your destination but on the way there? Well, the answer seems to be: Texas. The Lone Star State offers the only A-ranked airport out of the dozens surveyed. That’s Dallas Love Field, a smallish airport that receives only flights from major area transport provider Southwest Airlines. Frequently-flying cigar smokers who live in that wildcatter’s capital should feel lucky.
Texas offers us a B airport as well – these are the places where you can’t smoke near the gates, but that do offer smoker-friendly bars, restaurants, and/or lounges nearby. That would be at Lubbock – the same city from which Buddy Holly hailed. (But don’t take that as a bad omen.) Other southern and southwestern states are well-represented among the B airports, which makes sense, given the close links between many of these states and the history of the tobacco industry. Restaurants at New Mexico’s Albuquerque Airport, as well as at airports in Charlotte, North Carolina; Charleston, West Virginia; Phoenix, Arizona; Tucson, Arizona; Norfolk, Virginia; and – appropriately enough – Richmond, Virginia, that famous tobacco town. (Where would American smoking be without Virginia?)
Orange County, California, offers an airport named for John Wayne, and appropriately the tobacco-loving Duke’s namesake airport also offers B-class accommodations. So do the major regional airports in Tampa, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit, Boston, and New York City (both JFK and LaGuardia), in several large cities in Ohio (Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton), in Fairbanks, Alaska; Moline, Illinois; and Ontario, Canada. Visitors to our nation’s capitol can also light up at a few of Washington, DC’s airport bars, though these are apparently hard to find.
It’s a good thing that the weather in Texas and California is generally fairly clement, because some major airports in both of these states ban all indoor smoking – but outdoor smoking areas are available at a conveniently close distance. The aforementioned Dallas-Fort Worth and LAX both disallow indoor smoking, which accounts for their C rating, but they do invite smoking customers to step outside. The Worcester, Massachusetts airport has a similar arrangement. (Enjoy that brisk Massachusetts air.) These are the C-class airports.
After that it gets dicier. Quite a few major American airports seem to fall into the D or E classes, with smoking accommodations within the airport that require a bit of a hike, or (in the case of the E-class airports) nothing at all but outside areas located far from gates. Many D airports offer those ubiquitous glass lounges where smokers are invited to light up and take a load off; these include Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Las Vegas (McCarran), and Atlanta (Hartfield). Happy hunting!
About the Author:
CigarFox provides you the opportunity to build your own sampler of the finest cigars that include cigar brands like Montecristo, Romeo & Julieta, H Upmann, Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, Gurkha and many more. Choose from more than 1200 different cigars! Other cigar products include cigar humidors, cigar boxes, and cigar accessories like Zippo Lighters.
Smokers take heed: there is a brighter future looming on the horizon, all thanks to the remarkable advances in technology which grace our society with alarming and enticing rapidity. The lot of the smoker has increasingly become that of the social pariah over recent years, as more and more restrictions have been placed on smoking in public areas and independent organizations of various sorts have come out of the woodwork to champion that good health of non-smokers-especially the young. These reactions to smoking were only to be expected in a world where the negative effects of smoking tobacco have become more and more apparent, leaving smokers less and less wiggle room or arguments with which to defend themselves or their habits. In the face of this new dynamic, smokers have been waiting for some sort of Godsend to get them out of this pinch…and it seems that it has finally arrived.
What smoker wouldn’t be tempted by the idea of a product that can pack the nicotine dose that they are craving and even sate the oral fixation that many smokers have, all whilst avoiding any sort of offense or injury to any person standing or sitting nearby (no matter how close!)? And how about, on top of all that, the guarantee that no tobacco is consumer and none of the nasty chemicals it is treated with come into the picture at all? Essentially what we’re talking about here is all of the benefits without any of the drawbacks. But what sort of modern-day miracle could we possibly by talking about here? No, it’s not another patch or chewing gum-no, what we’re talking about at this point is the latest invention of all to rock the smoking world: the electronic cigarette.
The electronic cigarette (also referred to as the e-cigarette, or simply e-cig) is a marvel of modern technology that presents smokers with an attractive and convenient alternative to what they would otherwise be reaching for: smelly, dirty, polluting and altogether dangerous tobacco cigarettes (that will draw the ire of others around you if you light up in the wrong place!). Unlike ordinary cigarettes, e-cigarettes can be taken and used in just about any circumstance without worrying about “raising a stink,” so to speak. That’s because there is nothing at all with which others around the e-cigarette user can be offended by: no nasty odors, no lingering cloud of smoke (which means no second-hand smoke inhalation, a major plus for all involved), no messy and disgusting waste to be dealt with (everyone knows the travesty of the spilt ashtray). All you’re left with is a discreet, compact and in almost all cases reusable/refillable nicotine delivery system.
So what exactly is an e-cigarette? Though there are different models and varieties, they pretty much all share certain basic characteristics: they are small devices manufactured to be roughly the same size as a cigarette or small cigar that, upon activation by the user (inhalation), intake air, heat it, and then pass through a final chamber where a vaporized nicotine solution is injected into the airflow, which then makes its way into the user’s mouth and lungs. All that in one compact little device, broken down into a few parts (four separate parts is the most common configuration).
Fine tobacco is the heart of premium cigars. Try a premium cigar like a Fonseca Vintage Lonsdale Tubo and taste the world’s finest-quality cigar tobacco. The wonderful flavor and aroma of a great cigar will make you appreciate all the work that went into its creation, and work it is!
First, high-grade cigar tobacco leaves are harvested and aged using a process that combines the use of heat and shade to reduce sugar and water content without causing the large leaves to rot. This first part of the process, called “curing,” takes 25 to 45 days and varies substantially, depending on climate and storage conditions for the harvested tobacco. The curing process is manipulated based upon the type of tobacco and the desired leaf color. The second part of the process, called “fermentation,” is designed to help the leaf die slowly. Temperature and humidity are controlled to ensure that the leaf continues to ferment without rotting or disintegrating. This is where the flavor, burning and aroma characteristics are finessed.
After the tobacco leaves are properly aged, they are sorted for use as filler or wrapper, depending on their appearance and quality. During this process, the leaves are continually moistened and handled carefully to ensure its best use. The leaf will go through a continuous cycle of baling and inspection throughout its aging process. When the leaf has matured according to the manufacturer’s specifications, it will be used in the production of a cigar.
Fine-quality cigars are still handmade. An experienced cigar-roller can produce hundreds of very good, nearly identical, cigars per day. The rollers keep the tobacco moist–especially the wrapper–and use specially designed crescent-shaped knives, called chavetas, to form the filler and wrapper leaves quickly and accurately. Once rolled, the cigars are stored in wooden forms as they dry, in which their uncapped ends are cut to a uniform size. From this stage, the cigar is a complete product that can be “laid down” and aged for decades if kept as close to 70°F (21°C) and 70% relative humidity, as the environment will allow.
Once cigars have been purchased, proper storage is usually accomplished by keeping the cigars in a specialized box, or humidor, where conditions can be carefully controlled for long periods of time. Even if a cigar becomes dry, it can be successfully re-humidified as long as it has not been handled carelessly.
Premium-brand cigars are made with different varieties of tobacco for the filler and the wrapper. “Long-filler cigars” are a far higher quality of cigar, using long leaves throughout. These cigars also use a third variety of tobacco leaf, a “binder,” between the filler and the outer wrapper. This permits the makers to use more delicate and attractive leaves as a wrapper. These high-quality cigars almost always blend varieties of tobacco. Even Cuban long-filler cigars will combine tobaccos from different parts of the island to encompass several different flavors.
