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Cigar Humidor Maintenance
A cigar humidor is any kind of manufactured box or room designed to maintain a constant humidity and temperature specifically for storing a box of cigars, cigars or pipe tobacco. Usually small wooden or acrylic glass humidor boxes are used for private use to store a few dozen cigars whereas cigar shops may have walk-in humidor sometimes covering a whole floor of a building. Humidors of all sizes use hygrometers to keep track of the humidity levels.
The ideal humidity in a a cigar humidor is around 65-70% with the box filled close to the rim since the more empty space available allows the relative humidity level to drop.
Humidors are made of Spanish-cedar wood or plastic. Spanish-cedar is suitable for aging cigars for 3 reasons:
1. Spanish-cedar humidors hold more moisture than most woods which allows it to better maintain humidity.
2. Spanish-cedar also imparts its aroma to cigars if they are stored in it for long enough. This is also why some cigars are wrapped in Spanish-cedar sheets before they are sold.
3. Spanish-cedar wood can also repel tobacco beetles. These pinhead-sized beetles can ruin entire stocks of cigars. They eat the tobacco and lay eggs, causing further infestation. They can also be discouraged by ensuring the humidor does not get hotter than 75 °F or to moist.
Each cigar humidor needs to be seasoned after being bought or having been dry for a while. This is done by taking a moist cloth and wiping down the interior to remove any dust or debris. A small container of water is then placed inside the humidor and left for around 12 hours with the lid closed. At the point where the water is gone or mostly gone, this should be repeated for another full 24 hours. When the water in the container stops evaporating, cigars can be placed in it. The humidifying element or “sponge” keeps the wood moist, which in turn keeps the cigars moist and in good condition for an optimal cigar smoking experience.
Cigar Reviews
New category for personal cigar reviews. Feel free to share your opinions on cigar brands, your personal smoking experience with various sizes, etc. for others to enjoy. Indivials who provide an approved cigar review wil receive a free premium cigar from CigarsEtc.com for their contributions to this blog.
Cubans snapping up mobile phones
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Cubans are reported to have taken out 7,400 new mobile phone contracts in the 10 days since restrictions were eased. The figures, reported by the AFP news agency, were issued by the country’s state telecoms company Etecsa. Etecsa expects to sell 1.4 million new mobile phone contracts in Cuba in the next five years. Until President Raul Castro lifted restrictions, mobile phones could only be bought by government officials and people working for foreign firms. Since taking over from his brother, Raul Castro has lifted a number of restrictions on Cubans, including those on renting cars and buying DVDs. The number of new mobile phone contracts is impressive given that it costs about £60 just to set up a new contract while the average monthly salary in Cuba is less than £10. In the past, many Cubans used illegal phones or asked permitted users to sign up on their behalf. |
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Buying Gifts For The Bride And The Groom
If you have been invited to a wedding you are probably wondering what gifts to get the bride and groom. While gifts for the home have been traditional favorites, in today’s day and age many people are already living together so may not need these. This offers advice on buying gifts for the modern day bride and groom. If you have been invited to a wedding you will have several things to take care of before you sit back and relax. Even though as a guest you will not have as much on your plate as the people in the wedding, there are still a few areas that you must touch on in order to ensure that your part is taken care of. One of the most important areas that you should be concerned with is the gift that you buy for the bride and groom. Believe it or not, buying a wedding gift is not as hard as you may think. Sure, there is a lot that goes into it, but if you take your time you should not have any problems ending up with a gift that you can take great pride in.
But there is a lot more that goes into buying a wedding gift than just spending money. Are the bride and groom registered at a particular store? How much money should a wedding gift cost? Are there any gifts that are not appropriate for a bride and groom? All of these questions will go a long way in shaping the gift that you buy.
The first thing that you need to do is find out if the bride and groom are registered at a store. If they are, you may want to buy them a gift from the registry. If you run into this situation you will be getting off relatively easy. By having a registry to look at you will be able to determine exactly what the bride and groom is looking for, which will in turn make it much easier to make a final decision. You will still have to iron out a few details, but all in all things will go much more smoothly.
But if the bride and groom are not registered you may need to do some more work on your own. Yes, you may be in for a more difficult time, but the fact of the matter is that even if the couple is not registered you should not have to stress out. As long as you follow a few important details you should end up with the best gift for the bride and the groom.
The first detail to consider is what is appropriate as a wedding gift. More importantly, what could you buy that will suit both the bride and groom? Remember, when you buy a wedding gift you often do so for both people; not just one. For this reason it is very important that you look into gifts that will benefit the couple. If you do not, either the bride or the groom may feel like they have been left out; and of course you want to avoid this at all costs.
Often times, presents that the couple can use in their home are great wedding gifts. Just remember, in today’s day and age more and more couples are living with each other before they get married. For this reason they may already have a lot of the things that they need for their home. This should not automatically rule out buying gifts for the home, but you should definitely take it into consideration. Depending on your relationship with the couple, you may have a better understanding as to what they need. If you are a close friend or family member you will know exactly what to buy, as well as what the bride and groom need. But on the other hand if you are only co-workers or long distance friends, this may not be the case. In this circumstance, you will want to keep your gift idea as basic as possible.
When buying a wedding gift try to be as specific as possible about what you are buying. In other words, if you know exactly what the bride and groom want be sure to stick with it. This is particularly important if the couple is registered. Your work is almost done for you in this case so there is no reason to complicate things and straying too far away from what they want.
As far as how much money you should spend, it really depends on your situation and relationship to the bride and groom. For instance, if you are a close family member you may want to give an expensive gift in order to help the bride and groom get off to a great start in life. But for people that are not as close with the bride and groom a lower cost alternative is a good plan.
In addition, remember to be as creative as possible. There is no rule that says you have to buy the bride and groom a gift that is traditional. After all, how many toast ovens can a newlywed couple use at once? If you have any good, creative ideas flowing inside of you, be sure to pull them out. Not only are creative gifts a great way to save money, but they are also unique as opposed to the rest of the items that a couple will receive.
An idea that is becoming very popular is several people pulling together to buy one expensive gift. This can work out great even if the bride and groom have not registered. Generally speaking, this is a perfect idea for a group of close family or friends. They can toss their money into a pot, and then buy one expensive gift.
Overall, buying a wedding gift may take a bit of time, but it can also be a fun process. The most important thing to remember is that any wedding gift should be right for both the bride and groom. Do not stress out over buying a gift. If you follow a few details you should end up with a great gift in the end!
President Bush Discusses Cuba Policy in Rose Garden Speech
THE PRESIDENT: Hola. Sientese. Thank you for coming. Welcome to the Rose Garden. It’s my honor to host you for an important policy announcement.
I’m proud to be joined by our great Secretary of State Colin Powell and a son of Cuba, a graduate of the Pedro Pan program — (applause) — Mel Martinez. (Applause.) I’m also pleased to be joined with other members who will be — of my administration who will be charged with implementing policy. From the Department of Homeland Security, Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson is with us today. (Applause.) From the Treasury Department, Rick Newcomb, Director of the Office of Foreign Asset Control, is with us today. Rick, thank you for coming. (Applause.) Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere, Roger Noriega is with us today. (Applause.) Y, por fin, from my staff, Envoy Otto Reich. (Applause.)
As well, we’re honored to have distinguished members of the Congress with us, starting with the very capable and able Senator from the state of Virginia, George Allen. (Applause.) Bienvenidos, Jorge. (Laughter.) From the state of Florida, Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart. (Applause.) Y su hermano, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart. (Applause.) Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. (Applause.) And Porter Goss. Thank you for coming. I’m honored you all are here. (Applause.)
The Secretary mentioned to me that Bob Dole is with us. Bob Dole is not with us.
One hundred and thirty-five years ago today, the struggle for Cuban freedom began at a sugar mill near Manzanillo. Carlos Manuel de Cespedes — known as the Father of the Homeland — led an uprising against colonial rule. Today, the struggle for freedom continues — it hasn’t ended — in cities and towns of that beautiful island, in Castro’s prisons, and in the heart of every Cuban patriot. It is carried on by brave dissidents like Oscar Elias Biscet, Marta Beatriz Roque, Leonardo Bruzon Avila.
Last year in Miami, I offered Cuba’s government a way forward — a way forward toward democracy and hope and better relations with the United States. I pledged to work with our Congress to ease bans on trade and travel between our two countries if — and only if — the Cuban government held free and fair elections, allowed the Cuban people to organize, assemble and to speak freely, and ease the stranglehold on private enterprise.
Since I made that offer, we have seen how the Castro regime answers diplomatic initiatives. The dictator has responded with defiance and contempt and a new round of brutal oppression that outraged the world’s conscience.
In April, 75 peaceful members of Cuban opposition were given harsh prison sentences, some as long a 20 years. Their crimes were to publish newspapers, to organize petition drives, to meet to discuss the future of their country. Cuba’s political prisoners subjected to beatings and solitary confinement and the denial of medical treatment. Elections in Cuba are still a sham. Opposition groups still organize and meet at their own peril. Private economic activity is still strangled. Non-government trade unions are still oppressed and suppressed. Property rights are still ignored. And most goods and services produced in Cuba are still reserved for the political elites.
Clearly, the Castro regime will not change by its own choice. But Cuba must change. So today I’m announcing several new initiatives intended to hasten the arrival of a new, free, democratic Cuba. (Applause.)
First, we are strengthening re-enforcement of those travel restrictions to Cuba that are already in place. (Applause.) U.S. law forbids Americans to travel to Cuba for pleasure. That law is on the books and it must be enforced. We allow travel for limited reasons, including visit to a family, to bring humanitarian aid, or to conduct research. Those exceptions are too often used as cover for illegal business travel and tourism, or to skirt the restrictions on carrying cash into Cuba. We’re cracking down on this deception.
I’ve instructed the Department of Homeland Security to increase inspections of travelers and shipments to and from Cuba. We will enforce the law. (Applause.) We will also target those who travel to Cuba illegally through third countries, and those who sail to Cuba on private vessels in violation of the embargo.
You see, our country must understand the consequences of illegal travel. All Americans need to know that foreign-owned resorts in Cuba must pay wages — must pay the wages of their Cuban workers to the government. A good soul in America who wants to be a tourist goes to a foreign-owned resort, pays the hotel bill — that money goes to the government. The government, in turn, pays the workers a pittance in worthless pesos and keeps the hard currency to prop up the dictator and his cronies. Illegal tourism perpetuates the misery of the Cuban people. And that is why I’ve charged the Department of Homeland Security to stop that kind of illegal trafficking of money. (Applause.)
By cracking down on the illegal travel, we will also serve another important goal. A rapidly growing part of Cuba’s tourism industry is the illicit sex trade, a modern form of slavery which is encouraged by the Cuban government. This cruel exploitation of innocent women and children must be exposed and must be ended. (Applause.)
Second, we are working to ensure that Cubans fleeing the dictatorship do not risk their lives at sea. My administration is improving the method through which we identify refugees, and redoubling our efforts to process Cubans who seek to leave. We will better inform Cubans of the many routes to safe and legal entry into the United States through a public outreach campaign in southern Florida and inside Cuba itself. We will increase the number of new Cuban immigrants we welcome every year. (Applause.) We are free to do so, and we will, for the good of those who seek freedom. Our goal is to help more Cubans safely complete their journey to a free land.
Third, our government will establish a Commission for the Assistance to a Free Cuba, to plan for the happy day when Castro’s regime is no more and democracy comes to the island. This commission will be co-chaired by the Secretary of State, Colin Powell; and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Mel Martinez. They will draw upon experts within our government to plan for Cuba’s transition from Stalinist rule to a free and open society, to identify ways to hasten the arrival of that day. (Applause.)
The transition to freedom will present many challenges to the Cuban people and to America, and we will be prepared. America is not alone in calling for freedom inside of Cuba. Countries around the globe and the United Nations Human Rights Commission increasingly recognize the oppressive nature of the Castro regime, and have denounced its recent crackdowns. We will continue to build a strong international coalition to advance the cause of freedom inside of Cuba.
In addition to the measures I’ve announced today, we continue to break the information embargo that the Cuban government has imposed on its people for a half a century. Repressive governments fear the truth, and so we’re increasing the amount and expanding the distribution of printed material to Cuba, of Internet-based information inside of Cuba, and of AM-FM and shortwave radios for Cubans.
Radio and TV Marti are bringing the message of freedom to the Cuban people. This administration fully recognizes the need to enhance the effectiveness of Radio and TV Marti. Earlier this year, we launched a new satellite service to expand our reach to Cuba. On May 20th, we staged the historic flight of Commando Solo, an airborne transmission system that broke through Castro’s jamming efforts. Tyrants hate the truth; they jam messages. And on that day, I had the honor of speaking to the Cuban people in the native language.
It’s only the beginning of a more robust effort to break through to the Cuban people. This country loves freedom and we know that the enemy of every tyrant is the truth. We’re determined to bring the truth to the people who suffer under Fidel Castro. (Applause.)
Cuba has a proud history of fighting for freedom, and that fight goes on. In all that lies ahead, the Cuban people have a constant friend in the United States of America. No tyrant can stand forever against the power of liberty, because the hope of freedom is found in every heart. So today we are confident that no matter what the dictator intends or plans, Cuba sera pronto libre. (Applause.)
De nuevo, Cuba libre. Thank you all.
