Some have resorted to trying to quit the habit. Using alternatives such as gum or applying filters to lower the nicotine intake has not done much to alter the demand for tobacco manufacturers today. The efforts made are totally unexplainable and despite the hazard warnings and medical inclinations placed on them, people still continue to patronize and look for them.

Whatever the case may be, it all boils down to really sheer will power to kick the smoking habit and nothing else. Perhaps when the mortality rate of people dying from lung cancer would drop, then it can be said that people are doing something to really kick the habit of smoking.

For the beginning cigar smoker, it would be best to try buying one piece instead of the usual box which would not be light on the pocket of any person. Brands have their say as far as cigars are concerned, but for beginning smokers, this is not yet important.

The essence of what people get from smoke that they have in their mouth is something that no one can really explain. Most people are simply for the acknowledging their curiosity while some are in it because of the things they hear around them.

Cigar smoking is believed to be addicting. Nicotine is the primary culprit that people would turn to but yet people would care less. Some would take up smoking to relax themselves, while there are people who really have no sufficient to smoke. Some would feel that it is just a form of identification to be accepted in social events.

But just the same, smoking would really be something a person would best avoid since it is a habit that is really hard to kick. The final decision on it would be on the person and depending on the actual reason why they do smoke these tobacco leaves for self-satisfaction.

That’s exactly what happened with the remaining half of a cigar that Sir Winston Churchill smoked way back in 1941. According to the “original” owner of the half-smoked cigar, Sir Winston Churchill was smoking the cigar when he was suddenly called to an urgent meeting with his cabinet. In response to the call, he tossed the cigar aside. A staff member then “rescued” the cigar and kept it as a souvenir. (I know I would probably have done the same thing if I were serving Sir Winston Churchill.) More than simply keeping the half-smoked cigar, however, the staff member decided to send it to a friend who then kept it well preserved to this day.

Aside from the fact that the cigar was smoked by one of the greatest statesmen who ever lived, what makes the cigar special? For a selling price of $7000, it should be pretty special, shouldn’t it? Well, among the thousands of cigars that Churchill smoked in his lifetime, this one has a personalized label with his name on it! Now I know why it sold for that much…even though it is not “smokable” anymore.

As a matter of fact, some representatives of the cigar company have gone on to say that they are morally opposed to Tiger Woods and what he currently symbolizes. Then again, when they think of business, they believe that it would be good for them. After all, not everyone has the same stand on the scandal. And we have to be honest, for some, it is not that big of a deal.

Furthermore, Jeff Borysiewicz, founder of the cigar company, says that this is a chance that he probably wouldn’t have gotten had not the prominent athlete fallen from grace. There is truth to that – his offer is really peanuts compared to Tiger Woods’ major deals. With Accenture pulling out – quickly followed by other companies – Tiger Woods will probably need new sources of funds.

Borysiewicz also says that golf and cigars go together – and he is quite right in saying that. So indeed, while the “womanizer” might not appeal to a certain crowd, Tiger Woods just might prove to be profitable for Corona Cigar Co. Then again, he has to accept the offer first.

Do you think he should?

Last week, the very same Wallace Reyes started work on another cigar, which he hopes will break the previous record. His target is to roll a cigar which is 180 feet in length. USA Today tells us the story behind his goal:

“We gonna show Tampa and the world basically that this is still (the) cigar capital of the world, that we’re still making big things here,” Reyes said.

A 180-foot cigar would shatter the old world record by more than 35-feet. Reyes says it will take him 30 pounds of tobacco and more than 100-hours of work to finish his cigar. He is making his record setting cigar in 10-foot sections at the Ybor City Museum and it will be assembled and displayed on November 21st at the Tampa Cigar Heritage Festival.

Same person, same place, same festival. Would he break his record? Reyes says that they do not have the facilities to create the cigar all in one go. As such, he has to work on one segment at a time. The whole cigar will then be assembled in less than a month. All that work on one cigar! I bet that when he breaks the record, it will be all worth it!

Photo courtesy of USA Today

Will Sluetal, on the other hand, has been at it for quite some time. He is from Grand Haven, Michigan, and claims that he can make an excellent musical instrument given four hours and a whole lot of passion and talent. I must say, his work supports his claim.

Sluetal’s day job is the chief mechanic of the Grand Haven Department of Public Works. The skills that are integral to his day job are carried over to his passion, the creation of a wide variety of musical instruments from guitar boxes. Guitars, ukeleles, madolins, drums, and other “unnamed” instruments – these are only some of Sluetal’s works of art. Oh, and everything he creates is electric.

So does this mean that he is an avid cigar smoker? Well, he does smoke but he does not have to spend a fortune in cigars to obtain all the boxes that he needs and wants. He does have the smarts. What Sluetal did – and does – was to make guitars for the presidents of cigar companies. He gave these as gifts and he has been amply compensated with all the empty cigar boxes that he needs.

If you want one of his works, you can visit Elderly Instruments in Lansing and Surroundings in Manistee. Make sure you have about $125!

Just recently, a Cuban cigar roller broke his own records. Jose Castelar Cairo (Cueto) is not a stranger to the longest cigars in the world. The Caribbean News has this report:

Cuban cigar roller Jose Castelar Cairo (Cueto) will receive officially his fourth Guinness Record certificate, this time for his 45,38 meters long Habano cigar.

Cueto works in La Triada store, of the Grupo Caracol. He told Opciones that he was very happy with the acknowledgement and that he receives the record on behalf of Cuba, a country known for producing the best cigars in the world.

You know what I like about this story? The guy is not a faker. I mean, he has his records but he continues to work and do what he loves doing. And better yet, he keeps trying to outdo himself and breaking his own records. I’ll smoke a cigar to that!

This is something that David Haddad of Fumar Cigars in Phoenix acknowledges, and to show his appreciation, he has gathered 6,000 cigars. Guess where they are headed to? You got it – to the troops in Iraq, who will have the first ever cigar party in a war zone. This is what Haddad has to say about his gesture:

“It’s an honor to the heroes … because they do what they do (in war) to make it possible so that I get to do what I do … My company offers … cigars to resorts all over the world. It’s to bring a little bit of hospitality to the troops.”

While Haddad is the initiator of this whole project, it would not be possible without the cooperation and generosity of other groups and individuals. As a matter of fact, the cigars (worth $30,000 in all) were donated by over 50 businesses and individuals, showing how we can get together for a good cause. Here’s to a great cigar party in Iraq!

How does that old saying go? The one about doors and windows opening and closing…hang on…I think it’s something like “When a door closes, a window opens.” I might have gotten the wording wrong but the idea is that when you find yourself being shut out of something for some reason, do not despair because somewhere along the way, other opportunities will open up for sure.

And this is what seems to be happening for swimming superstar Michael Phelps. I am sure that you have heard of his mishap with the bong. Someone got his picture holding (and smoking I think) the bong and one thing led to another. All over the United States – and the world – people have been freely giving their opinions.

Phelps is a disappointment. Phelps is a fraud. Phelps should be shot. And so on. Personally, I think that many of the reactions are so hypocritical they make me want to throw up! Anyhow, I will not dwell on that but I do want to point out the windows that are opening up for this guy.

While Kellogs has tried to distance itself from Phelps, the smoking world is opening its arms to him. Gurkha Cigars, a distinguished name, has reportedly offered Michael Phelps $25,000 to be their smokesperson – oops, spokesperson. (Sorry about that, fat fingers getting in the way.) While the amount is kinda insulting, if you think about it, the offer just might present a slew of new possibilities for the champ, don’t you think?