Ten More Things You Can Do Today

29 Friday Mar 2013

Tags

blogging, books, cigars, Congress, encourage, God, hiking, James Altucherthanks, letters, Marcus Aurelius, news, people, positive, power, relax, slow, stress, Thessalonians, Thomas Jefferson

Building on my last happy advice column, I’d like to offer another ten easy things you can do today to make your life a little happier.

1. Smoke a Cigar.

This probably is more appealing to the male audience though quiet a few women enjoy the leaf as well. Use my recent Cigar Guide as a starting point and see if you like the hobby. You only need one, it won’t cost that much and it will only take an hour or so to enjoy. I’ve researched the health risks associated with occasional cigar smoking – it’s negligent. In fact, I think the relaxation benefits far outweigh the .002% increase in the risk of problems.

2. Lose the News.

The commercial news in America is boring at best, toxic at worst. You will not miss anything important if you take a break for a day or so. Murders, wars, theft, depression, scandal, etc. will go on in your absence – only you won’t be dragged down by it. Consider ignorance bliss and disconnect. This advice, of course, does not extent to your favorite blog.

3. Slow Down Some More.

Last time I recommended slowing your pace in life in order to de-stress and feel better. Do it some more. Remember, even if you win the rat race, you’re still a rat. Who likes rats? Check the emails tomorrow. There’s enough food at the house, lay off the super-market today. Let the little old lady merge into your lane. Be happy. Be free.

(This guy won the race. Google.)

4. Let Someone Tell You, “You Can’t” and Prove Them Wrong.

So many people are afraid of things – everything. If they can’t conceive of a way to do some particular thing, they assume nobody can do it. In psychology this is called transference or projection or something. They’ll say you can’t lose the weight. They’ll say your business won’t make it. They’ll say such a hot blonde will never go out with you. Don’t listen. If you really want to do something and it’s meant to be, you can’t fail – unless you fail to try. A young man at Yale was told his presented idea in an economics class would never be feasible; years later, the man put his plan into action and founded Federal Express. When you succeed, take comfort in your accomplishment. Remember to be gracious to your detractors, maybe you will inspire them to rise above their own roadblocks.

5. Encourage Someone.

The pre-emptive strike against worldly negativity is to place faith in someone else’s ideas. When someone runs by a plan for something new by you, tell them what you think, but make sure you end it positively. A little encouragement goes a long way and may be just the boost a person needs to get over their fears and societal conditioning of failure and make “it” happen. Praise is contagious too. Start a fire!

6. Write a Letter to the Editor.

I used to do this with very limited success. Now, I’m the editor and everything I write gets published – and read. Pick a topic you’re passionate about and tell the world your opinions. Everyone is an expert at something, share your insights. Like encouragement, it might spark somebody to positive action. A common tactic is to write an “open” letter to a CongressCritter or some other prominent person or organization and forward a copy to the local fish-wrapper. Knowing your views will be viewed by a wide audience may give a politician or other figure more reason to act than your letter alone would. Try it and see.

7. Question Authority.

People in power frequently use their power to limit the powerless. Challenge them. Thomas Jefferson once said, “I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” One can’t have a better role model than old T.J. When the cop asks you if you knew how fast you were going, don’t answer; this denies them your assistance in your prosecution and takes a little of the bully out of them. If a teacher tells you heat rises, ask why, then, does the TOP of the pond freeze. Make her explain thermodynamics in full. Be polite and don’t do anything so outrageous as to risk arrest. By speaking truth to power or denying the power altogether, you can preserve liberty and concurrently increase understanding – both admirable ends. This, again, does not apply to your favorite blog (wink, wink).

8. Take a Hike!

Last time I relayed the benefits of a simple walk around the block. Hiking through God’s country increases the benefits, both in terms of exercise exertion and scenery. Hikes need not be limited to the woods or the mountains. Stalk away through the dunes or a country road. Explore your local park or the land along the river-side levee. Make sure you have good shoes for this one. I once reached in the closet, without looking, for boots to take to the Smokey Mountains. A mile or so in I realized duck-hunting boots were not made for trudging up-hill…

9. Write a Book.

I recommended reading a book. That’s always good advice. Take it to the next level and make your own literary contribution to the world. If it’s not a full-length book, then write a pamphlet or start a blog! By the way, books are easier than ever to publish these days. Check out www.createspace.com, there’s a link here on the left. This service will not only turn your ideas into print but will make them commercially available to the masses – all for free. Your book can be about anything. There are no rules and no constraints anymore. Read James Altucher’s excellent column on the subject – http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2011/05/why-and-how-i-self-published-a-book/. This was my inspiration to start blogging and ram through my first book (soon, I promise…).

(Create! Google.)

10. Give Thanks for Something.

Anything. Good or bad. “In everything give thanks.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. God does everything for a reason. Thank Him. Too smart for God, then thank Mother Earth, or Father Time, the Tooth Fairy or whoever. Believe in something bigger than you. As for the good and the bad, even non-Christian philosophers speak of accepting both with the same stoic resolve. See Marcus Aurelius on that point. Spread the word. Accept, give thanks, take action, be happy.

BONUS! 11. Forward this advice to people you know. Come up with some more things people can do!

Questions and Comments 3/29/2013

29 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in Other Columns

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

1911, ADA, Alabama, America, American Rifleman, Assad, Augusta, bankers, Barak Obama, basketball, Ben Bernanke, Bieber, Bin Laden, Bush, Christians, CIA, Clinto, Congress, crime, Cyprus, D.C., Dianne Feinstein, disability, Disney, drugs, EBT, fat, Federal Reserve, Fire Hat, gays, global warming, God, hell, Hussein, Janet Napolitano, Jim Carrey, Kate Upton, Lindsey Vonn, Lohan, marriage, Masters, McCain, Mexico, Michael Bloomberg, Michael Moore, Monsanto, New World Order, obsesity, Oscar the Grouch, Piers Morgan, politicians, Powell, raoches, rats, Rothschilds, Schumer, Sesame Street, Sheen, snakes, SSI, Steve Martin, taxes, theft, Thomas Jefferson, War, Youtube

You have answers, I have questions. You have questions, I have comments. In the tradition of Fire Hat…

I want to give my white man’s perspective on basketball: “Who cares?”

Kim Jong Unbalenced has kindly offered to bomb D.C. We should get him a fruit basket or something.

The more television channels, the less shows worth watching.

If not for politicians and banksters, who would rats and roaches look down upon?

Since they can drive and talk on the phone at the same time, why can’t people drive and use turn signals concurrently?

Aside from the Brady Center and mental inpatients, does Piers Morgan have an audience?

Imperial and Georgian forces have raided the property of the FPSRussia guy – don’t post yourself with guns on Youtube.

When are the next parliamentary elections in Cyprus?

Why are banks still standing in Cyprus?

Considering that almost every town has a thief and maybe a murderer, why do we still need governments?

Given that almost every town has that thief, why do we still need banks?

Any bets on when Justin Bieber goes John Belushi on us?

Why can’t Augusta have the Masters Tournament 51 weeks out of the year? Seems to work for baseball, basketball, and Nascar.

Why are gay people upset about laws banning them from committing marriage?

Women take bicycles fishing? Huh?

If a law falls in the forest and there’s no judge around to opine, can law professors still think?

How come a grocery store in a neighborhood where everyone has EBT cards can’t make it financially?

Why do those EBT cardees need food handouts?

When the above-grocery store in Augusta, GA went out of business, the Sheriff refused to give the excess food to the gathered crowd of hundreds. He said they were too fat as is. The new Sheriff is an observant man.

Scientists predict 104% of the American population will be morbidly obese by 2022.

Why do “Christians” lust for war, real or imaginary?

Lindsay Lohan is starring in Charlie Sheen’s TV show; local liquor stores report record sales.

How does unemployment rise in an economic recovery?

If he government wants to ban guns, why don’t they ditch theirs and lead by example?

By around 2020 the ADA will have to be revised to mandate each parking lot set aside one or spaces in the rear for “normals.”

Ben Bernanke has secured a patent on a warp-drive powered printing press; rejoice!

If alive today Thomas Jefferson would hang his head, sail back to England, and beg the Queen for clemency.

Officials in Anniston, Alabama announced yesterday that the last factory in America closed.

I applaud Barack Obama’s vacation schedule; he works hard and needs a tan.

If Lindsey Graham joined the Communist Party, would anyone notice?

Are there any brown people left on earth the U.S. has not bombed lately?

Is not being disabled a disability these days?

After more than forty seasons, Sesame Street is set to replace Oscar the Grouch with Michael Bloomberg after the good mayor retires.

Steve Martin has agreed to reprise the role of The Jerk next year in a tribute to Bloomberg.

How does one go about getting the job of body painting Kate Upton?

In an effort to allow banks to raid more of your cash, Congress has introduced legislation to place mattresses and mason jars under Federal Reserve control.

Is there any truth to the rumor Dianne Feinstein will play the Wicked Which of the West’s ugly, controlling grandmother?

Why do we have Cuban baseball players but not cigars?

Next year when everyone in America becomes unemployed or disabled, who will pay the taxes?

Several illegal immigrants went home disgusted with America this week, after climbing over the fence only to discover the hideous presence of Chuck Schumer and John McCain. What has the world come to?

Angry armed citizens arrested the corrupt local police in a Mexican town this week; Americans are weak, fat, and stupid.

If Patrick Henry were alive today, he would kick McCain and Schumer in their heads before jumping the fence to Mexico.

Now we know why Lindsey Vonn winces when the idiots scream, “Get in the hole!”

If the 1911 had never been invented, what would American Rifleman report on?

Pharmaceutical companies make money drugging our children; school shootings are their advertisements.

Reading, Riting, and Ritalin, why can’t Johnny aim without the jitters?

All roaches, flies, and spiders have departed the Capital in protest over adverse working conditions.

If global warming is measured by pollen, we’re screwed.

Monsanto owns your CongressCritter, b***hes!

Poor Janet Napolitano has never been on a date.

God called and stated he would rescind his promise against future floods if another Bush runs for President.

Clinton made Bush look good; Bush made Clinton look good; Obama made Bush look good. Another Bush followed by another Clinton followed by a catastrophic asteroid collision will made Washington look good.

Does Bashar al-Assad shop at Saddam Hussein’s old yellow cake retailer? Mr. Powell?

Marine biologists have discovered bankers are all descended from a common sea slug, the Thievish Filtha-sluggis.

Jesse Jackson is upset, again.

The Capital One Vikings have all filed successfully for SSI.

Jim Carrey needs an enema.

Michael Moore was ticketed from breaking a truck-stop scale during his last weigh-in.

Does Osama Bin Laden’s family receive his CIA retirement?

Which childhood classic will Disney destroy next?

Pope Francis will be in Washington next week to wash the feet of more felons.

All six adult American men who don’t play video games met for the first time at a Knoxville Waffle House last week; we had a good time.

Following their recent success in finding the “God particle,” physicists are proud to announce they have discovered the “Satan particle;” it will be formally known as the “Bush,” “Clinton,” or “Feinstein” particle once the dust settles.

The Rothschilds endorsed the American slob as the State Bird of the New World Order.

What’s the difference between a dead snake in the road and a dead politician in the road? The politician still wants your money.

The correct greeting for a bankster or politician is, “Go BACK to hell!”

Hades’s Deposition

27 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in Legal/Political Columns, Other Columns

≈ Comments Off on Hades’s Deposition

Tags

Atlanta, attorneys, civil litigation, clients, deposition, discovery, experts, green space chickens, scotch

A long time ago I participated in a complex civil litigation case which involved a construction project gone wrong. The details do not really matter. I represented the plaintiff in the matter. The case was difficult enough but my client’s expert’s deposition added a new level of complexity I had not contemplated.

Depositions are factual statements taken under oath as part of the discovery/information process. It’s a preview of the other side’s cross-examination of a witness at trial. There are several reasons to depose a witness: first, it provides a oppourtunity to confirm what you know about a case; second, it gives you an idea of what the other side knows and if there any problems on the horizon; third, it sometimes provides a chance to settle a case without further expense. The other side in this case had to depose our expert in order to assess where we all stood, pre-trial.

This particular case was very fact intensive with reports, statements, and other information in great quantity. We had to associate an expert to evaluate all of the facts and condense them into a citable report. The expert hired was a tier one professional who did not come cheap. He spent days reviewing material and preparing his summary. He also generated many questions, all important to our legal position. These questions necessitated the client’s active participation in their answering. For several months the expert requested this participation and was largely rebuffed. The client was not unwilling to help rather, he always seemed to drift to other subjects and find excuses for delaying his responses. We scheduled several (expensive) all day meetings intended to get the client on the same page with the expert. The meetings never answered some questions.

Thus, the expert was left to guess at some factors and to do his best to assess the facts on his own. He did a great job overall. His report served as an excellent basis to proceed in the case. At his deposition, he defended his positions with great skill, confident his findings supported the plaintiff’s position.

My role was to “defend” the expert during the deposition. The other side was represented by two attorneys who both took active roles in the examination. These gentlemen were extremely professional and the expert was not at his first rodeo. Thus, my job should have been fairly simple. In such sessions the defending attorney usually requests question clarification when necessary and objects for the record if some questions over-reach the allowable scope of discovery. The questions may still be asked and answered, the objections take effect if called for later at trial.

Out of professional courtesy, everyone agreed to depose the expert at his metro-Atlanta office, several hours away from mine. I arrived extra early to confer with the man and plan for any expected troubles. We had a good meeting and agreed things looked pretty good. The client was supposed to meet with us in a last-ditch effort to reveal misplaced information. He showed up with little time to spare, along with the other attorneys and the court reporter.

The opposing side had read and were familiar with our expert’s preliminary report. Their questions were efficient and run of the mill. However, my client began at once to exhibit overly odd behavior. He was restless, talked to himself, talked to me (interrupting my train of thought), and interfered with the questioning to the point that I politely requested a break to speak with him in private. He then agreed to calm down.

It did not last. After interrupting several more times, the questioning attorney directed his attention to my client’s disruption. I once again took him aside for a talk. It did not take this time. The client seemed concerned that the expert was not answering certain questions sufficiently as those questions required the information the client was supposed to deliver to the expert but never did. He was suddenly concerned that the expert did not have all facts. I reassured him things were going well and asked if he had the additional information, even at the late hour. He did not. I cautioned him not to interrupt again and back we went.

Then, during the ordinary course of the questioning, the client went berserk. He began to only talk (about the questions and other things). He snatched my note pad and began writing me cryptic notes I did not understand. I ignored him at this point. Then he began to pace around the room like a tiger in a cage. He stopped and talked behind the expert. He looked over the other attorneys while they spoke. He talked to the court reported. I felt a little sick.

At some point one of the opposing lawyers requested a break so I could attempt to regain control of my client. I should have told him to leave or threatened to quite myself. Instead, I pleaded with him to keep from getting himself held in contempt or somethingfor interference.

We resumed after lunch and went on for the rest of the afternoon. My client at least remained seated for the most part but he was of no help to me whatsoever. Usually, a lawyer will ask a present client some questions in order to assist his understanding of the present matter. I knew it was a lost cause. I did request that we have a meeting immediately after the session, a get with Jesus prayer meeting, if you will. He agreed.

However, after the deposition ended the client disappeared. This did give me a few minutes to apologize to the other side and the reporter. I assumed man-tiger had gone to his car for something. I ended up in the expert’s executive office talking about the merits of the matter and the oddity of the day’s event. Neither of us had ever seen anything like it. After about an hour we realized our client had not joined us. I got up and looked for him but found no sign of him in or outside of the office. Honestly, I was a little relieved. However, back in the expert’s office a few minutes later the client called. He reported he was almost back to my office and that he knew where the missing facts were located. I guessed that he did not, in fact, know anything about the facts and that he must be driving over 100 miles per hour.

My partner later reported to me that the client did stop by a little more than one hour after the deposition was finished. He rushed in yelling and frightened several other clients. He ransacked his own files and left muttering to himself. No facts ever came forth.

Around this time the sun was setting and the expert and I were tired, numbed, and hungry. We decided to get dinner and drinks. I called a friend in the area and we all met at a local pub. There I attempted triage of my mind via single-malt scotch. It worked and after sobering up I made the long drive home. By the time I was in the car my brain was dead and I probably would not have passed a road-side sobriety test even if I had not consumed anything. I didn’t care at the time and, fortunately, there was no incident on the highway. I stopped in the office after midnight and wrote myself a memo detailing the unusual circumstances of the day.

I learned several things from this affair. Most importantly, I learned to identify disturbed clients before agreeing to represent them. I also concluded that all clients needed extensive preparation before depositions with adequate warnings about proper conduct. In cases like this one I decided the absence of the client would be in the client’s best interests. I also reflected on the fact that people are not perfect and that patience is a virtue.

In the end, thanks to the expert’s hard work, the deposition was a success for us. I also came away a better attorney. Subsequent depositions, no matter how arduous, didn’t seem that bad by comparison. I hope you learned a little something from this story. Maybe not. Maybe I just needed to vent. Anyway, always follow paid professional advice, keep quiet when necessary, and keep your speed reasonable. My head hurts now…

Late Lunch Leads

27 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in News and Notes

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Tags

cigars, Cyprus, law, Obama, WalMart

I re-posted a comment on my Cigar Etiquette column, https://perrinlovett.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/proper-cigar-etiquette/, from a reader who sent it to me via Facebook. It’s from a source I highly respect and I am pleased by the positive comments.

Later today I think I will publish another article or two. I have a funny story about an old case which I hope will dissuade some of you from venturing into the law.

In my quest to become a real university professor, I have been sending out new applications and following up on older ones. If you have a lead on a law or political science position at a good school in the eastern U.S., please let old Perrin know.

The news:

Sure enough, the Empire concedes that Obamacare will raise your insurance rates – 60 to 80%. What’s money though, so long as the big companies get to keep it?

Speaking of big. I wonder if large corporations in Cyprus run the risk of losing 40% of their money in Cypriot bank accounts. I have a funny feeling the answer is negative. Either that or they were warned in advance to collect their cash and run. Little people are left to run on the banks.

Some yahoo in Pennsylvania was arrested for deer hunting in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart store. I have a friend that did something similar a while back. It’s not known if the deer was made in a Chinese sweatshop.

More Ancient Legal Doctrines of Self-Defense/Preservation

26 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in Legal/Political Columns

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

10 Commandments, America, Angles, arms, Assize of Arms, Britain, Catechism, Catholic Church, Cicero, Codex Justianius, Deuteronomy, Digesta, England, Exodus, God, Israel, Jesus Christ, John, King Arthur, King David, King Henry II, King John, kings, law, Leviticus, Lex Talionis, Magna Carta, militia, Natural Law, Normans, Numbers, people, Pilate, Psalms, Romans, Saxons, Second Amendment, self-defense, Smauel, truth, tyranny

This is the second installment in my new series about the Second Amendment, militias, government, and the natural right of self/defense. After a few more segments I’ll get to the American experience. This column is concerned with more ancient sources. Read on.

My last segment concerned the Natural Law and the provisions therein allowing for armed resistance of force and tyranny. For those not acquainted with Natural Law (American attorneys, etc.), it is the universal law instituted by God for the management of human societies. God’s first draft was extraordinarily simple, as He supposed that people would be capable of easily governing themselves in paradise. The law was codified as: “Don’t eat that fruit.” Unfortunately, the first humans were as dense as their descendants today. They ate the fruit and thus complicated our lives forever.

God later attempted to set out ten simple laws He expected us to obey. True to our fallen, fallible, self-determining ways, we messed those up too. After constantly displaying an inability to adhere to the simple, the ancient Hebrews began to demand of God a “modern” system of government for themselves. They seemed jealous of surrounding Peoples who had, among other things, kings. God, in His omnipotence, offered that they Hebrews didn’t really need or want a king. They begged to differ, instituted a king, and began to suffer immediately.

After the failure of the kings, and the subjugation of the people by more powerful earthly empires, God sent His Son in yet another attempt to clarify His law. Jesus, simultaneously ratifying the existing law and providing an alternative route to salvation, issued another simple commandment. We have not been too quick to pick on that one either. Thus, it appears that people are stuck with their worldly trappings and their constant inability to deal honestly ad logically therewith until the Second Coming. Thus, in our present state, and if we are even capable, we must attempt to relate our world to the eternal principles of the Lord. That is Natural Law. Having ignored and broken the concrete mandates given us, we are left to guess at how such Law applies to our civilizations. Unlike the laws of science, math, and physics, which are difficult but possible to extrapolate and apply, the Laws of society are much less definable. This grasping process has been the work of scholars and theologians for millennia.

The Law as applied to self-preservation has been called the first law of nature. This makes sense as, without resorting to keeping ourselves from harm, most of the other “laws” we can divine seem to matter little.

Previously, I examined several Bible verses which supported the right of self-defense and preservation. I also cited the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding the duty (not only the right) to defend oneself and those in one’s charge. This doctrine has existed for thousands of years. We are commanded: “Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:4.

King David, definitely not a pacifist, praised God, saying, “Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.” Psalms 144:1. First Samuel 25:13 described an Israelite muster: “And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword.” The Israelites were a militia, not a standing army, note that David and every man was equipped with his sword, not a government issue model. Men were expected to report for duty already armed with their own weapons. That means they had to keep and bear those weapons in order to fulfill their duties to their society. This was also the early American situation, as it should be today.

These weapons were and are necessary to preserve freedom in society. Any sane man will pray that he never need use any measure of force in defense however, he should be ready to do so if necessary. The fifth or sixth Commandment (depending on how counted) clearly sets forth God’s intention to preserve life: “Thous shalt not kill.” It is also translated, “Thou shalt not murder.” Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17.

The second translation is a prohibition on illicit killing, the first is a total ban. In a perfect world it would be natural to follow a total ban on killing others made in God’s image. However, as noted above, we have removed ourselves from perfection, be it temporarily. Thus, given where we are, while we should strive for perfection, we may be limited to keeping from unlawful killings.

In Leviticus, it appears that everything carries the death penalty. Many of these provisions have actually been codified into civil law over the ages. I’m not sure if anyone was ever executed for eating a shrimp. However, Leviticus gave us the basis for many capital crimes still such today. Accordingly, killers (murderers) may be executed in contravention of the Lord’s prohibition on killing. Leviticus 24:16-17. Numbers and Deuteronomy give further qualification as to which killings are crimes versus accidents.

Coupled with those passages I cited last time, these dictates seem to logically indicate that force, including lethal force, may be used to repel unjust criminal activities. The attendant duty upon us is to use the least force necessary to accomplish our defense.

Jesus exercised the ultimate restraint, in this regard, while enduring His treatment at the hands of His native detractors and Pilate. Jesus made clear His purpose: “I came into the world…to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.” John 18:38. Demonstrating an eternal human misunderstanding, Pilate replied “What is truth?” His purpose was not to overthrow earthly tyranny, but to provide an eternal alternative. Rather than being an act of non-self-defense, Christ’s actions were the ultimate act of defense of others. This truth may have been lost on one Roman, it was not on all Romans.

American law has been greatly influenced by our colonial past and our origins under the English Constitutional and common law. In turn, English law was dependant on ancient Rome for many of its sources. It must be remembered that the Kingdom of Britain once co-existed with the Eastern Roman Empire. Thus, the legal traditions passed to the Isle of Britannia were those of earlier Roman glory – from the Republic and the earlier Western Empire. From the founding of Rome until the time of Cicero, Roman laws were largely unwritten, even the Constitution. Codification cam much later, under Justinian. The Codex Justianius was issued in 529 A.D., five decades after the fall of the West. The Digesta of ancient law was written soon thereafter. Thus, began our tradition of dual sources of law – statutes and case-law.

(Justinian. Google.)

I previously cited to the Codex for its express allowance of the use of armed force to deter attack, by private parties and government agents. This dual provision is tremendous as it presupposed that no-one is above the law and that even government force may be repelled when illegitimate. Increasingly in America, the government takes the opposite position – that it is infallible and may not be resisted, even when tyrannical. This is nonsense and may be disregarded as such.

In the next installment I will delve into the English tradition regarding arms and defense. This tradition slowly coalesced into the modern theory of the militia being comprised of armed individual men. Here, I will briefly note some of the long-standing traditions concerning arms in the British Isles before the rise of the common law and the Magna Carta.

“England” has been populated by various peoples probably for about 10,000 years. The earliest peoples there were organized along the lines of families and tribes, each with its own society and rules. It is obvious that most of these people were armed as they were constantly at war with one another and with the occasional outsider. It is clear as mud as to what extent they retained formal doctrines regarding rights, arms, militia duties, etc. “Self” defense often involved the entire tribe and was given to degenerating into all out war. We could assign the Lex Talionis “the law of revenge” or the “law of the jungle” as the chief governing principle of these early Britons.

As the centuries B.C. counted down, civilization and order began to grow in the Isles. Legend has it that King Arthur was able to unite most of the peoples of lower England under his banner. Whether he pulled a sword out of a stone is another matter but it seems that by his time (7th Century B.C.) swords were common among the people, both for use defensively and for militia service.

Thus, when the Romans arrived in 43 B.C., they found a fierce and well armed people, not at all amenable to taming. Four centuries of Roman occupation saw many changes in English life, including the ordering of the militias more along the lines of precise Legionary lines. This, civil and engineering upgrades, and Christianity generally served to the benefit of the people, then and following the Roman’s departure.

Following the Romans, came the Angles, the Saxons, and eventually the Normans, each of whom introduced new character to England. By at least the Twelfth Century England had evolved into a nation-state, not entire undistinguishable from its present form. Then, standing armies were rare and the kings relied upon their subjects to form militias during times of needs. Accordingly, free-men were expected, even ordered to keep arms for their and the common defense. Assize of Arms, Henry II (1181).

King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215 which, in Section 61, provided for armed rebellion of sorts (lead by the nobility) in the event the Crown became tyrannical. This process, of course, necessitated the continued institution of armed citizens.

(Magna Carta Memorial, Runnymede, England. Google.)

Next time, I will move forward in history and begin covering more modern English sources concerning the people, their rights, especially concerning arms and defense. This will serve as a prelude to the customs of those English persons who colonized America, carrying the ancient traditions with them.

Lunchtime Update

25 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in News and Notes

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Michael “Soda Jerk” Bloomberg is the quintessential example of why the people need to be armed. Doomberg is a petty tyrant who wants to control everything his minions do, say, and thing. The Jerk, in launching his new anti-self-defense campaign, has stated that sometimes people need to give up their rights to the overarching wisdom of government. Only people in a city like New York could tolerate this BS. The harder a politician pushes for gun control, the harder the people should push back, as the greater is their danger.

It now seems the thieves in Cyprus intend to steal up to 40% of their citizens cash from accounts holding more than 100,000 pounds. This is what the EU wanted in the beginning. This should eliminate any trust you still have in both organized government and organized banking. It’s time to treat them like the criminals they are.

I hear more dark rumors about the GOP caving on federal gun control (we just don’t have enough). I hear John McInsane is at the center of the new “compromise” which should be no surprise to anyone familiar with the old rat. He must have picked up a local bug during his tenure in that communist prison.

Gay marriage is before The Nine, pundits have the usual opinions. Why doesn’t anyone, other than’s yours truly, miss the fact that the government has no business interfering in familial relations period. Getting married has nothing to do with the accursed “license” some state issues a couple. End the madness.

More coming soon….

Sunday Night News

24 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in News and Notes

≈ Comments Off on Sunday Night News

Howdy! How’s Palm Sunday, America? Hope all is well. I have a couple of articles almost ready to go – look for one tonight or first thing tomorrow morning! Cool stuff. I just fired up a cigar after a busy day of cleaning my house and helping mom with hers. Did I mention I do home improvements?? We can add metal-working to the list now. Call me for all your no permit, unlicensed projects!

I want to get right to the news so, here goes:

The News:

Pervez Musharraf, the rock-star ex-president of Pakistan, ended his self-imposed exile this weekend by returning home. He says he wants to “save” his country. Mencken said, “The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.” He also quipped, “Whenever you hear a man speak of his love for his country, it is a sign that he expects to be paid for it.” Keep this in mind if you live in Pakistan.

You may recall some four or five years ago when then president Musharraf (pronounced “crap”) instituted all sorts of dictatorial reforms under the guise of an emergency. He locked up lawyers and judges and practically suspended what little law and order they have in Pakistan. When asked about his policies, he said he was following in the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln. I heard Kooky Cokie Roberts respond incredulously to his assertion on NPR. I can’t remember if Kooky was on his side or not. Maybe she is a Lincoln worshipper who felt Musharraf was a poor local high priest of the Lincoln cult. Who knows? At any rate, Musharraf was dead on; Lincoln did exactly those kinds of things and worse during his much-too-long tenure in the White House. Maybe Pervez is back to finish the job in style this time. Any chance Our American Cousin is showing now in Pakistan?

Brain dead “entertainer” Jim Carrey just released a little diddy on Twitter called Cold Dead Hand, in which he riddicules gun owners. Carrey (pronounced “cannot act”) deemed that anyone who buys an AR-15 hates children and must want more Newtown-style school shootings. This is bizarre, considering that Carrey’s pathetic motion pictures are produced (financed) by the same group of international criminals responsible for the Newtown massacre. Google “newtown libor connection” if you get bored. This was Rothschild/pharma-madness at its finest. Maybe Carrey’s next movie will be a comedy take on the story. He could play Peter Lanza on his way to testify when suddenly… Whatever it is, I will not see it. Fire Marshall Bill can take his tunes and his movies and shove em.

The EU is threatening further harsh action against Cyprus and its local banks if they do not consent to rob their customers/citizens in order to pay for political and fiscal mistakes. I hope they sell AR-15s in Cyprus. On its way here some day. Get ready now.

Another Hollywood idiot has piped up once again on guns. The grossly overweight slob, Michael Moore, opined that 90% of the guns in America are owned by scarred, racist whites in the suburbs and the country. Tubby got the numbers and the demographics about right. But, chubby, we ain’t scarred – we have the guns… Go bowl for pies.

Our first Kenyan President is getting ready to hit the road. Unfortunately, he isn’t going back home, he’s going to the suburbs and the country to harass all of us racists about our guns. Seriously, does anyone know if Our American Cousin is playing anywhere???

Ladies and Gentlemen, men still live in America! One retired Army Captain, Terry M. Hestilow, recently wrote to Sen. John Cornyn of Texas concerning DHS’s alarming weapons purchases, calling them a “glaring threat of war against our nation’s citizens.” Join with this man and prepare to defend yourselves (ain’t no cavalry coming) against the new SS!

A small village in Kenya has publicly announced that Barry Barack Hussein Sotoro Obama is, in fact, their missing idiot. They also announced we can keep him…

In other news, researchers at Georgia Tech have discovered that Microsoft Windows is really a giant computer virus. The virus was designed by its sadistic creators to give users a false sense of security, causing them to blissfully compute until the virus decides to freeze their screens or destroy their files.

Saturday Night News

23 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in News and Notes

≈ 1 Comment

Yesterday I published a good length article on Cigar Etiquette. I’ve found cigar smoking to be a great way to relax and forget about the world or, conversely, to concentrate with clarity on the problems of the day. Have a read if you care.

I did some non-blog writing today and had a good session at the gym. As of yesterday morning, I have shed 48 unsightly pounds of fat, and now weigh in at a muscular 190. I have probably burned off closer to 60 pounds but have added additional muscle weight. I haven’t felt so good in decades. I plan to revive last month’s reports on my progress in the form of a shorts series of workout and diet programs. I will also focus on ancillary mental and physical matters which go hand in hand with working out and eating right. Several of my friends are on the program and are experiencing great results. “Big Jake,” for instance, has lost a comparable amount of weight as I have; he has probably surpassed me in aerobic stamina. Join up and feel better!

The news:

While poking around the internet, I found a great, short video which compares modern Amerika to Weimar Germany in the 1920s. Set aside 7 minutes from March Madness and watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dGBpFscDzX4. Note the segment about bread prices. We ain’t seen nothing yet. It can’t happen here? They note it already has – twice. Third times the charm?

A while back I wrote a prophetic column called Don’t Lie for the Other Guy, https://perrinlovett.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/dont-lie-for-the-other-guy/, in which I warned about sleazy politicians trying to trick you into helping them obtain firearms for their police. Now it seems that police agencies around the country are really running out of ammunition. If they come to your house looking for “contributions” do not open the door!

Speaking of bullets, two were needed the other day in Brunswick, Georgia where two wild, useless savages shot and killed a 13-month old baby. If you live outside of Georgia and/or watch the major media, you probably haven’t (and won’t) hear about this. It doesn’t help their agenda. The alarm clock went off a long time ago, America. Better wake up now!

How can we be at war with al CIA-da if we’re in war with al CIA-da??? Only in the world of D.C. Believe nothing the media (government) says about Syria, Iran, or anything else.

The thieves in D.C. may be closer than ever to a budget for the first time in over three years. Thankfully for the banksters and other criminals, it mandates at least $1 Trillion in deficit spending. With budgets like this, who needs a budget? Oh yeah, that’s where we’ve been…

After you watch the above-referenced video, read this article: http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/why-is-the-world-economy-doomed-the-global-financial-pyramid-scheme-by-the-numbers. It concerns the impending collapse of the world economy. Pay attention to the “derivatives” section. Educate yourself on this problem. I have heard the bank account robberies going on in Cyprus are an attempt by the mega-bank criminals to cover their derivatives losses or pending losses. This may be the next bubble which final restores balance to the world markets – after a short depression and/or dark age. Prepare now.

Next Sunday is Easter. As Christ rose from death, so I hope that Americans will be able to rise from our current maladies and those to strike in the next few years. Perhaps I am overly optimistic.

Proper Cigar Etiquette

22 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in Other Columns

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

cigars, cutting, enjoy, George Burns, humidor, lighting, Mark Twain, men, prep, regulars, Rudyard kipling, smoke, sticks, Tops Shelf Cigars, Winston Churchill

Smoking a good cigar can be one of life’s great joys. It can also be a little intimidating for a beginner. When I started out I had to endure several long months of trial and painful error. I hope you can avoid that.

**NOTES: This article is a little long. Therefore, I’ve divided it into sections with bold caption headings. If you have a question about a particular subject, just scroll down until you see it. Of course, I think the story is worth reading in its entirety.

Also, this is a guide to proper cigar smoking, not a guide to cigars (I do briefly touch on some common elements though). My aim here is to educate readers about the how-to’s of the cigar world. I leave picking a stick to you, your imagination, and your local tobacconist.**

And now, here’s some cigar advice:

Finding a Cigar Shop

First, you need to find a good cigar shop. For an idea of what a great shop is, re-read my column in praise of my local tobacconist: Top Shelf Cigars, https://perrinlovett.wordpress.com/2013/03/03/top-shelf-cigars/. Try to emulate that, if you can.

(Where the smoke “just pours out!”)

Gas stations, drugstores, and super-markets sell cigars (some of them have a decent selection too). However, to get the most out of the experience one must venture into an establishment dedicated to the sale of tobacco – fine tobacco, not a cigarette outlet. There are also cigar outlets – avoid them if possible. You want a decent place with several hundred “facings” (types of cigars to choose from) and a comfortable lounge for smoking in (preferably complete with several happy regular customers).

In addition to places that sell food, medicine, and Marlboros, here are some other things to avoid. If you enter a shop, ask for help, and they tell you a membership or fee is required to smoke therein – leave. If the place is full of stoned-looking reprobates – leave. They are stoned and not from good tobacco. If a U.S. retailer hawks “Cuban” cigars at their shop – don’t even bother. They’re either lying or breaking the law. If you walk in and see a bunch of odd-shaped glass pipes – leave, it’s a head shop. I hate to list this one for fear of..oh heck… if the shop is populated by children, women, and/or teenagers, then it’s not going to be a good time. By and large, cigars are for men. There, I said it.

Picking the Perfect Cigar (For You)

Once you find a good shop, you need to pick out a good cigar. Any place worth its smoke will have a knowledgeable staff who can assist you with your purchase. Beginners traditionally stick with lighter, milder sticks to start with. Something strong enough for a veteran may send a newbie to the bathroom for a prayer at the porcelain altar. Beware. Also, it helps to eat something first. Go try the new hobby on a Saturday after lunch or dinner. Be prepared to devote at least an hour to the smoking alone. Picking the right stick can take a while in addition – set aside two hours to do it right. Smoking with a friend helps too though you’re likely to make friends out of the regulars. I’ve never had any trouble striking up or joining a conversation at any shop I’ve visited. Cigar enthusiasts are nice people.

(A well-stocked humidor.)

By the way, good cigars are no necessarily cheap, though not outrageously priced. Be prepared to spend at least $5-10 for a decent stick these days; boxes of 20-25 run over $100 – don’t buy boxes until you really know what you want. Good shops keep their cigars in a walk-in (or large cabinet) humidor. This is to control the temperature and humidity of the sticks. The general rule is 70/70 or seventy degrees farenheit and seventy percent relative humidity. Slight variations are acceptable. You will get used to the feel of a humidor. I can walk in and tell if everything is kosher. For the novice, look around and you will find a set of gauges somewhere. Make sure their readings are close to 70/70. If the sticks are too cold or dry they will crack and ruin the experience. If they get to warm or wet bad things can happen – remember the movie Gremlins? If their humidor is off and the staff doesn’t pre-emptively apologize and explain it’s a freak problem, you should probably move on. Also, if you inspect a stick and see little things moving on it that look like bugs, they are. Cigar beatles to be exact. Time to leave.

Speaking of appearances, you will notice immediately a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and titles. The color, texture, and dry versus oily appearance have to do with the type of tobacco and the way it is presented or manufactured. Most of these babies are hand-crafted by skilled personnel in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, or elsewhere. Some cigars are square due to being “box pressed” or formed inside a squared off mold. I don’t like those as a rule, you might love them.

Cigars are generally three parts: the “filler” is the core tobacco inside; the “binder” encases the filler; the “wrapper” is the pretty piece of tobacco on the outside. Look for a wrapper without too many visible veins (it’s a leaf after all), cracks, or other imperfections. Look for smoothness and consistency.

The shade of the tobacco is usually somewhat indicative of its “strength” or the intensity of the taste. Darker generally means full-bodied and stronger, though not always. I recommend a lighter (natural or Connecticut) wrapper cigar for starters in a medium size. Cigars are measured length by ring gauge (width). Ring gauge is a function of 64ths of an inch. Thus, a 6×60 cigar is six inches long with a diameter a little less than an inch. That’s a big cigar (I’m finishing off a GIANT 7×70 right now), go for something a bit smaller. I’ll leave size descriptions and names to the local tobacconist along with explanations of the tobacco in the stick and where it’s from.

When judging a cigar in the humidor, very gently squeeze it between your thumb and forefinger. If it’s rock hard you will have a hard time puffing and keeping it lit. Too soft and it may burn too fast. Uneven feel may mean an uneven burn and necessitate regular touch-ups with fire. Sometimes these issues can’t be avoided, even the best sticks may have a bad lot. If you have horrible problems (splitting, grossly uneven burn, or an inability to draw smoke from fire to mouth, see the owner/staff. A good shop will replace a problem stick. If they give you a hard time, it may be time to leave.

A final word about stick picking: find what you like. This will mean some experimentation. Start with general recommendations but gauge all cigars by how happy they make you. There are several major publications which rate and review cigars. These can be good sources of information. Just remember, they usually require advertising or fees for their reviews. And, they come up with some of the most convoluted taste formulas imaginable. I really never pick up on notes of pencil lead, moss, cinnamon, or garlic or whatever. I smoke for the taste of tobacco; I like what I like. Follow that rule.

A final, final word about taste: some cigars are flavored – naturally and artificially. Seasoned pros tend to shy away from these. You should too in the beginning. If you discover you love them, stick with them, and be prepared for some teasing…

Prepping the Cigar

Okay, you’ve found a comfy, friendly location and the perfect starter stick. You’re almost ready to start enjoying, but not just yet. First, you must perform a little preparation. Almost all individual cigars come wrapped in cellophane. Some come in glass or metal tubes, some come in paper boxes and some in fancy little wooden boxes. Obviously, a cigar must be extricated from its tube or box prior to lighting. So to, must a stick be freed from its cellophane. I’ve seen too many people cut the cigar while it’s still wrapped. Don’t do that, it’s just tacky. The plastic comes off easily, usually in one fluid movement although some are closed off by a little paper sticker. Just tear the sticker and open her up.

Unlike a fine wine, a fine cigar does not need to breathe before being enjoyed. It does require proper cutting and lighting though. Professionals have their own ways of accomplishing these important prerequisites as unique as they are. Many of the old hands who actually make the sticks are known to simply bite the cap (the rounded end of the wrapper) off and light with a regular old Bic lighter. That works fine and I’ve none it myself but I’m here about etiquette today, I’ll act like it.

Cigar cutters are specialized tools designed to leave a clean-cut. Punches are just that, they punch little holes in the cap for smoke to exit through. They don’t work well on tapered or pyramid type cigars. I don’t use them – personal habits. V-cutters make a …. yep, “v” shaped grove in the cap. I don’t really care for those either. I like a full opening at the end for full smoke and taste delivery. I use a guillotine cutter. This device has two semi-circular bladed that converge together to shear off the end of the cap. Some have only one blade, two generally work better. Some are scissor-like, others are pressed together in a straight line without a hinged angle, others are actually little versions of that dreaded device from the French Revolution – for cigars, not nobility. Watch your fingers, please. On a regular, rounded cap, just cut off about 1/8th of an inch; for tapered designs, try half an inch or so.

Cigars can be lit by just about any source of sufficient heat. Matches, Bics, Zippos, butane torches, camp fires, and stove elements all do the job. Most reputable shops will have a selection of modern lighters in their lounge area. Some purists shun gas-powered lighters period, claiming they impart a petroleum taste. I don’t recall ever being bothered by this, you likely won’t either; I had to mention it though. The prim and proper way to light is to use any source to first ignite a slender strip of cedar (on hand in good shops), the cedar then lights the cigar – and makes an ashy mess. They really classic way to light was taught yours truly by an old Cuban doctor for whom I had the gravest respect, it is as follows: lightly toast the foot of the cigar (open end, opposite the cap) BEFORE clipping the cap. Just char it slightly. Then cut the cap. Then light with cedar. This supposedly preps the cigar for optimum smoke-ability and flavor.

Lighting the Cigar

However you get there and whatever you use, eventually the fire will meet the leaf. “Toasting” is always a good first step to heat up the 70 degree end. Keep it light, watch carefully so that you don’t start a fire up part of the wrapper and binder. Concentrate all firepower on the foot! Speaking of, lighters these days can come with two, three, even four or five flame jets. These will light a stick instantaneously or cut steel. Beginners would do well to stick with one jet or flame for precision.

Once your cigar is adequately toasted – judged by eye, then it’s time to fire it up! Put the cool end in your mouth (don’t bite down – loose and gentle) and take a few slow, long draws while firing the other end at the same time. Rotate the cigar with your fingers while lighting in order to assure an even light. It’s quite normal for open flames to come from the end, they die out almost at once. After several turns and good puffs, take a look at the burning end. It should be red evenly across the entire foot. Touch up as needed. Be mindful to only return the cool cap end to your mouth. I’ve done it the other way and it’s not pleasant!

Smoking

Now that the little beauty is lit, you can sit back and enjoy. Take it slow and easy. I am frequently accused of huffing and puffing my sticks like the Big Bad Wolf. A quality cigar will continue to smolder for about five minutes after you draw on it. If it goes out, you are going too slow. Re-lighting can tarnish the taste with a bitter or stale flavor for a second. It’s not horrible but should be avoided. Take regular draws.

Larger sticks may require a double puff to fully extract the right amount of smoke. That smoke should be contained in the mouth. Let it circle around as you would a good wine or whiskey. As it passes over the different areas of your tongue you will taste the various elements of the tobacco. This is a genuinely delightful process. Enjoy it as you would a good massage or a great steak or other delight. The tastes may change as the cigar burns or they make remain even throughout. Blow out once the taste subsides. You can keep the stick in mouth or hold it and look at it in wonder.

(Don’t he look happy?)

Cigars are not cigarettes. Do not attempt to inhale the smoke as it is a little stronger than what you’re used to and can sear the lungs most unpleasantly. Cigars are meant to be enjoyed for their flavor. Absorb it. You will also absorb nicotine; if you find yourself dizzy, back off a little. A little buzz is fun, getting sick is not. Also, a little ash is great to look at, a large ash is looking for somewhere to fall. Dump the old ash at intervals to keep it from falling on your lap; try it every inch or so.

Ashes to Ashes

When, sadly, the cigar is done, one must part with it. Some will smoke right down to a nub, until their fingers are singed. I recommend stopping when there’s about an inch to an inch and one-half left, about where the “band” is or was. The band is the cigar’s label, usually very intricate and decorative. You may leave a band on while smoking, remove it before lighting, or take it off once the stick is going. Bands that sit too high need to be either removed or pushed down a bit. You want your lips on the leaf only. If you move or peel off the band, do so with care. The band is a paper ring, closed on itself with a little dab of glue.

Sometimes the band is really tight, sometimes a little glue gets on the leaf and secures the label in place. The glue is a natural non-toxic plant material and won’t hurt you or the cigar. However, if ripped off forcefully, it can take part of the wrapper with it. Finesse is the key here. If it doesn’t budge with ease, leave it in place. As the fire approaches it will loosen up and then is easy to remove. Do not smoke the band! Not unless you like the added taste of burned paper!

When the cigar is done, just lay it in an ashtray. Don’t try to crush it out as this can cause flare-ups and an abundance of smoke which soon grows stale and stagnant. An active cigar produces wonderful smelling smoke. You may find yourself enjoying it second-hand. Stale smoke is, well, stale.

Meet the Regulars!

While you smoke, feel free to interact with those around you. Cigar shops are always the home of interesting men of many different walks of life. Join a conversation! If you’re new, they will likely want to know all about you. Have fun and make friends!

(Join the fun!)

The shop is an ideal place to get away and enjoy your free time. Not free? Bring a little work with you. In addition to smoking and talking, men find the lounge a great place to check emails, read, or write. I’ve crafted some of my best blog columns at Top Shelf Cigars. I’ve even met clients there. Keep the phone conversations to a minimum. If you must field a call it’s best to do it outside the lounge. While friendly, regulars are not nosey and don’t care to hear you talk to the wife or the boss. It’s a shame I have to mention this, but mind your manners in shop. Rude or obnoxious behavior will not only make you a pariah, it can get you ejected as well. Remember, it’s a happy place for respectful adults. No-one likes a jerk or a know-it-all. I’ve seen idiots bounced out. Don’t be “that guy.” Once you’re “initiated” into the regulars you will find out the personality of the place – usually collegiate with lots of good-natured humor. Thin skin usually isn’t well suited for lounging!

Cigars at Home

You can, of course, enjoy your smoke in the comfort of your home. Usually, with a wife and kids, that means out back, on the porch, or in the garage. I’m in the garage right now. Take the opportunity to create your own little cigar lounge! A chair, an ashtray, a cutter and lighter is all you need. Add a little fire pit or a radio and you’re in cigar heaven.

Smoke on the Road

The car can be a great place to smoke, particularly on longer trips. Keep a window cracked or down to avoid a buildup of stale smoke and to maintain road visibility. You may need to freshen the interior up from time to time as well. Be mindful that when you smoke the smoke gets in your clothes and can stay there. The people in your upcoming meeting may not appreciate it. The taste of smoke will also linger in your mouth and on your breath. You will get used to it but brushing or a little gum or mints will go a long way towards societal interaction post smoke. Bear in mind that in the tight confines of an auto, falling ashes will make a greater mess, and one harder to clean up. Falling embers (happens with the best sticks) can mean a hole burned in your pants or shirt. Take precautions as needed.

Public Relations

Cigars can be fun just about anywhere. They make yard work less tedious. They go naturally with a fishing trip. They can help one relax at the beach or in the mountains. I love strolling along behind my family on vacations, puffing away carefree. If I do have a care, it’s not to offend the non-cigar public. Oddly, not everyone likes cigar smoke. Be mindful of others and try as best you can to shield them from what they might find offensive. Don’t go out of your way but exercise a little curtsey. All cigar lovers benefit from good public relations.

(Cigar in the park on a cool fall day. Ahhhh.)

Cigars on the Rocks (Drinks and Smokes)

In the comfort of your home man cave or the comfort of your home away from home, you may decide to pair a cigar with a suitable adult beverage. You want something that accentuates the taste of the stick, without drowning it out. Different cigars go well with different drinks – from Sprite to red wine. Usually I partake of either a dark ale or a short bit of single-malt Scotch whiskey. There’s no set formula. Again, you have to find what works best for you. As I’m typing here in the garage, I’m still smoking that beast of a 7×70. It’s a slightly stronger than average stick so I have paired it with The Duck-Rabbit’s Wee Heavy Scotch Style Ale – dark and strong (8% abv). Don’t let the drink overwhelm the smoke. A sip here and there between puffs adds a lot of enjoyment. Slamming glass after glass of 80-proof bourbon just gets you drunk – unless that’s your plan! I judge not, just offering my advice here.

Smoke Time!

Finally, I’d like to touch on when to smoke. The best answer is: whenever you feel like it and have the time. A Saturday morning cigar with coffee and the paper makes for a great time. After a long hard week, a friday night smoke is most relaxing. I know men who literally smoke from sunrise til sunset. Do what works best for you.

Conclusion

In doing your best with cigars you will join some of the greatest men in history. Mark Twain, Winston Churchill, and George Burns were avid cigar enthusiasts. Join them and your contemporaries in a great past time. Remember always your Kipling: “A good cigar is a smoke.”

(Don’t mess with Winston. Google.)

Thursday Night News

21 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by perrinlovett in News and Notes

≈ Comments Off on Thursday Night News

I posted two great articles today, both dealing with gun rights: my take on SAF’s Gun Rights Survey, https://perrinlovett.wordpress.com/2013/03/21/gun-rights-survey/, and Natural Origins of Self-Defense, https://perrinlovett.wordpress.com/2013/03/21/natural-origins-of-self-defense/. The second is the initial installment in a series which will cover in-depth the ultimate origins of the Second Amendment and its purpose for us today. Have a look if you have not already.

The idea for the survey post came to me while I was reading the questions off my morning email list. It sort of wrote itself. The series occurred to me during the Second Amendment forum I was in yesterday afternoon – many myths need to be put to rest.

There’s something like 45 drafts in the hopper on various subjects – I’ll try to put one out tomorrow. Maybe something gun-less. As usual, I’m looking for site improvements too. And now…

The news:

A crazy winter has given way to a crazy spring. Georgia is alternating hot and cold, with plenty of sunshine, rain, and POLLEN. I hope it subsides soon, at least by Easter or Masters time. Yello duff mabe por bab neathing…

I am happy to hear that Homeland SS Reichsfuhrer Janet “Himmler” Napolitano will soon be reading this blog! She will also be reading everything else….everything. Careful what you say. She’s the 1.5 Billion bullet “woman.” PS: from the other day, she ain’t telling Congress nothin.

SPECIAL, EXCLUSIVE ALERT!!! Senator Dianne Feinstink, having lost her recent bid to disarm America, has announced her immediate retirement. “I’m too big of a loser even for Washington.” the old hag croaked… Okay, Perrin dreams – it is getting close to bedtime.