Current Cigar and Non Cigar trends that make you go "What the Hell?"

[Orion21]

Where I live the milk producers are a cooperative and sell their milk to Lucerne, Shamrock etc. In talking to this dairy farmer he said since we don't have grazing land, like in Oregon or Vermont the cow are hay fed and supplemented. They aren't jacked up with growth hormones or anti-biotics. I was shocked at how the farm barely smelled as well. The farmer said that was do to proper cleaning of the area where the cows live. He said if you go to a farm of any kind where they raise live stock and it smells to high heaven beware. The farmers aren't cleaning the pens etc properly or as often as they should.

I get the attraction of "organic" milk, but the fact remains the organic label is a marketing tool. Even the Wiki I was sent said the basis for what is considered organic is based on where you live. So XYZ county could have a completely different definition vs ABC country. The fact remains that in my view, again my personal opinion, there is no factual reason people should be paying $5-$7 per gallon of milk for ultra-pasteurized and processed "organic" milk. Getting your milk directly from the farm or buying raw is completely different than mass produced organic milk you buy at the supermarket.

[Fugu]

Even the Wiki I was sent said the basis for what is considered organic is based on where you live. So XYZ county could have a completely different definition vs ABC country.

That's absolutely true, and even within one country you usually have different lables which are working to different "organic" standards. But that still doesn't make organic "evil".

The fact remains that in my view, again my personal opinion, there is no factual reason people should be paying $5-$7 per gallon of milk for ultra-pasteurized and processed "organic" milk. Getting your milk directly from the farm or buying raw is completely different than mass produced organic milk you buy at the supermarket.

Absolutely, and you will have noticed that I didn't take sides for either (as I am a "conventional" consumer anyway). But I say - check out the product you are buying.

And yes, I absolutely agree with you, ultra-heating kills any milk. I'd always prefer a low-pasteurized (70°C) conventional milk over a ultra-sterilized, dead organic one (wasn't aware that such is in fact existing).

[joeypots]

Short fat cigars.

Ridiculous, distracting electronics in autos.

[Lotusguy]

That's absolutely true, and even within one country you usually have different lables which are working to different "organic" standards. But that still doesn't make organic "evil".

Absolutely, and you will have noticed that I didn't take sides for either (as I am a "conventional" consumer anyway). But I say - check out the product you are buying.

And yes, I absolutely agree with you, ultra-heating kills any milk. I'd always prefer a low-pasteurized (70°C) conventional milk over a ultra-sterilized, dead organic one (wasn't aware that such is in fact existing).

The organic milk that I buy is not ultra-processed at all. Maybe it's just my county. Check out Strauss Farms. The taste alone justifies a $5 premium - easily.

[Orion21]

The organic milk that I buy is not ultra-processed at all. Maybe it's just my county. Check out Strauss Farms. The taste alone justifies a $5 premium - easily.

The only difference between the milk you are buying from Strauss Farm and the XYZ brand at Safeway is the way it's pasteurized and the fact that it's non-homogenized. Local farmers in California are the suppliers of the regular milk you could buy. Yes, most likely their cows don't graze in the hills of Marin County and are raised on dairy farms along the I-5, but the product they are producing is almost identical. If the milk tastes that much better to you I support you supporting a local producer. My main issue revolves around those people who buy the "organic" milk blindly because they think it's more healthy. The point is that there is no zero research that shows this.

Also, the theory, of buying non-homogenized milk vs homogenized milk is also just that - a theory. Nothing has ever been studied or proven that one is better than the other. But since my family drinks a gallon of milk every week and a half I'll keep supporting my local dairy farmers vs out of state dairys that produce the most popular "organic" milks.

[Fugu]

But since my family drinks a gallon of milk every week and a half I'll keep supporting my local dairy farmers vs out of state dairys that produce the most popular "organic" milks.

Ok, but that's a structural problem of your particular market, not a failure of the organic concept per se. Here, for instance, I can quite easily get both fresh locally. In your case, I'd do the same as you do.

Well let's not get into milk market politics....

[Orion21]

Ok, but that's a structural problem of your particular market, not a failure of the organic concept per se. Here, for instance, I can quite easily get both fresh locally. In your case, I'd do the same as you do.

Well let's not get into milk market politics....

I only drink my milk from cows raised by Republicans and only eat cheese produced by Democrats!

[El Guero]

I really want to contribute and have a whinge, but nothing really surprises me these days.

Maybe it's a generational thing.

^This. Nothing's shocking.

[Lotusguy]

The only difference between the milk you are buying from Strauss Farm and the XYZ brand at Safeway is the way it's pasteurized and the fact that it's non-homogenized. Local farmers in California are the suppliers of the regular milk you could buy. Yes, most likely their cows don't graze in the hills of Marin County and are raised on dairy farms along the I-5, but the product they are producing is almost identical. If the milk tastes that much better to you I support you supporting a local producer. My main issue revolves around those people who buy the "organic" milk blindly because they think it's more healthy. The point is that there is no zero research that shows this.

Also, the theory, of buying non-homogenized milk vs homogenized milk is also just that - a theory. Nothing has ever been studied or proven that one is better than the other. But since my family drinks a gallon of milk every week and a half I'll keep supporting my local dairy farmers vs out of state dairys that produce the most popular "organic" milks.

It is impossible for me to buy from a local farm. There is no dairy farm within 30 miles of where I live - this is Silicon Valley. Strauss or similar are the next best thing. And the difference is absolutely noticeable.

[CdnLimitada]

Organic Milk:

OK, so you want "healthy" milk for your kids? Organic you say? It must be Organic or it's got nasty stuff in it like growth hormones and antibiotics from the cows you say? Wrong! Organic milk is ultra processed food. I had a discussion with a dairy farmer recently and he said the whole thing is rubbish! He said the best milk is the freshest locally produced milk you can find. All dairy farms have to keep their cows health, so treating sick animals is required by law. Most dairy farms will isolate and treat sick cows until health and dump their milk. Antibiotics will then pass through their system within 72 hours of treatment. This whole myth of treating cows that get sick and it contaminating the milk is hogwash. Also, in the USA there is no prescribed/enforced definitions of what "Organic" milk actually is.

In reality Organic milk is highly processed ultra pasteurized milk that the producers have successfully convinced many people is "healthier" than normal milk. Mainly through marketing! I pride myself on eating as little processed food as possible and Organic milk happens to be the most processed form of milk you can buy for one simple reason. It must stay fresh while it's shipped all over the country. Case in point, my state has no dairy farms that call themselves "Organic," so all of the "Organic" milk in the supermarkets here is shipped in from out of state. This is the reason it is ultra-pasteurized and processed . . . so it won't go bad as quickly. So in essence if you buy "Organic" milk you are paying $5-$7 per gallon for highly processed pseudo-healthy milk - when you could be paying $1.79 - $2.99 for fresher less processed milk.

Let me guess, this dairy farmer was not an organic dairy farmer? Sounds a little like a NC cigar manufacturer saying that Cuban seed and rolling methods are all sub par and the whole "Cuban cigars are the best" is rubbish.

[earthson]

Cigar: Cuban ring gauges mimicking the behemoth trend of non cubans. A 60 rg cigar to celebrate Cohiba's 50th!? So much for the finesse and elegance of the world's best cigars.

Non cigar: Right-wing religious bigots who act like they're standing up for liberty by restricting the freedoms and rights of others. These are the very assholes who would join al-quaeda if it was a Xtian organization.

[triplet]

Not a big fan of the tiny cigars that premium companies are making....Davidoff Nicaragua cigarillo.

Boom in fruity beers and ones that taste of vanilla extract

[zeedubbya]

Cigar: Old fart aficianados with palates destroyed by "as much ligero as we can stuff in there, wrapped with 100 ligero leaves" NCs getting bent out of shape because the efffing Monte 2 they smoked in the 19 whatever's is different than the Monte 2 now. Of course it is! It's a DIFFERENT DECADE! You're a different person.

Non Cigar--1.) Men who own a Prius. I would just like to know what possessed you to go to a lot, test drive that car, and determine it was worthy of your hard earned money. Don't get me wrong, it's probably the most rational car purchase one could make (nope couldn't say that with a straight face--I tried), but is there something else at work here? I'm shocked everytime I see one-if not the 'Stang or Diesel Dually couldn't you have just gotten the Corolla or a nice SUV of some sort?

2.) Stress. We all likely have it but do we have to talk about it sooooo much! Puhlease. I sent a guy home from work a month ago for insobordination and he texts me later that he was sorry he seemed so stressed and that he hoped I didnt feel challenged or stressed myself. I let him know where we stood, and reassured him I was fine and continuing my duties unfazed.

EDIT TO ADD: If a man smoking a Monte 2 came to me complaining about how stressed he was over his cigar not tasting right that he bought a Prius my head would likely explode right then and there. Kaboom!

[CanuckSARTech]

... how youth, young people in general (not all), many who consider themselves 'edgy, different and anti-establishment' align themselves with the oldest of failed socio-political systems in the world, renamed and rebranded, where the few elites rule the majority of serfs.

Even fat cigars are acceptable by comparison!

-Piggy

[Pharmacovigilant]

Diet soda. Tastes like crap and makes you fat. Just take a sip...

Taste buds to brain: "Mmm...Sweet!"

Subconscious brain hollars down to pancreas: "Yo!! ****-ton of sweet glucose on the way, kick out some of that insulin, Stat!"

Pancreas: "Okey dokey smokey, You da boss!"

Insulin molecules: "WTF?? Can't believe it - no ****-ton of sugar? Oh well, now that we're here, let's take the sugar that was hanging around prior to this false alarm and use it to lay down another layer of belly fat. It's our job after all, and not that the sugar was sustaining baseline metabolism or anything."

Conscious brain (following the unplanned immediate dip in blood sugar): "Whoa! I'm starved! I need to sit down (locates nearest couch). Hey, You gonna eat those chips? I'm starving here! I can certainly afford it, after all, I just had a diet soda that tasted like crap."

[CanuckSARTech]

Diet soda. Tastes like crap and makes you fat. Just take a sip...

Taste buds to brain: "Mmm...Sweet!"

Subconscious brain hollars down to pancreas: "Yo!! ****-ton of sweet glucose on the way, kick out some of that insulin, Stat!"

Pancreas: "Okey dokey smokey, You da boss!"

Insulin molecules: "WTF?? - no ****-ton of sugar? Oh well, now that we're here, let's take the sugar that was hanging around prior to this false alarm and use it to lay down another layer of belly fat, not that it was sustaining baseline metabolism or anything."

Conscious brain (following the unplanned dip in blood sugar): "I'm starved! I need to sit down (locates nearest couch). Hey, You gonna eat those chips? I can certainly afford it, after all I just had a diet soda that tasted like crap."

LOL. Awesomeness.

[Zigatoh]

That diet drink makes you fat stuff doesn't seem to have been proven, nor has the mechanism you describe. Though the sweet tooth theory sounds plausible.

http://www.m.webmd.com/diet/features/diet-sodas-and-weight-gain-not-so-fast

[Deodato]

“Not only am I intolerant to gluten, I'm also intolerant to people who can tolerate gluten.

This video is certified gluten free…”

[Jeremy Festa]

“Not only am I intolerant to gluten, I'm also intolerant to people who can tolerate gluten.

This video is certified gluten free…”

That was fantastic

[GrouchoM]

Faux Facebook cigar club members, who purchase tons of premium cigars at inflated prices to display and when they do post a picture of smoking one, its unraveling or they're smoking through the band.

Non-cigar: people who are so engrossed in portable devices they tune out the world around them at the risk of their own safety. An MMA fighter was hit and killed by a Range Rover recently after he didn't see nor hear it due the headphones of his portable device.

[Miller1985]

Cigars... Yes, the larger ring gauges. I may be ignorant, but if I have to "come out" in order to smoke it... I won't do it.

Non-cigar... Anything that has to do with the "pansying" of us as a society. I grew up rolling in the dirt, drinking non-organic milk, mowing grass, with a skinned up knee on a consistent basis. I was covered in dust and dirt when I came in for dinner in the evening.I can't for the life of me understand why people think that all these "organic" regulations for all of our lives is going to make us healthier. Go out and play some ball in the grass, get the crap beat out of you by your older brother, eat a bug "just because you wonder what it tastes like", get off your butt on the couch... I promise you'll be healthier, and happier. And no, I'm not old, I'm only thirty.

[Mattygukas]

Cigars; the current trend to vilify cigar smokers and the limitation / eradication of available places one can go indoors to have a nice cigar with a drink.

Non-Cigars; miserable bastages that go ape-**** over valid price increases on various luxury items and attempt to be abusive to show their displeasure. These same malcontents are typically driving Benzes, Porsches, Hummers, etc. Like to turn Ozzy Man loose on 'em!

I agree and have a Porsche

(Although I do correct people when they pronounce Porsche incorrectly...sorry it's a persons name)

[Philski]

Cigars: wouldn't care less about the fatter/shorter trend, except that it seems to have caused the deletion of many old classics.

Non-cigars: Offence. People everywhere seem to be getting offended by anything and everything - I'm not talking about the nasty stuff like (genuine) racism and death threats, but mild, everyday irritations that a normal adult can either rise above or pity. People getting prosecuted for clearly jovial/tongue in cheek comments. When it becomes a criminal act to cause any offence at all, there's a good chance I'll go postal.

[hedgeybaby]

On 5/2/2016 at 11:44 PM, PigFish said:

... how youth, young people in general (not all), many who consider themselves 'edgy, different and anti-establishment' align themselves with the oldest of failed socio-political systems in the world, renamed and rebranded, where the few elites rule the majority of serfs.

Even fat cigars are acceptable by comparison!

-Piggy

Nail, head, hit.