Interesting Opinions On Cigars From Recent Survey

According to a recent survey by the ASC (alt.smokers.cigars) the following results were obtained from a recent online survey of cigar smokers:

86% of cigar smokers report that they do not inhale.

The average number of cigars smoked per week is 6.74 at and average price of $4.34

The best individual cigars were the Romeo y Julieta Churchill(Cuba) with 8 votes, the Cohiba Esplendido(Cuba) and Montecristo(Cuba) each with 7 votes, and rounding out the top five were the AF Flor Fina and the AF Hemmingway Signature both from the Dominican Republic with 5 votes each

The best cigar brands overall were A. Fuente from Dominican Republic with 15 votes, A. Fuente Hemmingway(DR) with 12 votes, the always popular and internationally known Cohiba from Cuba with 12 votes, Excalibur by HdM of Honduras, and in 5th La Gloria Cubana from the United States.

The worst cigars were Phillies, Swisher Sweets, Habana Golds, White Owl, Te-Amo, Dutch Masters, Hav-A-Tampa, El Producto, Garcia y Vega, H Upmann, Hoyo/Excalibur, and King Edward.

According to the survey the 10 most popular cigar smoking celebrities are George Burns in first place, followed by David Letterman in second, then Arnold Schwarzenegger in third, Groucho Marx fourth, Rush Limbaugh fifth, Tom Selleck sixth, Bill Cosby seventh, Jack Nicholson eighth, Winston Churchill ninth, and the character Cosmo Kramer from Seinfeld tenth.

The favorite cutting methods were the guillotine, Bulls Eye, and the V-Cut respectively.

The two most popular methods of lighting the cigar were the butane lighter at 51% and wooden matches at 33%.

According to those surveyed 47% said that they smoked a wide variety of cigars while 38% reported smoking their favorites and testers.

Most reported their reason for smoking cigars was relaxation, followed by “makes me light headed” and enjoyment of smoking.

The length of time the responders had been smoking cigars ranged from newcomer to over 40 years with the average being 7.2 years.

49% of those surveyed said they bought both boxes and singles, 34% bought only single cigars and 17% bought only boxes.

44% of the surveyed cigar smokers bought their cigars locally while 42% bought locally and mail order, and 14% through mail order only.

Of those with a humidor they had an average of 162 cigars in the humidor and at an average total value of $250 with most of the cigars coming from Dominica, Honduras, Cuba, and Nicaragua.

According to the survey 88% said they would smoke Cuban cigars on a regular basis if it were not for the United States ban and their opinion about Fidel Castro was pretty even with 53% saying that they had no opinion about him and 45% being Anti-Castro. 43% said they thought the Cuban Embargo would be lifted by 2009.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. Get great quality cigars at http://www.cubancigarsplus.com

Tongat Ali For Male Sexual Enhancement

Tongat Ali is an herbal supplement that is used as a sexual stimulant. Never heard of it? Don’t feel bad you are in good company; it is still not widely known about.

Tongat Ali, like yohimbine is a plant based sexual stimulant and like the Yohimbe plant the Tongat Ali is becoming hard to find especially since it is now protected from harvest by law in Malaysia which is the original source of the Tongat Ali extract. The extract when taken in an optimum dosage greatly increases levels of free testosterone and enhances libido and sexual function far better than the aforementioned yohimbine.

Even though the Tongat Ali plant is protected in Malaysia herbal suppliers there have been aggressively marketing the product in the United States using scientific studies that boast of the testosterone enhancing properties of the product. Due to the increased demand and decreasing availability of the plant prices have skyrocketed and counterfeits have begun to appear and like yohimbe most of the Tongat Ali found on the market now are basically worthless with nowhere near the amount of active ingredient needed to be effective therefore if you want to be sure you are indeed getting a pure source have it shipped directly to you from Indonesia.

Customarily, Tongkat Ali has been a botanical found throughout Southeast Asia where In Vietnam it is regarded a cure for everything. In the sex-crazy country of Thailand, it has been used by men as a virility tonic for centuries. And in Malaysia, it has been harvested heavily primarily to be sold in the United States (apart from being used at home).

But Tongkat Ali, just like Yohimbe is a slow-growing shrub, and besides that, the active ingredient is found for the most part in the root. The root, which grows deep into poor hard soil, is very difficult to extract. Large holes must be dug to extract them and therefore in Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, they have now started using the stems and branches of the shrub, instead of relying on the root. Just as there is nearly no yohimbine in the barks of pausinystalia species other than pausinystalia yohimbe, there are almost no active ingredients in tongkat ali stem and branches (the active ingredients are part of the root).

Fact is that almost all the Tongkat Ali that is brought into the U.S. is under dosed at a factor of up to 1000. For example, capsules may contain 50 milligram of root powder, when the therapeutic dosage would be the extract of 50 gram (50,000 milligram).

But on the northern tip of Sumatra (Aceh province of Indonesia) where the Tsunami occurred there still exist forests with a large areas of Tongkat Ali coverage. Tongkat ali from the Indonesia Aceh province can be purchased in wholesale and retail quantities from Sumatra Pasak Bumi.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For more on
sexual stimulants go to http://www.sexualenhancementplus.com

A Closer Look At Yohimbe

As a bodybuilder I have probably tried just about every natural testosterone enhancing product available for enhancing muscle growth, the side effect of many of these products is enhanced sexual performance as well. There are also some side effects that are unwanted, such as heart palpitations and insomnia. In this article I want to look closer at Yohimbe.

Yohimbe has been used for years by bodybuilders for muscular enhancement but it has also been used as a sexual enhancement due to its inherent ability to produce erections, in fact it is probably the best product available for that.

Yohimbe is named for the bark of the Yohimbe tree but the actual active ingredient is an alkaloid called yohimbine which is responsible for the actual effects. You get the benefits of Yohimbe from eating a significant amount of the bark or from the prescription medicine named after yohimbine.

Unfortunately, the very qualities that make yohimbine such a strong supplement for sexual enhancement also contribute to its weaknesses. Yohimbine does not affect only the sexual and muscular systems of the body, the effects are systemic for the entire body resulting in irregular heartbeat and insomnia for as long as 30 hours after even using just a small amount of yohimbine making it worse for sleep than 20 cups of coffee.

Never happened to you? That’s probably because the majority of Yohimbe supplements on the market today are comprised of tiny amounts of the yohimbine alkaloid and are therefore devoid of any benefits.

Authentic Yohimbe bark is acquired in large quantities by the pharmaceutical industry and is used to make prescription yohimbine tablets. The Yohimbe supplements sold in most health food stores contain almost no yohimbine.

Due to the popularity of the product the Yohimbe plants are becoming more and more rare and hard to find. The reason for this is mainly due to the fact that the harvesting of the bark kills the tree and it takes over 10 years for a tree to grow to harvesting size.

If you are looking for true yohimbine be sure that it is pharmaceutical grade.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For sexual enhancement products go to http://www.sexualenhancementplus.com

Hot Stock Picks for this Week

I outperformed every investment advisor last year (287% return on all combined investments) and every year for the past five years (over 800% return over 5 years). Here are my top picks for this week.

LightPath Technologies, Inc. (LPTH)
Industry: Semiconductor Equipment & Materials
Results/returns: up 43% this week.

Adolor Corporation (ADLR)
Industry: Drug manufacturer
Results/returns: up 37.6% this week and up 9.56% today alone!

Rediff India Limited (REDF)
Industry: Internet information provider
Results/returns: up 34% this week.

Piedmont Natural Gas (PNY)
Industry: Natural gas/energy
Results/returns: up 25% in the last 3 months, a hefty dividend, and a very safe bet – over 25 years of great history!

Cross Timbers Oil Co. (XTO)
Industry: Oil/energy
Results returns: up 1000% in the past 5 years. Better returns then Exxon Mobil (XOM) and a great performer with a great track record. Get in while its still cheap.

Choice Hotels Intl Inc(CHH)
Industry: Hotel/restaurant
Results/earnings: up 45% in the past 3 months. Up 3% today. Solid performer and recession resilient – people will always need hotels and take vacations. Pays a solid dividend and is a great addition to any portfolio.

American Home Mtg Invt Corp(AHM)
Industry: Mortgages
Results/earnings: up 1.5% today and cheap to buy right now – it is at a year low right now and is a very solid company, solid performer and will do very well in the weeks and even year to come. Big dividend makes this a good stock to just hold onto for many years.

Popular Inc. (BPOP)
Industry: banking
Results/earnings: This one is down today a little, but is the largest latino bank and is prime for a takeover. It pays steady dividends and will do you right in the longhaul.

iShares:S&P SC 600 Idx (IJR)
Industry: diverse index fund
Results/earnings: Up 20% since December. Even pays a dividend and very solid performance.

There you have it. A well diversified group of stocks that no investor will beat. Best thing is I didn’t charge you a penny, just do me the favor of helping me promote my websites below. Pass this article along so it will help others. It all starts with you – I took the time to help you, now please pass this around so others can benefit too.

David Maillie holds numerous patents including his recently awarded patent for headlight cleaner and restorer. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.mdwholesale.com or by visiting http://www.bestskinpeel.com.

How Herbs Can Harm You And Things To Avoid

Herbs are good medicine. There is no doubt about that fact. However, there are over 300,000 higher plant species. A good herbalist may know of one or two thousand of them. This means that even an experienced herbalist can make mistakes. Let’s take a look at some of the most common problems.

Pregnant women should avoid barberry root bark, cascara sagrada, feverfew, juniper berries, mugwort, pennyroyal, pokeroot, rue, senna, southernwood, tansy, thuja and wormwood. All of those herbs can increased a risk for miscarriage. Safe herbs during pregnancy would be Manna, Butternut Bark or Root, Flax Seed, Slippery Elm and Lemon Verbena.

No matter what herb(s) you are taking, be mindful of anything unexpected. Stop taking whatever it is and consult an expert you can trust. Make certain you have the correct diagnosis. Diagnosis is not easy and sometimes doctors make mistakes. Generally, however, a doctor is much better equipped to diagnose. Discuss any planned herbal discipline you plan to undertake with your physician.

Watch for any allergic reactions. Even though you may have never had any allergies in the past, if you are embarking on an herbal journey, watch carefully for any adverse reactions. If you experience difficulty in breathing within 30 minutes of trying a new herb, food or drug, call 911 immediately! You may be having an anaphylactic reaction which is the most severe form of allergic reaction. This condition can quickly become fatal unless treated promptly. This reaction is rare, but you need to be careful and be aware.

Watch for any interactions. Medicines often interact negatively with one another. So do herbs. Always be careful when taking more than one drug or herb or a combination of both. If you suspect an interaction consult your physician or pharmacist.

One interaction that you should be aware of is Antidepressants known as monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. They interact badly with wine, cheese and many other foods. St. John’s Wort is also an MAO inhibitor so the same food restrictions apply. If you plan on using St. John’s Wort, discuss it with your physician or pharmacist.

Lastly, make certain that both your physician AND your herbalist are fully aware of all medications and/or herbal treatments you are using.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For great natural supplements go to http://www.seasilveretc.com

Take Care Of Your Skin From The Inside Out

What if you were told that there was a way to make your skin healthier, younger looking aside from these methods? A method that does not include scalpels, suctions, topical solutions and others? Wouldn’t it be great? Alas, you might say, it hasn’t happened yet, maybe some day in the far-off future. But what if you were told that it was possible even today. Would you flip?

The wonder being talked about here is the wonder that has always been there – your body. Your body has the ability to regulate itself, supply nutrients to various organs such as the skin and generally give it a healthy glow.

The body also has the capability of improving how the skin looks. It can make the skin more supple, radiant, healthy, and youthful looking. Taking care of the body from the inside out has been grossly underrated. Caring for the skin in this way will result in a more natural glow. This method of skin care in conjunction with other skin treatments will result in the optimal skin care.

If this is the case, then why doesn’t it do that exact same thing to everyone, you may ask. Various factors will impair the body’s ability to do – bad diet, smoking, stress, lack of sleep and other factors make the skin that old, scaly, thing many people see in front of the mirror.

But wait, there’s hope! With proper nutrition, proper care and maintenance, you can help your body improve your skin’s health and appearance.

Think of it like this. Let’s say you have a green plant, and you don’t water it for sometime, and neglect to give it fertilizer, and plant it on poor soil, won’t the leaves wither and dry up? The same can be said about one’s health in general and the skin in particular.

The exciting thing here is that it is becoming increasingly evident that it is not only what you apply on your skin that improves it, but what you put into your body as well. Studies are showing that vitamins, minerals, water, exercise and rest all play an important part in improving skin.

Experts say that the skin is the benchmark for the body’s health. Healthy skin also an indicator of good health, so taking good care of your body not only gives you great skin but give you good health in general.

To improve skin health, it would do well to take note of the following factors.

Vitamins and Minerals
There is a dearth of good nutrition on the market, and it is getting increasingly hard to get the necessary vitamins and minerals from what the average American eats. Vitamin supplements may help in this regard. Scientists are discovering how increasingly important the vitamins C, E, A, K, and B complex are to skin health. Being able to absorb these vitamins through diet and supplements will improve skin health a great deal.

Water
Dehydration results in scaly, coarse, and unhealthy skin. Water also helps flush out toxins in the body. These toxins could cause a variety of skin conditions and could very well spell skin doom for most people.

Exercise
The benefits of exercise have been understated. Exercise can benefit the body and the skin a lot. Since exercise has the effect of improving circulation, this improved circulation benefits the organs of the body. And since the skin is the largest organ, it benefits greatly from exercise. Good circulation helps bring more blood and nutrients to the skin. It also facilitates the removal of waste and toxins, resulting in a better skin health.

Rest
Stress and lack of rest have a telling effect on the skin. The body needs rest to repair and rejuvenate skin cells. If the body does not get this rest the skin generally appears pallid and contributes to a haggard look. Also the bags that form beneath the eyes due to water retention, give the person a zombified look. Lack of sleep has also been pinned as one cause of acne.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida. Get gourmet popcorn at http://www.gourmetpopcorngifts.com

Get Your Own Putting Green

No, not just a color in your Crayola Box, it is now possible to have your own private putting green in your own yard. For the avid golfer it might seem like a dream come true to have your own green. Do they know what is involved? Let’s look at some facts.

Greens are expensive to build and need special maintenance. If you are determined to have one then we will fill you in on some facts. The first thing you ought to know is that taking care of greens will need a great deal of work. One of the first items to be considered is drainage. To maintain a green in good putting condition, the water has to be able to drain off properly. It does need to be watered, but in watering, it also should be well drained. If you want to have your own green, you should be able to spot disease, insect problems, and fertility issues. One thunderstorm can tell you if you have enough drainage. Some greens need to be surrounded by perforated pipes to carry the water to a distance away from the green or to a private stream.

Seeding is a problem, knowing what seed to plant for your location and making it look great is another problem. If you consider using sod, you should know that it is expensive. Seeded greens have to be pampered while the grass is taking hold. There is a fine line between waiting too long to mow and weakening the turf, making it open to blight, and mowing it too soon. The grass could be so young and tender that a regular mower will mash it down.

Green mowers are also an important cost factor to consider. New mowers can cost $5000 or more and used mowers are known to be priced as high as $1000. Toro makes a special mower just for greens.

Controlling such diseases as pythium, sod webworm and cut worm as well as algae and moss has to be done consistently. Regular treatment needs to be applied and if a treatment is missed, you could find your green overrun by disease in the space of one week.

Building a green can be done either by USGA specifications or by using less expensive material and less elaborate drainage designs. USGA specifications can make the cost of your green anywhere from $20,000 to $80,000. A good design is one where the green is above the surrounding lawn area with sandy loam topsoil. It also requires about a one-percent slope for satisfactory drainage. Many experts also recommend an irrigation system so you won’t have the inconvenience of watering the green by hand.

What grass do you want for you own backyard green? Again that is going to depend on where you are located. You have to consider if you are in the warm season zone or the cool season zone. There are many basic grasses that are used on nearly any golf course and there are also grasses that have been specifically developed for golf courses.

In the cooler climate, these seeds are suggested for your green. For one hole of golf, in the tee areas it is recommended that you use bentgrass while roughs and fairways require bluegrass. Hazards can also be planted with rough bluegrass and other ground covers.

In the southern or warmer zone, the recommendations are as follows. Tee areas should use Hybrid Bermuda, for fairways Bermuda, Ryegrass, and Zoysia is recommended. Roughs require Bahias, St. Augustine, Common Bermuda, and Ryegrasses.

Another question that you will need to answer is; do I need a special lawn mower? A standard rotary motor is not the right mower for keeping a green. It is important that you use a mower that pinches off the grass rather than chopping it. Look around for the best deal on these mowers.

Maintenance time should not be so time-consuming that you can’t enjoy your private putting green. It can give you hours of enjoyment and practice in the comfort of your backyard and if you especially enjoy gardening, it will be well worth the effort. Landscaping and preserving a golf green can be fun and relaxing, and you have the added benefit of being able to improve your game at home instead of going to a course to practice.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For custom golf club sets go to http://www.customgolfclubsets.com

Get Your Own Putting Green

No, not just a color in your Crayola Box, it is now possible to have your own private putting green in your own yard. For the avid golfer it might seem like a dream come true to have your own green. Do they know what is involved? Let’s look at some facts.

Greens are expensive to build and need special maintenance. If you are determined to have one then we will fill you in on some facts. The first thing you ought to know is that taking care of greens will need a great deal of work. One of the first items to be considered is drainage. To maintain a green in good putting condition, the water has to be able to drain off properly. It does need to be watered, but in watering, it also should be well drained. If you want to have your own green, you should be able to spot disease, insect problems, and fertility issues. One thunderstorm can tell you if you have enough drainage. Some greens need to be surrounded by perforated pipes to carry the water to a distance away from the green or to a private stream.

Seeding is a problem, knowing what seed to plant for your location and making it look great is another problem. If you consider using sod, you should know that it is expensive. Seeded greens have to be pampered while the grass is taking hold. There is a fine line between waiting too long to mow and weakening the turf, making it open to blight, and mowing it too soon. The grass could be so young and tender that a regular mower will mash it down.

Green mowers are also an important cost factor to consider. New mowers can cost $5000 or more and used mowers are known to be priced as high as $1000. Toro makes a special mower just for greens.

Controlling such diseases as pythium, sod webworm and cut worm as well as algae and moss has to be done consistently. Regular treatment needs to be applied and if a treatment is missed, you could find your green overrun by disease in the space of one week.

Building a green can be done either by USGA specifications or by using less expensive material and less elaborate drainage designs. USGA specifications can make the cost of your green anywhere from $20,000 to $80,000. A good design is one where the green is above the surrounding lawn area with sandy loam topsoil. It also requires about a one-percent slope for satisfactory drainage. Many experts also recommend an irrigation system so you won’t have the inconvenience of watering the green by hand.

What grass do you want for you own backyard green? Again that is going to depend on where you are located. You have to consider if you are in the warm season zone or the cool season zone. There are many basic grasses that are used on nearly any golf course and there are also grasses that have been specifically developed for golf courses.

In the cooler climate, these seeds are suggested for your green. For one hole of golf, in the tee areas it is recommended that you use bentgrass while roughs and fairways require bluegrass. Hazards can also be planted with rough bluegrass and other ground covers.

In the southern or warmer zone, the recommendations are as follows. Tee areas should use Hybrid Bermuda, for fairways Bermuda, Ryegrass, and Zoysia is recommended. Roughs require Bahias, St. Augustine, Common Bermuda, and Ryegrasses.

Another question that you will need to answer is; do I need a special lawn mower? A standard rotary motor is not the right mower for keeping a green. It is important that you use a mower that pinches off the grass rather than chopping it. Look around for the best deal on these mowers.

Maintenance time should not be so time-consuming that you can’t enjoy your private putting green. It can give you hours of enjoyment and practice in the comfort of your backyard and if you especially enjoy gardening, it will be well worth the effort. Landscaping and preserving a golf green can be fun and relaxing, and you have the added benefit of being able to improve your game at home instead of going to a course to practice.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For custom golf club sets go to http://www.customgolfclubsets.com

How To Sell Collectibles On Ebay

Yes, collectibles! Collectibles are where eBay started, and they’re still one of its biggest areas – however much they might want you to believe they’re not. eBay’s most hardcore and long-time users are almost all collectors of something or other – it is quite common to post what you think is a mundane item, only to have collectors suddenly go to war over it because it is somehow linked to something they collect.

Collectors are the people on eBay who really do pay top-dollar for things that seem like junk to you and I – not to mention to the people you’ll be getting your stock from! That’s why you can make so much profit on collectibles. Here are a few tips.

Go to people’s homes. People’s homes are full of things that someone out there collects – they are the best and cheapest source of collectibles out there. Sure, you might find something if you hang around at enough garage sales, but you’d have competition. Getting invited to people’s homes to look around should be a dream for you, and one you’re doing your best to make a reality.

Buy on other auction sites. You’ll be surprised how much money you can make if you buy the collectibles that people sell on smaller auction sites like Yahoo Auctions, and then list it on eBay. These sellers will often be perfectly knowledgeable about their item, but simply getting a lower price because they serve a smaller marketplace. Sometimes you can almost double your money.

List in non-collectible categories. If your collectible doesn’t have a category of its own under ‘collectibles’, you might prefer to list it in a category that has something to do with the item but nothing to do with collecting. What you will often find is that people browsing a category for their favourite thing will pay more for your collectible than actual collectors would.

Do lots of research. Never list something you think might be valuable without searching and searching to dig up every piece of information you can on it. Everything you find out is likely to be useful when you come to list it.

List every tiny, tiny detail. Remember that collectors really care about the most seemingly insignificant things. An item from one year can be worth thousands while the one from the year before is near-worthless, or an item that is one shade of a colour can be worth far more than one of a subtly different shade. It’s not worth puzzling over and it’s not worth trying to pass your items off as something they’re not – just make sure you put absolutely everything you know in the description.

When you are listing items that require close research and description down to the tiniest detail, however, don’t be tempted to steal someone else’s work! Whatever you do, don’t take another seller’s description and try to pass it off as your own, as this could have all sorts of consequences for you. Our next email gives you a guide to eBay’s policy on ‘description theft’.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For a great selection of fine collectible gifts go to http://www.collectiblegiftsplus.com

Some Ideas For Irish Gifts

We are only a few weeks away from the hugely popular St. Patrick’s Day celebration of March 15th. St. Patrick, for those who do not know was the Saint known for ridding Ireland of snakes according to legend. The holiday is celebrated all over the world, indeed even in my area in the town of Pensacola, Florida the St. Patrick’s Day celebration is one of the largest in the world.

There is a saying that “there’s a little Irish in all of us” and since the time of Irish immigrants coming into the United States there has been an enormous interest in Irish culture in the country.

In this day and age with the advent of the internet there is a pressure sometimes to buy what we want straight from the source via a website, in this case from Ireland. Due to the fact that Americans have adopted St. Patrick’s Day, someone in the U.S. can get Irish gifts within the continental United States and get a much quicker delivery. This will save you time and money as well as some degree of frustration.

If you have decided that you want to buy an Irish gift one of the best ways of doing so is to shop online. There are numerous sources online for Irish gifts.

Here are a few ideas for Irish gifts. The Irish are known for wool clothing such as tweed caps and beautiful handmade sweaters. These are unique and high quality gifts.

Another popular Irish gift is the Shamrock, the Irish symbol of luck that is known the world over.

Irish flags are another popular gift especially for those of Irish heritage.

There are many varied gifts that are popular from Irish culture and we can’t possible cover them all here, but you can’t go wrong buying gifts of Celtic origin. Celtic lace, crystals, and candles make great Irish gifts.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. Get a great selection of Irish Gifts at http://www.irishgiftsandcollectibles.com

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