Thursday, May 31, 2007

Saint Luis Rey Reserva Especial Belicoso


6 1/8" x 52, Natural

Strength: Full Bodied
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan, Peruvian
Origin: Honduras

Appearance
: This cigar looked pretty decent. A nice firmly wrapped tan torpedo, with no soft spots or major construction flaws. No Issues to speak of.

PreLight: A pre light nosing revealed this cigar kinda smelled like poo. I really didn't think too negatively about it though, because many a poo smelling cigar wound up smoking great! Clip was easy and the pre light draw yielded notes of earthiness and leather.

Burn/Draw: Burn was even and never an issue. The draw was a bit tight for my taste but not bad at all. Again, it was more of a personal preference thing. The ash was grey and white mottled and firm and held a long time.

Flavors: This really cannot be overstated. This cigar was GROSS. I mean almost gag inducing. When I first toasted and lit this cigar the aroma of the smoke was that of cauterized skin. This is not good. Thankfully that note tailed off quickly, but the dominant flavor of this smoke was a bad vegetal note not unlike rancid vegetables. For some stupid reason I kept smoking it (out of some misplaced journalistic integrity for my review, or maybe I just kept thinking "This has to get better!". It didn't.) until the end, and it just didn't get much better. I will not be smoking this cigar ever again. Gag.

Not Recommended.

TomC

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Casa Fuente Robusto

Cigar name: Casa Fuente
aka: "Casa's"
Vitola: Robusto (5 ¼" x 50)
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Unknown
Filler: Casa Fuente Blend (tweaked Opus X blend)
Released: 2005 @ CFC & Casa Fuente
Quantity: limited to Casa Fuente
MSRP = $21 (no tax) x 25 per box = $525.00
Notes: The Casa Fuente cigars are sold only at the Casa Fuente store (a joint venture of Robert Levin from Holts and the Fuentes), located in the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

The blend originally started out as an Opus X blend, but was changed somewhat from that initial profile. It boasts a Cameroon wrapper grown from the original Cameroon seeds planted by Rick Meerapfel. Approximately 100 of these cigars were handed out at CFC 2005; they are also for sale exclusively at Casa Fuente (no Internet/phone orders).

There are other rare cigars for sale at Casa Fuente, in addition to the full line of Opus X, Añejo, and Hemingway (natural and maduro), and other Fuente-produced cigars and related paraphernalia.

Appearance: This is a beautiful looking cigar, but you wouldn't expect any less. One of the hallmarks of Fuente Cigars, it seems, is stellar construction. They just seem to produce good looking cigars. This one is no different. A solid evenly filled beautifully rolled cigar draped in a lovely cassia bark toned wrapper (or to those who think my waxing poetic is pretentious, and it just might be, it has a nice, slightly red hue to it), which was appropriate, considering some of the flavor notes I got from it later on.

PreLight: First off, I often take time to just look and smell a cigar before cutting and lighting it, to get a feel for it. I don't know why, but for whatever reason I don't always mention it in my reviews, its weird, but oh well. In this case I think its something important, because the smell of this cigar in its original state is fantastic (another of the Fuente line, the Opus X, tends to give off an awesome aroma as well.)! It was sweet like honey and cinnamony, and just enough earth to keep it from being cloying. It was almost a shame to have to put a flame to this one, but that was not going to stop me! Clipping was a breeze (used the trusty Palio cutter this time) and pre light notes were more of the cigars initial aromas, and a bit of leather thrown in for good measure.

Burn/Draw: Like I said earlier, good construction is a hallmark of a Fuente made cigar, and it shows the most in the burn and draw. After a tiny bit of a lighting issue, the burn was slow and cool, long and straight the whole length of the cigar. Once it got rolling, it took care of itself. The draw was just the way I like it, free and easy (but like I said, it did not burn hot), and this cigar produced copious amounts of billowing creamy blue grey smoke. The ash was a bit flaky, nothing horrible, a very light grey and help for a respectable inch and a quarter or so.

Flavors: This is a very refined cigar. Where its cousin, the Opus X is big and bold and occasionally in your face, this cigar kind of meanders through its flavor progressions when it feels like it, (more like sitting on the back porch watching the sun set, to the Opus X's commanding Operatic performance). It started off with a burst of black pepper and spice, but after about a quarter of an inch it mellowed out significantly. Those tasty honey notes returned, along with the cassia notes (the stuff they sell in cinnamon bottles in the supermarket is actually cassia, evidently, I learned that on the Food Network the other day!), and the cigar turned sweet and tangy (again with the tangy notes on a Cameroon wrapper, hmmmmm. . .). Over the last third of the smoke, the earthiness and leather crept in, lending the flavor a depth that was not there previously, and rounding out the experience nicely. This was a very good cigar.

Onto whether to recommend this cigar. It was a very good smoke, and I was glad I got the opportunity to smoke it (thank you to who sent it to me, you know who you are!), but, as you can see at the beginning of my review that this cigar is both expensive, and relatively difficult to find. So I will say this, those who want to find this cigar, I doubt will be disappointed, as long as they are not expecting an in your face stogie. This is a medium/medium cigar, though not medium on flavor. Given the choice between buying this cigar or some of my other favorites (especially at the price point set), I would probably go elsewhere. That said this is a fine smoke and you cannot go wrong with it.

TomC

Monday, May 28, 2007

Tatuaje Havana VI Hermosos (Expanded)


Cigar name: Tatuaje Havana VI
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo 99 wrapper
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Havana VI blend (Nicaragua)
Size: Hermosos (5 5/8" x 46) [Corona Gorda]

Notes: These cigars are Nicaraguan puros created from the same tobacco used to create Tatuaje cigars, but instead of being rolled in Miami, they are rolled in Nicaragua. This allows more cigars to be produced, at a lower price point, while keeping the quality and taste what you'd expect from Tatuaje.

The blend itself is between the fuller bodied Tatuaje cigars and the milder blend used in Cabaiguan cigars; this is achieved in part due to the use or aromatic volado leaf in lieu of ligero for some of the filler.

The cigar line is called the "Havana VI" because they are a collection of six classic Cuban vitolas blended and rolled in Cuban tradition (triple cap and all). These cigars are expected to be more widely available than the brown label Tatuaje line.

In keeping with the tradition he started with the "Cabinet" line of Tatuaje cigars, the first letter of each vitola in this cigar line spells out the name of Pete's other dog, "Havana".

I have done a really quick review of this cigar in the past, but in honor of my boy JoeBob, an expanded review!

Appearance: This cigars are pretty. Dark and rich looking, they just invite themselves to be smoked, beg for it even. This one was a bit toothy and very oily. Could not wait to light it up.

Pre-Light: Clip was easy, popped right off, haha. Much like all the other Havana VI I have had, this cigar was very dense and packed full. The prelight draw seemed a bit tight, but nothing to be terribly concerned about. Prelight notes were of earthiness and cedar wood flavors.

Burn/Draw: The burn was never a problem, razor straight and even the whole way down, a light and forget cigar, great. The ash wash bright white and firm and held for a bit more than an inch. The draw wasn't bad. I like a very forgiving draws generally, and almost all of the Havana VI I have had have been a bit tight for me on the draw. That said, it is nothing to be concerned about, more personal preference than anything.

Flavor: Like I have said before, in discussion with a friend of mine, we have kinda come to the conclusion that almost all Tatuaje and Don Pepin Cigars come down to some variation of four basic flavors: Tang, Spice (Pepper Specifically), Wood, and & Leather. In this case the cigars notes of wood & leather come to the forefront. Specifically its earthier notes burst out on top, though those other tanginess and pepper lurk in the background, building a great base for the earthiness to play off of. This cigar displays the contrast of those flavors to great effect, for its whole length, it is like a party in your mouth. If the draw was a bit more forgiving, it would be one of my favorite lines of cigars. That said these puppies are great. Recommended heartily.

TomC

Sunday, May 27, 2007

A Quick Note

I know that this blog has been overly fluffy as of late (with a lot of the non cigar posts focusing on baseball and women), and that is largely because life has been reall stressful as of late, and I want this place to be a fun place to escape. That said, I am working on a commentary of substance, for those who like that kind of thing, and hopefully it will be posted soon.

TomC

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Danica Patrick

In honor of this weekends Indianapolis 500!Danica Sue Patrick (born March 25, 1982 in Beloit, Wisconsin) is an American auto racing driver competing in the IndyCar Series. She is from an Irish-American family and was raised in Roscoe, Illinois. Patrick was named the Rookie of the Year for both the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and the 2005 IndyCar Series season. While, as of April 2007, she has won three pole positions, she has never won an automobile race. In May 2006, she published her autobiography, Danica: Crossing the Line.

2005 IndyCar Series

After the 2004 racing season, following much speculation as to where Patrick would race in 2005, during the off season, Rahal Letterman Racing officially announced that Patrick would drive in the IRL IndyCar Series for 2005.

On May 29, 2005, Patrick became only the fourth woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500, following Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James, and Sarah Fisher. After posting the fastest practice speed of the month (229.880 mph / 369.956 km/h) during the morning practice session for the first day of qualifications (May 15), she made an error in the first turn of her first qualifying lap, and failed to capture the pole position, which instead went to Tony Kanaan. Patrick's fourth starting position, however, was still the highest ever attained for the race by a female driver.

Patrick became the first female driver to lead the race at Indianapolis, first when acquiring it for a lap near the 125 mile mark while cycling through pit stops, and late in the race when she stayed out one lap longer than her rivals during a set of green-flag pit stops. Patrick overcame two crucial blunders to finish fourth in the race, the same position in which she started. Her car stalled in the pits about halfway through the 500-mile race, dropping her to the middle of the field. Shortly after reclaiming a spot in the top 10, Patrick spun on a caution period just before an intended green flag, causing a four car accident. The accident caused damage to the nose and front wing of her car. Her pit crew promptly made repairs, and due to the subsequent yellow, was able to rejoin having lost only one place. When the leaders pitted for fuel on lap 172, Patrick took the lead once more, lost it on lap 184, and then regained it on a restart with 11 laps to go. However, as she had not pitted for fuel, Patrick needed one more long yellow in order to reach the finish without having to refuel. On lap 194, eventual race winner and 2005 series champion Dan Wheldon passed her as she was forced to slow in order to conserve fuel, and she was quickly passed by both Bryan Herta and her teammate Vitor Meira. Patrick's fourth place was the highest ever finish for a female driver at the Indy 500, besting the previous record of ninth set by Janet Guthrie in 1978. Patrick led 19 laps overall.

In 2005, she finished 12th in the IndyCar Series championship, with 325 points.

On July 2, 2005, Patrick won her first pole position, leading a 1,2,3 sweep by Rahal Letterman Racing at Kansas Speedway. She became the second woman to accomplish this feat in the IndyCar Series, the first being Sarah Fisher in 2002 at Kentucky Speedway. On August 13, 2005, she won her second pole at Kentucky Speedway, although this time, rain prematurely ended qualifying and position was determined by speeds achieved during practice.

In January 2006, Patrick competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona along with co-driver Rusty Wallace. The 24 hour event was her longest race to date.

2006 IndyCar Series

She competed in the 2006 IRL IndyCar Series giving her another chance at qualifying and racing in the Indianapolis 500. In the first race of the season, the Toyota Indy 300 at Homestead Miami Speedway, Patrick qualified in third behind the Penske Racing teammates of Helio Castroneves and Sam Hornish, Jr. However, tragedy struck in the final practice sessions for the race as Rahal Letterman Racing teammate Paul Dana was killed in a crash the morning of the race.

Patrick and fellow Rahal Letterman driver Buddy Rice withdrew from the race immediately. The two resumed their 2006 IRL campaign with the second race of the year in St. Petersburg, Florida. Patrick finished 6th in St. Petersburg and 8th in Japan. At Indy she took eighth place after starting tenth. After Indy she finished 8th at Watkins Glen. However, the following week Rahal Letterman racing switched to the Dallara chassis and the team struggled to grasp a hold of them. Patrick had struggled to remain competitive, but her 4th place finishes at Nashville and Milwaukee tied her career best IRL finishes, and helped her move up to 9th in the season point standings. The following week at Michigan, though, her car died with three laps to go and she finished 17th. She rebounded at Kentucky and Infineon to finish 8th.

In her final race at Chicagoland with Rahal Letterman Racing, Patrick recorded a 12th place finish and a 9th place finish in the point standings besting her 12th place points finish as a rookie.

2007 IndyCar Series


On July 25, 2006 Patrick announced she had signed a deal to drive for Andretti Green Racing, replacing Bryan Herta in the 7 Dallara beginning in 2007. She will be driving a car sponsored by telecommunications giant Motorola, as well XM radio and Go Daddy. In Danica's first race with Andretti Green Racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 24th she finished 14th after crashing into the pit wall on lap 154 and being knocked out of the race. Following Homestead she finish 8th at St. Petersburg and 11th at Japan. At Kansas she had her best finish of the year to this point finishing 7th, benefiting from crashes and mechanical woe of other teams. Her result was overshadowed by a pit road mishap with teammate Tony Kanaan, when she ran into him while exiting her pit box.

She qualified 8th for her third Indy 500 and will be one of three Women in the field joining Sarah Fisher and Milka Duno. This will mark the first 500 to have 3 women competing.

In April 2007 Danica launched her official fan club The Danica Maniacs to help foster greater interaction between her and her fans. Benefits include a "Pit Kit," contests and giveaways, sponsor discounts and promotions, a members only web site loaded with features and more.

Controversy

Some racing journalists, IndyCar fans, and other drivers (such as Robby Gordon) have claimed that Patrick's relatively low body weight gives her an advantage in a competition where engine size and car weight are strictly regulated. The IRL president, Brian Barnhart, disagrees, telling Dave Caldwell for The New York Times that Patrick's weight "had a [...] minimal effect on the competition."

Many race fans say that Patrick, as an attractive female, has benefited from her minority status. They claim that the typical, rookie driver would have had much more difficulty securing a ride, as well as sponsorship, with a top racing team than Patrick did, particularly having never won any automobile races in junior formula, e.g. Formula Atlantic or Formula Ford. They also say that any other rookie driver would have been dropped by top teams, unlike Patrick, after failing to achieve any race wins. Many people also criticize her for the lack of podium finishes she has had within the three years she has been in the Indycar Series, despite all of the media attention.

Patrick has also had to deal with sexist remarks from fellow racers, who feel that auto racing is a man's sport. In May of 2006, after an appearance on ESPN SportsCenter's Budweiser Hot Seat, Patrick made comments that ruffled the feathers of former NASCAR drivers. When asked if she would ever make the jump over to the NASCAR circuit, Patrick commented that, while she wouldn't make the jump, she hadn't even "gotten a phone call (from NASCAR representatives)." Former driver Richard Petty responded, in a separate interview, by stating, "I just don't think it's a sport for women, and so far, it's proved out. It's really not. It's good for them to come in. It gives us a lot of publicity, it gives them publicity. But as far as being a real true racer, making a living out of it, it's kind of tough."

When talk heated up of a possible future Patrick move to NASCAR in July 2006, fellow IRL driver Ed Carpenter said, "I think Danica's pretty aggressive in our cars. I mean, you know especially if you catch her at the right time of the month, she might be trading plenty of paint out there." He later said that he meant no disrespect, and that he felt she could hold her own on whatever circuit she was in. He also said it was unlikely she would jump to NASCAR.

In October of 2005, Patrick got mentioned in the men's magazine FHM by Formula One driver Jenson Button, who, while dismissing her prospects in Formula One racing, then added some colorful remarks of his own, notably the infamous line "A girl with big boobs would never be comfortable in the car. And the mechanics wouldn't concentrate. Can you imagine strapping her in?"


TomC

JR Edición Limitada Alternatives Cohiba Sublime


6.64" X 54, Maduro

Wrapper Type:Ecuador Sumatran
Binder:Nicaragua
Filler:Nicaragua
Random Info: It took us a while to get the right wrappers and fillers stockpiled in Nicaragua, but now they are available and worth the wait. The JR Edición Limitada Alternatives are exciting cigars, wrapped in a deep Colorado maduro wrapper and spiced up with potent ligero fillers from the Jamastran Valley.

Appearance: Well this was a pretty looking cigar. A nice mocha looking wrapper gracing a firmly packed cigar. This cigar was quite oily as well, very promising.

PreLight:
Clipped easy, and the initial draw seemed free and easy. The pre light draws had some tangy notes, and some cedar woody notes. Again, seems promising.

Burn/Draw: This is where some problems began to crop up. The burn was uneven, and stayed that way, despite several touch ups. Both runs and canoeing occurred. This was unfortunate and seriously detracted from the smoking experience. The draw was acceptable and forgiving though, producing a decent amount of smoke. The Ash was horrible, a sickly grey and very flaky, making a mess as I smoked it. Bummer.

Flavors: The flavors int his cigar were alright, I guess. I must say, I was not particularly impressed by it though. There was some cedar notes that popped in and out during the length of the stick (which frankly was all that kept me interested in this cigar). Besides that, there was this odd combination of tangy notes and black pepper which wasn't particularly enjoyable. Not horrible, but not great. This cigar is inexpensive, and not a particularly bad for the price, but I wasn't really a big fan.

Not Recommended.

TomC

Friday, May 25, 2007

Camacho Candela Monarca


5" X 50, Candela

I thought I would try something a little different tonight, a candel wrappered cigar. Unlike the other cigar wrapper designations, the candela wrapper is not fermented, but is put under a process of artificial curing during 72 hours at a temperature of between 86 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit (30º - 32º C), and suddenly stopping the process in such a way that its color is maintained. Next the leaves are put under rest or conservation, but they are not fermented or aged. Candela wrappers were something that was very popular during the 1970’s & 1980’s, but you really do not see many of them today.

In 2005 Camacho produced this cigar in very small quantities for St. Patrick’s Day. The response was enormous, so much in fact that the Camacho Candela has become a regular addition to the Camacho portfolio. The cigars are grown and rolled at Ranchos Jamastran, one of the most famous factories in Danli Honduras.

Appearance: Downright weird. Now mind you the construction looked solid, and the wrapper looked pretty nice. There were no soft spots, but the cigar was rolled firm and evenly the whole way through. The wrapper looked smooth and uniform in color and free of any visible defects. The problem was, it was GREEN, and this is very jolting to me because I am not used to having green cigars.

PreLight:
Despite the spiffy Palio in the picture, I clipped this jolly green cigar with my Credo Synchro Cutter, and the cut was clean and without issue. The prelight draws revealed notes that were earth, and well, grassy. I hope this just wasn't my mind playing tricks on me because of the color of the wrapper, but it sure seemed I detected that flavor note.

Burn/Draw: Hmmmm. . . . this part of the cigar was interesting. There were no major problems per se, but it was interesting, and if you notice anything about the burn and draw of a cigar, it generally isn't how fabulous it is. Okay, the burn was not horrible, but it did need the occasional touch up (mind you, I think I am a tad more neurotic than most in regards to wanting a straight burn). This was nothing that distracted from the cigar smoking experience, but it did warrant mentioning. The draw of this cigar, while not tight, was a little more firm that I would have lied, and while perfectly adequate, was a little lean on the smoke production. The ash on the other hand, was quite firm and held on nicely, to the point it took a little work to break it off at the two inch mark. Overall it is kind of middle of the road construction-wise, not great, not horrible either.

Flavors: First off I must mention, I was pleasantly surprised with this cigar. I don't know what my expectations were for this stick going in, but it really was not too bad. While fairly mild in strength, and staunchly medium in body, it has flavor and some of it quite distinctive. I do not think I was imagining the grassy notes initially, because upon lighting it burst across the palate, and while not as pronounced, maintained throughout the smoke. Also there was the earthiness of pre light, which made the overall experience not unlike what I think smoking a hunk of peat bog would be like, in ideal circumstances. Do not be frightened in actuality, this was a much more enjoyable experience than it sounds. About halfway, a woodiness creeped in and toward the end some nice strength built up to a bit of a black pepper finish. Overall a pretty decent time. While I doubt I would buy a box of these cigars, I would definitely have one again.

TomC
.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

All Too Often. . .

Though I am Catholic I am constantly saddened, like the man in the comic. This happens much too often.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Lindsay Lohan

Admit it, at some point you thought she was hot.

Lindsay Dee Lohan (born July 2, 1986) is an American actress and pop music singer. Lohan started in show business as a child fashion model for magazine ads and television commercials. At age ten, she began her acting career in a soap opera; at eleven, she made her motion picture debut by playing both twins in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap. Lohan's breakout role as a leading actress came six years later with 2004's Mean Girls, which shone the media spotlight on her professional and personal lives—including her nightlife and her parents' marital and legal struggles.

As an adult, Lohan began to take on more varied roles and projects, including Robert Altman's final film, A Prairie Home Companion. While filming Herbie: Fully Loaded in 2004, Lohan launched her career in music, recording and releasing her first studio album, Speak; her second album, A Little More Personal (Raw), was released in 2005.

Lohan was given the lead in two films, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (her first feature that was not a remake) and Paramount's Mean Girls, both released in 2004. Drama Queen was a moderate success at the box office, grossing about US$30 million, but was a failure with critics. "Though still a promising star," Robert K. Elder wrote, "Lohan will have to do a little penance before she's forgiven for Confessions." That "penance" came with Mean Girls, her first PG-13 (and first non-Disney) film; her breakout lead performance pushed the critical and commercial hit to grosses of over US$86 million domestically and US$128 million worldwide, "cementing her status as the new teen movie queen," wrote Brandon Gray. "Lohan dazzles us once more," said Steve Rhodes. "The smartly written script is a perfect match for her intelligent brand of comedy."

Mean Girls was scripted by Tina Fey and featured several alumni of Saturday Night Live; Lohan was asked to host the show three times, in 2004, 2005, and 2006.

Lohan returned to Disney for Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005), the fifth film in the long-dormant Herbie series. Her rising popularity allowed her to choose from a wider variety of projects and, at age 19, Lohan felt Herbie would help her make the transition into more grown-up roles. "In most of my other films, I was in high school," she said. "Here, [my character is] just out of college. It's nice to be able to do something that I think will be acceptable to the fan base I've accumulated from my Disney movies, but subconsciously they'll see me getting older and maturing."Fully Loaded did well at the box office, earning more in international release than in the United States.

Her next film in wide release, Just My Luck, opened in May 2006 to poor reviews and earned only $33 million worldwide. The following month, A Prairie Home Companion—an ensemble film directed by Robert Altman—fared better, debuting at #7 in limited release and ending its run with nearly $US20 million in domestic box-office receipts. "Lohan rises to the occasion," wrote Peter Travers, "delivering a rock-the-house version of 'Frankie and Johnny'." Lohan completed filming the independent Emilio Estevez film, Bobby, opposite Elijah Wood, in December 2005; the film débuted at the Venice Film Festival on September 5, 2006, and was released in theaters on November 23, 2006. Chapter 27 with Jared Leto began filming in New York on January 9, 2006, and had wrapped by March.

One new project was announced in April 2006; Lohan will play in Georgia Rule opposite Felicity Huffman and Jane Fonda (filming began in June) and Lohan began filming I Know Who Killed Me in late 2006, in which she, as told to David Letterman, will play a stripper and that it's a "really dark, scary film."

Hoping to become a "triple threat" (actor/model/singer) like her idol, Ann-Margret, Lohan began by showcasing her singing talents through her films. For the Freaky Friday soundtrack, she sang the closing theme, "Ultimate"; she also recorded four songs for the Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen soundtrack.

Producer Emilio Estefan, Jr. signed Lohan to a five-album production deal in 2002. "The minute I heard her sing, I knew she was gifted," he said, "and [she] has an incredible ability to connect with her audience. I am very excited to be working with her." Lohan—who said she was "extremely excited"—added, "I am surrounded by a group of very talented people." Two years later, Lohan signed a recording contract with Casablanca Records, headed by "diva-maker" Tommy Mottola. Her debut album, Speak, was released in December 2004, and peaked at number four on the Billboard 200. By early 2005, it was certified Platinum. Though primarily a pop-rock album, Speak was introduced with the single "Rumors", described by Rolling Stone as "a bass-heavy, angry club anthem". Its sexually suggestive video reached number one on MTV's TRL and was nominated for Best Pop Video at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards . "Rumors" eventually earned a Gold certification in America."[W]ith just two hit films under her belt", wrote Stephen Thomas Erlewine of All Music Guide, "Lohan decided it was time to turn [herself] into a multimedia, cross-platform star ... and so Speak was recorded quickly and rushed into the stores". He called her music "a blend of old-fashioned, Britney-styled dance-pop and the anthemic, arena rock sound pioneered by fellow tween stars Hilary Duff and Ashlee Simpson. [However,] Lohan stands apart from the pack with her party-ready attitude and her husky voice".

In December 2005, her second album, A Little More Personal (Raw), debuted at number 20 on the Billboard 200 chart, but fell under the top 100 within six weeks. Reviews were unfavorable; critics wondered why an album in which Lohan poured out her heart came across instead as a "slick pop production." Slant magazine called it "contrived ... for all the so-called weighty subject matter, there's not much meat on these bones." Still, A Little More Personal (Raw) was certified Gold on January 18, 2006. The music video for the album's first single, "Confessions of a Broken Heart (Daughter to Father)"—directed by Lohan and featuring the acting debut of her sister, Ali—was a dramatization of the pain Lohan says her family has suffered at the hands of her father. She said "It's kind of offensive" but "I hope he sees the positive side of the video rather than the negative."

Universal Music Group moved Lohan from Casablanca to Motown Records in February 2006. In March, she told OK! magazine that she was writing lyrics for her third album, which she called "different [from] the first two". The November 2006 edition of In Style reported a Christmas 2006 release, but it was pushed back.

In a May 2007 interview in Nylon Lohan stated that she plans to record her third studio album in August 2007, saying "I want to do a tour like Madonna. [...] I want to do what Britney was doing. I want to work with Pharell, Timbaland, and Justin Timberlake.".


Is all this info on her career necessary?? Do you really care what shes done??

TomC

Tavares Solid, Sox Split First Two In Series With Yankees

(Three Run Shot In The First!)
(Celebration!)
(Lowell Tees Off In The Fourth)
(Lugo Scores In The Seventh)
(ARod is a DoucheBag, Tries To Take Out Pedroia. . .)


The Red Sox rebound from a lackluster effort in the first game in the series and, backed by a good start from Julian Tavarez and some powerful shots, take game two of the series at Yankee Stadium 7-3 on Tuesday Night. Tavarez, who gave up only 2 ER in 5 2/3 innings kept the Yankees at bay (and won on his thirty fourth birthday) while HR's by Manny Ramirez in the first, and Mike Lowell in the 4th sealed the deal for the Sox. David Ortiz did his part as well, going 3-4 with an RBI.

As usual, the Yankees Douchebag third baseman, Alex Rodriguez, had to make himself part of the story. ARod ("slappy") came barreling into Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia in the eighth inning, breaking up a double play.

Pedroia, however, didn't necessarily think it was a clean take-out.

"He went in late and kind of threw an elbow," said Pedroia. "A little cheap, but no big deal."

Next time, Pedroia said he would be better prepared for A-Rod.

"I remember it. I play second base," Pedroia said. "I have to turn two against the Yankees 19 times a year. I know now that he when he's coming in, my arm slot gets dropped to the floor. That's it. No big deal."

GO SOX!

TomC

Gran Habano Corojo #5 Churchill

7" X 48, Corojo

Appearance: This was a cool looking cigar. Long and lean, firm and evenly packed the cigar hides its humble origins quite well. Blanketed in a beautiful auburn brown wrapper, this cigar clearly looks high class.

Prelight: Clip was easy, and revealed another free and easy draw. The prelight draw had some tangy tobacco and leather notes, and a bit of spice.

Burn/Draw: This was one surprisingly well constructed cigar. The burn was relatively straight and did not need touched up. The draw was free and easy and produced a bevy of bright white, but fragrant smoke. The ash was firm, and white, and held for an inch and a half. Overall, like I said, hallmarks of a well constructed cigars.

Flavors: This is a very nice, consistent cigar. While it is not a knock you on your ass, amazing, very complex smoke, it really does not need to be. It does a couple of things, and does them quite well. There were notes of tanginess, like tobacco or leather. Some spice cropped up later, and the mouth feel was full and rich and creamy. This is a medium strength/fullish bodied cigar. I really enjoyed the simple flavors of this cigar, and it really is a value at the price readily found for a box. I can definitely suggest this cigar as an everyday smoke. It really surpassed my meager expectations, much to my delight.

TomC