January, 12, 2000

Welcome to the year 2000! We sit on the cusp of a new millennium, which actually begins next 
year. The question facing us all is "What do the cigar smokers of the 21st Century have to look 
forward to?". Truly a question worth looking into. Everyone who reads this page does so through 
the amazing technology of the internet. The internet is truly a tool which has great potential for 
education, entertainment and the exchange of goods and services. Yet, did you know that there are 
certain state government officials who would insist that internet tobacconists NOT do business 
with customers in their state. These officials would go as far as giving a valid credit card to a minor 
(valid credit cards are universally accepted as proof of being over the age of 18 on the net) and 
guiding that minor through the process of purchasing tobacco products via the internet. If you 
engaged in the same activity, these self same state officials would have you standing tall on charges 
of child endangerment! Yet they feel that creating this situation is perfectly acceptable as long as it 
suits their political, anti tobacco agenda. We cigar enthusiasts live in dangerous times. Certain 
politicos believe that we do not possess the intellect to make informed choices regarding the use of 
tobacco products and mask their need to control this issue in the rhetoric of protecting the 
children.  If this systematic stripping of our rights continues, what other aspects of our lives will 
these people seek to control? Now, I'm not a conspiracy theorist or anti-government wacko, but I 
am frightened by the writing on the wall. I'm all for protecting kids from evil intent and keeping 
them safe, but there is a common sense approach to the situation. These state attorneys generals 
are not pursuing the complaints of parents of children that have purchased mail order tobacco 
without their consent or knowledge, they are manufacturing the situation and running to the press 
about it!
I have a 10 year old daughter myself, and as a parent if I observed a charge on my credit card for 
tobacco products, that I didn't order, it would set off more than just a few alarms! It would be my 
responsibility as a parent to take the appropriate disciplinary action. If, on the other hand, my 
child had walked into a tobacco shop at age ten and purchased a pack of cigarettes, I would have 
to wonder about the culpability of the shop owner or clerk. Like I said, common sense! So keep an 
eye on the activities of the states attorneys general office in your state and if you notice this type of 
activity, write a letter expressing your displeasure and do something about it when the time comes 
to cast your vote on election day. If it's tobacco today, what will it be tomorrow?

News Flash Cigar Smokers! A bill has been introduced in the Senate that would prohibit 
the sale of cigars over the internet or by mail order and make it illegal for you to purchase cigars 
from a "walk-in" humidor. Can you believe it?! Well it's true! Originally introduced in the House 
of Representatives by Rep. Edward J. Markey D-MA, Diana Degette D-CO, Michael E. Capuano 
D-MA, William P. Luther D-MN, Jay Inslee D-WA, Nancy Pelosi D-CA, James McGovern D-MA, 
as H.R.2579.I.H. on July 21, 1999 and in the Senate on July 22, 1999 by Sen. Richard Durbin D-IL 
as S.1421.I.S. Read the contents of the proposed Bill by clicking here. This Bill assumes that cigar 
smokers are unaware of the risks associated with the use of tobacco products and under the guise 
of protecting the children (the sale of all tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 is 
already prohibited) will protect you further by not allowing you to purchase your cigars by mail 
order, internet sales, or picking out a cigar in the walk in humidor of your favorite smoke shop. 
Thank God for these defenders of freedom! What would we do without them? Please protest this 
Bill by petitioning your legislators, if you don't know who your representatives in Congress are 
you can look them up at Thomas -- U.S. Congress on the internet. Remember your voice counts 
and your silence is an acceptance of these intrusions into your life.

On a more positive note, Arturo Fuente is going to release a new line of maduro cigars with a white 
label similar in design to the black label cigars. These cigars should be available soon. Also a 
bunch of A.Fuente Dantes (7 x 50) were recently discovered (the size had been discontinued) and if 
you're lucky as I am, your tobacconist may have a box or two laying around.