I just took a look at CA'a sister publication, Wine Spectator. Even has a smiling Marvin, holding a wine glass rather than a cigar posing with the magazine's editor (forgot his name, though). The entire mag is about WINE. Even the lifestyle stuff is all about wine. For whatever reason, they chose not to do the same at CA.

I typically read the magazine cover to cover. I enjoy the personality pieces, some more than others. I like the stories about the "toys", although I'll never be able to afford any of them unless my lottery ticket pays off. I like the cigar reviews and the cigar industry stories. I think the magazine strikes a excellent balance. CA isn't a RTDA trade pub, afterall.

I'd hate to see the stories like those about David's foray into boxing, gambling & casinos, sports, etc. eliminated from the magazine.

Ruger

Funny stuff: Homestarrunner

I agree we need more every day guy stuff. I mean it is nice to see how millionares live and smoke. but that is only 15% of the population. How about the every day guy has the wife kids or the single blue collar man that enjoys just to spend an hour a day enjoying a smoke and how others of his "kind" view it. Yes cigar smoking is known for the Upperclass do't get me wrong if you worked hard for what you have then endulge. But it seems main stream looks to riches compared to the day to day normal guys, and either pushes them to spend way to much on SH*% that will have there wife kick them out or show you that you are nothing unless you have 3 BMW in the driveway of your 900,000$ home. One Question I have for all how do you rate wealth by your bank account or your healthy loving friends and family Just my 2 cents

[This message was edited by Nrccemtp on July 17, 2004 at 02:00 AM.]

[This message was edited by Nrccemtp on July 17, 2004 at 02:02 AM.]

Here's something I said to a post by snappers7 about "Paying for ratings/reviews???"

I think it hold true to this post, too. And Who represents the regular guy more than Jim Belushi?


I seem to remember, years ago, when I was as subscriber, that the cover story (Famous Entertainer) article always spoke of their "Aficionado" for cigars. Now it is just an article discussing their career or pushing their next project. I used to find it really interesting to find out how they got associated with cigars and what their personal likes and dislikes are.
I remember the article with Jim Belushi, when he told stories about other actors and famous people that he smoked with.
Here I looked it up for all of you, http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Archives/CA_Show_Article/0,2322,797,00.html

Maybe, CA can learn something from this article.

There is an old saying, "Dance with the one that brought you". CA needs to find that old partner.

##############################
"Time is a thief, it will steal your tomorrows. So, smoke a cigar today."
--BB King (and a little Paleto)

I start all of the trouble making posts around here and what happens? I win the weekly smokes! Well just so everybody knows, I can't be bought...rented perhaps, but never bought.

B.A.S.E #0001 <(O)>
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Noobs Read This!
http://forums.cigaraficionado.com/eve/forums?q=Y&a=tpc&s=2346043451&f=9426054&m=37660135&p=1
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"Un día sin los puros es como un día sin el sol."
"A day without cigars is like a day without sun."

BinDer,

if that's the case, then i have a few things i'd like to say...

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."

I mostly enjoy the cigar ratings and articles followed by the personality interview. Perhaps the "good life" stuff can be just one article instead of a recurring theme...
I think the mag doesn't promote the CIGAR lifestyle enough... here we are fighting for our rights to smoke and the premiere smoking magazine doesn't make it any easier for us to be informed... how about a news/legislative section to keep us in tune and be more active in the trampling of our rights?
How about a feature where we can read about pro-smoking businesses and companies so we know where we can enjoy a cigar after dinner and so on?
How about a newbie or Q&A section where you give tips to newbies on storing, smoking, etc cigars or suggest beverages or accessories (new products) that will enhance our smoking experience.... And everyone featured on the cover should have a damn cigar!

"And a woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke." -Rudyard Kipling

my subscription stopped a few years ago...I to got tired of the fluff...now I subscribe here for free...how is the insider? I thought about subscribing but was not sure if it was the same..

Piss on me once ...that's your fault...Piss on me twice that's my fault....

The Insider is all about cigars!

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."

i believe that about %85 of CA is all add space with 3 or so articles

while i still maintain that CA should be more like CI, to their credit it seems like they have been making an attempt recently to do more about cigars and everyman stuff (hotdogs!). but come on guys, more on cigars, PLEASE! I subscribed because I'm a noob and I want to learn about cigars! As much as possible. And I can't afford to blow 50 bucks a year on CI. Please? more cigar? I'd hate to stop subscribing to CA, but the amount that you guys publish on cigars can be found on most retailers sites, for free, too.

Noob, and an FNG to boot!

CA writes on cigars about as much as MTV or VH1 actually plays music videos. They need to take the suggestions of the members of the forum and feature more cigar related topics. I agree with one of the previous post that said if they wanted to read more about luxury cars, yachts, and ultra-exclusive golf courses that would read The Robb Report or DuPont Registry.

I agree that CA is a fine mag. but I think it would be much improved if it stuck more to cigar related stories and reviews. I also think maybe you might think to include exotic travel destinations like say the Caribbean and shops to visit once you get there. Oh, I also agree with getting rid of that Baldwin clown!

is that the one that is born again...if once isn't enough....what a hypocrite.POS...

Piss on me once ...that's your fault...Piss on me twice that's my fault....

I couldn't agree more with the sentiments started in this thread.

I enjoy CA magazine.... don't get me wrong. BUT... fewer lifestyle and pimp toys and more on Cigars would be fantastic and a big improvement to the magazine.

I want to read about the history of cigar families, how a cigar is made, blends, what goes into curing, rolling, growing...what defines a good/bad year, updates on whether various regions report good/bad years and why etc etc etc....

PLUS... more about cigars in general..... IT IS CA RIGHT??? Not, lifestyles of the rich and famous!

Point well taken, but I doubt CA editors will make any changes. I only buy them now to keep my collection complete. I enjoy the older issues and they serve to make the newers ones look like rich guys catalogs. Of course, I do get the big laugh once of year of seeing the CA crowd with the convicted felon Mike Milken at dinner. Who knows? In a few years, they may be dining with the dirtbags who ran Enron and Worldcom and running stories on why we should all buy $20,000 shower curtain! In fact, I just heard today that Saddham Hussein has prostate cancer,so maybe they will invite him next year? He and Milken can exchange jaihouse stories!

I wish they would throw the Cigar Insider info into CA and just charge a little more. Something about subscribing to an online newsletter just doesn't seem consitent to cigars. I like to sit down and relax, read my CA front to back while savoring a good smoke. I thumb through the rich guy articles, read the occasional celebrity interview and then to the back for all of the reviews (or as my GF calls them, my cigar porn)
Adding the CI info to CA would beef up the cigar content of CA and make it a legitimate cigar magazine again.

B.A.S.E #0001 <(O)>
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Noobs Read This!
http://forums.cigaraficionado.com/eve/forums?q=Y&a=tpc&s=2346043451&f=9426054&m=37660135&p=1
-----------------------------
"Un día sin los puros es como un día sin el sol."
"A day without cigars is like a day without sun."

I imagine that part of the transformation of the mag has to do with the fact that CA has been around for awhile, and they probably feel that over the years they have done all of the pertinent stogie making/rolling/storing/curing stories they could think of.

Lots of new smokers/readers have not had the exposure to those first years of cigar articles, but the staff at CA has most likely done them several times over and were looking for more fertile ground. That and given that Marvin and company made a pile of cash with CA and Wine Spectator - and started looking into all of the cool toys you can buy with their new wealth - and figured it was good fodder for articles. Just my hunch....

"A Cigar is a Banana for the Monkey in your Soul." - CIA Angel Switters -

I agree we counted one time and it was like 32 pages before we got to anything that had to do with cigars. And how about some interviews with somebody other than the Padron's and Fuentes. They are great cigar makers but how about an interview with Caribe Cigars or some of the smaller companies.

Yes, maybe an interview with Ernesto Padilla. That would be interesting!

B.A.S.E #0000 <(o)>