From Rich Perelman at CigarCyclopedia:

No sophomore jinx for Cigar Magazine. The second issue of this new publication from the folks who bring you Cigars by Santa Clara and J-R Cigars is another winner:

• A poignant interview with the legendary Al Goldstein, best known as the publisher of the now-discontinued Screw magazine, now apparently bankrupt and although married for the fourth time, living alone in a New York homeless shelter.

• The wild story of the Plasencia family. which started in 1850 when 14-year-old Santiago Plasencia left the Canary Islands for Cuba, swung wildly 113 years later when the family farm – El Corojal – was confiscated by the Cuban government, then started again in Honduras and Nicaragua. It’s a family story, but also the story of the American cigar scene in the aftermath of the Cuban embargo and the nationalization of Cuban agriculture and industry under its socialist government. It’s a dramatic story that has – at least for the present – a happy ending.

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From Rich Perelman at CigarCyclopedia:

“I have set up my adjustable humidity indicator twice using table salt/water in a baggie. I set it for 75%. It has been reading 80% now for three weeks. The cigars are soft/spongy to the touch. I have 50 cigars in a humidor that holds 75.

“My question is how do I reduce the humidity? I have been opening the lid for 20 minutes reducing the humidity. Thanks.”

Aaarrgh.

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