October 13, 2004

Culture Shock

Rollin’ and Smokin’ Sub Cultures.

>> photo by Marlon Francescini & Model Travis Nielson
Here we see a different style of injecting carcinogens into one’s lungs. But
damn at least he looks “spiffy”.

by Travis Nielsen
>> Staff Writer

Some things are best left alone
and enjoyed, not questioned and
destroyed. These words ring very
true for many people out there
with somewhat destructive hob-
bies, but this statement is almost a
way of life for the champion of
hazardous habits, The Cigar
Smoker.

Cigars have been held in good
regard by many great people over
the centuries, Even today they are
enjoyed by many people for their
distinct craftsmanship, quality,
and flavour.

Even though it is more com-
mon for the upper-class and
upper middle-class people of
today to partake in this pastime,
including celebrities like Bill
Cosby, Alec Baldwin, Demi
Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg.

Also, cigar smoking is starting
to gain in popularity with
younger crowds looking for new
experiences in life.

This sub-culture of cigar enthu-
siasts, or aficionados as Marvin R.
Shanken, the publisher of Cigar
Aficionado magazine has dubbed
them, is a group of well-meaning
people that are out to enjoy one of
the best tobacco products on the
market.

Unlike Cigarettes, making a
Cigar takes months, for quality
cigars cannot be mass-produced.

Right from the beginning of
production, everything is done
by hand: the picking of the tobac-
co leaves, the fermentation of the
tobaccos, and the rolling of the
cigars.

A good cigar company will
always label his cigars

“Totalamente a Mano,” Spanish
for “totally made by hand.”

All of this results in the creation
of a really good cigar, meant to be
enjoyed for the flavours that mas-
ter tobacconists have hand picked
to make the cigar as enjoyable as
possible.

This is what the cigar aficiona-
do understands about cigars and
why he comes together with his
fellow Aficionados to discuss and
enjoy a good cigar.

Although, for most
Aficionados, cigars are a very
personal experience, most
Aficionados are not only smok-
ers, but collect cigars based on
shape, type, country of origin,
etc., making it more of a pastime
than just a hobby.

These Aficionados do have
groups everywhere; they usually
do not make themselves publicly
known because of the stigma
behind smoking in our society.

This should not be! Cigar
smokers should be able to enjoy
their pastime. Aficionados usual-
ly are very polite about their
smoking habits and do not smoke
in the presence of anyone who
would not enjoy it.

As one of the last, and dying
true crafts, we should be
enthused about smoking a fine
cigar, not condemning it as is the
case of the cigarette.

It should be enjoyed and pre-
served for future generations. If
not for consumption, then at least
for the craftmanship.

So go, learn more about cigars
and enjoy them, you will be
astonished how such and “evil”
product can bring such enjoy-

‘ment.

Arts’. Page 12

Celebrating our Water Since 2000!

by Maggie Gilbert eg See ee
>> Arts Editor Pas t. é

On Saturday September 25th,
the annual Rivers Day Music
Festival had its fourth anniversary.
This festival, an event for young
and old, rich and poor, lazy and
energetic, is a celebration of the
two biggest rivers in BC: the Fraser
and the Nechako.

In correlation to the UN
“Wonder of Water’ initiatives tak-
ing place in Canada, the Rivers
Day Music Festival is bringing
attention to the continuous water
issues that face the world. As
2003/2004 is the UN designated
International Year of Fresh Water,
the celebration is particularly spe-
cial this year. The festival is con-
tinuing with the theme ‘think glob-
ally, act locally.’

“This festival, an
event for young and

old, rich and poor,
lazy and energetic,

>> photo by Maggie Gilbert

The Fourth Annual Rivers Day celebration flowed like a stream in spring.

rounding area’ers) while members
of the BCRDC (BC Rivers Day

is a celebration of

the two bi gges f Committee) interact with the audi-
rive rs in BC: the ence, telling them facts about our

waters in BC. In addition to musi-
le fraser an d th @ cal performances, there are all

sorts of activity booths for chil-
dren, booths about the environ-
ment, lots of food, and a booth for
donations.

This year’s musical performers
included the Milburn Mountain

Nechako.”

Every year, caring and con-
cerned musical artists perform for
thousands of PG’ers (and sur-

as far as hot
topics go, they
dont get much
hotter than

dr. tv. thomas

Board of Directors of Inter-Varsity
Christian Fellowship of Canada

Boys, Marcel Gagnon, Roy Forbes
and Stabilo. In addition, there was
a dance performance by the
Rainbow Dancers from the local
First Nations Friendship centre.
The festival went off fantastically
and everyone enjoyed themselves
immensely.

Congratulations BCRDC for
putting on such an excellent cele-
bration of our waters!

take your pick (open lectures) Q&A to follow

SUN. OCT. 24 « MON. OCT. 25

both days at 630 pm

UNBC Weldwood Theatre

Presented by the UNBC Interfaith Chaplaincy Coordinating Committee