Archives for the ‘Blog Entries.Local’ Category

The Ultimate Hidden Truth

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Apr 26th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local, Politics

"The ultimate hidden truth of the world is that it is something that we make, and could just as easily make differently."

—David Graeber

Hat tip: Al Wirtes


Weekend Update #16

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Apr 26th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

Hey there,

Coming at you a little late today because I got up at 6 AM this morning to go birding. We had a great morning as I logged 54 species. This afternoon I walked around our local park with my wife and logged 24 species. I'm at 111 species year to date. I logged 154 species last year, but it's going to be slower going from here as it's going to be more difficult to log new species, unless we get away from the Richmond area.

It's been 22 days since I deactivated my Facebook account, and exactly zero people from my Facebook friends list have made any effort to connect with me outside of Facebook. So much for Facebook being a place to build meaningful relationships. Updates as events warrant...

This writer argues that humans are doing a very good job of adapting to climate change instead of mitigating it. And that eventually, we will adapt ourselves to extinction.

There is no moral imperative to compensate free software authors. Obvious point? Or cutting insight? Or wrong?

This 1 hour playlist of New Orleans Jazz is hot.

"Have you ever walked into a supermarket, pharmacy, or department store looking to buy a specific item, only to find the layout confusing? Perhaps you ended up aimlessly strolling around, purchasing other items? This is deliberate, and known as the Gruen Transfer." It's killing the Internet.

Adam Newbold, founder of Omg.lol making the very correct point that not all opinions are equal, and that assholes and fascists do not have any right to join omg.lol or any other Fediverse community. As the saying goes, if you let one Nazi into your bar, you are now the Nazi bar.

Don't be the Nazi bar.

And that is it for this week. Remember, in a world where you can choose to be anything, you can choose to be kind.


Old Elk and All Saints: A Backyard Review

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Apr 26th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
When a friend was visiting last week, we spent some time outside enjoying an afternoon smoke and drink. In selecting a cigar, I kept the recently deceased Pontiff in mind and chose the All Saints St. Francis to honor him. When then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope, he chose the name Francis in homage to St. Francis of Assisi—after whom this cigar is named.

The All Saints St. Francis is rich with Catholic imagery. The dominant symbol on the band—a gold cross on a white shield with red trim — is the Cross of Saint James. Fittingly, St. James is the patron saint of Nicaragua, where this cigar is crafted at the Rocky Patel Tavicusa factory. The band also bears the Latin phrase “Pax et Bonum,” meaning “Peace and Goodness” — the traditional greeting of St. Francis of Assisi.



To accompany the cigar, I poured some Old Elk Cigar Cut Bourbon. It’s one of the few bottles I actually “nurse,” indulging only on special occasions. Generally, I believe bourbon — like cigars — is meant to be enjoyed, not shelved. But when it’s something I particularly enjoy and it’s hard to find, I try to make it last.

The St. Francis cigars have been resting in my humidor for just over six months. This box-pressed 5 1/2 x 50 stick features an Ecuadorian Oscuro wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. It’s a medium-to-full-bodied smoke with notes of black coffee, chocolate, and black pepper. At times, the coffee leaned more toward espresso, and the chocolate toward cocoa.

I found the profile more balanced than I remembered from the fall when I last smoked one. The pepper had mellowed, letting the coffee/espresso and dark chocolate notes shine through. The burn was occasionally wavy, and we both had to relight our cigars a few times.



The Old Elk Cigar Cut Bourbon was a treat to savor. It’s a masterful blend of bourbons finished in a variety of casks: Sherry (1.5 years), Armagnac (1.25 years), Port (3–8 months), and Cognac (3–6 months). It greets the nose with inviting aromas of caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, and spiced fruit. The palate offers layers of dark chocolate, toffee, and baking spices, with subtle notes of tobacco and leather lingering on the finish. As a fan of port- and sherry-finished bourbons with cigars, I found the added complexity from the multiple cask finishes especially pleasing.

We enjoyed our smokes and sips in the backyard beside the unlit fire pit. The screen porch and deck are still under renovation, but the yard itself was peaceful — the moderate temperature, light breeze, and low humidity made for an ideal setting. 

Cheers!



[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Old Elk and All Saints: A Backyard Review

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Apr 26th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
When a friend was visiting last week, we spent some time outside enjoying an afternoon smoke and drink. In selecting a cigar, I kept the recently deceased Pontiff in mind and chose the All Saints St. Francis to honor him. When then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope, he chose the name Francis in homage to St. Francis of Assisi—after whom this cigar is named.

The All Saints St. Francis is rich with Catholic imagery. The dominant symbol on the band—a gold cross on a white shield with red trim — is the Cross of Saint James. Fittingly, St. James is the patron saint of Nicaragua, where this cigar is crafted at the Rocky Patel Tavicusa factory. The band also bears the Latin phrase “Pax et Bonum,” meaning “Peace and Goodness” — the traditional greeting of St. Francis of Assisi.



To accompany the cigar, I poured some Old Elk Cigar Cut Bourbon. It’s one of the few bottles I actually “nurse,” indulging only on special occasions. Generally, I believe bourbon — like cigars — is meant to be enjoyed, not shelved. But when it’s something I particularly enjoy and it’s hard to find, I try to make it last.

The St. Francis cigars have been resting in my humidor for just over six months. This box-pressed 5 1/2 x 50 stick features an Ecuadorian Oscuro wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. It’s a medium-to-full-bodied smoke with notes of black coffee, chocolate, and black pepper. At times, the coffee leaned more toward espresso, and the chocolate toward cocoa.

I found the profile more balanced than I remembered from the fall when I last smoked one. The pepper had mellowed, letting the coffee/espresso and dark chocolate notes shine through. The burn was occasionally wavy, and we both had to relight our cigars a few times.



The Old Elk Cigar Cut Bourbon was a treat to savor. It’s a masterful blend of bourbons finished in a variety of casks: Sherry (1.5 years), Armagnac (1.25 years), Port (3–8 months), and Cognac (3–6 months). It greets the nose with inviting aromas of caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, and spiced fruit. The palate offers layers of dark chocolate, toffee, and baking spices, with subtle notes of tobacco and leather lingering on the finish. As a fan of port- and sherry-finished bourbons with cigars, I found the added complexity from the multiple cask finishes especially pleasing.

We enjoyed our smokes and sips in the backyard beside the unlit fire pit. The screen porch and deck are still under renovation, but the yard itself was peaceful — the moderate temperature, light breeze, and low humidity made for an ideal setting. 

Cheers!



[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Five O’Clock Friday: Sensible Budgeting

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Apr 25th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
I'll admit it. This is exactly my thought process when shopping. However, cigars and bourbon bring me way more joy than any utilitarian purchase ever could.


*randomly collected internet image -- credit will be given upon request

Cheers!



[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Five O’Clock Friday: Sensible Budgeting

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Apr 25th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
I'll admit it. This is exactly my thought process when shopping. However, cigars and bourbon bring me way more joy than any utilitarian purchase ever could.


*randomly collected internet image -- credit will be given upon request

Cheers!



[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Smoke and Spice: Rojas Street Tacos Cinco de Mayo 2025

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Apr 24th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
Although the afternoon weather was particularly pleasant, I decided to head over to Hogshead Cigar Lounge to enjoy a smoke this Wednesday. There’s always something new to try at the lounge, and this week, I went with the newly arrived Rojas Street Tacos Cinco de Mayo 2025. I’d spotted the announcement on their social media earlier in the week and made a mental note to check it out.

The Cinco de Mayo marks the second release in this limited edition series from Rojas. This 6 x 54 Toro features a slick, brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, a San Andrés binder, and Connecticut Broadleaf filler tobacco that was aged for seven years before rolling.



In the opening minutes, the Cinco de Mayo delivered a dry, somewhat chalky smoke with mild notes of earth and clay. It was more peculiar than unpleasant. Before long, hints of baking spices and cedar entered the profile, adding some needed roundness. As the cigar progressed, I picked up flavors reminiscent of charred wood and grilled meat, with a touch of black pepper. And then — believe it or not — I swear I caught a flavor that reminded me of mole sauce.

That mole-like note added a bit of quirkiness to the overall experience. I’ll admit, I’m not a huge fan of mole, so that might have colored my impression. Still, I genuinely enjoyed the Rojas Cinco de Mayo. It produced dense, flavorful smoke, had a consistent burn, and lasted a satisfying hour and forty minutes.



The lounge itself provided a calm, relaxing afternoon. I passed the time with a bit of reading and some casual conversation. The indoor setting was a welcome escape from the pollen-heavy spring air outside.

Cheers!



[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Smoke and Spice: Rojas Street Tacos Cinco de Mayo 2025

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Apr 24th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
Although the afternoon weather was particularly pleasant, I decided to head over to Hogshead Cigar Lounge to enjoy a smoke this Wednesday. There’s always something new to try at the lounge, and this week, I went with the newly arrived Rojas Street Tacos Cinco de Mayo 2025. I’d spotted the announcement on their social media earlier in the week and made a mental note to check it out.

The Cinco de Mayo marks the second release in this limited edition series from Rojas. This 6 x 54 Toro features a slick, brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, a San Andrés binder, and Connecticut Broadleaf filler tobacco that was aged for seven years before rolling.



In the opening minutes, the Cinco de Mayo delivered a dry, somewhat chalky smoke with mild notes of earth and clay. It was more peculiar than unpleasant. Before long, hints of baking spices and cedar entered the profile, adding some needed roundness. As the cigar progressed, I picked up flavors reminiscent of charred wood and grilled meat, with a touch of black pepper. And then — believe it or not — I swear I caught a flavor that reminded me of mole sauce.

That mole-like note added a bit of quirkiness to the overall experience. I’ll admit, I’m not a huge fan of mole, so that might have colored my impression. Still, I genuinely enjoyed the Rojas Cinco de Mayo. It produced dense, flavorful smoke, had a consistent burn, and lasted a satisfying hour and forty minutes.



The lounge itself provided a calm, relaxing afternoon. I passed the time with a bit of reading and some casual conversation. The indoor setting was a welcome escape from the pollen-heavy spring air outside.

Cheers!



[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

The Bishops Blend Novemdiales: A Timely Smoke

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Apr 22nd, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
When I awoke Monday morning to the news that Pope Francis had died, I knew exactly which cigar I would be lighting later. The Black Label Trading Company’s Bishops Blend Novemdiales seemed tailor-made for the occasion.

Novemdiales refers to the nine-day period of mourning in the Catholic Church following the death of a Pope. I had just one stick from the 2023 release left in my humidor, and this felt like the right moment to finally smoke it.

The Bishops Blend is an annual release from Black Label Trading Company, typically featuring a consistent blend year to year. But for their 10th anniversary in 2023, the company created something special. Enter the Novemdiales: a reimagined Bishops Blend sporting a Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper instead of the usual Ecuadorian Maduro. It kept the traditional Ecuadorian binder and filler tobaccos from Connecticut, Nicaragua, and Pennsylvania.



The 5 x 50 Robusto is distinctive, with its sharp, cone-shaped cap and closed foot. This full-bodied cigar offers a rich and complex flavor profile, opening with bold notes of dark fruit and bitter espresso. Deep undertones of dark coffee and cocoa provide a solid foundation, while a subtle molasses-like sweetness adds a layer of balance. Strong cedar and a moderate to pronounced peppery spice round out the experience — though after resting for 18 months, this particular stick had mellowed, softening the spice just a bit.

The Pope’s passing — not wholly unexpected after his long illness — came during the Easter season. As part of our Easter Sunday preparations, Colleen had made chocolate-covered peanut butter “egg” candies. I decided to enjoy one alongside the coffee I was sipping with the Novemdiales.

I’ve paired cigars with chocolate and mixed nuts before, but I was genuinely surprised by how exceptionally well this particular combination worked. The interplay of sweet and bitter flavors in both the candy and the cigar seemed to elevate each other. I devoured the candy far too quickly, but managed to resist the temptation for a second. I’ll try to enjoy another one with a smoke before they’re all gone.

An hour and a half on the porch, watching a flurry of birds — especially the hummingbirds at the feeder — and soaking in the mild spring air made for a truly peaceful evening wind-down.

Cheers!



[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

The Bishops Blend Novemdiales: A Timely Smoke

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Apr 22nd, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
When I awoke Monday morning to the news that Pope Francis had died, I knew exactly which cigar I would be lighting later. The Black Label Trading Company’s Bishops Blend Novemdiales seemed tailor-made for the occasion.

Novemdiales refers to the nine-day period of mourning in the Catholic Church following the death of a Pope. I had just one stick from the 2023 release left in my humidor, and this felt like the right moment to finally smoke it.

The Bishops Blend is an annual release from Black Label Trading Company, typically featuring a consistent blend year to year. But for their 10th anniversary in 2023, the company created something special. Enter the Novemdiales: a reimagined Bishops Blend sporting a Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper instead of the usual Ecuadorian Maduro. It kept the traditional Ecuadorian binder and filler tobaccos from Connecticut, Nicaragua, and Pennsylvania.



The 5 x 50 Robusto is distinctive, with its sharp, cone-shaped cap and closed foot. This full-bodied cigar offers a rich and complex flavor profile, opening with bold notes of dark fruit and bitter espresso. Deep undertones of dark coffee and cocoa provide a solid foundation, while a subtle molasses-like sweetness adds a layer of balance. Strong cedar and a moderate to pronounced peppery spice round out the experience — though after resting for 18 months, this particular stick had mellowed, softening the spice just a bit.

The Pope’s passing — not wholly unexpected after his long illness — came during the Easter season. As part of our Easter Sunday preparations, Colleen had made chocolate-covered peanut butter “egg” candies. I decided to enjoy one alongside the coffee I was sipping with the Novemdiales.

I’ve paired cigars with chocolate and mixed nuts before, but I was genuinely surprised by how exceptionally well this particular combination worked. The interplay of sweet and bitter flavors in both the candy and the cigar seemed to elevate each other. I devoured the candy far too quickly, but managed to resist the temptation for a second. I’ll try to enjoy another one with a smoke before they’re all gone.

An hour and a half on the porch, watching a flurry of birds — especially the hummingbirds at the feeder — and soaking in the mild spring air made for a truly peaceful evening wind-down.

Cheers!



[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

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