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Page 1 of 2  Plus: cameras in action at Club Macanudo
Los Angeles, November 30 – When Stan Pottinger was speaking with his son, a Marine serving in Iraq, he asked what could he send.
“I could use a few cigars” was the reply, which surprised Pottinger, who knew his son to be only a modest smoker.
It turns out that cigars are not only a way to relax amid the tension of the conflict in Iraq, but also their own currency. Pottinger said soldiers use cigars to barter for items available from civilian contractors, but not at the local PX. And they serve well as “diplomatic ice breakers,” with local officials and Iraqi soliders.
Pottinger had heard enough. He’s now created CigarsStarsandStripes.com, a Web site which is devoted to supporting American troops through cigars! “Everyone considers cigars a unique moment of enjoyment in the midst of war. One guy said the smell of a cigar took him home quicker than photographs. For me, that alone was a reason to launch this Web site.”
The site offers several dozen brands for sale and by appearance works closely with Cigars International, offering many of their owned brands along with standard brands such as C.A.O., Macanudo, Montecristo and the like. For convenience, bubble gum cigars (“El Bubble”), Tootsie Rolls, AT&T Calling Cards and cigar accessories such as cutters, cases and lighters.
But the biggest seller is gift certificates, which can be purchased for a specific soldier, or donated to a solider yet to be identified. Either way, it will make someone happy a long ways away.
The site offers one completely unique item, a TupperWare humidor! This is a two-tray box which includes a small, sponge-type humidifier and can hold about 50 cigars. It’s not available elsewhere, but is genuine TupperWare. It sells for $59.95 by itself, but is free through the end of the year with an order of $75 or more. If an order is placed to send to a soldier of more than $75, the humidor will sent along gratis.
Pottinger says that a portion of the revenues from the site are donated to support agencies which help the troops. It’s a unique way to support our military at a difficult time of year in a difficult deployment zone.
A gift for someone who has too much:
Some people want only the best and can afford it. The Krug Escape Artist Collection trunk is probably a gift that someone would buy for themselves, but if you’re looking for that you’ll-never-top-this gift and have an extra $15,000 lying around, this is for you.
Introduced in 2006, only 30 trunks were made by the French trunk artisans Pinel & Pinel, with ten each of three designs: a poker set, a cigar set and an entertainment set.
The poker outfit includes cards and chips and the entertainment box houses an .mp3 and video player plus a JBL sound system. The cigar set has room for cigar storage, plus a cigar holder, an S.T. Dupont X-Tend lighter and a Xikar cutter.
Each trunk is fully outfitted to accommodate at least two bottles of Krug Champagne; it’s Krug 1995 in the case of the cigar set. Plus, there is a custom-designed cooler, a Krug stopper, four Baccarat glasses and four specially-designed coasters. Everything you need for a night out.
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