Podcasts about Nicaragua

In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by John Kiriakou, co-host of Political Misfits, which you can hear from 12 to 2 PM EST right here on Radio Sputnik to discuss the resignation of Bureau of Prisons Director Michael Carvajal and the rot that characterized the prison system under his watch, Carvajal's refusal to act on the spread of COVID in prisons as people died directly because of his refusal to act, how this refusal and treatment of prisoners reveals a larger disdain for incarcerated people in society, and how the harsh treatment of prisoners contributes to high rates of recidivism.In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Miko Peled, human rights activist and author of “The General's Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine,” and “Injustice, the Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five.” to discuss efforts by Israel to displace a family in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem, how it fits into Israel's campaign to expel Palestinians from the neighborhood and its colonization campaign, the greenwashing of Israel's ethnic cleansing campaign in the Naqab, and the US taxpayer money that goes into these displacement campaigns.In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Anthony Rogers Wright, Director of Environmental Justice with New York Lawyers for the Public Interest to discuss Joe Biden's empty rhetoric on environmental justice and the health of Black people, the failure of the Justice40 initiative to allocate infrastructure funds to poor Black communities, how corporate control of politicians continues to contribute to the harms faced by working class communities, and the possibility of worsened infrastructure and economic inequality for communities suffering from environmental racism.Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents" to discuss the first year of Joe Biden's presidency and his rejection of progressive reforms and so-called “harm reduction” that is responsible for his election in the first place, the crisis of legitimacy that has opened up due to Biden's abandonment of working and poor people, the opportunity to organize for a system that works for working and poor people that has arisen because of that crisis, US attempts to overthrow the government of Nicaragua and the system that it represents, and the cooptation of progressive language in the service of imperialism.

Journalist and author Jonathan M. Katz tells CBS News' Vladimir Duthiers about Marine General Smedley Butler. In his new book, "Gangsters of Capitalism: Smedley Butler, the Marines, and the Making and Breaking of America's Empire," Katz shares how Butler aided the United States expand it's borders - annexing the Philippines and the land for the Panama Canal, leading troops in China (twice), and helping invade and occupy Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Mexico, and Cuba. Yet in retirement, Butler turned into a warrior against war, imperialism, and big business, declaring: “I was a racketeer for capitalism."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Comenzaremos la primera parte del programa hablando de las críticas de la comunidad internacional al nuevo mandato de Daniel Ortega como presidente de Nicaragua; y de la preocupante ola de calor en Sudamérica. Hablaremos también del descubrimiento de una red social que existió en África hace 50 mil años; y para finalizar, del aderezo francés, que ya no será regulado por la FDA.    En nuestra sección Trending in Latin America hablaremos del actor Cristo Fernández, quien tiene un papel memorable en la serie Ted Lasso. Cerraremos la emisión repasando las historias ambientales más impactantes del 2021. - Daniel Ortega asume una vez más como presidente de Nicaragua - Parte de Sudamérica sufre temperaturas récord - La primera “red social” existió en África hace 50 mil años - La FDA ya no regulará el aderezo francés - Cristo Fernández y su famosa frase: “el fútbol es vida” - Las historias ambientales más impactantes de 2021

Becky Gillespie and Matt talk about their previous travels in Argentina, as well as their recent experience together in the Mendoza wine region where the interview takes place.  Becky then shares her experiences trekking La Cuidad Perdita in Colombia, Volcano-boarding in Nicaragua, and visiting Omatepe Island.  Matt and Becky also share their experiences traveling through India, and Becky tells the story of when she participated in the “Rickshaw Challenge”.  Next, she reflects on her trip to the mountain kingdom of Bhutan.  Becky then plays the Ukalayle live on The Maverick Show and sings the song “I Drink Wine” by Adele.  She then breaks down the steps to get started with Cryptocurrency, and why she believes it is important for everyone.  Becky shares some crypto investment strategies for beginners, explains the basics of buying NFTs, and also explains how to use Cryptocurrency to by tangible items in the real world.  She then moves on to talk about getting a second passport.  Becky first discusses the benefits and what motivated her to pursue it, and she then breaks down the process and timeline for getting a second passport from Portugal. FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: www.TheMaverickShow.com

Today's podcast is “To Start the World Again,” episode two of the three-part public television documentary Turmoil & Triumph: The George Shultz Years. In episode two, George Shultz accompanies Reagan on a trip to Japan, but as they arrive back Philippine dissident Ninoy Aquino is assassinated and things are thrown into turmoil. Reagan is taken with the Contra rebels in Nicaragua. And George Shultz seeks an end to the Cold War. Listen now.

Andrea Marr has had a fascinating career trajectory. She's a nuclear engineer, she's served in the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf, volunteered on a solar panel project in Nicaragua and now leads the city of Costa Mesa, California, as the mayor pro tem. She's also a Strong Towns member. What's the connection between these different roles and experiences? For Marr, it's about wanting to serve something beyond herself.  In her current position as city councilor and mayor pro tem, she's dedicated herself over the last few years to helping shift the culture around biking and walking in her region. For a car-dominated place like southern California, it's not easy, but Marr is a big believer in the power of incremental progress. She's also been working on economic development efforts and helping the city improve after some dysfunctional leadership. Andrea Marr is yet another badass Strong Towns advocate in local government and an engineer pushing for change. We're excited for you to hear her story on this week's episode of The Bottom-Up Revolution podcast, hosted by Rachel Quednau. Additional Show Notes Grab your ticket to the 2022 Local-Motive Tour today! Check out some of our new columns: Neighborhood Stories (by Karla Theilen), Community Building (by John Pattison), and the High Value fiction serial (by Hamilton Ludwig). Listen to recent Bottom-Up Revolution episodes featuring Strong Towns advocates in local government, including Ashley Salvador, Mason Thompson, and Rob Green. Join the discussion about this episode in the Strong Towns Facebook Community group. Send your story ideas to rachel@strongtowns.org. Subscribe to The Bottom-Up Revolution on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Podbean, or via RSS. Support this podcast by becoming a Strong Towns member today.

Meet Roberto Clemente, one of the greatest baseball players of his generation WHO was the first Latino player in history to reach the unbelievable achievement of 3,000 career hits. His heart was full of much more than just a love for baseball; WHEN an earthquake jolted the capital of Nicaragua, he dropped everything he was doing to help. Join host Rebecca Sheir as we meet the this amazing baseball player with an incredible heart, who added so much WOW to our world. (Originally aired 11/3/21)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

¿Por qué Ortega se posesionó de nuevo como presidente de Nicaragua? Hablamos con Daniel Zovatto, del IDEA. Sobre Djokovic llamamos al periodista Fernando Murciego. Y sobre congresistas esclavistas, a Adrián Blanco de "The Washington Post"

Sergio Ramírez ist einer der berühmtesten Romanciers Nicaraguas. Früher kämpfte er mit Daniel Ortega gegen den Diktator Somoza. Doch sein einstiger Weggefährte wandte sich gegen ihn und zwang ihn ins Exil. Sogar seine Romane wurden verboten.Von Peter Schumannwww.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, LesartDirekter Link zur Audiodatei

Buenos días, soy Yoani Sánchez y en el "cafecito informativo" de este viernes 7 de enero de 2022 comentaré estos temas: - Cada vez los plazos para comprobar el fracaso son más cortos - Decenas de cubanos exigen un boleto para Nicaragua frente a Conviasa - EE UU impone sanciones a otros ocho funcionarios cubanos por la represión – Una campaña dirigida a la prensa extranjera en Cuba Gracias por compartir este “cafecito informativo” y te espero temprano para el programa del lunes. Puedes conocer más detalles de estas noticias en el diario https://www.14ymedio.com Enlaces recomendados: - El escaso sacrificio de reses se debe a la "chapucería" de los ganaderos cubanos https://noticuba.tech/cuba/escaso-sacrificio-chapuceria-ganadores-cubanos_0_3236676306.html - Air Canada suspende sus vuelos a La Habana y las reservaciones a otros destinos cubanos https://noticuba.tech/cuba/Air-Canada-Habana-reservaciones-destinos_0_3236676301.html - Decenas de cubanos exigen un boleto para Nicaragua frente a la oficina de Conviasa en La Habana https://noticuba.tech/cuba/Decenas-cubanos-boleto-Nicaragua-oficina-Conviasa-Habana_0_3236076372.html - EE UU impone sanciones a otros ocho funcionarios cubanos por su papel en la represión https://noticuba.tech/internacional/EE-UU-impones-sanciones-funcionarios-cubanos-represion_0_3236076371.html - Premio Nacional de Ciencias Sociales para el ministro de Economía del Periodo Especial https://noticuba.tech/sociedad/Nacional-Ciencias-Sociales-Economia-Especial_0_3236676303.html - Sin los cuentapropistas no hay Reyes Magos en Cuba https://noticuba.tech/cuba/cuentapropistas-Reyes-Magos-Cuba_0_3236076367.html

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. CBS Eye on the World with John Batchelor CBS Audio Network @Batchelorshow #NewWorldReport: China persuades Nicaragua. Latin American Research Professor Evan Ellis, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. @revanellis gam https://news.yahoo.com/china-opens-embassy-nicaragua-1st-225534855.html

Hey folks, some heavy stuff this week, as Charlie shares about the recent tragedy in her family regarding the fires that devastated the Denver area (you can help out Charlie's mom by going to her GoFundMe) But after we discuss some sad stuff, we get super tankie! This week we talk about

Coming in at #6 is the Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Box-Pressed Maduro Robusto. Last year when Perdomo Cigars announced they were discontinuing the Champagne Noir and Champagne Sun Grown cigars, it surprised a lot of people - including this author. However, it was clear that Nick Perdomo and his team knew they had something special with the new 10th Anniversary Maduro and Sun Grown lines. The 10th Anniversary Sun Grown landed a #23 on this year's Countdown and now the Maduro lands at number six. The blend for the  Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Maduro features 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos. According to Perdomo Cigars, the 10th Anniversary Maduro uses a six-year-aged Cuban-seed wrapper, binder, and fillers from its farms in Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa. The wrapper itself also has an additional 14 months of aging on it inside bourbon barrels. Production is handled out of the Tabacalera Perdomo S.A. facility in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Robusto measures 5 x 54. The Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Box Pressed Maduro Robusto delivers notes of mocha (coffee, and chocolate fusion), citrus, oak, cedar, mineral, and pepper. The flavors start out medium-bodied before progressing to medium to full in the second half. This is countered by medium strength.  On top of an excellent flavor profile, this cigar delivers a stellar performance in terms of burn and draw. One can argue the combination of the 10th Anniversary Champagne, Sun Grown, and Maduro is one of the strongest blend trifectas ever. This is the second year in a row Perdomo Cigars has placed two cigars on the Cigar of the Year Countdown. Of the 25 cigars unveiled thus far on the 2021 Countdown, this is the 18th one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lMJ

Coming in at #6 is the Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Box-Pressed Maduro Robusto. Last year when Perdomo Cigars announced they were discontinuing the Champagne Noir and Champagne Sun Grown cigars, it surprised a lot of people - including this author. However, it was clear that Nick Perdomo and his team knew they had something special with the new 10th Anniversary Maduro and Sun Grown lines. The 10th Anniversary Sun Grown landed a #23 on this year's Countdown and now the Maduro lands at number six. The blend for the  Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Maduro features 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos. According to Perdomo Cigars, the 10th Anniversary Maduro uses a six-year-aged Cuban-seed wrapper, binder, and fillers from its farms in Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa. The wrapper itself also has an additional 14 months of aging on it inside bourbon barrels. Production is handled out of the Tabacalera Perdomo S.A. facility in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Robusto measures 5 x 54. The Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Box Pressed Maduro Robusto delivers notes of mocha (coffee, and chocolate fusion), citrus, oak, cedar, mineral, and pepper. The flavors start out medium-bodied before progressing to medium to full in the second half. This is countered by medium strength.  On top of an excellent flavor profile, this cigar delivers a stellar performance in terms of burn and draw. One can argue the combination of the 10th Anniversary Champagne, Sun Grown, and Maduro is one of the strongest blend trifectas ever. This is the second year in a row Perdomo Cigars has placed two cigars on the Cigar of the Year Countdown. Of the 25 cigars unveiled thus far on the 2021 Countdown, this is the 18th one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lMJ  

Comenzaremos la primera parte del programa hablando de la ruptura de lazos diplomáticos entre Nicaragua y Taiwán; y de la promesa del gobierno mexicano de crear una moneda digital propia. Hablaremos también de una investigación que encontró 77 especies de vida diferentes viviendo bajo una plataforma de hielo de la Antártida; y para finalizar, del comienzo del Rally Dakar 2022 en Arabia Saudita.    En nuestra sección Trending in Latin America hablaremos de las cervezas navideñas en México. Cerraremos la emisión repasando la vida y lucha de la boxeadora cubana Namibia Flores. - Nicaragua corta lazos con Taiwán en favor de China - Gobierno mexicano promete una moneda digital para el 2024 - Inesperada abundancia de vida bajo las plataformas de hielo antárticas - Comienza en Arabia Saudita el Rally Dakar 2022 - México apuesta por las cervezas navideñas - Namibia Flores y la verdadera lucha de las boxeadoras en Cuba

Coming in at #7 is the 601 La Bomba Warhead VI by Espinosa Cigars. The story of the Warhead line is well-documented. This was a cigar that was an off-shoot of Espinosa's powerful 601 La Bomba line. The Warhead would replace La Bomba's Nicaraguan Habano wrapper with a Broadleaf wrapper. The idea was to keep to La Bomba's strength and produce an entirely new flavor experience. The Warhead was first released in 2013 and has been a near-annual release since then with each version coming in a different size. For the first five installments of the Warhead, the cigars were box-pressed. The Warhead VI would mark a major change in that this was a short, chunky figurado that was a rounded vitola. The vitola measures 5 x 58. As for the blend, in addition to the Broadleaf wrapper, Warhead VI uses all -Nicaraguan tobaccos. Production comes from AJ Fernandez's San Lotano factory which Espinosa partners with for production on several lines. Warhead VI delivers notes of mocha, earth, wood, cherry, and red pepper. This is a powerful cigar that is full strength and in fact, might be the strongest Warhead to date. The flavors produced start out medium to full before progressing to full-bodied in the second half. It was in 2013 when the first Warhead landed on the Countdown and that was the first year Espinosa landed on a Countdown. Since then Espinosa has not missed a Countdown and this marks the ninth consecutive year they have landed on the Countdown - a Cigar Coop record for consecutive years. This is the fifth time a Warhead has landed on the Countdown. It's also the 5th cigar made at an AJ Fernandez facility, and third cigar overall to come from AJ's San Lotano factory. Of the 24 cigars unveiled thus far on the 2021 Countdown, this is the 17th from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lLF  

Coming in at #7 is the 601 La Bomba Warhead VI by Espinosa Cigars. The story of the Warhead line is well-documented. This was a cigar that was an off-shoot of Espinosa's powerful 601 La Bomba line. The Warhead would replace La Bomba's Nicaraguan Habano wrapper with a Broadleaf wrapper. The idea was to keep to La Bomba's strength and produce an entirely new flavor experience. The Warhead was first released in 2013 and has been a near-annual release since then with each version coming in a different size. For the first five installments of the Warhead, the cigars were box-pressed. The Warhead VI would mark a major change in that this was a short, chunky figurado that was a rounded vitola. The vitola measures 5 x 58. As for the blend, in addition to the Broadleaf wrapper, Warhead VI uses all -Nicaraguan tobaccos. Production comes from AJ Fernandez's San Lotano factory which Espinosa partners with for production on several lines. Warhead VI delivers notes of mocha, earth, wood, cherry, and red pepper. This is a powerful cigar that is full strength and in fact, might be the strongest Warhead to date. The flavors produced start out medium to full before progressing to full-bodied in the second half. It was in 2013 when the first Warhead landed on the Countdown and that was the first year Espinosa landed on a Countdown. Since then Espinosa has not missed a Countdown and this marks the ninth consecutive year they have landed on the Countdown - a Cigar Coop record for consecutive years. This is the fifth time a Warhead has landed on the Countdown. It's also the 5th cigar made at an AJ Fernandez facility, and third cigar overall to come from AJ's San Lotano factory. Of the 24 cigars unveiled thus far on the 2021 Countdown, this is the 17th from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lLF  

Elias Torres (@eliast), co-founder and CTO at Drift, joins Lucas Bagno for this episode, which was recorded as part of a special event for Villagers. They discussed:- Why Elias is so grateful for the US and the differences he noticed when he came here from Nicaragua.- How he has forged a great relationship with a co-founder who is the opposite of him in many ways.- Why people should be taking more risks.- Why they hired a recruiter as their first employee at Drift.- Why they place less emphasis on resume and more on culture fit, as well as how to test for fit.Thanks for listening — if you like what you hear, please review us on your favorite podcast platform. Check us out on the web at www.villageglobal.vc or get in touch with us on Twitter @villageglobal.Want to get updates from us? Subscribe to get a peek inside the Village. We'll send you reading recommendations, exclusive event invites, and commentary on the latest happenings in Silicon Valley. www.villageglobal.vc/signup

Comenzamos en Estados Unidos en vísperas del aniversario del asalto al Capitolio el 6 de enero de 2021. Un año después, centenares de procesos, tanto judiciales como políticos, siguen buscando a los culpables materiales e intelectuales de lo sucedido, estrechando cada vez más el cerco sobre el expresidente Donald Trump. Después repasamos otras noticias de la actualidad que nos llevan hasta Colombia, Chile, Nicaragua, y Bolivia. En el ámbito cultural, escucharemos al escritor argentino Martín Caparrós que ha presentado una nueva obra Ñamérica; y avanzamos la gira del grupo argentino Les Luthiers que vuelven a España con su espectáculo Viejos Hazmerreíres, que se vio interrumpida en marzo de 2020 por la pandemia. Escuchar audio

Alejandro Morales tells Phil about the "social explosion" of young people of 2019 in Chile in reaction to the policies of the Conservative President. Despite voter suppression efforts by the Conservative coalition, including the shutting down of private transport companies, the left-wing candidate Gabriel Boric won by more than 10%. Phil calls the vote a complete reversal of the US-led coup by Pinochet in 1973 after which 1000s of leftists were jailed and killed, the constitution changed, and the inhuman economic policies of Milton Friedman (privatization, neo-liberalism) were enforced. A new progressive constitution is already being written by the Constituent Assembly composed equally of men and women to deal with hot issues in Chile, such as pensions. Nicaragua, Mexico, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela have all recently elected progressive governments. It is a social movement sweeping Latin America.

Coming in at #9 is the Vintage Rock-A-Feller Group Art of Magic. The Art of Magic is a limited edition project started by Vintage Rock-A-Feller Cigar Group (VRCG). In 2017, Vintage Rock-A-Feller Cigar Group was acquired by Kevin Schweitzer, who at the time was a Wall Street trader who had been a cigar enthusiast for 25 years.  Since that time, Schweitzer has worked on both streamlining and strengthening the current portfolio. Art of Magic is an ultra-premium limited-edition offering. It pays homage to Schweitzer's love of the craft of magic. The packaging is also quite different than anything that has been seen with the Rock-A-Feller products before. The artwork for the packaging for the Art of Magic was done by Jessi Flores, who used to run Subculture Studios for Drew Estate. As a part of the release, 5% of the proceeds will go to the charity Phuck Cancer. Flores' daughter Stephanie Nicole is going through a very difficult battle with cancer. The proceeds from the Phuck Cancer campaign will help fund Stephanie's medical and treatment expenses as well as raise cancer awareness as a whole. The other thing that is different is that Art of Magic is the first project Vintage Rock-A-Feller Cigar Group has worked on with TABSA. The blend features a San Andres wrapper over Nicaragua binder and filler. This blend comes in one size - a 6 x 52 Toro. This blend is a throwback to some of the old Casa Fernandez Maduro blends that came out of TABSA. The Art of Magic delivered a medium-strength, medium-bodied profile with notes of coffee, citrus, cedar, red pepper, earth, and natural tobacco. The Art of Magic lands Vintage Rock-A-Feller Cigar Group on the Countdown for the first time. Meanwhile, the dominance of Nicaragua on this year's Countdown continues. Of the 22 cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the 16th one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lJF  

Coming in at #9 is the Vintage Rock-A-Feller Group Art of Magic. The Art of Magic is a limited edition project started by Vintage Rock-A-Feller Cigar Group (VRCG). In 2017, Vintage Rock-A-Feller Cigar Group was acquired by Kevin Schweitzer, who at the time was a Wall Street trader who had been a cigar enthusiast for 25 years.  Since that time, Schweitzer has worked on both streamlining and strengthening the current portfolio. Art of Magic is an ultra-premium limited-edition offering. It pays homage to Schweitzer's love of the craft of magic. The packaging is also quite different than anything that has been seen with the Rock-A-Feller products before. The artwork for the packaging for the Art of Magic was done by Jessi Flores, who used to run Subculture Studios for Drew Estate. As a part of the release, 5% of the proceeds will go to the charity Phuck Cancer. Flores' daughter Stephanie Nicole is going through a very difficult battle with cancer. The proceeds from the Phuck Cancer campaign will help fund Stephanie's medical and treatment expenses as well as raise cancer awareness as a whole. The other thing that is different is that Art of Magic is the first project Vintage Rock-A-Feller Cigar Group has worked on with TABSA. The blend features a San Andres wrapper over Nicaragua binder and filler. This blend comes in one size - a 6 x 52 Toro. This blend is a throwback to some of the old Casa Fernandez Maduro blends that came out of TABSA. The Art of Magic delivered a medium-strength, medium-bodied profile with notes of coffee, citrus, cedar, red pepper, earth, and natural tobacco. The Art of Magic lands Vintage Rock-A-Feller Cigar Group on the Countdown for the first time. Meanwhile, the dominance of Nicaragua on this year's Countdown continues. Of the 22 cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the 16th one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lJF  

The boys do a little reflecting on the past year. Ben updates on his travels back through Central America and it wouldn't be a Sunday Conversation episode without a little history lesson on nefarious activities of the US Government in Nicaragua.@sundayconversation

Coming in at #10 is the Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder Brimstone Un Presidente. Southern Draw lands on the 2021 Countdown for a second time. Much like the #18 ranked Rose of Sharon Desert Rose Lonsdale was an offshoot of the Rose of Sharon line, the Brimstone is an offshoot of the Jacobs Ladder line. Notably, it's the second year in a row each of these blends have placed on the Countdown. Like the original Jacobs Ladder, the Brimstone uses a Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper. The remainder of the blend is different. The binder is a USA Maduro and a filler that consists of triple ligero Nicaraguan tobaccos. Late in 2020, Southern Draw introduced a massive 9 x 48 line extension dubbed "Un Presidente." It's easily the longest cigar since the Debonaire 33rd Maduro landed #2 in 2015. Last year, it was the Brimstone Perfecto that landed on the list at #9. Brimstone was originally positioned as a bolder version of the powerhouse Jacobs Ladder blend, but over time I saw the Perfecto mellowed and instead became richer in flavor. In the case of the Brimstone Un Presidente, these cigars were aging in Nicaragua for over a year and already had mellowed a bit. These cigars delivered a medium strength, medium-bodied profile with notes of coffee, earth, fruit, chocolate, red pepper, and toast. It's going to take an investment in time, but it will be worth every second. 2021 is the fifth year Southern Draw Cigars has landed on the Countdown - all of those years have been consecutive since 2017. It's also the fourth time there has been an AJ Fernandez-made cigar on the Countdown. Nicaragua has been the dominant country on this year's Countdown. Of the 21 cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the 15th one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lJB

Coming in at #10 is the Southern Draw Jacobs Ladder Brimstone Un Presidente. Southern Draw lands on the 2021 Countdown for a second time. Much like the #18 ranked Rose of Sharon Desert Rose Lonsdale was an offshoot of the Rose of Sharon line, the Brimstone is an offshoot of the Jacobs Ladder line. Notably, it's the second year in a row each of these blends have placed on the Countdown. Like the original Jacobs Ladder, the Brimstone uses a Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper. The remainder of the blend is different. The binder is a USA Maduro and a filler that consists of triple ligero Nicaraguan tobaccos. Late in 2020, Southern Draw introduced a massive 9 x 48 line extension dubbed "Un Presidente." It's easily the longest cigar since the Debonaire 33rd Maduro landed #2 in 2015. Last year, it was the Brimstone Perfecto that landed on the list at #9. Brimstone was originally positioned as a bolder version of the powerhouse Jacobs Ladder blend, but over time I saw the Perfecto mellowed and instead became richer in flavor. In the case of the Brimstone Un Presidente, these cigars were aging in Nicaragua for over a year and already had mellowed a bit. These cigars delivered a medium strength, medium-bodied profile with notes of coffee, earth, fruit, chocolate, red pepper, and toast. It's going to take an investment in time, but it will be worth every second. 2021 is the fifth year Southern Draw Cigars has landed on the Countdown - all of those years have been consecutive since 2017. It's also the fourth time there has been an AJ Fernandez-made cigar on the Countdown. Nicaragua has been the dominant country on this year's Countdown. Of the 21 cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the 15th one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lJB

Episode 22 Happy New Year!  TONIGHT on The Katie Black Show…Joe Bruno! EPISODE: METHOD ACTING, COVERING A HURRICANE, PANDEMIC PREDICTIONS, TIK-TOK, A STAR IS BORN AND MUCH MORE. WE RECORDED OVER ZOOM. ENJOY! (*recorded 11.9.21*)

Miguel welcomed Dr. Jennifer L. Rudolph to the podcast to discuss Baseball as Mediated Latinidad, including racist Latino Threat Narratives in baseball that are a microcosm of US white supremacy society. Dr. Rudolph is an Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies at Connecticut College and author of Baseball as Mediated Latinidad: Race, Masculinity, Nationalism, and performance of Identity. Dr. Rudolph's research interests include U.S. Latino expressive cultures, Latino identity formation, transnationalism, urban studies, and teaching Spanish to heritage/native speakers.First, Miguel asked Dr. Rudolph why it was essential for her to analyze new forms of media, such as social media, for her book, Baseball as Mediated Latinidad? Second, Miguel also asked Jennifer about her opening chapter, "La crema de Sammy Sosa," and her analysis of legendary Dominican and former Chicago Cubs star Sammy Sosa. Specifically, Miguel asked Jennifer to explain how specific events tied to Sosa's career and post-career intersected with race, class, and gender issues.Next, Miguel and Dr. Rudolph discussed the controversy regarding Marc Anthony singing the national anthem at the 2013 all-star game and how it was another example of Anthropologist Leo Chavez's Latino Threat Narrative. Miguel and Dr. Rudolph also discuss how the World Baseball Classic and the 2017 Puerto Rico National team connect to nationalism, race, assimilation, and masculinity. For example, Dr. Rudolph discussed how her analysis of the Puerto Rican national team showed the contradictions between Latinos perceived as threats by white fans instead of representing nationalistic pride to Puerto Rican fans.Furthermore, Miguel asked Jennifer about the connections between baseball, language, and racialized capitalism. Lastly, Miguel asked Jennifer about her chapter on Major League Baseball's development, labor structure, and practices at their academias in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Dr. Rudolph summarized the system and explained how they resemble the history of US imperialism and colonialism in Latin America. To end the podcast, Miguel gives you his Molotov MVP for episode 30, the legendary Pittsburgh Pirate and Hall of Famer, Roberto Clemente. Tragically, Roberto Clemente passed away in a plane crash 49 years ago today, on New Years' Eve 1972, while providing humanitarian aid to Nicaragua to ensure that the US-backed Somoza right-wing government would not steal the post-earthquake aid. Gracias por todo Roberto, rest in power!Links:Remembering Roberto Clemente as a Black man who fought against racial injustice (Jorge Castillo, 9/8/2020)Miguel Garcia produced this episode. The Sports As A Weapon Podcast is now part of the @Anticonquista Media collective. Subscribe to the Antincoquista Patreon and follow on YouTube and Instagram!Be sure to listen/subscribe to the Sports As A Weapon Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Deezer, or wherever you get your podcasts.Follow us on:Twitter: @sportsasaweaponFacebook: fb.com/sportsasaweaponpodcastInstagram: @sportsasaweaponpodcastVisit our website: www.sportsasaweapon.com

La vacuna cubana Abdala contra la Covid-19 comenzará a administrarse en México. La farmacéutica BioCubaFarma indicó que se autorizó de emergencia su uso en el país, donde el 56 % de la población ha completado su esquema de vacunación. La vacuna cubana Abdala contra la Covid-19 se basa en una proteína recombinante, la misma técnica con la que trabaja la estadounidense Novax y la francesa Sanofi. Debe aplicarse en tres dosis y tiene una eficacia superior al 90% para prevenir la enfermedad con síntomas, según científicos cubanos.   Actualmente Abdala se aplica en Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela y Vietnam. Pronto México podría añadirse a la lista tras recibir el visto bueno de la Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios (COFEPRIS).   “Desde hace mucho tiempo existe una buena relación entre México y el gobierno cubano. Desde el punto de vista científico también. Creo que esto ha facilitado que la aprobación se dé de una manera un poco más acelerada de lo que está pasando en otros países”, explica José Ángel Córdova, médico y ex secretario de salud de México. Otra fuente de aprovisionamiento  El gobierno federal todavía no ha informado si planea adquirir la vacuna cubana. De hacerlo Abdala sería la décima vacuna para combatir el coronavirus en el país, donde la variante ómicron vuelve a encender las alarmas. “Lo están tomando como otra fuente de aprovisionamiento de vacunas que se podría tener ante la posibilidad de que esto se siga prolongando”, indica el Dr. Córdova.  “Algunas no han sido realmente aprobadas con todo lo que se exige científicamente hablando”, recalca. Abdala ha sido homologada por la OMS, como Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca y Janssen. “Hay que esperar y tener todas las pruebas contundentes que demuestren su eficacia y su falta de efectos colaterales. En el caso de esta vacuna no conozco estudios publicados, pero sí sabemos que el gobierno cubano ha trabajado en el plan de salud e investigación desde hace muchos años”, añade.  México tiene 126 millones de habitantes y la mitad ya tiene un esquema de vacunación completo. 

Coming in at #12 is the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua Churchill by Altadis USA. This is a regular production cigar created to mark the 85th anniversary of the Montecristo brand. To make this release, Altadis turned to AJ Fernandez who has produced several releases for Montecristo to date. The concept here was to create a cigar to pay homage to the tradition of soft-pressing cigars. The tobaccos used in the blend are all Nicaraguan and are also meant to pay homage to the original tobaccos used in the first Montecristo. The Churchill is a soft-pressed 7 x 52 vitola. Production for this line comes from Fernandez's San Lotano factory in Ocatal, Nicaragua. The Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua Churchill delivers a medium strength, medium-bodied smoking experience. Along the way, the cigar delivered notes of coffee, chocolate, natural tobacco, earth, fruit, cedar, red Pepper. This is a cigar that has plenty of flavor nuances along the way. For Altadis USA, this is the sixth year one of its cigars has landed on a Cigar Coop Countdown. This is also the third AJ Fernandez-made cigar on this year's Countdown -with two of those cigars coming from his San Lotano factory. Meanwhile, Nicaragua continues to dominate the 2021 Countdown. Of the nineteen cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the fourteenth one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lIT

Coming in at #12 is the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua Churchill by Altadis USA. This is a regular production cigar created to mark the 85th anniversary of the Montecristo brand. To make this release, Altadis turned to AJ Fernandez who has produced several releases for Montecristo to date. The concept here was to create a cigar to pay homage to the tradition of soft-pressing cigars. The tobaccos used in the blend are all Nicaraguan and are also meant to pay homage to the original tobaccos used in the first Montecristo. The Churchill is a soft-pressed 7 x 52 vitola. Production for this line comes from Fernandez's San Lotano factory in Ocatal, Nicaragua. The Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua Churchill delivers a medium strength, medium-bodied smoking experience. Along the way, the cigar delivered notes of coffee, chocolate, natural tobacco, earth, fruit, cedar, red Pepper. This is a cigar that has plenty of flavor nuances along the way. For Altadis USA, this is the sixth year one of its cigars has landed on a Cigar Coop Countdown. This is also the third AJ Fernandez-made cigar on this year's Countdown -with two of those cigars coming from his San Lotano factory. Meanwhile, Nicaragua continues to dominate the 2021 Countdown. Of the nineteen cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the fourteenth one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lIT

A principios de esta semana Nicaragua le reconoció a China la propiedad de los bienes de Taiwán en el país y se los entregó. Por otra parte Cuba y China amplían la cooperación bilateral para el desarrollo de la Nueva Ruta de la Seda, un megaproyecto a nivel mundial que pretende crear nuevas rutas marítimas y terrestres para el comercio internacional. ¿A qué se debe el despliegue de esa estrategia geopolítica? RFI entrevistó a la doctora Pamela Aróstica, Directora de la Red China y América Latina Enfoques Multidisciplinarios (REDCAEM). RFI: Actualmente ¿hay una marcada influencia de China en América Latina? Pamela Aróstica: Hay una influencia cada vez mayor, donde no solamente está el aspecto económico, comercial y de inversión, sino que también está mancomunado con la influencia de China en aspectos culturales. Por ejemplo, un establecimiento de un Centro Regional de Coordinación de los Institutos Confucio para América Latina en Chile, una coordinación absoluta entre medios de comunicación chinos con medios de comunicación de América Latina. Y vamos viendo que esta influencia es absolutamente multidimensional. Por eso hoy la observamos con mucha más claridad que en el pasado. RFI: ¿Cuál es el interés principal del gigante asiático en el continente americano?  Pamela Aróstica: A comienzos de este siglo, China fue potenciandose a otras regiones como África y América Latina. Esta última tiene una importancia cada vez mayor en perspectiva geopolítica, porque también está la disputa entre China y Estados Unidos por posicionarse como una superpotencia. El interés principal de China tiene que ver también con asegurar el acceso a alimentos, fuentes de materias primas y fuentes de energía. Y en eso América Latina es una región muy rica. Eso es súper importante para poder posicionarse y poder asegurarse como primera potencia económica mundial. Todo esto también está dentro de un plan más macro que tiene que ver con el proyecto de la Franja y la Ruta, donde América Latina también es parte y hay varios países que se han sumado. De aquí a las próximas décadas la relación más clave para América Latina va a ser con China. RFI: Da la impresión de que China es el socio mayor y América Latina el socio menor. Pamela Aróstica: Esta etapa de las relaciones bilaterales es bastante incondicional al proyecto macro de China, porque es una relación asimétrica. Es muy difícil que los países latinoamericanos puedan pedirle condiciones a China. El interés por tratar de mantener buenas relaciones para que sigan avanzando las inversiones y las relaciones económicas y comerciales de manera positiva y tratar de que China no se moleste. Y esto ya lo hemos visto con algunos proyectos en marcha.

Coming in at #13 is the Sobremesa Brûlée Blue by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. Throughout his career, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust owner Steve Saka has loved to take an existing blend and do some tweaks on it. In the case of the Sobremesa Brûlée Blue, it is a modification of the Sobremesa Brûlée, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust's Connecticut Shade offering. In addition to a top-grade Connecticut Shade wrapper, Sobremesa Brûlée Blue consists of a San Andres Mexican binder, and all-Nicaraguan fillers. The Blue comes in one size - a Corona Larga that measures 6 1/4 x 46. Production for the Sobremesa Brûlée Blue comes out of the Joya de Nicaragua factory. The Blue even has its own packaging - it uses the Sobremesa logo, but incorporates powder blue into the color scheme. Saka blended the original Sobremesa Brûlée to be a milder old school Connecticut Shade cigar. The Sobremesa Brûlée Blue is on the bolder side, delivering a medium strength, medium-bodied experience. As for the flavors, the Brûlée Blue produced notes of sweetened cream, coffee, bread, pepper, butterscotch, and wood. Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust has appeared on every Countdown since the company's inception in 2015. If you are keeping score at home that means it has appeared seven consecutive years on the Countdown - tied for second all time for consecutive years. This also gives the Joya de Nicaragua factory its third cigar on the Countdown, tying Drew Estate. Nicaragua's dominance continues. Of the eighteen cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the thirteenth one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lHK

Coming in at #13 is the Sobremesa Brûlée Blue by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. Throughout his career, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust owner Steve Saka has loved to take an existing blend and do some tweaks on it. In the case of the Sobremesa Brûlée Blue, it is a modification of the Sobremesa Brûlée, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust's Connecticut Shade offering. In addition to a top-grade Connecticut Shade wrapper, Sobremesa Brûlée Blue consists of a San Andres Mexican binder, and all-Nicaraguan fillers. The Blue comes in one size - a Corona Larga that measures 6 1/4 x 46. Production for the Sobremesa Brûlée Blue comes out of the Joya de Nicaragua factory. The Blue even has its own packaging - it uses the Sobremesa logo, but incorporates powder blue into the color scheme. Saka blended the original Sobremesa Brûlée to be a milder old school Connecticut Shade cigar. The Sobremesa Brûlée Blue is on the bolder side, delivering a medium strength, medium-bodied experience. As for the flavors, the Brûlée Blue produced notes of sweetened cream, coffee, bread, pepper, butterscotch, and wood. Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust has appeared on every Countdown since the company's inception in 2015. If you are keeping score at home that means it has appeared seven consecutive years on the Countdown - tied for second all time for consecutive years. This also gives the Joya de Nicaragua factory its third cigar on the Countdown, tying Drew Estate. Nicaragua's dominance continues. Of the eighteen cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the thirteenth one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lHK

Pattie Ehsaei (TikTok: “duchessofdecorum”), leads a delightful and informative discussion about unusual and entertaining customs around the world, with lots of giggles along with fascinating facts.After an intro about customs of the world by Lea, she and Pattie alternate in discussing customs in France, Italy, Nicaragua, Malaysia, Kuwait, Scotland, Greece, Germany, Indonesia, Russia, China, Thailand, Japan, Nigeria, Mexico, Egypt, Vietnam, Switzerland, Iceland.Ways to kiss in France, how to eat in the Middle East, a strange way of pointing in Nicaragua, and so many more facts and fun.We end, as we always do on Places I Remember, with a favorite memory.____Pattie Ehsaei (TikTok: “duchessofdecorum”),has established herself as the expert of “P's and Q's” on the platform where she's received over 1.8 million likes and nearly a half million followers as she teaches social and workplace etiquette, along with financial literacy. A lawyer by trade and currently a Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions lending for a major national bank, she believes that success comes from information and empowerment. _____Podcast host Lea Lane blogs at forbes.com, has traveled to over 100 countries, written nine books, including Places I Remember, and contributed to guidebooks. She's @lealane on Twitter; PlacesIRememberLeaLane on Insta; on  Facebook, it's Places I Remember with Lea Lane. Website: placesirememberlealane.com.  Please follow, rate and review this award-winning travel podcast!And exciting news! In 2022  we'll be dropping podcasts bi-weekly, on Tuesdays. And we'll be on YouTube every other week, starting mid- February, with travel tips and trips.

Coming in at #14 is the Liga Privada Unico Serie Bauhaus by Drew Estate. Late in 2020, Drew Estate would introduce the fourteenth installment of its Liga Privada Unico Serie line known as Bauhaus. The Liga Privada Unico Serie is a series of cigars that feature a unique blend in a single size. What was different about the Bauhaus is that it would be a regional release that would be exclusive to the European market. It's the highest placing non-U.S. release to ever land on a Countdown. On paper, when you look at things tobacco-wise, the profile of the Liga Privada Unico Serie Bauhaus looks similar to the Liga Privada No. 9. This consists of a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, a Brazilian binder, and a combination of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos. Production of the Bauhaus comes from Drew Estate's La Gran Fabrica in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Short Robusto measures 114mm x 50 - which translates to 4 1/2 inches x 50. The flavors produced by the Liga Privada Unico Serie Bauhaus include chocolate, earth, baker's spice, mixed pepper, and what I consider the cigar's signature note - anise. These flavors open up medium-bodied in the first half before progressing to medium to full in the second half. This is countered by medium strength. The Bauhaus gives Drew Estate two consecutive cigars in a row on the 2021 Countdown. If you have been following the Countdown thus far, Drew Estate joins Joya de Nicaragua as companies that have two entries on the Countdown. It has given La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate the third cigar on the Countdown this year. If you have been keeping score at home, this is the eighth year Drew Estate has landed on the Countdown, including the past four years in a row. Meanwhile, Nicaragua continues to dominate the 2021 Countdown. Of the sixteen cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the twelvth one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lHH

Coming in at #14 is the Liga Privada Unico Serie Bauhaus by Drew Estate. Late in 2020, Drew Estate would introduce the fourteenth installment of its Liga Privada Unico Serie line known as Bauhaus. The Liga Privada Unico Serie is a series of cigars that feature a unique blend in a single size. What was different about the Bauhaus is that it would be a regional release that would be exclusive to the European market. It's the highest placing non-U.S. release to ever land on a Countdown. On paper, when you look at things tobacco-wise, the profile of the Liga Privada Unico Serie Bauhaus looks similar to the Liga Privada No. 9. This consists of a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, a Brazilian binder, and a combination of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos. Production of the Bauhaus comes from Drew Estate's La Gran Fabrica in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Short Robusto measures 114mm x 50 - which translates to 4 1/2 inches x 50. The flavors produced by the Liga Privada Unico Serie Bauhaus include chocolate, earth, baker's spice, mixed pepper, and what I consider the cigar's signature note - anise.  These flavors open up medium-bodied in the first half before progressing to medium to full in the second half. This is countered by medium strength. The Bauhaus gives Drew Estate two consecutive cigars in a row on the 2021 Countdown. If you have been following the Countdown thus far, Drew Estate joins Joya de Nicaragua as companies that have two entries on the Countdown. It has given La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate the third cigar on the Countdown this year. If you have been keeping score at home, this is the eighth year Drew Estate has landed on the Countdown, including the past four years in a row. Meanwhile, Nicaragua continues to dominate the 2021 Countdown. Of the sixteen cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the twelvth one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lHH  

Coming in at #15 is the Undercrown 10 Toro by Drew Estate. The Undercrown 10 was a line created to commemorate the tenth of the Undercrown brand. This was a release that was Drew Estate's most high-profile release in 2021. Undercrown 10 had a soft launch as an unbanded “Mystery Cigar” included in a Freestyle Live Limited Edition Event Kit that was made available to consumers prior to the company's Freestyle Live Broadcast. On the broadcast, it was revealed that the Mystery Cigar was the new Undercrown 10. Undercrown 10 would then be introduced to the market in late May joining Undercrown Maduro, Undercrown Shade, and Undercrown Sun Grown as the fourth pillar of the Undercrown brand. Like the original the Undercrown Maduro, Undercrown 10  also uses a San Andres wrapper. The difference is the San Andres wrapper for the Undercrown 10 is a higher grade and priming. The remainder of the blend incorporates “the very finest Broadleaf binder from the Connecticut River Valley, and a tripa blend of select and rare Nicaraguan tobaccos.” Production is handled at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Toro measures 6 x 52. One would be remiss is the theme “ALL DEKK'D OUT” is present on the packaging of the cigar. Perhaps the most unique packaging feature is a simple thin gold ribbon that is draped over the cap of the cigar and rests under the front and back of the band. The Undercrown 10 Toro delivers flavors of coffee, cocoa, baker's spice, red licorice, pepper, and cream. This is a much different cigar than the original Undercrown in that the Undercrown 10 is richer and spicier - particularly in the final third. The strength and body of this cigar started out medium and progressed to medium to full in the second half. This is the eighth year Drew Estate has landed on the Countdown, including the past four years in a row..  Nicaragua continues to be the story of the 2021 Countdown. Of the 16 cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the 11th one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lHF

Coming in at #15 is the Undercrown 10 Toro by Drew Estate. The Undercrown 10 was a line created to commemorate the tenth of the Undercrown brand. This was a release that was Drew Estate's most high-profile release in 2021. Undercrown 10 had a soft launch as an unbanded “Mystery Cigar” included in a Freestyle Live Limited Edition Event Kit that was made available to consumers prior to the company's Freestyle Live Broadcast. On the broadcast, it was revealed that the Mystery Cigar was the new Undercrown 10. Undercrown 10 would then be introduced to the market in late May joining Undercrown Maduro, Undercrown Shade, and Undercrown Sun Grown as the fourth pillar of the Undercrown brand. Like the original the Undercrown Maduro, Undercrown 10  also uses a San Andres wrapper. The difference is the San Andres wrapper for the Undercrown 10 is a higher grade and priming. The remainder of the blend incorporates “the very finest Broadleaf binder from the Connecticut River Valley, and a tripa blend of select and rare Nicaraguan tobaccos.” Production is handled at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Toro measures 6 x 52. One would be remiss is the theme “ALL DEKK'D OUT” is present on the packaging of the cigar. Perhaps the most unique packaging feature is a simple thin gold ribbon that is draped over the cap of the cigar and rests under the front and back of the band. The Undercrown 10 Toro delivers flavors of coffee, cocoa, baker's spice, red licorice, pepper, and cream. This is a much different cigar than the original Undercrown in that the Undercrown 10 is richer and spicier - particularly in the final third. The strength and body of this cigar started out medium and progressed to medium to full in the second half. This is the eighth year Drew Estate has landed on the Countdown, including the past four years in a row..  Nicaragua continues to be the story of the 2021 Countdown. Of the 16 cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the 11th one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lHF  

Russian President Vladimir Putin spent several hours giving his annual press conference this week. He threatened to attack Ukraine, but his real target is the U.S. And it's not just the USSR making a comeback. Two politicians are on their way back—the most noticeable is U.S. President Donald Trump. Over in Germany, Angela Merkel's nemesis is also rising. In the Middle East, America's administration is getting ready to ditch Saudi Arabia, while France moves in. Germany and Nicaragua are moving close to China—what does this means for America? And finally we say a not-so-fond farewell to a key player in America's response to COVID-19. Links [00:46] Russia's Moves (7 minutes) The Prophesied ‘Prince of Russia' “Russia Frightens Europe—and Fulfills Bible Prophecy” [08:00] Trump's Comeback (7 minutes) “What Will Happen After Trump Regains Power” “Fight Over Mail-In Ballots Begins” [14:50] New CDU Leader (9 minutes) A Strong German Leader Is Imminent “Germany's Friedrich Merz Is Again on the Rise” “Is Friedrich Merz Germany's Future?” [25:48] U.S. Ditching Saudi Arabia (5 minutes) [31:16] Germany Draws Closer to China (5 minutes) [36:00] France Courts Saudi Arabia (6 minutes) TRENDS: “Why the Trumpet Watches an Alliance Between Arab Nations and Europe” “Biden Middle East Policy Pushing the World Toward Christ's Return” [42:06] Nicaragua and China (6 minutes) [48:06] Dr. Collins (6 minutes) “Farewell to Dr. Francis Collins”

Photo:  Execution of Ponciano Corral, Minster of War, Nicaragua [before the Cathedral, Granada] #NewWorldReport: Lessons Learned 2021. Latin American Research Professor Evan Ellis, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. @revanellis https://warontherocks.com/2021/12/the-empire-of-the-anti-imperialist-dealing-with-nicaraguas-ortega/

Coming in at #17 is the Plasencia Alma del Fuego Concepcíon. First released in 2019, Alma del Fuego was the third installment of Plasencia's "Alma" series. In the case of Alma del Fuego, this translates to "Soul of Fire." The vitola name "Concepción" refers to a volcano on the island of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua. The Alma del Fuego blend incorporates tobaccos from Ometepe into the filler. In addition to the Ometepe tobaccos in the filler, the blend to the Plasencia Alma del Fuego Concepcíon consists of 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigar is finished with a dark sun-grown wrapper grown in the Jalapa region. The Concepción size is a 6 x 54 Toro. As for production, the Plasencias ae producing the Alma de Fuego at their factory in in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Plasencia Alma del Fuego delivered notes of mocha, dried fruit, mineral, cream, and white pepper. For the most part ,the flavors delivered were in the medium to full range countered by medium strength. This is the second consecutive year, Plasencia Cigars has landed on the Countdown. It's also the second consecutive year the Alma del Fuego lands on the Countdown. Last year, the Candente size came in at the #20 slot.  Meanwhile, Nicaragua continues to be a dominant country of origin for cigars making the 2021 list. Of the fourteen cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the tenth one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lGF

Coming in at #17 is the Plasencia Alma del Fuego Concepcíon. First released in 2019, Alma del Fuego was the third installment of Plasencia's "Alma" series. In the case of Alma del Fuego, this translates to "Soul of Fire." The vitola name "Concepción" refers to a volcano on the island of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua. The Alma del Fuego blend incorporates tobaccos from Ometepe into the filler. In addition to the Ometepe tobaccos in the filler, the blend to the Plasencia Alma del Fuego Concepcíon consists of 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigar is finished with a dark sun-grown wrapper grown in the Jalapa region. The Concepción size is a 6 x 54 Toro. As for production, the Plasencias ae producing the Alma de Fuego at their factory in in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Plasencia Alma del Fuego delivered notes of mocha, dried fruit, mineral, cream, and white pepper. For the most part ,the flavors delivered were in the medium to full range countered by medium strength. This is the second consecutive year, Plasencia Cigars has landed on the Countdown. It's also the second consecutive year the Alma del Fuego lands on the Countdown. Last year, the Candente size came in at the #20 slot.  Meanwhile, Nicaragua continues to be a dominant country of origin for cigars making the 2021 list. Of the fourteen cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the tenth one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lGF

Coming in at #18 is the Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Desert Rose Lonsdale. The Desert Rose was a cigar is an off-shoot of the company's popular Rose of Sharon line. Originally launched in a Belicoso Fino in 2019, that size landed on the 2020 Countdown at #13. 2020 also saw a couple of line extensions to the Desert Rose line, one of which is a 6 x 44 Lonsdale which lands on this year's Countdown. Rose of Sharon is Southern Draw's premium Connecticut Shade line. Desert Rose utilizes a modified blend from the original Rose of Sharon and features a thicker, heartier Ecuadorian Claro wrapper the company calls “Cloud Grown.” The blend uses a Nicaraguan binder from the Condega region and a combination of Honduran Corojo and Dominican Piloto Cubano. As with all Southern Draw cigars, production comes from A.J. Fernandez's factory in Nicaragua. The Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Desert Rose Lonsdale consists of notes of cream, berry, cedar, baker's spice, and black pepper. This is a cigar that has plenty to offer in terms of flavor nuances and flavor transitions. The flavors delivered are medium-bodied. This cigar is not overpowering - delivering mild to medium strength in the first half before progressing to medium in the second third. This is the fifth year Southern Draw Cigars has landed on the Countdown - all of those years have been consecutive since 2017. Nicaragua continues to be a dominant country of origin for cigars making the 2021 list. Of the 13 cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the ninth one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lET

Coming in at #18 is the Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Desert Rose Lonsdale. The Desert Rose was a cigar is an off-shoot of the company's popular Rose of Sharon line. Originally launched in a Belicoso Fino in 2019, that size landed on the 2020 Countdown at #13. 2020 also saw a couple of line extensions to the Desert Rose line, one of which is a 6 x 44 Lonsdale which lands on this year's Countdown. Rose of Sharon is Southern Draw's premium Connecticut Shade line. Desert Rose utilizes a modified blend from the original Rose of Sharon and features a thicker, heartier Ecuadorian Claro wrapper the company calls “Cloud Grown.” The blend uses a Nicaraguan binder from the Condega region and a combination of Honduran Corojo and Dominican Piloto Cubano. As with all Southern Draw cigars, production comes from A.J. Fernandez's factory in Nicaragua. The Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Desert Rose Lonsdale consists of notes of cream, berry, cedar, baker's spice, and black pepper. This is a cigar that has plenty to offer in terms of flavor nuances and flavor transitions. The flavors delivered are medium-bodied. This cigar is not overpowering - delivering mild to medium strength in the first half before progressing to medium in the second third. This is the fifth year Southern Draw Cigars has landed on the Countdown - all of those years have been consecutive since 2017. Nicaragua continues to be a dominant country of origin for cigars making the 2021 list. Of the 13 cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the ninth one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lET  

Coming in at #19 is the Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Décadas Fundador. In 2018, Joya de Nicaragua celebrated 50 years in the cigar business. To mark the occasion, Joya de Nicaragua introduced a line appropriately called Cinco Décadas (five decades). The line was originally introduced in two sizes (Diadema and El General). Line extensions would follow with each size paying tribute to the people and events that have shaped the country's history. The first line extension was in 2019, and it's called Fundador, a 6 x 54 box-pressed Toro. The word fundador is Spanish for “founder” and in this case, it pays homage to the two gentlemen who founded Joya de Nicaragua – Simón Camacho and Juan Francisco Bermejo. Joya de Nicaragua has not tipped its hat in terms of what tobaccos are used in the Cinco Décadas. As for the Fundador, it is the first and currently only box-pressed offering in the line. The various sizes of Cinco Décadas are released in smaller batches on a semi-regular annual basis. The Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Décadas Fundador delivers notes of natural tobacco, earth, mixed pepper, wood, and what I would describe as a signature cherry-cream note. The flavors delivered are medium-bodied countered by medium strength. Joya de Nicaragua has become the first company to place two cigars on the 2021 Countdown (the other being the Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno Le Premier at #24) Historically, this marks the fifth year Crowned Heads has secured a spot on the Countdown. This is also the third vitola from Cinco Decádas to land on a Countdown (El General was #11 in 2018 and the Diadema was #28 in 2020) Nicaragua continues to be a dominant country of origin for cigars making the 2021 list. Of the twelve cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the eighth one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lER

Coming in at #19 is the Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Décadas Fundador. In 2018, Joya de Nicaragua celebrated 50 years in the cigar business. To mark the occasion, Joya de Nicaragua introduced a line appropriately called Cinco Décadas (five decades). The line was originally introduced in two sizes (Diadema and El General). Line extensions would follow with each size paying tribute to the people and events that have shaped the country's history. The first line extension was in 2019, and it's called Fundador, a 6 x 54 box-pressed Toro. The word fundador is Spanish for “founder” and in this case, it pays homage to the two gentlemen who founded Joya de Nicaragua – Simón Camacho and Juan Francisco Bermejo. Joya de Nicaragua has not tipped its hat in terms of what tobaccos are used in the Cinco Décadas. As for the Fundador, it is the first and currently only box-pressed offering in the line. The various sizes of Cinco Décadas are released in smaller batches on a semi-regular annual basis. The Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Décadas Fundador delivers notes of natural tobacco, earth, mixed pepper, wood, and what I would describe as a signature cherry-cream note. The flavors delivered are medium-bodied countered by medium strength. Joya de Nicaragua has become the first company to place two cigars on the 2021 Countdown (the other being the Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno Le Premier at #24) Historically, this marks the fifth year Crowned Heads has secured a spot on the Countdown. This is also the third vitola from Cinco Decádas to land on a Countdown (El General was #11 in 2018 and the Diadema was #28 in 2020) Nicaragua continues to be a dominant country of origin for cigars making the 2021 list. Of the twelve cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the eighth one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lER

Episodio emitido en Twitch durante la tarde del lunes 20 de diciembre. - Twitter: @FFevermedia - Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/footballfevermedia - Juego de pronósticos: https://www.kicktipp.es/footballfever/ https://www.kicktipp.es/ffeverucl/ - Contacto: footballfeverradio@gmail.com - Canal de Telegram: https://t.me/FFeverMedia Contenido: - La voz del pueblo, noticias y Kicktipp - Sorteo de cuartos de UEFA Women's Champions League, y fases preliminares de Copa Libertadores y Copa Sudamericana - Resumen de competiciones y segundas categorías de: - Premier League & restricciones COVID (17') - Serie A (41') - Bundesliga (1h04') - Coupe de France (1h29') y repaso al resto de competiciones de la semana: Liga Portugal, Eredivisie, Jupiler belga, SüperLig turca y resto del Egeo, Escocia, Suiza, Croacia, Serbia, República Checa, Hungría, Rumanía, Bulgaria, Argentina, Bolivia, Nicaragua y Copa Árabe. Con Con Xapa Red (@Xapa_red) y Álvaro Mota (@Alvaro4Mota) Presentado y editado por Javier Quirós Sánchez (@JavierQS21)

Coming in at #20 is the Crowned Heads La Coalición Siglo. For many years Crowned Heads had worked exclusively with Tabacalera La Alianza (Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr's factory) and My Father Cigars SA (The Garcia Family). About three years ago, Crowned Heads added a couple of other manufacturing partners to work with – including Tabacalera Pichardo (ACE Prime) and La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate. La Coalición was the first national regular production cigar that Crowned Heads would make at Drew Estate (this was preceded by the Ohio-state exclusive Buckeye Land). Crowned Heads has at one time or another produced a Connecticut Broadleaf cigar at each of these factories, and that is the wrapper that La Coalición uses. In addition to the Broadleaf wrapper, La Coalición features a Sumatra binder and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The Siglo is a classic 6 x 52 Toro-sized vitola. The Crowned Heads La Coalición Siglo is going to deliver everything that one would expect from a Connecticut Broadleaf cigar. This includes notes of coffee, cocoa, earth, cedar, mixed pepper, and cream. The flavors delivered are medium-bodied countered by medium strength. This makes the third year Crowned Heads has secured a spot on the Countdown. Nicaragua continues to be a dominant country of origin for cigars making the 2021 list. Of the 11 cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the seventh one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lEP

Coming in at #20 is the Crowned Heads La Coalición Siglo. For many years Crowned Heads had worked exclusively with Tabacalera La Alianza (Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr's factory) and My Father Cigars SA (The Garcia Family). About three years ago, Crowned Heads added a couple of other manufacturing partners to work with – including Tabacalera Pichardo (ACE Prime) and La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate. La Coalición was the first national regular production cigar that Crowned Heads would make at Drew Estate (this was preceded by the Ohio-state exclusive Buckeye Land). Crowned Heads has at one time or another produced a Connecticut Broadleaf cigar at each of these factories, and that is the wrapper that La Coalición uses. In addition to the Broadleaf wrapper, La Coalición features a Sumatra binder and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The Siglo is a classic 6 x 52 Toro-sized vitola. The Crowned Heads La Coalición Siglo is going to deliver everything that one would expect from a Connecticut Broadleaf cigar. This includes notes of coffee, cocoa, earth, cedar, mixed pepper, and cream. The flavors delivered are medium-bodied countered by medium strength. This makes the third year Crowned Heads has secured a spot on the Countdown. Nicaragua continues to be a dominant country of origin for cigars making the 2021 list. Of the 11 cigars we have unveiled moving up the Countdown, this is the seventh one from Nicaragua. For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lEP

Nicaragua's Sandinista government has broken diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognized the People's Republic of China. We discuss the historic decision and its huge geopolitical implications. A Chinese company plans to build an inter-oceanic canal in Nicaragua, to challenge the monopoly of the US-dominated Panama Canal.  And the same week, Nicaragua signed agreements strengthening ties with Russia and collaborating on nuclear energy projects. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=EDADaUXL6kM