“Our destiny rules over us, even when we are not yet aware of it; it is the future that makes laws for our today.” - Nietzsche

I didn’t think much about the manuscript when it first came across my desk. Just another unsolicited author’s story making its way into my office with the lofty goal of being published. After all, we receive hundreds of unsolicited stories a year, with only a small fraction making the final cut. Which type would this be?

I gave the story an editor’s first read and filed it away in my “possibilities” folder. It wasn’t until a few weeks after the devastation of September 11 that I remembered possessing this telling piece - the story of a husband and wife team traveling throughout the Middle East, stopping in a certain city in Pakistan known for selling weapons.

Leafing though my folder, I located the story and gave it a full read, this time finding it much more gripping in view of the then-recent tragic events. Nick Monahan writes this chilling tale of the arms market in Pakistan and how corruption permeates this foreign land. It is not to be missed.

If you’re looking for that much-needed break from CNN and the non-stop barrage of heart-tugging news reports and want to unwind with some witty prose, turn to columnist Rick Shaw’s article on chasing his dream. Granted, your dream may not be like his - which entails giving up his well-paying career and opening up a gourmet deli - but his entertaining style is sure to bring a smile to your face. His account regaling the birth of Philly’s legendary cheesesteak is quite the eye-opener.

I’m fairly certain Mark Bernardo, SMOKE’s senior editor, sampled a famous Philly cheesesteak on his jaunt to the City of Brotherly Love for this issue’s SMOKE City column. Join Bernardo as he walks the streets of Philadelphia in search of the perfect place to light up. From landmark cigar retailers to trendy cigar bars, this happening town promises never to disappoint.

This very special issue marks our 6th Anniversary as the only magazine dedicated to the art form of enjoying that special cigar and the accompanying lifestyle. We at SMOKE are proud of this milestone. In a time when many magazines are floundering and losing their identity, we remain strong, focused, and dedicated to our readers.

In closing, keep in mind something I’ve kept in mind over the years. It’s a simple saying I first observed on the tip jar at my favorite neighborhood coffeehouse: “Karma is a boomerang.” So, be good and kind to all you know and enjoy this joyous new year.

Alyson Boxman Levine
Editor-in-Chief