My friend’s retribution on me during my first smoke.
Pipe-smoking tips: How to reduce tongue-bite.
Want a sweeter smoke? Looking for another way to reduce the chance of tongue bite? All here today on:
THEPIPEISRIGHT!
Also, sad day for pipesmoking… I’ve run out of my absolute favorite aromatic of all time.
Thoughts? Questions? Comments? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Pipesmoking: Hobby or Habit?
Included: Shout out, update on Secret Tobacconist, topic request for pipe round table, and a question.
Is pipe-smoking a hobby or habit for you? When you are talking about pipe-smoking to a friend or stranger do you say, “I’m a pipe-smoker” or “I smoke a pipe?”.
I find it fascinating how diverse the draw to pipes can be. Some come to get away from the ciggie, while others are drawn for the mystique of the puffing experience itself. Where do you fall?
Music by Coldplay
How has your life changed?
A little introspection is good for the soul. I’d love to hear your stories in the comments. How has your life changed recently? What stories would you share?
Update on Secret Tobacconist ’11
Secret Tobacconist ’11 (ST’011) is off and running! Please get me a PM on Youtube or Comment here, post haste if you want in on it. Here’s a link to the original video:
ALSO, I currently have 8 people total doing the ST’011.
In summary: Imitation is not the most sincere form of flattery. Your best bet with YT is to be exactly who you are in real life.
The Playing Field and Boundary of Religious Tolerance
This is response to the video thread “Religious Tolerance” that is floating around the tobacco pipe smoking community.
Keep in mind that this is not a holistic look at the Christian perspective on the issue. It is simply my thoughts on the subject.
I don’t know how well I communicate this in the video, but I define religious INTOLERANCE as treating someone with disrespect or unjustly because of their faith perspective (or worldview). However, I don’t believe that claiming one’s own faith perspective as true and all others as false is “intolerant”. This statement simply makes no sense. If I don’t believe that your perspective on baseball is correct and mine is, that has nothing to do with whether or not I can tolerate your perspective, or you for that matter. Assenting to what you believe as false does not make you tolerant. In fact it can make you look disingenuous.
What I’m smoking:
- Pipe: Stanwell; Rusticated, 1/4 Bend Billiard
- Tobacco: Frog Morton: Across the Pond; McClellends
Tobacco Forgiveness
I bought some University Flake by Peterson a few months ago with high hopes. When I cracked that square tin open I got a bouquet of fresh berries and freshly clipped lawn. I was excited to smoke the stuff to say the least. Later that night, I took out a flake or two and vigorously rubbed it to pieces just larger than a grain of rice. I sprinkled the tobacco into the bowl until it bubbled over the rim of my Peterson Bulldog. As match came to flame, I was greeted with a smoke that sang!
And that lasted for like three puffs…
Quickly the tobacco turned into a stinky, throat-scratching mess. I remember a feeling of astounded disappointment. I couldn’t believe that a tobacco with so many rave reviews, with such a lively tin aroma, and smooth handful of puffs could morph into a wicked Mr. Hyde in a matter of moments. So I stuffed the junk into a jar, with not a little chagrin, and tossed the jar to the bottom of my pipe chest.
Recently, I moved to Seattle. When I was going through my pipe chest, I found my unmarked tin of University Flake. I twisted the lid off and took a passing whiff only to find that the bouquet hadn’t changed a bit. “Yeah right,” I thought. “Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.”
So I’m a fool…go figure.
I prepped the tobac the same as I did many months ago. In doing so, I noticed that the leaf had dried significantly. It was almost crunchy. Lighting it proved much simpler this time around. Again, it sang; only this time it sang and sang and sang.
And that’s when I learned the valuable virtue of tobacco forgiveness. One must be careful not to judge a tobacco too quickly.
So, have you forgiven a tobacco lately?
A talk with my dad…
A semi-serious conversation about one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
Have you had anything similar happen to you? I’d love to hear your stories.
- Pipe: Mario Grandi
- Tobacco: University Flake, Peterson
Old School vs New School Pipe Perspectives
My buddy Jordan joins me for a chat session on the “Old School” vs “New School” pipe perspectives and how they have influenced us. Watch the video and and let us know what you think. What are your thoughts on where pipe culture has been and where it is now?
Secret Tobacconist ’011!
Have you ever walked into a tobacco shop only to find that you don’t really know what to try? If you’re lucky, a wizened old tobacconist will walk up ask you half-a-dozen questions and make a poignant suggestion. Walking away you’ll have a sense of awe mixed with confusion, only to return home and discover that the tobacconist is spot on. Hopefully this experiment has a similar effect!
If you want to be involved either send me a private message on youtube, send me an email to thepipeisright@gmail.com or send me a DM on twitter @thepipeisright. Which ever is easier for you.
Here’s the rules for Secret Tobacconist:
- Must send: 1 tin of tobacco & one letter
- Must contact me by: 31st of June. With your Name and address.
- I’ll assign the names. And send you the name of your secret tobacconist.
- Must ship your package by July 14th.
- Must open your box on video and smoke the tobacco on camera from your tobacconist.
- Make your video of opening your box, reading the letter, and trying your tobacco on video and post it on August 1st. (Not before!)
- Make another video on August 8th and reveal who you sent your tobacco to.
Must commit to this:
- Send one tin of tobacco of your choice. (Do your research and send them something they like.)
- Send one letter in the box, about a page long, about the tobacco, but don’t reveal who you are!
- Commit to making one video on August 1st and 8th.
- Must wait until August 1st to open your box and post your video.
Help me get the word out to the community! Maybe post a reminder in your video or leave a comment on someone else’s video!
-Dave @ thepipeisright
