Recent content by Oxymoron_RU

Will get some photos up tomorrow. Just returned from a business trip.

I'm coming up on one year of pipe smoking and in that time have spent far too much on various pipes, and have stocked enough tobacco to last several years. Not long ago I went searching for an entry-level meerschaum, if there is such a thing, and stumbled upon an Ebay listing. The pictures...

Niblick, I've been following your advice regarding slightly less tobacco and less pressure - works like a charm. Usually no more than one relight needed, sometimes none at all, and no dottle to speak of. Thank you.

Ah, well you see, it's like this: Tobacco is harmful and yucky, and we poor children SHOULD NEVER be consuming it in any form. On the other hand, marijuana is beautiful and natural, and while it isn't quite handed out to school children, it's pretty close to that level. So . . . tobacco is...

Good entertainment is a rarity, these days. I was watching a talk about it, and the speaker suggested that part of the reason is that we're experiencing a cultural shift in which those who control creative media (traditionally politically left wing), are falling into the orthodoxy trap that...

20 years of enforced shaving - I am done with that barbaric practice. The romans had it backwards; the barbarians were the civilized folk, while those regularly-shorn Romans were the savages.

Indeed. I think the initial spree is over, and I do want to take the time to get familiar with each pipe. My thoughts behind those purchases (apart from, "Ooooh, shiny"), were: Aromatics: Corn cob because it smokes well and I don't mind it getting a little beaten up when I'm out and about...

I may have rushed to judgement on it. The extra stem length is rather nice for aromatics; more distance and time for the smoke to cool.

All, I think I have a problem. That's the first step, right? Admitting that there's a problem? I've been a pipe smoker for all of four weeks now, and I have a pipe collection: Mr. Brog Churchwarden (quite possibly a mistake) Missouri Meerschaum, Country Gentleman Savinelli 616ks 2021 St...

I know that when my father served in Vietnam, they trained to use the pens for that purpose. We didn't train for that during my career, but it was always mentioned as an option.

They'll hold ink well, and you can use a pencil. The paper tends to be heavy and coarse - you know, "military grade." Given that, I wouldn't use a very fine pencil - no less than 0.5mm, and even that is pushing it. It can be a challenge to get the book and pages to lie flat so that you can...

Thanks, all. I'll keep at it, although adequate practice may mean I end up smoking daily . . . <sarcasm> the shame and tragedy of it. </sarcasm>

That's a good idea - watching the light in a mirror. Hadn't considered that, but it would reveal uneven packing and lighting very quickly.

I have done. Specifically when I was working as a veterans' counselor at my local college. When one of my vets would come to me with a problem, I'd always use a green book and a federal pen to take notes on it; it seemed to calm some of the younger guys, and the older guys like me got a kick...