tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52886379259363647932024-03-13T22:33:31.060-05:00Ponderings from Piper's ParadiseThe official blog of:
Romeo's Uptown Pipe & CigarAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-82878523315640460062014-09-27T12:36:00.003-05:002014-09-27T12:41:44.896-05:00We're hosting the World Pipe Smoking Championship!The Ozark Pipe Smokers are hosting the World Champion Pipe Smoking Contest & Convention, Oct. 3-5!<br />
TOPS is a member of IAPSC and will host this year's event in Bentonville, Arkansas.
There are some fringe benefits for attending and competing (free pipes and tobacco). Plus, we got Missouri Meerschaum's Phil Morgan to give the keynote address!<br />
It's a long-smoke contest, which basically means you everyone gets the same amount of tobacco, everyone lights, no one relights, and the last one still smoking wins.<br />
<br />
ITINERARY FOR THE CARSON DRIVE PAVILION<br />
<br />
October 3rd<br />
6:00pm Hospitality Room opens, everyone is welcome<br />
October 4th<br />
9:00am Vendor & Contest Registration Booths open<br />
2:00pm IAPSC Smoking Contest begins<br />
7:00pm Fabulous Southern Style Buffet Banquet
Awards Ceremony directly following Dinner<br />
October 5th<br />
8:30am Group Breakfast at the DoubleTree Bistro 301
(free to those staying at the hotel)<br />
General Business Meeting directly following Breakfast<br />
<br />
For a prettier version of this information, click the link below:<br />
<a href="http://eepurl.com/32CRr">http://eepurl.com/32CRr</a><br />
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Now, just in case we haven't tempted you enough (I did say free pipes and tobacco, right?), check out the menu for the banquet.<br />
<br />
Main Course;<br />
Pecan Smoked Chicken<br />
Beef Brisket<br />
Southern Style Ribs<br />
St Lewis "Sweetie Pie's" Famous Mac N Cheese<br />
Bacon Fried Green Beans<br />
Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes<br />
Smokin Baked Beans<br />
Corn Salad and Garden Salad<br />
Cream Corn Muffins/Yeast rolls<br />
<br />
Dessert;<br />
Pecan-Praline Cheesecake<br />
Assorted sweets<br />
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Drinks;<br />
Coffee, Sweet & Unsweetened Tea, Minted Lemon Spritzer and Hot Mulled Cider<br />
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So here's the cost. The convention is free to the public. The competition is open only to club members, but you can become a club member for the prorated rate of $5.
Just for showing up, you'll get a free pipe and tobacco (while supplies last, and we have a lot of supplies). Those who compete will receive two more free pipes (well, except for the last place guy, who gets one pipe and a box of matches, because apparently, he needs the matches more).
The banquet costs $30 per person, but please let us know soon if you're planning to dine with us so we can ensure an accurate head count.
If you've got questions, call or visit Romeo's.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-2314120205062930252012-03-27T16:48:00.000-05:002012-03-27T16:48:07.796-05:00And the winners are...<br />
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For those interested to find out how you would have compared to the contestants in this months slow smoke contest, here are the results.</div>
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<a name='more'></a>For the contest, we smoked Angler's Dream, a burley-based blend modeled by Russ Ouellette off the classic Over the Counter blends. It's a tasty blend, but it was never intended to be kept lit as long as some contest blends. If you really want to see how you would have done, you have to smoke it. You get two matches and two minutes to light it, and then the fire's on its own. Your time ends when you can't produce smoke anymore.</div>
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Of those who were at our regular March meeting, six entered, paying a $5 entry fee, with the winner taking all. Second prize was an International Pipe Smoking Day shirt.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And without further ado, here are the standings.</div>
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1. Tommy - 26 minutes</div>
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2. Neal - 20 minutes</div>
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3. Johnny - 16 minutes</div>
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4. Frank - 15 minutes</div>
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5. Jeff - 13 minutes</div>
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6. Allam - 9 minutes</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-38843422913372182772011-11-17T00:00:00.000-06:002011-11-17T00:00:01.345-06:00The Great American SmokeoutToday's the day we designate to encourage people to stop smoking, and I'll definitely light a bowl for that.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>The Great American Smokeout is nothing more than a propaganda machine that ignores the basic truths about tobacco to demonize us for a choice we have made that we feel improves our lives.<br />
<br />
If the government and interest groups were actually interested in the health of smokers, they would surely have used the power of the FDA by now to address the chemical additives in most cigarettes. I'm certain many of us still remember when cigarettes would extinguish themselves if they were not being actively smoked. We still see that with pipes and cigars. And the government saw this as a problem. But instead of mandating the removal of offending chemicals, they allowed additional chemicals to be added to create low-ignition-propensity paper. Don't forget, there are also chemicals in there to improve flavor, lessen the effects on the throat, and *cough* make them more addictive, including the artificial addition of increased nicotine content. To my knowledge, however, the studies have all been on the dangers of tobacco, not the dangers of the additional chemicals injected into cigarettes.<br />
<br />
So they ignore the major studies, including one by the U.S. Surgeon General, that show pipe smoking actually extends your life expectancy. (Ironically, there are studies about the benefits of stress reduction, but no one's put the two together.)<br />
<br />
But even though we often find ourselves at odds with the government, at least as far as our hobby goes, we are actually in one accord on this issue, because we, too, are trying to encourage people to quit cigarettes.<br />
<br />
Even without the chemical additives, cigarettes use the lowest quality of tobacco leaf, which is necessary when they are mass produced in the quantities needed to supply the American market. Cigar and pipe tobacco leaf, however, is first rate stuff, usually grown by families relying on an ever-increasing body of institutional knowledge. Plus, there is great variety in pipes and cigars, ranging from Virginias to perique to Latakia and Connecticut to Maduro to Sumatra, respectively, with flavors an additional option in both tobacco forms. In all ways, pipe tobacco and cigars are vastly superior to cigarettes, and it's time people began to realize that.<br />
<br />
So, in honor of the Great American Smokeout, encourage someone to quit smoking cigarettes by introducing them to the vastly superior tobacco available in pipes and cigars. It is our duty and our privilege.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com1220 N Walton Blvd, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA36.374533 -94.22082536.372935 -94.2232925 36.376131 -94.21835750000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-41207796222223013902011-11-05T18:34:00.001-05:002011-11-05T18:34:42.545-05:00A big opportunityWe talked about this last year, but figured we'd better focus on the big move from Rogers to Bentonville, but we haven't given up yet on the idea of hosting the International Pipe Smoking Contest for the Arrowhead Pipe Club, of which TOPS is a member club.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We still believe we made the right decision last year in turning down the opportunity. Romeo's is much better off for not having the distraction of hosting the event, but that was then and this is now.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We'll be taking advantage of Thursday's meeting to discuss the contest, but we also have to talk about something else. To fund the contest, we will need everyone paid up on their $25 annual dues. We're not just asking for money, we're also offering something in return. We do have a Viking pipe set (one stem, two bowls) up for grabs, and the only way to enter the raffle is with your membership dues. Once we have enough paid members (I believe the number was $25), we'll be selecting a winner.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But the real winner will be TOPS once we make it to the contest next fall and meet a lot of fellow brothers of briar.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-34519058221412020432011-10-14T22:28:00.002-05:002011-10-14T22:28:45.944-05:00View from the ShopThe ever-talented Zack Hoyt (who knew) took some fantastic photos at Romeo's and would like to share. They're on his blog, all of which is worth a look. http://fliesliesandotherdiversions.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/in-the-shop-romeos-uptown-pipes-and-cigars/?refid=12Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-89303420274363083952011-07-04T14:37:00.000-05:002011-07-04T14:37:28.949-05:00Calling all amateur blendersAs a club, The Ozark Pipe Smokers have very few stated purposes. The club was created to a) promote the enjoyment of pipe smoking wherever possible, and b) promote local pipe tobacco retailers. We're going for a twofer on this one.<div>Following in the footsteps of the Seattle Pipe Club, the Chicagoland Pipe Collectors Club, and the Greater Kansas City Pipe Club, TOPS is starting to think about promoting its own blend. Said blend, of course, would be available only through our ever-generous host, Romeo's Uptown Pipes & Cigars, which fulfills one of our purposes.</div><div>The main reason you should participate, however, is that this will be our tastiest activity yet. Early discussions have introduced the possibility of blending and/or tasting days, open only to paid members, where we all sit down and smoke something that has never before existed.</div><div>If you're wanting to start early, we are leaning toward using Cornell & Diehl blending tobaccos. Our next meeting is July 14, and we are certain to talk about it more then.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-75581207940221708082011-05-01T16:14:00.000-05:002011-05-01T16:14:50.422-05:00Smoking in StyleI'm sure everyone was curious what we ended up doing with the raffle money. Wonder no longer. The sofas are in, and they are comfortable. Thanks again for everyone who bought tickets or donated items. We have left our mark on Romeo's.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy291/ttreweek/IMG_1569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy291/ttreweek/IMG_1569.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy291/ttreweek/IMG_1570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy291/ttreweek/IMG_1570.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-56278354902904533692011-04-12T13:43:00.000-05:002011-04-12T13:43:37.956-05:00Westminster and Westminster: Side by SideI know that, on the surface, what I'm about to say here will seem ridiculous. I am about to compare a GL Pease blend with one from Altadis. Taken at face value, we shouldn't even bother. Greg Pease is known for quality English blends that showcase latakia, while Altadis is known for over-flavored aromatics that leave goop gunning up your pipe. I think it's safe to say that no one would ever be making this comparison if both blends weren't named Westminster.<br />
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The back story on this started at Pipe Chat, spilling over into Smokers Forums, drawing Mr. Pease into the mix. We can stipulate that Greg's Westminster was Westminster before Altadis' Westminster came along. Between Cornell & Diehl blends not being distributed in Europe and Altadis letting the non-smoking office staff name the blends, we get the Sutliff Private Stock Westminster, which is "skillfully blended latakia with Virginia and Turkish," to compare with Pease's Westminster, in which "New World red Virginias are enhanced with a gentle caress of bright leaf, then lavishly seasoned with rich oriental tobaccos and generous measures of noble Cyprus mountain Latakia."<br />
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What I'll offer here if honest first impressions. There is no guarantee that my impressions of these blends will change over time, but that's the nature of first impressions. <br />
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Westminster A: This is the Pease Westminster. I know that Altadis starts with A, but Greg's was around first, so he gets the A. We're going to call this a refresher sniff, a reminder to the olfactory senses before I leap into the new stuff.<br />
It's every bit as robust as I remember, bold and smokey with a healthy tart sweetness (if such a thing can exist) that really makes my mouth water in a way that is counterproductive to a dry smoke.<br />
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Westmister B: The Altadis blend comes in one of those nice Sutliff tins that holds in all the flavor and keeps the tobacco from drying out, which I've always found to be a vast improvement on the normal plastic bags their bulks get. The flavor is overwhelming with a spicy sweetness of Turkish with the latakia actually understated a bit, at least in the tin note.<br />
<br />
I don't waste any time in loading up the pipe. For the purposes of our experiment, I'm smoking in pipes that usually smoke latakia blends so there's no surprises. It lights easily and smokes well. The orientals fluctuate in strength throughout the bowl while the VAs and latakia seem to remain steady through most of the bowl. I am getting some bite, but it may be largely because I'm puffing too hard trying to put this one through its paces. The latakia comes on a little stronger at the bottom of the bowl, just in time to provide a welcomed crescendo at the end.<br />
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Westminster A: Smokey and satisfying from the first light, just the way I remember it. This blend has been smoked and studied since it came out. There's plenty of reviews of what is probably my favorite Pease blend, so I won't go into this too far. It's good; smoke it.<br />
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Verdict: The only two reasons to smoke these back to back is to, first, decide how close these two actually are and, second, to say which is better.<br />
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To answer the first part, these blends aren't all that close. They have the same basic ingredients: Virginias, latakia and orientals, although Altadis uses Turkish tobacco and Pease doesn't specify which orientals he uses. But the effect is two completely different smokes. The Altadis version plays up the orientals, while the Pease plays up the latakia, both to good effect. The Altadis comes off sweeter, while the Pease is savory. I can safely say that no one will mistake one Westminster for the other.<br />
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Now the second answer, and this one is much harder. And that's the interesting part, that this isn't the slam dunk you would expect. Based on this one side-by-side comparison, I have to pick Greg's Westminster. It's a much more seamless blend, with less distinction between the various tobaccos and a much more subtle combination. I can't, however, say with any certainty that I would give the same answer if I let a tin of each sit for six months to a year. It seems the Altadis version does need more time for the flavors to marry, and giving it that time could make a world of difference.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-16951929908540444082011-04-03T21:00:00.000-05:002011-04-03T21:00:20.742-05:00Tallman sweeps Thursday's giveawaysMurray "Tallman" Farr swept the two remaining raffles, getting lucky on the pipe tobacco assortment and the Casa Magna cigars. Of course he was generous enough to pass the box before he left with most of the sticks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's the stash, and an impressive one it was.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The raffle raised $600 that will go toward furnishing "The Ozark Pipe Smokers' Smoking Lounge at Romeo's Uptown Smoking Pipes and Fine Cigars" (official name under review in hopes of finding something shorter). As always, pipe club meetings and lounge are cigar-friendly. All puffers of legal smoking products are welcome.<br />
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We have another meeting in two weeks, and I encourage you all to be as prepared as Michael in the picture below. Note that his hat brim is holding both a pipe and a cigar.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcn22ov0_xyA68EHx4fxVe6Kih68IiOMWKb8K7-NRFwmhLIpDXPpx2hgW35rWOeJpIcvueQ_ePap72cBspoGkiOD6Om3gRko7rNaeqy14z3BbKldZPtkTA_DAzLYfTQSoxk8cYReZ5eZ8z/s1600/IMG_1521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7o9vhlwL3fFAePoOrAEcEMpppybuXI59JKaUBrP2k_h07n23i92fy85gGQOJFr2KEhKv8Y9Pp6XpuIgJl8ZAUqQrYZcpI2YmHc7TNOecGCcqCvMEyQtqTuWa7jOV1BxEoL7lXnsdpNrN7/s1600/IMG_1522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7o9vhlwL3fFAePoOrAEcEMpppybuXI59JKaUBrP2k_h07n23i92fy85gGQOJFr2KEhKv8Y9Pp6XpuIgJl8ZAUqQrYZcpI2YmHc7TNOecGCcqCvMEyQtqTuWa7jOV1BxEoL7lXnsdpNrN7/s320/IMG_1522.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-3910140084896914222011-03-28T23:10:00.000-05:002011-03-28T23:10:39.341-05:00The art of waitingAt the St. Louis Pipe Show, I bought myself a tin of Solani Silver Flake. It was priced on the high side for the money I took, but the sample was tasty, and it was a 100g tin. My buddy Jeff, an accomplished enabler, said it would only get better with age.<br />
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"Age" is a word that always brings apprehension and dread. So does "cellar." To someone with a strong desire to rip open the next tin and burn through that tobacco (or give it away) until it's empty and I can open the next one, the idea of setting one aside for an entire 365 days — 366 on a leap year — is daunting and intimidating. I imagined a need for great patience and self restraint.<br />
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The thing is, that was the 2010 pipe show, and all I needed was a short attention span.<br />
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After more than a year, the tin is in a drawer with the rest of my tobaccos. It's somewhere in there. At least, I have to assume it is. It's been a few months now since I've actually seen that one and taken notice. My goal of one year passed last month, and it took a few extra weeks for me to realize that. And what I huge reaction I gave.<br />
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Cool. Guess I can smoke it now.<br />
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Guess what. It's still not opened, still not smoked. It's not that I don't want to smoke it. The eagerness of a young pipe smoker is gone, replaced by the realization that I can take the time to enjoy what's open. I could die tonight, and I'd never be able to smoke that tobacco, but I've appreciated what I have smoked, and, given the chance, I'll appreciate this one too. It might be this year, and it might be next year, or it might be 2015. But now, at least, this tobacco isn't burning a hole in my pipe.<br />
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When it all comes down to it, cellaring is a tremendously difficult practice to start and an incredibly easy practice to master. All you and your mind have to do is something else.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-15025834325778462832011-03-26T21:37:00.000-05:002011-03-26T21:37:48.318-05:00TOPS Fifth Thursday MeetingIt seems like we just had one of these, but I'll never turn down a Fifth Thursday TOPS meeting.<br />
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Fifth Thursday, of course, means movie night, and Frank spent part of today getting the details of our entertainment in order. We are still in need, however, of a movie. Any suggestions, please let Frank know.<br />
And if we had nothing but a movie lined up, it would still be worthwhile, but there are other items on the agenda.<br />
The biggest one is the conclusion of our raffle. At our regular meeting earlier this month, we named the winners of the Greg Pease pipe calendar and the Christiano pipe. That still leaves the Casa Magna cigars and the growing pipe tobacco assortment to give away. That also means anyone who wants to enter (or enter again) has until Thursday. Tickets are available at Romeo's during regular business hours and are still only $5 each, but TOPS accepts cash only.<br />
All the raffle money will be used to buy furniture for the club-sponsored smoking area at Romeo's, and that brings us to the last of our agenda items. As Frank continues to put his new shop in order, he is coming to the point where he is ready to buy the furniture and wants to discuss it with the club first.<br />
We meet Thursday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m., but some come early, some come late, and all should come ready to smoke. PS, don't come with a pre-loaded pipe. It just robs you of an opportunity to share in a blend you've yet to discover. Sure there's more than one opportunity during the night, but why miss out on any of them.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-58509681215893422542011-03-26T21:26:00.000-05:002011-03-26T21:26:23.241-05:00All around UptownWith Romeo's moving from downtown Rogers to uptown Bentonville, more changed than just where we light our tobacco. The places I stopped on the way to Romeo's are now in the other direction. While others may and probably do have different priorities, my first task was where to grab my favorite lunch.<br />
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Across the street and a few yards north from Romeo's, the sign says Sushi Ya, which, as fare as I can figure, means sushi place, so I guess the name could be more original. Inside, I found a man I took to be the proprietor, probably his wife, and a waiter, all three of whom were extremely friendly as I waited for my to-go order. The restaurant's decor is rustic, liberally using wooden fixtures and decorations. With a different menu, it could have felt very much like a log cabin, but the touches of Japanese culture made it feel authentic.<br />
But who cares what it looks like if the food is good, right? And the food was good. I ordered their larger sushi lunch special, which let me choose three different sushi options. I ended up with a full roll each of spicy tuna and a crunch roll, along with a half rainbow roll. Rather than change the price for the more expensive rolls, he charges the same amount for a half. That may bother some, but I prefer knowing what I'm going to spend ahead of time, and the half rolls keep my wallet from being surprised.<br />
Whether you get the half or full roll, it's worth it. The taste is fresh and light and satisfying, and the texture is absolutely perfect. The delicacy was well worth the money, and the money is still less than other sushi places not far away.<br />
The sushi-eating pipe smoker may not be the most familiar of images, but my mouth and my stomach don't care about archetypes.<br />
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If you go: Sushi Ya is still close enough to the Walmart Home office to get a healthy lunch rush, so come early, come late, or come prepared to wait.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-67679597252766405892011-03-20T21:15:00.001-05:002011-03-20T21:16:54.695-05:00Tobacco Video Game ReviewI've got a pair of lesser known games to spotlight today, including one that is one of the more unique gaming experiences I've had. Without further ado, I'll leap right into...<br />
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Stacking (Xbox 360, PS3)<br />
Who would have believed that a game about Russian nesting dolls (also called matryoshka or babushka dolls) could be charming, entertaining, challenging and gratifying all in one package-free package? The game is called Stacking, and it is available by download only. The hero of this game is the smallest of the nesting dolls in the Blackmore family, which specializes in chimney sweeping. Set toward the end of the industrial revolution (and taking full advantage of the opportunity for imagery that now might be called steampunk), Charles Blackmore must save his family, which has been forced into indentured servitude by the evil Baron. Charles, however, has only one power, the ability to stack, which he uses to enter into the bodies of others, control their actions and use their abilities. The effect isn't nearly as Body Snatchers as that might seem, though, and provides a fun bit of challenge, as you enter larger as you collect more. This mechanic allows some fun collecting games, like the one that asks you to stack five pianists (with suspiciously familiar names), resulting in a five-piano performance staring nesting dolls. The powers these dolls posses adds as much charm and humor as the story, which is told through "silent pictures", as you'll find characters that burp, mime, punch, measure, scream, vomit, and fly. There many whose abilities almost defy description, including one female with fragrant floral flatulence.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0u2L6a5sW5kN0v_8lFrgHj_Z1wl5agEFzFNc7PVcBD5Nr2cTBhzGtcxXxzYFSed6J3Zp1ScQLN2nfWglJ8Goo4vDDdLpAaASY-eNhmCCmKgtjqB6RhyphenhyphenZqcrvZqga4ohnokhkSfyt-jd-/s1600/Solicitor_Barnabas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0u2L6a5sW5kN0v_8lFrgHj_Z1wl5agEFzFNc7PVcBD5Nr2cTBhzGtcxXxzYFSed6J3Zp1ScQLN2nfWglJ8Goo4vDDdLpAaASY-eNhmCCmKgtjqB6RhyphenhyphenZqcrvZqga4ohnokhkSfyt-jd-/s1600/Solicitor_Barnabas.jpg" /></a>As for the pipe in question, it belongs to one Solicitor Barnabas, who can be found in the Royal Train Station. The gentlemen sports a top hat, a monocle, and dark brown pipe (probably a 3/4 bent billiard, although I could see an argument for a calabash). While the pipe is a deep brown when you first find the good Solicitor, if you complete his allotted task (in this case, asking the women in the station to accompany you for a night on the town) the pipe will transform from briar brown to glittering gold (not unlike the post-counting system at a favored forum I frequent, PipeChat.info). As for the smoking, he does puff the pipe, and a black plume of smoke arises, but then he coughs. Then again, what do you expect from a family game.<br />
Stacking is a bit short, especially if you're not one to seek out all the collectibles and accomplishments, but that hardly seems an issue at only $15 on Xbox Live Arcade and PSN.<br />
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Vampire Saga: Pandora's Box (iPhone, PC)<br />
This is a cheesy little game — not that there's anything wrong with that — well, basically about vampires. I don't want to give too much away, but the plot revolves around the main character's grandfather telling of how a ship he crewed was taken over by a vampire. Of course, the game itself doesn't have a whole lot to do with the plot. Vampire Saga is a hidden object/puzzle game. The picture searches give you items that you must use to allow the next part of the story. There's a lot of backtracking, and the fact that most necessary objects are received through the hidden object mini-games but some have to be spotted in the open environment will probably infuriate you a few times.<br />
So why is this in the tobacco pipe review? The hidden object mini-games are practically littered with pipes. There are clays and briars and calabashes (and a few that were too dark to quite make out). Of course, the pipes don't add anything to the game, aren't singled out (other than maybe as an item you must tap to get your silver bullet), and play no role whatsoever except to clutter an already claustrophobic picture.<br />
It's not a bad game if you like the genre, and the PC version is probably in the bargain bin at your local electronics retailer, but I wouldn't encourage anyone to seek it out.<br />
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Any questions or comments or criticisms about the reviews can be added below.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-21075489552496949752011-03-11T15:20:00.000-06:002011-03-11T15:20:31.846-06:00Scenes from a Bentonville Pipe ClubThe Ozark Pipe Smokers held the inaugural meeting at the new Romeo's Uptown Pipes & Cigars. We had a lucky number (13) in attendance with room to spare, and we didn't even need to utilize the "front porch" area. The club's record attendance was 17, and the new shop feels more than ready for that many and more, without feeling as crowded as even the more sparsely attended meetings at the old shop. Look below to see the spacious accommodations in action.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0XsaF0kAacPm_ko2ODe3QjYJbbyI-7NKOjcA89Aga22uLeXR2RdgKVfiZJ-StxK73vJLEnTyB5T30b_NVl2i3I5Ngel9rNTn2N_f-GgF3kUt7IGcj8JzdOoZ82j9ivudAdAfW8EwguNC/s1600/IMG_1458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0XsaF0kAacPm_ko2ODe3QjYJbbyI-7NKOjcA89Aga22uLeXR2RdgKVfiZJ-StxK73vJLEnTyB5T30b_NVl2i3I5Ngel9rNTn2N_f-GgF3kUt7IGcj8JzdOoZ82j9ivudAdAfW8EwguNC/s320/IMG_1458.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1un92Q8_Ln6GcTwYurr2Ns2qH2B2OggT7gZ6O17tP2N-cTIc-4GbzgPGHyvzOhNw65AV4EyDtHIcy0c0VCzcT32zG7Fu_Gb3_EXVqbe0cF_3bwcJVA7QAqLwBbPO8ULnc0g1KUFLTTeR/s1600/IMG_1459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1un92Q8_Ln6GcTwYurr2Ns2qH2B2OggT7gZ6O17tP2N-cTIc-4GbzgPGHyvzOhNw65AV4EyDtHIcy0c0VCzcT32zG7Fu_Gb3_EXVqbe0cF_3bwcJVA7QAqLwBbPO8ULnc0g1KUFLTTeR/s320/IMG_1459.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-88630808185508629292011-03-03T20:07:00.000-06:002011-03-03T20:07:01.553-06:00Romeo's is moving!Please try to be calm, but Romeo's Downtown Pipe & Tobacco Co. is leaving downtown Rogers. After more than two years, the shop has outgrown its original location, and circumstances have made this the time to find new digs.<br />
The new shop will be at 220C N. Walton Blvd. in Bentonville, sharing a building with Radio Shack, across the street from O'Reilly's.<br />
The new location gives Romeo's more space, and renovations are already underway to make the new shop as enjoyable for an afternoon smoke as the old shop was.<br />
The big move is scheduled for Monday, with the new shop opening Tuesday, March 8.<br />
It's the beginning of a new era for Frank and his little smoke shop and the following they have found in northwest Arkansas. Frank has big ideas for his new shop, and, as the consummate storyteller, <br />
Oh, and there's one more thing. Romeo's is no longer in downtown, so Romeo's is getting a new name. Starting Tuesday, it will be Romeo's Uptown Pipes & Cigars.<br />
Hope to see you all there.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-27421400788159566182011-03-03T20:02:00.000-06:002011-03-03T20:02:23.210-06:00Moving Day is MondayThere have been no shortage of offers for help in Romeo's move from Rogers to Bentonville. Some of the volunteers, particularly those working on building out the new site, are already hard at work. For those who offered to help load the truck, the day is Monday, March 7.<br />
Frank is asking anyone who has offered their help to be at the shop at 5 p.m. Monday. He's hoping for one big trip to get all the furnishings from the old shop to the new one. Because even the larger new shop could get crowded easily, those who would still like to volunteer are unfortunately not needed, although their offer is appreciated.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-1236383232028733552011-03-03T19:59:00.000-06:002011-03-03T19:59:29.333-06:00First club meeting to break in the new shopThe Ozark Pipe Smokers will have their next regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m., but those going to the usual spot will miss out. This will be our first meeting at Romeo's Uptown, 220C N. Walton Blvd., and we encourage you all to attend what is a historic meeting.<br />
As always, TOPS' meetings are open to anyone, whether they enjoy a relaxing pipe, a fine cigar, or just the tobacco room note. For those who are unfamiliar with our meetings, they are filled with tall tales and long laughs and a cornucopia of tobaccos to try. If you smoke a pipe, I recommend bringing at least three so you can try more than one blend.<br />
This meeting will also be the last to feature our mega-raffle. A mere $5 earns you a ticket that can be entered into one of four drawings. Up for grabs are a box of Casa Magna cigars, valued at $250, a Thomas Christiano nosewarmer pipe, valued at $180, a G.L. Pease photo calendar featuring 12 beautiful pipe pictures, valued at $50, and a selection of tinned tobaccos. Cash only, but you need not be present to win, so even if you won't be at the meeting, feel free to buy a ticket (or two or three or four...). All proceeds from the raffle will be used to furnish the expanded smoking area at the new Romeo's, so your participation in the raffles directly influences your comfort at the shop.<br />
Again, this will be the first TOPS meeting at Romeo's Uptown, so please come to break in the new shop and say goodbye to the old one.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-65691771390575151092011-01-18T02:27:00.000-06:002011-01-18T02:27:00.583-06:00Tobacco Video Game Review<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">So you're already wondering what the heck a tobacco game review might be. I suppose that, this being the first I've written, I should explain it. I could, but these reviews are short and won't take long to read, so I'll let them stand for themselves.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360, PS3):</b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">This is a great game. A near-perfect game, even. The landscapes of the old west are beautiful and haunting, regardless of time of day or weather. (Standing in a graveyard at night in the rain is particularly moving.) The story is good, although it is a bit anticlimactic. And the gameplay is simple enough for a video game rookie to enjoy while challenging enough for veterans. The game is a classic western with terrific acting and directing and enough storyline to keep you at this for weeks, even if you can't put it down.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">But that's not what you're reading this to learn. You want tobacco, and so you should. Red Dead Redemption is littered with unqualified smoking (unqualified meaning it's not put in some liberal "context" to show how bad it is). The Marshal, the first major character you meet in the game, has a chronic cigar habit. It is rare to see him without one, but never once does he cough or show ill effects. The main character smokes the occasional cigarette, again without negative consequences, even being offered one by another character after a successful raid as the two spoke casually. There are stories in the local newspaper that show the miraculous healing powers of smoking, so it can be a little tongue in cheek, but the most prevalent tobacco reference more than makes up for it. Your main character, John Marston, has the ability to seemingly slow time as he focuses on the men he needs to gun down, but that ability is limited. To restore his focal powers, he need only chew tobacco. This quality of chewing tobacco has no negative side effects, even with repeated use (unlike alcohol, which makes you unable to walk up the steps).</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Brütal Legend (Xbox 360, PS3):</b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">This game is based around the acting of Jack Black, and I do imagine this is what his dreams look like. Black's character, Eddie Riggs, is a roadie from the error of "real" heavy metal, meaning the late 70s and 80s. He is leather clad and accented with the traditional headbanger adornments. The gods of rock transport him to another world, where he must defeat all manner of evil with an ax and an "ax" — he can either mow enemies down with the steal headed cleaver or brandish his guitar and kill them with the power of his rock, and yes, that does look as cool as it sounds.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">But between bouts with skeletons and monsters, Eddie feels the need to light up a cigarette because… Well, because he's a bad ass, and we're better off leaving it at that if we know what's good for us. You do get an impression that the game, being a clear parody, is trying to tell you how not to act, but for not making the obligatory anti-smoking jokes, I salute it.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Batman: Arkham Asylum (Xbox 360, PS3, PC):</b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">If you've ever wondered what kind of dungeon it took to house all the villains plaguing Gotham City, you can now find out first hand. Arkham Asylum, the game, puts the Dark Knight inside Arkham Asylum, the psychiatric hospital, where he must face all his greatest foes, from Killer Croc to Scarecrow to Poison Ivy to, of course, the Joker. Pretty much everyone in the Batman chronicles makes an appearance, even if it's only a cameo. The game heavily features Batman's stealth and detective skills, putting an emphasis on catching your prey by surprise. The visuals are beautifully gothic, often disturbing, and always engrossing, and the gameplay is unobtrusive in the story and atmosphere. You could loose your mind wandering the sanitarium to find all the little avatars left for you by your greatest nemeses.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">This game also features my favorite tobacco reference of all the games I've ever played. During the story — don't worry, I won't give too much away — Commissioner Gordon is captured by the Joker, but we all know old Jim won't go down easily. To alert Batman to his whereabouts, Gordon drops his prized pipe, the one on which his initials are carved that he is never without. Over his in-suit radio, Batman has a lengthy discussion with the Commish's daughter about the value Gordon places on that pipe, including a bit of his history with it, and how it could only have been dropped as a clue for Batman to follow. But he doesn't stop with the pipe. On his way to Gordon, Batman follows a trail of bread crumbs in the form of Wild Country tobacco, Gordon's sole blend, proving that the Commissioner is not only a pipe smoker, but a codger too.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, Nintendo DS, PS2, PSP):</b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Sadly, not all these reviews can be positive. Ghostbusters: The Video Game falls right in line with the movies, giving you some suspense with your sarcasm and banter. As the game begins and you fight some of the more recognizable characters of the movies, you can take a break from chasing the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man on the upper floors of a New York skyscraper to take a drink from the water fountain. All the major characters, save Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis, reprise their rolls with their trademark charisma while you take the roll of the fifth and newest Ghostbuster. It truly is like playing through Ghostbusters 3.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">But the less things change, the more they never seem the same. Riding up the elevator of the Sedgewick Hotel, where the team encountered (and now must apprehend) the green goo'd Slimer, the "No Smoking" sign remains, but it only reminds us of what we're not seeing. The Ghostbusters have quit smoking. If you remember back, to the movies, Ray Stantz is a cigarette smoker. No more, though. The sole tobacco reference I've found is a pipe in the mouth of the ghost of a sea captain. Of course, I haven't finished this one, so finger's crossed, but it looks like you'll have to join the Ghostbusters for the fun and excitement, not the smoking.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Summary:</b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">While we've become used to tobacco as an indication of foolishness or villainy, it's refreshing to find tobacco, even tobacco use, without the drudgery of some contextual life lesson about how dangerous tobacco is. In these games, the character would smoke, so the character does smoke. It's a refreshingly honest approach to a needlessly taboo subject, and it's about time. Contrary to what all those horrified mothers must be thinking, these games don't encourage smoking as much as acknowledge the habit. What it does represent to me is not that smoking is making a comeback, but rather that our culture is tired of the fight. Maybe the anti-tobacco crowd has found a new cause, maybe even one that they can use fact rather than doctored studies and public opinion to battle, and is leaving us smokers alone to enjoy our hobby below the 17th Parallel. Probably not, but I can hope, and I can hope while playing video games that feature people like me, people who made the choice to use tobacco and don't need to justify it to anyone.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-73479258267124411862010-09-30T23:31:00.001-05:002010-10-01T00:09:03.243-05:00Epilogue<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The following story will be your first exposure to a new brand of adventurer, but this is chronologically at the end. So if you're reading the end, why do you want to go back and start from the beginning? First, I'm sure I'm not surprising anyone by telling you the hero rides off into the sunset. If you want to know what he rides, you'll read. Second, if you don't read, you'll miss what makes this adventurer different than any other. Mostly, he's a pipe smoker. Those of you who understand why that makes a difference don't need an explanation, and those who don't can easily find out by reading. One last thing, the hero is not yet named. His name will be decided in a contest at </span></i><a href="http://pipechat.info/index.php?topic=2877"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">PipeChat</span></i></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, so visit that site for details. Ok, on with the epilogue. Happy reading.</span></i><br />
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The old man in the cowboy hat rubbed the purposely scarred walls with his randomly scarred hands. There was a message on the crags, but not necessarily a language. The light behind him flooded the cave, and he removed his hat to cut down on the shadows he cast. The glyphs were a map, but not one telling a destination. This was telling a journey. The old cowboy removed a leather tool wrap from his supplies and spread it on the ground. Picks, brushes, and a mallet were readily at his disposal, but these weren’t the tools he needed. Another wrap opened to reveal four tobacco pipes.<br />
On the left, there was a corncob, one of a long line, replaced often out of necessity. The perils of treasure hunting often resulted in tragedy for his pipes, and he was grateful for the cobs’ willingness to make that sacrifice. He smoked this often when there was any chance he might have to move quickly. He lost three seeking the buried treasures of Captain Kidd and fourteen in negotiations with the IRS over their value. Often, it was the only pipe he took with him.<br />
On the right was his celebration pipe, a Tsuge billiard with bamboo stem and decorated with the image of a dragon. It was a gift from the Japanese Emperor upon the return of his nation’s long lost treasure. To date, it was his largest find, and the pipe, while not the most expensive gift, was his favorite reward for services rendered. So rare it was that it never made the journey unless success was close at hand.<br />
The second from the left was a simple Kaywoodie, a backup should any of the others fall to fate. When called to duty, it performed humbly but adequately, a journeyman pipe for the journeyman. It was the only bent pipe of the four and would have been the easy favorite for his thinking pipe had his thinking pipe not been stained in sentimentality.<br />
That last pipe, the one he used to facilitate his thought processes and the one for which he now reached, was a Peterson billiard from the Free Irish State era, a classic for its form, design and simplicity. The pipe’s celebration of Irish independence was a symbol of the bravery and fortitude of conscience he hoped to emulate. Beyond that, it evoked memories of his first adventure, one that set him on a lifelong journey of exploration and discovery, especially self-discovery. Even at this late stage in his life, he was unable to determine whether it was the adventure or the pipe that created the man he now was, if there was even a choice to be made. Regardless, he could not imagine one without the other.<br />
His hand hovered over three pouches attached to his belt, rubbing up against his holster. In one, he had Virginia tobacco given him by the Governor of Missouri mixed with Oriental tobacco he received from a grateful gypsy. In another, pure Kentucky burley with true St. James perique blessed by a Voodoo priestess. He reached into a third, pinching enough straight Syrian latakia, a treasure in its own right, and filled his Pete. <br />
After many adventures and many treasures, the submarine was fitted with equipment to filter the air around it and resupply oxygen, a necessity when smoking while exploring underwater caves, and the one his eyes were lingering over as he lit his bowl was the most impressive thus far.<br />
Between technological advancements and pure luck, the adventures lately had been requiring more of his mind and less of his body. He doubted he could still leap from tree to tree in the Congo or battle small armies on the mountain Ojos del Salado in Argentina or climb down the Rupal Flank cliff in the Himalayas. But thanks to seasoned reason, he no longer had to rely on the speed, strength and quick wits needed to survive the booby traps of his youth. Age and experience had taught him it was preferable to avoid the traps and that there was always another way in and out. Of course, his quests now took a little more time, as the correct path is rarely the quickest, but he was far more certain now he would face death from natural causes.<br />
With his pipe burning nicely, he added a final tamp with a simple spare bolt from the sub and sat down on a stool he brought for just such occasions, as his aging joints could no longer take the strain of standing for extended periods.<br />
Through the smoke, he viewed images, crudely drawn but potently meaningful, showing a civilization forced from it’s birthplace, traveling as nomads and absorbing the knowledge, wisdom and rituals of those cultures it met before disappearing without trace. After great accumulation of technology, this nation found itself the envy of its neighbors, a jealousy that led to many battles, which the wiser and better-armed civilization easily won, although they were lovers of peace and mourned bitterly over the fallen from both sides. Their desire for peace forced them to the sea, where they built a floating city, able to ride the waves and sink below the waters, so that their exploration need not end. The story, it seemed, did end, at least it did on this wall. He suspected the reasons behind the downfall of this nation adrift might be found inside, but first he had to open the door.<br />
Because these were a people who loved learning and peace above all, the key, found in a series of catacombs beneath the ancient Great Pyramid of Alexandria, featured the Bowl of Hygeia. Now recognized as the symbol of pharmacy, the snake wrapped around the bowl once embodied both wisdom and healing. The cowboy recognized the significance of the Greek symbol inside an Egyptian labyrinth, if not immediately the purpose. He clenched his Peterson as he bent down gingerly to retrieve the artifact. The tobacco accented the moment, as he slid the key into place. It fit snuggly, but the adventurer hesitated before turning it. He stepped back to the pipe wrap and, before returning it to the submarine, swapped his Peterson for the Tsuge. The key waited for him, and his hand shook as he touched it again. “Welcome to Atlantis,” he said, as he turned the key and opened the door.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-51046041508432970052010-07-15T21:02:00.002-05:002010-07-15T21:55:12.156-05:00Chopping Down the "Peace" TreeAn idea, brought to you by Solani Silver Flake in a Stanwell Bamboo Billiard.<br /><br />Radical is the idea that mankind can obtain the understanding of cultural perspective intrinsic to itself for the purpose of living in unison. If these ideas are not cultivated into beliefs throughout the intellectual lifespan collectively, then they are just ideas bred by the design of an unabrasive society. I have not personally experienced any manifestation of the idea based on the hopes of the new age hippie. The ones who brandish peace signs in the form of two fingers thrown casually into the air. Peace is not a casual fleeting concept. Futility in peace is the same as futility in war. When pacifists put to action their specific breed of protest for the sake of peace, they in their actions are only waging war. Resistance and protest are not peaceful exploits. We take what we need, and the forceful nature by which we do so eliminates the hope that the understanding of peace can be recognized. If the men and women who are waging it seek to cultivate the rewards of it, the gains will be minimal and the cost high.<br /><br />There is only one kind of peace that is attainable in this world, and that is the peace within one's self. This is the peace on which to expend energy and faith. There are few things that I will resign to about mankind as a whole, this is one of those things. We have to let societies do what societies do and forge our own armor to deflect the blades and arrows that stray. Never will man lay down their arms in the name of peace, not when assets, resources, and lives are at risk; not even when morality is at risk. In a peaceful world where man is left to his devices death, violence, and crime no matter how petty, can be the only derivative. Though this might seem a dark topic, it's brought me to some degree of enlightenment. I've been able to deliberately identify what turbulence is keeping me from my peace, and have since calmed the waves and slowed the churn. For those who have the bigger idea in mind, they first need to recognize that the more miraculous thing would be for all men to have their own peace. Collective peace is a prize that is made not to win, which is why it's so highly valued. It's hard not to hope when things are as they are.<br /><br />Ignorance is a great platform for which ecumenical peace to stand on, because understanding is the means for an end. No revolution has been thwarted for the sake of peace, no transformation of government, nor people, nor policies have been conceived through clear and unrippled interpretation.<br /><br />I find ways to consider how many times I've fought with myself and how the end result of each was the same; square one. I consider how I can dismiss the conflict and create harmony in the ripples that are created by living.<br /><br />"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." John F. Kennedy.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09383451807790186585noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-62620268457701392082010-07-15T19:53:00.000-05:002010-07-15T19:53:49.636-05:00Lessons learned under the hood, Part 1On recent hot, hot, hot summer days, I have been squeezing myself under the hood of a vehicle that has no apparent will to live. It has been sweaty, sticky, muggy, messy, but it was all made at least slightly more tolerable by my pipe.<br />
<a name='more'></a>Most mornings saw me with a corncob clenched in my jaw. Before heading to work on the metal monstrosity, I'd grab one of my two standard cobs, nothing bigger than a Diplomat (and nothing as hard to find as my reed stem versions), and a little tobacco with which to fill it.<br />
Let me tell you that the cob is made for mechanical work. It can smoke hot and hard if needed, but can slow down and simmer when the sun beats down too hard and the bench on the porch starts calling. I'll admit to being a cob lover, but I always considered them a change-of-pace alternative to briar. While that is more credit than some briar "purists" will give corn, it still did not make them a first choice pipe.<br />
Today, though, wanting a change of pace, I brought along a Kaywoodie that I have labeled a "beater" pipe, as I feel more comfortable putting it in harm's way than many of my other briars. I lit it up as I stared blankly into an engine that was defying the laws of common sense, and I puffed and puffed a little more and then reached for a pipe cleaner. And that's when it hit me that I didn't once use a pipe cleaner with my cobs. Now, because I wanted something different, I was tied to a pipe pouch and a handful of cotton-covered wire. To make things more complicated, I had to concentrate on preventing overheating, again reminding me that I hadn't thought twice about that with my cobs. And for one final complaint, with all the exhaust and motor oil odors and flavorings on the air, I couldn't taste the cool burning tobacco nearly as much as I could the revved up tobaccos in my cobs, but I'll get into that more later.<br />
So lesson 1 was simple. When your attention is demanded elsewhere, pick a pipe that will let you divert your focus, and in this case, that made my cobs worth every penny I spent on the Kaywoodie.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-4186737561349229242010-07-14T22:40:00.000-05:002010-07-14T22:40:21.046-05:00Pipe Tool: A fingers-on reviewSome of you may have ready my ramblings about the new iPhone app <a href="http://romeospipe.blogspot.com/2010/07/theres-app-for-that.html">Pipe Tool</a>. Kevin at Pipes Magazine was kind enough to let me try it in exchange for a review. Well, that <a href="http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/put-that-in-your-pipe/tobacco-cellaring-theres-an-app-for-that/">full review</a> is up now. Hope you find it helpful.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-89345626623048666942010-07-05T20:52:00.000-05:002010-07-05T20:52:34.285-05:00There's an app for that?Maybe it's just that we pipe smokers have become accustomed to relative obscurity. Granted, there are plenty of us on the Internet forums, or at least there seems to be. But it is unusual for us to be noticed by the so-called mainstream. That's why it's a little surprising when even we can say, as Apple has taught us to, "There's an app for that."<br />
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<a name='more'></a>If you do a search for "pipe" in the Apple App Store, you have to wade through a lot of apps not relevant to our particular brand of pipe. There are apps involving plumbing pipes, pipe organs, and half pipes. There's really no reliable way to filter those out, so you keep your eyes peeled for something smoking related. There's a <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hookah/id334481650?mt=8">hookah</a> app that lets you "inhale" and "exhale" via your phone's mic. There is <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ismoke/id290712108?mt=8">iSmoke</a>, which shows a cigarette, cigar or even a pipe and allows you to influence the direction the smoke blows by moving the phone. And there's the sequel, <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ismoke-ii-cigar-pipe-cigarette/id353413664?mt=8">iSmoke II</a>, that acts like the hookah app, only with the smoking instruments in the original.<br />
But then I came across something new, something unique, something unapologetically centered around the smoking pipe. It's called, simply, <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pipe-tool/id375019966?mt=8">Pipe Tool</a>, and it looks to be as multipurpose as the metal implements we all carry in our pockets. All the following judgements are from the available screenshots and descriptions, but the app appears to allow easy access to tobacco reviews and descriptions, searches for tobacco based on ingredients (or maybe just flavorings), and a mobile tobacco cellar inventory.<br />
My only concern about this app is the price. New apps by unknown programers (when there is a fee) generally run between $1 and $3. Often, $5 is pushing it, but this one has a $7 price tag. In the interest of helping this programmer to succeed — I think we can all appreciate the benefit this app brings to our hobby — I'd offer this suggestion: Either offer an introductory sale price to get interest up or provide a free trial app with limited functionality that offers an extensive demonstration. You'll always get more people trying it and buying it if they can see it work first.<br />
But even with my reservations, I am truly grateful that people are still working to improve this hobby that brings us so much joy. You can't believe pipe smoking is going away when there's an app for that.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-84406058827220348902010-06-02T02:32:00.001-05:002010-06-04T13:49:28.333-05:00Official SMOKER LAW, 1st Ed.This is the first official edition of Smoker Law. It is a collection of rules to help guide smokers in their interactions with fellow smokers and those who do not partake in the leaf. It is our sincere hope that these rules will lead to a fuller enjoyment of all forms of tobacco. This list is not final, and further editions will be released as more laws are accumulated. Suggested additions may be submitted in the comments below.<br />
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1. If the purpose of your gathering is, in part or in whole, the use and consumption of tobacco, any tobacco product or accessory on the table may be used by anyone in attendance. A smoker who uses another's tobacco need not ask permission but must offer some commentary on the blend. Pipes are excluded from general use but may be fondled and ogled at any time, again with commentary.<br />
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2. Anyone given a standing offer to help himself or herself to a friend's tobacco need never ask for permission. However, it is still necessary to acknowledge the taking of said tobacco. A simple "I stole a cigar" shall suffice.<br />
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3. Matches and lighters should be shared without hesitation, but a smoker should only hold the lighter while lighting for a member of the opposite sex.<br />
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4. It is permissable to share pipes but not encouraged. Those sharing should be family or closer.<br />
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5. Corncob pipes are still pipes, unless they are from China.<br />
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6. When showing off a new pipe, it is permissible to comment on its uniqueness, its craftsmanship, or the ridiculously low price paid for it. It is not acceptable to show off a new pipe to brag about how much you spent or how impressive a pipe you can afford. The exception occurs if said pipe purchase cause your divorce. Then anything goes.<br />
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7. Although it is not acceptable to brag about how much you spent on a pipe, if you feel you must, you may only tell others the price you told your wife/significant other you paid for it.<br />
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8. It is only acceptable to encourage Pipe Acquisition Disorder (PAD) and Tobacco Acquisition Disorder (TAD). Such compulsive purchases may never be discouraged. The exception comes if the purchase includes a pipe or rare tobacco you plan to purchase yourself. Should you decide not to purchase the item(s) for yourself, you are obligated to make the purchase for the person you discouraged from buying.<br />
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9. Pipes, cigars and cigarettes may be used as pointers to enhance a discussion or monologue, or in physical expression of general pontification. They may never be used as swords. Pretending they are lightsabers may result in expulsion from the social group or place of business.<br />
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10. Smokers should make a good faith effort to use tobacco away from non-smokers, but as soon as someone pretends to cough, the smoker is allowed to pretend to ignore the cougher. This is doubly true if the tobacco is unlit, in which case, the smoker may blow pretend smoke in the cougher's face.<br />
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11. Any pipe or cigar smoker living within 50 miles of a locally owned tobacconist specializing in his or her tobacco of choice must patronize the business at least four times per year. Within 10 miles, it shall be monthly at a minimum.<br />
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12. Any smoker insisting others use any high-end product, be it pipe or cigar or tobacco or accessory, should supply it. Anyone not willing to buy his friends a Dunhill needs to keep quiet about them.<br />
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13. When it comes to tobacco-fueled social gatherings, if it is not a lie, it's not worth telling.<br />
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14. You can make fun of someone who is sending you free tobacco, but you shouldn't if you want that to continue.<br />
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15. Among the group, the person who smokes a pipe, wears glasses and has a beard is, by default, the smartest and most reliable person in the room. If more than one person fits this description, seniority will be determined by the highest percentage of naturally bald scalp.<br />
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16. While amongst fellow smokers, should an ember jumps out of your bowl and onto your favorite shirt, proper etiquette is to brush it away quickly, not jump up and do the hokey pokey dance while bumping in to the tin, the pipe racks and everyone else.<br />
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17. You can smoke a pipe, yet not be a pipe smoker. You must to elicit the accompanying and misleading sense of wisdom to be accepted as such.<br />
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18. A smoker should not be overly concerned when the smoking of a stout, nicotine-heavy blend causes the room to spin. For many smokers, that is the total extent of their exercise.<br />
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19. If inhale the aroma of another's tobacco so deeply that some becomes lodged in the nose, discretely remove the burley cube from your nostril hair before returning to the general conversation.<br />
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20. While discussing a pipe you wish to buy, other smokers involved in the conversation must wait 3 minutes before purchasing said item for themselves. Showing more then one picture of the pipe removes the waiting period and absolves any smoker who cannot help himself.<br />
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21. Proper etiquette dictates that, when at a friends house, you should either refrain from smoking or ask permission before lighting up. However, when in your own home, proper etiquette can stay outside with the non-smokers.<br />
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22. To smoke dottle, or not to smoke dottle, that is your option.<br />
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23. Size and technique don't matter. Attitude does.<br />
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24. Politics and religion may only be discussed so long as you can still share tobacco.<br />
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25. Smoking a cigar around pipe smokers and vice versa is encouraged, but anyone who lights a cigarette when higher quality tobaccos are readily available invites the mocking of his or her peers.<br />
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This list was created by the combined efforts of The Ozark Pipe Smokers of Rogers, Ark., and the members of <a href="http://pipechat.info/">Pipe Chat</a>. It may be reproduced with proper attribution and cited as needed.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288637925936364793.post-9352162819736201052010-05-17T03:04:00.001-05:002010-05-17T22:39:31.671-05:00The camaraderie of the pipeIt's been a few days since our SEM. For the uninitiated, that's a Special Emergency Meeting. Before you get excited, no, there wasn't an actual emergency. If there had been, it would have been an Emergency Meeting, like we had back when the tobacco tax scare hit. No, this was a Special Emergency Meeting, which basically means we needed an excuse to get together and smoke. Yes, I realize it was less than 24 hours after our regular pipe club meeting, but there really was a reason this time.<br />
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The Ozark Pipe Smokers had a special guest Friday. The pipe smoker known as "strongirish" joined us in a puff. Those who frequent the smoking forums, any of them really, probably know strongirish, or Earl, as he's known in real life. He's a regular contributor on so many of them, and he is one of pipe tobacco's most prolific reviewers. It often seems as though there are no tobaccos he hasn't tried, but more on that later.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy291/ttreweek/Pipes/IMG_0949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy291/ttreweek/Pipes/IMG_0949.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shop owner Frank Romeo and Earl share marvel over a David Tompkins elephant's foot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>What struck me is how readily this stranger fit into our circle, even as open as we are. Our group is open to those who smoke pipes, those who smoke cigars, those who smoke cigarettes (although we do push them toward the finer leaf), and even those who don't smoke, so long as they enjoy the room note and the company. The door is open and the coffee can at least be warmed up.<br />
But here was a man who none of us had ever met, at least not in person. Some of us have read his words online, on the forums. I had even chatted with him and spoke with him on the phone. But seeing him face to face was something new.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy291/ttreweek/Pipes/IMG_0950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy291/ttreweek/Pipes/IMG_0950.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew, Earl and David Johnson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We showed off pipes, some made by others we knew on the forums, and we loaded up our bowls. Coincidentally, I had just received some South African tobaccos from a friend, tobaccos even Earl had not yet tried. They did leave something to be desired and made me long for some good old Cornell & Diehl. I'd expect to see a strongirish review soon, and knowing him, he'll have found something good about them.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy291/ttreweek/Pipes/IMG_0944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy291/ttreweek/Pipes/IMG_0944.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just for fun, some South African tobaccos that could have been much worse but made me grateful for the tobaccos available in America.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>But there around that table, we all light up. We start swapping stories, stories about the tobacco we've smoked, the treasure we dug up in antique stores, and anything else we felt like lying about. It was as if all of us had been there the night before at the pipe club meeting and all the pipe club meetings before it. A happy meeting and the hopes of many more. The camaraderie of the pipe.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067439730455458419noreply@blogger.com1