How strange is it...

this is the place to be. You'll find a lot of friendly folks here who have a great knowledge base. We welcome a "smoker to be."

Hope you can see through all the smoke;-) If you want to learn this is the place to be. I guess we are all learning here (some of us more than others and some of us will never learn)

Gather information, then begin smoking, sounds logical, besides pipe smoking is a requirement for grad students right? So what made you think about starting to smoke a pipe?

Welcome to the site. Ask any and all the questions you feel like, and we'll do our upmost to give you a gentle start to something many consider a way of life.

You are a luck fella. This is a very special forum indeed. Unlike any other you could find. Just a big group of friends here. Most of us are either rejects from other forums or have rejected other forums for good reasons. You're in the right place.

Hi, Schletty!

So what are you a grad student in?

So far as pipe smoking goes: My suggestion is to stop thinking about doing it and give it a shot. Get a $5.00 corncob pipe and a pouch of Captain Black and a book of matches. You'll burn the heck out of your tongue the first time you try it, like most of the rest of us did, but then you'll ask for some guidance and we'll provide it. Within six months you'll have a bad case of Pipe Acquisition Disorder (PAD) and Tobacco Acquisition Disorder (TAD) and will have half a dozen pipes and enough 'baccy to last you a year or more.

Welcome aboard!

Glad to have you around... before you are done you will be burning burley is all sorts of gorgeous looking smoking devices. Virginia is good too, but one step at a time.

Welcome.

It's hard to break down all of the reasons. Earliest related memory was a tobacco shop in a mall. (Is that even allowed anymore?) It could be my memory playing tricks with me, but I swear there was a wooden Indian - "wooden native american" just doesn't evoke the same feeling - out front, as well. The smell evoked a sweet warmth. The colors were rich, and I loved the room for individual expression with the choice of pipe. Not to offend smokers of other forms of tobacco, but pipe smoking also seemed to me to express a deliberate intention to enjoy the thing for its own sake, rather than by a kind of default.

Cigar Store Indian, I seem to remember that Tinder Box (the bigtime mall B&M back in the day) always had a big Cigar Store Indian in their stores. When I was a kid I thought that was just the coolest. I remember thinking back then that when I grow up I was gonna have one in my house. I could probably pull that off in my man cave but I haven't found a decent cigar store indian for less than a arm and a leg.

I imagine you sense the answer even before you read it... English, of course. (and, yes, I already have the tweed with elbow patches)

Thanks! My diving in is more like next-paycheck imminent than long-term deferral. I was going to say that at least my relatives will know what to get me for Christmas, but I don't think I will want them buying for me any more than they will want to do the buying.

We'll be glad to help in any way we can. Its refreshing to see someone get into this hobby the smart way rather than running out to grab a pipe and some tobacco without understanding what he's doing. Ask away pal, we're here for ya.

By the way, I 2nd the idea of grabbing a corn cob pipe to start with ... yeah, they make ya look like a complete hayseed but you know what, they smoke pretty darn good and you just can't beat the cost for a beginner. Tobacco? I'd go to Walmart and grab a box of Prince Albert (behind the counter in a red box about the size of a pack of cigarettes). Captain Black will taste more perfumy but will also fry your tongue ... Prince Albert will teach you what tobacco should taste like and treat your tongue kindly.

This is a great group. I wish such a thing existed back when I started, there's a wealth of helpful people here.

running a bit late with nothing to add.

Glad you found us. I second Rick's advice when he suggested a cob and some Prince. If you do go with a cob, keep in mind, the first few smokes from a cob won't be great, so don't become discourged.

Welcome Schletty. Stay away from Captain Anything (except our own Captain Bob, of course!) But the cob and Prince Albert advice sounds good to me, too.

The thing is, I'm noticing that it's not just knowledge that travels freely here, but an actual community spirit. From my experience with other message boards, I'm amazed how often a benign comment can spark uncontrolled controversy. Maybe I just haven't looked thoroughly enough, but I have yet to see that here. Even in places where I anticipated that the next post could be a problem, I'm regularly surprised at the humor and camaraderie that governs the conversation.

MPC is very unique in my opinion. I have been on all the other message boards, and nothing compares to this. Not even close.

MPC is one of those places were we share our opinions, respect others and enjoy the company of people that share something in common.

Unlike some other message boards, there are no trolls here... well except for ckr, but he is a lovable troll.

I seem to be jumping into these late...of late...errr....well anyway...welcome. I think that makes about a handful or less of students here...but all of us with oddly appropriate studies...architecture, English, some really really strange mathematicians, etc....just kidding...anyway...Hope you have fun and stick around...this forum can be really informative and does lack the animosity and posturing of other forums I have been a part of...the only problem with that is that people here like...well...everything so that makes direction in the beginning a little ambiguous...oh well...that just means more fun experimentation...as for the not smoking yet part...grab yourself a corn cob (or three) for $5 a pop and tub of Prince Albert from your local drug store... heck you might even find some Dr. Grabows there if you want to try an unassuming briar...but you can get yourself going for about $25...I mean that is only three or four day's lunches. Beans and toast are an optimal food choice and leave ample funds for pipes and tobacco ; )

Cheers,

Josh

With that kind of diet, it wouldn't be the smoke that kept me exiled from the house! :-) BTW, I've found Ramen & Lentils w/ Tobasco also works well (Try covering that one in your food & tobacco forums!)

-Kyle

Currently shopping for schools (and money) for a graduate degree of some sort. My wallet says a MBA but my heart says English or possibly a MSW. At the end of the day, I suppose English, or some inter-disciplinary Humanities MA will probably win out. My undergraduate degree was alot of work (started freshman year at 30 in the Air Force with a wife and two kids) but I also thoroughly enjoyed the classes (dual major English/Sociology). I guess there's no fool like an old fool.

Who knows, before too much longer, an MBA might be just as commercially unprofitable as an English degree! Then all you have is whatever's rewarding. I'll tell you what I really enjoyed: my American Studies MA (in fact, that's where my heart was set for the PhD as well, but it looks as if things worked out for the best.)

You can often pick up funding plus small stipend, depending on the location and program. I got both here, but still have to use loans to make up for other costs (much to my surprise, completely legal on the Graduate level)... but debt sucks!

And we old fools are the best kind! We begin to shed the delusion that we know something.

-ks

You will never ever never while I live and breath, be forgiven for comparing latakia to Old gym socks. Sorry dude, you made it personal!

OMG, that is priceless. Although, we must acknowledge that after comparing it to gym socks... I turned out to like it.

Just goes to show you, stinky, sweaty, piggy holders can make for great tobacco flavor.

Latakia should never be compared to old sweaty gym socks. Anyone in the know can tell you that latakia smells and tastes like burning tires or one of those tar trailers they use to re-roof a house. So much so in fact, I was one day, several years ago smoking a heavy latakia blend at work when a lady came out stood there for a minute and said, "It's about time they got around to fixing that road."

latakia smells like fart, you all know that. (hence the name farter hall, right ? )

well, everything cannot have that lovable room note of a perique heavy VA/per, or that outstanding smell of smoldering cob plug in the morning.

On a serious note, I do not really like latakia enriched tobaccos. The best ones I have smoked are night cap and billy budd. It is not the strength that scares me off, but it has some kind of sour taste/feel that I don't care for. It all started with penzance, while ultra creamy and smooth, that latakia taste... Sorry, I just cannot take it. I gave the tin away to my flatmate, who in an instant fell in love with latakia, BAD MOVE! lol.

Just picked up a 3+ year old in of Penzance today. First smoke of it in about two years. It is also the second 3+ year old tin I have had. The first was about three years ago, absolutely fantastic smoke and todays was just about as good (not the best smoker did it up). After a few month i acquired a bit. It is now cellared and I pinched a bowl from a pound. Sucked in comparison to the aged stuff, not nearly as mellow much sharper with some harshness even. I could not believe the difference and said jars will not be opened until they are 3+ years old.

Can't place much stock in a pipe smoking dog but I think he is trying to work Morleysson's fantasy into this thread. Dear Mr Fantasy .... "tar and Road" much to Traffic references in todays threads.

I have been on this site only a short time and the information received has been extremely helpful. If you get a pipe for the first time, it should be memorable if you plan to keep it. I'm a nostalgia nut. So I have the first pipe I ever smoked 35 years ago. When I look at it or smoke it, it brings back memories of my days in school. I have many pipes now, but that holds a special place. It's fun to tell my kids stories associated with my early pipe smoking. I think the tobacco you start with should be what you think smells good in the jar. go to you favorite or local pipe store and get a good wiff of a few of the more mild tobaccos. pick one, get an ounce or two and try it out. When you hear it from those around you, "wow, that smells good" , it clicks. If your in the cold climes, The pipe will keep your hands warm walking to your next class.

Above all, have fun.

agree with gpsman - your first pipe should be one you're pleased to keep. You'll smoke it with nostalgia. I recommend the Peterson 303 for a first pipe. It's not too expensive (cheaper on eBay) & foolproof. Great pipe. And welcome again.

I believe you, everything about penzance was great, except the TASTE of the smoke. If I liked latakia, I'd go all Melvin on you lot.