My take on that is the vast majority of pipe smokers are nothing like cigarette smokers. Cigarette smokers tend to smoke frequently, and every day. While a lot of pipe smokers may smoke a pipe every day, it's not all day long. I will sometimes go several days, and sometimes a couple of weeks between pipes. That in no way correlates to chain smokers. Plus, the addictive nature and danger of cigarettes comes mostly from the chemicals they are laden with, while pipe tobaccos are relatively free of all that junk. Fortunately, my current plan has no provision about tobacco use, and my previous plan had it but only if you worked in a particular state, and it wasn't Alabama. You know, that's kind of like comparing someone who has a couple of beers on the weekend after cutting grass to an alcoholic, and saying any use of alcohol has serious health issues. Or what about gluttoney? Being morbidly obese obviously has serious health consequences, but that's not the same as someone who is a bit overweight. Hope all that made some kind of sense.
Unfortunately, no. I'm retired from the State of Georgia and I'm limited to a couple of providers and all of them have tobacco clauses. I can't afford an individual policy. As for lying about smoking, I could lose insurance if it were to come to light. I'm a widowed father of young children and will not risk their medical coverage.
I agree, it's worlds apart from cigarettes, which I quit over 15 years ago. However all tobacco products are lumped together. Oh well. It is what it is.
It looks like a finish issue, like they used a cheap shellac or something. If it smokes nice, however, it would be a keeper for me!
I am still a cigarette smoker, and agree with this 100%. My cigarettes maintain my addiction, but the pipe is merely for enjoyment. I do enjoy the nic, don't get me wrong, but that isn't the sole purpose of enjoying a pipe.
Although I am what you would call a heavy pipe smoker; I couldn't agree more. And when I do smoke heavily (lets say more than 3 bowls a day), it's usually due to "The Holmes Condition", lol. To explain that, when Sherlock Holmes was having a problem, he would often sequester himself in a small study and ruminate over the situation while smoking his clay pipe (nope, Sherlock never owned a Calabash), packed with Black Shag. In fact to express the severity to which a situation vexed him, he would say to Watson, "This seems to be a 3 bowl problem." or something the like, letting Watson know the time he would need to ponder it out would take the time of smoking 3 consecutive bowls. So, I've fallen into a habbit of smoking in that manner when dealing with more stressful work endeavors. lol But I digress; I agree, in moderation, smoking is not really a bad thing.
+1 on tobacco in cigarettes being manipulated to raise nicotine level. Cigs are a totally different habit than the pipe.
I would probably smoke my pipes more if I had the time. When I was out of full time employment for a year, I would frequently smoke 2 bowls a day, and at least one while I was scouring Internet job search sites. And sometimes calling/emailing/messaging my contacts and friends. It's certainly not a health food, but I fully believe pipe smoking is no where as bad as cigarettes due to additives in cigs. I would venture a theory that pipes may be habituating versus addictive like cigarettes. I'll say this: I smoke them when I want because I enjoy them, not because I've just got to have a bowl right now! I'd like to hear hippiebrian's take on this. IIRC, I think he said he smokes both.
Hey guys: Let's talk beverages... @BamaT brought it up earlier... I myself forfeited the rights to drink alcohol on 30 May, 2003. Back in the day, I preferred IPA, Bourbon (pricey bourbon), Jack Daniel's Old no. 7, and port with my cigars. After I quit drinking (I refer to myself as a recovered alcoholic, I do not drink ever now), I switched to the pipe. I actually don't know what it's like to drink while having a bowl. Now a disclaimer, I keep rum, whiskey and vodka in my home for close friends, and Mrs. Samurai is a light social drinker. And no, this isn't a dangerous conversation for me. My God delivered me from the slavery of alcoholism, so that I could live free among the people. And a lot of those people are not like me...they have control that I don't. As a bonus Mrs. Samurai and/or my friends always have a sober driver. These days I drink Fresca, cold water, sweet tea, or strong coffee with my pipes. If anyone has ideas beyond these, I'd love to hear it. What are you guys into? If booze is the answer, that's cool! We've never talked about pairing tobacco and beverages.
Again, I agree. I think the biggest reason I smoke more heavily; aside from my work allowing it, is that it's a habit. And not just a habbit, but a habbit that seems to help me deal with the situation in some way shape or form. Perhaps by allowing just enough distraction to not become frustrated, but not enough to cause my focus to waver.
I mostly stick to tea, iced tea (both of differing flavors), coffee and some liquors. Though I honestly haven't really sought to pair them. I usually just go with my mood at the time. I may have to experiment a bit now though. lol
While I do like a nice bourbon, a good beer, or some good vodka with a smoke, I usually go non-alcoholic because I ride a motorcycle everywhere and will not get on after even one drink, and usually I don't like being restricted to the house. That said, coffee is my favorite with a smoke. A good second is a nice root beer, believe it or not. Something about that root beer pairing with the tobacco is satisfying. I also like ginger ale or ice tea.
I don't smoke cigarettes and I picked up cigar smoking from reading this forum. I smoke maybe 2-3 cigars per month, usually paired with an alcoholic beverage. Sometimes a dark beer, sometimes rum, port, scotch or bourbon. I used to "steal" a cigarette from time to time from a co-worker and join him in a short smoking break but since I tasted cigars, I cannot stand the taste of cigarettes in my mouth. I'm still very new to pipes and didn't have time to explore different beverage pairs. I had iced water once and some iced tea with it. I'll try apple juice next. I don't plan to smoke more than one-two bowl a week.
I see a lot of people drinking root beer with cigars, I wonder how it tastes. I cannot find it in Israel nor can I find any online vendors that will ship it out of US.
I guess everyone saw my earlier post about apple juice. I believe most tobaccos are alkaline, and anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I think the acidity of the apple juice balances that, and just adds a nice sweet taste without being over sugared like a soda. I also like hot tea, unsweetened (I know, that's a contradiction to the apple juice), with or without a bit of half and half. I prefer Irish breakfast tea, but English breakfast tea is okay, as is Earl Grey. The bergamot in Earl Grey adds a slight citrus taste to it. And sometimes I just have a glass of ice water! On occasion I will have some coffee with a bowl, but tea seems to be smoother.
Do you mean just plain old root beer? In the US, where I am, it is a soft drink. Like Coca Cola. But I believe it's ingredient list (of true root beer) and/or process might violate the dietary law of many people in Israel (just a hunch, I am guessing), and there may be little real demand. Root beer is typically quite sweet, but is herbal and aromatic. It is flavored with sassafras root and bark, and originated in the US. Native populations here have used the root basically forever medicinally as well. More info: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_beer
