From: ????????????????????????? (Steve Masticola)
Subject: Degrees, cohabs, and four pipe books.

Dear Pipefriends,

This week is a rather signifigant one in a few ways! First, I've finished
all the things one must endure to extract a Master's in computer science
from the State University of New Jersey (a place with many things to be
circumspect about, but which did NOT incorrectly verify cold fusion!) Which
leads to a question: would you have any recommendations on a "reward pipe"
for making it all the way through? I've got somewhere in the neighborhood of
$50 to play with, though I'm not bound to this amount.

More importantly here, I'm very relieved about one thing. I'm about to lose
a roommate whose first reaction when I lit my pipe was to whine, "Are you
*smoking*?" Thereafter, he sprayed the hall with ozone-depleting chemicals
each time I lit up, regardless of how careful I was that my smoke did not
impinge upon his twitching nostrils. I shan't mourn his passing, for this
and other reasons. (Fellow hedonists, have you any advice on how to deal
with similar ninnies in the future? I'm [ugh] sure I'll need it.)

The top story in the pipe news: I've received four books from "With Pipe and
Book", a tobacconist and book dealer in upstate New York on which Elias and
I have both commented. One of the books I purchased is, of course, Richard
Hacker's "Ultimate Pipe Book", a witty and informative tome well worth the
$18.95 or so. I wrote Mr.  Hacker directly, by the way, and was informed
that there will be a new edition, fully revised, appearing in September.
Those who are in need of Christmas presents might take note!

Also in the box from Lake Placid were Carl Ehwa's "Book of Pipes and
Tobaccos" and Ben Rappaport's "Complete Guide to Collecting Antique Pipes."
I haven't had time to completely absorb either of these volumes yet, but
rest assured I shall. Ehwa's book has an excellent section on tobacco
culture.

Last is Mary Dunhill's "Our Family Business", her insider's view of the
Dunhill firm and how its founding family built it. The book is candid in the
extreme about the Dunhills' family life, which at times appears to have been
most unhappy; not too much hard information on pipe crafting or the modern
firm's operations. A worthwhile read, though I'd recommend against buying it
outright.

A note to the Bay Area and New England members! "The Ultimate Pipe Book"
lists a couple of pipe-related restaurants:

- Pipe Dream Restaurant
  Rte. 32 and Ademac Rd.
  W. Willington, Ct. 06729
  "Their briar-inspired desserts will light-up your tastebuds."
  [Briar-inspired desserts??? -S.]

- S. Holmes, Esq.
  "221B Baker Street"
  Holiday Inn, Union Square
  Sutter at Powell Streets
  San Francisco, CA
  "A lifesized diorama of Holmes' sitting room and individually reserved
  calabashes for regular patrons make this drinking saloon a Sherlockian's
  delight."

(Keen's English Chop House in NYC used to operate on a similar principle -
they reserved a clay pipe for all their regulars. News from the New York
Pipe Club (Sailorman Jack, 212-288-3832) is that they don't allow smoking in
their dining room! :-( But if anyone can check out the "Pipe Dream" or
"221B", the group would greatly appreciate the effort, I'm sure!)

Well, that's about it for this time. Please write in if you've any wisdom to
share, and until next time, may your bowls be dry and your smoke rings round.

Smoke in peace,
~\U Steve.


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( Pipe smokers will rule the world!      *   ??????????????????????	 (
 ) (if they don't run out of matches...) *   Steve Masticola, moderator	  )
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