From: Steve Masticola (?????????????????????????)
Subject: A meeting proposal, and some rejoinders

Elias, congratulations on your new Ben Wade and good luck on your Master's
defense (may the one help the other!) Also, good luck in your search for a
job. I'm sure we all hope you'll be able to stay on the net. Ladies and
gentlemen, if you have some job info for our esteemed founder, please let
him know.  (I will!)

Also, to follow up on Elias's suggestion, I'd like to propose a meeting at
the New York Pipe Club for their next meeting (the first Tuesday in July,
which would be the 4th --- no, that can't be right, I'll have to call.) I'll
let you know the details the next Digest.

Phil's notes about smoking etiquette pretty much parallel my opinions.
Before I went to grad school (when I worked for a living :-), I used to nip
out to the car at lunchtime for a briar and a book. When the car got too
hot, I found a grassy, secluded spot near the plant which was ideal for such
things ( except for some random poison ivy, which I never quite wanted to
try to smoke 8-O ) Not to belabor the point, but the airport scene you
described makes me think that there should be a statement of good manners
for both smokers and nonsmokers. I may concoct one, if someone else hasn't
already written it!

Working at the computer seems like the perfect occasion to smoke, so I often
light up when I'm at home. It helps me to concentrate quite a bit, besides
giving me something to chew on, other than junk food (or a good, meaty
problem!) But that's my own space, and I do without at school or work.

An update on Rick Shoopak's question about summer blends: I just got a
brochure about some blends from Robert McConnell in London. The firm has
been around for 150 years, and are "hand-blended, stem-free, and
glycol-free." They recently became available in the U.S. after some absence.
If you can find a shop that sells them, the "Maduro Superb" and "Special
London Fine Cut" look like what I'd want for a summer smoke - mild, but
tasty. (I'll be looking too!) 

If you'd like to get a copy of McConnell's brochure, send a self-addressed
stamped envelope to:

	W. N. Powers and Co.	(Ref: Summer '87 - Spring '88 _Ephemeris_).
	14026 Leadwell St.
	Van Nuys, CA 91405

Finally, a comment on Phil's note on smoking proximate to eating - it works
both ways, according to Gayl Liebman, also in the last _Ephemeris_. Here's
what she's got to say:

[Regarding a brochure from "Tobacco Express", Box 25773, Lexington, KY 40524]

"... I have also gained insight as well into the role digestion plays on
smoking, proving one is never too old to learn something new. It took the
form of learning which tobaccos to smoke when, depending on one's diet. For
example, if one has eaten foods of a spicey nature (such as chili, garlic,
onions) within the last 24-72 hours one's palate and taste buds will be
seriously affected by those foods which in turn will affect the taste of
certain tobaccos as well. The impact of the above information upon my
smoking has been phenomenal! Thanks to this consideration, I now know which
tobaccos to avoid after eating Italian or Mexican food, etc., and have
enhanced my enjoyment immensely. I no longer judge a new blend hastily, but
rather weigh its characteristics against whatever foods I ingested recently
then wait before trying it again. This has saved countless time and tobacco
and resulted in more enjoyment on my part."

Wish I had that booklet; I've mailed Tobacco Express, but no answer yet.
Soon, I hope! I also hope to hear from y'all soon, too. Until next time,

	Smoke in peace,
	~\U Steve.

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