From: Steve Masticola (?????????????????????????) Subject: Participatory pipeocracy Well, once again it's time to fill a favorite pipe (this time, a large Peterson), and edit the digest. This time, I'll say a few things about the mailgroup itself, in response to Norm's letter. When I started the group, the volume of messages behaved somewhat predictably - a lot of things got posted at first, and then the talk burned down a bit. I never expected a huge volume of messages, for a variety of reasons. First off, we're a small group (about 20-30 members, not counting the digest echo into arpanet). It's not likely to get huge; I forget the percentage of people who smoke pipes, but it's something like 5%, and far fewer of us make a hobby out of pipes. We're never going to have the volume of soc.singles (not that we should!) Second, my tactic in putting out the letter has been to accumulate mailings until Sunday, and (assuming someone's submitted something), to send them out then. That way, those of us who have Real (tm) Jobs will have something to look forward to on Monday mornings, before we have to really get down to business! Does anyone have comments on whether this encourages people to send things in? (Or whether you like it in general.) Also, the only way you have new things to say is if you learn new things! If it's been ages since you tried any new blends of tobacco, why not go pick up a sample and let us know what you think? You might find something you really enjoy; at worst, you can save the rest of us from being subjected to Old Anthracite :-) You can also pick up a lot of information talking to others; that's what the group is for. I'd also urge you to get in touch with a pipe club, or go to some swap meets. It's also rewarding to sit down, light up, and swap opinions with a friend, old or new! And you'll have some new stories to bring back to us. I hope you'll try it! We'd love to hear from you! And we promise no flame, except as applied to your favorite smoke. :-) ~\U OK, now on to some other things... Norm, the address for the Pipe Smoker tabloid is: Pipe Collectors International P. O. Box 22085 6172 Airways Blvd. Chattanooga, TN 37422 For $15, they'll send you one year's worth (i.e., four issues); they also have some members-only offers on pipes, and those look like an excellent value! They could use your support, I'm sure! The last issue mentions some upcoming pipe conventions, but none in the Bay Area specifically. But here's what's still coming up. All of these meets have hotel and table space available (yr. obd't. servant is a bit too lazy to retype them all! :-) SEPT. 23 - Fort Mill, SC. Tar Heel Briar Friars Annual Show. Contact Dennis Congos, 936 Autumnwood Lane, Charlotte, NC 27213 - (704) 597-5599 evenings, 547-2677 days. OCT. 21-22 - Moline, IL. 41st Annual World Pipe Smoking Contest and Pipe Show and Swap. This sounds like fun! Contact Jacques Bogguess, Box 509, Northpark Mall, Davenport, IA 52806 - (319) 391-4055. OCT. 20-22 - Las Vegas, NV. Mark Kaufman Memorial Pipe Show and Swap. Sponsored by the Greater Bay Area Pipe Club (Norm, take note!) Contact John Herring, 1103 Chaucer St., Berkeley, CA 94702 - (415) 849-0894, or Marty Pulvers, 278 Lassen Ave., Mountain View, CA 94043 - 965-4773. From the _Ephemeris_, Marty is also the contact person for the Bay Area Pipe Club! If anyone else wants to get information about pipe activities in your neighborhood, mail the Digest and I'll put up the request (and try to dig up some info myself.) Last thought - if anyone has something to sell, and you'd care to advertise here, feel free! Maybe we could even work out a way to exchange images in PostScript bitmap form (or whatever!) In whatever format, I hope to hear from you soon. 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
