ZERO BS Tobacco Review

Peter Stokkebye's Balkan Supreme 7/10 Tin Description: Balkan blend reputed to be like the old Balkan Sobranie. Country of Origin: DK Curing Group: Air Cured Contents: Cavendish Virginia Latakia Oriental Cut: Shag Packaging: Bulk McClelland's Frog Morton on the Bayou 9.5/10 Tin Description: When vacationing on the dark, placid waters of the Bayou, Frog Morton prefers this smooth, rich, calming Balkan blend, to which he adds just enough of the finest Louisiana Perique Country of Origin: US Curing Group: Fire Cured Contents: Latakia Perique Oriental Turkish Cut: Ribbon Packaging: 50g Tin, 100g Tin

Tobacco Preview - Peter Stokkebye's Balkan Supreme

I am excited to smoke this particular blend. The aroma from the box was very intriguing and I am sure the orientals won't disappoint. The infamous Tom, NWPipeSmoker, claims this to be a wonderful everyday smoke and the best value in Quality Pipe Tobacco. Pipe and Cigars sells it for $3.87 and oz.

Country of Origin:	DK
Curing Group:	Air Cured
Contents:	Cavendish Virginia Latakia Oriental
Cut:	Shag
Packaging:	Bulk

Full Review to come.

Tobacco Preview - Frog Morton on the Bayou

A distinctive pipe tobacco from McClelland Tobacco Company, of Kansas City, a purveyor of fine specialty or “boutique” tobaccos.

Frog Morton on the Bayou – “Smoot and dark and calming, like the waters of the bayou, a relaxing Balkan blend”

Country of Origin:	US
Curing Group:	Fire Cured
Contents:	Latakia Perique Oriental Turkish
Cut:	Ribbon
Packaging:	50g Tin, 100g Tin

A favorite amongst the pipe community, including the infamous Black Ops Tobacco Society, this is sure to be an amazing smoke. The aroma from the tin reeks of Latakia, but in a good way.

Wife's opinion on the room: Not bad at all. In fact she said it smelled like a tobacco barn.

Full BOTS review video to come.

N&HP
BOTS

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Straus Private Stock English Tobacco Review - BOTS Style

To often we see tobacco reviews that are true and thought out. Pipe smokers that have no way of saying something is bad, like a Lawyer defending his client. Let's face it, not all tobacco is great or memorable.

Private stock is one of those tobaccos. It is a smooth creamy English blend with quite a bit of kick and a little spiciness, but it just is not memorable. I can't keep from comparing it to Boswell's Northwoods, and at the end of  the day, I would never buy Private stock over NOWO.

Cob, Nowo, Snow, BOTS

Black Ops Tobacco Society

If you don't know about it, your about to find out.

Winston tastes mighty good, Like a cigarette should.

If only smoking was still this socially acceptable. I got a good kick out of this commercial, even though we all know Granny would ever trade her corncob for a Winston.

The Bear Necessities

Take You Home

Another song from Ryan.

Some lovely and Inspiring art

I have never claimed to be a good painter, but these still life paintings have inspired me to start some sketches. I will post as they are completed, that is if I feel they are presentable.

"Fellas, We may never pass this way again."

My best friend, and fellow pipe smoker, released his split album this past week and I had the chance to pick it up yesterday. The album features a good friend of his, Scott Hensley, and himself in 11 songs. Hensley's 5 songs begin the album with a very mellow acoustic Folk sound. Ryan then finishes off the album with 6 gritty Americana Folk songs, all of which are from the heart. The entire album is absolutely amazing, and is some of the best $5 I have ever spent of music. I will be using music from both artists on upcoming videos. If you are interested in hearing the album you can check out tracks on their Myspace pages:

Ryan Kerr          Scott Hensley

You can also purchase the Split CD from Ryan. Contact him or myself. Price is $5 plus shipping based on your location. Sorry but sales are limited to the continental US.

A Random Fact

Bologna is 100 times better when fried

What it's supposed to be. Don't be an arm chair elitist.

In this video I decided to rant a little about a few things I have noticed in the Pipe Community

 

 

Below are a few comments on a recent video that I completely agree with. If you have a chance check out both of their channels:

 

thepypehype

I agree with you on the overwhelming info out there. Heres my tip: filter it all. Basic stuff is good like types and cuts of tobacco, but as far as everything else, I just do what works for me. I think a lot of people get caught up in the whole "hating aromatics" and "expensive pipes" thing. To each his own, but remember, it's YOUR hobby, for YOUR own enjoyment. TRY EVERY TOBACCO YOU CAN!

xDIK86x

Reply to the pypehype: Truer words of wisdom are rarely spoken :) I agree with you about the whole "hating aromatics". It seems like there are a lot of "arm chair elitists" on the forums that act like you aren't an experienced pipe smoker until you "graduate" to English blends. I'm sure there are some great English tobaccos out there, but there are also a lot of good aromatics.

Christmas Pipe

My wife bought me this awesome pipe off of Ebay that I picked out. Can't wait till Christmas so I can enjoy a nice bowl.

Pipe smoking

The following is an exert from an article on The Art of Manliness  written by Bryan Schatz. I really enjoyed the article and feel that he has put into words how I truly feel about pipe smoking and how the Pipe community has become. I will be posting a video soon expressing my feelings on the subject, but for now enjoy.

"Pipe smoking is the oldest form of smoking tobacco, developed during an era in which men would make time to sit at the end of a hard day’s toil, to rock back and forth in their favorite chair and observe the rotation of life. They had an understanding that prolonged satisfaction is greater than the immediate and fleeting gratification we have a tendency to seek today. A pipe is a man’s companion, his smoky warmth on a crisp winter day and the friend with which he watches the passing of time. A pipe requires patience. It instills calmness, observation, and contemplation.
A pipe is best enjoyed from the stoop thrones of rocking chairs, beneath the shade of patio roofs and in the absence of unnecessary noise."
You can read the rest of the article over at www.ArtofManliness.com

A quick smoke before work.

Pandora

I have been jamming this all day while cleaning. All of you guys that use Pandora should check the station out!

NickKimosabe wants to share some music with you. "FOLK ROCK Radio" Pandora is a free music service that helps you listen to and discover new music. GO NOW AND LISTEN!!!!!

Joffre The Giant: Dom Flemons of Carolina Chocolate Drops on Pipes &...

A fellow YouTube Pipe presenter and Blogger, Joffre the Giant, was blessed with the honor of interviewing Dom Flemons of the Carolina Chocolate Drops about pipe smoking. I just wanted to share.

Dom Flemons tells us his Pipe smoking story

The most amazing people in my life

Two years ago today was one of the most amazing, yet scary days of my life. We have been through a lot together, but nothing quite like the first day of Jett's life. I remember getting off of work and heading home where you were getting ready to go to the hospital. We couldn't believe how close we were to seeing our son. Nine months had felt like an eternity, but you were awesome throughout, taking care of yourself and Jett. You hardly ever complained, except about how annoying other pregnant women were always complaining. We headed down to the hospital and what a long day it was. I remember how scary it was when the nurses flooded the room as they tried to save Jett. All I could do was pray, I couldn't imagine loosing you. They rushed you to the Caesarean and began the process. I had to get dressed and wait until I got the ok to go into the operating room with you. I only remember crying and praying, trying to be strong and supportive for you. We held hands and I told you how it was going. As soon as I saw him and heard him cry I felt releif, and told you that everything was ok. God blessed us with a miracle that day, I know he has some special plans for Jett and ourselves. It brings tears to my eyes just looking back on all of it. Some how or another I ended up with the camera, I don't remember picking it up.

Since then our son has grown into a rocking little man, and is the best thing that could have ever happened to us other than each other. Your an amazing Mom, and your love for him is astounding. I love you more and more each day, and thank God for you being in both Jett and my life. It was a terrifying experience, but I will always remember it as one of the most amazing days of my life. I wouldn't want to have done this with anyone else in the world. You are an awesome wife, and my rock. I love the times we have had in the past seven years, and look forward to the many more. God has blessed us with amazing families that love us and Jett, an awesome church, and soon our first house.


I love you with all of my heart, and on this day I want to thank you for all of the wonderful things you do for me and Jett. This is your Mother's day, and I hope it is an awesome one.

 XOXO Love,
Nick

Carolina Cocolate Drops: Snowden's Jig

Simplicity

Simplicity: the state of being simple, uncomplicated, or uncompounded 

Just the other day while on my way into work I  was listening to "Thing of the Past" by Tim Barry (website). Tim Barry is a very simple man, watch this interview if you are interested, and his lyrics show that. 

The lyrics that caught my ear:
"See that's not how it's supposed to be
Lappin' up commodities
With money that you don't have or even see
I've lived and learned and lord I made it back
I want nothin', that's still all I have
It's not what you make or do
It's how you're livin"

So this only made me think more about making some life changes that had been on my mind for a while. I am a very happy person,that loves his wife, son, family and friends. My point here isn't that I am unhappy with life, but that maybe life could be more fulfilling with less instead of always wanting more.

So I set down and began to think of all the things I have or do in life. The internet, Television, and my cell phone just to name a few. Then I began to think, what could I live without. It was surprising, and I think that if you did the same you would be equally shocked at the things you could mark off of the list. My wife and I are going to be moving into our first house soon, and in order to save money we have opted not to have the internet at home. Crazy you say, I didn't have the internet 10 years ago and I lived everyday just fine. How much time do I spend a week on the internet because I am just bored?

Just a few changes I am going to make in my own life that I feel are going to allow me to enjoy life more:
-Limit my internet use to an hour a week, to pay bills and check a few things.
-Instead of watching hours of TV, I'm going to listen to music while spending time with my family, or while doing household chores,
-Get outside more by going to the local park, taking family walks, and relaxing bike rides.
-Drinking more water. It amazes me when I think about the amount of soft drinks I consume in a week. I have decided that for every other time I think about being thirsty I will pour a glass of water instead of Tea, or coke. If everyone in my family did this, we could easily save $10 a week on soft drinks.
-Eating at home/packing a lunch and only eating out as a treat when out with family and friends. As much as I love Qdoba, I could easily fix 2 whole meals for my family for the cost of one dinner there.

Now I could go on and on writing about everything, but the point is to get off of the computer and enjoy my day. We work all week living for the weekend and by the time it gets here it is over. Why do I live this way, constantly disappointed that the weekend is too short? Instead I am going to live each day like it is the weekend, enjoy it as much as possible. I am talking about walks everyday, the park on a Wednesday night, game nights with the family.

Live happier, live healthier

New vinyl and an awesome Punk Band

“State of Grace is the most raw, honest, and punk rock record the Street Dogs have ever done.Definitely a contender for best album of 2008.”

- Mike Davies, The Punk Rock Show, BBC Radio 1

Yesterday while looking through ungodly amounts of crappy rap vinyl at a local record store's 50% off sale and stumbled upon brand new sealed copy of Street Dogs "State of Grace". I had the privilege to see them live 3 years ago this October at the Vic Theatre open for Tiger Army. I enjoyed them and then honestly completely forgot about them until yesterday. 

Upon opening the LP at home I realized that it came with a poster, free mp3 download, and the vinyl itself was red in color. I was stoked to see what an awesome deal I had found for only $6. The album is very good, and anyone that likes good punk rock music will appreciate Street Dogs. Mike McClogan, former Dropkick Murphey's lead singer, started Street Dogs in 2002. They have released 5 full length albums and numerous compilations.

The other awesome Vinyl I was lucky enough to pick up. $6 used and completely unscratched.

Mike Ness

can kick Chuck Norris' a**

 

Subscribed

How could anyone resist the urge to subscribe to a man with such an awesome beard?

Fixed Gear

Fixed Gear Bicycle:A fixed-gear bicycle (or fixed-wheel bicycle, commonly known in the USA as a fixie) is a bicycle that has no freewheel, meaning it cannot coast — the pedals are always in motion when the bicycle is moving.


I have always enjoyed riding bikes, and the feelings that come with it. You can ride alone or with friends and family, go for a casual ride to clear your head, or commute. Within that past couple of years fixed gear bicycles, or fixies, have become very popular, especially with "Hipsters". I am attracted to the clean lines, and ability to make them unique.



John F. Kennedy once said, "Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."

So I hope that this Winter or next Spring I can begin to build one of these beauties. The plan is to find a light weight 80's roadbike and slowly convert it.  I am moving soon and will be within six miles riding distance to work and right next to a very nice park.  I am looking forward to nice weather and enjoyable workouts. Riding home from work at 6 am, clearing my head of stress and anger, and starting the day.

 

If any of you have any tips on building or riding a fixed gear please comment accordingly.

Anticipation

Anticipation: (emotion) the act of looking forward; pleasurable expectation

Anticipation is the only way I can describe the way I have felt since April 5th of this year. I woke up and began to check Facebook and Twitter like usual and then while reading a friends post I immediately freaked out. Aaron Gillespie had announced he was leaving Underoath, a band he had helped start and make famous. Gillespie stated that there was absolutely no hard feelings, but that he was ready to move onto other evangelical endeavors. At first I thought, wow, Underoath is never going to be the same with Aaron. But then after scouring the internet for a couple of weeks, I discovered that Daniel Davison, former Norma Jean/Luti-kriss drummer, was joining UO and a sense of relief came over me.

Pictured from left to right: Daniel, Chris, Tim, James, Spencer, Grant

For months now every status, tweet, photo, and video UO has posted has been flooded with hateful comments about how UO should give up and that Aaron "was" the band. I will admit that Aaron's clean vocals were the biggest reason I originally liked UO, but after 3 albums the band as a whole became one of my all time favorites. I can't begin to imagine how Spence, Tim, Grant, Chris, and James felt reading comment after discouraging comment. But they continues working on their newest album nonetheless.

As you can imagine I was becoming more and more excited with each studio update posted, and wondered to myself which direction they would take. I am a big Norma Jean fan, and love Daniel's drumming style, so that only helped the anticipation to grow. With less than two months till Diambiguation drops, UO released the first song through Twitter.

I can't wait to hear the full album, but for now I will jam this. Enjoy!!!

Joffre The Giant: Featured Pipe Smoker: Nick (And His Pipe)

Joffre The Giant: Featured Pipe Smoker: Nick (And His Pipe): "Nick (a.k.a. NickAndHisPipe, NickKimosabe) Profession:  Supervisor at UPS Location:  Louisville, Kentucky Website:  NickKimosabe Years..."

A new take on the name "Roll Cage"

Bones and a Kazoo

- A very good friend of mine and myself recently visited our favorite little local record store and while browsing the vinyl selection we found ourselves tapping our shoes to a familiar but different sound. We questioned the co owner about what was playing and he said, "That is part of my personal vinyl collection, a band called The Carolina Chocolate Drops". We listened to a couple more tracks on the album and we were hooked. Unfortunately I did not have my record player yet so I did not buy a copy of the vinyl, but he did.

- Here is an exert from the full bio on their website:
The band began in the summer of 2005. Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens, and Justin Robinson, made the commitment to travel to Mebane, N.C., every Thursday night to sit in the home of old-time fiddler Joe Thompson for a musical jam session. Joe was in his 80’s, a black fiddler with a short bowing style that he inherited from generations of family musicians. He had learned to play a wide ranging set of tunes sitting on the back porch with other players after a day of field work. Now he was passing those same lessons on to a new generation.

When the three students decided to form a band, they didn’t have big plans. It was mostly a tribute to Joe, a chance to bring his music back out of the house again and into dance halls and public places. They called themselves The Chocolate Drops as a tip of the hat to the Tennessee Chocolate Drops, three black brothers Howard, Martin and Bogan Armstrong, who lit up the music scene in the 1930’s. Honing and experimenting with Joe’s repertoire, the band often coaxed their teacher out of the house to join them on stage. Joe’s charisma and charm regularly stole the show.

Here is a few videos of this amazing group of musicians, see for yourself:
Hit em up style
Cornbread and Butterbeans
Your Baby ain't sweet like mine (yes that is a sweet kazoo)

“Tradition is a guide, not a jailer. We play in an older tradition but we are modern musicians.”

—Justin Robinson

Visit their website

Joffre The Giant: What's The Matter With Menthol?

A very interesting video.
Joffre The Giant: What's The Matter With Menthol?: "ReasonTV has a great editorial piece on the banning of 'flavored' and 'candy' cigarettes', and what its repercussions might be."

Is there a better way to enjoy music other than Vinyl?

I was recently gifted a late 60s Magnavox Astro Sonic Phonograph cabinet. My mother in law, Pam, recently remarried and moved out of town to her new home. My family and I made the short travel to Indianapolis for the weekend to visit. Pam and her husband, Joe, purchased the house from Joe's mother after she moved into her new apartment. Some old furniture was left behind for Pam and Joe to do as they pleased with. So upon my arrival to their new home I immediately noticed the pristine phonograph in the formal living room with dust gathering in the corners. I asked about it and quickly learned that they wanted to get it out of the house as soon as possible. So 3 weeks later it sits nice and pretty in my living room. I began to clean it up today quickly realized that it needed a needle, but luckily found the extra factory replacement needle tucked away inside the back of the cabinet. I am very pleased with what is quickly becoming one of my favorite things in the house, and at absolutely no cost to me. I plan to eventually add a few more speakers to the cabinet, but for now I will begin my search for vinyl.

Joffre The Giant: Pipe Holsters & Other Nifty/Terrible Smoking Acces...

Joffre The Giant: Pipe Holsters & Other Nifty/Terrible Smoking Acces...: "A reader sent this older link to in today: 14 Smoking Accessories That Nobody Should Own. Most of them are, indeed, horrifically tacky. Wort..."

A very cool blog to follow.

Get your manliness on.
Joffre the Giant

CDL

I have been seriously contemplating a career in Trucking. From what I have found the best route is to train with a company and drive over the road for at least a year. This means leaving my wife and son for extended periods of time and driving a tractor trailer all across the country. I get nervous and sick to my stomach when I think about leaving them for 2-3 weeks at a time but then when I realize that in 2 years I will have enough experience to get a local driving job and be able to give my family everything they need and more. Starting salary is in the $35-$37k a year, which is a considerable increase from what I am making at this point. I work for UPS and have the option to attend school at no cost to me, but college doesn't appeal to me. I have tried but I seem to have a hard time getting interested in school and deciding on a major.

So my wife and I have some major decisions to make. As if this wasn't difficult enough, my wife just found out that her company is closing in 6 months, and we are in the process of trying to purchase our first home.

All comments welcome, especially if you have CDL experience.

Honda X-Wing

I found this amazing piece of machinery while Stumbling today.
For you Firefox users that have no idea what Stumbling is click this link.

Movie Review - Sherlock Holmes

This Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery/Thriller keeps you guessing from beginning to end. The plot shows Detective Sherlock Holmes and his partner Watson as they engage in a battle of wits and brawn with nemesis Lord Blackwood whose plot is a threat to all of England.

Director: Guy Ritchie
Writers: Michael Robert Johnson and Anthony Peckham
Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some startling images and a scene of suggestive material.
Starring:
-Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes
-Jude Law as Dr. John Watson
-Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler
-Mark Strong as Lord Blackwood

Ten minutes into this Netflix rental I was ready to run out and purchase, a feeling that did not change at the end of the movie. Guy Ritchie puts you right inside Holmes' head as he thoroughly plans his attack on formidable enemies. The world slows down Matrixesque as he demolishes his opponent.

Robert Downey Jr. is right at home in the role of the infamous detective. Swapping out futuristic armor for a pipe and fiddle, he plays another character with the wit and confidence of his Tony Stark persona in 'Iron Man.' Downey Jr. is excellent, providing wit and supreme charm. Jude Law plays his right hand man, Dr. John Watson, in a role much smarter than past incarnations of the Watson character. The two are more equals than hero and sidekick. The continuous verbal quarrels between Holmes and Watson is plenty reason to watch this film. Together they inspire numerous laughs and clever rebuttals, allowing many of the jokes to pass unrealized, saved for the treat of a second viewing.

I think it is safe to say 5/5 stars and a definite BUY.

Some VW Love

M.I.V.W 2009 from Loniek on Vimeo.

Twitter - What a wonderful world!

Okay let me start by saying that I know I am about 4 years behind the crowd, but I just joined Twitter.
If you don't have an account yet and need and addiction to take over your life, do it now (well after your done reading this). I am serious, it will consume your life and if you set up mobile notifications will blow your phone up.

Wikipedia defines Twitter as a social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers who are known as followers. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow open access.

Twitter is extremely likable for a number of reasons. One of the most appealing is the fact that EVERYONE you can think of has one. Celebrities, Businesses, family and friends are all on Twitter. Following Celebrities personal Tweets makes you kinda feel like you know them. Most people update multiple times a day.

Another reason to join the crowd is just how easy it is. This has to be one of the simplistic social networking sites. There are no extreme menus to search through to set it all up. Just join, follow, and tweet! You can also set Twitter up to automatically update your Facebook to keep everyone in the loop and save your thumbs from the "stress" of double updates.

Get the latest News updates @cnnbrk, or funny stuff @Fxxxmylife.

In conclusion, If you don't have a Twitter at least go check it out. Follow me @ www.twitter.com/NickKimosabe

Youtube video - New pipe and a Brew!

If you guys do not already now I have a youtube channel that I use primarily for pipe smoking related subjects. I will be posting all of the videos that I upload to this blog. This is the latest that I have uploaded. A quick beer Review of Newcastle Brown Ale, and my new pipe from Straus Tobacco in Cincinnati! Don't forget to comment and rate please! If you have a youtube channel that you upload videos to, please let me know as I would enjoy watching!

This is the first of many........

Well this is the beginning of my blog. I have blogged a few times before but with little success. I have decided this time that it will be completely open to all ideas and subjects. So pretty much I need ideas. You can comment here, Facebook, or Twitter and leave your suggestions. I am looking forward to this and thanks for your support!