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I guess that if you want to try just about every major type of tobacco in one single blend then you should try Pease’s Odyssey because it comes with red and black Virginias, Latakia and Orientals so you’re getting a bit of everything packed into one small tin.
The state switches to a punitive weight-based tax on many tobacco products, which benefits Philip Morris and penalizes the smaller producers.
AUSTIN, Texas, May 27 /PRNewswire/ — The Texas Senate voted 29-2 to pass a $100 million tax increase on smokeless tobacco and other tobacco products. HB 2154, while being a laudable program to fund rural doctor programs and changes in the business franchise tax, relies on an enormous tax on smokeless and other tobacco products, such as pipe tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco to help fund the legislation. The Texas House voted on a similar measure by a vote of 79-61 after much contentious debate. This issue has been debated over the past three legislative sessions and is largely viewed as an internal tobacco industry fight between industry giant, Philip Morris (now Altria), and the smallest companies says National Tobacco, headquartered in Louisville, KY.
"It is unfortunate that the Texas Senate, with little debate and what appears to be little understanding of the real market, passed a large tax increase on the small companies that compete with the ‘Marlboro(R) Man’ and ‘Copenhagen(R) Man,’ not realizing such a tax hike will do little to sustain these programs going forward," says Ron Tully, Vice President of National Tobacco. "This new tax is a huge gift to the same tobacco company that was sued in the late 1990’s by the State of Texas, and the same company that recently lost an Appeal in the US Department of Justice case, for deceptive trade practices."
This bill changes the methodology of how smokeless tobacco is taxed, from being a tax on the manufacturer’s list price to being a tax based on the weight of tobacco in the final retail package. "Texas has been enjoying a rise in tax revenues from the current smokeless and other tobacco products tax, because the free market allowed companies to compete aggressively for adult customers. Texas has consistently brought in more tax revenue each year on these products, as almost all manufacturers, including Philip Morris, annually increase their prices on brands such as Copenhagen(R) and Skoal(R) to offset rising costs. As a result of these annual increases, the state gets an automatic revenue bump from the current list price tax. Even the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts acknowledges that the revenue from smokeless tobacco based on the current list price method, would increase from $75,918,000 to $86,877,000 for the biennium 2010-2011. With the proposed weight-based tax method, Texas will experience less revenue in the future as tobacco sales decline," says Tully.
Tully added, "Philip Morris, which now has over a 50% share of the cigarette market and over a 50% share of the smokeless tobacco market, is pushing for this weight-based tax on almost all tobacco products, simply to take out the small competitors in the market and make its smokeless and smoking brands the dominant market players. Interestingly Philip Morris has managed to maintain an exemption from this new weight-based tax for its popular Black and Mild(R) cigar products. Texas will now have the unpopular distinction of being among only a few of the 50 states that have elected to switch to a punitive weight-based tax on many tobacco products."
"When doctors who have historically opposed smoking, stand with Philip Morris, you know it has got to be a bad deal for someone. If Philip Morris is supporting a tax on the tobacco industry, you also know it must be a good deal for them and the brands they sell. And it is," Tully says.
SOURCE National Tobacco Co.
Rob Cooper is reportedly the #1 top seller of collectible pipes on eBay.
If you are a pipe collector purchasing items on eBay, then this is probably not news to you. Personally, I’m more of a pipe smoker than a pipe collector, however, I did find Rob Cooper’s presentation at the 2009 Chicago Pipe Show to be quite interesting.
He makes some interesting observations about the state of the pipe collector’s market and his profile of the typical pipe collector. Do you think the market for pipe collecting is up or down in these times of economic turmoil? Read on to find out. You may be surprised.
All year I have been hearing that pipe smoking is realizing a resurgence. Articles, news stories and even government statistics point to increased sales in pipe tobacco. I was wondering why, and after perusing many stories on this there were two main reasons cited; 1) the economic and political turmoil in today’s world has people searching for comfort in things that remind them of simpler, happier times … picture a "Father Knows Best type figure", and 2) they say that pipe smoking is a cheaper alternative to other forms of smoking … again a symptom of the bad world economy. Personally I laughed at this because you can’t prove that pipe smoking is cheaper by me. Every time I pass a tobacconist I have to stop in and buy a pipe. However, Bob Tate has done a fine job with his piece, "Pipes: They’re Not Just for the Wealthy".
# 302 Svenborg Struktor Brown Sandblast Pipe. This pipe measures approximately 5 1/8″ Long x 1 3/4″ High with a bowl diameter of 1 5/8″ and a maximum bowl width of 1 5/8″.
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I’m always interested at the names that are given to some of the tobaccos that we pipe smokers buy. I guess like all marketing the name of this is supposed to give buyers a mental picture that will enhance their smoking experience and there is a little bit of the navy about this tobacco … well the British Navy rather than the US Navy … for there’s just a hint of rum about the taste.
Smokers Vilified Once Again
The NY Times reported on the state of North Carolina voting to ban smoking in restaurants and bars.
Here is what’s GOOD about this, and here is what’s BAD about this.
The good news is that cigar bars & smoking lounges were exempt. The real problem with smoking bans is when they over-step their bounds and disallow smoking in open air places like beaches and parks, and when they do something extremely illogical like banning smoking in a smoking bar. I’m sure the stupidity of that needs no explaining to the readers here. It is nice to see that they were intelligent enough in North Carolina to know that a smoking bar is for smoking and that people go there to smoke. I know it sounds stupid, but there have been numerous locales that have actually banned smoking in smoking lounges and tobacconists. By the way, there is a petition against this that you can easily sign in 10 seconds. It’s right here online: The Tobacconist Preservation Act.
What is bad is the way this news was reported. It was reported as if to imply that smokers just think they should be allowed to smoke wherever they want in the company of anyone they want. Smokers are continually portrayed as the evil-doers that are trying to kill themselves and everyone around them.
Everyone I know that smokes is much more courteous than the non-smokers I witness. The non-smokers have the audacity to get right in any stranger’s face and spew forth by rote their illogical and unfounded "facts" and just can’t seem to mind their own damn business. Smokers on the other hand make sure not to smoke close to children and other people. They go out of their way not to bother "normal people". I am not classifying smokers as abnormal people. I am classifying the people that are 100 feet away in an open air place that complain about the smoke as if they were locked in a closet with the person smoking. Those people are not normal.
The NY Times article articulated that "North Carolina, (is) the nation’s largest grower of tobacco" - and - … "North Carolina’s ban reveals the declining influence of tobacco in an increasingly metropolitan state …". As if to say that the tobacco companies and anyone else on the side of smoker’s rights actually thinks smoking in enclosed places with non-smokers is what we really want. I don’t think so. No smokers ever have the desire to force their smoke on anyone else. The way this NY Times piece was written you would think they do since they are so shocked this law could pass in the largest tobacco producing state.
I don’t have a big problem with this law. Yes, it would better if we actually allowed the restaurant and bar owners the freedom to decide if they would like to have a smoking establishment, and then people could choose to not go there. Is anyone really forcing non-smokers to walk into a smoke filled place? Seriously! What I do have a big problem with are the laws I spoke about in the beginning of the article, where smoking is banned in large open air places and in tobacconists.
Please sign take a moment to sign The Tobacconist Preservation Act.
Related Article: One Brave Tobacconist Fights Insanity in Canada
NY Times Article - North Carolina Approves Ban on Smoking
See this picture?
THIS IS ILLEGAL IN CANADA!
It is illegal for a tobacconist or smoke shop in Canada to openly display their products. How blastedly insane is that? This is the epitome of stupidity.
Tobacco store owner gearing up for another legal fight
A tobacco seller in Kentville, N.S., is gearing up for another legal fight with the provincial government over its law on displaying tobacco products.
Bob Gee, who has owned Mader’s Tobacco Store for more than 30 years, has refused to comply with a law that requires him to cover up or hide his cigars, cigarettes and pipe tobacco from public view.
In May 2008, Gee was charged under the province’s anti-smoking law with one count of storing tobacco products and another of improper display.
Gee, who said the law violates his charter rights guaranteeing on freedom of expression, was set to go to trial on April 1. However, the Crown attorney for the province requested a stay of the charges against him.
Since then, the provincial government has amended the law, which still requires store owners to keep tobacco products hidden from public, but now allows for them to display their products in a catalogue.
Gee said he wasn’t impressed with both the stay of charges and the rewording of the law.
"I went to court to face the charges and then they’re using the system and whatnot to hide behind."
Now a ‘waiting game,’ store owner says
Gee has already received two warnings from a government inspector to once again, cover up his tobacco products.
"We had a good warm discussion on the first visit that we got the 30-day verbal warning," Gee told CBC News on Monday. "I guess the talk is over and it’s just the waiting game."
A second written warning Gee received expires in early June.
Gee said the amended law still violates his right to freedom of expression, so he intends to keep his tobacco in full view behind the counter. He said he hopes the provincial government moves quickly if it intends to charge him.
"We went to court to get closure and I would hope that happens sooner rather than later," Gee said. "I’m not going away and I’m not giving up."
The fine for violating the anti-smoking law is $2,000 for the first offence. A second conviction carries a maximum fine of $5,000, and the fine goes to $10,000 for a third conviction.
Pipes Magazine applauds Bob Gee for his courage to stand up to one of the stupidest illogical laws ever implemented.
The Peterson pipe company in Ireland is known for producing both high quality pipes and excellent tobaccos. You may have heard of "The Peterson System"? The Peterson pipe is unique in that it is designed to contain an interior reservoir in the shank. This reservoir traps condensed tobacco moisture from the smoke, in turn giving the smoker a cooler and drier smoke. The Peterson System was invented and patented back in 1890. In 1898, Peterson invented the "Peterson Lip" mouthpiece, which directs the smoke up and away from the tongue. The Peterson Lip mouthpiece reduces the amount of saliva entering the stem and provides for a contoured fit in the mouth.
Bjarne Nielsen, the owner and the founder of Bjarne Pipes, passed away in February 2008. The company was founded in 1973 and became Denmark’s largest pipe manufacturer of 100% hand made pipes. Bjarne Nielsen’s pipes are recognized as a great value. His goal was to make high quality Danish pipes at a reasonable price. Bjarne pipes are hand made of the highest quality Grecian and Calabrian plateaux briar. Get one of his excellent pipes while you still can.
This is a Viking pipe, made by Bjarne. This pipe measures approximately 5 1/4″ Long x 1 7/8″ High with a bowl diameter of 1 5/8″ and a maximum bowl width of 1 5/8″.
See Bjarne Nielsen Pipes for Sale - Click Here!
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