I can hardly believe it myself, but early this morning the game came to a sudden yet inevitable close. To be honest, I was pulling for Peterson/Dunhill Flake at the end there, since I’ve got several tins of it in my cellar. It lost, but I still popped open a tin today and smoked a bowl in its memory. But… ahem...
By the powers vested in me – by nobody in particular, I might add – I hereby crown the winner of Best Blend of 2023 to be… Dark Bird’s Eye, by @gawithhoggarth.
I’d like to thank everyone who nominated a blend, as well as everyone who stuck around day after day to cast their votes and everybody who lurked in the corner and watched the action unfold like so many spiders on the web. When I began this game, I figured it would take on a life of its own. I imagined that others might step in with updated figures and snarky remarks and that, little by little, day by day, I’d become a mere spectator of my own creation. I’d anticipated popping in from time to time with a snide comment or two, but I didn’t presuppose there’d be any great level of involvement on my part.
In that regard, I’m glad I was dead wrong. It has been an unforeseen pleasure taking a more active role in this game with all of you, steering this dysfunctional ship in which we’ve found ourselves. More than that, it’s been a pleasure running the numbers and participating in the wanton numeric slaughter that morphed and solidified into our little jumbled corner of the internet.
I’ve tried to keep this funny when I could, and at least moderately amusing when I couldn’t. You’d never believe how difficult it is to come up with would-be zingers day after day, hoping to extract far-off chuckles from a group of folks you’ve never met. It’s given me a further appreciation for what late-night comedy writers do, that much is for certain, but I’m glad it happened nonetheless.
This time a year ago, I had no clue that this forum existed. I’d never heard of the Pipes Magazine Radio Show and to my shame I didn’t even recognize the name Brian Levine when he called me to answer an email query I’d sent him. I count myself fortunate to have been pulled into the gravity of this sphere and this community. I’m still pretty damned surprised that I was interviewed on the show and to this day I don’t feel that I’ve yet earned that opportunity, but I’m trying to do so one step at a time.
I’m thankful to all of you who dedicated a few minutes out of each day to engage and to participate in this nonsensical game created on the whim of a new user to this site. It’s meant plenty to me, so if you see me at a pipe show, by all means, please introduce yourself and remind me of your screen name. I’ll remember you. Of that, I can nearly promise.
Sorry to have ranted (but it’s my trademark if you haven’t noticed), and I apologize for getting all sentimental and whatnot. Anywho, I guess it’s time that we all got back to our lives. And I guess I should go snag a sample of Dark Bird’s Eye since it just won my competition and I’ve never tried it.
Cheers, my friends.
(P.S. to the mods, if you wouldn't mind leaving the thread open a day or two, just in case anybody wants to leave any comments but hasn't gotten to do so yet. Timezones and whatnot... Thanks!)
By the powers vested in me – by nobody in particular, I might add – I hereby crown the winner of Best Blend of 2023 to be… Dark Bird’s Eye, by @gawithhoggarth.
I’d like to thank everyone who nominated a blend, as well as everyone who stuck around day after day to cast their votes and everybody who lurked in the corner and watched the action unfold like so many spiders on the web. When I began this game, I figured it would take on a life of its own. I imagined that others might step in with updated figures and snarky remarks and that, little by little, day by day, I’d become a mere spectator of my own creation. I’d anticipated popping in from time to time with a snide comment or two, but I didn’t presuppose there’d be any great level of involvement on my part.
In that regard, I’m glad I was dead wrong. It has been an unforeseen pleasure taking a more active role in this game with all of you, steering this dysfunctional ship in which we’ve found ourselves. More than that, it’s been a pleasure running the numbers and participating in the wanton numeric slaughter that morphed and solidified into our little jumbled corner of the internet.
I’ve tried to keep this funny when I could, and at least moderately amusing when I couldn’t. You’d never believe how difficult it is to come up with would-be zingers day after day, hoping to extract far-off chuckles from a group of folks you’ve never met. It’s given me a further appreciation for what late-night comedy writers do, that much is for certain, but I’m glad it happened nonetheless.
This time a year ago, I had no clue that this forum existed. I’d never heard of the Pipes Magazine Radio Show and to my shame I didn’t even recognize the name Brian Levine when he called me to answer an email query I’d sent him. I count myself fortunate to have been pulled into the gravity of this sphere and this community. I’m still pretty damned surprised that I was interviewed on the show and to this day I don’t feel that I’ve yet earned that opportunity, but I’m trying to do so one step at a time.
I’m thankful to all of you who dedicated a few minutes out of each day to engage and to participate in this nonsensical game created on the whim of a new user to this site. It’s meant plenty to me, so if you see me at a pipe show, by all means, please introduce yourself and remind me of your screen name. I’ll remember you. Of that, I can nearly promise.
Sorry to have ranted (but it’s my trademark if you haven’t noticed), and I apologize for getting all sentimental and whatnot. Anywho, I guess it’s time that we all got back to our lives. And I guess I should go snag a sample of Dark Bird’s Eye since it just won my competition and I’ve never tried it.
Cheers, my friends.
(P.S. to the mods, if you wouldn't mind leaving the thread open a day or two, just in case anybody wants to leave any comments but hasn't gotten to do so yet. Timezones and whatnot... Thanks!)
