***What Are You Smoking, September 2024?***

[cynyr]

The poor and the disenfranchised are not serviced best by providing them excuses and safety nets that are neither safe or helpful.

I would say that you learned a lot, while teaching!

 

[JimInks]

Now smoking 2017 Watch City Deluxe Crumb Cut in a 2016 Peretti's M.T. Natural made in Holland straight smooth brown Algerian briar billiard with a tapered black acrylic stem. Ice water and bergs is my drink. Getting ready to clean a few pipes.

 

[didimauw]

Well, is it a p-lip or not?

It is, I posted about it in the Pete thread. Lol

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Cupido Toro.

 

[das3353]

KBV B. Frog’s Study in Scarlet in a Pete PSB Strand

 

[RPK]

I started out as an elementary teacher in Pattonville in Maryland Hgts, MO. I was in essence the Welcome Back Kotter of the area - Local boy returns to the district he graduated from. After 11 years, I became a Principal of a middle school in Riverview Gardens in North St. Louis County. It was an all black middle school in a struggling neighborhood that had seen tremendous white flight. My background is one of Liberation Theology and the bosses supported my progressive educational views - A solid education based on hardwork and personal responsibility based on high standards supported by resources targeted to increase community involvement and democratic decision making (today - that would not be considered progressive, but back then it was). The emphasis was empowering the black community to actualize ownership in the school and embracing the belief systems necessary to marginalize the impacts of past discrepancies and abuses. It wasn't easy but we achieved a marked level of success. I then became a director of a suburban school system in Wentzville where the powers that be (who understood my background when they hired me) reacted poorly to my efforts to democratize the school system - they preferred a top down approach and wanted me to fire the union presidents of the two teacher unions -either by forcing them out or making their lives miserable. This wasn't for me and so I left Missouri for California where I resumed teaching in the classroom while beginning a career as a professor working with adult students getting their teaching degrees. I did this for many years and rejected offers to work as a school administrator ( I was very clear on my views and made it clear that Palm Springs Unified was not a school system open to democratic decision making from a ground up approach, much to their disappointment.) I did leave the classroom to become a full-time teaching coach for the district where I supported both new teachers as well as teachers target for dismissal. I found that more than quite a few principals would become upset with me because the teachers I worked with improved to the point where they couldn't be fired - you would think they would be happy, but human managers being what they are - are limited by their own emotions and once they turn on someone it is difficult for them to welcome those they despise back into the fold. Regardless I was successful and my mindset of hardworking and personal responsibility paid off for those teachers. In my career, many of my students have obtained the highest levels of success and I am happy to state that they still credit me with much of that - although their success is all theirs. I have one student who is now a US Senator who will eventually run for president. You have heard of him and he is on the news programs now biding his time.

I retired from teaching - I could have done more, but my family and wife came first and their needs meant I needed to curtail my goals of moving up the ladder into the State Department - I don't regret it. The public education system is broken by its own institutional malaise and focus - a focus that is institutional and self sustaining for its own membership. As a college professor, I did more for the system than I could have done from the top. IF I had another lifetime to live and wasn't concerned for my children and wife, yes, I would have done more, but honestly, it is time for the public schools to relinquish their hold on the educational system and a more competitive system to take its place, one where competition for success and achievement is valued and honored and supported. The poor and the disenfranchised are not serviced best by providing them excuses and safety nets that are neither safe or helpful. instilling a commitment to self responsibility, ownership of success, and the means to truly thirst for a solid education that means something because it is rooted in a real knowledge of learning is powerful and in the end something that can not be taken away. Being competent in how language works, how mathematics works, and the true basics and building blocks of knowledge is not just necessary, it is absolute. Being able to communicate successfully ones ideas as well as understanding the ideas of what has come before us and are being communicated by others now is the true definition of literacy. You have no idea how opposed the educational system is to this concept. Not just opposed, but aggressively opposed. Why? Because these ideas remove the power of the system to believe that it and it alone has the answers and puts the responsibility back on the learner - who might just question the very school system they are in.

This is a longer answer to your question than you might have wanted, but it was the basis of my career as a teacher and an educator. Now, my days are spent traveling the world and fishing and hunting. In between all that, I smoke my pipes. Thank you for the question.

Thank you for your response. I found it very interesting. Enjoy your well deserved travels, fishing, hunting and

 

[BCF]

Sutliff Sweet Virginia in the Rossi Mezzanotte apple. Beer.

 

[telescopes]

I would say that you learned a lot, while teaching!

One does not climb a mountain by being carried up the mountain - one does so by bruising their hands on the rocks, earning sore muscles, and putting in the time to learn how to successfully climb. And yes, falling is a part of the process. Anyone who thinks otherwise is only satisfied with ensuring those they claim to help stay crippled and dependent on help. The job of a teacher is to make sure they put themselves out of a job with their students.

 

[JoeW]

I have long coveted one of those. Might have to look again.\]

I've only used the international stem once, but my first impression is that I prefer my regular stems. The international stem looks a nice black all the way down, but it's actually plastic covering the aluminum. The international's draft hole is far smaller than the other stems, and nearly clogged by the time I reached the bottom of the bowl.

I'll keep using it, since I paid for it, and maybe I'll appreciate it more with time. For now, though, I prefer the non-international Falcon stems.

 

[cynyr]

The international's draft hole is far smaller than the other stems, and nearly clogged by the time I reached the bottom of the bowl.

That is unfortunate. It looks awesome, tho, and I'm disappointed to hear of the drawbacks. Reckon I'll stick with my cobs!

 

[gervais]

Samuel gawith Best Brown flake in a Barling. I either need to dry this stuff out with a blowtorch, or pick up some extra lighters. Man this stuff is finicky. Green tea is my beverage this evening.

 

[Carol]

Enjoying some PS Luxury Navy Flake in a clay. A pleasant afternoon.

 

[Ben.R.C]

End of a long week. Paid of a Manduela pot today, should be with me next week. First new pipe in a long time! It’s taken all the discipline I can muster to keep from buying new pipes! . Chenet’s cake in my treasured Doctor’s egg after a 20# 2 mile ruck and a nap.

 

[Joe H]

It was raining earlier today so I spent some time blending two of my favorite home-pressed cherry blends and loaded up my old Yorkshire billiard.


Once the sun came out I was prepared for a nice walk around the local lake with the dog. The pipe lasted 90 minutes and tasted wonderful. Fall is definitely underway up here, with plenty of leaves on the ground and birds flocking up in preparation for the long migration back down to warmer climates.

 

[Bright Orange Red]

KBV 2023 Van Gogh in a Savinelli Venere 412ks.

 

[PaulRVA]

Bob’s Square Cut in an IMP Poker

 

[JimInks]

Now smoking Peter Stokkebye 701 Virginia in a smooth light brown slight bent year 2017 Moretti δδδδ1 pot with a tapered black acrylic stem.

 

[xrundog]

OJK in a 19teens Manhattan Bakelite bulldog.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Samuel gawith Best Brown flake in a Barling. I either need to dry this stuff out with a blowtorch, or pick up some extra lighters. Man this stuff is finicky. Green tea is my beverage this evening.

View attachment 336040

Love that Barling!
I’ve had best results lately with BBF cutting the flakes about 1” long then rubbing with the grain to make them into a shag/ribbon consistency, then dry.

 

[Fralphog]

Busy day- splitting firewood and moving sheep to new Paddock. Time for a smoke and a stout Rogue, Barrel aged Ale.