On my way home!

Well my mouth finally did it's job and got me sent home. Not really but if I say it like that it makes the truth seem less fantastic. Needless to say I have had a falling out with the Project Manager and I will be coming back home. I'm the only guy I know that can do his job better than anyone else on the team and get fired for it! Go figure, I guess thats what happens when you work with snakes. You get bit! I have had a great time working with some of the best people I have ever met and well you guessed it some real snakes. That is the life of contracting, I could write a book about it but instead I will consult a lawyer and file some legal papers! I think I have a legitimate case but we will see. Anyway I will be home in probably less than a week and I won't have to sleep in a coffin or eat crappy food. I will miss going to the Iranian border with the Border Transition Team and with the British Troops that have seen way more death and fighting for 10 men. Good people one and all and I will sorely miss them. So adios to Iraq and my good friends! Hello American land of milk and honey!

The Crazy People!

Well what can I say these two gentlemen are some of the people you meet doing the job I do! These guys are two of the finest men you could have standing with you. These guys are both Americans and fantastic at what they do! The top photo being Fred the Rod and bottom being Chief Crazy Eye! Names are withheld for reason I don't want there families to get any unsavory mail. Anyway these guys are giving it there all to help keep Iranian Lethal Aid out of Iraq. Which in turn keeps our boys safe, sound and coming home! There is a few more guys that I will post over the next couple of days. But don't forget those that lost there lives in this fight and the men trying to keep our boys alive so no one else has to pay the ultimate price.

Not Alone

I forgot to mention that America isn't in this fight alone. Here is the "C"harlie Company a Mechanized unit of the British Army. They are all as dedicated to the mission as we are. They do things different and sometimes it hard for me to understand them when they talk but all in all good chaps! But currently the British media and her majesties subjects are treating these guys like our military men got treated during Vietnam!! I can't believe it and the British should be extremely ashamed of themselves! Express your disgust with the nearest British Subject!!

Working

Well here I am somewhere in the God forsaken desert of Iraq near the Iranian border. It was a long couple of days living in the talc powder that is known as dirt. We are trying to staighten the border, port of entry. We know there is lethal aid running thru that port from Iran. I can't tell you how we know that but just suffice it to say that with my own eyes I have compelling evidence. It is only a matter of time before they are caught and we have Iran with there hand in the cookie jar. I just want to help and do my part to stop the lethal aid coming in. Because in the end it is killing our boys. Anyway I'm out here helping anywhere I can, please do your part and remember the sacrifices of our fellow countrymen. I'm all for bringing our boys home but not at the expense of those brave souls that sacrificed everything. This has nothing to do with the politics but everything to do with the men and women on the ground. Well I will try and continue to do my small, small, small part. I hope this messages finds you all well and happy!

Your Cub Report

Basrah the British Fail

The title of this entry pretty much explains it all. There has been some serious problems down here and it continues to get worse for the guys on the ground. The report I read recently about the border security in this sector would surprise the average joe citizen out there. Iran has taken over the militia in the Al' Basra region and is funneling in Weapons thru the Ports of Entries(POE). There is a port on the Iraqi border that is staffed by a Colonal that lived in Iran for 15 years during the Iraq/Iran war! Where do you think his allegiance belongs? With the continued political pressures at home on the british soldier they do not fire back when fired upon. They have released individuals that were armed and broke thru a perimeter fence. So it is a mess and they are tired and ready to leave. The average soldier here would like to kick ass but it just won't happen and that is a shame.

Unmoderated Comments

Well, just wondering what my friends would like me to do. I have moderated the comments on this site for no particular reason but then I got a chap calling himself "Iraq" tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. Seems interesting coming from a guy calling himself Iraq, he is entitled to his opinions and I don't object to them as he didn't really specify what I didn't know. Which is alot I can tell all of you. But I happen to be in Iraq, FOB Loyalty first...within three weeks the building I was living in took 3 mortars. Now I'm in Basrah I have been here 10 days and we have gotten somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 incoming rockets/mortars (combination of). So I don't really know but if you guys want me to unmoderate the comments let me know and it will be done. I'm still alive by the way, there was several close calls two days ago but I still have my 10 fingers and toes! Cheers!

Where is Monty When You Need Him??

Ok soI'm here in Basrah and I have just one question for the british in the group. WTF?? I'm here and we have taken about 40-60 incoming rockets! Yes that isn't exaggerated, that is reality. Ask me how many times I have heard out-going or return fire? none absolutely none! I only mention this becuase I'm here getting shot at and the british subjects are getting killed, maimed, and young lives destroyed without shooting back! I can't understand this stratedgy at all. I pray that the US Marines come in and reclaim this terrority. Pray for this little brave, I will need it.

God please return Churchill to the Empire!

So this is a shot of Baghdad from the air. These pilots are either good or crazy because the manuevers they use are as good as any roller coaster known to man. I guess knowing these are flying over semi hostile terroritory doesn't help either. Anyway I thought you guys might like to see a birdseye view from a couple hundred feet up. I'm enjoying myself here and the work is pretty good too. There are some tense moments but nothing outragous. So I will cut his post short as I don't really have anything to say. Support the effort people or they will follow us home and America will be just like Israel, I hate to say it but that is what I'm seeing.

Ok so here I am standing in front of the building I was staying in Which also happened to be Saddam's Intelligence Ministry, you knwo the one where people were tortured, raped, and probably died a horrible and unspeakable death. There is a mini prison on the compound used to house political disidents. This isn't a country club like Gitmo, this is serious shit where people were truely tortured for false confessions and used for sport and then killed. Ok, ok.... Enough of the soapbox I'm really trying to watch it so back to the building, you can see it was damaged pretty badly during the ass whooping the Iraqis got in the opening days of the war. This is also the building that took three mortor rounds while I was living in it. That sounds worse than it is, we were not in any immediate danger from the mortars. This location is in the heart of the stink there in Baghdad, less than 10 kilometers from Al Sadr and his militia boys. They like to hope over every now and again and shoot off Iranian supplied mortars and rockets and then hide amoungst woman and children. Who says chivilary is dead!! Anyway I stayed at this location for about three weeks working on equipment that is destined for locations far from baghdad. They will be helping the Iraqis control there borders and perhaps catch some munitions coming in to take out our boys. The systems I have been working on have found some interesting things, including munitions, gold and money....oh and people. I guess smuggling people never goes out of style. They stuff the human body into some interesting places! Anyway not much time here so I will end it before the soapbox comes back out! Well here is pic for all you who wanted to see me alive and healthy if not hot as hell!

Saddam the Idiot

Saddam is the worst poker player in the world. Here is his victory palace that wasn't completed and probably will never be done. It has a few new holes in it courtesy of the USAF. I was running all over Saddams old compound looking at the extravagence of his regime. He had everything in the world and pissed it all away on a poker hand with nothing in it. What meglomania will do to you!

One Month in Iraq

Well it has been an interesting month really, I have have been in a couple of location and I like being here. Call me crazy and many will, but I'm working on equipment that is trying to keep the soldiers and marines here safe. Yes it is more dangerous than riding a desk in America but not all of us are cut out to do that. I just happen to be one of those individuals, the other thing about being here is don't listen to the news. They are always wrong, the details aren't right, they have there own agenda. I do have to say one thing, the government has been slow to field the HumVee replacement and I'm not sure why. That single piece of equipment is going to save so many lives it isn't even funny. I have settled down into somewhat of a routine of getting feed and washing my ass. I work all hours it depends on the heat of the day, it is always hot but some days are much hotter than others so there is usually a mid-day break. I won't always have this luxury so I will take it now. I still don't understand these people and I still think there way of life is about 6 generations behind the rest of the civilized world but then again who am I. I wish they could govern themselves and I wish they could let go of the religious BS and the tribal mentality but they won't. They would be happy for us to run there country for them forever. We pay better than the muslim extremists! Anyway not sure what will happen here if we leave but I don't care, we will deal with the ramifications one way or the other. But if you get anything from this post is that the news is always wrong about the situation here. I know I'm here on the ground.

One Week Left!!

So I have one week left until I leave for Iraq. I have to say that there has been a couple of events over the past week or so that have me thinking about getting there not staying. I love personal stuff that helps you get your head right about going into a war zone. I don't know how dangerous it will be but it has to be more dangerous than walking down the street in Bisbee Arizona. Anyway I just wanted to post a little something. Not sure when I will get back to it but when I do I will be in the land of the Camels and Terrorists.

Interested in Starting?

Well I was asked if I could possibly put some information out there for helping a guy switch from uh-hmm illegal substances to what some would say just barely legal tobacco. I have never been big in smoking anything other than tobacco so helping someone "transition" is not something I think I can really do. I can provide a bit of information on how I started out and the information I have gleaned over the years that I have been muddling thru this hobby. There is just about a buttload (yes a buttload is a real unit of measure) of information out there and conservatively twice the amount in misinformation. When I first started there wasn't really any place to look for pipe information. I remember when I bought my first pipe from the Stag Tobacconist at Fashion Square Mall in Scottsdale, AZ I was handed a little pamphlet outlining how to smoke a pipe. I can tell you using just that pamphlet proved to be a frustrating thing and those pamphlets are still out there by the way. It isn't the fault of the Joe behind the counter of the local Tobacconist shop (referred to as a B&M), those guys aren't usually pipe smokers let alone familiar with the hows and whys. It is unfortunate that more employes of these establishments aren't pipe smokers it sure would help newbies on there quest of the pipe. I have probably transended the normal pipe smoker to become a pipe horder. I will explain, I don't have enough money to become a pipe collector but I still have the urge to find the best examples as I possibly can. So I mearly horde pipes I guess.

Lets look at some to the things I have learned from buying my first pipe. The very first lesson I learned is don't under no circumstances listen to the guy behind the counter. I hate to say it but those guys aren't exactly making a huge wage and that reflects in how much they know about there job. Plus the second point on that is most of those guys smoke cigars or cigerettes. Pipes just happens to be the redheaded step child right now. Second lesson I learned is find something you like at a retailor then go online and buy it. I hate saying that because I want to support the local B&M but lets face it they are expensive and this is your first pipe. So we have established the kid behind the counter doesn't know jack and buying from a shop is expensive. Two very good lessons I assure you, why I learned the hard way. The last thing I want you to avoid is buying that cherry or rum or cranapple smelling tobacco. Yes it smells very good but it is going to burn the shit out of your tongue. Burnt tongue it is painful, especially if you are drinking a little that night and don't really pay attention to what you are doing! Remember pipe smoking is an art, best done when you have time to relax. But I'm all over the place in this article and if you can follow it you are doing better than I am.

Picking a pipe is easy as far as your first. Number one thing is get something you like. Don't let anyone talk you into something because it is better! Buy what you can afford (of course) and that is asthetically pleasing. If it is ugly you won't smoke it, if it doesn't feel comfortable you won't smoke it. So do yourself a favor and get something that you like that you find pleasing to the eye. The second thing I recommend you get is a mild english blend to try, the guy behind the counter should know what tobaccos are what. If not look for the blends in the jars that decidedly english in name, something like Trafalgar or British Woods. Then again also something with a Sherlock Holmes theme. I recommend new smokers stay away from things like Cherry or Rum they are loaded with moisture. That moisture is your worst enemy and will aid in the abrupt end to your smoking enjoyment. That abrupt end has a name and it is called tongue bite, it is a not so pleasant burning of the tongue that you don't notice right away. It goes away in a couple of days if you happen to have done this to yourself already. There are several things that contribute to tongue bite and there are ways to minimize that unfortunate outcome. The most important in my opinion is for newbs to stay away from Aromatic Tobaccos (cherry, rum, banana mellow shortcake). Secondly is the packing technique which is a whole article in and of itself so I will tell you to get more information at www.aspipes.org. This is a great resource of all things pipe.

With smoking a pipe it isn't a rush thing. Allow yourself time to sit and relax with TV or your phone ringing off the hook. Use the time to learn how to enjoy the ritual around the pipe. Picking your pipe, choosing what tobacco to smoke, the history of the pipe maker, learn to pack the tobacco properly and just relax. The first study done by the American Surgeon General state that pipe smokers lived on average 5 years long. You can think what you want about all the smoking nonsense now but if you are reading this than you want to smoke. So relax and enjoy

To Bamboo or Not Bamboo

I have to say my bamboo pipe collection is very modest, sexy but modest as you can see. I have a bamboo Tomaso Spanu and a Tsuge Ibought from smokingpipes.com. The Tsuge is no Ikebana, I don't have that much money and if I did I'm not sure Tsuge would be the first brand I bought. I'm not trying to take anything away from this pipe or from Tsuge. They are fine pipes, my tastes are just better represented by other makers. I digress....I happen to love bamboo on pipes and think it is a beautiful addition. Many believe that bamboo makes a cooler smoke, some believe that bamboo makes for a drier smoke as the bamboo is porous and draws moisture in. I don't know if either of those arguments have any validity. Aesthetically they appeal to me and they are well made pipes with fantastic smoking characteristics. Neither one gurgles or smokes wet. They are pretty easy to pack and the tobacco burns evenly. Not sure if that is from my exceptional packing skills or from the pipes. I this little article I will give credit to the pipes, because well because I'm nice. Neither of these pipes were particularly expensive, I think both were under $100 USD. So I think you can find good examples of bamboo accentuated pipes as easily as a pic of a Hollywood starlet without undies on.
Now I'm not sure I can even intelligently respond to the questions about the smoking qualities of bamboo. The fact that I don't know the answers really doesn't bother me much. I don't think anyone really knows the answer to whether bamboos are better. So I will continue to smoke my exceptional examples and hope others will see my sexy but modest collection and comment. But maybe just maybe someone will go out and find there own bamboo.

Jirsa Blowfish

I got this little gem at the Ye Olde Pipe Shoppe in Phoenix on a recent visit. Rick the owner and operator was there and we had a fantastic conversation about all the pipes he has in is display cases. Which include a couple of Heeshen Cobras that I thought were fantastic and he was offering them at 40% off his stated price. His collection of Castellos is also impressive and we talked at length about the company and his ability to get Castello pipes. But when it came down to his extensive selection this piece of briar was the one that just kept me coming back. It felt good in my hand, it's weight is perfect and the color and grain could not be beat for the rock bottom price he was asking. Now I won't tell you what I paid but rest assured it was less than a Stanwell or a Peterson. The Jirsas that I had gotten before this one have been fantastic smokers and well made pipes. I think you still have to be cautious of the brand as some pipes drilling can be off. This one seems to be a good one. The fit and finish are really well done. The only thing I don't like is there is a carbon coating in the bowl. I haven't smoked it but will shortly so I can give you a bit of the smoking characteristics. The appearance of this pipe is great and like my other Jirsa pipes I hope this one smokes just as fantastic!

A Natural Talent

This is Author shaped, rusticated pipe made by Michael Harvey of Big Lou fame. This is my favorite pipe from him and an excellent pipe all the way around. He is an exception new carver and I feel will gain favor if he keeps it up! Fit and finish is top notch

Kuwait Un-Natural Disaster

As you can see the beauty associated with the Kuwaiti skyline. These photos were from a drive home from work in 2004. This is a typical drive home. I was driving as fast as I could as you can smell the burning crude oil and your eyes would burn and your nose would get coated. I was pushing my Peugot 206 to the max going 145-150 kph. Sad that this still goes on in the world, way to help out with global warming Kuwait!!! as if it isn't hot enough there.

This is another one of those eco-conscience pics brought to you by the Kuwaiti Government! Thanks Emir for the great tourist sites.

The enviromental disaster of Kuwait