This morning I am Packing my giant Ashton with St. Bruno Flake. This is a pipe I normally reserve for a long evening with relative and friends. To day however, I feel like a long smoke although I will probably break it into two sessions. I just bought a 100-gram (3.5 oz) tin of Mac Baren Scottish Mixture. In the US you pay $13.00, in Canada we pay US $37.31 + 12% consumer tax = $41.79 - an additional tax on an already monstrously taxed item. This is very punitive which, of course, is precisely the point, for in our failure to listen to our betters, we are being financially spanked for our naughty ways.
To me, most pipe smokers live in their heads; that is, they tend to be a more thoughtful, independent breed. I sometimes wondered why I am drawn to large pipes. Perhaps it’s an unconscious rebellion to the punishing price this “nanny state government” forces us to pay for our tobacco. Right now, I am enjoying my giant Ashton in spite of them. I was tempted to add a rude, written gesture to the ‘nanny state”, but I think I will let that pass.
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