Merry Christmas 2012!

Nancy and me checking out the Christmas lights at nearby Johnson City

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. "
 -Luke

 Merry Christmas from the Texas Hill Country!

Postscript: This was my last Christmas with Nancy, my Chocolate Lab. She passed on in January 2013. At 13 years of age, she was suffering from ill respiratory health and arthritis. I loved all my three Labradors, but from a pup, Nancy always held a special place in my heart.

“I think God will have prepared everything for our perfect happiness (in Heaven). If it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there.”

-Billy Graham

Christmas Gift Ideas for Men, men’s stuff part eighteen

“Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope."
-Bill Cosby

If you’re a woman and starting to face unease as to what you’re going to get your husband for Christmas, you’re in luck, this post is aimed at you.

Every year I speak to at least one friend who is frantically looking for last minutes gifts for her husband. The reasons for this is are: One, men usually don’t open up about what we want, and Two- men and women really do think differently.

So here are seven y chromosome gift ideas that I hope will be helpful-

Gift Idea Number 1: Scotch and Cigars- These can’t be beat as stocking stuffers or individually wrapped presents.

Scotch- There is a large variety of single malt Scotches you can purchase from $50 on up to several hundred dollars. There are also small bottle sampler box sets that you can break up and put into his stocking. (They’re similar to the small bottles they serve on airplanes.)

Cigars- Make sure the cigar is in a tube. Otherwise it will grow stale before he can smoke it on Christmas. Cigar accessories also make good gifts- compact leather travel cases, cigar cutters, small humidors, crystal ashtrays, etc. The key here is to avoid large sized humidors or similarly over the top merchandise. A small item is preferable as he can easily fit that into any area of his office or bedside table. (Oh and don’t forget to pack some wooden matches for him to light up with.)

If you already know his favorite cigars, you can purchase presentation boxes usually for about $200 to $300.

Gift Idea Number 2: DVDs- Buy him a DVD of his favorite movie or television program. Note that I said his favorite movie or television program, no chick flicks. If that means Chuck Norris, then that means Chuck Norris. Christmas is not the time to try to help him grow.

Gift Idea Number 3: A basic Hamilton Field Watch- Admittedly this can be a tricky item, but most men like watches, and I believe most men would welcome a field watch as an addition to their collection. And what better field watch than the original? Hamilton has recently lowered their prices on these basic watches and they can be purchased for as low as about $100 for a quartz movement model, to about $300 for a mechanical version.

Gift Idea Number 4: A Personalized Needlepoint Belt- It’s like being given permission to wear red socks with a black suit. Just make sure you match up the belt pattern to match his hobbies or interests. (Warning, a sense of humor is essential for this gift to work.)

Gift Idea Number 5: A basic clothing item like a white cable-knit sweater- Not much to elaborate here. We’re talking about a basic clothing item most men have had in their wardrobe at some point in time. If this specific item doesn’t meet the bill, think of some other basic clothing item he loves that needs replacement with an exact like item. For example say his favorite navy blue Lacoste shirt is becoming frayed, or he has an old pair of topsiders that are falling apart. I think you get the idea. Just make sure it's the exact same size and brand.

Gift Idea Number 6: Wet Shaving gear- Now this idea is risky. If he is a confirmed electric shaver man, or an analytic engineer type, forget about this one. However if he is the type that likes a little elegance in his life, or likes traditional stuff; this gift may take. To find out more about this, visit my post, “On Wet Shaving.”

Gift Idea Number 7: A Swiss Army Knife- Even if he already has one, trust me, he can always use another one. I have one in my desk, and one in each car. I also have one with a corkscrew in my travel shaving kit. That way I can always open a bottle of wine while on the road.

Finally, if all else fails, get him some soap on a rope. He will get the message and this will guarantee that he will be more forthcoming with his Christmas list next year.

John P.

Edwin Jagger Chatsworth, mens stuff part seventeen

"Wet shaving is suited for the man who wants to elevate his everyday life above the pedestrian. It adds pleasure to the day’s routine, provides a pensive time for the thinking man, and results in a much closer shave." 

The quote above is from my first blog post on the benefits of wet shaving in September of 2006: “On Wet Shaving, men's stuff part two.”

About 12 years ago, I received an Edwin Jagger Chatsworth shaving set from my wife as a birthday gift. The set had a shaving brush (best badger), an ivory handle for Gillette Sensor razor blades, and a silver wire stand that held the brush and handle. Earlier this year, as a self-gift for my birthday, I decided to update my home shaving gear.

Unfortunately over those 12 years, my old shaving brush had grown worn, and Gillette Sensor cartridge blades had grown unreasonable in price. I then decided to order not only a new shaving brush, but a new shaving handle that used safety razors.  I was already familiar with safety blades because I originally learned how to shave using my father's (now vintage) Gillette Super Speed Razor Handle. - By the way, I still have the vintage handle and use it even today to shave occasionally.-

I ordered both replacement items in the Edwin Jagger Chatsworth style, that way I could continue using the same wire stand.

After using my new safety razor for a few months, I can say that I’m very pleased. The Chatsworth safety razor has good balance. By safety razor standards, it would be categorized as medium aggressive. That means it has an average blade gap and angle, for blade contact with my face. It didn't take me long to master a "feel" for it.  The benefits are that I also get a closer shave, and save money by buying safety blades (which are cheaper per unit and last longer) as opposed to overpriced cartridge blades.


My new razor came with some Derby blades, however in the past few months I’ve also sampled BIC, Wilkinson Sword, Sharp and Merkur. Out of the lot, my personal preference is the Merkur blade made in Germany. In choosing a blade, it’s important to remember that the best blade for you may not necessarily be the sharpest. For well written piece on choosing a blade see "Choosing the Right Blade" at Shaving 101.

If like me, you've reached the end of your tolerance for silly prices on cartridges, I would highly encourage you to go "retro" and use a safety blade. However I do offer a warning. If you are a cartridge razor user and are thinking of switching to a safety razor, you should know that the transition could be difficult. It's very likely that you will cut up your face at the start. The reason for this is that you’re used to the inherent ease of a pivot head, and are probably prone to using too much pressure. Safety razors are very sharp and demand respect. If you want to learn how to shave with a safety razor, I suggest you start on a Saturday or any other morning when you can take your time and carefully develop a "feel" for your new razor.  As I stated earlier, it didn't take me long to get a "feel" for my new razor handle, but remember that a) I initially learned how to shave using a safety razor, and b) prior to this purchase I was already using my father's 1960's Gillette Super Speed Razor occasionally.

So am I saying "Au Revoir Mr. Gopher," to cartridges entirely? 

In a word, no. Unlike some wet-shaving-purist, I DO think that cartridge pivot razors have their place. The one obvious example is that TSA will not allow safety razors blades in the aircraft cabin. That means that if you don't want to check your bag, you have to pack cartridges. So we can't quite do a requiem mass for the cartridge just yet.  In my Trumper travel wet pack, I have a cartridge handle.

However my complaint against cartridge blades remains- their price is silly. I don't mind buying nice things and paying for their worth, but I do object to being robbed for small block of plastic with two miniscule strips of metal in it.  I also think the latest growth fad of adding more and more blades to the cartridge is silly.

Lastly, I will return to my warning of treating a safety razor with respect. If you switch you will probably not only nick yourself, but also probably cut your thumb over the next 12 month. I think every safety razor user has a story of deep hand cut because of careless handling of the blade. If you don’t believe me, Google it for some amusing stories.  My last cut occurred because, in a reflex action, I tried to catch a safety razor in mid-air after accidentally dropping it.

For shopping, here are some useful URLs:

The Gentleman's Shop - "Established in 1988 by Robert & Charlotte Johnston and trading online since 1999."  I have found them to be reliable stockist over the years with a good selection of shaving gear and related product.

Geo F. Trumper - Considered by many to be the apex of the shaving world.  Established in 1875 Curzon Street in London, and holder of many royal warrants over the years.  (I'm an Extract of Limes man myself.) Their web site has improved considerably over the past ten years.

D.R. Harris - D.R. Harris proudly boasts to having supplied the needs of customers ranging from "Ambassadors and Statesmen, Field Marshals and Admirals, to rakes and dandies - all those who appreciate quality and distinction."  I like their Arlington scent range.  Like Trumper, they also hold a number of royal warrants, and like Trumper their website has also improved dramatically over the past ten years.

For my personal story on how I discovered wet shaving and why I'm an advocate, please read my September 2006 post, On Wet Shaving.  "If by writing this I have saved one poor soul from the boorish practice of extracting foam from a can, or worse, electric shaving, then my work here is done."

-JP

Here you can see the crater like wear on the old brush (rear) versus the full head on the new one (front).

The Chatsworth Handle for a Gillette Sensor Cartridge is on the left, the safety razor handle is on the right.

The Chatsworth Safety Razor Handle Disassembled.

Top view of the Chatsworth Double Wire Stand, with my new safety razor. 

After sampling Derby, BIC, Wilkinson Sword, Sharp and Merkur, I decided the German made Merkur blade was my favorite.

On Cigars, men's stuff part thirteen

I recently sent some cigars to someone who had expressed a burgeoning interest, along with a note-

“My interest in cigars has given me much pleasure over the years and I’m sending you a small selection of some of my favorites. Hopefully among them, you’ll find something you like.  I find the pleasure of a cigar helpful during introspective moments.  I like to have mine on the back porch with Scotch while watching the sunset, or when deliberating a decision.”

As I wrote the note it occurred to me that he might have some basic questions about cigars- everything from how to cut one, to what gives a cigar it’s basic taste characteristics, and that gave me the idea for this post.

Cigars, like wine, come in many different offerings. The choice can be overwhelming for a beginner. To get started, it’s usually good to get a small selection and see what appeals to you.

In my experience, the richer-fuller (stronger) tasting cigars usually come from Honduras and Central America and Cuba; while the more mild tobaccos come from The Dominican Republican and believe it or not, Connecticut (shade tobacco).

Cigar Components

The outside wrapper leaf is the single most expensive component of the cigar and provides the biggest contribution to the flavor. (A wholesaler told me 70% of the flavor, but how he quantified this is a mystery to me.) The wrappers come in shades ranging from dark- Oscuro (Spanish for dark) and Maduro (Spanish for ripe)- to beige (Sumatra) and beige olive (Havana). I’m told there is also a “Claro” wrapper which is green in color with a bitter taste, but I haven’t encountered one yet. In addition to flavor, beauty is a key component to the wrapper leaf selection.

The remaining three components of a cigar are- the binder, the filler, and the cap.

The binder leaf “binds” the cigar together and comes from the upper leaves of a tobacco plant. It is immediately below the outside wrapper, unseen and picked for its strength and function.

The filler leaves represents the majority volume of the cigar and yet contributes the least to the flavor. All premium cigars (handmade) use “long filler,” this means the leaves are whole and intact. By contrast machine-made cigars use “short-filler,” with scraps from tobacco, wrapper, and binder. (Exception on filler and flavor- All bets are off on flavor if ligero is used in the filler. Ligero is picked from the top of the plant, has high nicotine content, and can seriously overpower the flavor of the cigar.)

Finally, the cap is at the end of the cigar, it “holds” the tail end of the wrapper leaf closed. This is the part you cut before smoking.

All cigars are “aged” before being sold. Aging mellows the cigar and the aging time varies by maker and type of cigar. For example, Carlos Fuente Jr. just released some limited edition cigars that have been aged for five years. The cigars were made from the tobacco fields filmed in the 2005 Andy Garcia movie “The Lost City." The cigars are called “Fuente Fuente Opus X The Lost City.” They come in beautiful presentation boxes of ten, at prices ranging $279 to $299, depending on the size of the cigars. (I’ve posted a photo of them at the bottom of this post. Most cigar companies do an excellent job when it comes to their presentation boxes.) Also, Montecristo (U.S. brand not Cuban) recently came out with a Vintage 1999 cigar. On a recent trip, I bought a few of these 1999 cigars from a trusted brick & mortar stockist and they rocked.

Finally, cigars come in different lengths and diameters “ring sizes.” One ring equals 1/64th of an inch. Usually the longer the length and the fatter the diameter, the cooler and fuller the cigar will be. Shorter lengths smoke hotter because of the less smoke travel time. I prefer larger "cooler" cigars.


Storage

Once purchased, some people further age their cigars in their humidors. A humidor is typically a wooden box lined with Spanish cedar used to store cigars. The humidor protects the cigars by keeping the humidity at 70%, and care should be taken to keep the humidor temperature at about 70 degrees. That's a photo of my humidor on the left, and you can plainly see the e-hygrometer I use to tell me the temperature & humidity of my stash. In the photo, the readings in the hygrometer are off because I had just closed the box after having it open for a while.

The reason for maintaining a constant humidity is that cigars can dry out and disintegrate; conversely, if exposed to too much humidity they will become too moist and not draw well and smoke unevenly. The temperature is important because beetles can’t live below 75 degrees, and mold can develop in warmer temperature. Properly maintained cigars can be successfully stored and aged in a humidor for several years.

Humidors range from the fairly inexpensive to the uber-expensive. There is even a humidor “appliance” by a company called Liebherr, which not only electronically maintains a constant humidity, but also a constant temperature. The Liebherr Humidor has an elegant design with stainless steel on the outside, Spanish cedar on the inside and a glass door. It runs about $2500 and may be worth it if you live in hot weather, don’t cool the house while you’re away, and have some serious money on your cigar inventory.

No humidor?

An alternate storage method for the occasional smoker is to store the cigars in an airtight bag inside the vegetable compartment of the fridge. I would recommend the fridge method even if the cigars are in tubes.

There are also travel cases available, ranging from simple one-cigar tubes to cedar-lined cases for multiple cigars. I have a cedar-lined-telescopic-leather travel case that I fit in my briefcase or the outer pockets of my Barbour jacket. It can hold up to three cigars of various lengths and has proved very handy during travel. (It also has a great "wow" effect when I pull it out and offer someone a cigar.) That's a photo of it on the right. You can plainly see the Spanish cedar lining. The crystal tube you see is a humidifier tube I keep in it, when not in use.


Smoking the Cigar


The bottom line in lighting and smoking a cigar is that whatever works for you, works for you. Having said that, here are some basics to help you get started.

On cutting- The main thing is to cut a smooth opening without completely cutting off the cap and damaging the cigar’s structure. Aim for cutting where the domed head starts to curve towards the side. Don’t be afraid of making a mistake, that’s how you learn.

There are various cutting devices available to the novice. I use a guillotine tool because they’re easy to use (the cutting comes from both sides simultaneously). They’re also easy to find in tobacco shops and inexpensive to replace should they be misplaced. I keep an extra in my Dopp kit.

But there are various devices and methods, and I encourage you to find your own preferences on this. (I once knew a guy that cut his cigars with his Swiss Army Knife.)

On lighting the cigar- Purists swear by wooden matches, but there are also any number of cigar-specific lighters available.

The main concern here is that a cheap lighter might impart the taste of lighter fluid to the cigar. If you’re concerned about this, make your first puff outward to clear the cigar of any impurities caused by the lighter. I have never had a lighter impart a bad taste to a cigar, but I have had cheap third-world matches impart sulfur.

To light the cigar, hold it with the end (called the foot) at about a 45 degree angle to the flame and rotate the it to ensure an even burn all the way around. This is known as pre-char, or roasting, or toasting. (Some purists insist that the flame should not actually touch the cigar, but I usually let it.)

Once evenly charred, place the cap in your mouth and gently draw in air while still holding the flame to the foot. (Or again, puff out if concerned about impurities from the light.) As you smoke the cigar, keep rotating it to insure the ash burns evenly.

Keep in mind that a cigar may take up to two minutes to reach its flavor, and try not to over puff it while it’s reaching that flavor state.

The ash, in cylinder form, can grow up to several inches long in a quality cigar, and should fall with just a light tap. If the cigar goes out, you can re-light it, but it will not taste as good the second time its lite.

Finally, how do you tell when the cigar is done? Answer- When you decide it is. Inexperienced smokers (with no nicotine tolerance) should probably stop short at about ½ of a cigar to avoid getting ill effects. More experienced smokers often take the cigar all the way down to the ring area.

I hope this basic information encourages the reader to explore the many options available in cigars and their simple pleasure. For further research, I would recommend Googling the term “Cigar 101.” You’ll find information ranging from “why some cigars unravel,” to how to select a humidor and maintain it. I would also recommend picking up newsstand copies of Cigar Aficionado Magazine and Cigar Magazine.

Important Caveat-

With cigars, even though you don’t inhale, you do expose your mouth and esophagus to carcinogens. You also inhale the incidental smoke generated by the lit cigar. As cautionary examples, you can look up two historical noteworthy heavy cigar smokers that died from oral cancer- General Ulysses S. Grant and Doctor Sigmund Freud. Also, for more information on documented health risks, click the link below.

National Cancer Institute on Cigars

My personal belief is that they should be enjoyed in moderation. What moderation means, I’ll leave to for the reader to decide. I believe each individual person is best suited to determine what’s in their own enlightened self-interest; and not the “nanny state.”

-John P.







"Living well is the best revenge." - George Herbert

Finally, a little humor on the Z-Plus Lighter Insert for the American Zippo

Easter Day with a Cuban gift; men’s stuff part sixteen

I celebrated Easter with a Cuban “Romeo Y Julieta Short Churchill Tubo” - pictured left. It was a gift from a relative (Mr. T) during Lent and I was overjoyed to get it.

I’m not sure if he researched it prior to gifting, but he hit a home run with this present. This Short Churchill was the top rated robusto cigar in the February issue of Cigar Aficionado Magazine. The filler, binder and wrapper are from Cuba, and it scored a near perfect 93.

A robusto is defined as a short-fat cigar, usually around 5 1/2 inches long with a large 50 or so ring gauge. It's supposed to be more intense than average, and recommended as an after dinner cigar. This Romeo Y Julieta was mild and pleasant, not the least bit overwhelming or harsh. I’m happy to report that the tube did its job and delivered the cigar in perfect condition.

Thanks Mr. T!

-John P.


For more info on cigars, visit my post "On Cigars, men's stuff part thirteen."

American Airlines- Time to Re-Think Process

(Photo Right: A "Tramp Chair" used by police departments to encourage tramps and vagrants to move on.

It’s disturbing to think how much in common it has with a modern day air travel.)

My wife and I just experienced the declined state of American Airlines firsthand.

Pre-Flight

My wife booked the flight on American because she was in a hurry, and mistakenly thought Southwest, the low cost provider, didn’t fly the route. (The trip was a sudden business requirement.)

After she emailed me our flight info, I checked, and found that Southwest did fly to that airport, and that Southwest would have been 33% cheaper. However, since the tickets were non-refundable we were committed.

I also noticed the seats were in the rear of the aircraft, and then checked to see about upgrading them to first-class using points from our personal account. “No problem.” I was told by a surly call center agent, I would just have to cash in 68,000 “Advantage” points AND pay American an additional $300 dollars.

68,000 points and $300 cash? OK that idea didn’t go far.

Before the flight, by way of apology, my wife went back into the AA system and “upgraded” our seats to “preferred seats” to the front of the aircraft for about $23 each.

Outgoing Flight

The morning of our outgoing flight, the first thing I noticed was the absence of anything resembling an organized queue at the American Airlines check-in. All the self-service kiosks were at an odd angle, and there were no feeder-rails for a line. As I sleepily stumbled through the kiosk process with the help of a detached American employee, I figured out I was being asked to pay an additional $25 for my bag. I looked at the AA employee; he just shrugged and avoided eye contact.

As I “agreed” to the $25 fee for my bag, the kiosk screen also generously offered me the opportunity to upgrade to first-class for $45 for the first leg, and $90 for the second leg. “Hey John, remember the $300 and 68,000 Advantage points we previously asked for? We were just kidding about that.”

After printing out a luggage tag, we waited around for a few minutes trying to find an employee that would actually take the bag. Apparently taking the bag, or touching the bag in any way shape or manner was not in the kiosk guy’s job description.

After check-in, as we went through security that morning, I remember thinking TSA seemed like a model of efficiency and politeness compared to the American Airlines desk.

Once aboard, as we settled in, it quickly became obvious there was nothing “preferred” about our seats. There was absolutely no leg-room; and when the passenger in front of my wife reclined, my wife was forced to contort herself into a cartoonish manner * as she attempted to work with her laptop literally just inches from her eyes at a drooped angle.

For my part, I quickly came to the realization that the frame rail for the seat in front was mounted exactly where my left foot should go. I also became painfully aware that my worn-down-seat had no lumber support and no padding left in it. I remembered what I had once read about police “tramp chairs,” and using my Vulcan-like mental discipline, tried not think about the two hours in front of me.

Return Trip

The night before our return trip, my wife proudly announced that she had gone online, and for a fee, had changed our seats to the exit row, and that I had an aisle seat.

At the airport, I noticed the American Airlines counter had the same un-organized cluster problem as the Austin counter. Once I finally elbowed my way in front of a kiosk, I was once again given the opportunity to upgrade at the last minute to first class for $135. I looked at my wife, “Aisle exit row, right?” My wife smiled back with confidence, “Right!” So I once again passed on the last minute upgrade, and once agreed to pay $25 for the tenacity of actually having luggage.

However once onboard, we quickly realized we had been had by American. We were not in fact in an exit row. We in the row behind the exit row. My wife’s window seat, had no seat in front of it, so technically her left leg actually could be stretched out slightly, but her right leg was restricted by the exit hatch. If she moved her right leg forward, it would hit the metal frame of the hatch, and she would suffer hypothermia of that foot.

Since it was the return trip, and my Vulcan mind-discipline was weakening, I succumbed to the inevitable and agreed to pay AA an additional seven of my hard earned dollars for a small bottle of Scotch.

Post Trip Thoughts

I remember a time when American was one of the better airlines. It was our preferred airline on our yearly business trips to New York City and to Vermont for family vacations. That is no longer the case.

My gut feel is that they’re trying to compete as a low cost provider, and they can’t win that battle. (Southwest pretty much has that niche mastered.) Unfortunately, American can’t compete as a premium airline either. Not with uncomfortable worn seats, zero leg-room, indifferent or angry employees, poor operational procedures, and continual nickel-and-dime huckstering of customers for illusionary “better” seats.

I don’t pretend to fully understand all the problems a complex concern like American has- the labor issues, the impossible logistics ranging from fuel prices to flight schedules, and complex cost of working capital- but I do have a humble suggestion for the check-in process.

One: If nothing else, go back to feeder lines and clearly marked entry points to the queue. A bunch of people rudely elbowing each other to get in front of a kiosk is no way to start a flight. It creates needless hostility, which is then channeled to the employees, which then creates a feedback loop.

Two: For innovative solutions, consider contacting MBA programs at different universities and inviting them to study your check-in procedures and related customer services, and then have them provide re-engineering options. Sometimes, a fresh eye can provide new insights.

I would recommend that participation would be limited to:
• Second-year MBA students and their professors.
• Students that had actually been business travelers prior to entering the MBA program.
• American Airlines employees who have worked check-in and customer service positions.

The University whose re-engineering concepts were accepted would get publicity for their program and maybe some sort of cash award.

Finally as I finish up, I wonder if I’m being fair to American Airlines and whether I’ve overlooked anything positive to mitigate the criticism of this post.

There is one thing that left a favorable impression with me. During boarding, American allows uniformed military personnel to board the aircraft at the same time first-class-passengers board. I liked that. I liked that a lot.

-JP

* Note: My wife wants the reader to know that she is NEVER cartoonish. Rather, “Dignified adaptation to undignified situations,” is her motto.

Pablo Picasso, Woman Seated 1908

Related Article of interest:
“If American Airlines was a seat, it would be a middle one in coach, sandwiched between two behemoths, pledged as collateral for a loan.”
-Middle-Seat Syndrome at American Airlines, WSJ Article October 3, 2011

"Boarding an airplane can be a bit like the after-Christmas sale at Wal-Mart. Passengers jockey to get better positions in line as gate agents bark commands. On board, the aisles become clogged with travelers stuffing luggage the size of a fourth-grader into overhead bins."
-Airlines Go Back to Boarding School to Move Fliers Onto Planes Faster, WSJ Article July 21, 2011

Bastrop Fire

These are photos taken from Facebook showing the devastating Bastrop Texas fire.


Looking at this photo, one gets a sense of what Mount Vesuvius must have looked like to the Romans in Pompeii. The smoke plume is visible from space.

There were a total of 3 large fires in the Austin Central Texas area over the Labor Day Weekend. For our part my wife and I were lucky. Our home was threatened by the Pedernales fire, which was controlled by late Sunday evening when the winds finally died down. At that time they had approximate 100 firefighters working on our fire, and 250 firefighters working on the Bastrop fire. Had the winds not died down, or had the fire jumped south of the Pedernales River, our story could have wound up very differently. We did have our suitcases packed, in case we had to evacuate; and I was particularly touched by the kindness of friends who called and offered their homes to us.




Below is the Bastrop smoke behind the Austin Skyline.

Bishop Vasquez from the Diocese of Austin, issued a statement asking for prayers and donations for #centraltxfires : http://bit.ly/onqxKZ.

Please keep the people of Bastrop in your prayers, as they continue to deal with this tragedy.
-John P.


-

Last chance for white bucks? men's stuff part fourteen

Labor Day is almost upon us, and so every good man asks himself the yearly question: Is it OK to wear my white bucks beyond the traditional end of summer?

The official answer would appear to be yes. I’m told that the 17th Edition of Emily Post's Etiquette, gives the go-ahead for wearing white after Labor Day.

Here in Central Texas the question may be non sequitur as we have only two seasons: summer, and summer will be right back. Because of this my wife is of the opinion that, in Texas at least, the deadline should be extended to Columbus Day.

So I'm leaving my white bucks out, at least for a little while longer. At worst I may be considered an unpolished eccentric by traditionalist, at best I may get my photo in The Sartorialist blog. ;)

-JP

"...he knew that to be careless in dress and manner required more confidence than to be careful. But carelessness was for his children."
- Winter Dreams, F. Scott Fitzgerald


PS- But you might want to start thinking about waxing your Barbour if you haven't done it yet. The wax is easier to work with while the weather is still warm.

My love affair with watches, men's stuff part sixteen

My love affair with watches began in the 4h grade when I received my first Timex wristwatch. It had a simple white face encased in stainless steel with black Arabic numbers, and its only "complication" was a sweep seconds hand. I remember carefully synchronizing my Timex with the school bell so I could count out the seconds for the end of the day, or secretly timing events with the sweep second hand.

In Junior High, for Christmas, I received my second watch. It was a digital Texas Instruments with red LED (like the one pictured above). You had to press the button to display the time, and the red numbers were so dim you couldn’t make them out in daylight, but it didn’t matter. In my mind I was James Bond. I had seen Roger Moore wearing the Hamilton Pulsar in the 1973 movie Live and Let Die and I thought digital was the height of cool. From there, my watch collection just began to expand; and today, it’s not unusual for me to strike up conversations with fellow watch aficionados on airplanes or social situations.

My love affair with time pieces continues. Below are some blog posts I wrote about some of my watches:

The Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso, men's stuff part twelve

The Seiko Professional Divers Watch, men's stuff part ten

The Hamilton Jazz Master, men's stuff part eight

The Rolex Submariner, men's stuff part three

(Photos- The top photo is what my Texas Instruments Watch looked like. Sadly that watch disappeared years ago, so the snapshot is just off the net. The lower photo however is my actual Rolex Submariner in its case.)

WatchTime Magazine - This is, in my opinion, the best watch publication for people wishing to learn more about the watch industry. Unlike many other watch magazines, WatchTime is extremely well written. It doesn’t just have a lot of pretty photographs with rewrites of company marketing copy.

Portero.com – This is a legitimate site for collectors wishing to buy or sell their watches.

-JP

Why the Lent Unplug?

An anonymous person commented: “Hope you had a happy Easter. Ok now, time to start blogging again...we're waiting Mr. P :)”

OK, I’m back and perhaps I should explain why I unplugged for Lent.

About 2 years ago, my wife and I both gave up television believing it to be a large time waster. However recently we noticed that our time online had grown, and that we were also downloading a lot of movies. In short, the Internet had replaced the old bad habit of TV. We saw Lent as a good time to change that behavior pattern.

I still used the Internet for work related items (research, dictionary.com, etc.) but I didn’t surf, participate with social sites like Facebook, or download any movies. (We did allow ourselves one movie night per week.)

Was there a benefit to this? The short answer would be yes. Our time became more productive and my main concern that we wouldn’t be caught up on news events proved groundless. During Lent, our news came from our hard-copy-subscriptions to the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Businessweek, talk radio (both Limbaugh and NPR); and on Sundays I reverted to my old habit of buying the Sunday New York Times.

For recreation, I also read more books than I usually do, including “The Idiot” by Dostoyevsky which I had been meaning to get around to.

The photos on this post are from another source of battery charging during Lent. Just before Easter we took a brief vacation and visited my brother-in-law Robert in Malibu California. He has a beautiful house by the ocean. He was a gracious host, and we’re very glad for the visit. We even got to take in a Dodgers game.

"John, how did you turn on those fountain thingies in Robert's pool? And more importantly, how do you turn them off?"

My wife insisted I post the picture above. She said I laugh & giggle all the time, but that I'm rarely photographed doing it.

Heart in the Sand

The End

We Have A Watch Labrador

Another Exciting Guest Blog Entry
By
The ‘Lil Woman

We have a Watch Lab. As a young dog, Nancy could hear cars and visitors from a long way off, and would bark vigorously and loudly to alert us to the threat. Although she would turn into a wiggling pup if Ferocious Intruder were to actually come into the house, she took her duty as Watch Lab very seriously. We never trained her to do that, and sometimes it got on our nerves, but she considered it her job.

Well, Nancy is 12 years old now, and a little slower to respond. This morning, the UPS man actually made it all the way up to the door and rang the bell before she sprang up and barked. Though slower, she still takes her responsibility very seriously and looked a little indignant about being caught off guard. "I WASN’T NAPPING! WHO SAID I WAS NAPPING?!?"

And lately, our other dog Henry, who doesn't otherwise bark unless he's very happy, has started to issue a low "woof" at Nancy when someone comes up, as if to say, "Pssst!! Wake up!" She then jumps up and gets to work, and all is well with the world.

So a young pup turned into an old dog, but her personality didn't change much. She just got a little sweeter, and our house got a little more peaceful.

-SP

Nancy, with Bear, on the job.

Poem- An Old Dog is the Best Dog, Felix Dennis

Golf Anyone? Puzzle

Sue finished a second puzzle.

This time it was a 500 piece Ravensburger Puzzle depicting a Black Lab puppy with some (Callaway?) golf clubs.

It’s from a print by artist Phillip Crowe called “Drive for Show, Putt for Dough.” I saw the puzzle at the store, and added to her Christmas loot as it had two subjects close and dear to my heart- Labradors and Golf.

Click here to see her previous puzzle-“New Wonders of the World.”

Scotch Whiskey Blind Tasting

Christmas 2010 was a rich bounty. I received a bottle of Glenmorangie 12 year old Scotch from my brother in law Ernie ( Thanks Ernie! ), and a bottle of Macallan 18 year old from wife ( Thanks Sue! ). Sue got the gift idea of Macallan from her other brother Joe who has been a Scotch devotee for quite some time.

After Christmas Day my wife suggested a blind tasting, which included a bottle of Laphroaig 10 year old already on hand. Here are her (edited) notes from the evening’s entertainment. They are attributed to each specific Scotch Whiskey after the blind was lifted:

Labeled as A, and the first entrant, Glenmorangie 12 year old-

Me: Very smooth. Smooth start, smooth finish. No distinctive smell, maybe a hint of orange.

Sue: Less overwhelming than other Scotches. No burn.

Me: Almost like a high quality blended. Sheep Dip Scotch comes to mind.

(Comments that follow are after opening up the Glenmorangie with a thin small ice cube)

Sue: Opens up with the sliver of ice. Very good. Tastes different with ice.

Me: Tastes completely different when opened up, goes from smooth to complex. It could help take the nicotine edge off a strong cigar, like one with ligero as the filler. A "civilizing" influence.

Labeled as B, and second tasting, Laphroaig 10 year old-

From Sue’s written notes: John took a brief time out to smell and savor his win. He obviously recognized it as Laphroaig before even tasting it.

Me: Very peaty. You can tell the peat comes from an island. Strong start, smooth finish.

Sue: Smells like your clothes after you’ve spent a day burning brush. Has a certain burn to it. A bit overpowering for my taste. Opens up quite a bit with just exposure to air.

Labeled as C, and the third in the tasting, Macallan 18 year old-

Sue: Orange smell. Slightly peaty. Strong start, lingers nicely.

Me: Drinking it neat didn’t do it justice. When opened with a tiny sliver of ice, the flavor increased dramatically. Very rich flavor.

Sue: Complex, but polished.

Sue’s final Verdict on all three Scotch-Whiskeys:
Macallan- drink it neat.
Glenmorangie- drink it with ice.
Laphroaig- undrinkable

John’s final Verdict on all three Scotch-Whiskeys:
Both Macallan and Glenmorangie are best when opened up. Neat doesn’t do them justice. A small piece of ice is all that’s needed for this. Adding more water than that would be a crime. They're both excellent Scotches.
However, Laphroaig remains my favorite although it is best left to true Scotch aficionados; girly men need not apply.

-JP

"So say we all."

-Colonel Tigh, BSG

(Photo top: For Scotch drinking, I have a set of simple unadorned Stuart Crystal tumblers. I like their solid heavy feel.)

The Schadenfreude Goes On, part two

With all the media attention that went to Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, other smaller players haven’t received as much media attention as they might have otherwise received.

Below is a Fortune Magazine article that covers the story of Tony Young, a young man in a hurry, who successfully infiltrated the tightly-closed-off-polo-set by playing a mean game of polo, claiming a pedigree as a trust-fund heir, and an MBA from Emory University.

As he established himself in “one of the last bastions of the old-money equestrian lifestyle,” he started Acorn Capital Management (a hedge fund), and began investing the money of his newfound friends. As a young man in his thirties, he also began to live a lavish lifestyle similar to that of his clients.

Then one day, the SEC showed up and filed civil fraud charges against him. To everyone's surprise, federal regulators alleged that he was stealing the polo-set’s money in a scheme similar to that of Bernie Madoff’s. As the investigation continued, his background stories unraveled and he proved to be decidedly different than that of the manner-born-pedigree he had affected.

The Fortune story also has a hint for anyone wishing to do a fast social climb into the polo set- To learn polo quickly, buy a horse that is already trained to follow the ball. You can take it from there. (The Jaeger Lecoultre Reverso is optional.)

A Scandal Rocks the Polo Set- Fortune Magazine, November 23, 2009
“Among the swells who winter in Palm Beach, Tony Young was known as a brilliant investor from an old Southern family. Then the SEC showed up, and his façade began to crumble.”

Tony Young Pleads Guilty-Southern Chester County Weeklies, July 21, 2010
“A man once known as having a sterling reputation among the exclusive equestrian and financial community of the greater Unionville community, pleaded guilty Tuesday to single counts of mail fraud and money laundering in connection with a $35 million fraud scheme.”

Click here for “The Schadenfreude Goes On…” part one
The story of Dina Wein Reis, a middle class Jewish girl from Brooklyn who “duped” major U.S. corporations out of millions of dollars, and then used the money to move to Manhattan.


(Photo top left, Fortune Magazine; Photo bottom right, Philly.com- Tony Young leaves court after pleading guilty.)

Finally! Aliens!

My wife sent me a link to this U.K. Telegraph article on the Voyager 2 Spacecraft and the commentary-“FINALLY! Aliens! I've been waiting my whole life for this. All I can say is, it's about time.”

The article states that a German character, Hartwig Hausdorf, believes the U.S. Voyager 2 Spacecraft has been taken over by alien intelligence. His belief is based on the fact that Voyager 2 is now sending “strange messages that are confusing scientists.”

Of course the fact that Voyager has been in space for thirty-three-years, and could be simply breaking down and transmitting gibberish, apparently never entered Hartwig’s mind.

A real point of scientific interest is that Voyagers 1 and 2 are the most distant space probes in history. They’re traveling fast at approximately 38,000 and 35,000 miles-per-hour (about 20% the speed of light); and at a distance of approximately 10.5 billion miles, they will shortly leave the solar system’s heliosphere (according to NASA).


The heliosphere is a “bubble” in space composed of stuff being blown out of the sun (by the solar wind) against the cold of interstellar space. When you leave the heliosphere, you have in effect left the solar system.

Another interesting thing is something called the termination shock. The termination shock is the point within the heliosphere where the solar wind stops pushing out at supersonic speed (becomes subsonic) and causes compression, heat, and magnetic changes. One reference stated that Voyager 2 actually passed through termination shock five times. Apparently the termination shock line fluctuates due to changes in the Sun’s output.

I’m not a rocket scientist, but perhaps going through that boundary five times may have caused some of Voyager's components to become fried and this explains the gibberish transmissions.

Of course if it is aliens, then please read my prior post, "Cleverly Disguised Lizards Bring Hope and Change."


(The top illustration is the work of Franco Brambilla. He is an artist who adds sci-fi material to old postcards. The two other illustrations are from a NASA page.)


From the UK Metro: Man hit by six meteorites is being 'targeted by aliens'

The Duck Behind the Man

This is the duck I keep in my office. I’ve received some emails asking about him, and I thought it was high time the world got to know him.

Orange, Orange, Orange

I’ve given up and accepted orange.

My high school colors were orange and white, and I really, really, didn’t care for the colors. Casual clothing wise, I've always been a navy blue or forest green polo shirt with khakis kind of guy.

Then, in Army basic training, the uniform collar tabs for my training company were orange. (Hmm, odd coincidence.)

Then, I earned my undergraduate degree and Regular Army Commission from the University of Texas at El Paso whose colors were- you guessed it, orange and white.

Then graduate school at…Syracuse, otherwise known as “The Orange Men.”

So I give up. My next tie is going to be orange.

-J.P.

PS- OK, Canada won the gold in hockey. But Syracuse won in basketball. So I can live vicariously through that.

An old dog is the best dog- poem

An old dog is the best dog,

A dog with rheumy eyes;

An old dog is the best dog

A dog grown sad and wise,

Not one who snaps at bubbles,

Nor one who barks at nowt,

A dog who knows your troubles,

A dog to see you out.

An old bitch is the best bitch,

Not pups to fetch your sticks;

An old bitch is the best bitch,

Not one to teach new tricks,

Not one who's up and leaping,

But one whose coat is grey,

Leg's twitching while she's sleeping

In dreams of yesterday.

-Felix Dennis

Both photos are of Henry, my oldest Lab. He’s the arch nemesis of “Harvey,” a squirrel who lives in our front oak trees. H occasionally brings us some of Harvey’s insufficiently speedy relatives as gifts.

Felix Dennis the author of the poignant poem is a bit of an odd duck. He writes poetry but is best known as a successful magazine publisher and has written an odd assembly of books and pamphlets ranging from the death of Bruce Lee to how to get rich.

-JP