Stanwell Bulldog Majestic

Every pipe smoker should own at least one bulldog, and pipe smokers of stockier build should probably have several. The Stanwell Majestic is a good choice: it's fairly light, at 1.3 ounces, it has a nice finish, and its bowl has a slight forward cant that says "I at least know what century I'm in." I have two reservations about this otherwise great pipe, and both involve the acrylic bit: the stem of the pipe is thin and brittle enough that I worry about breakage, and I'd hesitate to carry it in my pocket or bag without taking it apart first. Since the pipe has to cool for at least an hour after smoking before I can remove the bit, this is a pain in the ass. Also, the hard acrylic is resistant to wear but hurts my teeth, especially since it takes a firmer bite to hold a straight shanked pipe perpendicular to my face. This makes it tough to smoke while reading, typing, or holding a beer in each hand.

RATING: 89%

(Image from smokingpipes.com.)

They Live

This is a great movie that people kept telling me to see for a long time, but I was like "no way" because typically movies that have themes of greed, consumerism, and stuff are lame and contrived. But this flick has all of those tired themes without being preachy, and still managing to entertain you with a 10 minute fight scene pitting Piper against David. There's also some really great lines like "Brother, life's a bitch and she's back in heat" and "Mama don't like tattletales" that Piper uses before he blasts some alien away. I'm sure a real critic would complain the plot is flat and aimless, but look, it's a B-movie cast and I say it's great. So there.

RATING: 93%