Jerry

Thinking about putting together my first hookah instead of purchasing one, are there any good alternatives to just a straight pipes to use as stems? Is it even a good idea (i.e. curves and angles in the pipes affecting the draw). thanks in advance.

[quote name='TheyCallMeDave' date='06 April 2010 - 11:23 PM' timestamp='1270614188' post='462318'] Great idea jerry. Now I have to eliminate you, as to avoid competition. Sorry. [/quote] If you want the idea you can have it. I much prefer putting booze in my milk than cereal bits anyway.

English and Mandarin Chinese, both more or less fluent, depending on my level of sobriety.

[quote name='TheyCallMeDave' date='06 April 2010 - 10:25 PM' timestamp='1270610724' post='462303'] [url="http://files.sharenator.com/family_guy_smoke_family_guy_smoke-s500x333-17659-580.jpg"]http://files.sharena...3-17659-580.jpg[/url] Lol I'll use subliminal advertising. ...... Just thinking about it really makes me want some. And not to mention, I'd make only the good flavors, and not bother wasting supplies on cereal that tastes terrible as it is, let alone in my milk form. Hmm. Oh well. I don't have the business management[b][i][size="1"]drink my tasty milk[/size][/i][/b]capabilities to do such a thing. I could just patent the idea though. I'm sure I could partner up with a Business Man. Major on the forum.... [/quote] Won't it be easier to make flavor packs that can be poured into milk instead of actually flavoring the milk? Ground up bits of cereal, sugar, flavorings. Would have much longer shelf life than milk (let's face it, cereal milk, while tasty, it's still a bit of a niche market), and doesn't require refrigeration. Both of these would spell smaller risks for store owners to stock the item, and worst comes to worse, you can have a small batch made and sell it online yourself

[quote name='Namenone' date='05 April 2010 - 06:24 PM' timestamp='1270509864' post='462038'] What are your views on this? [/quote] 1: Whoever leaked the video should be kicked out of whatever office he/she is currently occupying. They have every right to voice their political opinion, but not giving away what's not theirs or having my tax dollars continue to pay for their salary. 2: Telescoping lenses on the camera while intermingling with armed insurgents? Trying to get a close up shot of the insurgent's nose hair while doing an interview? No offense to journalists, but most of them probably won't give two shit about observing (or even helping) insurgents setting up an attack on coalition forces if it means they can get a good shot of soldiers catching one in the head. In places like Iraq where there are no front lines or designated battlefields, any professional journalists that can get shots of firefights are either: A: Lucky. B: Marathon runners with great hearing that can haul ass to where they identify gunfires are coming from. C: Have prior knowledge of where fighting will occur. 3: Am I the only one wondering how a 22year old got a job as a Reuter's photographer? With a 44 year old as an assistant? 4: Shit happens, and it's those that don't realize this that's living in a video game/movie world where wars are clean. The insurgents (which is a term that I still don't agree with) are the ones that purposely blurred the line between civilian and combatants or actively using civilians as human shields, what else can the US/Coalition forces do in this situation?

Was deployed to Iraq and got pulled into a "meeting" by my first sergeant. It was a room in one of republican guard compound that we had bombed the shit out of, and the room was packed with familiar faces that I frequently run across at smoke pits. After I went in, a Major passed me a hose and said "Sit down and start smoking" So yeah, my first time smoking a hookah was due to a direct order from a superior officer.

[quote name='antouwan' date='06 April 2010 - 01:40 AM' timestamp='1270536012' post='462146'] [quote name='Jerry' date='05 April 2010 - 08:30 PM' timestamp='1270517453' post='462078'] Well, after leeching off various friends and coworkers for years starting with my time in the Army, I think I'm finally going to get one for myself. Now, money is not really an issue, but have a few questions for the good folks here about how to pick out one that fits my needs based on the various different components of the device. 1: Coal. Natural, got it. 2: Bowel. Pretty much get the impression that phunnels are the best (Tangiers and Alien) based on what I read on the forum, so unless someone can correct me, that part is a given. 3: Stem: I noticed that the gauge of the stem was mentioned in some of the previous posts, but what about the length? I know in theory that the stem length helps to cool the smoke, but I kinda figured that the water itself will have a larger role in this. 4: Water jar: Wide bottom so it's more stable, but anything else that I should be looking for? 5: Hose and mouth tip. Not sure what kind of criteria that I'm looking for here... any advice will be appreciated. Feeling might also consider tinkering a bit and build my own as well, will be scanning through the DIY forum for tips on that ;p Thanks in advance! [/quote] well, you've done your research and it shows - thank you! 1. nats are obviously best. CN are great but IMO overpriced. go with john's chron coals for value and IMO the same if not better performance. coconut coals last the longest so most people prefer those. 2. i hope bowels and hookah aren't too closely related for you other than that little spelling error, you hit the nail on the head. 3. water is more functional for smoking. a KM or temsaah are great build quality and range from around 35" to 42" so any where between there should be good. i'm not a huge fan of anything under 22" 4. something that's decent. aesthetically pleasing is always a plus, bubbles in the glass are a con (obviously) 5. you're going for a wider gauge hose, preferably. think of it like a highway: traffic can only flow as freely as the most narrow part of your entire setup, so wider gauge the better. i like KM hoses (not washable) Narbishes (washable and super long) and nammors are pretty good. you're on the right track and well on your way to having a nice setup! [/quote] Thee W and E keys are next to each other >_< But, sometimes after I smoke, I do feel so relaxed that I... never mind.

[quote name='TheyCallMeDave' date='05 April 2010 - 10:12 PM' timestamp='1270523522' post='462109']Any other choices for a bowl that aren't a tangiers phunnel bowl or a alien would be a standard egyption. WARNING! STAY AWAY FROM CHINESE RIPOFF "FUNNELS". [/quote] I'm a native level Chinese speaker and my day job involves researching Chinese companies and their practices... I know DAMN well exactly what they do with clay and ceramic products in the factories. If you think poor quality and designs are the only problem... *shudders*.

Well, after leeching off various friends and coworkers for years starting with my time in the Army, I think I'm finally going to get one for myself. Now, money is not really an issue, but have a few questions for the good folks here about how to pick out one that fits my needs based on the various different components of the device. 1: Coal. Natural, got it. 2: Bowel. Pretty much get the impression that phunnels are the best (Tangiers and Alien) based on what I read on the forum, so unless someone can correct me, that part is a given. 3: Stem: I noticed that the gauge of the stem was mentioned in some of the previous posts, but what about the length? I know in theory that the stem length helps to cool the smoke, but I kinda figured that the water itself will have a larger role in this. 4: Water jar: Wide bottom so it's more stable, but anything else that I should be looking for? 5: Hose and mouth tip. Not sure what kind of criteria that I'm looking for here... any advice will be appreciated. Feeling might also consider tinkering a bit and build my own as well, will be scanning through the DIY forum for tips on that ;p Thanks in advance!

Reston, VA, just here to say hi.