More stuff I learned in Vegas

1) A $600 meal is pretty darned good, but not all that much better than a $30 meal. I ate lots of good and expensive food in Vegas, but it wasn't all that much better than what I could get at home for a much more modest price. Fer instance, the Kobe filet at Shibuya was excellent, but not really any better than what I could get at Tokyo in Beaumont. And this goes triple for wine, sake, and booze in general.

2) There's an exception to every rule.

3) In this case, the exception is the cuisine of Joël Robuchon as served at L'Atelier in the MGM Grand (or at his higher-end restaurant, Joël Robuchon, I'm sure). This is stuff like you don't get elsewhere. I bought the cookbook (Simply French, Patricia Wells Presents the Cuisine of Joël Robuchon) just for the gaspacho recipe.

Hair

I've noticed that no matter how many times I get it cut, my hair just keeps growing. I'm thinking I ought to just shave it all off this weekend. Whaddayathink? Does it sound like a plan? Should I post before and after pics?

If I knew how to do a poll, I would. but I don't, so I'll just have to rely on the comments.

Edited to add:

I've often thought that a tatoo like this might look good:

How 'bout that Ron Paul?

Seems like he touched a nerve in that last debate. Poor old Rudy nearly had a seizure when Ron suggested that the 9/11 attacks might have been in response to U.S. foreign policy:

MR. GOLER: Congressman, you don't think that changed with the 9/11 attacks, sir?

REP. PAUL: What changed?

MR. GOLER: The non-interventionist policies.

REP. PAUL: No. Non-intervention was a major contributing factor. Have you ever read the reasons they attacked us? They attack us because we've been over there; we've been bombing Iraq for 10 years. We've been in the Middle East -- I think Reagan was right.

We don't understand the irrationality of Middle Eastern politics. So right now we're building an embassy in Iraq that's bigger than the Vatican. We're building 14 permanent bases. What would we say here if China was doing this in our country or in the Gulf of Mexico? We would be objecting. We need to look at what we do from the perspective of what would happen if somebody else did it to us. (Applause.)

MR. GOLER: Are you suggesting we invited the 9/11 attack, sir?

REP. PAUL: I'm suggesting that we listen to the people who attacked us and the reason they did it, and they are delighted that we're over there because Osama bin Laden has said, "I am glad you're over on our sand because we can target you so much easier." They have already now since that time -- (bell rings) -- have killed 3,400 of our men, and I don't think it was necessary.

MR. GIULIANI: Wendell, may I comment on that? That's really an extraordinary statement. That's an extraordinary statement, as someone who lived through the attack of September 11, that we invited the attack because we were attacking Iraq. I don't think I've heard that before, and I've heard some pretty absurd explanations for September 11th. (Applause, cheers.)

And I would ask the congressman to withdraw that comment and tell us that he didn't really mean that. (Applause.)

MR. GOLER: Congressman?

REP. PAUL: I believe very sincerely that the CIA is correct when they teach and talk about blowback. When we went into Iran in 1953 and installed the shah, yes, there was blowback. A reaction to that was the taking of our hostages and that persists. And if we ignore that, we ignore that at our own risk. If we think that we can do what we want around the world and not incite hatred, then we have a problem.

They don't come here to attack us because we're rich and we're free. They come and they attack us because we're over there. I mean, what would we think if we were -- if other foreign countries were doing that to us?

MR. GIULIANI: Can I have 30 seconds, please?

MR. : No, no, no, wait a second. Let's -- we'll all get 30 seconds.

(Cross talk.)

MR. GIULIANI: They are coming --

(Cross talk.)

MR. : We all want 30 seconds of time --

[Rudy didn't get his 30 seconds. Instead, they moved on to talk about the really important issue of the day: Whether South Carolina should be free to fly the Confederate flag from state buildings.]

I really find it odd that Giuliani thinks he's never hear that before. And I find that funny because, as you may recall, right after the attacks, Rudy turned down a $10 million donation for disaster relief from Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal after the prince suggested U.S. policies in the Middle East contributed to the September 11 attacks. You'd think he'd remember something that angered him so much that he refused $10 million for the widows and orphans.

Anyway, an ABC News poll has Ron Paul down as the winner of the debate by more than 10 to 1 over all the other candidates combined. And he also beat the second place choice (which wasn't a candidate) by more than 10 to 1. Take Ron Paul out, and the entire Republican field combined couldn't beat the second place finisher: "It doesn't matter who won. I wouldn't put America in another Republican's hands." As of this writing, the results are these:

Ron Paul: 21,799

It doesn't matter who won. I wouldn't put America in another Republican's hands: 1,828

Mitt Romney: 376

Rudy Guiliani: 362

None of them. I'm interested in the possibility of new candidates like Fred Thompson: 345

John McCain: 169

Tom Tancredo: 86

Mike Huckabee: 51

Tommy Thompson: 36

Duncan Hunter: 33

Sam Brownback: 25

James Gilmore: 16

Three things I learned in Vegas

1. In addition to holding the world record for eponymous albums, after forty years in the business, Chicago is still capable of putting on a damned fine show. And I was sort of surprised to see that there are still four guys left in the band from the 1969 Chicago Transit Authority debut album.

2. Although I never thought I could enjoy a Las Vegas show, Cirque du Soleil's production of KA at the MGM Grand is about the most spectacular thing I've ever seen. And the word "about" really has no place in that sentence. It was actually worth the $165 ticket price.

3. A Citation Excel makes the ride home a lot easier. About two hours and forty-five minutes in the air, and no shoe removal, pat-down, or cavity search required. A far more satisfactory experience than last time I blogged about Leaving Las Vegas.

Another place holder.

You're 1984!

by George Orwell

You have this uncanny feeling that you're always being watched. Thus life has become a bit of a show as you try to portray yourself as much more reputable than you actually are. All around you, people seem to accept an unending stream of lies and propaganda without flinching. Your only hope may be a star-crossed love affair, but pain seems stronger than love. If you have any older brothers, be very wary of them.


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