A Plummy Post, with a Hint of Bitterness

As you may have surmised from my chocolate rant, I am safely out of Vegas and back East, ready to start my second year at Cookin' School on Monday.

The Vegas car culture continues to haunt me, however. I can't get my insurance policy changed back to New York rates, which are half of Vegas rates (yes, that's right... I know, shocking considering how high Empire State rates are), until I get my car registered in New York.

Apparently, according to the helpful people at my insurance company, they have to change my policy the same day (the very moment, to hear them tell it) that I get my NY plates, or both states will fine me hundreds of dollars for trying to scam them by getting insurance rates based on the state I am living in.

What I find amusing, or what I would find amusing if it wasn't so vexing, is that Nevada and New York have some of the lousiest drivers this side of Moscow (though New York drivers are, in general, infinitely more skilled and apparently more conscious than the average Las Vegan behind the wheel... yes, that's right. I know, shocking considering how obnoxious Empire State drivers are).

One wonders what kind of place the world would be if both states put as much time and effort into driver education and, where prudent, driver termination with extreme prejudice, as they put into tracking down scofflaws who fail to change their policy at the same point in the time-space continuum they receive new plates.

The photo above, by the way, was something I snapped on the road. It just seemed appropos for this post.

Something not at all on the same topic, but delicious anyway, is the Silly Tasting Notes Generator. I highly recommend a visit, so you have something to say the next time you're at dinner or some other occasion surrounded by wine snobs who use terms like "crunchy" and "bevelled" to describe what they're drinking. (Yes, I have heard or read both terms.)

And if you're about to argue that using a term like "crunchy" or "bevelled" to describe wine does not in fact make one a snob, well, take a good long look in the mirror.