Posted by Nolan Dalla on Aug 18, 2026 in Blog |
MISSING AN EASY LAYUP
Trump can’t even do the easy stuff without fucking things up.
Meetings that should be effortless and uncomplicated, turn into disasters.
Social events and pressers that are slam dunk simple under normal circumstances become absolute clusterfucks of needless controversy.
Of course, none of this is surprising because he’s a vile dickhead who just can’t help from being — himself.
Today at the White House, Trump had as easy a task as is imaginable. In politics, it’s called a layup. An open shot at an empty net. A can’t miss. A sure thing.
Boing! Trump blows it. The man would show up to wet dream with cottonmouth.
READ STORY HERE
Surrounded by the White House press corps, Trump and his crackpot circus of sycophants invited a 16-year-old lifeguard from Santa Cruz who saved a 10-year-old boy. The hero dove into dangerous water and pulled the boy out of the waves amidst violent ocean swells. The lifeguard risked his life to save a stranger. So, he was invited to meet the President and receive a well-deserved moment of recognition. It should have been a feel-good event that everyone could rally around, regardless of politics to honor a real hero.
Then, Trump then immediately ruined it by telling the poor kid he wouldn’t have saved him.
“I don’t know if I’d do it,” Trump said. “I wouldn’t, probably. You’re lucky I wasn’t on the service that day.”
Gasp. Confusion. Wait — did Trump really just admit he’d let the kid drown?
Yes, he did. And naaturally, the celebration of a hero instead has to be stained and instead becomes a mirror for Trump. It’s always about him. Fucking doofus.
But hey, at least Trump was honest this time — for once. Ironically, this was a rare moment of honesty for a serial sociopath who lies constantly. About everything. Yes indeed, Trump would absolutely have let the 10-year-old kid drown in the ocean, because he’s a despicable, incapable, obscene, self-centered ass.
What remained of the Trump White House debacle was then ruined by his attacking of a CNN reporter who had the audacity to ask about his bizarre negotiations with South Korea and his favorite love pony, the North Korean dictator. Of course, the reporter who did her job and was viciously insulted and attacked for it — was female. Sensing a pattern here.
Just another morning in the Monday of the imbecilic scumbag.
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Aug 18, 2026 in Blog |
LET’S TALK ABOUT AOC
“A. O. C.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Three letters certain to trigger the rage of every crazed MAGA Trumper.
However, this video isn’t so much about politics. It’s about my reaction — and the typical MALE reaction — to women who face their own sets of complex problems and tend to rely on each other more than we do for advice, encouragement, and inspiration. In short, I changed my opinion — and altered my reaction — to AOC’s decision to share her personal life choices and medical decisions with millions of followers.
My advice is this: Men, including myself, should just stay out of things they don’t understand. But, of course, they (we) won’t. Accordingly, here’s my message to men who feel the need to spew an opinion on everything (especially on women’s matters that we cannot possibly comprehend), even on subjects we/they don’t understand.
Video Duration: 9 mins.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Aug 17, 2026 in Blog |
MY REVIEW OF BLAIR RODMAN’S NEW SPORTS BETTING BOOK
Sports betting doesn’t have nearly the reading list nor depth of other gambling endeavors — including poker, blackjack, and other casino games. In fact, most sports gambling books are utterly worthless.
In this video, I explain some of the history and background on sports gambling handicapping guides and narratives and grade this new book as to where it fits in to the lexicon of sports wagering.
I also share a few minor criticisms, though overall this is a book I will highly recommend to all people who enjoy wagering on sports or find the subject interesting.
Correction: At one point in the video, I misspoke and said “under” when I meant to say “over” on the story about golf.
Video Duration: 14 mins.
CLICK HERE or BELOW:
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Aug 16, 2026 in Blog |
Well, I finally tried THE HAT, and it sure lived up to its reputation! Total satisfaction!
THE HAT opened it’s first Las Vegas location about two months ago. My first visit was stonewalled by a 45-minute wait in a drive thru and a standing line out the door wrapping around the corner. Forget it. I skipped and decided to come back when things “calmed down.” Yesterday afternoon, I made my return.
What started 75 years ago in Los Angeles as a roadside food stand serving hot pastrami sandwiches has become a bustling franchise with 12 stores (11 in California, and now 1 in Nevada). Now, I understand why they are so popular.
We ordered one ORIGINAL PASTRAMI, one LARGE FRIES, and because I couldn’t help myself for an extra $5.95 — one HAMBURGER (I’d read reviews the burgers were good). Cost came to $26. Unless you have a huge appetite, the sandwich and fries are large enough to split between two people. So, we could have eaten and been happy for $20, without the added burger.
The ORIGINAL PASTRAMI is big and heaping with meat. The most popular option comes with pickles and mustard on a hoagie roll, which is toasted. It’s wrapped nicely in wax paper, so the sandwich is easy to eat (in a car) and you won’t end up wearing it on your shirt and lap. Au jus was in a small cup on the side, for dipping. But the sandwich is moist enough to eat alone. The pastrami reminded me of the legendary old deli at Binion’s Horseshoe in Downtown Las Vegas, which used to be an institution. Best I’ve had since the good ole’ days. There are many pastrami options (barbecued, with cheese, etc.), but the original was perfectly satisfying and delicious.
I really liked the fries which were in a paper serving boat and basically tossed into a brown paper bag, then shoveled with MORE FRIES. It was a bag of fries, and sure worth the money. Next time, I’ll try the ONION RINGS to see if they are served the same way.
Las Vegas has lots of excellent hamburger joints, and gourmet burgers are a big thing now just about everywhere. I was reluctant to add more food to the order, especially with such an unimaginative item like a burger, but I absolutely had to try this–especially given the low price. I expected a baby burger but was surprised by its regular size. What struck me was the heaping pile of cold lettuce and cold tomatoes with the double meat, and toasted sesame bun. The cold-hot contrast was quite dramatic (obviously, you have to eat the burger instantly for this effect). This was outstanding for the value, especially if you just want an old-fashioned hamburger with simple fresh ingredients. I don’t know why that burger hit the spot, but I’m still having food fantasies. Quick, grab my car keys and clear a path to the front door.
The car line was as short as I’ve ever seen it (I have driven by many times, and the line is always long, until this visit). Best time to go is probably mid-afternoon in between lunch and dinner. I waited about 10 minutes. I have not stepped inside but I understand there’s plenty of seating. Maybe I’ll do that next time.
The sign of a good restaurant is usually a crowd, and THE HAT remains busy. I could go back today and order the same thing and be very happy — another sure sign of approval.
It’s rare for restaurants (especially fast food) to live up to the hype. For me, THE HAT met those expectations. I look forward to this new option in my restaurant rolodex. Fast food is something I almost never do, and is usually only a desperate emergency late-night option when nothing else is open or I’m in a rush for time. I’ll adjust that thinking. THE HAT is one of the very few restaurants worth a trip on its own.
But, be sure and bring a friend, and a hearty appetite.
FOOD QUALITY: 9 (on a 10 scale)
SERVICE AND AMBIANCE: 8
VALUE: 8.5
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Aug 12, 2026 in Blog |
HAVE YOU LOST FRIENDS BECAUSE OF POLITICS?
Many of us have lost friends and even family members because of the deep political divide.
But instead of lamenting the loss, perhaps we should celebrate our greater awareness and embrace opportunities to meet someone new.
In this video, I address the situation that’s probably impacted most of you reading this, while providing a very different perspective on debate and division.
Video Duration: 9 minutes.
CLICK HERE:
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Aug 11, 2026 in Blog |
TURN ‘ON’ YOUR MIND, RELAX, AND FLOAT DOWNSTREAM
It was 60 years ago today, on August 11, 1966, the Beatles embarked on their final live tour. This date –in particular- rocked the group to its core, altered pop music history, and ignited an explosive social-cultural-generational divide that still remains with us to this day.
In this video, I discuss highlights and the many disasters and controversies with that final world tour and American schedule of performances. It really did re-shape many things to come.
Note: The unscripted video is much longer than usual, at 22 minutes. I also stumble in parts, which almost caused me to skip it and trash it and just take the day off. If this topic or length isn’t your thing, then scroll on. Full confession–I’m doing these videos as much for myself as anyone because frankly, I enjoy making them. Sometimes, I’m going to turn on the smartphone, talk, hit the record–and float downstream. Join me on these journeys if you like.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH:
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Aug 11, 2026 in Blog |
USA TODAY’S NFL RANKINGS:
I had planned to take the day off. Then, this morning I read USA Today’s preseason NFL rankings, which somehow slivered into my social media feed.
LINK HERE
I couldn’t believe these listings, unless the intent is purely to incite lots of clicks and screaming.
With NFL Football Sunday’s becoming a big thing and dominating much of what I do over the weekends I’ll be doing more of these videos, including weekly picks.
More to come. Here’s USA Today’s current rankings. Gasp!
1. LA Rams
2. Seattle
3. Denver
4. Buffalo
5. Chicago
6. Houston
7. San Francisco
8. Cincinnati
9. Dallas
10. Detroit
Now, here’s my reaction on video. Click the FACEBOOK LINK below:
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Jul 17, 2026 in Blog |
ARE LAS VEGAS RESTAURANTS TRYING TO SKEW YOUNGER?
We enjoyed our dinner at Piero’s last night. I was joined by Nick Christenson and Paul Harris. As usual, the food was terrifically deliciously consistent. Once again, a visit to Piero’s never disappoints. Wonderful dinner and great company.
However, during our Tuesday evening dinner, I noticed something that’s changed about Piero’s — or at least that was my impression. I shared this observation with Nick and Paul, and they generally agreed with my (admittedly incomplete, and perhaps even flawed) assessment.
For those of you who don’t know *Piero’s Italian Cuisine* it’s the classic old-style Las Vegas hangout fancy dinner joint. It’s everything you think about when one reminisces about the mob-run casinos and the way things used to be. However, it’s never felt old, or stale, or dated. Since moving here 20+ years ago, I’ve probably dined at Piero’s 50-60 times. Solid. No surprises. And the staff has always skewed older — by that, I mean knowledgeable and experienced. I’d guess most of the staff was age 35-65 on my previous visits. It’s always been that way.
But something was very different last night. Everyone working was (I’m guesstimating here) under age 35. The waitstaff were more female and certainly in their 20s and early 30s. Out of a dozen people on the floor, this was a very noticeable difference. I also think the service slipped a little, and there wasn’t quite the same personal touch as on previous visits, but I admit one recent visit isn’t enough to make that final judgement.
It’s understandable that no restaurant wants to appear “old.” I’ve done articles in the past on many Las Vegas casino restaurants that intentionally repel older guests and try to be more attractive to a younger, more hip crowd. Annoying quirks like high-top tables and hard chairs (which are uncomfortable for many older people). Hipster music, that appeals to twenty-somethings. You get the picture.
I didn’t expect this “younger vibe” infusion at a classic dinner joint like Piero’s, but that might now be what’s happening. Last year, the restaurant changed ownership and altered operations and is now run by Steve Siegel. I can’t comment on Siegel’s changes or plans, other than he’s a CEO of something called “Amazing Brands.” To me, that’s a red flag screaming of corporatization and moving away from the independent family-run atmosphere that made Piero’s so famous and appealing to so many.
This isn’t a conclusion on my part. I could be wrong. Maybe we just dined on a night when all the younger staff happened to be on the floor, and had a difference experience than usual. It’s possible.
But I suspect the reality is — Piero’s is becoming like other fancy restaurants and trying to re-boot it’s image. This post isn’t a criticism of that–I can understand why a hospitality business wants to avoid the appearance of becoming a de facto nursing home. Still, I wonder if this is really a thing that’s happening not just here, but all over–and perhaps even in other cities, too.
Questions: Are restaurants consciously trying to appeal to younger hipsters, in place of older more traditional guests and their tastes? Is this intentional?
Finally, I stress once again that I could be wrong about this. One visit isn’t enough to draw any conclusions. But it does raise suspicions.
Comments welcome.
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Jun 30, 2026 in Blog |
“A man’s got to know his limitations.”
— Dirty Harry
The one thing I’m going to miss when driverless autos take over the world is — the car horn.
With driverless automation, there won’t be a need for car horns anymore. Think about it.
I love to use (e.g. abuse) my car horn. It’s the sword of road justice, and the war canon of revenge. “Death Wish” and vigilante god Charles Bronson be damned, we can’t run over people or smash into stupid drivers to teach them a lesson. That’s what the car horn is for. A weapon. A pacifier. Hey jerk who cut me off in traffic…..enjoy the sound of my middle finger.
Whaaaaaaaaa!……Whaaaaaaaaaa!…..Whaaaaaaaaa!
That said, what i witnessed today near The Strip in Las Vegas made me think and it made me laugh. Here, I’ll explain.
What made me *think* was this: When driving, there’s construction and detours and traffic cones everywhere. Especially here in Las Vegas. It’s common to see three-lane boulevards toothpaste-squeezed into a narrow single lane of passage. Of course, this always happens around rush hour. When I’m in a hurry. When late. Move it, you fucking shits!
When traffic *merges*, there’s an unwritten drivers’ code. One car from one lane, and another car from the next. It’s like a zipper. Most drivers understand the code and merge with the flow.
Well, driverless taxis have no conscience. They don’t make friends. They don’t care about the other driver and upsetting the natural order of the universe.
I watched on Desert Inn as a Zoox, which is one of those cube-looking robotic taxis merged with traffic but then didn’t adhere to “the code.” Zoox saw a lane and an opportunity and darted into the free space. Well, that set of the driver in front of me like a ticking time bomb.
This isn’t a hit piece on driverless vehicles. I’m generally supportive of technology and things that improve public safety. However, witnessing this merge traffic situation made me think about it. There is no substitute for a hand wave. There is no robot that understands common courtesy. In essence, driverless cars see the road as war zones. They flood the space. They conquer the odometer. The conquest is in getting from Point A to Point B without having to pay the labor cost of a driver.
I mentioned that I laughed, and I’ll explain that now, too. The driver who festered with entitlement and felt he was cut off because the road code was violated by the Zoox taxi robot blasted his horn like he was Curtis LeMay raining down flames on Tokyo. He let that cube taxi have it. Whaaaaaaaaa! …… Whaaaaaaaaaa! …..Whaaaaaaaaa!
I watched from afar and behind, wondering what the noise-fuckery was all about. Doesn’t that horn-hog driver know the auto-robot taxi is basically like a computer chip affixed to a satellite signal? No one is watching, or listening — pal. Oh, except for the terrified tourist family Zoox passengers probably from Nebraska wondering who the fuck the road rage terrorist is that’s blasting his horn like a psychopathic madman.
Watching this clash of intellect and technology in front of my eyes, I felt like blasting my horn at the asshole just to make it a fair fight. But instead, I just shook my head and lectured Marieta with one of my pearls of road wisdom.
“Look at that jerk-off. Why is he blasting his horn at an Zoox taxi? The robot can’t hear the horn and that guy looks like a fool! Doesn’t he know how stupid he looks?”
Marieta (who is used to my rants and has developed her own special skill set micromanaging my outrage-rant-chaos) deadpanned the perfect delivery of a retort:
“You mean like when you scream at the television when watching the news and sports?”
Pregnant pause. About ten seconds of dead silence filled the front seat.
Softly nodding. Sheepish half grin. Head down. Point conceded. Defeat acknowledged.
Yes indeed — a man’s got to know his limitations.
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Jun 26, 2026 in Blog |
JOINING THE HAVANA CLUB (THEN AND NOW)
When done right, food and wine and spirits combine science, art, and history — combined with memory and imagination.
Something special happened last night.
Chad Holloway gifted me a new bottle of Havana Club (rum). What makes this so special? Allow me to provide some background and share a personal story or two, which puts Chad’s generosity into perspective.
For those who are not aware, most Cuban-produced products are banned here in the United States. This embargo has been in force since 1959, the date of the Cuban Castro-led revolution. The embargo has been a complete failure, since then. Consider the consequences. The most popular consumer items made Cuba are easy — cigars and rum. They’re regarded the best in the world, and the fact you can’t “legally” buy them in the United States makes these products even more coveted. Note: The best way to make something popular is to *ban* it. That’s certainly true for alcohol, drugs, gambling, and sex.
To be clear, I’m not a rum aficionado. Most commercial rums (what we drink in bars and restaurants) are commonly diluted by powerful mixers, like fruit juices, which render elite authentic rums as unnecessary overkill–unless you’re doing a tasting with rum shots served straight up. But, something labeled as “Havana” should authentically be from Havana. Call me difficult and demanding.
When I lived in Romania (1989-1991), Havana Club was considered THE DRINK. Usually, drank in shots. Romanian Army soldiers drank it. Stolichnaya (vodka) was the other popular liquor that was widely available, at least in the capital. Reason is — bottles were cheap. In the 1980s, Communist countries had reciprocal trade agreements with each other, so Romania had plentiful bottles of Havana Club and Stolichnaya (imported from Russia). I think they cost $3, but that was back in the ’80s so it would be like $10 today. A steal!
When I departed Romania, I took back several bottles of Havana Club with me. Diplomatic privileges and no annoying customs meant personal effects and shipping bans weren’t enforced. BTW, most diplomats take advantage of this perk–don’t bother reporting me for breaking the law. Fast forward nearly 40 years later: I’m now down to my very last bottle of authentic Havana Club, made in Cuba, sold in Communist Romania, which was shipped back here to the USA when I returned. [SEE PHOTO]. I have only about a third of the bottle left, savoured for special occasions. Marieta and I have toasted anniversaries with this final bottle, as I can still remember purchasing it from a bar in central Bucharest (they didn’t have liquor laws).
Chad and his fresh new bottle to the rescue! Reinforcements have arrived!
Havana Club has a complex and somewhat confusing history. In fact, two versions of Havana Club exist today. One is real. The other is a fraud:
REAL: International Havana Club (from Cuba) is produced in by Corporación Cuba Ron and sold globally (bit not in the USA) by French-owned Pernod Ricard. It is crafted using traditional Cuban methods and represents the classic Cuban rum style. Everything about this product is identical to the origins and methods of the 1950s.
FAKE: Havana Club (USA version–from Puerto Rico): Mass produced by Bacardi. Due to the US trade embargo, Bacardi—which acquired the original recipe and rights from the exiled Arechabala family—marketed and sold this bastardized version exclusively inside the United States. Bacardi is a fairly decent well-house liquor, but it’s not Cuban sugar cane. It’s a fraud. This name should not exist on this product because it has NOTHING to do with Havana.
So, don’t be fooled by “Havana Club” on the shelves of many American liquor stores. It’s like buying a BMW made in South Carolina. That’s not a “German” car. That’s a bad joke. And Puerto Rican Havana Club is not “Cuban.”
Last night was a surprise and a special treat. In a few years, this won’t be a big deal. I presume — one way or another — Cuba will go through some changes (I’ll make some predictions later in another post). Five or ten years from now, you’ll be able to purchase real Havana Club in grocery stores.
Until then, I’m going to enjoy this. Toasting rebellion and the revolution.
__________
[Photo: 1, Chad and I; Upper photo: Latest Havana Club; Lower photo: Communist Romania 1989 Havana Club]
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