As you may have noticed, there hasn’t been any S&G so far this week. That’s because an assignment for Orlando Magazine has taken us to Virginia for four days. We haven’t seen a lick of gambling but have viewed much else. Our base of operations momentarily is Lexington, “the Valhalla of the South.” They have long memories down here, although it’s become a pretty liberal place by now. But tradition dies hard at Virginia Military Institute, where “rats” are encouraged to rat out other rats, lest they be “boned” by “dykes.” (Yes, that’s all standard-issue VMI lingo.)
Right next door in Washington & Lee University, founded by the father of our country with a stock grant that still pays dividends today (George Washington knew how to invest) and later presided over by Robert E. Lee. The latter is such a revered figure in these parts that Grace Episcopal Church used to be named after him, although to the less reverent it was “St. Robbie’s.” Throw in a great of good food and a visit to Natural Bridge (pictured) and you have a clutch of rainy but otherwise rewarding days, albeit ones that will have to be worked off at the gym.
Tomorrow: Las Vegas casino grosses and the latest from Louisiana.