Glad you enjoyed the site ChatNoir but what I was actually suggesting was that we keep score of how many ad hominems are made on this board, often under the guise of humour.

Anyone should feel free to skewer Rick Steves' philosophy or travel advice or whatever, but when they belabour the Rick-Steves-is-such-a-nerd/weird husband or similar character desecration theme, they don't say anything that hasn't already been said here many times before. Moreover, if mocking someone for their sporting nerdy clothes and haircuts made a funny point, then Niles and Frasier Crane in their Gucci shoes and immaculately tailored suits would have failed as a comedy team. What I'd like to see Miss Dior do, and I think she probably can, is use Steves as the basis for an original insight about human nature or social custom or, in this case, travel advice and the people who follow it. But yo, can the ad hominems: they aren't just bad for logic, they're way overrated as a tool for humour.

Miss Dior's fixation with Mr. Steves is clearly unhealthy. Also sounds like a potential stalker.

I like to watch his shows for the scenery, too. But I loathe his penchant for picnics (I hate picnics!) and washing out his undies in the hotel sink. I'm just sayin'!

Sue_xx_yy, my reference about him buying his wife's clothes was meant to be a joke. I hope it's clear that I have no objection to his or his wife's fashion (and I wouldn't have a leg to stand on if anyone pays attention to my clothes in Europe .

I was only joking when I started that RS bought his clothes because of Miss Dior's put-on.

This thread is so funny that it reminds me of "the good old days" on this forum [before registration]!

ChatNoir - are you telling me that Rick is a minute man?! Well then, he needs to return to France to learn the culture of "faites amour". I would've thought that by living in the steel gray setting of the North Pacific, he'd compensate by providing sunshine in the bed chambers.

Today at work I daydreamed that I was in some small town in Italy, sitting in the town square eating my McDonald's happy meal lunch and washing it down with limoncello. I was intoxicated by the medieval beauty of my surroundings. The 500 year old church, ancient cobblestone, soothing marble fountains, the faint smell of spaghetti being cooked somewhere, the Italian pigeons, etc. Then out of nowhere, a Vespa with a well dressed man approaches. He is wearing blue tinted Versace sunglasses, vanilla Dolce & Gabbana trousers with matching shirt and a dark brown suede Gucci jacket. His shirt is unbuttoned, revealing a lush thatch of blond/gray chest hair. I'm beginning to salivate, the aroma of my french fries and his sensual masculinity is too much for me. His Vespa rolls towards me and he stops. Looking over my meal, he wags his finger at me "no no" and presents me with a huge plate of Barilla pasta as I am biting into my Mcnugget. It is a pound of tagliatelle, perfumed with aromatic herb butter. He tells me to taste the bottle of Qvarzia and hop on behind him on the Vespa. We then ride off to go skinny dipping in Cinque Terre (after waiting 1 hour of course). As all of this is happening, the music from the Barilla pasta commercials is playing in the background.

I can't wait for the next PBS beggathon. I'll pledge $100 if they let me talk to Rick.
I wish I had Adobe Photoshop, so I can superimpose Ricks head on Brad Pitt's gladiator body and Geoffrey Rush's French Inspector Javert body. In the meantime, for those who don't know how delicious Rick is, here is a link to a photo:
http://www.rolfpotts.com/writers/steves.html

Who can deny that he is quite handsome?

You've got it wrong, He wears Etro and Prada.

Miss Dior, its too bad that little Vespa will not hold your massive German behind.

Rick has far too many attractive and sleek euro-chicks to mess with a hog farmer's daughter. But I guess you already know that.

Rumor has it that you were so ugly your dad had to tie a porkchop around your fleshy neck so the dogs would play with you.

I think Miss Dior is Rick Steves' nom de plume.

OMG!! This is getting funnier and funnier!
CB, a porkchop around her neck ? LOL

You know what, man? I know something that you don't know. That's right Jack. The man is clear in his mind, but his soul has gone mad.

You love Rick Steves? Don't tell Mrs. Steves!

Rick's fine, especially for beinners. And at least he's readable. But Miss Dior, to say he is to Euro tourism what Bill Gates is to the computer world, is to denigrate him beyond belief. When I think of all those truly wonderful operating systems I used to use, that are now swallowed up by the inferior comic-strip mindlessness that is Microsoft, it makes me want to cry.

"goat cheese in a desolate patch of the Swiss Alps"
I'm sure it smells like zee feet of angels.

And the reversible skirt! I'm so jealous.

Beatchick, I've seen that quote about the cheese too...pretty funny. Even though I'm sure angels keep their feet impeccably clean ("New improved Dove; it has wings...just like you&quot, somehow the idea of a cheese smelling like them doesn't exactly appeal to me.
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Re: <i>...that are now swallowed up by the inferior comic-strip mindlessness that is Microsoft,...</i>

Microsoft: awesome at marketing, not so great at creativity. I'd rather have a beer with local-guy-made-good Steves than fellow-local-guy-made-good (and filthy rich) Gates any day (although I'm very impressed with things the Bill &amp; Linda Gates Foundation is doing,especially in regard to global health issues.)

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/default.htm

You're right, Capo-san, soap-flavored cheese, angel-smelling or otherwise, doesn't quite cut it.

Miss Dior, looks like Seaurchin is living your dream! Look here:

http://www.pbase.com/seaurchin/maggio2004&amp;page=all

Maybe she will share the true story behind this picture with us !

Seaurcin are you reading this?

Yes, SeaUrchin recently encountered Mr. Steves on the Amalfi Coast -- eat your heart out, Miss Dior (but don't stop posting these hilarious fantasies). She said he was quite charming and gracious.

PS platzman, I believe you owe an apology to T.S. Eliot as well, no?

Dior - I think you need to find a man of your own and not someone you've met between the pages of a travel book.