My Expensive Coke Addiction

I am a woman of many vices, but none is so great as my love of the soft drink known as Coca-Cola. Earlier this year, Matt M. was scandalized by my admission that water is not my favorite beverage. Far from it. If I am ever trapped under rubble for 80 hours and rescued, I will follow the wise ways of Xue Xiao. "I want to have a cola. I want to have an iced one." If you don't want that mantle, Xiao, I'll be happy to take it off your hands.

Back in America, Coke comes cheap. A can is $0.85 in a vending machine, a bottle about $1.25. If you're in Times Square, they might charge you $2.50, because they're evil. Here in Slovenia, however, 250 ml of Coke (which—listen up, Europe—is not a full meal's worth of Coke) costs €1,70 at the least and often climbs to €3,00 or more. This wouldn't be so crazy if every other beverage weren't super-cheap. A pint-and-a-half of beer for €2,20! A decent glass of wine for €1,90!

Coke is the most expensive drink in this town, and I'm addicted to it. Why, Slovenes, why!? I guess I will have to start drinking more wine and beer. It's the financially responsible thing to do.

Speaking of wine, I went to a Chinese restaurant tonight, and they actually gave me complimentary wine with a not-so-expensive meal. That was nice. As you can see, the restaurant is a very understated, culturally authentic place:Not much else to report today. I spent most of the day slogging my way (partially) through a law review article, and I took about an hour to reply to an e-mail from Ray responding to a video I sent a few months ago on "the moral roots of liberals and conservatives." If we argue enough, I'm pretty sure we'll find the answer to life, the universe, and everything. He insists it's 39, but I'm sticking with 45.

If only compromises were so productive.