Vegas, babies.

While spending several days in fabulous Las Vegas, a common theme kept bothering me. No, it wasn't the pocket jacks that knocked me out of a poker tournament and then, the next day, watching my jacks get busted by pocket kings. Don't get me wrong, that was pretty infuriating, but it's part of the game.

What continually troubled me was the ridiculous number of families with children. Small children. Children who couldn't yet walk.

Anyone who's been to Vegas knows that there is a ton of stuff to do there besides gamble and drink (although those are my personal favorites). But why on Earth do people bring their kids to such a place? Would you take your little kids to a frat party, a bar or an R-rated movie? Because, in a nutshell, that's Vegas: a big R-rated party at a bar. Only the bar is the Strip.

Every time I saw a kid walking around a casino, all I could think of was Jason Lee's escalator rant in "Mallrats." For those who aren't familiar with the classic Kevin Smith movie, Lee sees a kid sitting on the escalator and goes off on this tangent:

"I hope his pants get caught and a bloodbath ensues. Don't get me wrong. I don't wish the kid harm, but his mother should suffer that horrific ordeal so she'll learn how to manage her child."

There's more, but you get the idea. Bringing your kids to Vegas just seems like bad parenting. Yes, there are pools and roller coasters and other stuff kids can enjoy, but it's impossible to get to any of those family friendly attractions without walking past and/or through a casino.

A casino is no place for children, and neither is Las Vegas.