I blame our school system

Overheard at karaoke, as two youngish guys onstage embarked on a spirited if a bit laboured rendition of "Whiskey in the Jar," prompting rather curious commentary from two other youngish guys at the next table:

"I don't know it either, but you're right, it totally has an East Coast sound."

I suppose I can console myself in the knowledge it at least wasn't "Hey, isn't this a Metallica cover?"

Pet peeve

It's St. Patrick's Day, St. Paddy's Day, or if you're feeling really hurried, St. Pat's.

It is not, under any circumstances, St. Patty's Day.

St. Patty's Day would be an ideal name for the day in which one celebrated the life and times of a freckled character from Peanuts. It would be an ideal name for the day in which one celebrated the sacrosanct gift from God that is the beef burger. It would be an ideal day for engaging in "patty-cake".

It is not, however, an appropriate name for the Saint's feast day co-opted by attention-starved Irish Americans and the alcohol industry that we engage in today.

Cabinet material?

In honour of today's elections in Northern Ireland, more proof that that godforsaken corner of the island seems to be uniquely blessed by inhabitants with contentious relationships with reality.