Mark, thanks for the moose information – you are as good on animal demography as on human – and thanks for your allusion to “Molly Malone.” More about that in a minute. But first I want to tell you – those Irish objectors to Sarah Palin: They were not callers (as I should have said); they were commentators in studio. I’m happy to say that the host, Marian Finucane, was more than fair – delightful.

About “Molly Malone”: Last season, Bryn Terfel was in Carnegie Hall, and sang that song. And damned if he didn’t get the audience to sing the chorus with him: “Crying ‘Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh!’” The guy was just so likable – you couldn’t help cooperating with him.

And “European” though he is (Welshman, actually), I would fall over dead if he didn’t like Sarah Palin, a lot.

P.S. If you’re not careful, I’ll ask you to sing Irish songs on our next cruise. Brush up your brogue.