Quick quiz: If you’re a jittery driver, what’s a good way to steady your nerves before you hit the road?

• get plenty of sleep
• practice meditation
• think soothing, happy thoughts
• enjoy a refreshing alcoholic beverage

Yeah, I thought that last one was pretty lame myself, but it turns out a politician from Ireland’s governing party has said “jumpy” drivers might benefit from having a relaxing alcoholic drink to steady their nerves.

I am not making this up.

See, Ireland is debating whether to cut the legal blood alcohol content limit for motorists, and some members of parliament oppose lowering the limit which would rule out a traditional Irish pint of Guinness for those driving.

“If drink is such a sedative, it can make people who are jumpy on the road, or nervous, be more relaxed,” said Mattie McGrath, Fianna Fail’s Tipperary South representative.

Right, Mattie. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to be crossing the street someday  when one of those really relaxed drivers comes along.

Dare to dream. Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Tweat yourself to this blog on Twitter at rbasler

Above: Guinness Chairman Tony Greener sips from a giant eight pint glass of stout to publicize his company’s earnings announcement in a 1997 file photo. REUTERS/Chris Helgren

Below: A racegoer holds a pint of Guinness on St Patrick’s Day on the third day of the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival in a 2005 file photo. REUTERS/Mike Finn-Kelcey

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Quick quiz: This photo shows…

a) The risk of letting tall people browse in light fixture shops

b) What happens when a dimwitted assistant is told to create a “bandolier.”

c) A woman who has begun the controversial medical procedure to turn herself into a 1991 Cadillac Fleetwood

d) A scene from the world’s cheesiest “Phantom of the Opera” production

You got anything better to do?  Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler

A model presents a creation from Mexican designer Alberto Rodriguez’s spring/summer 2010 collection during a fashion show in Mexico City October 19, 2009. REUTERS/Eliana Aponte

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Quick quiz: In these photos, President Barack Obama is…

a) illustrating how his new death panels will work.

b) abruptly ending a promising political career.

c) pretending to be Luke Skywalker, like every other guy on earth.

d) about to provoke the Secret Service marksmen on the White House roof.

Actually, the best thing about these lawn fencing photos is first lady Michelle Obama’s expression. It’s perfect….

“Oh dear God, who gave a toy sword to that fool? Honey, come over here, I need to talk to you for a minute about dinner! It’s IMPORTANT, sweetie-pie!”

Impress your friends! Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler

President Barack Obama uses a plastic saber to stab U.S. fencer Tim Morehouse during an Olympic Games event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, September 16, 2009.

REUTERS photos by Larry Downing

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Quick quiz: Former president Bill Clinton is saying to President Barack Obama…

a) I’m not kidding you, Barack, at Quiznos they’ve got a Primo Meatball sub THIS long, full of seasoned meatballs and zesty marinara!

b) PLEASE act like you’re listening to me, Barack! I don’t wanna have to talk to Hillary and George!

c) So that Kim Jong-il dude has a pumpkin head this big! It’s SO gross!

d) Psssst! Barack, this is a Catholic service - I’m pretty sure it’s time to applaud!

Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler

Former president Bill Clinton talks with President Barack Obama during funeral services for Senator Edward Kennedy in Boston, August 29, 2009. REUTERS/ Brian Snyder

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Quick quiz: In this photo on the right, President Obama is saying to the Kroger manager…

• “Five bucks for clementines? I pay $3.99 at the Safeway near the White House!
• “What the frick is a clementine?”
• “Do you sell these things in heavy syrup in a can?
• “I’m thinkin’ of gettin’ these for my death panels. You know how many pounds it takes to kill a really old person?”

Actually, the most interesting thing that happened at that Kroger visit was when Obama took a piece of fruit and ate it in front of everybody. The White House said he paid for it “seconds later.”

Well, maybe so, but I’ve tried the old, “Oh, I was GONNA pay you for that six-pound Cadbury bar I ate in aisle four,” and guess how well it worked for ME?

Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler

Above: President Barack Obama holds a town hall meeting about health care at the Kroger Supermarket in Bristol, Virginia, July 29, 2009.

Right: Obama holds up a piece of fruit after biting into it.

REUTERS photos by Larry Downing

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Quick quiz: The guys in this photo are…

a) Practicing an ancient Asian cure for backaches

b) Rehearsing for a production of “Oklahoma” at a men’s penitentiary

c) Still trying to get the hang of a wheelbarrow race

d) Attending that annual Siamese twin convention in Raleigh

e) They’re doing - oh, PLEASE don’t make me say it here!

Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler

South Korean special warfare command soldiers exercise before they conduct a sea infiltration drill during a photo call in Taean, South Korea, August 5, 2009. REUTERS/Choi Bu-Seok

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Quick quiz: If you have a meal in The Gulf region and can’t quite place the distinctive, piquant, exotic flavor, it’s most likely…

a) Amba, a savory mango pickle condiment

b) Cardamom seeds mixed with cumin

c) Mahlab, made from the St.Lucie Cherry

d) About 30 pounds of desert sand embedded at high speed during the cooking process

That’s right, it’s d), so don’t try to chew every little bit of it.

Check out the masked dude below, just going along roasting his chickens in the middle of a sandstorm.

Meanwhile, for those of you worried about nutrition, just consider this dish enough roughage to prepare for four colonoscopies in a row.

Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler

A worker roasts chickens at a roadside restaurant during a sandstorm in Baghdad July 29, 2009. REUTERS/Saad Shalash

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Quick quiz: The most horrific road hazard faced by Tour de France riders is…

a) snipers in the trees

b) oncoming 18-wheelers

c) rabid leg-eating wolverines

d) blatant accordion music

Yes, all other hazards pale by comparison to the shameless accordion players, who can step out of the tall grass with no warning whatsoever.

Upon hearing the first few bars of “Lady of Spain,” even the toughest riders clap their hands to their ears and spin out of control.

(Warning: Contains graphic photos of accordion playing)

Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler

Above: An accordion-player cheers the pack of riders during the Tour de France cycling race, July 18, 2009. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Right: Pack of riders makes its way past a man playing accordion in a 2000 file photo. REUTERS/Stefano Reliandini

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Quick quiz: The people in these photos are smiling because they got tickets to…

a) A $40 million lottery

b) A dinner with President Barack Obama

c) A private audience with the pope

d) A memorial service

Yeah, surprisingly, it’s the memorial service thing.

I guess this finally explains that old expression, “as happy as a guy going to a memorial service.”

Fight tooth decay. Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler

Fans cheer after picking up tickets for Michael Jackson’s memorial at Dodgers stadium in Los Angeles July 6, 2009. REUTERS photos by Mario Anzuoni

More stuff from Oddly Enough

Quick quiz for tough economic times. What are some effective things you can do to help prevent being laid off?

a)  Be a model worker. Don’t surf the Internet, hang around the coffee machine, leave early, etc.

b) Take on extra responsibilities and learn new skills; make yourself indispensable.

c)  Offer constructive suggestions for cutting costs in other ways.

d)  Have your boss killed.

Yeah, there’s nothing funny about that last option. We have a story about a guy who was arrested after the police suspected he hired a contract killer to murder his boss in a desperate bid to avoid being laid off.

It seems the suspect, through his sister, contracted a team of six Colombians who planned and carried out the killing of the boss, who had planned to lay off the arrested man as part of a restructuring project.

What can you, as an employer, do to protect yourself from something like this?

Well, before you make your downsizing plans you may want to ask all your employees if they know any hitmen. Make it sound real casual. You also might want to find a better euphemism than “restructuring project,” which doesn’t fool anybody these days.

Join the Oddly Enough blog network

Follow my blog on Twitter at rbasler

Former shipyard workers wearing masks hurl objects at police during a protest in Gijon, northern Spain, in photos taken last month. REUTERS photos by Eloy Alonso

More stuff from Oddly Enough