I would be remiss if I didn't wish Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister and one of my personal favourites, a happy 191st birthday -- presumably by raising a tumbler of scotch in his honour.

Why is he a favourite?

Because of this story, which I desperately want to be true:

Sir John was out on the hustings one election, debating an opponent -- while drunk (consider him the Ralph Klein of his time).

Possibly as a result of being under the influence, Sir John puked on his lectern.

Without missing a beat, he roared (words to the effect of): "And that's what I think of my opponent's ideas!"

They don't make 'em like that any more! :)

He's buried in Kingston, his adopted home town (Sir John was born a Glaswegian and came to Canada at the age of five) in the Cataraqui cemetery just south of the 401.