Wise woman here. Beer not here.

Ellen Goodman is not my favorite columnist. I have previously joked in this space that many things in this life appear to be the part of providence's plan to give Ellen Goodman something to write about.

Yes, life unfolds as a series of Ellen Goodman moments, all involving women in some sort of distress, usually because of men -- and no surprise there. I grant you that if I were a woman, I would like Ellen Goodman's writing much more.

That all said, her column ("The Identity Dance") that appeared in this morning's paper was terrific. In my feeble male way, I have struggled mightily to expose the shallowness and absurdity of the critics of Judge Sonia Sotomayor. But Ellen Goodman said it all effortlessly in her wise and knowing column.

I salute her and I shall go off now and have a beer to drown my feelings of inadequacy in the face of the master - make that, mistress.

I should drink a bottle of Iron City but I don't have any in my fridge - which I suppose is indicative of the problem, the one lurking behind the news today that the decision has been made to brew the beer in Latrobe. I feel bad for the union guys, who have given up a lot in concessions, and I feel bad for the city. It's depressing to consider that a beer that's been around since the Civil War is leaving town. A city without a major brewery is like Ellen Goodman without an issue provided by providence.

Forgive me. It's late and my analogies are tired.