Totally random thought: my friend Anthony just used the phrase "x, y and z," as in, "Well, I don't have to tell them 'x, y and z.'"

What's with poor X, Y and Z? Why are these three jerked-around letters always hauled out as examples? How did these guys get such a bad rap?

Is it just because they're at the end of the alphabet? That's like, locationism. Or originationism. Why not say, "Well, I don't have to tell them 'j, k and l?'"

Or something.

I've had two glasses of wine.