Karaoke: Japanese for "Ear-splittingly Bad Singing"

Actually it means "empty orchestra." But now I have yet another reason to hate it: apparently the past-time of drunken American Idol rejects has a negative side effect worse than an off-key rendition of You Light Up My Life.

Karaoke Rage, according to Brian Raftery of Slate is on the rise:

"One explanation for this uptick in karaoke rage is that karaoke bars bring together several socially combustible elements. Fill a room with 30 or so exhibitionists, ply them with alcohol and wireless microphones, and it's only a matter of time before all the forced interaction results in conflict."

If I were on the jury, I'd acquit.