Did y'all here the bit on NPR from Melissa Block's earthquake-interrupted interview?

It came on while I was still half asleep and the fat cat jumped on the bed.

I woke up a lot faster.

I did, sara. But I had already heard about the earthquake as I was up at 2:30 AM and online.

I love NPR.

In other news, this morning's exciting work question was a woman who said, "I want to immigrate to Canada TODAY. I have been threatening to do it for a while and today I am following up on it. I am tired of being middle aged and sick and not having decent health care and something about teaching in inner-city schools. Is there an emergency visa I can get?"

I hooked her up with the Canadian embassy phone number and the web page on immigration. I was sort of torn between sympathy with her determination and WTF? Especially when she said, "Maybe I could be a refugee?" and I'm thinking, "The US has some sucky things, but I doubt you are in danger of being killed by a military junta here."

So: have you considered emigrating to Canada? Discuss. Canadians welcome to extol the virtues of their nation.

Is the NPR bit available online?

I just got off the phone with the vet--she wants me to bring Amarna in on Friday to make sure her temp's gone down and to do a follow-up X-ray to see if her kidney's returned to its proper size/shape and to make sure everything's cleared up. She did mention that if there is still something up, she might recommend one of those tests where they inject something in and track it through the urinary process. All I could think of is "How much is that going to cost?", which is a sad thing to be thinking about when it comes to health, but realistic, I think.

So: have you considered emigrating to Canada?

Kinda'. But NSM since the '06 election....

...cancer insurance is a separate thing???

The most expensive of the three! And it involves very specific coverages. I don't really know how the whole thing works, but what the hell! Insurance!

and something about teaching in inner-city schools

...yeah, something about that! What, exactly? Does she want to? Does she think if she sticks around someone will force her to? What's the scoop with that?

Kathy, I think it's the link about halfway down the page under "A Quake's Arrival" [link]

So: have you considered emigrating to Canada?

I looked into it in 2000 and 2004, did the points test online and stuff, but not really seriously. I did consider grad school there, but now that's more expensive than in the States.

Everybody should emigrate to Ireland. I already married one of you, so that options gone, but all you need is one Irish grandparent! And... also then I can make everybody tea. Which is nice.

I already married one of you, so that options gone, but all you need is one Irish grandparent!

I looked into this too! But my dad (who I believe could make the "one Irish grandparent" argument) has no desire to emigrate. (Immigrate? Wait, what's the difference??) And my mother, who has several Danish grandparents, doesn't either. Even if Denmark were lax like that. Which they're not. Hrmph.