"...it's the country for me"

So I was watching the Olympics last night and they had a story about the middle-distance runner from Afghanistan who went missing and hasn't been heard from since. There is speculation that she's fled and is seeking asylum (though she hasn't officially filed for it anywhere) and, or course, there's the darker speculation that some of the more militant people made good on their threats. And that got me thinking - that area is quite possibly the last place on earth I'd want to live. And that includes: Antarctica, a theoretical deep-sea station or submarine, caverns, and a space station, just to name a few more pleasant places.

But that got me thinking - where would be the best place to live?

Okay, obviously, for me, the US is top dog all the way. I like it here. Otherwise, I'd have left. But I'm happy and life is good. So it gets the #1 slot. From there...

2) Canada - America's hat. Okay, kidding, sorry. Our friendly neighbor to the north gets the second slot, because really, it's very similar.

3) New Zealand - more expensive, but pretty, and doesn't suffer from the whole 'everything can kill you' problem of Australia.

4) United Kingdom - much more expensive, and crowded, but still a lot like the US and I think it'd be easy to acclimate

5) Australia - would be perfect except the incredible number of poisonous things.

(once out of the top 5 I'm pretty much talking off of the top of my head, because I don't have enough ideas about these countries to really know)

6) Switzerland - why not? Snowy and neutral, what more can you ask for?
7) Norway - seems okay
8) Sweden - ditto
9) Ireland - would be much higher but because of the 'troubles' I moved it further down
10) Germany - it has its problems, but most people who've been there say it's pretty nice

Other countries getting votes: Iceland, Greenland, Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark

Speaking of politics...

(not really, at least, not seriously)

Someone was asking about an unbiased opinion of the candidates, and resources for seeing their voting records. Which, of course, are public record, but I gather would be one heck of a slog to get to. I mean, have you ever watched c-span? Your government in live action! Sort of.

Anyway, I remember being told once that when they used to filibuster, they actually had to stand up there and talk the whole time. It didn't matter about what, but they took it very literally - if the 'bustering' group stopped speaking, they lost their filibuster. So people had to be creative and think of things to say (within reason, I don't know that your latest fantasy would be a good thing to reveal).

I also remember hearing one time that someone brought in Granny's recipe cards and spent an afternoon reading out recipes.

That, I would have tuned in for.

I say go back to making them work for their money! Plus, I need some dinner ideas...

Today's fun TV quote

Brought to you by Ghost Hunters, International (yes, I watch it, no, I don't believe in ghosts, but they visit some really cool places and there's usually a tour featured) visiting Banffy Castle in Romania.

Dude: "It was fun visiting Banffy Castle, wasn't it?"
Girl: "Yeah!"
Dude: "Like stepping back 100 years!"

...or, you know, 600 years.