Take off to the Great White North

Yes, we Can-ada: Remember those liberals who talked about moving to Canada after President Bush was re-elected in 2004? Now some conservatives, dismayed by Barack Obama's victory, say they're heading for the Great White North.

Apparently, the fact that Canada's current prime minister belongs to the nation's equivalent of the Republican Party helps mitigate any discomfort with the country's government-run health insurance program.

Conservatives might want to steer clear of Quebec, where everyone talks foreign, and Manitoba, whose provincial government currently is run by the New Democratic Party -- Canada's equivalent of the San Francisco City Council.

With the economy in the dumper, some restaurants are making their menus more "recession friendly."

That means more $10.95 pot pies and fewer $39.95 seared scallops with mushroom emulsion and shaved truffle.

That's cool … but what about those 300 percent wine markups?

Today is Monday, Nov. 17, 2008 -- five days until the nation's two worst college football teams clash in the 101st Apple Cup.

Oddsmakers have installed the Huskies as 81/2-point favorites, which means they'll win by a score of 0 to -8.5.

Mark Carlson, Herald staff