According to the 2000 Census, Native Americans are only 1.5 percent of the US population, but their participation in this year's presidential election might be especially important. American Indians are a critical voting bloc in several swing states, according to a recent study.

In August, I did a little fundraising experiment that involved Twitter and an integrated offline component at the Gnomedex Conference in Seattle.  I was able to raise $2,657 to cover the costs of college tuition for Leng Sopharath, an orphan in Cambodia in just 90 minutes. By the end of the conference, the total had climbed to $3,774.

The BlogHer series on Cooking with Fresh Herbs has featured cilantro, tarragon, parsley, mint, dill, lovage, chives, basil, Greek oregano, rosemary, and sage, and today we're finishing up the series with thyme. No pun intended, but the timing is good because even though fresh thyme is used in summer dishes, thyme really comes into its own in foods that are cooked in fall or winter.

What's the difference between a Laurie who shoots with a Nikon and a Laurie who shoots with a Canon again? NO, not lipstick, silly - just a jerk of a camera thief at the DNC.

If you decide to engage in online dating, you have to get used to being rejected. There’s no way around it. As a single woman who publicly proclaims that she’s “looking,” you’re no longer dealing with rejection on an occasional basis -- it’s not like meeting random people at a bar, or attempting to chat up a hottie on the Metro, or giving a sly smile to the person behind you while waiting for your lunch.

While I was out this morning going to the farmers' market and getting breakfast, you know normal Sunday morning activities, the Prime Minister met with the Governor General, dissolved Parliament and called an election. (Personally I quite prefer my own Sunday morning activities.) Canadians will be heading to the polls on Tuesday, October 14 to elect a new government, even thought Stephen Harper said that it's going to be a tight election and they are anticipating another minority government.

He's too sexy. According to new rules on advertising created by the EU's women's right committee and approved by the EU parliament,regulatory bodies in charge of monitoring advertising are being asked to establish a "zero-tolerance" policy" against "sexist insults or degrading images." Haven't these folks heard about YouTube?

Dean Dad recently experienced a forehead-slapping moment about bilingual education:

Republican pollster Frank Luntz thinks so. He sought to reassure the California Republican delegation that Obama's lead in polls is, in part, an illusion...

If you're thinking about ways to update your wardrobe on a budget (and who isn't these days?) think about adding one great accessory, something that will work with everything and last beyond this season.  The simplest upgrade is a really fantastic bag.  Bags are fabulous because they always fit (unlike your jeans), they're practical (your cell phone has to go SOMEWHERE!), and the right bag can dress up even the most basic jeans-and-tee combo.

Consider this either a public service announcement or a warning siren. You see, two years ago just about now, I was obsessed, completely, with learning all the tips and tricks for slow-roasting tomatoes. All the recipes suggested roasting tomatoes for an hour. Me, over 17 batches of slow-roasted tomatoes, I kept stretching and stretching the oven time until finally settling on the 'sweet spot' for slow-roasted tomatoes roasted for ...

Thanks to Dr. Kiki Wants Your Help at .51 for leading me to The Bird's Brain.