Get the skinny on Halloween (2002-10-31)
From the holiday's history to stats on the number of costume rental shops in the U.S., Poynter's Halloween 2002 research page has links to all the lore you could ask for.

Children's rights--at what age... (2002-10-30)
In Saudi Arabia, the minimum age for public employment is 18, but there is no minimum age for marriage. If you want to find out how other countries fare on age requirements, Right to Education, a non-profit education think tank has researched laws in 125 countries and compiled an online report on minimum age requirements for compulsoy education, marriage, employment, and criminal prosecution.

Find out how your state rates for women (2002-10-29)
Mississippi is not the place to be if you're a woman, according to a report by the Institute for Women's Policy Research. The study rates each state in the nation on the basis of women's political participation, employment, economic autonomy, health and reproductive rights. Ole 'Miss came in dead last. If you want equality, head north--Connecticut and Vermont tied for best state for women.

Press freedom by the numbers (2002-10-24)
Reporters Without Borders just released an index, ranking 139 countries on the basis of their respect for freedom of the press. The First Amendment did not come out first in its free press guarantee: The United States ranked 17th, just under Slovenia, Costa Rica and Switzerland.

Make your own Bush speech (2002-10-24)
Some UK pranksters have taken political rhetoric to a new level. They've made a game that lets you choose words and then listen as Bush says them in his own voice.

UN weighs in on women, peace and security (2002-10-23)
Though a new UN resolution on Iraq continues to dominate headlines, last week Secretary General Kofi Annan asked the Security Council to consider strengthening a resolution of a different sort--one that deals with women and their contribution to peace. Last week, Annan released a report on women peace and security to mark the two-year anniversary of Resolution 1325, which recognized women's contribution the promotion of peace. The report recommends specific actions for the Security Council to consider to strengthen Resolution 1325. The Secretary General's report summarizes the findings of the study on women, peace, and security carried out through the cooperation of several UN agencies. Supporting documents are available from the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women.

Stay-at-home dads find each other (2002-10-22)
Note to myself, check out these links for a possible feature story idea:

• Orange County Dad-to-Dad
  
• Slow lane.com resource site for stay-at-home dads.
  
• How women describe a dream house husband

Kudos from Keillor (2002-10-18)
"Writers are some of the most important people in America today, doing the most crucial work, bearing a heavy responsibility as the last exemplars of American entrepreneurship and cussedness. It takes brains to write, and you can't fake it. Anybody who can turn out a good story is probably smarter than half the corporation executives in America and a good deal more honest." - Garrison Keillor

Dems Flash Bush (2002-10-07)
The Democratic National Committee Web site boasts a Flash movie,"Social Insecurity", which criticizes Bush's social security plan. The move uses a jokey little cartoon to make its point. Funny Flash movies have made their way around the Net in days, could this one be next? And, if it is, will the GOP come out with their own?

Don't stress, stretch (2002-10-03)
My Daily Yoga offers a litany of simple exercises to avoid those muscle aches and hand cramps that creep up on folks who sit hunched over keyboards and screens all day. The exercises are illustrated with helpful animated gifs, which are also a little funny.