Whether you enjoy the Oprah Winfrey empire or would rather pass, it's undeniable that Winfrey is a force to be reckoned with. It is a hard admission for me to make as a pop-culture aficionado that I do not actually have a television.

The Ladies Professional Golf Association recently announced a new policy. The new rule stated that players had to pass an English language efficiency exam or face suspension.Understandably the players, fans, sponsors and the blogosphere freaked out. The Asian American Justice Center has a slight problem with this requirement, though, and are organizing a boycott to try and overturn this new ruling:

In a previous post, Spirituality, Religion and Activism: What's the Connection?, I mentioned the work of the Seasons Fund for Social Transformation. The Fund supports organizations that are using "inner work" to inform their activism. 

This week I joined much of America in my concern as two significant events unfolded. The first was the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. The second was Hurricane Gustav in the Gulf Coast.

Before moving to Georgia, the back-to-school issue that constantly stuck in my craw was dry-erase markers, of all things. Yes. Every child was required to bring a 4-pack of dry-erase markers as part of their supplies, at the kids' old school.

It's time to talk politics - Canadian politics. Yes, in the middle of the American election sweeps we're going to talk what's happening on the political front north of the 49th parallel. It seems that all the election fun that our American friends have been experiencing was just too much for the Canadian government to handle so they are calling an election. Not only are we going to get swept up in the election fever, we are going to have ours FIRST. So there. Kinda. Maybe.

These are expensive times, and families are having to get creative in maximizing their resources. One blogger, Mary of Owlhaven, is a mom of ten kids committed to teaching her kids common-sense frugality by example.

Looks like more trouble for those bloggers who leak MP3s. Kevin Cojill from the site Antiquiet was arrested last week on suspicion of violating copyright laws for leaking nine unreleased Guns 'N' Roses songs. His bail was set at $10,000.

It's human nature to overlay our own values and beliefs on other people's decisions -- particularly when the decision is to accept one of the most challenging and demanding jobs in the world. So you see this young mother with five kids who is given the career opportunity of a lifetime and you image it's you being asked to become vice president of the United States. You wonder, "Given the same circumstances, would you say yes to that offer?" While some would say, "Hell yes!" Many others would say, " Not a chance."

What's happening this week in the world of fashion?  We have Project Runway, killer shoe trends, and what to wear this Fall.  Plus, Fashion Week Spring 2009 begins!

There’s one of them in the window of every car on the lot. It’s the law! They’re the tools of both car buyers and automotive journalists, and even if you might take those lowly window stickers for granted when your're out shopping for a new car, did you know they have a name?

Reformer? Maverick? Defender of motherhood? Independent-minded woman? Former beauty queen? Serious politico? Moose hunter? As soon as John McCain announced that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin would be his running mate, the liberal vs. conservative online discussion was off to the races! Progressive bloggers are shocked at Palin's positions on reproductive choice, gun control and religion in schools, just to name a few.