Camping over the long weekend? Make s'mores -- with fair trade chocolate -- then let your s'more be counted by registering it!

A new question surrounding Merck's HPV vaccine. Is the media to blame for over hyping Gardasil? Personally, I think there is enough blame to go around for everyone here. But, the latest evidence is pointing to the news media sensationalizing the HPV and cervical cancer link. Why am I not surprized? Is there anything the news media doesn't over-hype and sensationalize these days? From The New York Times...

The last two days of the Democratic National Convention contained a whirlwind of events culminating with the final speeches at Invesco field featuring Barack Obama, now the official Democratic nominee for president. Finally after a week of running around, we were all in the same place witnessing history.

As Katy, Erin and I worked the convention from one end of Denver to the other we were treated to celebrity sightings galore. Despite the fact that Erin and Katy are from Los Angeles and are each tangentially related to the entertainment industry, I was the chief celebrity spotter due to my role as a diligent (um, some might say unhealthy - I like to call it thorough) pop culture observer.

As a child, summertime meant playing with my friends all day.  Outside.

I've observed the phenomenon of Katrina survivors fleeing public places at the first sign of rain and heard others testify to the potency of hurricane phobia. Down here in southeastern Louisiana, folks see rain, hear thunder, get a glimpse of lightning or dark clouds and they bolt for the doors, anxious to get home, hug their children, batten down, and make sure the world is safe.

As we move forward to Minneapolis-Saint Paul and the Republican National Convention, I wanted to take a minute to show BlogHer just some of the people we spoke with shortly after Senator Barack Obama's acceptance speech in Denver.

I've had out-of-town company for the past few days. On one outing we went to Magic Wings a butterfly conservatory. This is like a botanical garden to which 4,000 butterflies of all colors have been added. Adults and children walk around in wonder as beautiful butterflies land on beautiful flowers. The world is at peace there. Nature is in blissful harmony.

MCCAIN'S OFFICE CONFIRMS! Okay, so I lost ten bucks on Joe Lieberman, BUT WHAT A WAY TO LOSE TEN BUCKS!!! I don't even have pants on and I am running around blogging because I AM SO EXCITED OMG PLEASE LET THIS NOT BE A HEAD FAKE OMG. I have resisted blogging on the whole McCain Veep thing because they kept faking everyone out and telling us that this guy was clearing his schedule and this guy had the Secret Service creeping out and NOW there's a CHARTERED JET that is landing from ALASKA and OMG SARAH PALIN OMGOMGOMGOMG!

The subject of kids' allowances is a hot topic in the momosphere, as confused parents try to figure out the best way to teach their children responsible money management.  Most people would agree that hands-on experience is best, of course, but how do you navigate confusing chore charts?  Should you tie chores to payment, or are chores just part of being in the family?  And how do you know how much to pay them?

It's been reported this morning that neither Tim Pawlenty nor Mitt Romney, two of the rumored John McCain VP choices, will be going to Dayton today for McCain's announcement. For a while, I've been saying that McCain would be wise to choose Alaska Governor Sarah Palin -- a pro-life candidate and mother of two teen girls. A report this morning is saying that a small plane from Alaska landed this morning at an airport near Cincinnati whose passengers included a woman with two teen-agers and that there was much secrecy about the passengers. Wonder if I called it?

I had the pleasure today of speaking on a panel here in the Big Tent with some fabulous women. Marie Wilson of the White House Project, Lisa Witter, author of the She Spot, fellow BlogHer Sarah Granger and Jehmu Greene of WomenCount. We had a fantastic discussion about Clinton, Obama, women voters, and feminism. After all was said and done, the women were kind enough to answer a few of my questions off stage.