Here's a whole new twist on gift-giving and charitable donations. Instead of buying sweaters or jewelery this holiday season, give the gift of a goat, a pig, a "Knitter's Basket" (which includes four fuzzy sheep), honeybees, a flock of chicks or a heifer to a deserving family. Heifer International, a charitable organization working with communities to end hunger and… Read More >>

There are all sorts of algorithms that forecast election results, but I'm partial to the food predictors—will more people buy a Republican-themed cupcake, or a Democrat-themed cupcake? Main Street Cupcakes in Ohio—a swing state!— is looking to find out with their election cupcakes. Other potential gastronomic election-predictors: The Obama "Adjustable Origin" and Romney "Adjustable…hot sauces, or… Read More >>

I wasn't feeling particularly down when my husband sent me this URL, just for an afternoon laugh. Emergency Compliments, from an artist via the collective known as society6, feeds your ego in a very cheeky, clicky way, one nice saying after another. My co-workers and I were hooked: • "They've never told you this, but your boss is really impressed by you." Aha!… Read More >>

With four debates and countless campaign stops and political ads gone by (not to mention the daily onslaught of polls), Election Day can't come soon enough. Fortunately, voters can laugh off the remaining 13 days with their choice of late-night television or stories from The Onion. And thanks to a free new app, Mock the Vote, the best political satire is collected in one… Read More >>

In case you missed it: Last week, the New York Times' Modern Lovecolumn was written by Kevin Farrell, a young soldier who left behind his first love when he went to fight in Afghanistan. Reading it, you might be tempted to allow your brain to do a playlist-association and hum the Talking Heads' anthem "Life During Wartime" ("This ain't no party, this ain't no disco… Read More >>

A new study published in Anthrozoos, the official journal of the International Society for Anthrozoology, has some researchers worried that certain kitties get a bad rap simply because of their looks. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, asked 189 cat lovers to rate black, white, bi-colored, tri-colored (tortoiseshell or calico) and orange cats… Read More >>

British artist Slinkachu began the "Little People Project" in 2006. He starts with miniature train set figures, paints and remodels them as necessary, adds props and sets them in place. Then he photographs his creations and leaves them on the street. There's something remarkably haunting about his work. He creates an entire alternate universe right in the middle of our… Read More >>

What does it take for actors to land iconic roles? A noteworthy audition. Here, some of the best cold readings we've seen: • Romantic Comedy: The camera can't get enough of Audrey Hepburn when she tries out for the role of princess Ann in Roman Holiday. • Sci-Fi Flick: Harrison Ford seals the deal after reading for the part of Han Solo in Star Wars. • Comedy:Jimmy Fallonimpersonates Jerry Seinfeld, John Travolta and Adam Sandler in… Read More >>

Dieters can become obsessed with "the number" we see when we step on the scale to measure our progress. So, when I came across the Quantum Scale, I realized it might just allay that dread. Rather than displaying your weight, it shows you the total number of pounds you've lost (or gained) since you began dieting (and programmed the scale with your starting weight). … Read More >>

On October 29, The Kennedy Center will award Ellen DeGeneres the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (the show will air Oct. 30 on PBS). I like Ellen. She’s upbeat, her old sitcom had some hysterical moments (the scene in which she comes out of the closet by accidentally announcing it over the airport intercom is a classic), and her eponymous talk showis the epitome of… Read More >>