Who has jurisdiction over the consequences of war?  In addition to regional bodies, the Geneva Conventions help to limit the cruelty of war and the International Court of Justice settles disputes and  hears evidence of human rights violations during armed conflict. The Avalon Project - Laws of War provides additional information on this topic.

Look at NHTSA for a three-tiered strategy to prevent motor vehicle related deaths and injuries for teens.

Whirl! Plunge! Soar! Recreation at the State Fair is a dizzying way to end your summer!

Here's an article in the New York Times about how a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is cautioning about Facebook quizzes and privacy, in particular. Check and see what you need to change!

Many components of a mattress can be refashioned, if properly deconstructed. A list of mattress drop-off locations can be found in the StarTribune.

Learn more about the life and career of Edward Kennedy from the In Depth page on CNN.com.  Includes history, reactions, photos and commentary.

Use Flu.gov to learn how to plan and prepare for the flu.

Follow @mndottraffic on your phone and see where accidents or slowdowns are so you can pick a better route!

Voteminneapolis.org will help Minneapolis residents prepare for ranked choice voting in the November 2009 election.

This fall, the Friends of the Edina Library are sponsoring the Great Decisions series focusing on global and multicultural concerns. The schedule includes Human Rights in a New Era (Sept 14 - registration open now), The Arctic Age (Oct 5 - registration begins Sept 6), and Egypt (Nov 2 - registration begins Oct 5). Register online or call 952-847-5425.

Learning French and wondering how to conjugate all those difficult verbs? Get your French conjugations here -- present, future, imperfect, present perfect, past perfect, pluperfect, and MORE!

Affordable health care for everyone?  A lasting peace in the Middle East?  Alternative energy as a source of new job opportunities?  For possible answers, click on the Drudge Report.  This popular site offers links to the latest news in the world of business, science, politics, and entertainment.  An excellent source for staying informed!

Did you know the Tilt-A-Whirl was invented in Faribault, MN in 1926? Click here to see the actual patent, called Amusement Device.

Curious about the AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) at your child's school? MDE offers school report cards, a comprehensive look at individual schools in an easy to read format for parents and taxpayers.

It's time for the great Minnesota get-together. Find out all the State Fair details.

Sat., Aug. 22, 10 am - 2 pm. Organized by Gardening Matters. Walk, bike or drive from one garden or to all 40 community gardens! Learn from the gardeners about these community treasures. Gardens will feature a variety of attractions including music, fresh food, heirloom tomato festival, and a beehive. For more information, check out the website.

Consumer Reports is working on reviews of new laptops - here's what they're looking at, full reviews to come soon! They start at $300; most are in the $600-$700 range.

In an amusing and revealing sidelight to the national debate on health care, the Columbia Journalism Review discusses a false statement found in an Investor's Business Daily editorial, and the Daily's dissembling correction.

The American Time Use Survey asks thousands of American residents to recall every minute of a day. Check out the New York Time's  incredible graphic which plots the latest numbers. 

Follow the news and humanitarian efforts following Typhoon Morakot on ReliefWeb and CNN.com.  The recent typhoon affected China, Taiwan and the Philippines.

The stimulus monies are on their way.  And according to Pro Publica's reckoning, our beloved state is faring quite well.

Identify the butterfly in your yard. Find photographs, maps, and information from Butterflies and Moths of North America.

On Google's image search (from Google's homepage, select 'Images' at the top), there are additional ways to narrow your search -- click on "Show options" at top left, under "Google," and you can select what color, size, type of file (face, photo, clip art, line drawing).

with a healthy dose of inspiration are provided by Business Week at Small Business. Learn about about trends in entrepreneurship and stay on the leading edge of marketing and communications.   

You, like many researchers may have had your interest in genealogy triggered by a special photo or letter or steamer trunk.  How should you preserve these artifacts?  Fortunately there are a number of good resources available to you.  Helpful websites include the National Archives: Caring for Your Family Archives , the Library of Congress Preparing, Protecting, Preserving Family Treasures  and Cyndi's List Preservation & Conservation. To locate useful books in the HCL catalog- for photographs and books add the keyword terms "conservation restoration manuals" for paper add the word "preservation" and for wooden objects use the word "furniture repairing"

when it was $100,000?   According to an annual study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it's now nearly $300,000, not including maternity or college costs.    Check out the USDA's site  for the details.

Work in a growing industry. Find a "green" job. Get a career in energy! There are employment prospects in Minnesota in many positions at  all levels of skill.

Sonia Sotamayor has been confirmed as the 111th Justice for the Supreme Court.  View the President's comments or watch a video from the official Whitehouse website.

An Indian court sentenced three convicted Mumbai bombers to death.  Voice of America news site has more information.  According to the VOA story,  India has given Pakistan more details about the Mumbai bombings for possible further prosecutions.

The MN Office of Traffic Safety has information about Minnesota's new, primary seat belt law.  And before you travel, consult the Governors Highway Safety Association site for key driver /passenger regulations throughout the U.S. 

Adding color to a landscape design makes a plan come alive! It also communicates depth, texture and interest to a plan, and helps the viewer to better visualize the finished landscape.

Reverbnation  has teamed up with Windows to bring 1000 free downloadable Mp3s.  Most of them are indie artists; there's a lot of good music here.

Looking for statistics on social, political or economic topics? Try Statistical Abstract of the United States. National health expenditure projections,poverty,U.S. coal trade and school enrollment statistics are just a few examples of the wide range of data provided in this authoritative and comprehensive source.

Track the campaign promises of President Obama courtesy of the folks at PolitiFact.

Consumer Reports wrote about a study recently completed that showed that texting while driving is significantly more dangerous than dialing or talking on a cell. It is illegal in Minnesota -- but I saw someone texting while driving on the way to work...

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, this year’s Consumer Action Handbook continues to provide top-notch tips and advice for common consumer issues like building good credit, how to file complaints, and protecting your privacy. Includes a directory of organizations and agencies to contact when you have a problem. You can view the contents online,  download a PDF copy, or request a print version.

Examine Hybrid Cars to compare hybrid car technologies.