Polls

It may only be a matter of time before the US prohibition of marijuana goes up in smoke. The same demographic realities that explain the relatively swift shift in the country's attitudes about gay marriage (i.e., young people with more open-minded views) could also bring more permissive laws about marijuana.

The political website Talking Points Memo analyzed national polls from the past two decades and compared answers to questions about marijuana legalization and marriage equality. It found that increased support for both issues mirror each other. For example, in 1995 only 25 percent of Americans supported making pot legal. And in 1996, only 27 percent of Americans supported making gay marriage legal. Since then, support for each has grown at a similar pace, and according to recent polls today more people support both legal pot and same-sex marriage than those who oppose it. And since legalizing and taxing marijuana could appeal to both liberals and libertarians alike, it could find fans on both sides of the aisle. It already did in Washington and Colorado, states that legalized pot last November for anyone over 21.

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Do You Think Marijuana Will Soon Be Legal?

Yes

No

With hectic schedules, sometimes eking out a 20-minute workout is the best we can do during the week (good thing there's no shortage of short-but-effective total-body workouts to do!). Even if you count exercise more as a hobby than a necessity, everyday errands and to-do list necessities can put a limit on time.

Weekends, however, are perfect for longer workout sessions. Whether it's a crisp Fall hike or a cycling trip out of town, time off is made for being active while having fun. So tell us, do you exercise longer on the weekends?

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Do You Work Out Longer on the Weekend?

Yes — It's nice to be able to have time to enjoy a workout!

No — I exercise the same amount.

No — I don't exercise on the weekends!

After 244 years, Encyclopaedia Britannica is halting print editions of their classic multivolume set of encyclopedias. Instead, the company plans to focus on its online encyclopedia. In response to the digital shift, the editors wrote on the Britannica blog: "A momentous event? In some ways, yes; the set is, after all, nearly a quarter of a millennium old. But in a larger sense this is just another historical data point in the evolution of human knowledge."

So how much is the last print version going for? The final hardcover Britannica set is available for $1,395 on the encyclopedia's website. On a more budget-friendly note, access to Britannica Online is entirely free for the week, so check it out and let us know what you think.

As print continues to move toward the digital platform, we're curious: Which sites do you visit for your research? Where do you find information on world history, science, and general education topics?

Photo courtesy of Britannica Online

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Encyclopedia or Wikipedia? Which Online Source Do You Turn to For Research?

Encyclopaedia Britannica

Google

Wikipedia

New York Times or Other News Source

Social Networks

While regifting has long been considered a social taboo — anyone else remember the Seinfeld episode "The Label Maker"? — Good magazine is giving the practice a positive spin. Pointing to a new set of tools and graphics from Brain Pickings that encourage people to regift with aplomb this holiday season, regifting is coming out of the shadows. You can download the regifting tags and wrapping paper (shown here) to let folks know that your gift has been regifted, or you don't mind if others regift your item.

Good also puts an eco spin on the practice of regifting, noting,

Making re-gifting socially acceptable helps extend the shelf life of consumer items before they hit the landfill. But it's not enough to destigmatize previously-owned presents—we need to re-gift smarter, too. To ensure you're gifting used things to people who really want them, consider distributing them through a website like Freecycle or Craigslist, or arranging a clothing swap to help friends pick and choose what fits them best. And for times you've been saddled with a real dud, up-gift it by painting, embroidering or otherwise re-crafting the gift into something even better.

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Do You Embrace Regifting?

Yes, I'm embracing it this year!

I may regift, but I keep it under wraps.

No, I wouldn't do it.

Traditionally, families put up their holiday decorations during Thanksgiving weekend. Have you already covered your house in lights? Have you pulled down and dusted off the boxes of holiday decorations from the attic?

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Have You Put Up Your Holiday Decorations Yet?

Yes, the holiday decorations are up.

I'm still decorating.

No, I haven't decorated yet.

Missouri legislators recently passed a law prohibiting state teachers from communicating with their students online. Last week, a teachers' organization in the state filed a lawsuit fighting the upcoming Jan. 1, 2012 implementation of the law, arguing it's unconstitutional and violates their right to free speech.

The teachers reason that nearly all of their online communication with students is education related and can help students to connect with their teachers on anything from a challenging homework assignment to classroom bullying. The lawmakers insist the bill is intended to discourage private relationships between students and teachers.

With the classroom and our lives becoming increasingly digital, relegating all student-teacher communications to in person may be difficult. What do you think, should teachers refrain from connecting with students online and over social media networks?

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Should Teachers Connect With Students Online?

Yes, social networks can be used as a way to continue classroom conversations and work with students.

No, limits should be drawn on teacher/student interactions.

It depends; I'll tell you in the comments.

My sister called me this past weekend as she was frantically shopping in Manhattan for a bathing suit. Why the sudden need? She'd been invited to a friend's beach house in the Hamptons. Talk about a lucky girl! Whether you own a beach house of your own, or are just fortunate to have friends who love to share theirs, it's certainly a great way to while away a Summer weekend. Were you lucky enough to do just that this Summer season?

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Did You Spend Time at a Beach House This Summer?

Yes, I'm a lucky beach house owner.

I spent some beach time with friends.

Alas, no beaching it for me!

Used in a boudoir or a romantic bedroom, silk slips or poufy frocks can take on a decorative life of their own. Designer Selina Lake is a virtual expert at hanging a pretty dress in the perfect way. However, it's not always a successful strategy. When used to excess, or poorly arranged, they can look too casual or even sloppy.

Have you used dresses, slips, or other sartorial items to dress up your walls? Or is this a no-no in your home decorating handbook?

Source

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Do You Decorate Your Walls With Your Wardrobe?

Yes, it's such a sweet idea.

No, it's definitely not my style.

Other, I'll tell you in the comments.

If you're lucky enough to have a garage, you probably use it as spillover storage for things that don't fit in your home, as well as a place to park your cars, of course. The garages we had in the homes I grew up in were always overflowing with lacrosse and hockey sticks, unused furniture, spare tires, gardening tools, and other odds and ends we didn't use everyday. They were also quite messy, I must admit. I've seen a few garages that are more organized than even the tidiest rooms in my home; it's so impressive to me! How does your garage stack up on the organization scale?

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How Organized Is Your Garage?

My garage is pretty darn organized!

It's pretty tidy, but nothing to write home about.

My garage is a little bit of an eyesore.

Besides her prolific acting career, Elizabeth Taylor was known as a serious collector of jewelry, art, and fashion. Now, her collection will be showcased in a series of public exhibitions and special events curated by the auction house Christie's, culminating in the sale of Elizabeth Taylor's collection. The international, three-month tour will begin in September with stops in Paris, London, Los Angeles, Dubai, Moscow, Geneva, and Hong Kong. Ultimately, the tour will end at New York's Rockefeller Center with a 10-day exhibition of Taylor's collection of fashion, accessories, jewelry, and art. The auction will then take place from Dec. 3 through Dec. 16.

While I'm definitely curious to see what Ms. Taylor has — she has an impressive collection of impressionist and modern art —  I'm also happy to hear that Christie's will honor Taylor's devotion to humanitarian causes by donating a portion of the money from the events to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which provides funding to AIDS service organizations throughout the world to assist those living with HIV and AIDS. Tell me, is this a collection you'd be interested in visiting? Personally, I'd love to see what art she collected over her lifetime.

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Will You Visit the Elizabeth Taylor Exhibition?

Yes, I love Elizabeth Taylor and would love to see her collection!

I'd go if it was visiting a city close to me.

No, I'm not interested.