tips for painting miniatures?

A friend came back from Origins, a gaming con, talking about how his niece apparently has a knack for painting "lead" miniatures. (What are they made out of now, pewter?) So they're looking for tips on technique, and they'd be interested in any local contacts in Columbus.

I did some figure-painting back in the 80s and didn't completely suck at it. I learned from friends and from magazine articles. Now I imagine there are good web sites, but I haven't done this in years so I haven't hunted them down. Before I bring the power of Google to bear on my friend's request, I figured I'd ask my friends here for recommendations. I know some of you paint; what sites have useful advice for beginners?

(no subject)

Ok, you. Out of my brain! Now!

We got email this morning from a recent houseguest whose family turned up with head lice the day after they visited. Oh joy. From our interactions with the affected individuals, and their interactions with our furniture and our subsequent interactions with said furniture in the next 24 hours, we're probably fine. But now I itch.

When I got home from work I vacuumed all the relevant furniture and then took a flea comb to my hair. (Hey, having cats can be handy -- it's a much finer comb than anything I have that's designed for my hair.) Nothing. I had Dani do his and he turned up empty. (I was concerned that lice might be small enough that I wouldn't be able to see them.) It's been 24 hours, and we're avoiding the living-room furniture tonight just in case. So really, we should be fine.

So could my brain please stop with the sympathetic or psychosomatic itching, darnit? This is getting old.