When does CSS block rendering?

[Ironwil]

I've been reading about optimizing websites, and a curious bit I came about was the location and types of CSS. This was a very interesting article on the matter:

http://www.ravelrumba.com/blog/a-look-at-how-browsers-download-and-render-css-background-images/

But, it's 3 years old so some of it the info is probably outdated. I then read this article:

http://www.igvita.com/2012/06/14/debunking-responsive-css-performance-myths/

This one was only 1 month old, and seems to say that placement of CSS isn't as important as it used to be. Of course, the article focused on WebKit, so IE might be very different. I've never been in the habit of placing my CSS references anywhere but in the head section, but I was unaware that external CSS background rules that map to an image could cause repeated connections and related latency. So...

1. While I always place my CSS in the head, does it matter anymore?
2. Can anyone either point out the differences in how the major browsers currently differ on this, or point me to a good reference?
3. I'd like to minimize TCP connections while loading my sites, so are there any 'gotchas' to avoid for loading images?

[statue]

CSS is just one speed issue that we will all face in the future as I hear that Google is starting to factor in loading time in to there algorithms. I found Yslow add on for firebug (for fire fox) quite use full to see why site are under preforming. For instance Chis I see your making 10 ext. Java script requests. every second counts when your up against the world…

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