Please note that this May 1 column is on top of May 8’s column–scroll down to see it.

Our gardening columnist Maggie Beyer has the right idea: drink in the scents of the outdoors; dig in the dirt for stress management, nurture your soul in the garden while your plants benefit from your presence. Meanwhile, I’ve neglected my garden in order to hole up inside to surf for garden sites. Anyway, welcome the Merrie Month of May with some overlooked garden sites.

Garden Humor (http://home.golden.net/~dhobsen). This is probably listed on page 125 of a Google search, because it is a home-grown, low-ad, folksy kind of stop along the Web. The humor might be a little on the corny side, but sometimes that is very refreshing. The garden tours have some nice—maybe even under rated photos. The “news” is funny. And I like the name of the book for sale here: “Soiled Reputations.” Have a look. You might find an answer to one of your gardening dilemmas.

Plant Swap (www.plantswap.net). You might swap garden lovelies with friends and neighbors. On the other hand, you might be wondering where to find some obscure plant or impossible-to-locate seed varieties. This site could be your answer. It is basically a gardeners’ discussion forum—nothing fancy. That is probably because those who post reserve fancy for their gardens, not the Web.

Flower Garden News (www.flowergardennews.com). The contents are appropriate for “kids 1-92.” And there are plenty of articles and tips to read. It was here that I learned I could use a castor oil product to rid myself of a very pesky mole problem (ask me later if it works). If you have found some seeds from the Plant Swap website, you can download some printable seed packets here to put them in.

Herbal Gardens (www.herbalgardens.com). Find information about herbs, plus recipes for your home-grown favorites. The site also includes seed catalog information. Discover how herbs promote not only a kick to your taste buds, but also to your wellbeing.

Garden-Gate (http://garden-gate.prairienet.org). Be prepared for a huge repository of links taking you to specific information about gardening. There are free online books to read, virtual garden tours, and even an article about saving those dying indoor plants of yours.

Weed Identification (http://weedid.aces.uiuc.edu/). Are you persnickety about your lawn? Finding clumps of quackgrass, crabgrass, and unknown wild things that don’t belong? This double-framed page can help you learn about those weeds. Plug in descriptive information in the left frame, or use the right frame for a link to some of the more common weeds. What surprised me were a number of native wild plants listed, included prickly pear. These are in lower case letters; the nasty varieties are in all caps, if it helps you to know. Cats are not going to appreciate that catnip is listed as a weed here.

Prairies (http://inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/prairielinks). We live close to several wild prairies, and this web page gives you links to many of them. Learn the types of plants that thrive in each, and which birds and insects inhabit them.

As I embark on my semiannual trip to Arizona, I have had to surf for not one, but two columns before I left. That is my excuse for presenting a mish-mosh of unrelated sites this week. I’m really good at rambling aimlessly around the Web looking for interesting stuff to tell you about. You have no idea how many sites I reject in the process. Meanwhile, my garden is languishing from lack of care.

Not Always Right (http://notalwaysright.com). Have you ever worked as a retail clerk, or in a service-related occupation? If so, you will appreciate the postings of employees having to deal with a clueless, or rude, or irritating customers. But you don’t have to be employed in service to enjoy this site.  I became addicted to reading the stories (short enough for short attention spans) and was laughing uncontrollably at most of the postings. This is way more funny that many of the so-called humor sites.

Botany Photo of the Day (ubcbotanicalgarden.org). This is just what it says, plus much additional garden information. (See last week’s CyberScribbles for garden websites).

Everything Turquoise (www.everythingturquoise.com). Well, why not? Here is a website dedicated to things you can buy in that summery color, or close approximations, including teal, robin’s egg blue, aqua, sky blue, seafoam, and ocean blue. All in one place. Now you are going to ask me if there are similar sites dedicated to other colors, such as coral or peach. The answer is, I don’t know. I did not check. But if I were a betting person, I would say yes, probably.

Recycleholic (www.recycleholic.blogspot.com). I am writing this column on Earth Day. Is that not appropriate? And here we have a very sincere gentleman who is logging all of his efforts of keeping our planet as decluttered as possible in these complex times. This man is by no means preachy, just dedicated. So dedicated that he does the math to figure out the effectiveness of each of his recycling projects. Chances are that few people outside of his acquaintances find their way to this blog. I am glad I ran across it. This blogger deserves praise for his recycling efforts.

Etsy (www.etsy.com). Attention all artists! You need to know about this site, if you don’t already. With art fairs taking a nosedive in sales and popularity, and marketing efforts taking all of your energy, Etsy comes through with a way for you to sell your wonderful hand made pieces of art to customers around the world. Attention art buyers! You need to discover Etsy, too. First, patronize our local artists—they are among the best of the best anywhere, right here in your hometown and environs. If they don’t happen to have what you are looking for, you can place a request for a commission that Etsy artists can bid on. How cool is that? Browse through pages and pages of a variety of art mediums and learn about the individual artists. Many have links to their own web pages, too.

Scrap Album (www.scrapalbum.com). Are you a collector of ephemera? Then you will like this illustrated history of early traditions, with links to dozens of ephemera collectors and sellers.

I am two print columns behind, since I did not use the computer while gone. Meanwhile, please have a look at Rusty’s Morningstar Ranch, as featured on Houston’s Fox television station. That’s where I spent my vacation, and I’m particularly proud of the guy in the red cap worn backwards. He’s my son Brian.

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=6443295&versio
n=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

            The big question for many families today is, “Do we plan to take a vacation this summer now that the gasoline prices have risen so high?” If the answer remains “Yes!” then here are a few zany festivals you might want to consider attending.

Summer Redneck Games (www.summerredneckgames.com). Outside of Atlanta, Georgia, in the little town of Dublin, the folks have been hosting this event since 1996. When Atlanta hosted the Summer Olympics, Dublin citizens decided to offer a down-home alternative. Starting with the arrival of the propane torch, the games include a Mudpit Belly Flop competition, Bobbing for Pigs feet, and a Hubcap Hurl, among other amusing distractions. The event occurs in July, but as of this writing, I am unsure of the exact dates.

Mashed Potato Wrestling Days (www.potatodays.com). All spud lovers would be happy to mosey over to Barnesville, MN on August 22 &23 this summer. In addition to ingesting various potato recipes, visitors can witness the Miss Tator Tot Pageant, Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head contest, Potato Car races (like the pinewood derby but with potatoes), a potato sculpting contest, potato sack fashions, potato stacking competition, and potato peeling contests. Potato wrestling—a variation of mud wrestling, is also on the list of events. The organizers call the festival “Spud’riffic fun.”

Gilroy Garlic Festival (www.gilroygarlicfestival.com). Actually, next to the potatoes, this California town’s festival sounds tame, except maybe for the pungent odors that must float around the festivities. No garlic eating contests, just a Great Garlic Cookoff where entrants submit some superb recipes. Last year’s winning recipes are on the website. Expect a parade, musical entertainment, and a juried arts and crafts festival, garlic, and that’s about it. Do you want to drive all the way to California for that? If so, reserve your last full weekend in July.

Oatman Sidewalk Egg Fry (www.oatmangoldroad.com). If you are lingering out West waiting for the Garlic Fest, head over to Oatman on July Fourth for their Sidewalk Egg Cooking contest. This northwest Arizona town should be mighty steamy—well, dry heat, that is, at the height of summer. Oatman is famous for the wild burros that roam around town. Another of its festivals is the International Burro Bisket Toss, date not listed. You would do just as well here in the Midwest at one of the cow chip throwing events.

Blythewood Kudzu Fest (www.kudzufest.net). I’m beginning to think that these small southern towns have the most creative festivals. Blythewood, South Carolina is overgrown with kudzu, and in the spirit of spinning the nuisance into a positive, the townsfolk have come up with an original. Fiber artists use the vine to create baskets, fishing creels, angel sculptures and more. Winner of the Miss Kudzu crown wears a gown with a kudzu theme. I am not sure if the kudzu-eating contest is for real. What is hilarious is an article on this site about How to Grow Kudzu. Festival organizers say, “Kudzu—we support it, we appreciate it, and we’re just trying to make it a happy thing.”  The event happens in September. The locals also mention that kudzu covers 7.7 million acres of the southeastern United States. Maybe those of us around Michigan City ought to think of organizing a Garlic Mustard, or Purple Loosestrife Festival?

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Upbeat, happy, nice and good are keywords that describe the majority of sites I found over the past week. As I sit writing this, we are in our umpteenth day of cloudy and wet weariness. I’m hoping that by the time this column is in print and in your hands, those dreary days are finally behind us.

Happy News (www.happynews.com). News addicts might want to counteract the effects of daily, negative news reports with a thoroughly enjoyable dose of all positive news. This is the place to find all sorts of good news (after reading the Beacher, which comes first). I’ve known doctors to tell their patients to stop watching the network news and daily newspapers as an effort to promote wellness. At this site, news addicts can have their news and enjoy it, too. Nothing to grumble about.

Do One Nice Thing (http://.doonenicething.com). Debbie Tenzer, who established this website, wanted to do something to contribute to humanity. She suggested starting the week off right by doing something altruistic on a Monday, the day many of us dread just because it’s the start of the workweek. She urges everyone to become a nice-oholic by finding something to contribute to the needy. Through her efforts to establish a worthy place on the Internet, Do One Nice Thing site visitors have contributed 140,000 pounds of school supplies to U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan to give to local children. That is just one of several success stories. The site lists current needs from various places and organizations, and another section allows you to submit suggestions for specific giving campaigns. Much of the giveways deal with schoolchildren’s needs. If you have reams of unused paper, stacks of unused pencils, or folders, or what-have-you, you can find a place to donate them here.

Free Photoshop Express (www.photoshop.com/express). If you’ve watched the digital editing world pass you by because of the steep price of Photoshop, or don’t have spare change for Photoshop Elements, its less-expensive clone, then raise a cheer for Photoshop Express. Launched in late March of this year, it is a web-based program that lets you have as much fun with your photos as those who own the fee-based software. Although I haven’t taken a spin around the site yet, it says that it is easier to use than its big brothers’ programs. Don’t expect all the bells and whistles, I’m guessing. Now, go make yourself a masterpiece.

Giveaway of the Day (www.giveawayoftheday.com). It’s worth a daily glance to see what the day’s free (computer software) giveaway might be. This is the full version of licensed software that you get, not a watered-down ir trial version. I noticed several spyware sweepers, registry fixers, and other helpful computer maintenance tools from past giveaways. Each software offer has been checked for potentially harmful viruses, so it looks like a safe bet. Each product comes with an in-depth review, so you can pick and choose what is right for you.

Free Movie Scripts (http://sfy.ru/). Free screenplays to read will appeal to movie buffs who might want to search for some specific lines from a favorite movie. Maybe. Or, those buffs will rent and watch the movie to find those lines. On the other hand, if you ever have considered writing your own screenplay, you now have a valuable reference point for formatting your creative product. And if anyone wants to perform a particular scene from a favorite movie, voila! Here you have the script. Choose from a huge selection of movies, and have fun.

see more crazy cat pics

Last week I told you about the B-Movies site, where you can watch older, classic, and somewhat recent (within the past 15-20 years) movies on your computer. This week, I found another place to watch full-run movies free. In addition, I found a place where you can register your complaints about companies or individuals who scam you. Plus, you might like to see some design and oddball home websites while you wander around cyberspace.

Fancast (www.fancast.com). Some of us, including me, do not have cable television. In fact, we need to apply for those coupons the government is giving away so that we can watch digital television next year. But when you cannot find anything decent on the tube to watch, or you are not an NCAA basketball fan, then you can turn to fancast and enjoy a variety of movies or full episodes of select television shows instead. Of course, I’m assuming that you have a fast internet connection. Otherwise, don’t bother. You can watch Sideways, or The Big Lebowski, for example. Or, for us cable-deprived, we can catch full episodes of Ghost Hunters, Monk, Arrested Development, and lots more. Again, I’m assuming that the weather is going to still be cold and wet and therefore parking in front of the computer is not too unhealthy a thing to do. Fancast is in Beta (meaning testing mode), and is brought to us by Comcast. How cool is it that we don’t have to subscribe to cable to feel like we are not being left out?

Strange Closets (www.strangeclosets.com). Don’t be fooled by the name. This Chicago-based offering describes its mission thus: “When design takes priority, the result is often strange closets.” Still doesn’t explain what this website is about? Well, how about taking an informal tour of places (stores, hotels, restaurants) where this native Chicagoan finds inspiration? He spotlights his favorite stores in short bursts of narrative that promise not to bore.  If you like his visuals you might want to take a trek to Chicago just to find these off-the-radar places.

Fresh Home (www.freshome.com). The “tips, gadgets, and inspirations for your home” include a selection of “extreme beds,” among other things. Imagine living in a very small space where you can store your full-sized bed above you near the ceiling. You have to see for yourself to appreciate the design and innovation. This website is not a store selling anything. It’s just for inspiration, and maybe adapting some of the many ideas it presents.

Offbeat Homes (www.offbeathomes.com). Next to Lol Cats and Cute Overload, I enjoy wandering the Web looking at all sorts of homes. Two worth mentioning are: a recycled house made from an airplane, which looks like it belongs on Lost Island; and an egg-shaped abode. Click the link on the page (What the Flip) to see more odd dwellings.

Ripoff Report (www.ripoffreport.com). I am certain there are other consumer complaint websites that may be even better than this one. However, you might find yourself feeling like a voyeur when you read some of the sad tales people have submitted. This site was created by consumers for consumers, and so everyone who posts is responsible for filing and documenting their complaints. One caveat posted is that not all reports are authentic or necessarily accurate. The overall intent of the site is to educate consumers. It is also a place to sound off, as you’ll see from the postings.

see more crazy cat pics

This week’s surfing adventure runs the gamut from B-movies to making a thought-screen helmet. If you’ve never heard of a thought-screen helmet, prepare to be entertained. In addition, there is a website devoted to helping left-handers. Too late for me; I flunked scissors. Finally, a reminder about observing Earth Hour on March 29, which I wrote about in the first CyberScribbles column of 2008.

B-Movies (www.bmovies.com). No sign up is necessary, just choose what you want to view, then sit back and enjoy. Choose horror, science fiction, kung fu or wild westerns. I chose to watch a 1952 film of the Lone Ranger. I remember watching that show before color television, and I may have listened to it on the radio. Anyway, I found out after all these years how the Lone Ranger received his famous moniker. I did not know that Tonto made the Lone Ranger’s mask from the vest of the masked hero’s fallen brother. What I do know now from an adult’s point of view is that the acting was cheesy. Work your way through the menu of films you can watch. “Little Shop of Horrors” is among them, as well as several Bruce Lee and Buck Rogers movies. There are some more recent films and some classics that will keep you occupied on a rainy day.

Writing Left Handed (www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk). Watch tutorials that help southpaws navigate the world of pencil and paper. Most of us who favor our left hand tended to just slog along, smearing our palms and adjusting to right-handed desks in school. No wonder we are considered more creative. I have cramped, badly turned letters—just as the tutorials warn against. But then, you try writing down quotes when someone is talking fast in an interview. Pay attention to the numbers of writers and artists who are left-handed. Oh, and I would like to know how to cut with the left-handed scissors sold on this site. I tried a pair once, but could not get them to work for me.

Stop Alien Abductions (www.stopabductions.com). Wow! Free step-by-step instructions for making a thought-screen helmet to ward off intrusive alien eavesdropping! This website, which appears to be all serious business, is funnier than some of the sites tagged as funny. Michael Menkin, a technical writer who has done work for NASA among other companies, is the inventor of the helmet. Obviously, he is not trying to make money off this site. He lists the supplies needed and where to find them. Apparently, he is very serious about winning the telepathic war he believes we humans are fighting with the aliens. The testimonials are funny, too.

Earth Hour (www.earthhour.org). Mark this Saturday, March 29 on your calendar now. At 8 pm that evening, folks around the globe will turn off their lights for an hour as a way to create “a positive tipping point” in the race to slow down global warming. This concept is a global attempt to replicate what the city of Melbourne, Australia started last year. At the Earth Hour website, individuals from businesses, town and city governments, and anyone else can pledge to get an awareness campaign started. You can watch a short video and see Melbourne go dark, as well as listen to appeals. Sounds like a good idea to me.