CyberScribbles Too

One Year Later, A Return

2007-12-16T17:17:00.000-06:00

Beginning in January, you once again can find posts of my print columns. Readers will find it easier to come directly here to access the websites I talk about in my weekly columns in the Beacher. See you in a few weeks.

A Busy Year

2006-12-23T21:43:00.000-06:00

It's been a long way from May to December and my last post. The good news for Beacher readers (where my CyberScribbles column is buried deep inside) is that the website is posting all--or most--of its back issues.And yet, links to my recommended sites have to be manually typed in. For a long time now I have attempted to help readers access those links right here. But I cannot promise you that I

Four Months Later....

2006-05-30T17:29:00.000-05:00

I know, I know. It's been four months since I've posted the weekly column online. It has been running weekly in The Beacher, and you can read it via their .pdf files online.Looking for an excuse as to why I've not posted here? Simple enough: lack of time.I rarely check my stats. But today I had a look and was ASTOUNDED by the numbers. More than I expected. I'll do what I can to post the columns

Trade tricks. Bottle Art. Quiet Vacation

2006-01-31T18:27:00.000-06:00

(Ditto to a lapse of the usual formatting..maybe I'll just keep leaving things this way) The list of websites this week goes on. It’s a potpourri of interesting stuff, and the one-minute vacation is a welcomed change of pace.One Minute Vacation (www.quietamerican.org/vacation). I was unaware of how many people carry recording gear around with them in order to catch snippets of sounds.

Best Lists; Olympics; Kooky

2006-01-31T09:29:00.000-06:00

Note: I'm forgoing my usual formatting this week to get this to you. It's a little faster, and I'm behind schedule. Hope you don't mind...It has become a tradition for media to post “Best of” lists as the old year folds into a new one. I’ve found two worth noting this week. Also, as we look forward to February, many of us will be watching the Winter Olympics on the tube. Knowing how each sport is

Fun Stuff, Serious Stuff

2006-01-12T11:30:00.000-06:00

Take a look at this week’s lineup: no more punching a zillion numbers to reach customer service; generate a poem, proverb, plot or dozens more fun things; click your mouse to ‘donate” to humanitarian projects; and last but not least, participate in a science-based project to find out how strong your psychic powers may be.IVR Cheat Sheet. IVR stands for “interactive voice response”—we know it as

A Variety of Unrelated Sites

2006-01-12T11:22:00.000-06:00

The size of the World Wide Web continues to expand, and websites continue to become more sophisticated. The Internet is an easy place to fall prey to information overload. I discovered that last year, when my brain became numb trying to organize this column into weekly themes. In this fresh, new year, I resolve, to go with the flow, ride the wave, and leave the upstream current to spawning salmon

Helpful Support

2005-12-06T17:02:00.000-06:00

Readers of this column have asked me why I chose to use a dialup connection instead of something faster. My answer was that it was an economic decision, but all has changed recently. I found a dsl service that compared favorably to the subscriptions I had, so I made the switch last month. And that switch may—or may not affect readers of this column. Until now, I have focused on websites that are

Back By Popular Demand

2005-12-06T16:51:00.000-06:00

Occasionally, this column gets letters asking for websites having to do with forecasting the future. Put all those letters together in a year’s time and I consider it “popular demand.” Since we’re nearing the end of the year and many people want to know ahead of time what the next year will bring them, I’ve collected an assortment of websites where they can glance into the future. I cannot attest

Holiday Table Tips & Gingerbread Houses

2005-11-23T13:07:00.000-06:00

So. You are getting out the linen napkins and planning to set a fine table. I’ve found just the place for you to find out how to make fancy napkin folds, pair wines, and set the table. After the holiday meal, you might plan to add to your weekend tradition the baking, building and decorating of a gingerbread house. Now, doesn’t that sound more fun than fighting the

More Wacky, Wild and Weird Sites

2005-11-17T17:15:00.000-06:00

Last week I ran out of room listing wacky, wild and/or just plain weird sites that proliferate on the Web. Here are a few more.Sibology. If there are times when you think your thinking is off-balance, you might want to use this site as a reality check for yourself. You’ll discover that your thinking is well within the boundaries of ordinary. Notice that I did not use the word “normal”? “Sib.”

Wacky, Wild and Weird

2005-11-10T17:22:00.000-06:00

Need a laugh about now? I’ve found some places on the Internet that are worth a good laugh. Or, if not a good laugh, an opportunity to mull over the notion that humans who post to the Web come in all flavors and take up some imaginative—even out-of-this-world kinds of projects. Have fun logging on to some or all of the following.Pumpkin Computer . What do you do with your pumpkin after Halloween

Update: Virtual Classroom II

2005-11-01T19:10:00.000-06:00

After the last post, I worked through my final lessons--took the final exam--and passed!.You can view a sample of what I learned at my website, Artmedia-Indiana.I used a combination of my html training and Dreamweaver. For anyone who tells you that it's a good thing to learn html even though you might use a wysiwyg editor, believe them! It makes things so much easier.Now I will concentrate on

A Virtual Classroom Experience

2005-10-16T17:00:00.000-05:00

I’m not bringing you a list of reviewed websites this week because I’ve had no extra time to surf. I have, however, spent considerable time online. In a virtual classroom. Last May, I found out about an online learning opportunity offered for zero dollars by the Small Business Administration. Six intensive sessions of several subjects were being “given away” to the first 2400 people who signed up

Yikes! Where Are the Posts?

2005-09-30T09:30:00.000-05:00

It's the end of September and you've just about stopped logging in to see what's here. The weekly print column continues as usual (in the Beacher), but my time management skills have not kept pace with posting here. I promise to get those back columns online very soon. Thanks for your patience.

Secrets Revealed

2005-07-23T19:38:00.000-05:00

I had originally planned to title this week’s column, “Politics,” but we have learned not to discuss that matter if we want to keep friends (or readers here). Since those of us of a certain age clearly remember the Watergate affair and since Deep Throat recently revealed his identity, what better time to browse the Internet and dig for secrets.White House Tapes . The nonpartisan Miller Center at

This and That Returns

2005-07-23T19:33:00.000-05:00

There is no way to categorize this week’s selections of websites. Blame it on random surfing. The scope of mentions this week varies from lawnmower racing to international real estate listings. Let’s just jump right in.U.S. Lawnmower Racing Association . You may be thinking that because our lawnmowers have not been getting much of a workout this summer, we might as well put them to use in a

Balance

2005-07-11T15:12:00.000-05:00

The word, “balance’ can mean many things. This week we peek into the worlds of two individuals who balance objects for a living. Ballerinas know about balance, and we found a fine site with archives of photos of famous ballerinas past and present. Also, we review a website that promotes balance of mind, body and spirit.The Ballerina Gallery . Many young ladies initially became attracted to

Pop Web Icons, Project Awry and First Names

2005-07-05T14:46:00.000-05:00

Pop Web Icons, Project Awry and First NamesThese three unrelated websites belong in what have become my “This and That” columns that show up here about once a month. I need to credit one of the sources I use to find interesting sites to write about, and that source is a popular blog known as J-Walk . Keep in mind that not all of the sites this Arizona-based writer talks about are family-friendly.

Art Lessons on the Web

2005-06-29T15:59:00.000-05:00

A wealth of local art organizations offers classes for beginners to advanced students in just about every medium you can think of. There is no substitute for sitting in a class with others, where you can share ideas, tips and techniques with your instructor and other students, and for getting out to socialize, too. So with that said, the websites mentioned here this week might be useful as a

Creative Shopping

2005-06-20T01:00:00.000-05:00

Yes, I’ve said before that I do not review shopping sites—because my feeling is that we should shop locally and support our local businesses whenever possible. This week’s list of websites are not your average shopping sites, and I bring a few of them to your attention more as curiosities.Be More Creative . Frank, this site’s creator, notes that he started this website as a collection of quotes

Pirates & Piracy

2005-06-17T13:06:00.000-05:00

Now here is an unusual subject for the week. We who live around the shores of Lake Michigan have no fancy tales about pirates. Just shipwrecks. What got me started on this topic was—no, not Johnny Depp, but coming across a website about contemporary pirates. That led me to all sorts of nooks and crannies around the Internet. One site speaks of a mystery that you probably have not heard of—but it

UFOLOGY

2005-06-12T20:08:00.000-05:00

Stargazing hits a peak during summer months. Balmy evenings outside, on a deck, on the beach, or wherever—naturally attract eyes to the skies. UFO sightings ebb and flow like the tides, and numerous people around the globe like to track sightings and share their experiences. Yours truly reported seeing one many years ago when I was living close to the Mississippi River in Illinois. And I happened

This and That Echoes Again

2005-05-25T16:37:00.000-05:00

Time has a way of running away and this is an apology for the late postings two weeks in a row.This & That Echoes AgainIf you are a regular CyberScribbles reader, you know the “This & That” columns are miscellaneous websites I’ve found that I have not lumped into one category. This week, visit a pair of “real estate” sites whose offerings are unlikely to make the pages of the Beacher. Then peek

Statistics for Anything

2005-05-22T14:25:00.000-05:00

Come on, fess up. You and I and a lot of other people often tend to take at face value the daily news fed to us from television, radio, the dailies, and even from some online blogs. We stop questioning assumptions, and rely on what might be fuzzy data. The Internet can set us straight, if we choose to dive a little deeper. The Internet can be a fun playground, yet it is also a fine repository of

Sweepstakes & Contest Sites

2005-05-20T14:19:00.000-05:00

Just think how personal computers have changed the flavor of sweepstakes entries. Forget the scissors and postage stamps, because entering can be accomplished online. If you want to focus on a new hobby and have a computer, you might get addicted to entering all the dozens and dozens of giveaways. Here are a few sites I researched to get you started.Sweepstakes Today -- “where dreams can come

Free Computer Help

2005-05-13T14:10:00.000-05:00

Often, your computer technical problems can be solved without getting on the phone and calling a help desk. It all depends on your willingness (or courage) to find and fix minor problems yourself. While I don’t necessarily recommend tackling major computer problems without expert assistance, I do believe that you can find solutions that you can indeed fix yourself. Here are some helpful, free

This and That--Again

2005-05-03T16:39:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I find things around the Web that don’t fit neatly into categories. Or, they do fit into categories, but I may not have the time to explore them in more depth. This week, take a spin to investigate the USDA’s newly revised Food Pyramid, to a recipe page filled with a global variety of offerings, and to some lesser-known Indiana webpages.My Pyramid . The old food pyramid that we learned

Science Weirdness & Mystery

2005-04-24T16:45:00.000-05:00

I like a good mystery, whether reading Agatha Christie or science fiction. I enjoyed browsing through a handful of non-literary websites that open doors to the heretofore unexplained. In a few of the sites listed this week, I had to put on my thinking cap as my first grade teacher used to say—to understand concepts put forth by a college professor about the fourth dimension. The websites touch on

Calendars

2005-04-19T19:59:00.000-05:00

By now, you’ve had your 2005 calendar tacked somewhere on a wall for four months. It may be too late to tell you about the free calendars you can download from a variety of programs and from websites, but it’s never too late to tell you about a variety of calendar websites that post interesting events and activities worldwide.If you are planning a trip, some of these calendars can tip you off

Fun with Words

2005-04-14T10:50:00.000-05:00

You’ll need to forgive my self-indulgence by choosing to focus on websites that feature words. I am a writer, after all, and writers like words and wordplay. You don’t have to be a writer to enjoy these picks, though. I bet you will find at least one that offers you something valuable. Maybe it will tweak your interest in doing more writing yourself. After all, we don’t want text messaging to end

More This & That

2005-04-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

I have a hidden script on my Blog which tracks my most popular pages. Turns out that my miscellaneous, “this-and-that” columns are the most read. And here I thought I was doing you a favor by giving you information in categories—a change I made in January. I will continue to write topic-centered columns over the year, but now I will toss in an occasional “this and that” column, tooFraud alert .

E-Learning

2005-04-04T15:20:00.000-05:00

Author and futurist Alvin Toffler (Future Shock) made a prediction over 30 years ago that has come true. He stated that one will not need to leave home to do their shopping, banking or even acquiring a college education.Toffler was partially correct though, because pda’s, laptops and even cell phones make even these activities portable. Distance learning classes are a standard for many

Where's the Weather Blog?

2005-03-21T17:02:00.000-06:00

If you are looking for this week's weather column from the Beacher, I posted it here two weeks ago. It's just that the Beacher ran it a little later than I expected. Just check the March archives and you will find it there.

Family Focus

2005-03-18T17:56:00.000-06:00

(My apologies for posting this week's column a few day's late...)March 17 is not only St. Patrick’s Day, it is also “Absolutely Incredible Kid Day.”The Senoi tribe in Maylasia is reported to spend family time each morning discussing the previous evenings’ dreams. This daily ritual solidifies togetherness and confict resolution. I’m suggesting websites that parents and children can freely share

Weather

2005-03-09T10:33:00.000-06:00

March has roared in like a lion, making us wonder how long snow will remain in the forecast. We can peek into the future at most of our favorite weather sites.Most Internet Service Providers have a page filled with up-to-date news headlines, daily astrology, shopping links, and a current weather report. I’m guessing that most users are like me—they check the weather provided by the ISP and

Installing Love

2005-03-02T09:34:00.000-06:00

If I had had my act together, I would have given you this around Valentine’s Day. But the message has no deadline. I enjoyed this so much that instead of a website review this week, you are getting this. Enjoy!INSTALLING LOVETech Support: Yes, ... how can I help you?Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to installLove. Can you guide me through the process?Tech Support: Yes. I can

This and That

2005-02-22T18:37:00.000-06:00

Warning: Don't click above to go to any "next blog." It's my understanding that spyware is tracking those clicks...While I’m surfing to do research for this column, I come across a bunch of interesting sites that don’t necessarily fit into one neat category, or maybe ones that do fit into neat categories but without enough time for me to research them in more depth. If I don’t tell you about

Presidents

2005-02-16T10:36:00.000-06:00

The Federal holiday that comes in mid-February is meaningless to most of us. Except, maybe, for sales advertisements. We know about George and the cherry tree and Abe studying in his humble log cabin. Beyond that mostly useless information, what do you really know about Presidents from past history? Me neither. But that’s where the excellent resources on the Internet can help all of us become

Chinese New Year

2005-02-08T13:36:00.000-06:00

February 9 marks a second chance for all of us to put those lapsed resolutions into practice. Here are a few websites that provide information about Chinese customs at this time of the year, and beyond. 2005 marks the Year of the Rooster, in case you did not know. And the Chinese celebrate everyone’s birthday together on this one date. Not a bad idea. Note that this week's online edition is

Cake Art

2005-02-02T15:41:00.000-06:00

February is a month of birthdays in my household and among several of my friends. February is also a time when brides-to-be are well into arranging the details of their summer weddings. So the subject this week is cakes—unusual and artful sugary ones. Mike’s Amazing Cakes. I start here because Mike’s website gave me the impetus to surf for more cake artists of his class. Amazing cakes they are.

Faces

2005-01-25T15:49:00.000-06:00

It all started when I found on the Internet a “fun toy” that transforms a digital portrait photo (think: passport photo) into one of several possible choices. After the visit to that website, I was off and running, finding more face fun or face research to make it my CyberScribbles topic of the week. Betcha find at least one of the sites mentioned here taking up more online time

pix

2005-01-18T15:05:00.001-06:00

Chess En Passant

2005-01-18T14:39:00.000-06:00

Imagine an outdoor café on a lazy summer afternoon, or a shady park where a pair of thinkers plot their next move. There is a whispery breeze off the lake, and all is quiet and thoughtful. No battery-operated boom boxes, cell phones, or Game Boys within 100 miles. Are we in another galaxy? Well, at least think summer. I read somewhere that chess has come back into fashion as the new “in” game.

Journaling Sites

2005-01-11T13:15:00.000-06:00

What is it about the turn of the calendar to a fresh, new year that makes us want to embark on some sort of self-improvement project? Are you ready to assess your progress after just a wink more than a week into 2005? I want to suggest that you look into journaling. Keeping a journal is easy and does not involve counting calories or logging crunches. Journals allow us

2004 Archives

2005-01-02T17:44:00.000-06:00

Archives of CyberScribbles' weekly columns from April through December of 2004 are available at my former website. You can find them at CyberScribbles101.

New in 2005

2004-12-07T18:51:00.000-06:00

Coming in January, a new way to post information from the CyberScribbles print column. It promises to be easier to read and to navigate. See you soon...