A sample of the new discussions that took place on the mountainx.com forums this week include looking at the downsides of Google’s gigabit/second project, weeds in the yard and garden, local genealogy and more.

You can’t swing a dead opossum in Asheville without hitting a writer. And some of these writers are writing kids books. A few are writing for parents. Now you can take that “buy local” mantra to the next level by purchasing locally written (and a few locally published) books at one of our independent bookstores (gaining complete “put your $ where your heart is” cred).

No question seems to conjure more controversy among the cineaste crowd than the one that arises in connection with modern film and the tendency of quite a few filmmakers to lean heavily on movies of the past. Now, when I say modern film, I’m talking about film that’s been modern for quite a long time now.

In this week’s round-up of local videos: Asheville gets Google-eyed, Jason Ingle keeps tabs on our real-estate market, wondering why the turkeys crossed the road, The Enemy Lovers — and more. Watch ‘em here!

Benefit concert tonight at the White Horse in Black Mountain with Nikki Talley, Dave Turner, Sirius B, Laura Blackley, Kim Hughes, Every Mothers Dream, and WSNB (We Sing Nasty Blues). $12 admission; starts at 7 p.m. If you can’t make it to the show, check out the live video/audio stream.

This week’s issue of Xpress mistakenly pegs the event, which will pay tribute to the creative legacy of Black Mountain College, to the wrong date

Got spring (shopping) fever? Want designer clothes on an outlet store budget? Need to clean out the closet before bringing in a new haul? SheTrade’s semi-annual event makes it all possible.

The Knoxville festival adds two Asheville bands to its mega lineup. Plus, Harvest Records snags Tim Hecker to play a pre-Big Ears show in Asheville.

Feeling literary? Or like escaping the rain, drinking a jumbo-sized macchiato and listening to an astute author read to you? This evening through Sunday promise plenty of bookish opportunities.

Menya is a group of three 20-something New York University undergrads whose bubbly brand of electro-pop will boost your heart rate and drop your thoughts into the gutter quicker than you can say, well, Menya. Check them out for yourself Friday at Club 828.

Seduction Sideshow presents the Corney Island Carnival Sideshow Extravaganza on Saturday, March 20.

Folk, Gothic cabaret and dark-punk band Hellblinki teams up with puppeteer Madison J. Cripps to present The Devil Takes All, a puppet rock opera and adventure through the dubious wonders of Hellblinkland.

Sign, quoting WNC-based author John Ehle, on Patton Ave.

Ami Worthan (of Mad Tea Party) stops at Hi-fi Coffee Bar’s take out window, located in the Downtown Market.