Internet Addiction - Learn How To Connect Without Wireless Connections

Instant messaging, text messaging, email, blogs, vlogs, and podcasts. With technology moving faster than a T1 connection, every day brings another way to keep in touch without actually having to show up in person.

What started as a fun pastime has turned into a modern-day obsession unlike any other. It seems that the more connected we are, the more disconnected we become. Because of the obsession, people have become more overweight and relationships of every kind have disintegrated under the spell of computer games and chat rooms.

In addition, people of all ages are developing at a staggering rate:

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Computer Vision Syndrome
• Back problems
• Financial problems
• Circulation problems
• And more

No longer are real communities connected. Instead, people choose to connect to online communities and have virtual friends and romantic "relationships" instead of face-to-face contact.

People hide behind their "defenses" (computers, cell phones, etc.) making their own version of a "real connection" with computer games that allow users to build and have a "relationship" with their idea of a perfect family or mate. Couples often jump faster into bed with their laptop than they do their partner.

How can we change the world we live in and start reconnecting with reality when we are so disconnected? Like any other addiction, the only way to conquer it is to take it one step at a time, one day at a time. Here are a few helpful suggestions to help you start on the path of reconnection without technology:

• If you have family and friends that are far away, why not send them a real letter? Stamps are available at that place called the Post Office.
• Have a conversation in the flesh with someone that does not involve hardware or software as an intervening third party. Walk to a friend or family members home and have a dialogue without email or texting. If you find that your verbal skills have become rusty, write a script of casual topics of discussion with questions like:
  • What did you do today?
  • How is your family?
  • How was school / work?
  • Ask general questions to get the conversation started and listen to what the other person has to say. If you really listen, you will be able to pick up additional questions you can ask along the way.
• Parents, just say no. When did the word no become such an evil word? You are not abusing or depriving your child by using it. Disconnect the computer and safeguard your children. If they need to research a paper for school, take them down to the library or help them with their research on the Internet. You can then monitor what they view and do online. When the work is done, disconnect and remove the computer when you aren't around. Get your children involved in life so computers don't become their life.
• Stop playing computer games and get back into some of the classic board games such as Life, Monopoly, Yahtzee and other games.
• Restless and bored? Go to a park and fly a kite. Head to the beach and take a picnic with you. The point is to get outside and start moving.
• If you're addicted to chat rooms, why not start a face-to-face chat room in your own home. Set up a theme night and invite family and friends over to partake in a real life chat room. No hardware, software, cell phones or wireless connections allowed.

  If some of your guests become antsy about not using their cell phones, remind them that you have a landline they can use.

• If most of your relationships live on the Internet, join a local social or sports club or become involved in a local charity. Learning to socialize in new ways can be fun.

These are just a few steps to help you get back into the game of life and away from meaningless connections.

The Internet, computers, wireless connections, cell phones, iPod's, etc. are useful and can make life a lot easier and fun.

Technology is not the enemy; it's the uncontrolled use of technology that's ruining our society and our relationships.

Jaci Rae's grit and determination have brought her from an impoverished childhood to a career as an award-winning singer, No. 1 best-selling author and entrepreneur who has toured around the world. Jaci shares her down-to-earth advice as the relationship advisor/expert/dating coach for igniteromance.com, savvymiss.com, lovingyou.com, loveisgreat.com and lsinglescafe.net

She is the author of The Indie Guide to Music, Marketing and Money, as well as Winning Points With The Woman In Your Life One Touchdown At A Time, Shop for a Day with Jaci Rae How to Get Almost Anything for Free (not published yet) and Collista's Search for the True Meaning of Christmas (not published yet).

Jaci spends her spare time working on her music, writing and hanging out with family and friends. For more information, go to http://www.christmaswithlove.com http://www.shopforaday.com or http://www.jacirae.com

About.com Dating Guide lists Jaci's book, Winning Points With The Woman In Your Life One Touchdown At A Time in the top six of all time dating / relationship books.

Switching Broadband Suppliers - Getting More Bang For Your Buck - Part Two

In the last part of this guide I told you how to determine the speed of your broadband connection using online broadband speed tests to see if you're getting your money's worth, I also covered how to decide what speed of broadband you realistically need without spending needless extra amounts on bandwidth you aren't going to use.

Well now we move on to the usage section of this guide, due to the vast nature of the Internet it can be used in millions of different ways from talking to a family member halfway round the world to looking up the recipe for that cheesecake you enjoyed as a kid. Depending on how you use the Internet can determine whether you can get cheaper broadband or not.

Are limits any good?

Internet Service Suppliers provide Broadband to millions of people in this country, and each one has thousands in any one town or city. Providing a service to these customers is exactly like providing running water, in order to ensure everyone gets their fair share then sometimes limits have to be put in place, with internet suppliers you may be able to get a cheaper deal by agreeing that you will only use a certain amount per month.

This is normally measured in Gigabytes and is recommended for people who don't use the Internet that much, people who have opted for this service have found that their service is much quicker than the same speed group for people who are on unlimited download services. Obviously if you go over your limit then it is charged in a similar way to a mobile phone contract.

Unlimited on the other hand allows you to download to your heart's content with no fear of extra charges for being an Internet-fiend for one month. Unlimited plans have come under scrutiny in recent years in that they are not necessarily "unlimited" per say, in order to maintain the same quality of service to all their customers in your area your broadband supplier may have a fair-use policy, as if you are downloading movies and large files all the time then it will have an effect on other people's service. In these cases repeated offenders are normally sent a letter saying that they should lower their usage as it isn't fair to others, if the behaviour continues then it has been known for suppliers to indiscriminately lower the user's speed but not reduce the cost.

So for cases where you know you are not going to be downloading large files (typically less than 5gb/month) then you may like to consider looking into applying limits on your connection, it could be the key you need to cheap broadband!

Packages: Sweetening the deal

The lines between the Internet and traditional media such as Television and Radio have been blurred quite a bit in the past few years, with sites like Youtube and the BBC's iPlayer these days many people are looking to the World Wide Web for their fix of entertainment.

The Cable and Satellite companies have recognized this fact and have rolled with the punches, most media companies now offer cheaper rates on bundled packages, normally consisting of Broadband, TV and landline phones, Virgin Media include packages that include mobile telephones too since they have their own mobile network.

Big savings can be made if you are willing to change all your needs to one supplier, typically if you get all three from the list above then you can pay as little as 30 per month for the lot, it may be worth mentioning that these deals tend to offer the typically average speeds and deals and so can be good for the majority of internet users but those who are desperate for lightening quick speeds can end up having to pay a premium on top of their bundle, that said apart from the savings it can also help with managing bills, or at least cut them down to one.

At this point you should have a good idea of what your usage needs are, whether you're a download-aholic or just a casual user and whether considering a supplier with download limits is a realistic option for you. As well as the speed you determined in the previous part of this guide you should also be aware of bundled packages where you can save money by consolidating your home services. The next part of this guide will cover how to go about ordering new broadband and if you already have broadband then I'll talk you though the task of saying goodbye to your old supplier and hello to your new one.

If you are looking for cheap broadband whether you have an existing provider or not then you can compare broadband deals online. Also if you are thinking about changing your supplier then check your connection using one of the various broadband speed test websites to see whether you are getting your money's worth.