Just to let ya'll know were taking a break from the net, I called the co. today and told them to cut it off! My husband lost his really good job 3 years ago and has done many things since but just hasn't found his niche, he's working construction right now. I spend way to much time on this machine and were trying to cut any fat in our budget we can, the 1st two to go is internet and trash pick up. We're really thrifty anyway, and debt free, I'm going to miss the forum a LOT! I haven't posted a lot lately, just lurked everyday. Our public library has 4 computers I can use so I'll go there about once a week. Spring is coming and I have a lot of work to do. Ya'll take care you here! Carol in N.E. TExas

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), March 18, 2002

Answers

We will miss you Carol, best wishes!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), March 18, 2002.

Good luck to you both, Carole. Mac

-- Jimmy S (Macrocarpus@gbronline.com), March 18, 2002.

There are free Internet service providers. Netzero/Juno (the two companies combined recently) is one of them. The service was unlimited for several years but now there is a limit of 19? free hours per month. Sure you have to put up with banner ads but they are less troublesome than some of the pop-ups on many sites. I currently use their premium service which is unlimited and only $9.95 per month and no banner ads.

-- Diana in FL (dvance4@juno.com), March 18, 2002.

Many folks, esp on this forum, would also be adding at least 5 cents a minute long distance charges to Juno. Acceptable for e-mail perhaps, but not for 19 hours of browsing. They only provide free dialup in cities of 40 thousand or greater perhaps.

--->Paul

-- paul (ramblerplm@hotmail.com), March 18, 2002.

I also have Juno and it is free. I live in a town of 5000 and the town next to me is 1000 and I have them as my secondary number. So, you don't necessarily have to live in a large area to get the free Juno access. I am using AOL for three months because they gave it to me free and I don't have to put up with Juno's annoying banners (but for free I can stand a little annoyance). I picked up free trial software at Wal-Mart for 45 days of AOL, but when I went to cancel before the 45 days was up, they extended it two more months. It is nicer than the Juno free internet, but I will take free over $21.00 (or whatever it is) per month.

-- Catherine in town of 5000 (cbenandy@aol.com), March 18, 2002.

Is the local library on the internet?

Congratulations on having the fortitude and wisdom to make some right choices. You are a good role model.

We won't have any knock-down, drag-out fights until you get back.

-- paul (primrose@centex.net), March 18, 2002.

I know how you feel as I had to do without the internet for over a year. Due to health I couldn't work and as addicted to this forum as I am I am addictied to feeding me and my animals even more. Hope to hear from you from your library or at least that you will be able to keep up with the great info on this forum. gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gefozarks@centurytel.net), March 18, 2002.

i have the internet through the public library here in central missouri. $100 bucks a year. 150 hours a month, WHich is plenty for me.

-- randy in central missouri (rwybrant@coin.org), March 18, 2002.

Carol, thank you, I have got to where I spend about two hours a day looking at postings on several forums, I will cut that back to once a week, That means I get a whole day to do things that really matter. Mabey I should just turn off the thing completely. I can turn 12 bowls or carve two Santas, or or or. Me and the wife already have our homestead and a retirement already made. Mabey more or you should think about working the time spent at the computer on a part time job and saving that money toward buying your dream homestead.

-- David in North Al. (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), March 19, 2002.

the phone and net would be two of the last things I would eliminate. The well of knowledge available on the internet make it one of my most valuable tools. I use it to excel in my agronomics, education and investment evaluations.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 19, 2002.

i am taking some classes at college and they have free internet access also. just go to the office and they give you a sheet with the setup info on it. just fyi.

-- steve (stevetamara@mindspring.com), March 19, 2002.

The Netzero/Juno deal is less interesting than mentioned. While they may have access only in cities of over 40,000 population. In my city of 330,000+ the only access they have is for their pay service. There is no access here for their "free" service. I like your library idea best. Good luck to you.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), March 19, 2002.

I tried the free Juno Internet access, and was booted off so often I never could actually *use* the Internet; every time I got online and tried to go somewhere, it had already cut me off and started dialing again! Carol, you know you can always come to my house if the library's closed!

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), March 19, 2002.

Funny, I have had problems connecting using my juno address but not my netzero address. I lived outside a town of 3000 before moving to the Tampa Bay area and had access to Juno. The size of the town has nothing to do with the availablilty of the service, if you live in the same area code as simi-large town your all set. While being disconnected (doesn't happen to me, knock on wood) may be a pain in the ass it would pain me more to pay premium prices for something as slow as AOL which many use. Of course this is all moot when you are talking about offering suggestions to someone who feels that they can no longer afford internet service.

-- Diana in FL (dvance4@juno.com), March 19, 2002.