How to prepare for your cable-free life

I've written about this before:  Americans are afraid they won't know what to do in the absence of their feeding tubes.  http://makalakapisei.blogspot.com/2011/02/cut-your-umbilical.html

I was just reading this... http://forums.macresource.com/read/1/1652828 and thinking that there are all sorts of people waking up, realizing they are in the midst of a cultural dark age (well, yes and no - the "enlightened" might blame everyone else's degeneracy on Republicans and ask for more funding - Google CS 106 or the collapse of Detroit) and unplugging.

Here's how to do it:


1. Mentally prepare yourself and your family.  The lack of cable will be a big adjustment, especially if you have children that might feel that they have a "reduction in status" due to no cable - oh, the ignominy of telling one's friends, "Sorry, we don't have cable to watch," and might have to go walking instead.


2. Find out what services you really need.  I would say internet is probably all you might want, do you actually NEED cable t.v. (listen to games on radio, go out to watch them, or do a websearch, a lot of European sites stream them).

3. When Verizon retention specialists call begging you to remain at their teat, tell them you are unplugging from the Matrix (but be prepared for them to try to negotiate).

4. Get a library card and ask the librarian for a quick "refresher tour".  My s.o. loved this when we went through.



5. Start bookmarking websites that help make you feel connected with news, features, current events, discussion fora, links to or good substitutes for the things you feel you might miss.

6. Enjoy your new unplugged life!  I wish you all the best.