I had just a tiny taste of grid down hell. Normally, I pride myself on self reliance and even though I've resisted all ipads, tablets, touch screens, smart phones,etc...(mainly because I'm poor) I've learned that to be without a phone and internet is truly crippling. Do you realize that when you have no phone and internet you have to actually go to an actual location to conduct business?! It feels as archaic as carving on a stone tablet, not the kind with a touch screen, but an actual chisel! The computer remembers everything for me, the titles of the books I want to read, the lyrics to my favorite songs, phone numbers and addresses, my favorite websites and news feeds. I can feel my brain atrophying as I type! Also strange is the fact that I sometimes intentionally unplug for the weekend or during vacation, but knowing that I can't have access causes me to go into withdrawal. At work I see both ends of the spectrum, people who seem to have their smart phones surgically attached to their palm, constantly tweeting and texting, and others who still are befuddled by a computer mouse. Both extremes seem bizarre to me, but I've learned that I too have an internet addiction, especially when using it is not left to my choice. Can you go for a week without using the internet?