What has the world come to? First we get the Internet (designed by the military for those of you who didn’t know) and finger-tip access to all kinds of information and now someone has invented a device to keep our computers off the Internet (or at least make it a hassle to get on) so that we won’t be distracted by what’s out there.

Freedom

Freedom is an application that disables networking on an Apple computer for up to eight hours at a time. Freedom will free you from the distractions of the internet, allowing you time to code, write, or create. At the end of your selected offline period, Freedom re-enables your network, restoring everything as normal.

Freedom enforces freedom; a reboot is the only circumvention of the Freedom time limit you specify. The hassle of rebooting means you’re less likely to cheat, and you’ll be more productive. When first getting used to Freedom, I suggest using the software for short periods of time.

Suggested donation $10.

This is rather bizarre, but in a bizarre sort of way I understand how we need to be protected by our greatest inclinations. I like the circuitous path of the world wide web and the idea that I can have so much information at my fingertips. Sometimes I think I live the most interesting part of my life here, researching obscure facts, reading Emily Magazine,  trolling the lives of my friends and objects of my interest and affection (or obsession). If  I need a break from it, well, I can just close the lid and get off, go for a walk. Don’t we all have that “freedom?” Like Emily said, it’s called “self-discipline.” It doesn’t cost $10 either.