What is it about the Internet that causes people to sit at a machine all day long, clicking away, going from one site to another, and completely losing track of time?

How do we get so carried away and lost in space?

Do you think it's an illness? Frankly, I've seen less commitment from people at the casino, and those people very often look hypnotised, or drugged.

Addiction aside, I think the Internet far exceeds the appeal of television. It hits many more of our buttons, to say the least. Just think. There are no secrets anymore. It's in the open. Transparent. I like that.

When I want to escape, I'll flip the boob tube on to watch an old movie or the food channel. Half the time, I fall asleep in the first five minutes. I never fall asleep in front of my PC or laptop. Oh yes, I did once, but only because I had been awake 24 hours straight.

When you think about how addicted people are to the Internet, you realize how powerful this tool is, she says while biting upper lip. I don't like being addicted to anything, and will exert great effort and willpower to extricate myself when aware.

I think an addiction to TV or the Internet is dangerous when it represents an escape from reality and real life, when you become detached from reality. You can't really take a virtual walk, or get virtual fresh air, or take a virtual swim. Not the real thing anyway. And emailing can't replace sitting with your friend, looking at his face and conversing . You have to be careful not to lose your sense of reality.

Let's get back to the Internet.

What an invention! GREAT! Love it! Not because you and I are using it to build our livelihoods, though that too. But you can learn everything you want to know fast, and easy. You can research everything like crazy. Dig deep and deeper. The information is available to you. Just type in something and voila! Served up on a neat silver platter.

Wonder if kids in school realize how fortunate they are. When I was a kid, we had to go to the library to write a paper. We were limited to the books that were available in the library. We didn't have access to huge amounts of material written on a topic, or commentaries, in quite the same way that the Internet affords today. I remember writing papers, using the encylopedia as a primary resource. Then I typed the papers on a primitive word processor, or my big sister's old beat up typewriter. Remember those?

The Internet meets all sorts of needs.

It entertains: You can watch movies, play games, read books, email friends, chat in blogs and forums, read the news, join social networks (like Pinterest).

It educates: You can research any topic, get medical information, research politics, literature, science, business, art, read editorials, learn IM, etc. I've discovered that Pinterest is an excellent place to do research and get inspired too.

Shopping: You can research and purchase just about everything online. And you can buy securely using your credit card or PayPal.

Advertising and promotion: You can promote your business, self publish a book, write a blog, write and publish articles, promote a website.

Banking: Don't have to go to the bank anymore, unless you want to, or if you have to negotiate something.

Create and grow your own business with little monetary investment. It's misleading to say you don't have to invest anything, but the cost is miniscule.

Actually, even if I never made a dime online, I see the Internet as one of our BIG blessings. How do you feel about it?