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Photo illustration by Steve Makris/Edmonton Journal (CNS)

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Six Ways to Kick Your Facebook Addiction

on.mash.to/6_waysFB

IF you've decided all the time you're spending on a social-networking community is starting to impact your life, relationships, job and productivity, Mashable.com looks at "Six Ways to Kick Your Facebook Addiction." While these may seems straightforward at first glance, these simple steps should help you reduce the amount of time you are on Facebook stalking random pictures, "liking" mundane status updates, chatting with your friend during work and playing Farmville.

Kicksaver

www.kicksaver.net

EVERYBODY likes an underdog. While stories of success are frequent in the crowdfunding world, what happens when your project doesn't get very much attention and you are nowhere near your goal? Or you have a bunch of cash, but just need a few more hundred dollars to put you over the edge?

Kickstarter may have spawned thousands of success stories like Indie Game: The Movie, whose directors used two successful campaigns on the site to pull together funding for their documentary, but many projects fail to ignite something the public and look destined to fail.

That's where Kicksaver comes in. The site will help you find a struggling campaign that is nearly ending and help you give them a cash infusion to hopefully bring them closer to their goals. Remember, any project on Kickstarter must raise its entire funding goal or all the donated money is given back.

JNL

jnlcinemafunk.bandcamp.com

WHILE he didn't use Kickstarter, local electronic producer JNL is helping to fund his next full-length album by packaging unreleased tracks from his back catalogue on Bandcamp, an outlet for independent artists to sell and control their own music. Getting your fans to help offset costs is nothing new -- benefit shows for tours, recording and equipment are commonplace these days -- but the veteran producer is giving fans something back for their support. After launching just last week, the compilation from JNL was one of the bestselling electronic albums on Bandcamp, which put some cash into his pocket and helped raise the profile of the producer in ways money can't buy.

JNL will perform as part of the Manitoba Electronic Music Exhibition on Friday, June 23 from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. at The Skylight Room at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Top 10 Ways to Get Free Wi-Fi Anywhere You Go

bit.ly/10_Ways

DATA plans for your cellphone can be costly, especially when you're travelling to another country. While you could pay the astronomical fees for a roaming package from your cell provider so you can check your email, look up places in Google Maps and update your Facebook status, more economical travellers are getting thrifty and searching out all the free Wi-Fi they can to avoid the big charges from their cellphone company.

Lots of businesses offer free Internet these days, from hotels to coffee shops, so those are a great place to start. There are also apps for both Android and iPhone that will help you search out other free spots.

If that still isn't enough free Internet, Lifehacker takes a look at some other ways to avoid having to buy a roaming package for your phone.

Anthony Augustine is a freelance music, technology and pop culture writer who spends way too much time in front of a computer. Got a site you think he should see? Email him at anthony.siteunseen@gmail.com or follow him at twitter.com/anthonya.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 21, 2012 E3