>>>>>>>>That is good advice Mike, or at least I like it, for I do not know what is good for Mike, or for anyone suffering depression or addiction. From the list of series in Netflix, I would add long running ones, some that I liked are "Monk", "How I met your mother", "Dexter"
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>What seems to be working for me, but it might be taking as just another addiction, is playing computer games, in particular strategy games, like "Civilization" (currently V) or Medieval Total War (various versions) .
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Did you ever look at Survivor as computer game? My oldest son keeps playing and I try to make him stop. I never looked into it myself.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>BTW, I also want some book recommendations for my 9 old youngest son. He only recently started to enjoy reading by himself (I was thinking this time never comes) and he read almost all Lous Zachar books and now finishing up 'Series of unfortunate events'. I want to give him something similar, so he would enjoy reading it, but I am not sure what may be appropriate.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Encyclopedia Jones (by Donald Sobel)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>My one nephew loved a series about Captain Underpants.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Tamar
>>>>>
>>>>>Encyclopedia Brown
>>>>
>>>>Good catch. Wonder why it came out "Jones"? Oh, Indiana Jones, Encyclopedia Brown.
>>>>>
>>>>>See also: Hardy Boys and Little House series
>>>>
>>>>Yeah, agreed. One of my boys loved a silly series about "The Plant that Ate Dirty Socks," too, but don't know if those are still available.
>>>>
>>>>Tamar
>>>
>>>The Indian in the Cupboard series was great. Where the Red Fern Grows was very good.
>>
>>Old Yeller.... but its a tear jerker...
>
>I never read the book but saw the movie.
>
>I also enjoyed The Tripods Trilogy: http://www.amazon.com/Tripods-Trilogy-White-Mountains-City/dp/0020425716
>
>as well as most of Matt Christopher's sports books.

you could also check out the Percy Jackson/Young Olympians series

They're a fun, quick read