How about a free timer program and a simple Applescript? I'm in favor of shutting down the applications you're using to procrastinate instead of turning off the Airport card because you can still read RSS feeds and email while offline.

Here's a free timer program, set it to run your script when the timer reaches zero.
http://www.chimoosoft.com/timer.html

Here's a simple Applescript complete with admonition. Fire up the script editor, cut and paste between the lines and save it as an application. You can add three more "tell" lines for each application, Mail, NNW, etc.
----------------
set the message to "Stop surfing and go Get Things Done!"

display dialog the message buttons {"OK"} default button 1

tell application "Safari"
quit
end tell
------------
There is no cancel and no snooze button - it all goes away. Good luck!

Thank you Scott, I'definitly try this

I found this post when I was searching for a way to turn off AirPort with applescript, is there any script I can use for my "Dark Mode" program? Thanks!

This sounds like a good idea and would love to give it a try. I'm relatively new to macs and was wondering how do you set up the applescript (I got that far) to work in conjunction with chimoo timer?

You can also use iCal instead --
Just create a new event to repeat daily or hourly at whatever interval you want, and instead of choosing "send me an email" or "chime at me" for the alarm you can have it "Open File" and have it run your script. When you save the applescript you should save it as an "Application" rather than as a script, then do the above using iCal.

I wrote a script for processing the inbox on the mac desktop (along with others), and as one of its features, it closes whatever web browser someone is using if the person is processing a web-item from their inbox. I just drag webpages to this inbox folder on my desktop; and when I process them the script keeps me focused instead of getting lost in cyberspace.

It's accessible here. A rather large download (~100MB) because it is a full GTD implementation for the mac -- and contains three Quicktime movie tutorials on juggling the 9 core GTD habits.

http://homepage.mac.com/toddvasquez/apps

Todd V

I was bored. And I've been wondering about the Airport off thing myself. I've scoured the net and there's apparently not a real easy way to turn off Airport, meaning that you have to use a GUI instead of just typing a command. Real annoying.

tell application "Internet Connect" to activate

tell application "System Events"
	tell process "Internet Connect"
		if not (exists window 1) then
			keystroke "n" using command down
		end if
		
		if not (exists window "Airport") then
			click button "airport" of tool bar 1 of window 1
		end if
		
		if exists button "Turn Airport Off" of window "Airport" then
			click button "Turn Airport Off" of window "Airport"
		end if
	end tell
end tell

tell application "Internet Connect" to quit

Thanks, that is perfect!

Also, make sure you have "Enable access for assistive devices" checked in the "Universal Access" System Preferences pane, otherwise the GUI script won't work.

This isn't an applescript, but a writing program which cuts off all network access. You do have to do some setup. (I haven't tried it yet. Too busy surfing the net.)

There's a way to disable airport from the terminal:

sudo ifconfig en1 down

Where en1 is the interface for your Airport Extreme Card. en0 is usually Ethernet, and en1 is usually the Airport Extrewme card. To bring it back up, just type:

sudo ifconfig en1 up

I don't know much about UNIX or applescript, I got this from someone on another forum.

Is there a way to link this to an applescript that will keep you offline for a certain amount of time (instead of AT a certain time)?

Will power isn't cutting it these days.