Short-wave Radio
The Internet may cover the globe with a lot of high tech capability. But, its ancestor short-wave radio offers an equally enjoyable way to hear what's going on. The cost of these radios is again moderate. A small portable costs $65. Another big advantage is the ease of operation. Personally, I've heard far off places like Russia, China, New Zealand, England, Germany, and many more all from the comfort of an easy chair. Whether it's cultural interest or world news with an international flavor short-wave radio may be an enjoyable alternative to the Web. Try it!
For a good personal overview, I liked my visit to:
http://home.columbus.rr.com/gfoley/radios.html.For a lot of useful information try:
http://www.rac.ca/swl.htm