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10 Gadgets Moms Love the Most

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:13:47 +0000

Mother's Day is a big deal. It's a day set aside for celebrating the woman that bore you, raised you, potty trained you, put up with you, and somehow still manages to love you. There's a lot at stake as far as gifts are concerned. If you screw up your Mother's Day present, there's a fairly good chance that your mother will completely disown you, or that your derelict kid brother will garner Most Favored Kid status for the sixth year in a row. A tablet, a new phone, or an e-reader like the Kindle or Nook is a great way to go for Mother's Day. Trying to win the Mother's Day gift lottery is like trying to win the Olympics — except you can do it with minimal preparation and maximum slack, provided that you take our gifting advice. Giving your mother a gadget says, "I love you, Mom. And I want you to stop churning butter and reading newspapers and get into the 21st century. Also, I'm better than your other children." Check out the top 10 gadgets that your Mom will love the most.

Tablet

Move over, soccer moms. iMom is on the loose! Whether it's an iPad, a Blackberry Playbook, or one of the other weird knockoffs, a tablet is the No. 1 (with a bullet) way to go for Mother's Day. While you'll want to show your real love by getting her an iPad 3, there are several more affordable tablets for the cost-conscious kid. Sleeves and mods aplenty can make this gift both beautiful and Mom-friendly. Sign her up for Pinterest, teach her what a hashtag is, and download Draw Something, Flipboard, and Angry Birds before you give it to her for extra brownie points, and your Mom will be sending you status updates, irrelevant articles, and pin boards in no time flat.
New Computer

Second only to bringing her into the touch-screen world of the tablet, your Mother will love you for replacing her clunky '90s desktop with a MacBook Air or a Netbook. Moms love to feel connected, so be sure to insult her intelligence by making comically large icons on the desktop with links to e-mail, Facebook, and your personal blog.
Cell Phone That Doubles As A Stun Gun

If your mother lives in perpetual fear that she'll be attacked at dusk in a suburban mall parking lot, and there's nothing you can do to convince her otherwise (it's OK — there's nothing any of us can do, really), try equipping her with the latest in stun gun technology: a fake cell phone that shoots 5 million volts. It looks like a cell phone, but this bad boy can shoot a message to any would-be attacker, or even those neighborhood-roving Jehovah's Witnesses she's always complaining about. Bonus points if you don't tell her it's a stun gun and ask her to "bump fists to trade contact info" with your kid brother.
Kindle or Nook

If your mom is a reader, or just a gadget girl, she'll love the gift of electronic books. Get her an Amazon Kindle or a Barnes and Noble Nook, and load it up beforehand — just to prove you care. Great books for Moms include: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris, I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Norah Ephron, Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay: And Other Things I Had to Learn as a New Mom by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, and anything by Chelsea Handler. Bonus points for buying her any book on quarter-life crises and annotating relevant passages with quips that eternally absolve her of any guilt she might have about why you're having trouble making it in the real world.
Camera

If you're perennially single, and your Mother reminds you constantly that she's waiting on you to have grandchildren, this is quite possibly the worst gift you could buy for your Mom. But if you're not the most disappointing child in the whole wide world, there's a plethora of camera types you can buy for your shutterbug Mother. Get her started on Instagram by buying her a camera phone, or get her one of the cool, vintage-looking Polaroid cameras. A third option is to finally help the woman go digital, and get her a professional grade Nikon or Canon DSLR. Bonus points for taking a bunch of pictures of you holding up handmade signs that say "I [Heart] MOM," or giving her a camera that's full of candid shots of you, just going about your day. You've got a face only a mother could love, so you might as well pimp it out while you can.
Photo Printer

Here's the problem with being such a gemstone of a child: if you buy your mom a new digital camera, you're going to have to get her a proper photo printer before your dad or your siblings outdo you. "Sure, you got a camera … but what are you even gonna do with all those pictures, Mom? Where are you going to put them? People won't be able to see them! There's absolutely nowhere on the Internet to upload high-res pics that you can share with your friends — especially not for free. That kid doesn't care about your needs, Mom!" In all seriousness, a photo printer is a great gadget for a Mother's Day gift. And with lots of portable options, she can snap and print pictures of her grand-nieces and nephews (because you haven't given her any grandchildren yet, you ungrateful child!), various family gatherings, or those weird Thursday nights at the Olive Garden that her and her fellow menopausal friends have recently started to call "Sunday School."
Designer USB Key

Louis Vuitton has hit the future. Is it time for mom to do the same? If you feel like wasting a mere $450, you can buy your mom a USB wand that you could get her at Rite Aid, but it will have a designer logo that might mean so much to the modern Mom.
Battery Backup

So maybe she has all the gadgets she needs, but does she lug around the accompanying cords all the time, too? Give your mom's back a break with light battery backup mods for her various gadgetry. If your Mom (or yourself) is an eco-freak, you can even go green and keep her connected with a solar-powered option.
Foldaway Massage Chair

Who says that your gadgets have to be Internet-centered? Moms everywhere will love this funny little folding chair. When it's completely unpacked, it boasts an ottoman-sized leg and foot massager that can ease even the most high-strung of Mothers. And with all the stress that you're causing her being such a problem child, really, it's the least you could do.
Creepy Japanese Robot Baby

If your Mom's an empty nester, a robot enthusiast, or just really, really weird, you've hit the Mother's Day jackpot. CB2, the "Child-robot with Biomimetic Body," was developed at Osaka University in Japan, and is basically a robot that develops at the same pace and in the same ways that human babies develop. It has 51 air-powered muscles and a creepy humanoid skin, and gets smarter over time — just like children. Or just like children should, anyway. It's the perfect gift — as needy as a cocker spaniel, but without the muss and fuss. And if you're a Lost Child, or just think your Mother raised you so well that she should function as Lord of the Baby Learning Robots, this gift is a sure-fire way to impress the woman that bore you. Nothing but the best (and creepiest!) for your beloved Mom. Happy Mother's Day!

7 NFL Draft Picks That Were Total Busts

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:18:43 +0000

Getting into the big leagues is an incredible feat every hardworking college ball player dreams of doing but few actually get to experience. With the 77th annual NFL draft underway, now is the best time to reflect on the most talked-about football prospects who seemed to have everything going for them until they stepped foot on a professional field. In no particular order, here are seven NFL draft picks that were total busts.

Matt Leinart

Matt Leinart was one of the most talked-about quarterbacks in the 2006 NFL draft. He was the star at University of Southern California and helped lead his team to the BCS National Championship. Leinart even took home the Heisman Trophy and the Manning Award in 2004. The lefty QB was the 10th overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals, but his weak throwing arm took him from first string to second string behind veteran Derek Anderson. The Cardinals cut Leinart in 2010 and he signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans the following season. Leinart rode the bench for the entire season until starting QB Matt Schaub got injured and Leinart was given the chance to play in his place. He suffered a collarbone injury during the first half of the game, ending his season. The Texans have since released Leinart.
Charles Rogers

Charles Rogers was an All-American wide receiver at Michigan State University, where he won the Fred Biletnikoff Award and the Paul Warfield Trophy. Rogers was selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2003 draft and was expected to do big things for the struggling team. Instead, Rogers ended up bringing more problems than points to the franchise. Rogers' highly-anticipated debut with the Lions was put on pause when he broke his collarbone not once but twice in his first two seasons. He appeared in nine games in 2005 but was cut after failing a drug test. Rogers ended his NFL career with only 36 receptions, 440 yards receiving, and four touchdowns in 15 total games. Rogers has since had several run-ins with the law, including a recent death threat he made about killing his mother if she didn't repay him $100,000 he lent her.
Tony Mandarich

In 1989, Tony Mandarich was right up there with now Hall of Famers Troy Aikman and Barry Sanders. The All-American offensive lineman was a star at Michigan State and was touted by scouts and media as the best offensive line prospect of all time. Nicknamed "The Incredible Bulk," Mandarich stood 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighed just over 300 pounds. His remarkable speed, strength, and raw talent made him a force to be reckoned with. Mandarich was drafted second overall by the Green Bay Packers in 1989. To much surprise, "The Incredible Bulk" turned out to be an incredible failure on the field. He was cut after three short years with the Packers. The drastic change in performance and weight from college to NFL have led many to speculate that Mandarich was using steroids during his college days.
Jamarcus Russell

Jamarcus Russell was another highly anticipated quarterback draft pick that failed to live up to the hype in the big leagues. Russell garnered a great deal of attention starting at Louisiana State University, where he finished 21-4 and was named MVP in the 2007 Sugar Bowl. The talented, strong-bodied QB was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft for a cool $61 million deal, with $32 million guaranteed. Russell's powerful arm just didn't hold up in the NFL and his embarrassing 7-18 career record got him the boot.
Brian Bosworth

Brian Bosworth, also known as "The Boz," was a controversial and over-hyped linebacker who was picked in the 1987 supplemental draft after he was kicked off the University of Oklahoma football because of steroid use and for wearing a T-shirt that referred to the NCAA as the "National Communists Against Athletes" to the Orange Bowl. His on- and off-field antics made him interesting, but risky player to take. The Seattle Seahawks took the risk and signed Bosworth for $11 million for 10 years. His time with the Seahawks was less than stellar, recording just four sacks in three seasons. Career-ending injuries caused Bosworth to retire in 1989.
Akili Smith

Back in 1999, Akili Smith looked like a promising NFL quarterback. The former University of Oregon QB only started one season, but it was a very good one. He threw an astonishing 32 touchdown passes in just 11 starts. Despite the fact that Smith had little playing time under his belt, NFL scouts liked him and he was quickly picked up by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 1999 draft. Unfortunately, Akili didn't live up to all the hype. His disappointing performance on the field led to a 3-14 record as a starter QB, throwing less than 500 attempts and five career touchdown passes in four seasons. After the Bengals cut him, Smith dabbled in the CFL and has since returned to school to finish his college degree.
Ryan Leaf

There's no doubt about it, Ryan Leaf is one of the biggest NFL draft busts in football history. The NFL had extremely high hopes for the star quarterback from Washington State University. He was the second overall pick behind Peyton Manning in the 1998 NFL Draft. Leaf was selected by the San Diego Chargers and given a four-year contract worth $31.25 million, with a guaranteed $11.25 million signing bonus. But Leaf's rookie season and NFL career turned out to be a big joke. His 14-36 record was almost as big of a disgrace as his highly-publicized tantrums and legal troubles than range from drug charges, theft, and burglary.

8 Great Home Remedies for Allergy Sufferers

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:07:42 +0000

Winter into spring, summer into fall; each change of season unfortunately brings a new round of irritants for allergy sufferers to contend with. For many, prescription drugs are the solution for treating their symptoms. But there are several drug-free remedies that can bring you relief and build up your immunity to the very allergens that make you miserable. These remedies range from tasty food items you can drink or spread on your favorite food, to simple changes you can make to your home living environment. If you're sneezing while reading this, grab a Kleenex, and check out these eight effective home remedies for allergy sufferers. (Photo by Brooke Novak)

Local honey

One of the most effective ways to prevent seasonal allergy symptoms is to introduce locally made honey to your diet. Honey made as close to your locality as possible will contain the same allergens you breathe in daily. Introducing your body to small amounts of those allergens by drinking even small amounts of local honey — you can try having a teaspoon mixed in with a glass of apple cider vinegar or cup of herbal tea for instance — will help your body build immunity to the local allergens. The honey should be raw, unpasteurized, and unheated. Babies under the age of 1 should never consume raw honey, as there is a risk of infant botulism. Your neighborhood Whole Foods Market will most likely stock local raw honey.
Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is one of the oldest health remedies, dating back to 400 B.C. when Hippocrates, the "Father of Medicine," used it to treat his patients. Allergy sufferers dealing with excess mucus in their sinuses, throat, and chest, should consider drinking apple cider vinegar daily, as it helps the body remove phlegm and toxins. It's also rich in enzymes and potassium, and strengthens the immune system. Combining diluted apple cider vinegar with a teaspoon of local honey will help with its taste, which isn't unpleasant, but can take some getting used to.
Air filter

Filtering the air circulation in your home will help remove allergens that otherwise fill the air that you breathe. The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology reports that "50% of all illness is aggravated or caused by polluted indoor air." A high-efficiency particulate air or HEPA filter, which you can buy at a good grocery store or your local Home Depot, will capture more than 99% of particles 0.3 microns in diameter or larger that enter it. You'll want to be sure to replace the filter consistently, as often as once a month, especially if you have pets.
Nose strips

We believe nose strips are nothing less than a miracle of science. Once you fit one over your nose, the strip expands, opening up the nasal passages allowing you to breathe much easier. They're great for those suffering from sinus allergies, as well as people who snore. Breathe Right has the corner on the market for nose strips, even offering menthol strips for additional relief, and currently offer the highest quality, most effective brand of nose strip.
Nasal irrigation

There has been some alarming news recently regarding the danger of nasal irrigation. But the necessary precautions you need to take before flushing out your sinuses, using either a neti pot or a squeeze bottle, are simple and effective. Irrigating your nose with a saline solution, sold in packets at drug stores, removes irritants that get stuck in the nose and make breathing difficult. Always use distilled or previously boiled water with the saline solution. Do not use tap water. Recently, in Louisiana, two deaths occurred when neti pot users used tap water to irrigate their sinuses and contracted a brain infection from an amoeba common in rivers and lakes.
Peppermint tea

You can't really say anything bad about peppermint tea. Hot peppermint relieves stuffed up sinuses and irritated mucous membranes. The essential oil of peppermint works as a decongestant, while substances in the leaves relax the muscles, reduce inflammation, and even battle the growth of certain bacteria. Inhaling the steam from a hot cup of peppermint tea is another way allergy sufferers can find some relief. But be aware that the menthol in peppermint can cause young children to choke.
Bare floors

Carpets are the perfect home for dust mites and microscopic crud that make people with allergies miserable. Some folks believe carpets are actually good for allergy sufferers because they trap the airborne particles that cause allergy symptoms. However, the trade-off is that the aforementioned tiny pests will happily breed in a carpet, getting on your skin and into your nostrils. Consider throw rugs that compliment your hard wood floors and can be washed in hot water as an alternative to wall to wall carpeting. Regular vacuuming and damp-mopping of the bare floors will also help control the microbes that cause sneezing and other allergy symptoms.
Wasabi

Spicy foods can provide temporary, and tasty relief from allergy symptoms. Wasabi, a member of the horseradish family, is a pale-green paste served as a condiment with many Japanese dishes. A constituent found in wasabi and horseradish called allyl isothiocyanate promotes the flow of mucus. Some allergy sufferers take a 1/4 teaspoon of horseradish as needed to alleviate their symptoms. But doesn't a meal at a good sushi restaurant, with a box of Kleenex close at hand, sound like a lot more fun?

9 Best Jazz Soloists of All Time

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:13:28 +0000

According to the good people at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, April is Jazz Appreciation Month. With this in mind, we'll attempt to name nine great jazz soloists you might want to check out, especially if you're curious about jazz but don't know where to start with your listening. When a musician, while playing a composed piece of music, chooses to imaginatively make up original music that complements the composition's melody, chords, and rhythms, what they're doing is "soloing." In a jazz performance, a musical ensemble will often play a composition once through, more or less sticking to what has been notated by the composer, and then take turns individually or collectively making up additional music on the spot, creatively expounding upon the composition. Confused? Well, check out our first jazz soloist, the great Louis Armstrong, and listen to how his trumpet solos frame his own unique vocal rendition of the song. Then check out the rest of the artists as well!

Louis Armstrong

Before trumpeter Louis Armstrong, there was the cornet player Buddy Bolden, who started playing a new kind of improvised music at parades and dances in New Orleans around 1895. Never recorded, Bolden was remembered by musicians who heard him, including Armstrong, as one of the finest sounding horn players in jazz. Born in 1901, Armstrong pioneered new ways to play and improvise with both his trumpet and voice defining what are now commonly acknowledged as the elements of jazz performance. In this recording of the classic mid-tempo ballad "Stardust," you'll hear Armstrong solo on trumpet before and after his vocal delivery, which in itself transforms and elaborates upon composer Hoagy Carmichael's melody.
Ella Fitzgerald

As the era of big band swing music gave way to the innovations of a new, complex form of music called bebop, singer Ella Fitzgerald began to experiment with what became known as scat singing, a technique of improvising with her voice that mirrored what she heard bebop horn players like Dizzy Gillespie doing in performance. Fitzgerald was the undisputed master of scat singing, transforming the role of a singer into that of an instrumentalist, as innovative as any member of the bands she sang with.
John Coltrane

Tenor and soprano saxophonist John Coltrane enjoyed a level of popularity that was unprecedented for most jazz musicians, especially after the release of his 1965 album A Love Supreme. Always pushing himself, Coltrane would go on to push his playing and improvising into wilder, more extreme territory, and alienate some members of the jazz community as a result. Coltrane once said, "My music is the spiritual expression of what I am." His composition "Giant Steps" is an example of Coltrane's harmonic innovations both as a composer and soloist, and still trips up musicians who attempt to play it today.
Jim Hall

The electric guitar came into its own as an instrument of choice for jazz musicians thanks in part to artists such as Charlie Christian and Grant Green. Guitarist Jim Hall, who at the age of 81 is still recording and touring, combines economy and emotional poignancy to his playing, and continues to inspire contemporary players like Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell. His 1963 recording Undercurrent, a set of duos with pianist Bill Evans, is a stark yet soulful collection of standards, with a respect for silence and awareness of space that calls to mind Miles Davis' groundbreaking album Kind of Blue.
Charles Mingus

Well known as a ground-breaking composer, bassist Charles Mingus was also a great soloist, inspiring the late fretless bass player Jaco Pastorius and upright players William Parker and Charlie Haden to name just a few. The first track from Mingus' 1957 album The Clown begins with a fierce, virtuosic upright bass solo inspired in part by Mingus' rage at the injustice of racism. On the same album, Mingus and his ensemble improvise freely, without chords or a set musical form, behind the improvised narration of Jean Shepherd, to tell the story of a clown who, like great musicians, just wants to make people happy.
Clifford Brown

Trumpet player Clifford Brown, a truly gifted soloist, died at age 25, but left behind a recorded legacy that continues to inspire contemporary trumpet players, including Donald Byrd and Wynton Marsalis. Brown's attack and melodic invention called to mind fellow trumpet players Miles Davis and Fats Navarro, but his sound was always unmistakably his own. Like Coltrane, Brown pushed himself as if he was on a spiritual quest. "Oh, he was always, always learning something," said Brown's friend the great drummer Max Roach. "He loved music."
Thelonious Monk

When it came to playing the piano, did anyone sound like Thelonious Monk before Thelonious Monk? Monk's classic recordings are startling for how contemporary and funky they still sound almost half a century after they were originally released. Check out Monk's solo beginning seven and a half minutes into this live recording of his composition "Misterioso." Filled with tension and humor, especially in its concluding punctuation, it's a nice contrast to the previous solo from tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin.
Albert Ayler

Breaking down what tenor saxophonist Albert Ayler was actually doing when he played and soloed collectively with his bands — creating an intense, uncompromising kind of music that became synonymous with civil rights, the black power movement, and spiritual enlightenment — is helpful, especially if the timbre of Ayler's sound and unsettled, kaleidoscopic quality of his music is initially unsettling. You can trace Ayler's technique back to the earliest days of New Orleans jazz, where collective improvisation centered around and would repeatedly reference a song's melodic line. Check out the live performance of "Ghosts" performed by Ayler and an ensemble of similarly forward-thinking musicians that includes trumpeter Don Cherry, bassist Gary Peacock, and drummer Sunny Murray.
Alice Coltrane (1937- 2007)

Wife and collaborator of John Coltrane, pianist and harpist Alice Coltrane had a profound impact on the direction of her husband's music and the free, avant-garde, and jazz-fusion scene in general as it was developing over the course of the late '60s and on into the '70s. After her husband's death, Alice Coltrane remained active as a recording and touring artist, playing in ensembles that sometimes included her children, creating a repertoire of meditative, spiritually-minded music. She's one of the few harpists in the history of jazz to record as a bandleader.

7 Interviews That Made Mike Wallace a Legend

admin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 04:21:52 +0000

Tough, nosy, insistent. These are just a few of the words used to describe the longtime CBS 60 Minutes interviewer Mike Wallace, who recently died at age 93. The fearless, hard-nosed journalist was best known for his interrogation-style interviews and take-no-prisoners attitude when it came to getting the answers. After nearly 70 years of reporting, Wallace got to interview everyone from world leaders and scam artists to politicians and athletes. But no matter how powerful or popular a figure was, Wallace always came prepared to ask tough questions and get the truth one way or another. Here are seven interviews that made Mike Wallace a legend:

Gen. William Westmoreland

Wallace interviewed Gen. William Westmoreland about the truthfulness of military intelligence during the Vietnam War. Wallace grilled Westmoreland over enemy numbers and why the U.S. commander did not share the evidence collected by his intelligence chief to the president, Congress, staff, or the media. Wallace put Westmoreland in the hot seat and he didn't like it one bit. The general filed a $120 million libel lawsuit against CBS for the way he was portrayed in the news special, but it was later dropped.
Malcolm X

A year before Malcolm X was assassinated, Wallace met with the Muslim minister and human rights activist to talk about various black movements and police corruption in the Harlem area. The passionate interview takes an ominous turn when Malcolm talks about his life being in danger and the possibility of death threats, saying "I probably am a dead man already," for opposing Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad.
Ayatollah Khomeini

Wallace famously interviewed religious leader and head of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini, during the American hostage crisis in the early '80s. Khomeini wanted the United States to hand over the Shah so that he could be tried for the crimes he committed against the nation. While surrounded by interpreters and security, Wallace asked Khomeini when the American embassy hostages would be released, and he even went as far as to ask the Khomeini what he thought about being called "a lunatic" by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. Wallace never failed to surprise and shock his interviewees and this question did just that.
Barbra Streisand

The Barbra Streisand interview in the early '90s has become known as one of Wallace's harshest meetings of all time. In typical Wallace style, he admits face-to-face that he didn't like her 30 years ago and he thought she was "totally self-absorbed." Wallace's blunt comments and probing questions about her use of psychoanalysis and why she would not perform in concerts brought the singer-songwriter and actress to tears. Instead of tiptoeing around celebrities' feelings as other journalists have done, Wallace brought the same level of questioning and intensity to their interviews.
Louis Farrakhan

Wallace was known for pushing people's buttons and one of his most memorable moments of doing so was during an interview with the former Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan. Farrakhan got up in arms when Wallace said Nigeria "could be the most corrupt nation in the world." The religious and social leader told Wallace he should "keep quiet" because he's in no moral position to be saying which country is the most corrupt. The outburst was an awkward one, but you have to give Wallace credit for keeping things interesting and provocative because, after all, that's what brings in the viewers.
Vladimir Putin

Who can forget the tense interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2005, in which Wallace lectured the leader on corruption? The ever-so-blunt Wallace challenged Putin, famously saying, "This isn't a real democracy, come on!" This prompted Putin's aides to try to stop the interview, but Putin turned them away and continued the interview. Wallace never backed down from an opportunity to challenge the powerful and ask the uncomfortable questions.
Roger Clemens

One of Wallace's last interviews was with legendary baseball star Roger Clemens who had been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career. Clemens squirmed as Wallace read off dates in which Clemens' former trainer Brian McNamee claimed to have injected the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormone. Even as Clemens relentlessly denied these allegations, Wallace continued to ask tough, probing questions that put "The Rocket" in a tizzy.

8 Surprising Supporters of Legalizing Marijuana

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:19:12 +0000

The growing, distribution, and use of marijuana occurs in a legal gray zone that puts our federal laws and law enforcement agencies against those of the States. Federal law prohibits the selling, possession, or use of marijuana. However, in 15 states, plus the District of Columbia, marijuana can be prescribed by a doctor for medical use. People who can benefit from the medical uses of marijuana, including those suffering from arthritis, cancer, and HIV/AIDs, are caught in the middle, as are the thousands of people (800,000 annually by one estimate) arrested each year for the non-violent offense of smoking or possessing marijuana. Surprisingly, in spite of the political divisiveness that hamstrings intelligent debate of public policy in our country, there is currently widespread, bipartisan support for the legalization of marijuana. Here are eight supporters for such legalization who otherwise might completely disagree with each other on any other issue.

Grandparents

Last year, GRAND Magazine, an online magazine for grandparents, polled its readers asking if they supported the legalization of marijuana. Eighty-five percent said yes. Grandparents born from 1946-1964 came of age when smoking marijuana became more of a mainstream recreational activity. Many GRAND readers confirmed that they considered marijuana no more or less dangerous than alcohol, and commented on its benefits in treating serious health issues. One reader commented, "I expect I will need cannabis for my health soon and don't want (it) to be illegal."
Rick Steves

Popular travel writer and TV personality Rick Steves is an advocate of traveling as a way to broaden one's perspective of the planet and its people. He serves on the board of directors for the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and publicly supports the decriminalization of marijuana among adults. "Our courts and prisons are clogged with non-violent people whose only offense is smoking, buying, or selling marijuana," says Steves. "Arresting people for marijuana use is laughable now in most of Europe."
Pat Robertson

As recently as March 2012, none other than television evangelist Pat Robertson, a powerful figure among conservatives and those among the Christian right, declared on his show The 700 club that "the war on drugs hasn't succeeded" and that mandatory sentencing for marijuana possession should be eliminated. Robertson clarified later that he supports legalization of marijuana with some regulation. "Christ is a compassionate man," said Robertson. "And he would not condone the imprisoning of people for non-violent offenses."
Gary Johnson

Former New Mexico Republican governor and current libertarian candidate for president Gary Johnson is an unapologetic proponent for drug policy reform. On his website, Johnson notes the difference between prohibition-related versus use-related problems caused by marijuana, with use-related being negligible comparatively. Drawing a parallel between today's drug laws and those of the 1920s Prohibition era, Johnson describes the policy of arresting and incarcerating thousands of people each year for possession of marijuana, a drug that is less harmful than alcohol, as "insane."

Cops

So next time the police knock on your door or pull you over, don't panic! Maybe you don't have to flush or dump that bag of weed! Well, OK, probably not. But one of the most vocal organizations calling for the legalization of marijuana is Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, an international organization of criminal justice professionals, including several current and former members of law enforcement. LEAP believes that legalization of marijuana, with strong regulations in place, will effectively "cripple" the drug cartels and street dealers currently profiting from the drug trade.
Richard Brookhiser

Richard Brookhiser, senior editor of the conservative magazine National Review, testified before Congress in 1996 to support the use of medical marijuana. Brookhiser used marijuana while suffering from testicular cancer to battle the nausea that comes with chemotherapy. But to do so, Brookhiser had to "become a criminal." To that point, he told Congress, "the law disgraces itself when it harasses the sick." Today, Brookhiser writes about the Marijuana Reform Party and is a member of the advisory board of the Marijuana Policy Project.
Milton Friedman

American economist, statistician, and "founding father of the Reagan revolution," Milton Friedman, who passed away in 2006, was one of more than 500 economists who publicly endorsed a 2005 report advocating for the legalization and taxing of sales of marijuana. The economists also signed an open letter to then President Bush calling for a public debate about the prohibition of marijuana. The report stated that taxing and regulating the sale of marijuana would produce significant savings and tax revenues, whereas prohibition showed very little benefits and was in fact harming the nation's economy. Friedman's libertarian views are echoed today by the aforementioned Gary Johnson.
Larry Hagman

Television actor Larry Hagman, perhaps best known for his portrayal of the evil J.R. on the classic night-time soap opera Dallas, has recently, and apparently successfully, battled a "treatable form" of cancer, but has not indicated that he used medical marijuana in his treatments. Hagman, also a member of the Marijuana Policy Project advisory board, believes alcohol "destroys your body and makes you do violent things," whereas marijuana allows you to "just sit back and enjoy life." He recently told The New York Times that when he dies, his wish is to be chopped up into granular sized pieces, spread across a field to be planted with wheat and marijuana crops, and eaten up by friends and loved ones. So, how's that joint, Larry?

Oprah’s 8 Biggest Business Mistakes

admin — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 03:53:09 +0000

There's no denying the fact that Oprah Winfrey is a business mogul through and through, but like every successful business person, she's made some big mistakes throughout her career — one of which is the launch of her network, OWN. She even said on CBS This Morning that if she had known this business venture would be so difficult, she might have tried something else. According to the Los Angeles Times, the struggling channel has averaged fewer than 300,000 viewers in prime time and its joint parent company, Discovery Communications, Inc., has spent more than $312 million to boost its ratings. While Oprah and the OWN network work through the kinks, let's take a look at the other business blunders the talk show host has made through the years.

Launching OWN too soon

The highly anticipated launch of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) in January 2011 proved to be too much in too little time. Oprah recently admitted that one of her biggest OWN mistakes was launching the network before it was ready. She said the decision to launch the channel sooner than later was like "having the wedding before you were ready, and walking down the aisle saying, oooh should we really be doing this?" The new channel launched while Winfrey was wrapping up her last season of The Oprah Winfrey Show and preparing for the huge series finale last May. In business, timing is everything, and, by the looks of OWN's ratings, she jumped the gun way too soon.
Tweeting for Nielsen viewers

Oprah caused quite a stir on Twitter when she specifically asked Nielsen viewers to watch her OWN channel. Followers criticized the talk show host for "begging for viewers" and called her plea "unethical." The ratings measurement company took the tweet seriously and reviewed the incident because she violated their network policy of targeting Nielsen subscribers in an attempt to change the ratings. Oprah apologized for her tweet and removed it at the request of Nielsen.
Car giveaway

Oprah's unforgettable car giveaway in 2004 might have seemed like a terrific idea for the 276 audience members who received brand new Pontiac G6s, but the hysterical screams and tears of joy died down when the recipients learned that they had to pay a tax on the winnings. The winners were given a choice to either cough up the $7,000 in taxes or forfeit the car. Turns out this charitable deed came back to bite her when some of the winners had to give up the car.
Promoting The Secret

When Oprah Winfrey promoted the controversial self-help book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, things got a little out of hand. The Secret follows the Law of Attraction, which claims that the secret to getting what you want in life, whether health, wealth, or happiness, is all in the way you think. Essentially, Byrne says if you think positively you will get what you want, but if you think negatively bad things will happen to you. It may sound like a bunch of malarkey now, but at the time many of Oprah's viewers took this book and her nod of approval to heart. It wasn't until Oprah's producers received a letter from a woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer and decided not to undergo chemotherapy because of the book's message that people started to reconsider the truth. Although Oprah brought the woman on the show to discuss her misinterpretation of the Law of Attraction, she should have thought twice before giving this controversial book so much credence.

Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls

The creation of Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa was a terrific idea in theory, but the high-profile and well-intentioned investment has experienced its fair share of scandals over the last few years. Shortly after the school opened in 2007, school employees were charged with abusing and sexual molesting a group of students. Winfrey quickly addressed the issue by flying to South Africa and apologizing to the girls and their families for the incident. She even hired a team of American private investigators to work on the case, but many have wondered if Oprah's distance and lack of supervision may prove to be dangerous for the school.
Feud with Hermès

In 2005, Oprah experienced her so-called "Crash moment" when she was snubbed at the Hermès luxury store in Paris and denied entrance. Oprah spoke out about the incident on her talk show and dismissed other accounts that the store turned her away because she arrived after closing. Another account of the story was that Hermès staff didn't recognize the billionaire talk show host because she wasn't wearing any makeup and refused to let her in because they had been "having a problem with North Africans" at the time of the incident. Regardless of what really happened, Oprah got a televised apology from Hermès president Robert Chavez who appeared on the show to end the overdramatic dispute.
Free chicken giveaway

In 2009, Oprah caused one of the biggest product frenzies when the talk show host promoted free coupons for KFC's new grilled chicken. Customers flocked to KFC restaurants around the nation to redeem their coupons, causing insanely long lines and utter chaos. There was even talk of an alleged sit-in and riot-like behavior happening at certain restaurants. The fast food chain canceled the free chicken giveaway, which resulted in consumer lawsuits against KFC for allegedly scamming customers out of a free offer.
Promoting A Million Little Pieces

Oprah got a lot of flak from the press and her viewers when the author of A Million Little Pieces, a book she tirelessly promoted, was exposed for fabricating much of his story. Oprah single-handedly boosted sales and brought international attention to the book after selecting it for her book club in 2005. A year later, The Smoking Gun discovered that the New York Times best seller was full of lies, specifically relating to author James Frey's drug abuse accounts, criminal record, and life experiences that were reported in the alleged memoir. Oprah brought Frey on her show for the second time to set the record straight on the fabrications of A Million Little Pieces, and said she felt duped by him. Turns out so did everyone else who bought the book because of her endorsement.

8 Things to Know About the Supreme Court and Obamacare

admin — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 04:11:27 +0000

The controversial Affordable Care Act, more popularly called Obamacare, made its way to the Supreme Court this week, with the justices hearing arguments on several pieces of the law President Barack Obama signed two years ago. The decision could affect the health care plan that Democrats fought so hard to get approved and Republicans have fiercely opposed. Of course, any time politics, legality, and insurance combine, things are going to get confusing. Here are the eight things you really need to know to understand what's going on with the Court, the health care law, and what the possible outcomes could be.

There's more to the law than the individual mandate

You hear a lot about the part of the health care plan requiring all Americans to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty, but what about the rest of the act? There is a lot contained in the Affordable Care Act that you may have forgotten about. Just a few of the many services included in the law are more insurance options for people with pre-existing conditions, children not being kicked off their parents' insurance plan until age 26, and drug discounts for some seniors. The expansion of Medicaid is another important part to the Affordable Care Act getting less ink than the individual mandate, even though the Supreme Court is taking it on as an issue for debate. The justices heard arguments on Wednesday for and against states being forced to take on more Medicaid expenses.
But the mandate is still the most contentious issue

The least popular part of the law is still the idea of the government mandating that everyone must buy health insurance. People who can't afford the minimum policy with 8% of their income wouldn't have to buy it, but would likely receive subsidies to make it affordable. Others would receive a penalty of at least $695 a year if they didn't have health insurance. The Commerce Clause is at the center of the legal debate, which allows the government to regulate interstate activity. Proponents of the mandate say that people not buying insurance has an economic effect that the government can regulate. Opponents say that choosing to not buy something is economic inactivity and thus not able to be regulated. The Court heard two hours of oral arguments on the topic on Tuesday, longer than many issues receive.
The ruling should be made before the 2012 elections

With the Supreme Court hearing arguments now on the issues of the health care plan, their decisions and written opinions will be released before the end of the Court term this summer. This means the Affordable Care Act should be upheld, struck down, or dismantled by late June, in plenty of time for the November elections. It's unclear what effect the decision will have on the election, but we're sure it's going to be a big campaigning point for whichever side feels they benefited from the ruling.
But the decision could be delayed by an old tax act

The first issue that the Supreme Court will decide on regarding the health care act is whether it has the jurisdiction to rule on it right now at all. The Anti Injunction Act, created in 1867, is a federal tax law that prohibits anyone from challenging a tax until after the tax has gone into effect. The justices requested to hear arguments about whether the penalty Americans would pay for not buying health insurance is considered a tax. If they decide it is a tax, the Court would not have jurisdiction to rule on the individual mandate until 2015, after it has gone into effect. The arguments regarding the tax act were heard Monday and justices appeared to be against considering the mandate as a tax, which would let them take on the other issues of the health care law. We likely won't know officially until the summer.

Overturning the mandate could take down the whole law

There are a handful of possible outcomes for the Supreme Court's decision. The first is that the Court declares the individual mandate unconstitutional and the entire health care reform law would crumble. On Wednesday, the Court's first issue of the day was the severability of the individual mandate — in other words, whether that one part of the law could be taken out without destroying the whole statute. There are hundreds of provisions in the law, but many argue that the individual mandate is the "heart" of the plan, its source of funding, and inseparable from the rest of it. This scenario would send Congress and reform supporters back to the drawing board.
The mandate could be struck down without affecting anything else

If the justices decide that the individual mandate is unconstitutional but severable, the rest of the law could remain unchanged. The other provisions would go into effect as planned. If this happens, it's likely that Congress would try to replace the mandate with something that might perform some of the same purposes as the mandate. Some experts have suggested that a tax could be an easy solution. It could go into effect relatively quickly and raise the necessary revenue to make the rest of the law's provisions feasible.
The administration wants two provisions thrown out if the mandate is overturned

While the preceding scenario could happen, you might be surprised to find out that the Obama administration doesn't want it to. Not totally, at least. Because the individual mandate was conceived as the source of the money that would pay for some rather expensive provisions in the law, letting all parts of the health care plan stand besides the mandate would put a serious financial burden on the insurance companies. They'd be required to provide services to more and very likely sick Americans, but wouldn't necessarily be getting more business from the healthier people to help offset those costs. The administration argued in a brief to the Court that if it gets rid of the mandate, it should also get rid of two popular but expensive rules: guaranteed issue and community rating. These are the provisions, respectively, that keep insurance companies from refusing coverage because someone has a pre-existing condition and from charging more based on a person's medical history. Getting rid of these provisions might allow the rest to stand without facing revenue shortages.
It could still all be upheld

Many who heard the oral arguments and the justices' pointed questions throughout the week felt the Affordable Care Act's prospects were looking grim, but it's not over until it's over. Many legal experts point out that judges often ask hard questions and end up voting in a surprising way. Doubts the justices have expressed may just be part of the information-gathering process and will help them form their written opinions later. Many are looking to swing justice Anthony Kennedy, as his may be the decisive fifth vote for the winning opinion. We'll see how it shakes out come June.

10 Actual Fools Who Were Born in April

admin — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:13:13 +0000

What do Abraham Maslow, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Gus Grissom, and Billie Holiday have in common? They were all born in April (the first two on April 1st!), and they're decidedly not idiots. For everyone else though, you just can't be too sure. April Fool's Day brings out the best of the best, as flawlessly executed and good-natured pranks that you never saw coming will win the day every time. It also brings out the worst of the worst — there's just something about this time of year that makes idiots seem like mega idiots. With apologies to all you April birthdays, and to those who don't suffer fools well, enjoy these 10 complete losers, in order of their birthdays within the month.

Jon Gosselin

Born on April 1, you may have seen the balding reality show dad and general sleaze bag on TLC's Jon and Kate Plus 8. If not, you've certainly seen him in supermarket tabloids.
Why He's A Fool: Number one with a bullet? He's a reality star — and if you've learned anything sifting through a decade and three TiVos' worth of this lowest common denominator genre (it starts with Survivor or Project Runway; that's where it always starts), it should be that reality television star does not a decent human being make. The plasticized attention seeker split with his wife (speculatively cavorting with a plastic surgeon's daughter) during the filming of a national television show based on his marriage. Bad form and bad strategy, Jon Gosselin.
Bonus: He once bragged publicly about canoodling with Ed Hardy designer Christian Audigier on a yacht, proving to all that his priorities and taste preferences are nestled firmly in a white trash can.
Eddie Murphy

You may be kind of over funnyman Eddie Murphy (born April 3rd), but remind yourself of this: the kooky comedian started young. On Saturday Night Live by the age of 19, the talented New Yorker is best known (lately) for his voiceover work in the beloved Shrek movies, as well as the successful reboot of his career. And you really can't help but love a guy that's brought the world 48 Hrs, Beverly Hills Cop, Made in America, and 30 years of laughs.
Fun Fact: Eddie Murphy often plays several characters in many of his movies, because one of his acting idols is the late, great Peter Sellers (of Dr. Strangelove fame).
Why He's A Fool: Everyone was excited that Murphy would host the 2012 Oscars, but ultimately resigned because of offenses committed by train-wreck producer Brett Ratner, with whom Murphy has worked closely for years. After Ratner was replaced with sharp producer Brian Grazer, Murphy did not resume his role, instead letting the honor go to a highly Botoxed Billy Crystal (again). And lest ye forget that right before Murphy's aptly named film Holy Man was released in 1997, he was pulled over at 4:45 a.m. with a transvestite prostitute. His wife and kids were out of town, but the star claimed that he was simply trying to be a good Samaritan to (what he thought was) a young woman. Nice cover, Murphy. But what are you doing cruising the area in Santa Monica known for tranny prostitution at 4 in the morning when the family is gone? Tsk, tsk. So foolish.
Jennie Garth

"Were you too drunk to notice? What is it these days, Mom? Alcohol? Or are you back on coke?"
Big ups for Kelly Taylor! She's not an April Fool's baby (Garth was born on April 3rd), but she's a bit of a fool. Everyone's favorite 90210 blond (unless you were more of a "Tori"), Kelly Taylor (a cult favorite and huge pop culture icon, played by Garth) was the "I'm so beautiful and wonderful and sweet that I'm tortured about it" type of California teen.
Why She's A Fool: Dancing With The Stars? Seriously? Fourth place? Does that even count as finishing? Does that even qualify you to be called a cast member? Why not just lobby for another, better 90210 by showing reruns of the original show in HD and pretending that it's a reboot with a whole new cast? Honestly, though, you should probably like her. Garth is harmless, has a sweet and family-focused public image, and has made a name for herself in the 21st century. While she does get docked "real adult street cred" for being married to a Twilight vampire (Peter Facinelli), the couple jointly announced their divorce on March 12th of this year. She's got class, great kids, and she's cute. The only thing foolish about this one, it seems, might be her future ex-husband. Check out this video of her trying to do something nice for underprivileged children, but kind of sounding stupid and spoiled. (PS: Love you forever, Kelly! XOXO!)
Keshia Knight Pulliam

No one will remember her for being born on April 9th, but everyone will remember her for being Rudy Huxtable. One of the cutest (and most talented) child stars of all time, Pulliam has been back in the spotlight as an adult, performing in rap videos and on reality TV.
Why She's A Fool: You are a national treasure, Rudy Huxtable. But you're not so great with the 21st century role pickings. Madea Goes To Jail? Did anybody see that? You're smart and beautiful, and everyone in America knows who you are so why on Earth would you choose to be in a Chingy video? Chingy? Really? Not Jay-Z? Not Kanye? Not a nation-wide speaking tour alongside your friend and TV dad Bill Cosby? And what's the thing with old celebrities and reality shows? They seem to want to keep reminding us that they still exist, and that they're willing to take grossly underpaid roles on Fear Factor (big ups for winning it in 2002, by the way). You've got a huge fan base, Ms. Pulliam. You don't need to be on Real Housewives of Atlanta. Feel free to use your name recognition for good, and not gross. The world is watching.
Bonus: Check out this cute interview with the child star (below), where she details her desire to be a doctor, an actress, and, if she has time, a pilot.
Vince Gill

The 27-time Grammy winning country crooner was born on April 10th, and he was absolutely born to sing. He's sold more than 22 million albums worldwide.
Why He's A Fool: Honestly, there's not much here. Don't like his voice? Don't like country music? Though there is something seemingly laughable about his persona, it is hard to put a finger on it. And there's no denying that the man has done well for himself. Legend has it that the crooner was offered a spot in the Dire Straits, but declined. Can't say it's been bad for his career, though.
Steven Seagal

Born on April 10, aikido master and movie star Steven Seagal is exactly no one's celebrity crush. What he is, though, is a multi-talented, many-faceted man with a recognizable face and an unrecognizable brand. Well, that's one way of putting it.
Why He's A Fool: Let's just start with the album Crystal Castles — not to mention his filmography, his straight-to-video work (there's more than you think), and his sheriff-style reality show, aptly titled Steven Seagal: Lawman. And let's move on to this video of every bone he's ever (cinematically) broken (below), his hilariously designed website, and his third studio album, which will be out (fingers crossed, everyone!) sometime this year.
Suge Knight

He was born April 19, just a day shy of what would be considered, in his line of work, glory. The former CEO and founder of Death Row Records, he's also the guy that (allegedly) dangled Vanilla Ice over a 20th story balcony and got him to sign over the royalties to Ice, Ice Baby to him.
Why He's A Fool: He's long been accused of being involved in the murder of rapping great Notorious B.I.G., and there's speculation that he was involved in the murder of Biggie's west coast rival, Tupac. The Compton native and former Rams footballer was also the victim of many a rap smackdown, most notably Snoop Dogg's Pimp Slapp'd. And he's got a different kind of rap (this time of the "sheet" variety) a mile long. He's been arrested for drug possession (most recently in February of 2012 in Las Vegas), aggravated assault (in a strip club), and parole violation, and seems to constantly be in trouble with the police. Additionally, he was shot in 2005 at a Miami party for Kanye West, and, years later, sued the rapper over a missing earring. His office's windows were also the victim of gunfire in 2003. Although he's loud, proud, and a former mogul, there's no way to sugarcoat it: the Knight is a Grade-A fool.
Adolf Hitler

Probably the world's biggest fool (inasmuch as evil is foolish, and he's one of world history's greatest examples), the dictator, born on April 20, shares his birthday with many an event. Hitler's birthday is also lovingly referred to as Eeyore's birthday, the day in 1939 that Billie Holiday recorded hauntingly beautiful (first-ever) civil rights ballad "Strange Fruit," the day of the 1999 Columbine high school shooting, and the day that Apollo 16 astronauts John Young and Charles Duke gloriously walked on the surface of the moon.
Why He's A Fool: Anti-Semitism, for one thing. Being the Dark Lord of the Third Reich and causing an entire World War over lust for power and blind, idiotic hatred and intolerance, maybe second. Being a fascist, third. The Holocaust? That'll obviously make the list. Also, apparently he lost to Darth Vader in a rap battle. Check out the video, below.
Vladmir Illych Lenin

What is it with the megalomaniacal (looking at you, Jon Gosselin and Hitler) and this time of year? Born on April 22, 1870, the revolutionary icon led the Bolsheviks and developed a pragmatic Soviet Communism.
Bonus: Lenin's arguably most revolutionary work, written as a call to committed Marxist-Leninist action for the Bolsheviks and in response to the "bourgeois" February Revolution, is called the April Theses. Years later, in 1922, his April birthday was the day that a doctor removed a bullet in his neck. He had been the victim of an assassination attempt years earlier.
Why He's A Fool: Communism! The Red Terror! Kidding, kidding. Lenin's certainly no idiot. Writing more than 30 philosophical treatises while in exile in Siberia, he led a revolution, governed, and shaped the Russian Civil War. Not to mention helped to define the next century of Russian politico-economics. The most foolish thing about Lenin is the fact that he forwent most close personal attachments in the name of his philosophy. C'mon, man. You gotta have friends.
Tionee "T-Boz" Watkins

We don't want no scrubs, and we certainly don't want to go chasing waterfalls. So who better to follow two world leaders on this list than T-Boz? Nobody, that's who. The Belly actress and member of the legendary girl group TLC was born on April 26th.
Why She's A Fool: Despite being crazy, sexy, and cool, the '90s holdover star has been embroiled in financial troubles — filing for bankruptcy protection (and not for the first time) in November 2011. She was also embarrassingly "fired" from Celebrity Apprentice, when Donald Trump expressed disappointment in her willingness to re-enter the boardroom with the line, "Never volunteer for an execution."

7 Expensive iPhone Apps Worth Buying

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 04:12:44 +0000

Out there in the Internet ether of ones and zeros, there exists a curious class of applications that cost more than the devices on which they are utilized. Enter: The Expensive iPhone App. Expensive iPhone and iPad apps don't necessarily mean fluff for the yacht-rich. These seven pricey niche apps can improve your speech, teach you a few things about the law, and improve your functionality on the job. OK, fine. They can also book you a private jet. They may cost more than your most recent paycheck, but hey — it's free to look. (Photo via Flickr.)

iStutter

If you've got the pesky speech impediment, this $1,000 app claims to cure it. On the cutting edge of MPI (Modifying Phonated Interval) therapy research, iStutter also includes DAF (Delayed Auditory Feedback), and empowers users to use their stutter therapy app at home or on-the-go. Claiming to reduce the amount of mental effort needed for correcting the impediment, as well as naturalizing and color-coding the process, iStutter is a favorite for speakers who wish to be heard clear as a $1,000 bell.
BarMax

If you're a law student and Mac user in New York or California, the $999.99 BarMax is an app just for you. Lectures, test questions, reviews, and essays within will help prepare you for the ride of your life — finally taking the bar exam. And if you can believe it, at almost $1,000 it's really a steal — as the 1.4 gigabyte application contains as much information as courses five times its price.
LSAT Titan

Another great one for techie would-be lawyers, at $499.99, the LSAT Titan contains 6,300 licensed LSAT questions — and, hopefully, the promise of test success. It's reasonably priced for both the quality and quantity of materials, and a no-nonsense interface makes this expensive app substance heavy.
iRa Direct

If you're a government agency, a parking garage monitor, or a corporation — anyone with access to security cameras, basically — iRa Pro and iRa Direct aid in the management of your security system. A dynamic interface for keeping tabs on your properties, at $500 and $800 a pop, iRa products can mean the difference between being safe and being sorry.
Agro

Not to be confused with "aggro-," Agro is a $999.99 nice app for agronomists (soil scientists) to keep track of their clients, findings, and reports. Also used as a full-scale CMS for agronomists, the app is basically an entire business in a $1,000 button.
Intuition Control Solo WolfVision

Another on the list of $1,000 apps, this program is the top of the line in videoconferencing software. If you're a digital nomad or Internet entrepreneur, Intuition is an important tool for technocracy. And with impressive backend development, the app makes running your face-to-face business from anywhere in the world an easy few touchpad clicks away.
iVIP Black

The black AMEX in app form, this $999.99 one's worth buying … if you're the type of person that has so much money that you bathe in $100 bills. iVIP requires an authentication process to certify that you're of a certain income before download, and provides information about iVIP's partners. And while money can't buy happiness, it certainly can buy clout. When you're an iVIP, you use their locator service for special rates on hotel rooms and yachts, good theater seats, and private travel deals. Apparently, it's a fact: it's all about the Benjamins, baby.