There have been a number of studies since your link was posted (over 3 years ago) that are showing beneficial results, other people have linked to them in other comments on this story. We're still very early into the research on this, but it does appear to have some promise.

You also forgot to mention the painful gas and bloating that it causes.

I've got an iPad 2, and I've got a Kindle Fire on the way for exactly this reason. I found that 90% of my time on the iPad is just using it to check message boards, or look up info on IMDB while watching TV. So a 7" tablet that lighter is a perfect replacement for what I'm using it for. For all those saying "Why not a netbook"? Because a tablet is smaller, or for basic browsing a touch screen is a lot easier to use than a stupid tracpad.

If the pilot can't leave the cockpit, what happens in the middle of a 13 hour flight when they need to use the restroom? All planes already have reinforced locking doors between the cockpit and the cabin that can only be unlocked from the pilots side.

Or maybe, just maybe, different pirates have different reasons for pirating. Blows your closed little mind doesn't it?

The problem with learning a language in school is that you quickly forget it if you don't use it. I know many Canadians from the western provinces in Canada who can't speak a lick of French despite it being taught from an early age in school and being printed on most consumer products. Why? Because everyone around them speaks English and they quickly forget. What's the point in learning Chinese or German in high school if you quickly forget it due to lack of use? And as someone who has traveled outside the US, I've found very little opportunity to speak the local language beyond ordering at a restaurant or asking for directions. Usually the people I'm doing business with speak English better than I speak their language, so choose to converse in English when talking with me for expediency and clarity.

Yes, and we still are. There are still at least 2 more books in the series that need to be written.

How does the iPad get around the problem of over saturated hotel networks or poor 3G connectivity? What does it bring to the table that isn't the same as a thin client on a laptop? That's right, it doesn't and nothing.

Can't you turn this off in the Windows Live privacy settings (not the Live Messenger privacy settings)?

Where do you live that WiFi is limited to 20mW? In the US the limitation is 4W (EIRP) (PTP links are different). In most of Europe it is limited to 100mW. The typical home WiFi router is usually in the 80-100mW EIRP range.