No. It can’t be. Someone out there actually returned an iPhone? Someone was dissatisfied with the uber-gadget? Well, not exactly. In a very entertaining read, Farhad Manjoo, a blogger at Salon.com, chronicles what amounts to a two-week love affair with his iPhone. He gushes over its functionality, design and overall beauty, and cites several examples of why it’s more than just good technological fun. In the end, though, it proves too expensive, and he returns it, heartbroken, within the two week window, hoping that the price comes down soon. If you’re not the gadget-loving sort, his essay should give you some insight into the strange breed. And if you are, it will probably echo your own thoughts about Apple’s latest gem.—Gregory Mone
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Science is reinventing play, from extreme sports to gamification to ridiculous roller coasters to the playgrounds of tomorrow, and this issue is chock full of fun. Also, on a less fun note: Did global warming destroy my hometown?