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Appsolutely Awful: How to Make Your Smart Phone Dumb

lenore skenazyBY LENORE SKENAZY

New apps the world is awaiting!

(Or maybe not.)

Footbook: Facebook for people too shy to look up.

Fibr: Allows you to find fiber, instantly, anywhere.

KnitBit: Keeps track of how many inches you have knitted in a day.

FateBit: After an actuarial table determines when you will die, a stopwatch counts down the time you have left.

Wads App: Trident, Wrigley or Bazooka? Photograph the bottom of your shoe and wonder no more.

The Verizon Grrr: Sends a slightly stinging jolt through the phone of friend who hasn’t answered your text within 28 seconds.

The Verizon Yowch: Sends a surprisingly robust jolt through the phone of “friend” who hasn’t answered your text within 29 seconds.

The Verizon Singe: Sends a searing jolt that leaves a phone-shaped welt on butt of  the a**hole who  “couldn’t” answer your text within half a minute.

Where’s My Brain?: RFID technology locates fantasy where the brain has strayed and brings it back to the task at hand with a loud “Never gonna happen,” or “Get back to work!”

Google Naps: Presents viewer with IRS-generated instructions on how to fill out Tax Form 1099-PATR, Taxable Distributions Received From Cooperatives.

Google Naps+: Presents viewer with IRS- generated instructions on how to file for advance payments of the premium tax credit that were not made for you, your spouse, or any individual you enrolled in coverage for whom no one else is claiming the personal exemption (Part 1).

Google Catch: Activates 3-D video of writhing worm. Simply attach phone to fishing line.

Google Glug: Allows fish to call each other  and laugh about idiot in wading boots.

Google Pyke: Allows fish to see each other and laugh about idiot in wading boots.

Google Wet Smack: Allows idiot in wading boots to smack self in the head with wet, otherwise no-longer-functioning phone.

FaceSlime: Allows others to laugh at idiot with algae on face.

InstaSpam: Signs user up for amazing time-share deals.

InstaScam: See above.

InstaBam: Get your Obama quote of the day — or download the previous 2,627!

InstaCram: Summarizes English Class favorites in two or three lines. E.g., “Guy mad that whale ate leg. Also, there’s symbolism.”

InstaFam: Lonely? This RFG (Random Family Generator) adds a total of up to 17 people to your family queue, and then deletes two because you are no longer on speaking terms.  Note:”BIL” designee will stop by  within the hour to borrow your drill (return not guaranteed) and take a beer from your fridge.

Snapcat: Snapchat for old ladies.

Snaplap: Snapchat for old cats.

Temple Shalom Run: Players rush to get to temple on time. Bagels of gold, red and blue provide protection, and a platform for lox.

InstaGerm: Function encourages you to hand your phone to a nearby child, then take it back.

Shhhazam: Shushes people wearing headphones who don’t realize they’re singing out loud.

Spotify, Dry Cleaning Edition: Distracts user applying ketchup, mustard or mayo to sandwich while wearing nice clothes.

Google Mistranslate: Takes ordinary English and produces gaffes that may or may not result in war.

Doodley: Records each day’s doodles and lets you know if you are approaching fatal levels of boredom.

Nozee: Exactly how many times did you push your glasses up your nose today?

Enemyster: Create new enemies by finding others who snort at your opinions, hobbies, or moral judgments.

Amazon’s Amazon Direct: Leeches, piranhas and intestinal parasites delivered to your door while still alive.

MineShaft: Players fall down virtual mine shaft and waste rest of their lives trying to get out.

Elfie: Allows user to take photos of self with imaginary friend, who does not show up in photo.

Pyft: New app that…never mind. It’s nothing, really.

Lenore Skenazy is a keynote speaker who authored the book, and founded the blog, Free-Range Kids (freerangekids.com).