Over the past two days, a couple of high-profile research analysts have issued reports predicting that Apple’s stock will reach the $1000/share milestone within the next year or two, a move that would see that company’s market capitalization push toward an unprecedented trillion-dollar market capitalization.

Yesterday, analyst Brian White issued his first research note on Apple in his new position with Topeka Capital Markets. White had previously worked at Ticonderoga Securities, which ceased operations earlier this year. In his initiation report for Topeka, White offers a 12-month price target of $1001 for Apple, citing the appeal of 4G LTE, booming growth in China, and an expected Apple television set as drivers for the company’s growth.

We are initiating coverage of Apple with a Buy rating and a 12-month price target of $1,001.00. Driven by an ever expanding portfolio of innovative products, a growing integrated digital grid, unmatched aesthetics and a brand that is able to touch the soul of consumers of all backgrounds, Apple fever is spreading like a wildfire around the world and we see no end in sight to this trend. As such, we believe the Apple story still has a long way to play out in the coming years and we expect the next 12-18 months to be particularly exciting for the Company on multiple fronts.

White also points to Apple’s dividend and share repurchase program, with growth of that program in the future, as an additional driver for investor interest in Apple’s stock.

Meanwhile, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster weighed in with his own report early today, and while his official 12-month price target for Apple moves from $718 to $910, he believes that the stock will roll on to reach $1000 in 2014.

While our 12-month price target is $910, we believe shares of AAPL can reach $1,000 beyond our one year price target window, specifically in 2014 when we believe investors will begin to factor in CY15 numbers. Even conservatively applying the 12x forward year EPS multiple (CY13) that Apple is currently trading at to our CY15 estimate of $80.18, we reach a $960 share price. Furthermore, we believe factoring in an Apple Television could add more than $4 in EPS (5%) by CY15, which could yield over a $1,000 share price (12 * ~$84).

Munster estimates that half of the predicted $400 billion growth in Apple’s market cap will come at the expense of its competitors, while the other half will come from new money entering the tech sector.

Given Apple’s current share count of roughly 930 million, a $1000 price would see the company pushing toward a market capitalization of $1 trillion. As we noted last month, Microsoft set the standard for highest market capitalization for a publicly-traded company back in 1999 at $604 billion. Apple is roughly $20 billion short of that number as of today, but when adjusted for inflation, Microsoft’s peak market cap would have corresponded to over $800 billion in today’s dollars.

Palm Springs, Calif., (April 2, 2012) –The Stroke Recovery Center was awarded a $50,000 grant from the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. The funds will support the center in its mission to provide free rehabilitation to survivors of stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

“It is only through the support of generous gifts like the one from the Berger Foundation that we are able to provide services to people after insurance coverage leaves off,” said Beverly Greer, Stroke Recovery Center Chief Executive Officer. “We are able to help survivors regain skills and a confidence level that allows them to rejoin the community.”

For more than 30 years, the Stroke Recovery Center has offered recreation, speech and exercise therapy to help stroke and TBI victims regain independence and improve their quality of life. Therapeutic rehabilitation programs address the physical, psychological, emotional and re-socialization needs of stroke and TBI survivors as well as their families.

“We believe this gift is helping people help themselves, which is a core value of the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation,” said Chris McGuire, Vice President of Programs at the Foundation. “Stroke victims and their families have come to depend on the physical and emotional therapy provided at the center. We are proud to assist the staff and volunteers as they provide help and guidance to clients facing these difficult challenges.”

The Stroke Recovery Center is located at 2800 East Alejo Road, Palm Springs. For more information about the center, call 760-323-7676 or visit www.strokerecoverycenter.org.

LONDON — Britain is to allow one of its intelligence agencies to monitor all phone calls, texts, emails and online activities in the country to help tackle crime and militant attacks, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday.

“It is vital that police and security services are able to obtain communications data in certain circumstances to investigate serious crime and terrorism and to protect the public,” a Home Office spokesman said.

The proposed law already has drawn strong criticism, from within the ruling Conservative Party’s own ranks, as an invasion of privacy and personal rights.

“What the government hasn’t explained is precisely why they intend to eavesdrop on all of us without even going to a judge for a warrant, which is what always used to happen,” Member of Parliament David Davis told BBC News.

“It is an unnecessary extension of the ability of the state to snoop on ordinary people,” he said.

New legislation is expected to be announced in the legislative agenda-setting speech given by the queen in May.

Currently, British agencies can monitor calls and emails of specific individuals who may be under investigation after obtaining ministerial approval, but expanding that to all citizens is certain to enrage civil liberties campaigners.

Internet companies would be required to install hardware which would allow the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), referred to as Britain’s electronic ‘listening’ agency, to gain real-time access to communications data.

The new law would not allow GCHQ to access the content of emails, calls or messages without a warrant, but it would allow it to trace who an individual or group was in contact with, how frequently they communicated and for how long.

The Sunday Times newspaper, which first reported the story, said some details of the proposals were given to members of the Britain’s Internet Service Providers’ Association last month.

“As set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review we will legislate as soon as parliamentary time allows to ensure that the use of communications data is compatible with the government’s approach to civil liberties,” the Home Office spokesman said.

Any proposed legislation changes are likely to face stiff opposition in both houses of the British Parliament.

A similar proposal was considered by the then-ruling Labour party in 2006 but was abandoned in the face of fierce opposition by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, who are junior partners in the ruling coalition.

The proposed legislation could reflect the U.S. Patriot Act, controversially introduced six weeks after September 11 in 2001, to expand the government’s authority to monitor the communications activity of its citizens.

Theatre 29 and Director John Wright have completed the casting for the 3rd show of the 2012 season, “A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody.” By Ron Bernas. The Comedy, Murder Mystery (yup, all three!) will open May 4 and run five weekends through June 2.

In “A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody” It’s New Year’s Eve at the Perry mansion, Julia and Matthew Perry seem to have it all, but Matthew wants something more — to be rid of his wife, Julia, so he can have some real fun! He resolves to murder Julia by the New Year’s end, and tells her so. She vows to stay alive, and tells him so. And so the game begins.

A hilarious year-long match of wits and the witless. While Julia cleverly dodges Matthew’s devious murder attempts, the Perry friends and staff are dying off mysteriously. It seems Matthew is successful in murdering everyone but Julia. As the bodies are falling, dim-witted daughter Bunny contemplates calling off her wedding to unwitting Donald since all the intended gift-bearing guests are dying. Enter Detective Plotnik, a Sam Spade reincarnation who suspects everyone, but hasn’t a clue. That is, not until Donald stumbles upon Julia and gentlemanly butler Buttram in what Donald mistakenly perceives as a compromising situation. Donald jumps to the conclusion that Julia is the murderer — trying to murder Matthew! “A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody” is homage to the screwball comedies of the 30’s and 40’s.

Wright, who made his directorial debut at Theatre 29 with “Pinocchio” last season, has assembled a very talented cast of veterans of Theatre 29 for this production.

Playing Matthew Perry, a man who from birth has had more dollars than sense, is Tom Highfill, last seen in “Barbecuing Hamlet”. Playing Buttram, the family butler for many years, though convinced he is above being a butler, is Marv Schmelling. Matthew’s wife, Julia Perry, a classy, intelligent woman who loves her husband despite his many faults, will be played by Cheryl Gillon.  Matthew and Julia’s sweet, but dim-witted and deeply shallow daughter, Bunny Perry, is played by Lauren Schmelling. Donald, Bunny’s fiancée, is very earnest, and very much in love with Bunny, despite her lack of savvy, is played by Chris Fleishman. Rounding out the cast as Plotnik, a witless detective, who fancies himself a cynical gumshoe, but lacks the savvy to locate, let alone solve, a crime, is Jericho McWilliams.

“A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody” plays at 7:00 pm Friday and Saturday nights May 4 – June 2, with a Thursday performance at 7:00 PM May 17th, and a Sunday Matinee at 2:30 PM May 27th. Tickets are available now online at www.theatre29.org or by calling the Theatre 29 box office at 760-361-4151. Ticket prices are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors and military; and $8 for students.

Theatre 29 is located at 73637 Sullivan Road, (right around the corner from Barr Lumber) in the City of Twentynine Palms.