[MyAppleMenu] Jun 26, 2010

applesurf at myapplemenu.com applesurf at myapplemenu.com
Sat Jun 26 18:59:00 EDT 2010

MyAppleMenu
====================================

**** Let Apple Demo FaceTime With You Live <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/25/let-apple-demo-facetime-with-you-live/>
Dave Caolo, TUAW

Simply dial 1-888-FACETIME, and after a moment or two, an Apple employee will answer and show you how it works as well as "a few advanced tips."

**** iPhone 4 Upgrades To HSDPA/HSUPA Can Double 3G Bandwidth Speeds <http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/hiner/?p=5202>
Jason Hiner, TechRepublic

The primary source of the iPhone 4’s speed boost is the upgrade to HSDPA (which began with the iPhone 3GS) and HSUPA (which is new to the iPhone 4).

**** Why Apple Has Put Mac OS X On The Back Burner <http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/why_apple_has_put_mac_os_x_on_the_back_burner/>
John Martellaro, The Mac Observer

This coherence of OS vision is just what Mr. Jobs needs to put the final nail in the coffin of Windows.

**** Apple Accused Of 'discrimination' Over iPhone 4 <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/7855205/Apple-accused-of-discrimination-over-iPhone-4.html>
Telegraph

Lauren Milsom, of the Left-Handed Club, which boasts 90,000 members and represents 10 per cent of the population who are left-handed, branded it a ''design flaw''.

She said: ''It seems ludicrous to suggest that 10 per cent of potential users should be told they have to adopt a less natural hand hold to use this latest technology."



The Tomorrow Weblog
====================================

**** ICANN OKs .xxx Domain Name For Porn Sites <http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20008838-93.html?part=rss&amp;subj=news&amp;tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
Lance Whitney, CNET News

Porn sites may soon be able to tag themselves with a .xxx address now that ICANN has given the new domain name its initial OK.



MyAppleMenu Reader
====================================

**** The "Thriller" Diaries <http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/features/2010/07/michael-jackson-thriller-201007?currentPage=all>
Nancy Griffin, Vanity Fair

Michael Jackson’s 1983 “Thriller” remains the most popular music video of all time: a 14-minute horror spoof that changed the business. Behind the scenes it gave its star a temporary home with director John Landis, sparked a near romance with actress Ola Ray, and revealed how damaged the young pop idol already was.

**** America Psycho By Bret Easton Ellis <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/26/book-club-bret-easton-ellis?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
John Mullan, The Guardian

The running joke is an ignoble device, beloved of TV comedy. You won't find it described in dictionaries of literary terms (despite the fondness for running gags of highly literary novelists such as Sterne and Nabokov). American Psycho relies on running jokes, being all about repetition.

**** Where Do Gadgets Really Come From? <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/magazine/27FOB-consumed-t.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Rob Walker, New York Times

You might own a device made by Dell, Hewlett-Packard or Apple, for instance, but had you heard of Foxconn Technology before multiple suicides by workers became a big news story?

**** Is ‘Ghoti’ Pronounced ‘Fish’? <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/magazine/27FOB-onlanguage-t.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Ben Zimmer, New York Times

When talk turns to the irrationality of English spelling conventions, a five-letter emblem of our language’s foolishness inevitably surfaces: ghoti.

**** The Arabs And The Holocaust By Gilbert Achcar <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/26/arabs-holocaust-israeli-war-narratives?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Tariq Ali, The Guardian

In a systematic and scholarly refutation of the simplistic myths that have arisen following the formation of Israel, Gilbert Achcar, the Lebanese-French historian, who is currently professor of international relations at the School of Oriental and African Studies, has provided us with the best book on the subject so far.

**** Mr Peanut By Adam Ross <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/26/mr-peanut-adam-ross-review?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Christopher Tayler, The Guardian

All the same, it's an impressive first novel, and there's no question that the people who signed Ross up had shrewd eyes for talent, a quality he's jumping with.

**** The Secrets Of "Psycho's" Shower Scene <http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/film_salon/2010/06/25/psycho_shower_scene_anniversary/index.html>
Steve North, Salon

Perkins added that the director, in effect, broke his own long-standing rule with that decision. "He was outspokenly eager to not play any tricks on the audience in his films, to do anything that couldn’t be thought of as fair play, but in that instance, he in fact did.

**** Hedge Hogs <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/books/review/Freeland-t.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Chrystia Freeland, New York Times

Today’s populist mood has not deterred Sebastian Mallaby. In “More Money Than God,” his smart history of the hedge fund business, Mallaby does more than explain how finance’s richest moguls made their loot. He argues that the obsessive, charismatic oddballs of the hedge fund world are Wall Street’s future — and possibly its salvation.



SingaporeSurf
====================================

**** Don't Just Look At Cost <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC100626-0000064/Dont-just-look-at-cost>
Heng Chee How, Construction and Timber Industries Employees’ Union, Today

Costs and profitability should not be reasons for taking the safety of workers less seriously than they should be.

**** What Price A Worker's Life? <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC100626-0000065/What-price-a-workers-life?>
Jolovan Wham, Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, Today

Small- and medium-sized companies may be concerned that hiring safer modes of transport such as buses may add to their costs. However, the lives of human beings should not be measured in dollars and cents.

**** More To It Than A Clogged Culvert <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_545750.html>
Lee Yew Moon, Straits Times

Even if the Orchard Road deluge worsened because of a clogged culvert, how does one explain the inundation in Newton, Novena, Kampung Java and Little India? National water agency PUB could have made its case more convincingly if it had released pictures to show how badly clogged the culvert was.

Yesterday's flash floods must spark deeper investigation into these embarrassing shortcomings in our drainage system.

**** 乌节昨虽没积水　蒙损店主仍心有余悸 <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp100626_014.shtml>
刘丽仪, 联合早报

乌节路在昨早一场豪雨中没出现淹水，车辆通畅无阻，没重演上星期水淹乌节的情况。不过，曾有那次经历的店主受访时表示仍心有余悸，有些已采取些防范措施，有些则认为当局已改善，相信历史不会重演。

**** 水漫樟宜路店屋　货物都泡汤 店主欲哭无泪 <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp100626_009.shtml>
联合早报

昨早的倾盆大雨，造成水淹樟宜路，路旁的一排店屋的店内水淹及膝，货物全泡水中，损失不菲。

受访店主表示这是这地带12年来水患最严重的一次，并怀疑是后巷的大水沟目前修建成封闭式，排水孔不够，导致无法迅速排水。

**** 学者：即使定期检查树木 也不能保证树不倒 <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp100626_008.shtml>
联合早报

国大生物科学系副教授陈长华受访时说，虽然有其他因素可以影响一棵树的稳定性，但强烈的雨势与风势在很大程度上能影响树的坚实度，昨天有多棵树倒下主要是狂风暴雨所致。

**** SMRT Vandal: Oliver Fricker Gets Jail And Caning. Barbaric? <http://rogerpoh.wordpress.com/2010/06/26/smrt-vandal-oliver-fricker-gets-jail-and-caning/>
SpotlightOnSingapore

Some may argue that the law is the law, and must be enforced. True, but let’s temper the law with mercy, and not enforce it ruthlessly in an attempt to extract every ounce of flesh.

**** Oh Yes, The Law Can Be Mocked <http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2010/06/oh-yes-law-can-be-mocked.html>
Singapore Notes

**** Press Statement On Recent Floods <http://singaporealternatives.blogspot.com/2010/06/press-statement-on-recent-floods.html>
Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives

**** Singapore To Cane Swiss Man After Train Graffiti Incident <http://uk.asiancorrespondent.com/the-asia-file/singapore-to-cane-swiss-man-after-train-graffiti-incident>
Ben Bland, Asian Correspondent

While Fricker's case has attracted substantial coverage in the Western media, scores of Singaporeans and other Asians are caned in the city-state every year with few eyebrows raised except by human rights organisations such as Amnesty.

**** Goh The Architect Of Separation <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/26/focus/6550023&sec=focus>
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star

According to Associate Professor of Political Science, Hussin Mutalib, from what Lee revealed, that role appeared more significant than so far believed. This was because Lee’s remarks had suggested the break-up was decided unilaterally at the crucial moment by Dr Goh, against the proposition of Lee and even the collective Cabinet.

“This would imply that it may well have been Singapore which precipitated the idea of separation, rather than Malaysia, as has been the notion all this while,” Hussin said.

**** Singapore Could Do With 2 Instead Of 3 Local Banks-Lee <http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE65O0GA20100625>
Saeed Azhar and Kevin Lim, Reuters

Singapore could do better with two instead of three local banks so they could expand overseas in a more meaningful manner, the city-state's senior statesman Lee Kuan Yew said on Friday.

"I would have preferred personally that there were only two banks because I don't think Singapore was big enough for three banks," Lee said at a dinner hosted by the Association of Banks in Singapore.

But would the two bigger banks be too big for ordinary Singaporeans? Do we have to pay and help these two banks when we discover they are too big to fail?

**** No Property Bubble In Singapore Yet-Lee Kuan Yew <http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKSGE65O0EV20100625?feedType=RSS&feedName=rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FUKBankingFinancial+%28News+%2F+UK+%2F+Financial+Services+and+Real+Estate%29>
Saeed Azhar and Kevin Lim, Reuters

There is no "bubble" yet in Singapore's residential market and the government is taking steps to ensure the sector does not overheat, the city-state's senior statesman Lee Kuan Yew said on Friday.

**** Defiant YPAP Leader Sinha Shekhar Threatened To Sue Whistleblower For “Slander” <http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/06/26/defiant-ypap-leader-sinha-shekhar-threatened-to-sue-whistleblower-for-slander/>
The Temasek Review

Defiant YPAP leader and new citizen from India Mr Sinha Shekhar has threatened to sue a netizen who lodged a complaint against him to HDB for “slander”.

A poster-boy of the YPAP, Mr Sinha Shekhar who has NEVER served a single day of National Service in his entire life, may end up standing for elections in the future under the banner of the pro-foreigner PAP, or rather FAP (Foreigner Action Party).

**** HDB Clears YPAP Leader Sinha Shekhar Of Any Wrongdoing <http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/06/26/hdb-clears-ypap-leader-sinha-shekhar-of-any-wrongdoing/>
The Temasek Review

Though Mr Sinha may have rented out his HDB flat legally, questions remain about HDB’s guidelines which appear to be fuzzy and unclear.

At a time when young Singapore couples are struggling to afford a roof over their heads, is it fair to allow these newcomers to buy resale flats when they already own private properties?

**** Singapore Fights Trade In Bear Gall Bladders And Other Exotic Animal Parts <http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-06-26/singapore-trade-endangered-species.html>
RT

The illegal trade of bear gall bladders, bear bile powder, deer limbs, snake skins, lizards and bats is where Singapore’s Chinatown’s oriental charm stops.

Chinatown's markets openly and fearlessly offer what its owners could easily be punished for.

**** Stricter Measures To Ensure Workers' Safety On Lorries May Be Implemented Earlier <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1065892/1/.html>
Hetty Musfirah, Channel NewsAsia

Plans to implement stricter measures to ensure workers' safety on lorries may come sooner than expected. The Ministry of Transport said the Land Transport Authority is considering calls to do so following the recent lorry accidents.

**** 6 Taxi Operators' Associations Come Together To Form Nat'l Taxi Association <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1065907/1/.html>
Sharon See, Channel NewsAsia

Singapore's taxi drivers are now unified under a new umbrella body, the National Taxi Association (NTA). It's made up of the six associations affiliated to the labour movement, NTUC.

**** More Bus Trips, Bigger Buses <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_546032.html>
Irene Tham, Straits Times

The twenty bus routes will get 71 additional trips a day. Double decker and bendy buses will also be deployed instead of the usual single-decked short buses.

However, these measures will only kick in during what the operators termed as 'peak of peak' hours. The 'peak of peak' period - an half-hour duration anytime between 7am and 9am, and between 5.30pm and 7.30pm - varies depending on the bus routes.




More information about the applesurf-list mailing list