[MyAppleMenu] Feb 25, 2011

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** What You Need To Know About Thunderbolt <http://www.macworld.com/article/158145/2011/02/thunderbolt_what_you_need_to_know.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Dan Frakes, Dan Moren, Macworld

**** Intel Details Thunderbolt, Says Apple Has Full Year Head Start <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/24/intel_details_thunderbolt_as_exclusive_to_apple_until_2012.html>
Daniel Eran Dilger, AppleInsider

At a press conference earlier this morning, Intel offered additional information about its new Thunderbolt interconnect technology being pioneered by Apple in its latest batch of MacBook Pros, noting Apple will have a year long head start in deploying the technology.

**** Did Voter Confusion On Apple Resolution Depress Turnout? <http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2011/02/24/did-voter-confusion-on-apple-resolution-depress-turnout/>
Dan Gallagher, Wall Street Journal

**** iPhoto 101: Use Two Fingers To Crop And Rotate Photos <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/24/iphoto-101-use-two-fingers-to-crop-and-rotate-photos/>
Mike Schramm, TUAW

**** Apple Shares Mac OS X Lion With Security Experts <http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-20036218-83.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=News-Apple>
Elinor Mills, CNET

Apple not only released a preview of its next operating system, Mac OS X Lion, to developers today, the company is also giving it to security experts for review.

**** Why Is Scrolling Backwards In OS X Lion? <http://www.cultofmac.com/why-is-scrolling-backwards-in-os-x-lion/83576>
Leander Kahney, Cult Of Mac

It’s another example of the influence of iOS on OS X.

**** Apple To Open First Store In Hong Kong This Year <http://www.macnn.com/articles/11/02/25/a.second.hong.kong.store.delayed.till.2012/>
MacNN

The South China Morning Post is reporting that the first of two planned Hong Kong stores will open before the end of the year. The first store is described as a 15,000 square-foot store in the IFC Mall in Central, while the second store will be an even larger 20,000 square feet in Hysan Place in Causeway Bay, which is expected to open in the third quarter of 2012, according to the paper.

**** New MacBook Pro Benchmarks Show Marked Improvement <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/25/new-macbook-pro-benchmarks-show-marked-improvement/>
Kelly Hodgkins, TUAW

**** Kiwi 2.0.2 <http://www.macworld.com/article/158153/2011/02/kiwi_2.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Lex Friedman, Macworld



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Scientific Spirit <http://www.thehumanist.org/humanist/11_mar_apr/Grosso.html>
Joseph Grosso, The Humanist

How romantics and technophiles can reconcile our love-hate relationship with scientific progress.

**** The Easy-Bake Oven Loses Its Soul <http://www.salon.com/food/francis_lam/2011/02/24/easy_bake_oven_change/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+salon-food+%28Salon%3A+Food%29>
Francis Lam, Salon

The federal ban on incandescent light bulbs won't doom the bulb-powered toy for good. But it will hurt its spirit.

**** Hot Young Thing: Why We Love The Easy-Bake Oven <http://www.salon.com/food/2010/02/28/why_we_love_the_easy_bake_oven/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+salon-food+%28Salon%3A+Food%29>
Sara Breselor, Salon

And if the appeal of the Easy-Bake Oven for children is rooted in such ancient themes, it is not surprising that other aspects of the toy come from an older tradition.

**** What's The Future Of The Supper Club? <http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2011/feb/25/future-of-the-supper-club>
James Ramsden, The Guardian

Now the big-name chefs have moved in with their pop-up restaurants, is there still an appetite for eating home cooking at a supper club?



SingaporeSurf
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**** A Sense Of Anticipation In The East <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110225-0000242/A-sense-of-anticipation-in-the-east>
Ng Jing Yng, Today

**** Waiting To Vote In The West ... <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110225-0000211/Waiting-to-vote-in-the-west-,,,>
Today

**** Reform Party Looks West <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110225-0000243/Reform-Party-looks-West>
Hoe Yeen Nie, Today

With or without an alliance with the Singapore People's Party - which is helmed by veteran Opposition leader Chiam See Tong - the Reform Party (RP) is going ahead with its plans to contest several constituencies in the western part of the island.

RP secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam, said the new electoral boundaries "overlap precisely" with where the party has been conducting outreach activities since 2009, "so residents generally know us very well".

**** NSP 'Badly Hit' By Boundary Changes <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110225-0000222/NSP-badly-hit-by-boundary-changes>
Ong Dai Lin, Today

National Solidarity Party (NSP) secretary-general Goh Meng Seng said the party had been "badly hit" by the electoral boundary changes. 

Three of the previous Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) that it was working in - Macpherson, Yio Chu Kang and Nee Soon Central - have been incorporated into a Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

**** Newest Party Socialist Front And Independent Eye Single Seats <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110225-0000239/Newest-party-Socialist-Front-and-independent-eye-single-seats>
Ong Dai Lin, Today

The country's newest political party, the Socialist Front, is looking at contesting in Single-Member Constituencies (SMCs) in central Singapore.

Party chairman Ng Teck Siong said the Front was looking at taking up one or two of the 12 SMCs announced yesterday but had not decided where it wanted to contest.

**** SDP Counting On Social Media <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110225-0000241/SDP-counting-on-social-media>
Ong Dai Lin, Today

When contacted, SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan said in an emailed reply: "We will maximise the use of the social media to help us spread our message. We will be stepping up our ground campaign in the coming weeks."

Dr Chee said he did not see a logical explanation in how the boundaries had been drawn.  They "seem to have been carved up in a haphazard way to benefit the PAP", said Dr Chee.

**** SDA Eyes Mountbatten, Punggol East <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110225-0000214/SDA-eyes-Mountbatten,-Punggol-East>
Joanne Chan, Today

SDA secretary-general Desmond Lim told reporters that it would not contest Sengkang West - to avoid a three-cornered fight with the Workers' Party (WP). 

Sengkang West was carved out of the Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency, which the WP had contested in 2006. However, the SDA still plans to contest for Punggol East - also a stated WP target.

**** Rift Between Chiam And His Lieutenant Hang Over Alliance <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110225-0000224/Rift-between-Chiam-and-his-lieutenant-hang-over-alliance>
Ong Dai Lin And Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Today

The spectre of disunity within the ranks of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) - caused by the dispute between SDA chairman Chiam See Tong and his former righthand man Desmond Lim - continue to loom large yesterday following the release of the electoral boundaries report. 

While Mr Chiam's wife, Lina, confirmed to reporters that she will contest the Potong Pasir seat in place of her husband, Mr Lim declined to back her candidacy - he said that the decision lies with the SDA council, which would be meeting next week to finalise its electoral plans. 

**** There Is Some Gerrymandering: WP <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110225-0000230/There-is-some-gerrymandering--WP>
Hoe Yeen Nie, Today

**** Mixed Feelings Over Disappearance Of SMCs <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110225-0000233/Mixed-feelings-over-disappearance-of-SMCs>
Today

Two PAP stalwarts had mixed feelings over the disappearance of their Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) yesterday. Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, who helmed Nee Soon East for the last 10 years, told MediaCorp he was sad as "residents, grassroots leaders and I have bonded as a family with many happy memories".

**** Grace Fu And Amy Khor To Contest SMCs? <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110225-0000244/Grace-Fu-and-Amy-Khor-to-contest-SMCs?>
Neo Chai Chin, Today

Office bearers Amy Khor and Grace Fu could become the first women to contest in Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) since 1991 if they are fielded in their current divisions at the General Election (GE).

In 1991, Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon contested in Yuhua and won, while former Cabinet minister Seet Ai Mee lost her SMC seat at Bukit Gombak.

**** Nee Soon GRC A Logical Move: Shanmugam <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110225-0000245/Nee-Soon-GRC-a-logical-move--Shanmugam>
Neo Chai Chin, Today

In a statement yesterday, Mr Shanmugam said: "The Sembawang GRC has become very large and population in Nee Soon town is also increasing. Having a Nee Soon GRC covering Nee Soon town will help in serving the residents of Nee Soon," he said.

Meanwhile, changes to his GRC has also left Sembawang Member of Parliament Lim Wee Kiak unfazed. Sembawang GRC was the largest constituency in the 2006 elections - spanning Yishun, Sembawang and Woodlands towns. As its population has grown since, its split into two GRCs, Sembawang and Nee Soon, was one of the permutations Dr Lim had expected.

**** Changes May Mean Slaying Sacred Cows <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110225-0000246/Changes-may-mean-slaying-sacred-cows>
Eugene K B Tan, Today

On what basis did the EBRC decide to retain the two SMCs besides the Opposition-held Potong Pasir and Hougang? Why did it abolish the other five SMCs? How did it decide which GRCs should become smaller? The EBRC missed a valuable opportunity to shed light on its method. Not surprisingly, this has already given rise to talk of gerrymandering, and of how the changes tend to benefit the ruling party. 

For the PAP, the changes may mean having to slay some electoral sacred cows.  One example is its reluctance to field a female candidate in an SMC. Of the 12 single seats drawn up for the next GE, two currently have female MPs - Dr Amy Khor in Hong Kah North and Ms Grace Fu in Yuhua. If the PAP retains the incumbents in these two SMCs, then we will see the PAP fielding women candidates in single-seat wards for the first time since 1991. Will it also field a rookie candidate in a SMC? It has never done so since 1988 when all new candidates were fielded only in GRCs.

**** A Major Redrawing Of The Boundaries <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110225-0000198/A-major-redrawing-of-the-boundaries>
Loh Chee Kong, Today

In total, just six constituencies were left intact, including well-established Opposition single-seats Potong Pasir and Hougang, as well as PAP's Bukit Panjang SMC and Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, which is helmed by deputy prime minister Wong Kan Seng. 

Overall, the changes mean that just one in five of the 2.35-million voters will not see any alteration in the shape of their constituencies from 2006 - compared to 42 per cent in that previous GE, when boundary changes were relatively minor, and 9 per cent for the 2001 GE which saw several GRCs enlarged.

**** What Now, Kenneth? <http://kentridgecommon.com/?p=10127>
Christopher Ong, Kent Ridge Common

Rather than breaking into a long and prolix explanation of the circumstances leading to the departure of its candidates, Kenneth must be able to contextualize simply — simple enough to be summed up in one or two sentences at the very most — and focus. More importantly, rather than continually harping on the incident of the departure, he must also show that there will be people of equal caliber willing to stand up and be counted for the party this coming election. One gets the feeling that if Kenneth achieves the second but not the first, he would still be considered to have withstood this test of his leadership abilities and prove the depth of the Reform Party. Indeed, this is where his priorities must lie now.

**** Singapore Election Department Drawn Electoral Boundaries <http://singapore-lighthouse.blogspot.com/2011/02/singapore-election-department-drawn.html>
Singapore Social And Political Thoughts

I had decided that I will not vote for PAP for the following reasons.

**** æ–°åŠ å¡çš„è´ªæ±¡æˆæœ¬ <http://news.163.com/11/0225/03/6TN86H9800014AED.html>
中国青年报

个公务员如果有贪污行为，将要付出“高额经济成本”，将处处面对“得不偿失”。贪污调查局官员陈启明先生为我们算了一笔账：按照规定，如果一个公务员为政府服务了33.5年，那么，他工资中的每1000新元，可以换算为11.6万新元养老金。按月工资1万新元计算，其退休时就可以拿到116ä¸‡æ–°å…ƒå…»è€é‡‘ã€‚æ–°åŠ å¡é«˜çº§å…¬åŠ¡å‘˜çš„æœˆè–ªï¼Œæœ‰çš„è¾¾åˆ°30万新元，其养老金甚为可观。这就是经济上的贪污成本，失去的远远大于贪污所得。

**** SERS Is For Blocks With Redevelopment Potential <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110225-0000212/SERS-is-for-blocks-with-redevelopment-potential>
Wen-Tan Hui Kuan, Housing & Development Board, Today

Under SERS, only sold blocks with good redevelopment potential are identified on a highly selective basis to optimise land use.

**** New Electoral Boundaries Benefits PAP, Says Opposition <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/02/new-electoral-boundaries-benefits-pap-says-opposition/>
Deborah Choo, The Online Citizen

**** Add More Bedrooms To HDB Flats For More Privacy <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_638560.html>
Mark Woon, Straits Times

With such limited rooms, why would a family want to have more children only to squeeze them all into one room?

**** Let Us Help To Resolve RP Issue <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/4635-let-us-help-to-resolve-rp-issue>
Chee Soon Juan, Singapore Democratic Party

We ask all opposition supporters not to make comments that cast aspersion on either camp. Let us stop speculating about what happened within the RP, and the motivations of the actors that led to their parting of ways. Let us instead try to find ways to help resolve the issue.

**** The Time Has Come <http://yawshinleong.blogspot.com/2011/02/time-has-come.html>
Yaw Shin Leong

The time has come for us to search our hearts. We have to ask ourselves, what do we wish to see in a democratic Singapore? Specifically, in the highest decision making body of our land, our parliament – should it continue to be shrouded in white? The answer is obviously no. 

**** The Grim Reaper In The PMO <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/02/the-grim-reaper-in-the-pmo/>
Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen

With changes made to the boundaries at each election, it is incumbent upon the EBRC to be transparent and the committee must be held accountable.

In the interests of transparency and accountability, the EBRC should hold a press conference where members of the media (and even members of the public) are invited to query its recommendations. The EBRC must be required to provide rational and logical explanations to the boundary changes it suggests.

**** 75 MPs To Come From GRCs <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_638735.html>
Rachel Chang, Straits Times

Group representation constituencies (GRCs) will be smaller on average at the next polls, but the overall number of elected MPs they will yield remains the same as in the last elections: 75.

**** This Is Home, Truly – Stand Up And Fight For It! <http://geraldgiam.sg/2011/02/this-is-home-truly-stand-up-and-fight-for-it/>
Gerald Giam

My friends, readers and fellow Singaporeans, this is the time where your actions can make a real difference to the future of Singapore. Don’t let this opportunity slip away.

**** If Singapore Accepts Special Position Of Malays, Why Are Malaysians Questioning It It? <http://marahku.blogspot.com/2011/02/if-singapore-accepts-special-position.html>
Marahku

Malays should re-read Singapore's constitution and realise that even with such provision in the constitution, the Malays do not get equal opportunity.

**** A Second Career In Politics <http://mysingaporenews.blogspot.com/2011/02/second-career-in-politics.html>
My Singapore News

The young retirees are at the prime of their lives and have many more good years to go. What is there to lose when there is so much to gain?

**** Politics In Opposition Politics <http://chemgen.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/politics-in-opposition-politics/>
Chemical Generation Singapore

**** Political Daoism In Singapore? <http://beattynwhampoa.blogspot.com/2011/02/political-daoism-in-singapore.html>
Beatty & Whampoa

**** GE: PM Lee Says New Electoral Map Should Lower Hurdles For Contesting Parties <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1112950/1/.html>
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia

He said the changes announced by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee on February 24 have demarcated new constituency boundaries in accordance with the guidelines which he announced in Parliament in May 2009.

Mr Lee said the average size of Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) has been brought down to five members, while the number of six-member GRCs has been reduced and the number of Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) increased to 12.

**** This Election, Your Life, Your Future.... <http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2011/02/this-election-your-life-your-future.html>
Diary Of A Singaporean Mind

The answers to the questions Singaporeans will be asking at the ballot box are very clear. We need to bring this govt back to focus on the people, their quality of life and the promise of a better future.

**** Electoral Boundary Changes To Help Opposition? <http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/02/25/electoral-boundary-changes-to-help-opposition/>
Ewen Boey, Yahoo!

**** Singapore’s Health Promotion Board “Tweets” The Four-letter Bad Word <http://socialpr.blogspot.com/2011/02/singapores-health-promotion-board.html>
Small Steps For Social PR

Followers of the Health Promotion Board (HPBSG) Twitter’s account were appalled when they saw the four-letter bad word appearing in the Singapore government agency’s tweet stream.

**** Electoral Map Virgin Births <http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/electoral-map-virgin-births/>
Yawning Bread

1. There are still Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs)– monsters meant to reap advantages of homogenisation for the People’s Action Party in a first-past-the-post system;

2. The promised shrinking for GRCs was carried out to the absolute minimum;

3. Variances in voters per member of parliament are still unacceptably wide;

4. Rationale for boundary changes and creation of new SMCs are unexplained and appear to serve incumbents’ interests.

**** What Do MM Lee And Dr Mahathir Think Of Each Other? <http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/02/25/what-do-mm-lee-and-mahathir-think-of-each-other/>
Faris, Yahoo!

Despite being at loggerheads with Mr Lee for more than 20 years, Dr Mahathir had to admit that Lee “will go down in history as a very remarkable intellectual and a politician at the same time, which is not a very often thing.”

On the other hand, Mr Lee graciously acknowledged Mahathir as an “outstanding” prime minister of Malaysia, adding that the latter educated his people and sent many of them abroad on scholarships and who in turn transformed the country.

**** Reform Party Chairman Resigns <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/02/toc-breaking-news-reform-party-chairman-resigns/>
The Online Citizen

Reform Party insiders have confirmed with TOC that Reform Party Chairman Mr Tan Tee Seng has resigned today. TOC understands that more resignations are expected in the coming weeks.

**** Singapore's Human Rights Record Under UN Scrutiny <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1113004/1/.html>
Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia

The Singapore government has submitted its report on the country's human rights track record to the United Nations, as part of a review of all UN member states.

Under the chapter on political and civil liberties, the government said "no person has ever been detained for engaging in lawful political activities" in Singapore. The government added Singapore "considers capital punishment as a criminal justice issue, rather than a human rights one".

**** GE: Lui Tuck Yew Looking Forward To Joining New GRC <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1113035/1/.html>
Imelda Saad, Joanne Chan, Channel NewsAsia