[MyAppleMenu] Jan 10, 2011

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** How To Avoid Public GPL Floggings On Apple's App Store <http://www.zdnet.com/blog/perlow/how-to-avoid-public-gpl-floggings-on-apples-app-store/15426?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ZDNetBlogs+%28ZDNet+All+Blogs%29>
Jason Perlow, ZDNet

If you develop software for Apple’s App Store, which now also includes the Macintosh platform, then you are obligated to do a preliminary code review yourself and be absolutely sure you aren’t using any GPLv2 components before you submit an application for electronic distribution.

Otherwise you might find yourself having to re-write thousands of lines of code, or even worse, become subject to public floggings by groups such as the SFLC and incurring significant legal costs. Oy vey.

**** Apple Launching Personal Setup For Macs At Apple Stores <http://www.9to5mac.com/46611/apple-launching-personal-setup-for-macs-at-apple-stores?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+9To5Mac-MacAllDay+%289+to+5+Mac+-+Apple+Intelligence%29>
Mark Gurman, 9 To 5 Mac

When you purchase a Mac at an Apple Retail store an employee will help you setup your e-mail accounts, walk you through the Mac App Store, setup an iTunes account for you, and show you the basic pointers of owning a Mac. Some stores will even have dedicated Mac setup stations.

**** Apple Announces Dates For iTunes Festival London 2011 <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/10/apple-announces-dates-for-itunes-festival-london-2011/>
Michael Grothaus, TUAW

**** An iPad For Every Child <http://www.macworld.com/article/157013/2011/01/ipadintheschool.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Fraser Speirs, Macworld

Since January 2010, my colleagues and I at Cedars School of Excellence have been deploying a new computing program in our school—with exciting results.

**** Apple Drops iPhone 3GS To $49 <http://www.macworld.com/article/157028/2011/01/apple_iphone_3gs.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Dan Moren, Macworld

Last week, AT&T announced that it would drop the price of the iPhone 3GS from $99 to $49; on Monday, Apple matched the move.

**** iWork.com Beta Adds Keynote Animations, Presentation Embedding <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/10/iwork-com-beta-adds-keynote-animations-presentation-embedding/>
Steven Sande, TUAW

**** Scaling And Cropping Images On The Cheap <http://www.macworld.com/article/157057/2011/01/scale_images_cheap.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Christopher Breen, Macworld



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Twin Alone, Disconnected But Not Lost <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/10/books/10book.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss>
Michiko Kakutani, New York Times

The formative event in the composer Allen Shawn’s life happened when he was 8 years old: His twin sister, Mary, who was mentally disabled, was sent away, abruptly disappearing from his daily life. Allen not only missed her terribly, but he also became terrified of “the mental illness that Mary had exhibited, and which had led, or so it had seemed to me as a child, to her being ‘ostracized’ from the family.



SingaporeSurf
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**** The Story Of Modern Singapore <http://newasiarepublic.com/?p=23060>
Norvin Chan, New Asia Republic

The summary of the danger Singapore has evidenced is this – that a government which is qualified to rule for its virtue in generating wealth will subordinate all of society to that very end, sometimes even more than society is willing to. And the little rights that the people are left with gives them little power for retaliation.

This explains why eugenics was introduced at the national level (for fear that the non-existent children of graduate mothers will not enter the workforce), why the nation’s lingua franca is assaulted (to communicate competitively with the outside world), and why the populace is apolitical (to guarantee the political stability businesses love).

The result is the dictatorship of how people should live their lives, whom to marry, what to speak, what not to say, all in the name of economic progress. That is the danger of the Faustian pact. As the new leviathans of the world emerge from their tumultuous seas, the question of whether they choose to follow an island in making a diabolical deal will decide the tides of History.

**** Deluge Seems Unlikely <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110110-0000155/Deluge-seems-unlikely>
Ng Ya Ken, Today

We need to consider the strong demand for houses by immigrants in our study. To forecast better, we need more detailed data - especially of the cumulative impact of those who had arrived here earlier and are ready to buy homes now or in the next few years. The snowballing effect may be huge.

**** Deluge Of Homes Is What Singles Like Us Need <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110110-0000186/Deluge-of-homes-is-what-singles-like-us-need>
Christine Wong, Today

As low-income singles, my brother and I are priced out of the market and have to each rent a room at exorbitant rates. At our age, we really hope to have a place to call our own, so I disagree with the measures proposed by Mr Ku to dampen supply.

**** Flexible Growth, Within Constraints <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110110-0000148/Flexible-growth,-within-constraints>
Sim Ann, National Population And Talent Division, Singapore Government

Our goal is to ensure quality living standards for our citizens. To do so, we need to grow the economy, which in turn requires us to be prepared to augment the local workforce with foreigners. This means accepting not only foreigners at the very high end, but also those who fill other jobs when we do not have enough locals. 

**** Minister, Will Orchard Floods Put You In The GE Hot Seat? <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1103681/1/.html>
Ong Dai Lin, Today

**** Those Who Use Speakers' Corner Should Not Decry CD <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/4453-those-who-use-speakers-corner-should-not-decry-cd>
Singapore Democrat Party

The Singapore Democrats are not advocating that all opposition parties practice NVA. What we are saying, however, is that when parties are unwilling to join in the effort, they should not disparage those who do.

Worse, even as they criticise the SDP for what we do, they have no qualms making use of the Speakers' Corner today to promote themselves and the organisations they represent. This smacks of hypocrisy.

**** The Campaigning Has Begun <http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2011/01/campaigning-has-begun.html>
Singapore Notes

The $460 million promised for one of the oldest wards in the island does not came from Yaacob Ibrahim's personal stash, or the war-chest of his political sponsor. These are monies taken not just from the taxpayers of Jalan Besar, or the other GRCs (East Coast, Ang Mo Kio, Marine Parade and Hong Kah) whose 5-year improvement plans are slated to be announced in the coming weeks. The 5-year plans for the whole of Singapore should deserve equal billing, not just the GRCs under perceived threat of the growing opposition front.

**** 民众最关注课题之一 æ–°åŠ å¡é™†è·¯äº¤é€šèµ¶ä¸ä¸Šç»æµŽå‘å±•ï¼Ÿ <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp110110_008.shtml>
李静仪, 联合早报

近年来不论是地铁、巴士或公路车流量和人流量都明显更拥塞，这是否经济强劲增长不可避免的“代价”，还是我们的陆路交通发展跟不上经济与都市发展步伐？

**** Amusement Rides Safety Bill Introduced In Parliament <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_622514.html>
Lyn Chan, Straits Times

The bill aims to establish a new regulatory framework amusement rides safety under the Building and Construction Authority. The framework will provide a structured regime to ensure that rides are properly certified.

**** Singapore: WikiLeaks 'Disastrous' For US Diplomacy <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/10/AR2011011000511.html>
Alex Kennedy, Associated Press

Singaporean officials must be more cautious in discussions with U.S. diplomats, the country's foreign affairs minister said Monday, calling the release of classified documents by WikiLeaks disastrous for American diplomacy.

Singapore officials will be less open when speaking with U.S. diplomats for fear their conversations will be made public, foreign affairs Minister George Yeo said in parliament.

**** Unanswered Questions About MOE’s SERI Committee Report <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/01/unanswered-questions-about-moes-seri-committee-report/>
Lisa Li, The Online Citizen

Yet, to the layman, it seems logical to wonder why our schools’ textbooks and teachers’ guides are produced by anonymous writers privately hired by commercial publishers seeking to win a tender, instead of Singapore’s curriculum specialists and pedagogical experts who are employed by MOE and the National Institute of Education (NIE).

Furthermore, would a competitive commercial contract give publishers and MOE sufficient time to create useful, engaging and lasting instructional materials?

**** Singapore Concerned About Rising Food Prices, Finance Minister Says <http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9KLC9O81>
Alex Kennedy, Associated Press

Singapore expects food price inflation to quicken this year amid high demand from China and supply disruptions caused by severe weather, the top finance official said Monday.

Higher prices would put pressure on the central bank to tighten monetary policy by allowing the Singapore dollar to strengthen. The bank's next scheduled policy statement is scheduled for April.

**** Singapore Finance Minister: Inflation Expected To Rise Further In 1Q 2011 <http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201101100121dowjonesdjonline000016&title=singapore-finance-ministerinflation-expected-to-rise-further-in-1q-2011>
P.R. Venkat, Dow Jones

Singapore Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam Monday said inflation is expected to rise further in the first quarter of this year before moderating in subsequent quarters.

**** Same Rules For Citizen, PR Siblings: HDB <http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/01/10/same-rules-for-citizen-pr-siblings-hdb/>
Kai Fong, Yahoo!

HDB has clarified that homebuyers who are siblings and unmarried, whether citizens or PRs, can apply to buy HDB resale flats if their parents live overseas and do not already own a public flat. They do not have to be above the age of 35, and their applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, according to The Straits Times.

Not everyone is appeased by HDB’s clarification, however.

**** The Community Care Endowment Fund And Income Inequality In Singapore <http://mrwangsaysso.blogspot.com/2011/01/community-care-endowment-fund-and.html>
Gilbert Koh, Mr Wang Says So

This means that each year, they received an average amount of $250 divided by 2.5, that is to say, about $100. This works out to a grand total of $8 per month.

It does not sound like much of a safety net to me. But form your own opinion .......

**** PQ Reply On Measures To Prevent Classified Information Or Communications From Falling Into Unauthorised Hands, Following The Wikileaks Incident, 10 January 2011 <http://app4.mha.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=MTkzNw%3d%3d-UNR1oOTXf14%3d>
Ministry Of Home Affairs, Singapore Government

Our approach is totally different. If recipients of official information who are not themselves public servants cannot be prosecuted or prevented from publishing it, it would create an unacceptable situation where people outside government would have every incentive to obtain confidential information from public servants in every way possible. And public servants would constantly be weighing the benefits to themselves of releasing the confidential information against the likelihood of getting caught and punished. Meanwhile, the broader public interest will suffer.

Some countries have allowed their secrecy rules to be weakened in the belief that it is supposedly in the interest of freedom of information. We do not subscribe to such a belief. We fully intend to uphold confidentiality of official information, so that the government can function properly.

**** Written Answer To Parliamentary Question On Sale Of Sharp Implements To Youths , 10 January 2011 <http://app4.mha.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=MTkzNQ%3d%3d-5gRpvDj4gV4%3d>
Ministry Of Home Affairs, Singapore Government

The knives that were used in the recent gang-related incidents included common household knives such as kitchen knives and meat cleavers. Restricting the sale of such knives to young people will not have much practical impact given that these items can be obtained from their homes. Youths can also use other items such as bottles and wooden sticks to inflict hurt.

A more practical approach would be to address the possession of weapons in public places, where there is intent to use the weapons in an offensive manner. There are already laws in place to this effect. Under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act, an offensive weapon is defined as any instrument likely to cause hurt if used as a weapon of offence. The penalties for those convicted of possessing any offensive weapon in a public place without lawful purpose or authority are severe. 

**** Minimum Age For Foreign Maids To Stay At 23 <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1103755/1/.html>
Evelyn Choo, Channel NewsAsia

Minister of state for manpower Lee Yi Shyan said this in Parliament in response to MP Halimah Yacob's suggestion to drop the age requirement to 21 years old to increase the supply of foreign maids.

**** Minister For Foreign Affairs George Yeo's Replies To The Parliamentary Question And Supplementary Questions, 10 January 2011 <http://app.mfa.gov.sg/2006/press/view_press_email.asp?post_id=6676>
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, Singapore Government

Whether we would take the matter up with the US government; well we would not, based on the same principle which I stated earlier. Will it affect communications with US diplomats? I think inevitably, because if this happened once, it can happen again, and I think we have got to be more careful. But at the same time, I would say, with the miniaturisation of microphones and cameras, I think we have got to be more careful in any case, whatever we express in confidence to other people. Mind you, something is lost. Part of the intimacy of communication is that we must be able, sometimes without all the evidence in support, to express our deep fears, concerns and hopes.

**** LTA To Issue 3 Per Cent Fewer COEs For 6 Months <http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/01/10/lta-to-issue-3-per-cent-fewer-coes-for-6-months/>
Ewen Boey, Yahoo!

The new figures take into account the LTA’s over-projection of the number of vehicles to be de-registered. Mr Raymond Lim clarified that the remaining 9,577 COEs to be corrected will now be spread over three years instead of just one, after consulting the relevant stakeholders.

**** Rules To Be Eased For Foreign Lawyers To Practise Corporate Law <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1103768/1/.html>
Tanya Fong, Channel NewsAsia

**** Selection Process For Scholars "Robust" But Can Be Tightened: MOE <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1103771/1/.html>
Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia

When asked if the ministry will ask the schools where the scholarship applicant attended, to declare or to write a report on all the previous misconducts, including non-police cases, Dr Ng said: "We would have to give the schools the judgment when they write testimonials. Do you want them to write every misdemeanour? When do you think someone has learnt the lesson as a 12-year-old, or 13-year-old or 14-year-old, and to be put on record?

"I think it would be better for MOE to write to the school to ask them if there's anything in the course of his time in the school that you think will not make him suitable to work as a teacher. I think that may be the better lesson learnt here, so that was what we decided."

**** Parliament Passes Changes To Women's Charter <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1103781/1/.html>
Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia

The key to the changes is making sure divorced men pay up to support their children and ex-wives. And to protect kids, the court can transfer matrimonial assets - divided between parents - to a Children's Development Account.

**** Platform Screen Doors On East-West Line Ready By September <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110110-0000450/Platform-screen-doors-on-East-West-Line-ready-by-September>
Leong Wee Keat, Channel NewsAsia

Work to install half-height platform screen doors - meant to deter people from falling to their death on MRT tracks - at all East-West Line stations will be completed by September.

Responding to a question from MP Zaqy Mohamad on Monday, senior parliamentary secretary (transport) Teo Ser Luck said the Land Transport Authority had prioritised the installation works on the East-West Line and more crowded MRT stations, such as Jurong East, Clementi and Yishun. The East-West line has more elevated stations than the North-South Line.

**** Penalities On Misdeliveries For Postal Service Being Considered <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110110-0000451/Penalities-on-misdeliveries-for-postal-service-being-considered>
Ng Jing Yng, Today

**** Govt Does Not Interfere In Temasek's Business Decisions <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1103806/1/.html>
Rachel Kelly, Channel NewsAsia