[MyAppleMenu] Jan 12, 2011

applesurf at myapplemenu.com applesurf at myapplemenu.com
Wed Jan 12 18:59:00 EST 2011


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

**** MimioStudio 7 Now Available For Mac <http://www.macworld.com/article/157087/2011/01/mimiostudio_7.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Joel Mathis, Macworld

The new software updates the Mimio Interactive System, which gives teachers the ability to convert traditional whiteboard into a digital teaching tool by mating a sensor bar to a computer and a video projector.

**** Panorama Sheets For Mac: A First Look <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/11/panorama-sheets-for-mac-a-first-look/>
Steven Sande, TUAW

Sometimes, though, Mac owners need a database management system that isn't as powerful as Panorama but can handle operations that would choke Excel or Numbers.

**** How To Back Up Your Gmail Using Apple Mail Or Outlook <http://gigaom.com/apple/how-to-back-up-your-gmail-using-apple-mail-or-outlook/>
Dave Greenbaum, GigaOM

Since Gmail supports POP, all you need is a POP email program to download your emails from the cloud while still keeping a copy out there on the server.

**** Apple Will Not Allow Verizon To Preload Software On iPhone <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/01/11/apple_will_not_allow_verizon_to_preload_software_on_iphone.html>
Daniel Eran Dilger, AppleInsider

New iPhone users on Verizon's network won't find preloaded carrier software on their phones, but will be able to download carrier-specific apps from iTunes.

**** Microsoft Disputes Apple's 'App Store' Trademark <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/12/microsoft_disputes_app_store_trademark/>
Rik Myslewski, The Register

**** Microsoft And Apple Back Away From Novell Patent Purchase <http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/01/12/move.seen.as.win.for.open.source/>
Electronista

**** How To Rip CDs With iTunes <http://www.macworld.com/article/156861/2011/01/howto_rip_cds.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Christopher Breen, Macworld



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

**** Google Waves Goodbye To Language Barriers <http://news.discovery.com/tech/google-waves-goodbye-to-language-barriers.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1>
Amy Dusto, Discovery

**** Everyone Is Video Calling <http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/27051/?ref=rss&a=f>
Tom Simonite, Technology Review

A slew of new smart phones, tablet computers, and even TVs with front-facing cameras were announced at last week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, opening the way for video calling to become the next big trend in communications. There's just one problem: a lack of interoperability between different video-chat platforms could mean frustrations for users.



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

**** 3 Arkonska Street <http://www.slate.com/id/2280710/?from=rss>
Adam Zagajewski, Slate

**** The Secret Stories Of Book Inscriptions <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/jan/11/stories-book-inscriptions?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Wayne Gooderham, The Guardian

I love to think that the actual copy I hold in my hands has been a catalyst to someone else's imagination; has perhaps been loved or hated, brought consolation or comfort; perhaps has even changed somebody's life. Or perhaps, of course, it has done none of these things. Which is why it is all the more thrilling to find hard evidence of pre-ownership scrawled across the inside covers of these used books in the form of handwritten dedications. The dedications can range from the awkward scratchings of adolescent infatuation, to the resentful recriminations of a love affair gone sour, and offer fascinating glimpses into their books' own secret histories, imbuing them with an emotional resonance independent of the actual texts.

**** Haiku Economics <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/journal/article.html?id=240970>
Stephen T. Ziliak, Poetry Foundation

Perhaps it’s the economists who can learn the most from poets about precision and efficiency, about objectivity and maximization—the virtues, in other words, of value-free science.

**** The Revenge Of Comic Sans <http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/the_revenge_of_comic_sans/>
Dave Munger, Seed Magazine

Less-legible fonts can actually make for better reading comprehension, perhaps because they force slower, more careful reading. Yet how can we reconcile those results with the Song & Schwarz study cited by Schnell?

**** Separation Anxiety <http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2011/janfeb/features/digital.html>
Joan O’C. Hamilton, Stanford Magazine

Now that there's no escaping the digital world, research is getting more serious about what happens to personalities that are incessantly on.



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

**** Singapore Nets Casino Windfall <http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j9jqgvgihqceNQCGdrr_kXjtYm4A?docId=CNG.be71cb7b124f690c792ec69cc3dd906b.1e1>
AFP

Singapore's two casino resorts have netted the government a multimillion-dollar windfall despite thousands of visitors being barred in a bid to fight problem gambling, officials said Tuesday.

**** Boundaries Drawn For Political Blog <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110112-0000213/Boundaries-drawn-for-political-blog>
Leong Wee Keat, Today

MDA's Ms Thangavelu said it had assessed that TOC engages in the "propagation, promotion and discussion of political issues" and its decision was not based on "other factors".

Singapore Management University assistant professor of law Eugene Tan noted that the authorities' decision "can be seen as administrative housekeeping ... in the lead-up to the hustings".

**** Hawker Stall Rental Rates Decided By Market, Not Ministry <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110112-0000174/Hawker-stall-rental-rates-decided-by-market,-not-ministry>
Ong Dai Lin, Today

The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources has no plans to moderate rental rates of hawker stalls, even as a Member of Parliament pointed out that the practice of subletting could give rise to hiked rents and an increase in food prices.

The MP, Madam Cynthia Phua (Aljunied GRC), gave an example of how a hawker stall owner is renting the stall for $5,500 when the subsidised rent is only $350.

**** Dolphins Were Kept In 'Appalling Conditions' <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110112-0000185/Dolphins-were-kept-in-appalling-conditions>
Louis Ng, ACRES, Today

The "team of professionals and animal experts" failed to provide adequate care to the dolphins in Langkawi and it seems RWS did not even employ a full-time vet to care for the dolphins or have an animal hospital there. Can RWS confirm that only two dolphins have died in Langkawi or the Philippines so far, and if any have escaped?

Having personally seen the enclosures the dolphins in Langkawi were housed in for almost a year, ACRES is appalled by their living conditions. The dolphins were housed in rusty enclosures measuring approximately 10m by 10m and this is clearly insufficient to meet the needs of these wild-caught dolphins. ACRES also cannot understand why anyone would choose such an unsuitable location (with high boat traffic causing noise and environmental pollution) to house dolphins.

**** Dolphins, Ethics And Resorts World Sentosa <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_623059.html>
Deirdre Moss, Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals, Straits Times

It is an irony that while citing examples where it has supported conservation of wildlife ('Resorts World Sentosa committed to wildlife conservation'; Monday), Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has been party to removing dolphins from the wild for the purpose of becoming an attraction at its Marine Life Park.

**** Few Knew Of HDB's Provision For Unmarried Citizen Siblings <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_623054.html>
Leong Sze Hian, Straits Times

Even with this latest clarification from the HDB, on its website, the criteria to buy resale flats still do not state anything about unmarried citizen siblings, under age 35, being able to apply if their parents live abroad.

**** Defining Proper Medical Care <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_622964.html>
Ong Siew Chey, Straits Times

It is not right to compare TCM practitioners with complementary medical professionals such as nurses and pharmacists. These supportive medical personnel do not carry out treatments independently.

TCM practitioners are on a par with Western medicine practitioners and are legally free to independently take on cancers, coronary artery disease, infections, liver and kidney failure, and so on, in the absence of well-defined limits, with methods and outcome that would land any practitioner of Western medicine in hot water.

We do have a double standard in medical practice. The criteria for proper medical care are different as applied to our two streams of medical practice. This begs the question of what is proper medical care.

**** TCM's Unverifiable Drawback <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_622963.html>
Li Ruijie, Straits Times

If we follow the same trend in TCM, we would realise that not only is evidence of efficacy sorely lacking, but there are also many instances where TCM does more harm than good. The question then is that if education in TCM is not grounded in science, than what is it grounded in?

If it is not grounded in science, how can we then safeguard the interests and safety of the public when we have no benchmarks to appraise its treatment effects?

**** Hospital Funding Model To Change: Health Minister <http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/01/12/hospital-funding-model-to-change-khaw/>
Alicia Wong, Yahoo!

**** Western Arc Of Circle Line To Open By Fourth Quarter <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_623215.html>
Royston Sim, Straits Times

**** Gazetting Group Blogs As Political Associations Is Oppressive <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=4494>
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net

Taking a step back, one can see that current legislation creates a climate of fear and allows the government to maintain control of sources of free speech and expression. There is a need to overhaul current legislation as well as restore democratic principles to our institutions.

**** 反对党议员担心 或造成一些人两头不着岸 <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp110112_015.shtml>
联合早报

反对党议员质疑法案未必能保证年长雇员可以重新受雇,而政府却又逐步调高提取公积金最低存款的年龄,导致一些人可能日后落入两头不着岸的困境。

**** Malaysian Student Is Tops Again In Singapore <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/1/12/nation/7780931&sec=nation>
Sharin Shaik, The Star

For the third year in a row, a Malaysian has become a top scorer in the island republic, with Chia Pei Yun scoring 10 A1s in Singapore’s GCE O-level exams.

**** Regulating The Online Citizen: What Will It Mean For Singapore's Top Alternative Site? <http://journalism.sg/2011/01/12/regulating-the-online-citizen-what-will-it-mean-for-singapores-top-alternative-site/>
Bhavan Jaipragas, Journalism.sg

If The Online Citizen complies with MDA’s demand, it will become only the third website to register under the scheme, after local political thinktank ThinkCentre and the now defunct Internet community Sintercom.

It remains to be seen how MDA will justify requiring only The Online Citizen to register under the CLS, while turning a blind eye to the dozens of other local websites and blogs which discuss domestic politics on a regular basis.

**** Singapore Minister: Will Study The Need To Further Raise Foreign Worker Levies <http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201101112101dowjonesdjonline000390&title=singapore-ministerwill-study-the-need-to-further-raise-foreign-worker-levies>
Sam Holmes, Dow Jones

The Singapore government will study the need to further raise foreign worker levies, Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan said Wednesday, an indication that the city-state is keen to moderate the inflow of foreign laborers.

"We cannot simply continue to rely on the employment of more low-cost foreign workers," Mah said at a conference.

**** Singapore Moves To Curb Popular News Website Ahead Of Elections <http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70B0ZB20110112?feedType=RSS&sp=true>
Kevin Lim, Reuters

Singapore plans to impose restrictions on a liberal, popular news website in what appears to be an attempt to prevent it from becoming a political force in general elections Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong may call this year.

The Prime Minister's Office plans to designate "The Online Citizen" (www.onlinecitizen.com) as a "political association," which means the website is barred from supporting any political party or candidate in local elections.

**** TOC, Gazetted: Another (Less Sensationalist) View <http://kentridgecommon.com/?p=9539>
Koh Choon Hwee, Kent Ridge Common

Think, however of what TOC has to lose, or even, to gain. I actually think TOC is the David in this match with Goliath, and has gained quite a big boost in credibility and importance in the domain of Singaporean politics as a result of these events. The PM’s Office has done to TOC what our legal system did to Shadrake (though I think TOC has more substance than Shadrake; disanalogous points aside, an analogy still stands) — it has created political stars where it had wanted to create political pariahs.

What, on the other hand, has TOC got to lose? In the worst case scenario, where TOC loses significant ‘freedoms’ of reporting, can it not just move to another site, relocate, rename, repackage? Have we forgotten how the internet has changed the rules of the game?

**** Half Cooked Law Passed By Parliament <http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2011/01/half-cooked-law-passed-by-parliament.html>
Singapore Notes

**** Managing People, The S’pore Way <http://atans1.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/managing-people-the-spore-way/>
Thoughts Of A Cynical Investor

**** "Kingmaker" And "PAP-Breaker" - Political And Proud Of It? <http://singaporekopitok.blogspot.com/2011/01/kingmaker-political-and-proud-of-it.html>
Singapore Kopi Tok

Being branded as a political association ironically legitimises TOC further and enhances its credibility. So the new TOC under Joshua Chiang has to decide whether to reject this branding and implicit acknowledgment of TOC's effective activism and go to court where the outcome is rather clear, or to welcome it and be proud of the political signature which TOC has marketed since 2006.

**** Pre-election Squeeze In Singapore <http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/MA13Ae01.html?sms_ss=twitter&at_xt=4d2d6f0ece586952,0>
James Gomez, Asia Times

**** MTA Submits Suggestions To Improve COE System <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1104182/1/.html>
Andre Yeo, Channel NewsAsia

**** TOC To Be Gazetted <http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2011/01/toc-to-be-gazetted.html>
Diary Of A Singaporean Mind

The gazetting of TOC is just a reminder of the type of system we have in Singapore. TOC did everything responsibly (as far as I can tell) all it did was to gather and promote alternative views and ideas. But once the PAP feel that their propaganda is undermined, they will proceed to shackle the organisation. Gazetting is just one tool from its arsenal.

**** Idealism Of Youths Needs To Be Encouraged <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=4503>
Wong Wee Nam, Sgpolitics.net

Thus a young person should be encouraged to speak his mind and have his questions answered instead of getting them brushed aside. In this age and time, we should try to eradicate the climate of fear and replace it with a more conducive environment for youths to develop a more enquiring mind.

I do not understand, therefore, why a meeting between a young boy and a minister should start so well and end up in such an unhappy confrontation.

I do not understand because it did not happen to me when I was young.

**** Singapore Wants Justice In Romania Diplomat Case <http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iAsokw-l6xKR0QC8C7I7Wf9nBJNg?docId=CNG.74be369cc4573b35d80cca402f57f1f7.a51>
AFP

Singapore is closely watching the trial of a Romanian diplomat charged with manslaughter following a hit-and-run car accident in the city state and wants "justice" to be done, a Singapore envoy in Romania said on Wednesday.

**** Gazette <http://piaroh.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/gazette/>
Words Of The Cze

This is no crisis, my friends. This is opportunity. If the TOC should fail the breach the frontier, what have we the online Singaporeans lost? Very little. We have the Internet, and that is unlimited resource to rebuild quickly. If they should succeed, they will pave for the way for political commentators to be a little bolder, a little more fearless, a little more secure in the knowledge of where the cliff hangs off. Listen not to the jackals who have always insisted that loss of freedom of speech was amongst their greatest fears, and yet now when they themselves declare and perceive this fear to have been realised, instead of accepting the challenge and overcoming their fear they tuck their tails between their legs and whine about it.

**** Census Of Population 2010 Statistical Release 1 On Demographic Characteristics, Education, Language And Religion <http://www.singstat.gov.sg/news/news/press12012011.pdf>
Department Of Statistics, Singapore Government

The Census of Population 2010 “Statistical Release 1 - Demographic Characteristics, Education, Language and Religion” released by the Singapore Department of Statistics showed that between 2000 and 2010, the proportion of singles among younger age groups had risen and there were fewer children after marriage. The education profile of the resident population improved significantly between 2000 and 2010. Literacy in two or more languages rose and the usage of English as home language became more prevalent.

(Note: Link points to PDF document.)

**** What's So Free About Hong Kong And Singapore Anyway? <http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2915&Itemid=590>
John Berthelsen, Asia Sentinel

The conservative, Washington-based think tank ranked Singapore second in the world, despite the fact that if ownership of the means of production is a definition for socialism, Singapore would warm a commissar's heart. Some of its biggest industries, including airlines, armaments, media, transport and others, are majority-owned by the government and its economy is closely managed by the government.

**** Why I’m Not Concerned About The Online Citizen <http://benjamincheah.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/why-im-not-concerned-about-the-online-citizen/>
Benjamin Cheah, Thinker, Writer, Magus, Man

When I read the reports, my first reaction was a single spoken word: “Meh”.

Okay, and a shrug.

**** Minimum Wage, Or Best Wage? <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1104282/1/.html>
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia

Would Singapore be better off with a minimum wage system or with Workfare programmes such as the Best Sourcing Initiative and the Inclusive Growth programme, to help low-wage workers level up in society?

All 17 MPs, together with labour chief Lim Swee Say and manpower minister Gan Kim Yong took part in the debate.






More information about the applesurf-list mailing list