[MyAppleMenu] Jan 15, 2011

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Apple’s Mac App Store Troubleshooting Advice <http://www.macworld.com/article/157189/2011/01/bugs_fixes_troubleshoot_mas.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Ted Landau, Macworld

**** TurboTax Takes iPhone Filing Nationwide <http://www.macworld.com/article/157183/2011/01/turbotax_snaptax.html?lsrc=rss_main>
Joel Mathis, Macworld

The TurboTax program that lets users file directly from their iPhone has gone nationwide in time for this year's tax season.

**** Sid Meier's Civilization V <http://www.macworld.com/reviews/product/710251/review/sid_meiers_civilization_v.html?expand=true&lsrc=rss_main>
Chris Holt, Macworld

It’s two steps forward and one step backward for this series. The graphics are better, the hexagonal tiles make sense, and the social policy system is vastly improved. But the long build times, frustrating battle mechanic (how my armored tanks can ever get defeated by archers I’ll never know), and lack of true innovation is frustrating. For such an epic, engrossing, and altogether peerless series, it’s strange that the developers keep reconfiguring the formula only to expose new flaws in the game. Personally, I think the franchise fails to be as ambitious as it once was: why not bring back the espionage ability from Beyond the Sword or give us new ways to engage other civilizations or imagine new technologies for us to research? Civilization V is a game about evolving your society to become the best. The developers need to find more inspiration from their source material.

**** App Store Tips, Tricks, And Hacks For The SysAdmin <http://www.brunerd.com/blog/2011/01/14/app-store-tips-and-tricks-for-sysadmins/>
brunerd

**** Apps With Maps: 11 iPhone GPS Apps Compared <http://www.macworld.com/article/156720/2011/01/gps.html?lsrc=twt_jsnell>
Glenn Fleishman, Macworld

**** Twitter For Mac’s Spectacular Hidden Little Feature: Tweet Anything From Anywhere <http://techcrunch.com/2011/01/14/tweet-from-os-x/>
MG Siegler, TechCrunch

For example, if you’re browsing the web in Safari or Chrome, highlight a word or passage and right-click. At the bottom of the drop-down, you’ll see the “Tweet” command. Hitting it will populate a tweet for you with the highlighted section. And it works in TextEdit, iChat, Calendar, Mail, etc. If you read it, you can tweet it.

**** Project HiJack Uses iPhone Audio Jack To Make Cheap Sensors <http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/01/project-hijack-uses-iphone-audio-jack-to-make-cheap-sensors.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Chris Foresman, Ars Technica

Making accessories that tie into an iOS device's Dock connector is an expensive proposition: it requires getting certain components from Apple and applying for a costly "Made for iPhone" (or iPod or iPad) license. However, it is possible to use the headphone jack for two-way data communication with an iPhone and also to power small electronic circuits. A group of students and faculty from the University of Michigan's Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department have developed a small device it calls the "HiJack" to make sensing peripherals easily accessible to those on a tight budget.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Looking It Up, Long Before Britannica <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/12/AR2011011205579.html?wprss=rss_print/style>
Michael Dirda, Washington Post

There's no disguising the fact that Ann M. Blair - Harvard professor of history, author of "The Theater of Nature: Jean Bodin and Renaissance Science" (1997) and MacArthur fellow - has written a deeply scholarly book. It focuses, after all, on Latin reference works compiled mainly during the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the early modern era. Nonetheless, "Too Much to Know" is a fascinating account of the traditions, ideals and practices of early "information management," in particular "the collection and arrangement of textual excerpts" in the centuries before our own computer age.

**** Cancer: Should We Stop Trying To Cure It? <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/15/cancer-stop-trying-cure?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Siddhartha Mukherjee, The Guardian

As our population ages, the question is not if we will encounter this illness in our lives, but when. Is it time we stopped fighting and learned to live with it?

**** Blood Relative <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jan/15/saturday-poem-david-harsent-blood-relative?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
David Harsent, The Guardian

**** How Novels Came To Terms With The Internet <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jan/15/novels-internet-laura-miller?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Laura Miller, The Guardian

The internet has altered our lives in ways television never did or could, but mainstream literary novelists – by which I mean writers who specialise in realistic, character-based narratives – have mostly shied away from writing about this, perhaps hoping that, like TV, it could be safely ignored.

**** An Optimist's Tour Of The Future By Mark Stevenson – Review <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jan/15/optimist-future-mark-stevenson-review?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Jon Turney, The Guardian

True, the bad news about climate change is underpinned by science, but if we have confidence in the power of science to measure the damage, perhaps we should have a bit more hope in its capacity to help put things right again.

**** Stories Of Dislocation And Relocation <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/books/review/Robinson-t.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss>
Roxana Robinson, New York Times

Why in the world had I never heard of Edith Pearlman? And why, if you hadn’t, hadn’t you? It certainly isn’t the fault of her writing, which is intelligent, perceptive, funny and quite beautiful, as demonstrated in “Binocular Vision: New and Selected Stories.” In the world of literary fiction Pearlman is hardly unknown: she’s the author of three previous collections, “Vaquita,” “Love Among the Greats” and “How to Fall”; she has won several prizes; and her work has appeared repeatedly in “Best American Short Stories.” So she should be known all over the place.

**** Delicate Planet <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/books/review/Browning-t.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss>
Dominique Browning, New York Times

Why are we in such denial? Carl Safina’s ambitious new book, “The View From Lazy Point,” is a series of field reports entwined with a loving meditation on the interconnectedness of nature and humanity.

**** A Lobster In Winter <http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2011/01/12/a-lobster-in-winter/>
Melissa McCart, Washington City Paper

The real difference between winter lobster and summer lobster has nothing to do with logistics or cost, though. Like anything else involving a fresh seasonal product, it’s a matter of taste.

**** Mistaken <http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/45cbe06c-19e7-11e0-a8d8-00144feab49a.html>
Susie Boyt, Financial Times

Though built on a tower of bold improbabilities – to put it mildly – this novel is utterly convincing: full of subtlety, delicate, piercing prose, charming, lively dialogue and descriptive passages that are poetic, witty and acute. At times it has the pace of a thriller, yet for all its highly specific subject matter it still manages to achieve a feeling of spaciousness in which it is possible for the writer to ponder, with a bit of leisure, the definition of human nature.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Singapore's Official Retirement Age To Be Extended <http://mrwangsaysso.blogspot.com/2011/01/official-retirement-age.html>
Gilbert Koh, Mr Wang Says So

I guess the Straits Times could not actually find any Singaporean who would say, 'Yes, I welcome the official extension of the retirement age to 65, and I rejoice in this!".

Most Singaporeans probably do understand the real significance of the retirement age extension. Later it will just become a political excuse to further delay your full withdrawal of your own CPF savings.

**** Blog Willing To Operate As Political Association <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/Singaporeinbrief/EDC110115-0000215/Blog-willing-to-operate-as-political-association>
Cheow Xin Yi, Today

When asked how it decides who to gazette or if more websites will be identified, RPD told MediaCorp on Friday it will "assess other entities, including websites, if and when it comes to (its) attention that they're involved in politics in Singapore, including whether there's a need to gazette them in order to prevent them from being subject to foreign interference". 

**** The Real Money's In Beefing Up Sing Dollar <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_624333.html>
Yong Jianjun, Straits Times

Despite the Monetary Authority of Singapore's attempt to let the Singapore dollar appreciate gradually over other currencies, the same Sing dollar buys only a fraction of sugar, cotton, rice, HDB flats, gold and silver compared to 10 years ago.

In reality, the Sing dollar has lost real purchasing power.

**** Resorts World Sentosa Gets It Wrong Again <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_624260.html>
Dudley Au, Straits Times

**** In Singapore, Even Airplanes Can Have Paparazzi <http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-20028581-52.html>
Daniel Terdiman, CNET

In short, while I would never choose to spend 18 hours in an airport, I can't think of one where I'd rather do so than Changi. Clearly, the Singaporeans--who are very humorless about things like gum (you can't chew it in the small city-state) and drugs (the immigration form makes it clear that smugglers will be put to death)--want those who have to spend a few hours in their airport to be comfortable, entertained, and have no shortage of things on which to spend their hard-earned dollars (either American or Singaporean).

**** Against Some Singaporeans' Comments - Normative Economics <http://anythingthatinterestsme.blogspot.com/2011/01/against-some-singaporeans-stupidity.html>
Anything That Interests Me!

I really hope that more Singaporeans realise that it's about what they can contribute to our society, rather than criticising or complaining or railing or making snide remarks against economic policies - that are actually good for them and in their best interests.

**** Statement By Reform Party Not Helpful <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/4504-statement-by-reform-party-not-helpful>
Singapore Democratic Party

Even though we cannot and do not speak for other parties, we find these remarks about opposition parties unhelpful and not in keeping with the spirit of opposition cooperation. In particular, we find the phrase "some take their presence in the new media so seriously that they seem indistinguishable from the very same sites which exist merely to comment on political agendas" rather puzzling. 

**** Newbies A Rising Force <http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=insightdownsouth&file=/2011/1/15/columnists/insightdownsouth/7795776&sec=Insight%20Down%20South>
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star

In politics, the division between local Singaporeans is already growing. With new citizens becoming increasingly involved in politics, the threat of fractions will grow. Already some heat has been generated, with some permanent residents actively involved in verbal battles, and trading online insults, with locals.

As more Singaporeans shun PAP-organised community activities in housing estates, foreign PRs are stepping in.

**** Fee Hikes At Polys, ITE And Universities <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_624506.html>
Jennani Durai, Straits Times

The institutions all said the increased cost of providing a quality education has forced the fee hikes which, as with previous hikes, will be bigger for permanent residents (PRs) and foreigners than for citizens.

**** SingTel Fined $130,000 Over ISP Tariffs <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_624510.html>
Irene Tham, Straits Times

SingTel has been fined a total of $130,000 for selling an unapproved wholesale discounted broadband service and for offering the discount to only one Internet service provider (ISP).

**** Bottling Wastewater Expands Island’s Oasis—Singapore’s NEWater Solution To Scarcity <http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2011/world/bottling-wastewater-expands-island’s-oasis—singapore’s-newater-solution-to-scarcity/>
Brett Walton, Circle Of Blue

**** Property Curbs Are Calibrated, Targeted, Pre-emptive: Mah <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1104942/1/.html>
Saifulbahri Ismail/Ng Lian Cheong, Channel NewsAsia

National development minister Mah Bow Tan said the latest property cooling measures were not meant to crash the market.

**** TOC’s Inadequate Response To PMO And MDA <http://furrybrowndog.wordpress.com/2011/01/15/tocs-inadequate-response-to-pmo-and-mda/>
Furry Brown Dog

At the end of the day, I would argue that what should really be changed is not the PM’s request to gazette TOC as a political association, but rather the need for gazetting at all. Unfortunately because this is written into law, together with MDA’s Broadcasting Act, one may have to change the laws themselves in order to do so. And of course, unjust laws only exist because Parliament gets to pass them. That tells you how serious Singaporeans should take the upcoming elections to be.