[MyAppleMenu] Nov 25, 2005

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
==================================================
<http://www.myapplemenu.com/>
Mac news for Mac people

[News]

*** France Expected To Cut iPod Levy In Time For Christmas
<http://www.itworld.com/Tech/2987/051124ipodlevy/>
Peter Sayer, IDG News Service

French authorities will reduce a copyright levy imposed on music layer containing flash memory, perhaps as early as next week, accoding to a source familiar with the plan.

[Sidetrack]

*** How To Reach A Human On The Phone Over At Apple
Heng-Cheong Leong

Paul English, live on NPR's Morning Edition, demonstrates how to get a real human to answer <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5024153> when you call Applecare. The secret? Press "000", or say "operator" repeatedly whenever being prompted.

Of course, Steve Jobs has probably changed the software after he heard this story. :-)

P.S. Here's the complete list <http://paulenglish.com/ivr/> from Paul English, just in case you need to call some other companies other than Apple.

*** Think Twice Between You Plug In That iPod Cable
Heng-Cheong Leong

Dave Winer <http://www.scripting.com/2005/11/24.html#When:11:12:50PM>: Arrrgh, I plugged my new iPod into my old Mac and lost everything on it. Never got a confirmation dialog asking if it was okay if it wiped out the music and audiobooks that I painstakingly took hours of my time to set up. Never mind that the originals are on the other side of the United States. Honestly, how dare they design software that's so brutal?

MyAppleMenu Reader
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<http://www.myapplemenu.com/reader/>
The other things in life

[Life]

*** Average Joe
<http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/bizfinance/biz/features/15139/>
Stephen Rodrick, New York

New York is suddenly brimming with Dunkin' Donuts stores. And with a Starbucks on every corner, a coffee class war is brewing.

*** Turning Academia Into A Cafeteria
<http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-jacoby23nov23,0,1069657.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions>
Russell Jacoby, Los Angeles Times

Offering students a buffet of bogus 'choices' only undermines intellectual integrity and corrodes academic freedom.

*** The Wrap Artist
<http://www.calendarlive.com/printedition/calendar/cl-et-diane25nov25,0,634933.story?coll=cl-home-more-channels>
Booth Moore, Los Angeles Times

Diane Von Furstenberg's signature dress endures, just as she has.

*** This Time It's Personal
<http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,4120,1650085,00.html>
Tom Shone, The Guardian

That old favorite, the horror movie, is back -- with a vengeance. But what's driving films such as The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Flightplan to the top of the box office is a very modern fear: America's global war on terror.

*** A Bayou Thanksgiving, With The Queen Of Sheba
<http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/25/national/nationalspecial/25dinner.html?hp>
Jere Longman, New York Times

There was never going to be a traditional Thanksgiving on Salt Bayou, not after Hurricane Katrina picked up Liz LaBue's house and pushed it across U.S. 11 as if it were a stalled car. But she lived a scapbook life. Always up for a party, Ms. LaBue orchestrated one on Thanksgiving.

*** Roam, Sweet Roam
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/23/AR2005112302464.html>
DeNeen L. Brown, Washington Post

You see it on their faces as they sit in train station waiting rooms listening to the Richard Bray Orchestra, or as they stand in line looking up at blinking departure signs, or as they wait at the Greyhound station for a bus that may leave too early or arrive too late. Not so much worry or exhaustion, but anticipation of what the holidy will bring. What is on their minds?

SingaporeSurf
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<http://www.myapplemenu.com/singapore/>
Life in the city

[News]

*** Singapore Opposition Leader Says Foreign Media Shy Away From Political Reporting
<http://www.chinapost.com.tw/i_latestdetail.asp?id=32929>
Associated Press

The international media often avoids reporting on politics in Singapore because it fears lawsuits and financial penalties imposed by the government, an opposition leader said Friday. Chee Soon Juan, head of the Singapore Democratic Party, said foreign correspondents based in Singapore engage in "self-censorship" on sensitive issues, and he urged journalists to interview activists who campaign for more political freedom.

*** More Aussies 'To Die Over Drugs'
<http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17360398%255E1702,00.html>
Jake Lloyd-Smith, AAP

More Australians would face the hangman if they tried to smuggle heroin through Singapore, the city-state's biggest newspaper said today, in a warning that echoes its government's tough anti-drugs stand.

*** Only A Miracle Can Save Nguyen: Downer
<http://seven.com.au/news/nationalnews/124167>
AAP

It will take a miracle to save Australian drug trafficker Nguyen Tuong Van from execution in Singapore, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says.

*** Anger As Singapore Hanging Looms
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4468644.stm>
BBC News

A former Australian prime minister has called Singapore a "rogue Chinese port" for ignoring appeals to save a drug smuggler from the death penalty.

*** Australians Call For Singapore Boycott Over Nguyen Execution
<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000081&sid=aTiEow3Ywq7A&refer=australia>
Bloomberg

Australian consumers and politicians called for boycotts of companies including Singapore Airlines and Singtel Optus to protest Singapore's decision to hang convicted Australian drug smuggler Nguyen Tuoang Van next week.

*** Burma The Focus Of Drug Row Between Australia And Singapore
<http://www.irrawaddy.org/aviewer.asp?a=5212&z=153>
Clive Parker, Irrawaddy News Magazine

It is not known whether Singapore has current ties to any drug producers in Burma, although experts contacted by The Irrawaddy consider it unlikely.

*** Nguyen Advice On Its Way
<http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/nguyen-advice-on-its-way/2005/11/25/1132703341318.html>
AAP

Acting Prime Minister Mark Vaile says the government expects to receive advice today on a legal challenge to the Singapore execution of Nguyen Tuong Van, but was not hopeful of success.

*** Australia Won't Retaliate On Singapore Hanging
<http://news.ft.com/cms/s/59cc2f50-5cdb-11da-a749-0000779e2340.html>
Ray Marcelo and John Burton, Financial Times

Australia will not retaliate against Singapore in spite of growing public protests over the city-state's planned execution next week of an Australian man for drug smuggling, said John Howard, the Australian prime minister.

*** Singapore Airlines: No Signs Of Boycott
<http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=AP&Date=20051124&ID=5307153>
Associated Press

Singapore Airlines said Thursday it hasn't experienced reduced demand from Australia despite calls for an economic boycott to pressure Singapore into reversing its decision to execute a convicted Australian drug trafficker.

*** Singapore Defends Nguyen Decision
<http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17359449%255E1702,00.html>
Herald Sun

Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, said he realises many Australians are upset that Van Tuoeng Nguyen is to be hanged next week but his death sentences cannot be changed.

[Opinion]

*** When Not To Ask Questions
<http://www.todayonline.com/articles/86552.asp>
Diana Teo, Health Sciences Authority, Today

We would like to share that efforts are made to ensure that the environment and donation process are stress-free and conducive to donor privacy.

*** Give Funds To Constituencies
<http://www.todayonline.com/articles/86548.asp>
Jeffrey Ho Loon Poh, Today

While such renewal plans are welcome, especially by the residents of Aljunied and the East Coast, who are the direct beneficiaries, many Singaporeans cannot help but view this as a form of "pork-barrel" politicking as it comes before the impeding General Elections.

*** Be Fair To Cats. We Could Live With A New Meows
<http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,5562,354753,00.html?>
Suzanna Chew Han Soon, Straits Times

I am very fed up with the Housing Board's rule disallowing cats as pets in HDB flats.

The Shuffle by MyAppleMenu
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<http://www.myapplemenu.com/podcast/>
Life is random. More tunes, less talk.

[Tunes]

*** Time Travel Is Lonely
<http://www.johnvanderslice.com/html/mp3_ttil.html>
John Vanderslice
<http://tinytelephone.com/allmp3s/Vanderslice_Time.Travel.mp3>