[MyAppleMenu] Feb 28, 2009

applesurf at myapplemenu.com applesurf at myapplemenu.com
Sat Feb 28 18:59:00 EST 2009

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

**** Save Time When Converting iTunes Tracks <http://www.macworld.com/article/139097/2009/02/itunesconvert.html?lsrc=rss_main>
by Rob Griffiths, Macworld

If you have a large iTunes collection with a lot of Smart Playlists set to auto-update, you may experience very slow performance when using iTunes’ ability to convert a song from one format to another.

**** MondoMouse Complements Safari 4's Tabs <http://www.macworld.com/article/139082/2009/02/mondomouse.html?lsrc=rss_main>
by Dan Frakes, Macworld

Unfortunately, MondoMouse is one of those utilities that’s tough to appreciate until you actually see it in use; I encourage you to give it a try. It’s been one of my favorite OS X add-ons for the past few years; I use it so often I sometimes forget it isn’t part of Leopard. Now that I’m using Safari 4 Beta to surf the Web, MondoMouse is even more useful.

**** iMafia For iPhone Circumvents The App Store, Sells Other Apps In-Game... And Apple Willingly Approves <http://i.gizmodo.com/5161281/imafia-for-iphone-circumvents-the-app-store-sells-other-apps-in+gameand-apple-willingly-approves>
by Adrian Covert, Gizmodo

The iMafia game for iPhone is not only the first app with an approved, in-game microtransaction system, but that system also doubles as a platform to promote and purchase other iPhone apps.

**** My View Of How iPhone is Doing In Japan <http://blog.nobi.cc/2009/02/my-view-of-how-iphone-is-doing-in-japan-by-nobi-nobuyuki-hayashi.html>
by Nobuyuki Hayashi, Nobilog Returns



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

**** Amazon Backs Off Text-To-Speech Feature In Kindle <http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/amazon-backs-off-text-to-speech-feature-in-kindle/>
by Brad Stone, New York Times

Amazon announced today it will let publishers decide whether they want the new Kindle e-book device to read their books aloud.



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

**** Conditioned Soul <http://www.out.com/detail.asp?page=1&id=24785>
by Aaron Hicklin, Out.com

A new collection of greatest hits finds Annie Lennox in a reflective mood, looking back at her long night's journey into day.

**** College Campuses As Affordable Travel Destinations <http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/travel/01journeys-1.html?ref=travel>
by Jane Margolies, New York Times

College students, you’ve got company. The grassy quads and ivy-covered buildings that attract prospective applicants also make schools of higher education enticing for those with no interest in matriculating. Visitors can partake of world-class art collections and film screenings, not to mention more unusual offerings like the burial sites of Robert E. Lee and his horse, Traveller, on the campus of Washington and Lee University, in Lexington, Va. All this, without the pressure of studying for exams, or anteing up tuition.

**** You Must Not Remember This <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/books/review/Overbye-t.html>
by Dennis Overbye, New York Times

This novel’s unlikely hero is a Japanese mathematician whose memory lasts for only 80 minutes.

**** Read A Book, Get Out Of Jail <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/books/review/Price-t.html>
by Leah Price, New York Times

What happens when convicted felons are sentenced to a book club instead of prison?



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

**** Don't Be Preoccupied With Retrenchment Forecasts, Says Labour Chief <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/412036/1/.html>
by 938Live

Labour chief Lim Swee Say has urged Singaporeans not to be preoccupied with forecasts of retrenchment numbers but focus instead on saving jobs.

Number one, we have no idea what the numbers will be like. Number two, how can we win election if you keep thinking of doom and gloom?

**** Singapore Left With Second Largest Citi Stake <http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/59967684-04fe-11de-8166-000077b07658.html?ftcamp=rss>
by John Burton, Financial Times

GIC still runs the risk of having its entire investment in Citi wiped out if the US nationalises the bank.

**** Chiam's Still Standing <http://www.todayonline.com/articles/304723.asp>
by Loh Chee Kong, Today

If politics could be likened to a game of chess, this grand old man of Opposition politics readily concedes that he is still a novice at disguising his next moves.

Which is why Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong, 73, is making extra efforts to conceal the details of what he hopes would be a fitting finale to his eventful political career — even as he declared that he already has a team in place to contest for a Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the next General Election, due by February 2012.

**** All Hot Over StarHub's Cooling-Down Period <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_343802.html>
by Ray Lee, Straits Times

Will StarHub explain its 'cooling-down period' condition, which penalises users who terminate a cable service to re-subscribe at new rates?

**** Glitch Hits GST Credits For Some Ubin Residents <http://tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,194206,00.html?>
by Teh Jen Lee, New Paper

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has acknowledged that there was a 'system error' this time and will be giving them more GST credits.

**** Why Oscars Repeat Blanked Out Gay Plea <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_343804.html>
by David Christie, MediaCorp, Straits Times

We wish to clarify that the programme was edited for the encore telecast in accordance to the Media Development Authority (MDA) Programme Code - specifically, the relevant guidelines relating to the treatment and portrayal of homosexual themes and issues. The code explicitly disallows content that sympathises with, promotes or normalises such a lifestyle from being broadcast.

It's all MDA's fault. Don't blame us -- you guys voted for this government.

**** Duties Taken Seriously <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_343937.html>
by Lim Swee Say, Government Whip, Straits Times

While PAP MPs are expected to be in Parliament, they are not able to stay in the Chamber for the whole seven hours. They need to leave the Chamber from time to time for lunch and breaks, to do research and revise their speeches in the library as the debate progresses, and to attend urgent calls and meetings which they are unable to reschedule. The Government Whip ensures there is sufficient quorum in the House at all times.

**** The Cards Are Revealed <http://yawshinleong.blogspot.com/2009/02/cards-are-revealed.html>
by Yaw Shin Leong

**** "Government By Gentlemen" <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/02/“government-by-gentlemen”/>
by Heng Ching Sheng, The Online Citizen

It took much humiliation inflicted by the Western and Japanese imperialist powers at the turn of the last century before China learnt to shed its old dependency on the scholarly class to shape its future, even though it continues to come to terms with corruption under “benevolent” leaders.

I certainly wish Singapore will not have to undergo the same tumultuous experiences before we accept that all our leaders, elite scholars or otherwise, need to be intensely scrutinized and constantly made accountable.

**** 8% Dip In Growth Likely <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_344129.html>
by Straits Times

The Prime Minister does not rule out the possibility of Singapore's economy shrinking by as much as 8 per cent this year.

That would be a sharper contraction than the current official forecast of a decline of between 2 per cent and 5 per cent.

**** Interview With Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hisen Loong <http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asian/136919/exclusive-interview-with-singapore-prime-minister-lee-hsien-loong>
by Bangkok Post

"Investing in the long-term. Infrastructure, as I mentioned. Education. We are launching a new university. We are putting investment in research and development. We are bringing in new investment projects in Singapore because even now multi-nationals (come) which have a long-term horizon. They have started projects which take three to five years before coming to fruition. And if they have a good operation in Singapore they can build on that and enhance their Singapore capabilities. And some of them are doing it even now, despite the market conditions. And I think it's important that we look beyond the horizon and not just stay under the shelter from the storm."

**** It's A Race Against Bad News <http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=insightdownsouth&file=/2009/2/28/columnists/insightdownsouth/3357834&sec=Insight%20Down%20South>
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star

Living in a nanny state has made too many Singaporeans dependent on government help when things go wrong. The present crisis is no exception.

**** Singapore Blooms As Luch As Eden Itself <http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/27/CM7N15HAED.DTL>
by Linda Watanabe McFerrin, San Francisco Chronicle

I've come to Singapore, after an absence of many years, to rediscover paradise - the lush, leafy heart of a nation better known for its obsessions with commercial success. I think I've found it here. But this is not the only slice of heaven in this land of sunlight, flowers and friendly people.

**** 从两场选举看新加坡大选 <http://www.zaobao.com/yl/yl090228_517.shtml>
by 邓莉蓉, 联合早报

在经济低迷时期，希望能尽快走出困境、重新过好日子的选民，不假思索地支持有能力的执政党，并不为过，而新加坡的选举结果，也不太可能出现政党轮替，但是我们也不应失去一个冷静思考该如何塑造一个更理想的政治景观的机会。也只有在每五年一次的大选时，每个选民才能通过手中的选票，向执政者发出明确的信息，以推动领导者在执政期间持续不断地鞭策自己对选民负责。

**** Lightning Strikes The Merlion At Fullerton <http://938live.sg/portal/site/938Live/menuitem.43735da1634c4377d21b2910618000a0/?vgnextoid=a96bb1d5b8cbf110VgnVCM1000001f0aa8c0RCRD&mcParam=18d2638896593110VgnVCM100000e101000aRCRD>
by Claire Huang, 938 Live

The original Merlion statue located at One Fullerton was struck by lightning this afternoon, causing quite a commotion. The explosion, caused by the lightening, created a hole the size of a soccer ball, on the Merlion.

This sure ain't a good omen for the tourism industry.




More information about the applesurf-list mailing list