[MyAppleMenu] Oct 9, 2009

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Burton Asset Management. Responding To The Unexpected <http://www.apple.com/iphone/business/profiles/burton/?sr=hotnews.rss>
Apple

When Kevin Burton steps onto a client’s campus, he’s focused on one thing: risk. “I live in a Jack Bauer world,” he says. “I make sure that people are prepared for the unforeseeable.” Burton is the Founder and CEO of Burton Asset Management (BAM), a business continuity and disaster recovery firm. It’s his job to protect his clients from every imaginable hazard—fire, earthquake, flood, terrorist attack, or pandemic.

Integral to Burton’s business operations is iPhone. “The first day I turned the iPhone on, it changed our business model,” he says. “It was so powerful in terms of data, email, and connectivity. It was virtually a laptop.”

**** AT&T Does The Right Thing <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2009%2F10%2F08%2Ftechnology%2Fpersonaltech%2F08pogue-email.html%3Fem&usg=AFQjCNFKzB7f1mcbxFLNApG6rv7hCJ1EXQ>
David Pogue, New York Times

Anyway, the bottom line is this: public pressure+government agency doing its job=corporate behemoths doing the right thing, catching up to other countries and saving you money.

**** Apple And The Future Of Publishing – Part One <http://www.cringely.com/2009/10/apple-and-the-future-of-publishing-–-part-one/>
I, Cringely

Let’s assume that Apple or some Apple competitor announces a really good electronic reader, which means one that costs little, is super-easy to use, stores a lot, and has very low power consumption.  That’s just the beginning.

**** Steve Jobs Tops List Of Most Influential People In Tech <http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-350882.html>
Steve Ranger, Silicon.com

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has been named the most influential individual in the global technology industry, topping the silicon.com 2009 Agenda Setter's list.

**** Smart-Phone Market Update: Apple's Eating Everyone Else's Lunch <http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/alleyinsider/silicon_alley_insider/~3/xIqPfAV4_Ew/henry-blodget-smart-phone-market-update-apples-eating-everyone-elses-lunch-2009-10>
Henry Blodget, Business Insider

The latest smart-phone numbers from Canalys show that Apple's gaining share like a bat out of hell.

**** WebKit And Why Open Standards Matter <http://www.infoworld.com/d/open-source/webkit-and-why-open-standards-matter-032>
Savio Rodrigues, InfoWorld

Analysis of open source WebKit usage shows high degree of incompatibility across WebKit-based browsers, including Safari and Chrome.

**** AT&T CEO Has Ominous Words For iPhone Users During CTIA <http://blogs.computerworld.com/14886/at_t_ceo_has_ominous_words_for_iphone_users_during_ctia?source=rss_weintraub>
Seth Weintraub, Computerworld

AT&T's CEO Ralph de la Vega spoke this week at CTIA about the problems of mobile broadband scarcity.  He mentioned that AT&T had seen a 5000% increase in mobile broadband usage over the past three years and was having trouble keeping up with demand.  AT&T doesn't forecast that exploding increase in demand to stop any time soon.

**** Apple To Indie Labels: iTunes LP Is Out Of Your League <http://gizmodo.com/5377302/apple-to-indie-labels-itunes-lp-is-out-of-your-league>
John Herrman, Gizmodo

**** The Future Of iPhone Games <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.cnet.com%2F8301-13772_3-10371642-52.html&usg=AFQjCNFNcCtfr99GfImF-xsJByCF5AXUfg>
Daniel Terdiman, CNET News

With the release of "2012," the iPhone app tied to the forthcoming Sony Pictures film of the same name, a group of developers may have kicked off the future of games on the hit smart phone.

**** How The iPhone Works <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.computerworld.com%2Fs%2Farticle%2F9138644%2FHow_the_iPhone_works%3FtaxonomyId%3D15&usg=AFQjCNFFfmQUWX7sxvwqnJzgOQ5wdDuApw>
John Brandon, Computerworld

While not every feature on the iPhone is unique, the way Apple has implemented some of those features is. And the iPhone serves as the base for tens of thousands of third-party applications, many of which make use of its built-in features in innovative ways.



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** At Ceatec 2009, A Starring Role For 3D <http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-10370739-260.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0>
Erica Ogg, CNET News



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Rules To Eat By <http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=43cee822992cdd9ca1db94615d1ecfb0>
Michael Pollan, New York Times

If we can’t rely on the marketers or the government or even the nutritionists to guide us through the supermarket woods, then who can we rely on? Well, ask yourself another question: How did humans manage to choose foods and stay healthy before there were nutrition experts and food pyramids or breakfast cereals promising to improve your child’s focus or restaurant portions bigger than your head?

**** Putting America’s Diet On A Diet <http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=7ccffdc41956949fa6e039b2051a8e0e>
Alex Witchel, New York Times

Last year, an Associated Press article designated the Huntington-Ashland metropolitan area as the unhealthiest in America, based on its analysis of data collected in 2006 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly half the adults in these five counties (two in West Virginia, two in Kentucky and one in Ohio) were obese, and the area led the nation in the incidence of heart disease and diabetes. The poverty rate was 19 percent, much higher than the national average. It also had the highest percentage of people 65 and older who had lost their teeth — nearly 50 percent.

All of which makes Huntington the perfect setting for the next Jamie Oliver Challenge. While he understands the allure of Home Wreckers and Big Macs alike, this British celebrity chef has made it his mission in recent years to break people’s dependence on fast food, believing that if they can learn to cook just a handful of dishes, they’ll get hooked on eating healthfully. The joy of a home-cooked meal, rudimentary as it sounds, has been at the core of his career from the start, and as he has matured, it has turned into a platform.

**** 30 Courses And Lots Of Leftovers <http://food.theatlantic.com/abroad/30-courses-and-lots-of-leftovers.php>
David Nakamura, The Atlantic

"Please arrive super-hungry," Tomoko's email advised. "The dinner will include about 30 dishes. It's a lot of food (all of it amazing)..."

How does one prepare for a 30-course meal? 

**** The Colbert Report <http://www.tnr.com/article/books-and-arts/the-colbert-report>
David A. Bell, The New Republic

While the extreme availability of information today should presumably have highlighted its relative paucity in earlier periods, historians--most notably Ann Blair--have in fact extended the concept of "information overload" all the way back to the sixteenth century, arguing that while we now associate the phenomenon with the internet, the printing press had a comparable effect.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Private Sector Takes Initiatives To Reduce Dependency On Sand Imports <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1010164/1/.html>
Ryan Huang, Channel NewsAsia

Some contractors are taking no chances with news that Vietnam is banning sand exports to Singapore on worries that the pace of extraction would damage the Mekong Delta.

**** HDB : “Getting A Flat” Statistics That Hardly Anybody Believes? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/hdb-%e2%80%9cgetting-a-flat%e2%80%9d-statistics-that-hardly-anybody-believes/>
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen

Instead of just saying that Singaporeans are choosy, the HDB should give the break-down of the statistics as to the reasons why people rejected flats.

**** SDP Five's Acquittal - Nothing To Celebrate Except An Upright Judge <http://secretpoliticalblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/sdp-fives-acquittal-nothing-to_08.html>
The Secret Political Blog

The defendants were acquitted because the law under which they were prosecuted was not applicable to them and not because political assemblies suddenly became acceptable to the establishment.

**** My Oppression By The Heavy Arm Of The State <http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gssq/~3/PcGjkxS9Kug/somewhere-on-this-globe-every-ten.html>
Balderdash

But then, the easiest course of action is not always the one we should follow.

**** Pedestrians And Cyclists May Face Danger At Simultaneous Crossing Zones <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_439809.html>
Aw Chon Wai, Straits Times

The existing configuration may improve traffic flow and save time for everyone. However, the issue here is whether this is worth the trade-off with road user safety.

We don't really have to be the number one in everything. Really.

**** 21-day Wait For EZ-Reload Approval Not True - It's Longer <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_439808.html>
How Peng Soon, Straits Times

The previous ez-link card only took five minutes to link up for auto Giro top-up with an ATM card at any MRT station general ticketing machine.

Why is the Land Transport Authority taking so long to roll out this service? The least it could do is to extend the use of the old card until the EZ-Reload feature is ready.

**** Elias Closure <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_439954.html>
Low Siew Ling, Straits Times

Why should wet markets be private concerns and even if they are, should the HDB and town council absolve themselves of their responsibility to residents?

**** Not Just About Money <http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_439943.html>
Straits Times

Dollars and cents should not be the overriding consideration with institutions that are distinctly Singaporean like wet markets, which are a popular and valuable part of our identity.

**** Singapore: More Cash ≠ More Babies <http://elitestv.com/pub/2009/10/singapore-more-cash-%E2%89%A0-more-babies>
Elites TV

Will a cash incentive make women want to have a child? Going by recent figures under Singapore’s recent Baby Bonus initiative, a government plan to raise declining birth rates in the country, the answer ostensibly is “no”.

**** Bloggers And The Networked Public Sphere In Singapore <http://snurb.info/node/1182>
Snurblog

Singapore is a particularly interesting case as it presents a paradox: a young and successful nation with strong ICT use, but a heavily regulated media environment (including the Internet) - but with regulation which has nonetheless proved unable to prevent the emergence of online sites of resistance.

**** One Hour Out: Singapore <http://www.bing.com:80/news/rssclick.aspx?redir=http%253a%252f%252fonline.wsj.com%252farticle%252fSB125497509100672539.html>
John Krich, Wall Street Journal

Before heading back to the city-state where such a colorful scene might well have been hosed down, sprayed over and turned into a Fishland Amusement Park -- complete with turnstiles -- long ago, we continue a bit farther up the coast in search of more curiosities.

**** The Hourglass Effect <http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14588255>
The Economist

Critics say that Singapore needs to shift faster from building cheap but resource-intensive concrete structures towards more expensive construction techniques that use, say, more steel and glass.

Relying as it does on low-wage, low-skilled migrant workers from South Asia, Singapore’s construction industry is not yet ready for such a high-tech transformation. And in the short term there are still plenty of willing suppliers.

**** CCS Is Not Responsible For SingTel <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC091009-0000060/CCS-is-not-responsible-for-SingTel>
Chin Yen Yen, Communications Competition Commission of Singapore, Today

There has been much public interest on SingTel's winning of the rights to telecast the Barclays Premier League. We need to clarify that, under the law, competition issues in the media sector do not come under the jurisdiction of the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) and hence CCS cannot make any ruling on this matter.

**** 又一湿巴刹被超市集团收购 <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp091009_012.shtml>
李静仪 韩咏梅 谢婷婷, 联合早报

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**** Lame Reply By HDB And PA On Why LUP Are Announced By PAP Losers And Not The MPs <http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/10/09/lame-reply-by-hdb-and-pa-on-why-lup-are-announced-by-pap-losers-and-not-the-mps/>
The Temasek Review

All government agencies should deal directly with the elected MP regardless of their political affiliations and not outsiders who have no right or business to be intefering with the management of the ward in any way.

**** Change The Prescription <http://www.todayonline.com/Comment/EDC091009-0000085/Change-the-prescription>
Randolph Tan, Today

Withdrawing the Jobs Credit scheme will allow policymakers to re-direct their focus to areas which could help unemployed individuals in ways that will alleviate possible challenges in a new global economic order.

**** Singapore Economy Probably Expanded A Second Quarter <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fapps%2Fnews%3Fpid%3D20601087%26sid%3Dakt_w5sEZSV4&usg=AFQjCNGNdSoqTv-e1Lo-7vu3-1nwKKGy5g>
Shamim Adam, Bloomberg

Singapore’s economy probably expanded for a second consecutive quarter as the global recession eased, adding to evidence of a regional recovery that has prompted policy makers to consider ending stimulus measures.

**** Two Women Trapped On Train <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC091009-0000049/Two-women-trapped-on-train>
Lin Yanqin, Today

When the lights in the MRT train went out and the air-conditioning hummed to a stop, passenger Kalarani Shunmugasundram knew she was in trouble.

Asleep when the announcement came on asking passengers to disembark as the train was terminating its run at Punggol station, she woke up just as the doors were closing. Along with another passenger, she was stuck on the train for nearly an hour on Monday as it headed for the depot.

**** Singapore's Temasek To Meet Bond Investors - Sources <http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2FrbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews%2FidUSSIN50710620091009&usg=AFQjCNECv_h7X2dQF0-v9QhFB-4QKXTCHA>
Saeed Azhar, Reuters

Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings will meet bond investors on Oct 13-14 to update them on its recent performance and outlook, sources said on Friday.

**** Mah Bow Tan: “I Don’t Expect Non-PAP MPs To Explain LUP” <http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/10/09/mah-bow-tan-i-dont-expect-non-pap-mps-to-explain-lup/>
The Temasek Review

As an important minister, Mr Mah should stay clear and aloof of such petty politickeering on the ground and put the interests of the nation above that of the party.

**** If You Think Being Charged For "Walking" Is Ridiculous... <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/2890-if-you-think-being-charged-for-qwalkingq-is-ridiculous>
Singapore Democrats

If you think being charged for "walking" is ridiculous enough, take a look at this: Six SDP members and activists are charged with distributing flyers in 2006. 

**** Nets' Multi-purpose Card <http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_440183.html>
Straits Times

It's finally here, the Nets multi-purpose contactless payment card which is also the first to break EZ-Link's long time stranglehold on the transit market.

**** S'pore Cruise Agents Up In Arms As PSA Up Docking Fee By 10-fold <http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/news/singapore-cruise-agents-up-in-arms-over-extra-charges/20017706374.htm;.065acf6a61c52eed94766d1ba7da5d95d4ecd58a>
Lloyd's List

Cruiseship agents are in uproar over a decision by the Singapore Cruise Centre to charge ships an additional docking fee of 10 times the usual amount if they are forced to berth at container terminals due to congestion.

**** SingTel Should Provide Clarity On Pricing Of Its Sports Packages: MDA <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1010378/1/.html>
Lin Jiamei, 938Live

The Media Development Authority (MDA) has asked SingTel to provide clarity on the pricing of their sports packages following its successful bid for the English Premier League for three seasons starting next year.

**** 5 Privately Owned Wet Markets To Remain As They Are Even If Sheng Siong Takes Over <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1010384/1/.html>
Ting Kheng Siong/Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia

Five privately owned wet markets won't be converted into air-conditioned supermarkets if Sheng Siong takes over. This is because HDB told MediaCorp, the supermarket chain has expressed taking over the wet markets in their existing state.

**** Define Choosy <http://hardhitting-nobs.blogspot.com/2009/10/define-choosy.html>
Hard Hitting in the Lion City

A study by National University of Singapore economists Tilak Abeysinghe and Gu Jiaying published last year found that the buying power of people's lifetime earnings in 2007 was lower than it was in 1990 when it is tracked against the prices of HDB resale flats. Basically, prices of HDB resale flats have become less affordable for Singaporeans.

**** Life's Too Short, Linger Over That Coffee, Artist Says <http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE5981Q520091009?feedType=RSS&feedName=lifestyleMolt>
Rina Ota, Reuters

Next time you're at your local cafe, don't gulp down that coffee -- Japanese contemporary artist Rei Sato believes coffee shops harbor precious moments that should be savored.