[MyAppleMenu] Jan 23, 2010

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** What Analysts Should Ask Apple <http://www.macworld.com/article/145846/2010/01/analystquestions.html>
Matt Deatherage, MacJournals.com

Analysts: you may only get one shot at asking questions, so I'm here to help you with the do’s and don’ts of the conference call. I don’t have all the answers, but I haven’t missed one of these calls in nearly 14 years, so I have some experience. Our interests are temporarily aligned here—we all want more information from Apple, without spooking the executives so they run away from your questions. Here’s the basic map for the January 2010 conference call.

**** CapSee Helps Avoid Caps Lock Mishaps <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=867e8b1a558b29d454205c5c7929b3e3>
Lex Friedman, Macworld

**** Machinarium <http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/machinarium>
Florence Ion, Mac Life

Machinarium has everything that made point-and-click adventure games a success in the first place: a charming storyline, melodic music, and skillfully designed aesthetics. The mind-bending puzzles will keep you coming back...unless they break you.

**** Apple Genius War Stories: "I Got Punched In The Face" And More <http://gizmodo.com/5454367/apple-genius-war-stories-i-got-punched-in-the-face-and-more?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gizmodo%2Ffull+%28Gizmodo%29>
Matt Buchanan, Gizmodo

**** A Big-Picture Look At Google, Microsoft, Apple And Yahoo <http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/a-big-picture-look-at-google-microsoft-apple-and-yahoo/?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Nick Bilton, New York Times

Where do Microsoft, Google, Apple and Yahoo compete? Take a look at our handy chart.

**** Friend Or Foe: How Apple Is Forcing Microsoft, Amazon, Google, And AT&T To Raise Their Game <http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2010/01/21/friend-or-foe-how-apple-is-forcing-microsoft-amazon-google-and-att-to-raise-their-game/>
Gregory T. Huang, Xconomy



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Got Diabetes? No More Pricks, Just Breathe On This <http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-10439713-247.html?part=rss&amp;subj=news&amp;tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
Elizabeth Armstrong Moore, CNET News

University of Florida engineers have designed a tiny, inexpensive sensor using a semiconductor that amplifies minute signals to detect glucose levels, pH or alkalinity levels, and indicators of cancers.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Even The Dogs By Jon McGregor <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jan/23/even-the-dogs-jon-mcgregor?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Christopher Tayler, The Guardian

**** Sleeping With John Updike <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jan/23/julian-barnes-new-short-story?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Julian Barnes, The Guardian

**** Our Boredom, Ourselves <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/books/review/Schuessler-t.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times

Scientists are arguing that tedium is good for your brain. But some novelists argue that it’s good for your soul.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Singapore Seeing More Public Demonstrations <http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2010/1/23/columnists/insightdownsouth/5522304&sec=insightdownsouth>
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star

Not usually known for speaking up, people in this legalistic society have turned a bit more aggressive in fighting for their rights in public. This is largely due to the infusion of 1.25 million foreigners in the past five years, which has partly altered the texture of society.

The outspokenness has not come from locals but foreigners who have arrived from different parts of the world with their values.

**** Govt Seeks To Lead, Connect <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_480912.html>
Chang Ai-Lien, Straits Times

In this Internet age, the government is still 'experimenting' on the best way to lead and interact with Singaporeans, foreign minister George Yeo said on Friday.

**** Don't Waste Money On Soccer TV Demand <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_480861.html>
Denis Distant, Straits Times

Some of that money could be spent helping poor Singaporeans, instead of splurging it on viewing a soccer competition in which we are not even participating.

**** Relook Passenger Limits On Peak-hour Trains <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_480974.html>
Tham Kwok Keong, Straits Times

SMRT would have us believe that spreading the commuting crowd in a train will help. Well, not once have I experienced a situation where the crowds are standing near the doors and the cars are empty in the middle over a trip that makes 15 stops and lasts as long as an hour.

**** Has S'pore Been Politically 'Stress-Tested'? <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100123-0000277/Has-Spore-been-politically-stress-tested?>
Lin Yan Qin, Today

Steps may have been taken recently with the aim of encouraging more political participation in Singapore, but is the political landscape truly "stress-tested" enough, and could there be greater freedom of expression? As education minister Ng Eng Hen spoke of Singapore having done well in the last decade economically and socially at a National University of Singapore Society dialogue on Friday evening, such questions on the challenges Singapore could face in coming years were on the minds of the 300-strong audience. 

**** Why I Joined The Opposition <http://geraldgiam.sg/2010/01/why-i-joined-the-opposition/>
Gerald Giam

My friends in the PAP tell me that it is more effective to change Singapore from within the PAP than from outside. I believe that changes to the finer details of policies are possible from within, but fundamental changes to the way the country is governed can only come if the top echelon of leaders in the party either radically change their mind, or are replaced. Neither is about to happen anytime soon.

**** Global Civil Society Leaders Condemn The Jailing Of Chee <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/3324-global-civil-society-leaders-condemn-the-jailing-of-chee>
Singapore Democrat News

**** Who Is The Real 'Eric How'? <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_481147.html>
Rachel Chang, Straits Times

Two innocent people dragged into fray after 'Eric How' posts diatribe on YP's Facebook page.

**** Some Casino Staff Fired <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_481153.html>
Jessica Lim & Lim Wei Chean, Straits Times

It will be months before the first cards are dealt at Singapore's two casinos, but several employees have already been fired because of stringent rules that dictate who can work there.

**** Genting Offers More Value Than Singapore Unit <http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/23/business/5531730&sec=business>
Jagdev Singh Sidhu, Malaysia Star

The exuberance surrounding Resort World Sentosa might be overdone and one broker has now recommended investors switch their focus on Genting Malaysia for value instead of its Singapore counterpart.

**** Foreign Workers Must Pass English Test To Qualify For Skilled Status <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1032593/1/.html>
Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia

**** Ng Eng Hen: Tanjong Pagar Constitutents Free To Vote MM Lee Out If They Feel He’s Not Adding Value <http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/01/23/ng-eng-hen-tanjong-pagar-constitutents-free-to-vote-mm-lee-out-if-they-feel-hes-not-adding-value/>
The Temasek Review

The Singapore government is the only one in the world with a minister mentor, two senior ministers and two deputy prime ministers in addition to the prime minister himself.

**** Singapore, The Repressive State <http://soojenn.blogspot.com/2010/01/singapore-repressive-state.html>
Singapore In General

**** Singapore Should Launch A Public Data Website <http://singaporedino.blogspot.com/2010/01/singapore-should-launch-public-data.html>
Singapore Dino

However, knowing the attitude of the current PAP government, I realise that such a website will not be possible as long as they are in full control. The PAP knows that knowledge is power and will deprive Singaporeans of it as long as they can so that we will be kept in the dark.

**** Singapore’s Straits Times Playing Up The Importance Of Western Influence <http://alt-china.blogspot.com/2010/01/singapores-straits-times-playing-up.html>
China Watcher

Singapore has always been pro-Western or more specifically pro-US and China should realize by now that its positive overtures to strengthen military ties with this small republic has been put on the shelf whereas the highly publicized military links with US and the Commonwealth nations will remain as the core defensive structure in this part of the world.