[MyAppleMenu] Sep 1, 2010

applesurf at myapplemenu.com applesurf at myapplemenu.com
Wed Sep 1 18:59:00 EDT 2010

MyAppleMenu
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**** Getting There From Here, Where By ‘There’ I Mean A Web Where Flash Is Not A De Facto Standard Technology <http://daringfireball.net/2010/08/getting_there_from_here>
John Gruber, Daring Fireball

I think it’s a poor assumption that Apple could, by sheer will, produce a version of iOS where Flash Player works well on the iPad.

**** Mac Gems: Top 10 Must-install Software Downloads <http://rss.macworld.com/click.phdo?i=fcf8120296544ec336db15cbb40fd4b6>
Dan Frakes, Macworld

**** Apple To Provide Live Online Video Stream Of Wednesday Event <http://www.mercurynews.com/business-headlines/ci_15954290?nclick_check=1>
Frank Michael Russell, San Jose Mercury News

Apple, the Cupertino maker of Mac computers and mobile devices such as the iPhone and iPad, will provide a live video stream of its San Francisco media event Wednesday.

**** The iPad As Trojan Horse <http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/08/31/the-ipad-as-trojan-horse/?section=magazines_fortune>
Philip Elmer-DeWitt, Fortune

Is Steve Jobs' tablet the device that finally gets Apple past the IT-department gates?

**** Google And Apple Have Already Won The "TV Apps" War <http://blogs.marketwatch.com/cody/2010/08/31/google-and-apple-have-already-won-the-tv-apps-war/>
Cody Willard, MarketWatch

**** Apple Spent $330,000 Lobbying In 2nd Quarter <http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100831/ap_on_bi_ge/us_apple_lobbying_1>
Associated Press

Apple Inc., maker of the iPhone, Macintosh computers and other consumer electronics, spent $330,000 lobbying the federal government in the second quarter on spending for technology in education and other issues, according to a disclosure report.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Roger Ebert: No Longer An Eater, Still A Cook <http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=51f55443ae2da050d25754337cd3418b>
Kim Severson, New York Times

“Food for me is in the present tense,” he said. “Eating for me is now only in the past tense.” He says he has a “voluptuous food memory” that gets stronger all the time.

“I can remember the taste and smell of everything, even though I can no longer taste or smell,” he said.

**** Are We Living In A Designer Universe? <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/7972538/Are-we-living-in-a-designer-universe.html>
John Gribbin, Telegraph

To create a new universe would require a machine only slightly more powerful than the LHC – and there is every chance that our own universe may have been manufactured in this way.



SingaporeSurf
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**** NSP: Response To PM Lee's Nation Day Rally Speech <http://singaporealternatives.blogspot.com/2010/08/nsp-response-to-pm-lees-nation-day.html>
Goh Meng Seng, National Solidarity Party

**** Singapore Population Tops Five Million, 36 Pct Foreigners <http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hVOOgQkOi6-Fbx-p15efD26n8zTg>
AFP

Singapore's population crossed five million this year and more than a third of the total are foreigners, the statistics department said Tuesday.

Singapore, which polls well in global surveys for quality of life, is also showing symptoms of urban stress, with rush-hour traffic gridlock, packed subway trains and recent cases of flash floods in some areas.

**** Artificially Inflated Property Prices Leaves High Priced Property Owners In The Lurch? <http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/08/31/artificially-inflated-property-prices-leaves-high-priced-property-owners-in-the-lurch/>
The Temasek Review

Again, without any apology another U-Turn is made surreptiously under the guise of wisdom to take “early corrective actions” now – when it is already too late.

**** The Chief Justice Gets It <http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2010/08/the-chief-justice-gets-it.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mrbrown+%28mrbrown%29>
mrbrown: L'infantile Terrible Of Singapore

If everyone followed the DPP's thinking, then every driver can just buzz a cyclist (drive very close) or graze his tires, as long as the fella doesn't fall down and die.

**** Will $9000 Make NSmen STFU And Vote PAP? <http://feedmetothefish.blogspot.com/2010/08/will-9000-make-nsmen-stfu-and-vote-pap.html>
Feed Me To The Fish

As a prime minister, he made a mockery of nation building by paying himself millions, almost five (or is it four) times Obama's salary. Now he is demeaning NSmen by moneytising their contribution to national service.

**** National Day Rally: Why I Refuse To Be Reached By REACH <http://rogerpoh.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/national-day-rally-why-i-refuse-to-be-reached-by-reach/>
SpotlightOnSingapore

As though public feedback will make any difference when policies have already been set.

**** Minimum Occupation Period Doesn't Hit The Spot <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC100901-0000058/Minimum-Occupation-Period-doesnt-hit-the-spot>
Yin Poh Leng, Today

**** Nest Egg Delayed <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC100901-0000091/Nest-egg-delayed>
Chi Han-Hsuan, Today

The government shouldn't be discouraging HDB owners with excess cash from buying private property as a safe, long-term investment in their nest egg. Rather, it should be imposing restrictions on foreigners buying private residential properties.

**** Singapore Population Crosses 5M.... <http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2010/09/singapore-population-crosses-5m.html>
Diary of A Singaporean Mind

Singapore's immigration policy has never been about benefits for the citizens. It is a policy driven by business demand for labor from China & India and the PAP's fixation with high GDP growth. Now at this late hour with the elections coming and voters who have woken up to what the PAP govt has done, the PM tries to reframe the entire thing as something done for the benefit of citizens. This is ridiculous.

**** Young Singaporeans Dreaming – Expensive HDB Flats And The Politics Of Impossibilities <http://antineodem.wordpress.com/2010/08/31/young-singaporeans-dreaming-expensive-hdb-flats-and-the-politics-of-impossibilities/>
The Anti Neo-Democracy Theorist

Is the government then in a conundrum – on one hand the government cannot admit that the market is out of reach for most young couples due to excessive speculative behavior (often from abroad) because it would mean telling young Singaporeans the honeymoon has ended after 40 years of independence. On the other hand, the government cannot overcool the market, because the housing market generates much needed revenue for the state and its ancillary operations.

**** The Numbers Game <http://hardhitting-nobs.blogspot.com/2010/09/numbers-game.html>
Musings From the Lion City

At the rate we are going, it will soon be 3 to 1 as the rise in the number of foreigners continued to outpace that of Singaporeans.

In short, these are numbers most Singaporeans will not be happy about.

**** Broadband Price War For Singapore? <http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/DigitalOne/Story/A1Story20100901-234907.html>
Kenny Chee and Rachel Chan, My Paper

**** Singapore Government Finally Appreciate Our Ns Man ? <http://bigtalksingapore.wordpress.com/2010/08/31/singapore-government-finally-appreciate-our-ns-man/>
Big Talk Singapore (大话新加坡)

My general impression about this move, “大选到，要送礼，要送大，想一想，不舍得，有条件，变小小。”

**** PAP Is Once Again Missing The Point Of Our Unhappiness Over Their Immigration Policy <http://singaporeanskeptic.blogspot.com/2010/09/pap-is-no-different-from-umno-in.html>
Singaporean Skeptic

What happened to Lee Kuan Yew's old slogan of a 'Malaysian Malaysia'? I thought the PAP was above the racial politics of UMNO and left the Malaysian Federation on this principle.

How is maintaining a Chinese dominated majority in Singapore no different from having a buminputra policy in Malaysia? The PAP should realise that the biggest divider of Singapore is not ethnicity but nationality.

**** Measures That PM Lee <I>Should</I> Have Announced, But Didn't <http://utwt.blogspot.com/2010/08/measures-that-pm-lee-should-have.html>
Under The Willow Tree

**** One Angry Citizen <http://tankinlian.blogspot.com/2010/08/one-angry-citizen.html>
Tan Kin Lian

"It is not just overcrowded trains/buses S'poreans have to endure. The entire infrastructure is bursting at the seam."

**** 针对住屋与新移民政策谈话 国民团结党指政府自相矛盾 <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp100901_026.shtml>
联合早报

团结党秘书长吴明盛发表文告说，国家发展部长马宝山去年底说屋价还是人们负担得起的，新移民的涌入不是导致转售价上涨的主要因素，但短短几个月后，政府却推出强有力的降温措施来抑制房市的投机炒作。

**** 往返新山、樟宜机场以及名胜世界 两条新马巴士路线后天投入服务 <http://www.zaobao.com/sp/sp100901_007.shtml>
刘丽仪, 联合早报

新加坡和马来西亚跨境巴士服务的本地四条新路线经营者确定，其中星运旅游（TranStar）经营的两条往返新山和樟宜机场，以及圣淘沙名胜世界的路线，后天起投入服务。

**** Thanks For The Money! Now Give Me Incentive For Thanking You! And Give Me Incentive For Willingly Receiving The Incentive And Giving You Face! <http://thinkingbetterthinkingmeta.blogspot.com/2010/09/thanks-for-money-now-give-me-incentive.html>
Sam Ho, Sam's Thoughts

With this selective (re)allocation of money, we might as well tell the government, "If you don't want to give, just say so la!"

This is conditional love from a state that tries to appear to be compassionate and understanding. If you are truly compassionate, abolish mandatory death penalty for starters.

**** Read Their Lips <http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2010/09/read-their-lips.html>
Singapore Notes

All the new measures to "reduce speculation and short-term investment" simply confirm that the humble HDB flat is no longer the accommodation of necessity for the masses, but another poker chip in the casino of Singapore Inc. Entry fee is substantially higher than $100, it's two full years of national service, currently valued at $9K. In case you have any doubt about National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan's sincerity to solve the long term housing problems, read his lips: "If you ask me whether it has got anything to do with the elections, the answer is yes. Everything has to do with the elections."

**** Black And White In History? <http://findmuck.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/black-and-white-in-history/>
The Mind Game

**** MDA Questions Seelan Over Francis Seow Video <http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/3924-mda-questions-seelan-over-francis-seow-video>
Singapore Democrat Party

Filmmaker and human rights campaigner Mr Seelan Palay has submitted a video to the Media Development Authority (MDA) for rating as required under the law. The video is an interview of Singapore's former solicitor-general (SG) Mr Francis Seow.

Mr Seelan had submitted the film last year. The agency now wants to know the purpose of Mr Seelan producing the film and whether the video is accurate.

**** Singapore's Economy May Expand 14.9% This Year, Central Bank Survey Shows <http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-01/singapore-s-economy-may-expand-14-9-this-year-central-bank-survey-shows.html>
Shamim Adam, Bloomberg

Singapore’s economy will probably grow at a faster pace than previously forecast this year as manufacturers boost output and consumers increase spending, a central bank survey showed.

**** Welcome The New: Frack The Old (NSmen) <http://military-life.blogspot.com/2010/08/welcome-new-frack-old-nsmen.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FOnPU+%28Military+Life%29>
Military Life: Memoirs of a Conscript in the Lion City

This $9,000 award basically doesn't go enough to address the inequalities between male citizens and foreigners/female citizens. To add insult to injury, old NSmen are all left out totally in the cold. I for one don't need the $9,000 as it's not enough to even pay for the interest costs I incurred on funding my own home. The bigger issue is how does the country recognise the role we play in protecting Singapore for all residents regardless of whether they are citizens, permanent residents or transient foreign workers?

**** My Beady Eyes Over Lee’s Numbers, Part 1 <http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/my-beady-eyes-over-lees-numbers-part-1>
Yawning Bread

We’ve been adding a lot of humans to produce that 15 percent GDP growth. Our productivity growth (i.e. increase in output per person) might be close to zero or even negative.

If productivity has not grown, then one could argue that we have not become richer per capita. We’ve just treaded water while becoming more crowded.

**** Cross-sharing Of Pay-TV Content Pushed Back To Q1 Next Year <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1078468/1/.html>
Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia

The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) has decided to push back the implementation date for the cross-carrying of Pay-TV content to the first quarter of next year following feedback from industry players.

**** Skip O-levels & Enter Poly <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_573563.html>
Leow Si Wan, Straits Times


>From 2013, some 2,000 Normal (Academic) students can skip their fifth year - during which they have to take the O-levels - and enter the polytechnics here directly through two options.


**** Amendments To The CPF Act – Did You Know? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/09/amendments-to-the-cpf-act-did-you-know/>
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen

**** Building A Queenstown Spirit <http://myqueenstown.blogspot.com/2010/09/building-queenstown-spirit.html>
My Queenstown

**** PAP And The Politics Of Manipulation <http://leesjuanpatworld.blogspot.com/2010/09/pap-and-politics-of-manipulation.html>
Leesjuanpat World

**** Singapore Population Hits 5 Million <http://singaporeshortstories.blogspot.com/2010/09/singapore-population-hits-5-million.html>
Singapore Short Stories

**** The Singapore Hotel <http://geekisnewblack.blogspot.com/2010/08/singapore-hotel.html>
Geek Is The New Black

I could go on picking his speech apart but let me sum it up. It held N-O-T-H-I-N-G of interest to me as an ordinary citizen. No mention or acknowledgement was given towards the very real fears and dreams of Singaporeans. Nothing substantial about managing the cost of living or base wages. Not a peep about how the government realizes how certain policies may have not worked and are looking to address them. Not even a blush on the Orchard Road floods debacle nor an apology the very-real on the ground anti sentiment towards the recently concluded YOG.

**** Carrefour To Collect Bids For Asia Assets <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703882304575464921097740574.html?mod=googlenews_wsj>
Alison Tudor, Wall Street Journal

French retailer Carrefour SA will collect first-round bids for its assets in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia on Wednesday in a deal valued at roughly $1 billion, a person familiar with the situation said.

**** The MM's Mantra..... <http://mylongwindpage.blogspot.com/2010/08/mms-mantra.html>
My Very Lo Soh Long Winded Page

It is a fallacy to state that Singapore's unique circumstances require us to have a "strong government". Every country exists in a unique situation, and each requires not only "strong", but also responsible and good governments to lead them to progress and prosperity.

**** NSRA: How Much Is Enough? <http://kementah.blogspot.com/2010/09/nsra-how-much-is-enough.html>
Senang Diri

If you receive a gift with the price tag still stuck on it, there’s a high chance that knowing the gift’s dollar value will cloud your attitude towards your well-wisher.

**** Prime Minister: National Service Reward <If you receive a gift with the price tag still stuck on it, there’s a high chance that knowing the gift’s dollar value will cloud your attitude towards your well-wisher. >
Don't Sue Me

Working for nothing is slavery, and working for peanuts is exploitation.




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