[MyAppleMenu] Dec 10, 2011

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Break Time Reminds You To Take Five <http://www.macworld.com/article/164136/2011/12/break_time_reminds_you_to_take_five.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Dan Moren, Macworld

In all, BreakTime is a simple app, and one that works perfectly for me. I can’t make any claims as to its long term benefits on your health, but I do appreciate being reminded not to sit and stare at my computer all day.

**** Apple Posts A Beatles iTunes TV Ad: Covers <http://www.macrumors.com/2011/12/09/apple-posts-a-beatles-itunes-tv-ad-covers/>
Arnold Kim, MacRumors

Apple has posted a new TV ad on their YouTube page promoting The Beatles on iTunes.

**** Copy Preference Files Instead Of Deleting Them When Troubleshooting <http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57340585-263/copy-preference-files-instead-of-deleting-them-when-troubleshooting/>
Topher Kessler, CNET

**** Apple Opens New York Grand Central Store <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203413304577088201456063374.html>
Shara Tibken, Wall Street Journal

Apple Inc. opened its latest retail store Friday in New York's historic Grand Central Terminal to hundreds of eager shoppers from around the country who had been waiting in line for as long as a day.

Apple said 2,500 people were waiting in line before the opening, and the store had nearly 4,000 visitors before noon.

**** The Covert Birth Of Apple's Next Santa Monica Store <http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/09/tech/gaming-gadgets/apple-store-secrecy-part-2/index.html>
Mark Milian, CNN

The Santa Monica store episode also illustrates Apple's unusually covert way of doing business. Interviews with almost two dozen people familiar with Apple Store negotiations say the Cupertino, California, company sometimes employs uncommon legal tactics, refuses to name itself in public documents and hearings, and has sworn city government officials to secrecy.

An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.

**** Apple Made A Deal With The Devil (No, Worse: A Patent Troll) <http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/09/apple-made-a-deal-with-the-devil-no-worse-a-patent-troll/>
Jason Kincaid, TechCrunch

Put another way, Apple appears to have transferred its patents to the patent troll Digitude, though it first routed them through a shell company that shares the same office as Digitude’s lead investor and Chairman. Further evidence of the relationship between Apple and Digitude can be found on the ITC’s own website, where a list of files relevant to the lawsuit can be found. Many of these files are marked confidential, but it appears someone mistakenly left the file names intact. One of which is “Digitude-Apple License Agreement”.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** The Science Of Poetry, The Poetry Of Science <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/dec/09/ruth-padel-science-poetry?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Ruth Padel, The Guardian

Both depend on metaphor, which is as crucial to scientific discovery as it is to lyric.

**** Max <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/dec/09/saturday-poem-linda-chase?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Linda Chase, The Guardian



SingaporeSurf
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**** Why Dead Specimens Are Reserved For Museum <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_743150.html>
Leong Chee Chiew, National Parks Board, Straits Times

There are actually very few of such specimens, and it is in the interest of the conservation of Singapore's biodiversity to retain them for long-term research rather than commercial purposes.

**** Singapore Mud Sling <http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/12/10/277481_lifestyle.html>
Nigel Adlam, ntnews.com.au

A Singapore newspaper has slagged off our city, but where would you rather be, Singapore, or Darwin?

**** A 20¢ Ice-ball And One Cool Customer <http://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com/2011/12/10/a-20¢-ice-ball-and-one-cool-customer/>
The Long And Winding Road

**** 政治新常态需要全职议员? <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/yl/yl111210_010.shtml>
林金发, 联合早报

不论是全职议员，或执行议员职责之外，继续本身的专业工作，关键是他们如何在接下来5å¹´é‡Œï¼ŒåŠ å¼ºåŒæ°‘ä¼—çš„æ²Ÿé€šå’Œè”ç³»ï¼Œä¸ºæ”¿åºœå’Œé€‰æ°‘ä¹‹é—´æž„ç­‘èµ·æ›´ç‰¢å›ºå’Œç´§å¯†çš„å…³ç³»ã€‚

**** Singapore Property Price Drop Likely After New Tax <http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9RG780O1.htm>
Alex Kennedy, Associated Press

The new taxes are the first to discriminate according to the residency status of the buyer. Foreigners, who account for more than a quarter of the city-state's 5.2 million population, made about 18 percent of property purchases in the third quarter and account for a third of purchases in the luxury market.

Analysts said real estate prices could pull back sharply, especially those of luxury condominiums and houses favored by foreigners. Most Singaporeans live in government subsidized housing.

**** Singapore Move Likely To Benefit Iskandar <http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/10/business/10070071&sec=business>
Zazali Musa, The Star

Property developers in Iskandar Malaysia are expected to benefit from the new ruling introduced by Singapore for foreigners buying private properties in the republic.

Johor Real Estate and Housing Developers Association branch chairman Simon Heng said foreigners buying properties in Singapore for investment might look elsewhere in the region.

**** Young, Female Politicians Top Singapore Search List <http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2011/12/09/young-female-politicians-top-singapore-search-list/>
Shibani Mahtani, Wall Street Journal

In a year that saw a surprising flurry of political activity in the often-quiet city-state, Singapore’s youngest Member of Parliament Tin Pei Ling was the most-searched personality in 2011, trumping now-deceased Amy Winehouse and Steve Jobs, according to Google’s annual Zeitgeist list.

Ms. Tin, now a Member of Parliament, was put forth by the ruling People’s Action Party in this year’s general election, running alongside former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. The decision was questioned by many Singaporeans, who pointed to her husband’s position as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s personal private secretary, and considered her inexperienced and ignorant. A widely circulated picture of her posing with a Kate Spade bag quickly went viral, and invited comments accusing the 28-year-old of materialism and privilege.

**** The Legacies Of History <http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10772250>
Richard Dale, New Zealand Herald

**** Dr M: Pegging Was Most Frightening <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/10/nation/10070874&sec=nation#13234735666881&if_height=421>
Regina Lee, The Star

Commenting on his one-time Singaporean counterpart Lee Kuan Yew's book being listed as haram (illegal) by the Islamic Development Department, Dr Mahathir said “different Muslims have different ideas about things”.

“Let (Lee) say what he likes,” he said. “It doesn't mean anything.”

**** Singapore Housing: Government Playing Vote-Bank Politics Even As HDB Is Messing With Estates <http://joslinv.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/singapore-housing-government-playing-vote-bank-politics-even-as-hdb-is-messing-with-estates/>
Joslin Vethakumar, Top Of The Word

Owners should determine what becomes of the estate, not the HDB.

**** I'm A Singaporean Malaysian <http://malaysiaanotherday.blogspot.com/2011/12/im-singaporean-malaysian.html>
Hussaini Abdul Karim, Malaysian Another Day

**** Wife Of Defence Minister Is New SingHealth CEO <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/wife-of-defence-minister-is-new-singhealth-ceo/>
Sonia Suka, The Online Citizen

Perhaps full disclosure about Prof Ng’s relationship to a cabinet minister was not made to avoid awkward scrutiny by the general public. It seems that the government will not recant its paternalistic belief that it knows best and works for the greater good of Singapore anytime soon.