[MyAppleMenu] Dec 30, 2011

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Fri Dec 30 18:59:00 EST 2011

MyAppleMenu
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**** Mac Mini With Lion Server Ideal For SOHO And SMB <http://www.macworld.com/article/164388/2011/12/mac_mini_with_lion_server_ideal_for_soho_and_smb.html#lsrc.rss_main>
John C. Welch, Macworld

The Mac mini with Lion Server is a real improvement on an already solid performer. In its target market (companies with up to 200 users), it is an outstanding performer and is also a capable utility server in a wide range of usage needs. The Mac mini server is not a good choice if you need hot-swappable components or redundant power supplies in a single box, but the Mac mini server’s cost allows you to achieve redundancy in other ways. While the standard configuration is an attractive setup, consider paying the extra money for SSDs, since they add considerable performance for the price.

**** iPhone Siri Software Tells Boy, 12, To 'Shut Up' In Tesco <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/8984155/iPhone-Siri-software-tells-boy-12-to-shut-up-in-Tesco.html>
The Telegraph

Charlie Le Quesne was trying out the iPhone 4S at a Tesco store in Coventry when it told him: "Shut the f*** up, you ugly t***."

Someone had entered the obscene seven-word phrase as the user's name, so the phone blurted it out when it answered a question.



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** 3-D Tech Helps Runners Heal, Improve <http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/helloworld/27448/?ref=rss>
David Zax, Technology Review

The basic idea behind Run3D is this: heavy runners run a lot. And though they might think their technique is flawless, subtle idiosyncrasies in their running style might gradually cause injury over time. "The repetitive and demanding loads placed on the body mean that even very small differences in your running patterns might lead to the development of a running injury," says Run3D. By zeroing in on a runner's technique, and comparing the collected data with a database of uninjured runners, Run3D can help you improve your form and prevent injury.

**** A Look Ahead: 2012 Is Microsoft's Turning Point <http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2011/12/a-look-ahead-2012-is-microsofts-turning-point.ars>
Peter Bright, Ars Technica

2011 for Microsoft was all about telling us what to look forward to.

2012 will be when that talk becomes real. 2012 will be when lots of Microsoft's talk becomes real.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** The Joy Of Quiet <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/opinion/sunday/the-joy-of-quiet.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all>
Pico Iyer, New York Times

In barely one generation we’ve moved from exulting in the time-saving devices that have so expanded our lives to trying to get away from them — often in order to make more time. The more ways we have to connect, the more many of us seem desperate to unplug. Like teenagers, we appear to have gone from knowing nothing about the world to knowing too much all but overnight.

**** Retail Therapy <http://www.economist.com/node/21541706>
The Economist

At a time when national companies were aggressively jockeying for position among Americans—a suddenly cash-happy and acquisitive bunch—Dichter promised a way to influence consumers’ brains. If shopping was an emotional minefield, then strategic marketing could be a gold mine for companies.

**** Salad-bar Strategy: The Battle Of The Buffet <http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21228440.800-saladbar-strategy-the-battle-of-the-buffet.html?full=true>
Jamie Condliffe, New Scientist

A mathematician, an engineer and a psychologist go up to a buffet… No, it's not the start of a bad joke.

While most of us would dive into the sandwiches without thinking twice, these diners see a groaning table as a welcome opportunity to advance their research.



SingaporeSurf
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**** Public Transport Run By Stat Board <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC111230-0000013/Public-transport-run-by-stat-board>
Paul Chan Poh Hoi, Today

As the current model does not seem to be achieving its objectives, the two listed transport operators should reverse gears under a special delisting scheme.

**** When Trains Stop, Have A Backup <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC111230-0000017/When-trains-stop,-have-a-backup>
Cheong Weng Kit, Today

In essence, the backup system must be so good that there is no need for passengers to take taxis and pay exorbitant fares.

**** Give Self-regulation A Chance To Work Online <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_749991.html>
William Wan, Singapore Kindness Movement, Straits Times

If we allow the netizens to define what they believe to be acceptable behaviour, we may find ourselves pleasantly surprised at how sensible and moderate the majority of Internet users are.

**** Screen Singapore <http://www.todayonline.com/Entertainment/Movies/EDC111230-0000019/Screen-Singapore>
Genevieve Loh, Today

But the jewel in the crown this year has to be MediaCorp Raintree's It's A Great Great World, which raked in a staggering S$2.45 million at the box office. It looks like Kelvin Tong's nostalgic trip down memory lane with his bevy of Channel 8 stars more than struck a chord with Singaporeans who lapped up his sincere ode to the iconic amusement park.

**** Singapore GDP Probably Fell In Fourth Quarter <http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-29/singapore-gdp-probably-fell-in-fourth-quarter-on-manufacturing.html>
Shamim Adam And Sarina Yoo, Bloomberg

Singapore’s economy probably contracted in the fourth quarter as manufacturing slumped, increasing pressure on the island’s policy makers to stimulate growth even as inflation accelerates.

“Singapore is one of Asia’s most vulnerable economies to a slowdown in global growth,” said Sukhy Ubhi, an economist at Capital Economics Ltd. in London. “The upshot is we think that the Monetary Authority will loosen its policy settings at its next biannual review in April.”

**** Sales Of Car Booster Seats Rise Ahead New Ruling <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1173918/1/.html>
Lip Kwok Wai, Channel NewsAsia

**** 越南与新加坡：两种政治模式下的民主方程式 <http://news.hexun.com/2011-12-29/136787285.html>
庄礼伟, 大经贸

如果将新加坡与成熟稳健的民主国家作横向比较，新加坡的政治生态仍是偏向威权主义的，其中有许多令人诟病的地方。但若重返历史现场去观察，自1959年在英联邦中正式获得自治地位和1965年正式建国以来，新加坡外有强邻环伺，内有严重的阶级冲突和族群暴力风险，国力弱小，资源匮乏，李光耀的威权统治在当时的历史情境中或许算是最不坏的选择。当然，他的威权统治方式有一些是直接从英国殖民当局那里延续下来的，如规定可进行预防性拘捕的内部安全法令。

但若把新加坡的政治生态作一个历史的纵向比较，我们会发现，新加坡一直在走着一条向现代多元政治演进的道路，只不过走得很慢而已，以至于看不出这是一条持续地微微向上的曲线。当有人把“新加坡经验”简化为“对社会各方面进行严密控制，同时注意在物质利益方面施惠于民”，甚至把“新加坡经验”作为政治上可以加强控制的理由时，我们应当看到，新加坡的政治民主化水平一直是在悄悄发展、提高当中，其中不少方面走在了我们前面，可以称之为“新的新加坡经验”。

**** 新加坡人不是華僑 <http://ilofen.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-post_29.html>
紅豆書簡

我在新加坡國家歷史博物館，看到了李光耀先生宣布被迫建國時的影片，他頻頻以手帕拭去激動的淚水，歷史沒有給新加坡選擇的餘地。新加坡人從此不是「華僑」。

**** 骑脚踏车上班 行得通吗？ <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/fk/fk111230_001.shtml>
杨全龙, 联合早报

“其实，阻止人们骑脚踏车的因素不少，但这些都是心态障碍。一旦你开始使用脚踏车，就会发现这些障碍并无想象中那么难克服。”

**** PUB Provides Updates On Orchard Flash Floods <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1173997/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

**** Getting IRH To Work Better <http://mndsingapore.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/getting-irh-to-work-better/>
Ministry Of National Development, Singapore Government

MND introduced the Interim Rental Housing (IRH) scheme in 2009 as a pilot, to help needy families with temporary housing at subsidised rates, while they work out a more permanent solution. The scheme is run by private operators, not HDB. To cover costs, the operators are allowed to lease out a portion of the flats at each IRH site at market rental rates to other Singaporeans and foreigners working and studying in Singapore.

We are tweaking the IRH scheme to better serve Singaporean families in need.

**** SP Services To Raise Electricity Tariffs In Next Quarter <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1174035/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

SP Services said on Friday that electricity tariffs for households for the period between January 1 and March 31 will increase by an average 2.3 per cent due to higher fuel prices, which will drive up power generation costs.

**** Committee Submits Ministerial Salary Review Report <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1174039/1/.html>
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia

The committee set up to review political salaries submitted its report to the Prime Minister on Friday afternoon. Channel NewsAsia understands that the report is expected to be made public in early January next year.

**** Sex Ed - MOE Should Reveal More Information <http://www.publichouse.sg/categories/topstory/item/352-sex-ed-moe-should-reveal-more-information>
Andrew Loh, Publichouse.sg

To avoid further unhappiness and confusion about the upcoming introduction of the revised sexuality programme, the MOE should be more forthcoming with information on the revised programme itself, and also on the process by which it consults stakeholders, and to do so before the programme is introduced in the schools.




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