[MyAppleMenu] Jan 29, 2011

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Dolly Drive Syncs Time Machine To The Cloud, Creates Bootable Backup <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/28/dolly-drive-syncs-time-machine-to-the-cloud-creates-bootable-ba/>
Dave Caolo, TUAW

This new solution (they just launched this week) offers encrypted Time Machine sync to the cloud and even create a bootable version of the local drive you've been using for Time Machine thus far.

**** Expressive Helps The Speech Impaired Learn And Communicate <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/28/macworld-2011-expressive-helps-the-speech-impaired-learn-and-co/>
David Winograd, TUAW

Like most AAC apps or devices, it allows those without the power of speech due to Autism, Downs Syndrome or even temporary verbal problems to communicate. Tapping on categorized symbols allow one to build phrases that are spoken. The app contains 450 pre-set symbols and more can be added. 

**** Apple Pushing Its At-home Advisor Program To College Students <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/28/apple-pushing-its-at-home-advisor-program-to-college-students/>
Kelly Hodgkins, TUAW

As an Apple At-Home advisor, you receive a free iMac, full benefits and are paid more than $10 per hour to work 16 hours per week during the school year and 40 hours per week in the summer. 

**** Verizon Confirms iPhone Pre-orders For 3 AM On February 3 <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/28/verizon-confirms-iphone-pre-orders-for-3-am-on-february-3/>
Kelly Hodgkins, TUAW

**** Omni Group Continues Push On iOS, Adding Cloud Sync For Plan And Focus <http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/01/omni-group-continues-push-on-ios-adding-cloud-sync-for-plan-and-focus.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss>
Chris Foresman, Ars Technica

We sat down with Case to see what Omni has in store for 2011, which includes a major update to OmniPlan (with OmniFocus integration), and bringing OmniOutliner to the iPad.

**** Scratch-Me-Not <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/magazine/30FOB-medium-t.html?ref=technology>
Virginia Heffernan, New York Times

Some Apple users seem to believe that screen protectors are the secret to turning their prized possessions into heirlooms. But other Apple fans oppose the use of screen protectors, which they see as obstructions or even barriers to intimacy.



The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** 3 Projects To Create A Government-less Internet <http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2011/01/3-projects-to-create-a-government-less-internet.php?utm_source=ReadWriteCloud&utm_medium=rwchomepage&utm_campaign=ReadWriteCloud_posts&utm_content=3+Projects+to+Create+a+Government-less+Internet>
Klint Finley, ReadWriteWeb



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** The Hot Spotters <http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/01/24/110124fa_fact_gawande?currentPage=all>
Atul Gawande, New Yorker

Can we lower medical costs by giving the neediest patients better care?

**** Dinner At 5:05, 7:20, 9:45... <http://www.thesmartset.com/article/article01281101.aspx>
Greg Beato, The Smart Set

Somewhat paradoxically, bringing full-blown dining to the multiplex may actually improve the average moviegoer’s concentration. He’s killing two birds with one stone, so he’s not so preoccupied with all the other things he might be accomplishing if he weren’t stuck in a movie theater. He’s waiting for his food to arrive, so he’s staying glued to his seat even after he realizes Natalie Portman isn’t ever going to get naked in No Strings Attached.

**** The Saturday Poem: From 'In The Village' <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jan/29/saturday-poem-derek-walcott?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Derek Walcott, The Guardian

**** Jerusalem: The Biography By Simon Sebag Montefiore – Review <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jan/29/jerusalem-biography-simon-sebag-montefiore-review?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Antony Beevor, The Guardian

Montefiore's book, packed with fascinating and often grisly detail, is a gripping account of war, betrayal, looting, rape, massacre, sadistic torture, fanaticism, feuds, persecution, corruption, hypocrisy and spirituality.

**** The Perils Of Literary Profiling <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/books/review/Nicholson-t.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss>
Geoff Nicholson, New York Times

Looking at the list now, however, I can see that it contains elements of the pretentious littérateur and the moody loner, both of which are obviously to be avoided. And if the horror of the Arizona shooting has taught us anything, it’s that some place a high value on what can be gleaned from a man’s reading habits, whether actual or simply professed.

**** The Wrath Of Grapes <http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/the-wrath-of-grapes/?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Dick Cavett, New York Times

I have no valuable advice to impart from my sodden and ill-advised Johnny Walker experiment except for one thing.

Should you find yourself standing near me some day and should you for some reason utter the word “scotch” . . . stand back.



SingaporeSurf
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**** CNY Travel: ICA Must Organise Too <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_629464.html>
Koh Ching Hong, Straits Times

Rather than impose the onus on travellers, the ICA should ensure proper traffic organisation and staffing leading to and at both checkpoints.

**** MFA 'Obliged To Respect' Romanian Court <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110129-0000226/MFA-obliged-to-respect-Romanian-court>
Today

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Friday that it was "obliged to respect" a Romanian court's decision to allow former diplomat Silviu Ionescu to travel outside the country's capital Bucharest.

**** Protracted Discussions Over Liberal Arts College <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110129-0000228/Protracted-discussions-over-liberal-arts-college>
Zul Othman, Today

Dealing with both the Singapore Government and the National University of Singapore (NUS) has stretched the time needed for Yale University to agree on the budget for the proposed joint liberal arts college with NUS, according to Yale president Richard Levin.

**** Muslim Bodies Irked By MM's Remarks <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110129-0000211/Muslim-bodies-irked-by-MMs-remarks>
Leong Wee Keat, Today

The Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) and Perdaus - the association of Islamic scholars here - issued media statements to register their disagreement with Mr Lee's views, which they said were neither new nor hard truths.

AMP's board of directors feel that the printed comments "have hurt the community and are potentially divisive", while Perdaus says Mr Lee's call for Muslim Singaporeans to be "less strict" in practising Islam "is both unfair and unacceptable".

**** Increase Available Number Of Money-lending Licences <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110129-0000194/Increase-available-number-of-money-lending-licences>
Seah Kah Cheng, Today

This way, high interest rates will naturally be brought down by greater competition. 

**** MM Lee On Elitism.... <http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2011/01/mm-lee-on-elitism.html>
Diary Of A Singaporean Mind

4 decades of clinging to this MM Lee's hard truth has led to a self-fulfilling downward spiral in terms of expanding inequality among the people.

Trying to engineer a better society by selective breeding has gotten us nowhere except to make us reliant on foreign sources of talent. There is a way to get performance and energise a a society that is far better and effective than trying to raise their IQ points by selective breeding. Just look at those 82 men and women, MM Lee himself selected from the best of his elites - not one can come out with a good argument for minimum wage, can't improve the deteriorating quality of life here, can't get elected except by linking votes to upgrading + silencing opponets...can't think of ways to make economic progress except by importing labor and making Singaporeans cheaper, better and faster...can't break out of the groupthink - MM Lee boxed them in with his 'hard truths' creating duds out of men who perhaps have some intelligence.

**** Singaporeans Pay Less Taxes Than Canadians? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/01/singaporeans-pay-less-taxes-than-canadians/>
Wing Lee Cheong, The Online Citizen

Singapore leaders have repeatedly spun the notion that Singaporeans pay one of the lowest tax in the world. It is a myth for in reality Singaporeans pay much higher taxes than other developed countries like Canada.

Depending on the choice of lifestyles and individual health conditions, the Canadian tax system has an advantage of between $500,000 to over $1 million when compared with the Singapore tax system even though Singapore official tax rate is very low.

**** Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew Will Accept If Grandchild Is Gay; Discusses Homosexuality In New Book <http://www.fridae.com/newsfeatures/2011/01/28/10599.singapore-s-lee-kuan-yew-will-accept-if-grandchild-is-gay-discusses-homosexuality-in-new-book>
Sylvia Tan, Fridae

Rev. Oyoung Wenfeng, a Malaysia-born, New York-based ordained Christian minister, author and an openly gay man, told Fridae in an email: “I am so glad Lee Kuan Yew has said those things. It is interesting and uplifting to observe that an old man can also be open-minded and willing to learn.”

He likened Lee’s remarks on homosexuality is just like a coming out statement. “Of course he didn't come out as a gay man, but he came out as a gay friendly and reasonable person, and it has made some significant changes in people's view on homosexuality.”

**** MM Lee Was Describing "Worst-case Scenario": Dr Yaacob <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1107702/1/.html>
Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia

The minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was describing a "worst-case scenario" when he recently spoke about the Malay Muslim community.

Dr Yaacob said the rise in religiosity in almost all faith communities has been described as a reaction to modernisation and noted that Mr Lee believed these reactions can be divisive and saw it as his responsibility to warn Singaporeans about the possible risks in society.

Dr Yaacob added that Singapore is a secular country that respects and protects the rights of Muslims to practise their own religion, and this is fundamental to Singapore's identity.

**** MM Lee Should Clarify Comments On Islam: Jamiyah <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1107698/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

Jamiyah, a member of the Inter-Religious Organisation, has asked for minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew to shed more light on the comments he had made in his latest book that Islam is a difficult religion to integrate.

**** Coming Polls Promise To Be Fun <http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=insightdownsouth&file=/2011/1/29/columnists/insightdownsouth/7889586&sec=Insight%20Down%20South>
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star

In the coming election, voters aged 20-39 will make up more than one-third of the 2.3 million-strong electorate. About 100,000 will be first-time voters.

This makes them a powerful force, and every party is going flat out to get them.

**** High-speed Rail Project May Be Privatised <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/1/29/nation/7899017&sec=nation>
The Star

**** Advice To Singaporean Asylum Seekers <http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/2011/01/advice-to-singaporean-asylum-seekers.html>
Gopalan Nair, Singapore Dissident

My advice is this. If you are a anti Lee Kuan Yew political activist, carrying out your political activities openly and were arrested, you would almost certainly get asylum. But if you merely articulated your personal fears when nothing actually happened to you; you will fail.