[MyAppleMenu] Jul 9, 2011

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Review: Motion 5 <http://www.macworld.com/article/160958/2011/07/motion5.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Peter Kirn, Macworld

Keying is dead-simple, and rigs expand upon Motion's already rich, quick visual-generating powers. It'd be nice to see still-deeper bi-directional integration with FCP X as it matures, and to build out some of the breadth of Motion itself. But at this price, and with this speed and flexibility, you'll be hard-pressed to find an argument not to find a space for it on your Dock—even if you choose to pass on FCP X.

**** Apple Needs Public Betas For Mac OS X <http://tidbits.com/article/12307?rss>
Adam C. Engst, TidBITS

Both 10.6.7 and 10.6.8 introduced entirely new problems that affected large numbers of people while resolving extremely specific bugs that likely affected only a small set of the user base.

Perhaps the entire Mac ecosystem has grown so large that it has exceeded Apple’s internal ability to test sufficiently against the myriad real-world configurations that have sprung from each and every Macintosh purchase.

**** The iMac And Instant Gratification <http://www.technightowl.com/2011/07/the-imac-and-instant-gratification/>
Gene Steinberg, Tech Night Owl

With the arrival of Thunderbolt peripherals, it may be possible for creative pros to buy a fully outfitted iMac, the necessary external gear, and be able to be quite as productive as most Mac Pro users. They will also pay a whole lot less money, which means that Apple may actually sell far more units to customers who ordinarily upgrade only when the old hardware is way past its prime.

**** 4 Ways This Mac Menubar App Is Worth The Price <http://mac360.com/index.php/mac360/comments/4-ways-this-mac-menubar-app-is-worth-the-price>
Alexis Kayhill, Mac360

MenuMeter is colorfully geeky with just the right amount of usefulness and the perfect price tag. Free. Enjoy.

**** Mini DisplayPort To HDMI Cables Face Recall Over Licensing Issues <http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/07/08/mini_displayport_to_hdmi_cables_face_recall_over_licensing_issues.html>
Blake Steven, AppleInsider

HDMI Org, the group that oversees HDMI specifications, has deemed Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cables outside of its standard and will not allow them to be sold.

**** Bringing Past, Present And Future Into Focus <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/nyregion/apps-bring-past-present-and-future-into-focus.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss>
Joshua Brustein, New York Times

WhatWasThere, a project that includes a Web site and a free iPhone app, allows people to post historical photographs, along with their location and date, and then browse what other people have posted on city maps.

**** Borders Shelves Store Feature In iOS E-reader App <http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-20078066-248/borders-shelves-store-feature-in-ios-e-reader-app/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20>
Josh Lowensohn, CNET

**** ÃœBermask 1.1 <http://www.macworld.com/article/160458/2011/07/ubermask.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Brendan Wilhide, Macworld

Ãœbermask allows users to hide files or folders from view by rendering them invisible to Finder, Spotlight and even popular add-on utilities like Quicksilver and Alfred. It does this by working continuously in the background. Files remain hidden even after Ãœbermask is closed because you must input your OS X administrator password each time you open Ãœbermask, thereby granting the program the ability to hide files continuously.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** Empathy <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jul/08/poem-empathy-rabindranath-tagore?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Rabindranath Tagore, The Guardian

**** The Writer As Detective <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/books/review/the-writer-as-detective.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss>
Roger Rosenblatt, New York Times

Writers get better at the craft once we learn to assume that the reader will do much of the work for us, filling in the blanks with their own experiences and lives.

**** Is A Dignified Death At Home Too Much To Ask? <http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/09/nell-dunn-partner-home-death?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Sabine Durrant, The Guardian

It is ordinary things that Nell Dunn misses. "There is a table and chairs in the garden where we would often eat our breakfast and lunch, but there doesn't seem any point in taking my food out there now." She no longer watches certain programmes on television: "Funny little things that we both had a laugh over." She misses being quiet, just thinking – "what a luxury, that" – in the same room as someone she loves.

**** A Life Of "E"s <http://www.thesmartset.com/article/article07081101.aspx>
Morgan Meis, The Smart Set

Letters, in general, are meant to make up words and words are meant to make up sentences and sentences are meant to convey meaning. Breaking sentences back down into individual words and words back down into individual letters has the opposite effect.

**** Book Review: 'Big Roads' By Earl Swift <http://www.latimes.com/features/books/la-ca-earl-swift-20110710,0,434620.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+features%2Fbooks+%28Los+Angeles+Times+-+Books%29>
Wendy Smith, Los Angeles Times

Veteran journalist Earl Swift's well-focused and lively history of American highways takes us from the Good Roads Movement of the 1890s to the interstate system as it exists today, facing maintenance issues and budgetary problems but nonetheless a remarkable achievement, "nearly forty-seven thousand miles long and at least four lanes wide."



SingaporeSurf
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**** Singapore Government Urged To Give Maids The Day Off <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/08/singapore-domestic-workers-rights>
Kate Hodal, The Guardian

But no legal right to a day off isn't the only problem for Singapore's 201,000 domestic workers, for whom there is, perhaps not surprisingly, no minimum wage either. It's the attitudes of their employers – and indeed the country at large – that stands in the way of progress.

**** Workers' Party Working Towards Becoming Government: Pritam <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110709-0000070/Workers-Party-working-towards-becoming-government--Pritam>
Leong Wee Keat, Today

The Workers' Party (WP) is working towards forming the government, its first-term Member of Parliament Pritam Singh said yesterday. 

However, he reiterated that the decision of which party forms the government "will be made by the people of Singapore".

**** True Sustainability – Taking Us Further Down The Track <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/07/true-sustainability-–-taking-us-further-down-the-track/>
Howard Lee, The Online Citizen

There are alternatives to the conventional train of thought, and there must be plenty of ex-rail developments around the world for us to learn from. But the one I choose to highlight here, I have seen for myself – the Puffing Billy railway. This heritage monument of Victoria, Australia turned an old railway into a charming self-sustaining, volunteer-run tourist attraction, with acres of parkland for the enjoyment of both locals and visitors.

**** Swing Voters Or Swing MP? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/07/swing-voters-or-swing-mp/>
The Online Citizen

**** Why Is The Pap Losing Credibility? <http://thesatayclub.net/2011/07/why-is-the-pap-losing-credibility/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-is-the-pap-losing-credibility>
Nigel Tan, The Satay Club

If the PAP wants to re-establish itself as a credible party, it has to revert to its meritocratic principles of yesteryear and truly become more inclusive instead of just claiming to be so. It has to draw its talent from a wider pool than just the NTUC, the civil service, the establishment law firms and the relatives and personal friends of former leaders.

 In addition, it has to demonstrate that it is willing to take accountability for its mistakes by making examples of its under-performing ministers.

**** Life And Debt : Predatory Lending In Singapore <http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2011/07/life-and-debt-predatory-lending-in.html>
Diary Of A Singapore Mind

Hundreds of listings offering fast and easy loans no different from the flyers the teenagers were distributing. I counted 10 full pages of such ads. I wonder if The New Paper checks every single one of them to ensure that they are legal. If not, shouldn't they be treated like the 80 teenagers who were arrested? Given its circulation and the number such ads it carries, The New Paper is helping to promote predatory lending which is extremely harmful to our society. 

**** Police: Investigations Done With 'Utmost Seriousness' <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_688835.html>
Kimberly Spykerman, Straits Times

The police treats the collection of evidence at crime scenes with 'utmost seriousness' but noted the Appeals Court's comments that more could have been done to gather objective evidence relating to a brutal murder-robbery in 2005.

It was responding to criticisms made by the Court of Appeal in a judgement delivered on Tuesday during the acquittal of Mr Ismil Kadar, who was cleared of murdering an elderly housewife.

**** No Takers Yet For Void-deck Office For MPs <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_688843.html>
Kor Kian Beng, Straits Times

**** End Of The Line <http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2011/7/9/lifefocus/9046565&sec=lifefocus>
Louisa Lim, The Star

Speaking to random people at a time, I discovered that nobody knew the fate of the teh tarik man or the famous nasi briyani stall once the curtains came down. All they knew was that there’s nothing quite as delicious anywhere else in Singapore.

**** An Epidemic Of Corpses <http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=insightdownsouth&file=/2011/7/9/columnists/insightdownsouth/9058810&sec=Insight%20Down%20South>
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star

Police investigators and pathologists – as well as sociologists – are working overtime to probe this epidemic of corpses. Most were believed to be murder or suicide victims.

Until a clear picture emerges, people are blaming it on the rapid intake of foreigners, as well as the presence of two casinos, or possibly both.

**** British Author Deported By Singapore <http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iqghSg0pT5kM0iz1tiZFNuxEsFxw?docId=CNG.429bb250b4d2b9e3487c0f4859752480.5b1>
Bernice Han, AFP

Alan Shadrake, 76, told AFP by mobile phone from Changi Airport before boarding a Singapore Airlines plane on Saturday that he was in good health and "very, very happy" to be free again.

Shadrake said he had no regrets for writing the book, which is now on its second edition, and expected family members to welcome him in London after his more than 13-hour flight.

**** Revisiting Profiteering From Public Housing <http://yawshinleong.blogspot.com/2011/07/revisiting-profiteering-from-public.html>
Yaw Shin Leong

At this juncture, I believe it is also timely for the government to re-visit the issue of HDB running a commercial arm (EM Services), a joint venture between the HDB and Keppel Land Limited, with the commercial interest of renting out HDB flats for profit.

**** It’s Really About Dignity <http://andrewlohhp.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/its-really-about-dignity/>
Andrew Loh

Singapore does not have a great tradition of respecting human rights, even basic ones. In fact, the very term itself has been derided by some, including government officials. But as Singapore progresses and becomes more involved in the global community, its behaviour, action and legislations will increasingly be scrutinised by the international community and indeed by its own people. And one of these has to do with the issue of human rights.

**** Candy Wrapper Resistance <http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/candy-wrapper-resistance/>
Au Waipang, Yawning Bread

We have created a monster of a migrant worker policy that is almost designed to exploit the vulnerable. One of the key features of that policy which renders all other better-intentioned aspects null and void is that of giving employers a blank cheque as to when to terminate and repatriate an employee. Employers then use this “veto power” to intimidate and silence the workers.

**** Old KTM Tracks To Become "Green Spine" <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1139888/1/.html>
Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia

Writing in his blog on Saturday, national development minister Khaw Boon Wan said he sees a "green opportunity" for urban development that will not compromise the development potential of the lands surrounding the track.

**** BERSIH 2.0 – Thoughts From An Outsider Across The Causeway <http://kirstenhan.me/2011/07/09/bersih-2-0-thoughts-from-an-outsider-across-the-causeway/>
Funny Little World

The Singaporean suspicion and wariness and fear of public assembly is stunning.

**** Bersih Supporters At Hong Lim Park <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1139906/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

Bersih 2.0 is a loose coalition of opposition political parties in Malaysia that is calling for free and fair elections.

Bersih supporters turned up at Hong Lim Park in yellow tops, yellow being the colour of Bersih.

**** Medisave Use For Patients Over 75 <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/07/medisave-use-for-patients-over-75/>
Gerald Giam, The Online Citizen

In my opinion, a 75-year old drawing down on his Medisave funds is in no way “depleting it prematurely”. Even if a 75-year old were to live until 85 and deplete all his Medisave funds, there are other sources of funding like family support or Medifund that can kick in.

**** What The Presidential Election Guidelines Really Mean? <http://thinkhappiness.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-presidential-election-guidelines.html>
Think Happiness

By releasing these guidelines, the prime minister appears to be indicating that he and no else will dictate how the next President is elected and, in doing so, he will do all he can as head of government to ensure that the next head of state maintains some distance from the very people that decide his fate at the polls.

**** Opposition Wards Show Improvement <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_688871.html>
Straits Times

**** Long Night Of Questioning For 80 Youth: Why The Overreaction? <http://rogerpoh.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/long-night-of-questioning-for-80-youth-why-the-overreaction/>
Spotlight On Singapore

**** WP's Pritam Singh Clarifies Coalition Suggestion <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_688919.html>
Tessa Wong, Straits Times

The Workers' Party (WP) has clarified that being part of a coalition government is not one of its aims, although it is 'prepared to work with other political parties in the interest of Singaporeans'.

**** Exposed: Opposition Party Aims To Form Government <http://newnation.sg/2011/07/exposed-opposition-party-aims-to-eventually-form-government/>
New Nation