[MyAppleMenu] Jul 30, 2011

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Bugs & Fixes: More Lion Application Incompatibilities <http://www.macworld.com/article/161413/2011/07/more_lion_incompat.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Ted Landau, Macworld

**** Alfred 0.9.1 <http://jonbeebe.net/alfred-091>
jonBeebe.net

Alfred has simplified my computing by handling the simple, mundane tasks that would often become the source of unnecessary friction, and ultimately disrupt my workflow. Like a good butler, Alfred has enabled me to be more productive, and focus on doing the things that really matter—instead of all the little chores in between.

**** Migrate Time Machine Backup To New Mac In Lion <http://www.macworld.com/article/161421/2011/07/migrate_time_machine_backup_to_new_mac_in_lion.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Dan Moren, Macworld

Now Mac users can theoretically maintain a continuous set of backups across multiple computers' lifetimes, which does a lot towards making sure that your old data never gets lost.

**** Lab Tests: Build-to-order Core I7 MacBook Airs <http://www.macworld.com/article/161424/2011/07/bto_macbook_air_2011.html#lsrc.rss_main>
James Galbraith, Macworld

**** The Desktop Transition <http://www.randsinrepose.com/archives/2011/07/29/the_desktop_transition.html>
Rands In Repose

The issue with Dashboard is that it’s stuff shoved into a layer that my brain sees as transitional and temporary. Yes, Dashboard widgets were designed to provide lightweight and at-a-glance information. No one is suggesting you’d use a widget to build something useful… in fact, no one builds anything in a widget because when you fire up Dashboard your brain isn’t thinking “What are we about to learn or build?” It’s thinking, “Where are we going now?”

**** Lionized MacBook Pro: A Clear Loss Of Value <http://fairerplatform.com/2011/07/lionized-macbook-pro-a-clear-loss-of-value/>
FairerPlatform

If that weren’t enough, the insult to injury is the fact that 2011 MacBook Pro models are not compatible, apparently lacking some crucial piece of the hardware puzzle, with Apple’s Internet Recovery feature, which allows OS X Lion reinstallation via the internet.



MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** David By Mary Hoffman – Review <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jul/29/david-mary-hoffman-review?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
Linda Buckley-Archer, The Guardian

It is a brilliant premise for a novel. A few pages into the pacy and vivid narrative I found myself wondering why on earth someone had not had, or at any rate used, this idea before. Hoffman explains that she "set out to discover what a young man, looking as David looks, might experience if he entered Florence in 1501". 

**** Black Box <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jul/29/saturday-poem-black-box-john-mcauliffe?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theguardian%2Fbooks%2Frss+%28Books%29>
John McAuliffe, The Guardian

**** Sex, Lies And Data Mining <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/books/review/a-billion-wicked-thoughts-by-ogi-ogas-and-sai-gaddam-book-review.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Wesley Yang, New York Times

The concentrated essence of this curious book is contained in its 11th chapter, which attempts to explain what the “Mona Lisa” has in common with Chicken McNuggets, vampire novels and the concluding scene of most pornographic videos.

**** Book Clubs <http://www.slate.com/id/2300215/?from=rss>
Nathan Heller, Slate

Why do we love them so much? Is it the zucchini bread?

**** The Jargon Of The Novel, Computed <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/books/review/the-mechanic-muse-the-jargon-of-the-novel-computed.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all>
Ben Zimmer, New York Times

When we see a character in contemporary fiction “bolt upright” or “draw a breath,” we join in this silent game, picking up the subtle cues that telegraph a literary style. The game works best when the writer’s idiomatic English does not scream “This is a novel!” but instead provides a kind of comfortable linguistic furniture to settle into as we read a novel or short story.



SingaporeSurf
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**** CNA Propaganda On PAP’s Three ‘Good’ Men <http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/07/28/cna-propaganda-on-paps-three-good-men/>
The Temasek Review

**** Lee Kuan Yew Flatters Mahathir With Mimicry <http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/lee-kuan-yew-flatters-mahathir-with-mimicry/>
Au Waipang, Yawning Bread

The more he continues to resurrect such language of crisis, the more he will hurt the PAP and Lee Hsien Loong. The already thin credibility that the present government has on the subject of reform will be shouted away by the older Lee. The hardliners within the present cabinet will be emboldened to resist reform. As it is, one can identify very few genuinely open-minded ministers; Lee Hsien Loong himself is too indecisive to provide real leadership. Lee Kuan Yew’s old-testament-style admonitions will likely wreck what little movement there might be towards a different PAP.

**** Statement By Patrick Tan <http://www.scribd.com/doc/61212482/Patrick-Tan>
Patrick Tan

**** IRs Here Have Not Created More Gambling Addicts: CRA <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110730-0000078/IRs-here-have-not-created-more-gambling-addicts--CRA>
Ng Jing Yng, Today

The presence of the Integrated Resorts (IRs) here has not caused a spike in the number of gambling addicts, said Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) chairman Richard Magnus yesterday, citing a study done by the Institute of Mental Health. What the IRs did, though, was provide "just another avenue for gambling", said Mr Magnus.

**** Rules Can Be Set For New Transport Operators, Too <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110730-0000057/Rules-can-be-set-for-new-transport-operators,-too>
Young Pak Nang, Today

What is there to stop the government from imposing similar service requirements on new transport operators to prevent the "cherry-picking" that he views as unfair and unacceptable?

**** Formula Almost Guarantees Fare Increases <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_696199.html>
Leong Sze Hian, Straits Times

As to the PTC's rebuttal that I should have, in fairness, used nominal wage data instead of real wage data in comparing the transport fare hike and inflation rates against wage growth, my view is that the debate and analysis on fares should not be confined to the way the formula has been formulated.


>From the perspective of ordinary Singaporeans, should fares go up when their real wages are down?


**** CPF: Leave At 55 At Your Own Peril? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/07/cpf-leave-at-55-at-your-own-peril/>
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen

This is not the first time that CPF policies have been changed without anyone knowing about it – no announcement in Parliament or the media.

**** MINDEF: Dr Patrick Tan’s Posting Done ‘According To Vocational Guidelines’ <http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/07/30/mindef-dr-patrick-tans-posting-done-according-to-vocational-guidelines/>
The Temasek Review

MINDEF added that while in NS, Dr Patrick Tan received an NSman’s salary and fulfilled all requirements of NS, such as the Individual Physical Proficiency Test. It did not explain why Dr Patrick Tan was not sent to serve as a combat medical officer (MO) despite being combat-fit.

It also told the state media that prior to 1992, there were 86 NSFs who were disrupted for overseas medical studies, but did not reveal the duration of their disruption. Some netizens have pointed out that it is unusual for a NSF to be disrupted for 13 long years.

**** Back To School For ‘Kiasu’ Parents <http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=insightdownsouth&file=/2011/7/30/columnists/insightdownsouth/9203259&sec=Insight%20Down%20South>
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star

Even as the practice spreads, the concept of parent volunteers is under attack for promoting elitism in Singapore society and widening the gap between the rich and the poor. The broad complaint is, however, that it is helping to put the top primary schools further out of reach of poorer families, at least during registration.

At the same time it smacks of corruption; instead of paying money for a school place, parents are paying in service, said a social studies student. “The scheme works in favour of the well-heeled parents who have the time and qualifications to do it,” she said.

**** Work Begins On Eco-Link at BKE <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1143970/1/.html>
Wayne Chan, Channel NewsAsia

Work began on Saturday on Southeast Asia's first ecological corridor, Eco-Link at BKE, to connect Singapore's two biggest nature reserves across the expressway.

**** Cherry Picking Not An Issue <http://mathialee.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/cherry-picking-not-an-issue/>
Mathia Lee ~ Plans And Preoccupations

Having multiple private transport providers is such a win-win situation for everybody, I can’t imagine why we shouldn’t implement it. The only people who will be negatively impacted by such a move are perhaps the shareholders of the existing major transport companies. One would naturally wonder if the decision-makers are allowed to hold shares in these transport companies (I’d think/hope not!) , or whether the decision-makers are good friends with any major shareholders.

**** Phonies Running For President <http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2011/07/phonies-running-for-president.html>
Singapore Notes

The cowardly deletion, plus phony affirmation of "genuine, honest and respectful debate", is significant. It is concrete evidence that cronyism is rampant in certain quarters.

**** Dr Tony Tan’s Son Issues Statement Which Contradicts His Own CV <http://singstatistician.blogspot.com/2011/07/dr-tony-tans-son-issues-statement-which.html>
Thoughts Of A Singapore Statistician

Why Dr Patrick Tan chose to write his statement to give the impression that a Bachelor of Arts is a "pre-medical" degree?

**** TRE’s Open Letter To Dr Tony Tan, Dr Patrick Tan And MINDEF <http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/07/30/tres-open-letter-to-dr-tony-tan-dr-patrick-tan-and-mindef/>
The Temasek Review