[MyAppleMenu] Mar 7, 2011

applesurf at myapplemenu.com applesurf at myapplemenu.com
Mon Mar 7 18:59:01 EST 2011

MyAppleMenu
====================================

**** Apple iPads Invade Airline Passengers And Pilots <http://www.sandiego.com/news/apple-ipads-invade-airline-passengers-and-pilots>
Tony Cooper, San Diego News

Two of the biggest challenges for any air traveler are staying comfortable and keeping occupied, especially during lengthy flights. One airline has come up with a unique solution to this issue, going well beyond the usual in-flight entertainment fare of bad movies and inane magazines.

**** Instacast Is The Best Way To Keep Up With Your Podcasts On Your iPhone <http://appadvice.com/appnn/2011/03/quickadvice-instacast/>
Christine Chan, AppAdvice

**** Chrono Is The iPad App That Could Transform Your Doctor’s Office <http://singularityhub.com/2011/03/04/chrono-is-the-ipad-app-that-could-transform-your-doctors-office-video/>
Aaron Saenz, Singularity Hub

If iPad’s are going to be the doctor’s tool of the future, they’re going to need a killer App that will enable the device to do everything they need it to do: schedule appointments, take notes, get lab results, bill insurance companies, file prescriptions, etc. Dr. Chrono can do all of that and more – it just might be the App your doctor is waiting for.

**** iPad May Be Magical. Apps Aren’t. Here’s Why. <http://gigaom.com/2011/03/05/ipad-may-be-magical-apps-arent-heres-why/>
Om Malik, GigaOM

However, if iPad, the device, is more magical, the applications (apps) for the device are anything but. For nearly a year, I’ve been waiting (and waiting) for experiences befitting the device and its hardware capabilities.

**** iPad 2 And iOS 4.3 Javascript Benchmarks Show Big Performance Gains <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/03/07/ipad-2-and-ios-4-3-javascript-benchmarks-show-big-performance-ga/>
Chris Ward, TUAW

Some of the first speed tests coming in show that hardware and software improvements in the iPad 2 are giving it decent performance gains over its predecessor -- and over rival devices.

**** Terminally Geeky: Use Automatic Login More Securely <http://www.tuaw.com/2011/03/07/terminally-geeky-use-automatic-login-more-securely/>
TJ Luoma, TUAW

What if you could have the security of the login screen with the convenience of automatic login?

**** Ten Tips For Mastering The iPad <http://www.macworld.com/article/158382/2011/03/ipad_power_user_tips.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Lex Friedman, Macworld



The Tomorrow Weblog
====================================

**** Turning Augmented Reality Into An Open Standard <http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/35065/?ref=rss&a=f>
Christopher Mims, Technology Review

A research team at Georgia Tech hopes to make augmented reality (AR) on smart phones more useful by developing an open standard for it.



MyAppleMenu Reader
====================================

**** "Pym": Negroes On Ice <http://www.salon.com/books/laura_miller/2011/03/06/pym/index.html>
Laura Miller, Salon

"Pym," by Mat Johnson is a blisteringly funny satire of contemporary American racial attitudes -- which is quite an accomplishment when you consider that most of the novel is set in the wilds of Antarctica.

**** Zooming Out: How Writers Create Our Visual Grammar <http://www.themillions.com/2011/03/zooming-out-how-writers-create-our-visual-grammar.html>
Rob Goodman, The Millions

We can consider the influence of the writer’s “camera” by looking at one of the most dramatic edits available: zooming out. What can a writer accomplish by playing tricks with distance and scale, sometimes pulling away from the action, leaving the characters neglected in place as the viewpoint pulls back to take in the landscape, or even the whole planet? We’ve all seen dramatic zooms used for effect—but what exactly is the effect, and have writers helped shaped it? I want to start to answer those questions by examining three important—and moving—instances of literary zooming out. I don’t claim that these three authors are responsible cinematic zooming out, but I do think they helped create a lasting set of conventions that give it its power and its emotional meanings. Zooming out relies for that power on the tension between human smallness and human dignity—on the possibility that putting us in cold, “God’s-eye-view” perspective can, against expectations, make us more important.



SingaporeSurf
====================================

**** 副总理张志贤：选举严肃的事 不仅是分地盘 <http://realtime.zaobao.com.sg/2011/03/110306_38.shtml>
联合早报

副总理张志贤强调，反对党需要明白大选是一件很严肃和重要的事，关乎到新加坡的未来，和选区居民的未来，而不是一个分地盘大会。

张志贤说：“我希望反对党能将选举当作是一件严肃的事，这不是一个分地盘大会，而是要真心诚意地想代表人民，要为人民的利益而努力，所以我希望它们（反对党）认真对待。”

**** NCMP Scheme Is A Bait For The Opposition <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=6019>
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net

Opposition parties must understand the value of long term thinking. But refusing the NCMP carrot now and going all out to gun down a GRC, the opposition parties stand to gain much more in the long run. This is because the first one of two parties that gun down a GRC will automatically gain eminence and will find it much easier to entrench themselves in Parliament henceforth.

**** SPP To Fight PAP 'One-to-one' In Potong Pasir SMC <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110307-0000127/SPP-to-fight-PAP-one-to-one-in-Potong-Pasir-SMC>
Cheow Xin Yi, Today

Fears of Potong Pasir emerging as a three-cornered electoral battleground have now been put to rest with the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) agreeing to step away from the fray.

Mrs Chiam expressed relief at the resolution. She said: "We are relieved we can concentrate and fight one-to-one (with the People's Action Party)."

**** NSP 'Not Worried' About 3-cornered Battle In Whampoa <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110307-0000149/NSP-not-worried-about-3-cornered-battle-in-Whampoa>
Ong Dai Lin And S Ramesh, Today

A possible three-cornered fight in the newly-formed Whampoa Single-Member Constituency (SMC) does not worry National Solidarity Party (NSP) candidate Ken Sun, who intends to contest there at the next General Election (GE).

**** Deep Fissures Behind Opposition Bravado <http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110307-0000163/Deep-fissures-behind-Opposition-bravado>
Eugene K B Tan, Today

At a time when the parties should be resolutely covering the ground in the areas they are contesting, they are still undecided as to who would carry the flag for the non-PAP camp in 11 out of 27 electoral wards. Any seat with more than one Opposition contestant is a sure recipe for splitting the non-PAP vote bank and, subsequently, defeat. Yet, some parties seem to be holding out for as long as they can for the turf they are eyeing.

This stalemate does not inspire confidence. Notwithstanding the assertions that progress has been made, the horse-trading, bilateral deals and further bargaining all suggest the Opposition parties will probably not be fielding the best possible candidate or team in every SMC or GRC seat.

**** Baby Bonus 'Lottery' Not An Option <http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110307-0000170/Baby-bonus-lottery-not-an-option>
Melvin Chiam, Today

We have to provide an environment that allows people to pursue their career and have a family at the same time, then perhaps they will think of having more babies.

**** Singaporeans Shouldn't Be Disadvantaged <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_642123.html>
Teoh Charn Hong, Straits Times

I feel that our policy of attracting "foreign talent" needs to be properly managed. There must be an avenue for recourse if Singaporeans are unfairly disadvantaged.

**** Yes, There Are Job Enclaves <http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_642126.html>
Rohim Kalil, Straits Times

The government should consider introducing a quota for foreign nationals in companies based in Singapore.

**** Government & Social Media <http://sgsocialmedia.blogspot.com/2011/02/government-social-media.html>
Robin Low, Singapore Social Media Training

Even when more ministers are getting on social media, I still feel that they don't get it.

**** Twists And Turns As Sensational Case Shatters Singapore Calm <http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/world/article/twists-and-turns-as-sensational-case-shatters-singapore-calm/>
Renga Subbiah, The Malaysian Insider

What tops this sensational story is the revelations of the intractable behaviour of a member of the Brunei royal family. Then there is the charge that a prominent Singapore surgeon overcharged her royal patient when the doctor billed the palace S$24.8 million (RM59.3 million) for breast cancer treatment between January and July 2007 just before the Bruneian died.

If that is not enough, there are dark accusations of conflict of interest and abuse of power involving a government official wearing multiple hats of instigator, accuser and raider.

**** 全岛一选区 <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/yl/yl110307_001.shtml>
吴俊刚, 联合早报

个人觉得，一个组屋邻里被划分到哪个选区，不管怎么说其可能产生的作用都不可能比影响民生的课题来得大。

**** Opposition Parties Show Their Hand In Hot Seats <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_642297.html>
Zakir Hussain, Straits Times

Opposition parties stepped up their walkabouts in single-seat constituencies across the island on Sunday, a day after they failed to reach full agreement on who should stand where to avoid three-way fights.

Having agreed to resolve the problem bilaterally, the parties hope their intensified efforts will give them an edge in pressing their claims to contest the eight newly created single seats.

**** Sengkang Hospital Not An Election Sweetener: Khaw <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_642296.html>
Chong Zi Liang, Straits Times

The decision to build a new general hospital in Sengkang is not an election-motivated move, but one based on needs, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said on Sunday.

**** Women In Single-seat Contests: DPM Teo <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_642294.html>
Grace Chua, Straits Times

Deputy prime minister Teo Chee Hean on Sunday did not rule out the PAP fielding women in single-seat constituencies, pointing out that the party had done so in the past.

But in the past 20 years, the PAP has not fielded a woman in a single seat.

**** Healthcare Subsidies: Reply Without Answers? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/03/healthcare-subsidies-reply-without-answers/>
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen

Perhaps we should spend more on healthcare, instead of allowing Class C hospital average bills to almost double in the last four years, and having more drugs and treatments as non-subsidised.

**** 选前报道 林瑞生将“回归”丹戎巴葛？ <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp110307_003.shtml>
何惜薇, 联合早报

**** 大选临近效应 议员接见选民“生意红火” <http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp110307_001.shtml>
顾功垒, 联合早报

先是与民分享的财政预算案出台，接着是选区划分检讨报告出炉，大选越来越近的迹象显著，过去两三周接见选民的“生意”也大增，找议员求助的个案明显增加，有的选区的增幅近乎达100％。

**** Singapore's Ruling Party Gears Up For Election Campaign <http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/news/article_1624072.php/Singapore-s-ruling-party-gears-up-for-election-campaign>
DPA

Singapore's ruling party is pulling out the stops ahead of general elections expected before June amid criticism from the opposition of tactical manoeuvring for votes.

Observers and opponents pointed to the opportune timing of the ballot, a recent generous budget and a redrawing of the electoral map as part of the government's efforts to win over the electorate.

**** Can Opposition Parties Bring Reform Without Winning Majority Of Seats? <http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/03/05/can-opposition-parties-bring-reform-without-winning-majority-of-seats/>
Kelvin Tan, The Temasek Review

**** The Daftness Of Complacent Duds Who Love Peanuts <http://thinkingbetterthinkingmeta.blogspot.com/2011/03/daftness-of-complacent-duds-who-love.html>
Sam's Thoughts

Well, the next time we are confronted with a word or statement that has the potential to be frequently used to satirise-to-death the establishment, we should enjoy with moderation our moment with the satire and "move on" (very Wong Kan Seng-ish, by the way) and either keep our ears peeled for alternative discourses or start one ourselves.

**** The Electorate – Getting More Daft Over The Years? <http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/03/the-electorate-getting-more-daft-over-the-years/>
The Online Citizen

**** A Fake Fake World <http://javertworld.blogspot.com/2011/03/fake-fake-world.html>
Javert's World

Gosh I swore I never seen the Ministers or MPs work so hard in the pass 4 years. So its like you skived in your company for 11 months and suddenly power up in the month before your appraisal is due by going into overdrive and hopefully your boss will notice your “Hard work”.

**** Delay In Release Of Yale-NUS College Budget <http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_642476.html>
Irene Tham, Straits Times

It was supposed to have been ready between last December and January this year, but the delay appears to have been caused by the bond which international students on financial aid from the Singapore government are required to serve.

**** Time For A Comprehensive Election Debate? <http://guanyinmiao.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/time-for-a-comprehensive-election-debate/>
Guanyinmiao's Musings

**** MM Lee Says He Stands Corrected On Comment About Muslims And Integration <http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1114929/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia

He said the comment on Muslims integrating with other communities was made probably two or three years ago.

Since then, he said Ministers and MPs - both Malay and non-Malay - have told him that Singapore Malays have indeed made special efforts to integrate with the other communities, especially since 9/11, and that his call was out of date.

**** Job Enclaves A Slap In The Face For TAFEP <http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=6251>
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net

Is it any wonder then that TAFEP has been allowed to claim that there is no discrimination against Singaporeans, despite mounting anecdotal evidence to the contrary?

The government has repeatedly urged Singaporeans not to be xenophobic towards foreigners and to welcome them with open arms. But some foreign employers have not returned this goodwill.




More information about the applesurf-list mailing list