[MyAppleMenu] Jul 8, 2012

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Apple Is The Heavyweight In Many Fund Portfolios ****
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/business/mutfund/apple-is-the-heavyweight-in-many-mutual-fund-portfolios.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Norm Alster, New York Times


> Many mutual fund managers can attribute most of their recent success to large positions in Apple. But is a large current stake a ticket to further outsized gains? Or is it an increasingly risky bet that could quickly sour?






The Tomorrow Weblog
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**** Tech Companies Leave Phone Calls Behind ****
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/07/technology/tech-companies-leave-phone-calls-behind.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all>
Amy O’leary, New York Times


> Voice calls have been falling out of fashion with teenagers and people in their 20s for some time (text only, please). But what is a matter of preference for the young is becoming a matter of policy for technology companies; phones cost money, phones do not scale. Besides, why call when you can use Google, or send a Twitter message?






MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** My Stephen King Problem: A Snob’s Notes ****
<http://lareviewofbooks.org/article.php?type=&id=737&fulltext=1&media=>
Dwight Allen, Los Angeles Review Of Books


> So, why didn’t I read King’s fiction? Was I simply an elitist, anti-populist literary snob who felt he would be soiled by reading stuff that sold? I do have some snob in me — it’s my sense that a lot of the books read by practically nobody are often good, whereas a lot of the books read by millions are often crap — but the term doesn’t fully describe my resistance to King’s fiction.



**** My Fabulous Boring Book Collection ****
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/books/review/bruce-handys-collection-of-boring-books.html?partner=rss&emc=rss>
Bruce Handy, New York Times


> I collect boring books, which probably even sounds boring. I assure you it’s not.



**** The Audition ****
<http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/2012/06/boston-symphony-orchestra-audition/print/>
Jennie Dorris, Boston Magazine


> Mike Tetreault has spent an entire year preparing obsessively for this moment. He's put in 20-hour workdays, practiced endlessly, and shut down his personal  life. Now the percussionist has 10 minutes to impress a Boston Symphony Orchestra selection committee. A single mistake and it's over.  A flawless performance and he could join one of the world's most renowned orchestras.






SingaporeSurf
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**** Comments On The Singapore Army's Camouflage Uniform ****
<http://kementah.blogspot.sg/2012/07/comments-on-singapore-armys-camouflage.html>
David Boey, Senang Diri


> Singaporean journalists writing about the matter should have been savvy enough to recognise that it centres more on the blend of colours chosen for the ACU, which is principally grey, than the effectiveness of using pixel patterns to help an individual blend in with surrounding terrain. Learn to tell what the fuss is all about before jumping onto the bandwagon.



**** Reading Between The Lines Of MOE's Sex Ed Revision ****
<http://www.publichouse.sg/categories/topstory/item/672-reading-between-the-lines-of-moes-sex-ed-revision>
Lisa Li, Publichouse.sg


> But what I appreciate about this whole matter is what I read between the lines - that MOE recognises not all of their teachers adhere to, or even believe in this supposed "mainstream", abstinence-based, "wholesome values" message that sets itself in opposition to "non-mainstream views on sex".

> In fact, MOE has set a very realistic target of identifying "at least 10" teachers per school who are aligned with their "mainstream values". So for the other non-sex-ed teachers (in some schools, they may even be in the majority), it is good that they will be freed from the burden of having to preach something they are not comfortable with - or perhaps don't even believe in.



**** Why On|Offline’s Discussion Of Xenophobia Is Pointless ****
<http://newasiarepublic.com/?p=39639>
New Asia Republic



**** Town Council Confused About Cleaners’ Pay? ****
<http://leongszehian.com/?p=1680>
Leong Sze Hian



**** Hidden Human Rights ****
<http://berthahenson.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/hidden-human-rights/>
Bertha Harian



**** Why I Prefer The London Tube To MRT ****
<http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/07/why-i-prefer-the-london-tube-to-mrt/>
Luke Lu, The Online Citizen


> Maybe it is in us Singaporeans to be less spontaneous and less helpful. Perhaps it isn’t in our culture to speak up. It could be an SMRT policy for drivers not to deal directly with passengers. Whatever new SOPs or procedures conjured up by the recent Committee of Inquiry, these can never be a substitute for the human touch when taking the train.



**** Singapore: Property Rights Paradise ****
<http://wallstreetpit.com/93544-singapore-property-rights-paradise>
Scott Sumner, Wall Street Pit


> Why should the government have any say in determining property rights rules in this area?  Why not let each condo developer specify the percentage of owners who need to agree to a buyout?



**** 选后一年谈检讨与准备 ****
<http://www.zaobao.com.sg/yl/yl120708_001.shtml>
陈迎竹, 联合早报


> è¡ŒåŠ¨å…šå†…çš„æ£€è®¨è‹¥ä¸èƒ½è§¦åŠè¿™ä¸€æ”¿å…šæœ¬è´¨ä¸Žæ”¿å…šç²¾ç¥žçš„æ ¸å¿ƒé—®é¢˜ï¼Œè€Œåªè¯•å›¾ä»Žè®¨å¥½å’Œå–æ‚¦é€‰æ°‘çš„æŠ€æœ¯è§’åº¦å‡ºå‘ï¼Œä¹Ÿè®¸å°±æ— æ³•å¯¹ç—‡ä¸‹è¯ï¼Œå»¶ç»­æ‰§æ”¿ã€‚



**** New Media Calling MSM Black ****
<http://atans1.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/new-media-calling-msm-black/>
Thoughts Of A Cynical Investor


> (Or “Let’s give one cheer to Dr Ng”)