[MyAppleMenu] May 25, 2012

[applesurf at myapplemenu.com]

MyAppleMenu
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**** Premiere Pro CS6's Aesthetic And Workflow Improvements Boost Editing Efficiency ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/1166855/premiere_pro_cs6s_aesthetic_and_workflow_improvements_boost_editing_efficiency.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Antony Bolante, Macworld


> CS6 extends the performance gains of CS5 to a wider range of users, particularly mobile editors with the proper laptop configuration. But what makes CS6 a worthy upgrade is its focus on enhancing its raison d’être: more fluent video editing.



**** Zengobi Curio Core 7.4.3 Holds Your Best Ideas ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/1166798/zengobi_curio_core_7_4_3_holds_your_best_ideas.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Nathan Alderman, Macworld


> At nearly $40, Curio Core is one of the more expensive organizer options in the Mac App Store. But it’s not the priciest; it offers a lot more features than many cheaper apps; and it presents them in a friendly, easy-to-learn package. If you want to get the best of your next massive project, consider Curio Core a great place to start.



**** Apple Introduces 'Editors' Choice' And Free 'App Of The Week' On The Mac App Store And iTunes ****
<http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/24/3042074/apple-editors-picks-free-app-of-the-week-itunes>
Scott Lowe, The Verge



**** More On Apple’s Removal Of Airfoil Speakers Touch From The App Store ****
<http://daringfireball.net/2012/05/more_on_airfoil_speakers_touch>
John Gruber, Daring Fireball


> Apple doesn’t provide APIs for apps to serve as AirPlay receivers. Rogue Amoeba backwards-engineered the protocol, and coded their own iOS AirPlay receiver implementation using (they claim, and I have no reason to doubt them) only public APIs. I think the bottom line is that Apple is saying that apps are not allowed to act as AirPlay receivers on iOS.



**** From PC To Mac: My Opinion, 10-Months Later ****
<http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/from-pc-to-mac-my-opinion-10-months-later/77581>
Stephen Chapman, ZDNet


> All-in-all, the venture was well-worth the price — but that’s taking largely into consideration the fact that I’ve recently gotten into iOS development. If you’re looking to “switch” completely, I think it would be worth the price, but again, there are many ways I use Windows that I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to on any other OS, so be sure to take that into consideration before you take the leap.



**** Apple Has Removed Airfoil Speakers Touch From The iOS App Store ****
<http://rogueamoeba.com/utm/2012/05/24/apple-has-removed-airfoil-speakers-touch-from-the-ios-app-store/>
Rogue Amoeba


> However, we still do not yet have a clear answer on why Apple has chosen to remove Airfoil Speakers Touch.



**** Tweetbot 2.4 Brings New Search View, Keyword Mute Filters, Refinements ****
<http://www.macstories.net/reviews/tweetbot-2-4-brings-new-search-view-keyword-mute-filters-refinements/>
Federico Viticci, MacStories



**** WriteUp 3.0 ****
<http://www.macstories.net/reviews/writeup-3-0/>
Federico Viticci, MacStories


> With strong sharing options, support for Versions (another feature most iOS text editors are lacking), images, custom CSS previews, and all the other features of version 2.0, WriteUp 3.0 has still some rough edges, but shows an incredibly promising, and possibly even more powerful text editing future.



**** Hands On With Facebook Camera For iPhone ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/1166959/hands_on_with_facebook_camera_for_iphone.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Lex Friedman, Macworld


> For Facebook devotees, Camera is probably the better app; it integrates more tightly with the service, and shares photos from all of your preexisting Facebook friends. But members of the Instagram community who prefer it there, with those filters and added options like tilt-shift, needn’t envy their Facebook Camera-using friends.



**** Justnotes Is An Elegant Notes App That Syncs Across Devices ****
<http://www.macworld.com/article/1166960/justnotes_is_an_elegant_notes_app_that_syncs_across_devices.html#lsrc.rss_main>
Dan Frakes, Macworld


> Justnotes’s interface is simple but effective, mirroring the elegant look of the Simplenote iOS app and website—if you’re already using Simplenote, Justnotes is a no-brainer purchase. But it’s also a very nice OS X notes app, and its sync options will make it especially appealing to those with iOS devices and multiple Macs.






MyAppleMenu Reader
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**** The Myth Of English As A Global Language ****
<http://www.the-tls.co.uk/tls/public/article1044656.ece>
Tom Shippey, The Times Literary Supplement


> nglish spelling is notoriously inconsistent, and some have gone further, calling it “the world’s most awesome mess” or “an insult to human intelligence” (both these from linguists, one American, one Austrian). Maybe this is just because our alphabet only has twenty-six letters to represent more than forty phonemes, or distinctive speech-sounds, and some of those – notably q and x – are not pulling their weight, while j is not allowed to (see “John” but also “George”). If we gave s and z a consistent value (“seazon”) and extended this to k and c (“klok” and “sertain”), we could free c up for other duties, such as maybe representing ch, as once it did. But then there are all the vowels . . . .



**** A Brief History Of Time Travel (In Movies) ****
<http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/05/a-brief-history-of-time-travel-in-movies/257638/?google_editors_picks=true>
Scott Meslow, The Atlantic


> Every time-traveling movie has, in its own way, had to overcome the mind-bending logic problems inherent in its premise. And each, too, has played on a universal, if vain, human desire to experience a world that's entirely unavailable to us—and perhaps to change things in our own.






SingaporeSurf
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**** Singapore Blogger Xiaxue Fights Back Against Facebook Abuse ****
<http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/international/singapore-blogger-xiaxue-fights-back-against-facebook-abuse/520093>
Grace Chua and Jessica Lim, Straits Times


> Men who this week called popular blogger Xiaxue a “stupid bimbo” and a “whore” online are getting a taste of their own medicine.



**** Xiaxue Taking Revenge On Facebook Bullies ****
<http://everythingalsocomplain.com/2012/05/25/xiaxue-taking-revenge-on-facebook-bullies/>
Everything Also Complain



**** What XiaXue Can Learn From A Comic ****
<http://newasiarepublic.com/?p=38822>
Chan Jia Hui, New Asia Republic


> Thus, an important consideration for those who want to step into the limelight, regardless of political alignment is the development of resistance to various form of negativities that those in the limelight usually suffer, or in short, develop a thick skin, or be thick-skinned.



**** Glass Panel Shatters On SMRT Train, No One Injured ****
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1203567/1/.html>
Olivia Siong, Channel NewsAsia


> A glass panel shattered on board a train on Friday. Train operator SMRT said no one was injured in the incident.



**** Hougang By-election: No Permits Issued For Assembly Centres On Saturday ****
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1203559/1/.html>
Channel NewsAsia


> Police have said there will be no gathering of supporters and members of the public at the two designated assembly centres on Saturday as no permits were issued.



**** Even Burma Is More Democratic Than Singapore Now	 ****
<http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/5254-even-burma-is-more-democratic-than-singapore-now>
Singaore Democratic Party


> Peaceful public gatherings are important because they are a means to hold governments accountable and for the people to express their unhappiness at policies. Without these avenues for public action, the people are helpless in challenging policies that work against their interest. 

> As it is, Singapore is becoming one of the very few countries left in the world that bans public gatherings. Even the Burmese now enjoy more freedom.



**** Vehicles Should Have Seatbelts, Airbags: Automobile Association ****
<http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_803096.html>
Straits Times


> The AA spokesman said: 'Whilst much has been done in the past, the recent series of incidents clearly mean that all road users need to put in much more efforts in terms of road safety. Today's vehicles are getting bigger, faster and more powerful. Therefore, there is an urgent need for us to harness on technology to improve the overall safety on the roads. We also have to ensure that the safety standards of cars allowed into Singapore meet international safety requirements.'



**** Plight Of A HDB Flat Buyer....... ****
<http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2012/05/plight-of-hdb-flat-buyer.html>
Diary Of A Singaporean Mind


> How can HDB penalize someone for something unintentional and out of his own control? The main reason for failing the HLE (re)assessment is the loss of employment, illness or personal misfortune. Imagine the pain caused by HDB penalizing these people - it is unjust and unfair. Yet it has gone on for years because the PAP minister in charge refuses to revise the rules in place.



**** Low Wages Test Loyalty To Singapore Ruling Party ****
<http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hi8p2RzpXaUri9MF5dcZOv6iu3zA?docId=130a7d53834c4abe8f17a27ccd9a4257>
Alex Kennedy, Associated Press


> Amid this opulence, income inequality is growing and working class Singaporeans are becoming restless with what they see as an unfair distribution of the nation's wealth, said Terence Lee, an assistant professor of political science at National University of Singapore.

> "The deal with the PAP has always been: Leave the politics to us, we'll take care of your bread-and-butter issues," Lee said. "But if the regular Joe isn't being taken care of, the government's popularity is in real jeopardy."

> Singapore has a per capita income similar to Denmark, Finland, and Sweden yet in those Scandinavian countries cleaners are paid on average up to seven times more than in Singapore, according to a study by Tommy Koh, a Singapore Ambassador-at-Large and special adviser to the Institute of Policy Studies, a think tank.



**** Why The Vote In Hougang Matters ****
<http://harishpillay.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/why-the-vote-in-hougang-matters/>
Harish Pillay, Life One Degree North, One-o-three Degrees East


> They can do all the tarring they want, but in continuing to do this, they are showing that they and their party – the PAP – is just as clueless and disengaged as they were going into the general elections last year. The PAP has nothing to go with to counter the strong ground sentiment against them that they have to bring up a totally irrelevant and meaningless issue to try to distract the electorate (see, even when we tax payers pay these “ministers” the millions, their behaviour does not change).



**** Singapore Leader's Reforms Face By-election Test ****
<http://www.mysinchew.com/node/73766>
Bhavan Jaipragas, AFP


> Voters in a Singaporean opposition fiefdom will vote Saturday in a by-election seen as a test of reforms launched by the ruling party, in power for 53 years, to address rising public discontent.

> Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong is now putting his reputation on the line in Hougang by campaigning all-out for his party's candidate, Desmond Choo, 34, who is fighting the Workers' Party's Png Eng Huat, 50.



**** What Is Real Courage? ****
<http://jentrifiedcitizen.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/what-is-real-courage/>
Jentrified Citizen


> Seriously, it takes no courage to vote for PAP as it is the safe road, the route to material comforts of upgrading and the way to keep Singapore in the exact same mould shaped by the same autocratic party.



**** Hougang’s Political Demography ****
<http://mysingaporenews.blogspot.com/2012/05/hougangs-political-demography.html>
Chua Chin Leng, My Singapore News



**** Chinese Authorities Release Banker Held Since March ****
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577425130866914106.html>
James T. Areddy, Wall Street Journal


> Wu Yidian Eden was released on Thursday after being held by police in China's eastern Jiangsu province where she was questioned over the disappearance of a man who had been her client, said Jason David Tan, her fiancé. Mr. Tan said that conditions of the Singapore national's release require her to remain in China for one year and not speak with the media.



**** Forget Turning The Other Cheek. They Pull A Knife, You Pull A Gun. That's The Xiaxue Way. ****
<http://journalism.sg/2012/05/25/forget-turning-the-other-cheek-they-pull-a-knife-you-pull-a-gun-thats-the-xiaxue-way/>
Cherian George, Journalism.sg


> The wimp that I am, I would probably still opt for the less gangster-ish approach to online attacks. But perhaps there is a place for Xiaxue's blazing-guns response in parts of cyberspace where civility cuts no ice. Reading her blog filled me with the same guilty, vicarious pleasure that I get out of a good Mafia movie.



**** Committee Of Inquiry Hearing Into December SMRT Disruptions Ends ****
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1203481/1/.html>
Olivia Siong, Channel NewsAsia



**** My Uncle The Capitalist Marxist? ****
<http://www.publichouse.sg/categories/topstory/item/614-my-uncle-the-capitalist-marxist>
Tang Li, Publichouse.sg



**** Police Report No. A/20120523/2006 ****
<http://happyangelclub.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/police-report-no-a201205232006-2/>
**快乐天使**Happy Angel**


> I was told by him that someone had given this information and he was instructed to write this by that person. I asked him about why he did not clarify first before publishing and he told me that it was too late to verify as the information came in too late and he was sorry about this. I tried to ask him more about who gave this information and he refused to tell me about it initially until I prompted him further and he told me that someone within the Grassroot had instructed him to write about this so that they can show to the public that both the People’s Action Party and Workers Party are able to work with each other in harmony and state my event as a Workers Party join organized event.



**** Hougang By-Election: PAP’s Scorched Earth ****
<http://chemgen.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/hougang-by-election-paps-scorched-earth/>
Chemical Generation Singaore



**** Indonesia To Set New Bank Stake Limit ****
<http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/5/25/business/11356831&sec=business>
Reuters


> Indonesia's central bank is set to limit the maximum stake a single shareholder can take in the country's banks to below 50%, a move that could scupper Singapore-based DBS Group's US$7.3bil bid for Bank Danamon.



**** This Is Unfair ****
<http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2012/05/this-is-unfair.html>
Singapore Notes


> This by-election has brought out the worst in those professing integrity, pointing fingers at others, they forget to look at themselves in the mirror.



**** A Reply To Xiaxue: Re Emphasis Of The PAP High Handedness? ****
<http://unbrandedbreadnbutter.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/a-reply-to-xiaxue-re-emphasis-of-the-pap-high-handedness/>
Unbranded Bread N Butter


> As Xiaxue goes on to slam her detractors (that is fine) and bring out their family photos, I began to think to myself, is this the style of PAP high-handedness? Not only do they like to lord over at the ballot box and cast aspersions on opposition candidates, they like to destroy one’s entire universe while they are at it. If you don’t vote for them after they have dangled the carrot, they will put you at the very last of national upgrading programmes!!

> So there is no right or wrong in what Xiaxue has done, no matter how distasteful bringing out other people’s family photos is; it’s just the rules of this game we play online. But what she has lost is a chance to show benevolence and has instead re-emphasis PAP high-handedness (through her actions as a supporter) during this crucial time of by-election when they are trying to win over votes of pro-WP Hougang voters.



**** PAP Deploys Singapore’s ‘Auntie Killer’ ****
<http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/ba6d5e1a-a54f-11e1-b421-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1veLmG4Cg>
Jeremy Grant, Financial Times


> High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support at ft.com to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ba6d5e1a-a54f-11e1-b421-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1vqu3LEyJ

> Such appeals to reason – a feature of the PAP’s governing style for decades – come as there is a nagging feeling that the PAP is not getting the credit it deserves for the reforms of the past year.

> Cherian George, a political expert at Nanyang Technical University in Singapore, says: “There’s no doubt that the ruling party took the results [of last year’s election] very seriously and has responded on a number of fronts, both in terms of adjusting unpopular policies as well as moderating its traditionally top-down style of communication.

> “On the other hand, the result of the election may have convinced more fence-sitters that there is a tide towards a stronger opposition that they too should be part of. That is what makes Hougang so intriguing.”



**** Follow The Money ... To Singapore ****
<http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/24/investing/singapore_alphavn_pham/>
Peter Pham, CNNMoney



**** Ferrari Crash Foments Antiforeigner Feelings In Singapore ****
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304707604577423880540657976.html?mod=googlenews_wsj>
Shibani Mahtani, Wall Street Journal


> Terence Chong, a researcher from the Singapore-based Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, said at a conference on immigration hosted by the IPS that the government label of wealthy foreigners as "foreign talent" has had the effect of making Singaporeans feel inadequate and lacking requisite skills to flourish in their own country.

> Mr. Chong said that in the view of some Singaporeans, new citizens and permanent residents "are here to reap the benefits without any obligations,"



**** Why Eduardo Saverin Has Company In Singapore ****
<http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-24/why-eduardo-saverin-has-company-in-singapore>
Ayesha and Parag Khanna, BusinessWeek


> To live in the future, you have to move to it. Singapore is not just a city-state; it is perhaps the world’s leading “info-state.” In the 20th century we spoke of garrison states and even market states, but in this age where geotechnology is the key driver of geoeconomics and geopolitics, it is the info-state that will have the upper hand. Info-states harness in knowledge and technology what they lack in size or military muscle. They thrive by providing not just security, but also connectedness to rapidly advancing markets and technologies.



**** Family Of OFW Who Died In Fall In Singapore Cries Murder ****
<http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/199899/family-of-ofw-who-died-in-fall-in-singapore-cries-murder>
Philippine Daily



**** Want More Babies? Value, Protect Free Time ****
<http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC120525-0000049/Want-more-babies>
James Tsu, Today


> Once Singaporeans start to feel that their personal time with their loved ones is protected and valued, they will feel free - eager, even - to bring more children into this secure and happy state of affairs.



**** Khaw Points To PAP Government's Track Record ****
<http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_802937.html>
Rachel Chang and Goh Chin Lian, Straits Times


> National development minister Khaw Boon Wan spoke up for the People's Action Party (PAP) Government's track record on Thursday night, saying it 'has done not too bad a job in running this country'.



**** Low Sets Out WP's Impact In Parliament ****
<http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_802942.html>
Leonard Lim, Straits Times


> Waving the WP manifesto in his right hand, he listed three policy changes the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has implemented that corresponded to items in the document.



**** Call For Switch By PAP Voters ****
<http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_802946.html>
Andrea Ong, Straits Times


> Residents who had voted for the People's Action Party (PAP) had missed out on upgrading and other benefits too, they pointed out.

> Their calls came as speaker after speaker took the PAP to task for its pledge to be 'inclusive', and accused the ruling party of casting Hougang aside.



**** Let Public Ambulances Use Private Hospitals ****
<http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_802915.html>
Khong Kiong Seng, Straits Times


> I am dismayed that the MOH and SCDF did not take the effort to check the private hospital's competence in handling emergency cases before crafting their joint reply.

> They appear to be relying on a standard operating procedure for ambulances that has been in place for years, without realising that things have changed.

Previous: <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_802297.html"> Raffles Hospital Well-equipped To Handle Multiple Trauma Cases Round The Clock</a> (Prem Kumar Nair, Raffles Hospital)


**** Will Hougang Make The PAP Moan The Inflation Blues, Not Joke Abt It? ****
<http://atans1.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/will-hougang-make-the-pap-moan-the-inflation-blues-not-joke-abt-it/>
Thoughts Of A Cynical Investor



**** Permanent Residents Contribute In Other Ways ****
<http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC120525-0000044/Permanent-residents-contribute-in-other-ways>
Cherie Ball, Today


> Why should a second-generation PR, who holds citizenship in another country, be required to serve NS to "give back" to Singapore, when they typically belong to a family of PRs who already contribute significantly to the country's economy?

Long-term-wise, I believe compulsory national service will not survive in Singapore.


**** WP Leaders Defend Png's Character ****
<http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120525-0000075/WP-leaders-defend-Pngs-character>
Tan Weizhen, Today


> "In the Workers' Party, there are many good men and women, so there's no need to say who is the best. What is important is this: Png Eng Huat is a better man for Hougang than Desmond Choo."



**** “Always Here For You” – The Right Campaign Slogan For A Pap Candidate? ****
<http://rachelzeng.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/always-here-for-you-the-right-campaign-slogan-for-a-pap-candidate/>
Rachel Zeng's Blog


> Ironically, PAP has not always been there for Hougang SMC or any of the opposition wards in the past. 



**** Tearful Desmond Choo Tells Hougang Voters: I Will Stand Up For You ****
<http://sg.news.yahoo.com/i-will-stand-up-for-you--desmond-choo-tells-hougang-voters-tearfully.html>
Lin Wenjian And Deborah Choo, Yahoo!


> Urging voters to give him the mandate to serve them, Choo pledged, "I will defend your interests and make sure that the government hears you. I will speak up to get the government to take action. I will stand up for you. This is my promise to Hougang."



**** The Hougang By-election Is Not Just Png Versus Choo, It About The National Agenda As Well ****
<http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=7640>
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net


> Voters need to use every single opportunity to send clear message to the PAP that the status quo cannot remain, and that urgent change is needed.



**** Before Hougang Cools Off: The Voters’ Dilemma ****
<http://newasiarepublic.com/?p=38742>
New Asia Republic



**** Who Wins Matters ****
<http://politicalwritings.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/who-wins-matters/>
Political Writings


> A loss for the WP would be a huge blow to WP, and by implication, could weaken all other non-PAP parties.



**** Fix The Opposition 101 ****
<http://singaporedesk.blogspot.com/2012/05/fix-opposition-101.html>
Singapore Notes


> But did it deter the supporters from joining the rally? See for yourself.