Fugly Croc-a-what!

When it comes to fashion I'm not one of these people who could be remotely described as a dedicated follower of the latest trend. Technical gadgets well now that's a different story, but not the subject of this little rant. I mean lets face it there are some fashion trends that are just down right absurd. Take those colorful plastic clog-like shoes as an example. They have got to be one of the ugliest things you could possibly wear.


There's nothing about them that's nice. They're lumpy clog-like and just simply hideous. You've got to question the IQ factor of anyone who owns a pair. They are almost anti-fashion they're so bad. I still find myself pointing and laughing when I see people wear them, although these days I tend not to laugh too loud after all one must be sympathetic to the mentally challenged.

But seriously, why would anyone wear them, apart from being ugly they make your feet look huge. OK, nothing wrong with big feet as long as you're a guy and everything is in proportion (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). Of course they've made their inventor a million which is cool, but seriously can we get them out of the shops now as the trend is over and flogged to death already.

In the meantime, a couple of asprin and a pair of sunglasses wouldn't go amiss!

Minsters Pay Rise Piss Off Singaporeans

The salary of the prime minister of Singapore is more than three times that of U.S. President George Bush and about four times that of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. But that is not enough. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong may soon be getting a hefty pay rise as part of a controversial ministerial salary hike that has infuriated many Singaporeans.



Lee, who is estimated to earn about S$2 million (US$1.32 million) per year, said last month that the salaries of Singapore ministers, top public officials and judges have fallen way below benchmark private sector salaries and may need to be doubled. "It is critical for us to keep these salaries competitive, so as to be able to bring in a continuing flow of able and successful people," Lee said in a speech in March. Lee said that Singapore ministers, who currently earn about S$1.2 million (US$800,000) a year, should be earning S$2.2 million (US$1.45 million). Details of the new ministerial salaries will be announced in parliament on April 9.

Since 1994, the salaries of Singapore ministers have been set at two-thirds the median pay of the 48 best-paid bankers, lawyers, accountants, engineers, and executives in multi-nationals and manufacturing firms. But the latest salary hike, which comes at a time when income disparity in Singapore is wider than ever, has sparked an outpour of unusually blunt criticism from Singaporeans. What irks Singapore's opposition parties is that the million-dollar salaries are only accessible to members of Lee's ruling People's Action Party (how strange I hear you mumble)

Lee Kuan Yew -- modern Singapore's first prime minister, who is still the leading voice in his son's cabinet (read into that what you will) stated that it is "absurd" for Singaporeans to quarrel about ministerial pay and warning that Singapore would suffer if the government could not pay competitive salaries. "Your security will be at risk and our women will become maids in other people's countries," he said.

I wonder if that ranks as the most stupid thing he has ever said?

Amazed by Technology

In a continuation from a previous post title "an apple a day" and after settling in and playing around with my MacBook with much enthusiasm, I decided to take my entertainment setup to a new level and "Macify" (a word I've just added to the English Dictionary) my home.


So I rushed over to my local technology center and purchased an Airport Extreme Wireless router together with an Apple TV. After a few false starts I managed to get everything working together and it worked like a charm.

A little while later as I was sat there watching an episode of Heroes (great show by the way) on my Plasma TV that was being streamed from my MacBooks hard disk through the Airport Extreme Router by the Apple TV it suddenly struck me how amazing technology has become. I mean it really is amazing when you step back and think about it. And not only amazing but accessible.

Not only can you use the Apple TV to watch movies or music that you have on your hard disk, but through itunes you can even watch previews of all the latest movies without leaving your home. I for one thought that was totally cool, and I haven't even mentioned the photo album options.

Of course now I intend to totally rip my DVD's and get back some cupboard space, a little project that's going to take me a couple of years I hasten to add. well that's what I get for living in the dark ages collecting DVD's!.