“The grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Yet, we still need to mow the grass to keep it nice and neat.”

Letters

The once in a blue moon event about to take place soon. ‘Good Planning Is Halfway to Success’. With 3 full moon away, everything can be put forth and getting in time. In spite of these, I was left with 2 sunsets to get it done. It was an instruction from above by the one whom keeping the trolls away.

I raised my concerns over this matters yet I was thrown back with a consequences of it. What happened when there were no show? That response were pretty bad? Hence does it means we did not do our jobs? There will be more yet to come. I was being told.

Sediakan payung sebelum hujan

To prepare for the worse, I need to wrap things first before the tee went off.

Tee Off

It is the matter of who so fucktup only.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Thoughts, Rants and Musings Errands, Invitations

After Andy left the optical stores, I have no other place to turn to. In between getting a designer label frames and a good lens, I procrastinate. Mainly it was due to lack of funding and secondly, I still can survive with the current spectacles I am wearing.

Carl Zeiss (from http://rojaks.blogspot.com)

As time goes by, the coating wears off and eventually it was a pain to drive at night. The glare caused irritations on my right eyes. Finally after 3 years or so, I decided to source for a new place to get my glasses done. In between recommendation, I went to the few optical stores. It is kind of weird in Malaysia that most of the optical stores doesn’t have an optometrist to get the readings.

After I get my prescriptions from a few, I settled down with one I am comfortable with. Instead of looking at the frames, the first thing I was looking at were the lens. Compared to my knowledge many years back, the were huge range of different branded spectacle lenses. Not just Hoya. There are also Essilor, AO, Norville, Nikon, Pentax, Rodenstock, Sola and Zeiss and much more. I was told that Hoya no longer having the most market share. Which I used to be told of every time I asked my friend, Tony what lens should I look out for.

Nikon Lite SEECOAT

Wingz got his new prescription glasses earlier this year with Zeis. He added that it comes along with 1 year warranty. Proof of warranty? The warranty card. Even my Nikon SeeCoat comes with a warranty card. Guess it means nothing because according to the few sites I visited, it was said that the lifespan of a glasses is between 12-18 months. Trying to source about the warranty and how it applies, I realized that the Nikon prescription lens in Malaysia are under Essilor Malaysia. This blog author highly recommended Essilor lens 2 years back.

Essilor has many brands for various needs. For example:

* Airwear which provides light, thin and high impact-resistance lenses
* Transitions which provides photochromic lenses (clear indoors and at night but darken outdoors)
* Varilux which provides progressive lenses (I still don’t need it yet :p)
* Crizal, a type of coating innovated by Essilor, which provides no-glare, scratch-resistance and dirt-resistance properties. Crizal is generally available on Airwear, Transitions and Varilux lenses.

Personally, I have satisfying experiences with Airwear and Transitions lenses. As mentioned, these lenses are applied with Crizal coating too.

Essilor Airwear

Essilor AirwearWhen I was wearing Nike Flexon rimless prescription frame, I needed a pair of lenses which must be lightweight, thin and durable. Airwear meets all the requirements, and at the same time the polycarbonate material provides impressive impact-resistance properties.

I was given a piece of Essilor Airwear lens, and a piece of brand X polycarbonate lens, together with a hammer (yes, it was a real hammer). With just an easy smash, the brand X polycarbonate lens was broken. However, to my surprise, I couldn’t break the Airwear lens at all, yes, not at all. After a few smashes, there were scratches on the Airwear lens, but it didn’t break!

Because of the Crizal coating, Airwear lenses are very easy to clean too. Even with smudges, the smooth lens surface makes it extremely easy for cleaning. After years, the lens surface is still as smooth as it was.

Essilor Transitions

Essilor TransitionsThe disadvantage of wearing prescription frame is that those cool sunglasses are always practically unreachable by me, unless I wear contact lenses. Besides, I don’t like the design of prescription frame with clip-on sunglasses too.

So, the best choice for me is a pair of prescription lenses which is transparent in indoors or at night, and darkens its tint when exposed to UV. And yes, I’m also a happy user of the Transitions photochromic lenses.

These are the advantages of Transitions that have won my loyalty for 2 pairs of Transitions:

* very sensitive, and fast in reacting to even a small change in sunlight condition
* doesn’t turn yellowish over time; still remains as true clear transparent at indoor even after 2 years of usage

Sensitivity to light is a very important evaluation factor for photochromic lenses. I’ve seen friends paying the same price (comparing to Transitions) for other brands of photochromic lenses, and yet not as sensitive to UV density.

So now, regardless of the lighting situation, I don’t even need to bother about it, as the variable tint of my Transitions works very well. I no longer strain my eyes when posing for outdoor photos too!

I’ve introduced Transitions to 3 friends (including blogger Jason Lioh), and all are very satisfied with it.

I guess what’s different back then and today is most of the expensive lens comes with warranty. Even Carl Zeiss have their own websites to keep track of the prescribed lens they made here. Anyone with the warranty card can register here. I told Wingz and he kind of boastful about it.

I found one website which is very useful to get more understanding about the lens available in the market. In the end I find it too technical and they don’t have complete lens inside. I can’t even find Zeis Clarity 1.6 AS Lotutec. Guess there are too much types of lens available in the market.

Once decided the lens, it is time to choose the frame. I opt for the cheap frames. To me, I find it about the same. There’s not much different between a designer label frame with the good one without designer label. It just a name stick on the frame. That’s all. The optician recommended me a frame similar to the Tag Heuer Reflex. He said that the frames came from Korea and have the same features what Tag Heuer is having. I tried both and it is almost identical, which is very hard to differentiate. The good thing about the Korea-made was it cost only 40% of what the price tag shown on Tag Heuer.

I save the frame for the next time. Opt for something conventional.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Thoughts, Rants and Musings, When Everything Fails Essilor, Hoya, Nikon See Coat, Prescription Eyewear, Zeiss

Another month has gone. We are approaching the final month for the first quarter of 2010. Time flies. Looking back at February, it was totally like a holiday season with the Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day and few holiday in between (Federal Holiday and Awal Muharam)

Coming into the month of March, what lies ahead are far beyond my imagination. Aware that there were few things stored from wedding dinners to holiday and stuff, it is not easy.

Popularity: 39% [?]

Thoughts, Rants and Musings Worries

It’s the 4th day of the Chinese New Year. I started working already. There’s nothing much to do at work so I decided to spend some time putting my thinking cap on. In the past few days, I heard few of my relatives were spending their CNY behind bars.

This reminds me the old times when I was young. Back then my uncle was into the credit cards fraud case and he was actually part of the syndicate. He got caught and ended up serving his terms in the Rawang Prison. At that time I remembered on the 2nd or 3rd day of the Chinese New Year, my parents and I went to the pay him a visit. We were living in tough times. My parents don’t have a car. So we have to opt for the public transport.

We took 2 buses to reach to Rawang Prison. My mom bought two boxes of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and my uncle ended up with 2 pieces of chicken. Don’t ask me where did the pieces of chicken went. Either it lost somewhere in transit or something fishy happened. I’m sure judging from what I wrote, you have already guessed that there are something going on in between.

I spoke to my uncle. He was wearing a worn out white shirt with red collar. That’s how I remember the prison clothes look like. He told me that he can took 3 scoop of water for bath. One to wet himself, soap himself and the remaining 2 scoops are to wash away the soap.

Soon, that were out of the pictures as he left the country after serving his terms.

Just this year itself, two of my relatives were ended up in prison. Both also totally in different case and situation. One happens to assisted the drug dealers to paint the car. Illegally? I am not sure. I just heard from the relatives saying that my cousin was ended up in the cell two days before Chinese New Year. His parents ended up to bail him out. The rest of it… I don’t know.

Yesterday at my uncle’s place, another aunt came by and were chit chatting. I overheard that another nephew of mine were ended up in cell too. This time is because he were selling China made goods. Not sure whether the goods were illegal or his boss did not declare customs? Nonetheless, he just got out yesterday noon.

Celebrating the Chinese New Year behind the bars wasn’t something nice. By the way, this just makes me think… is one person personality are genetically inherited? The nature for committing crimes, schizophrenia or stuff like that. Maybe I should work out a family tree. Should be rather interesting to see if I have any of the hereditary traits or personality.

Popularity: 14% [?]

Thoughts, Rants and Musings Chinese New Year, Law, Prison

Indeed said a materialistic world is a realistic world. Sad to say. Not many people have faith in recent times. I guess that time have changed that everyone become selfish themselves. Who would be bother to take up this altruism anymore?

It wasn’t long when I encounter few of it. Be it part of relationship, courtship or anything. How to put it in a context that is easy to digest? By telling stories it would seems the best way.

A friend of mine once told me that if he can’t get a trophy wife, he rather get a rich… and he meant super rich wife to compensate his dream. Well he said that if the wife is not rich, at least she is good looking then he won’t be this upset. While at it, another friend of mine ended up with one of the wealthy man’s daughter. He had only one child – the daughter. My friend make it to be part of the family and now, he seems to be on throne. Had all the money to spare.

Not quite a distance, my mom told me of a cousin. This cousin of mine married a girl whom she is also the only child. The wife had only single parent – the mother. When his mother-in-law passed away, he by default inherited a large sum of wealth. Basically in this case is the properties the mother-in-law owned.

Just yesterday when I was at my uncle’s place. The relatives was talking about the cousin’s new girlfriend whom happened to be wealthy. She got the money through the divorce’s support fee. These relatives of mine were suggesting to him to aim for her money. Secondly, she still had some figure to boot. So it was like win-win for him.

To put my case strong, my aunt once told her niece that to consider that doctor for the reason being the doctor loves her. Even the age gap were like 10 years apart, she still thinks that the man will be able to support her living and will have a better lifestyles.

When someone mother said that to qualify a candidate for the husband and boyfriend is through the man’s family wealth, I personally dismay at the thought of it. I do agree that having certain wealth is indeed important but these wealth can be accumulate over time. Given alone that both couple can work together to have their own savings.

Nonetheless, if tomorrow a girl come up to me and tells me to marry her. I would also look at her background. If she is the only child? Rich?

So, how about you? Let say that you are 23 this year. A man in his 36 propose to you with a 8k diamond ring (which doesn’t even look like 8k), would you consider marrying the guy? (Note: you just gone out on a date with him for 2 months)

Popularity: 25% [?]

Thoughts, Rants and Musings love, Marriage, relationship, Wealth

Finally, I finished the ‘Tipping Point‘ by Malcolm Gladwell. It was pretty tough reading in fact. Too much information cluttered all together. Trying to bind the story altogether. I had enough of the factual reading at this moment. In fact, I am still pursuing the ‘Leadership’ by Rudolph Giuliani on my spare time. Which I feel like reading. Usually a couple of pages and that’s it. The feeling of reading it similar to reading the book by Jack Welsh’s Winning.

Hence, I starting to flip something light. Something interesting at least to put all those no-nonsense book away first. It’s like eating too much of meat, you ended up scare of it.

Let me learn the art of cheating

The Art of Cheating

Popularity: 9% [?]

Movies, Films, Musics and Books, Thoughts, Rants and Musings book, reading

Not sure whether is it just coincidence or rather it was an planned day by “the might one” up there. Some higher power or in this case I shall call him “God”.

Yes, the Chinese New Year celebration was on the same day with Valentine’s Day. Weirdest part was my friend, Hun Chong did not asked me what to get for Valentine’s. He did not even asked me to list down 3 items what to get for his girlfriend. So, usually I would retort by tell him the list as follows:-

1. Chocolate
2. Flowers
3. Diamond ring

which later he will tell me. Budget at RM300. Narrow down. Sometimes, it got into my nerves because as if I were his slave. Or why would I help him to list down a few? That was because I am rather a good guy. Now, when it comes to me, what should I be getting for Valentine’s Day?

Well, in the first place what was the Valentine’s Day about? It was suppose to mean to celebrate the love between the intimate companions. Like boyfriend/girlfriend kind of relationship. But according to Wikipedia, it is said that “it is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards”.

From what I understand, flowers, chocolate and greeting card will be sufficient. No need expensive candle light dinners or luncheons or whatever. Those are gimmicks from the restaurateurs to scam your money. Anyway, most of the places will be shutting down for Chinese New Year in exception for a few. Fast food will be around. Not sure about those blood sucking fine dining. Ehmm…

Still, with Valentine’s just couple of hours away.. what about the White Day?

Well, for those who are celebrating the Valentine’s Day:-

Have a Lovely Valentine’s Day and to profess your deepest love to your loved ones.

Popularity: 22% [?]

Thoughts, Rants and Musings Festive, Valentine's Day, White Day, White Valentine

Last night I reached home around 10ish. Decided to take a shower before proceed with anything else. The idea of settling down since I been out the whole day. It was a warm night despite it has rained earlier. By the time I am done with shower, the clock showed 11.13pm.

Slightly lazy I thought of having a rest on my bed before wake up to take some pictures of the Samsung Omnia II. With my back on the bed, I was playing my iPhone. Twittering. But the activities was slow. I got drowsy and decided to take a power nap.

The flourescent lamp brightly lighted my room. The sound of water from the tap in my bathroom were audiable. I left it running to fill up the tub. Afraid that I might overslept, I set the alarm to go off at 11.43pm.

Soon I was somewhere in dreamland. I don’t know what I was doing. Somehow it was the annual dinner that my gang and I often attend. It was an yearly event. Then we were all inside the restaurant while waiting for those late comers.

We were waiting for “Crazy Panther”. A nickname given to him due to his idiocrasy and things he did last time.

Somehow it turn out to be another friend whom wasn’t part of the gang. What surprising was that he wasn’t alone and he was holding another person hand. She was from the gang. She was one of the guy girlfriend and now she with him? I got shocked and I sense the atmosphere were tense. So tensed that it sent a shiver to me. So real that emotion I got up straight, awaken.

I felt warm. It was the Chinese New Year heat. So hot. I look at the time and it was 4.23am. I couldn’t sleep and it was freaking hot. My phone alarm went cuckoo. No wonder I couldn’t get awake. So I took a quick shower before continue taking the photos of the phone.

Samsung Omnia II

Popularity: 6% [?]

Thoughts, Rants and Musings dream, weird

Whether it’s ’sao-kong’ dinner or ‘hoi-kong’ dinner, I would be the first one to get the guys and girls altogether. Without fail every year, we meet up despite the hectic work in our lives.

I enjoyed the company of my coursemates and good to hear how they have been doing. Some will be continue telling how is their work. How was the things going and stuff. It was pleasant. It was fun. All the antics and stuff.

So as for 2010, after 6 years we going our own way I sincerely hope that everyone is doing well in their life. Bless them with prosperity and health. Good fortune come along their way.

Like the roaring tiger in the jungle, let every one of you be as of the tiger in your own field. Blend in well, with the stripes. And be the master of your jungle.

In other words,

Gong Xi Fa Cai

and

Have a Prosperous

&

Good Year of Tiger Ahead

Popularity: 9% [?]

Thoughts, Rants and Musings Chinese New Year, Festive

Why that dog seems to be so important in everyone life? I asked a friend whom just gave away the dog, “Momo”. Whether feeling sad or not, one thing I learn about the dog is they know no boundaries. They will just love you for who you are.

Stand by you by your side. Faithful, loyal and a great companion.

Simply said, there’s the point of view from a 6 year old about a dog’s purpose.

A Dog's Purpose

Fascinating doesn’t it?

Shouldn’t we start acting like a dog ( I don’t mean bastard ) and like loving everybody all the time and be nice?

Popularity: 12% [?]

Thoughts, Rants and Musings Dog, life, Purpose