DOOMS Day SPECIAL =p

Dooms Day 2012

21 12 2012

Here we come!

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If you're thinking that this is another Singapore Government initiative e.g GOAL 2010 - World Cup here we come!... sorry to disappoint you with cheese.. because it's not.

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Recently, there has been much hype throughout the internet community about the End of the World, known also as DOOMSDAY, THE END OF DAYS, APOCALYPSE, and other religious connotations such as RAPTURE and ARMAGEDDON etc..

Increasingly, it has become more mainstream.. making appearances in mainstream media such as Radio and Television. I was listening to the radio that day (in Melbourne) on Mix 101 and I heard the DJ remarking about how his daughter raves on and on about how the world will end in 2012, more specifically 21st Dec, 2012 (21.12.12)

Abstract from Wikipedia:

2012 is sometimes claimed to be a great year of spiritual transformation (or apocalypse). Many esoteric sources interpret the completion of the thirteenth B'ak'tun cycle in the Long Count of the Maya calendar (which occurs on December 21 by the most widely held correlation) to mean there will be a major change in world order.

Accordingly, several eclectic authors claim that a major, world-changing event will take place in 2012:..
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I first heard about it from my buddy Nigel, who became the modern equivalent of prophet Jeremiah amongst us. Intrigued, I asked him for the links to the video he watched.. Apparently, it was rather compelling and made in such a documentary-like style that it is almost... *gasp* believable! (a little bit of skepticism here.. hehe..)
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For those who still DON'T know what I'm talking about.. please watch the 2 Videos below.. it's a 40 min 'Documentary'! Best enjoyed with popcorn and a pinch of light heartedness.
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The End of Days Part 1:



The End of Days Part 2:



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OMG!! You actually clicked the link and WATCHED the entire video??!?!? NoOoOOoooOoo... Scream together now with me, "Give me the 40 min of my life back (excluding the time wasted on streaming)!!! "

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My Take on this video:

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Ok, now that we have got it and done with the video.. My take on it is..

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The video definitely sent a chill down my mortal spine. Although I wholly agree with the show's skeptic, Dr ..... , watching the video somehow makes me feel uneasy. With the impending Oil Peak and Global Warming... I suspect that the 'End of Days' would be a slow, gradual (probably painful) process rather than a sudden Wham!-Bam!-You're All Dead! kinda thing..

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Firstly, the video reminds us of the fragile nature of human life... take home message is.. once in a while, it pays to comtemplate your own mortality. Whenever you are feeling stressed, low or pathetic.. just imagine.. your own death. If you would just die tomorrow, would the thing bothering you now (e.g. brooding over something stupid you did, or having to work particularly hard just to meet a deadline) be worth it beating youself up over instead of seeking true happiness?

For my buddhist readers and friends, I recommend the book titled: Buddhism for Busy People by David Michie

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Also.. as an Optometrist. Predictions and prophecies made by a bunch of old hermits seems rather lacking in scientific basis. I'm very sure that in the 'I-Ching', the prediction of the fall of Rome was not seen as an International World wide crisis at that point of time.. I mean.. one man's defeat is another's victory eh? I'm also quite certain that in the 'high' points of human history (spikes in the graph) as predicted by I-Ching, certain disasters or calamities must have occured as well in the same time frame.

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The Energy Crisis and Global Warming

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Yes.. this is the REAL problem we face. For those who have not watched the Movie: An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore.. it's about time you did! Our world IS facing serious problems now.. as in RIGHT NOW.. today.. we could possibly be the second last- last generation of humans (chey.. just saying that to intrigue you, hope it did haha) around if we do not act now.

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Peak Oil Theory and the Last Oil Shock

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People who know me well, know that I've been going on for some time now about Peak oil and the energy crisis. It ALL started when I chanced upon theis book titled: The Last Oil Shock: The imminent extinction of Petroleum Man . My life has changed ever since then. It's very easy to read and explains in layman terms the consequences of oil shortage, how it would indirectly lead to famine and why 'Alternative Fuels like biofuels or hydrogen' just DO NOT MAKE THE cut. Coupled with films by AL Gore and the world wide SOS movement.. and the rather recent initiative by the Singapore Government to the building of Dykes in Singapore and establishment of the Climate Change Strategy, I understand that my concerns have been caught up in the mainstream too. Very proud of what the Singapore Government is doing, to take the necessary steps to ensure a sustainable future for us.

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Enough said.. In summary, I feel that we should invest our resources and strength into seeking ways to tackle the real life problems that we face, instead of the so called impending End-of-Days (which cant be helped.. right? =p)

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Hehe... cant wait for the Doomsday 2012 movie to arrive..

The LensMen and the Eye Site

The Lens Men and THE EYESITE

ANNUAL ROCK N' ROLL

DINNER and DANCE '08

It has been a great 3 months for me this summer break! WHY? You may ask.. well... Because I totally abstained from studying. However, bumming and living off my parents seemed completely unethical and makes me look like the freeloader I already am.. so.. I decided to WORK. Yes.. WWWorkkkk...*sniff sniff*..

Working with ' The Lens Men and the EyeSite'

Working with the Lens Men has been an EYE-opening experience. Although my stay there was a short one.. I enjoyed every single day of it. I believe that, it was possible because of the family-like working environment, which encourages openess and staff cohesion.

I learnt A LOT from the optometrists.. Roger and Allain , and the Opticians too, namely Andrew, Andy and Collin, whom I worked closely with in The Eye Site. The shops were pretty well- equipped, with Binocular Vision Testing/Colour Vision Testing equipment and Hand held contact tonometers (without need for any form of anaesthesia) on top of the usual slit lamp/K. We optoms generally got lots of freedom and space to perform clinical examinations here.. safe to say.. this place is an optom's wonderland!

In Roger's and Andy's combined WORDS of WISDOM (loosely translated from Mandarin and Hokkien):
"We generally spend more time in our lives working than with our families.
When we get home, our family have gone to sleep.
When we wake up, they've either gone to work or to school.
We spend more time with the people in our shop than with our kin,
that's why we're family."
... and that is why, we work together and we play together.. The way I see it.. a family that works together.. STAYS together!

I got to see quite a number of different cases and in general gained more confidence as an optometrist.. (hey.. got 'shirt' (Andy Voice) one hor..).

Apart from being able to develop myself professionally..

http://www.thelensmen.com/promotions/viewfull.asp?c=184796

I also learnt.. *gasp* Retail Optometry. Retail Optometry is currently not offered as a full credit subject in our syllabus. However, I managed to learn some of it through The Eye Site Institute.

'Retail Optometry' is about finding the right product to satisfy the most basic or minimum need(s) of the patient, followed by informing them of better options, add-ons and healthier or more comfortable alternatives; and in the process educating the patient on the latest developments in the profession.

Most of which I picked up from the experienced Opticians whom I have worked with. Cool huh..

Work aside, we also had FUN!

Click the link below or here for more photos.

http://www.thelensmen.com/promotions/viewfull.asp?c=185074

I'd like to thank the LensMen and The Eye Site in particular for the wonderful experience we shared during this short period. Thanks for being so willing to teach and guide me.. and coming to my rescue especially when it comes to spectacle adjustments and Progressives!!!

Special Thanks:

I'd also like to thank OOB member, Mr Peter Koh and Dion Koh - for obvious reasons, Desiree - for allowing me to participate in so many eye screenings for the less fortunate and other charitable events (my Karma definitely benefitted immensely from this); Kenny, Priscilla and Meng Sin for their $upport; and Jass - for showing me exactly what a 'Purchasing Manager' does and always entertaining me with the troubles she faces in Maple Story.

Once again, a BIG THANK YOU (especially those I missed out.. cant list everyone ok?) and good bye to everyone .. TILL WE MEET AGAIN!

(which i believe would be soon.. not so easy to get rid of me ok! hehe.. )
Disclaimer (Dear Desiree Corner): The opinions expressed herein, are the writer's own. They do not present as fact and is purely for the entertainment of the writer and a productive means to combat boredom in Australia... topped with lots of cheese.

Andy's Corner:

ANDY TAN - English translation dictionary 1.0 (under construction)

1. 'shirt' - cert ; certificate e.g. Eh, I got 'shirt' one hor

(please submit more 'definitions' so that I can edit this space soon!)

Farewell Dinner 17-190208

Farewell Dinner 17-190208

As usual, I love to go out with a BURP rather than a BANG. So we headed down to Purvis st.

DINNER #1 @ YET CON

Yet Con Chicken Rice & Rest

25 Purvis St

11am to 9.30pm

63376819

It's REALLY HARD to find steamboat restaurants like these in Melbourne.. As an ardent Steamboat and Mala Huo Huo fan.. this is definitely a treat for me!!! The food is great and goes really well with the chicken rice. I especially loved the pork chop! To know more about Yet Con, check it out on Leslie Tay's food blog (ieatishootipost.com).

Dinner #2 @ Sushi Kikuzawa

International Building #02-13

360 Orchard Road (S)238869
Opening Hours:
Lunch: 12noon - 3pm

Dinner: 6pm - 10pm
Telephone: 67383833

This hidden treasure of a sushi bar serves really great sushi. One of the very best I've tried. It's tucked right under our very noses in International building, beside Shaw Centre (LIDO @ Orchard lah).

For only $50 per head.. trust me.. its WORTH the money! You get to enjoy delicacies like.. Sea Urchin, Fugu, unlimited Sashimi, Salmon roe sushi, blow-torched squid and other delights!

It's simply cosy little bar.. servng premium grade sushi @ affordable prices (once in a while.. lah)

See, we're so happy!

Left to Right: Ron, Jonathan, Marc, Me n Xiaoping

Below, you see Xiaoping's delighted expression as she chomps down the lovely sea urchin sushi.

So nice and cosy, you can relax at the corner table whereby they provide free japanese manga (comics) for you to browse at your leisure.
They're always busy so be sure to make reservations!
We went there on a weekday and they were full.

Look how delicious this sashimi is!!
Oops sorry folks.. cant remember what I ate.. but the one on the right is blow-torched Ika Sushi.

Me n my maki

This DA' BOMB dude:

The harmless looking pic below shows Fugu Fish Sushi (Puffer fish).

The fact that this is on my blog shows that I ate.. and survived Fugu. Yay..

This shows Shirauo Sushi (Silver Fish Sushi)

Xiaoping finally happy masticating her Unagi Sushi.

Ack.. Katsuo (Bonito Fish) Sushi didnt go well with me.

Yay! We survived the whole course!!

Next up, the Singapore-Japan Hour Show: (feat. Marc Lim)

We truly enjoyed our time here!

Here's a glimpse of their menu.

We asked for their ' Full Course'.. Xiaoping gave up halfway through.. I barely did..

Never too full for Konyaku Jelly though!!

Pineapple, Lychee, Grape and Strawberry



I can stuff the shole jelly into my mouth at once!
I can stuff the bowl in too!
All in all, we had a Swell Time! (as in.. swollen). Yummy!