Written by lainie at 12:01 AM on January 2, 2006 in Family, Daily Life.

Mmm. What'd I do for New Year's eve? Nothing.

And trust me, I like it that way, mostly. If I can't do something quiet, I very much doubt you can drag me to KLCC to watch the free fireworks because of this equation:


Headache = ( public holidays + national celebrations + fireworks + free entertainment )
x ( assholes out in droves + molestors out for a free feel)
x ( alcohol + drugs) x half of Malaysia at KLCC

So yes. Most New Years, I'd prefer to have something quiet with friends, a dinner maybe, some wine, bit of cam whoring, chit chat. Of course, arse that I am, I have mostly party-party giddyup friends, so I chose to stay at home with my aunt and uncle instead.

I asked Rach today how it went, and as suspected.....they went for the free rave in KLCC and there were a lot of pricks there. Some sleazy guys whipping out their camera phones and videoing my friends, taking their pictures. Also, because Rach is the only one who looks totally Chinese (and she's actually Chindian) because the group is mostly white / mixed, there were the predictable guys making fun of them in Malay - which is stupid because ALL the girls in the group are local.

Too many people, too many assholes. Also, it was a free RAVE and they spotted pregnant women, and children there. Jesus, just cause it's free? And trance music. And oh yeah, Celcom, you have such a TOTALLY RADICALLY COOL IMAGE for making people fill out forms before attending your event. Forms. FORMS.

Right, I'm about to have a totally rocking party time, somebody, give me a pen. *Eyeroll*. Good luck shedding the corporate image, it's gonna take more than the new logo.

======

Owen's Welsh, his language sounds like sing-song elves. But anyhow, I'm well impressed - he ordered his siew ngap fan, said ta pau when the lady asked him sik deng ta pau, understood sam mun, paid it, and said mm goi / to che.

[ I'm not gonna translate - let's just say he can order roast duck rice, to go, in Cantonese ]

And he's Welsh! Not bad huh? I'd learn his language, but it makes me giglge everytime I hear it.

=====

I got my hair cut today. It's about two months overdue. I can barely wait to get back to Ipoh and have my eyebrows threaded.

Damn hairdressers who won't listen to you. I wanted mine a lot shorter but she insisted on giving me shoulder length hair. Four hours later I had this mild irritation that I could still feel my hair on my neck.

I'll see how it grows out next few days, otherwise, I'm chopping it off. I'm on holiday, dammit. And I hate it when hairdressers don't listen.

-=====

Went for a New Year dinner at my uncle's place. The usual set of cousins, roping in new ones, trying to figure out how each was related to the other. So, found two new ones: Eelaine (sp?) and Yvonne.

While Debbie was exchanging names with the rest - she knows a lot of Malaysians in London because she was pretty active in the Malaysian society last year, I zoned out because being from Ipoh and older, what were the chances anyway?

Besides, wasn't that interested.

Then, I heard a name pop up. Zedeck. Which caught my attention because I've only heard of one Zedeck round here. Turns out two of my cousins are his age and from the same school. Way, way wayyyyy to feel old, man.

I said yes, yes I know this guy. His girlfriend's my classmate in Creative Writing. And yes....yes I know this guy........................................

[ What I did not say: He introduced himself to me by emailing me a note to inform me he was gonna stalk me, goddammit. Well, Fip and I broke up now, nothing much to stalk ]

We played Bluff. I'm not used to losing at that game - I only played twice but didn't do that well. I am not used to losing at Bluff *eyetwitch*.

Did not drink any alcohol. Mmmmm, Lainie is turning out into a sober good girl - nice way of saying tired, and feeling old.

=====

I spent most of the afternoon cleaninig up the mess I'd piled up in the computer room during my course. Charming, I know.

I'd wanted to meet up with Daph and Nessa after my family's dinner, but jesus, Daph took so long to reply by the time she did, I was already home, and typed out more than half of this blog entry.

=====

I took before-after photos of my haircut. Unfortunately, since it ended up being more of a trim than a cut, I'm not sure if this is actually a before OR after photo:



But granted, I don't look any much different. Oh, and you can't really see my hair. But you know what? That's all superficial stuff anyway, so it shouldn't matter. Instead, check out how huge my head is. It's true. I have a big head. My only consolation is, big head = big brain.

I'm wasting your time why yes I am. Of course, this blog is NOT a democracy, so I get to do anything I damn well want.

Well, almost.

Written by lainie at 01:03 AM on January 2, 2006 in Rants.

I'm NOT even going to BOTHER to detail EXACTLY how STUPID this is. I don't understand our police force, or whoever is in charge, what the HELL is their AGENDA?

An email with irritating news I got recently:


=====

Greetings and Salutations!

Happy New Year.

Now for something not very festive.

********
Overview
********
Paul's Place was raided on New Years Eve, 31/12/05 at approximately 10:30.
Police were acting on an report that the gig was allegedly a Black Metal
gathering. Bands that performed were, Crystal Lake (Japan), Force Vomit
(Singapore), Cassandra, Second Combat, Devilica, Uphold, The Falling Grudge,
M.U.Z.E, Net Restraint and Crestfallen. It is interesting to note that none
of these bands is a Black Metal band. (Note: I only caught M.U.Z.E's set
which was damn brilliant).

Paul, Ben (Bitches) and I were in Sri Hartamas when the raid occured, we
left about 15 minutes before the raid. Contrary to popular belief neither
Paul nor I were aware that this raid would happen. Paul was filling in on
drums for Triple6Poser.

When we were informed of the raid, we immediately sought legal advisory and
contacted Sonia Randhawa from the Center of Independant Journalism who in
turned brought in HAKAM and SUARAM.

Paul wanted to go to the police station but after getting legal advice and
discussion amongst ourselves, I felt it would be logical for Paul to wait
until the courts open on Tuesday. If he were to go then/now, there is a
possibility that he may be remanded (and rendered useless). I felt it would
be more useful for him to use Sunday and Monday working on a legal strategy
to get the detainees released and organize funds for bail if it becomes
necessary. We told him to go home and headed to the police station.

Ben and I arrived at the police station at about 2am. CK (Ben's Bitches
bassist) arrived shortly after. Friends and loved ones waited outside the
station compound.

Detainees were released at approimately 5pm. David (Paul's Place staff) and
an indeterminate number of others were remanded and shall be brought to
court on Tuesday/Wednesday to face charges.

Some detainees, Crystal Lake included, immediately went back to the police
station and lodged a report on what they believed to be an unlawful
detainment.

Ben and I left the scene at 6:00 am in the morning. CK was still there when
we left.

*******
Details
*******

It is estimated that 380 persons were detained without cause. Those detained
included Paul's Place staff David, members of Japanese band Crystal Lake,
Singaporean outfit Forced Vomit and a lawyer from law firm Edwin Lim & Suren
Advocates and Solicitors. All merchandise and movable equipment at the venue
were confiscated.

It should be noted that not all those detained were physically in Paul's
Place. Some were in the stalls outside eating, hanging out at the kaki lima,
others were there to drop off friends.

Detainees were trucked to the Brickfields Police Station and tested for
drugs. They were made to sit in the compound, men were went single file to
give their urine samples, I assume the women were given a little more
privacy. Friends and loved ones kept vigil outside the police station. No
one was allowed to enter and meet with the detainees until they were
processed.

Those who tested negative for drugs were released at approximately 5:00 am,
I was there until 6:00 am and people were still being released. Some of the
merchandise and equipment was returned to the owners. It is uncertain now
many persons (if any) tested positive and held for a second urine test
and/or remanded.

It is *uncertain* what the detainees were/are being charged for. Detainees
could not get a straight answer from the police. Anedectotal information
includes:

a) Black Metal/Devil Worshipping ceremony (to quote a TV reporter "Menyambut
Tahun Baru dengan Syaitan" - something I wish I had tradmarked)

b) Illegal gathering (for those caught outside).

c) Operating/being in an unlicensed venue for David, organizers Paul's
Place.

d) Undecent public display (I'm assuming wearing black t-shirts)

From what I understand Paul's Place is a licensed cafe. He is allowed to
sell soft drinks and canned/bottled beer and host private events (i.e.,
gigs). The authorities have never seemed to have a problem with this until
now.

HAKAM/SUARAM/CIJ/Media
**********************

Malaysian human rights organizations and watchdog groups HAKAM and SUARAM
and the Center of Independant Journalism were present outside the police
station demanding to speak with the OCPD and questioning the media.

N. Surendran from law firm Edwin Lim & Suren, lodged 3 police reports
against Brickfields OCPD and 2 other high ranking officers within hours of
the raid for the unlawful detainment of their staff lawyer who happened to
be at the gig.

Media, newspapers, TV were present at the police station interviewing
detainees and shooting pictures and footage. Some detainees were "asked
nicely" to provide interviews with the TV journalists. Who were asked
promptly complied.

Some detainees, approximately 15, who were released immediately returned to
the station to lodge a police report against the Brickfields Police
Station's unlawful detainment. Irene (frequent gig organizer and band
nomad), Jay (Freelove) and Hana (Lucy in the Loo) were amongst those who
took a stand and lodged the report.

In addition to that, Crystal Lake members too lodged police reports They had
been advised to bring this matter up to the Japanese Embassy. I'm not sure
if Forced Vomit submitted a report.

A young unidentified off duty cop came up to me and told me, "If I didn't
have to work tonight, I would have probably been at Paul's catching the
hardcore gig and with the detainees right now".

David and some other detainees have been remanded and will be brought to
court to be charged on Tuesday or Wednesday since Sunday and Monday were
public holidays. It will be impossible to contact them, bail them out or
take any legal action until they have been charged.

We are working on a legal strategy to get David and the rest of the
detainees out as soon as they get charged on Tuesday.



Post Mortem and Call for Action
*******************************
Kudos to you all who lodged police reports!

ALL THOSE WHO WERE DETAINED AND RELEASED ARE BEING URGED TO RETURN TO THE
POLICE STATION AND LODGE A POLICE REPORT AND FILE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT
AGAINST THE BRICKFIELDS POLICE STATION.

What the police did was unlawful and amounts to harassment. One can't be
detained for listening to music (no matter how bad) or wearing black
t-shirts and having dinner at a gerai.

Failure to take action NOW will allow for the possibility for this to happen
again. I realize it is difficult for some to contemplate lodging a report or
complaint due to several factors; parents, concern that you may be further
persecuted (which won't happen) etc.

If enough people get together, it will be possible to organize a class
action lawsuit. Edwin Lim & Suresh Advocates and Solicitors contact details
below.

I have asked Suren to provide information on how to file a police report and
participate in a class action lawsuit for this matter. I shall post that up
as soon as I get it.

What can you do:
****************

It is important to ensure that incidents like this do not happen again. The
community needs to send a message to the law enforcement agencies and show
that they are not little school kids that can be easily intimidated and
pushed around. They need to show that they are aware of the law and what
their rights as citizens are.

Please do the following:
------------------------

a) If you haven't already: GO BACK AND LODGE A REPORT IF YOU WERE DETAINED.
For those who weren't: get your friends who were involved to return to the
station and lodge a report. Some don't feel comfortable doing so as they
were made to feel they were guilty when the opposite is true. Support them.

b) Go to your MP, DAP complaints bureau and lodge a complaint.

c) File a class action lawsuit. Suren can assist with this. But he needs
LOTS OF YOU TO PARTICIPATE.


CONTACT DETAILS
****************
Edwin Lim & Suren Advocates
****************************
Contact: Suren
Email: edwinlim_suren@yahoo.com
Phone: +60 (3) 2161-7003

Paul Millot
***********
Email: solarcon@tm.net.my
Phone: +60 (16) 276-8962

Rafil Elyas
******************
Email: rafil@disarseter.com
Phone: +60 (12) 389-2260

=====

More Info from Ricecooker.

RAIDED!! Saturday, 31st December 2005: This Year’s Final Threat @ Paul’s Place Balai Polis Brickfields
Apparently, the Police has blocked off Paul’s Place’s entrance, so everyone inside the venue can’t leave. A shorthwhile later we heard that all of them were taken on a Black Maria and brought to the station. How many? Who are they? I don’t know.

The New Year Raid: Full Report by Rafil 0f 360DHR & Disarseter Records
Same entry as this, but you can read comments.

The New Year Raid: Press Conference, all MUST come!
The press conference will address the following issues.
a) Definition and characterization of the Black Metal sub culture; music, lifestyle and philosophies.
b) Superficiality of sub-culture embracement in Malaysia. Here, youths follow the fashion but not the philosophies and beliefs.
c) How Black Metal clamp down operations have spilled over to other sub-cultures and musical genres, punk, hardcore, rock.

The New Year Raid: 4 held to be charged on Tuesday
They found no Black Metal, and no drugs, even after testing more than a hundred people and keeping them in police lock-up until about 6 am. Some of the people taken away had nothing to do with the live music party taking place at Paul’s - they just happened to be chilling out at various restaurants dotted around the area.

I reckon there'll be more stuff on the net soon, but I'm awfully tired tonight so I just went to Ricecooker, pretty much figuring there'd be information there.

Please file a class action suit if you were one of those arrested.

Written by lainie at 12:17 PM on January 2, 2006 in Rants.

So I spoke to my aunt today, who dispensed some advice for those who were caught in the raid.

1) File the civil class action suit.

2) Fast - If you do it in a week, and get the wrong cop, you might end up with questions like "Why did you wait a week, hah? Hah? Hah? What are you covering up?".

3) The more people you get, the better your chances and faster everything will move along.

=====

The New Year Raid: Press Conference, all MUST come!

A press conference is going to be held at Paul’s Place, Monday 2nd January 2006 at 2PM.

All concerned especially those who were detained and also organisers of the show should be there!

here’s the brief:

Press Advisory: Over 300 Youths Detained At New Year’s Eve Celebration.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Brickfields police raided and detained over 300 young men and women ushering in the New Year at Paul’s Place, a local venue popular with the local independent music community on Saturday, 31 December 2005. The following day, local TV news reported that the youths were attending a Black Metal performance.

Those detained, consisting of local, Japanese and Singaporean independent musicians and audience members denied any connection with the Black Metal sub culture or genre.

We, concerned professional and amateur musicians, would like to invite you to a press conference.

The press conference will address the following issues.
a) Definition and characterization of the Black Metal sub culture; music, lifestyle and philosophies.
b) Superficiality of sub-culture embracement in Malaysia. Here, youths follow the fashion but not the philosophies and beliefs.
c) How Black Metal clamp down operations have spilled over to other sub-cultures and musical genres, punk, hardcore, rock.

Press Conference Details

Chair:
Mr. Rafil Elyas – Principal Process Engineering Consultant – Mathematical Modeling and Simulation. Band: 360 Degree Head Rotation
.
Panel Members:
Mr. Julian Mokhtar - Professional musician and guitar luthier.

Mr. Azmyl Yunor – Lecturer; Journalism, Cultural and Cinema Studies. Singer songwriter.

Ms. Hana Abd Aziz – Student, Diploma Graphic Design. Band: Lucy in the Loo.

Mr. Paul Millot – Inventor, solar energy specialist. Band: Brown Sugar.

Ms. Jacklyn SM Kee – Consultant and activist.

Venue: Paul’s Place
Time: 2 pm
Address:
(Please refer to the map below)
8, 2/137B (Top Floor), Resource Industrial Center.
off Jalan Klang Lama
58200 KL, Malaysia
(Opposite the highway from Pearl International Hotel, OUG)

Paul's Place

Written by lainie at 12:51 PM on January 2, 2006.

From TV3 News *eyeroll*. PLEASE, allow me to utilise my shit grasp of the Malay language to tell you what was reported.

Hasil Maklumat, 35 Pegawai Dan Anggota Polis Dari Balai Brickfield, Menyerbu Premis Tertutup Di Batu Lima Jalan Klang Lama Kira-Kira 11 Malam Semalam.

Ketika Serbuan, Mereka Sedang Asyik Menari Dan Menyanyi Bersama Kumpulan Muzik Yang Menyanyikan Lagu Berunsur Tidak Sihat.

Setiap Pengunjung Dikenakan Bayaran 15 Ringgit

Hampir Semua Mereka Berbaju Serba Hitam, Malah Kira-Kira 10 Dari Remaja Perempuan, Bertudung.

310 Lelaki Dan 70 Perempuan Kemudian Dibawa Dengan Sembilan Buah Trak Ke Balai Polis Brickfield Untuk Siasatan Lanjut.

Turut Ditahan Tujuh Remaja Bawah Umur, Serta Enam Warga Singapura Dan Dua Warga Jepun.

Menurut Ketua Polis Daerah Brickfield, A-C-P Mohd Dzuraidi Ibrahim, Segelintir Mereka, Golongan Profesional Seperti Pensyarah Dan Peguam.

Pemeriksaan Rekod Jenayah Dan Ujian Air Kencing Juga Dilakukan .

Seorang Lelaki Yang Menjaga Premis Terbabit Turut Ditahan.

Siasatan Mendapati Premis Terbabit Tidak Mempunyai Sebarang Lesen Perniagaan Manakala Perhimpunan Dan Acara Yang Diadakan Tidak Mendapat Sebarang Permit.

Sejumlah Risalah, Cakera Audio, Poster, Kain Rentang, Kemeja-T Dan Pelbagai Jenis Lencana Turut Dirampas..


=====

[ Rough translation because my Malay sucks]

The result of 35 policemen raiding a closed premise on Old Klang Road at 11pm last night.

During the raid, they were DANCING and SINGING along with bands singing songs with "unhealthy elements".

[ Yes, I'm sorry y'all, you guys were arrested for the diabolical act of singing and dancing - I hope none of you were waving a bleeding chicken, I understand you were probably looking for a vet at that time, but our police are not the most understanding crowd about. In fact, you could say there's very little they seem to understand ]

All customers were charged 15 Ringgit

[Paul and the bands must have made quite a bundle just from the police that night, eh? 35 x RM15 = RM 525 ]

Almost all were wearing black clothes, in fact, about 10 of the young women were wearing headscarves.

[ And imagine, we can get people arrested for wearing clothes we don't like? Quick, someone hand me a tv remote, I gots me some people I'd like to round up. Now where's that drat Chinese show........ ]

310 males, 70 females, were then brought in 9 trucks to the Deathstar Brickfields Police Station for further investigation

[ Further investigations will reveal......they got nothing but a lot of pissed off musicians and music lovers. Oh, and people sitting in a restaurant nearby, who probably didn't even know what kinda noise was coming out of the building nearby. ]

Also arrested were 7 underaged youths, along with six Singaporeans, and 2 Japanese.

[ Not mentioned: Also arrested, were the 200 black metal kids we were looking for. Dammit. What do we do? OH LOOK! TEENAGERS! And no one likes Singaporeans! YES WE ARE SAVED! And let's throw in the Japanese cause they're a weird Hello Kitty country anyway. ]

According to the Chief of Police for Brickfields, there were professionals in the crowd, including.....uhm. I don't know what Pensyarah is, sounds debate-y. And Peguam. Which means lawyers.

[ You dipshi........Yes. Well done. Unlawful arrest of crowd that includes lawyers. And ZOMG, black metal is invading adults! ]

Checks for Criminal Records and Urine tests were done.

[ Of course, this is a country that managed to arrest MEOR for BUSKING, so it really makes you wonder what they mean, exactly, by 'Criminal Records' ]
[ And last I heard, everyone but four were released because NO ONE failed the drug test. And the four? Arrested as organisers of the event. Jeeeeeeeeesus ]

A man in charge of the premise was also arrested.

[ Well, hell, we all know David, he's in charge of the bar most times ]

Invastigations discovered that the premise does not have any business license and the gathering / event did not have a permit.

[ I don't know about the license bit, but you need 500 people before you need a permit, and according to Peter Brown there were at best 150 there, including the poor buggers sitting in the cafes downstairs ]

Some magazines, CDs, Posters, (I dont know what), Tshirts and badges were confiscated.

[ YOU CHEAPSKATES! If I wanted magazines, CDs, posters, (whateverthehellkainrentangis), Tshirts and badges..........I HAVE TO GO SHOPPING. ]

======

And yknow. I like that they brought along the TV3 news crew. Ah. Ahhhhh. What were you expecting then?

I'm wearing a black tshirt right now, yknow. And I have long hair. Then again, my tshirt is a Gila-Gila comics one (Gila Gila is Malaysian version of MAD!). Of course, black metal tshirt / comic tshirt, black metal gathering / no black metal bands playing that night, what do lil details like that matter?

It's almost too much to wish that there'd be some press release from the police, saying "We were wrong, you were right, we don't know what black metal is, we can't count beyond a hundred so got the crowd estimate wrong, here's David and co back, and you can have your CDs, and tshirts too. Sorry we don't know who took the ICP badges, we saw the clown and thought it was nefarious looking ]

Written by lainie at 11:13 PM on January 2, 2006.

Not that I reckon it shows in my blog, but I love reading. And it's sad that it's gotten to the point I onlyhave the time to spare during holidays - Bernice asked me the other day what I was reading, and I said "I'm reading something, I just can't remember what".

And it's not like I'm reading one book - it's about four or five, depending on which room I'm in, I probably have a novel waiting for me there. So yeah, now that I'm on holiday, it's time to catch up. Books books books books - I am, actually, quite nerdy.

=====

I met up with my cousins earlier in Times Square. Doing the yearly thing of "hey, let's keep in touch!". Yesterday, I found out Patrick knows of Zedeck (same school). Today, I find that Erik, Patrick's elder brother, knows of Zedeck's girlfriend, Iszie (mutual friends), though they don't know each other personally.

*Whew*.

Something about Erik meeting Zedeck but the tall boy was drunk (sounds rather alike to when I first met the boy too, really). It's freaky how small the world is, no?

=====

I was actually supposed to go for the Press Conference, since most of my friends are the gigging sort, and this concerns them, so they were there. Found out later, through smses, that more people than I thought were there.

I read the list of people (in link above), and was glad to see people from different parts of the music scene turned up (though really, it's not that big a community so the fact that it affects us all is starker).

I am actually going to read the newspapers tomorrow, yknow, just to give my blood pressure a nice healthy kick in the ovaries.

=====

After that, headed over to Lai Foong, this really old Chinese cafe my mother used to go every Sunday with her parents, when she was growing up. Did I just say my mother is really old? Let's just assume "old" for cafes are different from "old" for mothers.

This, in any Asian family, holds true (if you know what's good for you).

Met up with Daph, Nessa and co there. Since there were a big bunch of tourists there, told them about the recent "arrested for Black Metal at a gig that did not play Black Metal" thing.

Yknow, you tell a Malaysian the same thing, and they're disgusted, but they'd expect something like this from the police. Really. I say, it's more surprising to hear about a cop that gave you your speeding ticket straight out, than it is to hear about one who twiddled his pen, hmmm, hahhhhed, looked at your IC / driver's license about twenty times, scribbled your name on some scrap piece of paper under the ticket, while asking you if you were absolutely sure you could afford the fine, which is RM300, yknow, are you sure you want to pay it.....sorry where was I?

But yeah. Tell a tourist, and beyond the normal outrage at how stupid the whole thing is....You get a lot of confounded looks. As in....they really, REALLY don't get it. I mean, we don't get it either, but we're resigned and desensitised to the stupidity, yknow?

This is like Bush-level stupidity, so of course it confuses anyone who isn't used to it, like tourists.

Then we walked over to Pasar Seni, where all the crafts stuff are. The only shop Nessa and I really remember is the one with all the aboroginal sculptures and masks, because they got this set of really cool sculptures, it's just the upper figure of a dude hugging this HUGE HUGE HUGE penis (presumably, his own, and not some gay sex god).

Then after that, headed over to KLCC to meet Kaz and Fip. Yes, Fip and I have broken up but we're still friends. Kaz showed me his new tattoo, a joker.

I also got him to explain somewhat, the story behind his short comic, which I loved when I saw the last time, but never totally figured it out, especially the last few panels. You gotta go open it up though, it's a wonderful example of a short comic.

I asked him about some info on WAO, because he worked there a lil while (his mommy is big into that organisation), and after a recuperation I'd have about two weeks to spare before my next semester starts (I figure though the cash would be nice very good, I don't even have a month to work sooo).

WAO - Women's Aid Organisation.

Kaz was telling me how while he was there, there was a misconception that WAO is a very..........lesbian...........place.

I'm not saying there aren't any. Jesus, there probably are. But, while Kaz was there, apparently he only knew of two who were, in a much bigger group. The others were all straight lil girls who wanted to help and had to put up with family members demanding to know why they were working in a "lesbian organisation".

*Eyeroll*. Okay, lesbian / has a vagina, does NOT automatically equal feminist / activist / whichever-ist, get that into your head.

=====

Did you know, "Low Yat Plaza" distracts the Aussie boys? They keep seeing "Low Fat Pizza". Dude, this is Malaysia, we don't really do no fat stuff here.

Anyways, when friends from other countries come to visit, the first thing we do is weigh them. ESPECIALLY those who say stuff like "Oh, I never put on weight". Ah, come to Ipoh, we'll see what two weeks of hawker food does to you.

Also, we get a laugh everytime we give them 'local delicacies'

1) Ice Kacang.

This is essentially crushed ice, with syrup, nuts, beans and jellied stuff. And corn? Trust me, they'll just look.....at.....it......and wonder why we bother.

2) Chicken flavoured food.

Chicken floss and chicken biscuits. See Westerners screw face up in disgust....Ohmygod, it looks like candy floss, but it tastes like chicken! What the fuck? And why do these cookies taste like chicken? Why aren't they sweet?

Hah....chicken flavoured food is fantastic.

3) Durian flavoured food.

Not actual durian itself, mind, but the kuihs, and weird dodol stuff, and durian pancakes. Mmmm. The joke is, most of the time we won't eat it, but it's too funny a thing to pass up, I'd take a bite if it means seeing a row of tourists trying to be as polite as they possibly can which they attempt to swallow down the durian dodol.

I've been told ages ago that when shopping in Petaling Street (Chinatown), if you're easy to rip off, you get a pink plastic bag (or some other colour?), and if you haggle you get another colour? So the vendors in the next stall know whether or not to rip you off.

Well today they went shopping there, and everyone who haggled got an orange bag, and Blake, who didn't, got a pink one - and they all bought it at the same time.

Does anyone else know anything about this?

=====

In other news, Moonshine is happening again! This Thursday, No Black Tie, repeat performances from Aminah and Reza, new Moonshine acts Shelley Leong, Az Samad, and Plush Velvet - read about the artists here.

In the email notice that came with the details:

Despite recent attempts to target the local indie scene as a scapegoat for social ills (wearing black, listening to loud music, eating at a mamak, picking Paul's Place over a so called sex party in Langkawi (now that's REALLY ill!)), the show must go on. Moonshine is slotted for this coming Thursday, and hopefully I won't get arrested for naming a gig after something illegal. You never know in Malaysia =)

Mmmhmm.

=====

Gah. I'm supposed to be everywhere today, meeting everyone. I'm supposed to be in KL and Ipoh at the same time - but finally settled on KL because I still have a poster to do after this.

But tonight. Ah, tonight is reserved for lying on my bed, a good book, a cuppa coffee, and fuck the rest of the world. Lainie is NOT seeing anyone else today.

Yesterday I had a marathon of old reruns of "The Nanny" on Hallmark. God, I love that show.

Written by lainie at 12:05 AM on January 3, 2006 in Music.

You don't love me at all,
but don't think that it bothers me at all.
You're a bad-hearted boy-trap, babydoll,
but you're...
You're so damn hot.

jengjengjeng

Written by lainie at 12:48 PM on January 3, 2006 in Rants.

Why do I read the papers?

WHY?

FUCK TELL ME WHY????.

Well done, The Star. Fair bit of reporting. So....fair. Yes, I am reading the "Black Metal" arrest article.

I really like how the last 2 columns of the 6 column article were dedicated, out of nowhere, to some Kangar youths locked up for rowdy behaviour and obstructing police duties. Different location, different people, doing different things (waiting for illegal bike races, vs, going for music gig). It makes my heart soar, straight out of my torso, into the dumpster nearby.

I mean, it has no relation to the "Black Metal" gathering (which I say again, had no black metal bands in the first place), except of course, we get the lovely insinuation that they're in the same article because "Black Metal" devil worshippers should be lumped together with those who fight police and have illegal motorcycle races.

FUCK. YOU.

Why not go raid Zouk again, huh? Got too many Dato's and Menteri's sons, didn't you? And their girlfriends?

[ Alllllllll rumours of course. Hem. ]

Is black metal even fucking illegal? Yeesh. I am trying to write a letter to the editor, but I can't compose a paragraph without about nine fucks in each sentence so it's making my head spin. And why am I bothering? Sometimes I wonder.

And the most condescending part of the article, lil factbytes.

What? Four alleged Black Metal followers released on bail.
Where? Brickfields police station.
Why? They were picked up with some 380 people for allegedly attending a Black Metal gig on New Year's Eve.

I really see no point in that. What, so you don't have to read the whole article, there it is, the general gist in three sentences?

Well, it's nice to know the reporters there have the "Who, what, where, why, how" down pat. WELL DONE. Oh yeah, bay-beh, here let me hand you an award. It's called "Pathetic To The Core".

You know what sucks the most? I bet they know there weren't any Black Metal bands playing there that night. I like how they didn't mention that it was a violation of human rights too. Or that the arrest was illegal.

Lovely piece of reporting. He said, she said, he did, they said, they then did, and he said, she said, they said. Theytheytheythey. We, on the other hand, have no opinion on this issue beyond what headline, and subheadline, to give it

We don't have reporters. We have typing parrots.

Now go learn how to ask some better questions before wasting my time reading that crap piece of article that cost me more time and money than I care to spare.

=====

RELATED EVENTS.

Both this Saturday.

Signing.

Those who'd like to sign the memorandum that will be submitted to the Human Rights Comm, can do so at KL Performing Arts Centre.

Food Not Bombs: Workshop - Know Your Rights with The Police.

Bolehkah polis mengambil/meminta I/C anda tanpa sebab?
Polis tiba - tiba menahan anda semasa di acara muzik, bagaimana?
Polis membuat serbuan di pertunjukan muzik independen, apa yang harus dilakukan??
Polis berpakaian biasa cuba menahan anda, apa reaksi sepatutnya?

penyalahgunaan kuasa polis berlaku dimana-dimana dan di pelbagai strata komuniti masyarakat. Pada malam perayaan tahun baru 31 disember 2005, di acara muzik independen yang berlansung di Pauls place, pihak polis telah melakukan satu penahanan yang terang-terangan melanggar prosedur sepatutnya penahanan. Ekoran daripada kejahilan kita dengan hak-hak yang kita ada apabila berhadapan dengan polis menjadikan ia satu titik untuk mereka menggunakan budaya ketakutan, membuli dan melanggar etika penahanan. Dengan mengetahui cara yang sebenarnya berhadapan dengan pihak polis/berkuasa, penahanan dan pembulian oleh polis boleh dihalang daripada awal tanpa perlu meleret hingga ke balai polis/lokap

KETAHUILAH HAK ANDA BERHADAPAN DENGAN POLIS !!
dengan menghadiri bengkel KUASA -KUASA POLIS
(bengkel latihan untuk menjadi pelatih dan membuat bengkel sendiri di tempat masing-masing)

tempat : LOST GENERATION SPACE,
no.11, lorong permai, off jalan syed putra,
robson heights, 50460, KL
( * lihat peta dan public transport ke sana di:sini )

tarikh : 7 Januari 2005 (sabtu)
masa : 10.30 pagi - tamat (petang)
kontek: 012 243 8406
013 243 7092

organise by FOODNOTBOMBSKL

====

Related links (for once, not Ricecooker links ). You must forgive my link-tardiness, ever since my laptop reformat, I've only relied on Technorati to update me, and it's not very comprehensive.

Suanie: Duduk kat rumah je lah.

Erna: The coppers are scared of rock and roll.

Biggest Farce in History.

New Year Raid: This Year’s Final Threat @ Paul’s Place.

2006's First Raid

JeffOoi: Media and Police: The disturbing nexus... ( 2 ).

Feel free to link-drop related articles in the comments box. Free for all.

Written by lainie at 10:29 PM on January 3, 2006.

So. I wanted to go for a candlelight vigil recently, and though I won't give you a whole list of reasons, let's just say a small one was that there's a part of me that's just insanely curious.

I'd want to see, what is being done, who is there, are they alright, what reactions does it garner, does it provoke passerbys?

I can only hope, this is not the same as nosy.

Anyways. Never mind that, I didn't make it (family can be frustrating sometimes).

But.

I want to know something (pleasethankyou mustnotforgetmannersnow).

And you need to tell me.

Keep in mind, I don't consider myself an activist.

[ And I have to say that, because I've been called one before, and it didn't sit right with me, so I'm not. Really. Not even close. ]

So. Tell me.

What do you think of activists?

To narrow it down a bit (in case I get comments about how people complaining loudly at the mamak about politicians are annoying and ruin your appetite)......

What do you think about activists AFTER they get arrested?

If the arrest was fair, and they were causing trouble? If the arrest was unjust?

Do you think, fuck, I wish they could just have a space to say what they need to.

Or do you think, fuck, serves them right, they should know this would happen

Or fuck, I have no idea what these people are going on about.

Or what? Like, seriously, when you see or hear of demonstrations, and that they were arrested or something, what do you think?

I mean. It's essentially a bunch of people trying to get your attention, on a day when you're probably just trying to catch the next train at Masjid Jamek, because waiting an extra 5 minutes for the next one will tire you out and it's already been such a horrid day in the office, your manager is the bitch from hell, and there are people around telling you there's even more stuff out there that you need to spend energy on to know, to think over, to remember, to learn about, to care, to make better, help out, sometimes they're waving banners, making noise, sometimes they're handing out leaflets and you're already so tired even the paper seems cumbersome and and and.

Wait, where was I?

What do you guys think about activists, and what they do?

It's a curiosity thing. Indulge me.

[ And on the off chance an activist is reading this - Reta? Tiara? tell me, what you reckon people think of you guys then? I mean. Hell, do you guys even consider yourselves one? ]

Written by lainie at 01:32 AM on January 4, 2006 in Arty stuff.

Mmmh. I still have workaholic tendencies left over from the semester, but no desire to work on my last broadsheet poster for Mr Teh's class.

Instead, I've been making 5 - 8 minute posters (the one good thing about Alfredo and Meifei's class, I can vector really, really, really fast now).

I uploaded on Deviantart as well, but heck here it is anyway (to be honest, the stuff on my DA makes me wince a lil):

Please note, posters are not meant to be intelligent, in fact I made the first one while waiting for dinner (plumber was tinkering around with the pipes in the kitchen, and there is no way I can say this without KA perverting it, so I'm not gonna try).




The first one was made because a while back I was listening to some loud music, in a black tshirt, having just trimmed my hair but it's still long....and reading the ridiculous bit of arrests, and them saying stuff like "They had long hair / wore black tshirts".

The only thing I'm missing is a beach orgy on Langkawi (*wry tone* I'm assuming they meant the rave. Why was Recharged cancelled anyway?)



The second one was made while I was procrastinating, reading a very interesting article called Ordinary Ads, Everyday Images (well, I am supposed to research ad trends and target markets over the hols), and it looks for difference in representation of genders.

And that got me to thinking of what the ads would be like in a world suddenly without women. So I made a poster of two men, in a world without women, looking at each other. And between their bodies, is a silhouette of a woman (welllll, kinda).

Hah.

Open to interpretation. And bad captions. And worse puns.

And yknow.

I still don't feel like doing my last assignment. Which is bad.

=====

Update: It is 3am, I am starting to feel drowsy, my body just swayed uncontrolled a lil, I can barely think. And that, is when I finally opened up the file that says "Teh Broadsheet.Psd".

Wish me good luck, even if I may not deserve it much.

Hah. Someone asked me today if I'd watched Gol&Gincu (she doesn't know I blog). Why suuuuuuuuure I have.

Reminds me of this conversation I had with Tei, of when she watched GolnGincu with her friends in the cinema:

Tei: At first, it was still cool. Then, it reached the part where she said "Hey, you in the pink skirt", and I was like "Woah".

[ She pauses, and looks around ]

Tei: I was like, "Did anyone else, yknow, notice that?", then I thought to myself, Tei, you're just being so *head gesture* because you're *head gesture*

[ We were sitting near her family so she couldn't actually say LESBIAN DYKEDYKEDYKEDYKE out loud ]

Lainie: That could not have been the *only* time you said that. I mean. The entire movie.
Tei: Yeah I know. Then right after I thought that, my totally straight friend leaned over and asked "Is it just me.....Or does this movie seem to be talking about something else?"
Lainie: Haha!

I wish I could post up a photo of how blur the Tei looks, when she's acting out scenes she was surprised. Absolutely stunned.

But I have enough weird Bernice Chauly stalkers on my site (I am STILL getting hits for her from Google, oh my god), Nessa stalkers, and occasional Daph stalkers, I don't need Tei stalkers as well. If Bernice is bad, Nessa's annoying, Daph's puzzling, the amount of girls after Tei will just make my blog look like some stalker labiafest.

[ I mean, my blog, supposed to be, yknow, about ME. ]

Seriously. It's crazy. I go to music gigs, people there know her. I go to college, people there know her. I go for theatre, they know her. I go to an art gallery, they know her. I go for some 16 day activism thing, they know her. I talk to people, and somehow it'll emerge they know her.

It's like the Tei connection is unescapable. It makes me want to find something to bop her head with.

=====

Update: Guhhh....what the fuck was I crapping about back there bout Tei. Talk bout random.

5.18am: DONE! PRINTING TOMORROW! SHIIIIIT!

Written by lainie at 01:50 PM on January 4, 2006.

Mmm. Surprised everyone by waking up early cause I went to sleep at dawn - had to go get printing done. Logged onto MSN to ask around, ended up getting printer's info from Kevin on where to go print.

Went there, it was still closed, till about 10.30 am, so I waited more than an hour. Found out I couldn't afford the A1 printing anyway (almost 100), so I did a smaller version and hoped Mr Teh wouldn't mind. Sigh. All that effort into the poster too.

Walked home from college. Am really tired.

Got home, and came up with a vector image.



Too lazy describe- go here:Piss Take Poster. The bit that took longest was the earth thingie. A few minutes. It looks underdone, but I'm just making these posters to calm down and get ready for bed.

Actually. When I got home, Buster was endlessly accosting Belle, trying to hump her. I'd just taken that walk home, and put up with endless catcalls, ruderies, and godknowswhatelse a girl has to go through just to get home. I am tired of flipping guys off, confronting strangers, glaring, ignoring, and yelling fuck you after retreating backs.

I do NOT need to come home and see Belle traumatised by a big horny dog, it reminds me too much of the male harassment just trying to walk home. So I looked at Buster, who was still wagging his tail and trying blindly to hump Belle as she ran here and there, whining and snapping occasionally at him.

Yelled at Buster "DAMMIT!" then shoved him outside, and allowed Belle to stay in with the fan and Jazz music playing. She gets really upset cause Buster keeps trying to mount her (and he's utterly inept, also very heavy).

It's bad enough I take it on the streets, I'll be damned if I see it at home too, even if it's just the dogs.

=====

Gonna sleep, then call CJ, I'm supposed to meet up with the boy today.

Written by lainie at 11:17 PM on January 4, 2006 in Daily Life.

HELLO PEOPLE!

Right. BlacK Metal. Centre for Independent Journalism, CIJ, has just set up a blog to look at how the media covers the Black Metal issue here:



Media & Black Metal in Malaysia Looking at media coverage of the 'Black Metal' issue in Malaysia.

Right now, they're still collecting articles, but later on, they'll have discussion threads going on. This is just a mini-update so you people know where to go if you'd like. The blog's set up by Sonia Randhawa.

If Sonia's name is familiar it's cause asides from her name popping up everywhere thanks to CIJ, she was the one mentioned in articles as bringing in HAKAM and SUARAM to help when the raid happened.

I'll inform you guys again once the site is fully up, but for those who'd like to poke around and feel their blood gurgle a lil, there's a collection of articles that have gone up.

=====

Danlim sent me a video of Frank Zappa on Crossfire, Good entertainment.

=====

I've had people ask me, now that I've broken up with Fip, what next? Specifically, "What" refers to men or women.

Jesus, people, what do you consider me to be? Psychic? If I could tell the future, I wouldn't be here blogging. I'd be on some rocking beach holiday and fucked out of my mind out there making the world a better place *looks away and whistles*.

But yknow, if I ever turn psychic, you'll be the first to know. Promise. Unless my kickass visions, which I really do have, really really, tell me I shouldn't tell any of you.

Seriously though. I'm just gonna enjoy singledom for a while.

=====

I pet humans the way some people pet dogs. I mean, is that disturbing? Why can't I pet humans?

[ And I do not want to hear any bloody bloomin "heavy pettin" jokes, these are my friends and I really do not need the visuals ].

Today, as I bought coffee at 7-11, the cashier asked me "Is that all?". All I did was point at my stuff and said "Oh, and this one".

She repeated "And this one" several times to herself, softly, as she tapped away at the till. I mean. What? Is it my accent? Do I have one? Are you just kinda strange? Either way, it was kinda weird.

=====

Meanwhile anyone have books to recommend? Preferably short stories, to match my attention span. The last few authors whose works I've read are Isabel Allende, Banana Yoshimoto, Gustave Flaubert, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, William Trevor, and Melissa Bank.

Otherwise, if it's novels, try to suggest one where I won't need a dictionary by my side to understand what's going on.

And. Uh. If you're aware of the prices, not too expensive would be good. I mean, I love Pablo Neruda too, but RM70 a pop is a bit painful yknow.

If not, I'll just save up and get more Bananananana Yoshimototototo.

Written by lainie at 12:56 AM on January 5, 2006 in Rants, Daily Life.

Someone who'd just come to Malaysia recently, asked me about the new Syariah laws he'd heard about.

[ The entry I lost my head a lil ]

The question: How come if it was unfair it still got through?

And it's sad to have to admit that actually, some women senators did want to oppose it, but were told to toe the line and approve it.

And they did. Which is........not good. Because technically, if you can tell people how to vote, and if you're a blooming idiot in charge of them, we're gonna have a lot of stupid laws in the future. Stupidity is a lot more bearable, than say, meeting the consequence of stupidity in legislation.

I am kinda glad I don't work with people, sometimes, because if I have to meet some woman who got fucked over in Syariah courts (and it's not like that hasn't happened, Moorthy, anyone? At least you get a raise?), I really won't know how to say to her face that it'll be okay. Mostly because I'd think, there's no way this is fair, I can't justify it, and I can't make you feel better, I'm sorry the 19 women were Whipped in line, and now you're suffering for it.

[ In case you missed that, Lainie happens to be highly pessimistic about her abilities to deal with people ]
[ Also, highly pessimistic about the law itself ]

Then I said, "But hey, they promised to look into it after the bill is passed". Jesus, even I feel stupid saying something so incredibly lame, how the hell did that guy manage to say it in a newspaper interview?

Then I was asked, okay, so the women toed the line. What about the male senators?

Har, har. Har, har. What about the men, indeed. Please, allow me to rip off the newspaper clipping (of The Star, I'm such a hypocrite, I know):



Not the prettiest picture, is it?

Am I just somehow paying more attention to the news, or are things just generally more fucked up?

======

So I'm reading Galaxie magazine. And by "reading", I mean "looking at", because it's a poster edition, so it's all pictures of people.

Which just goes to show, words aren't really that important. Essential part of a magazine is to have heaps of people you recognise, looking richer than you, posing in it. Anyway, as I flipped through, a few things caught my eye.

First of all, a jeans advertisment. I blocked out everything except the caption:



I mean, I hate to sound twelve, but yknow, I totally saw something else when I flipped the pages. Hee hee hee, it's not that hard to figure it out once you look carefully. Which is why, kiddies, you have to be careful which type you choose - especially scripts and stencils.

The other thing. The posters. Okay. I see a lot of skin, sexy poses, glittery hair, and skimpy clothes.

By a show of hands, who here thinks I'm talking about men? Yah, didn't think so.

I see:

i) small, topless photo of Tom Welling, a screencap off an episode of Smallville.
ii) Simon Webbe of boyband Blue, in a V-neck, so I can see bits of his chest.
iii) Some dude called Rain, with a lil wee bit of chest showing.
iv) to push it a lil, some VJ dude called Dominic has a bit of chest hair showing through his shirt.
v) small promo pic of previous Galaxie cover featuring half nude guy beneath sheets.
vi) and on the last page, another small pic of two topless male models.

So, amongst the lil pictures, 3 instances of manflesh. Among the posters, 3 slight glimpses of chest through open neck shirts.

In a magazine that has on it's cover "ABSOLUTELY BURSTING WITH OVER 60 POSTERS!" and a photo of Tom Welling underneath it.

Then I buy it, in all anticipation of sparkly clean eyes by the time I'm done with it, but ARGH MY EYES THEY BURN.

Galaxie: I feel cheated.

Really. I do. All I saw, in terms of flesh, was HEAPS OF POSTERS of women flesh. I saw bare backs, navels, cleavage shots (oh, heaps of that), thighs, pouty lips, sexy poses (yeah so now you guys know which magazine to get this week). Oh, the women are all out there with their bodies. Do I mind? No. What I mind, is that the only man thigh I saw belonged to a footballer.

Then I flip back to the cover again, that says "60 posters" with Tom Welling beneath it. Pffft. That's blatant sexism it is. Why don't the girls get something better than what seems like a generic black tux with different faces stuck on top?

Sure, there were men in the issue. Lots of posters of men. All wearing the same clothes in different colours. Nothing exciting.

Where are my gratuitious man shots? Where are the hulky shiny muscles, the topless andro boys, the cheeky "I just got out of bed have messy hair and am wearing boxers but hey we'll pretend these are shorts", the beach boys, the the the.....

For every boob cleavage shot there, I demand a sexy poster of some dude's body bits. It's a goddamned MAGAZINE OF PEOPLE. Gather up your fucking balls and objectify EVERYONE.

[ Wait, did I just say that? Oh well. I don't care. I want my sexy boys. ]

I demand the next issue has more of that shit going on (uhm. preferably better example of male-sexy than Jeff Simmons though, this time yah?). I want my men in glitterati suits, with eyeliner, messed up hair, looking beautiful and most importantly, showing some skin (of course, it could be argued that I'm practically asking for a woman with a penis to be in the magazine, but let's not nitpick or be too typical here).

Actually, that would probably give you less customers. I guess. Who owns Galaxie? The Star. Har har, har har.

=====

My mom is coming down to KL today - so is Gazel, Tommy, and his family. Gah. Human contact.

The dogs are following my crotch about cause I have my period. This is the time when 3 dogs at home can be a bit of a nightmare.

Written by lainie at 11:38 AM on January 5, 2006.

One question, I asked a few:

Hi, wanna come for Moonshine with me tonight?

One answer, I got from each.

"Is Melina playing tonight?"
"Will Melina be there?"
"Oh, Melina not playing? Never mind lah"
"Is the Tempered Mental girl playing?"

KA quoting what her friend asked:

"One question: Is Melina playing".

Oh and:

"Is your lecturer gonna be there?"
"Is Bernice going?"

Fucking lesbians, I tell you, can't you go for the sake of spending time with ME?

Yeesh

Written by lainie at 11:01 PM on January 5, 2006 in Arty stuff.

PRDM



Click this picture for mucho bigger version of it, if you want.

Just a simple vector, of someone in a blue and white uniform.
With a yellow eye.

And. Yknow. I'm just not gonna say anything else.
Consider this a game, with an answer, but one I am unlikely to provide.

It's pretty goddamn simple anyway.

=====

Stuck at home. Doing "filial daughter" obligations by spending time with family - finally seeing my mother after almost 4 months of separation (she's down in KL to accompany Gazel's potential in-laws).

I was supposed to go for Moonshine, but yah, I can't make it happen. :/ I have to be a good lil Asian daughter now.

So, I'm half spending time with them, half hiding behind the computer screen adding circles and letters to this.

It's very simple, really. Didn't take more than half an hour. Extra time taken compared to others, because I keep eating mangosteens - the others're eating durian, and the STENCH, oh my god. Obviously, our King of Fruits does not impress me much.

Anyhow. I don't intend to spend much time on this so. Yeah. This is it.

A name. I call it....P R D M.

=====

AHAHHAHAHHAHA!! I was over at Jamtank, and I am ganking this off:


I had to frikkin' share this. Got a call from NST an hour ago:

*****

Reporter: Did you notice any indication of Satan Worship at Paul's Place?

Me: No

R: Was there a goat present?

Me: Excuse me?

R: A goat.

Me: Kambing?

R: Ya, kambing.

Me: Kambing hidup?

R: Ya, kambing hidup.

Me: Kambing hidup, lari-lari kat venue Paul's Place?

R: Ya.

Me: Kat luar ada kedai mamak, ada kemungikinan besar diorang jual kari kambing. Tapi dalam venue tak nampak.

R: OK, so takde kambing?

Me: Yang lari-lari kat stage, takde. Kalau tapau kari, roti bawak masuk, saya tak pasti.


Basically, Rafil got a call from the newspaper, NST, to ask if there was a goat running around Paul's Place at the "Black Metal" gathering (where it's pretty much been established over and over that it was NOT black metal, and there were no black metal bands, and yada yada bla bla bla).

Goats. *Shakes head*. I seriously hope this is an article done to......yknow. Get a funny quote. On this hilarious piece they're gonna do. To ridicule the whole situation.

Written by lainie at 04:51 PM on January 6, 2006.

Right. Some of y'all have been asking me about human rights / youth organisations. I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU CAN GO (I'm actually very blur, yknow, not a good source of info at all).

What I do know, is that tomorrow (Saturday morning), there will be a workshop to educate you on your rights, and if you go there, you'll probably meet the right people to answer your questions.

That being said, I'll be there. Uh. For the workshop, not to get questions answered. Well, except the workshop is for answering questions. Wow, I'm confusing myself.

Anyway. Rafil suggested that if you want, contact Centre for Independent Journalism, Malaysia, or HAKAM, as a start.

And yes, Tiara, I asked about the youth rights thingie. I was directed to some thingie thingie but their website is hacked so I really don't know what else to do. What Rafil did say though, and it does seem that way, is that it's a small community of activists anyway, so if you go to the workshop tomorrow, chances are you'd meet some people who'd suit the description. Yah?

But seriously, just come for the workshop tomorrow, it'll be easier. I'll be there for a peek.

Food Not Bombs: Workshop - Know Your Rights with The Police.

Bolehkah polis mengambil/meminta I/C anda tanpa sebab?
Polis tiba - tiba menahan anda semasa di acara muzik, bagaimana?
Polis membuat serbuan di pertunjukan muzik independen, apa yang harus dilakukan??
Polis berpakaian biasa cuba menahan anda, apa reaksi sepatutnya?

penyalahgunaan kuasa polis berlaku dimana-dimana dan di pelbagai strata komuniti masyarakat. Pada malam perayaan tahun baru 31 disember 2005, di acara muzik independen yang berlansung di Pauls place, pihak polis telah melakukan satu penahanan yang terang-terangan melanggar prosedur sepatutnya penahanan. Ekoran daripada kejahilan kita dengan hak-hak yang kita ada apabila berhadapan dengan polis menjadikan ia satu titik untuk mereka menggunakan budaya ketakutan, membuli dan melanggar etika penahanan. Dengan mengetahui cara yang sebenarnya berhadapan dengan pihak polis/berkuasa, penahanan dan pembulian oleh polis boleh dihalang daripada awal tanpa perlu meleret hingga ke balai polis/lokap

KETAHUILAH HAK ANDA BERHADAPAN DENGAN POLIS !!
dengan menghadiri bengkel KUASA -KUASA POLIS
(bengkel latihan untuk menjadi pelatih dan membuat bengkel sendiri di tempat masing-masing)

tempat : LOST GENERATION SPACE,
no.11, lorong permai, off jalan syed putra,
robson heights, 50460, KL
( * lihat peta dan public transport ke sana di:sini )

tarikh : 7 Januari 2005 (sabtu)
masa : 10.30 pagi - tamat (petang)
kontek: 012 243 8406
013 243 7092

organise by FOODNOTBOMBSKL

=====

Was talking to Iszie earlier, and she said some of the FNBKL people are fantastic. Mmm. Probably . I was thinking of helping out till I realised none of their operations were anywhere near where I usually am.

But yeah. So, come tomorrow if you wanna! I tried asking my stalkee to go along, but le sigh, le sigh, Lola blew me (off) again.

Oh well. To stalk, is to be persistent, no? Har har, har har.

=====

No time to blog, family duties call.

Written by lainie at 01:59 AM on January 8, 2006 in Daily Life, Arty stuff.

So. I went for the workshop today. I was dreadfully early, cause my aunt dropped me off. I was there by 9 something. Being me, obviously I got the time wrong (10.30am). Being my luck, there was no one to open the door - though this I really didn't mind as I hung round outside re-reading the book I finished last night.

Then the mozzies came and I started to mind because it was too early in the morning to be losing blood to anything but my period. Good timing though, cause that's when the doors open. They looked AWFULLY surprised to see me there (I didn't realise I was very early).

There's a reason why my friends have a "Not Lainie" philosophy.

As in,
Who's Organising?
Who Do We Call For Information?
Who Knows What's Happening?
Who Knows Date, Time, Venue?
(Not Lainie)

Being me, I also gave Fip the wrong time for the workshop (apparently, the night before, I insisted 10pm, and of course it was over by then :/ My only saving grace is after dating me for so long, she knows I'm completely hopeless at anything that involves putting stuff in order).

As for the workshop thing, it was about how to deal with the police. I know this is a stupid thing to say this in Malaysia, but my grasp of the Malay language is terrible. I had heaps of Malay friends in school, and they used to speak to me in Malay just for some ready-made laughs at my doddly language's expense.

[ Insert cunning-linguist joke here ]

Seriously, you people don't help. You guys don't sound like the textbooks I used to read - and let's just say that wasn't my strongest point anyway.

Overall, quite informative, though the really helpful part came at the last two hours of the workshop (it lasted till about 7pm, since we only started properly about noon). This recollection might be quite inaccurate, I'll explain why later.

There was a bit where they were talking about groups that were "ditindas"?

I didn't really catch on what that meant. I was thinking minority (but it turns out that's just minoriti in Malay, bah). Then I thought, maybe segregation? But I see kids in the list. But women didn't make it in. So I still am not entirely sure what "tindas" is. It just sounds like "tandas" to me.

I asked Iszie what it meant, but she messaged back to say she didn't know how to translate it soooo....

======

Albert Nok was there. I mainly remember his blog as the black one that always refuses to load on my laptop, but he has a shiny new website now.

And it loads.

=====

Met Dennis, of Katagender. We talked briefly, he likes metaphysical stuffies. I mentioned that I preferred more tangible ideas. He said nothing was really tangible, including language.

Oh, one of those people...........(brain immediately farts and leaves me on my own).

He called me an empiricist (not true, actually, I'm closer to rationalist, but just the name implies thought, which I don't do much of tralalalalaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa).

Then he started talking about ideas, and how a table wasn't really a table but an idea of a table - that's about when I steered the conversation to something more comfortable, ala John Locke and Descartes (or however their names are spelled), because fuck if I'm going to use any brain power to talk about the endless obnoxiousness of anything philosophical and screams of Plato and deconstruction (or whatever they're called, sorry, it's been 6 years since I've touched a book on philosophy).

I ended up confusing him, and myself, because I don't really think. How did I do that? I tried explaining how the empiricists and rationalists aren't that different (even though, they really are, yknow, complete opposites), which in a sense is rather deconstructionist argument (not my strong point in the first place), and I tend not to complete my sentences (in fact, you're supposed to understand all the words I'm too lazy to say by how I vaguely gesture with my hands).

Yeah, it's so sad when you can actually admit that you don't like thinking. But I don't. I'm lazy. I vibe off how I feel, and have vague "wavy line feels" about everything, but make me order that with words into a sentence, and you usually have a lot of people giving me blank looks. So yeah, Dennis gave up on what I was saying after a while.

[ Puts on best "I am artsy fartsy and you engineer people just cannot understand me" pose and look - Assistant, black beret please. ]

I no longer have any idea what I'm talking about.

I only have one brain (and even the existence of that has been questioned), I can't afford to fry it before I'm thirty.

So I'm gonna stop now.

=====

Met a guy called Hazri. He likes ISA. He's very comfortable with it. We had a very headache-inducing (for me) conversation, where he said it helped to get information -shouldn't this be a sign that something is wrong with investigations if they can only work effectively, and efficiently (and stop telling me those two words mean the same thing, dammit), by bullying?

I said, it's a law that's at the mercy of whichever dickhead can use it, and if someone's balls (or breasts, let's be fair here) grow too big, some people are gonna get into very unnecessary and unfair trouble, yah? And it's happened before. I mean. I am very uncomfortable with the idea of human rights violation in legislation, I don't care what the fricking excuses (hem, reasons, that is) are.

He said ISA needs fine-tuning. Well, finally something we agree on. My idea of fine-tuning = throw in dustbin, but that's not quite his idea. His end result of fine-tuning ISA sounds heaps like what our....yknow....basic....judicial....system.....would....be...............without.......ISA.

We agreed to disagree. And as usually happens, I thought of Dinzlink (who was the first person to mention he approves of ISA, to me), and immediately felt the kind of annoying "I don't understand them" twinge I get.

We also talked about some politick-y stuff. Our democracy is basically a farce. I said, I think it's really, really, really weird that people go "Hey, we're all the same race let's start a political party together". He said it happens in Europe too, but hmmm. I don't know much about politics.

In the workshop, this point was brought up a few times: That even though we have a choice to vote, our choices are quite limited.

=====

Hasri said something very interesting though. He told me there was this new place where people could speak their thoughts out and be heard.

I was thrilled! Where is this fantastic new place? Is there a train I can take to it? Who set it up?

Then he very carefully introduced me to the concept of the blogosphere.

Oh, that sphere. Yeah I've heard of it *eyeroll*. And who the hell said there's free speech on the internet?

[ Unless you join a Usenet group, then there's not much I can say ]

Seriously. If you talk to bloggers, you'd find that most of us self-censor. I think the most notorious among us for not self-censoring is Sixthseal, and look what happened to him :/. I've been told by a LOT of people I'm basically next, after Sixthseal, in terms of not censoring - something I'm not comfortable with because it seems to imply that after HB they're coming after me.

Also, I was uncomfortable because I heavily self-censor. For everything I blog about here, there's about 60% I don't. And I'm not talking about inane stuff that aren't worth bloggin (because, *gestures* as you can see, that doesn't really stop me most times). I really mean, stuff I'd like to say, but won't because I feel I can't really.

True, Hazri meant politics, but everyone just hedges about topics anyway.

Seriously - you tell me of ONE MALAYSIAN BLOGGER, with high readership, who has said anything politically controversial. You won't find one. And don't name Jeffooi, that's not what I meant. Forget politically controversial, most of us just make backhanded jokes and remarks about issues in case they're "Sensitive" and we get into trouble over it. We tiptoe, wink, nudge, and act VERY politically correct. We're our own best police, most of us.

Yknow. The EYE of the government feels like it's on you, even if it probably isn't. But you never know who's reading. You never know if you're being read, or if you're someone insignificant they'll scoff at the idea of tracking, or if every sentence and comment you make is being scrutinised for "sedition".

As an example, I tried telling him about that round prison thingie, where the prisoners are in a circle, and in the center is a guard post. The prisoners can't see the guards, but they know the guards have a perfect view of them. And you don't know if you're being watched. So you watch yourself, even if no one is watching you, just in case.

Or something like that. But I couldn't remember what it was called (dratted leaky memory and all), so never mind. Told you it's been years.

[ Update: And some nifty searching through my email account history reveals, it is called a Panopticon - idiots, no wonder I couldn't remember what it's called, it sounds like robot pancakes. Ah technology. ]

But yes, don't assume the internet is as free as you think. I self-censor, and it seems, so do most bloggers I know with comparatively high-readership counts.

=====

Appropriately, while Zappa was talkin about some activist thingie thingie (obviously, not paying as much attention as I should have), my mom sent me an sms, which I shall now proceed to quote verbatim:

"Bandar man open gate let out dog n deman kopi money not 2 nab"

So after many phonecalls (my mom's deafness is amazing when it comes to her cellphone. Try to mutter resentfully when she's scolding you though, and I guarantee she'll hear every word, even if you're already on the way out of the room), turns out that the DBKL people (who are the ones going around shooting dogs with godknowswhat and putting them in trucks to cart them away) had come up to our house, UNLATCHED OUR GATE, and let the dogs out.

Then demanded RM50 bribery to NOT do their dog-catcher 'duties'.

What happened? Sigh. My aunt came out, scolded the fuck out of them before they could catch the dogs, and got them back in. FUCKING CORRUPTED BASTARDS!

Idiots. Don't try to bully women related to me. I'm considered mild-stuff on BOTH sides of my family.

Women on mother's side are known to be a damn fierce lot, yknow. We can trace back generations of women who were educated and pissy for their rights, so the line has been bred to terrorise mankind by now with their temper.

No, actually, we all have thyroid problems, it's why my family gatherings gets a bit freaky sometimes. All those women not in control of their hormones, it's a chauvinistic man's dissing dream (which must be why my parents are married).

Speaking of parents. I got a haircut. Actually, my recent haircut wasn't short enough, and I'd been considering getting it shorter, but at the same time, I kinda like having long hair (not as practical but still).

THEN.

Mom tells me this lil story involving Gazel, Tommy (her boyfriend), and my father.

Basically during dinner, my dad piped up about the new haircut my sister had (very short). What he said, apparently, was along the lines of my sister should not have a short hairdo, because men in general prefer longer hair. And if Gazel DID want short hair, she should ask Tommy's permission first, to make sure he'd like it, dress up according to his preferences, so that he'd be proud to take her around (ie: display like object?).

[ Takes long, meditating breaths ]

Gazel of course said she'd do what she damned well liked, and it was not up to Tommy to dictate what she'd wear or how her hair looked.

Dad told Gazel not to be like that. Tommy said, but there's this shirt you won't let me wear? And Gazel said, "Well, it looks like a dishrag so I'm right".

And in that one sentence, there you go, the women of my family. Know anyone in need of a good emasculation session, send them over to a Choon descendant. That being said, Tommy's a good bloke so he's alright.

Obviously, after hearing that, my iffy-ness over the length of my hair solidified into hardcore "Yes it will be short now", because the one thing I inherited from dad's family (asides from huge feet) was a healthy dose of stubbornitty.

So, you know, if my dad doesn't want me to be bald, he'd better stop where he is now.

[ Dad never did make the connection, that the day he declared that girls should have long hair (while Gazel and I were in school) he didn't see that on our heads for a few years in a row after. Sigh. Convenience, and pissing off your parent at the same time, how could I have resisted in my teenage days? ]

=====

Notice I didn't say anything about what I learned during the workshop. I can berleter-leter like no one's business. And I keep two written diaries on top of that. Hah.

Basically, what the police can, or cannot do. I've assumed a lot of things that weren't true, and it's nice to have it sorted out.

Also, who to report them to, should the police abuse their position.

*Groan*.

Albert was there too, hopefully he's gonna blog about it.

Otherwise, I'll tryyyyyy to translate the leaflet I got, which was a very brief version of what we learned today.

Actually, I've read the leaflet before, got it at some futsal match, but my memory sucks.

======

After the workshop, I hung around, because Dennis said they were going to discuss what Katagender is up to on Sunday afternoon, and asked me to stay behind and see what's up.

Of course, right after saying that I'd stick around, I went to get my shoes and leave because my brain cannot retain information for more than 2 minutes.

[ It's a miracle I have anything to blog about, most times. I have some special blog-memory trained, it's weird. ]

Then he asked me if I wasn't staying, which completely weirded me out because of course I did hey wait am I putting on my shoes at the exit?. Sometimes I don't get myself.

Hung round cause wanted to get the whole "Where do people go if they want to join human rights stuffies" question done once and for all. Dennis said Komas. Which is...uhh...under construction. But they do have a page up for the Freedom Film Fest. Apparently they're great for links to all the organisations. Har har.

[ It is actually possible that I got the name of the organisation wrong ]
[ Which will be updated yet again in another entry, cause I happen to know that when I rattle on like this half of you guys probably stopped reading about twenty paragraphs back ]

Met Jac again (previously met her at a Katagender music thing). She drove me, Dennis and Zappa to some godknowswhere mamak (apparently somewhere in Bangsar).

During the drive there, they were talking about how they like Fiona Apple, PJ Harvey, and early Alanis. I was just listening, and giggling to myself, because I was innocently thinking, "wow, if I added even more "alternative" singers, it'd be like the playlist of an activi....oh wait". Then I thought, "hey, if I add some Ani diFranco, we'd have femini.....oh wait...".

So I giggled to myself at how I was generalising entire groups and their musical taste *shrug*. I didn't get along with my sister while growing up, and I needed someone to talk to. And I was the only person around, so. Single child parents, that was your cue to start contributing to global overpopulation.

Zappa was grumpy from not eating. I was lightheaded - I figured cause I woke up early, hadn't had much caffeine, and had been getting up and sitting down a lot (I have very low blood pressure so I get dizzy from that after a while) during the workshop.

So while they ate, I had two cups of coffee. Figured the sugar and caffeine ought to zing me right back to my normal 9pm mental state.

It did, momentarily. Didn't last long. I'm actually not entirely sure how I ended up there with them? But they were discussing the Katagender demonstration they will have tomorrow.

[ 1pm, Bandaraya Star LRT, there will be a petition to sign against the new Syariah laws. Do be there, dearies. ]

Called Iszie, cause I have her certs and need to hand them to her before I go back to Ipoh. The both of us combined have the most sucktastic memory in the world. I'm betting I won't see her tonight.

Argued with her that Sentul is NOT in KL. I don't care, anything where I can't see Twin Towers, and KL Tower, looking reasonably big, is NOT KL.

Fine, Sentul is in KL. *mutter mutter mutter*.

I was feeling weird throughout the whole mamak thing, kinda floaty. I bit my phone, and finger, which I usually do when I'm floaty cause biting stuff makes me feel grounded (yes, I am aware this, like many things I say, does not actually make much sense).

I remember someone (Jac?) catching me doing that, phone in my mouth, biting, and I almost said

"Oh, don't mind me, I like putting things in my mou........ (OHMYGOD)"

And yet another sentence enters the gallery of "Stupid things I almost, but thankfully never said". Good thing my body was even slower than my brain. I think I exasperated Dennis a little cause I couldn't remember much of what was happening.

After the talk, we got up, and I was lightheaded, and head sluggish, and my hands were shaking. I thought I had too much caffeine. Even laughed at "Look how my hands are shaking!".

=====

Yknow, I realised as I walked to Maybank so Fip could pick me up, that I was swaying as I walked. Which...is not right. But I waited till Fip picked me up anyway. I was very sluggish by then.

She asked me if I had dinner. I said "Of course I have". Then I thought.....wait. Did I?

I mean, it's late, and my stomach's not grumbling, so of course I've....had dinner.

Then I realised the last thing I ate was a lil bit of pie and a small bowl of soup for breakfast. And it was about 10pm by the time she picked me up.

JESUS, NO WONDER I WAS STUPID AND LIGHTHEADED THE WHOLE DAY.

Lainie + growling stomach = grumpy.
Lainie + no food + no hunger pangs = stupid.

It perpetuates, ysee, I'm too dumb to realise I haven't eaten without hunger pangs, and I need to eat to think, sooo......Yeah. I had a burger for dinner. And my brain slowly came back.

Sigh. If I was ever in a BDSM relationship, I might just benefit from it (providing I'm the bitch), because I'm the kind of person that needs someone else to do the organising and ordering.

Fip bought me two books, and okay the light outside my room just went off so I'm kinda nervous....................
Oh wait. it came back on. shall pretend nothing happened .

A Banana Yoshimoto book, Asleep. And a Jhumpa Lahiri one, "The Namesake". Which I'm pretty sure I've read before, but I'm not sure. Yeay books

=====

Oh DAMN.

Haha...I made this nasty 2 minute Photoshop recently, of Paul's Place. I sent it to Rafil, as a joke, because the Photoshopping was so bad I didn't want anyone to know I made it.

Then that arse went ahead and posted it in Jamtank forums anyway, citing me as creator. So, sigh, I might as well upload it here too.



Oh. I think I'd better sleep.

Written by lainie at 02:07 AM on January 8, 2006.

Katagender people have an interesting demonstration up tomorrow.

It will be at 1pm, SUNDAY AFTERNOON, at Bandaraya station of Star LRT.

It's about the new Syariah laws, and how the women were forced to vote for what they didn't want to.

[ Insert pathos driven talk here ]

I heard bits and pieces of what they had planned. It should be interesting. Pop over if you wanna. They'll have a petition up, for those who are against the new Syariah laws, so you get to sign it if you wanna.



Katagender will be doing a parody on what happened while passing the bill. They'll have fake cut-out smiles as the 'women senators' sign the bills, someone to hold a whip, hopefully, and so on.

And to address what Fip asked me:

No, I reckon it'll be crazy if you get arrested just for watching them demonstrate. I can't say the same for the Katagender folks, but you're not gonna be cuffed just for looking.

=====

And what the hell is this I hear that people have been linking to me as "The Lesbian"?

GAHHHHHH.

Only two people, I take that from. Nessa, and Justine. Okay?

Written by lainie at 10:27 AM on January 8, 2006.

Hi people. Read a graphic design student's blog, read about toilet signs.

======

Dammit, DAMMIT.

I'm from CENFAD (modelled after Parsons)
She's from Parsons.

and her bathroom signage kicks more ass than mine

Gender Anarchy Project.

And you know what sucks the most? I'd wanted to do ambiguous signs as well, where the same weathered wizened face, so wrinkly you can't tell what gender it is....and the rest of that face is wearing an outrageously punk dress / a suit / diapers, and make it into a series. And from there, kinda like a pun on how we define ourselves by our bodies, by what is or is not there, and in a sense those usually marginalised by male-female definitions could enter any of the bathrooms freely yknow?

Cause seriously, are you sure the one wearing a dress is female? It's the same face. And I was seriously considering putting it on the mens' room too. But in Paul's Place (which is basically quite ratty), I could basically stick it anywhere - and the message to people would be, it doesn't fuckin matter, because the toilets are pretty much the same inside.

No, Paul's Place has no Ladies, Mens, thing going on. Everyone uses the same few.

But my lecturer said something along the lines of confusing people (especially those in need of a good piss), and they might not even know it's a toilet in the first place :/

I said something along the lines of they could either let of of their piss and inhibitions, or keep both of them and suffer. And I really don't care if they can't understand it at first glance, that's the whole idea.

[ Well done, Lainie, way to sell yourself to the advertising world - Hire me, and your customers won't have any idea what I'm doing ]

Isn't it funny, if those signages really existed, someone else made it, I might one day blog about it, and complain about which dick wanted me to think on a night when I was drinking beer, just wanted some music, and needed to piss a lot from the alcohol, and those dumbasses can't even put up simple male-female signs just to propogate their agenda.

[ And I'm such a whiny bitch sometimes, it really would be more of a surprise if I didn't whine, even if I didn't actually really mind. ]

And looking at that website, I just realised I could have done something like that. Guhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

=====

This is unadulterated graphic design-envy. Feel free to add it to your coffee, it flavours it well.

Written by lainie at 06:50 PM on January 8, 2006 in Friends.

Nessa and I were talking. She wants to have a "Nessa Tree".

Basically, get a tree in say, Lake Gardens, or KLCC, and claim it as her own. Then do something like label it "The Nessa Tree", and make it distinctive by painting it some colour like purple.

It'll be a tourist attraction, at the very least. People will travel down to see The Nessa Tree.

[ I declined from making any bad jokes ala Nessa Shrubs ]

I said I'd ruin her plans. I'll have a Lainie Tree right next to hers. Bigger and brighter. But she says then it'll be a fad and the rest of you would want one too. So I can't.

so....................................

Wouldn't the paint be bad for the trees anyway?

I don't think my tree will be called Lainie Tree though. I'd call it something like The Bodacious-Noses Tree. Just to fuck with people. And so my mother will have to explain to her friends exactly what her graphic-design daughter is doing naming trees bodacious noses.

Nessa thinks hers will be purple. Mine will be neon and distracting and hopefully will cause traffic jams. Because it's not Average Nose. It's a Bodacious Nose. It must cause accidents.

Update later tonight, I'm feeling very lightheaded.

Written by lainie at 07:25 AM on January 9, 2006 in Daily Life.

Malaysia has been Boing-Boinged recently.

Drawing of the Malaysian "Bigfoot"
Malaysian blogs cover youths detained at metal concerts (submitted by Tiara, again...haha).

=====

It's 4am and I just woke up. If this continues, I'm gonna sleep with a bottle of pills by my bed and take two everytime I open my eyes.

Today (well, Sunday), turned out to be a much longer day than I had expected. So. Blog post will also be long lah, yeah?

I took the train to the Bandaraya station to pokey-nosy at what the Katagender people would be doing for their street demo. Thought, hey, these people aren't so weird, yknow, don't be alienated by what they do, I'll snap some bad photos (I'm a crapsome photographer most times), blog about it, and maybe the next time you see some people doing stuff you don't understand you might stop a while and listen.

[ I was 5 minutes late, delayed because I was talking to myself in front of the mirror and I accidentally pulled this dead-ringer look for an angry Tweety Bird, so I spent more time than I'd care to admit trying to reproduce it ]

The lateness turned out to be a non issue as I waited more than an hour for the rest of the group to arrive. God, these people and punctuality, really not happening, I wonder how they catch movies in the cinema? Dennis was out looking for a cane / whip to buy, because they needed one for their demo. He asked me if I'd brought the cane I said I could, the night before.

Till now I am not sure if he meant I was supposed to bring it, or I could have brought it if I was still at home when he called.

I was on the phone with Fip when I arrived at where the group was. Saw some familiar faces, but didn't really bother to figure out why because of the pics at the Katagender site, I'd drive myself nuts if I tried to remember who I'd seen on the website, and who I'd seen somewhere else.

Did, however, recognise one woman there as she interviewed Fip, KA and I for some gay womens' study. So it was kinda good, because I was trying to find her email address the other day in my gmail, to ask how it was going, and ended up trawling through heaps of stupid messages accumulated thanks to KA's boredom at work. Turns out they had a lot of positive response to the study (participant-wise), which was rather heartening.

Talked to Dennis to confirm again what they would be doing. Met this woman, Angela. She's interesting to talk to - mentioned she was into Gender & ICT right now. Which was strange to me, because I didn't technology could have a gender (and right after Jac said the night before she wanted to do some course she'd heard about, involving females and robots - knowing me, I've probably just totally turned around what she'd said, so don't quote me).

Turns out it's entirely possible to tie in gender with tech. Gosh, did you guys know? GenderIT.org, they even have a webby! Basically, stuff tied in to purchasing power, mobility, something something - better if you go to the website yourself.

Also met someone studying philosophy in America, mostly french philosophy, if I recall correctly. So I racked my brains (which is seriously geographically-challenged) and came up with a few names. I'm not even sure why philosophy seems to be popping up more frequently recently. We talked about deconstruction (again...? in two days?). She said she wasn't a fan of Foucoult's philosophy (something I don't hear often), but did like Gilles Deleuze a lot (and gave me the name so I can look up Anti-Oedipus stuff and the only reason I'm putting this here is because I'd absolutely forget otherwise).

[ By the way, I pretty much told her I'd check it out, but admitted I'd probably forget everything I read and the next time we meet, my average memory recall rates would be about two sentences worth of information ]

I'm antisocial, but I knew I'd be talking to some people from Katagender, so I was mentally prepared for that *eyeroll, I'm such a social pain, I know*....There were actually more people than I expected. Basically just hung around, had two doses of coffee waiting for the thingie to start so I could take piccies, fuck off, and meet up with some people for more coffee.

People kept asking me where I was from, and I kept saying Ipoh.

I'd get these looks, and I'd be a bit "What? I am from Ipoh". But it turns out they just mean "which organisation?". Was mildly tempted to say something like International Woo Woos, but I figured that was a bit too stupid, even for me. So I explained a few times I just wanted to stick around a lil while so I could blog about it later.

Jac and a few others finally show up....Jac has this massive sheaf of didn't-know-what papers, and she was hand