Written by lainie at 03:21 PM on June 1, 2006.

2 days after i turn off System Restore, my profile won't load.

............................................................

Sigh.
Later.

===

AND - to all who went for demonstration and didn't find me there, because it didn't cross my mind to leave my phone number with y'all....

Er. I am sorry. So so so so sorry. Much apologies. We went there a bit later than expected (yes, it did happen).

Explain later. Either way....Sorry. Especially - Jazzrat, didn't mean to pull you from your law work like that, hope your time wasn't overly wasted.

Written by lainie at 02:54 AM on June 2, 2006.

So, protest.

Last night I was supposed to get the "thought bubbles" made to wear on heads, with captions written on them.

Handed in my research paper to Bernice (who lately, by the way, has threatened to fail me one way or another everytime I speak to her, my only consolation being I'm so overloaded on elective credits I can totally afford the F).

Bernice: What is it about your paper that's taking so long?
Lainie: I don't know...I got so desperate I kinda asked some people to write it. Oh, and Jac.
Bernice: What? No! That is so bad. Lainie! I would have failed you!
Lainie: What? I was desperate! And it's not like I'd have told you if someone else wrote it.
Bernice: I would have known! I know how you write! Jac doesn't write like you!

[ Actually, I write all sorta papers for my friends, I *do* know how to write academically.Kinda. Not that I bother. Also, point, I'd probably not understand the paper if she wrote it, much less be able to pretend it's mine. ]

Lainie: Geez. Don't worry, I'm writing it.
Bernice: What on earth were you thinking?
Lainie: Hey man, it made perfect sense at that time. She has a brain, I could do with a brain, and look, a paper! To write!
Bernice: I would have so failed you, my god.
Lainie: Everything makes sense when I'm desperate.

Please note I was at height of sleep deprivation when I came up with that bright idea.

Oh call it a lil suspicion she'll not be very impressed with the paper I came up with. Kate called me an idiot. But that doesn't count, cause she calls me that all the time. I was bumming around with Kate, which means my brain is dead because we have...uh, intelligent conversations, all the time.

Kate: Are you listening? Dammit, girl.

is about the most I can remember her saying most of the time, because obviously, I wasn't.

I saw the best peace button ever on her dresser. It's this trippy, fuzzy looking, colourful, manic peace button.

Lainie: Oooh! Pretty peace button! I want!
Kate: No, I need em for work.
Lainie: Trade! Whaddya want?

[ My whole bag used to be covered with buttons, now there are only five left ]

Kate: Mmm. None. I want my peace button.
Lainie: ......I am so stealing this when you're not looking.
Kate: *death glare*

I will, too. I love it so much. I love trip art. What kinda hippy clings on to material goods anyway? GIVE IT! GIVE IT!

=====

Kate brought me to Wings, cause I needed to get some boards - she gave me some, and I have heaps more at home (typical graphics students), but I also wanted to get wires for the thought bubbles, and a new blade. And check out paints. Oh crap, where is my new blade?

And I bought another steel ruler because I have no willpower and I'm a stationery whore, the worst combination possible for anyone with a wallet in Wings. Or is it worse to not have a wallet at all? So hard to tell, sometimes.

Went over to her place to make the bubbles. After cutting out two of them, I got whiny, which is my natural state of being. Kate was grumpy because there was this whiny girl in her living room making thought bubbles, and she was probably gonna be up all night doing an assignment.

I hate twisting wires, and I had no idea what I was doing and how to make them fit a head, and after one attempt

Lainie: Hey. Skin's coming off my fingers. Look.
Kate: Hmmphhh.
Lainie: Okay, ow. Owwwwwww. Owwwwwwwwwwww.

[ Actually, no pain involved, but my fingers felt numb. I get rheumatic pains sometimes, doesn't help. Doesn't this sound so hip? ]

Kate: Wuss.
Lainie: Shut the fuck up*

*Kate said that at the same time as me because I'm dead predictable. Then she walked off giggling to herself while I glared.

In the end, used cardboard strips to make the head belt. Like a crown. Kate said it's cause graphic design also includes problem solving *shrug*. It looks so stupid when people wear it. Kate and I tried one each and it's Instant Mullet Hair. Laughed my arse off at ourselves.

Then we swapped, she made the bubbles and I did her computer work for her because we're both heaps faster that way - we finished hours ahead. Or rather, she did, I'd have taken about the same amount of time if I made the bubbles, maybe half an hour more.

Heck, all she needed was a big chunk of Photoshopping and I threw on a basic grid, photographed her, manipulated / created some graphics on the spot, and there. And I'm a Photoshop geek, if nothing else. Instant, easy assignment. Almost too easy, now I worry that I missed something.

We both finished at the same time, roughly. So, good swap. I checked on the bubbles.

Lainie: ....Oh GOD, Kate, these look liky wrinkly dog dicks.
Kate: What? No they don't!
Lainie: They look like wrinkly dog dicks! WHY?
Kate: What the fuck man, they do not. Dammit, girl, how do they look like that?

Lainie: My brain feels numb. Am I just extra pervy or something?
Kate: You're being extra pervy. You're always extra pervy

[ I resent that ]

Lainie: Dammit. There are gonna be feminists tomorrow, I don't want to give them cardboard penis cutouts to wear on their foreheads! Do you have any idea how wrong that is?
Kate: It does not look like a goddamn penis, okay?
Lainie: Fine.
Kate: Jesus.
Lainie: You're going to make me put a penis on a feminist's head. I hate you.
Kate: Shut up! It does not look like a penis!
Lainie: Fine.
Kate: Jeeesus.

Decided to stay over at her place because we were both sooooooo lazy by then. My alarm clock rang at 6something in the morning, I'm not sure why I set it that early. I just thought of what time I needed to be in the LRT station and set the alarm two hours ahead. I think Kate would have killed me if she wasn't so sleepy.

When it rang -

Kate: Oh you bitch.....
Lainie: What, I don't like being late...

[ Creepy first words of the day ]

She cursed me, her cracko friend who lazed around in bed dreamily while she had her sleep disturbed. Then I slowly woke up and wanted a white tshirt - ended up borrowing her hoodie instead.

Then had to shower. Was tempted to pop out of the bathroom doing some cheesy rap routine, but I didn't want my head bopped, and I was too cold and shivering like crazy anyway.

Then must have my morning coffee, two. Then must go buy sweets. Then had to be dropped off at the train station with the thought bubbles she made and packed, all this at 7 something in the morning - It's a wonder I have any friends, really.

=====

Then I went for the protest - blog bout that tomorrow, cause I wanna put photos. Also, cause Joyce doesn't want her friends to read about it yet, so fair enough Let's just say I hate having my photograph taken, but that happened :/. Oh, and it was such a chore to have to hold Joyce's hand all morning, obviously.

Joyce: You damn ambil kesempatan ah?
Lainie: Who, me? Nawwww lah. Now c'meeeeere, hold my hand .
Joyce: ........You really damn ambil kesempatan ah?


Fairies are real. *Ding!*

I'm so wasting your time because I'll be reposting this in the next entry. Lalala. Check out Cheneille's pictures, I laughed like crazy. Chen, what the hell did you do to their faces man???

====

Then at night I went for Moonshine. Quite a few people I'd asked to go for the demonstration but couldn't make it were performing that night. I'd asked Reza, Tempered Mental, and Rhapsody.

Reza: I have to practice with Melina for Moonshine.
Nicole: We have to play with Jimmy in the morning, for Moonshine later.
T Mental: We need to rehearse for Moonshine.

Mahai, you people don't know anyone else ah? Damn cannot make it. The only band I'd not watched before that night was Qings and Kueens, and DAMMIT, I missed their set because I had heaps of computer problems I needed to fix (also why I'm not blogging about the protest till tomorrow). Thank goodness I had the presence of mind ot always have a spare admin account to use.

Couple played, and obviously their lil cult following was there. Usual cheesy jokes, seemed like the usual set they normally perform, and good music. I got their CD - I'd wanted to get a copy the last time I caught their gig, but didn't have money then.

So: June 3rd, Lucy in The Loo will be playing as well in Jam Asia. Hana plays for both LiTL and Couple.

One Night Stand
3 June, 7.30pm
Hacienda Music and Super Stellar Sound presents a gig featuring bands like Seven Collar T-Shirt, Bitersweet, Lucy In The Loo, Radioflyer and April providing some tunes in an intimate setting.
RM15
KL Jam Asia
19-1 Jalan 22A/70A, Plaza Crystalville, Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 03-6201 8962

God I hope it's a full set, I like Lucy in The Loo. Heaps. Ages since I went for one of their gigs, damn cannot miss.

Met up with the Rhapsody girls - I heard them on Red fm, they sounded damn good, so I knew Moonshine would be packed as it normally is, but with even more people after that radio show.

They'd said on the radio they were selling CDs with one single for RM2. It was okay, because Reza and I had been trying to convince them to sell for more, but they kept wanting to give it away for free because they were self-conscious about asking for money for it. Naw, man. Don't swallow the cost like that, you'd also kinda ruin it for others who can't afford to do the same after you've set the precedent*

[ *macam giving unnecessary extra pressure? ]

When Reza introduced the CD, he said it was RM5 (hee hee, go Reza!), and later told Nicole people would buy it. And he was right. Lookie those cds go! It's good that they're finally recording a CD for proper.

Isaac Entry was there as well, I asked him if he was gonna perform, and he said if he was drunk enough he would. He wasn't drunk enough -_-".

I'd asked Reza if anyone had approached him about a protest for open mic, because Jac had mentioned earlier that maybe we'd do something there since Xfresh tv was gonna be there as well, so we could reach out to their...uh. Audience?

Which would have been fine with me because I knew Lola wasn't gonna be there (since I asked her to go and it didn't work - again).

Lainie: Is there gonna be a protest here?
Reza: Against the flow of alcohol? *grin*
Lainie: Haha..No man. For the KLCC couple holding hands thing. Someone mentioned they might do it here, for open mic?
Reza: Really? That'd be so cool. Awesome. I'd close one eye, feign ignorance, totally.
Lainie: Oh. Coooool.

So I called someone to ask but turns out nothing was happening .

When Reza went up to open mic and introduced it,

Reza: Anyone who wants to....protest....perform, sing a song.

Hee hee. I forgot to tell him there'd be no protest at Moonshine. Whoops, sorry.

It started off with Xfresh tv people telling a really bad joke and singing a really good song, but very badly. It was a complete.........Okay, since my stalkee *did* use to work with Xfresh and has allegiance there, I think I shall stop here.

.

Xfresh is safe(r) cause of Lola, whom I'm pretty sure would rather I transfer my reservations to other aspects of our interactions - but fuck it.

======

Tomorrow night is a gay party in Liquid. Actually gay parties unnerve me so my friends have been, I reckon, getting a bit annoyed asking me to go for it.

Met some LiT (Lost in Transit) performers at Moonshine, they said they'd be doing two songs at the Liquid party - they're the singers from the play "Girl From Ipoh" that Yuen directed. Hmmm. Now I have more incentive to go.

But I might be going for a rocking house party instead, where we will....Uhm. Quietly get wasted, if that makes sense at all. And Actorlympics is happening. Gay party.

Fuck. Overload.

=====

My uncle wanted me to write about his website in the newspaper. The one I massively bitched about.

Uncle: You tell them, I will write it for them.
Lainie: Uh. Okay.....
Uncle: For free!
Lainie: Uh..............Okaaaay.
Uncle: And then you let them print it.
Lainie: Uh- huhhhhhhhhhhhh...............................?

Did my uncle just make it sound like he's doing them a favour by allowing them to advertise his website for him.........?

Lainie: Maybe....before you try something like that. You should fix it up first.
Uncle: Meaning?
Lainie: At least the grammar and spelling mistakes?
Uncle: Oh. Is it bad?
Lainie: Uhm. Yes.

[ YES OMG ARE YOU KIDDING ME? ]

Uncle: What else?
Lainie: *takes deep breath*

I had to restrain myself, but basically I nicely, and about as tactfully as someone with no practice at tact can possibly be, suggested that he change

1) the colours
2) the typo
3) the graphics
4) the copy
5) the grid
6) the concept
7) the target audience
8) everything else not listed 1 - 7.

I'm not sure where the restraint is, but I know I tried damned hard.

I really couldn't stop, once I pointed out this and that I couldn't take it anymore and everything just blabbed out. I pointed out to him that it did not make sense to have his header - this animation of god knows how many cheesy taglines, dropping in letter by letter, from different heights and several colours, and then scrolling left right up down.

That's really his header.

So I pointed out to him all the things that didn't work (I rejected every single graphic element the website employed) , and why, in case he thought I was cracko.

Uncle: Oh yes. I see your point.

[ Later ]

Uncle: The idiot who made this website, why didn't he do all these for me?

[ Later ]

Uncle: Yes I see why. We need to fix this up. (We what we?)

[ Later ]

Lainie: blablablabla-and-blablabla-and-blablabla-and-blablabla, example *click* blablabla *gesture* blablabla and *click click* in comparison blablablabla

Uncle: Oh. Ohhhh. Oh, shiiiit.

I think my uncle is kiiiinda realising his website isn't very well designed. Especially when I showed him other websites who would be his competitors.

And I asked him to at least use light gray / brown to complement the blues he had, instead of the dark black lines he has (quite unnecessarily) everywhere.

Because blue and brown is such a cliched combo. Hee. Who wants cliched colours, I am great with cliches. Brown and blue? White on black? Green and orange? Cmon, cmon, many more to spare.

I am calling complementary colours cliched. Die. Why don't I diss the Bauhaus colours while I'm at it (but no, really, those are kinda totally clich-...okay I shall stop now).

====

Lainie: And this type here, it's really not working, very hard to read. It's long paragraphs of illegible text.
Uncle: Hmmm. Okay. I will make the whole thing bold
Lainie: Sorry, WHAT?
Uncle: Make it bold.

*Uncle gestures at random paragraph in his lengthy front page that is entirely bolded and bigger size for no goddamn reason*
*gestures at another similar paragraph, that is lengthier, also bigger and bolder for no reason, AND has a BOX of black lines around it. I have a headache on the spot.

Uncle: Like this one here. Or this one here.
Lainie: Uhm. That'll just make everything bigger.
Uncle: Yes. Good.
Lainie: NO! Are you kidd-

[ Pause ]

Lainie: I mean. It'll make all the parts that don't fit bigger too.
Uncle: Oh. Is it?
Lainie: Yes.

Tip of the day: If someone points out a mistake, the solution is probably *not* to make it look bigger.

Unless it's problem is, it's too small.

Otherwise, don't make it bigger.

Does this make sense?

Written by lainie at 08:31 PM on June 2, 2006 in Daily Life.

Oh freaky. A car drove was driving by slowly outside my house, just as I stepped out in my tatty tshirt, boxers and massive bed hair, coughing my lungs out. There were three VERY happy people inside, grinning widely while staring at me. I thought it was cause of how bad I looked.

Then the driver rolled down the window, still smiling.
They all wave at me. Enthusiastically.

[ Long pause as I think to myself "Well it's not cause I stepped out of the house looking drop dead gorgeous" ]

The girl at the back says something inside to the two fellows in front, who nod vigorously, while pointing at me. Her window rolls down. I am staring at them, highly alarmed.

Three of them talk at the same time. I cannot have a few people talking to me at one go, especially when I feel blur, I'll completely not be able to tell what's happening! I have enough trouble paying attention to one person.

I tried to focus on just one voice, figure out who the HELL these happily waving people were, but nope - then they slowly drove off, still smiling, still waving. I watched them leave with wide eyes.

Uh. Okay. Do I have new stalkers I don't know of? Look, I have nothing against meeting blog readers, but don't freak me out from a distance man.

I then continued out to buy my coffee, leaving house door and gate unlocked (the good part about living with three allergy attacks dogs, the bad part about crazy caffeine cravings).

=====

So yesterday was the protest. Context, context...Mmmm, dammit do I have to explain everything. Katagender organised it, and it was meant to be held at the courts - the court case bout the couple getting fined over holding hands in KLCC was supposed to happen yesterday.

When I tell people about this, the first thing they always ask is "Oh, Muslim ke?". No, they're Chinese (non Muslim ones, to be exact). Bleh, it must kinda suck to be policed all the time.

=====

On the way to the protest, I typed out this message "Wokay, don't know why I bother, but are you awake?" and sent it to Tei, whom I knew would FFK me. Fifteen minutes of silence, I called and got her voicemail. See, I knew it (to be fair she had crazy call times the night before, and yesterday as well). Then I called Zedeck, who said he wasn't feeling well.

Which is good for him, because if police had run after us, my plan would have been to trip him and run off first. Uh. I'm kidding. I think.

I showed up at the train station way early, and was alone - I figured I'd just keep quiet and wait since these people are not good with time at all.

Joyce sends me panicky message

Joyce: I'm like two fricking stations away don't leave without me!
Lainie: Please.....There's no one else here.

Turns out Chi Too was at the station across the road, so Joyce, Chen and I met up there. Joyce handed me two of her typography books - the reason why I'd asked her to come to the protest was cause she wanted to loan me them, and I told her that she could meet me on the protest day.

She says I conned her.

She's really busy, usually, but she's a darling and figured the world's not all about herself so she ought to give it a shot. Which is actually a much better thing than when telling someone about this, and they go "But I wasn't fined lah, none of my business, never mind lah. Why you bothering? They should have just bribed the officers". If I keep losing my temper when my friends say stuff like that, I'm gonna end up with very few, but a better temperament.

Lainie: Ooh. I like your shoes woman.
Joyce: Thank you.
Lainie: Luckily you didn't wear heels.
Joyce: Ei hello, when you told me that, I was like...I'm not an idiot okay.
Lainie: WHAT? I accidentally wore heels to the last one man.
Joyce: You have heels -_-"
Lainie: You called me an idiot -_-"

I have more pairs of heels than anything else. 1 pair of sandals, broken sneakers, and now, new pair of sneakers. Everything else are heels. Also, I must declare, I wore heels because I forgot and I was going clubbing later.

The other people arrived, sooner or later (mostly later). Chi saw the signs I (or rather, Kate) made. He said he didn't have the time to make his bubbles nice like mine -_-". I didn't even think mine were nice (like I said, they look like something else to me....). I told him I didn't have a lot of time either (but heck, I have friends to do my work).

There, we took another train to...I don't know where, but near the courts. We walked around looking for the other bunch of people who were joining us, but they were nowhere to be found. I mean, we were already late, how much later was everyone else? After a few minutes, Jac showed up with the rest. Sense of time damn cannot make it -_-".


Getting the signs ready. Some people were writing captions on the bubbles. Those cloths are just people holding hands behind bars, with a heart sign above. My bubbles weren't used, we had enough. I think I lost a marker here. Ah well, it all balances.

Joyce was already eyeing the family having nasi lemak together, and the shop selling the food. I will later get very hungry because she will be eyeing pies, steaks, meat, beer, pasta, set lunches and all kindsa food in KLCC. Mahai, so evil.

Halfway through, some of them started getting phone calls - the case is to be postponed. I thought the protest would be cancelled too, since the court case is not happening.

Jac: Fuck it, we're still going ahead, blablabla, make a statement, blablabla show support blablabla press.

I wasn't listening, all I knew was no one would be there, but heck, we would! Damn bersemangat


So we pinned the stencils on our shirts (I like the keyhole question mark thing, actually. Hmm. Didn't notice it while I was wearing one), grabbed a bubble each - mine said something in Chinese characters. I don't know why, everytime I'm with the Katagender people, I'm holding these stuff and I have no idea what the messages on them are. I mean, I taught myself to read a fair bit when I was a kid, but mostly out of desperation to read manga, then after a while, Malay translations came out and I didn't really bother much. Well, then I had to learn again to interpret Japanese anime. But Dragonball and Yuyu Hakusho only uses that many words.........

We walked hand in hand to the courts nearby, with bubbles sticking out from behind our necks, under our heads, over our hair, thoughts coming out of some cheekier people's groins. Stood in front of the courts, people watched, Jac reads a statement to say what this is about (I should have taken a copy of that, really) - Press wasn't really listening, as they were busy taking photos (I am avoiding the newspaper uncle today). Everyone claps after that, and we are done outside the courts.

We are told our next action would be to walk, holding hands, to KLCC. I vaguely wonder how far away that is.

Then Honey Tan, from AWAM, invited us to the mamak where we hung around for fifteen minutes having a drink - seriously, very hot day. Jac briefed Joyce, Chen and I on what was supposed to happen after this - and I SWEAR I was listening at the beginning.

But yeah, I lost track eventually and all I heard was noise coming out of her after awhile - till I got caught...She looked at me and said "Okay, you're not listening anymore, so friends, pay attention yeah?". Wow that snapped me back somewhat, the guy next to her said something, and......sigh. Fine, I wasn't listening.

I asked this girl if she was at some Reiki seminar giving energy to people onstage - because Chen (the dumbass) couldn't remember anything but her name and haircut, saw someone who fit the description, and asked me if she was into transferring energy. Like, fuck, how would I know if she's some new age hippy? Turns out it wasn't her anyway.

Joyce is a networker. Joyce knows many people.

Turns out we had to take a train to a nearby station, and walk to KLCC from there, in pairs, holding hands.


Facking around before going into KLCC. I love this pic.

We went in pair by pair, because anything 3 and above is an illegal gathering (such an obnoxious law I tell you). We were told to just go shopping if the guards harassed us.

Lainie: *looks at Joyce*...Wow, that ought to be right up your alley...

So Joyce ended up walking around with me in the mall, hand in hand, for the rest of the protest. Heeeeeeeeeeee...................................

No one really noticed us (mall was also kinda empty). So we walked to the fountain area, and Jac said we'd do it in groups instead, for more impact (so much for illegal gathering). Chi gave us flowers, and we each took a floor to walk around in. We had to ask people there "Do you think it's wrong to hold hands in public?", and if they say it isn't wrong, give them a flower.

So Joyce and I held hands and she did the talking - she's wonderful with strangers. I hate talking to people, so she did more than me . The thing is, I think most people thought we were some gay rights people (two girls holding hands comes up to you and asks if it's okay to hold hands in public...I mean)...So they were wary. Oh feck it, I'd hold any damn hand I want in public.

Some people walked away as Joyce started talking, just shaking their heads. Joyce would hold the flowers like some club, looking like she's about to get very violent. Like, er no Joyce, messenger of Peace, Peace, Peace. Don't attack KLCC shoppers.

One couple that walked off, I trailed after them going "But but.....Buy? Insurance? Life insurance? Robberies? Home insurance? Earthquake insurance? Tsunami? Volcano?". They walked away faster. "Insurance? Insurance?"...they were gone. I really shouldn't do that to people.

One Muslim lady hanging out with her family we were talking to about the court case asked why we were doing this demonstration - If I had answered, she'd probably have gotten "Whaddya mean, WHY" as a response.

Fortunately, Joyce was there and she said "To raise awareness, because not everyone is aware of this issue, and we don't think it's right to be policed this way, so we're trying to get more people to know about it", because we'd told her bout the court case earlier - the woman had no idea what had happened.The lady said it was good for us to do this, that more should happen, because otherwise, she'd never know.

After the flowers were all given away (I'd suggested to Joyce that we only approach pretty people I wouldn't mind talking to, but she insisted on conscientiously talking to everyone and giving out flowers), we went back to the fountain. Kecik and some others were negotiating with guards (Chen said they were talking all chummy to them), saying that they shouldn't arrest shoppers. I'd told Joyce earlier it would be hilarious if for the Consumer Section of KLUE, Joyce's article would say "I didn't find anything in KLCC because while I was sourcing for items I was detained by the guards".

We had to go to the park after that, cause KLUE wanted to take photos.


Jerome is one of the pretty people behind Troubadours (and I really like his bag), who will be teaming up with Doppelganger yet again this Sunday for the Troubaganger Anniversary Show, and you should probably check it out . Fun fun.


Joyce was reaaaally hungry by then. It was almost noon. She'd been whining for beer since the morning (and wonders why I thought she was serious about drinking at the protest).


Chi Too wore a hat all day, so this is his hat hair look. He complained that he would look bad, but . I wanted to take a photo of him for Nessa, who will remember him forever, and ever, and ever, and everrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Lainie: I met him again yesterday, and I told him you remember him.
Nessa:Yeah! I remember him!
Lainie: Which is fucking amazing, you never remember anyone I introduce you to.
Nessa: Yeah, but he complimented my skirt!
Lainie: Yeap. I told him no one ever does shit like that.
Nessa: Yeah man. Haha. Only him.

God, could a guy have made a better impression on her. I invited her out tonight, but she said she'd die if she does, cause she has to run 42K tomorrow*. I think she's running with the Petaling chapter of Hash House Runners. Aunt Lea is the beer champion - One mug with a straw, 3 seconds, I think.

[ *Waitagoddamnminute, that doesn't add up. I used to go clubbing with her and Daph before / after they do triathlons, marathons, duathlons...am I even spelling these right? Bee-yatch. ]

Some of them wanted to know why she wasn't there (Nessa visited me briefly for the last one I went for)....Because she's still in school in Ipoh -_-".

Tei asked for a profile photo of Nessa. I sent Tei a picture of Nessa flexing her arms - MASSIVE biceps....Most people don't know Nessa's really ripped unless she flexes, cause she looks pretty normal otherwise.

The photos I sent Tei:

Nessa can look normal.


And Nessa can look....slightly more intimidating.....


That's not the biggest the arms can go either, that photo was taken about two minutes into her continuously flexing and holding it, so she was getting tired. She was awfully patient with me that day, I was grumpy as heck cause I hate doing photography assignments.

=====

During the KLUE photos, I got a call from Kim, telling me to send her photos to The Sun, so they could publish it in their article. In the spirit of "I don't see why I should do a damn thing when someone else can", I pointed out that Jac writes for The Sun too, occasionally. Kim said Jac is usually very busy and might not be able to meet the deadline as she doesn't have the time (as opposed to me, obviously with all that lovely fack-around hours to spare...............). And if Jac doesn't send the photos I had to (did I take any? Nope. I took like 5).

I hung up the phone and looked at Jac. Damn, I've never seen her on time for anything.

Lainie: Oi. Miss Punctuality. If you don't send in the photos, I have to. And I don't have any.

Jac declared she was damn punctual today. My face: -______-" (no you weren't.........my god, is this why you guys have such a bad reputation for time......). Then again, she also said it wasn't her fault I like to be early for everything :/.

I think something on my face might have said exactly how much faith I had in her sending in the photos on time, because she spotted it. Choral speaking has ruined my face, I don't realise most times there's an expression there.

Asking Jac to be on time felt as pointless as a bored office worker flipping pencils into the ceiling, but she must have pulled through (I guess, somehow), because a photo did appear in The Sun today.



"Serious activist" pose vs "Lalalala - look, pretty trees!" pose.

Heeee Heeee Heee heee. Seriously, the only reason I'm bothering to yellow out her face is cause, for some reason, Chen did too. It actually makes no sense to do so, cause far as I know her face is in the papers too. And does appear in the Katagender site. And splattered everywhere else. Well, actually, another better reason springs to mind, but never mind that.

We had to hold up bubbles again. The first one I was handed was some religion one I could not bring myself to touch. Religion my morality? Pffft, obviously I can't agree with everyone at the protest on everything. The next one I didn't want was handed to Jac, and she didn't want it either - not many people did .

Then we were done, and I went off to have lunch with Joyce and Chen. Joyce went home to sleep (she couldn't believe she woke up so early. For a protest, to boot). Chen and I went to Kinokuniya, where she picked up a Sarah Waters book.

Sarah Waters is such a waste of time. I can't believe I actually had to say this:

Lainie: I can't support every damn writer just cause they're gay or lesbian. That makes no sense. And, I'll have no time left.

Chen can't believe I didn't like her books. Really, I didn't. AT ALL.

=====

Protest links

KATAGENDER
Since when is Affection a Crime

"Pada kali ini, Balai Polis Dang Wangi tidak dihubungi, dan kami tidak dicurah dengan hujan kuning atau baton yang bertindak tanpa berfikir. Syukur sekali lagi..."
Shit. Don't scare me man.
Berpegang Tangan, Memberi Bunga, Mencari Petua (I would translate but I can't).
In The Media (newspaper clippings included).

KLUE
What's Wrong With Holding Hands?

EZTHETIC
Holding Hands (photos)

CIJ's RADIO RADIQ
Kes pegang tangan di taman ditangguh (an MP3)

KINKYBLUEFAIRY
Finally. About The Protest...

CHEN
Jail Free Protest

other bloggers who were there and might blog about this:

Asyraf Lee (photographer).
Kinkybluefairy (alcoholic) Joyce implies I'm making up stories about her drinking habits, so I apologise and almost take back what I say..

=====
Got this in my email, about the protest:

heard from some people that we are out as front page in sin chew (wahhhhh), page 2 in the sun (che waaah), also in guang ming

KA is laughing because she knows I don't want my picture anywhere (LOOK, I know my BLOG entirely contradicts what I say all the time, just shush). But I suppose I should learn.

I'm going for the gay party :/ I messaged my friend to tell her I was sorry, but my friends did ask me to go to Liquid first. I got this in reply: "Aiya fuck the dyke party...You always hang out with them".

I do? Oh hell, I'll see you guys at Pasar Seni okay? Much love, much love!

I'll be in Pasar Seni (daytime, Sat & Sun, 12-6pm) and La Bodega (Sunday night, Troubaganger anniversary show) over the weekend. CIJ is organising the damn cool weekend at Pasar Seni.



Fuck, this entry is so long.

Written by lainie at 10:41 PM on June 2, 2006.

Uncle: You're going out ah?
Lainie: Yeah.
Uncle: Gimme five minutes, I want you to help me.

[ Picks up fish net with a gabillion squirming worms inside ]

Lainie: (HOLY SHIT)

[ Puts net aside ]

Uncle: I need you to help me move the cover for the fish tank.
Lainie: Oh. Okay. *whew*.

Written by lainie at 12:14 PM on June 3, 2006 in Daily Life.

Ricecooker site has location, links to bands performing (including his own, Carburetor Dung), time, and everything else connected.

I'm insomniac again. Not funny at all. But yes, will be there.

I'm skipping Jam Asia because I figure Lucy in The Loo's been recording lately and they'll eventually need to gig a lot to promote their new cd.

Instead, will be heading after this for Actorlympics, which comes with a hilarious "Which of the following film critics sounds the most amateurish?" poll on the side.

Pang, Pang. Picked some funny quotes and our ministers (look like they) are idiots.

I sent Lola a message listing all these, figured I'd make it easier for her to say "No" one time.

=====

Yesterday's gay party in Liquid, organised by Purplelab (who are Good As You, whatever that means. Ahem).

Hmmm, I checked out some people, but this blog has nasty tendency of biting my arse , so I'm not sure what to say, but I'm vaguely grateful I remember for once.

It was the Icon contest, where one dyke of the year is chosen based on her personality-talent.

During the talent show:

First contestant goes up. Uh. KIND OF a dance.
Lainie's reaction: ..................??????

Second contestant goes up. Aerobics tae-bo kinda thing.
Lainie's reaction: ..................?

Third contestant goes up. Bellydance.
Lainie's reaction: ..................

Fourth contestant goes up. Flute, yeay. Dance.
Lainie's reaction: ..... ...............?

Fifth contestant goes up. Karaoke.
Lainie's reaction: ..................?

I mean, kudos for bravely going onstage, and yeay yeay, WWLW kinda support, but that's about it for me. The women all cheered extra loud everytime a femme girl dances sexy on stage, and ignored many other things unless it was their friend performing. Felt so voyeuristic (I am bitching about voyeurism, at a contest, why?).

Maybe I was in an off mood. I'd forgotten to eat dinner, and had somehow convinced myself that Liquid is like totally five-minute walking distance from my house.

There's an imp in my head, and she's whispering all these stupid info into my head and making me walk all over KL. I got fantastically lost for quite some time before I found Liquid - I'd never been so happy to see a market and lesbians before. And no, Liquid is SO not walking distance from my house. I'd called Tei to confirm I was going the right way and:

Tei: You're walking there?
Lainie: Yeah. It's near my house, right?
Tei: Uh. No. It's really far away.
Lainie: Oh.....Crap.

When I arrived (much later) Kat told me that the LiT performers were singing soon, so I decided to screw dinner. There was a complimentary drink there - I wanted a soft drink, but they only had alcohol, Red Bull (which I hate) and water (which I don't drink). Soooo, I had a beer.

Kat told me off because I joked that I was there cause Tei asked me to - Kat had invited me as well and I'd been reluctant. I had to explain it was cause Angie had told me they'd be singing and I said I'd go watch them. Sound system wasn't that good that night, pity.

Halfway through the talent show performances, I was startled to notice that one of the crew is my senior from school, looking all cool working some console thing. Like holy shit, there are other gay girls from my school! Which is a totally stupid reaction, because of course there are, I'm friends with quite a few, dammit. Hah, but it's cool, I had no idea about her.

Then again, I had no idea what gay girls did while I was in school. I had a vague idea cause one of my really close friends came out to me when we were young....But heck, I was altogether quite notoriously blur in school, never knew what was happening....And, uh, one of the gay girls would stroke my arm while I was changing clothes from PE in class and go

"Came Out of Closet in College" Classmate: What are you doing? *strokes arm*
Young, blur "No Gaydar" Lainie: Uh. Changing clothes? (why, can't you tell?).

*forehead smack*

Anyhow, yeah man. I was bored during the talent show, so I looked around, and ching ching ching!. ZOMG, Zoinks, Zowwie, yet another senior from my school! Woahhhhhhhhhh. Wait, are there any more? *scans crowd*

After the Icon show, as I was crossing the dancefloor, I briefly talked to the both of them. They seem really nice, but I didn't talk that much cause I wanted to ask Kat something before I forgot (then by the time I took the ten steps towards Kat, I forgot the question anyway *shrug*).

Met a lot of people there - Kat and her friends, an ex classmate from college, Tei and Shy were there. Tei gave me whisky, and later on I had yet another beer - me drinking on an empty stomach and nothing happened - were the drinks majorly watered down, or *gasp* oh hope! Have I finally developed some alcohol tolerance, at last?

Tei: Here, have a whiskey.
Lainie: I shouldn't be taking cold drinks, my throat...
Tei: Will you just take the ice out and drink?
Lainie: Fine. *Fiddles with stick to get them out*
Tei: Lains. Put those fingers to good use.
Lainie: Oh shut up. I'm not getting them dirty.
Tei: Ohhhh, how long has it been since you've used them?
Lainie: Ohhhh, not quite as long as you, dear.
Tei: *death glare*
Lainie: *sarcastic smile*
Tei: At least I'm not hitting on women who are blabla and blabla and blabla

[ *Censored because I'm (still not) fucked otherwise* ]

Lainie: What, like you really aren't? (HYPOCRITE!)
Tei: Ahahah.....
Lainie: Ahahahhaha................................
Tei: ..................
Lainie: ..................
Tei: *drinks*
Lainie: *gulps*

Don't tease your friend about being single if you've been single for the last two years, ever since she met you.

I really liked watching the dancers, especially the choreographer. Quite cool. They did a few performances, very entertaining (I think they actually did heaps better than the contestants, but okay). Then I just danced around a bit here and there, cause my friends were scattered all around the club. I'm still getting used to not dancing in high heels.

At about 3am, Shy and Tei invited me to go for supper (in my case, dinner) with them in Bangsar. When we walked to the car, Tei and I both tried to enter the same car door, instead of taking one side each.

Tei: Lains, why are we both trying to get in here?
Lainie: Oh dear. This is so symbolic of our friendship, in so many ways.

Seriously, the situation between the two of us is almost sad downright pathetic.

Met even more people at the mamak. I got teased because I got Maggi Goreng Kambing* (instant noodle with mutton), and didn't eat any of the mutton. Kambing is a bad word to use. Goat is such a perverted word in my group, it's not funny. FUCK, I managed to write a whole essay perverting that word (to be fair, I was desperate and the deadline was loooooooming).

Lainie: Er, the mutton's stale...
Tei: But Lainie, why? Is it from Kelantan?
Lainie: Must be one of KA's goats.
Tei: Yes Lainie. Why won't you eat the kambing?
Lainie: But Tei, shouldn't you keep quiet and share your noodles?
Tei: Ahahhh....
Lainie: Ahhahah..................
Tei: *flips me off*
Lainie: I must say, you're such an inspiration.
Tei: *forehead on desk* You wait, you're heading in that direction! You just wait!

*headdesk*. There are so many bad jokes in there. I'm not sure if you can spot them, but my gay friends will be able to. Life sucks and then you die. Pah.

Kat told me to go home with her, cause it was late, so I agreed. She lost her house keys -_-". Ended up in another mamak while she fretted, I was basically just waiting for her to accept that it was lost so we could move on.

She dropped me off home before staying over with another friend of hers, it was almost 7am by the time we were done. I was awake again by 845am, by the way. Grace called about then asking for directions (god help that poor girl if she's resorting to ME), apologising for waking me up - I'd actually been lazing around in bed in denial that I was awake.

And now I'm gonna shower, grab some food - must stop forgetting my meals, I've had enough of that "You need a girlfriend / boyfriend because if you take care of yourself you will die" kinda messages from my friends :/. I won't die lah, not so easily, please - then I'm off to Central Market, w00t!

Written by lainie at 12:24 PM on June 4, 2006 in Daily Life, Music.

I dreamt that I was standing by a gray sea, and I wanted to empty it of its water. I boiled the water away in a small kettle, the campfire was the only warm thing there - I was turning water into steam. Eventually, the steam formed a cloud, and it rained back into the sea.

My face when I woke up was quite "holy shit" lah.

====

CIJ Malaysia organised a World Press Freedom Day gig (the gig happeneda month after the actual day, I don't know why it was postponed), lots of bands playing.

When I went there Peter Hassan Brown and Markeeza were performing. They were making speeches about people loving "Bangsa Asing" music, and that we should love Malaysian ones too because they rock.

Uh, I decided since I'd be there the whole day, I gave their set a miss as I went in search of a McDonalds. I asked Chi Too (who seems like a photography geek, to put it mildly, and was there taking photos) whether there was one nearby.

He said something about not going there because McDonalds is cutting down Amazon rainforests for chicken feed. I told him he wasn't going to like me much over my choice of coffee chains either. Then I asked if he was from PETA - I'm sorry, it's a kneejerk reaction, people who care about the environment get this from me.

As usual, I got the whole weirded out, uhmmmm, this is about trees, not so much animals reply. I'm just so scared of another PETA person getting at me that I need to establish where they are, like huge, potential plague infections I must avoid. Anyways, turns out he's with Greenpeace so it's all cool. Hmmm. Wonder if he knows my uncle then.


RELA uniformed dudes were there.

I came back from lunch, and was taking a video of one of the performances when a very disturbing banner caught my eye. I didn't stop looking at it as I ended the video, aimed the camera at the banner, and took a picture of this:


Bapaku, Wiraku (my father, my hero) banner at Pasar Seni, with big quote of, er, fatherly love, by Sigmund Freud.

Lainie: Uh. What's up with that Freud banner?
Sonia: Yeah I know. We have one up next to our booth inside too.
Lainie: Wow. That's soooo wrong.
Sonia: Goes to show, we only have so much control over what goes on.

I liked the next band up, NAO. I think the matamata song is about the KLCC protest recently, where some innocent bystander watching with his daughter got brained and beaten up by the police (video of protest, and another video, where people walking away are being attacked....). I only have a short video of them.

After NAO was skyjuicecoffee. Poppy punk, lil bit of emoness gonig on. They're alright, I guess. I can see them doing well on XFresh. I didn't get any pics, video later yah.


Most of the crowd there were Malay rocker looking dudes. KA had told me she wanted me to put up flyers for this show because Sonia was worried there wasn't enough publicity, which seemed quite an unnecessary worry and I told her as much, even though I did post up the flyer - because Carburetor Dung would be playing, and the flyer had been up at the website, and for heaven's sake, it's at Pasar Seni. People are good with music there, and the crowd is pretty much easily available.


There were even more people beside the stage, for some reason. Everyone was hanging out in the shade. I chose to stand in the sun because I don't mind heat as long as I don't have to walk - I might be sunburned by the end of today.


Lurks played next. Very electronic band, I think they lost the attention of the crowd who wanted noisier stuff. Their "try something different" songs that fit in with the other performers more did better than their usual stuff.


Farasu was the band that got the crowd to get close to stage. Metallllllllll. Some dude handling the stage saw the guys all suddenly show up in front of stage, and went up to whisper something to him.

The lead then looked up after, with a big grin and said "Sorry ah, no moshing. Banging dalam hati". Sigh, I guess they didn't want DBKL to see imaginary goats running around. Those nasty lil hallucinations get everywhere. I liked their set.



Mushbuttons. For some reason, I thought of Iszie when I heard this band. Will be uploading videos later, I haven't reencoded anything.


Project 8ight had a front man that I think may have sliiiightly annoyed the crowd there, judging by the reactions I saw. Which is a pity, because their music is actually quite okay. And, check out the cool green on that, I took photos of him, but forgot to take one of the lead singer. Never mind lah.


Carburetor Dung. Joe Kidd called Pasar Seni their "spiritual home", and so it was apt that they were playing there for the first time. My goodness, they hung out there years, and years, and years.

That lil white sticker on Joe's guitar is an anti-ISA sticker


This was the band everyone wanted to watch. When they came on, I was soooo far from the stage compared to before cause all these guys went up front. I was too short to take many photos.

I did, however, find a six inch platform to step on, and totally purposely block Hishamuddin Rais' view of them (I am evil, I am sorry), because I wanted to take a 30 second video. I guess we were both too short to see the band otherwise.


Some bodysurfing happened, but mostly, the crowd listened to the organiser's request....Banging dalam hati....(banging in your heart, don't look like you're rocking the crowd).

Carburetor Dung blogged about it.

And the day of standing in the hot heat was over.

[ Update: CIJ World Press Freedom Day gig - day 2. ]

I went for Actorlympics after that.

It was okay. More on that later. I don't have time to check what I typed, have a gig to catch at Pasar Seni now I've probably already missed Superbar and Flow.

Then it's off to the Troubagangers Anniversary show at night. Will fix whatever later, so if this whole post is italicised / bolded cause I forgot to close a tag, sorry lah hahhhhh.

Written by lainie at 10:01 PM on June 4, 2006 in Stupid, but fun..

Hello.

Just a lil note.

If you're reading this 10pm - 11pm today (and yes, that'll be a....Sunday? Is today Sunday? Of fuck, whatever day today is anyway)

Well if you are.

Gol n Gincu tv series is on at 8tv (I learned after too much Bloomberg tv that it's CHANNEL 18 on Astro).

Go watch.

====

Right, I just watched Gol n Gincu.

I went for a drink during commercial break (walk to kitchen, pour water, come back), and I'm not saying anything, just that this doesn't happen very often:


Holyyyyy craaaaaaaaaaaap okay. By the way - time on phone not accurate.

I wasn't going to watch it, in fact, I totally forgot (which is stupid because I was just looking at the billboard this afternoon, wondering if there was a reason why the second "g" is now lowercase, if it's because it's now read Gng, so one word - or if there was another reason. Okay. I can't take this. WHY isn't it GnG? Right. It's just tv. Stop it Lainie. Stop it. Stop. Now. Now. Stop. Stop now. But whyyyyyyyyyyy. Okay stop. I can do this. Now. Stop. ARGH. Okay okay. Right, I'm cool).

Then, half an hour before I head out towards La Bodega, I check my email and there is a reminder to watch it.

Then I receive three enthusiastic smses from lesbians happy women waiting for the show to start.

I start asking people to tape it for me - Many people seem to be watching it, but no one has a vcr. Fip agrees to get someone to tape it for me, if possible. Then I go for Troubagangers, and I receive another few reminder smses about Gol n Gincu from some friends.

.....................................

SO, after awhile, it seemed like the whole world would be watching it, and I was feeling left out, so I left Troubagangers at almost 10pm, came home to watch the show. I don't think I've ever done something like that before. I was pretty tired from CIJ World Press Freedom Day gig anyway.

Within five minutes of the show starting, I got smses from four girls, each with the same quote either here or there: "Just a lil bit wet".

And it built up from there. My phone didn't stop beeping for an hour (and I must say, I'm going to run out of credit every Sunday if this keeps up).

Hmm. Bernice looks reeeeeeally different on tv. I'm gonna laugh when her stalker finally shows up on the series. Meanwhile, I am eyeing the very friendly relationship between Zie and Shasha. What is a local tv show without a shot of Malaysia's tallest erections, KLCC and KL Tower.

It annoys me that Lim Kok Wing is the location of the shoot - it was in Cenfad for the movie, but the sponsor is LUCT so they changed the college *eyeroll*.

But yesssssss....I'll probably be watching more of GnG. Gng *eyetwitch*. Just a hunch.

Written by lainie at 02:23 AM on June 5, 2006 in Music.

The 2nd day of CIJ's World Press Freedom day. I got asked if I was with CIJ / random NGOs a few times -_-". Possibly cause I was there both days....I'm a ho for free entertainment?

[ Update: Music! CIJ World Press Freedom Day gig (day 1) ]

I met fellow blogger Gecko there (hi!), he said he was there cause of the flyer on my blog. Wow, whaddya know, pimping events here actually *does* work. Saw him later at Troubagangers too (hope you and friends had good time - glad you found the place, I gave you pretty shite directions)...and a few other blog readers (hi, hi, hi, hi!).


Rafil and CK were standing near the stage, so I hung out with them for a lil while.


Broken Scar were playing. Bassist is Alda, from Cosmic Funk Express (damn cool band). Drummer is Manshaan from Dragon Red (rap rock, not my thing). Considering the crowd, it's a good thing they didn't do a slow version of their songs.


Y2K went up next, with their masks. Hah, pandering to the camera. He was tired, and kept saying he needed to "Sexercise" more. Then yelled at the crowd for not knowing Ben's Bitches. Dammit, I'd forgotten about that song. A healthy reminder that if your "friend" gets you high, drives you to a recording studio, and sticks a mic in front of your face, you should be very, veeeeeeeeeery cautious. And quiet.


He kept saying he couldn't see anything....I mean....Enjoyed their set, but I generally do like punk music.


Revenge. This dude showed up in uniform...Ben had wanted to show up in Baju Melayu but didn't.


They were the only band to have a costume change middle of their set. You can't see his belt, cause of his stomach, but it's an AC / DC belt . Someone told me they play Rock Kapak, it just sounded old school to me so I'm not sure what he meant.


The only reason I'm including this photo is because it looks so salah. He was actually just sticking the mic in front of the guitar.

After that was a half hour break. CJ and I went off for lunch at the foodcourt, but Sonia told us there was an "anti black metal" and "anti punk" display downstairs (apparently, music can be a big part of social ills....). We were delighted, wanted to know if there were anti-punk petitions there we could sign, with "Punk Rockers" next to our names, under our occupation (it would have been a lie, but fuckit).


Anti Black-Metal. Alllllll the coffin make-up faces were blurred out, so CJ and I don't get the point of them showing the pictures in the first place, since they wanted to illustrate what coffin make-up looks like....by yes, obscuring it.

Then again, it seems almost unfair to expect them to make sense, these poor people are campaigning against music, for god's sake. Oh wait. Oh irony.


It's so cute how they had a "History of Punk" printed out, and they bolded their own spelling mistake - Sid Dicious. Next to it were warnings against using drugs, driving dangerously, and violence against women.

Which confuses me, because I'd love to dislike and snub them entirely. Choosy bigots are tricky to deal with.


Ben's Bitches was up next. CK and I had a disagreement / talk because I still think it's ridiculous that the bands have to censor themselves of curse words and all that. But it's either that, or risk getting the permit for the event torn up.

I mean, have you seen Ben's Bitches perform? Foul-mouthed buggers, the lot of them.


Short video of Ben yelling because of technical problem. Hah. Bet he wanted to curse. See CK go crazy kicking / spinning around doing who knows what.


I stole his cap later on. It was weird when Irene said it was such a grindcore cap. I said nawww, of course it's just a fashion statement. CK said it's a fashion statement very popular in China. We are so irrelevant. The guys in the audience loved the song "Aku Suka Jolok", which is technically about poking fruits in trees, and actually about having sex. Obviously.


The crowd really liked Ben's Bitches man........After the break, the audience dispersed, and normally it's a slow build up, but in this case Ben and co were so rowdy it filled up bloody fast. I wanted to know why the hell they weren't playing "Trouble with CK", it's a song made of cuss words. They said they couldn't, or the organisers would get into trouble.

.....freedom of speech, yeay.

I told them to get their punk rock balls together and do it anyway. I suppose if they'd listened to me the gig would have ended at their set. When Nessa arrived, the first thing she asked me was

Nessa: Are they playing Trouble with CK?
Lainie: Nope. Can't. .
Nessa: WHY?
Lainie: Censored.
Nessa: What? That sucks.
Lainie: Mmhmm.
Nessa: Are they playing Girl From Ipoh?
Lainie: Don't think so.
Nessa: Why?

That's just her ego talking though (it's a song about her, to be specific, it's bout Ben getting lucky with her, which never happened). BB were a bit......hmm. I've seen them rock out way more, but they still had more antics than a lot of other bands. They also covered 360's "Satan Wants A Cigarette". I love the confused looks the audience gets cause no one can hear what they're singing most of the time. Rafil, take the goddamn song back, I can't even figure out what he's singing on the CD.

Siew Eng, writing about the event for Kakiseni, asked CK where Ben's Bitches got their name from. CK came up with this whoooooole pile of shite about how they chose a word that would encounter problems with censorship to make a statement. Kevin Brokenscar and I took to coughing "coughbullshitcough" while he talked.

Kevin should know, his old band is John's Mistress, Ben's story of how his band's name came about was "John has his mistresses, you all be my bitches". But seriously, Ben also said "Ben's Bitches", because then he can't sell out and do radio stuff, not with the radio-unfriendly name.

The SBs actually liked Ben's Bitches. Hah. One of them did, happy looking chap, clapping and stuff. There was another grumpier looking one though - not sure what he thought. Ben's Bitches played a new song - "This is Not A Black Metal Song". Obviously, many of the bands still remember the Paul's Place time.

Paul's Place is coming back, by the way. Lovies. Even with the crappy sound system.

Email quote: "Watching the Special Branch grooving to Ben's Bitches at CM was the strangest thing I'd seen in a while."
Anyhow, Ben's Bitches was recently interviewed at Think.com, and Joe Kidd mentioned their set too.

Rafil's band, 360 Degree Head Rotation went on next. They always take the piss. Their set had the most technical problems. Rafil actually had to leave the stage halfway, and let the band hold the fort.


Which they did really well. Whooo, go Jack! The crowd totally cheered them of after. Yes this entire post is irrelevant. Fuck you.



Watch this video - Hilarious. Mostly in Malay - listen to the heckling. Well, actually, start the video and listen, but don't watch - I have fricking shaky hands.

This is a video of the "Anugerah Kambing Hitam" (Black Goat Awards), which is, I believe, an evolution of this. This is thanks to the media fucks that happened over the whole "black metal" issue (enough to fill up this blog). Rafil's a hilarious arse (who sends me the most "what the fuck of the month" emails that combine talk about both temporal displacement sickness and enemas - a dubious, but nevertheless, somewhat impressive achievement).

Cerita Paling Tak Masuk Akal.
Cerita Paling Kurang Tepat.
Anugerah Kambing Hairan.
Yes the laughing voice / coughing is me. Sigh. It's okay, my friends hate how my laugh sounds on video too.
I pretty much ran out of space on the camera's memory card after this video.

Disarseter Records, houses Ben's Bitches, 360, and Maharajah Commission.


2 Foot Candle. Very YOUNG looking group. Just guessing, but probably influenced by Icelandic / Swedish / (that kinda) Metal. My Metal cred is way low, I'm not into that genre so much, but could tell they were good at what they did, technically - also, first time watching them, but their band name gets around. I kept thinking Colin Poh would appreciate them more.


Negation. Bad photo, crazy crowd. Organiser was smart - put all the bands that will...uh. Not so much cause trouble, but get the crowd rowdy, at the end of the sets. Body surfing happened again. Their set made me feel one thing - I want to MOSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! But proper mosh.

Slight purity complex. "We are better than our oppressors" kinda band. Said stuff like "We are clean, we don't take drugs or drink alcohol. And at least, we don't take bribes". Hmm. I must say, I have my reservations about this...................I'm not sure why. The crowd seemed to really love them though. Cheered their politics on.

I think I'm just a bit overloaded on what is "right" and "wrong" and which is "better".

More videos tomorrow. Or soon. Maybe Actorlympics. And Troubagangers. Crap. I normally blog reeeeeeeally fast, but there are more stuff happening recently than I can keep up with in my days. How come. Hmm.

=====

After that, went for a coffee with Jack, Irene and CK.

CK asked me if I knew who NOFX are. Nawwww, who? Never heard of them, really really. CK said Ben's voice sounds like Fat Mike's, which was just so wrong. -_____-". NOFX has been singing about Bush, I think, ever since that arse got elected. They reaaaally hate him, and they're so political, so there are heaps of anti-Bush songs on the internet thanks to them (Idiot son of an asshole, idiot son of an asshoooole - guess who this is about).

We talked about making porn, reality tv competition for porn stars (available for download over the internet, I'm sure), midget porn...home tapes....... Specifically, I'm still offering my services in conducting casting.

Violence against women? Never heard those words before. Ever. Hentaiiiiiii!!

Sigh. I'm gonna get into trouble with a friend over those words, I can sense it. Babe, cmonnnn. Let me escape once.

=====

Wasted Talent is the crew guy taking care of almost everything, including the technical problems and "security" onstage.

I'm sneezing. I've been sneezing ever since this post went up. Which fucker cursing me? Wonder if it's the same person who's been uh.....googling....me excessively. You guys do realise I have referrals, right?

Written by lainie at 03:19 PM on June 5, 2006 in Daily Life, Music.

I'd meant to stay till the end of the Troubaganger's show, was still asking about what was coming up in the set - but at about my second indignant "Whaddya mean, you're NOT going to watch Gng?" sms, I was already half-convinced to go home. I thought it was funny when someone asked me "Who the hell is going to blog about how gay it was if you don't watch it?".

Everyone expects it to be gay.

Meesh was there, with Que Sarah.

====


I didn't see Ida Liza play, but I did see her soundcheck. If she played, and I took a photo, it might look like this.


Plush Velvet playing. I saw Desmond at the gig her.

I'd just seen him the night before, at Actorlympics because he got dragged up on stage for the "music video" segment - I thought he did better than quite a few of the Actorlympians there.

I saw Harith Iskandar crouching behind a chair, really laughing at Desmond and the girl, as they enacted some love scene kind of music video that involved smelling their left armpits.

Afdlin Shauki is really good at coming up with songs on the spot, by the way. Mad props, total. Do I still sound like I'm speaking English? Sometimes, I do worry you guys have no idea what the fuck I'm saying.

Desmond: Hey, what are you doing here?
Lainie: I catch most of the Troubagangers shows...So I'm here.
Desmond: Oh really, how come I never see you around?
Lainie: Probably cause I was hiding in some corner.
Desmond: Oh....I come here almost every Sunday.
Lainie: Mmhmm. I'm leaving early today, gonna head home.
Desmond: What? No, you have to watch my friend perform, she's really good.
Lainie: Who's your friend?
Desmond: *points at Izzy*. She is. You have to stay, you'll love her.
Lainie: Uh. I've seen her perform before.
Desmond: You have? But you have to stay, she's really good.
Lainie: (fully aware this is probably not the last time I'll be at an event Izzy is performing at) I've seen her perform before. Probably will again.
Desmond: Really? Are you sure you've seen her before?
Lainie: Yes. Yes I am.
Desmond: Because she's really good you know. So if you haven't
Lainie: Which I have
Desmond: You should listen to her play.
Lainie: But I have.
Desmond: Really?
Lainie: YES.

I dislike talking too much, what more repeating myself. Then we both talked about how tired we were.


Hosts of the night, Jerome (representing Troubadours) and Jasmine (Doppelganger).

They started with the open miccers. First performer of the night - a poet:


Very enthusiastic guy - got the audience to chant "No vote" to his poetry. I didn't catch his name .


Nik Razman played his guitar. I have some videos, but my laptop is under a lot of strain so everything is hanging :/ I checked what I needed to burn into CDs, and it's almost ridiculous how many photos and videos of gigs I have, especially since my memory card capacity's not very high.


Their first performance ever . She was a bit (actually, quiiiite) nervous in the beginning, but after a while, her singing became clearer and as Jasmine said, she was finally getting warmed up. They only had one song.


Molokai Groove? Groove Molokai? Either way, I like the girl's voice very much.


Hanafi (of Estranged) and Plush's singer, Izwin. When I saw her I was hoping that meant Plush was gonna play, but this was cool too. Mostly Hanafi introduced the songs and played the guitar, Izwin sang.

I left after their second song - but good good set when I left My camera battery had died after this photo too, how timely. Took a slow walk home because I was more tired than I expected.

=====

I just bought lunch. The foodstall aunty always purposely "forgets" to give me a plastic spoon. I mean she's nice and gives me free desserts and stuff if I buy lunch late (cause by the time I remember it's usually a bit before she closes her shop).....

But she always "forgets" to give me a spoon. I reckon it's cause she figures I should just use a spoon at home, since I obviously live just down the road.

Sometimes I have this nasty vision of me, deprived of caffeine, totally freaking out and screaming that I ony have one spoon at home, and if someone's used it and left the bowl somewhere I can't find, what the heck am I gonna use?

No really, I only have one spoon at home. Well. The Chinese soup spoon kind anyway, which is what I use to eat lunch.

=====

Then again, why worry about spoons? Tomorrow is 666! 6th of June of 2006.

The world is gonna end.

Boo!

Cmon, don't tell me there aren't any fucking cool gigs / events lined up for tomorrow. What are they?

Written by lainie at 01:45 AM on June 6, 2006 in Daily Life, Friends, Arty stuff.

I went for a screening in Seksan tonight, where two movies were being screened. As usual, why do myself what I can plagiarise:
.
Floored by Love by Desiree Lim (50 min video)

It is a sweet and heartwarming slice-of-life family comedy, taking us into the homes of a lesbian couple contemplating marriage and a Jewish family struggling to keep the affection of their newly out gay son. With Cara and Janet, things are great and going strong, until Canada legalizes gay marriage. Now that they can, Janet wants to get married! This isn't the simplest decision for Cara, who isn't out to her parents.

Meanwhile, Norman is trying to help his stepson in his coming-out process, just when the young man's biological father, a flashy gay actor, comes to visit and upstages Norman's every move. These two families navigate through many layers of love for each other, and at the end of the journey discover their lives are not so far apart. Screened at Frameline San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, OUTFEST, Los Angeles International GLBT Film Festival.

Reframe by Jo Luping (60 mins)
Takes a look at the Palestinian-Israeli situation through the lens of international law and universal human rights.The film follows Jo's sister Diane, a human rights lawyer, as she works in the Palestinian territories during 2001 and 2002.

The viewer is introduced to several Jewish and Palestinian peace activists working at the grassroots level and a voice is given to those living at the front line of the conflict. Won Media Peace Awards and was screened at the inaugural Human Rights Film Festival Aotearoa (New Zealand).

[ Sorry I didn't mention this earlier, I was under the impression the organisers would prefer it slightly more hushed up - and I pretty much decided to wait a few days to confirm, with someone I guessed would know about this, during Troubagangers ]

So yes. This screening was pimped at the PurpleLab Icon show, where Desiree gave out some of the awards to the judges? Winners? I forget, I wasn't really paying attention.

My voyeuristic companions for the night eyeballed Desiree and decided that they wanted to go for the screening, whatever the heck her movies were about (I kinda had a vague idea, having visited her website and read about her previous screenings before). I wasn't very enthusiastic, am not much of a movie / tv person - to be honest, it's not that I'm more depthful than my friends, she looks fine, just Not My Type, and I mean this as nicely as it can come off. ).

So, since this is how my reputation gets dragged into the mud along with those lesbian stalkers, how many posts should I wait before you guys forget, and decide that I'm the one stalking Desiree? 10? 100? 0?.

Kat was already a bit shiny eyed, and not from alcohol far as I could guess, so I kinda knew I'd end up at the screening today.

=====

We were there a tad late, because I had trouble getting a cab. So we stood at the back - Chi Too was there too. Hmm, I think I've seen him more times than I've actually seen any of my friends over the last two weeks.

After the movie, there was a discussion session:


You see that tiiiiiiny figure at the end in the red shirt? That's Desiree Lim. I have a bigger photo of her face but some of you lot tend to scare me, so it's okay lah, yeah? Stalk Desiree somewhere else - I don't have any of her stalkers here that I know of, this is more of a "damage control" situation.

Anyone starts a vote based on photos, I will bitchsmack you.

Her movie kinda reminded me a lil of Saving Face, a comparison I'm almost sure won't be too appreciated (for a few reasons, but really, who would wanna hear that their work resembles someone else's, come to think of it? Unless they memang memuja that person).

Someone asked her whether she considered herself a "lesbian filmmaker". She said she considers herself a filmmaker first and foremost, and that no one calls the others "straight filmmaker", which I thought was a decent enough answer, that she doesn't find the extra label necessary.

This was actually kinda weird, because I'd been thinking of asking that question - I'd heard of her reaction in the last screening's Q&A, to a similiar question, and wanted to know if anything had changed. I guess it has.

She says she's flattered because the pirates in Malaysia have ganked her show and made copies . I always have this image in my mind that there's some really artistic dudes amongst the pirates, picking arthouse films to make copies of here, because no one would be able to appreciate these indie-ish movies otherwise - though really, we're probably just looking at simple supply and demand situation.

I suppose it would please all tumpang glamour people to be able to say she's from Malaysia as well - though she said she doesn't live here cause of the content of some of her films, and that she has been censored before, and possibly something about not wanting to end up in the lockup? Er. I wasn't reeeeeeally listening, but I think that was cause I was coughing at that moment.

Next up was Reframe, followed by discussion session with Jo Luping (who's back in Msia cause she's half Kadazan, I think).


If I had a smaller photo, I'd use it.

Her documentary was really depressing, even though it ended on a hopeful note (to be fair, something like "Joyful Beauty of Palestinian-Isreali Conflict, The Falalalalaaaa Musical", would be quite salah, and also unwelcome by a certain minister due to insufficient violence in movie). All war stuff switch my mood off. There were hardly any people walking around much around rubble - because of curfew, and tanks were just shooting in the streets, at no one in particular, to enforce it.

There was also talk about apartheid in South Africa and Isreal / Palestine, and someone from the floor asked, in a nutshell, how...uh...Racialism (is there a new word for racism I didn't know of?) portrayed in the movie would affect someone living in a racialist(??) country where the law does segregate based on race.

She basically came up with a looong, roundabout way of asking "How would a Malaysian would react to the part of your documentary that focuses on racial legislation then?". Jo asked back a simple question "Well, how do you feel about it?". Which was exactly what I was thinking as well.

Ong Ju Lin was there, and she pointed out that this lady was probably not the only one who was struck by some of the parallels to Msia, but that maybe it was a topic for another forum (since it wasn't what Jo's docu was about).

I just think it was interesting that everyone admitted they HAD been aware of the parallels (racism in law, that is), and everyone kept quiet. I'm naturally quiet anyway, but the people who were actually discussing this didn't bring it up - and even after the question was first asked, and Jo asked for some clarification as to which issue they were discussing, exactly, the floor remained quiet for a while.

Haiya, you people really so scared of May 13th ke? Is This A Sensitive Issue? I don't think it's healthy to be scared and self-censor all the time. We can't all be scared of the stupid people, just cause there are so many of them. This statement coming from someone who can't even focus on a fifteen minute Q&A session. Ahaha.

Sigh.

I'm not putting myself down in some exercise of modesty, I just think it's awful when I meet someone and get the impression they're WAY more stupid than me (or worse, when they like to blink-blink anime style and pretend to be stupid. *piak* smack your face).

You know what's ironic? I do have friends who threaten to smack me to wake me up . I'm really quite blur and inattentive, so there's a "how badly off is the other person if they're worse than me" kinda thing going on. Maybe I get appalled / annoyed easily. Maybe I sound twatty and shouldstopanytimenow.

====

I went up to them after the Q&A, Jo and Desiree were talking about some movie thingies.

I think they could tell I wanted to speak to them but they kinda ignored me for awhile (I must have looked like one of those "I'll ask a question after the discussion" kinda people, so I don't really blame them, that IS annoying). I waited as Desiree went on and on and on about some resource on the internet while Jo wrote down details on her notepad.

I wanted to make it quick because I had to leave, so after awhile I cut in and said I have a blog, is it cool to put photos of you up there? Reckon they thought it was funny that anyone would even bother asking. They said yes, then I pretty much, if I recall correctly, said "Coolness, thanks" and promptly left without explaining. Like I said, needed to leave. Also, s'all cool, no need to make semi-decent first impressions with people I'd probably never meet again .

Gimme a break, I can get quite anti-social.

So. Maybe I should have said something closer to "My blog has weird stalker lesbians reading it, is it okay if your photo appears there?" to be accurate (yeah, you think cause most of you guys keep quiet I don't know? I have referrals reports yknow). But I figured what are the chances of them finding out anyway, so heck.

Also, when in media - all publicity = good publicity, just look at Amir Muhammad's The Last Communist. Bet not as many people wanted to watch it before it got banned, and it's street cred market share probably flew up after that.

Uhm. Don't really know how to explain this - I normally will ask permission to post photos cause I find it weird to just stick someone's face on my blog, but at the same time I'll only bother to if it's a few people. Anything more than 5 people and..........I'm lazy lah, okay.

If it's a gig / event where photos are expected to be taken, or a massive blog gathering (unless anonymous blogger, or specifically requested - but seriously, most bloggers are total camhos, so you'd have to be an idiot if you assumed no one will photograph you at a blogathering), or there are just too many people and I feel lazy, then I won't bother to ask everyone (mad ah?).

But I'm pretty sure otherwise, most of my friends do know when a photo of them is appearing in my blog. I am forgetful though, so I can be inconsistent. Daph is the only one without such luxuries since Nessa and I think it's hilarious to post photos of her peeing on the internet (but she loves us so she's okay with it). Yeah even Nessa gets asked before her pics go up.

This is why when I go for a gig, you normally see pics of the performers but none of my friends / fellow bloggers. It just feels kinda off and invasive. Though I did post up photos from Nicole's party, cause it seemed like such a "gig" kinda atmosphere, I actually completely forgot it was a personal thing.

But I'm pretty sure they didn't mind - hoping, anyway.

====

As for procrastination, something long past that I've yet to post photos of. My previous reading at Seksan...Where, er, someone else read for me. I finally found out the spelling for the actress who read my piece: Soefira Jaafar. Thank goodness Sharon has the hook up, I'd never have found out otherwise.

I was just there today thinking the last time I was there I was coughing too. Then I remembered the photos!

It's a good thing I visited Sharon's blog because it reminded me of one of the reasons why I'd not posted up the photos earlier (asides from crazy college deadlines piling up): As Sharon says on her blog, Dina Zaman has some asshole taking her photos and putting up personal ads, so I wanted to see if Sharon'd be posting up any photos. So. I'm not gonna.

[ Which goes to show, me posting up photos of people performing at events (eg: readings) might not be too good a thing either. But fuck lah, if I take EVERY bloody precaution it'd be all text and only my face on this blog. ]


Kam Raslan reading his piece from Off The Edge.


Farid reading. He was nervous


I took more photos of Farid cause I'm friends with him, one of my favourite manwhores. Manwhore being an affectionate term.


Ruhayat X is a very chillax dude.


Soefira Jaafar, reading my piece. I remmeber listening to her and thinking "Ei, crap, did I print the draft version out?". Always check, kids.


Manwhore #2, Zedeck. This is for the recent FFK. Naw, he's a darling really.


And really tall. Come to think of it, he was in Amir Muhammad's "The Big Durian". I still think he looked totally drugged out there, but he was just nervous.


Bernice also read, not her own work, but writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer's, as a tribute. Actually, far as I know, she was in The Big Durian too. But I don't remember her scene. Arts circle is small or what?

The photos in the background are from Projek Photo Poser, but after the readings Razman was taking them down.

Written by lainie at 02:02 PM on June 6, 2006.

And so begins my totally cool, satanic, 666 r0x0rs post on 6th June 06. We shall begin with the demonickness that is....my laptop.

Last night, I was bitching to a friend that my laptop screen is doing one of its many creative fuckups, so I couldn't work on an art-project thing I wanted to.

It wasn't thaaaaaaaat bad this time round though, still doable. Figured since I can't really see details onscreen, might as well do post-on-blog type of photos (hence yesterday's Seksan post). I usually don't really know what the photos you're looking at look like, but I didn't do anything much anyway (might have oversharpened a lil but fuck it).

I've a reputation for being whiny, so she dismissed me and said I was just being a drama queen - She has a point, I'm still downloading videos and books, blogging, somewhat Photoshopping....But REALLY, I can't see what I'm doing much:


So that's what I see onscreen when I work on a photo. It's kinda trippy huh? I don't mind it by now, it's just dead inconvenient when I NEED to see EXACTLY what I'm doing.
(Eheh. I blacked out the face because I just realised I took a photo while I was resizing Dina Zaman pic .)

This is what I mean when I say people in college think it's a fricking miracle I get any work done.This isn't so bad because I can still kinda see what's happening. The other version my screen does is "constant flickers and lines running up and down" as I work (ten minutes of staring = blimming headache, and I'm the kind who doesn't stop working once I get into it).

Luckily for me (almost, kinda, sorta) the screen will eventually faaaaaaaaade away to what looks like a 10% opacity. Or, just goes completely black. Or blue. Sometimes purple. Red. Green.

It's a rainbow laptop.

I can create entire assignments without properly seeing what I'm doing till it's printed out. Champion or not? Praise me praise me! - Uhm. I am kidding in case anyone thinks I'm really fishing. Not that sad as to require online validation (yet), don't worry.

It's not all bad though - I get window gaps of say 1 - 5 minutes, where sometimes the screen is completely normal. Unless the fan is switched on, then I have no hope in hell for that. That's when I do colour studies for assignments.

So dodgy, huh? Hahahha...I have frickin dodgy looking possessions man.

Next feature, my "Pen that does not work unless you thwack it a few times against the table, nib down".

After that will be "CD drive that does not read CDs, unless you spin the CD before putting it in and pray like hell you get what you need from it within 1 minute".

Then, it will be "favourite sharpener (should I worry I have a favourite) that does not sharpen pencils until you guess what's wrong this time around". Obviously, many exciting new blog posts lie ahead.

I don't need a girlfriend, I date inanimate objects. It's a full time job.

That is possibly the Most Pathetic Thing I've said on this blog, ever. It's so hard to tell sometimes.

=====

Much lovies to Erna (who will be performing "Refugee: Images" with The Canticle Singers in August).

You know why? Cause she put up some best download links evaaaaaaaaaaaaar (Fancy Learning to Draw?). Go to this page, and download the Andrew Loomis books!

It's making me really impatient with my laptop screen because I love what I've seen so far - I downloaded all the books from placidchaos. So that's where this whole entire blog post came from, really.

=====

On the way home from buying lunch, it wasn't very hot and I stopped by the road to watch some birds, because I think birds look funny hopping around, pecking away, sticking their butts up in the air. Especially when a few of them look like friends, so there's a bunch of airbutts bobbing up and down, looking for food together (yes I know how easily I am amused, shush).

Reckon I stood there a few minutes just goofily smiling and staring at them before I realised I probably looked like The Village Idiot, and came home. I had a Bright Idea, and left a lil trail of dogfood crumbs from the front door to near the tv which is kinda near to where I'm typing, but the birds are smart - they hop in cautiously, peck at one, and hop out with it (aren't birds supposed to, like, flap their wings more and fly or something).

Good thing the dogs at home aren't into chasing birds.

And if you think I wasted my time looking at the birds, at least I'm not the one reading about someone looking at birds.

*points finger and laughs*

Sucked in.....

====

Did I mention one of Nessa and my favourite bloggers, Jonno, is back? Wonder how long he'll stay this time. Anyhoooooooo. It's the boy's birthday! Actually yesterday, I missed it by a day. AH welllll.

Happy birthday, poodle twat.

Written by lainie at 03:29 PM on June 6, 2006.

I got this in my email:


To celebrate the auspicious day of the Devil, 360 Degree Head Rotation shall play an acoustic (Rafil & Jack) set at Backyard Pub
(http://www.backyardpub.com)

Should be on after 10pm.

I'll buy anyone with 666 etched at the top of their scalp a pint of beverage
of their choice.

I don't think I can afford the travel .

Written by lainie at 10:11 PM on June 6, 2006 in Arty stuff.

Some time back, KLPac's marketing & PR exec, Yue May, contacted some bloggers with promos for this play coming up, The Fastest Clock In The Universe, in case we wanted to blog about it. I thought it was pretty cool of her to send the postcards and all that, since I did wanna blog about it.

Postcard designs:


For more information, log on to KLPac.

So..............how many gay characters has Gavin Yap played?

Over the next few days, I will find that some bloggers got pissed off with some of the things that happened as a result of the email.

Kinky and I had a talk about that over lunch on the day of the Katagender protest.

We were both saying that what Yue May did, marketing through bloggers as a platform, is something we would have considered doing in her position too - Yue May had pretty indiscriminately contacted everyone who had blogged about the other play, The Homecoming. So she wasn't asking "established bloggers" or "famous bloggers" or whatever the hell, just bloggers who HAVE mentioned Gavin's previous play before and so may be interested in this other one.

I personally don't think Yue May did anything wrong (sorry Kim, gotta disagree with you there, even on the comp tickets thing), and would have done pretty much what she has. Though I do agree it's somewhat spammy, a gray area - I didn't mind the email so it didn't seem so to me.

But I can see it pissing off people who don't want such notices in their inbox. Which is why having a form for people to sign up for mailing lists are good.

Ah well.

[ Irrelevant, but PR is just so.......... Cmon, more of us remembered the existence of the new Superman movie when they leaked out the news that his groin had to be digitally reduced cause his knob is apparently too huge. Cheap tactic, any idiot can spot it, but hey. ]

====

Anyhoo, I will be going for it with my friends if the $$$ factor allows.

I know a lotta people think I spend a bomb going for gigs / events, cause I always get that "What the fuck, you spend so much on music, can't you shell out some of it for theatre" reactions.

Just let me clarify: I walk to most places, most events are free (Moonshine, Pasar Seni gigs, Seksan screening) or like Troubagangers, cost RM5, and I take a train to the others. I am cheeeeeeeeeeap when it comes to events. Theatre....is not free. Chances are, just the programme book costs more than a night in La Bodega. Nor is it walk