Written by lainie at 06:20 PM on February 3, 2008 in Daily Life, Events.

I'm back, I'm back! With some USB-lan cable thing, but hey. Here's an old post that was hiding in my laptop before I sent it away for some repairs:

 

=====

Our modem has been shorted by lightning. No wheeness there.

Short list update:
Fri: Club 8 / Pelle Swede twee concert in KLPac (Couple & Ferns opening acts), & Loft Twilight Action Girl.
Sat: Readings at Seksan, 3rd Anniversary.
Sun: KLPac Open day.

Mofo long update:

Went for a twee concert, Club 8 & Pelle over at KLPac on Friday night. Ferns and Couple were the opening acts. Went in a dodgy shirt that Grace demanded I not wear (of course I didn't take heed).

Live lo-fi music isn't my thing. Club 8's female vocalist reminded me of Nina Persson, in looks and voice. Must be that breathy thing. The rest look like they should form their own band and call it Franz Ferdinand.

It was a refreshing change from the usual live acts, but not something that could sustain my attention span for long. Too many songs that sounded alike, although that benefitted the few variations I noticed. Club 8 does, however, totally work on my MP3 playlist.

While watching Club 8, I was handed a can of beer. Ended up sharing it with James, a guy I'd just introduced myself to. I admitted I couldn't handle my alcohol so we may as well share.

Enjoyed Pelle's performance after the intermission more. The crowd had gotten a bit beery, there were hecklers, and Pelle was a bundle of energy with funny lyrics.

A stranger tapped my shoulder and handed me a bottle of wine - the label said "Red Devil". I ended up taking a few swigs throughout Pelle's set. Turns out the stranger was jumping to the music next to a familiar guy I cannot place. We did the whole "Heyyyy, it's you, where ya been?" thing. I wonder if he was the moshpit fellow at NOFX last time? It's really bugging me.

[ Review, pics and vids: Club 8 & Pelle Carlberg @ KLPAC, 25.1.08. That's strange, it looks like the photographer was standing right where I was... ]

After the show we lingered around outside, buying CDs, catching up with friends, talking about the show.

Lainie: Okay people, surprise me. What's next?

The answer was of course Twilight Action Girl in Loft. I met so many Loft kids at the gig, there should have been a shuttle bus.

=====

Ah, Friday nights in Loft, what can I say? Functioning on bright lights, an empty stomach, and too much alcohol - tequila shots are evil. Note I keep saying this, but I repeat all my mistakes. With an excuse in hand for a pathetic recall rate of the night, here goes.

Was startled by my own reflection - instead of the usual red, I was so drunk I'd turned pale. The night ended too soon. I'd gone not planning to drink (the usual precautions on a growling, unlined stomach), but I winded up with more alcohol in me than usual, and was still buzzing when the music stopped - the silence felt like a punch in my head.

Earlier Al told to kiss this man dancing with her. I was given a logical reason I no longer recall to do so - though I'm sure the logic underlying it was completely balls, shared only by happy drunk people.

I was giddy enough, and ready to comply. I'd essentially took hold of his face, leaned in, and answered my phone. Then left. I don't know if the dude had any idea what was happening. Ding had called to say she just arrived - so I left to get her in.

By the time I got back, I could no longer remember what he looked like, and everyone was happy and dancing. Actually, it's very possible I'd already forgotten him while he was standing in front of me. I guess I'm meant to stay gay.

=====

Went over to a friend's place after with Ding. I wanted to go home, but had to wait till morning cause Ding was too tired to drive, and I can't handle a manual car. Extremely hungry, I peeked in the kitchen - at the sight of a tall stack of empty Domino's pizza boxes at the bin, and a dismal fridge (reminiscent of my current home) I skipped out pretty quickly. Ended up watching a lot of Mtv.

Came home many, many hours later. I was so antsy to get home from hunger, bug bites and Mtv boredom I kept trying to wake Ding up to get us home. She finally did, and was so wiped from the night that I ended up feeling very guilty while watching her drive :/.

Sorry....

=====

NAO and Citizens of Ice Cream.

I'm broke, thanks to the unexpected Club 8 / Pelle gig and the merchandising there. My pockets could not hope to match the tempting selection of CDs on display at the gig. Should I get the Deserters' album? Or those of Club 8 and Pelle, whom I'd just watched? Or any of the indie bands on offer? Or should I be sensible and not get anything?

Finally, I had a conversation with the dude selling CDs (who's also a frontman of a band I like very much - NAO):

Lainie: How much is your band's CD?
Tat: 30 ringgit
Lainie: *wince*
Tat: -it's double cd and -
Lainie: I'm not wincing at the cd price, but how it compares to the money I have.

[ Moment of consideration. I've had trouble finding NAO album / gigs ]

Lainie: When's your next gig? Maybe I can get it there.
Tat: April.
Lainie: .....Okay. I'll take your CD now.

That was very irresponsible of me, but I prefer instant gratification. And apparently, eating fried eggs and leftovers for five days.

Tat: We have a gig in March, but it's in Penang.
Lainie: Haha...It's okay.

Talked with some musicians / music critics outside KLPac. Jerome Kugan, Zach, etc. Some of the comments on NAO:

"Excellent album", "very progressive", "so fuckin underrated", "Why don't people go for their gigs? People are stupid. They're bloody rocking it out in Beijing, and yknow people don't even know who they are here" and "I want to steal him for my band". It seems I'm not the only one who'll vouch for the band - if you EVER get a chance to watch NAO perform, fucking go.

Caught up with Phang as well - he's in Citizens of Ice Cream, and for that night, emcee of the event. It's been a long, long while. He said he didn't quite recognise me with my long hair (something earlier echoed by Rudi - he owns a studio / performance space in Shah Alam, and I've no idea how to spell his name but I can tell you he used to jam with OAG).

I think it's a good sign that I'd been away from the gig circuit for a while, when the gig people I usually meet can't recognise me. Well, I think I'm somewhat back.

I'm listening to the NAO cd now. Watched the short film too. RM30, and worth it. 5 days of my own cooking, and...er. worth it. But more money will be nice...

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Bummed a ride with Chee (whom I've just discovered lives nearby) to the readings in Seksan. I'd only known Bernice Chauly was reading.

There are plans to compile everything that's been read at the event for the past 3 years (it was Readings' 3rd birthday), so people could see all that's been going on (that'd be about 36 reading sessions then?). Not entirely certain, but I think I've read twice - the larger problem is that I don't even know which pieces I read, much less whether I still own copies of the work.

Lainie: I come to readings for lunch.
J: You're very scary.
Lainie: ...? :/
J: This isn't proper food. It's nuts. And chips.
Lainie: And it's really not much better than my usual food.

Plus, it comes with wine and soft drinks. And chocolate cake, today. I think Kat might have given up arguing with me that Cheezels is a meal.

[ Mental image of her going "abusing youth! abusing youth!" ]

I asked J what Chi had meant when he said KataGender has been asked to come up with a performance for a WCI2 (or some acronym like that) event.

Someone had asked me what KataGender does, and I always have trouble explaining.

I suppose it's the act of engaging through art, be it performances or more formal installations, on a variety of socio-political issues.

If KataGender were to divide art into

i) relaxant
ii) stimulant

then I can safely say the objective is the latter.

J: And (blablabla)
Lainie: That sounds familiar.....
J: It's amazing. You replied the email.
Lainie: It sounds *really* familiar.

I still don't know what it was about, but I'm sure it involved a post-gig thing. Or something photo-friendly. .........A workshop thing........and posters ala adbusters.

=====

Supper with Kat in between catching up on my reading. She told me that she was pissed cause the (autograhed) Tempered Mental CD I gave her had been stolen when she sent her car for servicing.

Lainie: At least they have taste?
Kat: Yeah. I was so pissed off you know. But at least they have taste. I give them that.


Lainie: I read up on my horoscope in a friend's book the other day. It says I'm organised. Heh heh heh.
Kat: You are organised.
Lainie: Huh?
Kat: You're organised.
Lainie: If I am, I don't think it's in a way anyone else can understand (I rather question if I do).
Kat: Maybe not with dates, or time. But I'm sure your hard disk is very organised.
Lainie: Oh yeah. It is, anally so*. I have folders for everything.** I never thought of it that way.

*Much as I dislike bringing Freud into the conversation...

**I once wanted to learn how to develop an application, where I can colour-associate files. Click on a master swatch (ie: Magenta) in a search widget-y thing, and all the relevant files tagged "Magenta" would show up - with related colour tags in the periphery. I didn't want word tags because I was in secondary school, had just installed Adobe and I loved the colour swatches . So one colour would be for all my friends-related files: videos, pictures, blah blah. Another for all punk-items, regardless of which folders they're in.
I'm sure a service like this exists by now - in the slim chance that it doesn't, feel free to borrow the idea***. Like most of my ideas, I got distracted.

*** I don't know how to return a borrowed idea. Hi, that's my thought in your head, can I have it back? - I am going to stop here because these two sentences just started an argument in my head that phased me out about...20 minutes? and now I'm too lazy to type it out.

The only trouble when I don't sleep isn't that I feel groggy - it's that my eyes get tired, and shoulders stiff.

=====

In the car with Kat

Lainie: Oh! Universiti Malaya is here!
Kat: Yes, today it is. Tomorrow, it'll be somewhere else.
Lainie: Leh...

Kat: Bring Tei's hair straightener with you. It's the only thing about her that can be straight.

Then Kat called Tei when we were outside her place

Kat: I've been waiting here ten minutes already!
Tei: Okay okay. Don't bluff.
Kat: Heh.

Kat: She always comes out at night only, daylight is harsher. I told her she better prepare herself and look good.
Lainie: So jahat..

Went for KLPac open day with Kat and Tei. Met Zal and Bella there too

Kat: Is Zal here?
Lainie: I can't hear her.
Kat: Is Zal here?
Tei: Nope cant hear her

Lainie: If she was, we woulda heard her from the carpark.

Then we turned around and Zal was behind us - turns out she had been yelling at us....from inside a soundproof room - everytime I meet these people I lose a lesbian point or two.

If they keep it up, by their definition I'm the straightest gay blogger around. Bella was there too, and should do stand-up comedy for a lesbian audience. She dissed some lesbian poseur cliches with deadly funny observations. Her trio lesbian audience, Tei, Kat and I, were much amused. Well. I say trio. She calls the 3 of us a 2.5 lesbians.

Zal told me to go home, take my gaydar out, stroke it and ask it why its broken -_-". Tei said it wasn't broken, just non-existent. Friends, pah.

Met a dude in KLPac's carpark, he says he reads tarot cards and runes - while he can't guess the number in your head, he can (apparently) tell if you're giving / getting bad nookie. I think that's a far more useful skill, no?

I now have places to go, people to see, and less than RM3. Beat that?

 

Written by lainie at 10:40 PM on February 3, 2008 in Daily Life.

Digging through old stuff in my room, I found an old bookmark-card. Written at the back, in neat handwriting

 

Dear Lainie

Happy Chinese New Year

and

Study more harder so you won't get scolding anymore

From:

The girl always sit beside

you in the bus. 

 I have no memory of who that came from, but I do remember what the girl she gave it to used to be like.

You people have a good Chinese New Year  

Written by lainie at 08:51 PM on February 4, 2008 in Daily Life.

Supper with Nessa and the clones (Arvin & Navin).

Navin: Red Hot Chili Peppers are coming to Singapore.
Lainie: Woah. I got chills.

[ I lifted up my arms - goosebumps! Iwanna Iwanna Iwanna I wanna! ]

We were discussing what might be the best way to enjoy a Chili Peppers concert - sobriety did not rank highly.

At close to 2am, as we were leaving the table, Navin suddenly paused.

Navin: I smell Yara.
Lainie: That does not sound right.
Navin: No guys, seriously, I smell Yara. It's like she's right here.
Lainie: You're not kidding.
Navin: Are you wearing perfume?
Nessa: Nope, I'm not wearing perfume.
Lainie: And I'm allergic to them.
Navin: Lainie, did you use shampoo or something?

And that's how I ended up having the clones and Nessa sniff around me before we left - turns out I do smell like Yara after all. Couldn't help but think of dogs communicating with each other, if I had a tail I'd have wagged it.

Lainie: Yknow, this is just gonna make me wanna sniff Yara next time I see her, and how weird would that be?

Considering I'm back in Ipoh and using my mum's products, that means Yara.....smells like my mother?

Yknow, I like the smell of skin, and how some people just smell so good - cause of perfume or by their natural scent.

Not that I'm talking about Yara. Or my mum. Just...generally. Ah, fuck how half the stuff I want to say comes out. Do I sound like a knock-off of a Patrick Suskind novel?

------

I have some damn old (and not very attractive) graffiti in my room, of huge, elongated rubber figures striding across - I added nipples to them last night (I was bored, my laptop was still with the repairman).

As I was shaking the cans, my mother walked by

Mother: So THIS is why you want to stay over in my room tonight!

What a skeptic - it coulda been for the company, yknow. I'm quite comfortable sleeping in the midst of a spray paint haze. Mum went downstairs to get her coffee, and as she returned and walked by my room:

Mother: Mother coming through! No spray painting your mother! You're not allowed to spray paint me!

and as she darts by my door

Mother: *warningly* Don't spray your mother ah! Don't spray your mother ah!
Lainie: -_-"

Like I'll ever hear the end of it if so much as a droplet hit her...

But yeah, she can be pretty cool. She also got a carpenter to fix my cupboard door, the one I tore off when I was much younger and had a really bad temper fit.

-----

Nessa leaves for Australia end of the month. I'm kinda bummed out about it, but I know it'll be good for her. It's just that Oz has claimed so many of my good friends (Rish, Daph), and they never wanna come back once they leave.

I can see how it happens, sometimes I feel like if I'm gonna be treated as a third class citizen / immigrant in my own home, I may as well go somewhere that offers a better lifestyle. I don't know why I sometimes feel like I want to stay just to try and help make things change.

Anyhoo, Nessa says she's gonna talk with her dad and see if I can borrow her jeep, Mr Todhi, when she flies off. Shall see how it goes. There are no guarantees about it, but if it happens I'll be the very jeep-driving dyke stereotype I like to laugh at.

-----

I had the strangest dream the other day. That I was running naked throughout the city, then after a series of adventures, I ended up fully clothed, and wearing a tudung, talking to Lola. There were people in her house we didn't really know, whom I had brought, and they lit up some ciggies.

Lainie: Is it okay to smoke in your house?
Lola: Yeah. I smoke pot with my parents.
Lainie: Wow, and I thought your family would be much more conservative!

And then I pulled my tudung in tighter.

I couldn't type it down without a computer in the house, and it didn't cross my mind to write it down, so the more I lazed around in bed the more I forgot.

The only thing I remember was thinking it was really trippy and interesting, and I should jot it down for later. :/

Written by lainie at 12:30 PM on February 7, 2008 in Holidays / Road Trip, Links / Email.

Gong Hei Fatt Choy! Happy Chinese New Year! Have a fun one, you. I have a good feeling about this year, I do. And I LIKE that.

-----

There's an old pop rock song in Malay I really like, by Candy, called Akan Ku Tunggu.



Alternatively, I have a video of them performing live.

Gelunggan kasihmu
di jemari

Yknow, my understanding of Bahasa is so balls those lyrics look like "rolls of your love in my fingers / closet" to me.
Someone tell me the lyrics are much better than that (I know I probably got them wrong).

-----

I'm in my uncle's house, watching an MTV programme about one hit wonders. Blind Melon's No Rain only made 98, pffft.

Then again, looks interesting! Harper Valley P.T.A. made it to the list.

I used to dance on my bed to it - that was when I had an Atari, used cassettes, and couldn't figure out the record player in the living room (I used to manually spin the records with my hands).

I leavest thee with Bruce Willis, Respect Yourself, a truly cringeworthy performance by Bruce Willis as his alter ego, Bruno.

-----

I've been having awesome home cooked food - and by "food" I mean "annual onslaught of new year snacks".

Mom is in the kitchen with her sister, and sister-in-law, cooking. Uncle lying on the couch reading newspapers, I'm occasionally surfing the internet / watching tv / wandering into the kitchen.

Mother used her new sister-in-law as an example.

Mother: You see? When she was eight she washed her own clothes and helped cook. You leh?
Lainie: ....I grew up using the same maids you did.

That coming from my mother, who never cooked anything till she got married. Granted, she was already married by my age. Brrr.

Written by lainie at 01:58 AM on February 8, 2008 in Arty stuff.

My favourite exhibition in July 2007, London was Antony Gormley's, in Hayward Gallery.



It shows you on of my favourite parts of the exhibition - Blind Light. A room you step into with your eyes wide open, and you can't see anything but white. Stretch your arm out and your hand fades into the whiteness of it all.

I loved it. I don't think white blindness can be shown on video quite the same way, but maybe you'll get an idea on why I loved it so much . I wish they'd shown some of the other (older) sculptures that were on display, but hey.

Written by lainie at 01:42 PM on February 12, 2008 in Friends, Holidays / Road Trip.

I'm only typing as long as it takes to upload the photos.

I've had the most wonderful few days - you could say it was spiritually rejuvenating. I met Yara on Friday night, and we waited hours and hours for Jay so we got to know each other in the time. I wish I'd started hanging out with her earlier, she's leaving for Japan soon.


with Nessa, before I flew.

We took a road trip to Ipoh for a private party - got there at 1am, and it was straight on happiness (and free flow everything) till 6.

I've had a dinner entirely made of cakes, sweets, brownies, coconut squares, and Japanese mayo sandwiches (they're great, trust me).


I want to go again.

Hung out at a secluded lagoon no one seems to know of in Ipoh. So peaceful. It's our secret spot, and I have a shite sense of direction anyway, so I can't tell you where it is . The water was really nippy. You can't hear anything but birds chirping there, and the boys making music with beer bottles.


Almost every-ba-deh!

Visited the waterfalls the next day, this one had a lot of people from the CNY crowd. We trekked about twenty minutes up, till we couldn't even hear anyone else, and the water was so cold.

Had a lot of little house parties.Learned my friend lives half an hour away from Hayao Miyazaki's house, and I am currently tinkling away with little ideas in my head.

We were all lying down, relaxed, waiting to be hypnotised by a spiritual regression tape (to get a glimpse of our past life), but unfortunately the set of soothing instructions was in Japanese (Yara is Lebanese, but speaks the language). Instead, we got Ten Minutes Older.

You lie around, you will get Kancho-ed. Read half of the Enlish translation of Mahabharata. Guitars, piano, beer bottles, djembe and anything that could make a sound.

Watched Yara and Arvin break into Arvin's house (Navin had the keys, and we eventually went inside and watched them succeed in breaking in. All sleeping in one room and accidentally groping each other. Asking for late check-out the one night we stayed in a hotel room.

Made a few stops in Gopeng. Educated Nessa about boobies (I have decided the nerd has no natural inclination towards lesbianism) because it hurt everytime she grabbed mine like they were stress balls.


So. Much. Food.

Drank cola (Nessa: What is this? Coke with what? Coke with coke? What are we, FOURTEEN?), ate chips, had the biggest bestest Indian cuisine for lunch. We couldn't walk after.

I'm happy .

And knackered. And the photos are still uploading, pooo.

[ I didn't take any of the photos, Nessa / Yara did ]

Written by lainie at 12:51 AM on February 14, 2008 in Friends, Holidays / Road Trip.

I think I've been a bit of a tourist in my own country lately.

I went to Batu Caves yesterday, not very sober. I've been meaning to go for years (a whole decade!) so it's great to go see the place where so many of my friends have had very spiritual experiences.

For those who don't know, Batu Caves (translation: Stone Caves, but named after Batu River, not stones) is a hill with caves, monkeys and temples. Also (I think) the world's largest statue of Lord Muruga. There's also another pretty big statue of Hanuman nearby - can't miss it, huge, bright green deity with a muzzle. Every Thaipuisam the crowd there is crazy - one of the largest gatherings in history, at 1.5million a year. You'll see heaps of awesome photos then, devotees carrying milk / offerings / kavadi.

I kinda want to carry a kavadi but it seems disrespectful to do it just cause I'm curious (and very irreligious). Maybe I'm subconsciously reluctant, because it's not like I don't know any of the people who carry the kavadi yearly, so I could ask them how it goes.

I saw monkeys there - aggressive ones too. I live next to a hill in Ipoh, with a playground that had steps leading up to a snake temple, with quite a few monkeys. I'm more accustomed to monkeys that were ignored like back home, not these aggro food-snatching ones. One darted near me and I flinched - I think Ding had just told me some stories about them.

Ding: Say hi to the monkey!
Lainie: Hi! *wave at Ding*

I got pinched and was told I'd be sorry. I think I was only sorry when I looked up the hundreds of steps I needed to climb (with the sign at the bottom saying "No exercise here").

The temple was a bit too commercial for me. I usually love cave temples, but this one wasn't very well maintained the day I went (perhaps it's the constant throng of tourists - not necessarily devotees, mind). I didn't connect with the vibe there the way I tend to in some other places of worship, which made me a bit sad because I really thought I would.

----

Went to stay over with Rach last night, cause she wasn't feeling well. Her friend Claude (whom I've heard of for years) was visiting from England, so we went for a dinner in Delicious Cafe in Bangsar Village. I think that place is overrated and overpriced, but hey. Still a nice place to chill.

Went home, and read a book Rach had on Derrida, drooled over her DVD collection (musicals!), and kinda...... I was so tired from Batu Caves and lack of rest that I did one of those classic rude-scenarios where she was talking, and my head suddenly crooked over and I snored.

Rach: Are you sleeping babes?
Lainie: Huh? No, I'm awake.
Rach: You just snored.
Lainie: Really? But...I'm...awake. Are you sure?

I didn't even realise I did it, though in retrospect I was dreaming with my eyes open - I heard everything she said, but I also had all these visuals involving a friend with orange hair, saying her words.

-----

The next day, I brought Claude to Badan Warisan (Heritage of Malaysia Trust), because I like their souvenirs, and their exhibitions when held, revolve around Malaysia. This time, it was Malaya: 500 Early Postcards.

We played Congkak, I showed him the Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman (it's a nice wooden kampung house in Badan Warisan compound - I don't usually say quaint, but I think it applies here).

Walked to Star Hill to show him the beautiful concept restaurants there, then brought him for lunch at a much cheaper Chinese place in Sungei Wang (but goooood food).

Then we headed over to KL Tower.

------

Felt kinda silly because I wrote for a travel guidebook in London about tourist spots around Kuala Lumpur, and I couldn't remember ANYTHING about KL Tower (which I included in it, along with Badan Warisan). Heck, I can't even find my house.

We got there in time for the trek through the "Jungle in the City" (KL Tower is in a forest reserve). It was only supposed to be twenty minutes, but we ended up walking for over an hour. Claude likes nature and monkeys, so he liked it more. I couldn't differentiate most of the trees, though I'm familiar with their names.

Kinda like how Poplar Grove will be named after the trees that were cut down to make way for development - in Malaysia you have a lot of areas with names like "Ara" or "Batai" or "Jelutong", but you're not entirely sure if the trees in the area is even of that species.

We saw two types of monkeys there. Quite a lotta them. Got an ex-military guide, an old dude who only has two vocal volumes - Loud, and Louder.

After that, it was a beer and chips, and another two hours on the KL Tower's observation deck. I found my old KL house (and got a headache using those super-binoculars).

Claude also likes to walk, so we skipped the cabs most of the time and sweated it out.

We then did a Jalan Alor too-much-food dinner, and went to the usual Ceylon Bar for cocktails. We gave Claude a disposable camera for his birthday because I don't know how, but he managed to get on the plane without his money or camera.

We kept wanting to get him cake for his birthday, but he doesn't like sweet food.

Lainie: You should never refuse cake on your birthday, now we can't get you a stripper cause she'll have nothing to jump out of!

Should have just hired a go-go boy.

Claude's off to Sandakan tomorrow to look at orang utans.

And me...I'm....fucking knackered

Written by lainie at 11:43 AM on February 16, 2008 in Daily Life, Links / Email.

People, I have something I really want to share with you - and especially with those who said that if I wanted to get something done I should work with the government and not against it.



The Women's Candidacy Initiative (WCI) is pleased to announce the candidacy of Zaitun (Toni) Mohamed Kasim for the upcoming 12th General Elections.

WCI
WCI is a collaboration of women and men who believe that the political participation of women at every level of decision-making is vital to advancing and upholding the rights of women and to better represent their concerns. This will be the second time that WCI will field a candidate in the election. WCI made history during the 10th General Elections when it fielded Toni Kasim to run on a women's human rights platform in the Selayang parliamentary seat against the incumbent, Chan Kong Choy (BN). WCI polled 43% (26,144) of the vote in the constituency, slashing the winning margin for the incumbent from 38,627 in the 1995 general election to 8,835.

WCI's Candidate - Toni Kasim
Our candidate, Toni Kasim is no stranger to the women's movement and the larger human rights movement. She has worked tirelessly for the last 15 years in Malaysia, on a wide range of human rights and women's rights issue. She has been involved in various civil society organizations and movements to work on issues such as sexual harassment, domestic violence, poverty, HIV/AIDS, women's access to leadership and the impact of religious fundamentalisms on people's lives. Her work is based on the fundamental belief that women and men, and people of all races and religions should be equal before the law.

WCI - What we believe in
WCI believes that no one should be discriminated against because of their gender, religious beliefs, ethnicity or nationality - every person has the right to equal access to health, education and employment, the freedom of belief and practices according to the Constitution. We have the right to safe and affordable living conditions where we can live without fear or injustice or discrimination.

We also assert that politics belongs to all and that for a democracy to be truly representative, it must have the participation of civil society - ordinary men and women who make up this country, regardless of whether they choose to join a political party or not. WCI gave expression to this ideal in the 1999 general elections and this year, with bigger support and commitment, we are pleased to come together once again in the second phase of WCI to participate in the coming elections.

We believe in the growing importance of civil society participation in the elections process. However, trying to bring this ideal to fruition has not been easy. The voice of civil society has largely been drowned by politicians who have ruled over us for 50 years. Systems and structures have been put in place to make it very difficult for the diverse Malaysian voices to be heard. These include gerrymandering and increasing the deposits for candidates who wish to run in the elections.

With the limited resources available to independent candidates and an election system that is less than free and fair, there are numerous barriers for effective participation in the elections. For women, these barriers are even more pronounced. But this year, we are experiencing a thrilling second phase of our growth, and we are excited to be planning the campaign for an independent woman candidate once again, to make sure that women's issues are highlighted and do not fall off the agenda.


In spite of an election system that presents numerous challenges to our candidacy, we are committed to run a campaign that is clean, fair and ethical:

• As an independent women's candidacy our campaign will not be based on monetized politics, because we want to be accountable to the people, not to businesses.

• As believers and defenders of universal human rights, we will ensure that issues of public importance are tackled critically and with humanity.

• As supporters of women's equal access to leadership, we will ensure that women's voices are heard and heeded.

• We will also ensure that our campaign does not waste resources unnecessarily.


How you can be a part of the WCI campaign
We would also like to use this opportunity to invite other Malaysians who believe in democracy, justice and equality to lend your support to WCI this coming election. Because we are an initiative driven by ordinary people who believe in fairness and equality, we need all the help we can get. There are many ways in which you can help. You can contribute by donating in cash or in kind, or you can volunteer your time and energy to help us put this campaign together, or you can simply spread the word and help us make some noise.

Finally, you can contribute by not voting inequality, but by voting for EQUALITY!

Toni Kasim was the right candidate for WCI in 1999, and she is the right candidate this time around. It is therefore with great pleasure that we hereby officially launch the 2nd phase of the Women's Candidacy Initiative, and our candidate for the upcoming 12th General Elections.

End discrimination, Vote Equality.

To know more about how you can contribute or volunteer, please call WCI at 017-302 7030.

WCI is conducting a volunteers workshop. Please register by calling WCI at 017-302 7030.

WCI Volunteers Workshop
Date: 16th February 2008
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Venue : Pusat Janadaya (Empower), 13 Lorong 4/48E, Seksyen 4, 46050, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

For more information, log on to www.wci2.org

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WCI also has some other buttons on their website (I should know, I made them*), but........This. Is. Not. The dimensions I designed for, dammit T_T.

*I am not officially with WCI, though an arts-activist collective I'm associated with, Katagender, has pledged to help Toni out. We like how Toni works.

On a personal note I find her intelligent, knowledgeable and friendly (wicked sense of humour, too). Happily, I also agree with what she's working towards.

(My reaction when finding out Toni will be fielded as a candidate: WOOOOO!! GO TONI!)

=====

Thursday.

Hello. Work drudgery and sleep deprivation today, as it was the day before. I had a nice break in between though - headed down to Subang to meet the boys (and Dai & Yara). Hung out in Asia Cafe, then went to Rhythmx Studio to jam at 2am (Arvin wanted me to video it). Rhythmx is just down the road from my old room, where I stayed for three years.

Came home at 7am and wanted to clean my room, but ended up falling asleep instead.

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Friday

I just had the most awesome Friday night at Maison. Joey G was the DJ and the dude has fantastic music. We danced all night and went up after the club closed to let him know we really appreciated the night, largely thanks to his spinning - he gave us his number. Really friendly dude.

Then we all came back to my place to chill out. I still have people asleep in the living room.

I love this bunch of people.

Written by lainie at 06:36 PM on February 19, 2008 in Friends.

I cried yesterday -

It was tongue twisters on the way to KLIA - Swiss wrist watch! Swiss wrist watch! Swiss wrist watch! Swiss Wiss Swatch!

Then hacky sack (happy sack) in a secluded corner, occasional uniformed people passing by. Us laughing, running around, eventually throwing and catching, Nessa and I going "WOAHHH!" because we caught it.

Sitting in a circle on the floor at the entrance, a Mild Seven pack passed around ala talking stick. I can't watch my friends cry. I can't say goodbyes without tears, not even the "See you next year" kind. I'm so happy about the influence they've had over my friends, how we're grown as a group. I said thank you.

Dai and Yara have left the country. Only one week, and in that continuous party I learned something about myself, and regained my sense of optimism that used to come easily. I've gained two more inspirational friends.

It's always great to have lots of love in life. I don't think I ever want to forget how to do that.

Ciao, see you December~

Written by lainie at 04:07 PM on February 20, 2008 in work?, Daily Life.

Toni Kasim is too sick to run for elections, the WCI thingie .

Well well. I've had a good day so far.

Watched Eragon last night, and Sideways today. I like books for kids, and I've read the series for Eragon. Pretty fantastic (if cliched) stuff - dragon riders, telepathy, magic, obviously evil people, the epic wars that end well and predictable archetypes.

As for the Eragon movie? Sad, sad state of affairs. Almost tragic. Shoulda just taken the money and made some chilled out movie about kids bonding over some subculture difficulties.

I watched Sideways when I woke up. I like the script, and how it went. It was like a crash course on wine - I could emphatise with both characters in the film. And Sandra Oh is in it. I always liked her acting, but here is OH! WOW! That woman has it going on!

-----

Just finishing up some minor design work, I totally effed up the order of logos, whatever I'm on.

Guess what? I'm probably going to get a new freelance job right now - blogging. S'right, I'm gonna get paid to do this, get a feel of what it's like (gestures at my advertising-free blog).

Kakiseni's Cameronian Awards is coming up, and they want someone to blog about the events / people leading up to it. So, tomorrow's the meeting, shall see how it goes!

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Some friends are planning an Oscars movie weekend. I'm already thinking some snacks, party favours and a lotta movies with some friends sounds good. Yay!

Now I'm off to finish up my work for real, then Nessa and Arvin are headed over (they're at some audition at a talent agency near my place now).

Written by lainie at 02:44 AM on February 22, 2008 in Daily Life, Links / Email.

Hi!

Malaysia Votes is a website by Jac Ann Surin (assistant news editor of The Sun until recently), Danny Lim (senior writer of Off The Edge till recently) and Cindy Tham (also until recently with The Sun and The Edge). I really, really suggest you visit the website.

Moving along.

1) Nessa and I accompanied Arvin for a casting call - while he was getting test shots done in a room with clear windows, I was videoing Nessa mooning Arvin her ass by plastering it against the clear window and wiping it around. By the time the photographer turned around, Arvin had smacked his face and we were pretending nothing happened. Butts are fun.

2) I need a shopping cart by Friday (today, by the time you read this). Anyone can loan me one? Please?

3) I am the new blogger for Kakiseni's Cameronian Arts Awards. It's a separate blog, like how the Kakiseni blog is separate from the main website. My meeting was today - 21st of February. My first deadline was three days ago.

4) Poetry slam competition in Loft, Zouk on Saturday night. First that I know of, in Malaysia.

5) Friday night will be a non-Loft night for me, because a bunch of friends are coming over for a movie marathon of Oscar best film nominees this year.

6) Went for lunch @ The Daily Grind with Lola - she's collaborating with Popagandhi on a project. She asked me to do the graphic design for it.

Lainie: That's weird, I've been chatting with Adri online and she made no mention of it at all.
Lola: Yeah, she said I should ask you because there's a higher chance of you saying yes.
Lainie: WHAT????

I said yes. Damn Singaporean. Then Lola for some reason thought I work for Malaysiakini, and almost dropped me off there.

Lainie: Lola, I'm too much of a wanker to write for Malaysiakini, but thanks.

7) I will be going for some graffiti thing on Sunday, in the Annexe.

8) There is nothing quite like looking up from your laptop to see your friend sitting on the toilet (door wide open), propping her feet against the wall and giving a demonstration on why this is the best position to take a dump.

9) Met up with Smile and Tei tonight, after too long. I like hanging out with them heaps - mostly because they let me ignore them.

10) Went to Spes' old office and saw the coolest thing - a huge whiteboard that comes with a printer. Anything you draw on it, can be printed out. How awesome is that?

11) I accidentally missed a Katagender meeting tonight, because I forgot. It must have slipped my mind moments after I agreed to go for it. I've not really been sober lately, and it's not like I remember stuff even when I am.

Apparently they all agreed that I would probably own a shopping cart (I don't - whatever gave them that idea).

12) Ding woke me up early today, and I thought it was a really pretty day till I looked out my window and saw the blazing sun. Yikes. Hot. Then we moved furniture, was sweating balls by the time we got home.

13) Saw people throwing oranges into the lake(?) at Taman Jaya for Chap Goh Mei.

It is also when young unmarried women gather to toss tangerines into the sea, in a hope that their future spouse will pick it up – a custom that originated in Penang, Malaysia.
Wikipedia: Chap Goh Mei has Malaysian roots, who knew? Well, Ding because she told me, but who else?

14)I'm listening to the free CD of Malaysian music that came with the latest issue of OTE magazine (Off The Edge). Frankly, I didn't know if I'd be buying another issue so soon since I'm poor and Danny no longer writes for it, but the CD sold me to the idea.

15) I've been sticking stuff up my bedroom wall, making a nest for my cat (Girlfriend is pregnant), and for the first time - my housemate Spes cooked dinner for us. Beef burger, with mozzarella cheese, tomato, egg and ham, accompanied by chips and Zappel. Very yummy.

16) I gave Juliet one point on the "Kakiseni Loser of the Week" whiteboard contest in the office today, because she said she was "waving Nantuckets around" (she meant to say nunchakus). She's in the lead so far.

Have you seen this Youtube video on nunchucks? The girl's funny and has skillllls.

17) I identified Gill Sans Monotype (a typeface) on a business card. I actually had fun doing it.

I am...so...forgetting...somethings. The cool thing about blogging is I always think I didn't do anything the whoooole day, till I write it all down, then I realise I've been continuously having an interesting day. Almost every time. I think it helps that I'm easy to entertain.

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Before I go: Malaysia Votes

Gnite!

Written by lainie at 04:54 PM on February 24, 2008 in Friends, Stupid, but fun., Arty stuff.

Justin TimForChange (with WCI2) and Mak Bedah (with KataGender) singing Democracy Back.

There is a chance that I may have died laughing as a result of the video, after posting this. Asses.

I was with them earlier at MPPJ, "shopping" for a real candidate. Tell you bout it next time.

Written by lainie at 10:17 PM on February 26, 2008.

Hi! I have been up to a lot of stuff!

My first post on The Annual BOH Cameronian Arts Awards blog is up! It's a piece to encourage readers to vote for the Audience Choice Award.

Eenie Meenie Miney Mo

=====

Friday night I skipped clubbing in Loft, even though I could do with a dose of it, to have a movie marathon with some friends at home. Oscar movies!

Saturday afternoon I got a phone call informing me I was supposed to be at Empower, with some people from WCI2 and KataGender, to help out with their Mak Bedah stuff. Was tempted not to go because I had a fever.

On the walk over, helped out a woman who crashed her car (she + 3 children were okay). Arrived intimidated and new to the people in WCI2 - they were saying "Oh! The art director is here! The art director is here!".

Like what the hell did the KataGender people (all missing) tell these people when I wasn't around? -_-". Had to admit to a lady I'd just met, Myra, that I was taking part but had no idea what was happening with the elections, or for that matter, what KateGender's role was.

Drew some placards (dammit! Forgot to take a picture!).

Saturday evening: Went for Kuala Lumpur's 1st Poetry Slam Competition. The idea is to snap your fingers / stamp your feet if you're impatient with the performances, and I was quite liberal with my finger snappings.

Bernice gave me a copy of her book, The Book of Sins, which I love . I think she figured out I'm so broke if I had to save up for her book it'll take a really long while -_-"

Rach got me a copy of Pooja Nansi's book Stiletto Scars, which I like too (could do with some copy editing).

Rach told me that Lapsap would be happening in Loft after the Poetry slam. Tempted me to stay, promising me an early night with minimal alcohol, if at all.

So I ended up clubbing in the same clothes I'd showed up in Empower to draw placards with. I think people thought I was high, but I only had 100 Plus and Panadol Actifast. Later on I had some Red Bull with Rachel, and found out later some vodka was in it. Met Lola, Popagandhi and some ex-classmates from college there, briefly.

Got home at 4am, of course. I don't think I've successfully had an "early night" in Loft before.

=====

Wake-up call from Yuen Mei at 8am. Groggily headed to the fridge and drank the coffee I'd put in there the night before, to prep for the morning. Swallowed some Panadol.

Went for street demonstration with WCI and KataGender.

I am too lazy to write about it, but The Sun and Kakiseni and whatnots have write ups, and I've posted up a related music video, Democracy Back.

This is the Sun write-up on what we were doing with a "Mak Bedah" in costume, shopping carts, tin kosongs, and lots of slogan chantings!:

WCI introduces 'Mak Bedah' to Malaysians
PETALING JAYA (Feb 24, 2008): Injecting a bit of idealism and humour into the general elections, Women's Candidacy Initiative (WCI) formally introduced "Mak Bedah" to Malaysians today.

With a troupe of 30 supporters wearing T-shirts that read "We Are Shopping For A Real Candidate", Mak Bedah went around the nomination centre for Petaling Jaya Selatan with a shopping cart, asking candidates for their response on WCI's 10-point manifesto.

"If you want to buy a pair of shoes, you're not going to let someone just give you a pair and let them tell you that it fits you. You need to shop for it," explained said WCI representative Shanon Shah on why 'Mak Bedah' went 'shopping.

"Mak Bedah" is WCI's brainchild after Zaitun"Toni" Kassim who was supposed to stand as an independent candidate had to withdraw due to a para-typhoid attack on her liver.

"We're doing this because people remember Toni when she ran in 1999, they remember her as someone with a great sense of humour," said Shanon.

"Politics doesn't have to be boring and humourless. The creative strategy is the way to get people interested in issues."

A hypothetical Malay woman in her 40s, "Mak Bedah" is just like any other Malaysian who is curious about the candidates that will be representing her constituency.

"Mak Bedah is here to create awareness about our manifesto - a citizen's manifesto. We are so used to listening about manifestos from political parties, now we want to make our needs known as voters," he said.

In addition to Mak Bedah's introduction to the public in MBPJ today, WCI also launched a music video titled "Democracy Back" on YouTube.

A parody of the song "SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake, the song features Justin Timeforchange" and Mak Bedah (http://youtube.com/watch?v=6R0Wsj06jz8).

Mak Bedah's walkabout today drew a lot of curious stares from shoppers and passersby in the area.

"It was strange, people didn't know what to make of us," said Shanon, adding that they were given a very warm reception by DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

"When we got there, we were immediately welcomed into the opposition's area. But when we tried to go to Barisan Nasional (BN)'s area, the police stopped us.

We told them that we are ordinary citizens and that "Mak Bedah" wants to meet all the candidates, but they wouldn't let us in," he said.

At the nomination centre "Mak Bedah" spoke to DAP's Edward Lee (running for Bukit Gasing state seat) and Keadilan's Hee Loy Sian who is running for PJ Selatan's parliamentary seat.

According to Shanon, Lee promised to help push the NGO's issues despite the fact that he was only a state assemblyman.

"He told us that he was well acquainted with our issues and said that he would try his best to help us. He asked us to send him more details on our points.

"Hee, told 'Mak Bedah that he would only be able to help if elected."

"Mak Bedah" was however unable to talk to BN's Datuk Donald Lim who is defending his PJ Selatan's parliamentary seat, whom she was told was busy.

"Instead, they asked us to go for his press conference tomorrow to ask our questions," Shanon said.

From this Sun article

I came home with a suntanned face.

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Nessa came down to KL yesterday.
She left for Melbourne today.

I miss the nerd already. She knows I do.

To help make up for it, I now have 5Gigs of porn, and she's leaving her jeep, Mr Todhi, with me (I need it for work).

I don't know how to drive it yet, but I'm enlisting Arvin and Ding to teach me.

Daph and Nessa are gonna be sisters living together once again. This time, I won't be there to mediate.

Damn, I miss the girls.

=====

We've all been given new names. Kinda like "spirit names", if you will. Something who reflects who you are.

The one given to me is "Lainie the Artist".

Written by lainie at 02:41 PM on February 29, 2008 in Rants.

I read Malaysiakini today (or more precisely, my inbox has been *flooded* with the article)

If you don't vote MIC, 'prepare to pay price'
The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition today warned the disenchanted minority Indian community that they would "pay the price" if they vote for the opposition in March 8 elections.
[ from Malaysiakini ]

Because I want blackmailing thugs in the government? Is this what MIC has come down to, resorting to threats to get votes?

I have a wake up call for you, the people have paid the price for electing BN, over and over and over again - hence the support for other alternatives.

Now I have to get back to work. *shakes head*. Fuck.