Written by lainie at 05:05 PM on July 1, 2008 in work?.

Yet another break. Things have been crazy lately, and I've been barely weathering through, though I finally got a break recently at Urbanscapes. Meanwhile:

This is an advert I did for East101, a company that does simulation and mathematical modelling in the oil and gas industry. Truth be told, I didn't really know what that sentence meant, and even after research (ie: reading the website), fully comprehending what they did was a bit beyond me given the timeframe.

East 101: Rules over Problems (click for bigger version)

A5 sized, for a calendar. Client loved it, which is good.

Even if someone exceptionally blur should read it....Heck, it's gonna be on a calendar, that's a whole month for the message / pun to hit them.

The brief called for

1) simple or minimalist imagery

2) to convey that they took real life stuff and reduced them to mathematical models.

There were other ideas in this series - including text "midnight oil" being burned.  Went for treasure hunt recently, brain geared in the direction of word-and-image play right now.

Credible looking burning text is a pain in the ass to render, by the way. I can do huge fireball renders easily (as can anyone familiar with cloud, water, outline and spherise filters in Photoshop), but flames licking off the edges of words, without going crazy on Liquify filter is.......trickier.....

I get the feeling I'm falling behind on Photoshop-fu too much.

I know I've been updating sporadically, but that's about to end soon.

Written by lainie at 01:51 AM on July 6, 2008 in Daily Life.

Yeap. Protest again. This one ought to be big.

There have been scare tactics employed to discourage this, and the army's involved now. I was going before news of that came through, and I'm still going now. Something in me deeply resists the idea of backing down to bullies, not when I have a reason to step forward.

I don't think I have an invisible shield of invulnerability. I'm not scoffing at the idea of men with guns.What I do have faith in, is that some things need to, and should, be done. I'll be damned if I let threats keep me from my faith.

I'm in. So are many friends, and those dear to me. Let's hope nothing untoward happens to anyone there.

See ya at the protest, if I do

Love, yo.

[ The Army is on our streets - What will you do in Malaysia’s hour of need? ]

Written by lainie at 11:32 PM on July 6, 2008 in Daily Life, Stupid, but fun..

I is yawnz, in Ur face!

Written by lainie at 09:58 PM on July 12, 2008.

I finally have a bit more time now that work with Bernice is over, bar some minor edits. Plenty of emails to check, messages to reply, friends to apologise to - Smile and Tei have taken to sending me chatlogs regarding my disappearance.

A few days back I headed to Replacement, to get my hair cut by Ricco. I frequently bump into Ricco at TAG on Friday nights, and this haircut is long overdue. I pretty much sat in the chair and let him decide what to do.

I do like the new haircut - Ricco asked me what I wanted and since I let him decide, I don't really know what Ricco did (though he did say long hair suits me). I have bat equivalent vision without my spectacles and couldn't watch the process, but less than an hour later, I had a shorter fringe, neater, lighter looking hair.

I look happy here huh? This was moments before the cat tipped a glass of water over in my room and I realised I had work to get back to. Then she sat on my laptop and opened up applications I never knew existed.

That be my bedroom in the background, and a mish mash of postcards, posters designs, and sculptures stuck on the wall - some are my designs. Most are stuff I attended / liked.

Last night was Ben's (of Ben's Bitches') birthday do, and it coincides with someone telling me she downloaded the Sexercise song Nessa, Josie and I er...participated in...many years back.

As or tonight...I'm off for a drink with Jemufo and Jen soon, to see their new tattoos, followed by SHITDISCO and Lapsap. Meanwhile, because I'm waiting for the girls, here are 2 random photos taken from my collection the past 2 weeks (random because I can't preview right now):

Protest at MPPJ Stadium in Kelana Jaya, towards the night, when I'd gotten bored of listening from the field and was walking around the crowd at the stadium.

Masjid Jamek early evening, just exploring around KL after lunch with Chitoo, and wandering around Old Pudu area, wondering if I should stop for some of those famous Tong Kee eggtarts or Teochew porridge.

Okay heck, one more.

Ah, this pic. Lessee. Elaine and Kim, at the Glenmorangie Whiskey Appreciation dinner at Westin Hotel, three nights ago. They both have names like mine (my chinese name's Kim) . Kim Ong's my junior in school, so it was always weird for me when people looked for Kim, because it just sounds like they're looking for me.

About 8 of us Malaysians got to meet and learn from Glenmorangie's whisky creator and sensory expert, Annabel Meikle, and drink a variety of Glenmorangie single malt whiskey, which was good. She's a bit of a foodie, so I owe her an email on stuff to look up for if she does come to KL again .

I had a lovely time, I'll blog more about this evening soon, I want to.

Do I have more stories to tell? Yeshhhh, I do. And I expect to have a rocking good time tonight. w00t w00t!

Hello, Lainie is back. Kinda!

Written by lainie at 01:33 AM on July 16, 2008.

The one thing I tell people about Heath Ledger is that many years back, when I was still considered straight, did not own a blog, and studied bio-science (and contrary to popular belief, I did finish the course), this man's face adorned my wall.

I subconsciously arranged the many posters in such a way that my roommate Risha took a step back and declared I had stuck a collage of a giant sperm (complete with wavy tail) next to my bed. The one thing most people didn't realise was that these were all pictures of Heath Ledger, he looked so diferent in every photo.

Perhaps this was my first indicator that he could convincingly play many different roles, though I did not see it then.

This was when his reputation still largely stemmed from 10 Things I Hate About You, where as an angry and lean boy, he threw his reputation to the wind, strode across the the field, and serenaded Julia Stiles - simultaneously making young girls slide off their seats in cinemas everywhere.

But now, he's going to be known as the one who passed away too soon, the man who took the character of Joker, and gave it life. If he affected girls in their seats, it was to make them extremely uncomfortable and tense. I swear, I couldn't detect Heath in his portrayal of Joker - devious, murderous psychopath was all I got.

And I nearly orgasmed at the sight of the Batmobile, and laughed at some inside jokes, but I digress.

Watch The Dark Knight in the cinema, it's worth it - at the very least, to see the final performance by Heath Ledger. I think he has every reason to be proud of this one, wherever he is.

I believe the movie's coming out on Thursday. Go. Book your tickets.

[ I went for the premiere of The Dark Knight thanks to Nokia (M), in the Gold Class cinemas with Suanie, so it totally felt like I was on a date with her ]

Written by lainie at 02:23 AM on July 18, 2008.

Just came home from Xtreme India at Raw bar, in Solaris. Had their signature cocktail, RAW Deal, which was yummy. Passionfruit and white chocolate mix.

Subsequent drunken session came from beer that kept materialising in my mug. A few TAG friends were there, which was good for me

All the girls Ben wanted to hook up with turned out to be my friends, nyeh nyeh nyeh. Syat drove us home, Ben and I making up some song that went like

Why are all the girls gayyy
Because I turned them gayyy
Fuck you lainie lesbian bitches machauhai)Q*#&%)Q*#&%)*&Q#%!)*Q fuck youuu
I only fuck girls, sorryyyy, muahahaaaa

It was not a very melodic song.

Then we (or those sitting in front) did something so college-era, grabbing traffic cones as we drove by them. First one, failure - couldn't get into the window. Second one, success - drove by with car door open, grabbed, pulled in.  Was asked who'll take it home, but I didn't want it because I'm wayyyy past my traffic cone days.

If Raw has more indie nights, I'll so layan. I wish it had more couches though. w00t.

Okay. Drunk people need sleep. Someone remind me tomorrow alcohol+innernets = not cool.

Written by lainie at 11:59 AM on July 18, 2008.

Filling out Aussie Skilled Migration (Sponsored) form.

You. Have. No. Fricking. Idea. How. Much. Forms. Stress. Me. Out.

Written by lainie at 05:59 PM on July 21, 2008 in work?.

Kakiseni.com. As you guys may know, I contribute there, from reviews, to my favourite: the short format tembak section. It's the home of my biggest writing blocks (I still owe an article, so long overdue I don't even know how to explain it to Kathy), my favourite assignments, the best editors and a source of equal frustration and gratitude.

Sometimes I wish I could grab Kakiseni and shape it to be friendlier to the masses - but I can't ignore that we are missing a lot of academic discourse in the local arts scene, which Kakiseni did provide, amidst some pieces that used the vocabulary but perhaps lacked the content.

Kathy recently announced Kakiseni articles will be taking a break, till the cash machine is up and running again. Rach and I are both bummed out. I don't really want to think about what it'll be like without Kakiseni for a while, so I'll leave it for now - expect random one off bitchings.

Since you won't be seeing my contributions there till further notice, here are some updates to other online exploits I've been up to:

KLUE

Well, you guys know KLUE magazine. I've started contributing to the arts review section, and you can read Stirring Odissi@KLPac here. Sarchan is my editor, I think? Or at least, my coordinator. Actually, I don't know what she is, except she's my KLUE-liase. I figure I can say this and not get caught for a while because she's in Hong Kong now .

I have another KLUE review coming up soon, once I get to writing it . Sarchan on holiday! Slack! Procrastinate! Wheeeee! Drinks whis-kays and wines everyday! (Sarah if you're reading this I'm kidding).

Tilted World

I've been involved in starting up a new Malaysian blog for queer voices (with a bunch of people I've never met!). Sometimes I get lazy and post other people's writings (but only because it was pwnage), sometimes I write about really cool stuff on the internet, like Sandy Stone's videos.

Please, if you have a blog (and no, I don't care if "nobody reads my blog", I'd really like for you to pimp it), or a Twitter, or a website, or a status on some social network site that needs to be updated, feel free to plug http://www.tiltedworld.org.

Tilted World also welcomes contributions, feedback and discourse, so as you will . It's still a baby website, but we hope it'll grow to something nice.

There are also other stuff out there, but I'll pimp them next time la - this is just to let you know I am now on KLUE, and Tilted World needs whoredom.

If I have already pimped TW on my site and merely cannot recall, you should donate some money my way so I an afford to check for brain damage.

Keep a watch out for:

Website: The Nut Graph!

and

Music: Yuna (performing this Wednesday at No Black Tie).

The Nut Graph's name pretty much gives off the vibe of what to expect, and I see some names of contributors I'd love to start reading again soon. Political and cultural commentary, mashed up and presented neatly, I'm guessing.

And as for Yuna..Making waves since 2007, selling out her demo, and that very popular performance at KL Sing Song yesterday. If you haven't heard her, I insist you log on to her website and see what it is about her, that book of handwritten lyrics (I presume that's what I saw), and voice that's making people react to her so well.

She's much better live, by the way. It's such a cliched thing to say, but true. And, much respect to what our other starlet Malaysian-Youtuber has achieved, but Yuna makes me go Koko-who? I much prefer Yuna's lyrics and singing.

I bought an IDD call card - a first in a loooong, looooooooong time. Whatever happened to free conversations online, looking like a telemarketer with my headphones?

Oh, and a BBC journo contacted me for an interview, but our schedules have been really problematic, so we'll see.

And, I was helping out Panda Head Curry yesterday, handing out....Anti Sodomy Pants. Apparently, people were wondering who the demure / coy PHC girl was. ME! Muah, hahaha. Demurity, my middle name!

Written by lainie at 03:52 AM on July 24, 2008.

Written on Tuesday:

Jemufo came over for lunch  (because I'd answered the phone with "Dimsum?"), then we went to pick up one of the unusual packages I've been receiving lately. An overdecorated envelope that earns me stares in the post office - this time, a package filled with magazines to read. Thanks Niki .

--

Momentarily popped by Bernice's place, where she complained that she had tried calling my phone a few times but couldn't get through - I don't know why, Jemufo's been having that problem too. Is it Maxis?

It seemed so familiar to step back into her place, after over a month of working at her place almost daily. I'll have to call her out soon - I went to the cinema with Josie last night to watch Hancock, and Bernice was across the big screen in her Nissan ad. It was while we were working on the guidebook that  she went for that shoot, and I was there when she showed it to her kids for the first time, palm smacked across her face while her kids laughed

Bernice: I'll never live this down.
Lainie: Haha..I'm gonna see you on tv!

Not that I haven't before, but still.

Anyhow, I'd heard that Hancock was crap, and cheesy, and predictable - "don't waste your money or time" was the general opinion. I disagree. I enjoyed that movie a lot. Sure it's cheesy and predictable, but heck. It's a whole lotta fun. Laughed like hell at the bit where Hancock gives his opinions on homo superhero costumes.

--

As for tonight, yet another movie - Hellboy. SELMA BLAIR. TIGHT LEATHER SUIT. TEH HAAAAWT.

Lainie: At least you get to go back and shag your girlfriend, babi betul.
Jemufo: Actually, I was just thinking that...
Lainie: ....
Jemufo: Sorry
Lainie: Jerk

Period just ended - it was a crazy week, and my hormones are all haywire right now T_T. I refuse to accept full responsibility for everything I do under the influence of estrogen.

I earlier startled the cashier at the popcorn counter. In my earnest wish to defend the normalcy of something to Jemufo, while simultaneously ordering medium-caramel popcorn -  I whipped towards the cashier, and very loudly ordered a serving of "NORMAL!".
 
Cashier: ........
Lainie: Er. And popcorn. Caramel.
Cashier: What drink would you like with that?

Jemufo couldn't hold back her laughter after that.

--

Very unpleasant, receiving months of phone bills at a go. The amount I call Smile and Tei, you'd think they're my girlfriends.

--

Some friends from London (or more accurately, Oxford uni) are coming over tomorrow, so I'll be playing tourguide.

Written by lainie at 03:57 AM on July 25, 2008 in Music, Friends, Arty stuff.

Went for Live at No Black Tie last night. Performances by Pete Teo, Reza Salleh, David Knight and Yuna.

My friends and I were there to watch Yuna - and judging by the response before she even got to her first song (Rocket), so was a large part of the crowd. The other person with a lot of fans (and helpful friends that kept heckling "I love you") wasn't even a headliner - Melina William, sessionist for Pete and Reza.

Adri and Lola both liked Yuna's performance very much, and have been pimping her too.

Kat gave me the coolest (er, Christmas) present recently: it's called The Don't-Get-Caught Doodle Notebook by Susan Mcbride, and you can preview some of the pages on Google Books. It's a pre-doodled notebook that encourages you to add on to it, when you should be hard at work in whatever cubicle you're stuck in at the office.

The skateboard dude came pre-doodled. I just added the cape, skateboard dots and giant mutant chicken. FUN!

This resulted in Adri supplying many suggestive lesbian ideas on what I should draw. Since I learned that night that she's a cheap drunk, I don't know if she remembers she now owes me a stickwoman comic script where "at the end, a carpet is always munched, literally or figuratively" (declaration followed by a big, proud smile).

Laine: I don't know if it's a bad thing that your drunk lesbian ideas sound so appealing, but I'll draw it!

(put 2 lesbians together with a headline like "The People Muncher", and you have a doodled stickwoman about to munch a rug, naturally - tiny doodle right above the tagline)

Adri: Is that the carpet?

Lainie: Yeah. Either that, or a square amoeba.

Love your graphic designer friend today, get her this notebook too.

====

I started receiving messages asking me to get my ass to Palate Palette, just next door. I'd forgotten it's Lapsap's first anniversary. Where the people are wild, the clothes are trashy, the hairstyles crazy and the music fun.

I was tired, but not only did I survive the night, I had heaps of fun (and woke up the next day thinking "Shit, I'm gonna get tagged in some awful photos on Facebook soon").

Jemufo: How was last night?
Lainie: Awesome! But I lost count of how many times I was violated.

From below my neck to slightly above my knees, multiple times, and that was just within the minute of walking in. You Lapsap people have no idea how to keep your hands to yourself, but every so often I'm skanky enough to like how you bring out my inner trashbag :D. 

It's all good when beautiful, skanky girl friends are doing it. I like that I feel safe there, even when privacy and comfort zones are beyond my imagination on the sauna-like dancefloor. And the music, ahhhh. Always a fun mix.

[ Because I've since learned some declarations are necessary: If you're some random stranger reading my blog, please don't try the same the next time you see me in public, you'll probably a) freak me out, and b) set aforementioned friend gropers into vicious protective mode. Unless you're a pretty girl, in which case, you've declared yourself fair game. ]

====

I also bought a much needed external hard disk (500G) and cheap, foldable keyboard - anyone subscribed to my Twitter account will think I spell like a squirrel randomly jumping across the keys sometimes, but it's just my wonky laptop, where some of the buttons don't work (and some I have...literally...ripped off....). I left them with Jemufo when I realised I'd be heading to No Black Tie.

When I was at No Black Tie, I gave Kat my other bag with camera and stuff for safekeeping because I'd be headed to Lapsap. At about 4am, I was sheepishly calling Spes from the front door of my home because I'd forgotten to take my keys, though I did make numerous mental notes to myself that it was exceedingly important that I remember it, including just before handing the bag over to Kat.

By the way, a few days ago, when I picked up a notebook I'd been using as a coffee mug coaster (wouldn't want to scald my study table, would I?), to jot some meeting details on it with a big red marker, I realised that the "notebook" is actually my passport.

I didn't scrawl stuff like "MEETING FRASER BEFORE 6PM IN KL" on my passport, but I hope I haven't fucked with the chip inside with the numerous mugs of coffee I've put on top of it. I forgot I took it out to get my passport number for my visa application.....

No, I don't feel too smart about it either.

*dancing in room to Pulp's Common People video on repeat*

Written by lainie at 02:34 AM on July 27, 2008 in Stupid, but fun..

While waiting for a cab:

1) Wear Mickey Mouse t-shirt.

2) Constantly yawn and rub eyes.

3) Blow bubbles at passing cars (gift from Jerome Kugan, solutions bottle is a plastic orange grenade)

4) Big white helium balloon tied to your bag with long, white ribbon.

5) Holding book Adri recommended as "Harry Potter, but for adults" (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell)

I was stunned when I realised the combination. Then I blew more bubbles.

When Chitoo and I get together, it's extended wankery conversations. We now have two projects, one of which is a short film starring Jerome Kugan (because he happened to walk by just as Chitoo was done imitating a merlion spouting water for about a minute, and we saw him).

Anyhow, I updated Tilted World with one post recently:

The Edge @ KLPac

Written by lainie at 01:11 AM on July 29, 2008 in Daily Life, Friends, Stupid, but fun., Arty stuff.

I was in town most of the afternoon to shoot a short film with Chitoo (my first!).  We had a film title, a name for our duo, lots of jokes, and not much of a plan beyond that. Zero research, certainly.

But first, before our film artsy fartsy wankery, before the hours walking around KL asking each other what to shoot, we had beef noodles.

Beef noodles on Jalan Pudu, across the road from Lai Foong. This now costs RM6, $%^& fulat.

I have deep loyalty for Ngau Kee (Tengkat Tung Shin) and Lai Foong (Jalan Pudu) beef noodles, because these are the places my family used to go to - the Lai Foong beef noodles guy can still recognise my mum and sisters. That being said, I admit both establishments have had their standards drop drastically over the last decade, and I wouldn't bring people there unless it's for shared nostalgia, or a "KL experience".

(I have promised Kat this will not turn into a food blog, so you won't be seeing much of these photos around).

=====

Briefly met a stranger, Marlene from Germany. She:

had very blue eyes, a pierced lip, and short hair
is a friendly vegetarian 
doing work in Indonesia against child labour with an NGO (under a youth programme in Germany),
and travels by foot or bicycle.

I later asked my friend if it would have been too wrong to presume some measure of gaydom? She was there cause the last time she visited, she loved the tea at Bau Bau Cafe, but for some reason it was closed that day, so we started chatting.

We found Jerome, our lead "actor", as he was heading to the galleries upstairs.  Chitoo and I had been talking to Marlene / pretending to work on our short film, but were really just coming up with stupid ideas  and laughing at lame jokes (though to be fair, stupid ideas appeal to us immensely).

This is Jerome the night before (blowing bubbles), when we told him he was in our short film, and he agreed without actually knowing what was in store. He had been providing the live music for the Butoh performance we went for that night.

Lena Ang chasing Swee Keong around amidst a playground of balloons, paint and blow-up toys (Butoh Jam performance).

Swee Keong is partially blue because before that, as part of audience participation, someone dumped a tupperware full of blue paint on him.

Both of them eventually fall on me and in the process liberally smear body paint all over my clothes and bag - I was busy keeping the camera away from them, and trying not to look extremely undignified in lieu of the video cams around, but having two dancers fall on your legs and wriggle about, while dealing with severe pins and needles (the reason I didn't move away in the first place), was quite a challenge.

Wow. I see what Sarah means about my writing a paragraph out of a sentence. Habit :/

=====

Chitoo and I decided to start filming right after our lead actor had to leave for work, which makes no sense, but somehow totally worked for us.

We explored KL and took whatever we thought worked. KL is a place where you can always find something easily interesting for the camera.

This is Chi, shooting something he found on the ground.

This is me, not working very hard on location while we were shooting something nearby (photo by Chi). Love the tiles / yellow shutters. We later walked by Old China Cafe and by reflex my mind went to babi pong teh. Mmmm, babi pong teh.

This is one of the locations - an old photo developing company, where the filing system consisted of old wooden cupboards, odd shelves with heaps of curios haphazardly stacked, and lines of clothes pegs on wires. The uncle here develops black and white film, cheap.

I love old school places. This place reminds me of a similiar shophouse I used to take my tuition in, as a very young girl in Ipoh old town, where most of our light came from the window outside. I have to say, the character in this place totally rocks over those generic film developing places you see everywhere now - those places are so sterile in comparison.

Then I was off to Hartamas to meet someone for dinner:

She is one of my most layan people ever. All I have to do is say "face", and she pulls a pose for me. I took about 20 at a go, and it's fun. In return, I call her master (she pays for me so much, I'm now her pet - which I gladly agree to since it gets me food).

We had dinner at a cafe / bakery I really like in Hartamas, called Backofen - the atmosphere is great for hanging out.

RM4 Soup of the day: Goulash soup. Lots of beef, veggie and black pepper. This place bakes good bread.

RM14? Chicken fillet in mushroom sauce. Yummy - the fried potato wedges were done just nicely too.

The Teppenyaki chicken rice (RM10) is also really good here, comes with some really fragrant garlic and oil sauce.

Backofen: 34, Jalan 24/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas (one of the circles opposite the fire station)

Compared to the food court just across the road, the prices are about the same, and the main courses don't really go above RM20. There is an indoors / al fresco smoking area, and a non-smoking one up front (nice air conditioning). The service is good, and they don't charge service / gov tax here, so leave a tip.

Then I bummed around, played ping pong, till Tei and Steph came over.

They sent me home after some mamak food near my place. It's good to catch up with Tei, she's got some work lately so I've not been seeing that much of her - though I may be going for a very lesbian event with her tomorrow.

Written by lainie at 05:44 AM on July 31, 2008.

A small remark in the news caught my attention today, and raised what I deem to be a most pertinent question.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 ― Pusrawi Hospital today confirmed that a preliminary examination was conducted on 23-year-old Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan who had accused Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of sodomising him, but insisted that it was not a conclusive medical report.

"Dr Muhammad Osman Abdul Hamid is only a general practitioner at the emergency clinic at Pusrawi Hospital and he's not a specialist," said Pusrawi general manager Wan Mahmood Wan Yaacob.

from Puswari report on Saiful inconclusive

I ask this out of genuine curiosity, not snarkism, though it will not surprise me if you believe otherwise (nor will I blame you): What does the general manager mean by "specialist"?

Does that mean someone specialises in the general butt area (plausible), digestive system / duodenum / intestines etc (also plausible) - in which case how does this differ from abuse on other bodily areas, that it actually requires a specialist to be informed regarding the symptoms.

Or is there a specialist who determines if sexual abuse / joy /coercion has happened? Or does he mean a specialist would have looked for something more in there than the usual? I really can't stop guessing over here - and at 5.30am, this could be unhealthy.

Feel free to presume that I think this whole sodomy case greatly ridiculous, but am nevertheless curious enough for the answer to mention this on my blog. Anyone would like to offer illumination? I mean....I really wanna know....