Written by lainie at 11:19 PM on January 1, 2009.

So that was my NYE party, thanks to pata pon chaka pon, a day before NYE. Quite a lot of my friends were there, so it was happiness.

It got much livelier towards the end of the night, if somewhat depleted of the usual Lapsap crowd. The kind where you get to know everyone a little bit better, like it or not, through their bodies are pressed against you, and the knowledge that not all the sweat dripping off your face belongs to you.

Still, as expected, some Lapsap peeps did arrive at about midnight, yes crowdsurfing happened (avoid Converse shoes connecting with your head!), met another nominee from Little Black Book, did some random doodling, had some freeflow G&Ts, jello shots (and double tequila shots, because I said I would if a certain someone would grab her friend's ass).

They were giving out badges at the party

And through dishonest means, I got em all

Written by lainie at 04:59 PM on January 6, 2009 in work?, Rants.

I've quite a lot of things planned out. One thing I need is a new cellphone. I was thinking of either getting something very basic and cheap (to text and call), or something more fun but pricier, like an iPhone. The iPhone plan has been scrapped now.

First: I'm starting up a new philosophy website with a friend - the web domain's registered, production has somewhat begun (we've roped in Effa as our production manager, if she'll have us), and I'm currently working on the identity design. We're going global on thought and communications, kids!

Second: I've updated both the Katagender blog (with pictures of some friends for the Tomboy Photo Project), and Tilted World (with a write-up on The Food Pornographer).

Third: I'm starting up yet another (lifestyle) website and am currently seeking funding for it.

Fourth: I have other web projects in the works. Quiiiite a bloody lot.

Fifth: I have 3 print projects, that require the use of Adobe products.

So given the nature of my personal projects, and add to that the fact that I do a lot of digital work as I work for The Nut Graph, a website....

You can say that I'm severely displeased I have to send this RM10,000+, barely-two-months-old Macbook Pro I bought from Epicentre to be repaired. Yeap, the MBP is fucked, and I doubt it's my fault.The trackpad is gone. It's no longer sensitive, and when I try to click on it, nothing happens. I can still use it, but only with an external mouse attached. The trackpad isn't the only thing I've been having problems with either, by the way.

The guy at Epicentre, Barry, was very, very helpful (and registered quite a bit of surprise when he checked my Macbook and went "Wow, that's a lot of crash reports"). If you're adamant about getting Mac-related products, I do recommend the customer service there.

Barry said repairs could take a max of about two weeks. I don't know how I'll cope yet. Was told Applecare is usually very efficient, just not in Malaysia  (unless I'm mistaken, Yee Hou mentioned his Macbook was returned late to him).

Oh, and to top it off, I just got an electric shock from it, plugging in the charger. What the hell?

I've been having numerous problems with this laptop within 3 days of getting it. I thought it was just my insane n00biness (having ill-suffered all the Macs in my Very Expensive Design College). Then I realised it wasn't me. It had a lot to do with incompatibility, and in some cases, malfunctioning hardware.

So. Much as I'd like to trust the iPhone, I am having serious consumer-trust issues right now. I don't believe that spending more on Apple products gets me quality. Right now, I have placed the brand of Apple next to the brand of other "pretty" products of low quality.

I have been told that part of the problem may be that I got the first batch of new Macbook Pros, and those usually have all the problems that they have yet to iron out. I like how the Macbook Pro is designed, really I do. This operating system takes a lil while to get used to, but the overall experience is good.

Still, that kinda means bollocks if the laptop doesn't work and I'm expected to part with it for intermittent periods all the time. My relatives moved to a new house recently, and purchased the works for their new iMac, to decorate their study (no one seems to use it much).

One of the reasons no one uses it -- the wifi on it sucks. So another new Mac user kinda unhappy with it (iit's hard to say they're totally unhappy with it when they hardly use it or rely upon it like I do my Macbook),

I won't go as far as to say Apple sucks, but...Okay, what the heck. Apple sucks.

Update: My keyboard / entire laptop is currently zapping me. A lil shock goes up my fingers everytime I type something.

No, my hands are not wet.

Problems faced by Macbook:

1) Trackpad goes off

2) Applications crash frequently

3) The entire thing is zapping me everywhere I touch it (and it's an aluminium body -_-")

okay, hurts to type BYE (ironically, the only thing that doesn't hurt to touch is the trackpad that doesn't work).

Written by lainie at 04:01 AM on January 10, 2009 in Family, Daily Life, Holidays / Road Trip, Links / Email.

Other blogs I've updated include:

The Food Pornographer [ Tilted World ] - a blog shout-out.

Preparations for the Tomboy & Angels Fashion Show [ Tilted World ] - pics of preparations, part 1 of several photo posts coming up.

Article 8 - A short film about KL's LGBTIQ community [ Tilted World ] - features interviews with many names you will recognise from the local "gay" or activism scene. I'm also in it, kinda looking upset that I have to think about all these serious issues. This was done over lunch break, and I had the attention span of a flea on coke (though that was mercifully edited out). I half-ran back to the office after this interview.

The Tomboy Photo Project: Shashi [ Katagender ]

The Tomboy Photo Project: Cindy [ Katagender ]

Happy new year, everyone

I heard of some pretty wild parties, and I'm not referring to the ones with an entrance fee, or multiple arrests. Not really my style for new year's, I prefer a gathering with my family, followed by a small, quiet, minimally-debaucherous (if those words can go together) party with some close friends.

With my cousin Alex (from the Serani side of the family), Debbie, me, Gazel (my sister) and Tommy (my brother-in-law), before the champagne showed on our faces

This year, I did spend it with family, but did not follow up with a house party. You see, my aunt fell down recently, and fractured her wrist. I believe my uncle, a snarky doctor, referred to it as "shattered". So a part of it was spent in hospital, visiting her. This is the aunt I stayed with for a year while studying in Cenfad (and through many school holidays as a child).

Growing up, my cousin Debbie (pic above) and I referred to her as "Golden Aunty" -- we really really liked her . I was kinda bratty as a kid, and got along like a house on screaming fire with my KL cousin. You can imagine the peskiness we were combined, and the magnitude of patience my aunt had for the both of us. I have not a quarter of her reserve.

It's kinda strange to see her in pain. She has what I refer to as an "insane pain threshold" -- to illustrate, she broke her wrist upon falling down, while walking the dogs. Her golden retriever had tugged at the leash. Knowing Buster, it was probably a cat he saw. I've walked him before, and it's not easy to get him to obey or walk where he should.

So she found herself lying on the ground, staring at her elbow where it shouldn't be, and her wrist bone shattered. When her maid eventually discovered her, she got the maid to put THREE wandering dogs back into the house before letting herself be sent to the hospital.

One day after she was discharged from the hospital, with five metal spokes sticking out of her arm and strict instructions to stay at home for six weeks, she went back to the office to do some work. Sedated, mind you. And she said my mum / her other siblings will be "hopping" when they find out she intends to work full-time by Monday (it's only been a week).

In other news, I went to Cafe Libre the other day. It's Grant and Yasmin's cafe, and I'd bugged Suanie a few times to take me there, but always at the wrong times. Suanie thinks the next time we visit Cafe Libre will be 2010, but I hope it'll be sooner (it should be )

l-r: Yasmin, Suanie, me, Grant (standing) and Dabido - Photo totally ganked off Grant

You can see more pics at Grant's blog: Blogging Cafe Libre visitors. With added Dabido!.

The occasion: Dabido is in town and Suan was hanging out with him. Also, there's a video of me somewhere out there addressing Dab's mum as my mum-in-law.

Zheng stayed over a few days. It's been a while since we've hung out together (or lived together!). Like many Hwas before him, he's now a student in America, at Bates. He was in PJ for a while, and since he no longer rents a room here, I offered for him to share mine.

I love his company -- took me a while to get used to waking up next to a guy every morning, though. Haha..had to tell him I thought he was a girl the first time I woke up disoriented.

My eyesight had been blurry for a while (say, the whole of 2008). I put off getting a new pair of glasses, even though Smile had helped me pick out a design a few months ago.

Anyway, Kat brought me to One Utama -- I admit to being hopeless at taking care of certain health details -- then led me to her optician. So now

Tada! So now I have new glasses! I spent like 2 days thinking everything looked so awesome and clear. How did I live without this visual clarity? Why, by sticking my nose 4 inches from the laptop screen.

I am a person of bad visual habits, I'm like some fresh-out-of-a-cave granny who'll peer at all screens way too close for my own good. And I read every night, in very dim lighting. I guess having blurry vision isn't uncalled for.

THEN the optician told me that my eyesight had improved. I've gone down in power from 500 and 475 in each eye, to a low of 425 in both.

I have no idea how it happened. Must be all the (imaginary) carrots I ate.

 And, I'm loving my new tongue stud, which you CANNOT really see in this picture! Haha. Oh well, the laptop's webcam has its limits, as does my diligence in taking self-portraits. It's a Christmas present from Kat, and it's white, with thin black loops all around. Very cool. Everytime I drink coffee or eat curry I have paranoia tingles that I've discoloured it.

My friends think I look very gay in these glasses, ergo very suitable for me. Not sure how to react to that, yet. But, I'll be bringing my very gay face to the beaches of Kuala Terengganu tomorrow (unless something goes horribly wrong within the next 3 hours).

w000t w0000t. Beach, sun, beer and keropok lekor. I have the holiday planned out in my head. Oh, and of course there's kinda a by-election going on there. I like Danny's article a lot, on the independent candidate who sounds like a total crackpot.

It'll do me good to hear the sea again.

Ah and yes, Little Black Book lesbian popularity objectification contest is going on till end of the month. I'm a nominee, yes. And for the n^th time, I am NOT BLOODY NAKED in that thumbnail.

Jeezez, some friends think I'll do anything to canvass for votes.

Written by lainie at 04:09 PM on January 16, 2009 in Arty stuff.

At work, no time, if you're Malaysian here's something very interesting and arty to participate in (you just need to volunteer a wall)

Mark Salvatus is touring Malaysia now, leaving traces on walls. 12-19 January. Read more at Wrapped Traces.

I've sent him an email, hopefully he has time for my place .

Written by lainie at 08:55 PM on January 17, 2009.

Live results from KT by-election at The Nut Graph

Me (layout artist), Jacq (editor) and Shashi (editor) are in the office on a Saturday, updating live results of the KT by-election. As I type this, the difference in votes between BN and PAS is....16 votes. At least all the journalists are well-justified for saying it's a tough call.

Drinking Milo, updating blog. I was in KT over the weekend, as an election tourist. I liked doing that. Quite a lot of my photographs ended up in The Nut Graph -- a few articles have them. Resulted in two bylines as well.

My photographs are here: KT's Decorative Touch with Danlim, and The Art of Campaigning with Cindy Tham. I have to remember to show these to my mummy .

There's a white board in the office where deadlines are written out. As the office's graphic artist, I'm also most frequently guilty of scribbling irrelevant stuff on it. Lately, I've been in a "Mamee Monster" doodle mode.

Pics from Kuala Terengganu weekend will take some time (unless you see the more 'political' ones in The Nut Graph), but here are some pictures from a popular old coffee house in Kemaman, along the way:

I went to Hai Peng Kedai Kopi (Hai Peng coffee shop)

Inside, very packed. A table beside us, where you serve your own nasi dagang.

Hai Peng is known for it's coffee (there is a photograph of the guy frying the coffee beans on the wall). Hai Peng has, like Ipoh Old Town White Coffee, gone the commercial way, so what you get in the coffeeshop should be the same as what you purchase.  The drink shown here is milk with honey and cinnamon.

In fact, here's a close-up of the billboard

And of the guy sitting in the corner of the coffeeshop, minding his business, in both senses of the phrase.

I love it when old places go out of their way with the quirky decor. Check it out, old tricycle on the wall!

Egg, thick toast, and curry.

Nasi dagang, which I LOVE. Maybe someone can clue me in on how they get the rice texture so nice? Tastes nothing like the nasi dagang around here, the one in Terengganu.

I started grinning the moment I bit into this toast - peanut butter, honey and banana.

There's this huge "wtf" moment on the road near Hai Peng. I forgot what this Hang Jebat kind of hat is called. The effect's similiar to driving by the Giant Peanut in Menglembu.

And not forgetting, further along the journey to Kuala Terengganu, there's the Giant Seafood thing. And a squid with tentacles.

Uhm. Okay. Editors kancheonging over KT by-election (PAS is leading), I'd better go...er...Look busy.

Our journalist on the scene (Deborah Loh) is like damn speedy with her updates -_____-". Faster than we can update the website, even. Don't know how she does it.