I love you Malaysia, but you're breaking my heart

I need to start being more consistent.

2007-07-18T23:57:00.000+08:00

Yes yes yes.
Need to be more on the ball with things.

I'm starting to wonder how the hell I managed to hold down a job, play in a band, be someone's girlfriend, work out AND compete in fitness competitions... and still write in a blog.

Technically I should be able to manage this now. I've got no band (a sad, sad, fact), no gym time (also sad) - which means no competitions since I'm some underweight 40-kilo weakling that wouldn't stand a chance against kindergarten kids (pathetic!), don't spend much time with the love of my life (even though we actually SEE each other every day at work... but SEE is all we do most times. That, and pass by each other since we're both working on different things), hardly see the family (thanks to my transient entries and exits at odd hours) or my friends (who constantly tell me to chill out and stop working so much)....

So what's taking my time?
Work.
Well to be fair to myself (heh heh cos NO ONE ELSE would do that, innit?) I've got more than one job. On and off the screen. And then there's the emcee jobs. And the side job for another channel on our network.

When one is approaching the dreaded 3-0, ensuring financial security seems to be a lot more relevant. Happy go lucky is one thing - but damn we're making crap money in the TeeVee world I tell ya. So we supplement income in other ways so we can do things that adults do. Like buy a car, a house, go shopping without fear, treat ourselves to nice dinners and holidays, give our loved ones well-deserved treats and such.

I'd really like the financial independance, freedom to live without worrying about how I'm going to maintain or improve my lifestyle somewhere down the line.

But it can be a damper to bust your ass for half price after a while. That, my friends, is the secret of the trade known as "inhouse talent value". Ironic isn't it, that sometimes the people who are closest to you, undermine and undervalue you -- and yet strangers seem to find you more capable, talented and worthy of better renumeration.

It's not an easy mindset to work with; but then again I believe that if you work honestly, ethically and with passion, creativity and a good heart -- good things will happen.

But then again - most of the good people seem to be happy AND poor.

I just want to get the material side of my life sorted. Then I can sit back and start working out the more important things in life. Cos I can't even hack it on my own totally if it weren't for the outside jobs. Sad but true.

But I should try to blog more. There are bigger issues than not making enough money to live my current lo-fi lifestyle AND try to finally buy a damn house so you can finally move out (and marriage is the only other option to escape... which will REALLY take more time because they cost just as much as some houses man)

Ah. I'm starting to get nervous about turning 30 next year. I got to be sorted by then. Or my parents will start increasing the "bebel" factor.

Tribute to the "Thinking Room"

2007-07-03T23:38:00.000+08:00

It's my little escape hatch, the "panic room" in my office.
Very necessary when I spend the bulk of my existence - and where the bulk of my stress comes from as well.
Sometimes it's where I catch my breath, hold my composure, pull myself together... and touch up my makeup/check my outfit for kinks...
Yeah, you guessed right. It's one of the cubicles in the toilet.
In fact it's the one at the end, the biggest cubicle with the biggest mirror you ever saw.
Space for the, ahem, necessary bodily functions; space for hanging clothes and bags and doing makeup and such; space for thinking without feeling claustrophobic, space to just be left alone.
I usually play a game on the DS in there, but recently I've moved back to the Sudoku because it's much faster to finish and less of a distraction than an aid for focus.
I'm in there before a big meeting (getting my thoughts organized, pulling myself together, checking my makeup and hair); before the shows (same thing, more focus on makeup and hair); and as of late... a place to put my negative thoughts onto paper so I don't say or do anything that I will regret.
LOTS of vents.
Which I figure I'll put in here eventually.
But now I gotta get home, chill out and prep for a LONG day tomoro.
LOOONG DAY. Of being perky and energetic and fun and happy in the hot hot hot hot outdoor sun. And sensory overload with music screaming from all speakers.
Ah. Sure my job is "technically" easy. But no one said it's not work as well. I love it but heck it's still tiring laaa. Especially when I've had 3 hours sleep on average this week.
Talk about things we do to make money. Heheh.

Lost & Found

2007-06-03T18:23:00.000+08:00

Well, well.

It HAS been awhile.

And a lot of developments - good and bad - in my personal life that I don't really want to wax poetic on... especially with the amount of self-appointed moral guardians making sure, that even in the free space called the Internet blogs should be watched and regulated to prevent anything otehr than the "correct" reality to be portrayed lest we start some sort of revolution of proactive thinking that will jeopardize the sleepy passive acceptance of status quo we're all used to.
Or, heaven forbid, we make our country look bad for the tourists...

But I need a place to vent.

And so do all of you, blogger or otherwise.

And these are my opinions and my opinions alone, some of you may share them and some won't. And since we're bombarded with only a select bunch of people's opinions (read : the policymakers and attention-seeking MPs) we should have a place for an alternate view. And the internet lets us have that since no avenues are available without us being cuffed and thrown behind bars for challenging the decisions of those who (think they) know what's best.

But isn't challenging the status quo the key to impetus of growth, development, progress, improvement? Shouldn't decision makers be happy that there are those who actually think about what happens around them, disturbed by injustice (like MPs continuously spouting sexist/racist rubbish when they're actually awake in the Parliament? - Or are all these clips we receive on the Internet well-produced fakes?)

Ah.
I'm back.

Ape Cerite, Bunge Seri Pagi?

2006-09-01T14:01:00.000+08:00

ya ya ya. Trying to be clever lah. TRYING be the key word.

Well let's see what happened.

Well I'm crossing my fingers on trying to open a gateway for my independant musician sisters and brothers of the country. Gateway of understanding lah. Not flight tickets to a country where music and creative talents are appreciated,not persecuted and stepped on with prejudice and ignorance. Sorry guys we need to go the right way first.

Also was a guest at the historical most ostentatious wedding of the century. It was alright, I think hyping something way beyond expectations will only result in some disappointment. And you know what? Everyone should just leave the couple the hell alone after this. I mean we've all given them enough crap, they celebrated their special day with millions of people here (and abroad!), yet those closest to them were either absent or half-heartedly there. So enough is enough lah. Let them live in peace lah. I don't understand why Siti's fans are so damn shallow that a simple decision on who she wants to be with, would influence how much they like her. Isn't it about her vocal talent, showmanship, performance quality?

Well then again, look at The Great Malaysian Phenomenon Mawi (phenomenon cos we're still trying to figure out how average singing abilities, little to no presence in person, and average Mat looks would actually garner nationwide adoration. Oh wait. It's the Quran reading skills ain't it?). Worshipped by Malaysians, the Felda poster boy quickly lost his grip on Minahs and Mak Ciks across the country when he predictably dumped ex-unibrowed ex-fiance. And then with the woman writing a book? What could you possibly write about? How many pages can you soak in self pity for being dumped? You saw it coming waaaay back.... and then you cheapen yourself further by going on national tv to wallow in more self pity, demanding pity from the world around you too.... ouch. Now THAT's malu.

What else... well the cops gotta buck up with all those reports of violence and abuse. I'd like to one day be able to fully trust my law-enforcers, really I do. And we gotta help them clean up the force and throw out the dirty ones. So keep on whistle-blowing, my brothers and sisters!

And I just recorded the song to my new show. It's pretty cool, I like it. Very Intox. You'll know it when you hear it hehehehe.

And I'm glad I have friends in the workplace and elsewhere who actually listen to me and give a shit about what I do and support me. Cos I'm slowly beginning to realise that ironically as a person who has the platform to be heard by thousands, millions even (if I'm lucky lah) through the media - the only ones who don't seem to give a shit are my own blood. Oh well. Maybe it's their way of making sure I work harder and harder to prove to them I'm actually worth jack shit. Hmmm? To those who are parents or planning to be soon - don't use this reverse psychology man. It's only gonna mess them up in the head... and hurt them in the heart hahahha.

Well at least I can justify all my wrongs now! hahahahahahaha how Hollywood.

It's all LIES.

2006-08-25T10:14:00.000+08:00

The bullshit we've been taught to believe as kids - that the truth will set you free, that justice will be served, that if you tell the truth, be honest, tell it as it is, you're a good person and good things happen to you.

BullSHIT.

Please lah. YEsterday was the press conference where we heard the other side of the story of the trigger-happy cops terrorizing kids going home after a gig. We saw a video (also can be found at http://www.rakancop666.zoomshare.com/ and youtube) that showed dudes in black shirts and jeans yelling, running after these kids, gun pointed at them.

Hello! This is Malaysia! It's okay apparently because the cops are law enforcers, protectors of the weak, fighters of crime, legally sanctioned to use weapons and gain entry anywhere they want. Everyone has to be nice to them because they do such a great service to our nation.

It includes not showing them anything negative about them at all. Nothing. Nada. No paper whose reporters came yesterday had a story out today. It should've been breaking news. This is a great betrayal of trust by the people entrusted by the citizens (yes, that includes the young people even though in Malaysia we'd never notice if we had half an ounce of rights or voice or acknowledgement as fellow human beings for that matter).

Don't even talk about where I work. We're here to give "nice" news and info, keep the people sedated with mindless entertainment. Our news will never say bad things that might get us in trouble, oh no. Stories of journalists pursuing the truth at any cost, with catchphrases like "The people DESERVE to know the truth!" or "The truth MUST be told" are fairytales that have left out the severe consequences of pissing off the wrong people with the truth.

The kids are easy targets. And the constant acts of intimidation have brought fear into their hearts, and the only info allowed to reach the masses is the fictional stories of debauchery, satan worship, violence and immorality that supposedly governs the lives of these kids. So society - the blind, ignorant, passive lambs they've been conditioned to be - supports the attacks on these kids. And won't tolerate anything else.

Like an alternate viewpoint. I was told before to take off an interview that fairly gives another side of the story. The reason was that we cannot show an alternate viewpoint (despite the fact that it was very reasonable, articulte, intelligent and well thought out, and did not resort to using words that insult or demean the authorities in any way -- a style long forgotten in Parliament).

We cannot show the people an alternate viewpoint that runs contrary to the stand the Government has taken on an issue. Regardless of how fair (or based on real life, gasp!) it may be. It will confuse the public, they told me. Confuse the stupid little obdeient robots. Heaven forbid they develop their own opinions -- and join these horrible subsections of society who listen to different music, dress as they like, make their own opinions without having it stamped in their minds from textbook propaganda.

It's just music.

Why are we such a threat? What is so wrong about playing music here?

And what is so WRONG with wanting to see justice served? I want apologies, for terrorizing young people with guns in the air. It was irresponsible, it was unethical, it was a silly act of machismo to intimidate and show them who's boss la.

If you guys are really so damn good, so damn powerful -- why don't you channel this cowboy-movie gunslinging action to the streets where actual crime is going on. You might find people who are ARMED for a change, that you can attack, you can find snatch thieves (yes, you can start to ronda before someone dies in the neighborhood! Try it! It might actually PREVENT some from happening!), you can keep an eye out for messed up fathers and old men who rape their daughters and little kids, break up street fights and violence....

Look. We only want to see the truth told. This fitnah situation is seriously gone too far. It's bad enough the kids are afraid, they all hate the cops now. These are the people who just want to show power, frighten people, make lives miserable. We know they won't stop (although we don't know what exactly IS their problem with kids playing music when clearly the police force has many tangled nets to break out of based on cases I've seen in the news).

We know that violent acts (especially if based on vindictive malice and hate) will only escalate. They must've done their job well.

We are not from a gun culture dammit. But thanks to them we're afraid that NEXT time, they won't be shooting up in the air.

And if something happens to Paul Millot, we ALL know who is responsible.
All of us, members of the media who couldn't fight enough to do our REAL jobs.
All of the kids who were too afraid to stand up.
All the leaders who blindly supported the violation of rights and the misrepresentation of the independant music scene.
All the Malaysians who read craploids like its the news, support the continuation of people like Akmal Abdullah or Zainal Zawawi (whatever who cares how they're names are lah) to poison people's minds with their bigoted, unresearched, completely pathetic shit excuse for journalism.

I'm ashamed. We should all be. We can't say that we're ready to uphold truth. It's only when it's "allowed to pass".

Hmph. Merdeka? Hahahahahahahahahaha maybe for them lah. Free to reign over us all.

One Day They'll Go Too Far...

2006-08-23T02:08:00.000+08:00

... and karma will bite them so hard, tear their lives down and expose the lies for what they are.

Apparently the 5-0's from the same station responsible for the New Year's Eve fiasco were back at the same place, and yes the same craploid excuse for a paper made a "report" (well the one that whores out college girls every weekend did the same thing but didn't add on to the story with more fictional fairy tales and labels like bangsat) to frighten gig-goers and musicians into submission, and hence the dream of a mindless obedient robot nation will soon come true.

PLease check out this link.
http://www.hmetro.com.my/Current_News/HM/Tuesday/Setempat/20060822093527/Article/indexm_html

And what if, just WHAT if, this report was wrong?
What if the basis of the raid was unfounded because all legal paperwork was in order?
What if it was just a show of machismo from certain authorities, tipped off by those who are threatened by a lifestyle they can't understand and control and dictate?

Everyone who was there, please speak up, tell the truth.
And it's about time we all stop sitting with our thumbs up our asses.
Merdeka is coming.
It's time we got our merdeka.
The simple freedom to be able to play and enjoy music.
The basic right to get our side of the story heard, not have it quickly stamped out at every juncture because - oh heaven forbid we get people to start THINKING and making their own conclusions. (We need to only have opinions that have been approved and standardized by the big boys, or be branded a trouble maker, disrupting the peace of the nation, etc)

Is it so hard to understand the music scene? Why are we such a threat to them?

Why are they turning the sheep, I mean, masses against the music scene? Why do they hold back the truth (like an alternate viewpoint, eg observation by local independant otais who have never seen any acts of Black Metal satan worship in their years in the scene -- it contradicts the administration's stance on the issue and hence is not allowed to air because it will "confuse" the people.)
Ah. We're all stupid, fellow moron Malaysians. At least in the eyes of our leaders. We need to be TOLD what to think because we're totally incapable of acting on our own.

You tell us about pride in our country... and to tell you the truth, it's come to a point where we need to TRY to keep it there. Because how long can you love something that so obviously hates everything you stand for and will do anything to ensure peace (aka compliance, obedience, passive acceptance).

In the meantime women and children are getting raped (hmmm I wonder what music THEY are listening to?), many are fathers and relatives. Neighborhoods only get better security if someone actually dies from a mugging attack. Parking lot security is stepped up AGAIN after a woman pays with her dignity and sanity. Violence and crime still happens on the streets - and behind closed doors. Road rage, school bullies, sexual harrassment. I could go on and on.

But they'd rather spend their time on stomping out kids who play and love music. Hah. Go figure.

To all organizers : make sure you have ALL legal paperwork in order, and while we know most times there are no weapons at gigs, just make sure. After all, remember the bullshit about how a plexiglass screen for the drums "channels" the force of Satan? They'll do ANYTHING (no matter how stupid it makes them sound) to win.
So we make it ironclad, fitnah-proof.

Don't give them a smidgeon of hope, not even a chance, to justify their actions. As how they have blocked every opportunity to justify ourselves as we all deserve to.

Most of us have at least one form of recording equipment with us, be it the phones or digital cams or dv cams. Keep them on, keep them going, document these events. And if something like NEw YEar's Eve, or the subsequent raids that took place, happen again - this time you will be empowered with the TRUTH to ensure justice and journalism will be practised according to its own sets of ethics and laws and not to personal biases/bigotry/judgement/power trip.

In the meantime, mainstream pop superstars will get busted for a myriad of offences (including repeat drug charges) and yet be forgiven, a gentle slap on the wrist and they're back on stage or screen, looking every bit like the physical toll their drug habit has taken on their bodies, but hey!

They're not "punks" in a gig, not wearing black t-shirts, not writing their own music with their own friggin brains and creativity, not producing their own albums and DIY merchandize, not saving money to buy instruments and pay for jamming.

Wow. The irony is so apparent it's making me freakin sick.

Rock on Nani!

2006-08-18T15:30:00.000+08:00

I've had the pleasure of knowing Fatimah Abu Bakar (one of my old mentors back in the journo days) and her four outspoken, vivacious, dynamic daughters.

And when slowly (but surely) they started getting involved with showbiz - I wasn't surprised. Their mom was an award-winning actress back in the day... it might've been genetics as well.

Well when Nani (Sharifah Amani to the world) was awarded Best Actress at the recent Filem Festival Malaysia, I was like YEAH! Rock on! Someone different, someone who's not from the typical "schema" types, a fresh, spirited young actress (and a down-to-earth cool selamba chick to boot!).

I thought her spontaneanity was refreshing, honest. And really it was well deserved, and her win symbolized acknowledgement of movies that have received a lot of flak because it didn't fit the fantasy world of insipid love-tragedies and ethnocentricism.

And then the bigots from the "I Love Akmal Abdullah" camp started their attack. How sad, unpredictable and yet strangely amusing in its simple, narrow-minded shallowness.

The two main issues that have gotten their panties in a twist really made me laugh out loud when I read the news the next few days - and sad because there were leaders of the nation who resorted to nit-picking to propagate THEIR personal judgements to the public as the RIGHT way to think.

Issue 1 - The "If I speak in Malay I'll sound stupid so I'll speak English"
Oh no! Akmal and his crew of bigots must've gotten a hard-on the minute she said that! Mana boleh speeking! Itu kan bahasa penjajah, bahasa budaya Barat yang telah menjejaskan kesucian orang muda kita!
And then misinterpreting the statement to be one that degrades the Malay race was totally out of context. I mean, any idiot could've seen through that sentence. Look, she was brought up in an English-speaking environment, her Malay is probably karat and in that moment she would have problems articulating all the thoughts in her head in that short timespace given.

Issue 2 - The "If films like (Gubra) mencemarkan masyarakat, then I hope more films like this will be made!"
You rock girl! Someone HAD to say it in a VERY public place because Akmal's bigotry was happily aired with no control on the main propaganda network. It's fair. But of course, they're not happy about it because only THEIR bigoted views are correct.
Look, you're pissed because it's not some half-assed love story that keeps the masses sedated and not-thinking.
If you don't like - don't watch lah. We don't rave and complain and whine about how WRONG and UNREALISTIC stupid movies like Main Main Cinta, Cinta Fotokopi, Kuliah Cinta, etc, ad nauseam, are.

Bah. Nani I hope you're not affected by this crap. Keep on the good work, don't ever let them shut you up. And Yasmin rock on!!!!!

Siapa yang salah?

2006-08-10T18:17:00.000+08:00

So Datuk Rais Yatim has won his little battle against the organizers of the Pussycat Dolls concert recently with a hefty fine for bringing down a bunch of scantily-clad ass shaking girlies to perform here.

Yay for him. Maybe now he'll sleep better at night knowing that everyone has totally overlooked the fact that if the G'ment authorities actually paid attention in the first place, the concert might not have taken place at all.

Think about it. Okay, so perhaps the licence for the concert might've slipped under the radar. But what about the weeks of blatant advertising on print and television media? Were the authorities even reading the papers in the first place? Did they think the pics of PSD in the ads (and they were NOT in hijjab, or tudungs, or turtleneck sweaters in the first place so why so damn surprised lah?)- were just a sexy telco ad?

Give me a break lah. When we first heard of PSD coming here, we, typical everyday thinking Malaysians, were worried about the holier-than-thous cancelling it.

And weeks later it happened. So who's not doing their job? Well it's quite apparent from who's the one making the most noise la. It's called guilt. You let it pass right under your noses. It didn't try to hide or be something it wasn't. It was advertised openly with no objection.

And then you're surprised it actually happened? When you were the same people who made Tina Turner cover up (because apparently Malaysians will all jack off to the wonderful sight of a 50-plus woman gyrating in tight clothes...)...

Blah la. You let it happen. And now someone has to pay YOU for your incompetence. The title of this blog is really ringing true.

And trying to control blogs because the big guns hate having their weaknesses brought up for public thinking and awareness is manifestation of panic because the dreams of a totally controlled society is never going to come true. I am what I am and have my own opinions and I have the right to be what I want to be. I don't hurt anyone, and I believe the walls I try to break down with so many others are for valid cause. And many turn to the Net to say what they feel because we've all learnt that any kind of comment, no matter how well-meaning, earnest and right, will not be accepted in our society which only can adhere to ONE set of rules.

Like our national anthem - we can only do it one way because any otehr way, no matter how much nicer (even a midi is better than the silly marching coma-inducing version) and more heartwarming (look at the americans sing theirs in so many ways and with so much passion!) - it's against rules, it's different, so it's wrong.

ARGH,.

The mother whose mother should've had an abortion.

2006-08-02T11:59:00.000+08:00

In the papers today you might've noticed a fine example of a mother whose kid probably wished was dead.

Hell, I wish that damn mother was dead.

In Sabah a 39 year-old man was found guilty of raping his 15 year old daughter on a ragular basis - in fact that poor girl even had a child by this maggot of a man.

So the case gets to court and what does the syphilictic whore of a mother of the victim has to say?

"Please give him leniency... He is sorry for what he's done... He is the breadwinner of the family... what will we do without him if he goes to jail...?"

Get a freaking job you stupid bitch! Your daughter who's barely past puberty has been raped repeatedly by your swine of a husband till she even got pregnant, and you're asking for him to get let off? I mean, even a half-wit uneducated CHILD could see the plain KEBODOHAN YANG MELAMPAU in that!

Imagine what her poor daughter is thinking right now. She's been brutalized in her own home, pregnant with a child who's also her sibling, violated beyond belief, and now her shit-for-brains mother can turn around and defend that fucking animal?

And this is not the first time something like this has happened. Damn they should just be giving out birth control like it's Chiclets so asinine humans don't procreate.

You're happy with the way things are?

2006-07-31T13:19:00.000+08:00

... then you're not a woman, or a person with an opinion, that's for sure.

My sister is the latest addition to the crime stats in the neighborhood. Yesterday, in Section 14 (it's Sunday, lots of people about), someone tried to snatch her cellphone in broad daylight. She tried to put up resistance (good girl!), held on to her phone (hey man, it's our lifeline to the rest of the world, and a shitload of number we can't hope to remember) and pulled it back. And what did she get?

A punch to her face by a frustrated fucktard who's obviously too stupid and too lazy to get a fucking job and has to resort to mugging (well, he's not even good at that, huh? Fucking loser.) to make some chump change.

And to add insult to injury, no one seemed to make any attempt to help her out, funny how in a place with such high traffic of people no one seems to care. One dude selling currypuffs nearby who WATCHED (only watched, never bothered to help, maybe one day his mother can get assaulted and we can just stand by like he did, huh?), decides to ask in jest about whether her phone got taken already or not. What the hell?

She was lucky that she only got the punch, and still has her phone. Many other women are not as lucky, I know. And countless people will still stand by like fucking morons not wanting to "masuk campur" and intervene. And making jokes about it - I mean, what the hell do you think will be the response, scrotum-for-brains? - just shows the mentality of the people around us.

Our people are :
- The ones who will sit by and watch a crime happen without lifting a finger because it's too troublesome to get involved
- The ones who will question and blame the victim for the crime instead of the perp
- The ones who will make jokes about it like smart alecs
- The ones who would rather us all live in fear than to make the effort to step up to the situation and make a change. Too much trouble apparently, that will disrupt their peaceful, happy-ass lives.

In the meantime, women live in fear of being robbed, mugged, assaulted, abducted, molested, harrassed, violated, raped, killed -- every fucking second of every fucking day.

Our people don't really care, they laugh off attempts to change legislation and awareness by NGOs (because authorities don't really bother - well, just for a while, after a big profile case that usually NEEDs to end in death, but after the ambers die out, so does their illusion of concern).

AS usual, it's easier to lecture victims on what they should've done to change the situation instead of deal with perps since it's a slap to the face on their incompetence. Simple as that.

Just like rounding up a bunch of music-lovers on the basis of Satan worship and use irresponsible/incompetent/ignorant/profit-hungry mass media to shut down the independant music movement via public misconception (because the authorities chose to block out any valid counter-argument because any alternate point of view will only serve to confuse the sheep-like public). Why? Because we don't listen to propaganda pop. Because we express ourselves in different ways. Because there are truths about our society revealed in some of the music that decision-makers don't want to talk about. Because we're the sub-section of the population who don't worship and obey the words of the politicians (and the use of Mawi as a propaganda tool ain't getting to us as well). Because we're not drone material and they need to scare us into submission using brute force and socially-sanctioned authority (and legally sanctioned ignorance).

Sounds like women and young people have the same problem. They gotta keep us down, so they use fear as leverage. Many rape victims don't speak up because we have learnt that victims will usually be raped AGAIN in court when THEIR lives are ripped apart as their character/attire/relationships/virginity/background is questioned,that they have to spend more time proving that they didn't ask to be brutally violated... when a man who can rape his 5 year-old can gain leniency on the basis that he's over 50 years old/sick or invalid/retarded/is the breadwinner for the family...

Some people are right when they say having children is just pointless because this society is not worth adding to, it's not worth putting someone else through the risks of living life so steeped in bullshit, hypocracy and misogyny, and unless you're bringing in a brain dead drone robot who can just take orders and not form any kind of opinions whatsoever -- just go get a damn abortion man. It's not worth a damn to bring a child into this world and watch them get fucked over again and again and again and again by a system that doesn't give a fuck.

Alcohol ban to teens?

2006-07-21T23:01:00.000+08:00

like, duh.

All this hoo-hah on the issue of underage drinking, leading to statements by concerned politicians, social experts and members of the public trying to ban alcohol consumption by the below 18 population, lamenting the decay of values, bla bla bla bla...

Just like the so-called "expose" story on the problem - it was just skimming the surface, not really dealing with the issue, and leaving most of us just going... okay, now tell us something we DON'T know for a change...

Look. Looking for reasons WHY teens drink alcohol is really a no-brainer. Shit, I can come up with the same list off the top of my head. And then again, what about the reasons why adults drink? Would it be different? More importantly, would it MAKE a difference anyway?

The "shocking" (which planet did these people come from anyway?) story that sparked this little debacle was about teens drinking at the clubs/pubs/bars.

Why go the typical (easy-way-out) route of the authorities and blame the youth for the shortcomings of law enforcing?

If a 15 year-old can buy beers at the local sundry shop - they wring their hands, call his parents incompetent, blame the Western world (oh how they just LOVE doing that!), lament the downfall of society in elaborate public statements for that illusion of concern. Nowhere in their narrow sphere of consciousness will they question the dimwit store employee who allowed the sale in the first place.

Clubs are constantly raided to unearth drugs and underaged patrons. (Drugs are another story altogether so I'll leave that aside.) More hand wringing, more crocodile tears, more lamentations on the breakdown of our values (as if we're the only country that has good values, lah), more crackdowns on activities of young people, more excuse to ignore the youth.

Well what about getting the clubs to actually DO their jobs in the first place? Putting up a sign ain't gonna do shit except ease their conscience. But here's a radical suggestion... a long shot... WHAT IF THE BOUNCERS ACTUALLY DID THEIR JOBS AND CHECKED ICs?

Oh, wait. Then what would the dirty old men have as motivation to spend money at the clubs, right?

It IS about race.

2006-07-18T19:05:00.000+08:00

Akademi Fantasia is untouchable. The feverish fanaticism of support by its viewers has put its contestants - and the host - on a pedestal that's almost too surreal to comprehend.
Last week I watched as they did their solo performances (not bad, nothing special - then again with Mawi as their yardstick for quality...) - and totally mess up their bonus group performance, butchering Shakira's Hips Don't Lie with horrific diction, lame choreography, no feel, and somewhere in there the pitching was trying to be found.
Didn't they realise that these kids were having enough trouble with their own solo workloads and were definitely NOT ready for multiple songs to learn up, especially for nationwide viewing?
But again, as I said, these are Akademi Fantasia kids. They could do NO wrong in the eyes of the fans.
Criticisms by the judges are necessary, putting these kids in their place - someone needs to tell them that they're just not cutting it and they gotta work hard and step up.
But boos from the audience, and the host trying to soften the blow on these poor emo kids (they cry oh ever so much -- good for pity votes and tv ratings) by downplaying these criticisms, almost condescendingly... basically telling these kids that it's okay, don't listen to that bad man, you've got the love of the people, you're perfect the way you are...
But what takes the cake is understanding the true mentality of the people who fuel the enormous-ness (for want of a better word) of the show - from the producers to the contestants to the bleeding fans who tune in without fail.
Earlier on in the episode was a little doa selamat thingy going on... interestingly enough even the non-Muslim contestants were in Malay outfits and having to sit in on it.
Was there no consideration on THEIR faith? Did it not matter? What about having them sit it out instead of having to put up a pretence of blending in so it would appeal to a predominantly Malay audience?
Imagine if in some other show, the non-Muslims wanted to do a little group prayer thing. Would the Muslims be comfortable sitting in? Would it be allowed? Would our politicians and zealots scream MURTAD and APOSTASY and shut down the station for being "insensitive" to individual religious rights?
Hmmm.
But last week something else happened. The word "Negro" was used. In a negative sentence. You know, something like "Negro bodoh"... Firstly, Negro is a derogatory word, and to use it as a slur just because some kid can't learn a song fast enough is doubly stupid. Who's the real bodoh here?
The producers for letting the statement go through TWICE, the person who said it, and the nation of people who just sat by and let it be.
Sure, you can say I'm too Americanized and my degenerate Westernized mind will see the negativity in words like "Red Indian" and "Negro". But then again, would our Parliament freak out if some American programme had some dude who couldn't learn some Malaysian song, exclaiming "Goddamn stupid Keling/Natan/Melayu/Chinky/etc" on live TV?
Of course! It would be some diplomatical issue, our politicians will be making big bold statements, we'd have an embargo on all products coming from there, all programmes, etc etc etc (you know how we're all so emo about ethnic pride)
All these words - including those used as derogatory slurs related to race - are offensive. Stupid. Ignorant. You don't have to BE from the said country, or live there, to understand that.

What's even more messed up is how we're trying to teach ethnic relations in a class in universities in an effort to counter racial polarization in our universities. You can't teach that in a class. I mean, look at Agama and Moral, for crying out loud. Most of us ace the subject cos we studied it academically. Does it mean everyone practises it, understands it, lives by it? NOpe. Blind rote memorization (like everything else in our schools) will get you through.

It goes down to the roots man. We're still hearing people describe people with race. I just hate it when someone says things like "Ha... Tadi ada sorang India..." or "Eh... Apsal Cina tu cakap ngan engkau ah?"

Parents tell their kids not to mix with classmates of a different colour because they're not kosher. Like "eh... jangan kawan ngan die... Cina tak cebok/makan babi/kotor..." or "eeh, Hindu tu busuk la, cam minyak kelapa, rumah die ada berhala. Haram masuk rumah tu tau..."

Makes NO goddamn difference what you teach kids. Cos at the end of the day society and their families are telling them otherwise. As you get older you realise that there is only ONE race that matters in this country, and your non-Bumi friends actually have to find uni placement/jobs/house/contracts based on merit, not by flashing their so-called birthright. Unquestionable or you get thrown in jail. Nevermind that it has been years of handouts and silver platters to the point that the younger generation totally sees it as their sole right to get every advantage because their country owes it to them. Nevermind that it's been years of "affirmative action" on the majority race and they're still falling behind the minority in many counts.
The politics that rule the nation is based on glorifying one race over another. I don't agree with race-based politics because I still believe that one day we can actually SAY we're ONE and actually LIVE it. Not for posters, not for campaigns, not to look good for other people.

Back To The Real World

2006-07-14T19:32:00.000+08:00

*sigh*

That was a good break.

After last year's scare that finally drove me to my first vacation in THREE years (believe me that will run ANYONE down, even a self-proclaimed non-sleeping superwoman)... I went down to Sarawak to let loose for this year's mini-sabbatical.

Okay, okay. It was more like five days of hedonistic musical fun in the jungle with friends. Freedom. I could breathe easily without thinking about work (my phone was OFF most of the time, a rare occurence indeed), without worrying about what people (especially craploid writers and gossip mongering mags) thought about what I wore, how I looked and how I act... and best of all it was with good company made up of a chill crew who just went with the flow, no stress, no kan-chong-ness.

And sandwiched between more days off (had to finish all the leave I didn't take last year hahahaha now I have a year to get rid of all the ones I have THIS year... HOW???!!)... I think I'm pretty well rested to face whatever crap comes my way in the real world.

OR not.

AGH.

Back to the real world meant reading the papers again. And reading about more crap dished out to the people. Like...

- What's up with the MPs making jokes about the serious issue of domestic rape in the Parliament? Statements like"if my wife rapes me I'd be very happy," reflects the glaring ignorance on the matter. Is it so hard to understand that even within the chains of marital (so-called) bliss, sex STILL has to be consensual?

Or are all our people under the impression that once you're married, you have to put out regardless, that if your husband fiddles with his sarong after dinner and you're shit tired after a hard day (or no mood/sick/hate your husband/not enjoying the sex/not interested after the 7th pregnancy)... you still gotta drop those panties, spread 'em and let your husband have what he paid for (in dowry/hantaran/etc), what he deserves by marrying your sorry ass?

Come on lah. It's supposed to be enjoyed, it's supposed to be an experience of sharing (which is GIVING and RECEIVING) pleasure, it's the ultimate bonding of two people (because corny as it sounds, love does make it more meaningful in the long run)... not something you feel obligated to do, a duty, a chore, like cleaning the pots and pans, mopping the floor, washing the clothes, throwing out the damn trash.

Knowing how our people have been culturally conditioned to think about these duties (and the belief that the husband has the ultimate power over everything and obeisance is necessary and punishable by hellfire)... you know any kind of progressive thinking in terms of defining and creating laws to marital rape will take hundreds of years.

I mean, our current RAPE laws itself are pathetic lah. Judges giving leeway because of age, or the fact that the stupid family can successfully appeal to the court that the rapist is the breadwinner and their family will die of starvation if he's not out making money for them (and raping more women but hey, who cares, right?).

- Or what about the big guns FINALLY deciding that the teaching profession needs a major revamp. That teachers need to get streamlined into subjects they are TRAINED to teach for a change, or higher qualifications so dopes who can't speak English with half-decent grammar won't be transferring their horrible language skills to hordes of rural students, or teachers actually getting decent pay so we won't get half-wits who teach only because no one else wants to work for shit money in a school full of bratty kids...

Well they should try to add free birth control as well so maybe students won't suffer the same fate as I did at school - which is miss quite a few subjects out because my teachers were constantly pregnant and away on maternity leave. Are they REALLY that bored at home after grading papers? I know it's mean to talk about the holy act of reproduction and conception and miracle of childbirth... but then again, why let these teachers handle a class when it's pretty clear they'll be leaving their classes in limbo for months every year? I had one that was was on maternity leave three times in three years, leaving us with a dimwitted substitute teacher that read straight from the text.

Which brings me to another thing they should change. How the schema approach leads our students to be trained parrots. I'm living proof. I hardly went to classes for the last two years of school - and yet thanks to my parrot memory I got good grades in exams and the SPM. Even my parents thought it wasn't necessary for me to go to school because I was yielding results without having to waste my time sitting in an overpopulated class with teachers making us regurgitate the same dreary crap over and over again. Screw that. My friends and I did well in school without having to be in there. Which really says a lot about the education system. And we're wondering why so many graduates are jobless?

- Aiyah. This coming back to the real world thing is already making me yearn for another getaway.

Office Ennui part III

2006-06-23T14:24:00.000+08:00

Your Birthdate: April 6

You tend to be a the rock in relationships - people depend on you.
Thoughtful and caring, you often put others needs first.
You aren't content to help those you know... you want to give to the world.
An idealist, you strive for positive change and dream about how much better things could be.

Your strength: Your intuition

Your weakness: You put yourself last

Your power color: Rose

Your power symbol: Cloud

Your power month: June

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

They Don't Care.

2006-06-20T20:01:00.000+08:00

They don't.
The boy's club of policy makers upstairs.

Two days ago a woman, a young mother, a wife, a daughter was car-jacked, robbed and raped twice.
Her assailant waited for her as she returned from her quick run to the store to buy formula for the baby, jumped her in her car, threatened her life at knifepoint and got her to drive to some secluded spot in Damansara where he proceeded to rape her twice, pocket the RM50 she had and leave.

How did we know he was waiting for her? That he carjacked her?
The goddamn CCTV cameras that miraculously happen to be working (yes, didn't expect THAT, didja?) in the pretty well lit parking lot.

Sure, he must've studied the camera locations and avoided facial identification.

But my question is, what the FUCK are the goddamn security guards doing in their surveillance room? Watching porn? Smoking crack? Catching the World Cup? Snuck out cos the supervisor's away? WHAT? WHAT? WHAT?

And then a politician can come out the next day, shaking his head at this "tragedy", saying that the security needs to be improved at parking lots.

I'd like to just bitch-slap him and say DUH, MOFO.
Three years ago Canny Ong was carjacked in a parking lot, abducted, raped and killed. Everyone went into a hand-wringing, head-shaking drama. We found out that half the cameras in security systems are not working. Policy makers eager to look good start a war cry to make it safer for all women.

So we put all these damn cameras that work. But nothing is done to get security guards that actually do their damn job. Women get accosted ALL THE TIME. From simple harrassment to groping to plain getting attacked. I mean, what is the use of security at all these condominiums you pay a shitload of money for when you still hear of horrible attacks on women there? What about gated communities, supposedly painting the illusion of safety and security, when in reality all you need is to give the typical Malaysian wave-salute (oh, you all know this, gets you through most security checkpoints).

If the politicians are serious about keeping us safe, they're certainly not showing it. And if there's any action done - as we've seen time and time again - will only be temporary.

Stay alert, girls. You're all you got to protect yourself because goddamit, no one else really gives a shit about your safety and no one's watching the fucking cameras.

Better paranoid than dead.

Sharing is Caring

2006-06-19T20:11:00.000+08:00

So I just came back from a little work trip to Singapore and what do I get?

Frustrated.

What's up with religious fanatics trying to pass a fatwa to ban all joint-cultural celebrations?
Kongsi-Raya is wrong, they say. Muslims CANNOT celebrate other festivals because it is against the religion. It might shake the very foundations of their faith - which makes me wonder if it's because they assume it to be so fragile, so shaky, so vulnerable that going to your friend's house for Christmas dinner or Chinese New Year open house, or Deepavali brunch might instantly turn us into converts.
Funny how this comes into play when our country, desperate to keep up appearances on being this Bangsa Malaysia image, is trying to (yet again, yet again) rectify the segregation issue (perpetuated by their obsession to pigeonhole everyone by race and religion which is really a sad irony).
Last year I appeared in a Deepa-Raya feature about my life as someone who celebrates both festivals (plus Christmas) thanks to my rojak family. Apparently some people found offence to that, because as a Muslim I CANNOT partake in other festivals. It's wrong, it's like committing apostasy, I should ask for forgiveness or get barbecued in Hell.
That was on a personal level. I just ignored it because hey, who the hell are you to tell me and my family how to live, right?
Well now some jokers decide to go national - and making an issue, when many of the current ones are still not tackled yet (otherwise known as the distraction method. Keep creating new issues so people won't dwell on the current ones that aren't really going anywhere).
Look. All these festivals are CULTURAL in nature. We're celebrating each other's culture, diversity, differences. In doing so we find more in common as people. Just cos I'm at Grandma's house for Deepavali, or my aunt's house for the Christmas gathering, doesn't make me a Hindu or Christian or whatever. It's about people. It's about family. It's about solidarity.
And no one should even DARE turn it into a religious issue.
I don't see non Muslims throng to the mosques after spending the day with their Muslim friends for Aidilfitri. And vice versa!

And should that silly fatwa be passed, am I to deny my cultural roots from BOTH sides of my family? Should we tell our relatives that we can't join them at the family gatherings for these festivals because we fear for the sanctity of our eroded religion and so we must save our souls from this evil?

Come on lah. If you want that kind of religious communism - just move out lah. We don't need any more people trying to make our delicate racial balance even more strained than it is. I LIKE sharing my festivals with other people, and joining them in theirs. I know who I am and what are my beliefs. We all do.

So why do the media give these matyr-wannabes the outlet to tell us all how stupid and weak we are? I don't know. But maybe they've been so upset at the fall of the Taliban that they're desperately trying to recreate their little oppressive haven here.

Products I will never endorse : Part I

2006-06-14T15:56:00.000+08:00

Recently I made an issue at my workplace because I refused to be part of promotional exercises for a slimming product during our ground events. It's not that I was being calculative and asking for money to say this brand name – it's the fact that I have to put on the product and be seen in public like I support it when I've been pretty outspoken against these products out of personal principle (and common sense). And really, I don't want to perpetuate lies against my own gender.

First of all, most of them are marketed by people who a) Have never been fat their entire life, and b) Lost weight on proper diet and exercise (and probably are celebs with personal trainers and such). So these ads are really, like many -- lying to you.
The whole slimming product market is built on, and reinforces, women's insecurities and ignorance about their bodies -- and the sad truth is that they're only there to make money from (pardon the rudeness) stupidity and desperation.
Even the most extreme of measures - surgery - can't keep you slim and beautiful. No way if you're still gonna scarf down that char koey teow and fried chicken like you're a 30-kilo Sungei Wang resident. And definitely not a chance in hell if you're not going to make the minimum 30-minute, 2 or 3 times a week of exercise.
As a person who's always supported the idea that good eating habits and regular exercise is the only way to attain, and maintain, desirable body weight/size (barring the incidences where one is suffering from medical conditions that result in obesity of course) – these products are a farce.
Sometime ago I talked about a new slimming centre in my (now defunct) column. It boasted machines that moved your limbs for you – so you can "exercise" without the effort! No real work needed to burn that fat, huh? They actually threatened to take some kinda legal action (even though I didn't name them but hey, siapa makan cili….) but then I retorted by asking for some kind of scientific proof that it actually worked…. And then it was left at that.
Look, there’s no shortcut to getting the body you want.

It’s a three-part process :

1. Eat Right.
You gotta have a balanced diet, and remember that as age progresses, your metabolism drops. So your college-age binges on potato chips, soda/alcohol and nasi lemak will hold on tighter to your ass now -- with twice as much effort to lose. Start knowing what you put in your mouth because the older you get, the more the phrase "you are what you eat" will apply to your physique.

2. Regular Exercise.
A body in motion is a body that's not going to let last night's hokkien mee plaster itself to your thighs too long. So why do many cardio-bunnies (brainless hours spent doing cardio to no avail as seen at our gyms) still look flabby, you ask? Well it needs to be combined with (1). And you need to know what you’re doing at the gym. Challenge yourself, break barriers, you body is built to do more than what it's doing now and it CAN if you work on it.
Running not your thing? Walking is just as good. But at a nice brisk pace that keeps your heart pumping.That’s the whole thing. Keep your heart pumping, oxygen flowing to your limbs, muscles at work. And if you don't like the whole sport thing, fine – you can try dancing, yoga, martial arts… it's all about getting that body moving.
30 mins, three times a week. Hard to start, I know. But once you do, and make it part of your routine, you'll not only look and feel better – most importantly, you'll be healthier and fitter, sleep better and have more energy during the day!

3. Face The Facts.
If you're 5'4", brown-skinned and a little tubby, don't expect to miraculously turn into Mischa Barton/Lindsay Lohan/Paris Hilton or any of those other skinny-assed model-types. Look at your body and learn that while you can work out and eat smart to a leaner, healthier, fitter YOU -- there are some limitations you need to accept.
I've learnt that I can never have long, slender, miniskirt-friendly legs -- but the stubby ones I do have are athletic and I've made the best out of it by being a runner. I'd like to rest with the thought that my legs may be short, but at least muscles keep it tight and firm instead of jiggly and cellulite-wrinkly.
To make this short (pardon the pun) -- make your body the best that IT can be. Don't try to look like other people -- factors like genetics and money (for nutritionist, personal trainer, life devoted to making oneself look better because one's livelihood only depends on how good they look) influence these things.

My main priority? To be healthy and fit. To be 50 and carrying my own shopping bags instead of having to ask for help cos I'm too weak to walk up the stairs.

And no stupid slimming service/pills/products will give you results like this. Only YOU can.

A rape is a rape is a rape, asshole.

2006-06-13T19:02:00.000+08:00

Today's NST carried a story about a 48 year-old furniture showroom supervisor who was about to be charged with incest when he suddenly decided to plead to "marry" the victim in question, under the grounds that she is not his daughter.
What is he trying to do - legitimize the rape? It's still rape, you sick maggot. Heck, even a maggot's SHIT don't deserve to be classified under the same category as you, psycho prick.

He claims the girl is only his step daughter, since he married his wife (victim's mom) when she was two, so he can't be sure that the child is his. Yet, prior to this he had earlier said that he was 99% sure the child is his.

So instead of the incest charge, which carries a minimum penalty of 6 years, he's going for the rape charge, which is "discounted" at a 5 year minimum.

Funny how a human being's violation is valued at so little. Free room and board for a goddamn rapist for the next few years, while he fantasizes about sticking it to more innocents, and probably enjoys the perks of being someone's bitch at the same time.

By the way, the girl is only THIRTEEN years old. 13. Tigabelas. Form One. Get that picture in your head while you add the next character - a sweaty, stinky, pervert, almost 50 years old, breathing heavily over her as she's petrified in terror, his body pinning her down, his dirty hands groping her innocent body, robbing her of her childhood, violating her very being.

And then he can turn around in court and say it's not really rape since it was ONLY partial penetration. WHAT THE FLYING GODDAMN HELL!??!!!

I can use half a bottle and shove it in your ass and still say I didn't put it all the way in, right? Would THAT not be rape since I didn't go all the way?

Rot in hell, you sick shit.

And for the goddamn lawyers who are defending this pathetic excuse for a human being - rot in hell for trying to save him. Imagine if HE RAPED YOUR DAUGHTERS TOO.

A rape is a rape is a rape. What's worse is that it was an act of rape on a minor by a person thought to be a father figure.

I don't wanna wait for that big Redemption religion seems to hang every act upon - we should just lynch these child rapists and burn them alive in Merdeka Square.

Football Fever Weekend Rant 1

2006-06-12T12:43:00.000+08:00

Well, aside from that really embarassing boo-boo I made earlier (already corrected) about mxing up England and Germany --- I mean, HOW COULD I?

At least Germany played much better in the opening match, as opposed to England's yawn-worthy performance against Paraguay.

England 1 - 0 Paraguay

Apa lah. Already over-hyped with some of the most overpaid/overrated superstar syndrome players, and now can complain about the heat?

Sheesh. Those millions of pounds you jokers are earning in the EPL should buy you some resistance to heat, pussies.

Seriously. I had more respect for the team until I watch them play so BLAH-ly that day.

And then the only goal happened to be own goal. So stop dancing around like you deserved it. You should be scoring your own. Blah. So boring some more the match. Those who missed it and tried to catch the rematch - tak payah lah. Buang mase je. Nothing worth watching at all.

Sweden 0 - 0 Trinidad & Tobago

Quite nice to watch, much better than the earlier game for sure. I'm amazed T&T's defence held up against the typically high-speed game that Sweden is known for. Unfortunately I have to be honest and tell the truth - I fell asleep sometime at halftime. What to do... it was a long day lah. And I'm immune to coffee.

Argentina 2 - 1 Ivory Coast

Best match I've seen so far, most exciting and damn I wish it was on at 9pm instead of that time-waster match. Should've slept so I can watch THIS one live. More worth it. No wonder it is the group of death! Argentina played alright, giving a two-point lead earlier on in the game, and then POW! Eight minutes before time Drogba steers the ball into the net! And believe me, after the amount of attempts at the goal from Ivory Coast - it was like, FINALLY! Wish they went on to draw but hey! My favourite team comes first...

Holland 1 - 0 Serbia & Montenegro

MY FAVOURITE TEAM is on! Woo hoo!!! Dressed in my Oranje-supporting gear I was, like many fans of ANY team, convinced that your lucky team outfit will somehow miraculously channel good luck vibes to the team and they will win because of YOU!
Well whatever it is - Serbia played well (and put up a really impressive fight), kept Horsie-rooij and his boys busy, busy, busy. In general though, the Oranje has played better than I've seen them play in a while. Teamwork has definitely improved, and I think the roughing-up by the Ozzies in the friendlies have gotten them more foul-friendly hahaha. But they need to get more aggro!! Come on! And hopefully Van der Sar gets better by next match against Ivory Coast because they're gonna get a good fight there too.
But what an awesome match, this one!!! Not as super-duper cool as the Argentina-Ivory Coast match but woo hoo that's ONE win for the Dutch and I'm crossing my fingers they make it to the semis. Please!!!!!!

I fell asleep through the next two matches cos I had to work the next day hahahaha. And I overate at the mamak during the Holland match cos I was excited and happy HOHOHOHO!

But here are the scores :

Mexico 3 - 1 Iran

Portugal 1 - 0 Angola

Weiiii!!!! Did my beauty blind your sense of hearing?

2006-06-10T14:41:00.000+08:00

... I wish lah.

(the next few paragraphs will be ranting of the more girly-and-vain nature. Just so you know to blank out, boys.)

So I finally saw the result of that little Malay Mail shoot I did for the World Cup lah. Quite the blah also. How was I supposed to know that the "soft waves" (God this girly thing comes with a whole new vocabulary I tellya) will fall flat after a 20-minute drive in the humid Malaysian weather, followed by a ten-minute walk (which resulted in sweaty scalp, which further deteriorated the wonderful fresh-out-of-bed messiness that took half-an-hour of amateur styling effort)?

So among the sea of starlets (most of which were featured in the previous weekends), I looked most like Ms. Ordinary-About-To-Go-Pasar-Malam. LIke everyday at home like that.

Which isn't really too bad but I wish my hair didn't look so "before" (as in a shampoo commercial context).

But let's talk about CONTENT. Oooohhh, that one really got to me.

I can't help being critical when it comes to interviews and how they come out. After all I majored in that in uni, and I freelanced since I was a teenager, and I worked the field for most of my life.

So I take great offence at some reporter - especially from the place where I used to work - who can't get my quotes right. It's not like I'm so dense, they gotta make things up. And it's not like I'm so complex, they gotta simplify it. And it's not like they're from Harian Metro, Mastika or any of the other craploids. Or Akmal Abdullah for that matter. No need to make up story what.

I had friends from uni message me and ask "since when you play in the women's team ah?"

I never did. I never said that. In fact the truth was even more interesting - I played in a co-ed team in uni. And yes, in the final year I was captain. Which is pretty cool when the rest of the team are boys, don'tcha think? And I DID say intra-varsity.

It's silly when I come out as if I'm lying, making up stories about my life when I think I don't have to make up stories to make a good interview okay.

Ah. Whatever lah. A paper that sells college girls in a two-page skanky-ass spread every weekend as incentive for readership is one we can't really take seriously. I can imagine the dirty old men waiting for their Weekend Mail with bated breath for their weekly mastubatory fantasy about giving it to some young nubile nymph (really you just have to chill in the clubs along Jalan Sultan Ismail for the real deal).

Bah. What a crappy start to the weekend. A crappy picture, and even worse, a crappy writing job. Beats me how you can mess up a short interview that only took up less than a quarter page.

In the meantime - here are the scores for today :
GERMANY 4 - 2 Costa Rica (one of the most exciting starting matches in World Cup History I tellya - I know I said England earlier but I was just too flippy so sorry to all the good observant guys who corrected me hahaha)
Ecuador 2 - 0 Poland

Hello, eye-bags!

2006-06-09T19:31:00.000+08:00

The World Cup starts today.

ooohhhh, yeeeaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!

I got my Holland jerseys *dance-dance*

I got my World Cup nails done *prance-prance*

I got my match posters and booklets suitably placed at most-frequently, er, FREQUENTED areas for the next month (office, fridge, desk) *stick-stick*

AND the best part is...

I have TEN days of leave that I HAVE to finish by end June! *jig-of-joy*

Is This War Worth Fighting For?

2006-06-05T14:44:00.000+08:00

We talk about trying to get better reporting, fairer reporting, so idiots from Harian Metro and the ultimate imbecile Akmal Abdullah can't get away with the fictional fairy-tales they've been weaving for the general public.
We talk about tying to educate on what's right, getting truth out there.
We talk about giving people the right information.

But really, do our people even give a shit?

Malaysia can be proud of the 93% literacy rate amongst its citizens.
But then again, Malaysians only read TWO books a year. And among the reading materials of choice : magazines, newspapers and comics.

And according to the report in Utusan Malaysia - the number one magazine in the country, who just celebrated its 65th birthday and enjoys a whopping circulation of 1.5million copies... is that craploid called MASTIKA.

Oooohhh, yes. In that article there are quotes from fans (including some ex-bigshot from Terengganu, why is that so damn predictable), saying that it's relevant to current times, and they kept repeating (in that typical Malay report style of using as much redundancy as possible to make for lack of substance and variance) about how it was a great source of revealing the evils of our youth, the social ills we're all involved in... the magazine exposes these problems and the Government can take cues from their articles because they know what's REALLY wrong with our youth.

HA HA HA.

If my eyes rolled any further back they might pop out of my ass.

Why should ANYONE take this craploid (crap + tabloid = CRAPLOID) seriously? I can't believe our society, already such poor readers, are choosing THAT magazine to expand their minds, and actually believe the so-called facts in articles that run in line with cover stories of some fisherman having sex with a giant octopus, a husband scorned by his wife who wakes up sans penis thanks to witchcraft, countless tales of ghosts and black magic?

But apparently MALAYsians do. I'm not racist, but increasingly frustrated with the fact that our majority seems to be content with not knowing what's real and prefer to spend their time daydreaming about magically vanishing genitalia and the supernatural. And rags like Mastika, Harian Metro and whatever written by Akmal Abdullah (among others) are happily writing "reports" (read: pieces of fiction with no morsel of research or truth or intelligence for that matter) that pass off as bonafide news to the poor masses without any kind of reprimand.

Maybe it's because the Parliament is too busy reading Mastika as well.

Tune your friggin' guitars, please.

2006-06-05T14:14:00.000+08:00

Look. You wanna play in a band, go on stage, live the rockstar dream for that 20-minute set, play your music and expect adoration from the audience? Fine.

You might even be half-good, or really goddamn amazing, for that matter.

But what STILL gets on my nerves are people who call themselves musicians and can't even get the basics right.

Like guitar tuning, for example.

Tune the effing guitar, lah, for crying out loud. You can buy a friggin electric guitar and can't afford a friggin tuner? Can't even tune your guitars before you go on stage?

I think what's even worse is when they start tuning on stage when it should already be go-go-go right to your pre sets before you play because, hey, that's what a goddamn soundcheck is about. Tune your guitars beforehand, cos we didn't pay money to watch you tune each guitar.

Waste of time.

There was one gig I remember where there were these girls who obviously spent their time and effort on LOOKING the part and nothing else. Really, when you need the guys to literally plug you in, set your sound AND tune your guitars - you should just be rolling with Ashley, Hilary and the rest of the vacuous wannabes.

On the flipside, there are bands that show that they're serious about what they're about. It's not about making it your fulltime lifetime dedication. It's about taking a bigger interest in what you're doing other than being on stage and syok sendiri.

Learn your set ups, spend the time you use trying to get the hairstyle and eyeliner right for finding out what those little knobs on the amps can do for your guitar sound.

Want us to take you seriously? Then be serious yourselves lah. Otherwise just be a pop singer - we know that's WAY easier than knowing anything about music and instruments.

Sorry. Am irritated. I just saw a bunch of bands play yesterday, and some were awesome, some definitely showed improvement, and some just decided to muck around and play an entire set with a guitar out of tune (and a drummer out of sync, believe it or not) but was saved by the great distraction of a vocalist looking like he ran away from The Village People and putting up a decent performance.

Will the REAL Malaysian team please stand up?

2006-05-31T17:05:00.000+08:00

I wonder how many family feuds took place on Sunday night, what with the "let's find another chance to show the bigwigs how little faith we have in Malaysia's sports" extravaganza (MyTeam vs. Malaysia), and of course, the selection night to find the next artiste for mass Malay audiences to be sheepherded into worshipping (and let's make the corporations lots of money from merchandizing and suckerizing, shall we?) - the next Akademi Fantasia batch.

Now this is not about to slam AF. Damn I'd be asking for a public lynching if I was to dispute the "world"-ness that is Mawi (shame on me if I was to suggest he go head to head with stars from other singing competitions and be judged on vocal and stage prowess alone - oh no no no, we need mass votes from feverish hysterical fans showing us that yes, he is the afdal choice, the RIGHT choice).

But I digress.

This is about football. Now I never really showed my excitement for footie. The local leagues are yawn-worthy, the English/European leagues are all over-glamorized money-making machines (look, it's like the F1. If you can buy a better "engine", you can win, right?)....

But the World Cup - well it's not about how many star players you can buy and cram into one team, it's not about their stupid lives outside the pitch, it's not about how popular or cool or what the effing hell they wear to the clubs prior to screwing yet another ample-chested Page Three ho.

It's about glory, honour, respect. Getting the name of your country out there. Where messing up is not about losing some sneaker endorsement deal but loss of faith from your countrymen (and probably getting rotten eggs thrown at you hahaha).

So it's a nice warm up to watch some football fever in Malaysia. And since our local teams can't really generate that kinda hype - we had to manufacture a bunch of amateurs to kick our national team around.

Granted, the Malaysian U-20 won that 2-1 score fairly enough. Theywere more organized, looked more seasoned on the pitch. Then again - they ARE the national team so I wouldn't expect anything less. But for that little measly score? Hardly an ass-whupping I tell ya. And an entire first half of blah-dom? Surely they'd blame it on lack of morale when only ONE section from an entire packed stadium was supporting the boys in yellow.

It might've been a different game if the REAL Malaysian team showed up instead of running across the Causeway under some lame excuse. Come on, why not? Show your power lah! It was their chance to revive the lack of faith in them, the unending complaints, criticisms and backlash against the team that can't even perform well regionally despite the amount of money pumped into the training.

And here comes two guys who decide to scout for talents, put it on TV and have good ol- Shebby take them through the motions. And a three-month old team gave the U-20 (which I heard, isn't too bad actually) a run for the (Government's) money.

Don't blame us if we don't support the local team. Because MyTeam just proved that the right attitude, approach and committment to the sport can give you quality players. That little team is so young but the potential shown on the pitch was definitely national-quality. And the support given on the pitch that night - was totally well-deserved.

Hopefully the Sports Council (or whatever big named-agencies and divisions our Government keeps creating to further distance themselves from issues and delegate to some other fools to take the heat) takes this morale beating as inspiration to finally pick up the pace and give us some respect in the world of sports.

Cos we ain't creating some stupid Malaysian Book of Records category to save YOUR bruised egos.

Office Ennui part II

2006-05-24T11:53:00.000+08:00

More Quizzes! And what a COINCIDENCE this one came about :

Your Hidden Talent

You have the natural talent of rocking the boat, thwarting the system.

And while this may not seem big, it can be.

It's people like you who serve as the catalysts to major cultural changes.

You're just a bit behind the scenes, so no one really notices.

What's Your Hidden Talent?

And on the other hand...

Your Superhero Profile

Your Superhero Name is The Chameleon Slayer
Your Superpower is Speaking to Animals
Your Weakness is Itching
Your Weapon is Your Anti-matter Neutralizer
Your Mode of Transportation is Llama

What's your Superhero Name?

While we're on the subject of names....

Your Pimp Name Is...

Brown Sugar Dynamite

What's Your Pimp Name?

Okay LAST KOPEK (at least for today hahahaha)

And let me tell you - this is as TRUE as it gets man. This stuff literally runs through my veins!

You Are Coke

A true original and classic, you represent the best of everything you can offer.

Just the right amount of sweet, just the right amount of energy... you're the life of the party.

Your best soda match: Mountain Dew

Stay away from:Dr Pepper

What Kind of Soda Are You?

Eheheheh.

2006-05-24T11:42:00.000+08:00

Something light for a change... and by the way, I'm truly addicted to these online quizzy-things. They're FUN! HAHAHAHAHA. Oh well, simple minds....

My Theme Song is Beautiful Day by U2

"Sky falls, you feel like
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away"

You see the beauty in life, especially in ordinary everyday moments.
And if you're feeling down, even that seems a little beautiful too.

What's Your Theme Song?

Okayokayokay! Here's ANOTHER one!

On Average, You Would Sell Out For

$1,078,508

At What Price Would You Sell Out?

That's JUST for agreeing to spike people's drinks with acid at a party? Come on.... there are people who would do it for much less... although it would be fun to do, huh? Well come on then, rich people! Will you pay me a million bucks to spike the sirap in your Hari Raya open house with acid and watch the shit hit the fan? hahahahaha!!!

Are we still in school?

2006-05-23T14:12:00.000+08:00

So I just got a memo from the management (well the secretary more like), saying that all Muslim staff have to attend some motivational camp thing for three days at some middle-of-nowhere place (so you can't escape or find alternate ways to utilize your time).

Now it's fine and all that some people will want to go for this - but to use threats of disciplinary action should employees listed refuse to go?

It's like a throwback to school all over again. No choice, no voice. Just go cos you're ordered to. I have done my share of compulsory activities for the 11 years of public school - including putting up with a half-baked education system that celebrates paper qualifications above personal development, no regard for enrichment in sports, arts and active thinking, and teachers that spend more time taking maternity leave and regurgitating workbooks than actually teaching.

And now, as a professional in her late 20's, I'm having so-called "disciplinary action" looming on my shoulders should I refuse to spend three precious days (remember I'm not in some mon-fri, punch-card driven, office hours only job) listening to some religious leader of sorts tell me how i'll be burnt in hellfire should I not cover up, be a good person, obey my husband without question, don't tempt the men, worship without question, etc etc etc

I know what the rules are, believe me. I've aced Agama all my life, even doing the exam in jawi (just to piss off the teachers who always punished me for asking questions about the religion that they were ALWAYS too ill-equipped to answer). I can recite verses (and it took independant learning to find out what they meant because our schools only expect blind memorization and the promise of heaven if you know all these verses and recite them as much as you can).

But what irks me is the fact that as I grew older, I started wanting to know more, to understand why some rules are the way they are. And apparently in my religion, that's a BIG no-no.

I resent the fact that I can't ask questions - because apparently that is questioning the word of God. Which if I remember correctly is the word of God as deciphered by men. Which means it is subject to context and the naturally occuring human error.

I'm not saying that all of religion is incorrect. But look at how the religion has been misused to the gains of some people - and the loss of rights of others. God gave us akal, or the mind, to think, to express ourselves, to rationalize the world. Blind obeisance is to shortchange the gift that has separated Man from Beast.

I don't want to be involved in hypocritical actions, to cover myself and pretend to fit in when I don't. I may not be practising my religion, but I believe in God and being a good person not just to myself but to others, universal values that transcend all beliefs. I'd rather not make a mockery of God and religion by putting on a facade, just for making the right impression.

And most importantly - why should a corporation play religious police when it should be concerned with the matters of the company itself? This is not their place. I didn't come here to get lectured - I came here to work, put the skills and talents I have, to good use.

As for issues of faith - it's an issue of personal conscience, and between me and God. So lay off these workshops and focus on work productivity.

How come we're banning Lelaki Komunis Terakhir...

2006-05-19T12:48:00.000+08:00

... when you're turning everyone into drones in this country?

My sister - yes, the long suffering lover of medicine, giving aid and forensics who can get a place in just about any university in every course EXCEPT the one she really wants to spend the rest of her life in - has been spooked - again.

Maybe local unis are, as one official (maybe born in the same family as Akmal Abdullah or Raja Azmi or the rest of the "only one race deserves to be here" club) put it :

"People like you don't belong in local unis."

Is it because she's not wearing a headscarf? Is it because she comes from (sub)urban upbringing? Is it because she speaks fluent English? Is it because she's got a ton of non-Malay friends and doesn't listen to Mawi?

I've had friends who had to put every ounce of pride behind just to get the education they need because they couldn't afford to study somewhere else (a.k.a universities that focus on EDUCATION, not on how their students look or dress).

They've all come from suburban/urban backgrounds. Bilingual, and from mid-to-high income families. All eager to learn. All bright sparks.

Until the other students start giving them shit. Ostracizing them for being different. Backtalking and bitching -- just making life difficult. WTF man. These friends of mine never did anything to them. Why the attitude problem? What's THEIR problem?

Anyways back to my sister. Her friends recently started university. And they are nice, decent girls from respectable suburban backgrounds. Good students, good behavior. And what do they get for the crime of not wearing a tudung?

PUBLIC HUMILIATION. They were rebuked in front of the entire student congregation, with authorities of the university telling them to do it regardless. "You must start being GOOD people now" they said.

REALLY? Good people? I guess putting on a tudung automatically makes you a martyr. Better start paving your road to heaven while you're at it.

Sure, it's a religious matter. It's a requirement to cover up because the men in our religion have no self control over their loins and we need to practise modesty so we can save the MEN from having sinful thoughts. (Yes, sounds really unreasonable but ask any ustadlah. They'll say the same thing)

But what's worse - a girl who's good in actions and thoughts, who prays and is good to her friends and family, but doesn't wear a headcover - yet doesn't dress like some Pantai Club ho either...
OR...
Some tudung-clad chick who looks all decent but sheds her hijab on weekends for mini skirts and tube-tops for wild boozing parties (don't deny it, we know these girls exist), or those fully-covered girls who get frisky/give blowjobs/get boned by their boyfriends... (we've only seen videos that portray a FRACTION of what really goes on out there)

I'd rather have my sister NOT live a life of hypocracy. I think our country has enough of that.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it supposed to be done out of your own will, your own intent, your own committment, your own readiness?

Or are we just happy to just cover up our girls and women, and like many issues in our country -pretend that it miraculously makes every single "evil" go away?

- this also goes for those so-called good guys who go for Friday prayers and then hit the clubs on the weekend for some drinking, partying and (if they're "lucky") sex. Hypocrites cleaning the weekly sin slate, ey?

Malaysian Drivers.

2006-05-18T19:28:00.000+08:00

... can't line up is it? I just yelled at some woman and her child for almost getting me killed and it was because SHE decided NOT to line up and just masuk whichever lane she liked. WTF man.

what did I yell out, you ask?

Well her kid's window was open. And since her mom was such a useless role model - stupid drivers make stupid drivers - I HAD to say it :

"YOUR MOM IS A STUPID BITCH!"

I'm sorry, kid. But you had to know the truth.

What I don't get is...

2006-05-16T20:24:00.000+08:00

... how some MP from Jasin can flaunt his lawlessness and prance around saying it's okay, and no one's really taking action against him?

Please explain this to me. I am, after all, only a lowly citizen of this country who can only sit by and watch the MPs make a mockery of the law.

He asked the authorities to "close one eye" when the logs brought in did not meet legal specifications. He says it's not wrong cos he used the ultimate untouchable excuse with the ultimate untouchable word (do guess what it is, if you're even a half-wit you'd see it immediately) "I'm trying to help a small BUMIPUTERA business".

Come on lah.

And then the next day in the papers another example was given (either by him or another equally dim MP) in the lines of "If you're going 120kmph on the highway, and the cops stop you because the speed limit is 90, won't you ask for some leniency?"

Wow. GREAT example to the rest of us, huh? No wonder no one gives a shit about the law. Our politicians obviously don't anyway.

And for it to be declared a "party problem" instead of OUR problem, is shortchanging us as the people. It's OUR problem when a so-called leader of the rakyat is happily going around making even dumber statements to distract from his obvious disregard for the law because, well, no one really put their foot down and say "hey man, you've done some serious WRONG. You need to get punished to set the example for other people who try to do this again"

I feel bad for the people of Jasin to be so humiliated that their "leader" (eurgh, VOMIT!), no doubt, elected by them (DOUBLEVOMIT!) has let them down by being, well, quite the crooked one.

(I have to watch my words here because apparently even on the Net us Malaysians are not safe from the law. We can be charged with slander and libel for saying shit on our PERSONAL blogs that feature our PERSONAL opinions on the FREE SPACE that is the Internet. Yes, no freedom.)

And on that note, isn't it truly ironic that the BIG MAN who once said that he will not let this ocuntry go down to free speech, is now saying that as a common citizen he has a right to be heard, no matter how differing his views are from the one the Government wants us all to uphold and believe without an ounce of question and opinion?

Hah. Hahahaha. HAHAHAHA.

Irony. It's pretty damn funny.

The real "fenomena"

2006-05-14T22:34:00.000+08:00

... is how much ignorance is allowed to permeate our mass media.

I've only just went digital and still HAVE to rant about this. Apa nak buat, tak tahan siaaalll

Fenomena Seni on RTM1 last month... hosted by Rosyam Nor, starring a guest panel of Raja Azmi (only claim to fame was marriage to one of the Sidek badminton family, a crap book bordering on Malay porn lit, and two half-assed movies that you wouldn't even bother with even when it's on rerun slots on free tv), Akmal Abdullah (some associate entertainemnt editor with a local Malay daily, some would say is a big player behind the bad unresearched reporting a.k.a. fairy tale stories designed to make money and NOT to tell the truth, like the Black Metal fiasco)... and some other dude that I didn't really notice (funny how asinine ignorance can just turn people into wallpaper material).

The topic was discussing the "phenomenon" of Sepet and Gubra contaminating our pure-as-the-driven-snow Malay culture.
(You do realise that it's not about Sepet and Gubra. These people just cannot accept that Yasmin Ahmad "got the plot" first before they could move out of their schema-ass slumber.)

Here were some of the more irksome points :

1. It's not reflective of social reality (Akmal Abdullah)
OH REALLY? Maybe that's what movies do - tell stories. To some people outside the tempurung you've slept your life under - that could be their perceived reality, their way of life. Some of us actually mix with other races. Some of us come from mixed families. Some of us have relationships with people of other races/religions. And films are how the director sees a piece of work/art. It may not be YOUR reality, your utopian fantasy of one race, one religion. Maybe you can make a film about your fantasy world lah.
If the fact that it's not reflecting society is such a big stick up your butt, what about movies like (vomit) Cinta 200 Ela? OR the insipid females in many of our shows like Sembilu, Cinta Fotokopi, Main-main Cinta, etc? Or the "maksiat" and touching that prevails in there too? Is Sembilu 2004 (or whatever) correct because the Pan-Asian boy didn't get together with the Malay girl at the end because their families were against it and he went back to England (aka where he belongs?).
Give me an effing break.

2. Akmal was very upset at the fact that a Muslim girl had entered a shop selling (gasp! faint! cue lightning bolts!) PORK.
Did it show her eating anything from there? No.
Did her presence there give some signal to Muslims around the world saying "It's okay! Let's gorge on as much pig-meat as possible because we can't ALL go to hell!"
Come on lah. Guna otak tu sikit.
She was just sitting there. Not even a morsel of bah kut teh or chee-yoke passing her pure-as-driven-snow Mulsim lips. Was the right thing for her to do was stand outside, wailing and tearing out her haiur in despair, wondering how the hell would she enter a sinful place and NOT burn into a ball of flames?
Please lah.
Kalau macam tu - amacam pulak dengan anak-anak Melayu yang berduyun-duyun ke kelab-kelab hiburan untuk berjoli sakan dengan kawan-kawan (yang definitely not muhrim I can tell you that!) sambil bergelek-gelek, bergesel-gesel... jangan lupa arak yang tak lepas dari tangan.
HOw's THAT for depicting reality, mister?
What about THIS for reality then? Your next movie should include this scene to be as real as possible : some tudung-clad chicks having sex in the staircase (still in their hijab, nonetheless, for that kinky appeal) of their university dorm, or more popularly, any kind of park with a body of water nearby. How's that for REALITY, mister?
What about the dirty old men who cheat on their wives with some young thing... bringing back either #2 or an STD? Oh wait I think that's done. (Remember, in Malay movies the bad female character is always the one with the cigarette. Because in the real world, apparently, only bad people smoke. And girls who smoke are prostitutes or gangster's girlfriends.)

3. Raja Azmi repeating the words "Tanah Ini Melayu Punya" and saying that we've got enough representation of multi-racial society already so no need to show more lah... and plus, the other races should be so lucky that the Malay race is so sopan-santun in tolerating their presence here.
Aiyoh. If the Malay people were all thinking like this woman, this country would've gone down the drain long time ago. Despite the spoonfed, everything-handed-on-a-silver-platter priviledges given to one race - it doesn't mean the role of the other races have to be downplayed. We built this country together. We still are.
Raja Azmi if you're so set on this superior Malay race (I believe we should all just be equal, or are you above us because of your badminton family connections, hyuk hyuk) why don't you just get some goddamn island and move yourself and Akmal there and live in peace.
Here we are trying to finally make EVERYONE feel like they belong FOR ONCE. And you just wanna make the rest of us feel like immigrants. PLease lah. Bukak buku sejarah tu sikit.
And while we're on the whole Malay-Is-Great thing - let me just say Raja Azmi - yang mana lagi mencemarkan budaya - cinta antara dua orang muda, or adegan lucah dalam buku yang setengah masak?

3. "Isteri yang solehah akan duduk di rumah dan masak untuk suami" (Raja Azmi)
Kalau macam tu, kau duduk rumahlah. Takyah tulis buku, buat filem ni semua. Buang masa. Nanti terlalai pulak suami tersayang. Masak, basuh baju, bersih rumah... ha.... at least berfaedah sikit your life yang quite half baked tu. PLus we can do without your crap works of, er, CRAP.

I know what the crux of the issue is :
They're just antsy because they can't stand the idea of some "educated Malay girl" (Orked, good student in school) falling in love with some (lowly, pork-eating, infidel) Chinese VCD seller.

That's what this is about. Remember how they couldn't stand the idea of Adlin Aman Ramli in that ad, giving a bad name to Malay men? The idea of an educated Malay man who's NOT polite and courteous was WRONG. WRONG. WRONG.

Apparently, the Malay race is the most pure and perfect race, with no flaws, no wrongdoing, always polite and courteous and will only date other Malays of proper and strict religious upbringing, and the women get married fast in order to complete their responsibilities as isteri solehah to just shut the eff up and be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen until menapause. And when that hits - watch for Wife version #2, 3 and 4. But we're all polite and wonderful and will never do anything wrong. Unlike EVERYONE ELSE, right?

Apparently this is what happens in the little world that is Akmal Abdullah and Raja Azmi. Must be nice to live in fairy-tale land all your life.

WHAT THE HELL KINDA CRACK ARE THESE PEOPLE ON TO BE SO DAMN DELUSIONAL?

The sHoRtZ goes digital

2006-05-11T19:09:00.000+08:00

... because I can't stand NOT writing my column lah!

So I guess I'll have to fight it out with the countless opinions already existing on the 'Net. What to do... when push comes to shove I guess.

What's ironic is that the week after half of Sunday Mail's writers (and some of the best damn issues writers around, I'd like to add) said their goodbyes -- our MPs come up with the juiciest fodder it was just too hard to pass up NOT putting editorial crosshairs right over their foreheads.

I mean, look at the whole gatal issue. It's interesting how people didn't really play up the "who's REALLY gatal" thing. Sure, he's being mysoginist, prejudiced, judgemental, neanderthal even.

But come on, let's just be as childish as that MP lah. He's not going to understand these big words, so we need to sink back to the longkang to his level. Just say it like it is lah!

"Sapa yang betul-betul gatal, hah?"

a) A divorcee that isn't in total absolute mourning because she's divorced (what the hell are they supposed to do lah, sit at home for the rest of their lives, shrouded in black hijabs, weeping for the loss of the man in their lives? Is post-divorce socializing an indication of abject wanton uncontrollable lust... or a need to be among other people to help ease the loneliness of being alone?)...
OR
b) A man who's already married but still can menggatal (now THAT's the more apt use of that damn word) with the chick from the nasi lemak stall, the perfume counter, the shoe store, the restaurant, the bar, the dangdut club.... the guy who's got wife and kids and still looking for numbers 2, 3, and 4? A guy who jokes with his friends about getting upgraded versions of wives because the "old cow" at home has gained weight and isn't doing anything for his Viagra-loaded libido (although no one mentions that his receding hairline and potbelly isn't really ManHunt audition material, I'll tell you that much). Or the old farts hanging out at Kelab Pantai and Duabelas SI (among others) flashing the cash so they can live the delusion that some bimbo half their age actually is attracted to them (as long as the wallets stay fat).
Come to think of it, maybe the divorcees are divorcees because their husbands left them for some young nubile child (which really isn't the reason why that archaic 4-wive rule was there in the first place, moron). I say, good riddance, and good luck finding a man who's not going to think of you as one quarter of his little four-woman harem.

Siapa yang gatal? Hah?

On top of that his statement that he wouldn't be surprised if a majority of the sex workers in the country consist of divorcees.

Maybe he never really read a piece of research in his life, poor thing. Maybe he's never really done any indepth thinking on his own, poor child. Maybe he needs to be schooled. Please, oh NGOs, do you think you can send him some research? Maybe put in some audio tapes and video files because you can't sustain his reading past a few paragraphs. And maybe include some tabs on the words that have more than two syllables to help the little dude understand what's going on.

Because it's clear he's lacking some serious education. Not just in social issues but in being a decent human being.

And I'm SOOOOO happy that I've gone digital and I can say a lot more without having to worry about being (sic) politically correct. HAH!