Bloggers in headlines for wrong reasons

Let's just be clear about something.

My definition of a blogger is a person who is:
1. .. in love with writing
2. .. have something to say (to him/herself or to the world)
3. .. responsible for everything he/she wrote

My definition of a gobblogger is a person who is:
1. .. basically an idiotic, unthinking coward who thinks he/she's being brazen and brave
2. .. have something to say but it is not worth saying because it is the result of shallow thinking
3. .. not taking responsibility of what he/she posted

Of recent the word blogger has been in the main headlines for all the wrong reasons, so much so the government wants to introduce a new legislation which involves serious, serious penalties as result to irresponsible publishing.

It appears as if some bloggers out there think it is cool to flame others - government, religion, race, royalties not spared! (Er.. not that I think the Kinabatangan MP deserves to be spared.) Even if you have a so-called constructive criticism to air, please, be responsible when going about it, and do it with the utmost respect of the involved party.

If with what you publish your only aim is to sincerely want to make things better, I'm sure there's a way to do it sensitively, tactfully, diplomatically, no?

If more bloggers become gobbloggers sooner or later there's not gonna be any room for casual bloggers like me, your lovely ol' Pastensu gal to write her thoughts out on small items she finds interesting in the newspaper anymore. Now that's a sad thought!

Imagine reading today's Berita Harian Sentral's report then not being able to talk about how weird it is that they chose to change the name of the district of Batang Berjuntai to Bestari Jaya? That's like an itch you can't scratch, argh!

Buzzing off to Pastensu?

In holiday mood? Here's what you can do to fake it at the office on those few last days before you get on that plane and buzz off to Pastensu:

1] Blog. It's been a while since your last update anyway. So type away and try to look busy before ol' boss give you something new to do.

2] If you're gonna do research on the place you're about to visit, don't. Not in the office. Maybe a bit excusable if you're into it during lunchtime, but as your colleagues return, kill the webpage. They'll know about all your trip within minutes and suddenly you have to buy them souvenirs, and you're already broke after plane and dorm bookings.

3] Eat a bit. Not too much. You might as well get slightly bit thinner in order to appreciate the upcoming meals you're gonna be having while you're on your trip. Besides, it will condition your stomach to behave while being fed less than usual, just in case you cannot swallow most of the things you're offered to eat.

4] Clear off all that back log. Yes, we're talking about those assignments you've got hidden under your big butt all these while - yep yep they need to be done. That way no one from office will call you and that'll save yer a lot if you're gonna be roaming.

5] Tidy your desk. Anything you think someone might need while you're gone, put it where they can easily find it without having to call you or snoop around your personal stash.

6] Off your desk, grab a pen, the tiniest notepad you can find, some rubberbands and safety pins - these might come in handy during your trip. See, you can start packing even when you're still at the office! Smart huh. Heheh.

7] Start composing your I'm-out-of-the-office automatic reply on your Inbox. Er, scrape that!

Why do I like my school?

I just had a tall glass of nescafe tarik so I'm a bit hyper this morning. I feel like singing my school song. There's several reasons why I wanna sing it. Reading Encik Ara Payung's comment on my previous entry was the last straw. Heheh!

Last week after updating my Friendster account I bumped into an old school mate of batch '91-'95, N.S.W, but of course now no one calls her by that name anymore - got glam name already. Hey why not! And last month when my drop-jelah-Geography-cause-it's-not-gonna-make-your-SPM-result-any-better classmate, Manja and I reunited in Cherating, we sang the school song on our way back to Legends from Kuantan. Gave goosebumps to our van-mates we did.

My school is cool because:
1] Our school is very much into co-curricular activities. Some of us get to escape a few lessons in the name of SUKMA, debates, hockey matches, pantun, field trips, integration camps, plays and those corny prefects' suaikenal (where prefects of boarding schools come in their blazers and ties, wahahah!). These are considered legal activities, so you're not really fly-ing. (Gals sneaking out at 10:20AM after calling up their boyfriends on their handphones from under the table while the 9:40AM Math class is going on - now that's fly-ing.)

2] Most of my schoolmates, even L.A.L the specky girl who catches katak purus with bare hands in the name of science, are really really nice gals.. Even the pretty-but-ganas W.C.M who gave the class of 4 Kemboja 1994 a taste of what "gertak-saja-lebih public suicide attempt" look like, is actually a very approachable gal, as long as you're not her best friend who stole her boyfriend.. And the Geography '95 classmates (a.k.a. Let's Sing M. Nasir Songs classmates), are the coolest of them all!

3] Teachers are cool too! BM maestro Encik AS who let me nap for 15 mins after he found out I stayed up to watch an international football match.. Puan SR who also let me go to sick bay after I couldn't keep awake during Science lab (again, football or was it GP?).. Cik W for teaching us tai-chi and how to conceal panty-lines.. Encik F who was nice enough to skip the next two History classes after the only other Malay gal in 4 "Bunga Kubur" Kemboja, P.N.R threw him that "Wow, bontot cun..!" comment while he was chalking notes on Malaysian constitution.. Puan FT who let W.S.W off the hook despite the two times she caught her red-handed dancing silly to the beating drums and cymbals of death processions.. Huh, Puan ShA, you're still the meanest Kemahiran Hidup teacher ever for saying I'm not as bright as my sis (true, but I rather not have you point it out to me OK?) and threatening my mate M.C.M that you'll ketuk her kepala with a gandin getah! We rather have Cik M who (apparently still) thinks she's a prophet teach us how to cook, sew and wire up an electronic LED board! Oops!

4] My seniors and juniors are nice - those who let me and J play April's Fool's jokes on them.. Those who lepak-ed with us under the big ketapang trees or the Dataran.. Those who didn't laugh when I did those extra loud announcements via the school's PA system.. Those kind-hearted senior prefects who let me walk in school every morning at 7:40AM instead of 7:20AM..

So for all the cool people in the RPS alumni, let's sing sing song! (C'mon Silverheadbanger I know you still remember it! 3, 4!

Sekolah R P
Jadi banggaan kami
Teruslah maju
Sepanjang zaman
Sebagai sinaran cahya

Dalam mengejar ilmu
Tabah hati selalu
Di bidang sukan persefahaman
Disiplin jangan abaikan

(coda) Kejujuran menghasilkan
Kesempurnaan bakti
Menjadi pedoman kami
Tetap diikuti

Mari penuntut semua
Berusaha hingga jaya
Harumkan nama
Tinggikan cita

Se-ko-lah R P ..

I should really find out who composed this nice little number. It's still one of the most prettiest hauting melodies I've ever heard. Haunted me during schooldays it did. Especially on Sundays cause I know I gotta go to school on Monday and sing it during assembly (it wasn't so beautiful then).

Do I hear calls for encore? Yeah? Return to Coda baby!

Kes bocor

Aw, c'mon, another tiff in the Parliament and we're paying taxes to pay these shitheads to talk c*ck about women's menses? And another a**hole even remarked he personally thinks the two (retarded) MPs need not apologize.

Can't someone talk about why there's still people living way below poverty line in this country and yet they're funding mat rempits to go jump onto an ice block?

Can't they talk about those Puduraya, Subang and Shah Alam cabbies who rip off people like there's no after life? Or maybe why people need to take three buses instead of one/two just to get to work with the new RAPID "strategy"?

Can't they please address the public education and health concerns? Don't they think the As race is getting a bit too nauseating or suggest that old folks above 65 with no family members should get free health treatment at government hospitals?

I'll be a bit happier if they're bickering about where to build the next high-tech government hospital or how to stop young female teachers from getting hitched right before finishing their last KPLI semester so that they won't be sent to kampungs to teach.

I'll be more happy if they're considering of allowing public arrest on errant cabbies. I'm game for this!

I'll be even more happy if they point out all those VIPs, celebrities and companies who donates a big sum of money and make noise about it so that they can escape tax and gain glamour and look good in front of the gullible. Buat amal pun nak kecoh satu kampung, siap nak sakit hati kalau orang tak tau?

Hish, sometimes I wonder why I still read newspapers when there's more items that "make my blood go upstairs" rather than something to feel happy about?

Oh I remember why.

Once in a while, news such as Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah saying he'll fund his own wedding instead of using the state's money is truly a feel good piece to read.

Flying saucer route

^ I love this pix. Took it using my new Sony on 30/3/2007 8:45AM Malaysian time.

Was aboard UA OHare -> HKG and busy getting mad at a United Airways stewardess to notice that I just caught the sunset with three flying saucers buzzing by.

Either that or I was really tired due to the 6.5 hour delay we had to endure at OHare.

OK la. I was too distracted cause I found out that I'll have to spend a night at HKG and not get back to KL on schedule. Pretending to be totally "preoccupaiyed" with your gadget is way better than bawling your eyes out.

Besides, I sobbed through the last half of that Japanese film Udon on an earlier flight and used up all my credit limits for public show of sorrow.

Don't think they're flying saucers though. But I was still within the US airspace. And we all know all UFOs go to US and all Ultramen live in Japan.

No fulus, no story

A native of Lexington met up with a foreigner from Ipoh recently:

Lexington babe: Whatca want in your omelette, honey?

Ipoh mali: Some mushroom and capsicum please, thank you.

Lexington babe: And what, honey?

Ipoh mali: Capsicum? Er.. that one.

Lexington babe: That's pepper, honey. So what brings you to Kentucky?

Ipoh mali: I'm supposed to find out (tooot!) and send a story back to Kuala Lumpur. But everything's embargoed. Can't shop either, cause I don't have much money and stuff are expensive here.

Lexington babe: Yes, certain things are expensive, but not horse s*** though! Hee hee! So you've got no money and no story, what are ya gonna do, honey?

Ipoh mali: Tangkap gambar la sweetie.

How many KFCs are there in Kentucky?

I dunno. A lot maybe. But I only saw one. A tiny one. The rest are all Wendy's, Arby's, McDonalds, Subway... White Castle even!

Maybe everyone in Kentucky has their own secret recipe so Colonel Sanders didn't think it was worth it to have so many branches there.

And everyone is called "Honey" or "Sweetie" there. So forget names, even though a foreigner there you may be.

If you get lost, just call out, "Hi there honey, do you know how I can get back to Radisson Plaza Hotel from here?" Someone on the street's bound to say, "Right this way, sweetie."

Yep, apart from great but rare fried chicken and friendly people, the Bluegrass state also has lots of horses. Lots. But none will come near you unless they're on duty at the Kentucky Horse Park.

And it is a waste to send a non-drinker to the multiple award-winning bourbon factory Buffalo Trace Distillery. "No, I ain't drinkin even if you shove me a 20-year old bourbon to my nose, Freddie honey." (Freddie's our tour guide at the distillery.)

And Macy's, thanks for the USD27 Levi's 501s. Mates back home really loved it. Wish there was more cash for those nice smellin' Victoria Secret sprays that was on sale for 6 bottles at USD30.

Now, if only it didn't have to be three flights in and three flights out for the return trip from KL to Lexington, Kentucky. That's 41 hours worth of flying, 8 hours of transit and 7 hours of delay plus two sad films!

"What makes bloggers tick?"

Dear fellow bloggers, as I read Silverheadbanger's respond to my earlier post, it struck me that whatever I don't know and want to know, I should just ask. I should just ask the right people.

So here's me asking you all out there who's been blogging for some time already by now, "What makes bloggers tick?"

What's driving you to write?
(Me, it's those little things that kept nagging in my head. I just gotta get it out. Like the issue about fried eggs and ketchup after a tiring school day - the memory kept jutting out amidst my other thots like the millenium bug, so I just gotta blog about it to get it out of my system.)

What's inspiring you all these while?
(Me, it's all the things that I notice day in day out. It's all the things that I should have noticed earlier but didn't until now. It's all the new things I discovered. It's all the things that kept me reading till the last line of the newpaper article.)

In what way does blogging affects you?
(Me, blogging gets me started. It's like I have to practice using the keyboard after a night's sleep cause I could not remember how I did it yesterday. Blogging takes the cloud out of my skull everytime I need to see things a bit more clearly (not necessarily rightly). On days I'm forced to write about topics I don't like, I'll blog first so that my mood gets better by the time I get to the dirty work.)

What do you want to achieve?
(Me, I want to achieve inner peace. Blogging helps me rid of the garbage that's cluttering my nerves and atoms. Told you about those nagging thots, no? Therefore I blog.)

What have you achieve so far?
(Me, a piece inner peace. After all I haven't had time to blog about people who stand so close behind the ATM line, or those chee kuais who kept spitting in public, or those who let their toddlers pee on the shopping mall's flower pots or those who thinks doing charity means investing a bit of time and money so that they become more popular of a personality, or those segelintir jilbab-clad tua-sebelum-waktunya mamas who think they have the right to tell everyone they're right and everyone else are citizens of hell.)

Berbaloi ke blogging ni? (Is blogging worth it?)
(Me, I'll say sure! It kept me sane.)

Anyone else care to share? I appreciate your feedback - maybe with your help I can get that assignment going and do it as a parting gift for my ex-boss. (Erm, but before that I gotta blog first.)

Bloggers aren't created equal

Once my ex-boss asked me to write an article on "What makes bloggers tick?". My oh my. What a big piece that would've been.

But I chickened out immediately.

Yes it is quite sad to report that an enterprising young gal like me, who have all the potential and a golden opportunity to write on a subject as hot and interesting and possibly controversial as this, to say "No, at the moment I'm not the right person for this task." like that.

My reason is simple - For I have been blogging and blogreading for years, I know for a fact that: Bloggers aren't "created" equal.

Some good, some bad, some experienced, some humble, some arrogant, some shy, some shout, some blind, some sees, some important, some worth walking over, some serious, some ridiculous.

And blog-readers are just the same - meaning, just like bloggers, they also aren't created the same.

Some wise, some foolish, some cautious, some naive, some sane, some nay.

As both blogger and blogreader, which I guess it is safe to assume that I am an insider in this independent publishing phenomenon, I hate to say I still can't see the big picture.

There's lots of blogs out there - there are cool ones. Mind my own business types, count calories types, just me thinking types, what I wanna say to the world types, why am I dangerously in love with myself types... go ahead, baby, go ahead.

But some are funny, sad, worrying, prejudiced, grotesque, blatant, optimistic, suicidal... and it scares the shit out of me to think that behind each blog there is a person who could cook up all of these, and even scary it becomes when I realized that there are people out there who actually devour, and sadly, come to believe these stuff.

Until I figure out the big picture...

Farmer leaves the coop

Mayday, mayday!

The farmer has left the coop.

It is a May day indeed.

Suddenly sunny day, like one likely happenning in May.

Farmer dear, thanks for everything.

Even for those times when you were nasty.

Cause those times taught me even nice people can turn ugly.

Best of luck Farmie!

We chickie-chickies are now happy...

Bangkok jam

What makes Bangkok memorable?

1. The taxis They're brightly coloured Toyotas - green, orange, blue, pink you name it they've got it. I didn't get to ride one - yeah, that's what work trips are all about - not much time to do much at all.

2. The bazaars Big wide spaces packed with small outlets selling everything you don't need but want to buy anyway. Try thai silk - 4m sheets at 300 baht ok what? OK lah for Suan Lum Market (accessible via BTS to Lumpini) which is made merrier by expats (also made it pricier than other markets). Now a bit menyesal for not buying more.



3. The tut tuts
Wanna try that Ong Bak scene? No choice - once you're on it, you're in for the ride of your life. For 70 baht you can ride quite far, say KLCC to Dataran Merdeka.

4. The food
For muslims halal stuff may be a challenge, but there's lots to choose from. Even sireh comes in commercial packs. But those home made sausages looks damn inviting man!

The OKs and not OKs

DiGi's Konsert Rentaq Serantau last weekend was..

^ Found you: When Search's onstage, Amy was the only one capitalising on the stage and wireless system.

Good
Great turnout - long lines queuing at both the RM28 and RM38 entrances, and more at the ticket booths too. The venue had previously hosted Alanis Morrissette, SO7, Dewa, etc so most people knew what to expect in terms of seating/standing arrangements.

They did a great job with the stage. Tilted at an angle to address three corners effectively, the setup made everyone feel that they're close enough no matter where they seat/stand. Lights and visual projectors were very well coordinated as well.

Bunches of concert goers yang berhemah shows the rest of the crowd how to have fun, go crazy and be wild, without causing distress to anyone else. It was simple, you wanna sing and dance to the music, choose a spot wee bit away from the starstruckers, and have your ruckus well done with fries on the side!

Bad
Not enough staff/authorities manning the grounds. Some people crowd a certain spots in huge numbers, a couple of times the rowdy ones seems poised to simply trample onto seated audience for a better view.

Sound? Macam haremmmm... Masalah equipment ke? Or adakah Malaysia ni very lacking in terms of experienced sound engineers, or is it the venue/stage setting that's making it impossible for the soundmen to get their act in place? Maybe when I'm part of the backstage crew, I'll understand and appreciate their efforts more.

Class act
Inul - where did all the gelek gerudis go? Frankly she looks a bit off-center as she tries her best to spin and sway uncharacteristicly. Heard she had to sign and pledge best behaviour agreement with the organizers before coming on stage. Sigh. Not much of a fan, but since you're there, give it all out already!

Ella - major gripe: very small repertoire. But being the performer she is, even during that short stint she manages to make an impact. "Sebentar.. Sebentar.." takes a new meaning as Ella impulsively cues her musician. Guess I'll have to catch her next time at her Sunday Nite Live.

Search - gimmicky, gimmicky. Perhaps a mini version salvaged from whatever they've planned for their 25th anniversary gig. Ada lak mic problem tu but as expected Amy carried on ikut suka dia. On the other hand despite being equipped with wireless tools, Hillary and Edrie hardly take advantage of this edge. Don't you just miss Kid and Din!

Radja - too bad the crowd carrying the Sabah flag decides to start you-push-me-we-push-you ponggo right in the middle of their opening sound. But what's most memorable bit about their performance is the vocalist's outfit... Ngapain pakaiannya kayak Achik Spin dalam pilem Diari Romeo?

How silly can you get?

We've all heard it - in life, you'll never stop learning. Why? Because we can be so silly sometimes.

Let me demonstrate - take me as example:

When I was 3, I was so silly that I thought I will always be a bald kid.
(They never told me sometimes a kid just takes a bit more time to get more than just strands on their scalp. Luckily there aren't too many photos of me taken during the so-called dark ages.)

When I was 4, I was so silly I believed my siblings when they told me that I'm adopted.
(Hey, when you get roasted from playing all day at the beach of Batu Buruk and your siblings are in Ipoh drinking the magical tap water that's making their skin SKII-esque, who wouldn't? But I don't really mind, cause it made me feel quite special actually.)

When I was 6, I was so silly I believed calling my neighbour's kid Shasha budak Camca (Shasha the teaspoon kid) will get her off my back.
(No, she took it as a compliment and kept shoving her Barbie Dolls up my nose everytime she comes over. Boy next door with his Kam Kam toys also didn't mind being called Kam Kam Kambing (Kam Kam goat boy) instead of Kamrin. Sorry Shasha, Kamrin, wherever you guys are.)

When I was 12, I was so silly I believed being the tallest girl in my class is the worst thing that can ever happen to me.
(Oh my goodness, no! Apparently my height is quite normal. And lucky for me, it was from sitting in the last row that my short-sightedness was discovered by my class teacher.)

When I was 13, I was so silly I believed I will always be friends with my schoolmates from primary school.
(Er, actually no, this is one instance in which I was a bit smart. I'm still in touch with so many of them! And they are still the coolest bunch of people ever! But I know many people out there are not so lucky. I mean, I can cite about 20 mates from Standard One who are still actively keeping in touch with me. Can you?)

When I was 17, I was so silly I believed my SPM results will get me somewhere.
(Hell no! I got to a community college in the east and there I learnt how to say the F word without an ounce of guilt.)

When I was 20, I was so silly I believed I must've met all the fuckwits in the world already.
(HELL NO! There may be a lot of fuckwits in college - the pious ones who quotes God's words in every other sentence but once they become your project partner not even a sentence do they deliver, one that wants to kill you cause her short ugly BF has a thing for you, ones that call themselves friends but asks you out on a double date with a couple of bald, boroi, gatal married men.. One must never forget that some of them actually graduated too, and given the opportunity of employment, they become fuckwits in the work place pulak.)

When I was 26, I was so silly I believed there's nothing bad about my job.
(Yes, I was delusional for the first four years of employment. Who wouldn't? It's fun, easy, hardly stressful, I get to play with the latest gadgets and even keep some, eat at the latest posh spots in town, travel to countries I never imagined setting foot on, meet cool people... BUT MY PAY SUCKS!)

Now that I'm 28, I know I'm still so silly cause I believe next month I'll get a raise.
(Ha ha! Me hoping for the best but trying my best not to show it. Hu hu! Say a prayer for moi, thanks.)

See? That's how silly I can get. So how silly can you get?

Shows over the weekend

Friday
Spider, Wings & Slank concert

^ View from the press box. Yes, that old, that far.

So there I was, shouting out my deepest thoughts despite knowing no one - not Dubai nor Bob who were seated on the same row, or Encik Ara, Kak Nadia & co seated three rows in front - in the crowd can hear me, amidst the loud music mingled with reverbs, feedbacks, and bad balancing everytime a band switch happens:

"Menda aa Spider! Takkan lima lagu je, mana cukup? Orang baru nak syok-syok dah abis."
[Lame Shakespeare eavesdropper translation: "What doth Spider! Mere five sonnets, tis hardly enough? My fluttering heart is just speckled with drops of joy, alas! Came the end too swift."]

"Waa.. Wings lu orang sound macam dolu-dolu la. Awie dah boleh 'tarik' baek balik.."
[Enid Blyton fan translation: "Well done boys! You all sounds just like how you were in the good ol' days. Our boy Awie here is now capable of notching the elusive high notes once again."]

"Fuiyo memang dasat aa Slank ni! Okeh wa pun jadi Slankers la ini macam!"
[Cult follower translation: "I see the light, mastah. I am your chosen one, mastah. I am humbly your slave, mastah!"]


Sunday
XPDC, Wings and Eye on Malaysia
Near the base area of the 30 storeys high Ferris wheel, we witnessed not only Malay rockers back in their element (that's what free concerts are all about):

Sireh pulang ke gagang..
XPDC has its former members back on the line up, with Mael and Amy and Zua rejoining Izo. Hopefully this means Zua will not revive his Viper project. Er, sorry Viper fans.

Belut pulang ke lumpur...
Having warmed up from their show just a couple of nights before, Wings has Awie on the frontline again. And just like on the Friday night before, Awie brought his own mic tied with what looks like a piece of blue pashmina to wave to the crowd again. (Kaka of Slank used his mic stand to wave the Indonesian flag. Hmm.)


Monday
Kembara Si Raja Gondang

^ Actors in character: (FL) Gadis-gadis Kampung Baru,
Rakan-rakan Burn and Rakan-rakan Kesuma.

Renamed Kesuma (so that performance art lovers out there will not mistake it for a Mak Yong), this musical has ASWARA students, graduates and performance art professionals from all over joining forces to bring to life a story of an old man who went mad searching for his dead son in Kuala Lumpur.

Tonight is the only night left to catch it.

Apa benner? Search batal konsert?

For a split second I hate being in the media.

Just heard rumours that the Search concert - yes the KL one - has been cancelled.

The JB one has been postponed, and now KL cancelled?!

Not sure why, not sure if tis a valid source.

So let's check tonight's news and tomorrow's newspapers ja.

Otherwise normal

Circa 1990s, she was a teacher at our school.

She's the skinny Ms with shoulder length hair pinned at the sides, her fair skin graced with just a little make-up on her face. Standing at medium height in her black pumps, most of the time she's in pastel-coloured baju kurung or a combi of maxi skirt and billowy blouse.

She's one that walks with quiet confidence in the hallways, yet articulate and strict in class.

She thought the sixth formers, but along with a few more teachers, she took over my class for a short duration while our teacher in charge was on maternity leave. She shared bits and pieces of general knowledge, addressing us in Bahasa Malaysia, once in a while in English.

But we've heard about her dark peculiarity, so non of us dared to test her. We were too fascinated with her mysterious personality to have time for pranks.

Younger teachers speak in hushed tones everytime she walks by. The seasoned staff don't discuss her at all. The headmistress treats her just like anyone else.

Of course, PIBG parents were worried. When the buzz about her became to hard to ignore, the ustazs and ustazahs released a general warning to the students to seek them out if someone tries to confuse us about religion.

We all know who they meant by "someone".

Every time it's her turn to babysit, we expected her to launch into a sermon to lure us into darkness, or maybe hypnotize us into becoming her followers. But she never did.

The only time she did something different was that time she gave out a recipe in conjunction of the class being moved to the Kemahiran Hidup lab.

Then one day she was already in the news. She claims she's the messenger of God who brings God's words.

It was as if a deep sea volcano had erupted - students saw only ripples on the surface but we knew deep down it was a serious matter. Parents came worried, teachers tried to play it down while the headmistress took the necessary actions.

Local ulamas swiftly did their job - she was detained and asked to repent. According to reports she did. We heard she was transferred to the education office to do clerical work, and we never saw her again.

Once in a while the news about her resurfaced, and apparently she still believes she is the chosen one. But the last we heard about her was years ago.

To suddenly see her being headline material again is quite a tragedy. All these years and she's still swimming against the tide.

Wonder what's going on in her head?

What was it that propelled her towards the path she chose?

What is triggering her thoughts and action?

Has anyone ever tried to get her to tell her story?

Has anyone truly helped her?

Where's her family?

What kept her going?

In today's newspaper

NST today seems to be brimming with stuff I just have to read, despite having three stories unfinished and two bloody products to review:

1] Johor bah!
Sorry my Sabahan friends, when I say bah, it's not to replace lah. I meant Johor is underwater. I don't know from which state that term came from, but bah means flood from where I come from.

And folks had to be moved from their homes, lifted into boats and sent to camp out at makeshift shelters.. hope rain stops quickly and the water levels will get back to normal. I hope that cat, Piper who saved her human family from becoming landslide victims is safe somewhere too. Good cat!

And some of my mates are on their way for "Xmas" shopping in Singapore.. Er, more like motor shopping, we're talking about Arai helmets and Honda fairings and Ohlin dampers etc.. I hope they'll not get stranded and get to go on with their programme.

2] Thailand stock market semi-crashed
That report by Mustapha Kamil on the Bangkok stock market dipping by 14.8 per cent (and brokers keep thinking they'll wake up tomorrow and things will get better) reminded me of 1997 - it was a sad time - though on a microscopic level I'm glad that I don't have to leave home to further studies and still get government money running into my account.

Then, many of my college mates were upset that the government decided to pull the plug off the overseas studies program (imagine, of all sectors, education is one that seems easiest to scrape), but some snakes did get to fly and they promised their TESL mates who had to be transferred to UPertanianM that they'll bash Soros on their way to their class. (None of them get to do that, bunyi je lebih.)

Can you blame anyone for enjoying the silver lining? Hey, I'll not be one of those people pouring money into foreign economies. So I bought jeans and tees and belanjaed my family at a local restaurant with my studies allowance - the least I could do to get Ipoh's economy upbeat at that moment.

3] Houston rapist after boys
Apparently a clean-shaven man, 18-21 years old, a botak armed with a gun has been randomly stalking, robbing, and sexually assaulting boys. So far five late-teenaged boys has come forward to lodge reports, but police suspects there are many more victims relunctant to do so.

Sometime ago a guy - unfortunately he's quite jambu - confided about him being violated twice and each time by a different dude. The first time he was so shocked, he narrowly escaped. The second time, despite being attacked from behind while playing on a games console, he managed to kick the fella's balls and cabut.

There's been studies that show rapists are less eager to proceed if the victim continues to fight. However at gunpoint..

4] The rags and riches Singapore story
It was about that comment Wee Shu Min, daughter of Singapore MP Wee Siew Kim, left on a guy's blog post about him worried about losing his job ("one of many wretched, undermotivated, overassuming leeches in our country", signed off with "please, get out of my elite uncaring face"; and later topped by her father's comment "her basic point is reasonable").

Apparently despite being Asia's second-richest country (Japan still tops) with GDP per capita of +/-US$27,000 (RM97,000), in terms of income disparity the country's Gini index, which measures inequality of income distribution among households, Singapore scores 42.5, sandwiching it between Burundi and Kenya (so shows UN Human Development Report 2006) .

Biar betul? It was just like hearing from Oprah that a big percentage of Americans are living in poverty. I take for granted what I see on Puah Chu Kang and Under One Roof (assuming they're just like Gilmore Girls and Everybody Loves Raymond - so called reflection of the American lifestyle, vv).

I take for granted that the country looks so modern and the population is not that big, so guess it would be easier to make sure everyone is taken care of, right?

Wrong. Running a country - humongous, big, so-so, small, tiny, unknown, whatever the size - is hard work. Now I know. (I guess in a smaller scale, running a family is also tough for most parents nowadays huh, as we've seen what one offspring can cause. Bet I'm a cause for my parents to worry as well.)

So with that, thanks to all of Malaysia's true leaders, (especially my politically-active-even-in-her-70s aunt who's always reminding us cousins to remember our roots) and tabik hormat!

5] Letters to the Editor: Goodbye Bok House
For this I gotta thank photography instructor, Mr Eric Peris for making us visit that magnificent but dilapidated, little, old bungalow.

6] 50 new species found in Borneo
And one of it is a tree frog! I'll be thinking of that the next time I'm going for the Sarawak Rainforest World Music Festival!

Everything massive

^ One of the many series of temples - gargantuan lot all of them - are converted to become a touristy shopping area.

That's just how it is in a country as big as China. The buildings are huge giants, the dishes (especially ones you can't eat) are a whole load, and even the girls are taller damnit!

No I don't have pix of the leggy Shanghai gals, they're not as sporting as the Shibuya divas. Last night I was asking for directions to this Italian restaurant where the rest of the benchmarkers are meeting, and this perempuan simply turned away even though I said "Ni hao."

Again just now, I asked a peddlar at the night market how much for the item he's selling, but he pointedly talked away with his two lady companions in order to brush me off. Aiyo, what hospitality? Pelik kan ca ya tak nak buat duit?

To think they have a long history of civilization... No such thing as being civil here! Most of them are as cold as the December weather!

Socks-ed trees

So one idiot decided that a winter jacket is not worth bringing for a couple of days trip to a four-season country (which is not anywhere down under) right at the start of December and settled for a lousy combination of sweater and jacket instead.

Anyway weather's very cold in Shanghai, even its trees are "wearing" socks!

^ Stocking-ed trees saying welcome along the Pudong Airport - main Shanghai highway.

And what bad news! Apparently the fake market Shanghai is famous for has closed down 6 months ago! No grade A fake TagH watch, LeSportSac totes, not even low grade Adibas pedals for the taking - what a waste.

Sarawak Rainforest Music Festival... in Penang?

It was one of those story that make you go "Hmm.."

In today's NST an article, "Sarawak claims Rainforest fest as its own" By Firdaus Abdullah (Nation, pg 29 col 1), is a definate "Hmm.." material. Got you thinking that is.

Apparently Penang Tourism Development and Environment Committee chairman, Teng Chan Yeow said that the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) will be held in Penang next year. [Note: Hmm.. One time..]

It will be the first time the happenin' fest will be held outside of Sarawak, and reports also quoted Teng as saying Penang was chosen by the Tourism Ministry to host next year's event, which was expected to cost RM1.5 million to organise. [Note: Hmm.. Two time..]

Firdaus writes on, aptly inserting Sarawak Tourism Board chief executive officer Gracie Geikie's comment:

"If the ministry is allocating RM1.5 million, then it should be given to Sarawak because we started the event from scratch and today it's an international event which uniquely identifies Malaysia and the rainforest. We have been doing it for nine years in a row and the last thing we want is for 'our baby' to be hijacked on its 10th birthday."

And she has the backing of a senior Tourism Ministry officer [Note: Hmm.. an unidentified
senior officer.. Three time..] who said, "As far as I know, the festival belongs to Sarawak as it is their product. I do not know where people get all these funny ideas of moving an established event like the music festival. It's like organising a fishing trip in the Sahara." [Note: Hmm.. four time!]

Hmm.. so.

What would RWMF look like in Penang? A couple of stages erected amidst the fragrant durian trees and next to the charming winding roads of Balik Pulau (sorry, it was the first venue that pops into mind) maybe? Kinda risky lah.

Though someone will likely make money selling Perisai Penang (I imagine foot stomping and hip gyrating in the middle of high-risk terrain naturally calls for iron body suits) and matching Helmet of the Orient (stainless steel, and you get to carve your name on it too!) eh?

RWMF is not exactly PC Fair la. People don't just walk in to RWMF expecting to grab something they've been surveying online/Low Yat Plaza for a couple of months then quickly run out of the venue (and they don't really mind if it is PWTC or KLCC) to avoid the jostling crowd.

There's lots of reasons why people go to RWMF, year after year on that second weekend of July, each time dragging everyone they knew.

It's not just the music. It's the crowd, the activity, the ambiance, the nights, the days.

There will be centenarian trees shading you from the hot afternoon sun, tomcats and ayam sleeping through your (and others') rain-beckoning sing-along and wince-inclined dance steps.


^ Watch then follow! Tak ingat lirik tak sape perasan de, tis how you move!

There will be activities - hello, not collecting freebies from each exhibitor booth - it will be interactive workshops where you can learn and do what the performers do, together with your gang and those total strangers camping next to you next to the tempat ketuk batang sagu.


^ Finale concert highlight - all the cute guys playing good music throughout the event will be there - can't have durian trees in between you and the stage now, can we?

There will be crowd - yes, jostling they will be, but only to persuade you to join them moving to the music.

And there will be food! Yeah... goooood fooood...

Hmm.. hard to imagine RWMF happening elsewhere but just there at the foot of Mount Santubong, Sarawak.

Eh Penang, get your own fest started lah.