The London Telegraph

While I was debating whether 'excellent oral, reading, and writing skills' was applicable as a 'social skill' on my resume, I got an update on my intro to environmental science course. i got a 68 on a written proposal project worth 15%. no, i'm not very happy. i didn't even put much effort into the resume. really, what 'excellent oral, reading, and writing skills' was i talking about anyway? this post isn't even focused on that particularily horrible mark. no, everything has been very crappy lately and though i have been good at bottling it up and going with the 'keep calm, carry on' motto, that 68% mark has really left me sad.

good bye admissions to bachelors of commerce.

good bye co-op admissions.

good bye any scholarships i had tried to rake up in high school.

good bye any confidence i had left in me.

i feel very unintelligent and unworthy of university right now. no, it wasn't just that mark (that's just the rotten cherry on top). it was a series of rotten cherries that made a whole goddamn gooey pie.

all this is leaving me in a state of frustration, unworth, and doubt. can't say i'll recover from this in a long time.

In the spirit of one-upping each other; Suan, your zoom may be better than my zoom, but my mouse is bigger than your mouse. So much bigger.

And by the way - Lainie has new MacBook Pro. Threats of robbery from housemates, fellow bloggers and (former) friends alike.

An announcement for those of us who go to Attic for what it has -  Luna the bartender, her mix of cocktails, the art, the parties (the many lesbian ones!), and of course, the live music performances.

You should go tonight. It's Attic's farewell pow-wow. If I recall correctly, they'd been running into licensing issues for their live performances, and who can imagine Attic without the music?

Attic has plans for a new location, but tonight's your last chance to have some of the familiar on Jalan Bangkung, including bitching on the balcony about how tiny it is.

The shameless amount of "accidental" eavesdropping, groping, and feet-crushing that has gone on there, whoever takes over the space will have to exorcise the balcony.

This is part of the invite in the mail:

Bringing back live performances!

Bringing forth a new cocktail simply named POW WOW!

Be partying on till the sun comes up! (We ain't kidding folks)

Be cam whoring the whole night!

 As for the music, Zalina Lee and Nish Tham will be performing tonight. I got a chance to eavesdrop on their set list, which promises to be really fun(ny).

I listened in while they were planning it over Moonshine's 3rd Anniversary (congratulations Reza!). So. As with all conversations that involve Zal -

I didn't hear anything

I don't remember anything.

 and it'd better stay that way if I know what's good for me.

Still, she'll be trying something............interesting. If you're coming to Attic, I'll see you tonight.

 

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I'm digging my new job at Nut Graph. Particularly how it freaks friends out that I have a job that requires my presence in an office.

The day before I got some calls from concerned friends, telling me the Inspector General of Police released a statement that the recent tomboy-fatwa protests were a threat to national security (read: ISA). Yeah great, the IGP thinks a dozen of us kids are going to bring the country down. Just fabulous.

As long as I'm paying RM80 a month for a private security firm to guard the street I live on, I'm going to be very ticked off about all the politics our police force plays. Like we have no shortage of robbery, break-in and snatch thief cases for them to investigate?

I told my friends I didn't have the time to worry - because unless the police are knocking on my door, I have a more immediate pile of deadlines to worry about. I can't focus on so many things at a go, and yknow, that pile of deadlines gets higher if I don't work.

This is not the same as saying I would not be worried if I was detained. Even if I do bitch about I, I enjoy the press of the people (and people of the press?) around me.

I told my colleagues about the IGP's announcement, and Zedeck was like "Yeah, we know. We carried the news on the website".

I mean, I only work for a website that uploads the news, and I only bloody read plenty of the stuff before they get published. But yeah, totally missed that. My bad.

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 Nov 2008: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan today warned certain non-Muslim non-government organisations (NGOs) to stop challenging the National Fatwa Council's ruling that tomboyism was haram.

He said such action could affect national security and trigger retaliation among Muslims.

"I'm warning them and will take stern action as it involves national security," he said

From IGP warns NGOs against challenging fatwa.

Lainie: So if I can't come for work because I'm detained, can I call that an MC?

Cindy: No, you're not sick, you're just detained! (laughs)

Lainie: .......

Anyway, calling Katagender and Food Not Bombs non-Muslim NGOs doesn't seem accurate. We are also, for example, non-Christian, non-Buddhist, non-Taoist, non-Hindu, non-Sikh. People familiar with Food Not Bombs will be in a better position to notice why that statement (inaccurately) presumes a lot about the members.

As for Katagender? Even Katagender people don't know who's in Katagender.

Still, he is right about one thing. KG and FNB are non-Muslim NGOs. Otherwise our names would sound something like Sisters in Isl....oh wait. 

 

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The laptop I am blogging on crashed twice (all I did was type.....). Which is why I need a new laptop.

I am switching from PC to Mac. 99.9% chance.

I will be heading over to the Mac Discovery week in Pavilion. There'll also be performances:

Otam (Sat, 15 Nov 2008 @ 4.15pm)

Paolo Delfino (Sun, 16 Nov 2008 @ 3.30pm)

Yuna (Sun, 16 Nov 2008 @ 4.15pm)

Couple (Sun, 16 Nov 2008 @ 5.00pm)

So, plenty of reasons to be there :). I hope the new Macbook Pro is in KL. Last I checked, Machines was saying they were 1) waiting for SIRIM to approve the laptops, and 2) encountering shipping problems. As for Apple Premium Reseller EpiCentre, they were shipping them over from Singapore but didn't have the model I want (Macbook Pro, 2.53GHZ).

And otherwise, there's also the Comic Fiesta Anime Comic Fair happening in Times Square Sunway,Saturday and Sunday. I need to stop mixing up my subscriber lists. I hope it'll be awesome :P

 

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Update: Status of Macbook Pros in Malaysia.

This entry contained scripting, which has been removed for your safety. Click here to see the entry in its entirety.

Machines website - no stock of the new Macbook Pros.

Monthly promotions are the best reason to purchase from them (November, third generation iPod nanos or 4G extra RAM with purchase of MBP and Applecare).

Decent website, but calling-in is usually a pain.

 

EpiCentre website - Macbook Pros are available, but not the 2.53Ghz version.

Apparently, 2.53 is stuck in customs. Which means it could take fricking forever. The person I called made a guess that it should take about another 2 weeks.

Mediocre monthly promotions (prepare to go WOW at the.....laptop sleeve. And thumb drive. Or buy a MAC and get....a complimentary GSC movie voucher). I mean, seriously people, buck up. Pendrives are the default "marketing people are too lazy to think this year" gift in office parties.

Unhelpful website, but good customer service if you call.

[ Edit ]

I went for the fair they had at Pavilion over the weekend. Turns out the information I got over the phone is different from what I get at the shop.

I now have the Macbook Pro I want, and guess what - the promo was exactly the same as Machines. 4G iPod nano. Along with keyboard protector, laptop sleeve. 

The staff at EpiCentre speak a lot better than they do at Machines, but they screw up information sometimes too. Understandable, but it just goes to show they need a website that better states the kind of promotions they have. Too many misunderstandings.

 

Apple Malaysia website - Macbook Pros are available, along with everything else

The promotion is an exclusive gift - The FUGLY PURPUR TSHIRT giveaway, order now and get one! Only available in size Large!

Best website! WTF-est promo of the three! It's almost like they're saying "purchase your Apple products from a reseller".

I'm almost there. Sort of. 

My body is massively rebelling against me. My head is wonky, my ears have been stuffy for days (which is possibly the worst part), and several parts of my face are imitating enthusiastic faucets. The pills I got from the doctor last night don't seem to help.

So - I'm really not in the prettiest of moods right now. And this was my morning read:

PUTRAJAYA, 10 Nov 2008: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today told non-Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) not to challenge the National Fatwa Council's credibility. 

He said it was unfair to challenge or dispute a fatwa issued by the council purely on logic because it could create confusion among the people.

from The Nut Graph

Excuse me? .....No, really. What?

Do you have any idea how watafak something has to sound, before an ill-and--pissy girl can't even imagine how to react to it?

---

I get a bit frustrated. Some people say I am not allowed to make comments on Islam issues in Malaysia, because it doesn't directly concern me. Hello, have I signed any letters to the Fatwa council telling them to bugger off because none of them are tomboys?

Or women?

Have I?

Have I?

I did sign one that highlighted some issues regarding the fatwa, not because I want them to come up with one that more effectively hentams lesbian-tomboys / people lumped in these category, but because there were some issues that were (clearly) not considered.

Note how it does not say "All non-lesbians bugger off" at the end of the letter.

---

AND. Why won't the fatwas concern me anyway? I'm a human. This looks a lot like a human rights issue to me. And it's not like the non-Muslims live on the east, and Muslims live on the west. This thing gets legislated, I'll be living wtih it too. Why you think non-Muslims office people have that guilty, furtive look when it's bulan puasa lunchtime? You're not puasaing what. Terasa, kan?

I have Muslim friends who will be affected by this - to put it simply, they're quite upset. What should I say? I don't care what happens to your rights, I'm a godless heathen? And what if I date a Muslim again?

I can see where the reactions come from. On the surface, to question a fatwa, or the fatwa council, could look like I am disrespecting Islam. Why not? A fatwa is religious-based advice. I am not attacking Islam (never mind respect, I am nowhere near crazy enough to attack religion as long as my parents know where to find me) -- but I do disagree with the fatwa.

I am averse to the idea that the practice of religion (of any sort) should be dictated by an elite group, with no feedback from the community it affects. There are so many interpretations of Islam out there, but here in Malaysia, it seems like not ony do you have to be Sunni, you can't make too many choices about what your beliefs are in some aspects.

And it seems the fatwa council relies so much on assumed authority, you can't even discuss the issue with them. 

If it's true that fatwa is religious advice, and that you can keep seeking fatwas till you find one applicable to your situation, why do we allow an advisory body to legislate a single piece of advice over an entire community? And why be so adamant about shutting off dialogue? At least if they were more careful about the fuckloads of power they wield, I wouldn't be so wary.

I mean, tell me why one view is more valid than the next. Some Muslim scholars say homosexuals and homosexuality are created by God, as natural as everyone else. What if I'd rather get advice on sexuality-related issues from them? They certainly appear more knowledgeable on the issue of sexuality, at least.*

Or are views on Islam bound by manmade borders? After a certain km radius, it is no longer relevant? 

*chances are, I consider anyone who labels anything beyond heterosexuality as "unnatural" to be uninformed on the issue.

---

 

I am quite pleased about something. My mother delivered to me a dvd player, some books, Ipoh kaya puffs, meekoo bread (fluffy white inside, toxic-looking bright pink outside), and various boxes of frozen food. And a rice cooker. And rice.

My entire freezer is filled with steamed chicken, stews, streamed ribs, kam sah pork, curries, etc.

Oooh yeah. I quite teh happy. *rubs stomach*.

 

---

Some people feel that the protest draws attention to the existence of pengkids, which is a bad thing. I mean, are you worried about what will happen if the religious authorities realise tomboys exist? Oh, wait.

Maybe we shouldn't hold a protest, in case they call it an illegal assembly. Then people who care about tomboy issues will look like lawbreakers.

Or if we do protest, let's make it so nothing is so shocking that they will make it illegal to challenge fatwas. Oh, we already can't.

Maybe nothing so shocking they will make a fatwa against tomboys. Oh wait, I see a trend.

 Then I read (in quite a biased article, might I add) this quote by a tomboy:

 "Surely I will not be arrested if I dress like a man or when I am eating out with other girls?"

No, she is right. It would be absolutely ridiculous for the religious authorities to turn into the fashion police and haul up women based on their - oh wait. THAT'S WHAT THE FATWA SAYS YOU IDIOT. DO YOU SEE ANYTHING IN THERE THAT LOOKS LIKE "NOT APPLICABLE IN F&B ESTABLISHMENTS"????

*shakes fist*

 

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I know la I am probably missing some points. I don't pretend to understand everything about Islam, or human rights, or where they intersect (although you'd think it should be a fair bit more than the impression I get everytime I'm told to butt out).

But I has Google, I has books, and I has some time to figure this out.

Meanwhile, I has drowsy meds. I leave you with a Youtube vid:

Goodnites.

Yesterday night, I met a fifth year international student who was studying organic agriculture. He lived and studied in an international high school in Dubai, and studied French there as well. His parents are paying for all his studies. They actually own the businesses that are building the man-made islands in Dubai! Anyway he wants to make a difference in farming. Considering the big boy corporations like Monsanto and Syngenta, he has a huge wall to climb but I could tell he was passionate about his subject. Speaking of French, on the car ride home, I was sitting in the front ("I call shotgun!") and there were three guys with me. It was quite weird, one of the guys mentioned that the other sounded like he had a French accent (I hadn't noticed but I should have considering that he could not pronounce my name and not a single French person ever can). He was Quebecois, studying systems engineering. The other guys also spoke French or were in French immersion programs! Guess what I had with me? My favourite French series, the stories of Petit Nicolas! It was so surprising to meet so many people who were fluent in French. I'm super excited and prepared to learn it in university. Languages rock.

So where was I going with this post? Ah yes: I really like bars. You generally meet a lot of great interesting people and the atmosphere is always open and relaxed.

 

I'm back from the protest (tomboy fatwa) - we made it from Ampang Park LRT station over to KLCC.

Full update to follow. Currently burning up a fever so I need to rest because....I am heading to a lesbian party tonight -- yeah I'm really that fricking gay. Sexuality protest in the daytime, lesbian party at night. Come for it and --

[ EDIT ]

Party details deleted.
Turns out some events are secret. WHO KNEW?
Oh, answered my own question there, didn't I?

If you know me, email me for party details (or just to read the skanky invite details about eating sushi and chocolates off- girls consenting adult women).

[ /EDIT ]

Don't ask me why lesbo parties inevitably turn out skanky. Cosplay lah, pole dance lah, eating bite-sized food off each other lah. I guess if you're gonna be an out dyke, you may as well have ridiculous amounts of fun.

......It'd better be fun. Or I'm gonna thwack the self-proclaimed lesbian bringing me there.

Okay, sleepy time.

*sorry, too hard to resist.