what-we-do-is-secret &laquo; WordPress.com Tag Feed http://en.wordpress.com/tag/what-we-do-is-secret/ Feed of posts on WordPress.com tagged "what-we-do-is-secret" Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:50:54 +0000 http://en.wordpress.com/tags/ en <![CDATA[.vvhat vve do is sekret.]]> http://vjesci.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/vvhat-vve-do-is-sekret/ Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:39:38 +0000 VJESCI http://vjesci.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/vvhat-vve-do-is-sekret/

Osbourn. What will you do? Present, and pop one down?

 

Honnyman. Yes, faith, the first we meet well fraught with Furs;

Or if there’s Two, and we can make sure Work,

By Jove, we’ll ease the Rascals of their Packs,

And send them empty home to their own Country.

But then observe, that what we do is secret,

Or the Hangman will come in for Snacks.

 

.from Ponteach, or, the Savages of America.a play by robert rogers published in 1766.

 

 

.what we do is secret ep by the germs.released in 1981.

.having read lexicon devil i have no doubt darby read ponteach.

 

.what we do is secret novel by thorn kief hillsbery published in 2005.

]]> <![CDATA[RCP.ML2K.PDF Issue #2]]> http://randomculture.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/rcp-ml2k-pdf-issue-2/ Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:26:55 +0000 randomculture http://randomculture.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/rcp-ml2k-pdf-issue-2/

issue2

RCP.ML2K.PDF Issue #2 Fall 2009 “What We Do Is Secret”- cross-referencing the cycle of liberation/suppression.

Download here- or visit the RCP.ML2K.PDF Project webpage.

]]> <![CDATA[Relevant To Your Interests #015]]> http://gunshyzine.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/relevant-to-your-interests-015/ Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:27:27 +0000 Mary http://gunshyzine.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/relevant-to-your-interests-015/ <![CDATA[What We Do Is Secret]]> http://alpentraum.wordpress.com/2009/07/13/what-we-do-is-secret/ Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:14:13 +0000 vonienne http://alpentraum.wordpress.com/2009/07/13/what-we-do-is-secret/

The title of this post has been lifted from the eponymous blog covering things that happen in Japan (maybe?). It is the perfect title for my Japanese delights installments and I have been meaning to mention this blog for a long time anyway because ’tis awesome. 2 in 1.

Today we got some treats from the new head of security.

The crackers were only so-so but the wholef reeze-dried strawberry rolled in chocolate was really tastee and the fruit roll-up gets a shout-out for not having been rolled up and for its weird corn husky “wrapper”.

Sweet Japanese moments make life worth living.

-d.

]]> <![CDATA[.tweet transvestite.]]> http://vjesci.wordpress.com/2009/05/16/tweet-transvestite/ Sat, 16 May 2009 05:09:02 +0000 VJESCI http://vjesci.wordpress.com/2009/05/16/tweet-transvestite/

]]> <![CDATA[Fly Me Like A Sunday]]> http://tinybreeze.wordpress.com/2008/12/29/fly-me-like-a-sunday/ Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:45:30 +0000 Her http://tinybreeze.wordpress.com/2008/12/29/fly-me-like-a-sunday/

Last month, we were merely weighing the possibility of breaking the impossible that sounded like forever. Which by all means flying off to a holiday destination with many blessings from parents for me, handful of budget for Ev and studying the maps of Sabah entirely in one week for Emily. We were actually struggling between the strangest combination of destination to go- Kota Kinabalu or Hong Kong. Exasperated with my inability to enclose an independent trip for just once sake, I am more than contemplating a location where we could hang around for more than 3 days without burdening too much on budget, so KK it was. So we three planned ahead with mucho of yes yes yes and few weeks later, we were good to go. Of course the only dude in the group Mr Loo Yee Keong needn’t care shit about the planning because he will be going over swimmingly anyway as long as the hotels provide good bed wtf.

And we were very excited and encompassed this trip with the term legendary as we have been leading a fairly boring and clean life for too long. We wanted to be existential this time! Only with a little bit different from your visualize.

You see, my father works for MAS. And enough with the question, Is he a pilot? Because no, he is not. He just sits comfortably at the back of his chair planning a road schedule for every damn plane. And the MAS offer free cheap tickets for their staff, valid for only family member. Obviously the other three would be taking Air Asia and I am flying solo on MAS. So you can imagined when I were to fly alone, I kept rabbiting on the fact that I would get lost or board a wrong plane quite incomprehensibly, which is totally understandable, if you knew me long enough. I have a negative percentage value of direction sense. I used to get lost in Pyramid. First day, aren’t that bad being dumped alone in the KLIA airport while the rest went to another terminal. In fact, I was still half asleep among the crowd of passenger with my small luggage, striding through a shortcut from dad’s office into the airport. And because my dad was nagging a little too much, honestly. He is hard to penetrate intellectually at times.

On my way to KK, I transited for 45 minutes to Brunei and did manage to catch a glimpse of the airport. And when I got back into the plane, more than half being was gone with the wind, and I am left with two annoying middle aged man whom are busy amusing themselves with Taiwan pop star material song list, which aren’t exactly the right match between the age and the glowing faces, made me had a funeral inside my brain. Now I wished I had taken the offer for jump seat. I could have caught a better foretaste of the almighty clouds and getting feisty with the pilots and the endless buttons. The last time I sat was 2 years back. Damn. I landed with a ride from Uncle Eric, friends of dad to pick up the rest from Terminal 2. And my mind went blank prose when I saw their luggage. My god. It was enough to lay on the entire Africa.

Kota Kinabalu is well, basically a small town with enriching nature soil. We only got to explore some bits of the city and natural habitants. Due to the fact of limited budget and transport, we stayed in a self budget hotel which turned out to be not bad. The air was crisped and moisturize but the weather was unbearably hot. The sea smell always filled the air and one has to constantly planned you journey well ahead as the city is constantly buried with traffic jams. After a while exposing to the air we will pretty much get sticky as the jetty are a 10 minutes walk down the street, which is to say it is a grasp of convenient when it comes to exploring the island!

#1 The hotel we stayed in was the freezing point straight to my tip. We just reached the room and within five minutes i am shivering badly. Then it took us 15 minutes to realize we could hear each other out through the thin wall between. Such coolness. At the 3rd day an electricity breakdown occured and the whole building sank into a black solitude and thats when you get Emily and Ev set into motion giving one another a heartful scream out of the pitch black, while yee keong cursing monotone could be heard from the far end somewhere. I am too restless to be bothered haha.

 

#2 My lovely side bed! This was the only light shining through when the electricity breakdown and for your information, there weren’t a single window in all rooms. The illusion draw by the curtain did confused us at the beginning. While the cold breeze in the room wasn’t pleasant at all, i tried to draw open the curtain for some sunlight but all i get was a blank white wall. I try to digest the common sense behind these curtain wall while Ev find this amusing and thus roll and laughed. This was also the historical place where we played pictionary. Yee Keong bounce up and down the bed illustrating WONDERFUL! on his face for his fascination towards this thingi. We on the other hand, nearly vomit blood.

(Showed Yk his word to draw. It was King Kong. )

Yk: Omg omg lemme start! Emily guess ah!

(He drew a head with a row of mildly weird but understandable sharp teeth while me and Ev watched with such amazement, trying to get a glimpse on which part does actually look like King Kong)

Emily: Wolf! OHHHHH WEREWOLF!

Yk: YESS! HOMG WE WON! (both sprigged up and hugged with joy)

(Meanwhile, we both stare at them with the jaw hanging down, and only register the situation after 10 seconds.)

Me: WTF. Eh uncle, WRONG WORD LAH HOMG.

Yk: What! Werewolf what!

We: NOOOOOO. (Showed him again)

(He started drawing a big muscular dude with lotsa fur and used the end of the oen to poke on the bare chest of the picture hahaha.)

Emily: TARZAN! POPEYE! …

We: (Giving hints) King What!

Emily: KING OF THE JUNGLE!

We all slapped our face punctually.

 

#3 First day! We walked down the street straight to the Jesselthon Jetty to Pulau Sapi. If i lived there i will go to each island everyweek and bring back some cheesy solitary of the mesmerizing scenary. There are basically five island located in a huge area namely Pulau Tunku Abdul Rahman. I would suggest Pulau Sapi and Manukan because they sandy beaches and corel are much more worth the cost. You can hitch on any boat traveling agency and planned your schedule ahead. Yee Keong were forced to carry the FOOD LUGGAGE packed by Emily. Omg you can actually survived at least another 10 more months if you ever landed in an isolated island with her. She has EVERYTHING. Mind you, we didnt even brought an extra outfit and she bought more than enough. According to her, she shall changed whenever she is wet. Like, WHENEVER.

 

#4 Yellow shirt: (looked at me and came back with more stary eyes)

White shirt: Wow, superman!

 

 

 

#5 They were checking out my tee haha.

 

 

 

 

#6 Our unchanging, enigmatic smiling faces on board. The speed basically collected a number of us and transported us to each island perspectively. The load of us were so heavy, the boat when striding steely across the sea and all we get was a soft breeze. Then as people started to get off one by one, we happened to be the last to gyrate around the boat accordingly, so it would be balance. Thats when the boatman decided to gave us a myriad of hardcore ride to lose ourselves into. The boat practically hit on every shore and bounce with the rush of air. It was superb.

 

 

 

#7 And this dude still sleep soundly. Told you. He’s engaged to beds and pillow.

 

 

 

#8 Para sailing! Will you just look at the sea!

 

 

#9 Do you know that when they hit the shore, the waves spilled themselves onto the shores , the furrow of seawater actually send a soft swishing on us and when it dried, you can clearly see a pack of crystal clear salt. Sigh i missed the salty taste already.

 

 

#10 I still cant quite get over the fact that i didn’t need to spill a fortune to comfort myself with the warmth and blue of this place from a distance. And that sea water is the one of the very few i would surpassed as crystal clear with the shade of blue green and the different degree of blue. It’s just pleasantly mesmerizing.

#11 The ultra mega blue. And the sea blue! Makes me wanna filed them up like how i stored my ice cream. I really kid you not and the editing wont do the justice for disguise. This was exactly what my eye captured from a short distance. Thank god the rain was no where to be seen.

 

 

#12 Ev taking a peep while we were organizing the load of snorkel goggles and life-jacket. The sticky sweaty life-jacket. The locals were running dry, and instead, the island were filled with countless of Japanese, Korean and Europeans.

 

#13 Sorry, i am making sure your eyes are getting a fair adjustment from the vast oceans that reflects such prestigious blue and green out of the entire universe because the possibilities of these language of beauty. Me and Ev was happily squirming around the deck looking fro more hidden fishes underneath while Emily having a hide and seek moment with the sun.

 

 

 

#14 Ah, such bliss awaits us! Even though this is my 4th round.

 

 

 

#15 I was mildly beaming when i found out this after some random snap. Such cliche for the most poetic kind of ending in couples. The naked couple on a cover. They do looked naked dont they? I just realized i’ve taken a mountain of such taley shots as if they were lovers in a breaking up peroid. I shall show you.

 

 

 

#16 My second round of snorkeling and fish feeding. Ev named me Bread Soldier wtf. We actually sneaked a book of bread from the hotel enough to feed a whole house of orphans yet no guilt suppressed. It was a bunch of expired bread anyway, laying unnoticed on the breakfast buffet desk. Lemme tell you the tale of fish feeding. I wasnt too bothered with the yellow sun when i am craving for more fish nibbling. The rules of it are simple. If you would prefer a relaxing nibble with plenty of joy to watch, you shall not go into the water more than 5 feet. Because we named it the safe area where all tiny ikan bilis will roam your entire territory and nibble on your bread and finger. And this can go for century i tell you. That small piece of bread still look the same after half and hour of nibbling. As we moved on to the coral area, the bilis will vanished and you get the many other colorful species of fishes to layan you. Oh the life-jacket is merely to save my feet from those coral okay! Not because i dont know how to swim. When me and Ev went in earlier bare footed, we were bearing from all the scratches and bloody fish bite from a black one. Thus, life-jacket to make me float heh. Ev lagi chunted, she wore her Diesel sandals in can you imagine that! Thats like taking a stroll in the sea. Sounds awesome now that i come to think of it. And of all this effort, she still get caught up with a sea urchin sting and knows how to cover them with vinegar! When i dont even have a clue whats that. Apparently, people get sting all the time because the life guard had more than ten bottles of vinegars laying on the sand.

 

 

 

#17 I cant snap the pretty view of marine life underneath but let me assure you it was BEAUTIFUL. For the first touch when we stepped on those corals, it felt like a pile of rocks and stone but when we started snorkeling, it was a whole new story. The annoying part was a mass group of brown and black fishes would leave a small bite on you leg. Like viciously okay, not the soft nibbles. At the end of the day, we were rewarded with bruises and scars everywhere. The others on the other hand resembles a visual illusion of uh, Finding Nemo wtf, because there were Nemo and Dory. There were more of the butterfly fish and parrot fish as we dive further. We were happily embracing the salty solitude unil Emily and Yk dive in, Ev suddenly screamed at me.

” OMG ZHENG JOO. GOT A DAMN HUGE FISH. LIKE HUGEEEEEE. OMG”

I thought it was a medium size of tropical fish i saw so i shrugged and told her i did, and tell her not to panicked because theres nothing wrong with it.

“Oh okay.” She replied.

Next minute you know, i was running against the sea pressure for my life buried with shock.

“OMFG I SAW THE HUGEEE FISH, WITH A BAR OF DAMN SHARP TEETH SOME MORE!”

She gave me the I told you look at run together for our life.

It was a Titan Trigger fish after much investigation. Okay lah. It wasnt THAT big, but we were merely focusing on the size of its huge lips therefore we assume its huge. We ran all the way up the sea side and this is what we warned the lovebird, if i am not much mistaken.

“Eh dont go down at the moment oh my god, theres this huge Angeline Jolie!”

Hahaha. When panicked attacks, we speak the mind. We end up throwing bread into each others life-jacket to attract the all fishes to attack each and other while there were two kids staring at us blindly. And when they finally witnessed the damn teeth, i shall quote Yk’s line here.

” What lah you all, name fishes like that. Okay lah lets look for Brad Pitt now.”

 

 

 

#18 Lunchie! We packed our very own Tuna can with biscuits. For the budget sake. I heart the sand, soft and pleasant.

 

#19 While waiting for the boat. Theres still so much we wanted to do. Jungle trek the island to spot the monkey that eat crabs. Island hopping to Pulau Mamutik. Sadly, we hadnt had much time and with the red fangs of bite all around our leg and the sea urchin stings, our best option would be to sail back. WILL YOU LOOK AT THE BLUE!

 

 

# 20 Haha the two angmoh still feeding fish at the deck while we watched the horizon line spread out in front of us. Very soothing. We reached hotel at the speed of time and slept like a baby. With much dry salts distanced among each other on our bags and everything. Because it was exceptional. I totally forgot to collect seashells though, my usual habit when it comes to island. They decides the idealism of an island.

 

_______________

 

 

 

#21 This was the second day of the journey while we were in the car. I actually lived in villas like this when i was 4 years old on top of these mountain. I hope they are still as good as my memory :) We paid 185 bucks for a one day trip which provide lunch, guide and transport. Before this when we searched for a transport up there for a cheaper price, where some dude claimed that he will dropped us there with the price of 90 bucks per person, we were overjoyed until the point whre Uncle Eric called me and told me that the company is functioning under a boatman. A BOATMAN. Who wouldn’t further more explain the detail of the trip to him. Therefore out of the sudden the adults kept ranging us up literally persuading us to take the 185 bucks one. Come to think of it, it was a good thing we came with the tour guide because imagine we getting lost in the canopy walk!

 

#22 As we move on the mountain cliff where the driver was speeding like space shuttles, the air starts getting cold and frosty. Its a pile of foggy blurry scene out there while we are getting busy in the car.

 

Busy with watching the art of balance by Emily. Watch! Esp Ev and Emily, i added “stuff”.



#23 FYI again, we did not came for Mount Kinabalu climbing so heres the closest we can get. They stopped us at a small village for the souveniors and the ever splendid view. This is when Ev started her desire to pee routine and it’s a disaster can. She practically screams for toilet every 10 minutes no matter where she stands. That includes the hotel. I am awaken with the loud bam of toilet door every 30 minutes T_________T She cant stop peeing because she kept boiling the water. Btw why this snap so DSLR material one! :D

 

 

#24 Told you. They have excellent series of break up snapshot. These is the malevolence version haha. Look at Yk man.

 

 

#25 Continuation of the journey with plenty of enthralling nonsense to share. This iz the Pirate!

 

#26 The gypsy wtf

 

 

#27 And the Mrs Pirate HAHAHAHA.

 

#28 :)

 

#29 And now we are landed with deep shit alongside with the fog. Haha. This somewhere in the middle of the deep jungle. I totally ignore about the existence of the policy to cross the 3 part-suspension bridge, that is we must endure the long process of canopy walk into the forest. It wasnt that bad actually, just that (and if you noticed), we were wearing outfits that enhanced the even more cuckoo side of us, because who the heck wear jeans and sweater jacket to do canopy walk!? Kita orang. Even the tour guide expressed her concern when we showed up like that. Oh btw, the tour guide in the entire KK are the top notch seriously. They are all local people with a passion for their culture and nature, very friendly, fairly knowledgable and always willing to help. They even walked the canopy with us to make sure we do not get lost. How can! I walked one time i feel like my lungs and heart are all tied up and they are doing this everyday.

 

#30 Canopy walk started. We were called the JEANS GANG. Our group consists of one Japanese couple who gets hyped up whenever they found some unheard species of flowers while the other old Korean couple get all fancied by all the plants that produce traditional medicine. We, on the other hand, dressing up as a tough cookie-wannabe were busy savoring in the land of tall green plants with the endless nonsense of bugs. Because we are weird like that.

 

#31 This is Mr Loo Yee Keong. He is such a poser because whenever he spotted the familiar flash of a camera, his face would turned into an aloof disposition like this one and looked like a mixture of serial killer and Bao Qing Tian.

 

#32 THE COOL LEAF WITH SUCH PRETTY PATTERNS!

 

#33 I heart this umbrella tree. I spotted this while i am crawling my way out half alive.

 

#34 We canopy walked and nearly died of asthma. I aint no exercise material and the 1st 200 hundred steps were MURDEROUS. And i thought we would be the fastest. Naturally, i was wrong. On both account. The two older generation human being not only walked faster than us, apparently they walked in a pace of steady steps and there was even spaces for conversations. The Japanese lady looked as if she was glowing with tranquil in some Sunday afternoon tea while stepping up those tomb stones along the path when we looked like some Cinderella in their 80’s. And i thought we were the one with that taut youthful body. Damn. On a sadder note, i have a mild height phobia and that bridge was designed to be crossed with cat walk. Swingy cat walk! I stormed like nobody business at the first two bridge while the tour guide overlooked me from the far end and asked me weather i am here to cross the damn bridge or to enjoy the view.

 

 

#35 Our body’s bathed with cold, sticky sweat. Beneath those jolly faces. See what we wore lah my god.

 

#36 Monkey’s food-the wild blueberries. The tour guide kept forcing us to eat, assuring that it is not poisonous and that we would be 10 years younger after eating them. At her 4th tried persuing us to have a go on them, Yk spoke his intellectual mind again

“Cannot edi lah. Young ten more years we wont exist edi lah.” Heh.

 

#37 The real one are located in Sandakan. So emily die hard wanted a picture with the fake one.

 

#38 When i finally slowed down. I hate the midst of hanging in the center of air earthshaking, like an impervious bubbles. Plus i sucked at catwalk alright. Yk caught up with my flow of fear and freaking hell, he went and swing the damn bridge gah, totally ignoring the tour guides 1st rule for the four of us-” You all children CANNOT NAUGHTY AND JUMP” wtf.

 

# 39 His best shot ever. Like, EVER.

# 40 The kayu balak to hold the bridge. We were instructed to hug the trunk to experience the coolness from it. I thought it was a good equation of balancing for Emily. They should invent something like that inside cars so that she can hugged the pole and turned balance hahaha.

 

#41 On our way down. Instead of catching the trail of the majesty scene in the forest, we were busy being caustic tucking our head below the ground to ensure our leg manage to set food on the right rocks and branches.

 

 

#42 I remembered this was snapped by Yk. He said Emily looked like a potential suicidal attempt and i am smelling my hand wtf.

 

#43 Like flowers amongst the green. After we reached the tip bottom, i was too tired to consume a word as the heavy breathing went unending. They went on the hot spring while i went hunting for a shade.

 

#44 While waiting for the 2 couples to be back. We were so bored we decided to do theme photo shooting haha. This is why we are meant to be friends and let us be associated with plenty of optimism and rubbish. This shot was based on Sexy sad wtf. Its a suceed, i guess. Except for Yk. He looked as if he is suffering from liposuction.

 

#45 Theme: Respiration in Plant with extra help from the chloroplast(Ev & Emily) and the attack of the Ultraviolet (Yk). And this is why we are such social parasitic.

#46 FYI, i am laughing until i split my sides already. Ev imitated Jay in ANTM and screamed on top of her lungs : Gimme fierce! Gimme fierce! And this is what resulted. HAHAHA LOOK AT YK LAH MY GOD. Shit lemme continue my laughing…

#47 Alice In The Wonderland. Remember when she sat on the spinning teacup!? :D

 

#48 Thank me!

 

#49 This is Pearl Harbour version of couple shot.

 

We spent most of the night after this gluing our eyes on the Cinemax channel because Uncle Eric warned us about the dangerousness during the night. I think i’ver already covered 15 movies in 4 nights, not to mentioned that they are all some 70’s and 80’s cowboy flick films. I nearly died. Died of soreness and freezing to death.

________________

#50 We arrived in the Tamu Penampung market the next day because Uncle Eric said this is the only time we could observe a market life at all without clipping on to our nose and avoiding puddle of fish water. Tamu was as clean as white. We went from stalls to stalls messing around their item for sell and most importantly, food hunting. It is a place to be for the locals every Thursday and Friday where the traders come from far way land such as the mountain just to sell their best quality stuff, ranging from fresh vegetables to handicrafts like this one. Mind you, their handicraft are solemnly efforts of handmade and they are sold at quite a high price too. Like the Gong in the picture, it shall cost you around RM 4k.

 

#51 This is the kind old man who demonstrated how his product works wtf. I thought it was a bird whistle wooden peck thing but i wasnt and when he blew through the holes, it was some sort of melancholy tune. Ev said when she saw our face turned into the century most shocked face looking at him blew through holes, she cant stop laughing and form a center of circle around her again.

 

#52 Tamu Penampung overview.

#53 Disaster strikes wherever we go haha. The nice local band were more than welcome insisting us to play on their traditional instrumentals. And this is Ev replaying the tune to Emily wtf she actually stood and memorizes their song’s tune and replay them at the instinct.

 

#54 I was more interested on embracing the drum damn Tarzan. The dude behind me kept assuring that it wunt hurt the drum to address the ancient drumstick on the surface as hard as possible.

 

#55 Playing while holding her nasi lemak. She claimed this as her lunchie in Air Asia the next day sigh.

 

#56 The band performing. Unlce Eric and Ev busy catching up the right tune and by that time, the whole pasar fixed their eyes among us. And upon the attention we attracted, people started handing us weird taste fruits and drinks all around. There was a langsat like fruit which tasted like heaven! And a baby version of mangosteen. It is a mangosteen, except that it was 5 times smaller.

 

#57 Want the truly exotic? Give the sago worms, or butod, a try! You’ve gotta eat them alive to make used of the full protein. We nearly got a very old aged granny to performed for us. Nearly. I think this is what Timba and Pumba ate in Lion King. Cause they moved exactly the same way.

#58 I stared at this piece of gross for more than 15 minutes. I know, whats wrong with me. It’s just f awesomely gross and they attract you to challenge yourself to stare at it even longer wtf. Does anyone get me?!

 

#59 Coconut drink courtesy of Uncle Eric. We laughed so hard my god. This is because the coconuts were some huge ass one and we couldnt finish the drink no matter how hard we sucked on the straw and swallowed them.

Yk: Walao why mine still at the same level one?

Ev: This is like more than 1.5 liter of water bottle oredi.

Then she started her laughing moment. because we looked so pathetic sucking the water while trying to overcome the weight of that coconut. It was heavy mind you. Emily carried them like a new born baby. And we had the whole market staring at us, again. It was like some Coconut Drinking Competition street show.

#60 So this is what we ended up doing. The four unfinished one with Uncle Eric’s one beside.

#61 We arrived at the Monsopiad Cultural Village and paid only RM10! The original was 45 bucks and our faces immediately went black. Monsopiad was a fearsome warrior who lived in the village of Kuai nearly 200 years ago and thus the name. Rather interesting exhibits include the massive monolith which invokes a dozen legends, the traditional restaurant and of course Siou Do Mohoing, or the House of Skulls, where all 42 ‘trophies’ of Monsopiad hang from the rafters.

 

#62 The welcome drink turned out to be the traditional rice wine. After i took one mouthful of it, Only Uncle Eric spoke up and said we were suppose to taste it sip by sip. They were awaiting for my drunken moment after that while playing congkak. I still dont get congkak lah. I just assumed it is an art of placing rocks since forever wtf.

 

#63 The guider explaining how this tempayan trapped the spirit of warriors. He was a funny one, originally located at Wangsa Maju! Wassup!

#64 The skulls of the warriors. The tourist are expected send the highest respect and regards upon entering this house of skulls as they believed the spirits still lived under this roof.

 

#65 We were actually given a map to explore the whole of the village. We started strutting along after we settle into the familiarity of mosquitoes and the wet damp scent across the air. We brightened up when we saw another suspension bridge to be explore and this time i felt s sense of joy more than fear. The wood of this bridge proved to be more unstable and broken than the national park one. This is Uncle Eric btw, who fetched us around regardlessly through the hollow traffic jam and far distance places. And who fetched us to and from airport which lighten the burden of budget. And at the end of the day, he bought two boxes of local vege and all for me to be brought back for the dad. Damn paiseh can.

 

#66 I called this the Evolution of Mankind because they flow in the right position. At the early age you have Yk who represent the caveman and ape period where they strike a monkey pose. Then as we moved on we have the cellphone age by Uncle Eric. Followed by Emily Wong who represent the fashion eras. Last but not least jeng jeng jeng, you have the POSER ERAS by Ev wtf. Sorry i am high on chocolate-chip cookies recently.

# 67 THERE WAS BLOODY NOTHING ACROSS THE RIVER. Where in the map case, it illustrated a nice warrior boat and jetty. And all we found was a broken shed and more mosquitoes bite, with two farmer staring at us curiously.

 

____________

#68 I, for being annoyed with the cowboy flicks already, grabbed a map of chased us all out of the hotel to walk to The Waterfront. We walked approximately 20 minutes to find out what we have missed for the pass 3 nights! The city was filled with dazzling lights, pulsating rhythms and a fantastic blend of energy where most bars and restaurant are located along the sea side.

 

#69 i loved how they built an inner street along the shopping mall. How awesome is this architecture design!?

 

#70 SEAFOOD MOMENT. Sadly we skipped the butter crab and ordered butter prawn :(

#71 This wasted couples stopped us half way and insisted a photo to be taken while Ev was mindlessly snapping around. How cute! Ev said her ambition is to grow old like that.

 

#72 My favorite shot of the day! There were 3 brightly color flags of pirates, Malaysia and Aussie. Take a wild guess who picked which.

 

#73 Such bliss.

 

_______________

#74 The hotel walkway and room conjured such many lucid memory of fooling around. Ev went high on drugs during this time where she sang NON STOP. Like some auto-pilot karaoke box while i am flipping up all the maps in Sabah to check for our next destination. Whenever i open a conversation she would twisted my words into a song lyrics and started singing our conversation can you imagined! As the neater freak among the four of us, we forbidden shoes around the room and bed whereas on the other room where Emily and Yk stayed, it was a bird nest lah. Everything was everywhere. I even spotted the canopy walk day jeans of Yk on his bed MY GOODNESS it was filled with mud can. Not to forget the boiling water tale. I would occasional get a glass of water passed randomly by her in a satisfied tone where she helped me boiled my water of the day.

 

#75 Checking out. LOOK AT THEIR LUGGAGE. Like packing for a one year Europe trip like that. The hotel buffet dining hall was located right at the end over there. It is always the same. Sausages, omelets, and a few more other predictable one. I realize we Asian eat everything under the sun, when the Western folks only eat the following, Fruits and salad or toast. Thats all.

 

 

#76 This was when the hotel phoned us to inform that we did not check out at 12 and there fore we were to pay for extra charges. Ev stormed down immediately and settle the business hahaha. We then sit tight waiting for Uncle Eric.

#77 Unfortunately, sitting tight are never in our dictionary. This is Yk doing the Lala-Number pose, i just found out today wtf. Ev said from the No 4 onwards, it was all purely out of his imagination instead of the Klang Lala pose. Emily why your bf like that one hahaha.

_________________

 

We split our journey on the way to the airport again. By that time i was feeling rather heavy hearted to tell you the truth. I foreseen another one year of strong and selfish idealization in the arty world, burdening myself with many starry nights to ponder on again before we could have another trip like this. It was unexplainable. And because i have to ride a plane alone again. To top up the worst scenario, my flight got delayed for 3 hours. 3 HOURS ALONE IN THE AIRPORT. I walked around the edges of the airport, observing the bigger picture of life again. And watched Gate A slowly filled with fellow passengers. Apparently, i havent even board the plane when Emily all landed in KLIA wtf.

And that was not all.

As i boarded the plane, my neighbor seated an uncle. Masturbating. I mean it has to be lah, or else why would he be scracthing the triangle area with both hand so obviously? Qi Han told me he was most probably having an itching penis WTF. Ewwww. I kept my eyes transfixed on my book, food and noting else for the next 2 hours. I reached KLIA at 11 pm when Ev is in her pyjamas sigh.

My departure left me much emptier than ever. Who knows, i might never be back again.

 

______________

Soundtrack: Umbrellas- The City Light

So have you been to a place like this?
To see your breath as it paints against the sky.

 

]]> <![CDATA[Body of Ember (Weekly Links)]]> http://roberthorton.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/body-of-ember-weekly-links/ Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:59:22 +0000 roberthorton http://roberthorton.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/body-of-ember-weekly-links/

Links to my reviews for The Herald this week:

Body of Lies.

City of Ember.

The Exiles.

Rachel Getting Married.

What We Do is Secret.

The Grocer’s Son.

I talk with KUOW’s Jeremy Richards about revivals of The Godfather and Anatomy of a Murder; listen here.

And I talk with Nancy Guppy on the Seattle Channel’s “Art Zone in Studio,” about The Exiles and the DVD release of OSS:117 – Nest of Spies. Watch here.

]]> <![CDATA[Movie Diary 10/7/2008]]> http://roberthorton.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/movie-diary-1072008/ Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:48:15 +0000 roberthorton http://roberthorton.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/movie-diary-1072008/

What We Do is Secret (Rodger Grossman, 2007). The story of punk heroes The Germs–but I can’t help thinking that if you’ve seen The Glenn Miller Story, you’ve already seen it. (full review 10/10)

City of Ember (Gil Kenan, 2008). At least it didn’t cost as much as The Golden Compass. (full review 10/10)

Cafe Metropole (Edward H. Griffith, 1937). Grinding comedy in Paris, with only the crack professionalism of Adophe Menjou surviving unscathed. Ty Power and Loretta Young both look like things that haven’t quite formed yet, but photogenic nonetheless, which isn’t enough to provide life support.

]]> <![CDATA[BEAUTIFUL LOSERS]]> http://laboroflust.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/beautiful-losers/ Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:28:45 +0000 fastslowfast http://laboroflust.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/beautiful-losers/
Beautiful Losers

Beautiful Losers

Argh!! I’m really pissed right now because I really need to take a shower and once again there’s a stupid fucking problem with the plumbing in my building and there’s no water. So, as I sit here with my dirty hair and my unshaven legs pondering how I’ll make it to a birthday bbq in Oakland; allow me to entertain you.

This weekend I went down the street to the Lumiere Theatre to check out the Beautiful Losers movie. If you don’t know, you’ve been living in a cave or your 18. Either way, the movie comes from the art exhibition of the same name that debuted as a traveling show in 2005.

The artists (many from SF) included Barry McGee nee Twist, Margaret Killgallen, Stephen Powers nee Espo Harmoney Korine, Ed Templeton, Shepard Fairey and Geoff McFettridge. These guys came of age in the 90s and are still pretty prolific artists. In fact, Chris Johansen is currently showing at Deitch Projects in NY. I also caught glimpse of Shepard Fairey putting up flyers in my neighborhood in preparation for his upcoming show at White Walls Gallery, which I believe debuts the first week of October. BTW, when did Harmony Korine turn into a bloated douche that wears Lacoste?

While, I am in admiration and “like” all of these artists the filmmakers really didn’t do them justice. They used cliched tactics like asking them brain numbing questions like, “What did you wanna be when you grew up?” It was rather droll, boring and made their responses seem banal. Most of them hadn’t crafted witty, funny answers and seemed uneasy in front of the camera. My other critique was the use of lame, indie pop to tell you how to feel throughout the movie. Is that even necessary? Can I decide on my own if I want to laugh/cry/shit my pants? NO!!

However lame this movie might have been I’m pretty sure it was still a million times better than WHAT WE DO IS SECRET. A movie about the story of Darby Crash which includes the following dialogue in the trailer, “He’s like Jim Morrison, but for our generation.” Umm, I’m pretty sure no punks would ever lay claim to such nonsense.

Here’s the trailer to both films so that you can be the judge. I dare you not to laugh/cry/shit your pants.

BEAUTIFUL LOSERS

WHAT WE DO IS SECRET

SOME REAL GERMS FOOTAGE WHICH IS PRETTY FUNNY

]]> <![CDATA[Remembrance Every Tuesday (Part 1)]]> http://tinybreeze.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/remembrance-every-tuesday/ Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:03:17 +0000 Her http://tinybreeze.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/remembrance-every-tuesday/

Long strolls talking about life, with many things flashed across my mind. I’ve come to this far upon the inquisitiveness of pursuing my passion. My expectations learned to cease and drained as I watched and waited still day by day, carrying out my unfinished business.

It’s like to know the chase is useless, yet I still turned back at any circumstances to follow the path again. Because hopes and visions never resigned utterly, especially during these glorious youth age, even when one perceived it as a faith of moment.

Uncharacteristically, I survived through these eight months with plenty to share and learn.

And I reread my journal today. These neatly written words are always jumbled up in one post, my bad.

This time around, the space of words shall be dedicated to my class and lecturers. I had fun for the past 8 months all right and still vaguely remember the first day of class. That was orientation. I literally snapped at Way Cyuan’s speech and argued about a freaking name list placement which caused a blank page look on his face, translating what the heck. The class mate’s faces were worst. They kept swaying their visions from WC to me and then back to him. That was totally unintentionally alright. I only did that because the class was in the state of pin dropped silence. Dead silence. And I still haven’t adjusted myself into a quiet environment after a year long spent in Mass Communication course. So I started talking.

But I guess that works in a way, he remembers me whenever we bump on road after that day. (Cough)

I feel indefinite in this journey to be honest. It’s like I’ve seem to have gone too far down a path. To think about the future major years and then verging into reality officially made my mind and thoughts arc forward into all directions. Some are terribly exciting while the others are just screaming out my stress to an open, anonymous sea of lonely unknown listener.

Needless to say, 8 months spent with class 3 was smacking fun. Here goes.

#1 My Design 1 Motto Theme Design! I have a sudden urge to do painting again looking at this piece haha. It was based on the quote Beauty is The Purgation Of Superfluities by Michelangelo out of the quote list you see. I initially wanted to pick the quote I Shut My Eyes In Order To See but changed my mind throughout the process as I could predict what a huge response it might get and the same visual at the end. It was an inspiring moment though to flow through my mind with pieces of definition and sayings about beauty, and how Michelangelo himself does came across this situation. Those conversations and pouring ideas with Candice was as good as well. She would always laugh upon my thoughts and finds them funny. I remembered the sweaty hand I had on presentation day itself for the first time, actually. Because this concept’s theory are running wildly in my mind and in conjunction of that I could have messed up the points itself and people would not get what am i saying, what more with two guest lecturers who will be listening to this for the first time in their entire life, unlike Candice who did weekly progress. Nevertheless I had so much fun in this entire project. I shall put up the main words from the research folder itself :)

My concept behind the design would be the beauty within naked identity of society and what society perceives might be a beauty scotch. In my design, a naked woman is pouring blue paint downwards her body and when look closely, the blue paints form a delusion of a tied up of a man and woman in jeans. The human body itself is a work of art, it is beautiful and to add paint to it is just as beautiful but it enhances what we already have. That all itself sums up the beauty that lies within beholder. It’s easy and convenient to judge others and their stories when our own flaws and sad tales are covered up. When no one is covered with anything, it’s quite suddenly not about the others or what they look like. It’s very much about what others can see of us. More specifically, it’s about what we see of ourselves and know we are showing the world. It’s not about what we might see but rather what others might see. Therefore the nakedness actually stands for excuses that we ourselves created, the sense of blindness towards yourself, letting reputation and perception robbing away your idealism of your self worth even when you are naked; an excuse to cover up, an excuse for lust, and even an excuse for money-makers (nowadays). We are aware of what other sees in us more than what we think we are worth of. Naked with pride thus turned ashamed. My emphasis on the concept of nakedness creates excuses laid on the poured paint forming a sensual movement between a man and a woman’s leg. I called that the society’s insights that most people care about more than anything in the world. It flows along with the quote (Beauty is a process of eliminating unnecessary stuff) because one could only capture the real meaning of beauty by clearing away the shamefulness inside one’s nakedness.

Self interpretation aite? Heh. And my presentation had a good ending!

#2 Impossibly tiny and cute right haha! This is our Kecak Dance model I had been chanting for months, for the Design II Cultural Box. The idea was to create mirrors reflection inside the box with well, several angles complicated enough to make my mind go bonkers. The mirror was the essence in our concepts. The plan was to expose how the modern people today escape from reality whereby they are superstitious yet denying the truth beholds all the surrounding of technologies and hype. So the idea was to erect a simple artsy storyline on the inside while applying the black and white coldness that reflects the current society. And boy it was hell torturing to build the box, design the 4 elements in one day (!), hunting the right materials and last but not least doing this disgusting Kecak dude (as Kane put it) Haha cause we did this with soaking tissues in to the stinky PVA glue sludge and squeeze the grossness out of it (with both hands), form a human shape which failed entirely for me cause I make them into carrot shapes, and let them dry. It was like, GIVING BIRTH. And so during the presentation day I was utterly mentally and physically exhausted and when the definitely intriguing case happened where Zhi Kang broke one of the mirrors in it, I didn’t feel a thing I tell you! In fact, I even reply an encouraging sentence if I wasn’t mistaken :) Oh and the lil fella was wearing coat to explain the modern society doing the Kecak dance.

#3 The final post-production, the 2 box on the upper hand. And if you look closely, the right one has a face inside, see those? They are actually designs of the black and white below with 2 models and design elements. I absolutely adore the whole presence and style of it. It’s so elegant plus edgy! Seedy yet vibrant. And the middle design would be 2 out of the fours that drive me insane producing them.

#4 The team with great determination and strive for the best wtf. Actually nolah we weren’t like that it was more of a lagging and procrastination all way long. L-R: Me, Zhi Kang, Tiny and Kenny. If I were anymore depressed, these 3 would have made me jump down from the main building cause they are always so noisy with disastrous comments about me hmph. Like how I always get bombarded by saying I did not put in any effort out of all the sighing and complaints haha. Then it would be a huge debate like some world war 3 and Kenny would be leading the ending with, “Yes! It’s our fault, we drink!” And gulp down whatever liquid they have. So sarcastic man. And how Kenny would squeeze the human form of those lil fella in PVA glue like decorating a Christmas tree and then attempts to rub them on my hand and then finally feel bored. But I am happy in this team haha albeit all the disastrous that happened, the outcome was awesome shall I say. And omg i have no idea why is Kenny’s hand like melting in here.:/

#5 The Egypt team, L-R: Vin Sern, Lizard, Kane and Raymond. I only have this team picture so aih don’t care edi. Their pyramid was the highlight of the day. I know, it probably looks like toy in here but it could be open up and separated into bottom up and even upside down okay. Truly amazing finished art skills. As for the people, I’ll start off with Vinsern. Haha Vinsern is very funny one- He always do funny stuff like a child. And he looks like one too. Gets quiet all the time but talk big words when he feels offended. But you will always see him doing stuff like eating the ice cream away from the gang behind, makes him looks so sad and lonely heh. And then he would be hanging himself on top of a chair bending down to do figures studies so weird! Plus he always get sexual assault from Kenny hahaha. I did warned him to bring along a pepper spray but he wont listen. Lizard was in the same primary class and uh weren’t that close before this but things are better I guess for now. He does character design at ransom days on papers, scribbling. Kane is those typical class joker. Like whatever he says turned comedy and we would laughed so hard till the tummies hurt. Oh and he loves cheese! Haha wth so random. And right, all he needs is a pencil and you can asked him to draw anything under the sun man. I called that imagination drawing which is truly an important possession for an artist to be able to draw without seeing. As for Raymond that face above shows that he hadn’t been sleeping for 2 days. Drives like murdering attempt passenger on board but he always fetch me home :) All the best guys.

#6 After presentation! I think I was trying to beam in here but Tiny caught the picture too fast. Post-beam wtf. And Kenny this is why Candice called you quiet cause you are always with this face and this post lying dead on the table every time she entered the class and teach.

#7 Michael Goh! The truly fantastic lecturer that gives out non relevant with Photoshop’s lecture and wowed you just like that. I remembered the first day of the class was absolutely unpleasant as he was giving out high schools theory about computer’s memories, names and stuff like that. I hated those things, they were more of a code than words to become a sentence. And plus he had this awful sour face alright. But then right at the third class, it wasn’t so bad already as I find his jokes are quite a laughing matters, especially when he always laugh at what he said and the whole class would be laughing at him laughing haha so funny. And he finds my craving for ice cream fascinating and a laughing matters haha. Also being the first lecturer to address me as Joo. :/ Like when I got so pissed at times being a monitor, he would goes like, What Happened, JOO?! That’s when I dunno weather to laugh or continue be sad. On top of that, he does self-fulfilling humor stuff such as dressing up like Steve Jobs when giving his environment presentation and cheekily asked me to guess who is he imitating? You know the Steve Jobs attire with the turtle neck long sleeves and jeans whenever he gives presentation? I even heard Michael Jackson! from the crowd hahaha. And he went so excitedly claiming: “Wrong! Its Steve Job!!!” Haha so funny. And by now you should be able to figure that he is one big fan of Apple and despise Windows.

#8 My Surrealism poster on climate emergency! Its very the plastic fake I know and probably one of the less effort finals spent on. Well, if you compared to the Gwen Stefani from last semester. But I did my best and Michael was happy bout it so I shall go along with it!

#9 Crystal! Letterforms T-shirt design presentation day.

#10 Debbie with a VERY RARE smile here.

#11 My very much mental torture Nose Letterform! Debbie rejected my tons of ideas like bazillions times man and most of the people in the class actually express the feeling in crying. Cause it’s just a tough one with high expectation. But for my nose, it was horrible. You see, when you design a letterform based on an object, you needa be clear about every layers of it covering the culture, appearance, unique symbol and so much more. With these much various source you have to be able to digest them into the most simple form portraying the design elements to form a READABLE letterform. Oh My God I tell you. I went from nose piercing to nose digging, nose boogers(eww), mucus, nose hair!, black heads and the list of grossness goes on. The final out come was in a cartoonist form reflecting the blackheads and nose reflection. That was the maximum effort pushed in this entire 8 months.

The T-shirt design based on nose. Imagine our face when we received the news of doing the design based on previous letterform and objects we picked. And we thought it was over! The whole silk screening process and design, I shall write that into a book when I am free because it is a tale worth that long time. And a stressful one too. Again I shall post up words from my research folder cause lazy to explain haha.

My nose letterform was to be informal, reflecting the mood of friendly and playful. In this T-Shirt design project, I have came up with a design of a black nose with design elements on its top and blossom into flowers and nature and the nose hole near ending. My concept is inspired by the dream interpretation of nose, one of the main cultural involve with nose after much research done. A nose in terms of dream interpretation is a symbol with many possible meanings, depending on the perception of the dreamer. In the various possibilities and saying of the interpretation, I have decided to choose the saying where if you dreamed of a stuffed-up nose, it indicates obstacles and blockages, but blowing your nose signifies that obstacles will be overcome. Therefore, my I have chosen to create a nose design where the designs elements on top of the nose indicates problems and issue we faced in our lives. These design elements also creates a mood of messy, revolving and various. These obstacles also portray the ability to take charge of our own adulthood. All these deepest problems would somehow unravel itself and blossom into a fruitful success with the wisdom of age and a little bit of faith and determination. In the designs elements, old school’s radio and guitar portrays the rebel teenage hood, where we are longing to stretch out miles and miles achieving extraordinary. Whereas the eye and building portrays the society’s perception affecting us precisely and we don’t even realize sometimes.

I have chosen to blend in the colors of traffic light for the inner part because traffic lights are just like a self reminder on the road of a journey who we are, and what there to overcome. At the back view of the T-Shirt, I have chosen the word Purgation as my quote and placed in right at the middle. Purgation defines to remove something undesirable and in this case it would be bringing out the message of clearing away obstacles. I choose to place it at the back view to contrast the meaning and words.

#12 That should sum it all up. :) Oh and if you wish to purchase my t shirt design, feel free to leave a message, which I doubt anyone would anyway, cause its a freaking nose.

#13 Korean House BBQ! Owned by Sean’s mum :) We were so excited bout it and even plan the car schedule all the way to SS2. Okay die I feel like sleeping already so I shall make this quick haih. The workers there are surprisingly helpful and friendly. We reached there early so you see the bright sun. This was all UH 2 months ago I think. Soon we settle down and start playing with the equipment to eat. The hungry ones would dipped their chopsticks into the special made sauce and taste them, and I am one of them :) Oh and the chopstick! Its made with uhm metal I think and abit heavy for the Malaysian culture. And then we got a lil tad bored and that’s when Wai Hong decided to play with the DSLR. I’ve picked out the good one among all 300 photos so yeah here goes.

#14 Haha that would be Wai Hong doing the peeping naked girl pose wtf. L-R: Fann, Stephanie and Wai Hong. Fann and Stephanie are like the besties in the class with very different personality except they are the 24/7 talking machine. And Fann is always so blur and funny hahaha. I love talking to her sometimes when we are just outside chilling because she just has so much to talk about you know. As for Stephanie, She is the one who works well with patience. I am truly sorry things turned up like this for you but its just that sometimes, words and cares could turned annoying if used at a wrong place and wrong time. So my deepest advise is to change if you do consider the wrong. If there isn’t any for you, then always stick to what you believe as right. Hope things get better for you.

#15 This is Florence, the one with many admirers. Members of the blurness too haha look at her now. I love reading her PM when it is assignment datelines night cause she will always post something funny like to burn down TOA so that she don’t have to hand in assignments until it is rebuilt haha.

#16 Ting. Holds a certification for Fashion Design too. But uhm sometimes I think that she should works more on attitude and absence within a team. It’s just a weird way to handle team under a thoughts and belief of one person. :/ yet other than that, she can be the friendliest among all and takes awesome photography! And she taught me how to do the spinach wrapping there haha sorry lah i damn noob.

#17 Wai Hong messing around with the precious one. Guys are seriously narassistic man to take picture all the time in front of a mirror tsk.

# 18 Sean and the girlfriend Lynn. She had been part of our class for the past few months haha. You will find her luring around outside one of our any classes waiting for Sean and sometimes even pondering on the stairs. Hmmm. And thats Joe in the background. He is always so quiet :/ but definitely a nice guy after one of our conversation the last time.

#19 Tiny aka Jonathan. Haha. I remembered when he first came in and he picked the nickname as Tiny to explain to Li Wen cause Sean was just right beside him nicknaming himself as Giant. So Jon picked Tiny because he felt so tiny wtf next to Sean. And the weird thing is we called Sean as Sean after this but Jonathan as Tiny since then haha weird. One of the guys in the class whom I talked mostly to, and on the net too every night. And when he gets tense up out of the every sleepless night, he would sleep. Like the Sleeping Beauty in Shrek 3. And that’s not even the worst part. The worst part is to wake him up! Gosh all of us would be calling and calling and calling his damn phone and he will never listened to them. And even if he does and several odd times, he would mumbled Okay I wake up edi and sleep again! How can right??! And then gets emo the next day cause he didn’t finished his assignment haha. That was the usual menu everyday. And he is holding a Soju right over there! The Korean rice wine I think. Awfully weird taste but strong effect. We got so tipsy after that and I couldn’t stop laughing according to them like some giggle machine. Waihong was the worst one.I’ll show you!

#20 There Wai Hong getting into the mood. Zhi Kang smiling merrily and me drop dead at the dark side wtf.

#21 ZhiKang. I chat with him like every bloody night and he’s a pretty good people to rawr at I tell you.:) And he bombard me like nobody’s business like he was born to do that. Stupid Meanie. But a very talented one I shall say. He works hard on every improvement possible and being blunt with mistakes of others is one of his character. Like if you are drawing Bruce Will and it looked like Jim Carrey, you will be getting a Where is Your Mistakes lesson from him. Not bad eh? I still don’t know how his brain function haha cause after the chunted camera incident there were more to come hehe. You know the hand sign for wtf where you merge all fingers together like a bird beak and starting shaking them?! That wtf signature?! Well we were doing it the other days and he was like “wth is that?” And I said, It’s a sign for WTF. And then he said, Oh okay. Hmmm needa shake how many times one?! HAHAAHAHA that was it I laughed until the tummies hurt so badly and Kenny replied, 2.5 times with a big snigger. So that’s then, he created the 2.5 shake of the Wtf hand sign in our class. So classic man. Guy with big dreams I shall say. Don’t worry lah. You will do great in Illustration! :)

#22 Kelly! The sweetest girl you’ll ever meet. She’s always so nice. And when we talked it’s always very wowing sound from her about everything when her works is all impressive as well. But right, she have her stern mood also whenever she feel wronged about people or by someone. A pretty girl too :)

#23 Sean Kim Young Sik! Haha the Korean in our class. It’s funny how them boys always calls him Korean in the class and he replys. Oh we have a pre tale even before he came in! See I was crossing the road one in the early January and nearly got hit by a car somemore honked me! And the person is Sean! Haha. But he still denies them until today but I do remember the face that looks like Rain lah. And he hates people calling him Rain cause him and Rain equalize hateful! So sad. One of the guys I shared many stuff with :) Sorry for needing to deal with my pre project stress. That’s why you are always the awesome leader! And he gets annoyed every time I accidentally type in a wrong window and it so happened to be him haha EVERY SINGLE BLOODY TIME. He said I was stalking him. Oh and he has this LV ori bag but throw it anywhere and everywhere when he can and only finds for it when the cow comes home and the sun set, so sad lah this human.

#24 Tipsy already. O_O

#25 Need I say more? He eventually landed himself holding a cooking pot, a huge stirrer spoon and sit in the middle of the floor and start singing Chris Brown-With You, with the stirrer banging the pot. Like omg lah.

#26 And then the beer came and mixed up with Soju. So you get wasted no.1.

#27 Wasted no.2.(Buddha jump)

#28 Wasted no.3. (Ready..)

#29 Wasted no.4 (Jump!)

#30 Mirror communications. And Keivyn was there too! He’s from Taiwan and class 2.

#31 L-R: June, Keivyn, Me, Waihong. God knows whose specs is June wearing and she is definitely drunk.

#33 Uh I really don’t know what are we doing :/.

#34 And this was just last week! The other BBQ outing as a treat for lecturers. Sadly the whole design department couldn’t make it except for Li Wen cause he was on leave. This is the very nice and pretty lady lecturer from Illustration, Yan Ning and Lisa (L-R) Both teaches us Drawing and they are like really sweet and sweet and sweet haha. Like a big sister always concerning how did we spent our weekend and how’s life treating us. Yan Ning was the Barbie Doll lecturer I mentioned before damn cute right and the one who always urged us to wear nice and pretty to her class! As for Lisa, I always talked to her like a big sister without any gap or awkwardness because she’s just like that! Oh and Amir, she’s from Sri KL too! :)

#35 :)

#36 This was the funny part! The cake was initially bought for Suat Yee cause its her birthday you see. And Uh I am not sure issit WC’’s one as well but as you can see Kenny tricked him into singing , blowing and holding the knife! With that sly face man look at that.

#37 And obviously no one realize a thing and they still sing happily with Tiny and Kenny laughing like nobody;s business and Tiny’s plucking out the candles!

#38 And then Kenny took over and WC still so semangat cheering wtf.

# 39 And duh, what else? Splash the cake right into his face! And the thing is, there were some water technical problem in the whole SS2 you see and so that means no water available anywhere hence WC couldn’t washed up properly haha damn kesian. And WC had the cake all over him!

#40 So he eats them! So wasted lah the rest of the cake on the floor :( I wanted to eat them one!

#41 And when Raymond was talking a lil tad too much, WC gives him a big hug at one go :D This is to spread the cake onto him also lah haha so funny. Raymond was like begging for mercy man and WC kept on bugging him with a hug! Haha.

#42 Michael and his wife! They are both happy and funny couple can! And she was just as humorous as I predicted cause we found out their wedding journal online and they have all this sweet amusing wedding picture like Michael holding a Star Wars Light Sabers toy and she was holding a French bread fooling around with him haha it was so formal yet so informal. It was so Michael lah. So his wife must be a really unique one too! And I was stuck among all lecturers and we talked like in a studies discussion like that so weird heh. But Michael really made us stare at him when he announce that the mee wasn’t ready with very convincing tangible flour theory hahaha. That was the bomb lah. And he taught me how to eat Kim chi which I find the taste real awful and bitter! But he said I should eat with the proper way which is to put the Kim chi at the right position of the tongue 0_0 So I end up swapping all the ikan bilis. Moreover, Michael actually agrees to let June be the Godmother of his child if it is a girl. June was a happy girl that night :)

#43 LiWen and the class. It was good talking to you the other night. You weren’t that garang after all haha. I shall reconsider my evaluation on Debbie perhaps.

#44 Zhuo You! Haha one of my favorite tutor! Instead of giving up on the class standard, he taught us much more than techniques, it was the self determination for our own sake lessons we learn from him. He’s abit like the uh class motivator and he always chat with us everything under the sun when having critique session! So fun and nice memories haha.

#45 The Illustration Dept. I haven’t got the picture of Khai Koon, Soon Seng and the others but they are all nice people. Like I said the whole Illus is packed with Mr. Nice Guy. Khai Koon had become a guest lecturer which means lesser time on teaching and another great loss for the pioneers. I even find it inspiring when all he does is talk haha wtf. The only lecturer to write encouragement for everyone every single time and day. Soon Seng, well he doesn’t talk much but since we always stay back late theres still a lil conversation going on and he is more tha helpful. It was the passion and willingness to pass on tips and knowledge which sadly not many in the class really listen to him. They only hear, not listen to. And as for WC, good luck with the future days in England!

#46 Lisa! She pulled me for the picture haha so cute.

#47 On the way back. It’s the same people again in Raymond’s car as the last time heh. Meant to be lah. Ignores June’s finger. We were alil tipsy though and ZK was real drunk man keep mumbling stuff and all.

#48 Yan Ning and Soon Seng

I am missing the class and random stuff we do already!

#49 Like this one! June’s bizarre tale. She’s always digging for her property or looking for her stuff elsewhere and Yan Ning entertained her nicely one! June’s actually my first friend in TOA heh. And god she’s really the Annoying Queen. Not annoying in the bad way but the funny way. She would bug you when she really intends to bug you and you just simply have to give her the response she needed. And there would be calls out of the ransom night and hear her talk about stuff. Anything and everything haha, it could go on for hours! Plus she does this Meow and Umia sound effect whenever you start talking to her, annoying or not??! Haha. You should hear her tales someday with her chef bf. Plain joke I tell you. She thinks that fast food is hateful and being a Sarawakian, she stays loyal to her Sarawak Mee from Ming Tian, damn gross lah that particular one! Okie put it this way, she lives a sad life. Proof: This is her first time ever this year to taste Ribenna after living for 18 years! Gosh!

#50 Random stuff that happened always in Lagoon.:)

#51 My group’s history deisgn costume project on Symbolism! So proud and excited with it! and the model was June haha we damn bad wrap her face like that but we have to! Part of the concept. Its a character of a prostitute whom always wear on other people’s wedding dress to find for an identity.

In our wedding gown tells a story where this prostitute is always wearing on other’s wedding dress worn by people. This wedding gown is a symbol of finding ourselves and identification to assure a self righteous. Therefore, this wedding gown becomes a constructive instrument. The prostitute is wearing a cloth that was meant for the possibilities so many entirely different people in order to satisfy her wish for clarity and stability of identity. Because after a long journey of betraying their body, she couldn’t make up her mind of whom she is anymore (what she really is).

She was out for self.

People make final usual conclusion of her in wedding dress through perceptions and rejections while she, getting into people’s wedding dress, is still looking for the right identity. Perhaps or could she be the she-boy, a trampy, the wicked itch from fairies turned young, the diva, the rich, the poor, the desperate, the unmarried housewife with an affair, the ant-Paris, the mannequin. She was a mere player in game of difference and identity. This reflects and symbolizes all possible shades of interactions between self and others. How many people does she actually need to find out who she is?

This also provides a code where the model (prostitute) must free themselves from both as a symbol and in practice. Her body canot be subjugated through hearts, transformed or improved, because it is the embodiment of reality.

The black veil on the other hand, symbolizes something that truly belongs to herself, spooky, inky, stuffy, which she still possess, for the better of Hope and Experience. It is this black thing , that she feels most like herself.

In our project, we have decided to create a character design where we see a prostitute wearing a worn and old wedding dress. We shall name the work The Sound of White. This piece of concepts and costume were inspired by Madonna by Edward Munch. In this costume, our model would be wearing a wedding dress made from plain old white cloth with different layers. The bottom part of the skirt would reveal an opened alter of black roses all the way down. The wedding dress would be made in the style of old traditional. To top it up, the head of the model would be wrapped up fully with a black veil cloth covering the head to neck. While presenting, the modeling would be holding an unknown hand mannequin.

It is unique because not only we present a clear idea of symbolism, it also would make the audience ponder in a various way.

#52 And this was ZK’s group. Damn cheating one! haha. They just have to put Raymond half naked and put body paint on him to explain Minimalism.

# 53 The amount of walking everyday! I’ve forgotten the existence of escalator in TCPJ :(

#54 The creative corner that pour so much inspiration to me where I would straighten up my energy for the day, even at days when I haven’t slept for 48 hours.

#55 And this one! Hahaha cant stop laughing already. This was taken at a Lagoon outing and we all separated ourselves into each cap at the Spinning Cup! I knoe damn sad play childy indoor games but it was raining lah! And then when you have a group of Sean and Nash, in fact all guys lah, they went spinning like real fast and within 5 seconds we were spinning in a flash of light already. When it’s over, this is what we get. Vomiting attempts and stars spinning on to of your head. The whole gang crash down haha.

#56 Hello people, meet Kenny the 101 Hairstyle dude wtf. The creation of June. So this is officially the Kenny who conned me every single blardy time. And he’s a crapstar of all time. The first day of Candice class, he started crapping about the universally deep theory of SHITS. And it was good mind you. I do crap better when the design II presentation started haha. It was smooth all the way long. Okay Kenny is actually an emo dude. Not emo until can go cut himself that kind, but just pure emo when it comes to say the night wtf or when uhm he just feels the aura to be like. I remembered the first day of class. It was English and everyone was muddling around. My first impression of him was Lala. Haha seriously(Kenny don’t throw rocks at me!) and then when he start talking about people I remember, the perception started to change. He’s just a different kinf of deep but hell who cares. Always conned me sheeeesh!

#57 Kenny and Vinsern the Duos. Kenny was trying to converse with the kids I think haha but the kids ignores them completely and talk to themselves damn sad. And there was this uncle who kept staring at both of them.

#58 And all the class moments, mamak session and the last one! The father and daughter hahaha. I shall missed this scene a lot. There was just this one ransom day when June called Raymond Daddy and that was it. They were bonded ever since haha. Then 3 days later she called me Mummy WTF. So random shit can. And at times, She would slapped Tiny on the back. It’s like they would be talking and talking and talking and at the very end of the convo, after Tiny reply his point of view, it’s a very natural to hear a “PIAK”. Le Sigh I am so gonna missed moments like these.

And a lot more. Sorry I am too tired to continue on. The people here are one of the coolest I met haha. Its been a long holiday and I feel both physically and emotionally drained. I always care for big things and small things so much because they reminded me of the many layers of people and friends I meet. From people we don’t know what to say to anymore, to people you wasted half your breathe debating with, its all about without nothing but that one single passport heading to the same direction, different soundtrack. Most importantly, we vowed to always looked back and have nothing to loose cause that’s what matters the most.

Good luck all in defending yourself against all the ambitious dreams and hopes.

____________

Feeling: In The Middle

Soundtrack: Travis- Why Does It Always Rain On Me

Why does it always rain on me?

Is it because I lied when I was seventeen?

]]> <![CDATA[Something weird about the Germs]]> http://ginavivinetto.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/something-weird-about-the-germs/ Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:22:35 +0000 ginavivinetto http://ginavivinetto.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/something-weird-about-the-germs/

Don’t you think this is kind of bizarre? Three-fourths of the original Germs, the Los Angeles punk band that broke up in 1980 when lead singer Darby Crash committed suicide – are playing gigs in L.A. with Shane West as their vocalist.

Yes, Shane West, the former ER actor who portrays Crash in the new biopic about the band What We Do Is Secret. I understand it’s a publicity stunt to market the film, but gee whiz.

A writer for the L.A.-based web site Defamer reports:

“(T)hey didn’t suck. In fact, they are probably better now than during their heyday in the sense that they can actually play their instruments and they are able to finish an hour-and-a-half set without destroying the entire venue, falling down from abusing too many substances or bleeding profusely on stage.”

When then you, sir, were not at a Germs show!

What’s next? Joy Division plays gigs with the fake Ian Curtis from Closer? Val Kilmer tours with the remaining Doors? Sissy Spacek pushes Loretta Lynn off the stage to sing her songs at the state fair?

It’s just weird.

Here’s the real Darby Crash, courtesy of Jenny Lens’ invaluable Punk Archive.

]]> <![CDATA[Perjection On Hunnypot Radio: The After-Effects]]> http://perjection.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/perjection-on-hunnypot-radio-the-after-effects/ Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:14:18 +0000 perjection http://perjection.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/perjection-on-hunnypot-radio-the-after-effects/

Alright, everyone.  As it turns out, I was allowed to play 10 songs of my choice on Hunnypot Radio (August 18, 2008.)  I decided to stay within the confines of “California Punk,” which I thought was very appropriate, considering The Germs were there…and a little more manageable for me, actually.  I had to narrow it down some way.  As promised, the following list is what I played.  I will fill you in with lot’s of details about the tunes in the near future, since most of these songs are very rare and out-of-print.  The last 2 songs have never been released.

1.) THE MUTANTS - “New Dark Ages” (1978) – 415 Records (Reissued on White Noise)

2.) SHATTERED FAITH - “Another Day Passes” (1981) – Posh Boy Records

3.) FLYBOYS – “Crayon World” (1979) – Flyguy Records

4.) TAZERS – “Don’t Classify Me” (1982) – Tazer Records (Reissued on Rave Up Records)

5.) NUCLEAR BABY FOOD - “Sex Fix” (1982) – Mystic Records

6.) VECTORS – “Death To Disco” (1979) – (Reissued on Rave Up Records)

7.) AKA – “Tomorrow’s Theme” (1981) – American Standard

8.) THE LEWD - “Climate Of Fear” (1982) – ICI Records (reissued on Chuckie Boy Records)

9.) THE MECHANICS - “Scream City” (1978) – Unreleased

10.) THE CROWD - “A Disturbing Peace” (1981) – Unreleased   

Here’s some great news!!! 

This show is permanantly available for your auditory pleasure on Hunnypot Unlimited’s blog, called “The Hunnydrip.”  It’s an amazing listen from beginning to end.  Here’s the link:

http://www.hunnypotunlimited.com/blog/node/116

More info about this night forthcoming with pictures…

Until then,

Chris Cormier

]]> <![CDATA[Roses In The Attic]]> http://tinybreeze.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/roses-in-the-attic/ Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:04:47 +0000 Her http://tinybreeze.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/roses-in-the-attic/

My parents are the science of communicating. And they draw lines all over to create boundaries. And that’s when the superfluous noises fade in and lingers in the air all night, loud enough as an eye pleasure for those who cares. And that’s when I don’t get to go for the Penang trip. And that’s when I spoiled the crowd’s mood.

I think.

And that involves a whole lot more procedure you won’t wanna know.

- Promise to self to be rebel as often as possible.

-Telling my dad to buzz off and being mentally prepared to fight with him.

-Eat shamelessly. For the sake of Asam Laksa crave.

-Wondering how people whom are biologically programmed to love me always put me within walls to live on.

-Watch Grey’s Anatomy. Again.

Man that is really the cook book you know, the 5th one. I do feel much better now. Really. Although the crying part were obviously more than enough. That, shall be my lesson on the disappointment with familiarity.

Anyway.

Yesterday was a blast. Karaoke session hadn’t been this cuckoo since high school.

Today was just pure heart attack lah.

Case #1

EV picked Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman by Bryan Adams.

EV: Eh people, sing with me leh. Zheng Joo, you sing! I think you will know this one.

Me: Uh okay. (Catch the mike, busy counting the Longan in my drinks)

EV: To really love a woman, to understand her – you gotta know it deep inside…

Me: Hear every thought, see every dream… Uh EV, are you sure you wanna sing this song?

EV: Why leh?

Me: Uh I feel abit psychoish now. Cause uh I don’t really love a woman wei. I mean we ARE woman…

EV: When you love a woman you tell her that she’s really wanted.. (Burst Out Laughing)

Emily: WHAT??!

EV: Okay I feel abit bian tai also now…And then I look at ZJ’s face when she sing those line, cannot make it…

***

Case #2

Emily suddenly straightened herself up in eager when we are singing Leona Lewis-Better In Times.

And you wanna know why?

She was preparing to sing for the background music for every 2 lines in that song.

That AaaAAAaaa.

That thing. Go Listen.

After she was done doing that in the midst of swinging her body merrily, we were staring speechlessly.

***

Case #3

Emily picked A World To Believe In by Celine Dion Fea Ito Yuna. Like wth right.

Us: What song is this?

Emily: Sound so wow right?

Us: (Sing)

And takes me back home
Takes me back home

…

Takai kabe no mukou
Nani ga attemo

Me: What the…

(Namida de afureru kokoro wo
Yorisou you ni daite kureta
Kizukeba hitori de wa nakatta
Kaze no hi mo
Ame no hi mo)

The next 5 minutes was a similarity of a bad Korean class.

Sounded like we have 5 apples in our mouth at one go.

***

Case #4

Phone rang. Caller Id: Kenny. Yes, the Kenny in Penang.

Me: Hello?

Kenny: (With a disastrous noises behind) Eh, help me call Tiny. I am lost already.

Me: Har?! Where are you?

Kenny: In Penang lah. Help me call Tiny’s phone cause I cant get him. They all leave without me edi.

Me: You are LOST IN PENANG?! What the heck??!

Kenny: Yes lah, help me call yor.

Me: Okay okay.

(Called Tiny)

ZK: Hello?

Me: (Cause it’s obviously not Tiny) You are?!

ZK: Zhi Kang. Ahh what?!

Me: UH wheres Tiny?! I needa talk to him?!

ZK: He’s not with his phone lah. Why?! He’s in Raymond’s car, you call Raymond.

Me: Har Raymond’s car? Oh cause he’s freaking lost in Penang from UH you guys and Kenny wants me to call him to call him back OMG (deep breathe).

ZK: Okay okay you call Raymond, fast.

***

Geez. I am so dumb I can get No.1 in a Be-A-Bimbo competition. And this is not the 1st time okay, being conned by them!

Why am I so hopelessly dumb?!

T________________________T

And I was telling Emily the incident, and was half way telling the tale vivaciously, NO, actually it wasn;t half way, more like at the very beginning, where I mentioned Kenny asking me for the favor,

She typed,

You believed meh?!

OMG. That was it.

I am officially stupid and dumb.

T_________________________T

Never mind.

Sean promised to help when I said I am gonna murder them. Haha.

—

“We all think we’re going to be great and we feel a little bit robbed when our expectations aren’t met. But sometimes expectations sell us short. Sometimes the expected simply pales in comparison to the unexpected. You got to wonder why we cling to our expectations, because the expected is just what keeps us steady. Standing. Still, the expected’s just the beginning, the unexpected is what changes our lives.”

-Meredith Grey, Grey’s Anatomy.

So much for having hope, eh?

I shall keep those words when I get my semester results.

Silly me.

p/s It’s weird having lecturer reading my words but I guess of all people, you’d be doing fine digesting my scribbles. Hah. Hi Liwen!

p/p/s And that was Kenny with the uncles, not me. Although referring all guys as uncle is one of my practices.

So, yeah, Kenny you are officially dead.

__________

Feeling: Whimsical

Soundtrack: Strays Don’t Sleep- For Blue Skies

]]> <![CDATA[Perjection on Hunnypot Radio With THE GERMS - Monday, August 18, 2008]]> http://perjection.wordpress.com/2008/08/17/perjection-on-hunnypot-radio-with-the-germs-monday-august-18-2008/ Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:56:35 +0000 perjection http://perjection.wordpress.com/2008/08/17/perjection-on-hunnypot-radio-with-the-germs-monday-august-18-2008/

I have been asked to DJ an 8-song set on the Hunnypot Internet Radio Show THIS MONDAY NIGHT – August 18, 2008 - at 7:00PM (PST.)  This will be an extra special night for me because The Germs will be there promoting their new biopic called “What We Do Is Secret.”  Oh boy…lucky me!!  I have the luxury of playing anything that I want, so I dug deep in my collection for some really rare and interesting stuff.  I will be spinning songs right at the beginning of the show and will be sure to post my playlist after the fact.  In the meantime, you’ll just have to be patient to hear some great stuff and learn a few things.   

Hunnypot Internet Radio, a part of Hunnypot Unlimited, broadcasts live at www.hunnypotunlimited.com every Monday night from 7:00PM – 10:00PM (PST) and then it streams constantly on the website until the following Monday’s show.   

Hunnypot Unlimited is an independent music publishing company located in Beverly Hills, CA.  It was founded by music industry veteran John Anderson and Music Supervisor extraordinaire PJ Bloom (CSI: Miami, Nip/Tuck, HBO movies, etc.)  These guys love music, have great taste and always champion new bands.  Yes, they are awesome and so is the rest of their team: Manny Montiel and Stacee Coleman. 

Yours truly,

Chris Cormier

]]> <![CDATA[85A Log: "What We Do Is Secret," Joshua Furst and James Frey]]> http://streetlegalplay.wordpress.com/2008/08/08/85a-log-what-we-do-is-secret-joshua-furst-and-james-frey/ Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:43:13 +0000 streetlegalplay http://streetlegalplay.wordpress.com/2008/08/08/85a-log-what-we-do-is-secret-joshua-furst-and-james-frey/
Johnny Rotten - Patron Saint of 85A

Johnny Rotten - Patron Saint of 85A (from now on, I'll use his picture at the top of every 85A Log)

So, I will be meeting with Shell next Thursday, August 14th to go over the first draft of 85A. I can’t wait to hear her feedback, though, I must say, I have enjoyed my little vacation from the book.

In my sophomore year at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, we had Career Day. I went to all the career workshops that had anything to do with careers in the arts – Photographer, Actor, Musician, Arts Critic, and Writer. For a school that had little to no respect for the right brain, it’s no surprise that – instead of flying Hanif Kureishi or Kurt Vonnegut in with the mint the school raked in from its alumni association – some crusty old Jesuit got some crusty old alum, whose name I forget and whose writing was equally forgettable, to conduct the Writer’s workshop.

It was about as interesting as watching roadkill rot. The Fuddy-Duddy stood before us, crushed every bone in his feet with the names he dropped and then rattled off the titles of every award any writer worth his or her salt should vie to win. I wanted to be a writer precisely to get away from all that systemic bullshit he touted. Unmentioned went the opioid orgies that the freaks among us were dying to have with the muses.

Now that I’m done dumping all over that poor man, I will say that he offered all of us one piece of advice, which still resonates with me today. It was: “Once you write something, put it away for a couple weeks before you decide whether it’s any good.”

I guess that, on Thursday, I’ll have more perspective on whether 85A was any good. If not, who cares? Like I’ve been saying all along, that’s what next drafts are for.

So, this morning at 11 am, I took another Artist Date (see, Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way) and went to see the premiere of What We Do Is Secret at The Landmark Sunshine Theater on Houston & 1st Avenue in Manhattan. At the box office, I stood behind some chick who had fresh bullet wounds, with blood spurting, tattooed on her neck. It was kind of cool.

Anyway, Secret is a biopic by Rodger Grossman about the rise and fall of Darby Crash, lead singer of the Late Seventies L.A. punk band The Germs. Shane West from E.R. plays Crash. Evidently, the old band members of The Germs liked West’s performance so much that they decided to reunite and make West their new lead singer.

They must’ve seen something in this movie that I didn’t see. I mean, Shane West is a good actor and all, but he doesn’t come close to expressing the raucous inner life that Crash must have had. (Let me admit before I go any further that I was never a Germ’s fan. Although I did see them featured in The Decline of Western Civilization, I know about as much about them as the folks in the geriatrics home up the street.) Evidently, a major Cross for Crash was that he was a closet homosexual, but the film shows one snippet of that bete noire and then drops it like a burning coal. Also, although Grossman did his best to convince us that Crash was a barroom-brawl-waiting-to-happen, West makes Crash seem more like a leather-clad Merry Prankster than a G.G. Allin-meets-Ian-Curtis malcontent. He even makes his suicide (coincidentally, on the day John Lennon was assassinated) look more like a madcap stunt than an act of total despair.

Great tracks from Bowie on Grossman’s flick, though – two in total, both off one of my Top 20 Albums, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. “Five Years” plays as an allusion to Crash’s five-year plan for the Germs, which he may or may not have fulfilled before his suicide at age 22. Grossman plugs “Rock N’ Roll Suicide” as an elegy to Crash.

In fact, Crash hails Bowie several times in the movie. He’s got Aladdin Sane and Ziggy posters on his walls. He keeps putting Bowie on the guest lists for his shows even though Bowie himself wouldn’t have even heard of The Germs at the time. He demanded that the Editor-in-Chief of Slash magazine form Slash Records and record The Germ’s only LP, GI. Then, he demanded that the Editor get Bowie to produce the album, only to later settle for Joan Jett.

But didn’t that first wave of punks think Bowie was too soft and old school?

Oh! While we’re on the subject of Bowie…last night, I found out for the first time that he’s half Irish! Why didn’t anybody tell me that before? As a kid, I was always looking for Irish heroes – even if they were only part of the Irish diaspora like me – and Bowie was one of my idols.

Back to Secret, though…I’m glad I saw it. It at least reinforced some punk themes and images that will help fuel my writing on the next draft of 85A.

Plus, I’m halfway through a novel called The Sabotage Cafe by Joshua Furst. He’s a writer who teaches right here in Brooklyn at Pratt Institute. His novel is outstanding! I came across it on a display table at some bookstore in the Village. Furst is such a gifted writer and his book seamlessly fades in and out of the Eighties punk scene and present-day street-kid culture.

I’ll blog about it more once I finish it – which might not be for a little while, given the work that’s on my plate – but I hope to meet him some day to congratulate him on his remarkable achievement.

In other news, Shinnyo-en in Tokyo has sent me a book to edit called, Turning the Wheel: Stories of the Buddha’s Disciples, so that’s keeping me busy between 85A drafts.

I’m also going to be reviewing Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey for Edge Magazine. It’s his first-ever novel and his first book since the 2006 Smoking Gun/Oprah scandal.

I know he lied a lot in A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard, but I still enjoyed reading them. I loved his propulsive, plain-spoken narration and his unpredictable syntax. It sucked me right in and I just had to finish both books in one sitting each.

I’m about 150 pages into Bright Shiny Morning, though, and I’m not sure that the same style works for him in third-person fiction, where he has to be more detached and documentary. There isn’t the same sense of compulsion. Still, it’s good to see that he’s dropped a lot of his tough-guy facade with this book, where he treats the characters with a lot more compassion and sensitivity.

That’s it for tonight. I’m heading to a party in Clinton Hill, right across the street from Pratt actually. Wonder if I’ll see Joshua Furst there. Do I have the nerve to go up and shake his hand?

]]> <![CDATA[Happy Birthday Pat Smear!]]> http://boredofdictators.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/happy-birthday-pat-smear/ Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:19:55 +0000 popgonk http://boredofdictators.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/happy-birthday-pat-smear/ <![CDATA[Randomsity Strikes Well]]> http://tinybreeze.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/randomsity-strikes-well/ Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:29:27 +0000 Her http://tinybreeze.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/randomsity-strikes-well/

Howdy. Playing along with the night breeze has become the new board of my life. The routine flows among figure drawings, designing elements, brainstorming for possibly out of the world concepts, creating and applying my beloved nose letterform, endless of thumbnails enough to make me shivers. Surprisingly, most of them turned out fine, well except for that nose letterform. Still, I managed to produce a complete set on time and got an unexpected feedback that moved me once again. Perhaps at times like these, the existence of Debbie that fell from the sky, are meant to toughen up that self doubting and excessively thoughts. I admit I still do despise her deep down but when based on the instinct, I also am aware that this might be the only way of blending sound and color to create. Because I remembered precisely how things never comes easy. When the luck favors the next door and left me feeling defeated messing around with chances, I may hum and sigh but the people on the street walk their lives on. Makes me a little sad inside, yet so much to be gained, just like the cheap $1 ice cream you shared on the way back; surprisingly good. I know the second scope will taste even better, as how I believed in my efforts all these times.

Reality. So this is how you spelled it.

—

Okay that was random. I initially wrote that last week out of the noiseless night and I am so freaking sick of ingrowing my dark circles pompously with assignments. I honestly think that one of the deepest mysteries of life, those labeled and rooted in every corner of the world waiting to be discovered kind, are the TOA-ness. You simply HAVE TO get a 3 weeks life learnt here and that’s it, you will either get a 360 degrees of change or just practically cracked the code of the art of living. Amen.

Uh.

Okay I think that was even more random. But oh well, not like people read my journal word by word. Anyone does then do dropped by a comment. Perhaps then I might be able to add in another point of adequate in my list of worth. Today I shall share some funny stuff that happened recently. Well and some oddly old ones. Cant believe I actually kept them. I was laughing off jerkily not long ago, you should have seen.

#1 Conversation with Evelyn.

zheng joo says:

i am doing this freaking assignment right now ITS CALL FREAKING COLOR DIARY ND THE FINAL PROJECT WE

NEEDA DO 5 PAGE NIA BUT THE TEACHER WANTS 20!!!!! THUMBNAILSMEANS WE HAVE TO DRAW FOR HIM

-ev- says:

do 5 extra nice wan. others do cincai can d leh hor!

zheng joo says:

FOR EXAMPLE COLOR DIARY I DRAW A CHICKEN IN PINK’

-ev- says:

Wth ?! for wad. why u need a pink chicken

-ev- says:

draw a bulldog in tutu leh

zheng joo says:

U JUST RANDOM SAY STUFF FOR ME IN DIFF COLOR AND why CAN AH

zheng joo says:

okay start now

-ev- says:

Erm, horse wif short legs and sharp tooth in white and people wif eyes on hand and ears on eyes

zheng joo says:

EH THIS ONE NOT Bad

-ev- says:

cause right, eyes on hand. den u can see everything from all corners

-ev- says:

and ears on eyes so dat u can hear from in front den u can hear all d positive tings

-ev- says:

LOL wth crapping all

-ev- says:

ohh horse with short legs cuz after many centuries they got tired of human slaving them, so dey decided dat if they can move limited-ly dey wun be used dat much. the sharp tooth aso to scare the humans on them leh

zheng joo says:

WTF AHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAH SORRY I LAUGHING NOW

zheng joo says:

NO ENERGY TO REPLY

-ev- says:

LOL

#2 Emily’s text message the night before she comes back from Puau Redang.

WAH U NOE AH WE 2MORO DAMN GILA GONNA SIT A FUKING SAMPAN AT 63O AM! CAUSE THE STOPID FERRY AT 8 ENGINE KONG.

Meanwhile at our side of the world,

zheng joo says:

HAIH EH I DAMN WORRIED FOR THEM ALSO BESOK

zheng joo says:

sampan wei HAHAH

zheng joo says:

WTF

zheng joo says:

I STILL CANT STOP LAUGHING. NOW U TELL ME HIS PHONE HILANG IN SAND hahaha

-ev- says:

WTH why u still laughing till now wan!?

zheng joo says:

DAMN FUNNY K

zheng joo says:

U NOE SAMPAN AH LIKE SAMPAN U NOE

-ev- says:

LOL like go see fireflies that kind wan

-ev- says:

OMG and sumore 6.30 dam dark. AHAHA. den somebody needa hold tanglung for sure

-ev- says:

if not cannot navigate sial

zheng joo says:

AHAHAHHAHAHA YEALAH FUCK THIS IS DAMN FUNNY

zheng joo says:

630 IN THE MORNING

zheng joo says:

I HAVE A FEELING THEY WILL MISSED THE SAMPAN

zheng joo says:

WANNA BET

zheng joo says:

or yk will be holding Emily running and shouting:

zheng joo says:

“SAMPAN WAIT FOR US!!!!!!!!!”

P/S They came back alive and in one piece.

#3 Chatting with LZK.

LZK says:

eh..then u will use alot of photo?

zheng joo says:

nolah

zheng joo says:

maybe one or 2. my camera not chunted

zheng joo says:

if its DSLR then i’ll do all photo man

LZK says:

chunted?

zheng joo says:

homg

zheng joo says:

means very CHUN-ted

zheng joo says:

GEDDIT?

zheng joo says:

just read it out

LZK says:

wht is chun?

LZK says:

ted?

zheng joo says:

very chun

zheng joo says:

means uh very super duper good stuff lah

LZK says:

har??

LZK says:

like pro?

LZK says:

reli got this word?

zheng joo says:

no haiyoh

zheng joo says:

like very uh…

zheng joo says:

homg i dunno how to explainn

zheng joo says:

like a very gooood camera

zheng joo says:

we say very chunted one

LZK says:

ok

LZK says:

chunted only can use on camera ah?

#4 My figure studies wooden doll (Damien!) with a bigger size one. We have nothing better to do in class. Damn funny lah.

#5 Hopeless MSN guy who I don’t even know when the hell he existed inside my list. What a waste of time. MY time.

˙·٠٠•● QQ77˙·٠٠•● says:

hai

zheng joo says:

you are?

˙·٠٠•● QQ77˙·٠٠•● says:

Murat

zheng joo says:

right

˙·٠٠•● QQ77˙·٠٠•● says:

you?

zheng joo says:

mary. it’s an English name. easier for you.

˙·٠٠•● QQ77˙·٠٠•● says:

u from?

zheng joo says:

sabah

˙·٠٠•● QQ77˙·٠٠•● says:

Malaysia? (MY GOD)

zheng joo says:

UH no, germany

˙·٠٠•● QQ77˙·٠٠•● says:

Oh okay u last time play myko?

zheng joo says:

nop (WTF IS THAT?)

˙·٠٠•● QQ77˙·٠٠•● says:

hıım

˙·٠٠•● QQ77˙·٠٠•● says:

your photo see me

zheng joo says:

excuse me?

˙·٠٠•● QQ77˙·٠٠•● says:

why

zheng joo says:

i dont understand

˙·٠٠•● QQ77˙·٠٠•●says:

your photo send me?

zheng joo says:

oh dun have at any moment. ANYWAY gtg see ya.

*You have blocked ˙·٠٠•● QQ77˙·٠٠•●.*

I wasn’t in a good mood you see after not sleeping for freaking 48 hours. And I never knew that Sabah in Germany works that way. And I ain’t called Mary and am not looking forward being called that, so shaddap.

—

On the bright side. Holiday’s in 3 weeks! Well not that sort of bright alright. I have to complete my:

-T-shirt designs everything from scratch. That would be the designing elements with silk screen in the dark room and then to apply colors on It with some liquefied material that cost 20 bucks. And for the silk screen it would cost most probably 30 bucks all along. And I haven’t even include the possibilities of purchasing them again cause the Figure’s tutor Zhuo You explained that it is IMPOSSIBLE to get it right at first attempt so that means we will have to buy more of it again. Wtf. Like our parents have been storing some hand made silk screen underground for us since we were born so it comes free. Sheeesh. Don’t they realize that my parents are making me to pay for own equivalent materials, I need food to survive as well alright. And Debbie’s face is seriously doing no help. Mind you, it’s worst than a bulldog’s face and I am fucking serious on this say. Can’t she just practice more on her face muscle or something like that in effort to make someone’s day better. I know we are probably misjudging her and oh no! No one should ever judge through faces but through a big almighty heart they have but HELL no. The face is seriously off case lah. I am actually lost in words now. Mhmmm.

-Sketchbook, which reminded me off while speaking of Zhuo You. I have endless of naked figures to complete on sigh.

-Design II workshop. Photoshop for photo montage on climate emergency. My surrealism of water flood in indoor aren’t going well. Well the props just won’t go right with the floating effect. They look so alive! But they are supposed to be dead…

-Design II Cultural Box. Kecak Kecak Kecak. Cak Cak Cak. Go on; chant some wtf and I am still not allowed to give out the info. Point is the flow and concepts are doing alright here but uh Candice wasn’t quite sure with the outcome. So basically it’s like having a beautiful concept of building a house on the clouds but you do not know how.

-History Costume Design. Mood: off. And to think of giving the brief only this week yet expect a presentation Of 2 designs in 2 weeks??!

…..

*Throw rocks into river

-English Presentation. * More rocks

T_______________T

—

On the negative side, we are all stressing up. Its as if the coming Monday do not exist and we all have to rush thumbnails, Illustrator tracing and critiques with lecturer by Sunday. I don’t even dare to count in the possibilities of sleeping. They are now merely consequences to bear if we step in one foot closer.

Nevertheless I will survive. And throwing lots of tantrums. And rawring. And ice creaming…

Sometimes I wished for a better chorography in this current pace called Life.

P/S I cant wait for the Batman screening tomorrow. Heath Ledger!

Feeling: Bizarre (I just finished explaining a book long of concepts to Kenny)

Soundtrack: Stars- One More Night

He drops to his knees says please my love, please

I’ll kill who you hate, take off that dress, you won’t freeze

]]> <![CDATA[14.Prenant, mordant, périmé et autres trainées]]> http://fantistof.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/14prenant-mordant-perime-et-autres-trainees/ Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:53:46 +0000 Kristof G. http://fantistof.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/14prenant-mordant-perime-et-autres-trainees/ <![CDATA[12.Gore Gore Girls]]> http://fantistof.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/12gore-gore-girls/ Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:48:27 +0000 Kristof G. http://fantistof.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/12gore-gore-girls/ <![CDATA[04.Casser du monstre, the canadian way]]> http://fantistof.wordpress.com/2008/07/06/casser-du-monstre-the-canadian-way-et-la-jolie-visite-d%e2%80%99une-actrice-cantatrice/ Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:28:56 +0000 Kristof G. http://fantistof.wordpress.com/2008/07/06/casser-du-monstre-the-canadian-way-et-la-jolie-visite-d%e2%80%99une-actrice-cantatrice/