Someone commented in my “Drinks at Bar Open” post:

Anonymous said…

you guys are pathetic - UV and mooiness. Never seen such crappy coversations where both agreed to a serious misnormer in my entire life! Even beautiful Nigerians looks better than the chicks in the photos.

Wednesday, August 31, 2005 6:26:59 PM

Just a few things:

1. Grow some balls and show your name next time.
2. I’m fair game because this is my blog. But when you insult ppl I know and cherish and whom you know nothing about, that just goes to show that you have no brains to insult *me* proper when there are tonnes of material here for you to use against me. You are LAME.
3. Yes there are drop dead gorgeous Nigerians but the way you phrased it - you are belittling them by using the word “even”. You all know how I feel about racists - FUCK YOU! See I didn’t even censor myself that time.
4. Thanks for making me feel famous by hating me. BRING IT ON!

Btw, buddy … your IP is known to me now. You lose.

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Blinkymummy! Are you proud of me?! My first hater leh!

Hurricane Katrina has wreaked havoc across the southern parts of the USA. This and many other natural disasters are constant reminders that nature is deadly effective at killing and destroying. Remember the tsunami? If you didn’t die in the waters, you might die from the lack of clean water and the multitude of diseases. Nature doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, what colour you are and which God you believe in.

Nature doesn’t care. Nature doesn’t discriminate.

So to put things in perspective - why are humans still killing each other over trivial things like those above? Because Nature plainly does not need our help.

However it is also during disasters whether man-made or natural, that we see the human spirit shine through. If only that human spirit is forever present instead of being only in spurts.

Follow the news at: CNN and MSNBC.

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In other news, the former State Opposition Leader of New South Wales had attempted suicide yesterday evening. This was after new allegations had surfaced about his conduct after that earlier incident.

Happy Birthday Malaysia! And also dad, and Yvonne and Reucas (again)!

Here’s something that will help with the celebrations today - a rebuttal to XX about KL by an angmoh living there .

.: ShaolinTiger :. - Kung-Fu Geekery - KL Doesn’t Suck - Dumb Tourists Suck - Merdeka!

Only Kenny Sia can post up a picture of 2 Panadol tablets to complain about being sick, and then garner 17 comments (last counted at Aug30th 12:22PM) from it.

Am I jealous? Nah … I rather quality over quantity. What little comments I get are GOLD baby!

To my readers: you’re the best!

Why is wearing the hijab such an issue? A Sikh can wear his turban and a Jew can wear his yarmulke so why can’t a Muslim woman wear her hijab? What is the real rationale behind the suggestion of a ban of the hijab in schools by Victorian Liberal MP Sophie Panopoulos, and backed by NSW backbencher Bronwyn Bishop?

A ban would be divisive and oppressive. It would drive Muslims away from the mainstream even further at a point in time when level-headed ppl, Muslims and non-Muslims alike are meant to be closing ranks against Islamic radicalism and global terrorism.

Thankfully, the PM had come out against such a suggestion. However his response has been labelled as “weak” because he framed his opposition in terms of practicality.

“If you ban a headscarf you might, for consistency’s sake, have to ban a … turban.

“It does become rather difficult and rather impractical.”

Greens senator Kerry Nettle says:

“Freedom of religion is an Australian value – that is the message John Howard should be sending – not that banning headscarves is simply impractical.”

Quashing the issue further, the Multicultural Affairs Minister John Cobb added:

“Whether a Muslim woman chooses to wear the headscarf in public or not does not diminish her identity as an Australian.”

Making me feel a little better about our education system, both the president of the Australian Secondary Principals Association and the chief executive of the Australian Council of State School Organisations have deemed it a non-issue as well. Although much still needed to be improved upon in terms of teaching about the major religions in schools I’m heartened by the above sentiments.

The PM may not have come out strongly against the suggestion of a ban but the end result is still the same - the proposal is stillborn. Sanity and good sense has prevailed for now.

PM quashes debate on headscarves | National Breaking News | Breaking News 24/7 - NEWS.com.au (29-08-2005)

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Speaking of the hijab, the Australian model Michelle Leslie who was arrested in Bali recently for possession of 2 ecstasy tablets suddenly declared herself a Muslim and was shown on TV in a full burqa covering her whole body including her face.

Now call me cynical … but how do you suddenly become a Muslim? This from a model who had previously appeared in just body paint. You don’t suddenly gain religion like that. The Chinese have a saying, loosely translated:

You are praying at Buddha’s feet now only because you need him.

If she thinks declaring herself a Muslim would make the judges go easy on her, then she’s sadly mistaken. Let’s just entertain the absurb notion that somehow Indonesian law is more lenient towards Muslims, even the most forgiving judge would see right through this ploy.

Her lawyers would be wise to just concentrate on her case and the evidence at hand and leave religion out of it.

Leslie covers up for God - World - smh.com.au

Michelle’s ’solace with God’ | MODEL PRISONER | Breaking News 24/7 - NEWS.com.au (30-08-2005)

So it was reported that on a Friday night August 5th (EDIT: factual error) whilst attending a booze-up, the Opposition Leader for the State of New South Wales had called the Malaysian-born wife of the former Premier Bob Carr (from the rival Labor party) a “mail-order bride”. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he pinched a female reporter’s behind and propositioned another. He is married with a young child (EDIT: factual error).

This morning, he had tendered his resignation as leader of the Liberal Party NSW. Which was what Bob Carr insisted on even when Helena Carr had graciously shrugged it off (read about their different reactions here).

Alcohol and politicians don’t mix and there is definitely no place for racism in government whether at the State or Federal levels.

Brogden quits over racist slur | Top stories | Breaking News 24/7 - NEWS.com.au (29-08-2005)

Two of my cousins, Reucas and Yvonne (plus my dad and the country of Malaysia) share the same birthday. Last night, my cousins decided to have their birthday drinks at Bar Open in Northbridge. Reucas had been going often and highly recommended it. It is literally a hole in the wall, and to give you an idea how exclusive the place was …

I walked down a dark alleyway and came upon an unmarked entrance.

I went by myself and it was my first time there. As I walked past a dark counter, a disembodied voice called out, “Excuse me…it’s $5 entry.” I muttered, “Oh sorry, didn’t see you there.”

I walked down a stairway and into a dark corridor.

Rounded the corner into a cosy little place, and found the gang in a nook of a lounge.

Had the obligatory “family” shot. Damn I look gay in that pose…not that there’s anything wrong with that. And can you tell if Reucas was drunk? Reucas was there with his bandmates Simon (left) and Damien, among others. Remember those faces and the name “The Colors”.

Here’s Simon giving me his rock-star pose. Had a great conversation with him regarding how angst and sexual frustration are the greatest sources of inspiration for song-writing.

The lounge area was quite cosy. Note the big ventilation fans - really useful in keeping the place airy and relatively smoke-free.

Here’s me and Paul (Yvonne’s gweilo) trying to look cool. And then trying to look impromptu.

The birthday girl with the dental nurse that works with her (cute, too bad she’s taken :P), and her friend Elaine.

Lotsa drinks were had, and lotsa conversation flowed.

Diva impressions occured. But they didn’t last.

Aww, shucks.

Happy birthday again you two.

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Complete set of photos can be found here.