Clockwise from top-left: Sander van Doorn, John O’Callaghan, Menno de Jong, Jon O’Bir (images from alldj.org)

Woo! What a wicked fun time the night was!

But it’s a shame that I didn’t get usable pictures from my phone camera. I think by the time I succumbed to the urge and decided to start taking photos, I was very inebriated. Without steady hands and eyesight, and without an optical image stabiliser, the pictures were never gonna turn out right. Ah well, next event maybe I will bring my camera? I gotta learn to fight the urge to take photos though. I have a standing agreement with Lydia that she should take away my camera if she sees me not dancing enough.

So yeah back to Godskitchen – it was everything that I wanted and more. By the time I got in at around 11:30pm, I was hopped up on two cans of V and the music was just starting to get harder and faster. Good timing! I caught the last half of Jon O’Bir’s set which built up very nicely to Menno de Jong who started spinning some banging stuff and never relented.

Second hour in, I was giddy and high and jumping on the spot. When Menno dropped a big fat beat during one part of his set, I yelled out “Fuck YEAH!” so loud that Simon said, “Shhh!” Hah! Who cares?!

At the risk of making the night sound monotonous, or as my mother would say, “All techno music sound the same to me!” … hahah erm, so Menne built up the tempo quickly and then Sander van Doorn just kept it up there for his 2-hour set. By the end of it, my legs were starting to feel sore. Then John O’Callaghan came on and I swear my mind was exploding with glee. I had a big smile and all, but my body finally succumbed to fatigue by 5am.

In a nutshell – the music was hard just like I wanted it to be and more because it went on for nearly 6 hours straight! I didn’t overhype it at all. Phew! Money well spent. All my friends agreed that this has been the best dance event this year.

Speaking of friends, all my usual clubbing peeps were there. My brother and his clubbing peeps were there, and so was my cousin and his cousins. With so many familiar faces around, an already awesome night was made even more enjoyable. There were a lot of smiles, a lot of hugs, a lot of shared “Woohoos” and a lot of conversations.

I even bumped into a couple of English guys whom I had met at the same spot in the club at last year’s Godskitchen and I found out their ages – 43! One of them was telling me, “As long as it’s in your heart, and your legs are still holding up, it won’t go away.” Very true. So, besides loving the music, this is what I also love – a community of like-minded people to share that love with, friends and strangers alike.

Next up, Global Gathering!

After last year’s night of mayhem, was there any doubt that I was gonna go again this year, especially when it’s the 10th anniversary of their annual Australian show and they are bringing out some big names? Never!

09.00pm-10.00pm Adam Kelly
10.00pm-12.00am Jon O’Bir
12.00am-02.00am Menno De Jong
02.00am-04.00am Sander Van Doorn
04.00am-06.00am John O’Callaghan

I got my tickets in July and I’ve been so anxiously waiting for it ever since and it’s finally here tomorrow night! But I’m trying not to over psyche myself because last time I was this psyched – for the return of Armin van Buuren to Perth – it was anti-climatic and I felt let down.

But, the past two weeks I’ve been downloading and listening to the sets of the DJs who are spinning on the night and I couldn’t help it. I’m so psyched up for it now. Fingers crossed it’d be good! As long as the music is not dawdling in the middle like it was at Armin’s gig, and it takes me on a rollercoaster ride which then ends with harder beats, I’d be v. happy.

For those of you who’ve seen my photos and have read my write-ups of previous dance events, and if you’ve been wondering (yes you do!) about the kind of music that gets my heart pumping, here’s a sampling of some songs by the DJs who will be spinning tomorrow night.

Spin spin sugar!

I am able to relate to David Spade, because we are both short and don’t belong in the “omg he’s so hot” club. And besides being really funny, he’s my hero in another way and that’s because David Spade is such a pimp.

Defamer | David Spade: World’s Greatest Ladies Man?

Among the women that he’s been with are Lara Fylnn Boyle, Teri Hatcher, Julie Bowen and Heather Locklear. Yes, he has that super sarcasm, and sly self-deprecating sense of humour going for him. That’s one thing that women like right?

David Letterman reveals to him that in a Cosmo magazine survey, 85% of women surveyed said that they would not sleep with him if he wasn’t famous.

He’s also got fame but that doesn’t really explain it since the women he’s dated are also famous. Same goes for money. So yeah, although people thinks that he’s dating out of his league, he is dating women who are on the same plane as him in terms of fame and money.

The Hum – David Spade—WTF?

Some comments on the gossip blogs say that the women only slept with him because he could advance their careers, or that he’s got a big dick. First, let’s address the first one and the question is how? As funny as the guy is, he’s only ever been in B-grade comedies and TV sitcoms which aren’t exactly at the top of the Hollywood totem pole. As for the second one, it is possible but how would he convince these women to go out with him without flashing himself first?

David summarised it thus:

Be normal and kind of have your shit together. And be consistent and reliable. Just not a flake. Really, the thing is, not to be a superflake. Don’t be an asshole. Don’t be supercocky. Don’t be a show-off. Everyone for some reason feels the need to show off.

(via Defamer via Los Angeles Magazine)

In other words, he’s saying that a nice guy gets the hot women. I think that I’m already that kind of a nice guy. Now if I am a bit funnier and in a room full of hot women, the odds would then be in my favour. Heh.

Coming back down to earth, I still think that most men have to be above a minimum criteria. Sure, being a nice guy will help the relationship last a little bit longer but I think that you can’t be too poor, and you can’t be too ugly. But David’s example sure does inspire the rest of us short and average guys.

Besides the good music, the large cavernous dance floor in the main room, and a friendly bartender who knows us by name, I have to admit one other thing which makes Simon and I go to The Deen on a weekly basis: the women. Week after week, it’s never the same. I can honestly say that I haven’t seen the same pretty faces more than twice. Which could be good or bad depending on how you look at it. But my point is, it’s a visual smorgasbord that constantly changes.

And I have a theory about that. I think a lot of people choose The Deen to be their first clubbing experience. And every week, there’s people turning 18. Therefore, there’s this weekly infusion of new faces. Of course, that probably means that you can call me a lecherous perv who likes looking at girls who had just turned legal, and you would be right.

However, no one has ever put it into words like this girl last night. So there she was dancing with her bunch of friends, and wearing a bright pink halo on her head. She looked too young to be having a hens night so I had guessed she was celebrating her birthday. Our eyes met and she sidled up to me and started dancing very provocatively.

She was cute so I happily obliged and we started talking.

Is it your birthday?
Yeah.
So how old are you today?
18. How about you?
Add about 20.
38?!
34.
Hahah! What ARE you doing here?!

Why, to perv at you pretty young things of course. Heh. Her question threw me off guard briefly but I quickly regained my composure and continued dancing. I had never let my age and fear of looking like a dirty old man get in the way of my partying because the music is what draws me and the eye candy is a bonus. That is, I won’t go to a club where they don’t play the music that I like, even if a lot of pretty girls go there.

And even if I do look at women, I’m not the lecherous type who just stares and gawks. I don’t touch unless they touch first, and I don’t do pickup lines. Therefore I don’t come across as sleazy. But still, am I too old to party? Ask me again in another 10 years.

(via Boing Boing)

That Alaska is close to Russia is the basis of Sarah Palin’s claim to Americans that she’s hip to this foreign affairs business. The first time we’ve heard of this was when she was being interviewed by Charlie Gibson.

GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?

PALIN: They’re our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.

ABC News: EXCERPTS: Charlie Gibson Interviews Sarah Palin

And when Katie Couric interviewed her, she was asked to expand on that statement.

Katie Couric: You’ve cited Alaska’s proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?

Sarah Palin: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and, on our other side, the land-boundry that we have with Canada. It’s funny that a comment like that was kinda made to … I don’t know, you know … reporters.

Couric: Mocked?

Palin: Yeah, mocked, I guess that’s the word, yeah.

Couric: Well, explain to me why that enhances your foreign-policy credentials.

Palin: Well, it certainly does, because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of. And there…

Couric: Have you ever been involved in any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

Palin: We have trade missions back and forth, we do. It’s very important when you consider even national-security issues with Russia. As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right next to, they are right next to our state.

New Sarah Palin Clip: Keeping An Eye On Putin – Couric & Co.

Yes, Tina Fey did not have to stretch too far for comedic effects. Sarah Palin is just funny already, even though it’s inadvertent.

The jokes write themselves really. In fact, this has now become THE joke of the election and it’s taken a life of its own.

I found some great ones from a post at Gawker. Here’s a few of my favourites:

• I have played literally thousands of hours of Halo, so I have valuable military experience.
• I had this cab driver once who was from the south of India. I talked to him for, like, ten whole minutes and WOW I have such great foreign policy experience. I’m totally ready to be VP.
• I can see billions of stars in the night sky, which is comforting, as it makes me very prepared for the aliens bent on our destruction.
• I go to Taco Bell for lunch pretty often, so I am the Ambassador to Mexico, si?

Gawker | Cartoons: You Can See Russia From Parts Of Alaska

Can’t wait to watch tomorrow’s debate and hear the waffle from Sarah Palin’s mouth. Oh, and Joe Biden might be good for a few funny ones too. He once said these things:

• A man I’m proud to call my friend. A man who will be the next President of the United States — Barack America!
• You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent…. I’m not joking.

About.com – Funny Quotes by Joe Biden

Awesome. I can’t wait to read the political and humour blogs the next day too. It’s gonna be bumper issues everywhere.

Steve Webel @ flickr

In the dating game, there’s nothing worse than that sense of limbo, not knowing where you stand, and the constant wondering about what you did or didn’t do, did last night go well, and is the feeling mutual. Among the things that can create that sense of limbo are the missed phone calls and messages.

It’s bad enough that guys have the stupid rule of not calling too soon, and girls have the stupid rule of not returning his calls and messages too eagerly. If either one is made to wait too long, that feeling of a crush can quickly turn resentful. And this can easily happen through no fault of either one.

In the din of a club or a bar, and in an intoxicated state, numbers can be said and keyed in wrongly. So when either one calls or messages to a wrong number, and the wrong number didn’t pick up or reply back, the eager person may feel like the other person is playing a waiting game and that they are being mind-fucked.

That’s why when I get a mysterious voice-mail or text message that read and sound like it’s from a person who likes another, I’d usually text back and say that they may have gotten the wrong number. That way at least they know it’s a wrong number and that mind games are not being played.

Of course, a wrong number could have been given out intentionally and one person is definitely being played. That can’t be helped. However, there’s a chance that it is a genuine case of miscommunication. So, and because I know that sense of limbo very well and I hate it, if I can help someone else not feel it, I would. I like to think of it as a random act of kindness.

My friends in my immediate circle right now are all people whom I’ve met whilst out clubbing. And most times, I don’t see them till the weekends. During the week we may have instant message chats but we don’t meet up or have deep-meaningfuls.

It had got me thinking about the depth of these friendships. I had worried if that is all there is to them? We mostly only meet up for drinks, dancing and laughter – should I be expecting more from these relationships, and should I be doing more to deepen our friendships? As we age, and if our bodies dictate that we can’t club as much anymore, would I still see them or have anything to talk to them about? Would I gradually lose these friendships?

But what happened this year had allayed these fears of mine. I’ve gotten closer to these friends. We talk a whole lot more and about other things besides music and clubbing. We have met up for lunches and dinners, and I’ve visited their houses. I’ve seen their faces away from the disco lights and luckily for me, I like what I saw in the broad daylight and even better is that they feel the same about me.

I’ve also realised that friendships can develop over time. What may start out as something shallow may deepen. Though I also know that some friendships would stay shallow and possibly fade away over time. Or people change which is inevitable. But having a common interest, even when it’s as frivolous as clubbing, is what brings people together. How we maintain that bond then is entirely up to ourselves. Deepening and strengthening that bond may take effort but it’s a reward unto itself, and a mighty satisfying one at that.