Interesting natal chart reading from this site.

Posted on July 30th, 2004 by jl
Filed under: Astrology | No Comments »

I’m constantly amazed that people find it amazing that I am … *gasp*… gay!

Yes, there are gay people in Malaysia! Yes, shock! horrors! There are more than one gay person in this country. In fact there are even lesbians (if you don’t consider the word “gay” to include women), bisexuals, transsexuals and transgendered individuals in Malaysia. And they walk, talk, eat, sleep and work among you…!!! Quick! Call the cops! Lest you be infected with some strange unknown disease or kidnapped to some planet far, far away in a another galaxy where people are not “normal”, where they only have one eye and listen to nothing but Abba’s “Dancing Queen” or the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” through their one exceedingly large flappy ear.

The fact is, not all gay men fit the perceived stereotypes. Not all gay men:

• are transsexuals or transgendered individuals;
• talk in affected voices with exagerrated hand gestures;
• are designers, interior decorators, hair stylists, actors, or any of the arty-farty types;
• have a great sense of fashion or aesthetic taste;
• know the lyrics to all musicals or the entire discography of Barbra Streisand or Madonna;
• leave school after Form Five and work the streets as second class prostitutes (not that there’s anything wrong with that);
• “take it up” the ass;
• like to fuck, some only like being fucked… some like both;
• discover their homosexuality after 20 years of marriage and two children and become… o, say… a celebrity chef;
• wear enough make up and foundation to fill the largest crater on the moon and host reality shows on TV;
• hang around public toilets waiting for the next dick to suck;
• think about sex everyday, every hour of the day, though most would protest otherwise;
• are lelaki lembut;
• hide in the closet;
• are evasive about their sexuality;
• proclaim their sexuality to all and sundry;
• build their identity around their sexuality.

No. While some gay men do fit the stereotypes, not all do. We are as varied as the straight population. In fact, some gay men look so “normal”, so unobtrusive that you wouldn’t be able to identify them as homosexual even if they stood in front of you - unless of course, they’re giving you a blow job. Truth be told, some gay men are even more “straight” than straight men, particularly in Malaysia where some straight men do leave a lot to be desired…!

More importantly, we are not aliens. Our sexual orientation aside, we are not all that different from you “normal” lot. We all want the same things: love, relationships, happiness, job satisfaction, material comfort, friends, achieving our dreams… we are as human as you, with all the same hopes, aspirations and faillibilities.

With higher than average income levels, and higher marginal propensities to consume, we contribute equally, if not more, to the economy. So much so, that even supposedly conservative Singapore has begun to recognise, if nothing else, our economic value to society (see this report), following in the steps of many other developed countries that have recognised our contributions economically, socially and politically.

So I am well educated. I have a brain and I know how to think. I like my sentences long and my English perfect. I have aspirations and career goals beyond the desire for fame and glamour. I don’t necessarily flaunt my wit and charm, and I can turn on the straight-laced look at will. But is it so strange that I can’t imagine ever having sex with women?

Posted on July 30th, 2004 by jl
Filed under: Life's Gay | 39 Comments »

Inspired by this, here are my favourite food “offers” in Kuala Lumpur:

• Starbucks

20% off food and drink for holders of the Hong Leong Bank MTV credit card.

• IKEA

The Swedish home store offers a set meal on Mondays - Fridays. For the small price of MYR5.50, you get a “main course”-type dish and a soft drink with unlimited refills. The menu changes daily and is only available at lunch- and dinner-times.

• The Cinnamon Cafe, Shangri-La Hotel

50% of all bakery products after 21H everyday. The various types of cinnamon bread are to die for. Miles ahead of Cinnabon.

• Strudels

30% off pastries in the “display window” after 20H everyday. This promotion must have been introduced only recently and well worth the effort of dropping by. Strudels make “traditional” French sweet pastries of high quality. They’re very rich, but very good.

• Lemon Garden 2 Go, Shangri-La Hotel

50% off sandwiches, salads and smoothies after 18H everyday. The sandwiches are generously and deliciously filled on very tasty bread. Highly recommended.

• Bread Story

30% of their bread-products after 2030H everyday.

• NEW! Oggi, The Regent Hotel

Oggi, the Italian restaurant at the Regent Hotel is celebrating its third anniversary. If you dine in the restaurant between now and 31 August 2004, you will be given a card entitling you to 25% discount off your next meal at the restaurant. [I have three of these cards to give away - let me know if you want them.] The hotel does great Italian food. A two-course “business” lunch starts from MYR40++ and a four-course dinner menu costs MYR100++ per person.

Are there any other “great” offers out there that I should know about? What are your favourites?

Posted on July 29th, 2004 by jl
Filed under: lost blah blah | 1 Comment »

Reported on Bernama’s website here.

Posted on July 29th, 2004 by jl
Filed under: Regionalisation | No Comments »

It riles me everytime when I read about the Government’s intention to attract Malaysian “talent” abroad into returning to the country. Reading the front page of today’s newspapers was no different. Except that this time, I’m riled enough to blog about it.

What a load of crock! What absolute bollocks!

I have so many bones to pick with the Government’s arguments, I don’t know where to start…

Posted on July 25th, 2004 by jl
Filed under: My Malaysia | 25 Comments »