S.C.U.M

Delaqroux Inc Updates!
Now all is right with the world at the moment and when all is too right, some people get bored. So, when people A asked people B, "boredomness sucks. let's start an art magazine" and people B replies, "fuck yeah! let's start an art magazine", people A and B collaborated and started an art magazine because people A got bored and people B said "fuck yeah". Now all is still right with the world, mind you. But from that moment on, the world had SCUM. That's right, representing planet Earth for the first time ever, we, the world, has SCUM of the earth.. and it's free.

So, yeah, SCUM is (probably -we like to play it modest) the first ever free-voiced, independent art and media online publication in Malaysia and we totally came up with that ourselves (both SCUM and the "free-voiced, independent art and media online publication in Malaysia" tagline thingy). So, because we came up with that ourselves, we decided that we're not gonna be like other magazines out there which was came up by other people. And this is good. For one, we want to keep it free. Other magazines will have price tags. Ours just come up with tags without prices. That, or no tags at all. Second, magazines out there kill trees and that is not good for the elephants and primates. So, our magazine will be purely online published. In other words, no trees cut down to make overrated paper and we also save the world's resources of metal because we are not using staplers for our magazine.

Third, and most importantly, because we're not making any sell-out profits from this publication at all, we do not have any paid professional publication body. And that is good too. Why? Well, that means that YOU are our publication body! SCUM will be largely based on readers' contributions of creative works and masterpieces. In other words, we get contributions from readers be it photographs, artworks, literature works (poems, short stories and shoutouts) and anything as long as it have a good vibe (meaning, nothing provoking hatred or whatever that is bad). We wont pay you for your work but we can promote your awesome. With your awesome in our publication, our SCUM will be as awesome.

Finally, our publication is approved by a man by the name Johnny O'Leary, or Larry for short. We're not too sure who he is but he did approved us. So we high-five-d and thought that he is nice and worth a mention.

Anyways, if you like the idea of what we're doing and thought this write-up is very likable, visit us on our facebook group page (http://www.facebook.com/SCUM.malaysia) and click the like button because that really represents how much you like us. Also, the facebook group page will be where we published our issues of magazines (you might need a flash player thingy in your computer but we positively think you might already have it). Additionally, contact us at scum.ipba@gmail.com (also serve as our dropbox if you feel like contributing anything to our issues). We look forward to hear from you and thanks for reading this Johnny O'Leary-approved message.

SCUM Delaqroux Out!

Wide awake at 2.48 (am)

Delaqroux Inc Updates.
I is so wide awakes even though I is definitely shouldnt be.

Yeah, i will be having an exam paper tomorrow at 8.30 am and here i am, at 2.48, wide awake. The original idea was to finish my revision early so i can sleep early and wake up on time tomorrow. But i guess there is just something innate in me that still refuse to accept that concept. So here i am, wide awake with nothing to do and thus a rant on my blog, for some reason, seems to be quite a joyous, exciting activity to do.

But seriously, my mind is at a state of a perfect blank-ness that i dont have the slightest idea on what to rant. It's weird, really, considering that i can always find myself writing non-stop without realizing. Maybe it's the fact that my nose is still runny (cold. fuck) and i find that way too distracting to write a proper rant decently. Also, probably of the fact that i am hungry. Dinner was at 8pm, almost 6 hours past. I can never go back to sleep if i am in state of hunger. I hate being me.

Nevettheless, I shall go get something to eat. This is a pointless blogpost. Thank you for reading.
Oh and did i mention that this blogpost was made, once again, using my phone? Blogging with a small screen is not exactly practical. QWERTY keyboard helps to some extent but the limitation is still there. It's just not fast enough as a computer's keyboard..
Anyways, this is still a pointless blogpost.
Stop reading.
Delaqroux Out.

Moving out IPBArians?

Delaqroux Inc Updates!

Without having this blogpost to be unecessarily long winded, let me begin with several basic things you need to know; I am pissed, IPBA is asking us to move out of the students accommodation, and i have a good idea to have us not succumbing to this immature, inconsiderate demand. Also, I am very pissed.

First of all, I regard this to be highly immature demand of the IPBA administration because, as much as they claim that they have put quite a lot of thought in it, i think this is a consequence to poor planning and failure to walk that talk they made so much noise of. The call for us to be moving out of the students' accomodation was made a few weeks ago in April. As we are to move out during our second semester, this leaves us only with two months to find for an accomodation outside. This is not only absurd but considering the fact that they expect us to be able to find a place that can only accommodate us for less than six month in Kuala Lumpur - that is stupid. To tell you the truth, the rumour of us having to find a place outside went around as early as last year. At that time, i regarded IPBA's accommodation as being quote shitty end quote (i'm staying in the living room atm.. duh!) that i wouldnt mind staying outside. But that was only when we still have two semesters in IPBA. It is possible to get a place for rent with a minimum contract of a year. But now that we are looking for a place to rent for less than six month, how is that possible for us?

Thinking that it was a good head-start to have some brief idea on where should we be renting, me and my practicum teammates did go for a small house-search around the KL area. Phone calls were made and house prices were surveyed only to find disappointing results. Places advertised for rent are either occupied or the price for renting is insanely high (homes in prime zone of KL, what do you expect?). I mean, if we are to move out of IPBA's accommodation, the only monthly financial advantage we have is just by RM80 a month. A place with three bedrooms costs so much that we figured that only by cramming more people than the house is meant for us was the only solution. Then again, if the house is so crammed, has it ever crossed any mind of IPBA administration that this might affect our studies? Especially we're on our practicum years where C5 IPBArians should have enough matters in their hands already. Also, when we tried to request for a block in IPBA where we, desperately, claimed that we dont mind cramming alot of people in a place as long as we dont have to move out, they responded that over-cramming might be psychologically dangerous (whatever fuck that means?) and might affect our well-being and studies. Huh... so it's alright to have us squatting in a house of 10 people outside? Oh, and if they expect us to find a place for one person or two person stay (like in Vista Angkasa for example), how can they be guarantee that it'd be safe for us? My sister used to live in Vista Angkasa before due to the reason that it's the only available and affordable accommodation around KL (she was studying in UM at that time). How did it turned out? Well, she moved out a few months after. The reason being; too many cases of house break-ins in the area, perverted, wolf-whistling mat rempits hanging about the place, she got pick-pocketed while waiting for the bus, and, ONCE AGAIN, she had to squat in a house of two rooms with six other housemates and she think life was really, really fucked. How is this ideal?

I would like to quote that statement made early in this year that says "asramaku rumahku" and i will like to highlight how ironic it is that we are being chased out of our own 'house' despite we did nothing wrong to break the students' accommodation act or commit any crime. The blame lies within the management that failed to reject new intakes of students despite being obviously clear that IPBA's students accomodation is reaching its accommodating limits. Regard this blogpost as a provocative heads-up to instill anger and fear if you will, because i believe this is exactly what we need to show to the management - of course, not to the extreme, barbaric level; but enough to know that we are standing firm with our rights. This demand of having us to move out on such a short notice, without considering our physical, emotional and financial well-being is a sign of immaturity and poor management skill - things that we are taught in IPBA to not succumb to as future teachers. For those who disagree with me, just regard this blogpost as an angry rantings of someone who has spent hours with his practicum teammates discussing, making phone calls, and searching  for a house to rent outside, and wasted those hours, failing. Ignore this blogpost.

For those who think otherwise, are you still looking for a place to move out?

Delaqroux Out.

Trial post from X10

Delaqroux inc updates!
Well... Sort of...

Just checking out whether if a blogpost from my phone using the android app Blogger-droid can appear properly on my actual blogpage. There's nothing to be said here so you might as well skip to the next post or something. But if you're still reading up til this point, I guess I owe you a thanks :)

Delaqroux out

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

His Rage

Rainfall drip-drop,

Like drippy tip

Of a granite ceiling,

Echoes twice or thrice,

Every a second or two,

Sudden deafening, furious roar

Of tormented, disappointed

Soul in this chasm of solitude.

A blindingly lit stage,

A thunderous applause

Of anticipation and emancipation,

For the jester

In hope of light and merry

Cackling his way

Like the mockery,

The laughter in his head.

The quantum

Of no beginning nor end

Where the truth lies and the lies be true

Where the truth ends and the lies begin

The circle, perfected

The continuum

Of endless treachery and deceit

Hence, he felt

Rage.

Delaqroux Inc. 2011

-His Rage

(as submitted in Receipt Stories, 5th March, 2011)

How many more jumps?

Delaqroux Inc Updates!
It's 3am and i am still playing around with my new adorable phone and also doing random stuffs on facebook and blogger. So another tranquil night, another self-reflection session. Why not, right?

I recall one time ago when i watched a motivational talk on TV and the speaker told the viewers a secret to happy living, which is simply; stay away from anything that hurts you (Gosh.. can a motivator get any more smug-y than that? I hate motivators). Also, there was this one dick.. i mean, motivator giving some motivational speech awhile ago during one of those insignificant personality development courses i attended which cited the infamous.. something theory. Cant remember what exactly is that theory but it's pretty much built on the foundation of "what may go wrong will go wrong". Again, basically, it's the same "stay away from things that can hurt you if you want a happy life".

That made me think; is there such thing as a pain-free happy life?

Yeah, some other dude said something about "no pain, no gain" right? So what's a little prick everynow and then before you really get to enjoy the good stuffs in life. But then again, i kept losing myself in real complicated situations that i'm starting to think that there is no happy life, there is no pain-free life, and there are simply too many inevitable things that will constantly hurt you. I'm not putting this in a very pessimistic perspective mind you. It's just that, in layman's language, i've been through a whole lot of crappy stuff that i'm actually believing that there's no such thing as a pain-free way or a happy way out. It's just life. Short, sophisticated and shitty. It's like you're getting to the top floor of a building, you give up half way, you climb out the window and you jump down, only to find yourself still alive once you hit the ground, having to restart all over. There's no pain free way and there's no quick exits either. It's just a whole long shitty climb up and a stretch of endurance test.

Speaking of falling flat and still not dying, i have found myself doing things that will hurt myself plenty of times in my life. I made choices that seem promising, only to find out there's none of that sort. Afterwards, i found myself terribly hurt, i gave up, i tried to 'kill myself'. The result to that is just me falling flat on the ground again, still alive, and having to start all over again. Finally, i made another near-similar choice of self pain infliction once again and the cycle recontinues. I dunno. Sometimes, i think this pain i'm having might actually take me to a better place where nobody else ever manage to reach. Sometimes, i think i'm just a stupid risk taker that's going no where. At other times, i think it's not that the bad choices i made that it's causing me the pain, it's the whole word that's effing up with me. Hell, the choice might not even be a bad one in the first place at all.

Til then, this is just me randomly rambling about part of my life which is significant yet them details mustnt be told to anyone that i have to type in an all emo metaphorical language. wtf.
Delaqroux Out.

IPBA's Weak Epidemic Control Policy

Delaqroux Inc Updates.
I just realized (that was a lie, i didnt just realized. i realized this so long ago) that my college and its lecturers are quite extreme in the policy of perfect class attendance. If you are sick, you should report to the HEP, fill up a couple of forms, pass the forms to the lecturers of the classes you'll be missing, and send a copy to your mentor, all alongside an MC letter. Even when you do that, you cant be excused to rest in your dorm, you'll have to be in HEP's sickbay until lecture hours is over. Due to this tediousness, many resort to either screw the whole form filling bullshit and just stay at home, or attend class anyway. I was the latter today and i find how disturbingly disturbing that IPBA put so much emphasis on trainee's attendance while setting aside epidemic control. Oh, and at times, the lecturers do provide an exception for those who really are sick to skip/postpone the form filling and stuffs. But only to the extent of a really 'sick' sickness. Common colds or cough is not accepted.

"Disturbingly disturbing" is a synonym of "stupidly stupid" by the way.

So yes, i find this really stupid coz for one main reason, sick people, even those with common cold, can be contagious. Recently, a whole lot of students from my cohort have been sick - one after another. One person will attend class, sneezing and coughing all the way, and when that person is recovering, another person fall sick. there has never been a perfectly healthy attendance. Cant the lecturers see a pattern there? It's so obvious that we are infecting one another!

The HEP may argue that this is the reason why they have sickbays for sick students. I would say that the idea is basically to quarantine sick students from infecting one another and that is a good effort to stop the spreading of virus. But seriously, how disease proof enough are the sickbays? For all i know, i might just end up infecting the whole HEP staffs and (while i dont really mind doing that), we're back to square one. In other words, contagious students should be quarantined away from everyone else - not other students but also college staffs, and lecturers. Also getting into the sickbay is another problem. With all the form filling and the form handing out, nothing there suggest that i havent able to spread my viruses all over the college by the time i'm done. I cover my hand when i sneeze, i didnt sanitize my hand before filling in the form and i hand over the form to the lecturers. There you go. And finally, which is possibly the strongest argument of all, who would want to be quarantined in the HEP? For all i care, even when i'm healthy, i'll try my best to avoid that place. Now that i'm sick, i should stay in that place? Judgemental eyes of the staffs for the sick soul? No thank you.

Of course, i'm not trying to freak anyone here nor am i bad-mouthing the college but i really see nothing wrong with staying in the dorm when i'm unwell. Other students are in class so there's basically no one to infect. Filling up forms and all those formalities are good efforts to make sure student dont skip classes intentionally with the excuse of a fake sickness. But seriously, how far does that go in stopping students from faking their sickness. Also, MCs are not given for common colds or cough in clinics so forms that has to be included with an MC letter cannot be filled. And if my illness is that serious, i might not even be able to make it to the sickbay nor the clinic for the MC. My choice is to either stay in the dorm (which is illegal) or just attend the class anyway (not a smart choice but at least that's better than running around getting to clinic for MCs, having to fill in and pass up forms and infecting the whole world in the process) So, seriously, what should we do if we fall sick in IPBA?Non of IPBA's epidemic control system make any sense. Isnt it time someone retake a look at all these bullcrap?

So, til then. This is me, sneezing my lungs out in a lecture hall with approximately 125 other students, bidding you for a healthy life ahead.
Delaqroux Out.

Of Beggars and Preachers

Delaqroux Inc Updates

While i was typing the blogpost title above, something struck me. Should i use capital for the nouns in my blogpost title? Did i ever use capital for nouns in my blogpost title before? Hmmm... Anyways, back to the topic.

Just a few hours ago, i was having my dinner when an old guy dropped by my table and he started asking for donations. As usual, they're those unfortunate people who are not exactly as wealthy in supporting their own expense and they drop in restaurants to restaurants, table by table, asking for you to be generous. (Yes, i'm avoiding the use of the word Beggar here coz i think it sounds a lil too harsh.) Of course, there's always the people who drop by your table, selling some stuff that, apparently, are of no use to you. And then, there are those people who uses elements of sympathy or whatever to get you to be generous. Now, as useless as the items offered by the former, i dont really mind them. At least, they're using some effort to get the money they need. Heck, sometimes, i dont mind buying those stuffs they offered coz they're pretty useful... *hides shiny LED bouncing ball and wooden key-chain the shape of a heart* ..like a packet of tissue papers.

But, what really grinds my gears (Family Guy reference.. wtf) is the latter who... how should i put it delicately... friggin cheats to get your money from you. Now here's what happened; the old guy who dropped by my table was wearing jubah and turban, carrying a recycable bag and a walking stick. He didnt really held out his hand and ask for donations. Instead, he gave me a greet. Acceptable. But what he did next was TOTALLY not acceptable. He started preaching about God and doing goodness and stuffs. I wasnt able to really hear him as the place was a lil noisy though. However, I manage to hear him uttering how i should start doing goodness because God knows when i will die. Okay. Then he started pointing upwards and start uttering some arabic phrases (probably from Quran i guess) and said something about, God knows what i do and didnt do and more stuffs. Also, he said something about he is a humble servant of God and his arrival might be God's reminder for me to do good things. All while closing his eyes, talking in smug tone, and pointing occasionaly skywards. So, yeah, why is that unacceptable? Read on.

Due to the fact that i couldnt really hear him with all the noise in the restaurant, i was freaked out for a moment. What exactly is this old man talking about? Is he asking for donations or he's just dropping by to preach something and only that? Should i take out my wallet and give him something, or should i continue listening? (Note that i didnt opt to ignore him entirely. That's something). So, being in such state of confusion, i took out my wallet. Then i thought, "wait, why am i taking out my wallet? Is he hypnotizing me or something?". Then, i just decided to just take out my cash. If he is just using all those talks to just get me to give him some cash, then he should be giving me some attention by now. If he's generously preaching, then i suppose he would reject the cash. Surprisingly, he did not held out his hand to take the cash or pay any attention to it, but continues talking. That was when i thought it's a nice change to have people who are actually devoted to God to shamelessly preach reminders on people without any hidden agendas. Perhaps, we do need some reminder every now and then.

My next move however, proved everything wrong. Yes, we do need reminders every now and then. That in some people, God is just another tool to get what you want. Pessimistic as that sounds but this old guy who has been preaching for the last 8 minutes is just that, someone who claims God wants you to give him cash. What. the. fuck.

My next move was asking him "Pakcik kutip derma ke?" (my question might have not exactly be like that but it's exactly the same gist). Apparently, people, there's a distinct difference between derma and sedekah. Derma is when you collect money for someone or a charity organization. Sedekah is when you give the money to the person needing it in front of you at no catch. If the guy is collecting derma, then he will say yes. Maybe he's been preaching on behalf of some mosque that is really in need of funding. If the guy is a con, he will also say yes. However, IF the guy's a real preacher, he will say no. This guy said..... *drumroll* no. In fact, this was his answer (something like this); "WTF man! No, i'm not collecting derma, i'm in need of sedekah! Werent you listening to what i said?" Yes, aside the "WTF man!", everything else is exactly what he said. I tried to explain myself but he cut me off and started preaching more things about doubting a person who's in need. And he said something like, he's looking for a sincere giver, if i'm doubting him then my gift for him is not sincere, thus, God shall not be amused. He said that whether if he's lying or not, that's his issue with God. the question now is whether am i sincere with what i'm giving him or not? Well, friggin obviously i'm not.

Finally, after assuring him that i am 'fucking sincere', i gave him the cash, he thanked me and went off to the next table and started preaching again. Yeah, so that's how the story ended. There were times when people asked me for donations and i wondered if that person is really using the money for any good later on. This time around, i dont care if he's using the money for good or not, i just want him to get struck by lightning right there, right now. What he did was basically using God's name to get him the money. Maybe he is using the money for a prayer mat or a new Quran but i dont think that money would ever be halal. It is a form of sedekah, i know, but using God's name for that? I dont recall God saying anything about quoting any holy scripture to get money so you can do good with it, nor preach about him to get yourself some money. Have God ever told me to give people money sincerely and generously? Yes. Have God ever told people to ask for money in His name?

Okay, i'm not being a religious smug here but what he did really ticked me off. If you disagree with my point up there and you believe that it's alright to bring God along when you're asking for donations, then i believe you have to agree with the next old lady who came to me afterwards, bringing in a small little girl with her and letting the girl ask people for donations. Both the old guy and the old lady did the same thing. I believe both is just as wrong.

Delaqroux Out.

Dorm Alone

Delaqroux Inc Updates.
ALot of people have been wondering on what am i doing staying in IPBA at the moment while everyone else has gone back. So what better way to answer that question but to have a blogpost. Sha-ZAM!

Basically, nothing. Yeah, i'm not really doing anything. But mind you; i'm not wasting my time. I do recall the quote somewhere about the "joy of doing nothing" (or was that the title of a book?) and seriously, i'm not doing anything. Just lepaking and enjoying every moment of it. Some may ask, why not just do nothing at home then? Yes, I can choose not to do anything at home where doing nothing will be more convenient; I dont have to worry about food, money or doing laundry. But doing nothing here does not refer to bumming (a verb for people who are absolute bums). In fact, i rather take charge of my own do nothing-s. I choose to do my laundry when the weather seems nice and hot. I choose what food to eat and when i am to eat. I choose how much money i would spend in a day and what should i spend them for. After all, i'm not in a rich brat's spa. I'm on holiday.

But of course, i'm not litterally doing nothing. I'm currently working on my assignments (though i have to say, only 5% of my time is spent on that), enjoying the whole-day rain last Sunday, doing some random walking around and food hunting (I've discovered The Sphere in Bangsar South yesterday - nothing much to do there but at least there's a walking distance Carrefour and some dine-out places), and Oldtown White Coffee's.. well... White Coffee. Can life get any better? Of course it can. I've been sleeping at 2am and waking up at 10am on average days (something i really missed doing). I've been playing Minecraft and DotA when i'm bored. And i let the music i love playing all day long and I found a place that sells nasi tomato. Also, i'm working on a project of drawing my own comic. Had the storyline ready so all i have to do now is to draw. Wish me luck. And another also, I've came up with a storyline for a theatrical play about teachers. Probably that would be useful some time later.

Oh, and a quick shout out goes to Eliza Doolittle, She & Him, Maroon 5 and the great Nujabes (RIP. Whether if you turn up in heaven or hell, i'm sure they would welcome your company and your good music =) who has been generous enough to sponsor my dorm alone moment with their music. Yep, for people reading this blogpost, do check out Eliza Doolittle's "Skinny Genes", "Moneybox" and "Pack Up", She & Him's Volume 1 album, Maroon 5's "Misery" and every single track produced by Nujabes.

Til then, excuse me while i hit this golf ball from the wing of an F-14 parked on a US NAVY aircraft carrier vessel (I AM LEGEND reference if you're that clueless)
Delaqroux Out.

Sydney rain on a Sunday

Delaqroux Inc Updates
I often start my blogpost trying to explain the absence of posts made due to some inevitable business or laziness issue. Thus, i shall skip that explanation this time around. Regardless, today's excuse will be; lack of internet connection in IPG KBA and that sucks balls. That aside, it's a rainy sunday morning-afternoon today (probably til nightime as well. I'll confirm that later)

Anyways, if there is one notable difference between Sydney rain and KL rain, it would be the consistency. Sydney rains koalas and eucalyptus while KL significantly rains stray cats and dogs. If that make no sense, well, let's say Sydney's rain goes down slowly - pouring or drizzling to be exact. The rain is in tiny little drops and it may last a couple of minutes to a couple of days. So, a rainy day in Sydney is pretty much a laidback day to hibernate or enjoy a cup of coffee. KL rain, on the other hand, sound pretty much like hailstorm (without the hails) and you can hear it coming miles away from the thunders. You'll see people running for shelter in terror and kids hiding in corners, freaked by the thunderclaps. Okay, i'm exaggarating that point but yeah, it's pretty much like that. In a say, KL raindrops are big drops of water that goes down real fast, loud and hits you hard in the face - suitable for a classic western death scene in the rain - while Sydney's slow and trippy pour - like ones in a Bollywood mv clip.

But, rare case of the day, it is raining Sydney in KL at the moment. It has been raining since early this morning and yeah, everything today seems slow and smooth. Woke up to the sound and chilly air of the rain and the first thought i had was, "hey, sure rains like it's in Sydney today". So i had my cup of coffee, listen to She & Him's Volume 1 and pretty much stare out of the window the whole time. Lunch was a tiny bit of issue as i had to get to the restaurant down the street with no umbrella. So i put on the same jacket i wore on rainy days in Sydney and bolted down the road - just like old times. Oh, and more classic life in Sydney twist, i had a walk in the rain with her, sharing an umbrella she had with her which wasnt exactly hers, and had lunch with her under the pitter-patter sound of raindrops above the roof - again, just like old times. Everything about today reminded of my life in Sydney and while i'm dreadfully missing it, it's pretty cool that i'm reliving a moment of my life from almost a year back in KL. Not sure who i should be thanking of this wonderful day so yeah, thanks, God, you've done it again. lol

Anyways, here i am blogging on my balcony while watching the rainy weather outside =)
Delaqroux Out.