When I find a good mix, It def has to go up on this Blog!!
Live from the Boiler Room- London.

Ghostpoet Mix

Oh my its been such a long time since I have updated this blog yet there have been a few things that have somehow passed my mind since then. I think what was quite significant was catching up with an old friend of mine from S'pore & his getting to know his new girlfriend better. Yes they spent the week at my place crashing out in the lovely quaint Victorian living room. During that period my sleep was seriously deprived due to long nights which I did the sensible thing of taking a day off from work! There were endless amount of music we checked out at various bars/clubs as well as most of the big London Museums. So for me, it was great just to visit such places.



I have been really enjoying my weekends this summer in London. Other than the necessary skating sessions that I will have, but just catching up with all the mini festivals that are in London. I have also been enjoying my old school vintage racing bike which I bought from a friend. Night cycling in London is such a trill especially when there is not much traffic! I am gonna try and get some guys to go night cycling to some odd places in London if I can :-)

Last night I was at imperial wharf in 7 sisters, near Tottenham, North London. Imperial Wharf is what I think is a Co-operative owned by local artist where they had this massive party! Yeah I did enjoy all of the performances & the music, just chilling with some mates, however, coming home was a problem as there were no night buses at all. Strange? But I did find out that just near by was this crazy riot that was taking place which probably explained all the helicopters in the sky. Yes looking at the news, a man had recently been killed by the police where, what started at a peaceful demonstration turned out to be really sour!! The damage had been burnt buildings, cars as well as a few shops looted. It looked like a warzone. It only goes to show of the scale of the problem in that, there really is a much deeper issue with regards to the neglected social unrest that exist within the inner city of London. As I recently commented on FB, I wondering if Thatcherism (causing unemployment amongst the working class whilst promoting Victorian ideas of self help) ideas that have been in-beaded in UK politics could be one of the factors of this???

The Skyline of France May 2011

Weekend

Oh man not another end of the weekend and a long week ahead of work. I kind of miss those strings of Bank holidays with the extra day we were given due to the Royal Weeding as well as that extra day holiday after the end of May Bank holiday due to the Queens Unofficial Birthday (Apparently there 2 separate days she celebrates, which honestly I am not too sure why, but its a holiday). This weekend I did sadly spend about 2-3 hours on a Saturday afternoon catching up with work as I have somehow been covering 2 job roles the last 1-2 months, but that will end soon as luckily they have found a replacement to my old work. But yeah I did manage to finish on a reasonable time where I went to catch up with some of the old faces within the London Hardcore scene, where yeah it was the usual sort of jokes about the usual day to day events of some of the guys. They were all going to the gig (LBU show) at the 12 Bar, but I went to for skate at Southbank. As I was on the way I ran into this homeless man very near Southbank begging near the stairs. What was sad about this was that I sort of knew this guy as he use to skate London, and he was pretty good, olling massive gaps & Rail bars at Southbank which I have never seen anyone do. Yeah he was asking if I knew anyone who wanted to squat nearby etc etc which I did not know anyone. Quite sad as this guy has done a bit of hard drugs such as a bit of crack. Anyway I do hope he will pick himself up soon as he is quite a nice guy. After my brief chat I did spend a good 2 hours skating which just wore me down. But I am happy I had a nice session. There was this live band playing nearby where some of the Southbank guys went over to chill and see. Yeah very laid back Saturday and my Sunday was pretty much at Rough Trade and chilling around Shoreditch drinking coffee with a mate of mine. It was a grew rainy day today after all.

I have been spending a bit of the weekend covering my CIMA exams at home.
The weather outside looks great and I am itching to get out. Someone reminded me of Sonar Festival for 2011 in Barcelona. mhhh looks good! Although my idea is just to fly off somewhere really far away!!!

As it is the period of Lent.

Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum; Si þin nama gehalgod to becume þin rice gewurþe ðin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofonum. urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us todæg and forgyf us ure gyltas swa swa we forgyfað urum gyltendum and ne gelæd þu us on costnunge ac alys us of yfele soþlice.

"The commerce of the world, especially as it is now carried on, is an unbounded ocean of business; trackless and unknown, like the sea it is managed upon; the Merchant is no more to be follow'd in his adventures, than a maze of Labyrinth is to be trac'd without clue." --- Daniel Defoe.

We live in such a machiavellian plotting period with politicians & major Financial institutions seemingly caught in an unforgiven manipulation of a system that somehow was designed to benefit the everyday man. Somehow with the latest figures of the IMF and the current woes in Europe living in conflict driven oil industry & exploited resources from South America to Africa I often wonder what the world would look like in 5 to 10 years. I have to say that I do admire what some smart academics have to say in TV interviews or debates, but I often end up been rather skeptical. I don't completely advocate for crimethlnc way of living, although I appreciate the broadminded strong sense of community that it bears...... in fact I don't know its 2.00am I ought to be a sleep.

浩钟伟仁

Johor Baru Re-visited

Well as much as I would love to visit my place of childhood & teenage memories I did not actually recently visit Malaysia but I was thinking about some of the scenes that I had came across. As I was just going back to Singapore to my parents safe haven in Balestier road, I was little disturbed when I decided to go a little off track to some of the neighborhoods from Johor Baru City near the cause crossing, a bridge that borders a first world developed country. There were more scenes of poverty that I would have liked to snapped but I felt a little uncomfortable that curious eyes were peering at any given opportunity at this Ang Moh chap. I don't think my "London Black Up Hardcore Punk Kickboxing dance style" would have protected me.

I sometimes wonder how a city so close to such a city as Singapore have much pockets of poverty. Any given text book basic economic theory would probably highlight that a city should be reeking economic benefits to such a rich city such as S'pore. Singaporean business's opening up in Johor developing property, opening factories etc surely creates industry creation, tax benefits to the local state would be re-distributed correctly back to people? Actually back to the Bumiputeras.

Being half Singaporean myself, I am not having a M'sia bashing moment. I do love Malaysia, just that there are things that seem to bother me about, and I somehow point the finger at the Malaysian Government.

Having said that, Can't say parts of London are that amazing. Capitalism has failed all of us.

There is this Nigerian security guard who works late in the hours in my office. As the financial year end drew to the 31st of March right through this week one can imagine the ungodly hours that a lot of people have had to go through. Yeah we are all slaves to deadlines & Emails. As I have been finishing work late I often strike a conversation with this Nigerian security guard who is actually studying to become a professional Psychologist. Working as a security guard is merely cash to cover his cost and a good way to catch up with some reading. We often discuss certain topics as to why society is the way it is with the high amount of depressed people often taking to medication. I am sometimes shocked at the amount of over prescription that are given to patients who really need more attention then just popping a few pills. Although I am told that medication is needed sometimes to suppress certain bad emotions where Doctors can then have a conversation however in most cases it may seem unnecessary. Oddly enough in places like Africa what people appear happy but are deeply concern over life related matters such as the lack of Clean water, food, education and shelter. These are some of the fundamental needs that everyone should be the chance however it appears from my observation that depression in developed countries are somewhat of a different nature. Usually related to deep emotional areas such as the feeling of underachievement. Sadly in our society what does not help is the high amount of drugs & alcohol that is consumed. Drugs may make you feel confident for a short period of time where Alcohol may give you that sense of losing one self but really these are short term affects that alter your state of mind. In a continuous usage of drugs and drinking what then becomes your state of mind. Furthermore if society accepted this form of behavior what hope do we have then?

Back to my Nigerian Friend. Well he did say that he felt that perhaps society had a lack in faith for a higher cause, which possible may mean a lack of faith in oneself. OK he did not sound like one of these bible bashing man from the Bible belt of America but he somehow had a point there. I guess having faith whether it be in the form of Hinduism , Buddhism, Christian, Jewish, Alien or you just believe in the high grand architect that is over looking us. Ok it dangerous sometimes to mention religion especially in Politics and that's because spirituality should on a personal level. I think with the bad press that religious orders have been getting in the media, along side with the lack of hope because of terrible wars, rioting and near economic meltdown, people in general over the years have stopped believing or either entered into this extreme of religious zealots. But yes as my Nigerian friend put nicely, people have stopped believing, somehow not knowing where to turn has caused depression. An interesting point. one that I am not really qualified to remark but he did make some very interesting points for me to ponder. Still I will continue to have further discussions with my new friend.

What Drum & Bass is all about for the "heads" out there!

Life.Love.Regret. Its just the whole cycle eh ??

Sad, though I should not feel this way as I saw this happening. Its amazing when one looks at someone's Facebook status can make you feel down, especially when the person's Facebook account was the person you felt the strongest & close too. As much as I would like to speak about it to my closest loved friend. I just knowthe fact that, this is one battle I have somehow lost. Lost my true love it seems.

I was just at a Metalheadz night seeing Goldie play. Yeah pretty good set!!

Curtain by X Unbroken X
This love built up inside me I thought would last always
once burning wildly now being doused with pain no sympathy could
ever remove your scars laid upon me how could you move on so fast
is all I ever wanted to know the thought of you with another crushes my soul
I don't understand when you stay
you still love me but I guess I know you now better than I did for
your type of love is a curtain you will always hide behind for the rest of your life
regret will always get you in the end
and that is the only piece of mind I have.

"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him" - Matthew Chapter 4, KJV.

The last few weeks seem to have been catastrophic from political breakdown in the Middle East to Earth Quakes and Tsunamis in New Zealand & Japan. I sometimes wonder if there is a message to be taken in what has been happening as a result of man's behaviors. Well whatever it is, My thoughts and prayers are to those grieved families.

My mother was in London the last few weeks where she stayed with me. Yeah we spent 4 days in Brighton at a friends house where during that time we went on long walks near Brighton walking along the white cliffs of 7 sisters to just spending time, lazing about with some of my mates in Brighton. I think she felt 30 years younger!!! We had a conversation about Malaysian politics particularly about the Bumiputra policy to which we agreed that this was a racist policy. Oddly enough someone forwarded a link about this issue just yesterday about an article in the The Wall street journal .My views on this were as such.

Yes a rich melting pot of races & religions living together where some are more equal than others. Its probably the only developing country in the world that practices this form of negative discrimination mirroring American 1960'S racial discrimination & a lesser extent South Africa. Looking at some figures, I am lead to believe that 90% of government contracts are awarded to first class Bumiputras(as apparently you get 2nd class Bumiputras like some ancient Indian Caste System) and within the Government there is only something to the figure of what 5% of Chinese civil servants. Yeah I am not surprise that many Malaysian Chinese/Indian & Eurasian would want to leave Malaysia. I think this "Malaysian new economic policy" is racist and i am not too sure how it was meant to be a kind of social economic restructuring policy towards poor families. I would have thought better education, health and industry creation would have been the priority, but perhaps Nationalistic pride & religion got too involve into the equation. Malaysia is in fact a rich country primary resources with a talented mixed race of multicultural citizens. BUT if its the majority that are favored, then why should should the rest feel that they should accept the circumstances that they are 2nd class citizens. When you read Mahathir's ideas of Vision 2020. Its states that the idea of vision 2020 is:

"Malaysia can be a united nation, with a confident Malaysian society, infused by strong moral and ethical values, living in a society that is democratic, liberal and tolerant, caring, economically just and equitable, progressive and prosperous, and in full possession of an economy that is competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient".


On a completely different. I was in Paris early January when I was going back to my mate's place to crash at some silly hour when we came across this van. Yeah I mean this has to be the worst graffiti art I have ever seen done to a van! I mean nothing on it makes sense??? I mean its as though this inviting you to just do another piece over it, or in fact maybe you just want to paint it all white!!??

I am feeling sick and I have got nothing really to say. I am nearly 30 pages in completing the longest fiction novel (Actually made up of 2 books in one) of about 900 pages. Quicksilver - by Neal Stephenson, which will bring to read the next 500 pages in the next sequel of late 17th century, early 18th century novel rich in history, adventure, science & absurdity. In some ways I think I need a month off sitting on some Indonesian Island reading this and perhaps remote working from the office (should there be wifi?)

No skateboarding for me as I feeling pretty sick as a dog. I blame it for the lack of sleep I have had and the long hours at hour. I would like to change that habit very soon! I did manage to buy a really nice tune EP today at rough trade with much thanks to my newly arrived friend from Singapore for recommending !

I was having a youtube session after work, looking through some live clips of some of my favorite hardcore punk bands such as Planemistakenforstars & Orchid etc when I am across this band call "I Wrote Haikus About Cannibalism In Your Yearbook". Damm what a crazy name for band but then again if I started some post hardcore band I probably have a name of a band like "stolen bikes goes faster" or something ha ha.

I was yhinking about S'pore.. I remember when I was last living there I somehow had the need to be with like minded people. It is difficult as S'pore been such a fast moving city, there seems to always be a question about the quality of time spent & what the majority of people do with it in such a small space. light hearted conversion at about 4.00am in Paris with a french dude (who had been there) about life in Sg which made me even wonder more of the times I was there.

Pianos Become the Teeth

And they will be playing in the UK soon!!!

Democracy, The West & The Arab World

Some extraordinary events that is unfolding in this Arabic part of North Africa with the Tunisian president escaping his own country. Its strange that for years Zine Ben Ali was seen by the West as some benevolent dictator (Far from been a LKY in S'pore) who rightly stood up to hardline Islamist but was such corrupt dictator to his own people. however, Its funny that in the West whenever we read about elections in the Arab world, we desire for a fair & democratic process so long as its leaders that favor the West. Think of all that Oil concessions that are out there in the Arab world. Sadly from about the Mediterranean world(Club Med) to the Borders of India there appears to be some sort of endless disaster with Iraq, Sudan elections, Lebanon(they have no Government it seems??), Egypt(another recent fake election) & Algeria a country that for some reason should be as rich as Saudi Arabia but has the worst unemployment in the region with no social pensions or security but somehow the wealth is sitting in some Swiss bank account.

With the internet been readily available to many young Arabs, a need need for a sudden change in the region without the absolute rule of Princes of the Gulf state. Lets hope it will be the best.

I was listening to Shelter as I was typing this ha ha