Lefties in a Right Handed World

I’ve got a confession to make. I’m a left handed living a right handed world. I’ve been wronged, prejudiced upon and misunderstood. After 22 years of silent screams, I will know unleash my useless rant upon the blogging community and soon – the world.

It started out in a Indian family dinner, when everyone was eating with their hands – I’m not particularly good with eating with my hands, but unfortunately someone forgot to order the fork and spoons for this dinner (the evil bastards) and so I was forced to try to use my hands to scope up the rice from an already slippery banana leaf and just for fun – they added curry. It was at this very moment that one of my relatives turned over, looked at the choice of hand I had chosen to use to eat and commented: “why are you using your left hand to eat? “

“Because i’m left-handed” I replied. Hoping that it would be the end of of a promisingly stupid conversation that will be filled with questions I have answered many many times before. Although having a fork and spoon presumably makes it easier for us lefties, it isn’t a walk in the park either as the instrument was designed and crafted for right handers, switch the hand which holds to fork to the spoon and vice versa and you’ve solved your problem – but don’t expect to be getting any appraises from the Brits regarding your dining ethics.

It wasn’t just at family functions that this abnormality plagued me. School was another taunting ground for the curious and the dumb, as you took down notes diligently with your left hand, you’re table buddy stares blankly at your talented hand for what he considers a feat before asking the inevitable “Bro you’re writing with your left hand…”he say’s almost innocently – like it was a mistake. God cant count the number of times I had wanted to say “Whoops – thanks for reminding me” and switch the pen to my right hand but not before thanking Mr Right Handed for pointing out our left handed mistakes.

When I started progressing through secondary school, I was required to use a certain tool or should I say stationary that would become one of the greatest enemies of lefties all over the world. I’m talking of course about the dreaded….

HIGHLIGHTER!!!

It’s impossible to highlight your notes in a classy manner with this cruel tool designed I believe to inflict self-shame on lefties worldwide, then of course some smart ass colleges only have right handed tables – don’t know what I’m talking about? Take a look…

But the highlighter and righty table isn’t alone, I’m taking this war out on the vending machines with right handed coin clots, the right handed car ignitions, the way my crayola crayon is spelt ”aloyarc” when I hold it – I’m making a stand against right handed zips on pants! No longer will left handed items be just cheap novelty objects found in Joke shops – I quote DiGi when I say “The time for change has come!” – Stand up lefties and raise your fist.

You’re left fist that is!

Starbucks Killer?

Is Old Town Coffee the new Starbucks? I sure hope so. I for one have never really liked Starbucks, I’m not saying I don’t like the enviroment, lush comfortable sofa’s, beverages with un-pronouncable names and cheapskate laptop user’s who hog on free internet access. Call me your average middle class bloke but I just don’t feel like paying RM19.85 for a beverage. It’s no secret that I would prefer the teh-tarik at a Mamak stall then a “frappocinwatumightcallIT” at Starbucks. In fact it’s a wise idea to stay away from food outlets with any reference to money in their name. In retrospect however, we have to admit that the enviroment at Mamak stalls can’t be compared to the comfort at cut-throat places like Starbucks (how many times am I saying Starbucks?). I mean imagine asking a girl out for a drink to the mamak stall on the first date? Unless of course you’re going out with Ugly Betty, don’t expect to get a callback from her – ever. So what we need is a place that serves drinks at reasonable prices and offers the luxury of that other coffee place.

Sound’s impossible? Not to Old Town Coffee – it doesn’t. OTC is catching on and becoming Starbucks biggest pain in the cohots. Do they serve a magnitude of beverages? Yes. Is the enviroment comfortable and classy? Yes. Are the prices reasonable. Yes. Do they have WiFi. Yes. Is the Sky Blue? Yes.

Originating from the humble town of Ipoh, Old Town has grown with the times and expanded into a multi-branch franchise that has expanded all over Malaysia. The menu has gone from just serving “kopitiam deliciaes” to catering to local cuisines such as Chicken Rendang, Chicken Curry and even Nasi Lemak. The premises are clean and tidy, the waiters are well dressed and the food arrives pretty fast – a plus point for those on a time limit. The outlet at Cyberjaya for instance open’s 24 / 7 and also telecast free football matches – what more can you ask for? With good service, affordability and facilities – it’s a mere matter of time before Old Town drowns the competion altogether.