Grubbs n Critters

April 27, 2012

Newspaper Snippets

A portion of this article originated from a newspaper in Malaysia was circulated on the Internet recently (I was just a little slow in putting this up!). See the highlighted bits:

If you don’t get it, here’s the scoop: The writer of this article had idiotically translated the the rapper’s name, 50 Cent, into a local currency.

It is someone’s NAME. Granted that the the name 50 Cent is already silly enough, but you don’t just convert that into a local currency to put it into context. Who does that?!

How hilarious is this? Hee….heh!

Disconnected in a Connected World

Category: Rant and Thoughts

Isn’t it amazing that while we are connected to technology and every electronic gadget we possibly can, we actually ended up being more disconnected to the real world than actually connecting with it?

I’m in a pensive mood – so let me explain:

I don’t know how it is with other people, really, but every so often, I see individuals get completely absorbed in their little gadgets (blackberrys/smartphones/iphones /ipads), chatting on apps or making their presence known on social network sites, and at the same time is completely unaware and choose to be oblivious of things going around them.

Not a new phenomenon there, but how often do you come across dating couples or even groups of people exhibiting the same behaviour?

They get so caught up in their little gadget and completely absorbed in their own little world with the “smarts” in their hands that they seem to forget the very people they are actually and physically with at that moment in time. Sometimes, there will not be any real conversation going for a good half an hour as everyone on that table seems busy with something else. So, really, if that is the case, why do you even bother to go on a date or meet up with friends?

It does make me I wonder if the generations of this world now have suddenly become socially inept and completely forgetting the etiquette on how one should behave when having a face-to-face interaction.

That is what I essentially meant by being disconnected in a connected world.

Whilst I embrace technology and the convenience of it, I am still the conservative traditionalist at heart when it comes to making contact. Sure, I indulge in Social Networking or texting on my phone and the what-nots. However, but when it comes to personal interaction,(unless I cannot stand the sight or aura of that person), I personally prefer the face-to-face communication in close physical proximity whenever I can. With my mobile phone, although in plain view, is usually tucked away on the side.

I like that one-on-one interaction. It is personal, and that way I can give my fullest attention to the person I am with. It also feels very sincere and genuine enough to warrant the fact that I am there because I really want to be there and because the company of the other person means a lot to me.

Needless to say, I have trained myself to be very conscious of using my phone whilst in the company of others. I strongly believe that when you are sitting together for coffee , a meal or whatever the purpose is when people meet, you have gotta to respect that person’s time.

If anything, it is just plain rude to be checking your phone every 2 minutes. Worse is when you start picking up every single call that comes your way and then spend the next half an hour yakking with the other person who called you, leaving the person whom you are physically with to pick his/her nose.

Really, people; unless of course, it is a matter of life & death, why is it so difficult to tell the caller that you are currently in the midst of something else and that you will call back soon-ish? And for fucks’ sake – get OFF that friggin’ gadget you are fiddling with the whole time you are sitting down with that bunch of people or that single person you are having a meal with!

Is graciousness becoming a lost art?

Have we successfully established such strong surreal connection with the virtual world that we forget how disconnected we are with ourselves and the real people around us?

With no real human interaction for communication, emotions(compassion, love, friendship, empathy) is all lost. The romance only exists with deceptive machines loosely termed as technology that is incapable of giving a crap.

As we become enslaved to machines, it begs the question if the real connection to people still exists.

Roo’s scrotum

Category: Random

One of my team members who came back from his vacation over Songkran in Melbourne bought me a little something that is native of Australia –a Kangaroo Leather Pouch.

Now, if you don’t already know, anyone who goes to Australia for a vacation will almost certainly be buying the usual suspect of kangaroo leather skin in the form of purses, bag, wallets and the likes of that as a souvenir. While I was very appreciative of the gesture, it was unfortunately not my first-ever Kangaroo leather skin gift. Hence, nothing to be super- excited about and I left it on my desk.

This morning though, while waiting for the program on my laptop to start-up my eyes darted back again to that Kangaroo Coin Pouch on my desk.

Something which I have not noticed before caught my attention.

As I scrutinized it carefully, I realized the embossed words on the leather pouch read as “Genuine Kangaroo Scrotum”.

Yes, you read that right. SCROTUM.

I had to laugh! It appears that my team member had actually bought me a leather pouch made of a Roo’s testicle! How bizarre is this!

I wondered if he actually knew what he has given me, and so being the thick-skinned idiot that I am, I approached him quietly and gently dropped the ball on him (pun intended).

Not surprisingly, he was completely unaware of that knowledge, resulting in him apologizing to me really profusely. I may have just unwittingly embarrassed him, but he took it in a very good stride and laughed about it.

I was far from being offended and thought that it was quite a hilarious gift. Who would have thought that I now have a genuine Roo’s ball skin in my hand. How bizarrely cool is that!

As I found out through Mr Google, all those in possession of the skin of a Roo’s scrotum is assured of a long life, happiness and healthy children. Ahh…sounds better already, isn’t it?

And not only that, the scrotum pouch is apparently also a great sign to attract an opposite gender! (Not something I need would need, though) Who would have thought Kangaroo’s balls have got so much power!

Check out this “factoids” I got off the web:

http://www.australiagift.com/scrotum_shop/car_scrotum.htm

Although I am not too sure if I would ever want to be using a Roo’s scrotum to hold my coins, this is certainly one gift I will remember for a long time. Definitely one that will not be too easy to forget.