A Tribute to a Viking King

One rainy Friday morning, I was busy surfing the internet looking various accessories for my new mobile phone. The computer screen showed to me different bluetooth devices compatible for my mobile phone... a wristwatch for an example (yes! a wristwatch!).

Suddenly, another eccentric (but educational) question came to my mind... I asked "Bluetooth? Hmmm... Why this technology was named Bluetooth?"

Many of us might be asking the same question too. Actually, I didn't have any idea that I will be enlightened by the website of Sony Ericsson mobile phones. After few minutes of browsing bluetooth devices I noticed a link "Bluetooth." Without any second thought I clicked the link and it brought me to the web page dedicated to Bluetooth technology.

I scrolled down until the bottom of the page... then... there it is... I noticed a Viking helmet.

Yes! A Viking helmet.
And it said... "Why it is called Bluetooth?""Ohhh... I asked that question to myself load of times... finally the answer is here."
Though the explanation posted on the website was short... it still roused my curiosity. It said:

"The Viking king Harald Bluetooth united Norway and Denmark. He was renowned as a great communicator, skilled at bringing people together to talk to each other – but he would never have guessed that a thousand years later a powerful technology would be named after him!"

Well... we're finally enlightened now... King Harald Bluetooth united Norway and Denmark which is like how the powerful Bluetooth technology "unites the worlds of computers and telecoms."

I added some additional information (from
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~dasgupta/bluetooth/history.htm):

"Harald I Bluetooth (Danish Harald Blåtand) was the King of Denmark between 940 and 985 AD. The name "Blåtand" was probably taken from two old Danish words, 'blå' meaning dark skinned and 'tan' meaning great man. He was born in 910 as the son of King Grom The Old (King of Jutland, the main peninsula of Denmark) and his wife Thyre Danebold (daughter of King Ethelred of England). Like many Vikings, Harald considered it honorable to fight for treasure in foreign lands. When Harald's sister Gunhild was widowed after the death of the violent Norwegian king Erik Blood Axe, she came to Denmark to seek Harald's help in securing control of Norway. Harald took the opportunity to seize control himself. By 960 he was at the height of his powers, ruling over both Denmark and Norway.

He was baptized by a priest named Poppo, sent by the German emperor. He then created a monument that read: "King Harald raised this monument to the memory of Grom his father and Thyre his mother. Harald conquered all of Denmark and Norway and made the Danes Christian". These words were also carved in stone called rune stones. Harald was killed in a battle in 985. Harald completed the country's unification begun by his father, converted the Danes to Christianity, and conquered Norway. The expansion begun by Harald in Norway was continued by his son Sweyn I, who conquered England in 1013. Under Sweyn's son Canute there grew up a great Anglo-Scandinavian kingdom that included parts of Sweden.
Old Harald Bluetooth united Denmark and Norway, Bluetooth of today will unite the worlds of computers and telecom (hopefully longer than the few years Harald's Viking kingdom survived). In 1994 Ericsson Mobile Communications initiated a study to investigate the feasibility of a low-power low-cost radio interface between mobile phones and their accessories. In Feb 1998, five companies Ericsson, Nokia, IBM, Toshiba and Intel formed a Special Interest Group (SIG). The group contained the necessary business sector members - two market leaders in mobile telephony, two market leaders in laptop computing and a market leader in digital signal processing technology. It is estimated that before year 2002, Bluetooth will be a built-in feature for more than 100 million mobile phones and several million communication devices ranging from handsets and portable PCs to desktop computers and notebooks."

A Tribute to a Viking King

One rainy Friday morning, I was busy surfing the internet looking various accessories for my new mobile phone. The computer screen showed to me different bluetooth devices compatible for my mobile phone... a wristwatch for an example (yes! a wristwatch!).

Suddenly, another eccentric (but educational) question came to my mind... I asked "Bluetooth? Hmmm... Why this technology was named Bluetooth?"

Many of us might be asking the same question too. Actually, I didn't have any idea that I will be enlightened by the website of Sony Ericsson mobile phones. After few minutes of browsing bluetooth devices I noticed a link "Bluetooth." Without any second thought I clicked the link and it brought me to the web page dedicated to Bluetooth technology.

I scrolled down until the bottom of the page... then... there it is... I noticed a Viking helmet.

Yes! A Viking helmet.
And it said... "Why it is called Bluetooth?""Ohhh... I asked that question to myself load of times... finally the answer is here."
Though the explanation posted on the website was short... it still roused my curiosity. It said:

"The Viking king Harald Bluetooth united Norway and Denmark. He was renowned as a great communicator, skilled at bringing people together to talk to each other – but he would never have guessed that a thousand years later a powerful technology would be named after him!"

Well... we're finally enlightened now... King Harald Bluetooth united Norway and Denmark which is like how the powerful Bluetooth technology "unites the worlds of computers and telecoms."

I added some additional information (from
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~dasgupta/bluetooth/history.htm):

"Harald I Bluetooth (Danish Harald Blåtand) was the King of Denmark between 940 and 985 AD. The name "Blåtand" was probably taken from two old Danish words, 'blå' meaning dark skinned and 'tan' meaning great man. He was born in 910 as the son of King Grom The Old (King of Jutland, the main peninsula of Denmark) and his wife Thyre Danebold (daughter of King Ethelred of England). Like many Vikings, Harald considered it honorable to fight for treasure in foreign lands. When Harald's sister Gunhild was widowed after the death of the violent Norwegian king Erik Blood Axe, she came to Denmark to seek Harald's help in securing control of Norway. Harald took the opportunity to seize control himself. By 960 he was at the height of his powers, ruling over both Denmark and Norway.

He was baptized by a priest named Poppo, sent by the German emperor. He then created a monument that read: "King Harald raised this monument to the memory of Grom his father and Thyre his mother. Harald conquered all of Denmark and Norway and made the Danes Christian". These words were also carved in stone called rune stones. Harald was killed in a battle in 985. Harald completed the country's unification begun by his father, converted the Danes to Christianity, and conquered Norway. The expansion begun by Harald in Norway was continued by his son Sweyn I, who conquered England in 1013. Under Sweyn's son Canute there grew up a great Anglo-Scandinavian kingdom that included parts of Sweden.
Old Harald Bluetooth united Denmark and Norway, Bluetooth of today will unite the worlds of computers and telecom (hopefully longer than the few years Harald's Viking kingdom survived). In 1994 Ericsson Mobile Communications initiated a study to investigate the feasibility of a low-power low-cost radio interface between mobile phones and their accessories. In Feb 1998, five companies Ericsson, Nokia, IBM, Toshiba and Intel formed a Special Interest Group (SIG). The group contained the necessary business sector members - two market leaders in mobile telephony, two market leaders in laptop computing and a market leader in digital signal processing technology. It is estimated that before year 2002, Bluetooth will be a built-in feature for more than 100 million mobile phones and several million communication devices ranging from handsets and portable PCs to desktop computers and notebooks."

NEW BOOKS FROM POWERBOOKS

Thanks to a colleague in CSB (Ms. Nicky) who reminded me of Powerbooks Sale... Finally, I bought three new books which I'm dying to finish these days... I just bought three but I knew that those three are all fantastic... Finally... after Harry Potter fever... I'll have another stories to be traveled next.

After reading Steve Berry's THE ROMANOV PROPHECY... I began to like him and his stories... and this is his latest novel which came out last January (I think)... whew... a library lost for many centuries... what could it be??? i'll have to find it out.


Wow... the second part of Inheritance Trilogy... the first was ERAGON... wrote by the Tolkien of the new age (yeah! for me paolini must be influenced by tolkien's masterpieces--the lord of the rings)

"Edgar Allan Poe is dead... and the mystery begins..."


Hahayyy... can't wait to finish all...

TARANTINO THRILLA IN MANILA

I woke up early on Wednesday morning and noticed that my colleague in school sent me a message in my mobile phone that classes were suspended due to heavy rains caused by the typhoon Chedeng. My yawns turned into a wide smile and went back to sleep. As I closed my eyes, I planned carefully what to do in the afternoon and avoid to be killed by boredom in the apartment which I stayed.

It was 10:00am when I'm finally wide awake. I gave myself a bit of rest then did some work inside the apartment like cleaning because my t-shirts and other school stuffs were located elsewhere. After an hour I went out and bought my lunch---I know it's too early to eat by 11:00am... but hunger will kill me.

I went out of apartment around 4:00pm going to SM Megamall. From there I bought new books in Powerbooks because there's a nationwide sale in all Powerbooks branches. Gateway was my next destination because I've not visited the place so often after my family moved to a far away place. Upon arriving there I felt that I'm once again close to my true home but remembered that I'm already living far away. I decided to skip the drama and continue exploring the mall looking for something new or anything that will amuse me.

Upon reaching Figaro, I noticed a sign posted near the escalator "9th Cinemanila Film Festival." My jaws dropped, I knew it and I just forgot that there's important visitor for this year in the country. Like a mad dog I was when climbing the escalator towards the Gateway Cineplex. Upon arriving there, I noticed that there were people partying and I learned that it was the opening day of 9th Cinemanila Film Festival and they have special guest. Someone I really admired... my idol... he's here.

Another banner bearing his picture caught my attention and aroused my interest. It said "TARANTINO THRILLA IN MANILA."

"Wow! Quentin Tarantino!" I said.

Since I cannot see Quentin in the opening cocktail... I decided to get the cinema schedule and watch at least one film of his during this year's film festival.

THEN Friday came.

After I prepared the lesson for my Monday class, I quickly left and went to Gateway Cineplex. I quickly bought ticket for one of Tarantino's film that will be shown on that day, it was "Reservoir Dogs."

Hunger crept over my stomach after few minutes of waiting but I want to eat during watching the film. The film will start at 7:15pm according to the schedule but later I noticed the sign that the screening will start at 7:30pm. As I stroll around the place my eyes didn't miss the usher at Cinema 5 which I believed the screening venue of the movie that I'll watch.

Few minutes passed the usher started accepting tickets from the audience which means I can finally enter. I quickly bought a combo meal--popcorn, large coke, and hotdog on sandwich. Then I get my ticket from my pocket and hurried to Cinema 5. Upon my entrance the usher tapped my shoulder and told me something that I don't understand. He showed to me my ticket and told me that I WAS IN THE WRONG CINEMA!!!

Ohhh... I should be at Cinema 4 not 5. Excitement led me to shame! Tsk.

Without looking back, I went to Cinema 4 and asked the usher (by speaking) that if it is possible to enter the cinema by that time. Sadly, the usher told me to wait until 7:20pm.

Too bad! I was standing among the crowd of moviegoers with a popcorn, hotdog sandwich and a drink waiting for entrance. But since I couldn't stand hunger, I decided to start eating amidst the crowd. Five more minutes passed after I finished eating the usher announced that we may enter the cinema. I didn't mind the foods and keep focused on seeing Tarantino's film.

I quickly take my seat and noticed that the cinema is full which means that Tarantino is indeed a very popular director. I first knew him through his two volume films KILL BILL and it was really great! Then I gave myself a bit of background reading about Tarantino. According to what I read, he was just a counter in a video shop then later turned into a great director after the success of Reservoir Dogs. He also directed many films and one claimed the prestigious award of Cannes Film Festival, that film is "Pulp Fiction."

It is only my first time to watch the Reservoir Dogs... so maybe despite there'll be no subtitles... I'll keep on my seat because something great and unexpected happened.

QUENTIN WAS THERE!!!

Yes! He's indeed there inside the cinema where I am. I QUICKLY LEFT MY SEAT AND RUN TOWARDS HIM AND WE SHAKE HANDS. He spoke something to my but I didn't understand it... I just smiled in return. I wish to take picture with him but I was not permitted... I knew the reason... the screening will be delayed because there're too many of us in the cinema. But it is enough that I see my idol in person.

The film began and completed after 100 minutes. I clapped hard... though I didn't fully understand the film... I admired it too... bloody and gruesome....

While riding a jeep going back home I couldn't forget one of the great and memorable event of that day... meeting the international acclaimed director which I admired and wished to meet for a long time... finally my wish was fulfilled... I see him, face to face.

I wish that... I'll be the next... THE NEXT QUENTIN TARANTINO!

( http://www.cinemanila.org.ph/2007/index.html )