| My knowledge of Bluetooth has a gap tooth. Bluetooth | | | | kingdoms, and our Bluetooth brings together different |
| is the ear thingy people wear that allows for | | | | devices to work under one technology." |
| hands-free, wireless use of their cell phones. Now you | | | | And some underling, no doubt, yelped, "Yeah! And isn't |
| can run, drive, snowboard, even ride a motorcycle and | | | | communication today's higher power?" |
| never miss a call. Cell chatter is paramount and there | | | | Cell phone technology and a Danish Christian king - |
| is little patience for those, like myself, who bring up the | | | | that's quite a stretch. But then, what do computers |
| rear of an inching glacier. | | | | have in common with an Apple? Oh, right, it's a |
| Without a cell phone, I am a lumbering Techno-saur, | | | | Genesis thing. (I made that up.) |
| soon to stumble into a tar pit (if not outright pushed) for | | | | But having what looks like a metal frog perched on my |
| not adapting to evolution. I point to my mouth and grunt, | | | | ear is ugly. Why is a Bluetooth so big when even |
| "Uh! Uh!" and so to expand my vocabulary, I tentatively | | | | devices for the hard-of-hearing are now barely |
| explore Bluetooth technology. | | | | noticeable? |
| The beauty of Bluetooth is that it lets various devices | | | | I know why. Something has to separate hands-free |
| by different manufacturers (or providers) "talk" to each | | | | cell phone users from Tourette Syndrome sufferers. A |
| other. Being "Bluetooth enabled" allows wireless use of | | | | visual cue is needed because it's harder to tell them |
| cell phones, cameras, printers and other devices.) | | | | apart. Thus, the sizable ear shield tells me that the lone |
| On the phone front, simply put your cell phone in your | | | | person at the next table is actually sputtering and |
| pocket, pop on your Bluetooth ear thingy, and if your | | | | swearing at someone else. |
| phone is "on," voices will talk into your ear automatically. | | | | But I always return to my natural instinct to resist |
| Look, Ma, no hands! | | | | owning a cell phone, never mind a Bluetooth. |
| I've heard of long-toothed, houndstooth, even | | | | I don't want to be "more productive," as in the ability to |
| saber-toothed, but why is it called Bluetooth? | | | | talk, eat and send something to the printer while |
| The name derives from King Harald Blatand of | | | | standing at a burger counter. |
| Denmark (910-986). Blatand or "Bluetooth," comes from | | | | I relish my "dream-time" while driving. (With the attention |
| the Norse word, bla (blue), which also can mean dark | | | | span of a kitten, so do I really need another |
| or black. Methinks Vikings lacked good dental care. | | | | distraction?) |
| But the Danish king's claim to fame was that he united | | | | Spending time and being present fully are precious |
| Denmark and Norway through Christianity in the 10th | | | | gifts. I don't want to join the legions of diners who sit |
| century. In fact an ancient Rune stone, located on a | | | | across from each other, but talk to invisible parties. |
| UNESCO world heritage site in Jelling, Denmark, | | | | Speaking of timing, I hate it when the momentum of |
| translates to, "King Haraldr ordered this monument | | | | somebody's story (or worse, mine!) is interrupted by |
| made in memory of Gormr, his father, and in memory | | | | the almighty, "Oh, hold on a minute, I gotta get this." |
| of Thyrvé, his mother; that Haraldr who won | | | | Yes, I know I could turn my cell phone off, but knowing |
| for himself all of Denmark and Norway and made the | | | | myself, I never would. (Be happy - one less offender |
| Danes Christian." | | | | on the loose.) |
| Imagine the corporate meeting the day the technology | | | | To many, I'm stuck in the dark ages where Bluetooth |
| was officially named "Bluetooth." | | | | remains a peaceable Norse king. Ah, the blessed |
| Perhaps a marketer said, "The connection is crystal | | | | silence! |
| clear. Harald Bluetooth brought together warring | | | | |