Why a Bluetooth is called a Bluetooth?

(Published on 26 June 2007 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Gone are the days when the only blue tooth people knew of was the half broken one decaying in the depths of someone’s mouth. Well Bluetooth isn't some strange form of tooth decay. Bluetooth is the name of a new technology.

Take a look around you. Whether you are at home or at office – your electronic equipment will be wired to one another by cables. Cables can become quite a bother. Bluetooth technology is an answer to this. It provides a ‘cable free’ environment.
Bluetooth wireless technology is a short-range communications technology intended to replace the cables connecting portable and fixed devices.

Bluetooth provides a way to connect and exchange information between devices such as mobile phones, computers, laptops, printers and digital cameras over a secure, globally unlicensed short-range radio frequency. It is actually just a small, radio chip that is plugged into electronic gadgets. It takes the information normally carried by the cable, and transmits it at a special frequency to a receiver Bluetooth chip present in the gadget where the information is to be received.

A master Bluetooth device can communicate with up to seven devices. This network group of up to eight devices is called a piconet. Piconet is a combination of the prefix ‘pico’ meaning very small or one trillionth and network. A piconet allows one master device to interconnect with up to seven active devices. Either device can switch roles and become the master at any time.

Having understood what Bluetooth was all about it seemed strange that this novel technology should be given such an outlandish name. What is interesting is that the Bluetooth was named after a late tenth century king, Harald Bluetooth who was the King of Denmark and Norway.

Harald Bluetooth is known for unifying warring tribes from Denmark, Norway and some parts of present-day Sweden, where the Bluetooth technology was invented. As the Bluetooth technology unifies different technologies, such as computers and mobile phones, it was thought appropriate to name it after the famous king. Choosing this name indicates how important the Nordic region is to the communications industry.

Harald Bluetooth built a large monument, the Jelling rune stone. The Bluetooth logo merges the Nordic runes similar to the modern Latin H and B (haglaz) and (berkanan) forming a bind rune.

Now why Harald Bluetooth was called Bluetooth remains a mystery. Maybe he did have a decaying blue tooth after all. That reminds me… I am off to the dentist sweethearts. Until next week… ciao.

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com

Feng Shui for enhancing productivity in the office

(Published on 19 June 2007 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

I’ve just changed jobs. And the first thing I was told about my new boss was that he was very particular about everything in the office, being as per Feng Shui dictates. I looked around and did find that certain desks were rather strangely angled, the Accounts section was differently coloured and Feng Shui charms lay on just about everyone’s desk.

I reached office next day with a little bamboo pyramidal arrangement (called Lucky Bamboo or Dracaena) – which I placed at a predominant spot on my desk. My knowledge of Feng Shui ended there - for beyond the bamboo arrangement I had no clue of what else was good to enhance my productivity. (…and the prosperity of my boss)

Feng Shui is the art of placement and an ancient Oriental doctrine based on the principle that environmental design can change your life for the better or for the worse. Feng Shui experts believe that good Feng Shui, which is an environment that allows the free flow of energy (Chi), enhances career opportunities and attracts good business. The philosophy of Feng Shui is being incorporated into many offices to promote success, wealth, opportunities, and feeling of contentment.

Here is some Feng Shui advice for the office that will make it a more productive environment:

· Plants: Plants boost energy levels. Placing fresh flowers or a leafy plant on the left side of the desk creates good chi (energy). Putting a money tree or prosperity plant in the Southeast corner of the desk or cubicle is also beneficial. Cactuses and bonsai trees should be avoided, as the former creates difficult work relationships and the latter will stunt career growth.

· Position of desk: Where one sits and the arrangement of the office can have a huge impact on one’s workplace energy. If you want to get ahead at your job don’t sit directly in line with the door which is the path of negative energy. And never have your back to a door, as it’s from the door that business and opportunity enters. Try to sit in the corner farthest from the entrance to the room to have control and keep your back towards a corner or wall for support. If there's more than one desk, place two on a diagonal facing towards the door and any others on a diagonal facing into the centre of the room. They should not be placed in rows in a traditional classroom layout or back to back.

· Colour: Colour can play a huge role in the office environment. Colours like blues and greens are calming. Red can be an empowering colour and is great for those in business or sales. Yellow is good for people who need discipline. To incorporate colour include photos and picture frames, furniture, mouse pads, or any small items on your desk. Try to incorporate the right colours wherever you can and you'll get ahead at your job.

· Wealth Producing Objects: Different objects or symbols produce wealth. Put a fountain or a picture of a waterfall or river by the entrance to your office to facilitate a raise and to diffuse any negative energy present. A safe in the West or Northwest corner of the office will help with prosperity and financial security. A crystal ball near the phone will encourage more business calls.

The following traditional Feng Shui tips keep the positive energy flowing in the office:

Ì Differentiate between clutter and storage. Stored items should be stacked neatly so as not to hamper energy flow.

Ì Placing papers on a desktop weighted by a crystal, which is a grounding element, represents clarity.

Ì If feasible put your computer in the North or West area of your office to enhance your creativity or in the Southeast to generate income.

Ì If you face a partial wall or partition when entering an office, place a mirror on the partition. Soften jutting walls with plants and break up dull walls with mirrors or paintings.

Ì If it's time to look for new clients, add a water fountain, wind chime or a mobile. If flowing water or tinkling chimes is distractive, consider placing a picture of flowing water. Placing a picture of a lake, waterfall or any other water scene helps. Water represents energy flow. Use an aquarium if you wish.

If business isn't booming, maybe it's time to bring in a different kind of efficiency expert... Feng Shui. Creating harmony and balance in the work area can boost productivity - and the bottom line. Job contentment will follow.

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com

And the credit goes to... Thomas Crapper!

(Published on 12 June 2007 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

I’m often asked where I get my inspiration to write from... or on how I select what to write on in the Miss Know-All column. The truth is that just about everything intrigues me – and I have a nose that’s keen to dig deeper for answers. Curiosity they say kills the cat… but not me pretties! Curiosity is what I thrive on. From shady scams to crazy jams, we, the Miss Know All’s have an answer to everything.

This write - up may take you by surprise. Words that seem unimportant have interesting origins. We’ve all heard of the word ‘crap’. Apologies to those, who are cringing at the very mention of the word. However, knowledge is knowledge… even if it is – well, ‘crappy’! The word crap was imported into the English language from the Dutch in the 15th century, and means ‘to defecate’.

However, it is also believed that the word ‘crap’ originated from Thomas Crapper’s name. Mr. Crapper was a plumber who ran a successful plumbing business in England from 1861 to 1904. Crapper had a successful run in the plumbing industry. He held nine patents for plumbing related things: four for improvements to drains, three for water closets, one for manhole covers and the last for pipe joints.

However, the most famous product attributed to Thomas Crapper wasn't invented by him at all. The "Silent Valveless Water Waste Preventer" was a symphonic discharge system that allowed a toilet to flush effectively when the cistern was only half full. Albert Giblin, an employee of Crapper, was responsible for this invention and held the 1819 British Patent for it. Crapper bought the patent rights from Giblin and marketed the device under the name of his company.

When Thomas Crapper retired, he sold his shop to two partners who operated the company under the Crapper name. The Crapper company lived on until 1966, completing 105 years in business.

It is believed that during World War I doughboys, who were passing through England linked Crapper's name with the toilet. They saw the words T. Crapper-Chelsea printed on toilet tanks and coined the slang term ‘crapper’ for the toilet. Hence, the use of the word - ‘crap,’ to express use of the toilet.

Thomas Crapper may not be the inventor of the product he is associated with, but what remains undisputed is that his contribution to plumbing history is significant. Whether for water closets, manhole covers, pipe joints, toilet flushes or for the origins of the word ‘crap’ – the credit shall always go to… Thomas Crapper!

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com

The great Foie Gras controversy

(Published on 05 June 2007 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

This is the fiftieth publication of the Miss Know-All column – and I don’t seem to tire from spreading awareness and enlightening the ignorant. There is so much to write about and so little awareness. My task has been chalked out for years to come. You’ll keep hearing from me pretties… keep reading and keep getting wiser!

I had written earlier about the much overrated caviar and how I did not care much for it. But this article is about ‘pate de foie gras’ – something dear to my heart or should I say to my taste buds. But like all other things – wherever I go controversy seems to follow. So – this write up is about the great Foie Gras controversy.

Though the name sounds impressive and fancy, foie gras is poultry liver. It is a French word meaning ‘fat liver’. It took us Asians time to learn how to pronounce it… leave alone eat it. (pronunciation - fwä grä) Once considered a luxury food item, foie gras has become the subject of a global campaign as animal rights activists claim that the manner in which foie gras is produced is cruel to animals. To understand this allegation a bit of explaining is required.

Foie Gras can only be produced by migratory birds as only these birds develop livers that are exceptionally fatty in texture. This is because when a bird migrates, it flies several hundred miles before stopping for food. It sustains itself through the long flight by stuffing itself before setting out on its journey. This extra food supply is stored in the liver in the form of fat. As a result, the liver increases in size from four ounces to a pound and a half.

The ancient Romans were the first to discover that to acquire fatty livers they needed to hunt migratory birds when they were actually migrating. Later, as an alternate they fattened the birds even when they were not migrating – by feeding them with grain. When the livers expanded as a result of overeating, the birds were slaughtered. The French in turn discovered that it was goose that was the ideal bird for foie gras. Geese were fed with corn and then killed once their livers were ready. Interestingly poultry farmers in other parts of Europe opted to breed ducks instead of geese.

After the 1970’s farmers started breeding the Moulard duck for foie gras. A funnel is inserted into the fowl’s mouth and grain is then poured down its gullet. The fact that the birds are force fed in this way till their livers fatten up did not ‘go down’ too well with the animal rights activists and they stepped in to cry ‘FOUL’! The animal rights lobby argues that this kind of force feeding causes the birds livers to get diseased. Foie Gras farmers do not agree as they feel the condition is not a disease but similar to what happens when the birds migrate. The activists retaliate by saying that keeping birds in custody and force feeding them in an unnatural way amounts to torture.

The debate continues even as Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a ban on foie gras in California. The ban will come into effect in 2012. The city of Chicago has banned the sale of foie gras as well. There is also a growing demand for a total ban all across America.

As for me… well, killing any animal for its meat is sin enough. Then why all this brouhaha over a fattened liver?

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com