Respect to the Queen
Oct 17, 2008 People
She may be 82 years old, but she isn’t too old to learn apparently.
Yes, Queen Elizabeth has embraced the Internet, according to a report - she is said to occasionally email and send text messages.
Okay, so it’s not much but for someone from that generation, and someone like the Queen who probably didn’t have to do anything if she didn’t want to (she might get bored but that is a different story), it’s brilliant.
Sure, there may be a Royal Channel on YouTube and her Christmas message is available in Podcast format but of course, some people set it up. So really, she doesn’t need to learn anything.
But it seems like she’s trying to keep up with the times, much like her mother, the late Queen Mother. BBC News reports yesterday that the Queen and Prince Philip made a visit to the Google office in London (quite nearby the Buck House, apparently). The article has great anecdotes of their trip to the office. And watch the video below - the staff we so excited to meet her! I want to meet her too!
This story reminded me of another article I read after the Queen Mother passed away. Princes William and Harry were interviewed and they shared this anecdote:
“It was two or three Christmases ago [at Sandringham], and we were sitting down watching Ali G on TV,” said William, 19. “We were laughing when she came in. She couldn’t understand what was going on, so we explained to her what he was doing.
“She saw Ali G click his fingers and say ‘Respec”, and Harry and I showed her what to do. She loved it, and after three goes she had it. Later that day, we were all in the dining room, having Christmas lunch, when she tried it out.”
Prince Harry, 17, said: “It was at the end of the meal, and she stood up and said: ‘Darling, lunch was marvellous – respec”, and clicked her fingers.” The family burst out laughing. The Queen was amused.
I have shared the story above with friends over the years because I found it fascinating and heartwarming. Now, I wonder if anyone from the Royal family is going to share any funny anecdotes about the Queen’s experience with technology. Would be fun to read about, methinks.
10.21am Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: Ali G, Google, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mother, The Queen
Mamma Mia! I am thankful for the music
Oct 16, 2008 Sounds Like Pop
Guess which movie I finally watched last night.
And I did love it. Weak plot (but interesting concept), but oh, how camp and how, warped? Meryl Streep, in all her elegance as an actor, looked perpetually stoned. But what a high at the end of the show!
I have never been a huge fan of ABBA but I know some of their songs. So, I was quite surprised to find that I knew more of their songs than I thought! I had to turn to my friend and ask, is this really their song (he is an ABBA fan, see).
I didn’t even know that the start of Madonna’s Hung Up was sampled from their song Gimme, Gimme, Gimme (A Man After Midnight).
What I did realise too is that the popular songs that I knew - well, I didn’t know so well. I probably knew the first couple of lines of the chorus but that was it.
Take the chorus of Mamma Mia (the song), for example, which jumped out at me yesterday.
Mamma mia, here I go again
My my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again?
My my, just how much I’ve missed you
Yes, I’ve been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go?
Mamma mia, now I really know,
My my, I could never let you go.
I want to go watch it again! :D
Tags: mamma mia, meryl streep, movie, Musical
Wa hiao kong Hokkien
Oct 15, 2008 Rantings
Apologies for the blatant murder of the Hokkien language, in my title above but, er, it’s the best I can do. Never mind that I am of Hokkien descent, I can barely say a word, let alone four.
Well, the same might not be the case for cops in Penang. Today’s The Star reports that police officers in Penang has been offered the opportunity to take Hokkien dialect courses to improve their communication skills. This is a fantastic idea, methinks, not only because personal development is so crucial for everyone but also because it will allow them to do their jobs better - after all, Hokkien is used widely in the state.
Apparently, 35 officers from various races have already undergone the training in August, and there is to be another course in November.
Bravo!
2.41pm Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Vote 1 Niki for US Congress
Oct 14, 2008 People
My friend Arion was Twittering this morning about who to vote for in the upcoming US elections (I’m assuming he got his postal vote documents, as he is currently living in Australia). So I suggested that he vote for me.
Well, he tells me that I got my wish. He’s put me up for Congress (over Steve Berren who’s aligned to the Republicans because anyone is better than the Republicans as well as over Jim McDermott - aligned to the Democrats - who Arion claims have done nothing for his district since he was first elected in 1979). Incidentally, I was born in 1979.
It’s not the Presidency but I’ll take Congress. Although, I don’t think I’m going to win, but thanks Arion, for the vote of confidence. :D
The picture was taken from his Flickr account, with permission.
4.24pm Malaysian time (+8 GMT)
Tags: Elections, Jim McDermott, Steve Berren, US Congress
