Snippets

Vaguely Interesting Snippets | 31 October 2013

  • Bluetooth is a very useful technology that allows devices to ‘talk’ to each other. The name comes from the 10th century Danish King Harald Blåtand or Harold Bluetooth in English. King Blåtand helped unite warring factions in parts of what are now Norway, Sweden and Denmark. As Bluetooth technology was created as an open standard to promote connectivity, it was decided that this would be an appropriate name.

  • Traditionally, the death of the sovereign in the United Kingdom resulted in the immediate dissolution of Parliament within six months and thus the requirement to hold a General Election. This requirement was abolished throughout the British Empire by the Representation of the People Act 1867.

  • Six post office branches are not open to the general public: Court (at Buckingham Palace), the House of Commons, Portcullis House (part of the Parliamentary estate) the Royal Automobile Club at 89 Pall Mall, the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and Windsor Castle at Windsor.