Look – It’s The Queen – In 3D!

You know technology has made it to the big time, when even the stodgy old Royal Family, used to ancient horse drawn carriages, starts to embrace it.

The annual Christmas Day Message from her Royal Highness, the Queen of England, will be recorded in three-dimension high definition – this is the first time a member of the Royal Family will be in 3D.

The BBC offered to broadcast the recent wedding Prince William to Kate Middleton, but the Royals declined.

Although the annual Christmas Day Message is usually brief – lasting under 30-minutes if that – and usually about the same things – a call for world peace, environmentalism, hope and prosperity for the coming year – perhaps this sudden change towards new technologies means a new fresh message from The Queen?

Perhaps we’ll have a more pragmatic, practical and realistic message, with tangible themes, instead of the usual call to the impossible world peace?

The notion of peace around the world is a nice pipe dream, but that is all it ever was and will be.

So long as we human beings have free will, free thought, and freedom of choice, we will constantly battle one another to express that free will, free thought and freedom of choice.

The constant never-ending war in the Middle East is based entirely on two diametrically opposed cultures expressing their ideological and political thoughts. This battle ground – which began in the 1960’s – has the occasional cease-fire, when the two sides appear to be getting along and moving towards peace.

But peace in the Middle East will never happen – so the notion of a world at peace is a fairy tale. Perhaps that’s why The Queen’s Annual Christmas Day message always includes this notion, because the life of fairy tales and fiction makes up much of the history of the Monarchy?

However, modern day technologies like HD 3D TV are far removed from the world of fairy tales. Technological marvels may start out as a mental image, a figment of one’s imagination, but soon become reality as soon as a method of creating that fiction for real is invented.

That’s just what the Royal Family – and other world leaders need – a way to turn the ideas of fiction such as world peace – into reality.

Then these annual messages from The Queen of England, the Pope, and other world leaders won’t appear so artificial and meaningless.

The Holidays -- It’s a Wonderful Time of Year

I’m not a religious person, but even I enjoy the holiday spirit this time of year.

All the coloured lights, the decorations, even the holiday music which is over played on radio, in malls and just about anywhere you go these days.

No matter how rough and tough, or awesome a year it has been for me, the holidays always make me smile.

And laugh.

Perhaps I've become cynical as time goes by, but I always laugh as the Queen, the Pope and other world leaders always send out their repetitive messages for world peace, love and joy in the coming New Year.

It would be nice if these so-called world leaders were a little more worldly, and actually said something different for a change.

Oh – occasionally they mention the conflict in the Middle East, the need to be more environmentally-friendly, and something or other about prosperity and good will towards all.

They’ll probably say the exact same things again this year – as they have every year.

Every year around this time, television stations run holiday movies. My favourite Christmas Vacation, with Chevy Chase – that’s a true Christmas classic, guaranteed to bring some laughter and fun to even the most Scrooged – another great holiday movie with Bill Murray.

As we get closer to the New Year, we’ll look all be bombarded with commercials trying to get us to join gyms, join weight loss programs and to use smoking cessation patches, pills and ointments. It’s the time of New Year’s resolutions, and the most common are getting into shape, losing weight and quitting smoking.

I never make New Year’s resolutions. I set goals all the time, why should I wait until the end of the year to make new ones?

And deciding to do something while one is slightly inebriated after toasting in the New Year probably isn't the best idea.

Who’s idea was it to make a New Year’s resolution in the first place?

As the New Year rolls ever closer, television stations will remind us of all the famous people we lost this year, as they honour celebrities that have passed on.

It’s an interesting phenomenon, we are looking forward to the New Year, but are reminded of the past.

It’s probably part of being human – no matter where we go in life, our past always influences our present, and directs our future.

That’s not a bad thing. It’s good to reflect on past successes, failures, joys and sorrows, so that we can learn and grow from them.

So as you’re smiling through your holiday shopping, enjoying a rare opportunity to sleep in over the holidays, or just watching your favourite classic holiday movies, look forward to the future, as you reflect on your past.