Reported by Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. — A New Jersey couple who gave their children Nazi-inspired names should not regain custody of them, a state appeals court ruled Thursday, citing the parents' own disabilities and the risk of serious injury to their children.

Read more.

The names of the children were not given as a reason for their removal. Perhaps it should be. Surely there should be some law to protect children from being given inappropriate names and prevent their registration in the first place, like there is in the United Kingdom.

Giving your baby a ridiculous name is child abuse

Paul Schmidtberger wrote a brilliant reader-submitted article for the New York Times (complaint box) about the latest fad of misspelling names for newborns.

... I’m about to meet little Brittney, Brittny, Brittneigh, Brit’nee, Brittani and Bryttney. If you absolutely have to name your child after a rugged French peninsula, then get out a dictionary and look it up. It’s Brittany.

I have a major gripe with the trend of misspelling baby names. On purpose. The parents’ logic runs something like this: “My child is special and unique. Thus, my child deserves a special, uniquely spelled name.” The upshot is that Chloe becomes Kloey, and Jacqueline metastasizes into something ghastly, like Jaq’leen.

It would be easy to blame this on celebrities, since there appears to be an unspoken contest among them to saddle children with awful names. Gwyneth Paltrow set the bar high when she named her daughter Apple, but not high enough. Reign Beau, daughter of Ving Rhames, and Vanilla Ice’s Dusti Rain and Keelee Breeze are way up there. For boys, could any name be worse than Bronx Mowgli, son of Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz? Perhaps Jermajesty Jackson?

Not that this is just a Hollywood problem. All across America, parents are mangling names in a misguided mission to trumpet their kid’s individuality. Take the wildly popular name Chase, which is actually not a name at all, but something a dog does to its tail. It was annoying to begin with, but now it gets worse as it slowly mutates from Chase to Chace, and on to Chayce.

Perhaps not misspelling, but rather intentional variations of already perfectly spelled out names. Everybody is unique but there is nothing wrong with conforming.

See also Things Bogans Like.

headline of the month

From The Republican (Massachusetts)

Lord Jesus Christ suffers minor injuries in downtown Northampton crosswalk mishap

Of course, an explanation was required

Savino said officers checked Christ’s identification at the scene and confirmed it was his legal name.

There should be a law against the use of certain names, as there is in the UK.

Eyjafjallajökull

According to the New York Times, Eyjafjallajökull is pronounced

EY-ya-fyat-lah-YOH-kuht

The “EY” rhymes with the word “bay.” The “k” is softer than an English “k,” almost like a hard “g.” And the “t” at the end kind of sticks for a second and pulls away with a hint of a glottal “l.”

EY-ya-fyat-lah-YOH-kuht

Say it soft and it’s almost like, “Hey, ya fergot La Yogurt.”

“The first problem for Americans is, you see this long word and don’t know where to begin, “ said Joan Maling, a professor emerita of linguistics at Brandeis University. “You don’t know how to divide it up.”

It’s simple. “Eyja” is the Icelandic word for island. “Fjalla” means mountain. “Jokull” is glacier.

But it seems even the NYT may be incorrect. From YouTube - you're doing it wrong

Fucking Hell bier

Fucking (pronounced like cooking) is a village in the town of Tarsdorf, Austria, about 35 kilometres north of Salzburg.

The village has no plans to change its name despite reactions from English-speakers, as it has been so named since 1070, after a Bavarian nobleman named Focko from the sixth century. Street signs are now theft-proof.

Village sign with a polite request for motorists to slow down (photos from AFP via Die Welt)


Outside the village limits sign


The Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office of the European Union has approved the name 'Fucking Hell' to be registered as a figurative trade mark for a new beer.

R 0538/2008-4 – Fucking Hell [Fig. mark] - The applicant sought to register a figurative trade mark for ‘clothing, footwear, headgear' in Class 25, ‘beers and aerated waters and other non-alcoholic drinks' in Class 32 and ‘alcoholic beverages (except beers)' in Class 33.

The examiner rejected the application the sign used sexuality in order to express contempt and violent anger. The village Fucking in Austria , to which the appellants had referred, had only 93 inhabitants, and no-one knew of it. Furthermore, the right of freedom of expression had to have limits in the case of upsetting, accusatory or derogatory signs

The Board held that in Christian terms, ‘hell' is the place of highest torment. It is a place of damnation. In common parlance ‘hell' is a synonym for something negative and causing torment. If the first word element stands for ‘damned', then the sign designates only that which according to popular belief happens in hell.

Under Article 7(1)(f) CTMR signs may not be registered if they are disparaging, discriminatory, blasphemous or derogatory, incite criminal offences or insurrection.

However, the word combination claimed contains no semantic indication that could refer to a certain person or group of persons. Nor does it incite a particular act. It cannot even be understood as an instruction that the reader should go to hell. The meaning assumed by the examiner is, overall, an interjection used to express a deprecation, but it does not indicate against whom the deprecation is directed. Nor can it be considered as reprehensible to use existing place names in a targeted manner (as a reference to the place), merely because this may have an ambiguous meaning in other languages.

Consequently, the Board annulled the contested decision and allowed the CTM applied for to proceed to registration.

Hell is a term for light ale in southern Germany and Austria.

See
- Die Welt
- Der Spiegel (Englisch)

To be offended by a word that has a different meaning in another language and another country would be culturally arrogant and self-centred. It is intent that matters.

bring back Bruce

I enjoyed this light-hearted piece in The Age by Cameron Noakes about the lack of football players name Bruce

Bruce discrimination

Cameron Noakes | May 22, 2009

FORMER AFL footballers called Bruce are stunned and angry today after an AFL feasibility study has revealed the name Bruce is no longer feasible. An AFL insider told Mongrel Punter alarm bells had been ringing at headquarters for more than a decade as officials watched the rapid decline of Bruces in the game.

"This is a disgrace," the insider said. "These results are a slap in the face to Bruce Doull, Bruce Nankervis and Bruce Duperouzel - they're even a slap in the face to Bruce Monteath.

"Yes we have Cam Bruce running around, but surnames don't count. We want answers and we want them now. Where have all the Bruces gone?"

Mongrel Punter believes the AFL spent $200,000 on the feasibility study and can reveal that:

* The last Bruce to be recruited by an AFL club was Hando in 1991 (by North Melbourne but he did not play a senior game).

* The last Bruce to play senior football was Lennon (for Richmond, round 22, 1993)

* In round 20, 1992, two Bruces appeared in the same game, Lennon for Richmond and Lindner for Adelaide (the last time this feat was achieved).

* Bruce Lennon is not related to John.

* Doull's record for the most senior matches played by a Bruce (356) will never be beaten.

* Doull's record for the most finals matches played by a Bruce (29) will never be beaten.

* No Bruce has won a Brownlow Medal and never will.

* McAvaney will be the last Bruce to call an AFL/VFL game.

* Melbourne midfielder Cameron Bruce has refused to change his name to Bruce Cameron, despite pressure from the AFL.

* Cameron Bruce has refused to call any of his offspring Bruce Bruce, despite mounting pressure from the AFL.

Speaking exclusively to Mongrel Punter, my Uncle Bruce said: "Bruces around the country are in mourning today. We're absolutely gutted. We want to know why AFL clubs are snubbing us."

A visibly emotional Uncle Bruce said he expected "heads to roll" after the details of the study were released and dubbed the refusal to recruit Bruces as "name-ist".

He also scoffed at suggestions that Bryce was the new Bruce.

The AFL has also denied that Murray, Peter, Percy and Terry had all been put on a critical list.

Even though it is a humorous piece, there is some truth in it.

Popular names at the Brisbane Lions are Joel (x3, Macdonald, Patfull and Tippett) and Daniel (x5, Bradshaw, Merrett, Rich, Dzufer and Murray).

Being named Daniel or Joel may increase the likelihood of being drafted to the club. Being named Bruce would not.

forbidden names

The United Kingdom's Identity and Passport Service has refused to issue a passport to a woman by the legal name of Mrs Pudsey Bear. See BBC

Page last updated at 13:06 GMT, Sunday, 3 May 2009 14:06 UK

'Pudsey Bear' in passport fight

Stand up the real Pudsey...Mrs Bear and friend

The Home Office has said it will "look again" into the case of a woman who changed her name to Pudsey Bear and had been fighting to get a passport issued.

The dental receptionist, 37, from Denbighshire had been told by officials her new name was "frivolous" and could cause her problems at border controls.

She said her two daughters called her "Mummy Bear" and she was Mrs Bear on her driving licence and bank cards.

A Home Office spokesman said it would consider if a passport could be issued.

Mrs Bear, from Prestatyn, was known by her original name of Eileen de Bont until she raised £4,000 through an online auction for the BBC's Children in Need charity appeal last year.

She decided to change her name to the appeal's mascot Pudsey Bear by deed poll.

She said: "We had had a really very difficult year and I just thought I would do something for us, to be honest."

There are lots of pop stars who call their children by wackier names and they manage to get a passport Mrs Pudsey Bear

Mrs Bear started the process of applying for a new passport in her adopted name soon after Children in Need day last November.

"I had already got my driving licence, bank cards and even changed my name by deed poll to Mrs Pudsey Bear, " she said.

"Even my payslip has Mrs Bear on it."

Daughters Emily, 13, and Ellen, 10 had started referring to their mother as "Mummy Bear".

"So I was really disappointed to get this reply from the passport service saying they could not change my name because it was frivolous and could bring the passport service into disrepute.

Pudsey Bear the mascot appears up and down the country

"They also said that they had to safeguard my identity.

"There are lots of pop stars who call their children by wackier names and they manage to get a passport."

She said she was planning to take a break abroad later this year so a passport which matches her other documentation was essential.

Mrs Bear admitted that she had originally only planned to keep her Pudsey name for a year, but she said she did not expect it would create "so much of a palaver".

"At the end of the day I never expected to raise that amount of money.

Now, she said she is thinking of retaining it for longer, and then changing it again to raise more money for charity. She is even planning to release her one Pudsey Bear song for charity.

Vale of Clwyd Labour MP Chris Ruane confirmed his office had received some correspondence from Mrs Bear and he will be raising the matter with the passport service.

The Identity and Passport Service (IPS), in their letter to Mrs Bear, wrote: "It is deemed to be a frivolous change of name, which would bring IPS into disrepute. It could also pose problems for you at border control in some countries."

But in a statement issued by the IPS on Sunday, a spokesman said: "We have to protect the integrity of the British passport as it is one of the most respected in the world, however, we will certainly look at this case again, and consider whether there could be any justification in allowing a passport to be issued in a name of Pudsey Bear"

Considering that most of the rest of the world are not familiar with the real Pudsey Bear, she should have no trouble at other borders.

Meanwhile in Germany, triple barrelled (hyphenated) names remain verboten. From AP (in Englisch)

Germany upholds triple-barrelled name ban
6 May 2009

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's highest court ruled Tuesday that a married couple — Ms. Thalheim and Mr. Kunz-Hallstein — cannot become Mr. & Mrs. Thalheim-Kunz-Hallstein, upholding a 1993 law that draws the line at a maximum of two last names.

The Munich couple, whose first names were not released, challenged the law after they married. They argued they wanted to share a surname, while each maintaining professional names — Thalheim is a dentist and Kunz-Hallstein a lawyer.

They said the law violated their right to free choice and could be damaging their careers.

But the Karlsruhe-based Federal Constitutional Court rejected their claim, ruling the law exists to prevent clunky "name chains," while still allowing couples to decide for themselves which last name, or two-name combination, they wish to take on.

"This addresses the wish to create names that are viable in legal and business dealings, while at the same time do not lead to name chains in later generations," the court wrote.

Germany has strict laws governing not only which surnames can be used, but also which first names can be given to a child.

See also Der Spiegel which has a more in depth article.

As governments issue the most important personal identification documents, they are entitled make the rules.

Perhaps there should be a name registration board so that first names can be pre-approved beforehand for people who insist on making up wacky names. In the United States.

Big Ben 150

Big Ben celebrates 150 years this year. Big Ben is actually the nickname of the bell (the Great Bell) and not the clock (the Great Clock) itself nor the tower. The Clock Tower is sometimes referred to as St Stephen's Tower.

Most people think of Big Ben as the entire package.

The Great Clock told time from 31 May 1859 and the Big Ben, the Great Bell, first chimed on 11 July 1859.


cleaning of the clock faces of the Great Clock is always interesting


Big Ben - the Great Bell

Gaius

Gaius was a common Roman given name, or rather praenomen (only used by immediate family).

One of the most famous Gaius was Gaius Octavius Thurinus, who after adoption by by his great-uncle Julius Caesar in 44 BC became known as Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus.

There are very few fictional characters called Gaius. There is Dr Gaius Balthar in Battlestar Galactica, and more recently Gaius (only one name), the royal physician in the new take on Merlin.

Gaius is a cool name. There should be more baby boys named Gaius.

Indeed, more Roman names should be brought back to common usage, like

• Flavius
• Lucius
• Tiberius
• Titus
• Gallus
• Agrippa
  

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Happy Tuesday!

Big Bird is not a name!

Many many years late, but here goes.... what sort of a name is 'Big Bird'?

Couldn't Jim Henson have given him a proper name?

After all, even Oscar the Grouch is called Oscar, and not Stinky Grouch.

I reckon Big Bird should be renamed Stuart.

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Today was a did nothing day. It was the footy grand final.

rapper names

Why don't rappers use their real names instead of making up ludicrous monikers?

Are people who listen to rap music so stupid that they wouldn't remember a real name like Curtis Jackson instead of 50 cent?

What sort of a name is 50 cent anyway? Why 50 cent (which should be plural) and not one cent? Why not one dollar?

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We have work colleagues located in our state and territory offices in Canberra today and tomorrow for a conference. I managed it last year, but not this year. Meh.

there is only one Dweezil

Dweezil Zappa, son of the late Frank Zappa and brother of Moon (Unit), Ahmet and Diva is in Australia at the moment for a series of concerts called Zappa plays Zappa.



I don't know why a name like Dweezil isn't more popular.

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I was going to mow the rest of the lawn (overgrown chest high weeds) when I got home from work today, but it started raining.

are they 4real?

From the UK Daily Telegraph and widely reported

'This baby's name is not 4Real', couple told

By Paul Willis

Last Updated: 1:49am BST 09/08/2007

A couple has got over the disappointment of having their choice of 4Real as the name for their baby son turned down by calling him Superman instead.

Pat and Sheena Wheaton were told by the government registry in New Zealand they could not register the name because it included a digit.

Mr Wheaton said he came up with the unlikely moniker after seeing the baby for the first time in an ultrasound scan and realising their baby was "for real".

However, the family has refused to let the law or good taste get in the way of their choice, insisting they will continue to refer to their two-month-old son as 4Real.

In the meantime they plan to officially name him Superman.

"No matter what, its going to stay 4Real," Mr Wheaton told the New Zealand Herald newspaper, "I'm certainly not a quitter".

He said criticism of the couple posted on the internet regarding their choice of name had been difficult to handle.

"I did go online and Google some of the stories and as tough as I am, it does get to you, but there's no point getting upset," he said.

"It could be a 10-year-old school girl making those comments."

A spokesman for the Department of Internal Affairs, which operates the registry, told the newspaper discussions with the Wheatons about their son's name were continuing.

Wacky baby names

1. Kal-el Coppola (Son of actor Nicolas Cage)

2. Audio Science (Son of actress Shannyn Sossaman)

3. Bluebell Madonna (Daughter of Singer Geri Halliwell)

4. Daisy Boo (Daughter of chef Jamie Oliver)

5. Pilot Inspektor (Son of actress Beth Riesgraf and actor Jason Lee)

6. Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily (Daughter of television presenter Paula Yates and Singer Michael Hutchence)

7. Dixie Dot (Daughter of television presenter Anna Ryder Richardson)

8. God'Iss Love Stone (Daughter of Singer Lil'Mo)

9. Jermajesty (Son of Singer Jermaine Jackson)

10. Apple (Daughter of actress Gwyneth Paltrow and singer Chris Martin)

As if that wasn't already bad enough, a book has just been published called Sci-Fi Baby Names: 500 Out-of-This-World Baby Names from Anakin to Zardoz by Brooklyn author Robert Schnakenberg.



From the book description

Babies are the courageous explorers of brave new worlds so why not name them after the most memorable characters in science fiction? Sci-Fi Baby Names compiles more than 500 distinctive names from movies, books, and television shows into a handy illustrated reference. Choose "James" to honor the captain of the starship Enterprise. Choose "Leia" (or "Leah") to honor the sister of Luke Skywalker. Choose "Neo" to salute the ultra-cool messiah from The Matrix. Hardcore fans can go even further with exotic names like "Barbarella," "Beldar," and "Tron" (just don't send us the therapy bills). Arranged by category for quick reference with chapters such as Power Names, Feminine Names, and Intellectual Names Sci-Fi Baby Names is a terrific gift for expecting parents and a wonderful roll call of our favorite science-fiction characters.

I reckon Anakin is alright and so is Padme. Even better if a baby girl is called Padme Amidala. Yoda on the other hand...

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I so do not want to be at work this week...