Blogs | Daily Crasher
The Name Game: Angelina Jolie's Latest Kid
By Josh Board | Posted July 14, 2008, 1:17 a.m.
I knew something wasn't right in Jolie's head when she hooked up with Billy Bob. Then she got his name inked everywhere, kept his blood around her neck, made out with her brother at an awards show, and she adopted like, 10 kids. I think she was trying to set some record held by Mia Farrow.
She seemed to start acting more normal when she got together with Brad Pitt. Her rate of adopting kids slowed down a bit. And, she got pregnant with her own kids.
Well, back to me thinking she's a nut again. I found out she named one of the kids "Knox Leon Pitt." That might be good name if you're a boxer. Or, the name of a garage that works on Buicks. But not a baby name. Can you imagine saying, in that baby voice, "Oh...look at the cute little Knox. Look at little Leon." He probably has the same amount of teeth right now as boxer Leon Spinks.
It makes Nicole Kidman, with Keith Urban, almost seem normal with the name of their baby the other day...Sunday Rose (was "Cracklin Rose" taken?)
But really...celebrities have a long history of this. Remember Frank Zappa and his kids Ahmet, Moon Unit (the Valley Girl), and Dweezil? It helps that their father was actually intelligent.
Bruce Willis and Demi had weird names for their kids. I can only think of two right now -- Scout, and Rumor. One of them turned 18, and legally changed their name, saying she always hated it.
I've had friends tell me they think celebrities do it for attention. I seriously doubt that. They hate the attention. I think, that they don't think. Sometimes, a person like John Travolta...that dude loves flying his planes. So he named his kid "Jet." Yeah, it's a silly name. But at least it makes a bit of sense. And almost sounds like a real name (you think of Joan Jett, anyway).
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell named her kid Bluebell Madonna. Unless you're Patti LaBelle, what is with that name? Unless she tells me Madonna and the Bluebells were her two favorite groups....well, even if they are, it really doesn't give you the right to saddle your child with a crappy name.
If you love Neil Diamond, should your kid be named "Diamond," or [insert crappy Neil Diamond song title here].
Nicolas Cage loved Superman. He named his son after Superman's character name. Nope, not Clark Kent. That would be to...uh, normal. It was something like "Na'ta'ral." I butchered that, but probably not by much.
Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain named their child "Bean." I met someone with that name this weekend. They were a cool Beans, but that was their last name.
Gwenyth Paltrow named her kid Apple. She's married to the Coldplay singer. A kid that has a one parent that acts and another that's a musician, probably has a 3.8% chance of having a normal name.
I remember when their second child was named something somewhat normal like "Isaac" -- I just thought how it could've been another fruit. Or something that went with Apple, like Caramel.
Bob Geldof named his daughter Fifi. It makes me wonder...did his wife give birth to a poodle?
It seems musicians do this more often than actors. China and Bijuou Phillips. The list goes on and on. At least if they would pick song titles. Or the names of musicians that influenced them. Sean Penn named his kids "Dylan" and "Hopper". Wanna guess who they're named after? Of course, Hopper should say "Uh, dad? Was there something wrong with using Dennis?"
My older brother is named Lewis. I'm sure glad my parents didn't decide to name me Clark. Although, I would've liked being named William. I would be a "Bill Board."
It would be like growing up the way the kid did in "A Boy Named Sue."
Don't forget about Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. They named their baby Apple. Do we know whose last name Apple has? Apple Paltrow? Apple Martin?
Hmmm. Suddenly I'm in the mood for a fruity cocktail.
By BV23 10:21 a.m., Jul 14, 2008 > Report it
Every time this subject comes up, people forget that Grace Slick and her then-current squeeze (Paul Kantner, I seem to recall) named their son "god" -- yes, small "g." (He goes by "Todd" now, I hear.) That beats anything Frank Zappa ever thought of, even though he consistently wins the crown in the Celebrities Naming Their Kids Weird Things sweepstakes. (Don't forget daughter Diva.)
By russl 10:39 a.m., Jul 14, 2008 > Report it
People have also forgotten that Sonny and Cher named their daughter "Chastity" (also the name of the movie Cher starred in at the time). When Chastity objected to the name in later years, Mom reportedly told her, "Be glad we didn't name you Dweezil."
By russl 11:06 a.m., Jul 14, 2008 > Report it
Well, bv, congrats. Your post was the first time I ever read a post, and re-edited one of my blogs. I went in and added a quick paragraph on "Apple." I normally would just post about how I dropped the ball on something. But, it was early enough, that I figured most people probably hadn't read the story. And really, you can't have a story like this and not mention Apple. It would be like the time I gave a writer at the Union-Tribune a hardtime because he wrote about the most famous athletes to ever smoke cigars, and he left Celtics legendary coach Red Auerebach off the list.
Russl, I had never heard that about Grace and Paul. That is insane. If I was God, err, Todd, I would've had some fun with that. Imagine being disruptive in the 3rd grade, and having the teacher say "Who do you think you are, God?" You could say, "Yep!"
If you're going to go that route, though, why not name the child "Jesus"? At least then, if the kid doesn't like it, they can have it pronounced the Spanish way ("hey-zeus").
In stories of celebrities with weird names, though, I think I have seen Chastity mentioned. That name is so ridiculous. There's a big name celeb right now that named their child Liberty. I forget which one. But I knew a girl in high school, named Liberty. Certain "words" sound like names, if they end with a "y". But when it's a word like "chastity" which means "purity"...but everyone just thinks of "chastity belts"...you go another direction in the name category.
By JoshBoard 11:49 a.m., Jul 14, 2008 > Report it
I think this name game with Celeb's is a combination of both - not thinking and for attention.
By vmje4s 12:12 p.m., Jul 14, 2008 > Report it
Actually it's Frances Bean Cobain.
Grace Slick had a daughter with Paul Kantner. Her name is China. Her being named god is an urban myth dispelled numerous times by both mother and daughter.
Chynna Phillips was born 3 years earlier and according to Grace, the similarity is purely coincidental.
Chynna's half sister is Bijou Phillips. The name "Bijou", which is French for "jewel," was taken from the song "My Petite Bijou".
It's pretty common knowledge Ahmet Zappa was named after Ahmet Ertegün; you should know who he was.
Diva was so named because she was screaming louder than all the other babies in the hospital nursery.
And Dweezil, as odd as it is, was a nickname coined by Frank Zappa for an oddly-curled pinky-toe of his wife Gail.
Apple Blythe Alison Martin (It sounded so sweet and it conjured such a lovely picture for me – you know, apples are so sweet and they're wholesome and it's biblical – and I just thought it sounded so lovely and … clean! And I just thought, "Perfect!") goes by Blythe, after her grandmother.Her second child's name is Moses, named after a song her husband wrote for her in 2003.
At least you could get the spelling and the ACTUAL names correct.
You must be really be stuck for a subject if all you can come up with is picking on kid's names.
By the way, what kind of name is Josh antway. Sounds like somrthing a wanna be singer or actor would change his name to.
By anony_mous 12:18 p.m., Jul 14, 2008 > Report it
trestles...are you an idiot? no need to answer, i already know the answer.
first...who said I like the name Josh? it's the name my folks gave me. we don't pick our own names (unless we log onto a site..and go with "trestles"). that being said, at least it's a "normal" sounding name, and if my parents were going "biblical" they didn't go "moses" or any other funky path. Josh is at least common. i'd take common over different any day. especially when you were back in school.
regarding frances bean cobain, i forgot about the "frances" part, because Courtney Love always calls the kid "bean" in interviews. good point, though (the kid should use that "Stripes" voice and say "don't call me Bean...can me Frances")
if Zappa named his kid Ahmet because of the Atlantic Records dude, that doesn't make it then a good name. Zappa was also a big fan/cohort of Captain Beefheart. should he have named one of his kids that?
eddie van halen named his kid wolfgang. yes, i am pretty sure I know where he got that. but, unless you're in germany, it's kind of a weird first name to saddle a child with. i love keyboardist manfred mann...doesn't mean i'd name my son that.
jason lee named his kid Pilot Inspektor. it sounds like a profession, not a childs name. if you're telling me it's insenstive to make fun of that, i contend...the child won't read this. it's more insensitive and thoughtless, of the idiotic parent to name their kid something that will get them made fun of their entire life (and make them have to change, like Bruce Willis' daughter did).
i would never, ever pick on a child. or say something that would hurt their feelings. i'm guessing that blogs are read by adults, though. and, i'll use this cliche: if i can just reach out to one celebrity, that might possibly read this...and keep them from naming their child something idiotic, then i will have accomplished my goal.
Hey...goal. That would be a good name for David Beckhams kid.
GOAL BECKHAM.
By JoshBoard 1:24 p.m., Jul 14, 2008 > Report it
Trestles, nobody said -- at least I didn't say -- that Grace and Paul named their *daughter* god. Of course not. They named her China. The naming of their *son* god was reported in Rolling Stone, so maybe you're right, it is an urban myth.
By russl 1:41 p.m., Jul 14, 2008 > Report it
#8
not criticizing you even though you said "He goes by "Todd" now, I hear" Just giving a correction. Grace never had a son, only a daughter.
By anony_mous 2:20 p.m., Jul 14, 2008 > Report it
My my my!! A "journalist" stooping to name calling because he gets a response he doesn't like. How professional of you.!!!
Where did I comment on whether or not you liked your name? I simply asked the origin of your name since you apparently were questioning the origin of names names other people have given their children.
I was also correcting some of your misinformation, such as it was Talullah Willis who changed her name to Lula at age 13 with her parents permission, your mispelling of some names and pointing out some well known reasons why some celebrities gave unusual names to their children, without commenting on whether I thought they were " normal sounding" as you put it.
You said "A kid that has a one parent that acts and another that's a musician, probably has a 3.8% chance of having a normal name." So you're saying she, " Apple" ,has an abnormal name?
You also said "if you're telling me it's insenstive to make fun of that, i contend...the child won't read this"
I agree 100% that probably none of the celebrities or their children the you mentioned will read your column. So what you're saying is that it is perfectly ok for you, as a "journalist" to make fun of somebody because they won't read what you write? From my point of view that seems to be a warped perspective of your responsibilities as a "journalist".
As a "journalist", I would think it would behoove you not to take your readers responses quite so personally.
If you put as much effort into spelling peoples names correctly and making sure your "facts" correct, as you put into your response, you wouldn't receive replies like mine in the first place.
By the way, I use the nickname Trestles quite often. It is derived from 2 things:
I have been surfing at trestles for over 30 years and I am active in the SAVE TRESTLES movement.
By anony_mous 3:07 p.m., Jul 14, 2008 > Report it
I don't mind a response I don't like. I don't like them to not make sense, though. Are you asking me if I think Apple is an "abnormal" name? Uh, yes. It is. The name Apple Martin, is not normal. It sounds like Apple Martini. Kids will say "Orange you called you weren't named banana?" and a whole host of other things. I knew a kid in my 7th grade glass that killed himself. Rumor was (no, not rumor the child of Bruce Willis, the word) that it was for being made fun of for wearing glasses. Children are sensitive. So, a parent naming their kid something funky, isn't the best idea.
I'm not sure about the story you say regaring Bruce Willis and the 13 year old. I'm ref. to him talking about, a few years ago, his kid going to the courts and changing her name legally. And him discussing that.
Now, this topic was discussed in an interesting way in the book (and crappy movie) The Namesake.
I don't care how professional my blog is. I'm not running for President. And, on that subject, how stupid is the name Obama? Not only is it stupid, it's created a lot of people thinking it sounds like Osama, and that might cost him the presidency. You can thank a parent giving a good a stupid name, for possibly becoming the President.
And, if you say people shouldn't worry about what others think. Well, they do. It's the same reason why Obama said he didn't need to wear a flag pin. Then, a few weeks later, he wore won. To please people that were bothered by him not wearing one.
By the way...what do you think of the name Condeleeza?
And no, I don't care if I spelled that name correctly, either. If that makes me a poor journalist, oh well. I'm merely blogging, so I don't care. The parents should think about how the names will be misspelled repeatedly, and how often they'll be made fun of, before picking them.
By JoshBoard 1:32 a.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
I remember reading about a few of the celebrity names the "blogger" in question mentions. I also remembered that "Scout" and "Talulah" (two of the names attributed to actor Bruce Willis' kids) were derived from sources like TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and a famous, silent screen actress. Although there are some who name there children simply to gain attention, or to be quirky, there are other parents who pick names that either mean something to them, or aren't part of the lackluster, unimaginative, cookie-cutter society that passes for the "norm." As someone who has lived with the name Dorman Truett Shindler, I can say that the only "trouble" I have had with that moniker was listening to dimbulbs in public school (always a guy, and usually someone with clever, unusual names like Josh or Bob) try to show off their wit by mangling one or all of my names (usually in the witty style of the Beevis and Butthead toons).
Ocassionally, I'd run into a wit -- not racist, of course -- who would say my first name sounded like a black man's.
Having lived and traveled on three continents and over a dozen countries, I can safely say that one of the many idiotic flaws of my fellow Americans is their tunnel vision of what is and isn't "normal" (or acceptable).
Glad not to be another Tom, Dick, Harry or...Josh.
-D.T.S.
By reader48 6:06 a.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
**Post 1 of 2 (exceeded character limit, again)....
Really, take a look at this sentence and think about what you're saying : "And, on that subject, how stupid is the name Obama? Not only is it stupid, it's created a lot of people thinking it sounds like Osama, and that might cost him the presidency."
Are you seriously that small minded that you feel Barack Obama needs to change his LAST NAME because "it's stupid" and may make some people relate him to Osama Bin Laden? You really feel that every person who immigrates to this country, should basically take on a surname of "Smith, Jones, Davis" because whatever they came in with, "is stupid"? Do you know how insane this sounds?
And here I was thinking, America is a place where people come for freedom, opportunity and acceptance. Yet insanely enough there is still this petty, ridiculous crap that we all have to deal with because people just can't deal with something which isn't part of their "normal culture". And that goes for all sides (incoming, outgoing and already here). But that's human nature. Problem is, when you have a brain which functions properly and you can think about, analyze, process and realize different things, something like this should really not be an issue. People come here for freedom, and giving up where you came from and who you are once you step in the door shouldn't be part of that.
People who think Barack may possibly be "in" with Bin Laden are the same type of people who assume all people of middle eastern decent are possibly terrorists or at least related to one. They're the same people, who are cock blocking our culture from moving forward because they're ignorant and can't even begin to analyze or give thought to the simplest of situations. They don't get it, which is something I in turn, will never get.
By towelheadedcameljockey 9:34 a.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
***Post 2 of 2 (thank you, come again)
Just because parents don't go with what you want, like picking up biblical names for their kids, doesn't mean they're the idiots. Sure, we can all have the opinion of not liking a name, or thinking it sounds stupid, ridiculous or funny, but to go as far as to state that people just flat out need to change their names (including last) because it doesn't sound normal enough (aka out of the Bible) is really something you should think about moving beyond.
I've had family members tell me how when they were younger they changed their name because kids made fun of it. Now, they didn't change it legally, they just flat out came home and said "mom, I want to be called Bob from now on" (literally, one of my cousins chose Bob). A lot of them have decided to go back to their given names as adults because they've grown to like it for one reason or another. Some have changed the spelling of their name, so it's easier for people to read.
When I was in school, you were either getting picked on for your name, looks, smells (hehe), family, thoughts, likes, dislikes .... it's always something. I remember a kids getting made fun of because their names were Ray and Kimberly. How much more "normal" can you get then those names, and yet it still got made fun of because that's how kids are.
By the way, nothing is wrong with the name Condoleezza. Sure, I'm not about to name my kid that, but her parents chose that name because they liked it. It derives from an Italian musical term meaning "the sweetness".
Wherever parents name their kids is their choice. It has to do with culture, family, background, meaning, and/or more. Again, you, me and anyone else can have the opinion it's dumb, silly, or something we just don't like but they like it and they're comfortable with it. If the ones with those names aren't, then they can choose to change it as they wish.
By towelheadedcameljockey 9:35 a.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
At least none of you have to struggle through life with a name like "Fred"...
By Fred_Williams 10:02 a.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
Wow! Looks like you hit a home run with this daily blog, Josh.
By Ponzi 10:21 a.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
First off, I made a mistake. I was meaning to write Barrack was a dumb name, not Obama. Our last names aren't chosen (unless it's a stage name). And, I have heard countless people on shows talk about how weird his name is. They'll do those man on the street interviews, and people say "I won't vote for a guy with a name like that." Hey...don't look at me. I'm voting for him. Big ears, weird name, and all. But, if it has just enough of an influence that he doesn't become President, well, that's the power of an "unusual" name.
The name Dorman, actually sounds kinda cool to me. When African-Americans come up with names, sometimes I think they sound ridiculous. But sometimes, I think it sounds cool, because it isn't common. But, I think it should "sound" like a name. And, it should be easy to pronounce upon seeing the spelling.
The book Freakanomics talks about how blacks often don't get jobs places, because of funky names they have. They go into great detail about it. A boss just might feel more comfortable hiring someone named Amanda Jones, then Tamariqusequestra Jones.
And yes, there are lots of things kids are made fun of. My last name Board was made fun of. I remember a jacket I had being made fun of. Pairs of shoes, a T-shirt, etc. But, it seems to me, naming your kid shouldn't just be about YOU, and something you love.
My all time favorite movie is The World According to Garp. Doesn't mean my son will be named Garp Board.
By JoshBoard 10:38 a.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
Two quick things that just popped into my mind: Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, who used to play basketball with the San Diego Clippers when I was a kid watching hoops, named his son after a steak place his wife and him loved. That child: Kobe Bryant. I don't care what anyone says...that is a ridiculous name.
You could've met your wife over a blinddate at a sushi place. You don't then name your daughter Sushi. It's stupid. And, if you do, that's fine. But, your child will be made fun of. And, nobody should take the stance, "What...should we only name our kids Michelle and Bob?"
Another basketball player. During All-Star weekend one time in the late 80s, Spud Webbs mother said she named him after the Sputnik Satellite. Not sure how she then changed the letter "t" to a "d", and he became a potato instead of a satellite. Or, why she didn't just name him Satellite Webb.
By JoshBoard 10:48 a.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
Actually, you must not have read Freakanomics, just quote from it how you think it goes. Maybe you should reread that book. Or read it for the first time.
They said that if there was a "DeShawn" and a "Jake" in the same neighborhood, with similar family and economic circumstances, then their life outcomes will probably be similar. (This is according to book).
You cannot compare a white girl named "Sarah" with a black girl named "LeQuisha" when Sarah lives in an 8 bedroom mansion in La Jolla and LeQuisha lives in an apartment in East San Diego.
Names are only sometimes indicators of economic status which in turn is what plays a heavy role in an individuals success. THIS is what Freakanomics points out. It's based on a 25 year study.
It's sad that you can't accept a name like Barrack, because it's not white enough for you and thus, you think is stupid. He was named after his father.A name like Barrack or Ehmet, Ahmed or Ali...these are not that uncommon of a name in the grand scheme of things. There are common names in every region of the world, and people from those regions all come here. Does someone named Juan, or Antonio, or Eduardo fall in the same category for you? EVERYONE needs to have a white name? A biblical name? It's just "stupid" to you if they don't?
Again, people who will not vote for Barrack because his name is "too Muslim" are IDIOTS. They're the same people who wouldn't vote for Barrack, even if his name was Joseph, because he ISN'T WHITE. It's just ignorant individuals mindsets and that's something he'd have to overcome regardless.
By towelheadedcameljockey 11:15 a.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
Josh -- kinda makes you wonder where all these old blues guys got their names: One-String Sam. Banjo Ikey Robinson. Bo Weavil Jackson. Peg Leg Howell. Stovepipe Number One. (I'm not making that up. I've got his record.) Ramblin' Hi Harris. Sweet Papa Stovepipe. Blind Johnny Muskrat. (OK, I'm making that one up.) I wonder what these people named THEIR kids. Ever notice how many of them were blind? (Martin Mull used to do a routine about how he learned to play the blues from his pappy on the Cleveland Delta. "We used to call him Blind Lemon Pledge.")
By russl 11:30 a.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
I've got 5 of those Martin Mull albums. Love them. He could play guitar, paint, comedy...amazing talent.
Pinetop Perkins, you forgot in that list. Hey, did you ever see Robert Klein do the blues musician, where he can't stop his leg from moving?
Anyway...here's something to think about towelhead. Maybe there's a reason Sarah lives in an 8 bedroom mansion in La Jolla, and was named Sarah. And, LaQuisha lives in a ghetto, and was named LaQuisha.
That same book, talks about how adopted kids do so poorly in schools. Even when they are adopted by families that provide them with more books, musical training, and are better families than other students that are getting better grades. They found out, or concluded, it's because your intelligence is based, mostly, on the genes you got from your folks. And, folks putting kids up for adoption, were probably of a certain intelligence. So, no matter how much Beethoven you piped into the kids room, or how often you read to them, they have that IQ they got from their parents.
Now, back to names. Martin Mull. He has a weird last name. So, I think it was up to his parents, to think...what will sound okay, with his last name. I think parents need to do this, before naming their kids. That's my only point.
As I said, I'm voting for Barrak Hussein Obama. Whether he wears the flag pin or not. Even if he wears the flag of another country on his lapel. He still gets my vote. It doesn't change the fact that...in such a close race (as all presidential races seem like they'll be, with the country evently divided among Democrat and Republicans). Little things like a funky name, could cost him the election. So, he can thank his folks for that.
Normal named John can march his old, Republican butt into the oval office.
By JoshBoard 11:43 a.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
Well JoshB, I don't need to get in to why I think and why you think LeQuisha may live in the ghetto. I'm merely pointing out to you that book you quoted from did not say names were a factor when it came to getting hired, like you stated.
By towelheadedcameljockey 11:49 a.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
Josh, I've heard it said that there is a certain percentage of the American electorate -- what percentage, I don't remember -- that WILL NOT vote for you if your name ends with a vowel. Consequently, Mario Cuomo didn't stand a chance in the presidential election. I think I believe it.
While we're on the subject of weird names (and these are weird names by anybody's standard), how did we leave out the Warhol crowd? Viva. Billy Name. Ingrid Superstar. Ultra Violet. Wonder what names these people inflicted on their kids. Actually, most of them probably never had to worry about having kids. By the way, Mull had an excellent show at the SDSU Art Gallery a couple of years ago; hope you saw it.
By russl 12:20 p.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
Muhammad is the most common name in the world, in it's various spellings. I'm sure that some people out there would say that isn't a "white enough" name for them or it's too "unusual". But since the population of the US is only about .05% of the world's population, I guess our self centered opinions really mean much to the rest of the world, do they. Roughly tranlated, Muhammad means one worthy of praise. What's wrong with naming your kid that?
BTW #22, have you noticed how much like johnnyvegas josh is? It seems he likes to take a small amount of fact and mix it in with his own personal point of view and poof, it becomes the new fact.
Josh professes to be a writer full-time but he's merely blogging here , so he doesn't care about quality or accuracy. Sound familiar??
By anony_mous 12:37 p.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
my favorite "unusual" name is Rudy Martinez. Perhaps he might be better known to some a ?, as in ? and the mysterians. I believe he legally changed his name well before their 1 hit 96 Tears. So forget about Prince and his little symbol, Rudy (?) was the first.
By anony_mous 12:48 p.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
I quite like the name Apple. If I had kids they would get Gaelic names like Elidore and Taryn which are pretty unusual these days but hark back to my heritage. I love being a Fifi but hate the connotations with poodles ( I do have curly hair though. Its amazing that the Beatles and Elvis managed to give their kids normal names. My favourite weird name has to be Sly Stallone's son, Sage Moonblood. What an awful combination.
By fifibutton 3:30 p.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
"That same book, talks about how adopted kids do so poorly in schools. Even when they are adopted by families that provide them with more books, musical training, and are better families than other students that are getting better grades. They found out, or concluded, it's because your intelligence is based, mostly, on the genes you got from your folks. And, folks putting kids up for adoption, were probably of a certain intelligence."
Give me a break. That's a sphincter extraction worthy of Limbaugh.
- Former A student, National Honor Society Member, Top 10% of Graduating Class, Bachelor's Degree Recipient, Grad School Participant, I.Q. 141...
...and adopted at birth.
By antigeekess 7:35 p.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
Yes, I saw Mulls art show at SDSU. Unusual pictures. I much prefered the artwork on his first LP more. I tried to interview him, but was in Vegas when he was in town for that. They gave me his home number, and we talked a few times, and then he decided he didn't want to do the interview, since the paintings wouldn't be there much longer.
Trestles: Muhammad is the name that knocked me out of a trivia contest. My buddy and I, in 9th grade (he's now a professor at Berkley), were competing against all the other grades in a trivia contest. We came in 2nd, behind the seniors. The question we got was "What is the most common name in the world?" I forget what we said. It may have been a stupid guess like "John." It didn't occur to us to think outside of the U.S.
My point is...if you are in America, and name your kid Muhammad, that's kinda goofy. And, if you're in another country...well, there was a story a few months back, this sweet, old lady, had a class, with a teddy bear. She let them name it. They picked Muhammad. Guess what happened? She was almost jailed because of that. So...I really don't care about the rest of the country, if they are that idiotic that naming a teddy bear with such a sacred name offends them. This was a teacher with little kids, and she had to resign (I believe).
I remember the story of ? and the Mysterians. The record label said something about how hard it was to issue checks to him with that ? for a name. It's an odd story. He was an odd guy, apparently.
But, your points don't make sense. Earlier, you say that because Frank Zappa had a word for what his wife Gails little toe did (Dweezil), that makes perfect sense to name their son that. How is that even logical? If I meet my future wife at the copy machine, should we name our kids Copy Machine? Or Xerox? Those are stupid names!
Antigeek...you are obviously smart. You say you are adopted. What in the world, makes you think that stat would apply to EVERYONE that was adopted? They studied thousands. And they found, adopted kids did worse in school and on test scores, yet they had better (adopted) parents. They had more books and more activities (like learning an instrument), and yet, they did poorly in school. This baffled them.
So, explain that. It has nothing to do with Rush Limbaugh. You're taking that personally, because you were adopted.
By JoshBoard 10:08 p.m., Jul 15, 2008 > Report it
First, I'm not inclined to "explain" a statistic for which I've never even read the source material, and for which no citation is given. But based on my personal experience with other adoptees, it sounds like a lot of crap. "Adopted kids do so poorly in schools?" Not ANY of the ones I knew as a kid. We were the ones who kicked ass. Any time you're different as a kid, you've got something to prove.
"They" do lousy "studies" all the time. If accurately quoted, I'd be looking with an extremely skeptical eye at their sample group. I'd be using the other eye to look at their control group, if they had one.
For example, adopted at how old? Was the sample group ALREADY BEHIND when they were adopted, not due to low intelligence, but due to the crappy environment they'd been taken from? Sounds like "they" might be measuring damage already done.
"Here kids, let's start this 100-yard dash with you guys 50 yards back and see how you do. It's okay -- it's for a "study."
(I'm not even going to get off on the tangent about how family dysfunction is not the same thing as low intelligence.)
Or were they like half of Angelina's lucky kids, adopted from elsewhere in the world, and struggling with the stress and confusion of English as their second language on a daily basis? Most Americans who've lived here their whole lives can't speak OR write English intelligibly. It's a national embarrassment that makes us all look absolutely retarded to the largely multilingual rest-of-the-world, especially Europe. We've got a President that doesn't even have decent command of the language. Writers, too. And people in advertising, which is the WORST. (Yes, I know that I'm using sentence fragments. It's a blog.)
Finally, don't tell me or any member of any group that they're taking something "personally" when you've just insulted the group as a whole, without even bothering to cite your lousy source. What's next? One of those very scientific "studies" that shows inner-city black kids are stupid because they dont' know what a quiche is?
Keep it up, Board. You're carving out a new niche for yourself, intentional or not.
You sure you weren't taking lessons from Imus this weekend?
By antigeekess 12:14 a.m., Jul 16, 2008 > Report it
Well, if you've met other adopted kids and they did well, that's good enough for me. But, you should read Freakanomics and see about those studies. They were interesting.
I really don't care what other countries think about us, and whether or not we know multiple languages. We don't have the proximaty to other countries, so it's not as necessary. And besides, other countries let people like Roman Polanski, a rapist, roam free without him being sent back here to serve his sentence. Other countries act rude to tourists. To me, a sign of intelligence, might be to treat tourists politely, and welcome the tourist dollar.
Back to the names: The LA Times today, mentioned George Foreman having his reality show. It's with his fifth wife. And, as everyone knows, he has four sons, all of whom are named George. And, yes, I think that's stupid.
By JoshBoard 12:33 a.m., Jul 16, 2008 > Report it
The George Foreman thing? Yup, now THAT's stupid. Is he making his fifth wife change her name to Georgia?
BTW, you're lucky I'm not your mom. I'd have named you Switch, and let you worry about the connotations later....
(Not only that, but you'd have a sister named Ouija.)
By antigeekess 8:07 p.m., Jul 16, 2008 > Report it
In kindergarten, this big Somoan kid named Johnny Morgan (if you're out there Johnny, call me. you were a cool dude). He said, "Do you have a brother named Smorgas?"
It was so odd, because it was a funny comment. And the first time anyone made a joke about my last name. Then, each year during the first day of class, when the teacher says your first and last name, I'd hear, "Hey, Josh, are you 'bored'?" Or, "Do you have a brother named 'surf'?" Never original stuff. And never as clever as the kindergartener, who said "Smorgas".
I love though, when people like trestles, try to justify crappy names. Like the explanation of Dweezil, that it's what Gails curled toe is. Like that now makes that a good name.
The word ZXYREICRIJVIEJVIERMCVOE could mean "beautiful flower", but that doesn't make it a beautiful name.
By JoshBoard 1:39 a.m., Jul 17, 2008 > Report it
"Smorgas" is EXCELLENT!
Outpunned by a five-year-old. Damn.
By antigeekess 6:06 a.m., Jul 18, 2008 > Report it