10 Names That Aren't All That Awesome

So I was trying to come up with an idea for this weeks list and couldn't think of anything. So I plagiarized part of 2 lists from Parents.com They had the top 10 of each sex and I am only posting the top 5 of each. So here there are in order of popularity with my own comments thrown in for fun. Girls

1. Isabella/Isabel/Bella - Really ladies? We can't find better names for our girls than one popularized by a series of books about Sparkly vampires? Especially since the girl is obsessed with being a vampires housewife. A perfect Mormon woman whose name means devoted to God.
2. Emily - I've never really liked this name. The last Emily I met was in karate class and she was a "pacifist" who liked causing pain on her practice partners. I've never met any Emily's who were industrious or striving for anything.
3. Elizabeth - Liz, Lizzie, Beth, Ellie. Why should you have a name that can be shortened so many ways? And the only really good Elizabeth's I've ever even heard of were Queen Elizabeth I, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. If you're going to give your child a biblical name pick one that doesn't mean my God is an oath.
4. Ava - I can't hear this name and not think of the Smashing Pumpkins. With a song that includes not only your daughters name but lyrics like

   And you'll always be my whore Cause you're the one that I adore And I'll pull your crooked teeth You'll be perfect just like me

   How can you expect your child to ever turn out normal? Also if you insist on naming your child "like a bird" prepare for a lifetime of eating disorders.
5. Olivia - I hear Olivia and I think of a little blue haired grandma in a rocking chair knitting or something. I do not think cute little girl. I know there are quite a few Olivia's in the world. Olivia Newton-John perhaps being the most famous. I'd have to say that this is by far, however, my least disliked name on this list. I would possibly have considered it for my future daughter if it weren't for the meaning. Olive tree. Really? If you're going to name your daughter after a tree pick a better one. Like Willow or Rowan. Not something that is poisonous unless treated for at minimum a month before they're edible.

Boys

1. Aidan - This one's not too bad actually. I just don't like how many different ways there are to spell it. Just on the website I stole these from there are 11 different ways to spell this one name. It does have a cool meaning though. Little fire.
2. Jayden/Jaden - Yet another biblical name on the list. This time it means God has heard. So, appropriate if you've been praying to get pregnant. However like Aidan there are too many different ways to spell this name. 17 different variations on this one.
3. Michael - My first real boyfriend was a Michael. You know what I called him behind his back? Mikey. I've never really liked the name since. If you're going to name your child after an Angel though why not go with the biggest and baddest of them all. The one that led the army for god.
4. Jacob - Yet another name made popular by sparkly vampires. This time however NOT the lead. I'm surprised Edward didn't make the list but the werewolf did. According to the meaning though this name is only appropriate if you have twins and Jacob is born second.
5. Ethan - Firm and steadfast? I've never actually met any Ethans in my life so I can't really say if this is true or not. But still I can't help but think of unemployed slackers when I read/hear this name. Remember this?
   
   Not exactly my picture of firm or steadfast.

As always some of the comments are made purely for comedic purposes. I know that what you name your child only in part influences how they'll turn out.

Totally Tubular Tuesdays

By far one of my favorite 80's songs. I only wish it had a more poppy sound so the local 80's cover band would play it on Saturdays. Oh well. I guess I'll just have to survive without it there, but I can have it here.

It's Tears for Fears with Everybody Wants to Rule the World.

Totally Tubular Tuesdays

Todays hit has by far one of the most bizarre videos to accompany the music. However the music and lyrics don't make much sense either.

It is awesome though to picture little people running through fields singing and dancing dressed in ren faire garb. If you haven't already guessed what today's video is it's Safety Dance by Men Without Hats.

Totally Tubular Tuesdays

Here it is the quintessential 80's band and video. The awesome hair, the awesome use of mirrors in the video, the crazy make-up. It has it all. As well as an annoyingly catchy chorus.

It's I Ran by Flock of Seagulls

Totally Tubular Tuesday

Again not technically an 80's hit as it came out in '79, however it was popular enough and fits the 80's pop genre well enough that I'm including it here.

It's Video Killed the Radio Star by Buggles.

Totally Tubular Tuesday

Another weekly installment of Totally Tubular Tuesdays here. We were going to be playing White Wedding today, however not ONE of the videos on youtube that are of the actual video are embeddable. So instead we get pop sugar.

It's I Want Candy by Bow Wow Wow

Totally Tubular Tuesdays Are Back!

I bet you thought I forgot all about my awesome 80's tributes. Bet you thought you'd never see them again. But here we have the next Totally Tubular Tuesday installment. Nearly a year after the last one but it's here.

Today we have a great love ballad from the 80's. One I loved and sang all the words to when ever Rick Dees in the morning played it on KIIS FM in LA. It's True by Spandau Ballet.

46 Reasons to Donate to Love146

So I haven't done this in quite a while. Monday's a list day. At least according to Anna at abdpbt.com. I participated for a while and then I stopped. Right around the time I stopped blogging on a regular basis the last time. Today however I have found something worth creating a list for.

So here it is. 46 reasons to donate to Love146

1. For your daughters


2. For your mother


3. For your sister


4. For your niece


5. Because you never had to go through this


6. Because you did


7. So no child will ever have to suffer through sexual exploitation again


8. For little girl number 146


9. For the two children sold every 60 seconds


10. Because there are more slaves today than there were 150 years ago when it was abolished


11. For the over 100,000 children forced into prostitution or pornography each year


12. For all the girls that "lose" their virginity multiple times


13. For all the abortions that these girls are forced to undergo


14. For the little girl that was sold by her sister to a brothel


15. For that same little girl that was forced to watch sex tapes and other girls service clients to learn the business


16. For "Cristiano" who sold himself for $1 to survive from the age of 8


17. For "Maly" who was gang raped at 11 while scrounging for food


18. For all the girls that are routinely electrocuted if they don't comply


19. For all the girls that are forced to live in underground concrete rooms under conditions worse than our prisons


20. For Long Pross who had her eye gouged out for asking for a few days rest after a forced abortion at 4 months


21. Because human beings are not commodities


22. Because children should not be for sale


23. So pedophiles from the west don't have anywhere to escape to


24. Because Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love."


25. For the 99% of European victims that are never rescued


26. Because the legal age for sex in the Czech Republic is 15


27. Because those same girls are sold for as little as 15 Euro (approximately $22 US)


28. Because you believe that change IS possible


29. Because there are better ways to live


30. Because we are spoiled in America


31. Because I am willing to be offended so that children can be protected, are you?


32. Because the average age that someone enters prostitution in the U.S. is 13


33. Because an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 adolescents are sexually exploited annually in the U.S.


34. Because human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world


35. Because they're earning an estimated USD$5 billion to $9 billion annually


36. Because the children are treated as sexual objects and as commercial objects


37. Because children aren't objects


38. Because these children often suffer irreparable damage to their physical and mental health


39. Because they face early pregnancy and risk sexually transmitted diseases, particularly AIDS


40. Because child sex trafficking is often only treated as a form of child abuse


41. Because children make up 40% of prostitutes in Thailand


42. Because it is estimated that 2 million children are exploited in prostitution or pornography every year


43. Because it is estimated that there are 60,000 child prostitutes in the Philippines


44. Because many of the 200 brothels in the notorious Angeles City offer children for sex


45. Because one-third of runaway youths in America will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours on the streets


46. Finally, because it's the right thing to do.

This list was originally going to be longer. However, the more research I did the more my heart hurt and I had to stop or I was going to be non-functional for a while. I know that this is a very depressing list however it is something that I feel very strongly about and needed to share with all of you. If we don't know it's going on in the world how can we ever expect to stop these atrocities.

Even if it's only one dollar please visit my Firstgiving page and help do something to stop this horrendous practice.

Scarf and something closer to my heart

So the scarf was completed on 12/27/09 and is about 12 feet long. My honey loves it and wears it every time we go outside.

As for what's closer to my heart. I am a big fan of CakeWrecks. Recently they decided to do fund-raising for the Christmas season. One charity per day and a request of a $1 donation to each charity. One of the charities they featured was an organization called Love 146.

I read the story of how they got their name then cried for a while. Then I got mad and decided to do something about it. I started a FirstGiving page. You can go here to donate.

I challenge you to read that story above and not find something to donate. Check your couch cushions, dig all the change out of your car, take in all those soda cans you have laying around the house. Every little bit helps abolish the child sex trafficking that they're fighting.

If you know me in real life and don't have a credit card, or don't feel comfortable using it online, you can give me cash and I can add the funds myself. I'll make sure your name is credited.

Latest on Scarf

Not much progress since the last update. Only 9% progess in 3 days. Maybe he was right and it won't be done by Christmas. Damn it all to hell!

Scarf Update

What I have accomplished in the last 2 days of knitting. I am now, as you can see below, at 49.3% completion on the scarf. And he didn't think it'd be done in time for Christmas. Silly man.

Dr. Who Scarf

So my man decided a little bit ago that he wanted a Dr. Who Scarf. You know like the one the 4th Dr. wore.

Like this.



I started about 2 weeks ago and then had to stop as I didn't have one of the colors I needed. At that time I was only at



Yesterday we got the last color I needed to continue and today I am



I'll keep you updated as we progress and let you know where I am. Perhaps eventually you'll get pictures. However if you're an old reader of this blog you'll know what kind of promise that is.

10 grains at a time

I found this really cool site while stumbling tonight. It's called FreeRice.com.

It's a trivia site where every correct answer donates 10 grains of rice to hungry people around the world. Go check it out. Have some fun pissing yourself off with the incorrect answers and surprising yourself with the correct ones.

Almost a month...

So I read on some blog earlier today, no I don't remember which one, that if you don't post for a month you're blog is as good as dead. I realize that I have gone longer periods of time without posting and I'll probably be erratic still in posts to come but hey, you get what you pay for.

What have I been doing the last month you may ask. Lots of things. Some knitting. But mostly I have rediscovered my original needle passion Cross Stitch. And like the typical ADD American that I am I have three started and none finished. The one I have been working on the most is

I have all of the upper right wing complete and am working on the scroll in the middle now. I have also started

Sorry but I couldn't find a better picture. On that one I only have about 100 stitches actually in the cloth. I have also started

I have quite a bit of his forehead done and around the eyes. On the main wolf that is.

That's pretty much all that I've been doing other than work and sleep.

More Crazy People

I'm telling you guys they're everywhere. I read yet another crazy story in the paper on my lunch break the other day.

This time a 13 year old girl was accused by a classmate of having prescription strength ibuprofen on campus. So get this. Two school officials strip searched the girl. That's right STRIP SEARCHED. A 13 year old girl. She was forced to remove all her clothing including bra and panties. Guess what. They didn't find anything. That's right. Not even one pill. Not one.

The people at the school don't feel they did anything wrong. In fact there was no disciplinary action taken of any kind. This girl was emotionally scarred. She developed ulcers and had to move schools. The lawyer even said they had "reasonable grounds" for the search. "Remember," he said, "these were prescription strength Ibuprofen."

Just outrageous. I will be sure that my children know it's okay to say no to ANYONE. To read the full story go here. To send the superintendent a piece of your mind you can write:

Dr. Mark R. Tregaskes
734 W 11th St
Safford, AZ 85546
928-348-7000

I See Crazy People...

...They're everywhere!

So this former Nazi guard has made it to the ripe old age of 89 here in the states. Enjoyed the privileges of citizenship until the year 2002 even. Now he's being deported back to Germany to stand trial on 29,000 counts of acting as accessory to murder while he was a guard at the Sobibor death camp in Poland. We all know that most of the people in these camps suffered untold horrors at the hands of their captors. Torture beyond what most of us can imagine.

Here's the crazy part. He says that forcing him to travel back to Germany at the frail age of 89 would be, and I quote, "severe physical and mental pain that clearly amount to torture under any reasonable definition of the term." I'm so sorry that it would be torture for you. You're right crazy old man. You DO deserve better than those you stole from, beat, starved, and froze to death. That's just to name the least of what they had to suffer. You're life is worth so much more than those 29,000 people that did nothing to deserve what they received. You don't need to face the consequences of you're actions just because you're old.

How crazy can people be to support him not being extradited? He has an attorney defending his right to stay in the states, mind you his citizenship has been revoked. His family is trying to stop the extradition. There was even a temporary stop granted by a judge, he revoked that 3 days later. I'm sure it took him so long because it was the weekend.

Why is it that people think they don't have to pay for their crimes just because they happened decades ago? Or because they're old and they don't have a lot of time left on this earth? I just don't understand people.

For the full story go here.

Totally Tubular Tuesdays

Today we have one of the all time greatest hits of the 80's. So awesome in fact that they spoofed it on an episode of Family Guy. It's Take On Me by A-Ha

Wednesdays MEMEdays

Found this one on the web. Some of the questions are repeats from previous meme's but that's going to happen.

1) Favorite object in your room?
My bed. So warm and comfy.

2) Do you smoke?
Not any more.

3) Do you own guns?
Yes. An H&K 9mm USP and I love it.

4) What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
None. I don't get the flavored drinks at Sonic

5) Do you get nervous at the doctors?
Nope. Not even when I went in for surgery.

6) What do you think of when you hear hot dogs?
Yummy goodness and Wienerschnitzel.

7) Favorite song?
Can't pick one song. There are too many to count.

8.) What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Diet Pepsi.

9) Can you do push ups?
Yeppers. They were a requirement for instructors.

10) Can you do a chin up?
Don't know. I haven't tried since Jr. High.

11) What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?
Don't have one favorite. I wear several. If I had to pick one I'd say my CTR ring.

12) Your pet peeves are?
It would have to be people that say anywayS. There is no S at the end of that word people.

13) Ever been in a car wreck?
Yes, several. The first one when I was 5.

14) Do you like to work on your Birthday?
I don't like to work period. However I don't treat my birthday as anything other than a regular day so it doesn't matter if I work on it or not.

15) What’s one trait that you hate about yourself?
I don't hate anything about myself.

16) Are you named after anyone?
I tell people that I'm named after a prostitute. My mother got my name from Judith Light's character on General Hospital and only after found out that she was playing a prostitute.

17) Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.
I'm tired.
I'm hungry even though I just ate a couple of hours ago.
I wish I were at work right now.

19) Name 3 drinks you drink regularly
Diet Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, and Non-fat milk.

20)What’s your job?
I am a DCO at the SLC REC for the USPS. Can you tell it's a government job.

21) Current hate right now?
Low volume, and consequently low hours, at work.

23) Do your friend’s love you?
I'm sure in their own way they do. I haven't ever asked any of them though.

23) How did you bring in the New Year?
Playing poker at a new friends house til 7 AM.

24) Where would you like to be right now?
At work.

25) Name three people who will complete this.
Since I'm not sending this out as an email I've no clue about who'll complete it.

26) Are you one of those people that thinks and talks about their life being unfair?
Nope. I know that what my life is right now is what I've made it.

27) What shirt are you wearing?
Which one? I'm wearing three. An wife-beater undershirt, a T-shirt from my trip to Alaska, and a mens thermal shirt that's like 6 sizes too big.

28) Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
Sometimes. But not for long. They don't breathe.

29) Can you whistle?
Yes, but not well since I got my tongue pierced.

32) What songs do you sing in the shower?
I don't.

33) Favorite girl’s name?
Mine.

34) Favorite boy’s name?
Fagan

35) What’s in your pocket?
Lint

36) Last person that made you laugh?
My friend Mike.

37) Best toy as a child?
Don't remember

39) Do you love where you live?
Not really. It could be better, but it's what fits in my budget.

40) Do you give good advice?
I usually don't give advice. I'm more of a listener.

41) Who is your loudest friend?
I don't really have any loud friends. I'd say I'm the loudest in our group.

43) Does someone have a crush on you?
Don't think so, but it's always a possibility.

44) Favorite part about your weekend?
Not having to work.

45) What are you gonna do for your next birthday?
Since it's 11 months away I don't have a clue.

46) Favorite sports team?
The Pittsburgh Penguins.

48) Where is the next place you want to travel to?
Back to France and all over Europe.

49) What were you doing 12 AM this morning?
Watching Fearless at a friends house.

50) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
I can snooze a couple more times before I have to get up.

Wednesday's MEMEdays Take the Third

Take Three. This one was an email sent by a friend. She does this frequently. It has been edited somewhat to remove the email related questions.

1. What time is it? - 9:35 PM
   
2. What's your full name? - Not getting this here.
   
3. What are you most afraid of? - I don't really have any fears. I'm pretty happy with most aspects of my life and know that I'll eventually get everything I want before I die.
   
4. What is the most recent movie that you have seen at
   Home: Wish Upon a Star
   Theater: Gran Tourino
   
5. Place of birth - La Mirada, CA
   
6. Favorite food - Right now it's Hostess Struessel Cakes
   
7. What's your natural hair color? - Brown
   
8. Ever been a Neat Freak? - Never
   
9. Ever been skinny dipping? - Can't say that I have
   
10. Love someone so much it made you cry? - Everyone I've ever loved has been so much that I cried.
    
11. Been in a car accident? - Several
    
12. Croutons or bacon bits? Croutons, bacon bits are nasty unless they're real.
    
13. Favorite Day of the Week? - Pay day.
    
14. Favorite restaurant?
    Nice: Hamilton's Steakhouse in Logan, UT
    Fast: Mickey D's
    
15. Favorite Flower? - Black Tulips
    
16. Favorite sport to watch? - Hockey
    
17. Favorite drink? -
    Alcoholic: White Russian or Tequila
    Non-Alcoholic: Diet Pepsi or Dr. Pepper
    
18. Favorite ice cream? - Butter Pecan
    
19. Warner Brothers or Disney? - Disney
    
20. Ever been on a ship? - A Couple. Need to be on more.
    
21. What color is your bedroom carpet? - Boring apartment beige.
    
22. How many times did you fail your driver's test? - Not once.
    
23. What do you do when you are bored? - Usually knit.
    
24. What is your Bedtime? - When I'm tired. Usually around midnight.
    
25. Favorite Television Shows? - Almost anything on Adult Swim
    
26. Last person you went to dinner with? - My Mother
    
27. Park or Zoo? - Duh! Zoo.
    
28. What are your favorite colors? - Only one. Purple.
    
29. How many tattoos do you have ? - 5
    
30. How many pets do you have? - One
    
31. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? - The chicken.
    
32. What do you want to do before you die? - That list is too long for this
    
33. Have you ever been to Hawaii? - No, but that's one of the things I'd like to do before I die.
    
34. Have you been to countries outside the U.S.? - Yes. Two, France and Mexico.
    

So there you have it. The latest meme for your learning pleasure.

Totally Tubular Tuesdays

I hate this song, but I have to include it because it was and still is a good song. I can't tell you the number of times I was asked, "Where are the Waves?", when I was growing up. I know all the words to this song and sing it whenever I hear it on the radio or in a club, but that doesn't mean I have to like it damn it.