Introducing...

Carys (L) and Ian (R)

Naming Research: Still Fascinated by Xzavier

We're still trying to come to a final decision on the topic of baby names. I confess, I am still fascinated by the name Xzavier. According to the Socialist Insecurity Administration, Xzavier was the 707th most popular name in 2003, having been used 268 times, and it is gaining in popularity.

Why do I find this name so interesting? Well, I suppose you need to consider its origins. I assume that somewhere, someone saw the name Xavier, didn't know how to pronounce it, and started saying "Ecks-zavier". Then, someone else said, "'Ecks-zavier', that's a nice name. How do you spell it?" and got "X-z-a-v-i-e-r" as the response. I guess the issue is, how many other names have two obvious mistakes in their derivation?

When it comes to our own name selection saga, we may be reaching some resolution. We've had a girl's name selected for a long time now, and other than some wrangling over the spelling, I think we're set. However, we always have more problems with boys' names. Some of what we've considered can deduced from an entry in this blog. However, we now have another leading candidate. (Hint: It's another non-English name from the British Isles.) I'm not sure if it will be our final decision or not, but it may be.

One problem with this choice is that it might be too popular. It was in the top 100 in popularity for each year since 1990. Ideally, we'd prefer to go with names closer to 200 in popularity: something you've heard of, but a name that isn't too common. We may make an exception this time.

Then there's the problem of middle names. Actually, we're not having as much indecision here.

Also, you may be thinking I should mention my ideas here and perhaps get your input. Sorry, but if I wanted your input on this, I would have already asked for it (and I have asked for some). I feel that I'm under a lot of pressure if someone asks which of two baby names I like better, and I don't want to burden anyone else. This is something we need to handle (mostly) on our own. (Also, once a kid is named, it is then too late for the polite to say anything but, "That's a wonderful name!")

Speaking of wonderful names, some of my better ideas, like Ernest, Frederick, and Brock keep getting vetoed.

Blog Templates: What's the Secret?

As you can see, I added two new little sections on the right column of the blog: Currently Reading and Friends' Blogs. To do this, I had to mess with the Blogger template files. I was able to figure it out, but it's the sort of thing that makes plain HTML look easy.

What's the secret? What am I missing? Surely there are some WYSIWYG template editors somewhere that everyone else is using, isn't there? I'm not so far behind the times that I'm the only one that isn't an expert with these blog templates, am I?

So, how come everyone but me has nice, custom-looking blogs? How do you do it? What tools do you use?

Please help.

Thanks.

More on the Decline of Small, Family-Owned Businesses

Due to the deterioration of the hubs of my front lawnmower wheels after years of use, I need to get some replacements. This Saturday afternoon, I motorcycled to the local, small-town hardware store. (I could have bicycled, but I didn't want to miss too much of the football game on TV.) Part of my thinking was that I could have went to the mega Dow Jones Industrial Average component international hardware store conglomerate, but I'd give the little guy some business.

When I got home and tried to attach the new wheels to my lawnmower, I found that they were the wrong size. (My axles were too short to fit all the way through the hubs.) I don't blame the store for that. I was going to return to the store for an exchange or refund, but I thought it might be a good idea to call first to make sure they were still open. No dice; I called at 5:15, and they said that they closed at 5:00pm on Saturdays. When I enquired about their Sunday hours, I learned that they are closed on Sunday.

These sorts of hours may have been the norm when I was a kid, but I've come to expect being able to do business before the sun sinks too far towards the horizon on a Saturday afternoon, and being able to do business on a Sunday. From this experience, I couldn't help but think to myself, "I should have went to the mega Dow Jones Industrial Average component international hardware store conglomerate. Next time I will."

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I'm goin' (yes I'm) goin', I'm a-goin' to the
Goin' to the (hard) ware I'm goin', really goin' to the
Goin' (hard) I'm goin' to the (hard) oh yes, I'm goin' to the
Hardware store

Not a Good Day for the Mini-Whites

On Saturday, the "Mini-Whites" had their second game. This one didn't go quite as well as the first as they ended up losing 27-0 to drop their record to 1-1. Below is a photo of their snazzy new game uniforms. (Not shown is the gold helmet with red facemask.) Their whole setup is snazzier than we had when I was a kid and played football. No, the helmets were not leather! But, every team did have plain white pants and plain white helmets with gray facemasks.

Unfortunately, I missed the first bit of the game. The Omni needed a pair of tires, and the other car needed a flat to be fixed. That involved more than a 2 hour wait. The cost of a pair of tires was probably more than the value of the car, but I'm sure it will be a safer ride without the balding tires. I hate to invest too much in the Omni, but I also hate to get rid of it while it still runs.

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Memories at the Republican Convention

Memories light the corner of my mind.
Misty watercolor memories
Of the way we were.

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Tonight I watched George W. Bush's acceptance speech for the Republican Presidential nomination. For better or worse, it seems that his campaign intends to bring up memories of his leadership in the time after September 11, 2001, and to campaign on his response to international terrorism. Once again, my wife had the best synopsis of a candidate's speech when she started singing the Barbra Streisand song The Way We Were.

One thing that I found annoying about the speech was the constant interruptions for applause. Did Kerry's speech have so many interruptions? I don't think so, but in any event, it was aggravating for a person who just wanted to hear what he had to say.

A few other thoughts on the speech:

• I liked the self-deprecating comments regarding Bush's problems with language and having his English corrected by Arnold Schwarzenegger. One complaint I have with Bush's term in office is that he gives me the impression that he can't admit mistakes, or even conceive of the possibility that he might sometime make a mistake. So, it was somewhat comforting to see him able to admit some personal flaws.
• I question the need for the far-reaching social programs outlined in the speech, especially in the areas of education and health care. Personally, I feel that the federal government already has far too much say in my children's education, and would prefer that the involvement decrease, not increase. (Please show me which part of the Constitution authorizes federal involvement in this area...)
• It was interesting that when mentioning foreign leaders who were his allies, Prime Minister John Howard of Australia was the first one mentioned. I wonder if this would help or hurt Howard's reelection chances.
• While I'm on the subject of Howard, does he look like "Dick" Cheney? Or is it just that I believed it when I heard that a bald guy with glasses could never be elected President, so I'm surprised when I see them in executive offices?

Here are photos of Cheney and Howard. Can you tell them apart?

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Memories may be beautiful and yet,
What's too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget.
So it's the laughter
We will remember,
Whenever we remember
The way we were;
The way we were.