December 18, 2009
Four For Friday
Q1 - Uncommon Names: According to research economists at Shippensburg University, the more uncommon a person's first name, the more likely he is to wind up on the wrong side of the law. When comparing crime statistics against a roster of more than 15,000 first names, researchers David E. Kalist and Daniel Y. Le found a distinct "name-crime link" among American males. Do you experience a certain amount of discomfort with saying someone's name when the name in question is highly uncommon? For example, if you learned someone's first name was Universe, Meadow, or Pacific, would you have a certain amount of discomfort when saying their name?
Q2 - Holiday Greeting Cards: Have you received more, the same, or fewer holiday greeting cards this year versus last year?
Q3 - Medical Records: A judge is set to determine whether to allow an Oklahoma law to go forward that will mandate the posting of information online about women who have abortions in that state. Do you think medical records of private citizens should ever be made available to the public?
Q4 - Winter Movies: Which winter 2009-2010 movies are you most interested in seeing... Armored; Brothers; Everybody's Fine; One Peace at a Time; Serious Moonlight; Transylmania; Up in the Air; A Single Man; Did You Hear About the Morgans?; Invictus; Tenderness; The Lovely Bones; The Princess and the Frog; Crazy Heart; Avatar; Nine; The New Daughter; The Young Victoria; Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel; It's Complicated; Sherlock Holmes; The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus; Case 39; Crazy on the Outside; Daybreakers; Leap Year; Wonderful Word; Youth in Revolt; The Book of Eli; The Spy Next Door; Extraordinary Measures; Legion; Tooth Fairy; Edge of Darkness; When in Rome; From Paris with Love; I LOve You Phillip Morris; The Wolfman; Shutter Island; A Couple of Cops; Takers.
Posted by Mikal at December 18, 2009 1:30 PM
| TrackBack
1. Not really. I actually know quite a few people with unusual names, fore example, my grandfather's name was Wanderous - but he went by Kent. It would never have bothered me to call him Wanderous.
2. Fewer so far. I blame the economy!
3. No. Never.
4. Sherlock Holmes is the only holiday movie on my radar.
1. Names. My favorite name right now is "D'Brickashaw Furgeson" He's and NFL player. I always thought there was a link between odd names and fame too. Joaquin Phoenix, Stone Phillips, Dweezil and Moon Unit Zappa. (okay they aren't famous, but...) I'd only have discomfort until i got to know them personally. I'm very shallow and would probably make fun of them to my friends. "There's a dude named Michael, but he spells it Mikal! WEIRDO!"
2. About the same. It ramped up when everyone started getting married and popping out kids though.
3. Nope. Never. That's private yo!
4. I'll probably only see Sherlock Holmes in the theater. Everything else can wait to be netflix'd. I think Avatar is going to be a BUST.
1. yes. my face turns red and i get butter flies in my stomach.
2. actually now that you mention it i've had lots less...hmm this could be interpreted in many ways. i don't think many of the possible interpretations are very favorable to me.
3. no.
4. avatar
Q1 - Uncommon Names: That is interesting information! Well, being from Utah we have a lot of interesting names here. I had a professor named Von Del, work with a guy name Elwon, attended high school with a guy name Lake, had a neighbor name Nali, another neighbor named Israel, and grew up with a friend named Wynn. You'd think I'd be used to oddball names. But then I started dating a girl named Meadow. I quickly started using a nickname in place of her real name and after 14 years of marriage, I have almost never referred to her by name, instead saying "My wife" or something similar and using a pet name exclusively when speaking to her. So yeah, I do experience some level of discomfort, enough sometimes that I look for ways to avoid saying the name altogether.
Q2 - Holiday Greeting Cards: Only one so far from my employer, and I'm perfectly happy to get none. I'm sure they'll start pouring in soon enough, but so far I've received less.
Q3 - Medical Records: Sometimes you just gotta scratch your head at some of the laws people try to push through. As a general rule, I'd say I'm against medical records being publicly available. I may make an exception for diseases that result in people camping out at In-N-Out Burger restaurants or pretending to be a ninja, but otherwise I'm generally against it.
Q4 - Winter Movies: Not a big vampire fan, but I find myself really looking forward to Daybreakers. But I'd say Legion is the one I'm most anxious about. Clash of the Titans might be interesting as well.
Q1: No I actually like uncommon names. I guess it explains my mischievous streak.
Q2: Fewer. I guess that's what happens when you don't send any out. I'm destined to die sad and alone.
Q3: I say a resounding NO! I don't happen to agree with abortion, but I do agree with the constitution and the idea of privacy.
Q4: Avatar. I'm a sucker for good sci-fi and a bit intrigued by the rave reviews of the use of technology in this movie.
1. I seem to concentrate more when saying a name I am not used to or a name that is not as common. I have a daughter with the name "Kwynn" and it is interesting to see/hear people's react and/or say her name.
2. I got married 6 months ago and have 2 kids. So our new family has received more holiday greeting cards this year than any other year really.
3. No, absolutely not. I wouldn't want anyone finding out about my ..., nevermind.
4. I just got a Netflix subscription, so I am trying to concentrate on catching up with the older movies before seeing the new ones. I don't really know what movies are even out right now to be honest with you. (Just saw "The Soloist" last night. I recommend it.)
1. Not at all, I am always excited to say and use an unusual name.
2. I have received less. Every year I receive more and more digital cards.
3. Not unless they are a sex offender!
4. Avatar by far.
1. Not at all, I am always excited to say and use an unusual name.
2. I have received less. Every year I receive more and more digital cards.
3. Not unless they are a sex offender!
4. Avatar by far.
1) I know a Meadow, so I'm good with that one. I generally don't have a hard time giggling when I say an uncommon name. The only ones I have a REALLY hard time with are names that are hard to say (I met a lotta tough names in South Africa), and names that are REALLY goofy. For example, I'd have a hard time with Sphincter Van Leederhosen.
2) Fewer. What's the deal, people? Don't you LOVE me??
3) No. Why on earth would that stuff be anyone else's business? Why on earth would you even want to know that stuff about other people? Oh wait, it would be funny to find out if anyone has a ruptured spleen... I say that a lot when I stretch :).
4) Avatar
1) I'd better say no to this one since I'm mentioned ;). Seriously though, as long as it's not hard to pronounce or like Neal said Sphincter like then it's all good.
2)Not a single card so far, so I'd say less ;)
3) No way, I can see statistics but no names, locations, etc.
4)I think Stu owes me a movie to anyone I want to see, maybe the Princess and the Frog is in our future.
1) yup, but the good thing is...it would be a great conversation starter and I need all the help I can get!!!
2)fewer...i'll be lucky to get even two out myself this year
3)heck no
4)brothers, lovely bones, princess and the frog, sherlock holmes, daybreakers, legion, and the wolfman! :)
1. Unconventional names don't bother me. Actually, I think that there are quit a few so-called "conventional" names that I would be more uncomfortable having, if not saying.
2. Fewer, but I haven't sent out as many either. Seems as if a lot of people aren't in the holiday mood this year for whatever reason.
3. Definitely not. I don't have a problem with general statistics being made available to the public but even then I think there should a better reason than attempting to publically embarrass or shame people, which no matter what they say, is pretty much the intent of the law cited.
4. Sherlock Holmes is about the only one I'm interested in, and I'll probably wait for it to come out on dvd.
Q1 - At the risk of appearing to be racist (which I am not) I wonder if this statistic mirrors the fact that innercity black males have a higher incidence of unusual names and a higher incidence of trouble with the law.
Q2 - We are getting about the same number of cards.
Q3 - I don't think that anyone's medical records should be on the internet. At this point, since abortion is still legal; I cannot think of a single valid legal argument for posting.
Q4 - I'm not a movie guy.
1. I like unusual names.However, I agree with Josh and wonder about the Michael who calls himself Mikal.
2. I have definitely received fewer cards this year. I have received more E Cards than last year
3. A person's medical history should be private.
4. I don't get to the movies often.
Q1 - Uncommon Names: Upon learning that someone has an uncommon name, the first thing that occurs to me is, is that their given or chosen name. In either case, it makes me uncomfortable/gives me pause if I'm required to say the name aloud. I admit to feeling less awkward if the name is given vs chosen.
Q2 - Holiday Greeting Cards: Same amount as last year, but one card in particular that I was hoping to receive -- because I received one last year -- hasn't arrived yet. (It's from a family with five kids, and the letter is always a hoot to read.)
Q3 - Medical Records: Never in my opinion, should such personal information be made available to the public. Fortunately, a judge has extended a temporary restraining order that blocks enforcement of the new law., which would require doctors to report personal information about women who seek abortions and for the information to be posted on a public Web site.
Q4 - Winter Movies: Let's see... I'd like to see Everybody's Fine; Up in the Air; Avatar; Sherlock Holmes; Extraordinary Measures; and Shutter Island.
Post a Comment:
|
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=6b530f5d-d5fc-45b1-8a11-fe23c4e4ee6a)
