Names

I've been quiet for most of March because this is the last month of our financial year which brings pressures that squash free thought. But I've just read something in today's Guardian that has released me from the shackles of the profit & loss spreadsheet.

In his article Cocks, Dafts and Butts of the World be proud, Tom Meltzer writes about people who are so embarrassed by their surnames they feel obliged to change them. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/mar/26/endangered-surnames-shakespeare
This means we're less likely to bump into Nutters, Balls, Bottoms, Willys, Jellys and Pigs (so to speak).

I have a lot of sympathy for people with strange or embarrassing surnames. When I married Rich, I stopped being Fran Brookes and became Fran Fish. United (and, trust me, we do not go by these), we have become Dick and Fanny Fish. Hmmm.

I admit that initially I was a bit embarrassed by my new name. For starters, and as Norwich Union-soon-to-become-Aviva will tell you, changing your name is a pretty big deal. But when saying your name is also met with a response like
"hey, that's weird!"
or "is that REALLY your name?"
or "is that a stage name?"
you start to fret.

Anyhow, it didn't take long for me to realise that I didn't have an embarrassing name, I just had a memorable one. And this has advantages. Not least that unlike Norwich Union-soon-to-become-Aviva, you don't have to spend a lot of money to ensure people remember who you are.

See you soon.

From Fran Fish and her friends Ed Balls, Alan Cumming and Nicky Butt

Guts

As words form a big part of soh life, I was really interested in this research that's just come out of the University of Reading. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7911645.stm

Mark Pagel, an evolutionary biologist (there's a job title), is using a computer model to track how words are changing over time. Mark's team can predict which words are likely to become extinct - "squeeze", "guts", "stick" and "bad" could be the first casualties.

We can't lose guts. Guts is a great word!
Not least because it's a very happy bedfellow with other great words..."his guts oozed out", "I'll have your guts for garters", "you're full of guts and grit".
No, guts can't be allowed to go.
We need a campaign and a Facebook group. Now.

I did get thinking about the words and phrases that SHOULD become extinct. I think we could all live very happily if we phased out these five:

100 per cent mortgage.
Your call is important to us.
Kerry Katona.
Paris Hilton.
EastEnders omnibus.

Suggestions welcome.