May 2008

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What are these parents thinking?

For reasons likely to puzzle baby name experts around the world, American parents have become infatuated by names, particularly for their sons, that rhyme with the word “maiden.” These names for boys include: Jayden (No. 18); Aiden (No. 27); Aidan (No. 54); Jaden (No. 76); Caden (No. 92); Kaden (No. 98); Ayden (No.102); Braden (No.156); Cayden (No.175); Jaiden (No.191); Kaiden (No. 220); Aden (No. 264); Caiden (No. 286); Braeden (No. 325); Braydon (No. 361); Jaydon (No. 415); Jadon (No. 423); Braiden (No. 529); Zayden (No. 588); Jaeden (No. 593); Aydan (No. 598); Bradyn (No. 629); Kadin (No. 657); Jadyn (No. 696); Kaeden (No. 701); Jaydin (No. 757); Braedon (No. 805); Aidyn (No. 818); Haiden (No. 820); Jaidyn (No. 841); Kadyn (No. 878); Jaydan (No. 887); Raiden (No. 931); and Adin (No. 983). This startling trend was present, but less pronounced, with girls names: Jayden (No. 172); Jadyn (No. 319); Jaden (No. 335); Jaiden (No. 429); Kayden (No. 507); and Jaidyn (No. 561). Social Security spokesman Mark Lassiter indicated that the agency would resist any legislative efforts to standardize the spelling of these names.

It’s an interesting and amusing press release, especially coming from a government agency.

[via The Corner]

Sadly, the Mormon Wasp bids adieu. He did the best Mormon History blogging from the perspective of this non-Mormon history buff. Also, the Wasp offers some lessons learned from blogging.

Meridian Magazine taken down by a SQL Injection exploit. Not sure how that all works but it sounds nasty. Hopefully they can get back up soon. Sounds like its not alone.

President Bush to meet with church leaders next week in SLC.

Utah won’t be going for Obama.

McCain, the GOP’s presumptive nominee, was the choice of 65 percent of those polled over Clinton, and 62 percent when matched up against Obama. That’s a big change from February, when McCain mustered support from only 30 percent of Utahns surveyed.

Not exactly a shocker but that should put some speculation to rest.

A UK teen is being prosecuted for calling Scientology a cult.

A teenager is facing prosecution for using the word “cult” to describe the Church of Scientology.

The unnamed 15-year-old was served the summons by City of London police when he took part in a peaceful demonstration opposite the London headquarters of the controversial religion.

Officers confiscated a placard with the word “cult” on it from the youth, who is under 18, and a case file has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.

As annoying as it is to be called a “cult,” why is prosecution necessary? The LDS Church has likely been called a cult a time or two in the UK. Has that ever been prosecuted? Hopefully, no.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled today that paper money discriminates against the blind.

A federal appeals court today upheld a lower ruling that the U.S. currency system discriminates against blind people because bills of different denominations are the same size, shape and color and cannot be easily distinguished by the visually impaired.

Judge Thomas B. Griffith, formerly General Counsel of BYU , concurred in today’s opinion.

The greatest actor (or at least my favorite) was born 100 years ago today: Happy Birthday Jimmy Stewart. Watch TCM today or enjoy Mr. Krueger’s Christmas on this fine day in May.

About LDS reminds us how we can use a tithing slip to direct offerings for humanitarian crises.

Orson Scott Card is now doing talk radio on a weekly show.

Nearly 40 years ago, the story of how chiasmus were discovered in the Book of Mormon.

Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) was on satellite radio last week applauding California’s gay marriage decision. While bemoaning how “born-again Christians and their right wing loonies” were going to make a democratic ballot inititiave “nasty” he turned his attention to Mormons.

I wonder what they’re going to do with the Mormons. I’d like to put polygamy up if they want to fight this battle. Let’s go into Utah and have it out. I mean, I don’t have any quarrel with polygamy, as long as they leave little kids alone, which is child abuse.

But if you want to have three husbands, be my guest. I think that to me, that’s your decision.

I think it’s kind of humorous you’re going to find the Mormons leading the fight against gay marriage, which is an interesting commentary on what you believe.

It would help to avoid getting nasty if he got his facts straight.

Marriott meets with anti-porn family groups:

“Marriott told us they are about to unveil a new chain of hotels called Nickelodeon, aimed at families, where there will be no pornography,” Minnery said. “We thanked them for that and we praised them for that. We’d like to proclaim from the rooftops steps in the right direction. We’d rather be their friend than their enemy.”

Marriott says it will offer a formal response by July 1.

LDS Church statement on California gay marriage decision:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognizes that same sex marriage can be an emotional and divisive issue. However, the church teaches that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is the basic unit of society. Today’s California Supreme Court decision is unfortunate.

From David Archuletta to Stephenie Meyer: the LDS Newsroom looks at reconciling fame with Mormon faith.

One notion some reporters bring to their interviews with Mormon celebrities is that all Latter-day Saints are the same: squeaky clean and somehow unsuited to fame. The reality is, however, that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are all different, and those rising to prominence in their respective fields will handle the spotlight in their own ways. Some choose to push their beliefs aside, to varying degrees, as they make their way in fast-paced, high-profile industries such as movies, music and professional sports. Many, though, find ways to stay grounded and true to their faith while seeking to excel in their chosen pursuits.

Eugene Volokh (who approves of same-sex marriage recognition) looks at how today’s and other decisions prove the slippery slope argument can be valid.

[I]t seems to me that decisions such as the California, Massachusetts, and Vermont ones illustrate that it’s a mistake to just factually dismiss the claims that slippage is possible. When we’re dealing with a legal system that’s built on analogy and precedent (both binding precedent and persuasive precedent), slippery slope risks have to be taken seriously.