When I think of Clint Howard's voice, I think of his E-COM character from Apollo 13. "This is saying there's a quadruple failure! That can't be right. I'll get back to you, Gene..."

When I think of Ron Howard's voice, I think of Arrested Development.

It saddens me that Twilight may ruin a perfectly good obscure family name. SADDENS. Especially as I saddled Lillian with it as a middle name.

Neither of my parents' names seems poised for a come back. (Ronald and Esther) And my name is still not on the charts.

I just watched a special on Ron Howard and his 50(!) years in show business on TCM. Nice man.

I'm surprised there are so many boys there named Tea.

Hee. that would be Tea-for-Thomas. So to speak.

If I had a daughter she would have been named Victoria. Along with my last name it would have been a tribute to may favorite author in my stereotypical adolescence. I would have called her Tori. But boys I had and they were both named for loved ones in my family.

My family doesn't use their given names. My sister Norene has always been called Mona. My sister Mary we call Judi. My brother John we call Jim. They call me by my name.

I've always liked Esther. I think it's a perfectly lovely name.

I'm always interested in how name change, depending on the language of the named. Like Ralph is kind of a funny name in english, but in Italian or Spanish it's Raphael.

and I can't remember what ordinary english name is the analog of Schlomo, which I involuntarily snicker at. Shame on me.

One secret favorite of mine is Amaryllis, from The Music Man.

Because of the role that my teddy bear played in my life (long story), and repeated viewings of the BBC Brideshead Revisited while young, I adore Aloysius. I would never seriously foist that upon a child though.

I always assumed I would use names that are the same in French and English. For girls it's easy, for boys, not so much.

I always assumed I would use names that are the same in French and English. For girls it's easy, for boys, not so much.

Tomas!

Close, anyway.

Because of the role that my teddy bear played in my life (long story), and repeated viewings of the BBC Brideshead Revisited while young, I adore Aloysius. I would never seriously foist that upon a child though.

My older brother chose St Aloysius for his confirmation name, because said saint was apparently able to strip down and reassemble a gun at a ridiculously early age. Aloysius also took a vow of chastity at age 9, and refused even to look women in the face to stay chaste (including the queen and his own mother); Gareth has been less inclined to follow this example.

I chose St Francis of Assisi.

Two Lumps today is excellent: [link]

As is xkcd: [link]