I wouldn't want to change my middle name for my maiden name though. I like my middle name-it's sort of after my grandfather, just taking off the first letter from his and adding 2 other ones. My kindergarten teacher kept telling me I was spelling it wrong.

In New Jersey, to get a license, they now have a 6-point ID system. There's a pamphlet listing a ton of different types of ID, in two categories (I can't remember what kinds are in which category), and each type is assigned a certain number of points, and you need to have at least one form of ID from each category, with points that add up to six. I think that last time I had my old license, birth certificate, credit card bill with the right address on it, and maybe one other thing.

And you can't officially change your name in France, so paperwork would be a nightmare.

Wha? Really? You're just stuck with it?

11 most overrated things. Looks mostly like someone trying to get a reaction.

Pfft. They're not even well thought out arguments. I can see lots of reasons why somebody thinks Baseball is overrated, but complaining that it's not as international as futbol is stupid. Anybody who saw the World Baseball Classic can see that it's extremely popular in South America and Asia, and has actually been growing in popularity in Australia, Holland and Italy. (Charmingly, baseball is called "Honkball" in The Netherlands.)

The arguments against Star Trek and Ulysses are equally specious.

There was an article in the paper a while ago about an older woman (70s? 80s?) in Virginia who couldn't get a new drivers license because she'd been married, divorced, and remarried, and the last names didn't match up. She was expected to go in with her birth certificate, first marriage certificate, divorce papers, and second marriage certificate. And it took multiple trips because, of course, no one would tell her ALL the stuff she needed.

Wha? Really? You're just stuck with it?

There was just an article about a group in France, descendants of Holocaust survivors, whose grandparents were "encouraged" to change their last names to something more French-sounding when they came to France after the war. The descendants want to preserve their history and change back to their families' original names, but under French law, they're not allowed to -- the name was changed when their grandparents became citizens, and now it's final.

Oh, good. A coworker in another department promised an author something she can't actually do, but she assumed I could. They may not be pleased to know that the best I can do is estimate.

Ginger, thank you. We may take you up on it either there or back.

Really depressed this morning. I should do something, like plan a vacation.

Wanna road trip to Florida, Tom?

So, texas requires proof of citizenship to transfer my current/non-expired license from ny. Is that normal?

Probably some sort of Homeland Security/Protect the Boarder from the 'llegals sort of thing

I had no problems when I transferred my license from NJ to NY. Pretty much handed them my old license, got a new one.

I vaguely recall from making that change myself that NJ and maybe Connecticut had a different standard than other states switching to NY.

Fred, I've marked your post, thank you.

I know my mom had to go through hoops with the NJ DMV to establish her legitimacy because her birth certificate didn't match her current last name -- what with her having gotten married in 1968. They wanted her marriage certificate AND her divorce decree for whatever reason (some mishegas about her maiden name becoming her middle name). Crazy people. I had a battle with them trying to renew my licese with my valid passport and this was well before the current security dramas.

Smonster, thank you also for the place to stay.

Still, I recommend books on tape/CD. Makes the time go SO MUCH FASTER

Oooh! That would be nice. What have I been wanting to read?

I'm gonna pimp Audible for audiobooks without having to carry around a bunch of CDs. Most rental cars these days will have an aux-in jack for your iPod, and if you're the only one in the car with opposable thumbs you don't want to be switching out CDs.

Oooh, good call. Thank you.

Also, if you haven't done audiobooks while driving before, I highly recommend getting a book you enjoy that you've already read. Otherwise, I find them distracting, especially when not used to driving while listening.

That's a VERY good point. Thank you.

There was just an article about a group in France, descendants of Holocaust survivors, whose grandparents were "encouraged" to change their last names to something more French-sounding when they came to France after the war. The descendants want to preserve their history and change back to their families' original names, but under French law, they're not allowed to -- the name was changed when their grandparents became citizens, and now it's final.

Can they change the names of their decendants?

Sail, that sounds like an amazing trip. Yeah, ten seems reasonable. Well, more like 11-12 with the breaks, but 10 driving. I figure an hour for lunch seems sane, I can probably smuggle Dallas in her carrier at a Cracker Barrel.

But can't you get an SS card even if you're not a citizen? As opposed to a birth certificate, which seems pretty cut and dried.

Oh, I think we have ALL learned that there is nothing cut-and-dried about birth certificates. There are short forms and long forms and Kenyan fraud and all sorts of mayhem.

In New Jersey, to get a license, they now have a 6-point ID system. There's a pamphlet listing a ton of different types of ID, in two categories (I can't remember what kinds are in which category), and each type is assigned a certain number of points, and you need to have at least one form of ID from each category, with points that add up to six. I think that last time I had my old license, birth certificate, credit card bill with the right address on it, and maybe one other thing.

That was the way they did it in MA when I was in high school and lost my license. (I mean, had my purse stolen, not had my right to drive revoked.) Of course, because I was in high school, pulling the documents together was a huge PITA. I think I had my birth cert, a work ID, random mail (no bills in my name), my library card, and some else even weirder to make it work, finally.

I probably would have issues if I tried to change, because a lot of my mail goes to Firstname Brooks Lastname, but my real name is First Name Marie Last Name.

My eyes are so burny and so tired, that I feel more comfortable with my glasses off, and I can not really see with my glasses off.