World’s Worst Baby Names

The worst baby name I’ve ever seen was given to a child in my former school district. Pronounced NAH-sma-king and spelled Nosmoking, it chosen for the first thing the mother saw after giving birth:  The no smoking sign on the wall of her hospital room.

Seriously.  There’s not even a cute nickname there:  Nos?  Nossie?  Smokie? King?

In their book Bad Baby Names authors Michael Sherrod and Matthew Rayback pay homage to all the babies destined to be ridiculed on the playground and the parents who name them.  Using the U.S. Census Bureau as their guide, they’ve come up with an impressive list of names that should be banned from birth certificates everywhere.

Here are the worst of the worst: Continue reading »

Harry Potter vs Voldemort Rap Battle

You know, I need to come up with a new phrase. But “thank goodness for people who have time on their hands” seems to work so well.

What else can one say about a video where Harry Potter battles Voldemort, “using their rhymes” instead of their wands? Continue reading »

Is There Too Much Alcohol In The Harry Potter Movie?

This story from the New York Times caught my eye. In her “Well” column, Tara Parker-Pope asks the immortal question: “Does Hogwarts have a drinking problem?”

In the words of the immortal Homer Simpson: the who is on the what now? Continue reading »

VIDEO-Japan’s Biggest Potter Fan Meets Daniel Radcliffe

When some celebrities here the words “I’m your biggest fan,” they head for the hills. Not Daniel Radcliffe, aka Harry Potter.

First he makes nice with an 11-year-old reporter from Scholastic. Now he gets involved in something much more planned.

This young lady won a contest and the prize was meeting Harry Potter himself. Well, Daniel Radcliffe anyway. And they caught it all on video. Take a look: Continue reading »

Really? Jazzmyne? No No No No

When it comes to baby naming, most people are either traditionalists, trendoids, or just totally whacked out “kreativz” – those people who name their kid Frodo or spell Xavier with a Z just to be different. Being friendly with a kreative can be a challenge when they are choosing baby names, because there’s lots of polite smiling and nodding when they share their latest whackjob name idea.

A reader wrote in to the Name Lady on Parent Dish (which should totally be my job, by the way) asking if there’s a tactful way to suggest her friend not use the creative spelling she was planning on for her baby. It’s likely to be misspelled, and also is associated with a celeb with a bad reputation (I’m thinking Britney).

Of course, the Name Lady said Continue reading »

Harry Potter Kids - Then and Now (Photos)

The new “Harry Potter” movie is here, much to the delight of millions of children (and many of their parents).

One of the interesting aspects of the “Potter” films is that they managed to keep the same actors for all of them, which is unusual. What this means is that we get to see them grow up. Here are some before and after pics of Rupert Grint (”Ron Weasley”), Emma Watson (”Hermione Granger”) and Daniel Radcliffe (”Harry Potter” - as if you didn’t know). Continue reading »

Jon Gosselin and Hailey G: Reality TV’s Classiest New Couple

Are you guys still talking about Jon and Kate??? That’s so early 2009. The buzz is now on Jon and new gal pal Hailey Glassman.

Continue reading »

Harry Potter’s Radcliffe Makes Nice to 11-Year-Old Reporter

In case you didn’t already have a parent crush on British actor Daniel Radcliffe AKA Harry Potter, here’s a story that will make you fall head over heels.

Out doing press for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, the movie’s biggest star was faced with a room full of reporters whom he promptly ignored in favor of an eleven-year-old girl repping Scholastic News. Continue reading »

John Travolta May Leave Scientology over Son’s Death

Many former Scientologists suspect the fallout over his son’s death may draw John Travolta from out of the Religion’s fold (all apologies to those who do not believe Scientology earns the moniker “religion”). This belief is based on whether or not Travolta will ultimately blame his faith for the death of his son. Travolta’s son, Jet, suffered from autism and his demise was pinned on a seizure disorder. Scientology does not recognize autism as a medical condition and therefore denounces the use of medication (or medication for any psychological disorder: see Tom Cruise’s castigation of Brooke Shields for medicating her post partum depression). Continue reading »

Update: Billy Mays, TV Pitchman Extraordinaire, Dead at 50

Preliminary autopsy results on Billy Mays have been released by the Hillsborough County medical examiner’s office. Continue reading »