What's in a name?

For a while I've been choosing names for my future children. This will not be for a long time yet... but it's good to be prepared! Here is a list of my chosen names to date and why I love them.

Boys:

1. Irwin. It's the middle name of the Beat poet Allen Ginsberg (who I love) and you don't come across many Irwins these days...

2. Winston. Well, this is the middle name of John Lennon (who I also love) and I did think it was unusual until Billie Piper named her son Winston. Additionally, whenever I tell people I like the name they say 'as in Churchill?' and I would never want people to think I named my child after him... so this one might come off the list.

3.Woody. It's the name of one of my favourite film directors, Woody Allen. I think it's a really lovely, interesting name, but I have a feeling my child would hate me if I named him this - everyone would say 'like in Toy Story'!

4. Edward (but called Teddy). I think this is a nice, classic, timeless name. But I would never accept anyone calling him 'Ed'... that would be horrific. 

5. Darwin. For the obvious reason that Charles Darwin is amazing. I would like to name my child after someone who made such a significant contribution to our understanding of how we are here today.

Girls:

1. Lara. I adored the video game character Lara Croft when I was younger. She is just so cool. And how great would it be to say that you are named after a video game?... maybe not. But it's still a lovely name.

2. Olive. Although most Olive's these days are like 90 years old, I love this name. It has a vintage-y feel to it... if a name can be vintage? I think it's interesting and different!

3. Sylvia. I love the poet Sylvia Plath - she's brilliant. I wouldn't want my children to have names that are in fashion for a while and then seem silly. I think this is a perfect example of a beautiful, timeless name.

The most pessimistic birthday ever

Last birthday was a good birthday. 16 is a good age. I turned 17 yesterday and I don’t like it. The only positive side to being 17 is the fact I can learn to drive. But even then... learning doesn’t equal having a car to drive. 18 is how old I want to be, for obvious reasons. I don’t see the point in getting older when I still don’t have the things that come with being 18.

I’m also very aware of the fact that time is going. This is no joke. Most people get depressed about reaching 30, or 40 or whatever. I’m having a ‘semi-quarter life crisis’ or something like that. I would actually be happy to be 16 forever, but with the advantages that come with being 18. I don’t want to grow older. Because the older I get, the closer to death I am. And I am nowhere near accepting the fact that I’m going to die. No.

Oh well, never mind. Next year’s the important one.

Me and Ed.

A couple of Friday's ago I attended the Young Labour Conference at Warwick University. A lot of people think that Ed Miliband is a bit of a crap leader, and I think I’d have to agree that we could have a better one (*cough cough* David Miliband) but we’re in the situation we are… so we might as well support him. So anyway I arrive and I’m asked to sit on the side right next to where Ed is speaking. He spoke really well live – appearing much more confident. I ended up on the news, but looked like I was falling asleep – not what I hoped my 15 minutes (or 5 seconds) of fame would look like…

No I don't care about who won what game.

I was having a conversation with my friend today about why my dad doesn't get my lack of interest in football and cricket etc...

We came to the conclusion: "You're more burning bras, he's more burning calories."

I'll just like to add I have actually never burnt my bra - just an expression about equal rights and all that.

Kony 2012 Campaign - doing more bad than good?

I'm not going to waste time explaining who Joseph Kony or the Invisible Children are... because I'm pretty sure everyone (or anyone!) reading this will know about them by now. The Kony 2012 video has been viewed (so far) 55,000,000 times. At first, I was completely taken up with it, wanting to get the action kit and everything. However after reading some views about the campaign, I'm not sure I feel so positive about it...

Many people are arguing, and on reflection I think I might agree, that it seems quite silly to think that the problems of a man like Kony (and the violence in Uganda altogether) can be solved through just bracelets and posters. Additionally, Invisible Children have been accused of over-simlifying an incredibly complicated situation. While this may be true, it can be said that you have to start somewhere! Invisible Children are also helping the Ugandan army - who have been accused of rape and other crimes. It had also been said that since Kony and his rebel group have not been in Uganda since 2006, we should be focusing on the issues actually posing a threat.

I'm still not really sure how I feel about the campaign. While I think there are various flaws, I don't see how people being aware of the situation can be wrong. And if people are trying to fight for justice, that doesn't seem a bad thing either. But it does seem that the video is causing people to take a very complicated situation and say 'we can solve it with bracelets'. 

An Interesting Game.

So the other day I was playing Articulate with my family, which is a board game similar to charades but with words. It’s difficult to describe, but it’s a brilliant game because people just get so panicky! My dad was on a team with my sister (who both have difficulty expressing themselves at the best of times) and my dad was describing the person on the card for my sister to guess. He says: “Okay this person is in the position above major.” My sister shouts “MINOR?!” 

Who are we not forgetting again?

Today is 'Holocaust Memorical Day' and, going to school in an area with a large Jewish population, we had an assesmbly. I don't accept comments like 'why do we still bother with this day?' because I think if we start to forget the horror of the Holocaust, that's when we open ourselves up to the chance of history repeating itself in that way. However, at the same time, many of my friends feel that since it is so important to remember the millions of Jewish people murdered, it is so important to remember the millions of others who were targeted... Communists, Trade Unionists, Gypsies, the mentally disabled, Homosexuals, non-white people (not 'suiting' the Arian image) and other political opponents.

The widely-used number associated with the Holocaust is 6 million. 6 million Jews were murdered by the Nazis. However, counting all those who were persecuted, the figure would be between 11 million and 17 million.

The definition of Holocaust (in terms of Nazi Germany) is: "The mass murder of Jews under the German Nazi regime during the period 1941–45." Personally, I agree with those who say that the Holocaust should include everyone the Nazis persecuted.

Ps. Sorry for such a somber/depressing topic!