Showing posts with label Top Lists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top Lists. Show all posts

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Awesomely Bad Baby Names: Part II

Well, since the first round of names turned out to attract some attention, I've thought up some new geek-tastic names that sound like a bad idea, but would eventually turn them into cool kids.  Promise...



Merlin
Merlin is the name of the greatest known fictional wizard of all time.  Step aside Gandalf!

"YOU SHALL NOT... oops, wrong wizard."


The bad:  There are so many downsides to naming your child after a wizard.  I mean, if you like wizards and want one of your favorites to be a namesake, then you have a plethora of options:  Harry.  Neville.  Heck, you can even go with Severus!  But, picking the most old-timey name in the history of wizard names is really taking a ballsy step.  Think about the images that came to your mind when thinking of the name "Merlin."  If you have a hard time using your imagination, allow me to help you out:

Clearly a stoner.

Clearly senile.

Clearly...  Well, he's alright.


Conversations concerning your kid will probably go something like this:
"Oh, that kid Merlin?  Yeah, he's so funny.  He's a riot."
"Really?  What, is he like a class clown or something?"
"No, his name is just silly.  Have you ever seen Shrek 3?  That's what I think of when I see Merlin.  Yeah."

The awesome:  We have established that the name sounds ridiculous, it's very, very outdated, and naming your child after a fictional wizard would be nuts.  However, let's not overlook how much of a great figure he is.  He was the real power behind the throne in Arthurian legend, he was a great mentor, and he possessed some great power.  He was also probably extremely intelligent.

If the influence of a great Arthurian hero did not sell this name enough for you, then pay attention to this:  The meaning of this name is "sea fortress."  SEA FORTRESS.  This is just the perfect prophecy that every parent wishes upon their children.

Side note- It's also the name of a bird...  You can tell people that instead.

It's better than "Katniss".




Ajax
This is a name which really does sound strong at first.  However, it honestly only sounds strong because it makes me think of Mortal Kombat for some reason...

This is a Jax.  Got it?


The bad:  There is not much bad that goes with this name.  It's strong and memorable.  The only negative that might come with a name like this, is that your kid may automatically be framed as the default bully...just because your kid sounds like he might grow up to be a bouncer.  Ajax, is totally a bouncer/bodyguard name...

Another obscure reason why the name might not be so great is because of the Lesser Ajax in Greek myth.  During of invasion of the city of Troy, Ajax the Lesser (or "Ajax the Douchebag") erm, raped, the king of Troy's daughter while she clung to a statue of Athena.  He was killed by the gods later.  Good!


The awesome:  Hopefully, no one will actually remeber Ajax the Douchebag, and will automatically remember that Ajax the Greater was a great Greek warrior, prominent in the tales of the Trojan War, and was played by Sabertooth.  This name is also awesome for those parents who want to prime their children for careers in mixed martial arts, professional wrestling, and espionage.

On second thought, I'd rather have you take an art class or two...





Blossom
Because naming your kid Bubbles or Buttercup would obviously be dumb.



The bad:  The name is flowery, sugary, happy, sunny goodness.  How could it possibly be bad?  Well, my friends, the unfortunate thing is that this name is so sweet, it just may give you diabetes.

In addition to being too full of sugar, this name is associated with two major pop culture figures.  First, you all may be familiar with the Blossom who is the leader of the Powerpuff Girls.  Blossom, as I recall, was not the most favorable of the trio.  She was often portrayed as a bossy know-it-all, snob, and all-around teacher's pet.  She had her noble moments, but many episodes showcase her as that smarty-pants everyone hated in 4th grade.  The second character associated with this name is Blossom from...Blossom.  It was a show.  It was in the 90s.  It dealt with after-school problems like family, drugs, and alcohol.  I honestly have never seen more than minor clips of that show, but I hear it's nostalgic.  People who grew up watching it will probably encounter your child named Blossom and make some obscure reference.

The cartoon Blossom is cuter...


The awesome:  Obscure references directed towards your child are probably the worst thing that could happen if you do decide to name her so.

As mentioned before, The Powerpuff Girls' Blossom was annoying at times, but she also was a freaking genius.  Let me just remind you that she was always mature, logical, and had a great memory.  She also had ice breath AND could speak Chinese fluently.  From birth.  Bottom line.  Smart kids are named Blossom.  Everyone wants smart kids.

Fun fact:  This name was actually in the top 1000 during the 1920s and 1930s.



So much more Awesomely Bad Baby Names are coming soon!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Unnecessarily Amazing Draw Something Drawings

There is a fairly new smartphone app out.  It is called Draw Something, and it has grown in popularity over the past few months.  The game is pretty much like Pictionary.  You send a drawing to someone and they try to guess that drawing based on a limited number of letters they are given.  As you earn more coins by playing the game and guessing drawings correctly you can eventually earn more colors to enhance your drawings.  This game is a fun (at least for a while, but I'll come back to that later), but there are some people who take this game to another level.  When I think of this game, I think of people making stupid little doodles that could barely earn a passing grade in elementary art class.  However, some individuals use this app as a way to show players that they are the next Michelangelo.  This is fine, except when the drawings start to become a little bit... unnecessary.
Allow me to explain:

Instead of drawing this...
Someone drew this...
This show was popular...  Right?


And so the elaborateness goes on.  Take a look at this fellow's drawing of the word "ape."  That's right.  All he/she needed to do was draw an ape...
Do you see any apes in this picture?  Neither do I.


This next one, I just felt the need to nitpick at...
Chimpanzees are apes, not monkeys...  Dick.


I guess the point of all this is that these drawings get a little bit ridiculous to me sometimes.  I'm not judging the people who make these.  Well...maybe a little.  I mean, come on guys!  It's just a $0.99 game!  Chill.  Either way, I'm not denying that these drawings are fantastic pieces.  I sure wish I could draw as good as these people, but in the mean time, I'm still going to be baffled at the amount of intricate time people spend drawing on their phones and/or tablets.

Enjoy some more unnecessarily amazing drawings!  Warning: Most of these are totally awesome...

Catapult.  Get it?



I never would've guessed those were slippers without the Asian man eating noodles there.



Batman's parents died under a golden shower, I suppose?



Usually when I draw "green", I just color the whole screen green.  But I guess I'm not creative enough.



Its just awesome that this person found it necessary to draw Dexter in order to draw a graph.



draw something edward scissorhands
Could have just drawn a pair of scissors, but that's too easy.


best drawsomething pics
Okay.  Now you're just being obnoxious.



Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Awesomely Bad Baby Names

Somewhere in the world, there is a person named Superman.  I know this not only because I read the news from time to time, but because people are crazy.  Even though it may seem as though I'm generalizing here, I am betting that you can relate.  Everyone has their beloved pop-culture symbols that they claim will one day be the namesake of either their future pets or children (or Sim characters, just to play it safe).

I think I'll name you Dr. House 
(sims3updates.net)

I am also one who is guilty of thinking up horrible little names to name my children and/or pets (True story: I have a fish named Gerard Butler).  However, when it comes to naming children, I think a little bit deeper.  If a person's going to keep their name for the rest of their life, it has to be good.  This is why I'm making a list (in no particular order) of some geek-inspired names that are a bit ridiculous but fantastic at the same time.


Constantine (as a boy's name)
I've loved this name ever since the first time I heard it.  I really don't know why.  It's nice as a girl name, but as a boy's name, it's just so unique and fresh.

The bad:  I'm guessing either two images popped into most of your heads upon reading the name:  Keanu Reeves from the movie of the same name, or that American Idol contestant who looks like he might be vampire.  The implications of giving a child this name will likely be a lifetime of extremely banal jokes about fighting demons and/or being pressured to audition for season 48 of American Idol.


"Yeah, Simon called me tone-deaf, so I shot him.  No big."


The awesome:  If you didn't automatically think of the movie or the American Idol contestant, then chances are you thought about the Constantine the Great, or St. Constantine, the Roman Emperor.  He signed the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, which proclaimed religious tolerance in the Roman Empire, thus lessening Christian persecution.  Yeah.  Just tell people he's the namesake of your child in case anyone asks.  Trust me; it'll reduce the awkward tension after a person asks, "Hey isn't Constantine the name of that Keanu Reeves movie", to which you will swiftly reply, "No.  It's a saint name.  How ignorant of you!"  Then you will briskly walk away with your stroller.
ALSO!  When you get angry and yell at your future child, Constantine, you will be able to say, "CON!"....  That was a Star Trek reference right there....


Ash
No.  I do not mean this in a "short-for-Ashley" kind of way.  I would never name my boy-kid Ashley.  I would however name him Ash.  Why?  Because I like it.

The bad:  I'm guessing that most of you have seen the popular children's television show, Pokemon.  Well, the main character of the show is named Ash, and he means well, but the kid gets a little annoying after a bit.  Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Ash Ketchum.  He was just a character that I never completely adored.  I was much more interested in Brock (even though he was a little over-sexed).  Long story short: You tell a person that your kid's name is Ash, and every teacher in the school district will be asking him this after roll call: "Do you want to be the very best...  Like no one ever was?  ...Then don't fail my class". 

"You think that's bad?  My sister's name is Snorlax."

The awesome:  Three words:  The Evil Dead.  You know who I'm thinking about.  Yes, it's Bruce Campbell's character of Ash from the Evil Dead movies.  This just might be one of the most bad-ass characters in all movie history.  He had a freaking chainsaw for a hand.  A chainsaw!  Not to mention, he has great one liners:


However, if naming your child after a movie character still isn't acceptable for you then, you can tell everyone it's just short for Asher.  It's a nice name, too.
And it's better than 'Bruce'.


Link
This guy probably has one of the most famous names in video game history.  He's also one of the most recognizable video game heroes.  His name is Link, and he doesn't talk (except for in the T.V. show, but let's not get crazy, now).

He's the ONLY character I use in Super Smash Bros.

The bad:  Upon introducing your child, Link, to society, he (or she if you're really cool) may be received with one of these reactions:
A#1.  Link's peers will forever ridicule him.  He will be pressured into sword fights and mocked when he speaks any word that isn't "AH".  Little annoying children with high pitched voices will follow him around constantly screaming "Hey!  Listen!", because they think it's so funny.  Upon reaching puberty, little Link will then try his hardest to avoid dating all females named Zelda, because he knows the wedding ceremony would be unbearably hilarious for all other attendees.
B#2.  People might say, "Hey your name is Link?  That's so cool.  I used to love that game!"

...Or "I still love that game", depending on the status of the franchise in 2020...


The awesome:  This name is lovely, and actually really want to name one of my children Link someday.  If you are also considering this as a baby name, don't worry about it being a name of almost empty meaning and origin (assuming that LoZ fandom is not enough ground for naming babies).  The name 'Link' can be short for 'Lincoln'.  I got this idea from the television drama, Prison Break, where the main character named Lincoln was sometimes referred to as 'Link the Sink'.  
As if the name wasn't awesome enough, you can also tell people that your kid is named after the 16th president of the United States.

Freer of slaves and also a great vampire hunter.
(screenjunkies.com)

And there you have it.  But these are only a few of the most awesomely bad names to give your children.  There are more to come.  So many more...

See MORE Awesomely Bad Baby Names: Part II HERE!