The Name is the Thing

       

          Nicknames or names in general are ways of communicating how one feels about a person place, thing, or just about anything. I have found that whether it be a person [I 've been called Motor, Scooter, Stretch, Tap Out and Scott which is my God given moniker and many others.], a place [A huge hole in the Earth = ”The Grand Canyon”] or a thing [Stop motion animation/production studio =Laika, Loose Moose, Freak show or Panic Button], the name given is meant to add specificity and evoke an emotional response. Now the benefactor of the name applies it in hopes of evoking a specific response. And the recipient feels what they feel and react accordingly;And hopefully in the manner in which the benefactor expects. If the named is a place or thing then it is meant for others to respond emotionally and again, hopefully in the way the benefactor intends. However that's not always the case.

          Can You think of a time when you have misinterpreted the intention of the name?

I suppose being  that my major is Radio/Television/Film we'll begin by examining one of the names given to the stop motion animation studios; Laika. For a more complete list of stop motion studios see. - http://www.stopmotionnimation.com/page/animation-studios

 Based on my extensive knowledge of the universe and omnipotent sense of intuition, what I'm going to do now is to GUESS why the aforementioned businesses, Laika chose this label .Yes! I will begin by guessing why and how this studio chose it's name and later after further investigation and YOUR INPUT we shall  unveil the hidden secrets that lurk behind the curtains of fantasy that are shrouded and hidden deep within the minds of those who chose the name; LAIKA
          Let's begin. Because of my Russian heritage[My Grandpa Frank was Russian according to his birth certificate]  I  happen to  know that Laika was the name of a Russian dog that was rocketed into space. So I will GUESS that the ones who chose this name are not members of PETA. I come to this ridiculous conclusion because being that although this dog may seem happy to " Go - For - A -  Ride?"  He... We..... and the people of Earth had know idea whether the experiment would be  successful: Whether or not  the dog would return, wagging his tail triumphantly because he had seen things from a perspective that no human ever had ...... OR........Return as a semi conscious  mutilated fur ball  speaking a language only the residents of Titan could understand, wielding a deadly light saber, and ready to attack any unsuspecting life form unlucky enough to come within the saber's realm.

           As history can attest the dog did come back alive and well providing invaluable information that would change the course of mankind forever.
                 
            Is this Laika studio's mission;to change the world and boldly go where no company  has gone before?
         
           If that be case, Then they may very well be loyal members of PETA. They may even have founded PETA. For all I know the studio may contribute millions to the care and protection of animals of all kinds.
                                              WHO KNOWS?

            My best guess is that  Laika (The Dog), one of the first  to leave our atmosphere,  symbolizes innovation, courage, intelligence, risk taking and the ability to push the boundaries of thought and creativity while realizing the potential of humanity.Now......
         
                                  Is this LAIKA's ( Stop motion picture studio) mission? OR......
                                                   Do they simply like dogs?

I suppose we shall investigate.......

“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished.”
—Dean Koontz 



           Would our life without Laika be diminished?

                          Until we uncover more clues into the mysteries of  Laika
                                               You can find more information at....
                                                      http://www.laika.com/
                           http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/space_level2/laika.html

                            Next ..... We Shall delight in the legend of Portland's

What's In a Name?

            Is your past defined by the Nickname you once hated                                                                                       OR LOVED    
                              Do you cherish the name you now own  
                                                             OR DOES YOUR NAME/NICKNAME OWN YOU

       
          This blog is required for a College English course I am currently attending. After reading, I compel you to respond with brutal honesty and relentless constructive criticism. That said, our first assignment was to brain storm ideas and come up with three topics we find interesting enough to hold our attention; and hopefully keep you, the undeserved victims who have stumbled into what I call Squat World USA, entertained enough to reply and keep coming back. I believe a little self disclosure would be appropriate before we start: WHY SQUAT? Well, it was the nickname given me by my high school club/gang partners in crime. Oh, and as a side note; for a nickname to be a true nickname you….

   

          1)  Cannot give yourself the name

          2)  It has to last for a reasonable length of time.

          3)  No less than ten people must be aware of the name and at least five must have called you by       it more than once.

          4)  And, though not a requirement, it’s preferable that it be included in a song. (a made up song,                or part of an existing song, or a replacement for a term in a song)

                ------ If any of you have any other requirements let us know ----------

         So, now you get the Idea. Here’s my incomplete list -  followed by the people who gave the name[ and a brief reason why I, and I repeat I, believe the names were given and stuck.]

    

       1)  Moose – My mother [I’m not sure but maybe I was secretly conceived in an Alaskan igloo safe house while she was obtaining her new identification after she turned state’s evidence against the New Jersey Cosa Nostra]

 2) Stretch– Little league baseball coach [ I played 1^st base and would do the splits to scoop short hops]
 3)  Shotgun - High school/college baseball [I’m a left handed ballplayer/ambidextrous at most other  things. And, I believe it to be common knowledge the we lefties as a rule are Wild and Crazy Guys; think Wild Thing(Charlie Sheen) from the movie Major League]

    

        4)  Squat – Adolescent friends [Only God knows why]Use your imagination and send me some suggestions or images of your best guess.]
   
     5)  Motor – Bass player of post college Rock bands – [I was the singer in a Rock and Roll Band – Front man -  at a time in my life when controlled substances along with a reasonable amount of adult beverage kept the Motor running 24/7/365].

 6) Tap Out – Fellow electricians/construction workers. [Given following a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) type scuffle that happened after the helmets and tools were put away for the day. Curiously my opponent was also named Scott].

     

   

       When I began this blog we brain stormed about some very serious subjects (i.e. Human Trafficking/black market organ sales, Cloning, and the disenfranchised youth and how they survive living on the streets.) But now, the first topic must be Nicknames. We've all had them whether we cherished or loathed them they were ours and became part of our life stories.So tell some of your story if you dare and ..... 

       

 --------POST YOUR LIST OF NICKNAMES YOU HAVE SUFFERED OR CHERISHED -------

                   “Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe