Search Results for: popular culture movies 3

The Most Popular Baby Names of 2012

Parents spend a great deal of time and a lot of effort when considering a name for their child. It could be a family name. Or, the choice of name might be influenced by popular culture. Baby Center has revealed the list of the most popular baby names in 2012. Every year, BabyCenter.com puts together an interesting list of the top 100 names for baby girls, and for baby boys, in a given year. They just released their Top 100 list for 2012. There are some differences between the list of 2012 and the previous list of the most popular … Continue reading →

A Year in Disney Fandom: D23 Events for 2013

Any D23 members wondering what will be on the official Disney Fan Club’s schedule for 2013 don’t need to wait any longer.  The official D23 website and the official Disney Parks blog have both posted announcements of the fan club’s 2013 events. The most exciting news to come out of D23 for 2013 is the announcement of a second year of Fanniversary.  The event, which is open to the public (but D23 members get first registration), is a must-attend celebration for any Disney fans.  It’s hours spent reveling in the best of Disney movies, history, park attractions, and more.  Special … Continue reading →

Most Popular Baby Names of 2011 Revealed

The BabyCenter website has revealed the list of the most popular baby names of 2011. The list includes 100 names of girls, and 100 names of boys. The names that a generation of parents gives to their children reveals a lot about the popular culture of that year. Genealogists may come across some unusual and unfamiliar names as they learn about their ancestors. If you dig around a little bit, you might be able to find information that helps explain where the inspiration for those names came from. This could give you a clue into the types of books, movies, … Continue reading →

Peter Falk Dies at 83

Television lost another legend this week. Actor Peter Falk, best known as television’s “Columbo,” died today at age 83. Although a cause of death was not listed, he had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Falk was born in New York City and had his right eye removed due to retinoblastoma when he was only three years old. After graduating from high school, he briefly attended college then served in the United States Merchant Marine. Falk eventually returned to college to receive both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. He was rejected for a job with the CIA and eventually became … Continue reading →

More Failed Doomsday Predictions – Part 3

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Here we are, three days after the predicted rapture. I read on the news that Harold Camping is laying low since the non-rapture and word is that the Family Radio will have a response coming in the next week. Hon-Ming Chen founded the God’s Salvation Church in the early ‘90s. He predicted God would show up on television on March 31, 1998 to save us all. When that didn’t happen, to prove himself to his followers, Chen offered to be stoned or crucified. No one took him up on his offer and the church soon disbanded. Broadcaster turned psychic Charles … Continue reading →

Popular Baby Names From A Century Ago

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Today, parents often give their newborns a name that was inspired by popular culture. This is not a new phenomena. If you take a close look at the baby names that were popular about one hundred years ago, you will find that your ancestors were also inspired by popular culture when they named their babies. Perhaps one of your ancestors was named after someone who was famous in 1910. In many ways, day to day life is very different now, than it was around one hundred years ago. Your ancestors didn’t have cell phones, access to the internet, or big … Continue reading →

Popular Baby Names Reveal Popular Culture

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Genealogists can learn quite a bit from the first names of their ancestors. Sometimes, a first name can give you clues about the heritage of an ancestor. There are many families who have certain names that are handed down from one generation to another one. Often, though, parents are inspired by the popular culture when they name their babies. A first name can give a glimpse into what your ancestor’s social world was like. There is now a list of the most popular baby names for 2010, for both boys and girls, which comes from data compiled by the Social … Continue reading →

Some Interesting Movies About Insurance

Would you watch a movie that was about insurance, insurance agents, or the insurance industry? Most people would immediately decide that those kinds of movies are better used a sleep aid than as a form of entertainment. There is a new movie called “Cedar Rapids” that might make you think differently. It’s about insurance agents, stars Ed Helms, and is getting good reviews. What makes you decide to see a movie? It could be that you are a fan of the actor or actress starring in a certain movie. Maybe you have a favorite genre, like “Action/Adventure”, “Science Fiction”, or … Continue reading →

Teen Star Corey Haim Dead at 38

By now, you have probably heard the sad news that Corey Haim, a teen star of the ‘80s, died on March 10th. When the news was announced, most people just assumed it was drug overdose. Yes, Haim had fallen into the “teen star that can’t make the transition to adult fame” pit that many fall into. He got rave reviews for his role in Lucas in 1986. Haim was only 15 years old at the time, but film critic Roger Ebert praised his performance saying, “He creates one of the most three-dimensional, complicated, interesting characters of any age in any … Continue reading →

Book Review: Orientals: Asian Americans in Popular Culture

My last blog wondered about the impact of anti-immigrant feelings, worsened by economic conditions, on international adoptees and their families. In that blog, I quoted from the book Orientals: Asian Americans in Popular Culture. This blog will be a further review of that book. The first thing I should note is, as I said last time, that the word “Orientals” is deliberately used by the author to demonstrate negative stereotypes of Asians as too irreconcilably different by nature to ever fit into American society. Do not use the word “oriental” when referring to people today. Use Asian-American if you need … Continue reading →