Anne Rondepierre

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We tend to take band names for granted once we get used to hearing them, but some of them have pretty interesting origins.  Here are just a few:

THE BEATLES - Original member Stuart Sutcliffe came up with THE BEETLES , as a play on Buddy Holly's group THE CRICKETS who they loved. However, John Lennon was fond of saying he had a vision as a child of a flaming pie in the sky that said "You are Beatles with an "A".

CHICAGO - Their first album was released as "Chicago Transit Authority", but the city of Chicago sued them because Chicago Transit Authority is the name of Chicago's public transportation department so they shortened it. Don't record companies check these things before they release them?

CHUBBY CHECKER - the host of American Bandstand (once the most popular American music TV show) Dick Clark's wife thought up the name as a take off on singer Fats Domino. Chubby "invented" the dance called "the twist"

FOO FIGHTERS - a term used by World War II pilots to describe strange flying fireballs they sometimes saw.

GOO GOO DOLLS - used to be called the Sex Maggots, and when they were told that local newspapers wouldn't print that name, Jonny Rzeznik picked up a magazine from the early 60's with an ad for a doll that cried Goo Goo when you turned it upside down.

JETHRO TULL - popular 70's band that is named after the rather obscure inventor of the farmer's seed drill.

KISS - According to Paul Stanley, Kiss just sounded dangerous (kiss of death) and sexy at the same time. Kiss denies the rumors that the name stands for "Kids In Service of Satan" or the saying "Keep It Simple Stupid."

RAMONES - Paul McCartney used to call himself Paul Ramone. The Ramones all use the last name Ramone even though it's not their given name.

R.E.M. - in the study of dreams, the abbreviation refers to rapid eye movement or that time during sleep when an observable movement of the eyeball occurs indicating that the person is in a dream state. Band member Michael Stipe has said that this is not why the band picked the name.

U2 - Three possibilities: 1) A type of spy plane used by the United States in the 1960's - made famous when Gary Powers' U2 plane was shot down over Russia and he was taken as a
prisoner during the Cold War. 2) U2 as in "you too" referring to the audience and its role in the musical experience 3) a U2 is an unemployment form in Ireland (see UB40)

UB40 - Code number of a form people in Britain have to fill out to receive public assistance or welfare. Known in the UK as a signing-off form when you get a job. Hence the title of their first album Signing Off.

Source:  Thinkquest.org

Dry Cell

Monkey See, Money Do

Middle Child

Once a third child is born, that makes someone the middle child. So, is being a middle child all it's NOT cracked up to be?  After two kids, the dynamics in a family really start to change. The parents are outnumbered, and the kids all have their place.

After three, that middle child not only needs to share their stuff, but their place too. But according to Dr. Robert Needlman, Pediatric Behavioral expert, a middle child may have less expectations put upon them, which gives them the freedom to follow a more individual path. Middle children also tend to work harder at creating a close circle of friends. They often pick up better strategies to get what they want, such as negotiation and cooperation.

So middle child, you may not be the oldest, or the baby, but chances are you're a force to be reckoned with.

 Tanning Trend Fading

Historically speaking, the suntan trend is a relatively new one. As recent as 80 years ago, Europeans and North Americans kept their skin as white as possible. Parasols and brimmed hats were hot summer items. Tanned or weathered skin was associated with menial outdoor work. But in the 20's, sun therapy became popular to treat conditions such as fatigue and tuberculosis, and seaside vacationing was a hit with the in crowd.

Need business cards?  You can get 250 for free from VistaPrint.com. 

You create your own design from available templates, and pay about $5 for shipping.  The quality is reportedly good.

Why it's free?  Well they'd like your online business for printing needs of course,

and after all, they'll have your information after printing your cards. 

 He Said, She Said

What the other gender doesn't get.

Whether you're from Venus or Mars, chances are you're doing something to make the other gender uncomfortable. Glamour magazine says these female habits tend to freak guys out:

Wearing uncomfortable shoes.

Doing sad things on purpose, like watching sad movies or listening to sad music.

Reading your guy's horoscope.

Asking hypothetical questions.

Now for the list of what guys do that women don't get:

Channel surfing.

Wearing the same thing over and over.

Acting helpless when sick.

And, shall we say, indiscreet bodily noises.

                                                                                                    Flip Flop Facts

Nothing says summer fun footwear like the good old flip flop, but the flip flop fad is nothing new.

 

Flip Flops, they've existed in one form or another for over 6,000 years. The term flip flop is more recent of course, and is actually a trademark owned by a German company. The rubber version we've become accustomed to flopping around in has changed considerably over the centuries and from culture to culture. Ancient Pharaos would flip in footwear made from papyrus and jewels, while Romans would flop their military into sturdy leather flats.

The Japanese version called zori's started to appear stateside after World War II as soldiers brought them home as keepsakes. After the Korean War, the rubber version took hold of our toes and flip flops flourished through the 1950's.