continuing proofs America is wacko [2]

Thanks! In practice then, that's not so much different than the way it works here. Here they might for example add up all the crimes and sentence a person to 75 years with eligibility for parole in 10 years. Depending on the parole board's finding, he can be either released or held until the next parole review, much like your 5 year reviews.

The major practical difference I see is that here even though the man may no longer be in prison, his sentence is still technically in effect. So that means that if he violates the terms of his parole for any reason he can be returned to prison to complete his sentence.

We see this used most often with cases of domestic violence where one of the conditions of the parole is no contact with the family. In this case it gives law enforcement a tool they wouldn't otherwise have to keep the ex wife and kids safe before another crime is committed.

'A judge in Tennessee changed a 7-month-old boy's name to Martin from Messiah.
The judge in eastern Tennessee said the baby was to be named Martin.
The boy's mother, Jaleesa Martin, of Newport, said she will appeal. She says Messiah is unique and she liked how it sounded.
"The word Messiah is a title and it's a title that has only been earned by one person and that one person is Jesus Christ," the judge said.'

Welcome to the middle-ages! (And the Judge is an idiot anyway- Messiah just means Anointed One- and there were loads of them- every Jewish King from David for a start. And Jesus certainly didnt earn it either- he failed spectacularly to become King- how do these fools get to be judges?)

Weider and weirder - both of them; one dangerously stupid the other dangerously powerful (and stupid).

The Judge did say it was a title, mind. Though any word (or title, if you like) can become a noun if you turn it into a name.

 To both the judge for being uneducated and the mother for choosing a name you KNOW will get your kid teased.

"The boy's mother, Jaleesa Martin"

Wait... does this mean the boy is now named Martin Martin?

While the judge's argument certainly betrays a lack of knowledge about the Bible, it's worth noting that many countries have far more stringent restrictions on what you can name your child.  Denmark, for example, requires parents to pick names from a pre-approved list, and New Zealand regularly forbids parents from naming their kids "Christ" or "Satan" or the like.

But "Jesus" is a popular name ? that seems acceptable ? I think the whole name thing is crazy ! what does it prove ? Are we to suddenly live in fear of a person now hes called Messiah ? or satan ? Going by that idea, half the names in the world should be struck off . Most names have a meaning of such.

it's worth noting that many countries have far more stringent restrictions on what you can name your child- Eldo

Yes but most other countries dont have the cheek to claim to be the only land of Freedom in the world whilst doing it.
Although I think any laws telling people what they can and cannot name their own children are a bit mad myself.

I don't really have any problem saying that you can't name your child "Hashtag" or "Superman" or "North West", but of course the problem with such laws is where (and if) you can draw the line. Also, I find the whole "greatest country in the world" stuff as distasteful as anyone, but I don't really see it's relevance to this discussion since the US has never claimed to give people absolute freedom to do whatever they want.

Don't forget Muhammed, am I right when I say it's the worlds most used name or am I quoting urban myths?

North West is the sanest celebrity name ever. And it is probably not a good idea to mess with Kal-El.

The Danes do have a list of approved names. But new names are added all the time, though they have to be approved. Found an article with wonderful new names like Ny (=New), Ninja, Gin, Ok and Panda for girls. And boys can be called Awesome, Tung (=heavy), Offer, Cello (should get Norc's attention) and Dreng (=boy).

The general rules in Norway is that surnames can't be used as first names (unless you can prove it's been used in the family as a first name.) And the name can't be of "significant disadvantage" for the child. Messiah/Messias might be a bit difficult to get approved here I think....

Blimey not Fjordians too?
Why should the state have any say in what a person chooses to name their child?
I dont understand that.  

Because some people think that naming their child is an opportunity to make a "clever" joke and/or punk everyone by making them use profanity whenever they want to address said child.

Your right, you gotta draw the line somewhere, after all, who wants to be called "fuckwit" or "scrotum head" on their birth certificate ?

Thats a fair point- I always forget just how stupid and moronic some folks can be! It never occurred to me someone might want to call their child FuckthePope or something, but your right, there probably is someone out there who would.
Having said that, Ive never heard in the UK of there being an sort of list, or rules for what you can call a kid. But maybe there is, hard to imagine there is given some of the names dished out in the 60's- Moonbeam is probably not a good name to go through life with.

Moonbeam is better than "fuckhead"!
Frank Zappa called his kids....Dweezil Zappa, Moon Unit Zappa, Ahmet Zappa, Diva Zappa

I think people should be allowed to choose their own name at 18, why should you be stuck with a name somebody else likes? I have Always thought its weird you dont have control over your own name.

Dweezil Zappa, Moon Unit Zappa, Ahmet Zappa, Diva Zappa

I think that may confirm there is no approved list of names in the Uk then!

I think people should be allowed to choose their own name at 18- Mrs Figg

What would you be called until then? Given a number?

Surely you can change your name at 18?
From 0-12 years the parents can fill in a form and change the name (within the rules of course), from 12 to 18 the child's own opinion shall be heard but they need the parents signature.

From 18 it fair game, so you get a few people loosing a bet and ending up with weird middle names or the above mentioned haha-I-am-so-funny/clever/both names.

You can in the Uk- there is a thing called Deed Poll where you can legally change your name from 16 onwards.
Prior to 16 it needs the child and parents consent.

'A Deed Poll is a legal document - not a certificate. It is a form of legal contract but it differs from legal contracts between two or more parties in that it only concerns one person (and it is only signed by that person in the presence of a witness). A Deed Poll legally binds the person who signs it to a particular course of action as detailed on the Deed Poll document.
Although Deed Poll documents are used for various purposes relating to an individual or a company legally committing themselves to doing something, they have one generally accepted meaning and usage and that is for officially recognising a change of name. However, the correct legal name for a deed that has been drawn up to change someone's name is a Deed of Change of Name (but more commonly known as a Deed Poll).
A Deed Poll for a change of name contains three declarations and by executing the Deed Poll (signing, dating and having your signing witnessed) you are legally committing yourself to:

Abandoning the use of your former name;
Using your new name only at all times;
Requiring all persons to address you by your new name only.'


A quick look for restrictions seems to indicate the only real restrictions in the UK are on titles- you cant call yourself Lord something for example unless you are actually a Lord appointed by the Sovereign.
Similarly you cant call yourself a Dr unless you have the PHD to prove it.
And you need a minimum of two names- forename and surname.

We have in addition protected surnames, meaning there are less than 200 people with that surname.

If you want to use that surname, you either have to prove family relation or get approval from every single person with that name.

I have a protected surname. As does Finrod.

What would you be called until then? Given a number? Petty

what does that mean, given a number?  

"...given you a number and they take away your name..."

Common practice when no names are involved.

you mean ala The Prisoner?  

Bar code people as soon as their born  

Yup if you dont get a name til you pick one then got to have a way to distinguish people until then- I say branding.  

I wish they would bar-code everyone. Tired of carrying around plastic. I think ID processing should be centralized so you don't need to carry credit cards anymore: your ID gets looked up, you tell them which company to use, and there you go. Or airline tickets. This business of constantly having to keep track of your wallet or smartphone is getting tiresome.