Native American Pet Names

Wish Lisht

Fridays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Proceeds support the library. 256-757-5471

Northwest Alabama Community Health and Dental Clinic needs: Bandages, paper towels, toilet paper, hydrogen peroxide, tall kitchen garbage bags, tissues, small bags, hand soap, washing powders, bleach, window cleaner, disinfectant spray and cleaner, cotton balls, gauze pads, latex gloves, urine cups, distilled water, staples, Manila folders, copier paper and typewriter labels. 256-760-4713

Hospice of the Shoals, a not-for-profit agency, needs: nutritional canned shakes, jersey knit or T-shirt twin-size sheet sets, lift-chair recliners, towels and washcloths, shampoo, hospital gowns, lotion for extra dry skin, soap, diaper wipes, baby powder, deodorant, socks, slip-resistant socks, liquid bath soap, perfumed body spray, after shave, shaving cream, razors, cloth pads from medical supply companies, men's pajamas, art supplies, baskets and items to fill for fruit-type baskets, baby monitors and books. Serving Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties. 256-767-6699, 866-767-6699 or hospiceoftheshoals.org

The Salvation Army needs for its homeless shelter and family transitional housing: nonperishable sack lunch items, disposable razors, shaving cream, deodorant for men and women, shampoo, conditioner, all sizes plastic storage containers, women's hairbrushes, cooking and baking pans, cooking and serving utensils, pillows, laundry products, janitorial supplies (cleansers, mops, brooms), dish liquid, toilet tissue, paper towels, small appliances (coffee pots, toasters, microwaves, TVs, DVD players), baby supplies (diapers in large sizes, wipes, formula, food for all stages), coffee mugs, glasses and silverware. For its corps office: letter- and legal-size pads, sticky notes, office supply gift cards, letter size 1/3-cut file folders, file folder labels ( 1/3-cut, inkjet), phone message pads, staples, paper clips, 8 1/2-by-11 copier paper (white and colors). Deliver to the Salvation Army office, 1601 Huntsville Road, Florence, and designated as being for social service programs or corps office. 256-764-4432

Colbert-Lauderdale Attention Homes needs: Toothpaste and toothbrushes, girls' hairbrushes, deodorant, shaving cream and disposable razors, shampoo, conditioner, African-

American hair products, sanitary napkins and panty liners, toilet tissue, cleaning wipes, liquid soap, school supplies and white ankle socks, boxer shorts, undershirts and sweatpants for boys, ages 10-18.

Viva, Venezuela! « Nook of Names

I’m staying in the Americas today, as another country is celebrating its independence – its 200th anniversary in fact. On the 5th July 1811, Venezuela announced its independence from Spain, and today Venezuelans are celebrating. To honour this event, I thought I’d take a look at Venezuelan Names.

Venezuelan names have gained a reputation for being inventive and innovating (or way-out and wacky, depending on whom you’re talking to – great old article here from the New York Times, if you missed it the first time around!). In 2007, the trend had grown so widespread that there was a backlash amongst the more conservative elements in Venezuelan government, which threatened to see such names banned and parents limited to a choice of just 100 names. Obviously, this was considered preposterous; the notion was dismissed, leaving Venezuelan parents free to continue to name their children with whatever takes their fancy, without giving a hoot for what anyone else thinks. Personally, I find the attitude quite refreshing – even though I would draw a line at the more notorious Venezuelan Names such as Stalin, Hitler, Yesaidú (yes, I do) and Iroshima (Hiroshima).

I don’t intend to dwell on the names most people consider outlandish on this special day for Venezuelans (for all the hype, most Venezuelans still choose pretty conservative names for their children; in 2010, the top five girls’ names were Camila, Isabella, Sofía, Victoria and Valentina, while the boys were Sebastián, Santiago, Samuel, Diego and Gabriel). Instead, I thought I’d focus on Venezuelan names with wider appeal. For as well as all the cooky names, a lot of pretty nifty new names have emerged from Venezuela’s slightly anarchic creativity in past decades that are worth a look. Feliz día de la independencia, Venezuela!

Betulio ♂ — a name which immediately highlights the fact that with many Venezuelan names, it is all but impossible to identify its origin. The most famous bearer is Betulio González (b.1949), the Venezuelan boxer. The most likely source seems to be the Latin betula ‘birch’.