Wednesday, September 16, 2009

What is in a name, anyway?

Yom revi'i, 27 Elul 5769.


Recently, a friend and writing mentor publicly announced subtly pointed out that the name of this blog is a bit hard to say, and even harder to remember.  Both of these things are true.  He said people shouldn't have to read the fine print to know what one's name means.  He also suggested that more people might read the darn thing if it had an easy and catchy name.

I have to admit that I wish I'd come up with one of those great names in the blogosphere, like Ima On and Off the Bima, The Elder of Ziyon, or West Bank Mama.

Never one to weep openly reject helpful criticism out of hand (and especially just before Rosh Hashana!), I have decided to poll my readers, to see if Change is Good.  (I love when I sound Presidential!)

So here are the options.  Please help me out by voting.  Feel free to just designate your response by letter(s) of the alphabet -- but elaboration will be funnier, and therefore more amusing to me.

A.  Leave it the way it is, Ruti.  No one Googles it, anyway.  We just wait for the email.

B.  Change it to English.  "Because we surely can!"

C.  "Because we surely can!" sounds TOO Presidential.      

D.  Call it "RutiMizrachi."  That's all I can remember, anyway.

E.  Call it "RutiMizrahi," to be linguistically accurate.  (That one is for Ben-Yehudah.)

F.  Try this idea instead.  I made it up; so I like it better! 
___________________________
(fill in the blank with your suggestion)

G.  Awww...  stop being paranoid, Ruti!  He wasn't even referring to your blog.  He was talking about Esser Agaroth, Hirhurim, The Mookata Muquata Muqata, and Treppenwitz!


Thanks, gang!  We aim to please!  (Our aim may be a bit off...)

21 comments:

Benji Lovitt said...

I vote for a pun like "Settle Down, People!" I can't believe no one's done this. In fact, I am demanding you make this your name.

Benji

Hasbara With Attitude said...

f)
Phonetic: At the Rut(i)
Rhyming: Ruth's Truths
Alliterative: Ruti's Writings (phonetic) alt. Ranting, Raving, Rambling
Play on words: Ruthiless
Biblical: Ruti's Gleanings alt. Harvest/Fields/Reaping

yaelkaner said...

D - although I do wait for the emails- I often refer to you as RutiMizrachi in conversation- it is catchy! We hope to catch the whole aliyah thing soon.

Julie Waldman said...

Leave it - I love it. Its yours, its what you came up with and its inspiring.

Julie

Rennie and Aaron Swirski said...

Dear Ruti, I think a name come from shomayim,the fact that KI YACHOL NUCHAL has stuck, my preference is to leave it as it is.
Shana Tova! Aaron

Unknown said...

I love your original title. It reflects who you are and explains a lot about how you see things in your blog. But, of course, I would love whatever you do.
Glenna

Miriam said...

Hi Ruti

I like your name already but if YOU WANT to change it, I would suggest..
Ruti Mizrachi, Settler, And Proud Of It!

Miriam
http://miriamswords.blogspot.com

Beitarlady said...

I think your original is ORIGINAL and since no one is googling anyway,it can surely stay the same...IF that's what YOU like. Regardless of the blog name, it is a GREAT blog. Yasher koach and Shana Tova.

Yarden said...

How about "From the Land of Oz"

Combining the Hebrew word for strengh with the popular concept of a wonderful world as in the Wiz of Oz.

Wait, I like that too much. I need to change Crossing the Yarden.

Just use the word verification I just got to post this:

Obilersu!

treppenwitz said...

First of all, the direct translation of your blog name is already presidential: "Yes we can!" (although I doubt you identify with that particular president). :-)

I vote for: 'A Village on a Hill' or some other play on the word village. I mean seriously, why are their communities called 'villages' and ours called 'settlements'?

Unknown said...

I like it the way it is! I look forward to receiving your emails. I definitely think you have the gift of writing! I'm glad to see there's even an annual meeting where you all meet together!
Jerry recently published a book called,The Geometry of Light
Galileo's Telescope, Kepler's Optics
If you decide to publish sometime,(that's HOW good I think your writing is) he has 9 more ISBN #'s!(see The Geometry of Light.com if you're interested in a free download)
K'Siva V'Chasima Tova and Shana Tova U'Msukah to you and your family and all of Clal Yisroel!
Love,
Elka

rafua said...

Ruti, Ruti, Ruti. Don't change a thing. Ever.

aliyah06 said...

I'm used to your title but I think of you as "RutiMizrachi" so if you want to change it to that, that's fine....listen, I'll keep reading no matter what you call your blog [grin].

sparrow said...

I love you just the way you are. I found you via Treppenwitz's blog (I think), so I suspect people don't search via your blog name, but kind of wander over via another blog friend.

Plus, YOU came up with a great name for your blog. It is part of who you are.

And yes, I think of you as "The folks who live on the hill" Grin.

My blog name is unoriginal but has huge meaning for me, because I LOVE sparrows, their spunk, their humour, their ordinariness.

Unknown said...

Remember those multiple choice tests way back in the olden days? ;P
The first answer you give is usually correct.
Keep it! It's you!

Shalomis said...

OK, so as a advertising/marketing person, I'd say change the title to something people will remember. But then I think...what about Ahhhnold...as in the guvuhnur of Kallyfooornya. Who'd a thunk we'd accept a name like THAT? So here's the bottom line--If you build it they will come. If you believe in it and stick with it and drum it into our heads enough, we'll actually remember it. So my advice is...find some way to help us Amur'cans remember Ki Ki Ki Ki Ki Yachol Yachol Yachol Yachol Nucahl Nuchal Nuchal Nuchal! If Shwarzenegger's a houselhold name, why not Ki Yachol Nuchal?
K'siva V'chasima Tova to you and the entire Ki Yachol Nuchal community (repetition is KI).
Much love,
Shalomis

Phyllis Sommer said...

i like the way it is.

(and thanks for the shoutout:-)

Anonymous said...

I vote for Ki Yachol Nuchal! By Ruti Mizrachi

OneTiredEma said...

It helps that your blogspot address is your name (so that's how I find you). Don't you identify with your title? I'd never change my handle now--even if I did get a decent night's sleep!

Anonymous said...

i first clicked on your blog BECAUSE of the current name :) it hinted to me that your blog was probably a) jewish b) spiritual/religious and c) positive and inspirational. which was exactly the kind of blog i like to read. and so i clicked on it from somebody else's blogroll. my pick is G.

Ye'he Sh'mey Raba Mevorach said...

Gemar Chatima Tova darling! Given that my blogger alias is unwieldy but accurately portrays me (I hope), I vote KEEP your blog name. People should either bookmark it, click through from other links, or from the EMAIL. LOL

You da best, woman.