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June 17, 2013

Rabbi Simcha Weinstein: Black to the Future: American Apparel Gets Biblical

Patrik Jonsson: Minnesota Nazi: How did Nazi hunters miss Michael Karkoc?

Kate Irby, Ali Watkins, Trevor Graff and Kevin Thibodeaux: All the ways you're being watched
Don Lee: G-8 meeting will test NSA leaks' effect on U.S. influence

Patrik Jonsson: Fort Hood shooting: Judge nixes Nidal Hasan defense strategy. What now?

Stacey Burling: Why the stigma for migraine sufferers?

The Kosher Gourmet by Lisa Abraham: Does it work? 5 new kitchen gadgets put to the test

June 14, 2013

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: A spiritual budget: Religious economics and being a ruler

John P. Martin: Hitler insider's missing diary found

Matt Pearce: NSA surveillance disclosure could affect court cases
Peter Tinti: US bounties changes strategy on (Wild, Wild) West African jihadis

Daniel Pendrick, M.D.: Memory loss? Old age may be the least of it

Lauren F. Friedman: But it's all natural! Should we have an instinctive preference for herbal remedies?

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Streisand and Alicia Keys in Israel; "Girls" Stuff; Mel Brooks, Another TV special; Superman (who is Jewish) returns --- Israeli plays his mom

The Kosher Gourmet by Sharon K. Ghag : Bored with salad? Bling it up a bit (4 effortless recipes that will result in a 'WOW!')

June 12, 2013

Stephanie Hanes: Little girls or little women? The Disney princess effect

Fred Weir: In tweak to US, Russia would 'consider' asylum for Snowden

Sharon Palmer, R.D.: What's so special about Omega-3 supplements?
Morgan Housel: What newspapers were saying when you should have been buying

Pete Spotts: How cockroaches evolved so as to bypass 'roach motels'

The Kosher Gourmet by Anjali Prasertong: Deep-dish cookie: Warm, gooey and a little over the top

June 10, 2013

Joseph A. Slobodzian: Faith healing and third degree murder: Thorny legal case
Lindsay Wise: Few options for online users to avoid spying, experts say

Sharon Palmer, R.D.: There are plenty of nutritional food bargains out there
Harvard Health Letters: Can bariatric surgery control diabetes?

Zach Murdock: Superglue helps doctors save infant's life

The Kosher Gourmet by Celebrated chef Mario Batali : As good as grilling gets: Rib eye with dry mushroom spice rub

June 7, 2013

Rabbi David Aaron: Beating jealousy

Caroline B. Glick: Wounded . . . and dangerous

Clifford D. May: Al Qaeda vs. Hezbollah
Harvard Health Letters: Fighting back against allergy season

Kimberly Lankford: Grandparents who use FSA to cover grandkid's braces and other must-know info

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom:J ewish Tony Nominees/Tony Awards; Jewish Teen Actor In Sci-Fi Flick; Jewish singer in "Voice" finals

The Kosher Gourmet by Anjali Prasertong: A tart filling so good it might not make it to the crust

June 5, 2013

John Rosemond: Mom, Dad: Talk More and listen less

Kristen Chick: Egypt court sentences 43 pro-democracy workers to prison

Sharon Palmer, R.D.: Mushrooms Have Medicinal As Well As Culinary Value
Morgan Housel: Why you never learn from your investment mistakes

Don Lee: In China, kindergarten rivalry takes deadly turn

The Kosher Gourmet by Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan: 30-Minute Coq au Vin isn't a dream

June 3, 2013

Molly Hennessy-Fiske: Military judge to consider letting Fort Hood shooting defendant represent himself

Richard A. Serrano: Pvt. Bradley Manning's WikiLeaks trial also a test for government

Mark Trumbull: Have degree, driving cab: Nearly half of college grads are overqualified
Kim Lankford: What to do when long-term care insurance premiums rise

Deborah Netburn: Study: Adults' mouth bacteria may help babies

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom: Jewish Contestant on 'The Voice'; Will Smith's 'Jewish movie family'; Bravo Gives Long Island Jews the Jersey Shore Treatment; Magicians and More

The Kosher Gourmet by Bill Ward: How to be as refined as the wines at a wine tasting

May 29, 2013

Andrew Connelly and Helene Bienvenu: The Little Synagogue that Refused to Die

Dennis Prager: The 'Muslims-Killed-by-the-West' Lie

David Clark Scott: Open war on teachers?
Morgan Housel: If you know only five things about investing, make it these

Sara Reardon: AGenome detectives change the donation game

Deborah Netburn: A one-way ticket to Mars? 78,000-plus and counting apply by video

The Kosher Gourmet by Bev Bennett: CHEDDAR AND CHERRY MUFFINS --- your mouth is already watering

May 24, 2013

Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb: When I didn't so 'humbly disagree'

Caroline B. Glick: Thank you, Hafez al-Assad

Diana West: From the Brooklyn Bridge to London
Morgan Housel: Why spotting bubbles is so much harder than you think

Environmental Nutrition editors: NuVal labeling to the rescue?

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Memorial Day: Jews Serving and KIA in War on Terror; Liberace Bio-Pic; Jew Wins "Survivor"; Shalom, Dr. Brothers; More

The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen: HIDE THESE FROZEN TREATS FROM THE KIDDIES!: Sangria pops; Irish cream pudding pops; mango Lassi pops

May 22, 2013

John Thorne: They launched the 'Arab Spring' but now yearn for the good old days of a strongman

John Rosemond: 'Disciplinary math' adds up to parental successl

Warren Richey: Are prayers before public meetings OK? Supreme Court to decide
Rick Montgomery: Use of ADHD drugs as study aid raises concern on campuses

Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D.: 6 convincing reasons you should keep carbs in your diet

Eoin O'Carroll: Scientists examine nothing, find something

The Kosher Gourmet by Carole Kotkin: This soup is made from one of the great pleasures of spring: A wonderful pairing of rosy color and earthy tang

May 20, 2013

Richard A. Serrano: Is Meir Kahane's assassin now a changed man?

Hannan Adely: Town raises Palestinian flag at City Hall

Melissa Healy: Genetic copies of living people from embryos no longer science fiction
Morgan Housel: When smart investors do stupid things

Sharon Saloman, M.S., R.D.: Hunger games: Eat more, weigh less, without starving

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Jews Inducted into Rock Hall of Fame; Anton Yelchin co-stars in New "Trek" film; Kutcher (but not Kunis) visits Israel; Jewish TV Star Praises Jewish Rap Star

The Kosher Gourmet by Cathy Pollak: WARNING: This WALNUT CAKE WITH PRALINE FROSTING, perfect for afternoon coffee, is addicting


Jewish World Review March 20, 2009 / 24 Adar 5769

Shakespeare was wrong

By Greg Crosby


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | "What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet
." — Juliet


That line is not true. It's Hogwash! And by the way, if we started calling hogwash perfume instead of hogwash, yes, it would still smell like hogwash. But WHY CHANGE THE NAME? Hogwash is the perfect moniker for hogwash - everyone knows what hogwash is, don't change the name, leave it alone. What's in a name? A lot, that's what's in a name. If we start changing all the names of everything soon no one will know what the hell anything is. Hmmm. Maybe that's the whole idea, eh?


Why do I bring this up? Well if you haven't heard, the tallest building in the United States is getting a name change. The Sears Tower in Chicago is turning into something called the Willis Tower. It seems a business deal was struck with the London-based Willis Group Holdings. Along with moving 500 employees into 140,000 square feet on multiple floors of the 110-story building this summer, the Willis Group gets the naming rights as part of its lease agreement with the real estate investment group that owns Sears Tower.


It is true that Sears has not owned the building for quite awhile. The building was opened in 1973 and Sears Roebuck and Co. was the first tenant and remained headquarted in the building for almost 20 years. Then in 1992 Sears moved their headquarters out of the skyscraper and now a real estate investment group which was formed in 2004 owns the landmark building. This is all interesting business history, but it doesn't change the fact that the entire world knows the skyscraper as "The Sears Tower." Why change the name? It's an ego trip for the new tenant, that's why.


Dennis Pacyga, a history professor at Columbia College in Chicago, said he sees the Sears Tower name change as Chicago growing to fit the new global economy. To quote the esteemed professor, "Chicago is shifting and changing and taking a bigger standing in the world economy. This would be part of that adjustment." Well to that I say once again, hogwash. That reasoning would be like saying, "Radio is no longer the premier medium of information and entertainment in today's world, the computer is. So by that logic we should change the name of Radio City Music Hall to Computer City Music Hall."


But the Sears Tower isn't the first time a name change has taken place to an established Chicago institution. In 2006, State Street's world renowned Marshall Field's department store became Macy's. Before that in 2003 the White Sox's Comiskey Park became U.S. Cellular Field. I'm waiting for the Loop to be changed to Sony Circle and the Chicago Art Institute to Microsoft Art Gallery. Don't laugh, it's not that far-fetched.


Of course Chicago isn't the only place where this name changing stupidity takes place, they tired to do it decades ago to Manhattan's 6th Avenue but the locals wouldn't go for it. They changed all the street signs to read Avenue of the Americas - the only problem was nobody ever called it that. Everybody calls the street 6th Avenue even though the signs still stubbornly proclaim it to be Avenue of the Americas to this day. Isn't that just like politicians? They just can't admit being wrong.


I'll never forget when Gulf +Western took over Paramount Studios years ago they couldn't wait to stick the Gulf + Western name on the famous mountain logo which began every Paramount movie. Coca-Cola did the same thing when they purchased Colombia Pictures. Every time I saw that I wanted to say, "Okay, you own Colombia Pictures, but sticking the name Coca-Cola on the logo gives this movie no added value at all - matter of fact it cheapens the picture." I guess the geniuses at Coke thought that if they put their name on the logo it would remind the audience to go out and buy Cokes at the snack bar.


A long established name has a meaning for people. It has a value. When you change the name of something it's like starting from scratch. Okay, let's change the name of Rolls Royce to Nestlé's Automobile Company. Let's change the name of the Hollywood Bowl to Mayor Anthony Villaragosa Amphitheatre. Change the Empire State Building to the Bloomberg Building.


What's in a name? How about a recognition factor? How about continuity and tradition? Those things may sound old-fashioned and peculiar to some, but to me they still count for a lot. A rose by any other name is stupid and pointless. Sorry Shakespeare.

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.


JWR contributor Greg Crosby, former creative head for Walt Disney publications, has written thousands of comics, hundreds of children's books, dozens of essays, and a letter to his congressman. A freelance writer in Southern California, you may contact him by clicking here.

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© 2008, Greg Crosby

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