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MO-MENTUM

An explosion in the number of boys named Mohammed:

Mohammed will likely become the most popular name for baby boys in Britain by the end of the year, The Times newspaper says.

Though official records from the Office for National Statistics list the spelling Mohammed 23rd in its yearly analysis of the top 3,000 names given to children, when all the different spellings of the name are taken into account it ranks second, only behind Jack, according to the paper.

Speaking of a changed Britain, here’s James Lileks on one hell of an ugly logo:

Seriously, what is the matter with people who come up with this? And what is the matter with the people who approved it? Ads that showed the logos have reportedly caused seizures among British epileptics, but I think this thing would make a fossilized femur bone suffer convulsive muscle spasms. If you can’t tell, it’s the year of the London games – 2012. I think it’s also meant to imply a human form – say, a discus thrower, or a runner bursting from the blocks. Whatever it is, it’s an aesthetic catastrophe, and would seem to indicate there’s no one around in the London Games who had the nerve to bark “rubbish, that; try again, and give me a proper logo with some bloody numbers.”

I think there’s a point at which people lose the ability to pretend they have any sort of aesthetic criteria, and embrace whatever’s loud and ugly simply because loud and ugly is the style of the times. There’s always a fair amount of coin to be had for dissing the traditionalists, of course; I imagine that if someone submitted a logo with a flag or a bulldog they would have suffered a gentle sneer: still pining for the empire, eh, Smithson. Well, Kipling’s dead. Yes he is. Dig him up, you’ll find Posh Spice’s heel stuck in his heart, the coffin stuffed with I Heart Diana memorial teddy bears.

Actually, this teddy bear – attractively modelled by Suzi Hunt – would’ve made a fine 2012 logo. Except for one unacceptable design flaw: it has the British flag on it. Too divisive.

Posted by Tim B. on 06/06/2007 at 03:56 AM
  1. A bear in a burkha? What could possibly be more British than that?

    Posted by Nic on 2007 06 06 at 04:18 AM • permalink

  2. Personally, nothing says Britain 2012 to me more than a blonde, page 3 slapper from Essex with a 36DD rack being chased by a scimitar carrying Mo. Not as easy to put into a logo as I thought. Maybe some Benny Hill music will help.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 06 06 at 04:20 AM • permalink

  3. ‘Rule Fucking Britannia’ would have been a spiffy catch cry. Might upset the new rulers of Londonistan though.

    Posted by CB on 2007 06 06 at 04:21 AM • permalink

  4. O/T:

    GetUp! Spoof Political Ads at Fairfax featuring Howard

    GetUp! Website allegedly not politically aligned

    Nominations for a KRudder spoof?
    ‘GetUpYourself’?

    Posted by egg_ on 2007 06 06 at 04:38 AM • permalink

  5. What the hell is that logo? It looks like the shards of a broken vase! Surely they jest?

    Posted by Penguin on 2007 06 06 at 04:40 AM • permalink

  6. It is a depiction of the state of financing of teh 2012 Olympics - a falling down disaster.

    Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 06 06 at 04:42 AM • permalink

  7. I cant stand a man that doesn’t love his own flag. The games in 2012 are Britain’s games and should have the British flag or flag colored bull dog or some such all over it’s icon or graphic or whatever it is.

    I’d rather respect an enemy that loves his flag than an ally that doesn’t love his own.

    Posted by Grimmy on 2007 06 06 at 04:48 AM • permalink

  8. Think it’s because Muslims can spell Mohammed. The rest of the Poms might spell like Australians - Lachlan, Loughlan, Locklan, Lochlan, Lauchlan, Lokklan, Loklan, Llauchlin, Lochlairn .....

    Posted by Contrail on 2007 06 06 at 04:57 AM • permalink

  9. On the Olympics logo, this is a slightly vulgar but amusing observation.

    Posted by Ian Deans on 2007 06 06 at 05:04 AM • permalink

  10. Yecch.

    Even a committee can come up with a camel when they’re trying for a horse. This, I don’t know. Probably saw it in a late 1980s TV station identification.

    Posted by Attmay on 2007 06 06 at 05:13 AM • permalink

  11. Nice to see someone still knows how to use an Amiga 500.

    Posted by lotocoti on 2007 06 06 at 05:17 AM • permalink

  12. Now you’ve done it Ian (#8)
    I will never be able to look at that logo again without sniggering.

    Priceless!

    Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2007 06 06 at 05:20 AM • permalink


  13. It looks like the logo for a Japanese game show.

    “Super Happy Fun Wish Time!”

    Posted by Dave S. on 2007 06 06 at 05:48 AM • permalink

  14. I guess traditional British (or English) symbols are regarded as bad taste or passe these days: St George & the dragon, the British Bulldog, Britannia, &c. Updated versions would have been rather nice - the Bulldog being readily adapted.

    Posted by walterplinge on 2007 06 06 at 05:57 AM • permalink

  15. Yeah, one of those shows where they run up to you and scream, and then make you eat raw eels.

    Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 06 06 at 05:58 AM • permalink

  16. (My comment was for Dave S at #14. Must type faster.)

    Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 06 06 at 05:58 AM • permalink

  17. #9
    ... or someone dropping a log in the woods?

    Posted by egg_ on 2007 06 06 at 06:11 AM • permalink

  18. I’m glad Lileks has landed on his feet.  I enjoy his site.  In fact, it is where I head when the cares of the world become too much for me.  There’s nothing like rummaging around the Institute, or any of the other areas, to reset one’s perspective.

    His critique of the logo is the best I’ve read so far.  Horrible thing, that logo.  I now believe that the Empire, and everything that ever made it possible, is well and truly dead.

    Posted by saltydog on 2007 06 06 at 06:41 AM • permalink

  19. Ahhh. James Hunt. ********sigh*******
    He was a good sort.

    Mrs H is a looker, too.

    Posted by kae on 2007 06 06 at 06:57 AM • permalink

  20. #4

    Nominations for a KRudder spoof?
    ‘GetUpYourself’?

    Too late.

    Posted by kae on 2007 06 06 at 07:02 AM • permalink

  21. #8 Geddaway, Contrail.

    Mohammed, Mohammad, Mahmood, the list is endless.

    wiki, Arabic name, this explains so much…

    Posted by kae on 2007 06 06 at 07:06 AM • permalink

  22. The logo looks like Arabic for fuck all.

    Posted by aaron_ on 2007 06 06 at 07:08 AM • permalink

  23. Can any logo withstand the “Lisa Simpson giving a head job” treatment? I shouldn’t think so. I think this one has a half life shorter than the truth at a Young Socialist Workshop.

    Posted by Hanyu on 2007 06 06 at 07:12 AM • permalink

  24. Look, the Brits have just bowed to the inevitable and put Australia on top.  Give ‘em a break.

    Posted by Brett_McS on 2007 06 06 at 07:25 AM • permalink

  25. Though official records from the Office for National Statistics list the spelling Mohammed 23rd in its yearly analysis of the top 3,000 names given to children…

    The ABC, as ever, fact checks like a demon. The original data are here. Mohammed is ranked 22nd for 2006, not 23rd (it was also ranked 22nd in 2002 and 2003). It was 23rd in 2005. Perhaps it’s all a bit much for the luvvies, but it’s not like 23rd is the new 22nd.

    I couldn’t see an identifiably Muslim name in the list for the top 100 girls’ names.

    The Times didn’t bother to note the inclusion of Finlay and Finley in the list, or Samuel and Sam, or Charlie and Charles. Does this make a difference?

    Does anybody work at the ABC, or do they all just cut and paste from newsy websites in the breaks between coffees?

    Posted by Hanyu on 2007 06 06 at 07:36 AM • permalink

  26. O/T Is he Presbytarian?

    Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 06 06 at 08:07 AM • permalink

  27. I’m alright, Jack Mo.

    Posted by andycanuck on 2007 06 06 at 08:20 AM • permalink

  28. #24
    Didn’t they tell Lisa that was the new method of passing the baton?

    Posted by egg_ on 2007 06 06 at 08:22 AM • permalink

  29. ...when all the different spellings of the name are taken into account it ranks second, only behind Jack, according to the paper.

    So - I’m Alright, Mohammed?

    Posted by rick mcginnis on 2007 06 06 at 08:34 AM • permalink

  30. Oops. Just saw andycanuck’s comment. And they say there’s no unity in Canada anymore.

    Posted by rick mcginnis on 2007 06 06 at 08:35 AM • permalink

  31. How long before the jihadis decide that logo looks like a letter from the Koran and is an insult to Allah?

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2007 06 06 at 09:27 AM • permalink

  32. Mohammed will likely become the most popular name for baby boys in Britain by the end of the year, The Times newspaper says.

    Okay, this is going to play simple hell with the new Prioritizing Audio Casualty Optimizing targeting systems…

    Still, anything but Trevor or Nigel…

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 06 06 at 09:33 AM • permalink

  33. O/T, slightly.

    What’s this latest ker-Mufti-fuffle? Pell’s upset him with “language from the gutter”, according to Keister-bad-Trad.

    I have to go to bed. I’ll be looking for it tomorrow.

    Nite

    Posted by kae on 2007 06 06 at 09:47 AM • permalink

  34. There was some report that I read about last week, and the Brits were mystified that Americans display the flag. I find the Brits mystifying, and a bit disturbing, or at least the attitude. What would they prefer, a UN flag?

    Posted by rightwingprof on 2007 06 06 at 10:04 AM • permalink

  35. #31 It must have been from me reading your four columns/articles while on the subway yesterday, Rick.

    Posted by andycanuck on 2007 06 06 at 10:07 AM • permalink

  36. Due to the “mixed” reaction to the official London 2012 Olympics logo, the BBC invited viewers to submit their own suggestions. I think they got more than they bargained for. As Jim Treacher notes, if you recognize it, you are a sick freak.

    More trouble for the broken plate / naughty Lisa Simpson logo: not only is it headache-inducing, it provokes epileptic fits.

    Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 06 06 at 10:14 AM • permalink

  37. Won’t the PC Brigade be miffed when they find out what the ‘lympic logo means in arabic.

    Posted by aaron_ on 2007 06 06 at 12:11 PM • permalink

  38. Heh

    Posted by mojo on 2007 06 06 at 12:28 PM • permalink

  39. STOP PRESS
    BREAKING
    RE: LILEKS

    First Post!

    Posted by Old Grouch on 2007 06 06 at 02:19 PM • permalink

  40. ``I couldn’t see an identifiably Muslim name in the list for the top 100 girls’ names.’‘

    Well, I spotted Jasmine at #31 and Alisha at #56, but those were the only two, and I don’t think they’re exclusively Muslim the way (say) Mohammed is.  Alisha come to think of it might be a misspelling of ``Alicia.’’  And it was comforting to see the Eleanors and Harriets coming back.  Maybe there’s some hope for Albion after all.

    Posted by Sonetka's Mom on 2007 06 06 at 05:27 PM • permalink

  41. There will always be an England!

    I know I’m not real sharp on that whole perspective thing but, I do seem to recall that the UK was pretty much swarming with trendies snuggling up to either sovietism or nazism prior to the actual fight.

    I honestly don’t see how this is any real difference. Maybe someone will be kind enough to explain it in small enough words for me to follow.

    Another thing I don’t get is this whole concept of muslims breeding their way into a population majority and taking over by democratic means or some such.

    Since when have muslims waited until they were anywhere near a majority? From what I’ve been able to dig up, the break point is between 15% and 25% of the population and then open religious warfare begins to over throw whoever is there and install a proper sharia/islamic government.

    If I’m anywhere close to understanding the real pattern, which I admit I may well not be, then the mussies will continue to seem unstoppable until they get to whatever break point is necessary for the knives to come out then they’ll get stomped into pudding. Brits may have bitten the same poisonous multi cult apple as the rest of us, but Brits have a fairly solid history of only putting up with so much bullshit before they form up into ranks and just start kicking the crap out of whatever’s been irritating them.

    Posted by Grimmy on 2007 06 06 at 06:35 PM • permalink

  42. Mohammed awwwwwwwwwwwwwww so cute and jihardish.

    What ever happend to the name wayne or shane?

    Nice to know that England is now an Islamic State of Arabia. awwww

    Posted by 1.618 on 2007 06 06 at 06:43 PM • permalink

  43. BoingBoing has a goatse take on the logo.

    Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 06 06 at 06:52 PM • permalink

  44. #37, am I going to hell because I immediately recognized what Treacher was talking about?  Or am I just a pathetic sick freak?

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2007 06 06 at 07:53 PM • permalink

  45. RebeccaH—Yes.

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 06 06 at 08:16 PM • permalink

  46. rofl #2, I reckon that’d work, if only mo had a sense of humour….

    Posted by darrinhV2 on 2007 06 06 at 08:55 PM • permalink

  47. *steps forward to the microphone*

    My name is Sil, and Treacher is right - I am a sick freak.

    *sits back down*

    The fact that that sucker made it onto a BBC program is absolutely priceless.  Somewhere in the control room, there had to be at least one person laughing his or her head off during the broadcast.

    Posted by Blue State Sil on 2007 06 06 at 08:58 PM • permalink

  48. Didn’t recognise the symbols represented ‘2012’, FFS ... thought they were being enviro-friendly and recycling Beijing’s 2000 bid characters, loosely translated: ‘Manchester is drab and grey’.

    Posted by egg_ on 2007 06 06 at 09:02 PM • permalink

  49. Enjoyed the #2 entry on the Beebs c/- YouTube (post #37).

    A result of seeing the #1 entry?

    Posted by egg_ on 2007 06 06 at 09:38 PM • permalink

  50. #34 Kae
    Did you get the info? ... don’t keep us in suspenders [well, Herr Flick mightn’t mind ...]

    Posted by egg_ on 2007 06 06 at 10:00 PM • permalink

  51. Here you go, it took a bit of googling… well, half a minute:Boofhead, that’s real gutter language.

    Posted by kae on 2007 06 06 at 10:09 PM • permalink

  52. It wasn’t quite what I heard.

    It was a comparison of Pell to the “Boofhead” Thick Sheik.

    Last night, Sheikh ElHilaly’s confidant, Keysar Trad, said the controversial cleric was offended by Mr Rees’ comments and called on him to be reprimanded.

    Obviously in the religion of perpetually indignant there’s no teaching of “Sticks and stones may break my bones….”
    and we’ve already seen what they can do with stones.

    Posted by kae on 2007 06 06 at 10:11 PM • permalink

  53. #9 Ian.
    Looked at the link - very bleakly.

    Comment on the site, and the idea of even an animated eight year old giving head, even with the hilarious slight blocky resemblance?

    Eeeeeeeuw…blech and WTF?

    Posted by carpefraise on 2007 06 06 at 10:18 PM • permalink

  54. #53 Ta
    Heard Perth Archbishop Barry Hickey back-pedalling very quickly on ABC RN Brekky with Franny’s inquisition this a.m.

    Posted by egg_ on 2007 06 06 at 10:37 PM • permalink

  55. Why does the logo include a map of Australia?

    Posted by flying pigs over mecca on 2007 06 07 at 03:15 AM • permalink

  56. #56 Uhh, I didn’t see #25 before I posted.

    Posted by flying pigs over mecca on 2007 06 07 at 03:19 AM • permalink

  57. King Mohammed (of England) has decreed that goats and sheep can be fucked, but the meat has to be sold in another village.  This in fact was one of the Ayatollah Khomeini’s rules, taken from his little green book. Along with this gem, it’s not rape unless you push on past the circumcision ring.  He hated the west but hid his hairy little arse in France until the Shah was out of the way.  What an evil prick this Khomeini must have been.

    Posted by Howzat on 2007 06 08 at 05:25 AM • permalink

  58. On baby names…I wonder if Richard or Charles will make a comeback any time soon…

    Posted by Alan K. Henderson on 2007 06 08 at 08:10 PM • permalink

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