New Name For Dean's World?
Dean
I am giving serious consideration to renaming Dean's World. It was a silly joke when I named it "Dean's World" in the first place. But the blog's evolved beyond where it started and the name is seeming more and more cheesy all the time. Furthermore, while I am still the primary blogger, others are beginning to make semi-regular contributions.
I'm thinking something inspired by Eugene Volokhs "The Volokh Conspiracy." I actually like the sound of "The Esmay Conspiracy" but that may be too imitative.
I've thought about "The Esmay Cabal," "The Esmay Convergence," and other things like that. Something that reflects the fact that there are others contributing now.
Anyone have any suggestions
Dean's Team?
Deanotopia?
Esmaynia?
The Esmayniacs?
I'll toss a few names out, anyway. Some of these are good, some bad; I'm just stream-of-conscious brainstorming.
"Dean Meets World"
"Royalty, Explained."
"Dean and Friends"
"Dean and Co."
"Dean Team"
"The Other Dean"
"Deaniacs"
"Dean and the Deanettes"
"The Esmay Chronicles"
"The Dean Chronicles"
"Dean and Friends' Excellent Adventures"
"Deanie Meanie"
"Convergence"
"Concordance"
"Anger, Managed"
"Talk of the Town"
"Town Talk"
"Traditions"
"Esmay and Friends"
"Especially Esmay"
"Dean the Sane"
"Tilting at Windmills"
"A Hop, a Skip, and a Jump"
"Tilting at Politicians"
"The Other Liberals"
"The Dean Team"
"Esoterica"
"Playground"
"Online Monkey Bars"
"Team Dean"
--|PW|--
Yours,
Wince
"Snow Blindness"
"Free Speech?"
"That's Easy for Your to Say"
"It's my ball and I make the rules"
"Trees flowers and nuclear weapons"
"Lightseconds ahead of the curve"
"Hand the weapon over easy"
"You have the right to remain silent"
"Anything you say can and will be held against you"
"Open mouth, insert foot"
"I wish I had said that"
"Robins in winter"
"Snow skiing in July"
"Too thick to plow"
"The razor's edge"
"Flat tire, I'm walking"
"Words without meaning"
"An army of one"
"A few good, er, people"
It's your blog name it whatever you want. I would suggest, however, that your readers are very likely less tired of the name that you are.
I started reading your blog about a month ago. I believe I ran across it because of something I heard on...gasp!!...Bill Maher's HBO show. I don't remember now what it was exactly, but it led me to Farhenhype 911, which led me to Dean's World.
If you insist on changing the name (and I see no reason why you need to), how about...
The Esmay Continuum
Either way, you have another dedicated reader. Thanks for making the slow hours at work go a little faster.
I'm sure you'd prefer the name Sortapundit, but I checked around and it seems to be taken.
The Esmay Ward for the Terminally Sane
The Unified Esmay Theory
Who is it? Esmay!
But, I like Dean's World best.
Dean's World
Party time
Excellent
/you have to keep it. I'm always waving my lighter around &singing when I come here....
I like "deanies meanies" though from pennywit.
Thing is, you have brand equity in "Dean's World". I'd go with a simple "DW".
It ain't broke, so don't fix it. Dean's World.
You even used it to explain why you won't allow comments which insult you, and that explanation is simple enough to penetrate the thickest skulls.
Besides, it can make you THE Dean. Wouldn't you like that? Or are you afraid of the awful responsibilty.
"It's Esmaysing!"
"Esmaysing Grace"
"Intersections"
"Crossroads"
"Dean's Place"
"Dean-o-Riffic"
"Oak"
"Standing Tall"
"Stand Tall"
"Stand Firm"
"Tempus Fugit"
"Citizen Dean"
"Citizens on Patrol"
"Citizens' Blog"
"The People's Blog"
--|PW|--
And you could give them all cutsie names, like "snorey esmay" and "grouchy esmay" etc.
;-)
"Joe's World and Dean Too"
I like several of the more serious ones listed, but I still think keeping it the same is fine. You have at times used the fact that it's Dean's World to emphasize your ultimate authority and responsibility for the place. I see no reason to change that.
--|PW|--
Seriously, I'm leaning toward:
DW
The Esmay Divergence
The Esmay Front
The Esmay Connection
The Esmay Cabal
Dean &Co.
Proletariat Truth (just kidding--I think)
I'm leaning toward the last name rather than the first. I like the idea of being THE Dean, but unfortunately if you Google you'll find that those bastards Howard Dean and Dean Witter have me beat on that score. ;-)
You all have me very flattered on keeping it "Dean's World," but I must tell you truthfully that when I call someone looking for an interview or press passes or something like that, I wince when I say I represent "Dean's World." Although maybe I should just get over it?
I'm conservative. I'm against any change unless I have good reason to believe it will be a change for the better. All these proposed names would diminish this blog. Too bland, too generic, too much like any other blog. Keep it the way it is. Please don't change the color scheme either. And the subtitle must remain "Defending the liberal tradition in history, science, and philosophy". I have come to see and appreciate that more and more.
I can, however, think of two possible improvements. "Dean's Kingdom", since he is married to the Queen. Or, "Dean's World, with Arnold Harris".
But in case I haven't made it clear: it's not just Joe who's being added to the roster. I'm adding a few others into the rotation. I want this online publication to be more like a publication--and to bring in voices I respect. And you should assume that if I bring someone in, it IS because I respect that voice and find it a worthy addition.
My addition to the list: Esmay For You To Say
Or just: Esmay For You
There are a lot of creative people in the blogosphere - make (or at least request) the entrants explain why/how they came up with the name - sometimes that's as interesting as the name itself.
FWIW, my favorite thing about Dean's World is that it's rather like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope - makes me feel a bit like a kid again. I never know what I'm going to see here -- it shakes up my point of view and makes me see the world in a new way: all the colors look a bit brighter.
Wish I were feeling a bit more creative, but I have to say that I, too, love the name "Dean's World" and view your other contributors as part of your unique gift to the blogosphere.
How's that for shameless puckering up?
Actually though, I really do mean it. Leaving before you can start making fun of me :)
Some people think you are :)
Esmat Concordat?
Ixnay Esmay.
Or some other pun on Pig Latin.
I heard the name Dave Kopel bandied about on Maher's show, so I did a search for him the next day and ran across his site of the 59 deceits of Farhenheit 9/11, which promotes is DVD Farenhype 9/11.
After I read that, I went to his home page, and then his weblog, where I believe I found a link to you. I just checked, and I don't see it right in front of me, but I'm pretty sure that's how I found you. And once I did, I was hooked!
I have to tell you, I didn't even know about bloggers until this election. I heard the term during a discussion on CNN one night, and I asked my niece what it meant (she's more into this stuff than me), and she told me. Not long after that, I ran across your site and was introduced to the wonderful world of blogging. Kudos to you for being a great ambassador for the blogging world.
I picked "The Esmay Continuum" because continuum means (per Webster's online) "1 : a coherent whole characterized as a collection, sequence, or progression of values or elements varying by minute degrees <"good" and "bad"... stand at opposite ends of a continuum instead of describing the two halves of a line — Wayne Shumaker." Also, one of my favorite authors is Briam Lumley. He wrote a series of books about vampires and a man who could traverse the "Mobius Continuum," which could take him to any place and any time via doors (The Necroscope series). I've been taken to some interesting places through the links in your blog, which put me in mind of the story...
Leave that stuff for the assholes who are too numerous to list. Stick with good old "Dean's World".
After all. You are Dean Esmay. And this in fact is the very real small world you created, isn't it?
So why in hell would you want to shit all over that name, now that you have made it successful?
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
I guess it depends on what you want out of the name but if you want people to be able to pass it along to friends then it needs to be short and simple. I find that most of the time I am telling someone about a blog it is verbal so it is nice if the person can hear it, remember it and then is able to go to it the next time they are online.
If you must change it you really should go to godaddy.com or a place with domain search and start trying some first so the URL will match the name.
If I were to go back in time 3 years I would tell Jerry Kindall to "make it esmay.org," but I lack such a time machine, and Jerry Kindall (who chose the URL for me) unforutnately lacks omniscience. ;-)
On the other hand, I agree with that crusty bastard Arnold Harris. Even that suggestion of mine is too cute and clever-sounding. The name of your blog isn't, or shouldn't be whimsical. We're going to see it up there every day, day after day, so it had better be good. It should fit the things you write. Choosing a name for a blog just to be cute is like getting a tattoo. You look at it every day for the rest of your life and wonder what on Earth possessed you to do _that_ to yourself. Myself, I tend not to look at a blog on a blogroll if it sounds like a snotty wisecrack some kid thought up. Keep "Dean's World".
By the way, what ever happened to that logo contest you once held? A Dean's World globe logo might well look very good here, as long as the style of it is consistent with the fonts, color scheme, etc., of the rest of this blog.
Deanatorium
Deanopolis
The Dean Experience
The Dean's list
Deaneus Maximus
The Dean Triumverate
BTW, keep the plain blue large text logo, too. I know a couple of times you've discussed getting a new logo.
Keep the same plain old text logo. And the same old name. Dean's World.
That's laden as in loaded, of course. Or if you prefer, "Lend a Sword."
I like it here.
It ain't broke, etc.
b) Get over the cringing. It's embarassing. :)
DE: I think having the domain name reflect the point of continuity is smart, particularly during a blogname change. So I think the deanesmay.com thing may work to your advantage after all. This project reflects your vision: you are the driving force behind it. It should bear your name.
SMA and Arnold Harris have instincts I respect, but they will still come around even if the name changes. And I suspect all your loyal readers will visit just as often even if the design is different. After a brief adjustment, everyone will be as happy as they are now (whenever any magazine changes its "look," there are reader complaints at first, and ultimately the new design grows on everyone).
I would, however, consider keeping the tagline regarding the "liberal tradition," because I think it makes a good mission statement, and because it will help your loyal readers cope with the other changes afoot.
More brainstorming on the name:
Team Esmay
The Esmay Mosaic
Esmay Tapestry
The Esmay Corral
Esmay Magic
Esmay's Wild Kingdom
The Esmay Files
The Esmay Project
The Esmay Chalk
Authentic Chili
The Esmay Mafia
Although The Esmay Cabal may be my favorite so far.
You've made "Dean's World" a sometimes serious usually entertaining success. It ain't broke, please don't try to fix it.
-Fred
Of course, I'd come and read even if you called it "The Daily Esm", but I'd feel somewhat soiled. . .
Yours,
Wince
It is Dean's World afterall and you own it. I believe the majority have spoken. Org. is a good example of the vast amount of good you have done and it does reflect you. Org. may benefit but then some people wonder when you say you are an organization. Your world is exactly that.
FWIW, I have loved the name Dean for quite sometime, now how old are you and then add your mothers months while you cooked in the oven. Your recipe is hard to beat.
'where the hell am I' (a valid question)
'Dean's Universe' (gotta think big)
Currently, the name is not lame, so watch out. From looking around there are more lame names used than not. I do enjoy the posts. Thanks!
Yup. I suggest "Dean's World".
If'n it ain't broke, don't fix it.