Place Names on the Dwarf Planet Ceres

710377445_b99e0d73d8_mEfforts are now underway to give place names to Ceres, “the Dwarf Planet”. According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), Ceres’ nooks and crannies will be named after agricultural deities. According to Emily Lakdawalla of the Planetary Society, a topographic map of Ceres’ surface is being divided into quadrants. Each of these “quads” is then systematically bestowed an official toponym, many of which have borrowed from Roman mythology.

Names at the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) Conference, Jerusalem, July 6-10 2015

Old City of Jerusalem

Old City of Jerusalem

The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) will be holding its 35th annual conference from the 6th to the 10th of July 2015, in Jerusalem.

Talks on Jewish Naming include:

    •  “Jewish Names, Red Herrings, and Name Changes” by Philip Trauring
    • “Jewish Surnames from North Africa” by Dr. Alexander Beider

Click here for more information.

Charlotte the Japanese Macaque Monkey

9541599_bf1bd3618d_mOn May 6, 2015, a zoo in Oita, Japan announced the results of an official poll: The zoo’s very first baby Macaque monkey, would be named Charlotte, in honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. News of the decision erupted in a national controversy with critics and supporters fighting over whether the name insulted or honored the newborn Royal. On May 8th, the city mayor put an end to the debate, stating that the public had chosen a beautiful name, and no complaint from Britain had been lodged.

New Domain Names Coming Soon

5910411419_b17af89773_mThe Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is planning to increase the current selection of domain names beyond the generic top-level domains like .com, .net, and .org. In anticipation, many companies have already begun to apply for their own brand name domains. The costs of placing an official application and paying for the accompanying legal and consulting fees for one of the trendy domain names can reach upwards of 1 million US dollars.

NamesCon, Las Vegas, January 10-13 2016

15881201596_c15886e61b_mNamesCon, one of the world’s largest international conferences devoted exclusively to domain names will be holding its next conference in Las Vegas, Nevada from the 10th to the 13th of January 2016. According to the founder and CEO, this year’s event promises to be the largest ever gathering of domainers. Click here for more information.