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6 ways not to ruin your babys name
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Naming your baby is a joyous occasion, but keeping these 6 tips in mind may save you and your child from a lifetime of trouble. - photo by Georgia Lee
Georgia Lee
FamilyShare
Published: Feb 2, 2016, 8:10 AM
One of the best parts of bringing a new bundle of joy into the world is getting to christen him or her with a special and thought-out name. But dont let the honor go to your head. If creativity or novelty outweighs common sense, both you and your child could be in for a long, rocky road.

Here are 6 skips when picking an interesting and distinctive baby name:

1. Candy, Honey, Cookie or anything sweet

Stay away from baby names that remind men of delicious desserts. Your child might be a treat, but you dont want anyone thinking of her as a consumable product. Not to mention these are names that are easily associated with some unsavory professions. Dont plant that thought in anyones mind.

2. Crystal Cloud, Pilot Inspektor and other spacey double-names

Yes, Alvin and the Chipmunks and My Name is Earl actor Jason Lee actually named his son Pilot Inspektor. Albeit an homage to a beloved song title, this name is still quite inappropriate for anyone other than a millionaires son. And even if you and your family are well-off, keep this kind of name away from your kin. Hell thank you when hes older.

3. Maierrie, Jeinne, Siouxzin and other mighty misspellings

Slight misspellings that stray from tradition are fairly common for modern names and can easily be forgiven. However, intentional misspellings that annihilate common sense and pronunciation will wreak a lifetime of havoc for everyone in the family. Spelling based purely on complexity doesnt do anything for your child, it only takes attention away from her and places it on her name.

4. Mary Alice Luanne Elise Harriet and other train names

Train names are like cars on a locomotive; they just keep going and going. Keep baby names short and sweet unless each name has special meaning to your family, or it is a cultural or genealogical tradition to maintain such patterns as part of a long legacy or lineage- like the royal family.

We know youre the queen of your castle, and your baby is a prince or princess in your eyes, but theres only so much space on government documents and college applications. At this point youre only adding lifelong complications.

5. Apple, Peach, Rice and other foods

Unless youre using your maiden surname as your babys first name, stay away from foods. In fact, stay away from anything edible, including spices, herbs and seasonings. A few exceptions would include proper names like Pepper, Ginger and Rosemary. But names like Cinnamon, Sugar, Cherry and other sweet foods have already been covered. Keep moving.

6. Tiger, Seal, Raven, and other animals

A golfer named Tiger. An artist named Seal. An actress named Raven. I personally know a woman named Gazelle, but that doesnt mean you have to keep the gag running. Try to keep the animals in the kingdom, and pick a baby name thats not so wild. And even if you prefer names of the cutesier kind, like Bunny or Kitty, its still a risky move to stamp your child with a name that may not fit in her golden years. If she wants to brand herself when she becomes famous, leave that decision up to her.

Your child wont stay a baby. She will grow up and go to school. She will have to deal with teachers and peers constantly struggling with her name. Eventually she will need to submit applications and rsums to get jobs, and unfortunately names affect opportunities for hiring and promotion. The last thing you want to do is limit your childs potential because of one bad decision you made for her. Be fair, and remember she has to live with the name you give her.
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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
Lois M Collins
Deseret News special workflow
Published: Apr 13, 2018, 2:39 PM
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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