What's in a Name?

I was thinking about names the other day, because it is something I tend to think about every so often.   I went to school with twin girls named Misty and Summer.  Their last name? Weathers. True Story.  Names are fun.
Shakespeare, through the voice of Juliet, asked us to consider: "What's in a name?" Well, what is?

How many of you were named for other people, specifically, family members?
Does being named after a beloved relative heap unfair pressure on you to be a certain way--act a certain way--love certain things--just because the person you're named after did?
What about those of you who were named for favorite actors or actresses, literary characters or anything that your parents thought was cool at the time?
Do you love your name? Does it suit you? Would you change it if you could? To what?
Do you ever think you might be a different person if you were named something else?
Do you know the origin of your name? How did you come to be a Jazmine or a Trevor or a Keanu or a Gerson, Elvis or a Samiyah?
For example, my name is Cassandra, which comes from Greek Tragedy, Agamemmnon by Aeschylus, but my mother and father didn't know that. So, I have no idea really, where they got it from, but I often wonder if I would be a completely different person if my name was something simple like Lisa or Diane or something like that. When other people shorten your name does it make you angry? What about when people mispronounce it?
There are a lot of questions here--make sure you hit all of them. (400 words/40 pts)

Resolution Revolution

Well, she's here.  For better or worse, 2016 has arrived, and with it, the chance to begin anew.
There is a term in Latin known as Tabula Rasa. Translated that means "clean slate."  I love that idea because it has such promise and so much hope.
So, let's start there.

Do you believe that anybody can really ever have a "clean slate"?  If not, how come?  If so, how come?

How quick are you to forgive anybody else's mistakes against you and "wipe the slate clean"?  Do you hold grudges?  Why or why not?

Finally, we all know that people love to talk about their new resolutions--something they have resolved to do in the new year that they either never did before or never cared about doing before.  What is your opinion on new year's resolutions?