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What's in a Name?

I love names!  As you may have noticed, my own last name means, "SmokeSound", as in Puget Sound, or Bristol Bay.  


I looked up, "Romney".  It is a girl or a boys name from Scotland, and it means, "Winding River".  I am not sure that explains anything about Mitt, except perhaps for his stance on his own health care program in Massachusetts.


I looked up, "Pawlenty", too.  Nobody knows what "Pawlenty" means.  I am not sure that explains anything about Tim, except perhaps for his stance on just about everything.  


Since "Pawlenty" does not mean anything, I looked up "Polenta":  boiled cornmeal.  


Just to be fair, I looked up, "Royksund", again.  There are two "Royksunds" in the United States, and I am both of them.  The State with the most people named "Royksund" is Minnesota.  One of me.  The most popular first name for people named "Royksund" in the United States is "Conrad".  Me.  


Mitt Winding River, Tim Cornmeal, and Conrad SmokeSound.  What a political season we are going to have!  Please note:  I have not yet declared, and if I do declare, I will not run, and if elected, I will charge voter fraud.  

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Friends-- My step-father of 35 years died this morning. His name was Conrad Royksund. He was 86 years old. He was born into poverty on a farm near Puyallup, WA. He was the first member of his family to attend college and earned a PhD from the University of Chicago. He paid his way through all of that by fishing in Alaska. He spent his professional career as a college professor. I met him when I was just 3 years old and don't actually have any memories of my life befor e he was in it. He was intimidatingly smart, funny as hell, and worked his ass off. He taught me to meet people with kindness and decency until I was certain they could not be trusted. He taught me to meet ideas with carving knives until I was certain they could. I will remember him as one of the bravest, most curious, and funniest people I have ever met. He left this world with a satisfied mind. We are so grateful. Dan Hubbard

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