Pop Culture Influences Baby Names, Jacob and Emily Rank #1

Pop Culture Makes Mark on Social Security's Most Popular Baby Names List

Elvis Rises to Number 676

Continuing a popular Mother’s Day tradition, the federal government’s top official for baby names, Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today jointly announced with Parade magazine the most popular baby names for 2007.

Click on the Most Popular Baby Names link at Social Security’s website -- www.socialsecurity.gov -- to see the top baby names for 2007.

The top ten boys and girls names for 2007 are:

Boys: 1) Jacob 2) Michael 3) Ethan 4) Joshua 5) Daniel 6) Christopher 7) Anthony 8) William 9) Matthew 10) Andrew

Girls: 1) Emily 2) Isabella 3) Emma 4) Ava 5) Madison 6) Sophia 7) Olivia 8) Abigail 9) Hannah 10) Elizabeth

Emily has topped the list since 1996. Jacob has done so since 1999. Elizabeth returns to the top ten after a two year absence.

In addition to a list of the 1,000 most popular boys’ and girls’ names for 2007, the website has a list of the top 100 names for twins born in 2007. Jacob and Joshua are again the most popular twin’s names.

The Social Security website offers lists of baby names for each year since 1880. Social Security started compiling baby name lists in 1997.

Although “American Idol’s” Sanjaya did not influence this year’s list, other young celebrities influenced the naming of American children. The 2007 success of popular race car driver Danica Patrick undoubtedly inspired her first name moving from number 352 to number 307. Similarly, the name of the first pick in the 2007 NFL draft, Oakland Raiders’ quarterback JaMarcus Russell, rose from number 914 to number 743 on the boys’ list.

Shiloh, the youngest daughter of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, debuted on the list at number 804. Maddox, the name of their oldest child, has seen steady gains since first appearing on the list in 2003 at number 583 and now ranking at number 226. Suri, the name of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' daughter, did not make the list. But Britney Spears' second son is named Jayden, which ranked at number 18. Miley is new to the girls’ list this year, entering fairly high at number 278, attributable to the popularity of teen sensation Miley Cyrus.

Experts may be surprised by the extent to which American parents are naming their daughters after spiritual and philosophical concepts. One of the most popular names for girls (rising this year to number 31) is Nevaeh, which is “Heaven” spelled backwards. The variant Neveah came in this year at number 891 and Heaven is number 263. Also represented were: Destiny (No. 41); Trinity (No. 72); Serenity (No. 126); Harmony (No. 315); Miracle (No. 461); Charity (No. 673); Journey (No. 692); Destini (No. 914); and Essence (No. 930). Cutting against this trend was Armani (No. 971).

American parents were far less likely to name their sons in this way, although the 2007 boys’ list does include Sincere (No. 622) and Messiah (No. 723).

Finally, Commissioner Astrue expressed his approval that Elvis has risen 85 spots from number 761 to number 676 and noted, “It is further proof that Elvis is not dead.” He further urged everyone celebrating Mother’s Day to “please go to www.socialsecurity.gov to find out more about prescription drug extra help, direct deposit and our easy-to-use online applications.”

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What are the Most Popular Baby Names in California for 2007?

WWW.SOCIALSECURITY.GOV has the List!

Peter D. Spencer, Social Security Regional Commissioner, today revealed the most popular baby names in California for 2007. Continuing a popular Mother’s Day tradition, last week the federal government’s top official for baby names, Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced the nation’s most popular baby names.

How does California compare to the rest of the country? Emily and Daniel topped the list. Nationally, Emily and Jacob were the most popular baby names.

Please click on the Most Popular Baby Names link at Social Security’s website -- www.socialsecurity.gov -- to see the top baby names for 2007. The top five boys and girls names for 2007 in California were:

Boys: 1) Daniel 2) Anthony 3) Angel 4) Jacob 5) David

Girls: 1) Emily 2) Isabella 3) Sophia 4) Ashley 5) Samantha

In addition to each state’s top baby names, Social Security’s website has a list of the 1,000 most popular boys’ and girls’ names for 2007 and a list of the top 100 names for twins born in 2007. Jacob and Joshua are the most popular twin’s names. The website also offers lists of baby names for each year since 1880. Social Security started compiling baby name lists in 1997.

To read more about pop culture’s influence on the nation’s most popular baby names go to www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/baby-names2007-pr.htm.

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San Ramon Finalist Selected for Figurative Sculpture Competition

One of Adam Reeder's new pieces is called "Pan with his Ipod". The thesis behind it is "how technology has changed the way in which western culture interacts with it's world." View more of Adam Reeder's work at www.AdamReeder.com

Adam Reeder of San Ramon, California has been selected as one of 13 finalists nationwide to compete in the National Competition for Figurative Sculpture, which will be held at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, CT in June.

COMPETITORS FOR THE 29TH ANNUAL NATIONAL COMPETITION FOR FIGURATIVE SCULPTURE ANNOUNCED

Nationwide competition to be held in June at

Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, Old Lyme, Connecticut

(Note to editors and reporters: The National Sculpture Society has secured permission from 3 preeminent figurative sculptors, Stanley Bleifeld, Neil Estern and Kirsten Kokkin, former jurors for the National Competition for Figurative Sculpture, to be interviewed in connection with the role of representational art to art and culture).

Old Lyme, CT ─ Competitors for the 29th Annual National Competition for Figurative Sculpture, which will be held from June 16 to 20, 2008 at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, CT, were announced today.

Thirteen competitors and one alternate were selected from a nationwide applicant pool of emerging figurative sculptors. They are:

Joo Hee Bae of San Francisco, California.

Darren Beistle of Old Lyme, Connecticut.

Casey Cohoon of Blackville, South Carolina.

Matthew Collins of Oak Park, Illinois.

Karen Cope of Glendale, California.

Chad Fisher of Moorestown, New Jersey.

Madhu Jalli of San Francisco, California.

Remy Jambor of Seattle, Washington.

Adam Matano of Exeter, Rhode Island, alternate.

Julia Levitina McGeehan of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Lisa Nonken of Hebron, Connecticut.

Adam Reeder of San Ramon, California.

Patrick Stephenson of Niantic, Connecticut.

Melinda Whitmore of Oak Park, Illinois.

Prominent sculptors Gwen Marcus, Aldo Casanova, Tuck Langland and Dan Ostermiller, all members of the National Sculpture Society’s Education Committee, made the selections. Note that individuals directly connected with any of the applicants are ineligible to serve as jurors.

The competition has two parts: The first is the Figure Modeling Competition in which competitors must successfully model a full-length figure from life, 30 to 36 inches tall. This competition is time limited; sculpting must be completed in 28 hours over a five-day period.

The late Walker Hancock, the distinguished sculptor, set the criteria for the competition when it was established in 1978:

Each sculpture is judged on mastery of the human figure in sculptural form as well as each competitor’s comprehension of the action, unity and rhythm of the pose. Emphasis is placed on encouraging the analytic observation of the human figure, including proportion, stance, solidity and continuity of line. Of secondary importance is surface finish and detail.

Three prizes will be awarded to the winners of the Figure Modeling Competition: The Walker Hancock prize for $1,000; the Walter & Michael Lantz Prize for $750; and the Elisabeth Gordon Chandler Prize, named for the founder of Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, for $300.

The Young Sculptors’ Awards Competition is sponsored by the National Sculpture Society and dates back to 1959. Members of the Education Committee of the National Sculpture Society serve as the jury for the Young Sculptors’ Competition and base their decisions solely on the images submitted.

Young Sculptors’ Awards include The Dexter Jones Award for $1,000 for a young sculptor for the best work of sculpture in bas relief; the Roger T. Williams Prize for $750 for a young sculptor who reaches excellence in representational sculpture; the Edward Fenno Hoffman Prize of $350 for young sculptor who strives to uplift the human spirit through the medium of his or her art; and the Gloria Medal, given in memory of C. Paul Jennewein, for a meritorious body of work.

All prizes will be presented at an Awards Ceremony on Friday, June 20, 2008, at 2:30 pm at the Foundation Studio, Administrative Center, Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, Old Lyme, CT. The public is welcome to attend. The ceremony will be preceded at 2:00 pm by the dedication of Exuberance, a sculpture donated to the College by noted American sculptor, the late Richard McDermott Miller.

The National Competition for Figurative Sculpture was established in 1978 by Barry Johnston in memory of his father, James Wilbur Johnston, to reassert the importance and value of figure study in contemporary Sculpture. It is now co-sponsored by Brookgreen Gardens, Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, The National Sculpture Society and the New York Academy of Art.

Brookgreen Gardens. In 1931, Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington founded Brookgreen Gardens, a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation, to preserve the native flora and fauna and display objects of art within that natural setting. Brookgreen Gardens was America's first public sculpture garden. In 2003, the sculpture garden was named the Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington Sculpture Garden in honor of the founders. The collection currently contains over 900 works spanning the entire period of American sculpture ─ from the early 1800s to the present. Its placement in more than 50 acres of beautifully landscaped settings creates an extraordinary blending of art and nature. In addition to the sculpture collection in the gardens there are two indoor sculpture exhibition galleries.

Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. Founded in 1976 by distinguished sculptor Elisabeth Gordon Chandler, the College provides a four-year degree education through a commitment to traditional concepts and methodologies and develops both intellect and skill through a strong emphasis on figuration. The sculpture curriculum of the College includes portrait sculpture, relief, figure sculpture and advanced sculpture concepts. The major includes three years o f courses in anatomy including scientific anatomy, sculptural écorché plus substantial life drawing. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the State of Connecticut and the New England Association of College and Schools (NEASC), the Lyme Academy offers a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Painting, Sculpture, and Illustration (to be introduced Fall 2008), a three-year Certificate, and a one–year Post-Baccalaureate Certificate.

The National Sculpture Society (NSS). Founded in 1893, NSS is the oldest organization of professional sculptors in the United States. The purpose of the NSS is to promote excellence in figurative sculpture throughout the United States, to which end its programs are directed. Scholarships and youth awards help young aspiring sculptors. NSS collects and maintains source materials of America’s most important sculptors, past and present. Archives are open to art historians, students and other interested researchers. Video cassettes on various topics are available to universities and other organizations free of charge. Sculpture Review magazine, a quarterly publication, is entirely devoted to sculpture. NSS holds exhibitions open to all American sculptors which showcase the best in current figurative sculpture in the nation, as well as being represented in museum, corporate, and private collections around the world.

New York Academy of Art. Located in the heart of TriBeCa, the New York Academy of Art is dedicated to the advancement of figurative painting, sculpture and drawing. A not-for-profit educational and cultural institution, the New York Academy is the only graduate school in the United States devoted exclusively to the study of the human figure, and fosters values and skills intrinsic to the creation of significant contemporary art.

Alamo Jewelry, Fine Art, & Craft Show

Painters, jewelers, sculptors and other artisans will be gathering at Alamo Plaza Shopping Center for the annual “Alamo Jewelry, Fine Art and Craft Show”.

This popular two-day event will be held Saturday, and Sunday, May 10 & 11 from 10 AM to 6 PM.

This year’s show features original works of art including paintings, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, fiber art, glass, woodwork, mixed media, photography and more.

The fine jewelry of artisans Fran & Jerry Harr represents the exceptional quality of artistry presented at the Alamo festival. This husband and wife team has been designing, fabricating and selling their original 14K gold and silver jewelry for 23 years. Each piece of jewelry is one-of-a-kind and is completely hand constructed. Clean lines, pleasing abstracts and careful attention to detail are characteristic of their work.

Also featured will be the pottery of David Yager. Collectors from throughout Europe and the United States have purchased his work. His pottery is known for its classic shapes and high-fire cobalt blue glazes. David studied glazing techniques for two years with New York ceramic artist, Michael Lucero, whose work is shown in the Smithsonian.

“This celebration of Art offers a great opportunity for collectors to meet with and purchase directly from some of the West Coast’s most talented artists and artisans,” said festival director John Holland.

To reach the Alamo Plaza take the Stone Valley Rd.West Exit from Hwy. 680, then turn right 1 block on Danville Blvd.

Admission to the festival is free.

Additional show information and maps are available online at:
www.jhfestivals.com

This Mother's Day Help Your Mom Save $3,000!

By Linda Zamfino
Social Security Bay Area Public Affairs Specialist

People all over the country are helping their moms save as much as $3,600 per year on the cost of prescription drugs. You can too!

We all know the high cost of medicine can be a burden on mothers who have limited income and resources. But there is extra help — available through Social Security — that could pay part of her monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. The extra help could be worth up of $3,600 per year.

To figure out whether your mother is eligible, Social Security needs to know her income and the value of her savings, investments and real estate (other than the home she lives in). To qualify for the extra help, she must be receiving Medicare and also have:

* Income limited to $15,600 for an individual or $21,000 for a married couple living together. Even if her annual income is higher, she still may be able to get some help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. Some examples where income may be higher include if she or her spouse:

—Support other family members who live with them;
—Have earnings from work; or
—Live in Alaska or Hawaii; and

* Resources limited to $11,990 for an individual or $23,970 for a married couple living together. Resources include such things as bank accounts, stocks and bonds. We do not count her house and car as resources.

Social Security has an easy-to-use online application that you can help complete for your mom. You can find it at www.socialsecurity.gov. To apply by phone or have an application mailed to you, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020). Or go to the nearest Social Security office.

To learn more about the Medicare prescription drug plans and special enrollment periods, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).

So this Mother’s Day, help your mom save up to $3,600 a year on her prescription drugs. Long after the candy and flowers are gone, the extra help through Social Security will keep on giving.

Go Green -- Go Online -- Social Security Dot Gov

By Linda Zamfino
Social Security Bay Area Public Affairs Specialist


With Earth Day recently behind us, many people have stepped up their efforts to go green. And there are a number of things you can do, including planting a tree and recycling your plastic, glass and paper.

But what’s even better than recycling your paper is not having any paper to begin with.

Going green is yet another of the many reasons to complete your business transactions with Social Security online. You can complete all of your paperwork with a lot less paper.

Whether you want to apply for retirement benefits, request a replacement Medicare card, report a change of address or direct deposit if you are currently receiving benefits, or take charge of your retirement planning, you can do it on our website.

There’s no need to drive to your local Social Security office. Don’t wait in traffic when your Social Security business can be done from the comfort of your home or office Save a trip and go to www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices to get started.

Many of these services can be completed online without taking another step. Some services require you to mail in documents and information. Regardless, you’ll be ahead of the pack by using our online services.

You can rest assured that doing business with Social Security online is fast, easy and secure. And it is environmentally the cleanest, greenest way to do your Social Security business.

Many of our online services are available as automated phone services as well. Just call 1-800-772-1213 to take advantage of them.

Earth Day is a great time to step up your efforts to go green, but you can go green any time during the year. Save a tree, save some gas and cut back on pollution by visiting us online instead of at an office. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov or call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).