h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I read in the paper today that the most popular boy's name in England and Wales for new babies is Muhammad. Interesting.

Interesting, but is it factual? I'm not saying it isn't, necessarily, but with all the current anti-immigration and Islamaphobia going around I've seen pretty shaky "statistics" flying around the media sans fact checking

It's in the Metro, so it must be true! They say that "official figures" for 2009 show it. They admit that you have to count all the different ways of spelling Muhammad as one name for it pass out Oliver, Jack and Harry.

I can credit that. Rumors that Obama was Islamic (actually he's a Christian) strongly contributed to his election success. The Obama campaign organization wisely waited until after the election before making the public declaration on the point.

That's not true at all. He refuted those claims quite clearly if not not loudly or often. Also remember that during his campaign most of the furor was concerning his preacher. Remember the endless loops of reverend Wright shouting "God DAMN America"? Obama, in my opinion, handled the questions of his religion as they should be handled: by not making them an issue. That his opponents made them an issue should have been an even greater issue. Ideally questions of a person's religion should never be asked regarding running for office. Of course, reality sadly proves otherwise.

This may be true, that there were repeated refutations to the prospect. They didn't show in the television news coverage I saw.

You're absolutely right that he was right not to make an issue of the point.

http://tabloid-watch.blogspot.com/2010/10/whats-in-name.html

Apparently the number of boys named Mohammed (or variations) is actually slightly down on last year.

Uh, that is for boys born in the previous year.

That's an interesting blogspot conversation, Bagpuss. Also an example of a well-moderated conversation forum.