TfK is moving: We need a new name

Posted by Josh Rosenau on July 25, 2007
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Tony of Tony’s Kansas City has a scoop: I am leaving Kansas.

TfK will be unchanged, or at least will continue changing in the same way it’s always changed, but in honor of the move out of state, my upcoming birthday (July 26), the birthday of TfK (August 4) and the anniversary of the move here to Scienceblogs (August 20), I’d like to challenge you cunning linguists out there to suggest a new name.

This blog has always been about the readers and the community. It started out void and without form, and your attention, smart comments and helpful corrections have all made it the success it’s become. I couldn’t have achieved what I have without you. The job I’m moving for is with the National Center for Science Education, the national group most active in the hard work of keeping good science in our classrooms, a natural extension of a lot of what TfK has been about (more on that later). The work you and I have done here at TfK is no small part of how I got this great chance to make the world better, and what better way to acknowledge the central role of my readers than by letting you all name the place.

There are some restrictions. Because my URL includes “tfk” and I’ve gotten into the habit of referring to the blog as “TfK,” your proposed new name must match that acronym. “K” in particular is a tricky letter to start a word with, but I’m sure you creative types will find the right word somewhere between “kakistocracy” and “kymograph.” Also, this is a family blog, so let’s keep the f-word clean.

The winning suggestion left in the comments or emailed to me will get some interesting prize to be determined. Those of you with a graphical bent shouldn’t despair: after we’ve got a new name, we’ll need a new banner. Since my attempt was cluttered and unreadable (especially by the colorblind), I’ll be outsourcing that exciting project to my readers as well. We’ll need to know what name to put in it, first. Break out those dictionaries.

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  1. #1 John B.
    July 25, 2007

    Congratulations on the job, the birthday, the anniversaries . . .

    “Transplanted from Kansas”?

    “(A) Taxon Flees Kansas”? Too negative a charge, perhaps.

    “Thoughts for Kansas”? Too God-on-His-Throne-like?

    Eh, I got nuthin’.

    Before I got to the part in your post about “TfK,” I was thinking of suggesting “Not in Kansas Anymore.” But that’s cliched, too.

    I know your readership is comprised of smart people; they’ll certainly come up with something better.

  2. #2 Matt Platte
    July 25, 2007

    Thinkers flee Kansas, at least it seemed that way when I lived there. I’m thinking (cough) of moving back, though.

  3. #3 mark
    July 25, 2007

    “Thirsting for knowledge” came a little too quickly, is pretentious.
    This Funny Kingdom — would probably seem to be referring to the Bush Administration.

    The Fundamental Kulturkampf has a remotely relevant parallel.

    Too Few Kittens is only for cat people.
    Tasting Fried Kats is also for people who like cats.
    Too Flat in Kansas doesn’t seem the real reason.

  4. #4 G. Shelley
    July 25, 2007

    “I don’t think we’re in Kansas any more”

  5. #5 Keith Sader
    July 25, 2007

    How about Teaching science for kids?

    Or in an old alt.fan.lemur take – Twinkies frinking kroger?

    I’ll see if I can’t prod the old crenelations for more later.

  6. #6 G. Shelley
    July 25, 2007

    ah, missed the acronym
    This hisn’t Kansas

  7. #7 JMart
    July 25, 2007

    If you weren’t so keen on keeping the acronym, I’d suggest “Thoughts from People Capable of Them.” But given that limitation, may I suggest “Thoughts from the Kibitzer,” which Merriam-Webster defines as “one who looks on and usually offers unwanted advice.” Which, when you get right down to it, is essentially the definition of “blogger” too.

    Josh, good luck in California, and thanks for all you have done for Kansas over the past few years. Your contributions during the evolution debates have been invaluable.

  8. #8 Tom Morris
    July 25, 2007

    “Thinking for Kansas”. Those who watched Ze Frank can append “so you don’t have to” on the end, if you like.

  9. #9 Mike Silverman
    July 25, 2007

    Try this acronym generator:

    http://www.jasonblogs.com/acreator/index.php

    It came up with some nice ones, such as Tempestuousness Felicity Kittens and Thought Footage Kickback

  10. #10 MonkeyHawk
    July 26, 2007

    TOTO

    For “Thoughts of Things Obvious.”

    It has a little Kansas reference, but you’re meant for bigger things, Josh.

  11. #11 DIANNE
    July 27, 2007

    Till you complete your evolution:

    Thoughts from Kansafornia

  12. #12 Cheryl Shepherd-Adams
    July 27, 2007

    Best of luck, Josh – Kansas’ loss is NCSE’s gain. Sorry I can’t make it to your sendoff, but know that prayers go with you.

    Take care!

  13. #13 anonymous
    July 27, 2007

    taste for knowledge

  14. #14 anonymous
    July 27, 2007

    tax-free knowledge

  15. #15 386sx
    July 29, 2007

    Teh Flaming Keyboard.

  16. #16 blf
    July 29, 2007

    Thagomizer’s friendly Krunch

    The thagomizer is a powerful tool which can be wielded to great effect in defense of reason and rationality.

    A variation might be Thagomizing foolish knaves but I’m not certain I like that one.

    B.t.w., Thirst for Knowledge is listed at http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/TFK as being an already-existing expansion of the acronym TFK, apparently used in some game called “Magic the Gathering”. The Wikipedia article doesn’t list that one. And neither lists this TfK!

  17. #17 Deacon Barry
    July 31, 2007

    What about To Fight Kreationists?