Marion Michael Morrison just doesn’t have the same ring as John Wayne. Names are important. They have influence. Take for example, the strength conveyed when the Rock of Gibralter and the Hudson River came together to create Rock Hudson. Here are a few more interesting facts about names:

• "Me, Tarzan. You, Jane. . .Parker." Yes, that was the vine swinger’s partner’s last name.

• One of the most recognizable dolls on the planet is named Barbie, Barbie Roberts to be exact and her boyfriend’s name – Ken Carson.

• The Skipper kept his professional distance from Gilligan never once calling him by his first name, Willy.

• He hid his identity behind a mask, but I’ll bet Tonto knew the Lone Ranger’s real name was John Reid.

• The L.L. of L.L. Bean stands for Leon Leonwood.

• Surveyor Col. Sir George Everest lent his name to the highest peak in the world.

• Hector Boiardi changed the spelling of his name on his products to Chef Boyardee because no one could pronounce his name.

• Ian Fleming borrowed the name of his most famous character, James Bond, from an ornithologist from Philadelphia. While living in Jamaica and working on his first novel about the British spy, Fleming picked up Birds of West India by the real Bond. He chose the name because it was brief, unromantic and masculine.

• The chef on the Cream of Wheat box goes by the moniker of Rastus.

• Bingo was the name-O of the Cracker Jack dog. The Taco Bell dog answers to Gidget.

• The name of the cigarette company’s symbol is Joe Camel.

• Charles Pillsbury started out milling flour with his uncle. In their first year of business, he made $6,000 in profit. He took the money and started C.A. Pillsbury and Company in 1872. The Pillsbury Doughboy, proper name Poppin’ Fresh, came along in 1965.

• According to family legend, Wizard of Oz creator Frank Baum came up with the name for his fictitious land after looking at a filing cabinet with a drawer labeled O-Z.

• Teddy Roosevelt was the first to use the term White House. He had it printed on his stationery in 1901.

People judge you not only on your appearance, but also how you speak. Use proper grammar to make the best impression. These guidelines will help you put your best foot (or tongue) forward.

He went to the store.

Who went to the store?

Or

For whom should I vote?

I will vote for him.

Affect and effect – Effect is used when you mean cause (verb) or result (noun).

The star effected the crowd of fans.

The effect was the collapse of several females.

Affect means influence (verb) or emotional expression (noun).

How are the rising gas prices affecting your pocketbook?

He showed little affect when he lost his job.

Adjectives and adverbs – Adjectives describe nouns and adverbs describe verbs. Adverbs describe how something was done and require an -ly, such as quietly or happily.

It is correct to say "Speak more quietly, not "Speak quieter."

Prepositions – Do not end a sentence with a preposition.

Incorrect: Where you at?

Correct: Where are you?

Incorrect: Where are you going to?

Correct: Where are you going?

Lie and lay – Lie is to not tell the truth (lie, lied, lying). Lay is to place something in horizontal position (lie, lay, lain or lay, laid).

He lied to me about the test.