The Uncertainty Division - Uncertainty ... And So On: What's in ...

November 24, 2003

What's in ...

I can't hope to rival James' entry for sheer bile, but a question has been bubbling to the surface here at the Uncertainty Division, namely how to deal with our cumbersome name.

I once knew a London-based music outfit (with hestitation I'll call them a band) called Noise Union who, after some consideration and a few gigs at places like The Marquee, dropped the first word to make themselves simply 'Union'. By analogy, some people try to call us simply The Division which, while making sense (being shorter, and taken directly from our name), makes me think of annoying German industrial groups (probably musical, definitely involving metal).

There are some other options, none of which are particularly nice:

UD - looks nice as a logo, completely useless as a name, as you can't pronounce it without sounding like a caveman
The Div - makes me think we're in some weird gang
Improbable People - not strictly an abbreviation, but I thought I'd mention it because we've been called it in the past

If only we'd gone with our original name, Old Man Harris' Card Shop, we could call ourselves, simply, Card shop - although that smacks altogether too much of Spontaneity Shop for my liking. Dang, this naming thing is difficult.

Anyway, let the suggestions roll in.

Posted by James Aylett at November 24, 2003 06:03 PM

Comments

Uncertainty Division
Certainty Division
Dainty Supervision
Tea Supervision
Beep-o-vision
Weep-o-vision
Wee O'Vision (referring to the child of Mr & Mrs O'Vision)
We Are Vision
We Are Visionaries
Are We Visionaries?
Are We Missionaries?
Are We Missing Aries?
Are We Dissin' Aries?
Are We Dissin' Faries?
Are We Faries?
Are We Queens?
Arm Bee Queens
Farm Bee Queens
Farmby Queens (Queens of Merseyside)
Barmy Queens
Batty Queens
BATS, Queens
Betty Queen (a famous actress who died in 1786 - the first actress not to be beheaded)

I'm out of ideas. How about Footlights? (Or Footsteps as a neighbour of mine would have it:

Andrew enters terrace, carrying large box
Neighbour (with slight sneer): Back from Cambridge then?
Andrew: Yes
Neighbour: Been having fun?
Andrew: Erm, yes, I suppose so.
Neighbour: What have you been up to?
Andrew: Well, a few things. Theatre, mainly
Neighbour: Oh yes. They have those famous people in Cambridge, don't they, what is it... Footsteps?
Andrew: Footlights. But actually most stuff I've been doing is with the ADC or other societies.
Neighbour: (Disappointed) Oh right.

Posted by: Andrew Pontzen at December 10, 2003 10:24 AM

Grandmother's Footsteps.
potential hazard or making people think that you're a blue rinse improvised theatre company, rather than strapping freshfaced lads, but a good name nevertheless.

Posted by: Susie at December 11, 2003 10:39 AM

So...sorry, it's "The Uncertainty Division", abbreviated to "Grandmother's Footsteps"?

Glad to see you've cracked open the Christmas sherry already, dear...I reckon you and Pontzen have been at it together. "Barmy Queens" indeed.

I like the trendiness of "U.D." Pronounced "Yoo. Dee." (You have to articulate the full stops.)

Or how about "Un. D.", pronounced "Undy"?

Posted by: James Lark at December 12, 2003 12:09 PM

Stop being cheeky, Mr Lark. or i'll spread it that the Uncertainty Division are now calling themselves The Undies (Purple Lace, anyone?)
now where did i put that sherry....

Posted by: Susie at December 13, 2003 11:36 PM

I'm somewhat suprised that Mr Lark thinks that "Barmy Queens" is the least accurate of the list I gave.

Posted by: Andrew Pontzen at December 13, 2003 11:55 PM