initial confusion

[calimac]

I'm not sure I want to keep up my web site that lists data about U.S. Senators, including their full names. It's such a nuisance collecting that information on new senators. Take Dick Blumenthal of Connecticut. On just one Google search result page, I've found him listed as Richard D. Blumenthal, Richard M. Blumenthal, Richard S. Blumenthal, Richard T. Blumenthal, Richard J. Blumenthal, and Richard A. Blumenthal. And yes, they're all referring to the right guy.

Comments

[lynn-maudlin.livejournal.com]

Is this daunting or just annoying?

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

If these are aliases, they're very inept!

[barondave.livejournal.com]

Hmm... a quick Google search on "Richard Blumenthal" turns up one reference to "Richard M. Blumenthal" (on Wikipedia) and a page or two (all I looked at) of NMI listings.

"Richard M. Blumenthal" finds a whole page of sources, including his Facebook page.

Searching for "Richard D. Blumenthal" turns up one legitimate reference from Life Magazine in 1969, which may not be the same guy. The the next is in a stupid comment to an NMI article. The rest (two pages worth) are some variant of "Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)".

"Richard T. Blumenthal" garners more interesting results. The NYTimes has him this way in one 1999 article, A

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Hmm... a quick Google search on "Richard Blumenthal" turns up one reference to "Richard M. Blumenthal" (on Wikipedia) and a page or two (all I looked at) of NMI listings.

"Richard M. Blumenthal" finds a whole page of sources, including his Facebook page.

Searching for "Richard D. Blumenthal" turns up one legitimate reference from <a href="http://www.life.com/image/50539769">Life Magazine</a> in 1969, which may not be the same guy. The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-blumenthal-lied-about-vietnam-service-2010-5">the next</a> is in a stupid comment to an NMI article. The rest (two pages worth) are some variant of "Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)".

"Richard T. Blumenthal" garners more interesting results. <a href="http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04E5DB123CF934A2575AC0A96F958260&fta=y">The NYTimes</a> has him this way in one 1999 article, A <a href="http://www.123people.com/s/robin+barnes"123people"> search takes you to the NYTimes article (and opens up an ad window even though I have pop-ups blocked, which is why I don't ever use 123people). Even Fox "News" just leaves him NMI.

"Richard J. Blumenthal" finds a <a href="http://www.catawbariverkeeper.org/our-work/wal-mart">Wal-mart reference to him in a blog</a>, with no other links.

So while there is some confusion amongst the confused, the "M" seems to be the legit variant.

(I guess I needed the break from other projects.)

[rwl.livejournal.com]

You've confirmed the existence of five different parallel universes.