What’s In a Name?

It occurred to me recently that it has been a long time since I last checked to see how the other Jim Liskas around the world might be faring. Actually, I’ve never checked on such a thing. Why would I? What would be the point?

Anybody with access to the internet has probably engaged in an activity known as “ego surfing.” Type in your name and see how many of you might be out there. Scroll down until you find yourself among the others and discover your ranking, number of hits, likes or, dislikes, et cetera ad infinitum. If you get to the third page of discoveries and you’ve not found yourself, give up. Pages four and beyond will only cause disappointment and heartbreak when it begins to dawn on you that you own no significant place in the computer universe.

The reason I have for checking into my namesakes is to get an essay for today; and the point being that it’s the kind of thing I do now that I have nothing better to do.

Not to brag, but I came in first in the great Jim Liska search. Actually, I placed first as A. James Liska.

Here’s a funny thing about names. My parents wanted me to have the same initials as my father, but not the same name. He was Arthur Joseph, affectionately called “Sonny Boy” by his less-than-doting mother. I got A. James.

Apparently given names beginning with the letter “A” weren’t known to my parents. While Alan, Aaron, Archibald and Archimedes jump quickly to mind, they stopped with the first letter. For people who couldn’t come with an “A” name, they certainly weren’t prescient enough to understand how difficult an initial is in normal, everyday life.

And then there’s the matter of James. I’ve known only two people who ever called me that—and they were married, to each other. Every now and then I’ll be called James by people who are really, really mad at me or are trying to sell me something over the telephone.

Why then, did they name me James when from day one they called me Jimmy or Jim? Where does that even come from? It makes no sense. Neither does Jack for John, Dick for Richard, Peggy for Margaret, Betsy for Elizabeth. I knew a guy whose name was Billy Ray. I asked him once if his complete name was William Raymond. Nope. Billy Ray was what his parents were going to call him, so that’s the name they gave him. He was, for the record, from the South.

When I signed up for Medicare, my name became “AJ,” as apparently the government’s computers—capable of creating any number of espionage scenarios and spying on pretty much everybody in the universe—couldn’t accept a letter as a first name.

My search for namesakes made me wonder what we all might have in common. Liska is a fairly uncommon name outside of the Czech Republic, which would make me think that each of these fellows has some sense of being Bohemian. There are several enclaves of Bohemian descendants in places like Chicago, Iowa and Texas. None of my discoveries were from any of those places.

The Jim Liska whose job title is Director, Product Operations at Globalization Partners, lives in Boston. He strikes me as one well-versed in business double-speak: Globalization Partners’ unique blend of global employment services provided through our Global Employer of Record Platform enables you to accomplish all of these goals…

But the graduate of UMass Boston was an Infantry Squad leader for almost 15 years in the New York Army National Guard. He was responsible for the welfare, fitness, morale, training and discipline of a nine-soldier Infantry Squad, and a first line leader and advisor in the matters of operations, tactics, personnel management, and junior leader development.

There’s a Jim Liska in Harbor Springs, Michigan, who is a State and Federally Licensed taxidermist. He won the MTA Best of Category (large game head) in 2011. He is also the event coordinator of the Michigan United Conservation Club, and he operates Expo Promotions.

James “Jim” Troy Liska of the Raft Creek community of Griffithville passed away at his home on Saturday morning, April 9, 2022.  James was the beloved husband of Betty (Smith) Liska for 57 years. It was an unexpected death. He was 86. During their marriage they lived in Mt. Grove, Missouri, Camden, Des Arc and Griffithville, Arkansas. He was a heavy equipment operator for Riggs Tractor Co, until his retirement. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Another dead Jim Liska was born on April 9, 1887, and passed away on April 6, 1968. He is buried at Sunrise Lawn Cemetery in Whittier, California.

James Liska is a graduate of the University of Arkansas Graduate Program in Blind Rehabilitation. His academic article, “Going Blind,” was published in The Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, the essential professional resource for information about visual impairment. The international peer-reviewed journal of record in the field, it delivers current research and best practice information, commentary from experts on critical topics, news, and events. The site has a paywall which I’m not about to subscribe to get through. I assume it was a great article.

There’s the politician Jim Liska in Live Oak County, Texas, who is seeking election as judge. A senior property tax consultant, he previously worked for the county’s Appraisal District. He said his dedication to helping others is what led him to run for county judge. “I have always wanted to be a public servant as my family taught me at an early age the importance of serving God, family and country,” he said.

More to my liking in the Jim Liska “Splinter” hitting a 49″ driver using the Mike Austin Method at the RMU Island Sports Center. Jim has competed in the REMAX World Long Drive Championship six times. His best finish is 5th place.

And somewhere in Arizona, a Jim Liska is petitioning the court to offer relief from his 56 years of imprisonment after a jury trial in 1982, in which he was convicted of one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and three counts of sexual conduct with a minor. So far, he’s losing. Good.

I guess every family has a black sheep.

Photo illustration by Courtney A. Liska

Bread Dumplings

This is my Bohemian grandmother’s recipe for dumplings. They are a wonderful accompaniment for roast pork or chicken. Gravy and sauerkraut are a must!

1 pkg. (2-1/4 tsp.) yeast
1 tsp. sugar
½ cup milk, scalded and cooled
1 cup milk, warm
1 egg
½ tsp. salt
3 ½ cups flour
3 slices white bread, crumbled

Mix yeast & sugar in the ½ cup milk. Let stand for 10 minutes.
Mix warm milk, egg, salt, yeast mixture and flour. Add bread.
Knead on a floured board and let rise for ½ hour.
Shape into loaves (3). Cook in boiling water,