My uncle, that owned the farm that I grew up on, used to give names to all the cows. Each calf, when it was born, would be given a name that began with a letter of the alphabet that was applicable for that year. For example all calves born in the year 1957 had names that started with “N.” I am totally making this part up because I cannot get any closer than “1957” based on how old I look in this picture of me with my calf “Nadine.” I always thought it was pretty cool that the cows had names instead of just numbers. When you kicked “Lucy” in the ass to get her through the barn door or yelled at “Margaret” for her to get out of the way of the tractor, it sounded so much better than yelling a “number” at them. I was thinking about this the other day when I was photographing the data plate on a Whirlpool Dishwasher. Wouldn’t it be cool if dishwashers----instead of these long boring serial numbers----had cool names like Lucy, or Margaret to correspond to the year they were manufactured? Then those defective dishwashers from a particular year would just jump right out at inspectors. They would not have to remember complicated serial numbers or look them up on the internet. All they would have to do is look at the data plate----see the name “Chester” or “Delilah” and know immediately the thing was ancient----perhaps at the end of its expected life. If they saw the names “Cruella” or “Genghis” they would immediately know that these were problematic-----perhaps even re-called----or downright dangerous. And then there could be those “Green” appliances with names like “Forest” and “Rainbow.” Of course this gets to the heart of the problem of naming appliances. What manufacturer would deliberately name something “Genghis?” Would that not predispose the appliance to issues? For sure----so what is more likely to happen is that the name given to an appliance would more than likely take on “new” definitions that identify it more accurately with its defects. What started out as perfectly normal names----turn into “Edsel” or “Pinto” with their associated connotations. It just would not seem right to find a problematic “Rainbow.” That would just be wrong. Can’t you just see your home inspector opening the dishwasher or the refrigerator and looking at the data plate and exclaiming: “Ruh roh----you have a Betty here!” Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector
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Charles - Over the years, when I was working on my appliances, one might have assumed that some of them had names. And my computer has several names assigned to it, none of which are suitable for "G" rated sites.
AHHHHH yes, "those" names :)
If the name fits...Oh man I have called numerous appliances all sorts of names over the years ;-)
My sister had a pink Oldsmobile named Margaret. I had a brown van named Bronchi. It coughed a lot.
But alas I have never named appliances. Oh I know. We had a pig named Buelah. But still not an appliance..
I am back in town.
And I've heard of someone on AR who has a fake squirrel named Nutsy.
Russell, haven't we all----or power tools----or cars etc
Kate it is so great to see you back----the think about Nutsy---the "fake" part is spot-on
So, loving cows and all, I came over here to see the picture of Nadine and her pet boy. She was a cutie. My cows have all had names, sometimes they grew into the names and out of the numbers. But one number stuck... 911, although sometimes we called her "emergency".
All was well with the post until.... until.... the Nutsy bashing started.
I have a name for that too... and it ain't pretty.
Hi Charles, Love the idea of names instead of the boring serial numbers. Decoding is a real pain! ps: Nadine looks like she's giving you the cold shoulder. jay
Andrea, the 911 is great----we always end up trying to name things. Don't worry about Nutsy----she can take it----she is used to be run over in the street after all.
Jay, cows can have a one track mind
It would be nice if they had an app for that. Take a picture with your smart phone and have it compare to a national data base. But then, that would be too easy. Oh well, back to the Captain Marvel decoder ring...
I think you missed your calling. Sherwin Williams is looking for paint color namers. You should apply!
My kids have named all our cars and my boat. My old Ford PU is Rusty, the boat is John (they picked that name without any help) and the other cars are Steve and Jessie.
Micahel, someone will do it some day I am sure
Jay, could be
Jim---now just get them working on the appliances
Hi Charles...I think that is a splendid idea. Not only would it help the inspectors and repairmen, it would give all of the appliances a little more personality. So many of us do it for our cars...I happen to have a Toyota Prius by the name of Lucy, named after the character in Peanuts simply because I think my Lucy is spunky like her. No, my Lucy does not give anybody a hard time but I am hoping that the Lucy in Peanuts will one day show us her softer side. I continue to hope that she has some wonderful qualities like my Lucy.
You make us think some very deep thoughts!!!
Kate
Charlie,
That serial number threw me, then I realized you doctor your inspection photos to get the point across.
Mr Charles,
Even up here in Alaska I saw your liberal use of the A word and I am upsetted.
Nutsy
Kate, nothing like a good deep refrigerator :)
Steve, what are you talking about?
Nutsy I expect you hear that word daily
LOL ... and don't we name all our "favorite" items? My GPS is "Betty," which really throws clients that are riding with me when I talk back to her. "Betty, I can't go that way, you idiot! There's a road block there!"
Gabrielle, that is too weird---I call my GPS "Betty" as well. The first client I had where I used Betty to get there (her name wasn't Betty at that point) was a pilot. He told me that when he was training to be a fighter pilot they had navigation equipment that talked to them----but only when they screwed up. He said they used to call her "Bitchin Betty." So after that my GPS became "Betty." :)
Charles, I like Nadine! And I'm wondering if the Amana plate is for real!
Pat Nadine was a cuty. The data plate did come out pretty good didn't it :)
Now why don't they name an appliance Lizette? I like BR549-Lizette...has a nice ring to it.
Lizette shouldn't that be KY549LIZETTE?
Good idea. Let's get it started.
Mr Charles,
It is proven that cows provide 22% more milk when they listen to Wheatloaf CD's during their being milked.
Wheatloaf
Barbara, sounds good :)
Wheatforbrains---you misread----that was "bilked"
If I nicknamed some of my dishwashers, I'd be letting everyone know I was talking about them.
Great idea. I also like the idea of taking pictures of the data plates. Never thought of that. I'm definately going to start doing that.
Kay, coincidentially my dishwasher has the names of all family members :)
Maureen, as inspector it is essential---saves a lot of time writing stuff down.
Charles,
Some of my earlier cars had some pretty choice names as well.
I like the photo. We use to name cars, but never dishwashers, and we didn't have any cows.
Terry, I suspect that was above and beyond the ones they came with? :)
Christine, thanks
my daughter has names her car, but a dishwasher???? Perhaps I should give it a try.
Betty the dishwasher, I somehow don't think my mother (whose name was Betty) would care for that one! By the way, I owned a Pinto - for about a year.
Lottie, you never know
Barbara-Jo, and you lived to tell about it :)
Not sure if I want to be associated with a cow or a dishwasher! Thanks to Pat for pointing me this way.
Margaret
I hear you Margaret----always treading on that razor sharp edge of being PC :)
I once had a dishwasher spew out water at everyone at the inspection!!
Ralph, was it out the dishwasher air cap at the sink? Or from some place else?
How disappointing, Charles! I checked my appliances, and they all just have numbers. Must be manufacturers with little imagination. My husband has had a few choice names for an appliance or two over the years when they failed to work.
My daughter and her husband have a cattle ranch with hundreds of head, but there are always about a dozen of them that wind up with names and become pretty tame. They usually stay on the ranch for their lifetimes because who could send them off to market once they have become almost pets? My daughter has to resist naming too many of them or they would go broke feeding them all and having no income!
Susan, I have a feeling we only name things we want some kind of relationship with or that has a face. Maybe if dishwashers came with smily faces on the doors they would rate names too :)