Baby naming takes a high-tech twist

In our last instalment, we told you about the Romanian journalistwho was fired for concocting a story about a new baby named “”Yahoo.”” Butdespite this bamboozlement, there really is quite a bit of tech-related weirdness going on when it comes to kids’ monikers.

For instance, according to

news reports, on-line auction house eBay recently withdrew an Australian couple’s attempt to sell the “”naming, advertising and promotional”” rights to their unborn daughter for US$750,000.

In an advertisement under the item title “”Truman Baby,”” the unidentified couple from Perth invited bids for the right to name their baby girl, who at the time was due on March 1 (Yesterday).

“”Offers are invited for your opportunity to be part of history in the making,”” stated the ad, which features a picture of a pregnant woman’s stomach with the words “”Reality Bites! Your Brand Here”” written across it. “”For a period of five years from the date of birth, we are offering the exclusive naming rights (first name only) to my unborn baby due March 1, 2005.””

However, eBay withdrew the advertisement before it could be finalized. The company did not give a reason for its action on the Web site.

The reason seems pretty obvious: Loser parents.

Need more proof that the name game has taken a high-tech turn? Here goes: A U.S. couple, who recently named their son Jake Matthew Thompson 2.0, is finding that the numerical part doesn’t cut it with businesses and government agencies.

Although decimal designations are commonly used for versions of software, many computers can’t seem to handle it for human names. Ironic, no? According to news reports, Jake was born on Feb. 4, 2004. His state birth certificate, however, apparently reads “”Jake Matthew Thompson Two Point Zero,”” the child’s Social Security card simply reads “”Jake Matthew Thompson,”” and Gerber Baby Foods was unable to fill an order for a “”Jake 2.0″” spoon, sending one that said merely “”Jake”” with the birth date.

So if you plan on ordering a baby food spoon commemorating your favourite Windows NT service pack, you may be out of luck.

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Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

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