Back plate character
David Steffen
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Features
Professor of Biology David Houghton keeps his former CDS HNTER Virginia vanity plate on the front of his car. It stands for "caddis (fly) hunter." Houghton specializes in the study of caddis flies, a species known to indicate water quality. More often than not, he said, people don't get the biology humor.
"I get strange looks," Houghton said. "People look at it and want to know if I like CDs: 'Oh, you're a music lover - you're a CDs hunter.' So it's kind of stupid. It's a vanity plate that nobody gets."
It does, however, draw chuckles from fellow biology aficionados, Houghton said.
"People who I know get it immediately," Houghton said. "I have had students in my entomology class or senior thesis students come to me all of a sudden and say, 'Oh, I get your license plate now!' once they learn what caddis flies are."
Hough said she likes vanity plates because of their uniqueness. She said she thought her HILBEAR plate would be "perfect" because of her nickname's popularity among friends and family.
"People recognize my car, so I like it. But it's also not good for cops because they can recognize your car," said Hough, laughing.
"I get strange looks," Houghton said. "People look at it and want to know if I like CDs: 'Oh, you're a music lover - you're a CDs hunter.' So it's kind of stupid. It's a vanity plate that nobody gets."
It does, however, draw chuckles from fellow biology aficionados, Houghton said.
"People who I know get it immediately," Houghton said. "I have had students in my entomology class or senior thesis students come to me all of a sudden and say, 'Oh, I get your license plate now!' once they learn what caddis flies are."
Hough said she likes vanity plates because of their uniqueness. She said she thought her HILBEAR plate would be "perfect" because of her nickname's popularity among friends and family.
"People recognize my car, so I like it. But it's also not good for cops because they can recognize your car," said Hough, laughing.
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