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Stephen Colbert vs The Hungarian Government
jefu writes "The Hungarian government is sponsoring an internet vote to name a new bridge. So far naming the bridge after acter Chuck Norris has been the most popular. However, last night Stephen Colbert (of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report") suggested that viewers vote to name the bridge after him. Remembering the effect that a Colbert segment had had on Wikipedia, I visited the voting page (in Hungarian when it works) soon after that and it was completely non-responsive. This morning (8:00 Thursday Pacific time) it is showing a "Horrible exception" and a Jetspeed/tomcat stack trace. " I believe Colbert's straight-talking sensibilities have earned him far more than just a bridge in whatever continent Hungaria is in.
Instead I think we should consider renaming one of our lesser used states as an honor more appropriate to his grippy contributions to America. We're not doing anything with Colorado these days anyway, but imagine the appeal of a new and improved state with a virile name like Colberado. Book your tickets today!
The bridge in Hungaria should be named:
-The Chuck Norris Bridge
-The Steven Colbert Bridge
-Geza Hofi's Bridge (an actual Hungarian)
-King Steve's Kickass Bridge
-The Bridge of Death
-CmdrTaco's Bridge
You are reading a copy of my copyrighted post.
Overdone? Not that this isn't a matter of opinion, but have you seen *actual* news lately? CNN has themed special effects graphics for tragedies within 2 hours of their occurence. Even local news filters everything through a overly-dramatic lens - it really shows when there is a slow news day, and they have to do an on-location shoot over some meaningless "public-awareness" story like highway sludge or how easy it is to steal a bike. The result is fear-mongering and alarmism being brought to bear on ultimately irrelevant issues.
Also, Stewart seems to be less prepared and more improvisionational on his show. Overdone is not the word I would use to describe it. I find him and Colbert entertaining - even so the words "politically slanted," and "obnoxiously sarcastic" may be a more apt way to negatively characterize the show. Stewart is under no illusion that his show actually counts as news, anyhow, so he has no real obligation to be either polite or objective.
Letterman and Leno give you the blunted, sanitized, and politically neutral jokes that Stewart tosses into the trash, and their sole purpose is to comfort you with harmless banter after the slew of bad news you just received at 11 o'clock and a hard day at work.
Reality has a liberal bias.
- "Scientia non habet inimicum nisp ignorantem"
JOn Stewart is, IMO, an excelletn interviewer. He does a great job with people he agrees with and people he doesn't. He asks for people to help him understand and in many cases his interviews with those who are politically conservative are more poignant than funny. He is not afraid to challenge them, but he does not attack.
Of course, the segment pieces are designed to take people's words out of context and make them look stupid - I am prety sure that Stewart himself has said he can't believe people still take interviews with them.
Colbert's most amazing piece of work is that he got Congressmen and women to do interviews and those are sometimes very ridiculous. I can't imagine he will get to finish his 'better know a distric' segment.
It is a sad state of affairs when the technical people of the most powerful and mega-nuclear-trigger happy country on Earth cannot tell the difference between "Hungry" and "Hungary" and haven't a clue to where it is.
I say this as a Hungarian (magyar) who was born and lived in United States, but moved to Hungary for good.
Yes... I live a few kilometers from the said bridge.
But if the slashdoters wish to vote for a worthy name for the said bridge why not try this:
http://www.m0hid.gov.hu/
The second or third menu on the left will give you a long list of radio buttons.
(try them all, until you see the long list)
Forget Chuck Norris. Why not vote for something from our history:
Vajk-Istvan Hid (my recomendation)
Vajk/Istvan was our first catholic king of Magyarorszag - 1006 years ago.
Vajk was his pagen name, Istvan his christian name,
he gave up the first and assumed the second.
The bridge is realy two bridges because it is so long.. so the name is fitting.
If the slashdotters feel up to it, lets push this bridge name up the list.
Give it a try (when the server is responding again - 1-3 days)
Ja..and did you know that Hungary is a nation wealthy in foodstuff.
Throughout history there has never been an extended period of hunger.
There was always plenty of food, and the weather was kind too.
Plus it was THE wealthiest nation in Europe several times in history.
It is a sad state of affairs when the technical people of the most powerful and mega-nuclear-trigger happy country on Earth cannot tell the difference between "Hungry" and "Hungary" and haven't a clue to where it is.
It is a sad state of affairs when the expatriate Americans living in the the world's most underfed nation can't tell the difference between a joke and reality.