Slashdot Mirror


ISS's Node 3 Might Be Named "Colbert"

Panzor writes "NASA is running a contest to name the new addition to the space station, Node 3. The polls are open until March 20. The selection that is getting the most votes is 'Suggest your own,' and the leading name besides the official four (Earthrise, Legacy, Serenity, and Venture) is 'Colbert.' Comedian Stephen Colbert suggested on the air that fans write in his name. On March 5th, his vote count passed that of Xenu and Colbert pronounced himself Scientology's 'Galactic Overlord.'"

276 comments

  1. Not quite right by jollyreaper · · Score: 5, Funny

    Technically, being in space and all, it should be named Alpha Squad 7.

    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
    1. Re:Not quite right by dangitman · · Score: 1

      Shouldn't it be Tek Jansen?

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
  2. weak by stoolpigeon · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    he's not even that funny. ah well - they'll toss the results and name it whatever they want.

    --
    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
    1. Re:weak by Wandering+Wombat · · Score: 5, Funny

      They should name it the Coulter, since the Node 3 recycles and feeds off of it's own waste products.

      --
      I like to place meaningful quotes in my sig, so people will know that I know what meaningful quotes are.
    2. Re:weak by loftwyr · · Score: 5, Informative

      In fact, the contest rules state that the poll is not binding and they'll choose whatever name they like.

      Sucks, really.

    3. Re:weak by dkleinsc · · Score: 4, Funny

      That doesn't make any sense at all: the Coulter module would have to spread waste products far and wide.

      --
      I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
    4. Re:weak by DHalcyon · · Score: 3, Funny

      Eh, that makes sense for an online poll with write-in. It discourages 4chan et all coming along and flooding the poll suggesting the node should be named something along the lines of "NIGGER COCKS OLOLOL".

    5. Re:weak by relguj9 · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'm pretty sure it not being binding is better than them naming the satellite Penis or Stalin.

    6. Re:weak by vux984 · · Score: 2, Informative

      he's not even that funny. ah well - they'll toss the results and name it whatever they want.

      to each their own, humour is a matter of personal taste.

      But he is a truly a nerd. his enthusiasm for comics, sci-fi, lord of the rings... etc, is genuine. And it always cracks me up when he makes a D&D reference.

    7. Re:weak by default+luser · · Score: 1

      They'll name it Serenity, since that's the "real" option with all the votes. I'm sure Colbert will be pissed when he finds out that he was beaten by a pack of rabid Joss Whedon fans :)

      --

      Man is the animal that laughs.
      And occasionally whores for Karma.

    8. Re:weak by Applekid · · Score: 5, Informative

      Eh, that makes sense for an online poll with write-in. It discourages 4chan et all coming along and flooding the poll suggesting the node should be named something along the lines of "NIGGER COCKS OLOLOL".

      The actual *chan hive-mind selection for this contest is "Battletoad"

      --
      More Twoson than Cupertino
    9. Re:weak by Thelasko · · Score: 2, Interesting

      In fact, the contest rules state that the poll is not binding and they'll choose whatever name they like. Sucks, really.

      Tell me about it. My alma matter had the same rules when it voted for a new mascot. Nobody ended up happy.

      Jump'n Jesuits baby!

      --
      One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
    10. Re:weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, what would make sense is not to hold a poll if you're not going to honor the results. Otherwise you're just trying to pretend to be all open and dynamic and exciting and Web-2.0ey, but really doing things the same old way.

    11. Re:weak by hendrik_v · · Score: 3, Informative

      Actually, the name "Xenu" was pushed to the top by 4chan...

    12. Re:weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Also, Coulter is an anorexic. The ISS modules are portly and rounded.

      Naming it the "Limbaugh" would be a better fit based on physical attributes. Besides, it's mostly men inside it. That fits with naming it "Limbaugh" too.

    13. Re:weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      ...and then when it was pushed back off, Anonymous declared War on Colbert:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJc4V4oKURM

      Trolls trolling trolls, it's all good fun.

    14. Re:weak by jandrese · · Score: 1

      I thought those guys hated Scientology.

      --

      I read the internet for the articles.
    15. Re:weak by michrech · · Score: 0

      I think this was the first post I've ever seen on slashdot that contained the words "nigger" and "cocks" that *wasn't* down-modded! ;)

      --
      bork bork bork!
    16. Re:weak by kaiidth · · Score: 1

      He also looks good in a Ming The Merciless cloak (this is the clip in which he declares himself the new Galactic Overlord):

      http://www.videosift.com/video/Stephen-Becomes-Scientology-s-Galactic-Overlord

    17. Re:weak by orielbean · · Score: 1

      Are you accepting pre-orders yet for Battletoads?

    18. Re:weak by je+ne+sais+quoi · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I would actually prefer Battletoad over Xenu or Vista... but hey maybe I'm just biased against cults and unsuccessful operating systems and am not caught up on the nuances of what precisely a "battletoad" is.

      What I don't get is why anyone would lobby hard to name a space station module after a space ship. I could see naming the next generation launch vehicle Serenity, but a module on a space station? Meh.

      The last time this happened, a whole bunch of people lobbied NASA to have a space shuttle named after the Enterprise. What they got was the practice shuttle, that never actually flew in space. I would think it would be more memorable if they lobbied to get an actual shuttle that flew missions named after their favorite ship. Although, in retrospect, that shuttle will probably be seen by many more people than the actual shuttles since it is now sitting in the Udvar-Hazey center at Dulles (or, the Uday-Qusay center as my father affectionately calls it). So maybe it was worth it.

      --
      Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is the war room!
    19. Re:weak by Daravon · · Score: 2, Insightful

      In Scientology, Xenu is the bad buy.

      --
      I traded all my mod points for these magic beans.
    20. Re:weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Scilons regard Xenu the same way Christians regard Satan.

      (And L. Ron Hubbard is Jesus.)

    21. Re:weak by Mister_Stoopid · · Score: 1

      Scientology traditionally liked to keep the details of its backstory secret from the public, so an action that causes increased exposure of the word "xenu" can be considered anti-scientology.

    22. Re:weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Battletoads is a video game created by Rare Ltd. to rival the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games.

      Two anthropomorphic toads named after skin disorders (Rash and Zitz) have to save their friends Pimple and the Princess Angelica from the Dark Queen, ruler of Planet Ragnarok, with the assistance of Professor T. Bird and his space ship, The Vulture.

      It is also the game eBaum's World asks for when they call GameStop because douchy (actually made with vinegar and water!) Eric Bauman thought it was funny about 9000 years ago.

    23. Re:weak by kLaNk · · Score: 1

      Satan is wildly more plausible though.

    24. Re:weak by kenj0418 · · Score: 1

      From the rules on the site:
      NASA will take into consideration the results of the voting. However, the results are not binding on NASA and NASA reserves the right to ultimately select a name in accordance with the best interests of the agency, its needs, and other considerations. Such name may not necessarily be one which is on the list of voted-on candidate names. NASA's decision shall be deemed final.

    25. Re:weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      They do. But remember that Xenu is the arch-nemesis of the story. It's like rooting for Emperor Palpatine in the Jedi religion or Satan in the Judeo-Christian religions. The easist way to troll a group is to root for the Big Bad.

    26. Re:weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I kind of liked Battletoad. It always pisses me off when everyone copies that website. I voted for battletoad.

    27. Re:weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Why does it suck?

      Do you believe that if someone else works on something very hard and puts a lot of time and money into it (something which you have put no time or effort into at all) and then takes the time to ask for your opinion on some small aspect, that your opinion should be somehow binding? That they are being rude, or even cheating you by not committing themselves to your whims?

      Good luck with that.

    28. Re:weak by Toad-san · · Score: 1

      Battletoad is fine for me. In fact, that even surpasses my own submission, "Helluvaview"

      Squire Toad

    29. Re:weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At least the Enterprise is still in one piece...

    30. Re:weak by bhtooefr · · Score: 2, Informative

      It's actually an even bigger troll than that.

      Lucasfilm isn't suing people who reveal that Emperor Palpatine is the big bad in the Jedi religion, and the various churches aren't suing people who reveal that Satan is the big bad in the various Judeo-Christian religions. (In the latter case, they actually PROMOTE revealing that fact for free.)

      The Co$ is suing people who reveal that Xenu is the big bad in Scientology, and requires hundreds of thousands of dollars to get to the point in the "religion" that you find that out.

      That is why it's such a troll - if something like that is named after Scientology's big bad...

    31. Re:weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Besides, it's mostly men inside it. That fits with naming it "Limbaugh" too.

      And that's different from Coulter how?

    32. Re:weak by QuasiEvil · · Score: 1

      "Scilons" ?? ...were created by man. Er, wait, this isn't BSG....

    33. Re:weak by QuasiEvil · · Score: 1

      The thing is, I'm torn. I'm a rabid Joss Whedon fan (at least Firefly), and I'm also a reasonably rabid Colbert fan.

    34. Re:weak by QuasiEvil · · Score: 1

      You've got it all wrong...

      *bzbzbzbzbzbz*
      ALL HAIL THE HYPNOTOAD!
      *bzbzbzbzbzbz*

    35. Re:weak by ITJC68 · · Score: 0, Troll

      Obamanation would be a good name. Of course that means it will have to fail miserably and use up all the space stations resources and blame someone else.

    36. Re:weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      -1 flamebait / troll (since most mods might not see it)

    37. Re:weak by eleuthero · · Score: 1

      As is Jesus--he, at least, was not a science fiction author!

    38. Re:weak by PalmHair · · Score: 1

      Let's not make yours the second one!

    39. Re:weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And a fine education they gave you at your alma mater.

    40. Re:weak by Ash+Vince · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Gotta love republicans. Even though there useless president had lost the respect of half the planet, almost bankrupt the entire nation with a pointless war that only benefited his own families oil empire and lost for the first ever time in a case at the WTO they still forecasting that the guy who has to pick up the pieces will fail when he only been in office for 1 month.

      With an ability to make snap judgements like that its no wonder Bush invaded the wrong country after 9-11.

      --
      I dont read /. to RTFA, I read /. to offend people in ignorance.
    41. Re:weak by EdZ · · Score: 1

      Hopefully, NASA will show a sense of humour and name it Colbert. But with the pronunciation 'coal-bert'.

    42. Re:weak by michrech · · Score: 1

      So far, so good...

      --
      bork bork bork!
    43. Re:weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I assumed that Xenu was the 4chan selection

    44. Re:weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Much like the Mets' new baseball song. They had a fan vote, and fans predictably voted for Rick Astley. The Mets said 'fuck that, we're doing the song we want'.

    45. Re:weak by Thinboy00 · · Score: 1

      They do. Scientology hates public mention of Xenu since it undermines what little credibility they've got left.

      --
      $ make available
  3. The Nation responds with force! by orthancstone · · Score: 5, Funny

    He asked for it Tuesday night, the next day it was so.

    Colbert cannot be stopped...EVER!

    1. Re:The Nation responds with force! by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 5, Funny

      Colbert cannot be stopped...EVER!

      You must be unaware of the orbital grizzly bear.
      Imagine one of those coming at you at 15000 miles per hour: Roar!

    2. Re:The Nation responds with force! by supernova_hq · · Score: 3, Funny

      *looks up*

    3. Re:The Nation responds with force! by bonch · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      People still watch Colbert? The schtick got old years ago.

    4. Re:The Nation responds with force! by orthancstone · · Score: 1

      Now that's a scary thought

    5. Re:The Nation responds with force! by MsGeek · · Score: 1

      But you still can't stop the signal. It remains quite likely that Serenity will be the final choice.

      --
      Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
    6. Re:The Nation responds with force! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Is that you, Bill O'Reilly?

    7. Re:The Nation responds with force! by Gat0r30y · · Score: 1

      Ok, here's the idea: Samuel L Jackson is some sort of space ninja - on the ISS right. Then, from nowhere, Bears! Get these Mothra-Frakking Bears of My Mothra-Frakking Space Station!

      --
      Prediction: The real iPhone killer is going to be sex robots from Japan. Think about it.
    8. Re:The Nation responds with force! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As long as throngs of "unique, free-thinking" liberals are packed into universities, Colbert will have his mob of followers.

    9. Re:The Nation responds with force! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah and while your at it don't forget the "free-thinking" Moderates, Libertarians, and Republicans who like them. Sheep, all of them! They shouldn't be permitted to have a sense of humor!

    10. Re:The Nation responds with force! by winphreak · · Score: 1

      Colbert cannot be stopped...EVER!

      Minus the run for the presidential seat.

      --
      "I'm a well-wisher, in that I don't wish you any specific harm."
    11. Re:The Nation responds with force! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Evidently, you are incorrect.

    12. Re:The Nation responds with force! by WiseWeasel · · Score: 1

      If by "schtick" you mean a working formula for currently the best show on television, then yes, yes they are.

      --
      "I like systems, their application excepted", George Sand (French)
    13. Re:The Nation responds with force! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      just like trolls huh?

    14. Re:The Nation responds with force! by stefanlasiewski · · Score: 1

      "In space no one can hear you ROAR!"

      --
      "Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
    15. Re:The Nation responds with force! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And even funnier (as noted by colbert himself, although he seems to think it really is the COS behind it), is #2 (which was #1 before colbert) is "Xenu" due to the push from that part of the internet we aren't supposed to talk about.

    16. Re:The Nation responds with force! by cyphercell · · Score: 1

      I wonder, if this isn't a parody of Rush asking his callers to phone their representatives?

      --
      Under the influence of Post-Cyberpunk Gonzo Journalism
    17. Re:The Nation responds with force! by bckrispi · · Score: 1

      To be fair, his run was stopped by the writer's strike more so than the actions of the SC Democratic Party.

      --
      Xenon, where's my money? -Borno
    18. Re:The Nation responds with force! by bckrispi · · Score: 1

      No, Colbert has done this kind of thing for years. He's gotten a hockey team mascot named after him, and nearly had a bridge in Hungary.

      --
      Xenon, where's my money? -Borno
    19. Re:The Nation responds with force! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is still some time to go. A better cause is making progress...

      http://amazoniavscolbert.weebly.com/

    20. Re:The Nation responds with force! by VulpesFoxnik · · Score: 1

      Colbert cannot be stopped...EVER!

      You must be unaware of the orbital grizzly bear. Imagine one of those coming at you at 15000 miles per hour: Roar!

      I believe they call them Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.

      --
      RES PUBLICA NON DOMINETUR
    21. Re:The Nation responds with force! by Thinboy00 · · Score: 1

      And even funnier (as noted by colbert himself, although he seems to think it really is the COS behind it), is #2 (which was #1 before colbert) is "Xenu" due to the push from that part of the internet we aren't supposed to talk about.

      Did he seriously say that? Why can't he be buggered to do a quick Google/Wikipeida/what-have-you?

      --
      $ make available
  4. Where is the count? by Jethro · · Score: 5, Informative

    I don't know where people are getting the number of votes from. I see "Colbert" is leading the User Suggestions, but I don't see a vote count anywhere. I see "Serenity" has 85% of the regular votes, but it doesn't say anywhere whether it has more or less votes than Colbert does.

    I have no doubt that Colbert can and will (or has!) overtaken everything else, but where are people seeing actual results here?

    --


    In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is kinky.
    1. Re:Where is the count? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I don't know, but I want to find out how many people have submitted "O RLY? YA RLY. NO WAI!" besides me!!

    2. Re:Where is the count? by athakur999 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Serenity sounds like a module where lady astronauts would go to take care of various lady business. They need to give these things more masculine names like "Power Eagle Hammer 8000 Type R AMG".

      --
      "People that quote themselves in their signatures bother me" - athakur999
    3. Re:Where is the count? by Yaur · · Score: 1

      The suggestion list is ordered by popularity, there doesn't appear to be a way to compare write-ins to the top 4. I would guess that this was done to make it easier for them to ignore write-in results unless they liked what won that category.

    4. Re:Where is the count? by meist3r · · Score: 1

      Given the number of overall suggestions was around 170000 when I last looked at it this isn't such a popular poll in any case. Maybe 500 people voted for Colbert (I did) and that pushed it above the 400 "Anonymous" guys that wanted to call it "Xenu". No one knows.

    5. Re:Where is the count? by db10 · · Score: 1, Funny

      Lol yes.. OVER 9000 would be my write in.

    6. Re:Where is the count? by kaiidth · · Score: 5, Informative

      You're slightly wrong - in fact some rough numbers are available (for those who read space.com, anyway):

      http://www.space.com/entertainment/090305-colbert-space-station.html

      This marks only the second time that NASA has sought public input for naming a piece of U.S. space station hardware. The Harmony module was named by 2,200 students who entered NASA's naming contest for Node 2. By contrast, 169,000 people have voted online at NASA's naming contest site so far.

      The NASA-chosen name Serenity, which shares the name of a spaceship in the cult favorite television series "Firefly", continues to maintain a huge lead with more than 66,000 votes, according to NASA. But a surge of votes has given Colbert 29,000 in just two days, enough for second overall. The trailing vote-getters include Xenu (9,200), Earthrise (4,200), Legacy (3,500) and Venture (3,200).

    7. Re:Where is the count? by gad_zuki! · · Score: 1

      Probably because its first in the list. Regardless, its a shame slashdot didnt get in on this. I'd love to see part of the ISS named Bender. Perhaps the Russians can store their vodka there.

      Maybe its not too late. I just voted for Bender.

    8. Re:Where is the count? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You could just vote for something like asdfasdf enough times that the percentage changes, then extrapolate the total number of votes from that. :-) Too much work though.

    9. Re:Where is the count? by cashman73 · · Score: 4, Informative
      According to this report, published yesterday, Serenity was in the lead with more than 66,000 votes, with Colbert in second overall with 29,000 votes. The trailing vote-getters include Xenu (9,200), Earthrise (4,200), Legacy (3,500) and Venture (3,200). Of course, these numbers are from yesterday when only 169,000 people voted. There's now 249,449 votes, so Colbert could very well be in the lead,... =)

      On a more personal note, I could be happy with either Colbert or Serenity -- while I am a huge fan of Stephen Colbert, I am also a huge fan of Firefly,... The Serenity name would go along a bit better with the whole theme of the space station, though. I'd bet money that what happens is Colbert wins, but they decide to stick with the theme and dignity and name it the second place name of Serenity . To recognize Colbert's contribution, they'll name the toilet on board the module after Stephen,... ;-)

    10. Re:Where is the count? by Arancaytar · · Score: 1

      The selection that is getting the most votes is 'Suggest your own,'

      You're right, the linked page doesn't report any such tally. I conclude that this story is either a first-hand report from the guys running the poll, or rubbish.

    11. Re:Where is the count? by qwertyatwork · · Score: 2, Funny

      How do I mod this +1 testosterone?

    12. Re:Where is the count? by Locke2005 · · Score: 2, Informative

      I can see you're obviously not a Joss Whedon fan...

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    13. Re:Where is the count? by Faw · · Score: 1

      Instead of Bender why not the full name 'Bender B. Rodriguez'

    14. Re:Where is the count? by Feanturi · · Score: 1

      I am, but I still agree with the above - Serenity is a girlie name for a space ship/module.

    15. Re:Where is the count? by daveywest · · Score: 4, Funny

      Power Eagle Hammer 8000 still sounds like something that might be used to take care of various lady business depending on where you shop.

    16. Re:Where is the count? by stefanlasiewski · · Score: 1

      but where are people seeing actual results here?

      I think this might yet another fine example of truthiness.

      Just because Colbert said it was true, doesn't make it so!

      --
      "Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
    17. Re:Where is the count? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about the "Binford 6100"? More power! *grunt grunt*

    18. Re:Where is the count? by JWW · · Score: 1

      Try telling that to Mal.....

    19. Re:Where is the count? by Kneo24 · · Score: 1

      Could name it the "Thunder Cougar Falcon Bird".

    20. Re:Where is the count? by barzok · · Score: 1

      One word: Thundercougarfalconbird.

    21. Re:Where is the count? by QuasiEvil · · Score: 1

      Worse, try telling Jayne. He's already got gender confusing name issues. If you tell him his current ship is girly, too, he might just snap. More than usual, that is.

    22. Re:Where is the count? by dangitman · · Score: 1

      Colbert wins, but they decide to stick with the theme and dignity...

      What!?? Stephen Colbert is dignity personified. And it would be highly undignified for NASA to snub the actual winner of the voting.

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
    23. Re:Where is the count? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I would vote either for Thundercougarfalconbird or Timebuster 2000 SUX.

    24. Re:Where is the count? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Clearly the Firefly reference will get Serenity over the line
      I don't care how awesome Colbert is, i want the ISS to become a smuggling ship fighting against the alliance

    25. Re:Where is the count? by blueskies · · Score: 1

      Mal is a girlie name too.

  5. Sure he's winning now... by JoshuaZ · · Score: 4, Funny

    But I bet he won't be so smug when the reavers come and there's no one to save him.

    1. Re:Sure he's winning now... by catbertscousin · · Score: 4, Funny

      Gives a new spin to the song "Wish I Had A River".

      --
      No good deed goes unpunished. - Avon, Blake's 7
    2. Re:Sure he's winning now... by CelticWhisper · · Score: 1

      Well, would you be smug if you were staring a horde of these in the face?

      --
      Help protect civil rights from abuse by the TSA - visit TSA News Blog.
      http://www.tsanewsblog.com
    3. Re:Sure he's winning now... by JoshuaZ · · Score: 1

      Sure, if I've got River Tam to defend me. Unless of course I'm someone who is happily married or just in love with some reciprocating that love. Because then the great deity that is Joss Whedon will no doubt be already busy writing my sudden and unexpected death.

    4. Re:Sure he's winning now... by yotto · · Score: 1

      Someone with better art skills than I (Way better) needs to draw a comic of River on ice skates, with Mal (Or Joni Mitchell, though Mal would probably make the comic more obvious) on her back.

    5. Re:Sure he's winning now... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Colbert can't take the sky from us!

  6. Seriously? by nametaken · · Score: 0

    I don't suppose anyone takes these kinds of things seriously anymore... a LITTLE pride maybe?

    Funny, yeah. A good idea? Sorry, I don't think so.

    1. Re:Seriously? by Trent+Hawkins · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I don't suppose anyone takes these kinds of things seriously anymore... a LITTLE pride maybe? Funny, yeah. A good idea? Sorry, I don't think so.

      Why? Colbert gets to have a module named after him and NASA gets more free publicity then they could ever muster up on their own.
      It's win win.

    2. Re:Seriously? by EXMSFT · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      You bent my wookie!

    3. Re:Seriously? by jhfry · · Score: 5, Insightful

      How is this a bad idea, and how does it show a lack of pride.

      Essentially, the entire process was created to generate media attention, otherwise the module would be given a sterile name, or just a number. In an age where NASA seems positively boring they must actively compete with reality TV and myspace/facebook for the attention of the public.

      I would be all for naming the module "FUCK" if it would make the public more interested in our space program; and I think Colbert encouraging the public to participate in an entertaining way can do nothing but good things for NASA. It helps make space fun again.

      Most societies have used entertainment to help keep important issues in the public interest. Even Rome had it's gladiators to help remind it's citizens that the country was still at war, without them the citizens would have lost interest and stopped backing the expansion.

      Seriously? Yes, and why should we be so serious all the time... let history reflect that our generation was both highly productive and capable of good spirited fun.

      --
      Sometimes the best solution is to stop wasting time looking for an easy solution.
    4. Re:Seriously? by eggoeater · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Let me explain it:
      Colbert and his show is one big satire on the right-wing and the pompous right-wind media.
      One of the most important parts of the satire is letting the fans play along.
      When fans vote to put his name on the space station, really they're joining in on the act.

      Its kinda like when Spinal Tap actually went on tour. Fans came to see them and did man-on-the-street interviews talking about how they've seen them on the past 12 tours and have been fans of theirs since the '70s, etc.etc., even though the band didn't exist until the '80s.

      Colbert, and Colbert fans, are doing the same thing only in the political/media spectrum and throwing it in the face of the right-wing.

    5. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't suppose anyone takes these kinds of things seriously anymore... a LITTLE pride maybe?

      Yeah, they would have never done this in the 60's.

      Oh, you mean the era when we had such things as computer voting? Like, J. R. Bob Dobbs being voted Time Magazine's top fraud of the century?

      When have we ever had pride?

    6. Re:Seriously? by vux984 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Let me explain it:

      The jokes not as funny if you explain it.

    7. Re:Seriously? by CraftyJack · · Score: 1

      I would be all for naming the module "FUCK" if it would make the public more interested in our space program...

      Our space program should elevate the public's interests, not degrade itself to grab their attention. I, for one, would be much happier working to build the "Serenity" than the "Colbert".

    8. Re:Seriously? by fastest+fascist · · Score: 1

      Colbert, and Colbert fans, are doing the same thing only in the political/media spectrum and throwing it in the face of the right-wing.

      And that's why NASA would be wise to not name the node after him, just as they would be wise not to name the node "O'Reilly" or "Limbaugh" or what have you.

    9. Re:Seriously? by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 1

      They should name the Bigelow Aerospace stuff "Limbaugh" since it's just a big bag of air.

      --
      Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
    10. Re:Seriously? by TobyWong · · Score: 1

      Wow, really? "Serenity" is just as much of a joke as "Colbert" is - the only difference is the Colbert option isn't intended to be serious. "Serenity" would be the ultimate nerd cheese choice and I say this as someone who enjoyed Firefly.

       

      --
      - Toby
    11. Re:Seriously? by Mister_Stoopid · · Score: 1

      You take things too seriously. People like you ruin everything good.

    12. Re:Seriously? by blueturffan · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Its kinda like when Spinal Tap actually went on tour. Fans came to see them and did man-on-the-street interviews talking about how they've seen them on the past 12 tours and have been fans of theirs since the '70s, etc.etc., even though the band didn't exist until the '80s.

      And many of these Spinal Tap "fans" bood the opening act off the stage. And just who was the opening act? The Folksmen. If you've seen the movie A Mighty Wind, you know that the Folksmen are none other than Spinal Tap with different costumes and different music.

      Very clever of the boys.

    13. Re:Seriously? by OpenGLFan · · Score: 2, Informative

      It is a good joke, if taken in fun. The real joke is that this democratic system, in a slightly more elaborate, slightly more bot-resistant way, is basically how we elect our Presidents.

    14. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ahhhh recursion my head just exploded!

    15. Re:Seriously? by 1155 · · Score: 1

      To be honest, the space program hasn't been relevant for about 15 years. Money spent on them could be spent elsewhere for a bigger gain.

    16. Re:Seriously? by Locke2005 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Colbert and his show is one big satire on the right-wing and the pompous right-wind media.

      Is this a typo, a Freudian slip, or intentional satire? Because if it is the latter, then it is brilliant!

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    17. Re:Seriously? by Locke2005 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Actually, they probably stole the idea of being their own opening act from Hot Rize, who for 30 years changed costumes and instruments and came out as "Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers", parodying themselves as a Country and Western Band.

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    18. Re:Seriously? by CraftyJack · · Score: 1

      Really. In the joke sense, "Serenity" has some positive connotations, and they're space-related. It's certainly no worse than "Enterprise". In the plain vanilla sense, "Serenity" is a reasonably nice word that will probably get spelled correctly more often than "Endeavour".

    19. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    20. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Unless.. Colbert simultaneously renames himself "Node 3". But I guess that's about as likely as Illinois renaming itself to "Pluto".

    21. Re:Seriously? by jhfry · · Score: 1

      I could argue that it's irrelevance is, at least in part, due to its lack of public attention. If the public were more interested in what NASA did, it would do more or lose funding. Instead it has lost funding, simply because people don't care enough to encourage them to take risks.

      If you look at all of the large funding projects NASA has ever done, they have always been highly risky and had high public interest (not necessarily support). I can think of few things that NASA has done in my memory that have been all that exciting. I remember the challenger explosion, and several other mishaps making the news, but otherwise they have always seemed like just another boring government agency that can't do anything exciting... not the NASA my parents remember.

      NASA of the 50's and 60's was a very aggressive organization, mostly because the public demanded it of them. The people wanted to see, and would pay for, some very risky and exciting projects. Lets go to space, lets land on the moon, lets create a reusable launch vehicle, and so on. Hell, NASA today can't even build a replacement for the space shuttle because the public doesn't care enough and they don't know how to take chances anymore.

      I think that a leaner, meaner NASA is better than leaving it to public industry. The public space industry is about to die a painful death with the collapse of the "money on trees" economy that we are recovering from. The only reason any of these companies got off the ground (pun intended) is that there was an extremely loose investing environment. Everything was making money, and no investment was bad. Now that people have been reminded that investing should be done with some caution, I expect that many of these space startups will have a hard time funding themselves until they can create a new market for their product.

      NASA simply needs to be greatly changed to make it more adventurous and aggressive and far less burdened with bureaucracy.

      --
      Sometimes the best solution is to stop wasting time looking for an easy solution.
    22. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Especially true compared to NASA's current advertisement ideas...

      We can because ee equals emmm sea squared!!!

    23. Re:Seriously? by YodaToad · · Score: 1

      In that case, I submit "Obama".

    24. Re:Seriously? by diqmay · · Score: 1

      and just wednesday, Spinal Tap went and announced another tour :D

      http://idle.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/03/05/1517213

    25. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Colbert and his show is one big satire on the right-wing and the pompous right-wind media.

      Whatever you or Colbert say, the 2006 White House Correspondant's dinner suggests that it is just as much about the mainstream media (or MSM if you will). Colbert may suffer with Obama if he isn't able to grasp onto something real. I.e., it may be Limbaugh versus Colbert in very indirect hand to not-so-hand combat.

    26. Re:Seriously? by QuasiEvil · · Score: 2, Interesting

      And "Enterprise" is any different?

      Personally, I like both of them. I think you'll find a lot of very talented folks who really make this stuff happen have been influenced over the years by the creative folks who create scifi. Neither Gene Roddenberry nor Joss Whedon could engineer a space vessel any more than I could, but creative individuals like them almost certainly inspired some of those that *could* do the job.

    27. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not everyone lives in America. Colbert is unheard of outside there, except if you're a net-o-phile.

      IMO it's insulting to everyone else around the world working on the project, given that the Colbert suggestion is a joke.

    28. Re:Seriously? by bckrispi · · Score: 1

      If the Spirit and Opportunity rovers had middle fingers, they would be extended right now.

      --
      Xenon, where's my money? -Borno
    29. Re:Seriously? by Hal_Porter · · Score: 1

      Yeah, we get it. Sometimes though you have to wonder if there is much difference between pretending to be in a cult for 'ironic' reasons and actually being in a cult.

      --
      echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
    30. Re:Seriously? by evilviper · · Score: 1

      The jokes not as funny if you explain it.

      As opposed to ALL OTHER JOKES, which get MUCH FUNNIER after being explained.

      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
    31. Re:Seriously? by nametaken · · Score: 1

      As someone mentioned earlier, this is a horrible idea. Colbert is a guy with decent ratings on a tv show right now. What happens if he goes persona non grata?

      You justify it as a great PR concept because you probably like Colbert. It's ok, I laughed at the first three episodes too. But if it was someone from American Idol you'd think it was awful... and let's face it, that would probably get a lot more people involved.

      It's not an attack against a show you like, it's just a bad idea and I wish people would think about things like that a little more seriously.

    32. Re:Seriously? by blueskies · · Score: 1

      good one

    33. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is the cancer that is killing Slashdot.

      This is why we can't have nice things.

    34. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As someone mentioned earlier, this is a horrible idea. Colbert is a guy with decent ratings on a tv show right now. What happens if he goes persona non grata?

      You justify it as a great PR concept because you probably like Colbert. It's ok, I laughed at the first three episodes too. But if it was someone from American Idol you'd think it was awful... and let's face it, that would probably get a lot more people involved.

      It's not an attack against a show you like, it's just a bad idea and I wish people would think about things like that a little more seriously.

      but it's not American idol, it's Xenu, Colbert and Serenity.

      Out of those three it's fairly obvious that Xenu is a retarded choice for obvious reasons and Serenity is just a pointless one. If Colbert didn't bring it up I doubt that anyone even on Slashdot, the geek central of the universe, would know that this was even happening. So bitch all you want about Colbert, but he gets people talking.

  7. Why do I need Javascript to vote? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I surf with scripting turned off for most sites... why does NASA insist on having Javascript turned on to vote?
    I can vote just fine on Slashdot without Javascript and I'm pretty sure I've done the radio-check-box-thing on many many other sites with just regular HTML.
    Why oh why?

    1. Re:Why do I need Javascript to vote? by chalkyj · · Score: 1

      Captcha popup

    2. Re:Why do I need Javascript to vote? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lol, only old people, and people who care about security surf with JavaScript off.

    3. Re:Why do I need Javascript to vote? by mweather · · Score: 1

      There's nothing wrong with surfing with Javascript on if you're not using Windows.

    4. Re:Why do I need Javascript to vote? by Lobster+Quadrille · · Score: 2, Informative

      Sure there is- in the past, there have been plenty of exploits that tap into Firefox caches, saved passwords, history, and system settings (where all your personal information is really kept these days)

      Then there's all the XSS, CSRF, and clickjacking exploits that can compromise websites and services

      Let's not forget the fact that Javascript can just be annoying- preventing loops of popup windows and alert boxes is reason enough to disable javascript

      --
      "The cup is in turn designed for holding hot or cold liquids, and has an open rim and closed base." --US Patent #5425497
    5. Re:Why do I need Javascript to vote? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And there's nothing wrong with it on Windows either, anyway.

    6. Re:Why do I need Javascript to vote? by prakslash · · Score: 1

      About your sig..

      Did you actually look at the patent description?
      US Patent #5425497 is about an invention of a new type of cup-holder that takes up less volume.
      http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=5425497.PN.&OS=PN/5425497&RS=PN/5425497

      The sig would be funny had it actually been true.

      If you need a list of silly patents to come up with a better sig, go here: http://www.patentlysilly.com/archives.php

    7. Re:Why do I need Javascript to vote? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that the patent was for the cup, and reading my sig out of context, it does seem that way. I just found the fact that they felt the need to describe a coffee cup, and the terms that they used to do so, hilarious.

  8. Oblig simpsons quote by pak9rabid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Principal Skinner: All students please proceed immediately to an assembly in the Butthead Memorial Auditorium.
    Principal Skinner (to himself): Dammit, I wish we hadn't let the students name that one.

  9. Roy Focker by chord.wav · · Score: 1, Funny

    Roy Focker: Let's honor our heroes the way they deserve

    1. Re:Roy Focker by commandlinegamer · · Score: 1

      Well I suggested good ole' Chuck Norris. I hope he's gotten over his bridge disappointment.

  10. I'm just glad that by Fungii · · Score: 2, Funny

    Slashdot is maintaining it's journalistic integrity, even with the threat faster moving and more distracting spam filled sites like digg and reddit.

    Seriously, it's refreshing to know that at least when an article does get published on slashdot it will be newsworthy.

    1. Re:I'm just glad that by 1u3hr · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Seriously, it's refreshing to know that at least when an article does get published on slashdot it will be newsworthy.

      So newsworthy they ran it twice.

      NASA Contest To Name ISS Module
      On February 26th, 2009 with 187 comments
      Solarch writes "NASA is holding a contest to name ISS Node 3. Being a Browncoat myself, I should hope that the choice of names would be obvious. As of the 7:30...

      So the big news is now it's "Colbert" that's the joke, not "Serenity".

      Next week they'll run it again, and the proposedname will be "Cowboy Neal".

  11. Serenity has 86% of the votes by olddotter · · Score: 1

    I voted and then it showed a graph with Serenity having 86% of the votes. A screen shot is posted here.

    I grant it appears to be a miss leading GUI design on the pole system.

    1. Re:Serenity has 86% of the votes by Nimey · · Score: 1

      It'd be really cool if it's named Serenity and then one of the crew brings up an unofficial bit of "nose art" that's a copy of Serenity-from-Firefly's.

      --
      Hail Eris, full of mischief...

      E pluribus sanguinem
    2. Re:Serenity has 86% of the votes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I grant it appears to be a miss leading GUI design on the pole system.

      Umm... wow.

      Wear deed yoo lern too speil?

    3. Re:Serenity has 86% of the votes by olddotter · · Score: 3, Funny

      US publci sckool sytim, babbie

  12. asshole screws with internet poll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ..news at 11.

  13. Colbert's naming games by node+3 · · Score: 5, Funny

    These Colbert naming games are funny, until they happen to you.

    Now I have to redo all my stationery...

    1. Re:Colbert's naming games by Sporkinum · · Score: 1

      My name IS Colbert, you insensitive clod! Really!

      --
      "He's lost in a 'floyd hole"
    2. Re:Colbert's naming games by darthwader · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Colbert's naming games are nothing.

      A while back we (Canada) had a right-wing politician (Stockwell Day) trying to pass a law that would force a binding referendum if a particular number of citizens signed a petition for it. I think he wanted to stamp out gay marriage, or immigration, or some other thing that "white skin and red neck guys don't like". (Sorry I don't recall the details.)

      Before the "force a referendum with a petition" law passed, Rick Mercer (Canadian comedian who hosts a fake news show) started a petition to force a referendum to have Stockwell Day's name changed to Doris Day.

      IIRC, there were enough names on the petition to trigger the referendum, but the law itself didn't actually pass, so the referendum didn't happen.

      Now that's a naming game.

      --
      I hate it when I make a joke and I get modded "+5 insightful". Mod the stupid comments "funny", not "insightful", pleas
  14. RAAAIIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!!!!!! by taxman_10m · · Score: 2, Funny

    Would love to see Rain beat out Colbert.

    1. Re:RAAAIIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!!!!!! by DahGhostfacedFiddlah · · Score: 1

      I just voted.

      After all, it's got Atmosphere Revitalization System and Water Recovery System. It's relatively on-topic.

      And I think I'd rather see a rant about Rain beating him out again than a node named Colbert.

    2. Re:RAAAIIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!!!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe we should suggest "Grizzly the Bear".

  15. I name thee.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    SnuSnu

  16. Not likely... by penguinstorm · · Score: 5, Interesting

    No it won't. One of the rules of naming such semi-permanent structures is that they're not often named after living people. Colbert is amusing now (though I find him annoying, to be truthful) but what happens if in 5 years he runs over a group of children in a drunk driving incident? Do you really want a NASA module named after that? Is that going to be funny?

    There are exceptions, but they're fairly rare and usually involve someone who either: a) invented the thing (Colt revolvers or Ferris Wheels), or; b) donated a tonne of money (anybody remember Enron stadium, or the Ken Lay Chair in Economics at Methodist University?)

    Xenu is too religious, and a government agency wouldn't name anything after Scientology.

    That's why NASA's suggestions are more benign, and why one of them will likely be chosen.

    Besides, the subtlety of the shout-out to the Big Damn Heroes is awesome and not overt enough to eliminate the name.

    --
    Skot Nelson music is my saviour / i was maimed by rock and roll
    1. Re:Not likely... by hwyhobo · · Score: 0, Troll

      Sophomoric and crude Ann Coulter jokes get modded 5, but the above post is 3? WTH is happening to /.?

      Someone save the honor here and mod the parent up. I am out of mod points.

      Oh, and btw, the fact that a lame comedian leads the user write-in vote is truly a sad statement on our society.

      --
      End anonymous moderation and posting on /.
    2. Re:Not likely... by tb3 · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Sophomoric and crude Ann Coulter"
      That sounds like an accurate description to me.

      --

      www.lucernesys.comHorizon: Calendar-based personal finance

    3. Re:Not likely... by Fallingcow · · Score: 1

      Besides, the subtlety of the shout-out to the Big Damn Heroes is awesome and not overt enough to eliminate the name.

      I get Serenity, of course, and Legacy appears to be a reference to the flight that took Doohan's remains into orbit, but what are the other two?

      Is Venture a reference to the Sci-Fi mag of the same name?

      Earthrise? No clue on that one.

    4. Re:Not likely... by Black-Man · · Score: 0

      He was funny mocking George W. but he has become a parody of himself lately and he's not that funny. When his show is cancelled next year, people will be asking "Colbert who?"

    5. Re:Not likely... by 0xdeadbeef · · Score: 1

      Oh, and btw, the fact that a lame comedian leads the user write-in vote is truly a sad statement on our society.

      What do you mean, our society? Who let you in?

    6. Re:Not likely... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That sounds redundant sounding to me.

    7. Re:Not likely... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "One of the rules of naming such semi-permanent structures is that they're not often named after living people" - oh, really!?!

      In that case Serenity should also be off-the list:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_(porn_star)

    8. Re:Not likely... by fizzup · · Score: 1

      Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

    9. Re:Not likely... by Killjoy_NL · · Score: 1

      I'm dutch and watch daily/colbert the day after it goed online.
      I voted for Colbert too, it's sort of a thank you for making me laugh so much :)

      --
      This is the sig that says NI (again)
    10. Re:Not likely... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Xenu is too religious

      Ummm, no. Scientology is a cult, not a religion.

    11. Re:Not likely... by Myopic · · Score: 1

      cf. The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

      We're embarrassed about that one now.

    12. Re:Not likely... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Perhaps someone will help Colbert out and put a cap in his ass.

      I would gladly support naming the station module after him if it means he's worm food.

    13. Re:Not likely... by geekboy642 · · Score: 1

      Is Venture a reference to the Sci-Fi mag of the same name?

      Hardly. The pollster is a fan of Hank and Dean.

      --
      Just another "DOJ fascist authoritarian totalitarian bootlicker" -- Zeio
    14. Re:Not likely... by frank249 · · Score: 3, Informative
      No it won't. One of the rules of naming such semi-permanent structures is that they're not often named after living people.

      So who is to say that the name Colbert refers to a living person? There is a Colbert County in Alabama and of course the famous Jean-Baptiste Colbert who served as the French minister of finance from 1665 to 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. There are also: Charles Colbert, marquis de Croissy (1625-1696), French diplomatist, brother of Jean-Baptiste Colbert; Claudette Colbert (1903-1996), American actress; Conn Colbert (1896-1916), Irish rebel; Edouard Colbert (1774-1853), Napoleonic French Baron and leader of the Red Lancers; Edwin Harris Colbert (1905-2001), American vertebrate paleontologist; Holmes Colbert, developer of the Chickasaw Nation's constitution in the 1850s and Jacques-Nicolas Colbert (1655-1707), French churchman, son of Jean-Baptiste Colbert. No way did I voted 30 - 40 times for Stephen Colbert.

      --

      Today's vices may be tomorrow's virtues.

    15. Re:Not likely... by shma · · Score: 1

      Colbert is amusing now (though I find him annoying, to be truthful) but what happens if in 5 years he runs over a group of children in a drunk driving incident?

      My god, you're right! We should throw him in prison now on manslaughter charges, just to be safe.

      Or, you know, we could maybe think for a second and realize that honouring someone doesn't mean that we automatically approve of every future action taken by that person.

      --
      I came here for a good argument
    16. Re:Not likely... by chaim79 · · Score: 1

      America is founded on religious freedom, even if you and I consider Scientology to be a cult it is still a 'religion' and cannot be outlawed. I think the only Government limitation on Religions/Cults are ones that cause physical harm on members and non/members (baby sacrifice, etc), but anything short of that is 'ok'... ish...

      Of course seeing Tom Cruise promote Scientology should be considered psychologically harming to non/members and should be outlawed even if Scientology continues to be popular.

      --
      DEMETRIUS: Villain, what hast thou done?
      AARON: Villain, I have done thy mother.
      Shakespeare invents 'your mom'
    17. Re:Not likely... by rtechie · · Score: 1

      what happens if in 5 years he runs over a group of children in a drunk driving incident? Do you really want a NASA module named after that? Is that going to be funny?

      Yes, it will be even funnier.

    18. Re:Not likely... by navyjeff · · Score: 1

      There are exceptions, but they're fairly rare and usually involve someone who either: a) invented the thing (Colt revolvers or Ferris Wheels), or; b) donated a tonne of money (anybody remember Enron stadium, or the Ken Lay Chair in Economics at Methodist University?)

      Let's not forget my personal favorite: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport . Because of that jackass, I gotta see his name every time I fly in or out of Alaska.

      But I'm not bitter.

    19. Re:Not likely... by Plutonite · · Score: 1

      For some value of 'funny', yes. And the joke will be on the taxpayers.

      That said, why can't we change the name of the module at a later time?

    20. Re:Not likely... by migla · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Naming things after dead people can be not appropriate too. In Stockholm, Sweden, they named one of the new (in 2000ish) subway cars after Swedish pop star Ted Gärestad, who committed suicide by throwing himself under a train...

      --
      Some of my favourite people are from th US; Vonnegut, Chomsky, Bill Hicks.
    21. Re:Not likely... by penguinstorm · · Score: 1

      Oh, that is just disturbing...

      --
      Skot Nelson music is my saviour / i was maimed by rock and roll
    22. Re:Not likely... by Cochonou · · Score: 1

      Colbert has been dead since the 17th century. Are they thinking of his name because protectionism is coming back into the spotlight with the current financial crisis ?
      Or maybe you are talking about someone else...

    23. Re:Not likely... by rkanodia · · Score: 1

      Just rename it to A Series of Runways.

    24. Re:Not likely... by Anomalyst · · Score: 1

      honouring someone doesn't mean that we automatically approve of every future action taken by that person

      You must be new here.

      --
      There is no right to feel safe thru security vaudeville at the expense of everyone's freedom, privacy and tax money.
    25. Re:Not likely... by QuasiEvil · · Score: 1

      America is founded on religious freedom, even if you and I consider Scientology to be a cult it is still a 'religion' and cannot be outlawed

      Outlawed by the government, no, but pretty much everybody else can make fun of it for the ridiculous batch of pyramid-scheme profiteering BS that it is.

    26. Re:Not likely... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Melbourne has the Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre -- Holt was the Prime Minister of Australia when he disappeared while swimming at a beach in 1967, and is presumed to have drowned.

    27. Re:Not likely... by dpilot · · Score: 1

      I favor "Clarke", if we're going to name it after someone.

      --
      The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
    28. Re:Not likely... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sophomoric and crude Ann Coulter jokes get modded 5, but the above post is 3? WTH is happening to /.?

      People forgot how to spell "What the hell".

    29. Re:Not likely... by aqk · · Score: 0

      No it won't. One of the rules of naming such semi-permanent structures is that they're not often named after living people

      About 20 years ago, the Prime-minister of Quebec "sober" of course, accidentally ran over and killed an old man with his car, after leaving his girlfriend's apt at 1AM.
      The politician got off, and when he died, a coupla years later, the govt of Quebec TWO DAYS LATER renamed a major boulevard after him, (it had previously had kept its historic name for 150 years)

      grr... don't get me started...!
      ..

      .

    30. Re:Not likely... by aqk · · Score: 0

      Not THE Claudette Colbert!
      Her ghost still haunts a bus-station in Barbodos!
      And Stephen Colbert holds seances there apparently!
      .
      .

    31. Re:Not likely... by Megane · · Score: 1

      Besides, Firefly or not, Serenity fits with the naming scheme they already have, that being "adjectives ending in Y", Harmony, Unity.

      What we really need is a poll to rename Harmony to Harmonity.

      --
      #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
    32. Re:Not likely... by Megane · · Score: 1

      Er. I mean "nouns ending in Y". Or something like that. So much for pre-caffiene morning slashdot posts.

      --
      #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
    33. Re:Not likely... by Alcoholist · · Score: 1

      So my vote is going to have to be for the Montgomery Scott Module. Fits the not named after a living person criteria and you can bet your bippy that pretty well everyone who pays attention to what NASA does is a Trek fan.

      --
      Bibo Ergo Sum.
    34. Re:Not likely... by Uzuri · · Score: 1

      Seeing as I read that as "What if in 5 years he's run over by a group of children in a drunk driving accident" I thought that pretty funny, yeah.

      The right way 'round... not so much.

      --
      I'm a she-slashdotter... but I make up for it by living with my folks.
  17. Great. We Slashdotted NASA by wiredog · · Score: 2, Insightful

    We know where the next "launch failure" is going. Michigan.

    It should be noted that Buddy is number 3. And a much cooler name than "Colbert". Or "Xenu" And much better than "Serenity".

  18. Reminds me of Hank the Dwarf by HockeyPuck · · Score: 1

    Anybody remember People Magazine's contest for online voting for 'most beautiful person'? Howard Stern urged his listeners to vote for Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_the_Angry_Drunken_Dwarf

    In 1998, People magazine ran an online poll to determine the most beautiful people in the world, where somebody facetiously entered Nasiff as a write-in candidate. Nasiff won the contest, receiving hundreds of thousands of votes. At the time the online poll was launched, People led voters to believe that it would influence the print magazine's annual listing of "the most beautiful people." People refused to allow online votes to influence the magazine results. The poll was configured so that users could vote multiple times, by deleting a cookie given from the site. Many contestants had scripts written that would allow users to vote repeatedly.

  19. Working link to poll by the_other_chewey · · Score: 1

    Actual working link to NASA's poll page (the one in the summary isn't one):
    http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/name_ISS/index.html

  20. Ob/. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm suggesting Cowboy Neal.

  21. Other Obligatory Simpson's Quote by Karnak23 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I for one welcome our new Galactic Overlord.

  22. I'm working on the Nixon script myself... by tjstork · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Now that I know that there a bunch of "liberals" pushing Colbert... I'm going to set out and build a script for my right buddies to get it named after one of America's greatest Presidents....

    In fact, we should even introduce legislation to rename the WHOLE space stations...

    The Richard Nixon Space Station.

    Man, that WOULD be the most expensive troll in the history of the world.

    --
    This is my sig.
    1. Re:I'm working on the Nixon script myself... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Troll or whoosh? I'm confused on this one.

    2. Re:I'm working on the Nixon script myself... by fastest+fascist · · Score: 1

      My kingdom for mod points!

    3. Re:I'm working on the Nixon script myself... by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 1

      How could you not vote for our greatest Robotic-bodied president? Now where's Agnew's headless body? Ow-oooo!

      --
      Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
    4. Re:I'm working on the Nixon script myself... by tjstork · · Score: 1

      Troll or whoosh? I'm confused on this one.

      It's just a joke... I was just thinking of the one Republican President that would pretty much piss off everyone if something was named after him was the joke. I picked Nixon because if I said Bush it would be too fresh in the minds of my liberal friends and the humor would overridden by the immediacy of it. Wanted to make people laugh at something over the top, not start a flamewar.

      --
      This is my sig.
    5. Re:I'm working on the Nixon script myself... by steelfood · · Score: 1

      I thought you were going to call it the Bush module. Just imagine all of the punch lines you could come up with that, considering it will contain all of the life support systems, including the bathroom, and the machinery that turns urine back into water, and water into oxygen.

      E.g. "I gotta go take a dump in the Bush."

      --
      "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
    6. Re:I'm working on the Nixon script myself... by LihTox · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Nixon was too liberal for the current GOP, although they appreciate his theories on executive power.

    7. Re:I'm working on the Nixon script myself... by QuasiEvil · · Score: 1

      Now where's Agnew's headless body?

      Under the runaway golf cart, duh...

    8. Re:I'm working on the Nixon script myself... by dangitman · · Score: 1

      Nah, I'm thinking "The Dick Cheney Death Star" or perhaps a bit more obliquely "The Harry Reid Memorial Space Station".

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
    9. Re:I'm working on the Nixon script myself... by tjstork · · Score: 1

      Nixon was too liberal for the current GOP, although they appreciate his theories on executive power.

      He was too liberal economically. Yes he was. Price controls, national health care, feed the pets... I mean, poor. Make me sick. But, at least he knew how to handle a bunch of unruly students.

      --
      This is my sig.
  23. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  24. Serenity? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seriously folks, could you guys be obsessed with any lamer "science fiction" (aka a western soap opera set in space)?

    1. Re:Serenity? by meringuoid · · Score: 1
      Seriously folks, could you guys be obsessed with any lamer "science fiction" (aka a western soap opera set in space)?

      Yeah. What could possibly be worse? 'Wagon Train' to the stars, maybe?

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
    2. Re:Serenity? by Nick+Ives · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Don't feed the AC trolls. We all know space western is one of the most interesting and under-used genres - Cowboy Bebop anyone?

      --
      Nick
    3. Re:Serenity? by meringuoid · · Score: 1
      We all know space western is one of the most interesting and under-used genres - Cowboy Bebop anyone?

      I remember long ago watching BraveStarr on Saturday mornings. Something you don't see often - a guy with a super power he never uses because he has a machine that does it better. Strength of the Bear, Ears of the Wolf, Speed of the Puma, and an infrared scanner thing in my hat...

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
    4. Re:Serenity? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know right?! Because Star Trek was SO much more realistic. How can you find fantasy/sc-fi entertaining if it's not based in reality?

    5. Re:Serenity? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I really regret having watched CB (all eps+movie) for it seems to have raised the stake a bit too much for me. I am unable to enjoy other series to the same extent. I tried Planetes, but that was just crap.

  25. They should call it Pod 6 by st0rmshad0w · · Score: 3, Funny

    I &%@!$%! hate Pod 6!

    1. Re:They should call it Pod 6 by Fallingcow · · Score: 1

      If you're looking for me,
      You better look under the sea,
      'Cuz that is where you'll find me...

    2. Re:They should call it Pod 6 by Kushieda+Minorin · · Score: 1, Funny

      Why do you suggest that? Pod 6 is jerks.

    3. Re:They should call it Pod 6 by bckrispi · · Score: 1

      Grr. Pod Six... Total "Suck" Pod.

      --
      Xenon, where's my money? -Borno
  26. Of course, silly.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    That's how we normally vote in this country, have you forgotten already?

  27. no by BitterAndDrunk · · Score: 4, Insightful
    The sad part is his and the Daily Show's satire is more insightful than most legitimate news - that's a sad statement on society.

    Your "sad statment" is indicative that you're a humorless twat.

    --
    You better watch out, there may be dogs about . . .
    1. Re:no by Nick+Ives · · Score: 1

      Satire is generally more insightful and incisive than reality, that's why people in power hate it so much and dictatorial regimes work so hard to suppress it. It's even more the case when the establishment has screwed up in a massive way like the current situation.

      In fact political satire feeds on the failings of those in power to such a degree that it's often not funny when the government appears to be doing OK. Rory Bremner was at his peak during the Major years but lost his bite whilst Alastair Campbell was managing to keep Blair looking like the messiah; now there are plenty of easy pickings about he's funny again.

      --
      Nick
    2. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here! Here! Parent(s) needs to leave /. and join CNN/MSNBC/Etc's forum. We're trying to attract insight beyond 1+1 here.

    3. Re:no by hwyhobo · · Score: 1

      Satire is generally more insightful and incisive than reality

      Sorry, there is absolutely zero proof that it is more insightful. It sounds good, but that's it.

      that's why people in power hate it so much and dictatorial regimes work so hard to suppress it

      Actually, the opposite is often true. Satire may work like a safety valve. People who discharge their pent-up emotions through satire rarely take their anger to the streets.

      --
      End anonymous moderation and posting on /.
    4. Re:no by Nick+Ives · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Sorry, there is absolutely zero proof that it is more insightful. It sounds good, but that's it.

      Religious people once had this idea that "everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds" as a way to justify all the horrible suffering that God allows, then Voltaire wrote Candide.

      Actually, the opposite is often true. Satire may work like a safety valve. People who discharge their pent-up emotions through satire rarely take their anger to the streets.

      Now who's making claims without evidence? In my (obviously personal) experience, all the best lefties I've met stage demos, organise campaigns and attend political comedy nights.

      --
      Nick
    5. Re:no by hwyhobo · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Now who's making claims without evidence? In my (obviously personal) experience, all the best lefties I've met stage demos, organise campaigns and attend political comedy nights.

      Very good point, I was imprecise. What I had in mind was ugly, messy street affairs, uprisings, revolutions, etc. Those usually happen when people run out of outlets for expressing their frustrations.

      --
      End anonymous moderation and posting on /.
    6. Re:no by uofitorn · · Score: 1

      I love the Simpsons, I never miss the Daily Show, Spinal Tap is the best movie ever, etc, etc. But I have to agree with the GP that Colbert is irritating and unfunny.

      I guess that makes me a humorless twat because I don't share the same taste in comedians that you do. Sweet.

      --
      "What kind of music do pirates listen to?" -Paul Maud'dib
      "Yeeeaaarrrrr n' Bee!!" -Stilgar, Leader of Sietch Tabr
    7. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Satire is supposed to be insightful. What's really sad is that Colbert's satire is more informative than the real news.

    8. Re:no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here! Here!

      Where? Where?

    9. Re:no by tsm_sf · · Score: 1

      I've heard that comment about satire before, and I'm always surprised that TV and booze never rate a mention.

      --
      Literalism isn't a form of humor, it's you being irritating.
    10. Re:no by hwyhobo · · Score: 1

      I'm always surprised that TV and booze never rate a mention

      Another excellent point. However, since TV and booze are passive, I would not rate them as "expressions", but rather as "escapes".

      --
      End anonymous moderation and posting on /.
    11. Re:no by dpilot · · Score: 1

      Comedy aside, Jon Steward is a pretty good interviewer, and awfully darned good on the book interviews. He gives the distinct impression that he has actually read and thought about the book under discussion.

      --
      The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
  28. My response to Colbert by ThePhilips · · Score: 1

    Just voted for "Stewart".

    --
    All hope abandon ye who enter here.
  29. Watch. by CobaltBlueDW · · Score: 1

    This isn't really "news" considering it had been broadcast even before it happened. Never the less, you can watch the two episodes here ->

    http://www.hulu.com/watch/60651/the-colbert-report-tue-mar-3-2009

    http://www.hulu.com/watch/60861/the-colbert-report-wed-mar-4-2009

    1. Re:Watch. by mnslinky · · Score: 1

      The space station part occurs at 12:16 into the first episode, and at 1:29 for the second one.

  30. Where is MR SPLASHY PANTS ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Probably not the best thing to name it while it's still on the launch
    pad. But once it gets up there, it should be safe.

  31. alternate suggestions by Eil · · Score: 1

    I'm a big fan of Colbert, but some of the other write-in suggestions are even better:

    * Buddy
    * Synergy
    * Vista (!)
    * Social Vibe

    I, for one, am writing in "Slashdot".

  32. Metal Gear by 313373_bot · · Score: 1

    is way cooler.

    --
    ^[:q!
  33. Zaphod by zaphodbeeblebrox42 · · Score: 1

    Vote for Zaphod!

    1. Re:Zaphod by cornjoelio · · Score: 1

      Douglas Adams would be much better.

  34. What I saw at the first glance by mprindle · · Score: 2, Insightful

    When I first glanced at the name, I saw Dilbert. Not sure if it's fitting, but the living spaces up there must be the side of cubicles or smaller. :)

  35. This means war by Arancaytar · · Score: 1

    First he vandalizes Wikipedia, then he pisses off the Browncoats...

    If Colbert doesn't clean up his act, the internets will be taking revenge soon! :P

    1. Re:This means war by FnordX · · Score: 1

      I think you misspelled your title. It should be:

      "This Memes War"

      --
      ____________________
      Clouds in the Sky,
      Water in a bottle
  36. Damned comedians. by ring-eldest · · Score: 2, Funny

    If anyone needs me I'll be in the Angry Dome!

  37. Eponymous Coward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    NASA will take into consideration the results of the voting. However, the results are not binding on NASA and NASA reserves the right to ultimately select a name in accordance with the best interests of the agency, its needs, and other considerations. Such name may not necessarily be one which is on the list of voted-on candidate names. NASAâ(TM)s decision shall be deemed final.

  38. Jean-Baptiste Colbert ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It would be nice to see it named after a famous French 17th century minister of finance : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Colbert

  39. Eurgh by mirror+of+twilight · · Score: 1

    Don't let that sick bastard win. D: Vote Xenu!

  40. Megyen Bridge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There was a similar situation years ago with a bridge being built in Dunube, Hungary I remember hearing that Chuck Norris Bridge was winning the vote, but when I acutally looked at the results libwww-perl was winning by a landslide :)

    It seems Steve Colbert was in the final running. Details here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megyeri_Bridge

    For those who are not Perl programmers, libwww is a library for automating HTTP transactions, such as voting forms.

  41. Make a Colbert section already by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    He's taken over pop culture, wikipedia, the dictionary, had a brief spat in politics, written a best selling book, and will soon be taking over outer space.

    Give him his own section on Slashdot already. If Gate's gets an icon, so should Colbert.

  42. Doris Day by DarthVain · · Score: 1

    Reminds me of a funny gag they pulled up here in Canada.

    A number of years ago there was a douchebag conservative politician running for Prime Minister.

    One of his stupid kooky ideas was if ever 10% of the population wanted a referendum they would have it.

    So the comedy news up here (This hour has 22 minutes) started an online poll.

    Anyway long story short the poll was to have a referendum to change the politicians name from "Stockwell Day" to "Doris Day".

    It got over 400,000 people to sign up saying yet they would like him to change his name to Doris.

    While he didn't win then, he is now our Minister of International Trade... god save us all.

    1. Re:Doris Day by TW+Burger · · Score: 1

      We should have also had Alan Rock change his name to Rock Hudson.

  43. Xenu FTW by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Power Eagle Hammer Over 9000 would be acceptable.
    But Xenu FTW! (/b/ is presently making it so...)

  44. Not Cthulu? by Tubal-Cain · · Score: 1

    n/t

  45. Thanks for ruining the plan, Colbert... by Doug52392 · · Score: 1

    I would have loved to see the space station named after Xenu, then we'd just have someone "leak" information to the press that NASA has been infiltrated by Scientoligists, and the entire federal government could (yet again) be compromised by Scientologists.

  46. !Colbert by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've laughed at that comedian's jokes a lot, but I'm not laughing at this effort. He wants to brand a scientific vessel with his name? Such hubris. Did he help build it? Did he do any of the research that supports it? Did he even care about it before he could use it to get publicity? Does he do anything in a scientific capacity? No, no, no, and no. Any of the other choices would be better. Call it "Da Thingy" and it would be better than "Colbert".

    1. Re:!Colbert by Entropy2016 · · Score: 1

      Promoting popular interest in science arguably has value. Many people don't know nor care about the ISS, but this can correct a bit of that apathy. Public awareness is rarely a bad thing, especially in the case of science that's funded by the government using their tax dollars.

      And besides, many people in science enjoy Colbert just as much as everyone else does.

      He has had plenty of scientists on his show before (certainly more than most TV shows have on as guests).

  47. as much fun as that would be.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    DOES anyone read the fine print? ...
    NASA will take into consideration the results of the voting. However, the results are not binding on NASA and NASA reserves the right to ultimately select a name in accordance with the best interests of the agency, its needs, and other considerations. Such name may not necessarily be one which is on the list of voted-on candidate names. NASAâ(TM)s decision shall be deemed final. ...

  48. Simpsons now? by BitterAndDrunk · · Score: 1
    If you're talking about Simpsons post-Hartman's demise then yes, you might be a humorless twat.

    The fact that you took umbrage at a comment not directed at you also gives us clues to your level of "funny-bone".

    Most importantly, however - the "humorless twat" was directed at him because he thinks that a comedian's antics should be any sort of reflection on our society. It isn't. He's maybe in the role of court jester, speaking truth to power. But more likely he's just playing up a grandiose egomaniac of a character that stops at nothing to get his name mentioned. Taking it too seriously and ascribing it social significance is indicative of a humorless twat.

    --
    You better watch out, there may be dogs about . . .
  49. Illinois will have the final vote by tsnorquist · · Score: 1

    In the end, Illinois will have the final vote...

  50. Hypnotoad by Hiro_Orko · · Score: 1

    The new ISS module shall be named for the glorious Hypnotoad

    --
    "Fights begin, finger prints er' took, days are lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated."
  51. StarDrifter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seeing as it has a cupola, perhaps it should be named after the StarDrifter from Noctis.

  52. Re:Great. We Slashdotted NASA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Vote for "Buddy"!

  53. I can name that tune in 1 bar... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why waste the breath? "Cunt" is a perfectly accurate description and only requires 4 keystrokes.

  54. Colbert is the top SUGGESTION only by Cinnaman · · Score: 1

    As probably 15 people have mentioned before me, the only names that can be voted on are Earthrise, Legacy, Serenity and Venture. And it's groanworthy (as some who hasn't watched Firefly) that Serenity has 86% of the vote because of its connection to Firefly.

    It's a bit like when an American school allowed the students to pick the name of the school and chose Springfield Elementary.

  55. Re:Great. We Slashdotted NASA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Buddy is the name suggested by Dave Barry...another comedian with a rabid following...though not quite as large or as obedient as Colbert's

  56. Contest Rules by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Contest Rules
    [...]
    4.
    NASA will take into consideration the results of the voting. However, the results are not binding on NASA and NASA reserves the right to ultimately select a name in accordance with the best interests of the agency, its needs, and other considerations. Such name may not necessarily be one which is on the list of voted-on candidate names. NASAâ(TM)s decision shall be deemed final.

    They damn as well should be.
    So says Scientology's Galactic Overlord.

  57. PeePod? by bit_medic · · Score: 1

    After reading the NASA description of the contents of the module, I think 'PeePod' is probably about right.

  58. Hitler by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

    I have written in my vote to name it 'Hitler' so many times that I'm tired of licking the stamps.

    --
    “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
  59. Re:Great. We Slashdotted NASA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What the hey? Why was my post deleted?

    Vote for Buddy!

  60. Re:Great. We Slashdotted NASA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Deleted again?

    What gives?

  61. Re:Great. We Slashdotted NASA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why do my posts keep getting deleted?

  62. Re:Great. We Slashdotted NASA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuck you then. Censors.