Slashdot Mirror


Colbert Wins Space Station Name Contest

As we speculated a couple of weeks back, it has come to pass. Reader mknewman writes to tell us that comedian Stephen Colbert has won the vote to have his name immortalized (or at least until it crashes) as the moniker on NASA's newest addition to the International Space Station. We can but wonder what NASA will do now. "NASA's mistake was allowing write-ins. Colbert urged viewers of his Comedy Central show, 'The Colbert Report' to write in his name. And they complied, with 230,539 votes. That clobbered Serenity, one of the NASA choices, by more than 40,000 votes. Nearly 1.2 million votes were cast by the time the contest ended Friday."

29 of 471 comments (clear)

  1. Colbert trumps Scientology; everyone wins. by Nakor+BlueRider · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's not mentioned in the article, but what brought this all up in the first place was the fact that "Xenu" was winning the write-in vote before he asked viewers on his show to write in his own name instead. Xenu is the galactic overlord from Scientology myth. Colbert asked his viewers to write in his own name, and the following day he had already passed Xenu on the write-ins. The show that evening, he declared himself the new galactic overlord.

    Incidentally, NASA reserved the write to call it whatever they want; they don't have to go with the vote.

    1. Re:Colbert trumps Scientology; everyone wins. by unlametheweak · · Score: 5, Funny

      Xenu is the galactic overlord from Scientology myth

      Xenu is NOT a myth! I take it you are not a Scientologist.

    2. Re:Colbert trumps Scientology; everyone wins. by FrostedWheat · · Score: 5, Funny

      Xenu is NOT a myth

      Your right, it's SyFy!

    3. Re:Colbert trumps Scientology; everyone wins. by samkass · · Score: 5, Informative

      Incidentally, NASA reserved the write to call it whatever they want; they don't have to go with the vote.

      I suspect it's as likely to be named "Colbert" as Hank, the Angry, Drunken Dwarf is to become People's Most Beautiful Person.

      --
      E pluribus unum
    4. Re:Colbert trumps Scientology; everyone wins. by bonch · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Naming it Xenu would have hurt Scientology, not helped it. Xenu is considered top secret by the Church of Scientology and its lawyers, and they sue people who post the texts--they forced Slashdot to remove a comment for the first time in its history. People wondering what Xenu is would look it up and find out about OT III. It would have been a great blow to have that out there. Thanks to Colbert and his mindless viewers who do everything he says, that won't happen, and the opportunity is gone.

      Consider me biased since I'm sick of Colbert's schtick, and I'm sick of his college kiddie fans who parrot everything he says and spam his videos to Digg.

    5. Re:Colbert trumps Scientology; everyone wins. by Spaseboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think it's important to remember all of the popular, positive attention Stephen Colbert has given to NASA over the years and science in general. He well deserves the name if for nothing else than for the great PR he brings NASA.

      Did you even know there was an addition to the space station before it was on The Colbert Report? I didn't.

      --
      "I don't want more choice, I just want nicer things!"
      -Jennifer Saunders as Edina Monsoon
    6. Re:Colbert trumps Scientology; everyone wins. by palegray.net · · Score: 5, Funny

      Not to diminish Colbert's fame or anything, but just about anything trumps Scientology. I've got a broken toaster that I'd rather consult for spiritual advice.

    7. Re:Colbert trumps Scientology; everyone wins. by m.ducharme · · Score: 5, Funny

      Of course, you can't run Linux on a toaster until you remove the Thetans.

      --
      Rule of Slashdot #0: You and people like you are not representative of the larger population. - A.C.
    8. Re:Colbert trumps Scientology; everyone wins. by Nimey · · Score: 5, Funny

      $DEITY help us all.

      --
      Hail Eris, full of mischief...

      E pluribus sanguinem
    9. Re:Colbert trumps Scientology; everyone wins. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I don't see why they wouldn't name it "Colbert". I mean, yeah, it's a joke, but it's also good publicity, and what harm does it do?

      I think if they don't, it's showing that the people running NASA are sticks in the mud and take themselves too seriously.

      As someone else pointed out in a previous thread on this subject, serious organizations, especially ones with government connections, don't like to name things after people who are still alive.

      You see, if you name it after a person who has lived out their life, you can evaluate their entire life and make sure that they haven't done anything that you wouldn't want to be associated with. However, someone who is still alive might very well do something in the future (kill someone in a drunk driving accident, get caught with child pornography, shoot their wife, etc) that no one wants to be associated with.

    10. Re:Colbert trumps Scientology; everyone wins. by FleaPlus · · Score: 5, Informative

      As someone else pointed out in a previous thread on this subject, serious organizations, especially ones with government connections, don't like to name things after people who are still alive.

      You see, if you name it after a person who has lived out their life, you can evaluate their entire life and make sure that they haven't done anything that you wouldn't want to be associated with. However, someone who is still alive might very well do something in the future (kill someone in a drunk driving accident, get caught with child pornography, shoot their wife, etc) that no one wants to be associated with.

      Of course, not everybody follows that advice:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Stevens_Anchorage_International_Airport

    11. Re:Colbert trumps Scientology; everyone wins. by renimar · · Score: 5, Funny

      The airport to nowhere!

      --
      In other news, Microsoft Windows users are now covered under the Americans with Disabilties Act...
  2. I'm shocked... by end15 · · Score: 5, Funny

    that my write in vote for Bigus Dickus didn't win... I thought I had the mobs support. Cheers, endxv

    --
    All glory to the Hypnotoad!
  3. Honorable Way Out for NASA by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Name it something else, but hang a signed picture of Colbert in the module. The fans are satisfied, a reasonable name can be applied, and Colbert gets a talking point for a show.

    But please, for the love of God, no dancing! Colbert dancing with that freaky grin always creeps me out.

    1. Re:Honorable Way Out for NASA by demi · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Why would they need a way out? NASA had the chance to honor a scientist or engineer, but decided not to--Serenity doesn't honor anything but entertainment, and neither does Colbert, or Tek Jansen for that matter.

      --
      demi
    2. Re:Honorable Way Out for NASA by gardyloo · · Score: 5, Funny

      They'll just affix it somehow with some massive brass balls.

    3. Re:Honorable Way Out for NASA by MiKM · · Score: 5, Informative

      I liked Serenity not because of the show, but because it fits well with the other two modules Unity and Harmony. If this were the first to be named, I'd definitely advocate honoring a scientists, but as sysadmin knows, having a consistent naming scheme is nice.

  4. My write in by arun84h · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wrote in "Candlejack", and apparently i was the onl

    1. Re:My write in by zaxus · · Score: 5, Funny

      I wish I had mod points. Best post I've seen in a long time. Candlejack! That's just bril

      --
      /. zen: Imagine a Beowulf cluster of Beowulf clusters...
  5. Moot / 4chan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    On a similar note, what will Time do if Moot wins the #1 most influential person of the year?

    http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1883644_1886141,00.html

  6. So Colbert Nation greater than the Browncoats by StCredZero · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder if he'd let it be named Serenity for a date with Inara Serra / Morena Baccarin?

    1. Re:So Colbert Nation greater than the Browncoats by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Why exactly does a married father need a date with a random actress?

      Apparently you've never been married.

    2. Re:So Colbert Nation greater than the Browncoats by aetherworld · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Why do these "marriage is so harsh" sort of jokes always get moderated as "insightful"...

      Apparently you've never been married.

  7. Re:NASA won by Loadmaster · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yeah! What the fuck have we ever gotten from NASA? Pretty pictures?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Spinoff
    http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/spinoffs2.shtml

  8. Pronounced, of course... by ebbomega · · Score: 5, Funny

    Kohl-bear Spayss-pore

    --
    Karma: Non-Heinous
  9. Mistake? by JustinOpinion · · Score: 5, Insightful

    NASA's mistake was allowing write-ins.

    Mistake? How so? It's pretty obvious that the purpose of the naming-competition was to get people involved and excited. To raise NASA's profile and garner some free advertising. By allowing write-ins, they opened the door for Colbert to advertise for them. And apparently he drove some 230,000 people to go check out the NASA site, maybe read some other NASA material, talk about NASA with their friends, and so on.

    I daresay NASA was quite successful in their effort to gain some publicity. Allowing write-ins was evidently not a mistake.

  10. Racist comment by NiteShaed · · Score: 5, Funny

    I believe the correct term is actually "damaged Cylon" you insensitive frakin' clod.

    --
    Some bring out the best in others, some the worst. Some bring out far more.
  11. Re:NASA won by Rigrig · · Score: 5, Interesting

    All right, but apart from the Pretty Pictures, Light-Emitting Diodes, Infrared Ear Thermometers, DeBakey's Ventricular Assist Device, Artificial Limbs, Aircraft Anti-Icing Systems, Highway Safety Grooving, Improved Radial Tires, Chemical Detection, Video Enhancing and Analysis Systems, Land Mine Removal, Fire-Resistant Reinforcement, Firefighting Equipment, Temper Foam, Enriched Baby Food, Portable Cordless Vacuums, Freeze Drying Technology, Water Purification, Solar Energy, Pollution Remediation, Better Virtual Software, Structural Analysis, Internet-Connected Ovens, Powdered Lubricants, Improved Mine Safety and Food Safety Systems, what have we ever gotten from NASA?

    --
    **TODO** [X] Steal someone elses sig.
  12. Re:Scientology and Scientologists... by Schemat1c · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...are the people behind nearly all that is evil in the world!

    Ah come on not all evil, leave some room for bankers and republicans!

    --

    "Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better." - Unknown