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NASA To Announce Module Name On Colbert Show
olddotter noted that NASA's Facebook page says "NASA's newest module for the International Space Station will get a new name on April 14. The agency plans to make the announcement with the help of Expedition 14 and 15 astronaut Sunita 'Suni' Williams on Comedy Central's 'The Colbert Report.' The program will air at 11:30 p.m. EDT."
Ok, everybody. There was a lot of talk about the name of this module. We are on the Colbert Report tonight to talk about what name we picked after all the submissions. Tonight, we are glad to announce that the name will be, Jonathan Stewart!
Sig? No thanks. I don't smoke.
The program will air at 11:30 p.m. EDT. The name, which will not be publicly released until the program airs."
The paragraph, which will not make sense until this sentence is substantially revised.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
The summary, which the editors did not read.
Is this some sort of crazy neo-yoda-speak? Am I missing out on a new meme? :(
Their may be a grammatical error, misspeling, or evn a typo in this post.
This is probably the first time in 10 years news about NASA has stuck in my mind. Sure some scientific stuff is interesting to read... sure I hear press releases and news tidbits, but those go in one ear out the other. This is the best "stick to your ribs" news (aka marketing) NASA has made with the post baby boomers.
No comprende? Let me type that a little slower for you...
Land toilet -> crapper, ship's toilet -> head, space toilet -> colbert
Let's start a campaign. From now on a space toilet shall be a "colbert".
Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
Yeah, that'd be funny. Can't have comedy on a comedy show.
That's what Fox news is for.
The real news was that this was announced on the NASA Facebook page. The medium is always the message - as Colbert's success demonstrates.
Wow, you obviously didn't get much out of that tax funded public education, so I can see where your "ideals" come from. /burn karma burn/
My Babylon
I know its been covered a lot elsewhere (scienceblogs.com) but I don't think it can be understated. Colbert Report is a great venue for science, a wonderful public face. He's had on lots of scientists, more than any show I can recall in a couple decades.
I don't recall the last fun show that had the host actually talking to an Astronaut in orbit.
So even if NASA goes with Serenity for the name, I'm glad they went onto Colbert to announce it.
NASA has done segments with Colbert before, such as when the astronaut aboard the ISS was interviewed on his show. I would imagine Colbert's core audience of young college students appeals to NASA quite a bit. The trick, as for anyone that shows up on his program, is to go with a good non-ridiculous name and present it in a funny way on his show.
I think their best bet would be to name the node itself Serenity and name the actual urine recycling unit inside "Colbert". That should appease his audience and make for good TV as well.
Thomas Crapper helped popularize the toilet, as well as come up with a few innovations. I am not sure what Stephen Colbert has done in the same respect to warrant comparison.
Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
The fact that someone named Thomas Crapper came up with an invention called the ballcock has to be the greatest semi-useless factoid ever.
But, since it is essentially a toilet, I think Colbert should get the honors; Serenity should be the name of a spacegoing vessel.
Amen to that. Let me try this comment again, I think it got modded down by the dumber side of the Firefly fanbase (you know, the side I'm not on) last time: Serenity is a spaceship. This thing is not only not a spaceship, but its ass does not glow. It does not make any sense whatsoever, whatsofuckingever to name it Serenity. I know a lot of you loved the show, so did I; I know a lot of you voted for that name, but it was silly. Don't get your back up because you're wrong :D
I do have to admit to liking the idea of naming just the toilet after Colbert. He likes to twist people's dicks after all (metaphorically speaking, so far as I know) and it would only be justice. But then we'd probably end up with a toilet module named Serenity which is just not much of a tribute. Sorry.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Wrong wrong, I'm using the 'Pro' version of slashdot.
In the Pro version, all grammar is corrected. There's also the political distortion field. There's a slider at the top of the page that lets me choose ConservativeLiberal.
By moving the slider everyone's comments are automatically refactored to reflect my beliefs. Go ahead, say something positive about B.O. I'll never see it!
It also merges duplicate stories, merging their comments.
And best yet, I NEVER have any missing poll options. It gives me a text field where I right in the correct answer, and then it's always the most popular.
This is great, you should get the pro version.
Do not meddle in the affairs of sysadmins, for they are subtle, and quick to anger.
I said it before, and I'll say it again:
The public's lack of interest in NASA has nothing to do with pop culture, it's that NASA isn't doing anything interesting anymore.
In the days of the space race, it was very exciting. The "us vs them" competition with the USSR, people doing things never done before, going to places nobody ever went before. And all that done by launching people with experimental hardware done on monumental scales.
Where is all that now? NASA keeps shuttling people between ground and space station, where they do amazing experiments, such as how spiders react to a lack of gravity. The hardware is still big and dangerous, but now if something goes wrong it's not because it's new unproven tech, but because the management at NASA is stupid. The Mars robots are about the most interesting thing being done these days, and even that isn't all that exiciting.
What's needed is not nonsense like Britney getting involved in the space program, but a space program that does something the public would be interested in. A colony on the moon, and astronauts on Mars would be a start. Sure it's dangerous and expensive, but it's also very much exciting, and the danger didn't stop anybody in the race of getting to the moon.
I think, judging by their chosen venue, the name they release will be obvious. To do otherwise would just be tacky.
"Yes, we'll get all the recognition we can from your show, but not scratch your back in kind."
Glad they went with it, as it was the winner. Aside from that, the name marks much more than anything like Serenity would.
Serenity shows the world what? There are a few scifi geeks in NASA? At most, maybe that they find inspiration in grand goals. Naming it Colbert, on the other hand, signifies a return to pop-culture significance. That the people are excited about space again. Or at the very least, naming it after Colbert will ensure that the module stays in the public eye as he continues his "status updates" (like he did for his baby eagle and a few other stunts). It would be a huge missed marketing opportunity NOT to name it after a television host who has supported science more than any other in recent history.
Of course, they already know this. That's why it's being revealed on his show.
I'd like to watch this show, but I don't have cable. It's very nice that they have full episodes available on Colbert Nation. However, is there any way to watch the show online Tuesday night? Does anyone know how long they wait before putting that night's show onto the web?
Good to see you agree! Fidel isn't some capitalist pig-dog like Obama. Amazing that this site is so full of people who agree!
Did you mention the cameo appearances by Sean Hannity and the Back Street Boys?
They should send USS Goatse to check out some black holes.
Am I eval()? - http://www.monst3r.com.br
I don't know about the ants, but the worms survived
Transcript of NASA segment from the April 14th, 2009 Colbert show.
Colbert: As many of our watchers will recall, NASA recently had a contest allowing the public to vote for the new name for "Node 3", the newest module of the International Space Station. Thanks to you, my fans, the highest voted name was "Colbert". However, NASA reserves the right to select any name they choose, regardless of the results of the contest, leaving many wondering if my prestigious and time honored name will indeed grace the new module.
(laughter from audience)
Colbert: Tonight, we have a very special guest from NASA - a two time visitor to the International Space Station - here to officially announce the selected name. Please offer a warm welcome for Astronaut Sunita Williams!
(audience cheers) Sunita walks on stage, shakes hands with Colbert.
Colbert: Thank you for coming.
Sunita: It's a pleasure to be here.
Colbert: I know we are all waiting to hear what NASA has decided, but first tell the audience a little about yourself.
(Snipped for brevity - read about her here. She was one of the astronauts to use the ametuer radio stations on the station to talk with school children - very cool stuff.)
Colbert: Thank you "Suni". You've done some amazing things, and we look forward to the contributions yet to come. (applause from audience) Ok, it looks like we might have a revolt on our hands if we don't cut to the chase. NASA has chosen you to officially announce - here, tonight - the name of the newest module for the International Space Station.
Sunita: Yes.
Colbert: Then, without further delay, Sunita Williams, ladies and gentlemen.
Suinita: Thank you. "Node 3", as it has been known, is the newest addition to the ISS, due to be sent up February 2010. It will provide life support systems, including water recycling and oxygen generation, for the ISS. Tonight, it is my great honor to announce on behalf of NASA that it has now, officially, been renamed "Xenu". (laughter from audience) No, seriously.
(Sunita can't keep her face straight, causing Colbert to break from script with a smile. Sunita breaks into laughter)
Colbert: We are going to get sued for this.
End Transcript - sorry, you're going to have to wait for tomorrow's airing for the revelation of the true name.
Oh, was that my outside voice?
It makes vast amounts of sense, especially if you're miffed at Colbert using his popularity leverage to push his own name through the vote. Go on his show, name it something else, just to mess with him. :P