Stephen Colbert vs The Hungarian Government 554
jefu writes "The Hungarian government is sponsoring an internet vote to name a new bridge. So far naming the bridge after acter Chuck Norris has been the most popular. However, last night Stephen Colbert (of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report") suggested that viewers vote to name the bridge after him. Remembering the effect that a Colbert segment had had on Wikipedia, I visited the voting page (in Hungarian when it works) soon after that and it was completely non-responsive. This morning (8:00 Thursday Pacific time) it is showing a "Horrible exception" and a Jetspeed/tomcat stack trace. " I believe Colbert's straight-talking sensibilities have earned him far more than just a bridge in whatever continent Hungaria is in.
Instead I think we should consider renaming one of our lesser used states as an honor more appropriate to his grippy contributions to America. We're not doing anything with Colorado these days anyway, but imagine the appeal of a new and improved state with a virile name like Colberado. Book your tickets today!
This could be the next /. poll! (Score:5, Insightful)
-The Chuck Norris Bridge
-The Steven Colbert Bridge
-Geza Hofi's Bridge (an actual Hungarian)
-King Steve's Kickass Bridge
-The Bridge of Death [wikipedia.org]
-CmdrTaco's Bridge
Re:Check your facts! (Score:1, Insightful)
Straight-talking (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:New slashdot slogan (Score:5, Insightful)
Also, Stewart seems to be less prepared and more improvisionational on his show. Overdone is not the word I would use to describe it. I find him and Colbert entertaining - even so the words "politically slanted," and "obnoxiously sarcastic" may be a more apt way to negatively characterize the show. Stewart is under no illusion that his show actually counts as news, anyhow, so he has no real obligation to be either polite or objective.
Letterman and Leno give you the blunted, sanitized, and politically neutral jokes that Stewart tosses into the trash, and their sole purpose is to comfort you with harmless banter after the slew of bad news you just received at 11 o'clock and a hard day at work.
Re:News for Nerds? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:New slashdot slogan (Score:3, Insightful)
I like Colbert's humor a bit better than Jon's, but Stewart really gives some fascinating interviews (best in the business) when it isn't some actor or hollywood person. OTOH, Leno/Letterman's interviews never have much insightful or intelligent - all bland, shallow crap I heard a thousand times as they try to relate to their mostly uninteresting guests.
This is NOT FUNNY. (Score:2, Insightful)
I don't know about or care what this clown has said or done beside the current problem. He might be really funny, that's great and why he's one of the few granted a chunk of the country's precious and government limited broadcast spectrum. None of it make what he's doing right. In fact, his abuse of his privileged position makes it worse.
Yes, you can screw online polls and sources of information. If jerking people around is your thing, you might think it's funny. Most people don't enjoy being jerked around and most people outgrow the urge to do it. We can be sure that everyone but economic competitors will get over messing with Wikipedia. It's not really much more fun than screwing with books down at the local library. When the novelty of having such a resource wears off, vandalizing it will just look the waste of time and effort that it is.
Getting a little closer to home, Taco, how would you like it if the clown made fun of Slashdot next and advised his audience that they should join this small group of losers [anti-slash.org] ? Yeah, that's what I thought. Fuck the haters.
Re:Hello, mod abuse? (Score:1, Insightful)
No, I'd say Taco deserved a troll moderation. The worst thing that can be said about you is you fell for it.
To be honest, I'm not quite sure why people feel deliberate misspelling the names of other countries is funny. I know Americans don't generally find the joke funny when it is directed at the US, nor Canadians when directed at Canada. (I mean, there are some exceptions: Particularly clever jokes, but "Hungaria" isn't one of them.) Do we really have so little ability to sympathize with others?
Re:changes on top list (Score:2, Insightful)
Colbert is actually very funy not in what he says, but the fact that he has created this outlandish character. I don't think that he really thought that his wikipedia piece would have an impact - however, his core audience seems to like to feel part o the joke, and react the way the mindless and/or soulless O'Reilly-bots respond when he tries to usehis powers.
If Colbert is an ass, its because he is modelling his source material well.
Re:changes on top list (Score:5, Insightful)
Of course, the segment pieces are designed to take people's words out of context and make them look stupid - I am prety sure that Stewart himself has said he can't believe people still take interviews with them.
Colbert's most amazing piece of work is that he got Congressmen and women to do interviews and those are sometimes very ridiculous. I can't imagine he will get to finish his 'better know a distric' segment.
Re:Why stop at a bridge? (Score:4, Insightful)
I say this as a Hungarian (magyar) who was born and lived in United States, but moved to Hungary for good.
Yes... I live a few kilometers from the said bridge.
But if the slashdoters wish to vote for a worthy name for the said bridge why not try this:
http://www.m0hid.gov.hu/ [m0hid.gov.hu]
The second or third menu on the left will give you a long list of radio buttons.
(try them all, until you see the long list)
Forget Chuck Norris. Why not vote for something from our history:
Vajk-Istvan Hid (my recomendation)
Vajk/Istvan was our first catholic king of Magyarorszag - 1006 years ago.
Vajk was his pagen name, Istvan his christian name,
he gave up the first and assumed the second.
The bridge is realy two bridges because it is so long.. so the name is fitting.
If the slashdotters feel up to it, lets push this bridge name up the list.
Give it a try (when the server is responding again - 1-3 days)
Ja..and did you know that Hungary is a nation wealthy in foodstuff.
Throughout history there has never been an extended period of hunger.
There was always plenty of food, and the weather was kind too.
Plus it was THE wealthiest nation in Europe several times in history.
Stephen being of French origins ... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Why stop at a bridge? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Why stop at a bridge? (Score:5, Insightful)
It is a sad state of affairs when the technical people of the most powerful and mega-nuclear-trigger happy country on Earth cannot tell the difference between "Hungry" and "Hungary" and haven't a clue to where it is.
It is a sad state of affairs when the expatriate Americans living in the the world's most underfed nation can't tell the difference between a joke and reality.Re:Why stop at a bridge? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Colbert isn't funny (Score:3, Insightful)
You're an ass but I don't think you're funny. Don't feel bad though. He's an extraordinary ass.
Re:Hello, mod abuse? (Score:3, Insightful)
This joke is directed at Americans, or at least a portion of them. Colbert's routine is to ironically typify the role of the stereotypical neocon talking head "news" commentator. Saying "Hungaria" like that with disdain is meant to parody when other people do the same type of thing, usually with Mexico, Canada, France, or whatever country isn't currently marching in lock-step with our government as the targets.
Re:Why stop at a bridge? (Score:2, Insightful)