Qualifying himself for Biggest Stick in the Mud of the Year, U.K. Science Minister Jo Johnson shot down the possibility of naming a newly acquired research vessel "Boaty McBoatface," saying the ship needed a more "suitable" name.
Britain's Natural Environment Research Council asked the public to vote on a name for the $300 million research boat last month, and basically got exactly what one would expect from inviting the internet to name something expensive and important. "Boaty McBoatface" won the poll with 124,109 votes, which was four times as many as the second place name, honoring a 16-month-old girl with incurable cancer, received.
"Boaty McBoatface" was originally suggested by former BBC radio host James Hand, who has since "apologized profusely" for causing all the trouble. "I read the list of entries and there were about 3,000 at that time. Some of them were really, really funny. 'Clifford the Big Red Boat' was my favorite. So I thought I'd throw one into the ring to see what happens," Hand told The Independent at the time.
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The Natural Environment Research Council has not yet announced the stuffy, boring name they've inevitably chosen for the ship, but said that "there is a process now for us to review all of the public's choices." Wise.
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