Boaty McBoatface Sinking Fast

The British Natural Environment Research Council and its British Antarctic Survey, whose new polar

research ship is under construction, recently invited the public to name the new ship via social media.

Things seem to have got a bit out of control and the British Science Ministry is backpedaling

quite a bit due to the frontrunner: RSS Boaty McBoatface.

Apparently there was considerable input, with the votes tallying as follows:

1. RRS Boaty McBoatface, 124,109 votes 

2. RRS Poppy-Mai, 39,886 votes 

3. RRS Henry Worsley,  15,774 votes 

4. RRS David Attenborough, 11,023 votes 

5. RRS ITS BLOODY COLD HERE, 10,679 votes

6. RRS Usain Boat, 8,710 votes 

7. RRS Boatimus Prime, 8,365 votes 

8. RRS Katharine Giles, 7,687 votes 

9. RRS Catalina de Aragon, 7,055 votes 

10. RRS I Like Big Boats & I Cannot Lie, 6,452 votes

 In spite of the overwhelming support for the name, Jo Johnson, Conservative Science Minister, called it "not suitable". 

James Hand, a former BBC Presenter, is credited with the RSS Boaty McBoatface name but has apparently rescinded his vote in favor of the RSS David Attenborough.    I think if you asked David, who is a humble man with a great sense of humor, he might well demure.

At any rate, the backpedaling consists in part of arguing that it is a ship not a boat.

But you can easily see how creative British people have been in their nominations. 

  

This is kind of like the American presidential election:  Boaty McBoatface (Donald Trump) at the top, and I Like Big Boats & I Cannot Lie (Ted Cruz) at the bottom.

Coincidence?  I think not!  Both of them are overdue for a polar expedition.  

Attribution:  http://bit.ly/1SwFPYD