Whatever floats your boat
by Tom Sullivan
At a time when Americans are waiting for (and expecting) fistfights to break out at political rallies, thank God for the Brits. At least they've retained their sense of humor.
The UK's Natural Environment Research Council has a new polar research vessel designed and ready for construction at a shipyard on the River Mersey. The new ship "will deliver world-leading capability for UK research in both Antarctica and the Arctic."
But it needs a name. Something noble and historic. Perhaps the name of a legendary British explorer like Shackleton or something lofty and poetic like Endeavour?
The NERC announced the online voting contest to name the nearly $300 million boat to be launched in 2019 recently, and the leading vote-getter so far is the simple but silly "Boaty McBoatface."It's never a good thing to take yourself too seriously. Especially on Monday.