File:Megyeri Hid.jpg

English: During the construction of this motorway bridge across the danube, just north of Budapest, the responsible Ministry for Transport announced an online contest to find a suitable name for the new danube crossing. One just had to vote for a name already nominated, or just add a name - any name. Needless to say that many names were rather silly, like, Chuck Norris Bridge for example.

However, with a few days remaining before the polls closed, this bearded action star from the last century was firmly in the lead. Steve Colbert, the host of the American TV show 'The Steven Colbert Report' did not like this a bit and appealed to his audience to back him, as his name was stuck on second or third place behind his fellow countryman. Steven Colbert won with a landslide. Still, the Hungarian authorities did not seriously intend to call this stretch of motorway after an American almost unknown in this part of Europe and cancelled the proceedings saying they were irregular. They had a point as more people voted for Steven Colbert than people live in Hungary. The problem was that no registration was necessary to vote and most votes were cast by programs made by Steve Colbert fans. However, with all the publicity generated in the US - the Hungarians still wanted Chuck Norris to win - Steven Colbert won the second poll, this time with registration and all, easily ahead of Chuck. Again, the authorities found another excuse, something along the line that Steve Colbert had to be dead, for this bridge to be named after him. I guess Chuck would have been happy to assist, but in the end the Hungarian government just called the whole thing off.

Anyway, the Bridge is now named Megyeri Bridge: After the villages on either side of the river which are called Békásmegyer and Káposztásmegyer on the left bank. It was decided in the ministry by someone and not put to any vote...