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Neb. thwarts pranksters' license plate hijacking

Fri May 22, 2009 1:50 PM EDT

us-news, us, odd-news, odd, license, plates, boring

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<p>FILE- This file image originally released Tuesday, May 19, 2009 by the Nebraska Governor's office shows the first design chosen by online votes to be the state's new license plate. The original results of the vote were skewed by a prank instigated by collegehumor.com, which encouraged people to vote for what it deemed to be the most boring design. Department of Motor Vehicles Director Beverly Neth announced Friday, May 22, 2009 that a white, gold and black plate featuring the state bird and state flower is the actual winner of online voting. (AP Photo/Nebraska Governor Office)</p>

FILE- This file image originally released Tuesday, May 19, 2009 by the Nebraska Governor's office shows the first design chosen by online votes to be the state's new license plate. The original results of the vote were skewed by a prank instigated by collegehumor.com, which encouraged people to vote for what it deemed to be the most boring design. Department of Motor Vehicles Director Beverly Neth announced Friday, May 22, 2009 that a white, gold and black plate featuring the state bird and state flower is the actual winner of online voting. (AP Photo/Nebraska Governor Office)

LINCOLN — Nebraska on Friday threw out thousands of votes — online votes for its new license plate — after discovering that a minimalist approach initially won only because a humor Web site had urged people to choose the most boring design.

Department of Motor Vehicles Director Beverly Neth announced Friday that a white, gold and black plate featuring the state bird and state flower — the western meadowlark and goldenrod — is the actual winner of online voting. The new plates go into use in 2011.

The winner announced Tuesday had been a black-and-white plate with the URL of Nebraska's Web site in red. But those results were skewed by a prank instigated by collegehumor.com, which encouraged people to vote for what it deemed to be the most boring design.

Gov. Dave Heineman's spokeswoman, Jen Rae Hein, said the black-and-white plate generated 12,510 of the 14,805 votes cast through collegehumor.com's link to the Nebraska DMV voting site.

After Neth disqualified the humor site's votes, the bird-and-flower design became the winner with 32,858 votes. The black-and-white plate managed to place second among four entries, less than 5,000 votes behind.

___

On the Net:

Nebraska Motor Vehicle Department: http://www.dmv.ne.gov/

Online Prank Forces Neb. License Plate Change

kcci.com

Fri May 22

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Public Discussion (30)

{"commentId":7235058,"authorDomain":"tyler"}

tyler

That second one's pretty cool, but I honestly associate Nebraska with red and white.

{"commentId":7235058,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"tyler"}

4 votes

#1 - Fri May 22, 2009 2:51 PM EDT

{"commentId":7235062,"authorDomain":"Rixar13"}

Rixar13

The votes should count.

Nebraska on Friday threw out thousands of votes — online votes for its new license plate

Ahh common, it was funny.

after discovering that a minimalist approach initially won only because a humor Web site had urged people to choose the most boring design.

Nebraska is boring so what's the problem?

{"commentId":7235062,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"Rixar13"}

4 votes

#2 - Fri May 22, 2009 2:51 PM EDT

{"commentId":7235727,"authorDomain":"mikeandhisbike"}

BicycleMike

-College World Series

-The wolds best beef (undisputed)

-Nebraska Sand Hills which look AMAZING this time of the year

-One of the nation's leading art museums

-U2, Neil Young, and on and on hitting Omaha all the time

-The recession has effected us little (sub-prime mortgage... what's that?)

-One of the nation's largest recreational fresh water reservoirs

-A bicycle culture that has been noted in publications from the Washington Post to Newsweek

-One of the nation's highest concentration of collector cars that make it into magazines

-Hunting and fishing that draws people from all over the world

I guess boring is in the eye of the beholder and I won't say your wrong for that reason alone. I will say that I find it disingenuous that unless you've spent a fair amount of time in a state or location you really are talking out of your as* when you call a place boring. I never make a statement such as that unless I've spent a considerable amount of time there. Maybe you live in NE I don't know.

The plate thing was funny though, I was taken aback when they first announced the boring plate as the winner.

{"commentId":7235727,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"mikeandhisbike"}

5 votes

#2.1 - Fri May 22, 2009 3:32 PM EDT

{"commentId":7235788,"authorDomain":"arsine3463"}

Buckeye Voter

I think I can come up with a more impressive list for Akron.

{"commentId":7235788,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"arsine3463"}

2 votes

#2.2 - Fri May 22, 2009 3:36 PM EDT

{"commentId":7236159,"authorDomain":"ryanat"}

Ryan-

A more impressive list for Ohio?

{"commentId":7236159,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"ryanat"}

#2.3 - Fri May 22, 2009 3:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":7236160,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

JoulesBeef

I agree teh votes shoudl count.. so what if a site said vote for he most boring.
during the presidential election the right said dont vote for eh Manchurian candidate and the dems said dont vote for bush term III.

Big deal..
i wonder if they would have redone the vote, if a specific group tried to get peopel to vote for one that they really liked.

lame lame lame
and honestly the plates shoudl be black and white.. they arent there for decoration, they are there for identification.

The Governor's office says the early voting results were skewed by a humor Web site's prank, that encouraged people to vote for what it deemed to be the most boring design

sorry charlie but that is called democracy and what you just did was break it.

{"commentId":7236160,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

2 votes

#2.4 - Fri May 22, 2009 3:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":7236181,"authorDomain":"hugo-gnzlz"}

HCG76

yup, they should have counted, if they were not sure of what would happen then why in the world did they even have a vote.

Do not put anything to a vote if you are not ready to live by the outcome!

{"commentId":7236181,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"hugo-gnzlz"}

3 votes

#2.5 - Fri May 22, 2009 3:56 PM EDT

{"commentId":7236357,"authorDomain":"dylan-7"}

Dylan923

I think I can come up with a more impressive list for Akron.

I'm from Nashville, Tennessee, I've lived in Nebraska because of my work since last October and I can PROMISE YOU THIS: I've been to Akron, Cincinnatti, Cleveland, Columbus, Youngstown and most points in between. The ONLY thing Impressive in Ohio besides the bad attitude of the cops is Lebron James on the court. From where I live in South Central Nebraska, I can be in the wide open spaces in 30 minutes, Denver in 6 hours and Cheyenne in 7. Plus they have a 75 MPH speed limit, some of the friendliest people this side of home and the economy is strong with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.

The only problem I have with Nebraska is that my VOLS ORANGE gear clashes with all this dammed red out here..............................

Voted Up Bicycle Mike!

{"commentId":7236357,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"dylan-7"}

3 votes

#2.6 - Fri May 22, 2009 4:06 PM EDT

{"commentId":7236378,"authorDomain":"chasing"}

Chasing

Do not put anything to a vote if you are not ready to live by the outcome!

There's fair votes and then there's votes. Seriously, come on now. You think someone who wins because of ballot box stuffing should be declared the winner, just because that's a possible "outcome"? How may of those vote for the boring design even originated from Nebraskans?

As for knocking a state - look, I wouldn't want to live in Nebraska, but people do, and I"m sure it's a nice enough place, with people who love living there. I seriously don't understand why anyone has any compulsion to insult a state, city, or region. It's just childish - and not in good fun, either.

{"commentId":7236378,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"chasing"}

3 votes

#2.7 - Fri May 22, 2009 4:07 PM EDT

{"commentId":7236956,"authorDomain":"hugo-gnzlz"}

HCG76

ok, how about if 50 % originated from Nebraska, hoax or not those should be allowed!

{"commentId":7236956,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"hugo-gnzlz"}

#2.8 - Fri May 22, 2009 4:47 PM EDT

{"commentId":7237318,"authorDomain":"chasing"}

Chasing

ok, how about if 50 % originated from Nebraska, hoax or not those should be allowed!

They allowed votes that didn't come through the humor site - this is why, I presume, the "boring" design still came in second place. It's not as though this were some governmental conspiracy, either - they had already declared it the winner before they realized what had happened. I'm really at a loss as to what it is you're arguing for - more Nebraskans voted for the ultimate winner than did not. It was the meddling by the site that was patently unfair, in that it was intended to defeat the spirit of the vote, not the State's response to it.

{"commentId":7237318,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"chasing"}

1 vote

#2.9 - Fri May 22, 2009 5:06 PM EDT

{"commentId":7237470,"authorDomain":"mikeandhisbike"}

BicycleMike

Dylan923, you could wear your Vols orange around here anytime and we'd never say anything with the exception of good natured kidding. Nebraska fans are well know to be some of the very best in the country. Time and time again I read in our newspaper a fan from an opposing team going on and on how well they were treated in and out of the stadium. People are really nice here I'll say that for sure.

{"commentId":7237470,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"mikeandhisbike"}

2 votes

#2.10 - Fri May 22, 2009 5:16 PM EDT

{"commentId":7239729,"authorDomain":"dylan-7"}

Dylan923

Yep Mike, I'm pretty impressed with Nebraska as a whole......................like I said I've been here since October, originally from Music City but came from the Virgin Islands. I've lived quite a few places and there's alot worse I assure you. We have lots of fun here, small town of 27K, they give me @!$%# and I give it right back, it's a good thing. Nebraska's okay...........................I really am impressed with the overall attitude of the people here.......................

{"commentId":7239729,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"dylan-7"}

3 votes

#2.11 - Fri May 22, 2009 7:39 PM EDT

{"commentId":7246140,"authorDomain":"Rixar13"}

Rixar13

Joking aside, I would love to visit someday and meet Chuck Shumer who I have up-most respect for, a fellow Vietnam Veteran and I would like the plate of his choosing.

{"commentId":7246140,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"Rixar13"}

1 vote

#2.12 - Sat May 23, 2009 10:03 AM EDT

{"commentId":7235216,"authorDomain":"rikd69"}

dkjones

Why we need to waste the money on making pretty license plates. All you need is to issue one standard plate for each state.

{"commentId":7235216,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"rikd69"}

2 votes

#3 - Fri May 22, 2009 3:02 PM EDT

{"commentId":7235805,"authorDomain":"arsine3463"}

Buckeye Voter

I'm actually a fan of simple plates. What is the chosen color scheme clashes with the color of your car?

{"commentId":7235805,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"arsine3463"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Fri May 22, 2009 3:37 PM EDT

{"commentId":7236030,"authorDomain":"Rixar13"}

Rixar13

I moved to Florida from Maine and I've never sees so many license plates as they have here. Each with additional fee and I helped my wife pick the new save the dolphins plate. Very Cool and good cause.

{"commentId":7236030,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"Rixar13"}

1 vote

#3.2 - Fri May 22, 2009 3:48 PM EDT

{"commentId":7236241,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

JoulesBeef

rixar but the plate suggest s your state supports the cause of saving the dolphins..a nbd while that sounds good.. it just ends up causing problems like the "I believe" plates.
it looks like the state is supporting a liberal cause.

sorry want to support the dolphins get a bumper sticker.. i despise and think it is unamerican the wide variety of designs that have zip to do with the state.
state bird plates fine, state motto, ok.. anything else should not be the purview of the gov.

{"commentId":7236241,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

1 vote

#3.3 - Fri May 22, 2009 4:00 PM EDT

{"commentId":7236386,"authorDomain":"rikd69"}

dkjones

I live in FL also and to get a plate is like going into a F-N candy store. Do you want to support.... Just give me a basic plate that I'm already overpayin and stop trying to upsell God Dammit.

{"commentId":7236386,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"rikd69"}

1 vote

#3.4 - Fri May 22, 2009 4:07 PM EDT

{"commentId":7236393,"authorDomain":"rikd69"}

dkjones

I live in FL also and to get a plate is like going into a F-N candy store. Do you want to support.... Just give me a basic plate that I'm already overpayin and stop trying to upsell

{"commentId":7236393,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"rikd69"}

#3.5 - Fri May 22, 2009 4:08 PM EDT

{"commentId":7237016,"authorDomain":"chasing"}

Chasing

I live in FL also and to get a plate is like going into a F-N candy store. Do you want to support.... Just give me a basic plate that I'm already overpayin and stop trying to upsell

No-one's forcing you to buy a fancier plate - you can go with the norm if you'd like. But if someone else has money to burn and a cause to support, why the hell not? I don't understand why it's an issue, frankly. It's better than vanity plates, anyway, and those have been around for ages.

{"commentId":7237016,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"chasing"}

1 vote

#3.6 - Fri May 22, 2009 4:50 PM EDT

{"commentId":7235364,"authorDomain":"ANewApproachOn"}

A New Approach

This seems to happen a lot lately. Someone organizes their people to vote certain for these things then the officials decide they don't like the results since it was promoted by someone.

How is that any different than campaigning?

{"commentId":7235364,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"ANewApproachOn"}

4 votes

#4 - Fri May 22, 2009 3:11 PM EDT

{"commentId":7237143,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

JoulesBeef

it's not.

{"commentId":7237143,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

#4.1 - Fri May 22, 2009 4:56 PM EDT

{"commentId":7235903,"authorDomain":"reddirthippy"}

reddirthippy

the bird-and-flower design became the winner with 32,858 votes.

Why isn't it shaped like an corncob?

{"commentId":7235903,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"reddirthippy"}

1 vote

#5 - Fri May 22, 2009 3:42 PM EDT

{"commentId":7237951,"authorDomain":"tappymcwidestance"}

Tappy McWidestance

Nebraska is a red state so I understand them not wanting to count the votes.

{"commentId":7237951,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"tappymcwidestance"}

2 votes

#6 - Fri May 22, 2009 5:45 PM EDT

{"commentId":7239629,"authorDomain":"mikeandhisbike"}

BicycleMike

It's a red state but for the first time in a veeeerrry long time one of our congressional districts went Dem. in the Presidential race. It's still pretty damn red though.

{"commentId":7239629,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"mikeandhisbike"}

#6.1 - Fri May 22, 2009 7:33 PM EDT

{"commentId":7243161,"authorDomain":"lady-blu"}

lady_blu

so why ask people to vote? to prove a point... does our vote really count on things that matter?

{"commentId":7243161,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"lady-blu"}

#7 - Sat May 23, 2009 12:23 AM EDT

{"commentId":7244762,"authorDomain":"toyota4bymt"}

MT-Mike

License plates matter?

{"commentId":7244762,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"toyota4bymt"}

1 vote

#7.1 - Sat May 23, 2009 5:50 AM EDT

{"commentId":7244133,"authorDomain":"mbudd"}

Urmom

I applaud Nebraska's fine commitment to the integrity and tradition of it's foo-foo license plate program. They have protected the honor of this venerable institution, sacrificing only the democratic process. Kudos, Nebraska!

{"commentId":7244133,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"mbudd"}

2 votes

#8 - Sat May 23, 2009 2:22 AM EDT

{"commentId":7305934,"authorDomain":"darkside"}

Mykola Bilokonsky

...I actually like the minimalist one more. The flower image one is going to look dated immediately.

{"commentId":7305934,"threadId":"585245","contentId":"2852060","authorDomain":"darkside"}

#9 - Wed May 27, 2009 10:39 AM EDT

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Neb. thwarts pranksters' license plate hijacking

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