EPISODE NUMBER: 5069 (May 19, 2009)
GUEST: Walter Kirn
SEGMENTS: Donald Rumsfeld’s cover letters, The WØRD – I Know You Are But What Am I?, Difference Maker
VIDEOS: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 (Full access video)
Ok, kiddos, tonight’s commentary is going to be short and sweet. While I really enjoyed The WØRD, I have to admit that was the most bizarre “Difference Makers” sketch I have ever seen on the show. Good Lord, that was a creepy mustache. I enjoyed the interview with Walter Kirn, but I wish I could have heard more about the book. It’s an interesting premise.
Please feel free to put your thoughts about tonight’s episode in the comments.
- Nation, you know I miss the Bush administration. At least with those guys, you knew where you stood. Which was occasionally on a box while holding electrodes.
- They added quotes, like this one from Isaiah: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Of course the answer was, the same soldiers over and over again.
- Bush and Rumsfeld are men of faith. In fact they considered changing the Pentagon into the Jesus fish.
- Who is that monster, and what did he do with Kenny Rogers? Take it down!
- Renaming your opponent is a brilliant maneuver, no matter what business you’re in. Remember how Coke won the cola wars with their slogan, “Pepsi, more like Poopsi”
- “Democrat Socialist” isn’t tough enough.[Couldn't Fit "Gay" Into It?]
- I am, but I’m using much larger words than “Poor Me”.
I thought the interview was very interesting. I wasn’t sure exactly what his topic was going to be, because the table of contents presented him like he was going to talk about testing and the structure of education. however, after a quick glance at Amazon, it appears that the book is a memoir. I also read his article of the same title the Jan/Feb 05 Atlantic (obviously not at the time, lol, just now online) and it provides more insight into what he barely touched on in the interview, like how he was from Minnesota.
I’m inclined to read the article as being more negative about studying English or philosophy than taking issue with elite universities. basically, where are all the students studying physical or life science? are they being short-changed in the same way? are they even part of the same culture? (I know this is a memoir, and he’s going to write about his own path, but at least in the interview it seemed like he was trying to make some general points as well.)
anyway, I may flip through the book in the future if I encounter it in a bookstore.
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My take on it was that he wrote about his own experiences and there may be many others who share his experience. Some kids get into prestigious schools because they are members of wealthy, well-connected families. Others get in because they worked their butts off to get there. But an Ivy League education is not necessarily any better than what a person may receive at a less prestigious school. And of course some majors are more difficult and demanding than others. I have some issues with college education in general. I have two different degrees in two different subjects from two different universities, neither of which is prestigious, but I learned so much more on the job and through life experiences. I believe getting a college education is very important but I’d like to see that education improve and students get their money’s worth out of it. It’s funny, the son of one of my closest friends is headed to Harvard in the fall on a full scholarship. I couldn’t help but wonder what he’s going to think of the place once he gets there.
The Word got my vote. Loved it! Much better than Monday’s word. The difference-maker dude creeped me out. A lot. *shudders*
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you’re definitely correct about him focusing on his own experience.
also, I appreciate the comments about learning more in life. sometimes when I’m learning I feel like if this is all I’ll know it’s kind of pathetic.
(that difference maker dude was *very* creepy indeed…)
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I can’t not vote for The WØRD. Favorite joke: “Can you imagine? It’ll be, ‘Hello bureaucrats. Goodbye Mom and Pop massive insurance conglomerates.’ [Getting screwed will lose that personal touch.].” It’s oh so true.
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I’m afraid Walter Kirn bothered me. It seemed like he had just woken up from a nap and didn’t know what to say. Stephen was trying so hard to pull things out of him but he seemed rather sedated. *shrugs shoulders*
I voted for The Word this time ’round. Very apt.
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The Word was brilliant but the Difference Maker had me LOLing really hard, so it gets my vote. It was a nice shout out to all the starving, mediocre, yet sincere and good hearted actors out there. Plus a big thumbs up to the suit/tie combo.
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i gotta say, his moustache really bothered me… hehehe creepy!
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Yes, he was dippy/creepy which is why it was so funny.
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First time to see Difference Maker. That actor was seriously creepy and took himself so seriously that he made me laugh.
The Word was a very brilliant nailing of the GOP.
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