Fantasy Colbert League: January 18-January 21

This week has one guest who I am particularly excited about – Dick Ebersol. He has made some comments throughout “Late-Night-Gate” which are interesting. Though I am sure he is on for promotion of the Olympics, there is no doubt in my mind that “Stephen,” and hopefully Stephen, will take advantage. John Farmer was not on last week (John Heilemann was on instead), and he is now on Thursday. It looks to be a good week.

Margaret Palmer is a professor of Entomology and Biology at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD. She is also the Laboratory Director of the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory for the University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Sciences. Palmer’s areas of expertise are restoration ecology, stream ecosystem structure and function, invertabrate biodiversity, and urban stream ecology. Her recent article, “Mountaintop Mining Consequences,” (Here is the press release) calls on the Environmental Protection Agency to review its issuance of mountain mining permits. Among other publications, Dr. Palmer has co-edited the book, Foundations of Restoration Ecology, which takes the underlying theory of ecology and connects it to applied restoration practice. Margaret received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Emory University and her Master’s and Ph.D. in Coastal Oceanography from the University of South Carolina.

Fract: If water is so darn precious, why do we let fish poop in it? Although she has her Ph.D. in Oceanography, Dr. Margaret Palmer now focuses more on freshwater matters. This gives me special reason to call attention to a favorite segment of mine.

Emily Pilloton

Emily Pilloton is an architect, industrial designer, writer, and the author of the book, Design Revolution: 100 Products That Empower People. The book highlights different products whose designs help solve common social problems. Pilloton is the founder, executive director, and project manager of Project H Design, which is a non-profit team of designers creating project design initiatives for “humanity, habitats, health and happiness”. These design initiatives are used to help those without access to the resources necessary to solve social problems. Emily was also the managing editor of the weblog, Inhabitat.com, but now holds the title of senior editor. She lectures across the world about the social impact that new designs can have, including creating smaller carbon footprints. Ms. Pilloton is a self-classified optimist.

Fract: Educated in Chicago as well? Like Stephen – the person, Emily went to school in Chicago for her Master’s in Fine Arts, but she attended the Art Institute of Chicago.

Tuesday, January 19: Stephen Bosworth

Ambassador Stephen Bosworth is the Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Massachusetts. The Fletcher School is the oldest school in the U.S. dedicated solely to graduate studies of International Relations. His 2006 book, Chasing the Sun: Rethinking East Asian Policy Since 1992, co-authored with Morton Abramowitz, shows how U.S. policy towards East Asia must change with a more globalized economy and worldview. Bosworth’s experience and knowledge of East Asia led him to be appointed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the Special Representative for North Korean policy. He has served as U.S Ambassador to South Korea, the Philippines, and Tunisia, and was named the American Academy of Diplomacy’s Diplomat of the Year in 1987 for his work. He has also had assignments in Paris, Madrid, and Panama City abroad, and served as the State Department’s Director of Policy Planning at home.

Fract: Educated at Dartmouth as well? Like Stephen – the character, Ambassador Bosworth received his Bachelor’s degree from the Ivy League school.

Wednesday, January 20: Dick Ebersol

Dick Ebersol is the chairman of NBC Universal Sports and Olympics. With the role, Ebersol is responsible for all sports programming on NBC and USA, as well as overseeing Olympic programming. Dick began his career at ABC in 1967 as the first Olympic researcher, but left in 1974 to become NBC’s Director of Weekend Late Night Programming. He helped Lorne Michaels develop Saturday Night Live in 1975, and in 1977 became the Vice President of Comedy, Variety, and Event Programming at NBC. Mr. Ebersol began his time in NBC Sports in 1989 as the President of the division. He has created great success for NBC Sports, including winning 11 Sports Emmys for the 2004 coverage of the Athen’s Olympic games. Dick Ebersol has been honored with many awards for his work, which includes receiving awards from the International Olympic Committee and the March of Dimes.

Fract: Famous father too? Dick Ebersol’s father is Charles Ebersol who was the Chairman of the American Cancer Society.

Thursday, January 21: John Farmer

John Farmer is the senior counsel to the 9/11 Commission and is the author of the book, The Ground Truth: The Untold Story of America Under Attack on 9/11, which draws conclusions about the failure to detect the attacks of September 11, 2001. Currently, Farmer serves as the dean of the School of Law at Rutgers in Newark, New Jersey. He attended Georgetown University, where he received both his Bachelor’s degree and his Juris Doctor. In 1999, Farmer was nominated to the position of New Jersey Attorney General, and served in that position until 2002. John Farmer is also a contributer to The Star-Ledger of Newark.

Fract: While serving as the New Jersey Attorney General in 2002, Farmer served as the acting Governor for 90 minutes until the next governor was sworn in.

Enjoy the show!