The Greatest Public Intellectual of Our Age
June 20th, 2009
Last night, I staggered into the break room and hurriedly turned on the news. Since it was late, no one objected to my taking control of the television. Mostly because no one else was there.
Obama was speaking at the “Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner” I watched, hand in mouth… waiting. He finished speaking, and then… they switched over to analysis of his jokes.
I was ever so pissed, because that meant I had to miss the greatest public intellectual of our age who was scheduled to speak immediately after.
I must say, that was quite amusing.
Cheers for bringing that to my attention BC.
I think the previous year’s guest speaker was Steven Colbert…what a difference a year makes.
@Matt
You’re welcome, and glad to be of service.
@Emperor Gum
Steven Colbert was the host several years past. Last year it was Wanda Sikes, and the year before that it was…. oh damn it, he was on Whose Line is It Anyway for a while, and the year before that it was an older comedian.
But you’re correct, I think Stephen Colbert really set the mark on a historical level and I doubt it will ever be topped… ever.
That was spectacular. I can’t wait for my boyfriend to get home so I can make him watch it. Thanks BC.
That was beautiful. I hate to admit it but I just watched the Wraith of Khan last night for the first time ever. I’ve never been a Trek geek but after seeing the new movie I had to have more.
@banshee
You should check out his TED video. I think I linked it in one of the bsg liveblogs.
@DJ
Wait till you find out about what Spock was really doing to Macoy.
TED video? I have no idea what that means, but maybe I’ll try to find it. Though, if you linked it with a BSG post that probably means it has something to do with BSG, which means I probably won’t really understand enough to be properly amused…
Fantastic! I chased my boyfriend out of the room by shouting the Dune answers. Though I don’t think the audience liked being referred to as nerds. Many of them looked outwardly bored.
@Banshee
It’s from a website called ted.com and it’s very accessible. Ted.com is a sight where the greatest minds of every field get together and tell each other what they think about. It’s really one of the best websites on the internet.
@Jessica
I really don’t think there is a more “bored with life” and “unimpressed by everything” group of people than the people who work at dying newspapers. They didn’t laugh at Stephen Colbert either, and he was brilliant.
@Jessica
I was very disappointed with myself for only knowing the answer to the second Dune question which would be ‘thumpers’
Can’t believe I’ve forgotten the other two…
@Eileen
It’s Shai Halud and the spice is called melange.
Pretty good post. I just came by your blog and wanted to say
that I have really enjoyed browsing your posts. Anyway
I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
@BC
I just looked it up…because I did know that the spice is called melange. If a worm is killed in water the resulting *extra* strong potion is called the Water of Life and that’s what John Hodgeman was specifically asking in his quiz.
These are things we should know!!
Well to my credit I recently reread Dune. It was all fresh in my mind. I was thinking about reading the other Dune books, but them I remembered a fellow nerd saying it’s not worth it.
@Sarah
I can’t tell if you’re spam or not, so congratulations!
@Eileen
Damn it! You got me on a technicality. I guess I didn’t listen that well.
@Jessica
It depends on what you’re looking for I guess. If you’re looking for another Frank Herbert, don’t read them. If you’re okay with having a few more romps in the Dune Universe, then it’s okay.