Jon Stewart Fails a Nerd Test

On tonight's episode, 9/27/09, Jon Stewart had on Bruce Bueno de Mesquita to discuss his book The Predictioneer's Game: Using the Logic of Brazen Self-Interest to See and Shape the Future. He is political scientist who developed methods to predict near term events with amazing accuracy. When Jon asks Bruce if he can predict anything Bruce denies he "is any Hari Seldon". The reference flies over the head Jon.

Hari Seldon is the Asimov character who creates The Foundation in The Foundation series.

Bad nerd. Bad nerd.

Comic Book Guy would be disappointed.

A Defense of Short Sellers

Just because you robbed the grave doesn't mean you killed the guy.

Samatha Bee, of The Daily Show
Talking to a short seller,
March 20, 2008

Personally, I have no particular problem with short sellers.

Jon Stewart Makes Jim Crammer Drown in His Own Flop Sweat

Here (pt 1, pt 2 and pt 3) is the slap down of Jim Cramer and by extension the vacuity of TV business journalism. I don't have a problem with business journalism. Much of its content can be best parts of the newspaper with long and detailed articles by knowledgeable beat reporters. But that is written journalism. Much of live TV "news" shows are merely a display of stream of conciousness. When not giving updates the hours are filled with rambling mumblings of touts, cheats and hacks.

As way of explanation to the problem of filling time in the exchange on thursday night between Cramer and Stewart.
Jim Cramer: ...we[meaning CNBC] have 17 hours of live TV a day to do.
Jon Stewart: maybe you could cut down on it

How to Get Hate Mail from 8 Year Olds

Downgrade Pluto from planet to a Trans-Neptunian object. Then as Neil deGrasse Tyson found out you get misspelled death threats written in crayon.

Watch interview on the Daily Show here.

Nun's Discipline

I was a thug. I was scolded by nuns.

Bill O'Reilly on his
third grade
education, crimes and punishment
Daily Show 13/11/2008

Over and Entering 6th Year

With the Iraq war over and headed into its sixth year.

John Oliver to hapless Iraqi official,
Daily Show 2005/10/09

The Daily Show Writers from the Picket Line. Bonus Colbertian Material

In the comments to this piece someone mentioned that this version of NOT the Daily Show lacks only Jon Stewart and flashy production values.



Here also is a Colbert writer channeling his inner asshole, or entertainment executive. The biggest sob story is that his son had to settle for a "non-endangered birthday tiger".


Here is a blog from the writers, United Hollywood. There is also a video of the Simpson writers making pointed comparisons between Mr Burns and Mr Murdoch. There is a claim that Simpson profits paid for Rupert Murdoch's "throne of bones" and his "lake of blood".