Thread: Real Time with Bill Maher

because i often feel like threads often result in looking like the cat scratched end of a living room couch, i began to slowly avoid the Politics Forum. but sometimes you read, hear or in this case, see something that makes you miss having a venue to engage in a little righteous discourse... hopefully.

last night's episode of Real Time and the subsequent Overtime segment online - which was hosted by Seth McFarlane "of Two and a Half Men" was one of those times.

the guests were an Astrophysicist, an Economics Professor at U.C. Berkley, the Editor of Salon.com, a former special assistant to the chief of naval operations in the Pentagon cum banker cum Tea Party movie producer, and a chef.

the discussion was equally varied and quite enlightening, and both Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and Anthony Bourdain were off the hook!




i guess alls i'm saying is that there were a number of things mentioned by the panel that i thought would have made for further interesting discussion.

What struck me is how often they all seemed to agree despite their varied backgrounds and political beliefs. Bourdain came off as suprisingly humble. And I thought McFarlane was sharp during the post-show online segment. I need to re-watch.

Speaking of Maher, seeing him again in November at the Gibson. I don't agree with everything he says but his topics are thought provoking and usually well reasoned.

Oh- and how bout HBO, eh? That is a damn fine channel! Worth every penny of my $12 a month sub fee.

Oh, and as far as topics go, I think my favorite moment was when Dr. Tyson lamented the fact that we've stopped dreaming in this country. It takes him a moment to collect his thoughts and get going... but once he does WOW!

i wish Joan Walsh would have chimed in a bit more. she seemed often hesitant, but when she did, again something very interesting came out... the bit about the UC System being free prior to Reagan for instance.

i think Bannon had a lot to say as well, but i think an unfortunate bi-product of Tea Partygoers is that they are often unprepared for anything other than conversation completely fueled by their most visceral ideologies... and that isn't something exclusive to a Maher panel either, that pretty much runs the board.

Bourdain's food allegories were pretty damn in balance, and really can open a whole 'nother avenue of conversation.

and again, deGrasse Tyson was just sick! some of those nerdy straight dope barbs were downright hilarious and almost humbling.

i'll chime in more when i get a chance to watch it.

dr. tyson is always interesting when he guests on the daily show. can't wait to see him on maher's show.
about the UCs. god, i can't believe how much they're charging to go there now. my parents could barely afford to send me for $5000/yr and now it's going to be over $12,000. geez. i only graduated 9 yrs ago. i can't believe it's more than double, but as you say... it used to be free...

I'm going to start law school at UC Davis this month and let me tell you...it's expensive.

State schools in other states are often 1/4 of the cost. UC Schools, however, are pretty well regarded in general but that's a huge price difference. California is just a mess fiscally so I understand that cuts had to be made somewhere but it's still tough for students. Not to derail the topic too much, but does anyone have any insight into why costs have skyrocketed? Is it strictly a funding issue?

i love how well spoken dr. degrasse tyson is. there's plenty of brainy scientists out there, but not all are so concisely expressive as he. great sense of humor, too. i really do agree with his points about where the money in america is going (and where it isn't anymore) as well as america falling behind other nations. nice having bourdain on also. i just read an article from npr about french people getting fatter. bourdain's comment about people orgasming over chocolate and taking food to bed with them is a good point. my folks are old school french influenced so i wasn't raised to snack or eat at odd hours. i only ate once or twice a day, actually. same with my husband's side of the family (also french). times are a changing now even in france. the role of food has definitely changed in sometimes grotesque ways. anyway, i really found it interesting to hear a foodie comment on america and eating.