Joseph Natividad

Why Dirty Jobs Is Such an Amazing Show

“My name is Mike Rowe, and this is my job: I explore the country looking for people who aren’t afraid to get dirty?hard-working men and women who earn an honest living doing the kinds of jobs that make civilized life possible for the rest of us. Now…get ready to get dirty.”

Who wouldn?t be enticed by opening lines like this that tell the viewer exactly what they?re in for?

Dirty Jobs, one of the best science shows out there, gives viewers an entertaining glimpse into the kind of work that usually goes unnoticed but is actually vital to keeping our quality of life as it is.

Mike Rowe is the charismatic and witty host who travels around the country to take on the grimiest, smelliest, most disgusting jobs that I never even knew existed or would even think that anybody would be willing to make a living out of.

For a day, Rowe works alongside people who have jobs that range from chick-sexers to septic tank technicians to alligator egg collectors. There?s even an episode that was considered too gross for Discovery. Fortunately, it has been posted on YouTube for everyone?s viewing pleasure. Watch Part 1 and Part 2 here.

My personal favorite was the time he caught snakes at a beach to examine their digestive habits. I couldn?t stop laughing everytime he got bitten all over his hands or got pooped or peed on.

Dirty Jobs premiered with three pilot episodes in November 2003 then returned as a series on the Discovery Channel on July 26, 2005. Now in its third full season, Dirty Jobs has already aired over 150 episodes every Tuesday at 9 PM.

The men and women being profiled on Dirty Jobs don?t earn a cent for appearing on the show. Their national exposure is satisfactory enough by itself. This relationship between the show, the actual dirty jobs and the amount of viewers tuning in means that the Discovery Channel has pretty much hit a gold mine in television genius.

No matter how good of an idea this show has been to Discovery, however, Mike Rowe?s presence makes all the difference in the world. He?s so naturally funny and good-natured that he endears himself to the audience. I really don?t think anyone could host Dirty Jobs as well as Mike Rowe does, and I?m glad for his success. After bouncing around the entertainment industry for the past twenty years and doing all the in-flight entertainment for American Airlines in between that time, he has found a gig that should keep him busy for the next decade or more.

Tags: american-airlines, dirty-jobs, discovery-channel, gross, joseph-natividad, mike-rowe, wired-magazine, youtube

Ali G on Economics and the Stock Market

Alistair Leslie Graham, better known as Ali G, is best know for being?well?like Ali G. Shades of Borat and Bruno the gay news correspondent are seen in him, but that?s probably because all three characters are one and the same person: comic genius Sasha Baron Cohen.

It is worth noting that Cohen is a graduate of Cambridgesohe?s not as stupid or ignorant as any of his characters at all.

In this video clip, Ali G interviews Dr. George Schultz, the former chief economic advisor to both Presidents Jimmy Carter and Lyndon B. Johnson. Their conversation takes a dive for insanity even from the very beginning of the segment. It makes me wonder if these people that come on his show have any idea what they were getting themselves into.

The two of them exchange jabs and suggestions for the way America should print its money so that you wouldn?t have to carry any change in your pocket. Shultz tries to explain what PIN numbers are used for and the process of buying and selling stocks. In what I thought was the funniest moment of the interview, Shultz gives Ali G advice on what not to do when dabbling in the stock market: ?That?s a real rule. Don?t be high when you?re buying and selling stock.?

I was about to share a video of ?economic principles, translated? but I thought this was a hundred times more entertaining.

Tags: ali-g, borat, bruno, chief-economic-advisor, economic-principles-translated, Economics, george-shultz, hbo, jimmy-carter, joseph-natividad, lyndon-johnson, sasha-baron-cohen, stock-market, ucsd, youtube