Comments on: Ben Stein Watch, RIP

By: Christopher

Christopher — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:10:34 +0000

Felix,

I’m not sure why my previous comment has been “awaiting moderation” for three days now.

Nonetheless, I have made my decision with regard to the BSW franchise.

See today’s (Thursday’s) entry in my blog, Pragmatism Refreshed, for my plans. I’d love a link. Thanks.

By: Felix Salmon

Felix Salmon — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:15:44 +0000

Jeff, I started the BSW long before I knew anything about Stein’s views on God and creation.

By: jeff

jeff — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:40:53 +0000

Felix Salmon, let me guess… You are an Atheist? And this is why you dislike Ben so much because of his stance on the belief of a God. And because he made ‘Expelled’… Just admit it…

By: dcb

dcb — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:35:29 +0000

yes, his still being there is one reason I no longer get the times on a regualr basis

By: KenG

KenG — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:45:18 +0000

Felix, you didn’t mention one of the other great predictions in that Aug ’07 link – Stein estimated losses from sub-prime mortgages to be about $37 Billion. I dunno, maybe he was talking about the losses on any given day.

But at least he did get one thing right – anybody who listens to CNBC for investment advice will lose money.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:04:00 +0000

I haven't made up my mind quite yet, but I'm tempted to take the BSW torch from your hand, Felix. Here's a lnk to a couple of my Stein-related columns. Consider it a job application. I hope your readers will feel free through my blog, Pragmatism Refreshed, to let me know whether they think me suited to be the next anti-Stein. Anyway, here are the links. One on his withdrawal from the chore of speaking to graduates at the University of Vermont. And one on his anti-Darwinism tralala.

By: TJS

TJS — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:55:22 +0000

I will deeply miss the BSW.

By: Dustin

Dustin — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:33:58 +0000

I halfway wonder if the NYT didn’t pay you to start such a campaign. Something of this nature would only boost his exposure.

By: Liam

Liam — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:53:46 +0000

May I suggest that you start a Portfolio Watch instead. No more conflict of interest, it only requires one day a month (actually, only 10 days a month now that its frequency has been reduced), and has gorgeous opening paragraphs like this from last month’s cover story:
For more than 30 years, a natural-gas pipeline had been the great white whale of Alaskan resource development. Tens of millions of dollars had been spent in the quest for it. The names of collapsed consortiums and failed legislative initiatives littered the tundra like the bleached horns of long-dead caribou. Then, last summer, Sarah Palin said she had harpooned the whale. Whales! Consortiums! WTF!
Of course, if Joanne couldn’t get herself fired for putting Dov Charney on the cover, there’s simply no way that a lone blogger is going to have any effect.

By: Barrett

Barrett — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:00:40 +0000

This is a tragedy. Both the end of BSW and, more to the point, the continuance of Ben Stein’s column.

By: D Sakarya

D Sakarya — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:28:52 +0000

My favorite memory of Stein was when he called Gore a thug for challenging the 2000 election result. NYT: all the News that fits.

By: otto

otto — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:21:19 +0000

will be missed