Andrew Ross Sorkin is a wildly popular, forward-thinking and well-respected writer/journalist. Sounds like a Brown alum who does cool things? As much as it pains us to say it, he’s from a certain other “Ivy.” Luckily, he’s been wise enough to accept our university’s money and will be speaking tonight (12/5) at 7 pm in Salomon DeCiccio Auditorium.

If you haven’t heard of Sorkin, he wrote a book called Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System — and Themselves. Since Americans like their corn-syrup sodas in 2 liter bottles and their cars to guzzle gas, it makes sense that they would prefer books with excessively long titles. In all seriousness, the book has been hailed as “comprehensive and chilling” by TIME magazine, which means it’s worth a look. Unfortunately, busy college students hate books — so see Sorkin this evening, when he will talk about…something related to his work, himself or his career in a rhetorically appealing way (Note: Brown Lecture Board has failed to include any information regarding the content of the speech on its cute Wherevent page).

Image via.

Ira Glass ’82, radio host and subject of earnest college essays across America, was on campus this weekend. No big deal.

Courtesy of Julieta Cardenas

Well, maybe a little bit of one. Glass presented at the MCM@50 conference’s “Big Media” panel, where he spoke about various subjects including Roland Barthes, being a transfer student and the often inexorable pull of mediocrity. Those of you who missed hearing Ira’s dulcet tones and spot-on analogies in the flesh can check out the event’s Herald coverage here.

Amidst the coconut shrimp and admiring fans at the reception that followed, we were able to ask Glass for his thoughts on the 2011 Spring Weekend lineup. His skeptical response: “Like, P.Diddy? In 2011?”

On the other hand, he said, “TV on the Radio — awesome.”

Glass said he wasn’t familiar with Friday night supporting act Das Racist, but promised to check the band out, pulling out his iPhone and emailing himself a reminder. Did you hear that, concertgoers? Who’s that? Brooooooooooooooown.

Colombia's President Santos wants to make sure you give a damn about Latin America ©semana.com

Today at 6:30, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos will be speaking to a packed Salomon Center. The evocative topic? “Why People Should Give More than a Damn About Latin America.” Unfortunately, tickets are sold out, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still give a damn about these important issues. [Read more →]

Obsessed with LOST?

Well, you might have the chance to meet Michael Emerson, the actor who plays Ben Linus on the ABC television series LOST.

Emerson is speaking at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI on Sunday, October 24^th at 8:00 PM.  The talk is being promoted as “Behind the scenes of LOST and Mr. Emerson’s Life and Career.” Some sources say he also may apologize for killing Jacob. No promises.

Ticket can be bought online at ticketmaster or on the campus of URI if you find yourself in Kingston during this next week.

Here is a clip of Emerson from the final season, bloodied and bruised as usual.