Blogs / Articles

  • Dirty Jobs Environmentally Friendly February 6, 2009 From the MRW Water Cooler Q: Do you consider “Dirty Jobs” an environmentally friendly show? If so, why? I’m ambivalent. On the one hand, I can think of no other program that positively impacts our environment more than Dirty Jobs. On the other hand, that impact is entirely coincidental. Dirty Jobs celebrates hard work, sweat, pain, capitalism, and humor. I have no ... read more...
  • Mike–A Letter to Obama/McCain? February 6, 2009 From the MRW Water Cooler Q: Crumbling infrastructure? Decreased enrollment in trade schools? How about letting the rest of us read it? -Moose Hi Moose, If I send it, you’ll see it, as will everyone else, since it will be an “open letter.” I haven’t decided yet if I want to go there, but if I do, it will be part of a dual effort ... read more...
  • Giving Dirty Jobs a Bad Name February 6, 2009 From the MRW Water Cooler Q: Mike, this goes way beyond the infrastructure crumbling because we cannot attract workers in the trades. When did this become acceptable? Society went from Catholic guilt to Protestant work ethic, to half done is good enough. Is this a natural progression? -Kathy Hi Kathy. Like the trades and the crumbling infrastructure, the issues you describe are not really ... read more...
  • Does anyone just watch DJ’s because it’s funny anymore? February 6, 2009 From the MRW Water Cooler Q: Lately Mike and others have been alluding to the fact that DJ’s is much bigger than just a TV show, and that it will now (or possibly has always) been/be a vehicle for a much larger agendas/goals/themes/whatever. – Arica Hi Arica, The notion of working for a living is, and has always has been, in my ... read more...
  • Opinions on MRW February 6, 2009 From the MRW Water Cooler Q: Mike, Congratulations on mikeroweWORKS. I do wish you the best. Now please no hate mail. Mike asked for opinions and this is mine, right, wrong whatever it’s mine, it not going to bother him so please don’t let it bother you. Mike not that it matters but I don’t agree with you on this subject . ... read more...
  • My General Analysis of Mike’s Mission February 6, 2009 From the MRW Water Cooler Q: You are absolutely right about the problem of work in the country, but looking at it straight, it is coming from a well-off prime-time stud who has the voice and charisma for T.V. – Jester Hi Jester, If I had a tee shirt company, I just might roll out a series of “Well Off, Prime Time Stud” ... read more...
  • Work Is Not The Enemy…Refrigerator Words to Live by February 6, 2009 From the MRW Water Cooler Q: I particularly liked the last comment in an article: “If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.” Isn’t that the gist of Mike’s message here? “Try something!” We (meaning the country) are very good at rhetoric, but when it comes to actually DOING something, that is where we fail every time. Liz ... read more...
  • National Big Money February 6, 2009 From the MRW Water Cooler Q: Mike, I am sitting here thinking as I watch a NFL game and those players make six figures or more in salary. And there is stars, like yourself who make six figures or more for whatever you do. Then you have guys like plumbers and all who are lucky if they make 40 thousand a year, ... read more...
  • Education I’m curious Mike… February 6, 2009 From the MRW Water Cooler Q: What are your feelings on education? Did you start school with an idea of what you wanted to be or a degree you wanted to pursue? It seems you are a well-rounded individual and I’m just curious if there was anything you had ever considered pursuing as a career. You are obviously a gifted writer ... read more...
  • Diaper Services – now that is a dirty job January 21, 2009 From the MRW Water Cooler Q: Mike, My wife and I have been fans for years now. With our son being just over a year old now we have become intimately familiar with the Dirty Job that is Parenthood. One service we evaluated, yet chose against, was diaper services. Several of our friends use the Dandy Diaper Service and we just cannot comprehend ... read more...
  • The Marketing Truth January 21, 2009 From the MRW Water Cooler Q: Really Mike, I’m questioning this also… are we being profiled to understand the direction of mikeroweWorks? – Nola Hi Nola, Obviously, that’s a tricky word, and I’m not sure how you mean it in this context. In a few months, when the things are a bit more organized, I’ll take the temperature of things, and decide if anything ... read more...
  • Mike Rowe takes on the ‘Dirty’ job of Rebuilding America January 21, 2009 From the MRW Water Cooler Mike Rowe takes on the ‘Dirty’ job of rebuilding America ~ Now how in the world is Mike going to accomplish this goal? We’ll just have to wait and see. Maria Hi Maria, My philosophy here is a lot like my attitude on the show. I believe there is real equity in simply trying. “Succeeding,” or “accomplishing,” or “completing,” ... read more...
  • “Boy Howdy” January 21, 2009 From the MRW Water Cooler Haven’t heard that expression in years, but had to chuckle just now. The gate agent here at Burbank Airport is apparently a fan of Dirty Jobs, and wanted to express his enthusiasm for the show with an exclamation that was notable not just for its colloquialism, but for its sheer volume. Made me laugh and lurch ... read more...
  • Why Work Sucks and How To Fix it! January 20, 2009 From the MRW Water Cooler Q. When I was flying out to Wisconsin last month, I came across an article in the NWA World Traveler magazine on board the plane. It was titled, “Where every day is Saturday,” and it immediately caught my attention because of a single word that appeared in it, “ROWE.” No, it wasn’t referring to Mike; it stands ... read more...
  • Has anyone seen the musical 1776? December 25, 2008 From the MRW Water Cooler Q. Hubby rented it for us to watch. We watched part last night and the rest this morning. I was wary of a musical on the declaration of independence, but I was pleasantly surprised. I recommend it highly if you haven’t seen it. Dani A. In 1976, Exxon sponsored a regional run of that show, to help celebrate ... read more...