May 3 - 7, 2004
Monday, May 3
Electronic Voting Machines Banned in Four Counties
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On Friday, California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley announced the withdrawal of approval for the use of electronic voting machines throughout the state. The decision bans the machines in the counties of San Diego, San Joaquin, Solano, and Kern and allows 10 out of the 14 remaining counties using the machines to reapply for certification if they meet 23 new security conditions. Joining Larry Mantle to discuss the issue is Michael Alvarez, professor of political science and co-director of the Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project; Austin Erdman, Assistant Registrar of Voters, San Joaquin County; Chris Heffron, Deputy Registrar Recorder, Los Angeles County, and Michael Workman, spokesman for the County of San Diego.
Fixing California’s Unemployment Insurance System
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California’s unemployment insurance fund faces a projected shortfall of $722 million by the end of this year. The California Budget Project, a group that analyzes and tracks state fiscal issues, just released a report called “Building a Sound Foundation for California’s Unemployment Insurance System.” It details the problems and offers some solutions. Jean Ross, Executive Director of the California Budget Project, and Carol Evans, Vice President of the California Taxpayers’ Association, join Host Larry Mantle to discuss the topic.
Super Chefs
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Juliette Rossant chronicles the stories of six famous celebrity chefs in her new book, Super Chef: The Making of the Great Modern Restaurant Empires (Free Press). She joins Host Larry Mantle to discuss the ingredients that make a food empire.
Tuesday, May 4
Fire Season 2004
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It is fire season, and two fires are already burning in the Southland--one in Temecula and one on Camp Pendleton. Southern California is dry and it has been experiencing record-breaking hot weather. Forestry and fire officials join Host Larry Mantle to discuss the fire conditions in Southern California. Joining Larry is Jane Scribner, Public Information Officer for the Riverside County Fire Department; Dick Hayes, Deputy Chief of Public Education for the California Department of Forestry; Stanton Florea, Fire Information Officer for the Angeles National Forest, and Ruth Wenstrom, Public Affairs Officer for the San Bernardino National Forest
Presidential Campaign Update
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Larry talks with Lenny Steinhorn, Professor of Communications, American University, Arnold Steinberg, California-based political strategist, and Ron Elving, senior Washington Editor, NPR, about the presidential campaigns and their effectiveness so far. They discuss the strengths and weaknesses of recent campaign TV advertising, the apparent campaign strategies and how “real world” events are likely to influence the presidential election.
Should Advertising to Young Children be Curbed?
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The American Psychological Association recently became the nation’s first professional organization recommending federal restrictions on advertising aimed at children under eight years of age. The task force appointed by the Association called for specific restrictions on the marketing of junk food, violent toys, and toys promoting precocious sexuality, on the grounds that young children are developmentally vulnerable to manipulation by advertising messages. Larry Mantle talks with task force member Dr. Susan Linn. He also talks with USC sociologist Karen Sternheimer, who believes that marketing and the media are scapegoats for current social problems.
Wednesday, May 5
Iraqi Prisoner Abuse: Who is Accountable in an Era of Privatized Military Firms?
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The specter of Iraqis prisoners being abused at the hands of Americans soldiers is horrifying and for the perpetrators there will clearly be repercussions. But complicating this tragedy is the fact that private contractors hired as interrogators may have been involved in promoting the abusive behavior. Are these contractors accountable to the uniform code of military justice? Larry Mantle talks with David Isenberg, Senior Analyst with the British American Security Information Council on the subject of private military contracting about the issues of accountability raised by this incident.
Identity in a Globalized World
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Producer, author and journalist John Phillip Santos joins Larry to talk about the destiny of identity in an era of globalization.
Adam’s Curse: The Disappearance of the Male Gene
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In his new book Adam’s Curse: A Future Without Men (W.W. Norton), geneticist Bryan Sykes posits that human males are in the process of going extinct. He writes that the Y-chromosome lies in “genetic ruin,” unable to adapt with far fewer genes than most other chromosomes. Sykes gives the Y-Chromosome about 125,000 years until extinction, and says that it bears responsibility for some very bad behavior, like greed, war and aggression. Bryan Sykes joins Host Larry Mantle to discuss his theory.
Thursday, May 6
Congress Reacts to the Iraqi Prisoner Abuse
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Larry Mantle speaks with Xavier Becerra, (D) US Congressional representative for the 31st district, about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib Prison.
The Drought
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For the Colorado River, the past five years have been driest in 98 years of recorded history. If the dry spell continues Southwestern states, including California, may experience water shortages as early as next year. Larry talks with Kelly Redmond, Regional Climatologist for the Western United States for the Western Regional Climate Center at the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada, Ron Gastelum, President and CEO of the Southern California Metropolitan Water District, Daniel McCool, Director of the American West Center and Bennett Raley, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Alexander Hamilton
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Larry Mantle talks with National Book award-winning author Ron Chernow about his new book Alexander Hamilton (The Penguin Press). Chernow contends that Hamilton foresaw the nation’s current economic and political might, as well as America’s stock markets, banks, factories and great cities. Chernow also discovered nearly fifty new letters and articles by Hamilton that include some startling revelations.
Friday, May 7
Donald Rumsfeld’s Testimony Regarding the Abu Ghraib Prison Scandal
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Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld testified this morning before both the House and the Senate about the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. Host Larry Mantle speaks with Hal Kempfer, a military analyst for ABC 7 News and a Reserve Marine Lt. Colonel, Loretta Sanchez, (D) U.S. Representative representing California’s 47th district, Dr. Maher Hathout, Senior Advisor of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, and Christopher Cox, (R) Representative Christopher Cox, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security.
