|
August 28 - September 1, 2006
Monday, Aug. 28
The Games Go On!
(Listen)
It's another month into the gubernatorial campaign, and things are heating up. Seasoned strategists Matthew Dowd for Join Arnold and Bill Carrick for Phil Angelides bring us the latest in the race.
What Does It All Mean?
(Listen)
Political reporter Carla Marinucci joins Patt to parse the strategies.
The Politics of Disaster
(Listen)
As the Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, many questions have been raised about the federal government's response to natural disasters as well as how such chaos and tragedy can be prevented in the future. The new book, Politics of Disaster: Katrina, Big Government, and a New Strategy for Future Crises (W Publishing Group), explores government failure, media portrayal and the role of religion and private enterprise in recovery. The author and "father of compassionate conservatism", Marvin Olasky, joins Patt Morrison to discuss the aftermath of Katrina and preparing for future disaster.
Katrina Brought Them Here: Second of Three Stories
(Listen)
Lauren Jones was a student entering her senior year at Loyola University New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck. She thought about attending LSU, but her mom convinced her to attend Loyola Marymount University instead; the school was holding a space for her and other Loyola University New Orleans students. Lauren was on the plane to LA the next day. She now plans on settling in Los Angeles (for the time being) and studying entertainment law. She joins Patt to talk about how her escape from the disaster of Katrina provided her with an unexpected opportunity and new direction.
Tuesday, Aug. 29
New Orleans - A Year After
(Listen)
In July 2005 Dean Baquet was named as editor of the Los Angeles Times. A month later Hurricane Katrina destroyed a large part of his home town, New Orleans. He tells Patt about this unique city and how he regards the massive media coverage of a place he knows so well.
Coverage One Year Later
(Listen)
Looking back at the news coverage of Hurricane Katrina, we see some recurrent problems with reporting on disasters. Have journalists changed their coverage on this one year anniversary? Keith Woods, Dean of Faculty for The Poynter Institute, sees five major lessons that news organizations should remember when the next catastrophe strikes.
Katrina Brought Them Here: Third of Three Stories
(Listen)
The Katrina trilogy continues - the stories of people driven from New Orleans who chose to or had to come to Los Angeles. This time it's a woman who spent four days in the notorious Convention Center before she could ultimately join her son in her new life in Altadena. Ernestine Sara and her son Kenny Sara join Patt in studio to share their story of how Katrina brought a mother and son together.
On September 1st , Kenny Sara and the Sounds of New Orleans will be playing the summer concert series at the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts in Pasadena. The music will be a blend of New Orleans Jazz, Cajun Zydeco, and R&B.
Wednesday, Aug. 30
Court Battles to Come
(Listen)
Even among the Sacramento lawmakers who voted for Mayor Villaraigosa's governance bill, there was some question concerning the constitutionality of the plan. Others warned that it might infringe on civil liberties. The California School Boards Association is one of several organizations that may join in a lawsuit if the bill is signed by the Governor. Patt takes a look at the legality of AB 1381 and gets a preview of the court battles to come. Guests include Kevin Reed, General Counsel for the LAUSD, and Scott Folsom, President, Los Angeles 10th District Parent Teacher Student Association.
Sacramento Update
(Listen)
KPCC Sacramento Reporter Tamara Keith gives Patt an update on the pending bills in the state legislature, including the global warming bill, AB 32.
And Now on to Other Important News out of Sacramento
(Listen)
Assembly member Keith Richman is not letting go of Pluto without a fight. He introduced a referendum to let the "mean-spirited" International Astronomical Union know that Californians are not pleased with the demotion of Pluto.
Below is an excerpt of Assemblyman Richman's referendum:
"...The mean-spirited International Astronomical Union
decided on August 24, 2006, to disrespect Pluto by stripping Pluto of
its planetary status and reclassifying it as a lowly dwarf planet...
WHEREAS, Pluto, named after the Roman God of the underworld and
affectionately sharing the name of California's most famous animated
dog, has a special connection to California history and culture; and
WHEREAS, Downgrading Pluto's status will cause psychological harm
to some Californians who question their place in the universe and
worry about the instability of universal constants...
WHEREAS, The deletion of Pluto as a planet renders millions of
text books, museum displays, and children's refrigerator art projects
obsolete, and represents a substantial unfunded mandate that must be
paid by dwindling Proposition 98 education funds, thereby harming
California's children and widening its budget deficits; and
WHEREAS, The downgrading of Pluto reduces the number of planets
available for legislative leaders to hide redistricting legislation
and other inconvenient political reform measures..."
The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More
(Listen)
The internet has changed the way we date, shop, gather news, and book travel, but what is the aggregate model of the internet economy shaping up to look like? Chris Anderson in his book, The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More, explains that the internet creates a niche environment that allows for nearly unlimited choice, allowing both consumers and vendors increased specialization.
Thursday, Aug. 31
Emissions for Sale
(Listen)
California will be the first state in the nation to require emissions caps for industries. But in order to reach those caps, businesses will be able to buy and sell emissions credits. This gives extra incentives to business that go green faster. Already in place is the Chicago Climate Exchange, a voluntary emissions trading market on which the California model will draw inspiration. Richard Sandor, CEO of the Chicago Climate Exchange and Severin Borenstein, Director of the UC Energy Institute and Professor of Business join Patt.
The OTHER Global Warming Bill - SB 1368
(Listen)
As the landmark greenhouse-gas-emissions deal is announced, another anti-global-warming bill quietly has emerged from the legislature and awaits the Governor's signature. The bill, SB 1368, authored by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, would bar California electricity providers from entering into long-term contracts with power generators - including out-of-state companies - that pollute the air while producing energy.
Legislative Update
(Listen)
The legislative session ends tonight; KPCC's Sacramento reporter Tamara Keith joins Patt with the latest from the capitol.
So You Want to Be Famous?
(Listen)
Why? Is it to be noticed, to be loved, to be surrounded and fawned over by your entourage, to have people care about your every move and want to be near you so that "it" might rub off... or is it to have achieved a sense of purpose before you exit this planet. Richard Ryan, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, has studied what makes us tick, and he joins Patt with his thoughts on the matter.
The Loh Life
(Listen)
On today's Loh Life, Sandra Tsing Loh explains that women are really easy to shop for.
Friday, Sept. 1
Public Won't See Police Records
(Listen)
Yesterday, the California Supreme Court ruled that the public does not have a right to personnel or other records of police officers challenging their discipline or firing. To discuss what this means for the public, Patt is joined by Everett Bobbitt, Attorney, The Law Offices of Bobbitt, Pinckard & Fields, Merrick Bobb, Special Counsel, LA County Sheriff's Department for the Board of Supervisors, and Erwin Chermerinsky, Professor, Duke University School of Law.
Why Do We Call Her Perky?
(Listen)
We've heard the word "perky" used regularly to describe Katie Couric, in the debate about her occupying the Cronkite chair of journalism. On the eve of Couric's start as anchor for The CBS Evening News, we can't help but wonder how certain words are still reserved for each gender, or how a word used for one gender like "forceful," becomes the equivalent of "obnoxious" for the other gender. Patt gets the answers from linguist Geoffrey Nunberg.
Our City of Angels Turns 225
(Listen)
And not a gray hair in sight. Los Angeles started in 1781 as a small Spanish settlement of 11 poblador families, and 225 years later almost 4 million live within its boundaries. D.J. Waldie, author and essayist, talks with Patt about the fabric of our city, how things have changed, and what we might expect as LA continues to grow. Syd Mead, conceptual designer, offers his thoughts on what our city might look like in the future. He is responsible for the disturbing vision of Los Angeles in 2019 in the film Blade Runner.
Celebrations are planned through the Labor Day weekend, including an 8.6 mile walk on Monday by descendants of Los Angeles' settlers from San Gabriel Mission to El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument.
|
