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September 4 - 8, 2006
Monday, Sept. 4
One Party Country
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While Democrats are scrambling for a way to gain influence in American politics, Republican strategists like Karl Rove have already begun mapping out a plan to hold on to power for decades to come. The new book, One Party Country: The Republican Plan for Dominance in the 21st Century (Wiley News), explains how the GOP is furthering electoral goals and beginning to pick apart at the Democrats' traditional base of African-Americans, Jews, Latinos and even labor union members. The book's authors and Los Angeles Times reporters, Tom Hamburger and Peter Wallsten join Patt Morrison to reveal the plan for an era of Republican domination and how it can possibly end up as scandal in the nation's capital.
To Air is Human
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All those years of playing air guitar to your favorite rock ballads may finally pay off. Competitive air guitar has been popular in Europe and Asia for years and is experiencing rising popularity in the U.S, complete with players, haters, and groupies. The nation's second greatest air guitarist and author of the new book To Air is Human: One Man's Quest to Become the World's Greatest Air Guitarist, Björn Türoque (a.k.a. New York Times writer Dan Crane), joins Patt Morrison to discuss dedicating oneself to an invisible art in order to achieve the ultimate goal of "airness."
Tuesday, Sept. 5
A Streetcar Is Desired?
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A new report to be released this week will help determine the impact and feasibility of rebuilding the streetcar system in L.A's downtown area. Patt talks with Central City Association president Carol Schatz about the proposed plan, whether it will complement other efforts in revitalizing the downtown area, and how it may differ from the extensive streetcar system that was abandoned the 1960's. John Landrum, the Chief Operating Officer of Dallas' streetcar line talks about another sprawling city's recent experience with a vintage mode of transport.
Lockheed Wins the Space Race
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Industry observers were surprised when NASA awarded its multibillion dollar space shuttle contract not to the Northrop-Boeing team, but to Lockheed. As NASA prepares for the September 6 launch of the space shuttle Atlantis, it is also planning to retire the space shuttle fleet from which it comes. After 30 years of service, it will be replaced with the newly designed Orion. NASA's Kelly Humphries tells us about Atlantis' imminent flight and decribes the new Constellation program. Joe Magaddino, chairman of the economics department at California State Long Beach talks about the aerospace business in southern California and the impact of losing this contract.
Telenovelas are Here
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Telenovelas - the popular TV programs that have caught on across the world and dominate Telemundo and Univision - will make their English language debut for the upcoming fall TV season. Andy Wallenstein, TV features editor for the Hollywood Reporter, and Ben Silverman, executive producer of Ugly Betty, ABC's much-hyped telenovela making its debut this month, join Patt to discuss the trend.
Wednesday, Sept. 6
New Bush Plan for Military Tribunals
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This morning the president outlined his new proposal for trying terror suspects. Patt is joined by Erwin Chemerinsky, professor of law at Duke University School of Law, and Douglas Kmiec, professor of law at Pepperdine University School of Law, who will debate the constitutionality of his plan.
Security: What did we Learn from 9/11
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It's been five years since the attacks of September 11th, 2001; our intelligence gathering systems have been revamped and entire government departments have been created, but are we any safer? Patt speaks with Kristen von KleinSmid, Supervisory Special Agent, of the FBI's Counterterrorism Threat Squad, Mike Wermuth, Director, Homeland Security Program, RAND Corporation, Kevin Weeks, Director of Field Operations, Los Angeles, US Customs and Border Protection, and Lt. John Sullivan, Emergency Operations Bureau, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, Director, National Terrorism Early Warning Resource Center, about how counterterrorism has changed since the attacks and what are authorities on the lookout for here in Southern California.
For more information on the visit the County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
Thursday, Sept. 7
Taking on the 9/11 Conspiracy Theories
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Ever since the first plane struck the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001, the truth of 9/11 has been hard to accept. But for some, that initial shock and disbelief has morphed into a variety of conspiracy theories. Despite the scientific evidence, there are those who believe that our own government brought down the towers with explosives and shot down the plane over Pennsylvania. To debunk these notions and discuss why people cling to conspiracy theories, Jim Meigs, editor-in-chief of Popular Mechanics, Dr. David Speigel, Associate Chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, and Chip Berlet of Political Research Associates join Patt.
Star Trek Celebrates
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Star Trek, the groundbreaking and iconic television series first seen 40 years ago, still lives on in film, TV, and in the hearts of Trekkies all over the world. Now we all can have our own piece of history as Christie's partners with CBS Paramount Telelvision to offer an extraordinary selection from the show including costumes, props, weapons, set dressings, and models of the Enterprise. Patt is joined by Leonard Nimoy, the legendary Mr. Spock, who talks about the incredible popularity and longevity of the show. Michael and Denise Okuda, Star Trek mavens, tell us about the treasures to be found in the upcoming auction.
TV Land celebrates the 40th anniversary tomorrow night and will air four original episodes starting at 8 pm.
Friday, Sept. 8
Comedy in a Post 9/11 World
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In the days after the attacks of September 11, 2001, the comedy business in this country went into virtual shutdown. What was there to laugh about? Would there ever again be a time when we could laugh? Patt talks with Jamie Masada, Founder and Owner of The Laugh Factory, Bob Mankoff, Cartoon Editor for The New Yorker, and comedians Bill Bailey, Matt Bellace, Paula Poundstone and Peter the Persian, about the comedy comeback since 9/11 and how those events may have changed the nation's sense of humor.
Bob Mankoff will give a public lecture at Skirball Cultural Center on Thursday, September 14 starting at 8:00pm for the opening of On the Couch: Cartoons from The New Yorker, which celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sigmund Freud.
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