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January 1 - 5, 2007
Monday, Jan. 1
Accidental Genius
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Actor and filmmaker John Cassavetes is widely acknowledged as the father of American independent film. Both in content and style Cassavetes pushed the bounds of accepted commercial moviemaking-tackling race in the 1950s and distributing films outside of the Hollywood studio system in the 1970s. When Cassavetes died in 1989 he left behind an impressive body of work. But little has been told of the man. Now, with the release of the book Accidental Genius: How John Cassavetes Invented the American Independent Film (Miramax), movie writer Marshall Fine tells of the life and times of Cassavetes through the eyes of those who knew him best.
- Marshall Fine, Author, Accidental Genius: How John Cassavetes Invented the American Independent Film (Miramax), incoming Chairman of the New York Film Critics Circle and the film and television critic for Star magazine.
Monopoly
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Philip Orbanes is known as the leading expert on America's most renowned board game, Monopoly. He has written two of its companion guides and explores in his new book, Monopoly: The World's Most Famous Game and How It Got That Way (Da Capo), the history of the game from its initial release in 1935 as an economics-teaching tool to a game that almost every American family today has stashed in their hallway closet. We discuss the lore of the game and its inextricable link as an American symbol of economic opportunity.
- Philip Orbanes, Author, Monopoly: The World's Most Famous Game and How It Got That Way (Da Capo)
Tuesday, Jan. 2
Chino Prison Riot
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The Chino men's state prison remains locked down after a riot over the weekend that involved 200 inmates and left dozens injured. Reports indicate the trouble started Saturday after a fight between a Hispanic and a black inmate in a recreation yard. 27 inmates were taken to hospitals. Guards also discovered that inmates made weapons from shards of broken glass. Patt talks to experts and corrections officials about the violence.
New Powers in Fight Against Spam
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E-mail users have grown accustomed to the appeals - from Nigerians looking to claim foreign funds, overseas lottery winners in need of some financial backing to claim their winnings. The scams have worked on some unwitting users, while more sophisticated spyware and software programs rip off and transmit data from servers on one continent to another. Now, the Federal Trade Commission has new tools to try and stop this. A new law gives it the power to share leads and spur investigations with law enforcement in other countries. We'll here from a top cop in the spam fight.
The address for sending spam to the federal government's database is spam@uce.gov
For more information visit:
The Federal Trade Commission's website on spam email
On Guard Online
Looks Too Good to Be True.com
College Girls
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In a humorous look at the history of women in college, author Lynn Peril examines society's view on female education and how different perspectives were reflected in popular culture. Full of descriptions on how advice-givers and advertisers played on the anxieties of the young co-ed, College Girls: Bluestockings, Sex Kittens, and Co-Eds, Then and Now (Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.), looks back at the early days from when some women worried that their B.A. would ruin their chances for an M-R-S., to the radical changes of the 1970's.
- Lynn Peril, Author of College Girls (Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.)
Wednesday, Jan. 3
100 Hours and Counting
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The 110th Congress convenes this week and the Democrats, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the lead, have a full agenda and a fast-track schedule for its accomplishment.
Congressman Waxman: Chairman of the Government Reform Committee
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As the Democrats come into power, they also take over control of important committee chairmanships. Veteran Congressman Henry Waxman (CA-20th District) will take the Government Reform Committee. This will put him in an excellent position to launch probes into the Bush Administration's relationships with the FDA, climate change policy, and nuts and bolts matters such as the government's use of information technology. Patt talks with the congressman about his plans for this new post.
Ban Trans Fats?
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Trans fat can increase bad cholesterol and reduce good cholesterol, increasing risk for heart disease and other health problems. But should the state or county mandate how much trans fat is used by restaurants and schools, or should our good sense, or lack of it, govern our actions? On the day that Starbucks jumps on the anti-trans fats bandwagon, we take look at how the ban is working in New York and how receptive California restaurants and customers will be to the change.
Thursday, Jan. 4
David Janssen Says County Faces Major Problems
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Just weeks away from retirement, David Janssen, LA County's top administrator, has a bleak view of the problems facing the region. As he prepares to leave office, he offers some ideas for improvement in the governing system, including giving more power to the new chief executive, bettering ways to measure performance of county programs, and instituting more transparency in operations.
Sen. Barbara Boxer: Environment and Public Works Committee
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With the Democrats taking control of the Senate, Californi's Barbara Boxer takes charge of the influential Environment and Public Works Committee. She takes over from Oklahoma Republican James Inhofe, who declared that the threat of catastrophic global warming was the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people. It'll be a globally different ball game...Patt talks to Boxer about her plans.
Execution and Iraq's New Government
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The violent chaos in the streets of Iraq has temporarily taken a back seat to political debates across Baghdad and the globe over the execution of Saddam Hussein. The former dictator's hanging was videotaped, along with a series of taunts which some Muslims feel mocked the man before he was killed. Today, the executions of two top Iraqi officials were postponed, reportedly to international pressure.
Inaugural Kick-Off
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Today, the festivities begin in Sacramento in anticipation of the start of Governor Schwarzenegger's second term. The first celebration takes place at Capitol Park, where First Lady Maria Shriver is scheduled to make an appearance.
Friday, Jan. 5
Medical Marijuana: Is It Working? Prop. 215 Ten Years Later
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California voters passed Proposition 215 in November 1996. Over the last ten years, dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries have opened around the state, even as lawsuits have been filed challenging the law and the federal government has refused to recognize it. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illicit substance, in the same category as cocaine. Patt Morrison moderates a discussion from the Crescent Heights United Methodist Church about the effectiveness of medical marijuana, as well as the legal controversies surrounding Proposition 215.
For information on the medical cannabis movement go to www.safeaccessnow.org.
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