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February 19 - 23, 2007
Monday, Feb. 19
Union 1812
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When Americans speak of defining moments in the country's history, the War of 1812 is little discussed. In his book Union 1812 (Simon & Schuster), A.J. Langguth makes the case for the importance of the conflict, telling the story of what he calls America's second war of independence.
- A.J. Langguth, Author, Union 1812 (Simon & Schuster)
Nixon & Mao
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President Richard Nixon and Mao Tse-Tung, China's communist dictator, met briefly in Beijing for an hour-long conversation in 1972. Not much was said the other didn't expect. They exchanged pleasantries and spoke about mutual acquaintances and foes, but as Margaret MacMillan writes in her book, Nixon & Mao: The Week That Changed the World (Random House), this meeting has laid the foundation for the United States' complex relationship with China today. What did these two nations, which had not spoken in 25 years, gain from this encounter?
- Margaret MacMillan, Author, Nixon & Mao: The Week That Changed the World (Random House)
Margaret MacMillan will speak at the Mark Taper Auditorium in Los Angeles Public Library on February 27 at 7 p.m.
Teddy Roosevelt Speaks
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On the day when we celebrate all of the chief executives of our nation, we listen to one of the earliest recordings of a president's voice. On September 22, 1912, Teddy Roosevelt railed against "the men who represent that sinister alliance between crooked politics and crooked business" as only the nation's most famous trust buster could. We'll take a listen.
Tuesday, Feb. 20
Inmates Can't Go Out
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Today, a state judge ruled that the governor's plan to transfer inmates out of state to relieve severe prison overcrowding is illegal. Schwarzenegger says he will immediately appeal. We discuss the implications and outfall from this decision.
Blues for Black America
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With a writing style that can be described as provocative, thoughtful and audacious, Los Angeles native and New York Daily News columnist Stanley Crouch is known for his biting criticism and insight of black culture in America. After writing about and working in the jazz scene in New York City in the 1970s and 80s, he later turned his attention to the dilemmas of conventional African-American thought. Crouch joins Patt to discuss his views on the n-word, his abhorrence of 'gansta rap', and the larger crisis of black culture in the U.S.
Stanley Crouch is a guest lecturer at Zocalo's "Public Square" series tonight at 7 p.m. For more information, visit Zocolo.
Wednesday, Feb. 21
McCain and the California Republicans
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So far on the campaign, Sen. John McCain (R - AZ) has called Donald Rumsfeld "one of the worst secretaries of Defense in history" and said President Bush has been poorly served by Vice President Cheney. Yet the Arizona senator has hired many Bush consultants and former campaign workers, and is aggressively seeking to claim the president's mantle. Today, he'll discuss carbon emissions with Gov. Schwarzenegger, in an effort to appeal to the state's Republican voters. How does McCain plan to win his party's nomination?
Technology and Birth
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By definition, it's as old as humankind but it can also be at the cutting edge of human experiences - the act of being born. From the popularizing of painkillers in the 19th century to the latest fetal medical devices to the scheduling of cesarean sections, childbirth is a constant of the human experience and the subject of constantly changing medical technology. We take a look at what has changed - for better or for worse - in the innovative technology supporting birth.
Young Dreams Come True
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An Oscar nominated documentary short follows a group of talented teenage artists as they meet their mentors. "Rehearsing a Dream" was made to document these meetings, between the young people and ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, former Miss America Vanessa Williams and the conductor, composer and pianist Michael Tilson Thomas. We'll talk to the filmmakers about the project.
"Rehearsing A Dream" will be screened this Saturday at 4 p.m. as part of Docu-Day, a festival where all of this year's nominated documentary films are presented. The filmmakers will answer questions after the screening. Docu-Day is at the Writers Guild of America Theater, 135 Doheny Drive in Beverly Hills.
To find out more about the arts program featured in the film, go to www.youngARTS.us
Thursday, Feb. 22
The Tofu Takeover
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Hold onto your alfalfa sprouts! The Whole Foods natural and organic supermarket chain is planning to buy out their smaller competitor, Wild Oats. The potential buyout allows the new company to better compete with traditional grocery stores as they increase the amount of organic and health foods they carry. Patt talks with industry analysts about this shift in the organic and specialty foods business.
Senator Brownback
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Senator Sam Brownback (R - Kansas) is selling himself as the most social conservative candidate on the Republican ticket for the 2008 presidential nomination. Although he remains behind in initial polls, Brownback hopes to attract voters by relying on his credentials as a strong anti-abortionist and pro-family advocate. But he has separated himself from the current Republican president by opposing troop increases in Iraq and pushing for more intervention in the Darfur region in Sudan. He joins Patt while campaigning through California.
- Senator Sam Brownback (R - Kansas), Candidate for the Republican Party nomination for President
For more information on Brownback's campaign for President, visit his campaign site www.brownback.com
Friday, Feb. 23
Debussy Felled by Dixie Chicks
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K-Mozart has played classical music since 1989. But Monday, at 11 a.m., 105.1 FM will be a country station. Saul Levine, LA's last independent owner of an FM station, is making the change less than a year after the Southland lost KZLA, its last country station. How will this affect LA radio? What does this say about the local listening audience?
- Don Barrett, Founder and Publisher, LARadio.com
- R.J. Curtis, Country Format Editor, Radio and Records
- Craig Curtis, Program Director for KPCC
Controversy Over The Higher Power of Lucky
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Susan Patron is an LA Librarian who recently won a John Newbery Medal for outstanding contribution to American children's literature for her book The Higher Power of Lucky (Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books). But lately the book is gaining notoriety for another reason...it contains the word "scrotum." Because of that, some school librarians are refusing to stock it. Patt talks to Patron about her book and the controversy it's drawing.
- Susan Patron, Author, The Higher Power of Lucky (Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books). Also, Children's Librarian at the Los Angeles Central Library.
- Pat Scales, Spokeswoman for the American Library Association.
- Josephine Dervan, Librarian at Strathmore Elementary School in Aberdeen, NJ
Ten Days in the Hills
(Listen)
Movie director Max and girlfriend Elena languorously wake up the morning after the 2003 Academy Awards, where they spent a long and glamorous night at the Governor's Ball. But the world begins to intrude on their Hollywood lifestyle as they start to discuss the United States' invasion of Iraq while waiting for family, friends and former lovers to join them for 10 transformative days together at Max's mansion in the Pacific Palisades. Ten Days in the Hills (Knopf) blends Pulitzer-prize winning author Jane Smiley's lyrical writing with the passions of her fictional characters and politics of the time.
- Jane Smiley, Author, Ten Days in the Hills (Knopf)
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