Patt Morrison for Tues 12/22/0

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

1-3 p.m.

 

CALL-IN @ 866-893-5722, 866-893-KPCC; OR JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE ON THE PATT MORRISON BLOG AT KPCC-DOT-ORG

 

 

1:00 – 1:20

Copenhagen got heated but did anything get done?

In 2007 U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had hope that by the end of the 2009 climate talks in Copenhagen there would be a legally binding agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions but by the end of the summit last week all that had been agreed upon was a nonbinding accord. What happened inside those meetings, how likely is it that the major emitters will stay true to their word, and where do we go from here?

 

Guests:

Robert Orr, U.N. Assistant Secretary General for Policy

 

1:20 – 1:33

The language of Avatar

The special effects are incredible! The 3-D out-of-this-world! But what about the language? Is it real? Who created it?  Cameron hired a linguistic expert from USC to create a unique, and very real, language for Avatar (If we learned anything from Titanic it’s how meticulous Cameron is about every detail of a film).  It took over a year to craft the language used by the humanoids on the planet “Pandora” and it still isn’t perfected.  So, how does one create a language out of nothing and what will be done with it now that the movie’s over—other than work on the sequel, of course?

 

Paul R. Frommer Ph.D, Professor of Clinical Management Communication, USC Marshall School of Business

IN STUDIO

            He created the language for Avatar

 

1:33 - 2:00

"To Hellholes and Back:  bribes, lies, and the art of extreme tourism”

Not every vacation destination is a dream come true. In fact many arrive and feel as though they have stepped into one of Dante’s nine circles. In an age where most serve as their own travel agent, who can you trust to steer you clear of the world’s worst tourist traps? Patt talks travel with writer Chuck Thompson and gets the unfortunately ugly truth about the most torturous vacation hot spots.

 

Guests:

Chuck Thompson, author "To Hellholes and Back:  bribes, lies, and the art of extreme tourism”

CALL HIM: 

 

 

 

2:00 – 2:40

California's foster care system works for improvement

While the foster system has been notoriously problematic, two programs are making improvements. One addresses the problem of those who are emancipated from the system at 18 with no support services, by extending foster care to age 21. A second program, advocating for the child’s overall health, pays foster care-rates and provides training to family members to provide better care for their children. While it’s generally been very successful, some are concerned with the tragic, although rare, cases of fatal parental negligence. These programs may help address widespread problems throughout the foster care system in California.

 

Guests:

Daniel Heimpel  (HIME-pull), journalist who covers foster care issues.  He has written for Newsweek, the San Francisco Chronicle, and LA Weekly.

CALL HIM: 

 

Representative of the LA County Department of Children and Family Services

 

Jorja Leap, associate professor in the UCLA School of Public Affairs

CALL HER:    

• She is both skeptical and supportive of the parental training "kinship" program.

 

George White, 17 years old and about to be "emancipated" out of the foster care system.  He works with Peace4Kids and Project Homebound, where he works to provide opportunities for foster kids in a community where they are sorely lacking.

IN STUDIO

 

 

2:40 – 3:00

The Wilderness Warrior

Douglas Brinkley's latest book is a biography of Teddy Roosevelt. 

 

Guests:

Douglas Brinkley, author "The Wilderness Warrior"