Patt Morrison for Tuesday, August 10, 2010

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

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

 

MADELEINE BRAND FILLS IN FOR PATT

 

1:06 – 1:30

OPEN

 

 

1:30 - 1:58:30

Is it time to say goodbye to affirmative action?

Affirmative action boasted equal opportunity for minorities when it was enacted in the 1960s.  But times have changed, argues former Affirmative Action advocate and LA Times columnist Gregory Rodriguez.  Since the United States' minority population has rapidly increased over the past 40 years and we've elected our first African-American president, Rodriguez suggests that affirmative action is beginning to hurt poor whites, WASPS and Asians in both the workplace and in college admissions.  While immigration may be at the forefront of national race discussion, Rodriguez is predicting a future in which a backlash against affirmative action will eclipse immigration as the focal point of our country's racial tension.  Could affirmative action become an even more racially-charged debate than immigration?  Do you think affirmative action needs to go or are we far from the "post-racial America" touted along with the election of an African-American president?

 

Guests:

Gregory Rodriguez,

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2:06 – 2:30

The “friendly” skies are a whole lot greener

When it comes to airline travel, it seems everything comes with a fee.  Spirit Airlines is now charging for carry-on bags; free standby travel is quickly becoming a thing of the past (a “same-day confirmed” seat will now cost you $50.00 on some major carriers), and even the obligatory pillow and blanket come at a price.  The airline industry made over $750 million dollars in just three months in baggage fees this year.   They made over $550 million on reservation change fees.  But don’t worry, if you are American Airlines customer you can opt for their “boarding and flexibility” plan.  It enables you to pay a smaller fee now so you don’t have to pay a larger fee later.  Are all these fees necessary to keep the airline industry in business in these tough economic times, or is this overkill? Should Congress or the Department of Transportation do more to regulate what the industry charges? 

 

Guests:

Kate Hanni, Executive Director FlyersRights.org

SHE CALLS US

 

UNCONFIRMED

Jim Webb, US Senator (D-VA)

• Senator Webb introduced the Airline Baggage Transparency and Accountability Act in response to passengers’ concerns about unfair airline practices regarding hidden fees and mishandled baggage.

 

• Sentaor Webb’s legislation would increase transparency of hidden fees, eliminate a tax loophole that hurts consumers, increase oversight of lost and stolen baggage claims and require data collection on these claims.

 

Representative, Air Transport Association (ATA)

 

• Trade organization representing the principle US airlines

 

 

2:30 – 2:51

OPEN

 

 

2:51 – 2:58:30

A “Visit From the Goon Squad”

What would inspire a successful short story writer and novelist to write an entire chapter using power point?  Perhaps the same thing that inspired her to write about terrorism, oral sex, celebrity journalism, teen and adult angst, the digital age, and use more than a dozen protagonists to weave together a story loosely focused on one not-so-talented bass-player. Madeline Brand fills in for Patt and talks with Jennifer Egan about her musically obsessed, scattered and lauded new book and about the venerated voices within it.

 

Guests:

Jennifer Egan, author of “Visit from the Good Squad”

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Jonathan Serviss

Producer, Patt Morrison Program

Southern California Public Radio

NPR Affiliate for Los Angeles

89.3 KPCC-FM | 89.1 KUOR-FM | 90.3 KPCV-FM

626.583.5171, office

415.497.2131, mobile

jserviss@kpcc.org / jserviss@scpr.org

www.scpr.org