Patt Morrison for Friday, November 5, 2010

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, November 5, 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

 

 

1:06 – 1:39

OPEN

 

 

1:41 – 1:58:30

What does technology want? Wire magazine’s Kevin Kelly knows.

You’ve probably joked on more than one occasion that your computer or phone seems to have a mind of its own, but maybe it’s less of a joke than you think. In his new book, What Technology Wants, Wired magazine’s co-founder Kevin Kelly suggests that technology is a living, natural system that has its own urges, urges which make it the most powerful force at work in the world. So what do you think? Is technology a self-perpetuating force that must increase, or do human beings just have the urge to invent more and more technologies to aid in their daily lives?

 

PATT:  Kevin Kelly is speaking at Caltech’s Baxter Lecture Hall this Sunday, November 7^th, at 2 p.m., in an event sponsored by The Skeptics Society.

 

Guest:

Kevin Kelly, author of What Technology Wants. He is the editor and publisher of Whole Earth Review and is one of the founders and editors of Wired magazine.

CALL HIM:

 

• He explains why most of us have a love/hate relationship with new inventions, and why this conflict as inherent to all technology.
• But he also argues that technology is an extension of life — and an acceleration of the mind. Technology is not anti-nature, but rather the “seventh kingdom” of life: it now shares with life certain biases, urges, needs and tendencies.
• The system of technology that Kelly calls the “technium,” unconsciously “wants” to head in certain directions, just as do life and evolution. The technium functions as a living, natural system. Just as evolution has tendencies, urges, trajectories, established forms, and a direction, so too does the technium.
• Where is it headed? What is the true nature of its increasing presence in our society? And how do the goals of the technological agenda relate to humanity’s goals?

 

 

2:06 – 2:30

Big solar comes to sunny California

We’ve heard promises and pledges of a green economy coming to California—now that voters rejected Prop. 23, which could’ve been an obstacle to the construction of renewable energy projects, those promises might be coming true.  The Obama Administration has given the green light to a first of its kind, massive $6 billion solar project in the Mojave Desert, near Blythe.  The project is on 7,000 acres near the Arizona border, 225 miles east of Los Angeles—it is the largest solar project ever constructed on public land.   The project is one of seven the White House is fast tracking in an attempt to green energy production in the country.  Not that we are bragging, but did we mention that six of the seven are in California (one is in Nevada)? How much energy will all those solar panels generate? At full capacity, 3,000 megawatts of power.  That is enough to provide electricity for up to 2 million homes.  Even the Obama family is getting into the act, with solar panels going up on the White House roof—is the green wave of the future finally here?

 

Guests:

Rhone Resch, president & CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association in Washington, D.C.

HE CALLS US:

 

• He can give an overview of the solar projects approved by the White House.

 

• The Blythe project (1,000-megawatt), Imperial Valley (709-megawatt), Lucerne Valley (45-megawatt), Next Era’s 250-megawatt Genesis Solar Energy Plant all have been given the go ahead.   BrightSource Energy’s 370-megawatt Ivanpah facility, Tessera’s 850-megawatt Calico project are expected to get approval soon.

 

• There are plans to install solar panels on the roof of the White House.

 

UNCONFIRMED

Representative, Solar Millennium

• Solar Millennium is developing the Blythe Solar Power Project in the Mojave Desert, near Blythe.  It’s the largest solar project ever planned on U.S. public land.  It’s a 6 billion dollar project. 

 

Kim Delfino, California Program Director, Defenders of Wildlife

CALL HER @

 

• The developer made changes to the Blythe project to help mitigate some of their environmental concerns.  They are not asking for any changes to the project. They will be watching this project closely to see what the unintended/unforeseen environmental impacts are, if any. They want the developers of these solar projects to consult with environmental groups prior to choosing a site. 

 

 

2:30 – 2:39

OPEN

 

 

2:41 – 2:58:30

Food is tasty, but healthy eating AND helping the environment is delicious!

People get hungry and usually enjoy a good meal, but sometimes that meal comes at the expense of the person’s health. Beyond affecting our own bodies, what we consume can really take a toll on the environment. Enter New York Times columnist Mark Bittman and his new book, The Food Matters Cookbook: Lose Weight and Heal the Planet with More than 500 Recipes. In the book, Bittman teaches readers how to cut down on meat and maximize fresh, unprocessed veggies and plants to create delicious (yet healthy and eco-friendly) meals. Get your utensils and taste buds ready… bon appétit!

 

Guests:

Mark Bittman,

CALL HIM:

 

 

Jonathan Serviss

Producer, Patt Morrison Program

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