Patt Morrison for Friday, 11/4/2011

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, November 4, 2011

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 – 1:40

OPEN

 

1:40 – 2:00

The secrets of Guantanamo: Cuba’s idyllic Americana

When you think of Guantanamo, you think orange jumpsuits and barbed wired fences. But many don’t know that Guantanamo is home to an idyllic American landscape of white picket fences and neighborhood cul-de-sacs that predated terrorism.  In fact, it was George Washington’s half-brother who was there first, even before Cuba became a nation in 1898. Lawrence Washington, British sailor and colonist, was one of the first to note the bay’s strategic location in the new age of imperialism. Later, Thomas Jefferson further recognized the importance of a U.S. presence in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Conveniently situated off the southern coast of Cuba facing the Caribbean, the Bay circumvents sovereignty laws that in the last few years have raised all sorts of questions about the use of torture.  Author Jonathan Hansen joins Patt to reveal the secrets of Guantanamo in his new book “Guantanamo: An American History.”

Guests:

Jonathan Hansen

VIA ISDN

 

2:00 – 2:30

Ey, watcha! The linguistics of the East L.A. accent and beyond

For those of us lifelong Angelenos (an-juh-LEE-nohs), where we live doesn’t just distinguish the types of foods we eat (K-town for the best Korean BBQ), but also how we talk. We all know the, like, Valley Girl speak, but we rarely talk about the East L.A. accent. As Hector Becerra writes in a recent Los Angeles Times article, “Chicano English crosses racial and ethnic lines” and is mostly prevalent in Boyle Heights, El Sereno and City Terrace. Linguists propose that the Mexican American accent stems from an indigenous group in Mexico, Nahuatl. Distinguished by high vowels and pronouncing “ch” as “sh,” the accent is more of a regional marker than one of race or ethnicity. Of course, the thing with accents is that no one believes they’re the one with the accent. And Los Angeles is filled to the brim with languages and accents from around the world. Have you noticed the East L.A. accent? Do you speak Chicano English? What is it about our city that makes the sounds of its citizens so unique?

 

Guests:

Hector Becerra, metro reporter for the Los Angeles Times

CALL HIM:

 

Linguist:  TBD

 

 

 

2:30 – 3:00

John Hodgman keeps us laughing with another book of fabricated facts

Although his highest profile gig was the uncool PC in Apple’s long running “Get a Mac” advertising campaign, John Hodgman is also an author, actor, and humorist who is a reoccurring correspondent on The Daily Show with John Stewart. Hodgman’s new book, “That Is All,” is his third in a series of critically acclaimed satirical compendiums of fake facts. Laid out like a page-a-day calendar, the book presents Hodgman’s witty and absurd musings on a wide range of topics – from the taboos of sea travel to helpful foreign phrases other than “Let’s have a liquor party.” He has also appeared in Tina Fey’s Baby Mama and on HBO’s “Bored to Death,” and his work has been featured in The New York Times Magazine, Men’s Journal and on NPR’s popular “This American Life” radio journal program. What is at the root of Hodgman’s unique comedic voice? How do comedians keep us laughing in such trying times?

 

PATT: John is appearing at Largo at the Coronet tonight at 8:30pm.

 

Guest:

John Hodgman

IN STUDIO