RE: Patt Morrison schedule for Monday, April 2, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Monday, April 2, 2012

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 – 1:30 OPEN

 

1:30 – 1:58:30

April 15^th – once so far, now so near

Tax season is once again upon us, and we know that a lot of you are staring at a pile of W-2s and biting your fingernails. Or maybe you already filed and are smiling smugly as your friends have started cancelling dinner and vacation plans to get caught up. Regardless, you’ll want to listen and call in with your questions, whether they’re for this year or in preparation for next. Have you been unemployed or cobbling together multiple jobs? Are you in a gay or lesbian partnership and are wondering how to negotiate taxes for two in a system that doesn’t recognize you? Did you have to take an early withdrawal from an IRA and are wondering if you qualify for an exemption on the penalties? Bring us your questions, and we’ll find you your answers.

 

Guest:

Selwyn Gerber, CPA and founder, Gerber & Co., Inc.

 

2:06 – 2:30

Frequent Flyers – who uses emergency rooms and what is it costing cities? [REPORT EMBARGOED UNTIL MONDAY]

 

Guest:

John Gonzalez, senior writer, Center for Health Reporting at USC Annenberg

IN STUDIO

 

 

2:30 – 2:39

A penny not minted is a penny saved – Canadians ‘86’ their 1 cent coin
It costs more to make a Canadian penny than their penny is worth - 1.6 cents for a coin that has a value of 1 cent. It seems that minting pennies is a losing game, and our neighbors to the north have decided to discontinue producing their lowest denomination coin in the fall. Businesses will still accept them as legal tender but the Canadian government has begun to urge retailers to round prices to the nearest nickel. Although the U.S. penny may someday suffer a similar fate, honest Abe doesn’t have to worry anytime soon. Although there have been groups calling for Americans to do the same, a majority of us are reluctant to scrap our shiny one cent piece, regardless of the fact that U.S. pennies are even more expensive, costing the U.S. Treasury 2.41 cents a piece - a net loss of $60,200,000 in 2011. Are pennies headed back to heaven from whence they came? Can Americans abide by rounding to the nearest nickel or do you think the venerable penny should stick around?

Guest: TBA

 

2:39 – 2:50 OPEN

 

2:50 – 2:58:30

Los Angeles, a literary city

Los Angeles has played host to many writers over the years, and the new “Literary Los Angeles: A Road Guide” celebrates this history in poster form. The guide includes a map of literary hot spots around the city and showcases writing by local authors such as Wanda Coleman, Nina Revoyr, Luis Rodriguez, and David Ulin. Former director of the National Reading Initiatives at the National Endowment for the Arts, current Boyle Heights bookstore owner, and KPCC book critic (phew!) David Kipen drops by to talk about the project. Do you own the map? Have you been surprised by the locations featured (or not featured)?

 

Guests:

David Kipen, the founder of Libros Schmibros book emporium on Mariachi Plaza, and the editor of the forthcoming "L.A. Diaries”

 

 

 

 

 

 

RE: Patt Morrison schedule for Friday, March 30, 2012

 

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, March 30, 2012

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

 

1:07 – 1:41:00 OPEN

 

1:41-1:53

Haircuts, quick sandwiches, and bare knees – all proof that the economy is on the rise?

Before you get upset about twiddling your thumbs for a while at a place like Subway, consider this: that long wait for your sandwich might just mean the economy is picking up. According to some economists, when times are bad, skilled workers take just about any job, and that includes spreading condiments and flipping burgers. Just like a groundhog supposedly knows that winter will last longer based on its shadow, the world of economics is full of macroeconomic indicators located where science meets intuition (or superstition). Besides sandwiches, more haircuts and more spending on men’s underwear means things are looking up – Alan Greenspan famously believes that extra boxers and briefs are one of the first places where men cut back during a recession. Then there is the Hemline Indicator, proposed by University of Pennsylvania Wharton School professor George Taylor and tested this year by Business Insider magazine. (In case you’re wondering, BI reported that hemlines are on the rise, and thus the economy should be, too.) Of course, if you really want to know how the nation is recovering, there’s always Google.  How many searches for “unemployment benefits” do you think its search engine has seen since 2008?

 

Guest:

Justin Wolfers, visiting professor of Economics, Princeton University and Associate Professor of Business and Public Policy, The Wharton School

 

2:08 – 2:22

SAG and AFTRA – together at last?

After a long, contentious and very public battle, members of two entertainment labor unions have settled the question of whether or not to merge into one.  While the majority of the 70,000 members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists are in favor of the merger, the Screen Actors Guild, which represents over 125,000 actors, has split into two factions, one in favor and one vehemently opposed to joining forces with AFTRA.  Opponents to the merger, who are in the minority, cite concerns that it will result in decreased health benefits and pensions.  In fact, a group of high-profile members, including Martin Sheen, Ed Asner, Valerie Harper and Ed Harris, filed a lawsuit attempting to prevent the vote.  After a district court judge denied the injunction yesterday, the unions announced that the tally would proceed and results of the vote would be made public today [Friday].  The merger vote needs 60 percent approval of the combined memberships to pass, which would effectively immediately merge the two unions into one.  A recent study in the Hollywood Reporter reveals that SAG’s primetime series market share has plummeted from 93 percent in 2006 to 20 percent today.  AFTRA’s share increased accordingly in that period, from less than 10 percent to around 80 percent.  Are you a member of SAG or AFTRA?  Are you happy with the results of the vote? 

 

PRO-MERGER

Ned Vaughn, spokesman for Unite for Strength

 

ANTI-MERGER

Anne-Marie Johnson, actor and member of the National Board for SAG

 

2:29-2:39 OPEN

 

2:44-2:53

Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner takes us back in time
The 60’s period drama Mad Men returned for its fifth season after an unusual 18-month hiatus on Sunday, March 25^th. The long break was replete with contract disputes and some typical off-screen Hollywood drama, but it didn’t cool the slow burn of the show’s steamy plot or quell any fan interest. Sunday’s season premiere drew 3.5 million viewers - the largest audience for the show to-date. This growing popularity has made Mad Men’s creator, Matthew Weiner, one of the hottest names in the business. Weiner wrote the original draft for Mad Men in 2000, and the script led to his first success as a writer and producer on the wildly popular HBO mob drama, The Sopranos. He eventually pitched Mad Men to AMC when the network began to produce original programming. The show first aired in 2007 and has gone on to win four Emmy awards for best drama series. The critically acclaimed drama centers on a fictional Madison Avenue advertising agency and uses its characters to reflect the radical cultural shifts of America in the 1960’s. Weiner has plans for another two seasons of Mad Men and is set to begin production on his feature film directorial debut, “You Are Here,” in May, 2012. What is your favorite aspect of Mad Men? The costumes? The pillow talk? The historical references? The scotch?

Guest:
Matthew Weiner (WYE-ner), television writer, director and producer; creator of Mad Men

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patt Morrison schedule for Thursday, March 29, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

**SPRING PLEDGE DRIVE**

Thursday, March 29, 2012

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

 

 

 

1:07 – 1:19 SEGMENT 1 (12:00) - OPEN

 

1:19 – 1:26 PITCH BREAK (7:00)

 

1:26 – 1:36 SEGMENT 2 (10:00) - OPEN

 

1:36 – 1:41 PITCH BREAK (5:00)

 

1:41 – 1:53 SEGMENT 3 (12:00)

Are you smarter than a 12^th grader?

…or, are you at least as smart as the 12^th-grader you once were, when college loomed and the dreaded Standardized Aptitude Test could make or break your prospects?  That’s the question Deadspin.com columnist Drew Magary asked himself.  And then answered – by doing something no adult should ever have to face: taking the practice test, sans preparation, in the time allotted, using a good old No. 2 pencil.  Kids, don’t try this at home. The first instruction?  “Set aside 3 hours and 20 minutes of uninterrupted time.”  Whoa, who has that? Magary details the horrific experience – hilariously – in his essay, “What Happens When A 35-Year-Old Man Retakes the SAT?”  It’s all there – the scratched wooden desk, the bubble sheets, the tense minutes of pressurized clock-watching as the minutes tick by and the smudged pencil marks build up on the page.  If you had to do it again, do you think you could ace the SAT? 

 

Guests:

Drew Magary (muh-GAIR-ee) author and editor at Deadspin.com

 

1:53 – 2:00 PITCH BREAK (7:00)

 

2:04 - 2:08 PITCH BREAK (4:00)

 

2:08 – 2:20 SEGMENT 4 (12:00)

Haircuts, quick sandwiches, and bare knees – all proof that the economy is on the rise?

Before you get upset about twiddling your thumbs for a while at a place like Subway, consider this: that long wait for your sandwich might just mean the economy is picking up. According to some economists, when times are bad, skilled workers take just about any job, and that includes spreading condiments and flipping burgers. Just like a groundhog supposedly knows that winter will last longer based on its shadow, the world of economics is full of macroeconomic indicators located where science meets intuition (or superstition). Besides sandwiches, more haircuts and more spending on men’s underwear means things are looking up – Alan Greenspan famously believes that extra boxers and briefs are one of the first places where men cut back during a recession. Then there is the Hemline Indicator, proposed by University of Pennsylvania Wharton School professor George Taylor and tested this year by Business Insider magazine. (In case you’re wondering, BI reported that hemlines are on the rise, and thus the economy should be, too.) Of course, if you really want to know how the nation is recovering, there’s always Google.  How many searches for “unemployment benefits” do you think its search engine has seen since 2008?

 

Guest:

Justin Wolfers, visiting professor of Economics, Princeton University and Associate Professor of Business and Public Policy, The Wharton School

 

2:20 – 2:27 PITCH BREAK (7:00)

 

2:27 – 2:39 SEGMENT 5 (12:00)

All together now: open infant adoptions are on the increase

For years, adoptions were shrouded in secrecy, the birth records sealed and adoption papers hidden forever.  Birth mothers might never know what kind of life their child was living.  Children would wonder “where they came from,” who their birth parents were and why they were given up.  Finding out the truth could be a long, painful, possibly futile or even disappointing journey. In recent years, however, the trend has been toward “open adoptions,” in which birth parents, adoptive parents and child might all remain friendly, even close, for life. A new study by the Evan B. Donaldson Institute reveals that only about five percent of infant adoptions take place without some kind of relationship between parties.  In the majority of cases, birth parents meet and select the adoptive parents, rather than, as formerly, delegating this crucial decision to intermediaries.  Fifty-five percent could be considered “fully disclosed” and forty percent are “mediated,” with contact maintained indirectly through the agency that facilitated the adoption.  According to the report, in an open adoption, adoptive parents feel more satisfied with the adoption process, birth parents feel less stress and regret, and children reap the benefit of access to their birth relatives and medical histories.  There are plenty of good reasons to pull back the curtain of secrecy when it comes to adoption. But while there are still some families who, for whatever reason, would choose to have no contact, it’s now easy enough to find your old classmates on Facebook, or to Google your family tree.  In the internet age, can any degree of privacy be maintained? What are adoption agencies doing to ensure best practices when it comes to security? How can they guarantee that a closed door will stay closed?  If you’re someone who has participated in an open adoption, how do you feel about the experience? 

 

Guest:

Adam Pertman, executive director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, a national not-for-profit organization devoted to improving adoption policy and practice.

 

2:39 – 2:44 PITCH BREAK (5:00)

 

2:44 – 2:53 SEGMENT 6 (9:00)

All together now: open infant adoptions are on the increase (Cont’d.)

 

2:53-3:00 PITCH BREAK (7:00)

 

 

 

 

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

 

RE: Patt Morrison for Wednesday, March 28, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

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

 

 

1:07 – 1:36  OPEN

 

1:41 – 1:53

Haircuts, quick sandwiches, and bare knees – all proof that the economy is on the rise?

Before you get upset about twiddling your thumbs for a while at a place like Subway, consider this: that long wait for your sandwich might just mean the economy is picking up. According to some economists, when times are bad, skilled workers take just about any job, and that includes spreading condiments and flipping burgers. Just like a groundhog supposedly knows that winter will last longer based on its shadow, the world of economics is full of macroeconomic indicators located where science meets intuition (or superstition). Besides sandwiches, more haircuts and more spending on men’s underwear means things are looking up – Alan Greenspan famously believes that extra boxers and briefs are one of the first places where men cut back during a recession. Then there is the Hemline Indicator, proposed by University of Pennsylvania Wharton School professor George Taylor and tested this year by Business Insider magazine. (In case you’re wondering, BI reported that hemlines are on the rise, and thus the economy should be, too.) Of course, if you really want to know how the nation is recovering, there’s always Google.  How many searches for “unemployment benefits” do you think its search engine has seen since 2008?

 

Guest:

Justin Wolfers, visiting professor of Economics, Princeton University and Associate Professor of Business and Public Policy, The Wharton School

 

2:08 – 2:20

U.S. Navy developing soldiers’ ‘spidey sense’ intuition for combat missions
If you’ve ever felt a tingling sensation seconds before something really bad happened, then you know exactly what it is the United States Navy has begun researching. After many troops who served in Iraq and in Afghanistan reported experiencing an unexplained feeling of danger moments before they encountered an enemy attack or ran into an improvised explosive device, the Navy is attempting to precisely identify and utilize this intuitive human ability. Through a program called Enhancing Intuitive Decision Making Through Implicit Learning, the Navy will be allocating $3.85 million over four years for researching the phenomenon. Proposals for the project will be submitted on April, 15, 2012 and the endeavor is attracting executives from dozens of advanced technology companies. Research findings will reportedly be used to improve and implement soldiers’ “sixth sense” for use during combat and other military missions. Could this research be profoundly insightful or is an inefficient use of money?

Guests: UNCONFIRMED
Representative from the Office of Naval Research
Cognitive psychologist or neuroscientist from UCLA
Don Tucker, professor of psychology at the University of Oregon

 

2:27 – 2:39  OPEN

 

2:44-2:54

The hockey stick and the climate wars

Picture a hockey stick lying on its side, the shaft to the left, the blade rising sharply on the right.  The left side stretches back about a thousand years – the right shows the recent past. That’s the “hockey stick” reference coined by climatologist Jerry Mahlman, following the 2001 United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to describe the sharp upturn of the earth’s temperature in the 20^th century – in other words, global warming.  Since then, the Hockey Stick has been the central icon of the battle over climate change within the scientific and political communities – who often find themselves in polar opposition over the topic. Has worldwide human activity brought on by the industrial age led to raised CO2 levels, the proliferation of greenhouse gas, melting ice floes and the threat of extinction?  Or is the Hockey Stick theory a hoax, a cause célèbre held up by environmental extremists to support government regulations on the oil and energy industries?  In his new book, Michael Mann, lead author on the scientific paper that introduced the infamous symbol (for which his team received a Nobel Peace Prize), explores the controversy and unravels the political and market influences behind the denial of what, he believes, is irrefutable scientific fact.  Can the scientific community ever find middle ground?  Is global warming for real?  If so, can it be reversed?

 

Guests: Michael E. Mann, professor of meteorology at Penn State University and director of Penn State Earth System Science Center and author of “The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars: Dispatches from the Front Lines” (Columbia University Press)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patt Morrison for Tuesday, March 27, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

1-3 p.m.

Spring Member Drive

 

 

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

 

1:07 – 1:19 SEGMENT 1: OPEN

 

1:19 – 1:26 PITCH BREAK

 

1:26 – 1:38 SEGMENT 2: OPEN

 

1:38-1:43 – PITCH BREAK

 

1:43 – 1:53 SEGMENT 3: Autism Speaks’ new executive director walks the walk

Both Matthew Asner and his father, Emmy-winning actor Ed Asner, have long been involved with the cause of autism.  Matthew’s 23-year old brother is autistic, and his own 9-year-old son Will was diagnosed with the condition at age 3.  As a parent, Matthew found support in the advocacy organization Autism Speaks, with which his father Ed has been involved for two decades.  Now, he’s leaving his 20-year career as a television producer to serve as the organization’s executive director for Southern California. Asner was first inspired when he attended an Autism Speaks walk, which showed him that “there was a world of people that wanted to feel the same way that I wanted to feel…my hope had been restored and I wanted to help people.”  According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism, a complex condition that affects a person’s ability to communicate and develop social relationships, now affects 1 in 110 American children.  Autism Speaks offers support, understanding and resources to those families living with autism.  Is enough being done to understand this condition?  How do insurance companies address the needs of autism? What can policy makers, health care specialists and others do to help?

 

Guest:

Matthew Asner, executive director for Southern California for Autism Speaks

IN STUDIO

 

The 10th annual Los Angeles Walk Now for Autism Speaks 2012 event will take place on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.  For more information on the LA Autism Walk, go to http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=993444.

http://www.facebook.com/AutismSpeaks.LosAngeles

 

2:08 – 2:20 – SEGMENT 1: Learning to be neighborly with difficult neighbors
The poet Robert Frost wrote that good fences make good neighbors, but sometimes there isn’t a fence high enough to prevent friction between you and the people with whom you share your neighborhood. Looney neighbors can turn the solace of ‘home sweet home’ into protracted battles over things like loud parties, borrowed lawn tools, property disputes, erratic behavior, unruly children and poorly-trained pets. The list of potential social infractions by our closest neighbors can be endless, and with 7 billion people on the planet can be hard to find your own space. Since we’re all in this thing together, how do we be neighborly about living side-by-side? Do you have challenging neighbors? How do you deal with them?

Guest: TBA

 

 

2:20-2:27 -  PITCH BREAK

 

 

2:27 – 2:39 – SEGMENT 2: Crazy Neighbors (cont’d.)

 

 

2:39 – 2:44 – PITCH BREAK

 

 

2:44 – 2:54 - SEGMENT 3: OPEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

 

RE: Patt Morrison for Monday, March 26, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Monday, March 26, 2012

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

The Affordable Care Act turns two in court
The Obama administration goes to trial today [Monday] in front of the Supreme Court to defend its Affordable Care Act, which – beginning in 2014 – will require that every individual purchase health insurance. 26 states, plus the National Federation of Independent Business, have challenged the Act, claiming that it “exceeds Congress’ power to regulate interstate commerce.” Arguments are slated to last three days, with Monday’s hearing centered on whether it is valid for the Court to rule on the individual insurance mandate before it has gone into effect. Whether the mandate is constitutional, whether the rest of the law can stand without the mandate, and whether the possible expansion of Medicaid coverage is legal will be argued on Tuesday and Wednesday. Decisions will not be announced until later this summer, if not early fall. Conventional opinion is that the Supreme Court will rule against the Act along partisan lines (Republican appointees hold a 5-4 majority), but critics have also pointed out that multiple conservative judges in the lower courts have upheld the bill. Their argument has been that “most people will eventually enter or affect the insurance market,” which does give Congress the right to regulate. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy, both Republican appointees, have also been singled out for past decisions that indicate they could be persuaded by the Obama administration’s argument.

GUESTS NOT CONFIRMED:

Joan Biskupic, has covered the Supreme Court since 1989, as a reporter for The Washington Post, USA Today PBS's Washington Week, and now Reuters; she is also the author of "American Original: The Life and Constitution of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia" and "Sandra Day O'Connor: How the First Woman on the Supreme Court Became Its Most Influential Justice"

 

Jonathan Gruber, professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and director of the National Bureau of Economic Research’s Program on Health Care; he was a paid consultant to both the Romney and Obama Administrations on health care reform, he helped craft Massachusetts’s universal healthcare law

 

MANDATE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Ilya Somin, associate professor of Law and editor, Supreme Court Economic Review at

George Mason University School of Law

 

MANDATE IS CONSTITUTIONAL

Vikram Amar, associate dean for Academic Affairs, professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law

 

 

1:41:30 – 1:58:30 OPEN

 

2:06 – 2:30

 “Bully” provides an intimate look at lives of youth
It seems that one hears about a tragic case of bullying on the news all too often these days. Anyone who has been bullied can understand the anxiety felt by the children at the center of the documentary “Bully.” Filmmaker Lee Hirsch follows five families affected by bullying and takes a look at the impact it has on their lives. The documentary made headlines when Katy Butler, a 17-year-old high school junior in Michigan started a petition to pressure the MPAA to change the film’s R-rating to PG-13 so more could see and discuss the film. Hollywood celebrities such as Meryl Strep, Katie Couric and Johnny Depp have joined the teen in lobbying the MPAA to revise the rating.

Guest:
Lee Hirsch, director, writer, producer, cinematographer, “Bully”

2:30 – 2:58:30 OPEN

 

 

 

 

 

Patt Morrison for Friday, March 23, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, March 23, 2012

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 – 1:30: OPEN

 

1:30 – 1:58:30

“Game on!” for the southern part of the Keystone Pipeline, anyway
In visiting the swing states of Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma this week, President Obama delivered one overall message: when it comes to exploring energy resources, his answer will be “all of the above.” Besides talking about solar energy and domestic gas production, the president made it clear that the Keystone Pipeline – a proposed pathway for Canadian crude oil to be delivered to multiple U.S. destinations – is still very much on the table. The president promised that he would expedite the federal permitting process for the southern part of the line, which extends from Cushing, OK, to the Gulf of Mexico. In January, President Obama denied approval for the northern segment of the pipeline, a decision which environmentalists hoped might indicate a policy shift, but the president’s newest words on the subject leave many to feel that the victory was short-lived. Democrats and Republicans alike decry President Obama’s newest announcement as pandering; Republicans because it won’t shorten the timeline for the southern part of the pipeline and has a smaller overall effect than his initial denial, Democrats because they’re worried the president might lose support from his base by backing policies not in the environment’s best interest. Environmentalists and Republicans seem to be in agreement on one thing: it’s all for the sake of bettering the president’s image when it comes to rising gas prices. Do you think the president has been consistent in his approach to the United States’ energy strategy?  To the environment?  Will this latest “energy tour” hurt him or help him at the polls?

Guests:

Noah Greenwald, program director, Tucson, Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity

UNCONFIRMED

Marty Durbin, executive vice president, American Petroleum Institute

 

2:06 – 2:30
Life of illusion - Sam Harris challenges the concept of free will
Author, ardent atheist, and neuroscientist Sam Harris first rattled philosophical cages with his 2004 book, “The End of Faith,” in which he both disputed the existence of God and posited that religion has done as much harm as good over the course human history. Harris’ ideas are radical to many, but he is not one to shy away from the controversy. His subsequent books, articles, lectures and media appearances have made him a major figure in the world of reason and scientific thought. In his new book, “Free Will,” Harris is back with an indictment of another commonly held assumption – the belief that individuals have any choice over their thoughts… and their actions that follow. Harris argues that the concept of free will is an illusion created by our neurological processes and environment – that human behavior is governed by “the unconscious origins of our conscious minds.” How can our ability to choose our destinies be proved – or disproved? Can you choose what you think about free will?

Guest:
Sam Harris, neuroscientist and author of “Free Will” (Free Press – 2012) as well as “The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values, Letter to a Christian Nation and The End of Faith”

2:30 – 2:50

Cash-strapped California courts might mean justice delayed

California’s shrinking budget is wreaking havoc on its judicial system, at a time when economic woes have led to an even greater need.  As evictions, child support modifications and debt collections continue to clog the dockets, courtrooms are closing their doors, or struggling with diminished staff and reduced hours.  Rural counties and fast-growing areas such as the Inland Empire are especially hard-hit.  This week, in her first State of the Judiciary address to the Legislature since taking office last year, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye warned that the situation was dire. “We are already seeing worrisome and potentially dangerous delays in the resolution of cases,” she added.  And if that isn’t bad enough, she went on, the number of suspensions and expulsions in California schools could potentially lead to greater strain on its juvenile justice system. While Superior Court filings have increased by 20 percent over the past decade, the judicial branch has seen its budget cut by nearly a quarter since 2008.  California’s court system has a budget of $3.1 billion for the state’s 58 counties, courts of appeal and the Supreme Court.  Cantil-Sakauye has asked the Legislature to restore some $100 million in state funding and to increase court user fees – but with California’s budget already squeezed dry, is there anything left for this rainy day?

 

Guests - NOT CONFIRMED

TBD, Los Angeles Superior Court

Michael Nash, judge, Los Angeles County Juvenile Court

 

2:50:00 – 2:58:30

The hunt for Amelia Earhart’s long lost Lockheed continues

One of the greatest mysteries of modern American history centers on aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. Though she disappeared somewhere over the South Pacific on July 2, 1937, there is still much interest and speculation surrounding the fate of Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan. To this day, neither body has been found, nor has the wreckage of her Lockheed Model 10 Electra. But even after 75 years, evidence is still being discovered – new analysis of an old photo showing part of her plane has allowed researchers to narrow their search area from tens of thousands of square miles to a much smaller area. Armed with this information and led by an expert team of researchers (including Robert Ballard, the man who found the Titanic and the Bismarck), The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) will conduct a search of the Republic of Kiribati’s Nikumaroro island scheduled to begin in July. So could this new piece of evidence finally put an end to the search? Might we finally have some conclusion to the Earhart mystery?

 

Guest:

Ric Gillespie, Executive Director, The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

 

Patt Morrison for Thursday, March 22, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 22, 2012

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

 

1:41:30 – 1:58:30

“The Hunger Games”– not just for kids anymore

“The Hunger Games” is huge at the box office already, and huge among young adults – here’s your primer to the phenomenon you may not have heard about until now – and why its premise has such a grip on teens and twenty-somethings. The movie opens tomorrow and it has already broken records for advance sales with over a million tickets pre-sold. Box office projections are hyping a  $130 to $140 million debut this coming weekend. Part of the phenomenal appeal of the film is that although it is based on a young adult novel, moviegoers of all ages are anticipating the film’s opening with equally baited breath. Other book-inspired franchises like “Harry Potter” and “Twilight” did well across age groups but neither had the pre-hype or breathless excitement we are seeing with this film.

 

Guests:

Albert Lee, senior editor, US Weekly magazine, which edited the recently released a special Hunger Games bookazine   

 

George Dunn, professor of philosophy at University of Indianapolis and co-editor, “The Hunger Games and Philosophy: A Critique of Pure Treason”

 

Grae (Gray) Drake, film critic at Fandango and movies.com

IN STUDIO

 

2:06 – 2:19

Controversial ‘stand your ground’ laws disputed after Florida shooting

The tragic killing of Trayvon Martin and the initial decision by the police not to arrest shooter George Zimmerman have focused public attention on Florida's controversial ‘stand your ground’ law. Zimmerman has claimed self-defense, but many observers can't understand how a grown man with a gun can plausibly claim that he was forced to kill an unarmed teenager. So-called ‘stand your ground’ laws in Florida and in more than a dozen other states allow people to legally use deadly force if they have reasonable fear an assailant could seriously harm them or someone else. In the five years before the law's 2005 approval in Florida, the state averaged 12 justifiable homicides a year, according to the state Department of Law Enforcement. In the six years since, the average is 33. Opponents maintain that these laws encourage dangerous vigilante justice and they blame National Rifle Association lobbyists in part for pushing the legislation, and have demanded their abolishment. How do laws like Florida’s get on the books? Where do we draw the line between self-defense and murder? When facing danger, should citizens stand their ground or do they have a duty to retreat?

 

Guest:

Adam Winkler, constitutional law professor at UCLA; author of “Gunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms in America”

 

2:21:30 – 2:39

Hey, you, with the picture of Rihanna. You don’t own that – is Pinterest the new Napster?

Whether you’re a business or an individual, if you’re online, you’re using images. But who owns the images and how carefully are people paying attention to copyright? While the dust has (mostly) settled on early blogosphere squabbling about unauthorized reposting of written content, are we in for a new era of arguments about image permissions? Recent reports estimate that 70% of all Facebook activities – from “liking” to commenting – revolve around photos, and last month Shareaholic.com reported that Pinterest, a site where users “pin” images they like to digital bulletin boards, beat behemoths Bing, Google, and Twitter in web traffic referral. Have you ever considered that you might not have the right to repost that image of that incredible Eames chair? Those wedding dresses you love? Join Patt as she susses out who loses and who wins when it comes to the image wars.

 

Guests:

Sasha Strauss, brand strategist and founder of Innovation Protocol, a management consulting firm focused on brand marketing

 

Sean Broihier [BROY-er], CEO of FineArtAmerica, an online service representing 95,000 artists whose images are available for purchase

 

UNCONFIRMED

Kirsten Kowalski [KO-wall-ski], lawyer and portrait photographer; wrote the blog post “Why I tearfully deleted my Pinterest inspirations boards”

 

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

What can be done about America’s bullying problem?

 If you follow the news over the last few years, it appears that bullying, in its many forms, is a nationwide epidemic. From name-calling to gay-bashing to physical violence to school shootings, acts of intimidation, dominance, and aggression among classmates are becoming increasingly frequent. For many children, school has become a hostile, dangerous, and frightening place, where it is impossible to learn. The emotional cost can be devastating, leading to despair, depression, and in some cases, suicide. Is bullying just “part of growing up,” a sign of “being a man,” something every kid must endure – or perpetuate?  Sociologist Jessie Klein has researched this issue for decades. In her new book she explores the roots of the problem, including pressure to conform to gender expectations, the ways children are taught to value social status and power and how a school’s culture can contribute to destructive patterns of behavior.  To change the behavior, Klein believes, we must first change the culture that reinforces it. 

 

Guest:

Jessie Klein (F), assistant sociologist/criminal justice professor at Adelphi University and author of “The Bully Society: School Shooting and the Crisis in America’s Schools”

via ISDN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

 

Public Testimony to be Heard as Los Angeles City Council Considers Adopting Resolution Targeting Recent Sexist, Racist, and Misogynistic Remarks on Radio

Public Testimony to be Heard as Los Angeles City Council Considers Adopting Resolution Targeting Recent Sexist, Racist, and Misogynistic Remarks on Radio

Los Angeles City Council aims to be first in the nation to declare derogatory, sexist, misogynistic, and racist language as having no place on public airwaves in one of the most diverse cities in the world

WHO:                         JAN PERRY, Ninth District (Author)
HERB J. WESSON, JR., Tenth District (Co-Author)
BERNARD C. PARKS, Eighth District (Co-Author)
Black Media Alliance
National Hispanic Media Coalition
Korean-American Bar Association
American Indians in Film and Television
Gloria Allred, Attorney (invited)
John Ziegler, former KFI conservative talk radio host
and other minority media groups and civil rights groups

WHAT:                       Los Angeles City Council to Consider Adoption of Resolution Targeting Sexist, Racist, and Misogynistic Remarks on Radio

WHEN:                      Wednesday, March 21, 2012, 10 AM

WHERE:                    John Ferraro Council Chamber
Room 340, City Hall
200 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

LOS ANGELES – On Wed., Mar. 21, at 10 A.M., the Los Angeles City Council will consider being the first City Council in the nation and state of California to adopt a resolution aimed at the recent national discourse on sexist, racist, misogynistic, and derogatory, language being used on public airwaves. 

The resolution, in support of efforts by the Black Media Alliance, a coalition of African-Americans in media and broadcasting as well as other minority media groups and civil rights leaders, is being presented by Councilmember Jan Perry (9th District) seconded by Councilmember Bernard Parks (8th District) and Council President Herb Wesson (10th District), and calls attention to the recent KFI 640 AM talk show hosts “long history of racially offensive comments as well as deplorable sexist remarks, particularly towards women and Black, Latino, and Asian communities.”  These remarks including referring to Whitney Houston as a “crack ho” Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke as a “slut” and a “prostitute” as well repeated attacks on Black women, Latinos and other minorities.

In addition, the resolution points out the lack diversity among Los Angeles’ number one rated radio station, KFI 640 AM,  where out of 15 hosts, none are African-American and one is female.

Other participants include: attorney Gloria Allred (invited), who recently sent a letter to the Palm Beach County Attorney's Office in West Palm Beach, Fla., demanding that Rush Limbaugh be prosecutedunder Florida statute, Section 836.04, which states, "Defamation -- Whoever speaks of and concerning any woman, married or unmarried, falsely and maliciously imputing to her a want of chastity, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.775.082 or s.775.083.; and former KFI 640 AM conservative talk radio host John Ziegler, who in recent weeks has publicly discussed his firsthand knowledge and experience of the racist attitudes towards Blacks from KFI 640 AM’s talk show hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou of the “John and Ken Show.” 

Resolution Language

WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles has historically supported policies that prohibit discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and disability; and

WHEREAS, KFI 640 AM merged with Clear Channel Communications in 2000, making KFI 640 AM Clear Channel's flagship AM radio station in Los Angeles;

WHEREAS, KFI 640 AM, averages approximately 1.5 million listeners during any given weekday; and

WHEREAS as noted in a recent L.A. Times article, a growing percentage of Southern California cities, including the Great City of Los Angeles, contain significant populations of at least two racial or ethnic groups; and

WHEREAS, KFI 640 AM, is listened to by all races, including but not limited to African-Americans, Latinos, Asians; and

WHEREAS, KFI 640 AM talk show hosts have a long history of racially offensive comments as well as deplorable sexist remarks, particularly towards women and Black, Latino, and Asian communities;

WHEREAS, February isNational Black History Month; and

WHEREAS, on February 15, 2012, KFI 640 AM’s talk show hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou of the “John and Ken Show” referred to pop music icon Whitney Houston as a “crack ho”, three days after her death;

WHEREAS, March is National Women’s History Month; and

WHEREAS, on February 29, 2012, on the eve of Women’s History Month, KFI 640 AM’s syndicated talk show host Rush Limbaugh referred to Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown University law student, as a “slut” and a “prostitute” for testifying on Capitol Hill about women’s access to contraception;

WHEREAS, given ClearChannel Media Holdings stated view on the value they place on diversity, it is our belief that corporate action must start at the top with KFI 640 AM; and

WHEREAS, Clear Channel Media Holding’s commitment to diversity is not being realized at its flagship station KFI 640 AM, where out of 15 on-air personalities, only one is a female and none of them are Black; and

WHEREAS there are not any Blacks currently working in KFI 640 AM’s newsroom as full-time producers or engineers, or as outside paid contributors, fill-in hosts, or other on air personalities; and

WHEREAS, when you have an absence of Blacks and other minorities in the workplace, it is easy to become desensitized to what other groups find intolerable which ultimately fosters an environment where negative comments can go unchecked and corporate guidelines and policies are no longer being enforced; and

WHEREAS, a truly diverse work environment includes the continuous hiring of women, Blacks and other minorities;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that by adoption of this Resolution, the City Council urges KFI 640 AM’s station management and Clear Channel Media Holdings do everything in their power to ensure that their on-air hosts do not use and promote racist and sexist slurs over public airwaves in the City of Los Angeles; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the derogatory language used bysome radio personnel has no place on public airwaves in the Great City of Los Angeles or anywhere in America; and

                        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a truly diverse work environment must include the hiring of women, Blacks, Latinos and Asians not only as on-air talent, but as fill-intalent, paid contributors, producers, engineers, news reporters and online Web site owners.