Patt Morrison for Tuesday, May 1, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Tuesday, May 1, 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

 

[GUEST HOST IS DAVID LAZARUS OF THE L.A. TIMES]

 

 

 

1:06 – 1:39  OPEN

 

 

1:41 – 1:58
Has Wall Street changed? “Money, Power & Wall Street” airs tonight on Frontline

Forget whether or not the debt crisis is over—is a worse one coming? Sluggish job growth and poorer-than-expected corporate earnings still seem to be keeping market analysts on edge, with each tremor from the European Union adding to the anxiety. The American market has stabilized enough to be on par with other “emerging markets,” but is that enough, considering that our debt ratio is drastically higher than other countries in this bracket (like Russia and China)? How can we gain a vantage point to help us understand what happened in 2008 when we’re still so close to it, and are we doing enough to ensure it doesn’t happen again? “Here we are three years-plus after, and very little has changed, Phil Angelides, the former chairman of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. The PBS news program Fronline examines whether Congress or multi-billion dollar banks are running the country. Has new regulation helped? Are there provisions in place to ensure that the economic meltdown won’t happen again? If the EU succumbs to economic pressue, can the U.S. escape unscathed or is another financial crisis hovering on the horizon?

 

Guest:

Phil Angelides, chairman of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (2009-2011) and president of Riverview Capital Investments

 

 

2:06 – 2:30
Not getting enough sleep? The CDC says you’re not alone
The early bird may get the worm, but that bird may be suffering if it also burned the midnight oil. A new study released by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that as many as one in three American civilian workers gets less than six hours of sleep per night - significantly less than the optimal recommended amount of seven to nine hours.  A chronic lack of sleep can lead to an array of health problems and dire consequences… and not just for the sleep-deprived. The study also found that those in the transportation sector are especially overtired - with 44 percent of truck drivers and 29 percent of taxi and limo drivers not getting enough rest, which the CDC says leads to roughly 20 percent of vehicle accidents. Not exactly reassuring statistics for a nation of people on the move. Do you get enough sleep? How does your performance and quality of life suffer without enough rest?

Guests:
Alon Y. Avidan, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at UCLA’s Neurology Clinic

Cathy Wong, naturopathic doctor and the Guide to Alternative Medicine at about.com

Elizabeth Shannon, "Australia's Natural Sleep Reporter"

2:30 – 2:39  OPEN

 

 

2:41:30 – 2:58

Microsoft gets its own little Nook, but how will this impact the e-book business?
With Apple’s ubiquitous iPad popping up all over the place, it’s easy to forget about competing tablets and e-readers, but now that Microsoft is jumping into the market with a $300 million investment in Barnes & Noble’s e-book business, consumers may pay more attention to the Windows-supported Nook in the near future. After the bookseller announced plans to spin off its Nook division in January, Microsoft has now claimed a 17.6 percent share in the digital device. The $249 color Nook has been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal year for Barnes & Noble, with Nook sales reportedly increasing 43 percent last year. Despite its growth, the Nook has still struggled to keep up with Amazon.com’s Kindle as well as with competition served by tablet computers like Apple’s iPad. Will Microsoft’s involvement discourage loyal Nook fans from using the device or will the Windows software maker elevate Barnes & Noble’s e-reader to top-selling status? Also, Microsoft’s new Nook application for Windows 8 will allow consumers to read digital publications without the Nook, but won’t this hurt Nook sales?

Guests:
Matt DeBord, KPCC’s business blogger, “The DeBord Report”
Number TBA

 

 

 

 

Producer - Patt Morrison
89.3 KPCC - Southern California Public Radio
213.290.4201 – mobile/SMS
474 South Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, CA  91105
jarmstrong@kpcc.org

 

Patt Morrison for Monday, April 30, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Monday, April 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

 

 

 

1:06 – 1:39 OPEN

 

1:30 – 1:58

Would you vote for a tax increase on cigarettes?

Californians will head to the ballot box in June to vote on Prop 29, which if passed, would boost taxes on a pack of cigarettes in California by $1 (it’s currently .87 cents – and $4.35 in New York). That would raise an estimated $735 million annually, most of which would go to cancer research. If cigarette tax works as an effective smoking deterrent, that would also mean an estimated $1 billion loss to the California tobacco industry. Tobacco companies have so far spent $21 million to defeat the initiative. They’re also representing themselves as California Against Out of Control Taxes and Spending, which is appealing to anti-tax sentiments to oppose it, and point out that the provision allows out-of-state organizations to bid for the cancer research dollars. The campaign is being closely watched since California hasn’t approved a tobacco tax increase in 14 years and data shows that heavy spending to persuade voters to reject ballot measures usually works pretty well—voters are predisposed to vote “no” on initiatives. On the other hand, it’s tougher to defeat initiatives the public are knowledgeable, and unpredictable how anti-smoking campaigns may sway voters. Would you vote for a tax like this?

 

YES ON PROP 29:

TBD, American Cancer Society

 

NO ON PROP 29 –

Katy Grimes, Californians Against Out-of-Control Taxes and Spending, a coalition of taxpayers, small businesses, law enforcement and labor. (866) 662-7016

 

Tracy Westen, CEO of Center Governmental Studies 

 

2:06 – 2:30

What is the future of organized labor in the United States?

Job security. Health care. Retirement. Workers in the United States have a lot to feel insecure about within a still shaky economy. Labor unions, for generations, have represented these concerns within work places, but organized labor has also been declining for decades, since private-sector union membership hit its peak in the 1950s. During that time, about 40 percent of laborers belonged to a union. Compare that to 7.6 percent private-sector union membership last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. American Airlines, for instance, has already tried to cancel its pension plan for 130,000 workers, and now wants to pull the plug on its union contracts too. Economic woes have long been considered one factor why organized labor is losing steam, with a balance of power shifted in favor of employers, with many workers fearful of losing their jobs. Do unions have any future in this scaled-down economy? As a worker, do you belong to a union, or do you wish there was one at your work place to counteract bad management? If a business owner, how do you view unions amid labor cost increases?

 

Richard Hurd, professor of industrial and labor relations at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and the school’s associate dean for external relations

 

Damon Silvers, public policy director for the AFL-CIO

 

2:30 – 2:58
Republicans and Democrats make a student loan interest rates a campaign issue
Immigration, tax cuts and health care are some of the items on the greatest hits list of political footballs, but the recent fight over student loan interest rates is the kind of disagreement more traditionally worked out someplace other than in newspaper headlines. The newest debate surrounds the prevention of interest rates for subsidized student loans from reverting back to 6.8 percent from their current rate of 3.4 percent in July. In this election year, with college costs climbing, a tepid job market for graduates, and a hotly contested youth voting bloc, both parties are on the offensive on the issue. President Obama has called out Republicans for failing to act while families struggle and House Republicans responded late Friday by passing a version of a bill to prevent the hike despite the likelihood that the president will veto it, and the fact that the Democrat-controlled Senate has a bill of its own in the works. Republicans were eager not let Obama have a week to build his case unopposed on the issue during the House’s weeklong recess next week. But the issue isn’t all bluster - in 2010, U.S. student loan debt outpaced credit card debt for the first time ever for a total of about $1 trillion. Both parties want to keep the rates low, but in typical hyper-partisan fashion they cannot agree how to pay for it. Is the issue more about votes or financial relief for the American people… or is it just a new place for the major political parties to fight? How can congress find common ground?

Guests: UNCONFIRMED

Sandy Baum, Skidmore College Department

Brett Weiss, Bankruptcy Lawyer & Partner, Chung & Press law firm based in Greenbelt, Maryland; Maryland State Chair, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys

 

 

Dave Coelho

Senior Producer, Patt Morrison

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5280 office

323-632-5885 cell

 

 

Patt Morrison for Friday, April 27, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, April 27, 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 – 1:19 OPEN

 

1:21 – 1:39 OPEN

 

1:41:30 – 1:58:30

Black ensemble film “Think Like A Man” debuts No. 1, ushers in broad appeal

Call it the $12 million budget film that could, and did. Mostly black ensemble romantic comedy “Think Like A Man,” based on comic Steve Harvey’s book “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man,” not only had a smash debut weekend after opening April 20, grossing $33.6 million, it beat out Hollywood juggernaut “The Hunger Games” at the box office, coming in No. 1. Directed by Tim Story, whose credits include 2002’s “Barbershop,” “Think Like A Man” stars actresses Taraji P Henson, Gabrielle Union and actor-comedian Kevin Hart.  The movie has a battle-of-the-sexes premise, revolving around four couples. The women and men in them strategize against each other, citing advice from Harvey’s book. The film is only being shown in roughly 2,000 theaters, compared to “The Hunger Games,” which has been in more than 4,100 theaters since its March release. Though movie critics have given “Think Like A Man” mixed reviews, supporters cite its wittiness and universal themes of romance and competition. Director-actor Tyler Perry has already created an empire based on his films geared to the African-American experience. Is “Think Like A Man”’s box office triumph a sign-to-come of ensemble movies starring black actors being watched by larger, diverse audiences?

 

Guests:

 

Christopher Witherspoon, entertainment editor at TheGrio.com (GREE-oh), an NBC News affiliated video news website devoted to providing African-Americans with stories underrepresented in existing national news outlets.

 

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune film critic

 

2:06 – 2:19

Rodney King speaks, 20 years after the riots

The man whose videotaped beating by police sparked the 1992 riots talks about his 20 years since. Rodney King has struggled addiction, and has had several run-ins with the law, but keeps a positive perspective. Does he feel guilt over the riots? Does he hold a grudge against the officers who forever changed his life? He answers these questions and more as Patt sits down with him to talk about his life, his future, and his country.

 

Guest:

Rodney King, victim in a police brutality case involving the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) on March 3, 1991; author of the The Riot Within: My Journey from Rebellion to Redemption

 

2:21:30 – 2:39

DogTV: Will dogs want to watch TV shows made just for them?

Have you ever wondered if your dog likes watching TV? The makers of DogTV are betting your furry friend does, which is why they’ve created the first cable network to deliver 24-hour programming for dogs. According to producers, the idea is to stimulate doggy viewers to keep them relaxed and entertained while their owners are away. The shows on DogTV are actually three to six minute segments featuring grassy fields, bouncing balls and humans rubbing dog tummies. Executives at the network say their programming is scientifically designed to appeal to dogs and to potentially help comfort canines who suffer from separation anxiety. However, some veterinarians doubt that DogTV programming will actually make dogs happier and suspect that the concept is more of a gimmick to make humans feel less guilty about leaving their pets home alone. A test of DogTV at the Escondido Humane Society in California, found that exposure to the channel at least temporarily helped reduce barking and antsy behavior. DogTV has been available through cable providers in San Diego since February and can also be accessed online. Its purveyors are planning to make it available on cable systems nationwide by the end of the year. Does your dog currently watch TV? Would you pay for special programming designed specifically for your four-legged friend?

Guest:

Michael Chill, dog trainer and behavior specialist

 

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

‘Sacre Bleu’! Portrait of an artist, his girlfriend, van Gogh and paintings … gone

New York Times bestselling writer Christopher Moore, author of 11 novels, returns with a tale of love, mystery and art in his new book “Sacre Bleu,” translated from French to English as “sacred blue.” Baker’s son Lucien Lessard, a young artist, falls deeply in love with Juliette, whom he paints wearing a lovely blue dress. One day, however, Lucien shows up to his studio, and voila! His girl is gone, and also his paintings. Juliette is apparently linked to a strange little person called the Colorman, who is giving Lucien's contemporaries, including Vincent van Gogh, a glorious but dangerous shade of blue paint known as sacre bleu. The book revises van Gogh’s long reported suicide as actually a murder at the hands of the Colorman, who, in the novel, fatally shoots the famed painter. Ohio-born Moore is known for his zippy, comic plots, including a comedic vampire romance trilogy. Join Patt as she speaks with the author about his new novel. Are you a fan of Moore? If so, have you read “Sacre Bleu”? What about Moore’s books captures your attention? Do you agree with reimaging van Gogh’s death?

 

Chris Moore, author most recently of Sacre Bleu and Bite Me: A Love Story

IN STUDIO

 

 

Dave Coelho

Senior Producer, Patt Morrison

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5280 office

323-632-5885 cell

 

 

Patt Morrison for Thursday, April 26, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Thursday, April 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 – 1:19 - OPEN

 

1:21 – 1:39

Could you pass a financial literacy quiz?

Sara works full-time at the Big Save store and earns $2,500 a month. Who pays the contributions to Social Security on the $2,500a month Sara earns? The answer is both Sara and her employer, but if Sara is twenty-something, it’s entirely possible she doesn’t know that. The Treasury Department and the Department of Education have tested graduating high school students over the past three years using a 40-question exam called the National Financial Capability Challenge, and the statistics they’ve collected are not pretty – the average score has been 70%, with last year’s average dropping to 69%. Millennials, or twenty-somethings, also hold higher-than-average debt and have higher-than-average unemployment. Is the trend indicative of long-term damage to just a generation, or an entire economy? How can this be corrected?

 

Guest:

Beth Kobliner (like airliner), a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability and author of the bestselling book Get a Financial Life

 

1:41:30 – 1:58:30

Former NFL agent Josh Luchs on football’s dirt off the field
The NFL draft takes place today (THURSDAY), and many football players spend years slogging it out playing college football before they reach the draft. College football can be a dirty game - on the field under the lights, yes, but also in the back rooms where agents, players and schools make verboten and clandestine deals involving players who aren’t supposed to be paid. But college sports is a big money game with millions upon millions in revenues for schools at stake… and it leads to an even more lucrative gravy train when athletes go professional. All this illegal activity is oft suspected but seldom disclosed. Former sports agent Josh Luchs spent years making these kinds of illegal deals with college players – buying trips, tickets, favors and more in order to entice players to agree be represented by Luchs when they went pro. Luchs was suspended by the NFL Players Association for his banned activities, and in his new book, Illegal Procedure, he spills the beans on the secrets of the trade and illuminates the unseen shady side of college sports. Is there a better way to distribute revenue from college sports? Should college players be paid? Is there any way to stop this kind of activity?

Guest:
Josh Luchs (LUKES), former sports agent and author of “Illegal Procedure: A Sports Agent Comes clean on the Dirty Business of College Football” (Bloomsbury 2012)
IN- STUDIO

 

2:06 – 2:19

US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher denied access to enter Afghanistan

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-California) was in a plane on the tarmac in Dubai, ready to head to Afganistan as part of a congressional delegation, when U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called to request that he cancel his trip because Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai had threatened to deny the entire delegation entry if Rohrabacher stayed on the plane. Rohrabacher, whose involvement in Afghanistan stretches back decades, told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that Secretary Clinton was respectful, but concerned that Rohrabacher’s presence would cause President Karzai to fan the tense fires of an already smoldering city, especially after recent reports of U.S. soldiers burning Korans, killing Afghan civilians, and urinating on dead bodies. Rohrabacher’s spokesperson, Tara Olivia Setmayer, told Politico.com that Rohrabacher “believes [Karzai’s] denial is based on [Rohrbacher’s] vocal opposition to Karzai,” as well as “Dana’s relationship with the former Northern Alliance leaders.” Rohrabacher ceded to the request, but has expressed deep concern about the U.S. government “walking on eggshells” around President Karzai, as well as the Afghan government’s refusal to give members of Congress access, especially considering the fact that they represent the American people, whose tax dollars are being used by that same government. Should Secretary Clinton have allowed Rohrabacher to continue on with the delegation? Should our tax money allow us open access to Afghan redevelopment?

 

Guest:

NOT CONFIRMED:

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-CA’s 46^th District (Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, denied entry into Afghanistan

 

2:20-2:40 – OPEN

 

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

What can be gleaned from the history of the home?

Did you know that Henry VIII slept on eight mattresses, and that he required that his servants roll on them to make sure no one had hidden daggers inside? Or that the common living room grew out of the chain of reception rooms found in medieval palaces – starting with the presence chamber (for receiving), followed by the privy chamber (for intimate friends of the king), and concluding with the withdrawing chamber (where the king could withdraw from company altogether)? The make-up of both the modern house and those of its ancestors reveal much about the social ideologies of its occupants. Join Patt and guest Lucy Worsley, chief curator of the Historic Royal Palaces in England and author of “If Walls Could Talk,” to learn more about the history of the home.

 

Guest:

Dr. Lucy Worsley, author of “If Walls Could Talk” and Chief Curator at the Royal Historic Palaces

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

 

Patt Morrison for Wednesday, April 25, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Wednesday, April 25, 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 – 1:39

Could you pass a financial literacy quiz?

Sara works full-time at the Big Save store and earns $2,500 a month. Who pays the contributions to Social Security on the $2,500a month Sara earns? The answer is both Sara and her employer, but if Sara is twenty-something, it’s entirely possible she doesn’t know that. The Treasury Department and the Department of Education have tested graduating high school students over the past three years with versions of this question on a 40-question exam called the National Financial Capability Challenge, and the statistics they’ve collected are not pretty – the average score has been 70%, with last year’s average dropping to 69%. Millennials, or twenty-somethings, also hold higher-than-average debt and have higher-than-average unemployment. Is the trend indicative of long-term damage to just a generation, or an entire economy? How can this be corrected?

 

Guest:

NOT CONFIRMED:

Beth Kobliner (like airliner), a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability and author of the bestselling book Get a Financial Life

 

2:06 – 2:40

Teaching and talking to children and teenagers about the Los Angeles riots

A sizable number of Angelenos weren’t even born when the riots occurred 20 years ago – for them it’s old news – scratch that, it’s history. How do schools teach the lessons of this defining event to the children of people who witnessed it firsthand? It’s not easy to have a substantive conversation with children and adolescents about abstract concepts like violence and racism, so how does one begin to teach or talk about the 1992 L.A. riots? The Los Angeles Unified School District does not have a set curriculum in place to teach this portion of L.A.’s history, but we’re guessing that many Patt Morrison listeners and individual educators have their own approaches. Join us with your comments and questions as we talk with photographer Gary Leonard and his then fourteen-year-old son, artist David Leonard, about their unique experience photographing the events in the weeks between April 29 and May 9, 1992, as well as several educators who teach the riots in their classroom. How do you remember explaining what was happening to your children at the time? If you were a child or teenager, what do you remember understanding?

 

Guests:

Gary Leonard, photographer; director, "Take My Picture" gallery; columnist, LA Observed; father

David Leonard, media artist, photographer, and son

*On April 29 from 12 to 5 p.m., Gary Leonard and his son, David Leonard, will display works as part of “Parker Center,” their LA Riots retrospective at the Take My Picture gallery in Downtown Los Angeles.

Jerry Freedman, AP U.S. History teacher, LA County High School for the Arts (LACHSA)

NOT CONFIRMED:

Donald Singleton, teacher, Dorsey High School

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

A.J. Jacobs and the quest to become the healthiest man in the world

After undertaking a Herculean spiritual journey in The Year of Living Biblically and a mental one in The Know-It-All, it was only fitting that A.J. Jacobs focus on the body for his newest book Drop Dead Healthy: One Man’s Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection. Following a run-in with tropical pneumonia, Jacobs set out on a quest to become the healthiest person on Earth. The thought of not being around long enough to see his three sons grow up propelled him to examine his body which he described as a “mushy, easily-winded, moderately sickly blob.” For Jacobs it wasn’t a matter of just losing weight but a complete retooling of his physique. His effort to rework his body from stem to stern led him to subject himself to dozens of experiments, diets, and exercise regimens. In pursuit of healthiness, he consulted a legion of medical experts – everything from nutritionists to sleep consultants. He bought all sorts of exercise equipment, gadgets, and juicers. All was part of an effort to distinguish what really works from medical myths. He divulges all with Patt. What’s your routine? What diets have you tried and realized were a waste of your time? How do you make sure you’re healthy?

 

Guests:

A.J. Jacobs, senior editor, Esquire Magazine; author of Drop Dead Healthy: One Man’s Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection

IN STUDIO

*A.J. Jacobs will be at Vromans tonight at 7 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

 

Patt Morrison for Tuesday, April 24, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Tuesday, April 24, 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

 

 

l:00:00 – l:00:30

HR 1 BILLBOARD

 

FROM THE MOHN BROADCAST CENTER, I’M PATT MORRISON

 

1:06 – 1:39 - OPEN

 

1:41:30 – 1:58:30

What lessons can President Obama learn from the French election?

As France’s presidential election heats up between socialist Francois Hollande and conservative Nicolas Sarkozy, what lessons can President Barack Obama, with his own reelection campaign gaining steam, learn from the French runoff? A Slate.com article Monday by journalist Sasha Issenberg says the current American commander in chief could learn five lessons from the French presidential race, from life being hard for incumbents such as Sarkozy, to not playing the foreign policy card. Another lesson is to use strength to disqualify an opponent. Sarkozy, according to Issenberg, has been perceived as a stronger leader than Hollande, as evidenced by voter polls, despite frustration with the status quo in France. In Sunday’s first round of the French presidential election, Hollande came out ahead of Sarkozy, with 28.6 percent of the ballots compared to Sarkozy’s 27.2 percent, with far right leader Marine Le Pen in third place with 17.9 percent. What lessons can President Obama learn from the current presidential election in France, and Sarkozy’s second place finish in the first round of voting?

 

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/victory_lab/2012/04/french_elections_five_lessons_obama_could_learn_from_the_contest_between_nicholas_sarkozy_and_francois_hollande_.html

Guests:

Unconfirmed

Sasha Issenberg, journalist and author of Slate.com article “French Elections: Five Lessons Obama could learn from the contest between Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande”

Eleanor Beardsley, National Public Radio Paris correspondent

 

2:06 – 2:30

Net migration from Mexico stops…

All quiet on the border front? A new study from the Pew Hispanic Center finds that the wave of illegal immigration into the US from Mexico has slowed to a net standstill. Mexican immigrants aren’t only coming to the United States in far smaller numbers, but that some are leaving, too. What are the political and social implications?

Guests:

TBD

2:30-2:58:30 - OPEN

 

 

 

 

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

 

Patt Morrison for Monday, April 23, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Monday, April 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 – 2:20- OPEN

 

2:21:30 – 2:30

New Michigan museum houses artifacts tied to America’s racist history

It’s a collection that’s meant to shock – and it does, full of artifacts including a tea kettle painted in black face and advertisements espousing racist terminology. The Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, at Michigan’s Ferris State University houses thousands of pieces that depict stereotypes of African-Americans from the days of slavery to the 2008 presidential election. The $1.3 million gallery, set to have its grand opening April 26, stemmed from the personal collection of its curator and vice president of the university's Diversity and Inclusion Office, David Pilgrim, who is black. Is a museum displaying artifacts of shameful stereotypes of African-Americans from America’s past a step forward, a reminder of our bias-steeped history, or a step back?

 

All Unconfirmed

David Pilgrim, curator of the soon-to-open Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University in Michigan, and vice president of the university's Diversity and Inclusion Office.

Ange-Marie Hancock (AHNGE-Marie), associate professor of political science at USC and author of "Solidarity Politics for Millennials: A Guide to Ending the Oppression Olympics"

Roger Clegg, president and general counsel of the Center for Equal Opportunity, “the nation’s only conservative think tank devoted to issues of race and ethnicity”

 

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

Big Sunday. The countdown to the biggest volunteer event in California begins.

April is National Volunteer Month! Have you been keeping up on your New Year’s commitment to be a better citizen? If you’re fretting because you’ve failed to maintain your own high standards, worry not. Big Sunday volunteer weekend (aka the Super Bowl of volunteering) is right around the corner, and David Levinson, the executive director of Big Sunday, is here to answer your questions and suggest organizations in need of your time and labor. This year, Big Sunday will focus specifically on veterans’ and housing concerns, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other places in need of help. Make sure to call with questions, or just to congratulate Big Sunday on being the only organization in California to be recognized for its volunteer services by the Points of Light Foundation. Do you volunteer regularly? Do you have suggestions or ideas for those who don’t? Do you feel like volunteering matters?

 

Guests:

David Levinson, executive director of Big Sunday

IN STUDIO

 

 

 

 

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

 

Patt Morrison for Friday, April 20, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, April 20, 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

Two years after BP oil spill, Patt clears the air with EPA head Lisa Jackson

Republican presidential candidates have made the Environmental Protection Agency target number one for their budget axe …EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is here with the skinny on that and what’s up here in California. It’s also the two year anniversary of the BP oil spill, when the “Deepwater Horizon” drilling platform exploded off the coast of Louisiana, killing 11, injuring 17, and eventually spewing 210,000,000 gallons of petroleum into the Gulf of Mexico, causing one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history. Patt asks Administrator Jackson about the next iteration of the Clean Air Act, which would have set stricter ozone air quality standards for the nation, and which President Obama asked the EPA to stop pursuing this past fall. Environmentalists are now pushing for the stricter rule to be implemented in 2013, when it will be reconsidered as part of a five-year review. With Earth Day just two days away, join Patt as she clears the air with the head of the EPA, Lisa P. Jackson. Should the EPA crack down harder on industrial pollution even if it hinders economic growth? And what will you do to celebrate Earth Day this weekend?

 

Guests:

Lisa Jackson, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

IN STUDIO

 

2:06 – 2:19 – OPEN

 

2:21:30 – 2:39

Digital ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’? New mobile app offers calmness amid chaos

A mobile app akin to “Chicken Soup for the Soul”? Why not? A new cell phone app called “GPS for the Soul” being developed by the Huffington Post in partnership with mobile developer bLife is being touted as a way to align mind, body and spirit. The app would show soothing images and display breathing exercises to help users navigate the rough waters of daily life. The concept raises questions about maintaining serenity within our increasingly chaotic, technology laden world. Does using a mobile app to combat tech-induced imbalance defeat the point of actual real-life balance? Or are apps such as “GPS for the Soul” just another way, within a modern world, to deal with the complexities of life? An in-person therapist this is not!

 

Guests:

Karen North, clinical psychologist and director of the University of Southern California's Annenberg Program on Online Communities

 

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

Voluntourism…what’s out there?

Would you be willing to sacrifice your that Hawaiian vacation to work on a farm? It may sound farfetched, but many people actually give up luxury holidays to go on volunteer vacations, where they help build houses for the homeless in Haiti, take care of elephants in Thailand, or build orphanages in South Africa. Navigating so-called “voluntourism” can be daunting and even risky for travelers. Patt talks with two veteran “voluntourists” about over 150 projects that volunteers can join. Have you been on a volunteer vacation? If so, what did you learn from the experience? Looking to go? Call in with your questions.

 

Guest:

Doug Cutchins, co-author, Volunteer Vacations, Eleventh Edition: Short-Term Adventures That Will Benefit You and Others

 

 

 

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

 

Patt Morrison for Thursday, April 19, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Thursday, April 19, 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 – 1:40 - OPEN

 

1:41:30 – 1:58:30

Food swamps, not deserts? Studies say more urban access to food than thought

There’s been ample coverage of reports on food deserts, those swaths of lower income, urban neighborhoods said to be barren of fresh fruits and vegetables, with Michelle Obama and others promoting grocery store access. Are these areas, however, actually store-filled food swamps? A few recent studies claim as much. One study is “The Role of Local Food Availability and Explaining Obesity Risk,” published in the March issue of the journal Social Science & Medicine, authored by researcher Helen Lee of nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank the Public Policy Institute of California. Lee’s study found that not only are there nearly twice as many fast food restaurants and convenience stores in lower income neighborhoods as wealthier ones, but these poor areas have more than three times as many corner stores per square mile, and nearly twice as many supermarkets and large-scale grocers per square mile. Lee’s study, however, didn’t have access to the type and quality of food in those stores. The study used data from a federal survey of 8,000 children ranging in age from kindergarten to fifth grade, compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics, tracking the height and weight of the kids over time, as well as the neighborhoods they lived in and went to school. Lee also used data on the locations of food establishments, from restaurants to chain grocery stores, from a national database. Another study, published in February in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, found no relationship between children’s weight, the kind of food they said they ate and the type of food near their homes. If you live in a low income, urban area, do you consider it a food desert, or a food swamp? Even if there are more stores in these areas, is the quality of food, such as produce, better or worse than in wealthier areas?

 

Guests:

Helen Lee, researcher at nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank the Public Policy Institute of California, and author of the study “The Role of Local Food Availability and Explaining Obesity Risk” in the March issue of the journal “Social Science & Medicine”

 

Unconfirmed

Antronette Yancey, professor in the Department of Health Services and co-director of the UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity

 

2:06 – 2:30

Elite colleges move online, give away the goods away for free

Princeton, The University of Pennsylvania, The University of Michigan, and Stanford are now offering online courses…for free. The classes will open doors to people who wouldn’t have had them opened otherwise. Silicon Valley CEO Ben Nelson is pooling $25 million to start an online “Ivy League,” The Minerva Project. At a time when public education institutions are slashing funds, could these moves be the great equalizer? Could an online-only instruction ever really compete with a top American institution?

 

Guests:

TBD

 

2:30 – 2:39

A new blood test may help the diagnosis of depression
The U.S. Center for Disease Control estimates that perhaps one in ten American adults suffers from some kind of depression. Causality for depression is murky and ranges from environmental factors to heredity, and doctors say that it is a debilitating, difficult to treat and costly mental illness. But there may be some clarity on the horizon - new evidence found in research with “biomarkers” - messenger molecules that carry genetic instructions - means that a simple blood test may someday be able to indicate depression in a patient, and those who treat depression believe that definitive diagnosis may lead to more effective treatment. How would more effective diagnosis of depression help those who suffer from it? What do you do to deal with depression?

Guest:

UNCONFIRMED
Eva Redei, professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences and physiology at Northwestern University and leader of the new depression study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry

 

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

Rachel Dratch’s “midlife miracle”

Many cast members of the sketch comedy television show “Saturday Night Live” go on to headline prominent movies and series, but comedian Rachel Dratch, best known for her SNL character Debbie Downer, didn’t exactly follow in the footsteps of some of her predecessors after her seven-year run on the late night comedy show. In fact, after navigating through peculiar job offers and awkward dating experiences, Dratch surprised herself when she met a man at a bar and six months later became pregnant at the age of 43. Dratch candidly recounts her post-SNL misadventures and her path to motherhood in her new aptly titled book, “Girl Walks into a Bar… Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle.”

 

Rachel will be at Barnes & Noble at the Grove starting at 7 pm tonight to discuss and sign “Girl Walks into a Bar.”

 

Guests:

Rachel Dratch, actress, comedian, and author.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

 

Patt Morrison for Wednesday, April 18, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Wednesday, April 18, 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 – 1:39

New study of NASA data from 1976 points to possible life on Mars

According to an international team of mathematicians and scientists, there is life on Mars. The team, including University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine neurobiologist Joseph Miller, came to this conclusion after reanalyzing data from a life-detection experiment conducted by NASA’s Viking Mars robots in 1976. The study quantified the raw data and the results were checked for complexity. Key among the findings was a high degree of order which scientists believe points to biological processes. Not everyone in the scientific community agrees with the new study. Some call for caution, pointing out that the methodology is not yet effective enough to differentiate between biological and non-biological processes here on Earth. Miller is also reanalyzing the data to see if there could be variations caused by a weeks-long dust storm on Mars. Those research results are expected to be presented in August. Are you excited about the prospect of life on Mars? Do you think the methodology behind these findings should be questioned? Should NASA send another mission to Mars?

 

Guests:

Joseph Miller, associate professor of cell and neurobiology at University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine

 

1:41:30 – 1:58:30

Cash mobs hit L.A.

You’ve heard of flash mobs, but have you heard of cash mobs? While Republican and Democratic politicians continue to squabble over tax hikes, some Americans have chosen to show their support for the country’s small businesses the old fashioned way: by lavishing them with cash. Cash mob members pledge to spend at least twenty dollars at a local business, to be decided on by local chapter members. The call goes out, and the mob shows up…in a more or less orderly fashion, at an agreed-upon time. Stores visited by cash mobs have reported revenues  of up to $9000. About 248 so-called cash mob chapters have started across the country, mostly made up of young professionals who organize online and usually say their reasons are as much social as they are philanthropic. Andrew Samtoy, the Ohio attorney who cofounded the movement, stated that he was looking for a way to make flash mobs creative again, as well as help small, struggling businesses. Last week the Los Angeles Times reported that a cash mob spent $1200 in a few hours at the newly-opened store of the Downtown Women’s Center, Made by DWC. Have you participated in a cash mob, or do you own a store that has been visited by one? What do you think of the idea?

 

Guests:

Andrew Samtoy (SAM-toy), Ohio attorney, San Diego native and cofounder of the worldwide cash mobs movement  

Stacy Mitchell (f), senior researcher at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance

NOT CONFIRMED

Lisa Gilmore, coordinated Los Angeles Cash Mobs on Facebook, Twitter and Meetup, and has organized four events since December

 

2:06 – 2:30

Voter ID wars heat up

Beneath the headlines about mommy wars and dogs tied to cars, a real debate is brewing about voter ID laws in the 2012 election. Both sides are fighting to frame the debate: Is election fraud rampant, or are Republicans colluding in a state-by-state strategy to suppress college students, women voters, and minorities from showing up at the polls? While that’s the subject of much debate, there’s no question that the laws are sweeping the nation. Different versions have passed in Pennsylvania, been struck down by the DOJ in South Carolina, and by the state court this week in Wisconsin. Most recently, an Arizona appellate court yesterday upheld a provision of state law that required voters to show a photo ID, but struck down the part requiring proof of citizenship. Plaintiffs in the case argued the law evokes fear in voters and amounts to a “poll tax,” by requiring an official photo ID, which the state charges to issue. Meanwhile, supporters of voter ID laws say they’re necessary to protect ballot security. Both sides have been vocal and the stakes are high, perhaps even as high as seeing whether 5 million voters make it to the polls, according to one study released last fall by the Brennan Center.

 

Guests:

Richard Hasen (HA- like hat), professor specializing in election law, UC Irvine; he’s also author of the forthcoming book The Voting Wars: From Florida 200 to the Next Election Meltdown

NOT CONFIRMED:

Keesha Gaskins, Brennan Center, a non-partisan public policy institute

Kris W. Kobach (KOE-bawk), Secretary of State for Kansas, national expert on constitutional law with the Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI) and an advisor to the Mitt Romney Campaign

 

2:41:30 – 2:58:30
Hollywood heavyweight Lawrence Kasdan releases his latest film, “Darling Companion”
Since famously being rejected 37 times for his first script, Lawrence Kasdan has gone on to become a very well-respected name in Hollywood. Kasdan’s first major notoriety came when “Star Wars” creator George Lucas hired him to complete the script the franchise’s first sequel, “The Empire Strikes Back” – which brought some gravitas to the blockbuster sci-fi saga. Lucas then hired him to write the screenplay for the swashbuckling throwback “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” after which Kasdan set off on a unique career path that found him both writing and directing movies like “Body Heat,” “The Big Chill,” Silverado,” “The Accidental Tourist,” “Wyatt Earp” and “The Bodyguard” - the latter of which was the script turned down so many times before he became an Academy Award nominated director, producer and screenwriter. His newest film, Darling Companion, was written with his wife of 42 years, Meg Kasdan and stars Diane Keaton and Kevin Kline in a story about how a lost dog can expose the strained bonds of human relationships. What is your favorite Lawrence Kasdan movie?

Guests:
Lawrence Kasdan, director, producer and co-screenwriter of the upcoming film “Darling Companion”
Meg Kasdan, co-screenwriter of the upcoming film “Darling Companion”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison