Patt Morrison for Friday, April 6, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, April 6, 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

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 go penniless, 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 apiece. 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:
Mark Weller, executive director of Americans for Common Cents, an informal coalition devoted to informing and educating people about the penny’s economic, cultural, and historical significance

 

1:41:30 – 1:58:30

“Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope” humanizes geeks 
For many, Comic-Con is the Mecca of geekdom and over the years, the once tiny gathering of comic book enthusiasts has grown into a pop culture juggernaut. So when geeks learned Morgan Spurlock, of “Super Size Me,” would be turning his eye towards the convention you can understand why they might be worried. Geeks everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief because “Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope” is a sweet and earnest look at the pilgrimages of five attendees to the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con. Unlike some of his previous work, Spurlock stays behind the camera, instead taking viewers right into the midst of the madness. Though all are fans, some of those profiled in the film also use Comic-Con as a means to crack into the entertainment industry. Holly Conrad, an amateur costume and make-up artist, enters into a “cosplay” or costume play competition to showcase her talents. Thanks in part to the exposure she received at the convention and through the documentary Conrad was able to break into the industry. As Comic-Con continues to grow and with news of blockbuster movies becoming a prominent feature of the convention perhaps it’s time that a movie focuses on the convention as its feature. Have you been to Comic-Con? What did you think of your experience at the convention? What do you think of the inclusion of the larger entrainment industry into Comic-Con? Have you tried to break into the industry at Comic-Con or a similar convention?    

 

Guests:

Morgan Spurlock, writer, director and producer, Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope

IN STUDIO

 

2:06 – 2:30

Hispanic vs. Latino, or neither…how do you identify?

The term “Hispanic” was adopted by the United States government in the 1970s as a word used to identify people from Central and South America, but many Americans whose lineage traces to countries in that part of the world have never felt an affinity for the label. In the 1990s, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget added the term “Latino” to government reports, but that word has not always been fully embraced either. A new report by the Pew Hispanic Center indicates that the majority of people of Latin American descent choose to identify themselves by their countries of origin. For instance, an individual from Puerto Rico would simply be called “Puerto Rican.” Most of the 1,220 “Latino” adults polled also did not observe a shared common culture among all “Latinos,” as is sometimes assumed by mainstream America. Are the terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” misleading, inaccurate, or offensive? Is it politically incorrect to group all people with Central and South American lineage together? Where do we draw the line, if at all, between a person’s race and his or her nationality?

 

Guests:

Leslie Berestein-Rojas, KPCC’s immigration reporter; she writes the Multi-American blog

IN STUDIO

 

UNCONFIRMED:

Roberto Suro, former president, Pew Hispanic Center, USC Annenberg School of Communication

 

2:30 – 2:58:30

Asexuality comes out of the closet

We’ve come a long way since the late 40’s, when Kinsey report shocked the world with its frank discussion of the many varieties of sexual intimacy.  And thanks to the sexual revolution, the gay rights movement and years of public awareness-raising, people these days feel comfortable identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.  But there’s another category that’s remained in the shadows. Approximately one percent of the population self-identifies as asexual – that is, feeling no sexual attraction to others.  According to the website of the Asexuality Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), there are many degrees and definitions of asexuality.  Some asexuals feel they are “born this way,” while some have experienced intermittent periods of asexuality for various reasons.  Some are in romantic relationships, some have never kissed or even dated.  But advocates want to raise awareness that asexuality is a difference, not a defect.  Sexual intimacy, they argue, is not the only way to define a loving relationship; being single doesn’t necessarily mean being lonely.  But while many asexuals lead full, rich lives, others feel marginalized by society’s obsession with sexual imagery and romantic ideals. Not living up to those expectations has them feeling confused, ashamed or “broken.”  They feel uncomfortable sharing their feelings with family and close friends. Is asexuality a choice, a lifestyle or a condition?  Is it “unnatural” to not feel sexual?  If you identify as asexual, are you comfortable being one, or do you feel there’s something missing from your life?

 

Guests:

David Jay, founder of the Asexuality Visibility and Education Network

 

Shira Tarrant (like “parent”), associate professor in the Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at California State University, Long Beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison