Mayor Sam Press Release Blog - Spin Zone of Los Angeles Politics

RE: Patt Morrison for Friday, January 27, 2012

2012-01-26T18:15:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, January 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 –1:30 OPEN

1:30 – 1:58:30

The brainstorm myth: Do we really work better in groups?
Over the past century, America has increasingly put a premium on working well in groups and getting along with others. In the 1940s, B.B.D.O adman Alex Osborn developed the classic brainstorm technique, which has since become “the most widely used creativity technique in the world.” He stipulated that the single most important rule of a brainstorming session is “the absence of criticism and negative feedback.” But it doesn’t work, according to research that has repeatedly shown that groups perform better when there is debate and negative comment is free to flow. It’s that element of human friction that’s necessary to creativity and that can often be determined by something as basic as an office floor plan – and apparently open-plan offices make workers hostile, insecure and distracted. Have Americans over-emphasized the corporate kumbaya? Or is it important to hold the team paramount?

Guest:

Jonah Lehrer, author of “How We Decide” and the forthcoming “Imagine: How Creativity Works,” an excerpt of which appears in this week’s New Yorker magazine

2:06 – 2:30

New Hampshire parents get to nix school curriculum they find objectionable

A new law that recently passed in New Hampshire gives parents the right to file an objection to any course material they find offense at their child’s public school, and the school district has to devise an alternative acceptable to the parent. No other state in the nation gives parents this much control over curriculum and the implications have some experts worried. If a parent believes in intelligent design or creationism, should they be able to prevent their child from learning about evolution? Will the school have to provide coursework that validates their beliefs even if those beliefs are not supported by facts and accepted scientific principles? Will this kind of choice perpetuate stereotypes, or even racism? What if a parent doesn’t want their child to learn about the Holocaust because they don’t believe it happened? The new law does not require the parent to justify the reason for the objection only to state it. Some say “one size fits all” education isn’t working and that this approach gives parents more of an active role in their child’s education. How much choice is too much? Is there a line and where should it be?

Guests:

Richard D. Kahlenberg, senior fellow at the Century Foundation and the author of “Tough Liberal: Albert Shanker and the Battles Over Schools, Unions, Race and Democracy”

UNCONFIRMED

Neal P. McCluskey, the association director of the Center for Educational Freedom at the Cato Institute and the author of “Feds in the Classroom: How Big Government Corrupts, Cripples and Compromises American Education”

Representative from New Hampshire

2:30 – 2:48

Military goes green in attempt to save environment, lives, and money

The U.S. Armed Forces burn through over 300,000 barrels of oil a day, putting troops in jeopardy who transport the fuel to front lines and costing taxpayers roughly $11 billion per year. As the long-term outlook for oil prices only goes up, the Pentagon is exploring different ways to go green, including reducing oil consumption. Energy efficiency and renewable fuels have gained even more consideration in the wake of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The RAND Corporation’s National Defense Research Institute published a study that casts doubt on the affordability and effectiveness of some of the military’s plans to go green, but virtually everyone agrees that that the military’s anticipated plan to increase energy efficiency and to use alternative-fuels could encourage a broader national cultural shift to embrace the green movement. How influential is the U.S. military in terms of setting cultural trends? Have Pentagon officials waited too long to push for more energy-efficient policies and procedures?

Guest:

Brian Rooney, correspondent, SoCal Connected

2:48-2:58:30

Bradley Whitford shows his “ART” in Pasadena

Actor Bradley Whitford is best known for playing the Deputy White House Chief of Staff Josh Lyman on the NBC television drama “The West Wing,” a role which he won an Emmy for in 2001 but he joins Patt today to talk about his slightly more artistic side. In his return to the stage, Whitford stars in playwright Yasmina Reza’s (“God of Carnage”) “ART,” a play about one painting, one very expensive and controversial painting that changes the lives of the man who bought it and the friends who watch him do it. It opens this Sunday, January 29^th at the Pasadena Playhouse under the direction of nine-time Emmy Award-winning director David Lee.

Guests:

Bradley Whitford, starring in the Tony Award-winning Best Play "ART" at The Pasadena Playhouse

IN STUDIO

RE: Patt Morrison for Thursday, January 26, 2012

2012-01-25T17:12:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Thursday, January 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 –1:30 OPEN

1:30 – 1:58:30

Should grief be included in a diagnostic list of disorders?

Part of the human condition, for everyone, is loss, and the normal grief following loss of a loved one, called bereavement. The current definition of depression in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), an industry standard of reference, excludes bereavement. But the taskforce reviewing criteria for the DSM’s upcoming fifth edition, its first since 1994, has recommended taking out the “bereavement exclusion,” broadening the definition of depression to include grieving due to loss. The issue has sharply divided the psychiatric community. On one hand, supporters of the new definition say depression definitely occurs in the wake of bereavement, and can be debilitating, potentially requiring more attention, including drug treatment, to those who suffer from it. On the other hand, supporters of the current, longtime DSM depression definition include New York University psychiatry and social work professor Jerome Wakefield, co-author of a new report on a study arguing “bereavement exclusion” is accurate and should be kept to prevent false positive diagnosis and unnecessary treatment of grief-stricken people. Do you think grief should be included as part of a definition of depression in the newest edition of DSM? Have you had personal experience with grieving and loss that felt beyond “normal” feelings of sadness, requiring further treatment?

Guests:

PRO NEW DEFINITION

Dr. Sid Zisook (ZIHZ-zuhk), M.D., professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego and advisor to the DSM-5 development process.

ANTI NEW DEFINITION

Jerome C. Wakefield, professor of social work and psychiatry at New York University, co-author of a new report on a study supporting “bereavement exclusion,” and co-author of the 2007 book on grieving “The Loss of Sadness.”

2:06 – 2:30

G-rated GPS: Microsoft’s GPS patent dubbed the “avoid ghetto” app draws ire

Safety or racism? That’s the question when it comes to Microsoft’s newly granted patent for a GPS feature media-dubbed the “avoid ghetto” app. The app, as yet unnamed and not yet available, was created as a way for pedestrians to avoid “traveling through an unsafe neighborhood or being in an open area that is subject to harsh temperatures,” according to its patent. Information would be taken from crime statistics, weather reports, demographics and maps to create directions taking users through areas below a certain crime threshold. Yet critics across the online stratosphere have cried foul, claiming the app promotes racism and classism, and would reinforce assumptions about violent crime occurring in non-white neighborhoods. What do you think of a GPS app geared toward guiding you away from high crime neighborhoods? Is the very idea prejudiced, or is the emphasis on safety race and class blind?

Guests:

ANTI APP

Sarah E. Chinn, English professor at Hunter College in New York and author of the book “Technology and the Logic of American Racism.”

- Her work explores questions of race, sexuality, and gender in U.S. literature and culture.

-She has spoken out against the app, telling NPR the GPS feature will reinforce assumptions about violent crime that aren’t true, that “there’s an assumption that criminality and being poor and not white go hand in hand.”

PRO APP

Rob Enderle (END-early), a technology analyst and president of San Jose-based Enderle Group, providing guidance for regional and global companies.

-Supportive of the app, saying it’s part of an effort to make navigation systems more intelligent to keep users out of danger by car or foot

2:30 TO 2:40 OPEN

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

The extra-special life of the sisters Mulleavy – aka, Rodarte

It’s as close to fairytale as you can get these days: in just five short years, sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy have gone from designing clothing on their parents’ kitchen table to being collected by LACMA and designing costumes for the film “Black Swan.” Their “Fra Angelico Collection,” a series of nine, flowing dresses in soft pastels inspired by the Italian Renaissance painter, literally look like they could have been worn by Mary, or perhaps the angel, at the Annunciation. LACMA bought the dresses last year after they were used in a site-specific installation at Pitti Imagine, an apparel trade show in Florence, Italy. They’re on view through February 5^th. On top of this, it was recently announced that the sisters Mulleavy would join Frank Gehry and Gustavo Dudamel on the creative team of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” coming up at the Los Angeles Philharmonic in May. Not bad for an English major and an Art History major who never studied fashion. How did they do it? Join Patt today to find out.

Guests:

Laura Mulleavy, designer, Rodarte

Patt Morrison for Wednesday, January 25, 2012

2012-01-24T17:26:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Wednesday, January 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 – 1:58:30

What’s in a First Lady?

First Ladies, like Vice Presidents, become an issue in a presidential campaign only when they’re somehow controversial. Yet Americans size up that potential first spouse, too. There’s Mitt Romney’s decades-long marriage to one woman, Newt Gingrich’s three wives, and where is the Mrs. Ron Paul? Patt talks with an historian of first wives about the increasingly prominent role of the first spouse and how the current potential front runners have impacted their candidates’ campaigns.

Guest:

Carl Sferazza Anthony, First Ladies and presidential families historian, author & screenwriter

2:06 – 2:19

Can Uncle Sam tax your frequent flier miles? Citibank says yes

Are frequent flier miles taxable? Citibank says so. The bank has begun sending its customers tax forms that document the total dollar amount of miles as miscellaneous income. For those tallying the cost, Citibank is valuing each mile at 2.5 cents. This practice is unheard of by most tax experts and the IRS hasn’t said those miles are taxable…yet, but the uncertainty surrounding the tax issue could potentially affect millions of people and make them more vulnerable to audits. What’s the final word on miles? The answer may make you think twice next time you opt to receive “bonus” frequent flier miles as a perk for using your credit card or opening a new bank account.

Guest:

David Lazarus, business columnist, Los Angeles Times

2:30 – 2:39: OPEN

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

For the sake of an apostrophe! Navigating grammar in the digital age

A few weeks ago, UK-based Waterstone’s Booksellers did something shocking: they dropped their apostrophe, claiming that there is no use for the tiny little mark in the digital age. More accurately, their managing director stated that “Waterstones” is just straight-up more versatile when it comes to a world full of html code, URLs, and email addresses. You may also have noticed that some of your favorite online websites fail to italicize, and instead use double quotes around things like book and movie title – also a product of the collision between punctuation and digital media. Plenty has been said about the effects of texting and email on spelling and vocabulary, but where does punctuation stand in the 21^st century? What should be preserved, what should stay, and how do we make the decisions – or are they already in process?

Guests:

Lane Greene, founder and blogger for Johnson, the Economist’s language blog; Economist business correspondent; author, “You Are What You Speak”

John Richards, founder and Chairman of the Apostrophe Protection Society, based in the UK

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

REVISE: RE: Patt Morrison for Tuesday, January 24, 2012

2012-01-23T17:40:00.000-08:00

Revise: Bryant Simon is confirmed for Starbucks discussion.

From: Watje-Hurst, Janice
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 5:39 PM
To: Osen, Lauren; Tuffaha, Jasmin; Celsi, Anny; Fritsche, Karen; Othenin-Girard, Linda; Delvac, Gina; Guzman Lopez, Adolfo; Airtalk; Devall, Cheryl; Baer, Debra; Felde, Kitty; Stoltze, Frank; Hurtes, Hettie; Rabe, John; Small, Julie; Moran, Kari; 'Kevin Roderick'; Nazario, Patricia; Roman, Nick; PM; Glickman, Paul; Peterson, Molly; Ramirez, Bianca; Receptionist LA; Rivas, Leonor; Strauss, Rob; Schmitt, Christina; SCPR Development; SCPR Web; Jahad, Shirley; Cuevas, Steven; Julian, Steve; Valot, Susan; Coffman, Taylor; Watt, Brian; Mitchell, Collin; Cohen, Alex; 'mayorsamyorty@aol.com'; Cartier, Jacqueline; Newnam, Brendan; Perez, Teresa; Receptionist Pasadena; 'jkav@rtumble.com'; Brand, Madeleine; Muller, Kristen; Margolis, Jacob; Totten, Sanden; Ortega, Christina; Marcus, Mary; Cohn, Jon; Cha, Elaine; Smith, Jennifer; Plummer, Mary; Garza, Oscar
Subject: Patt Morrison for Tuesday, January 24, 2012

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Tuesday, January 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

1:00– 1:40

OPEN

1:40 – 2:00

Would you like a lager with that latte? Coming soon to a Starbucks near you

Starbucks will start serving beer and wine in some former coffee-only hangouts. As much as people mock the Starbucks Experience, do you like it the way it is, or would you enjoy happy hour in grande and venti proportions? Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Chicago are the test markets for bar-bucks. For the last year, a small number of stores in the Northwest have sold wine and beer to customers looking to unwind after a day at work (alcohol sales start at 4 pm). By the end of the year, select Los Angeles stores will do the same, offering beer for around $5 and wine-by-the-glass for between $7 and $9. KPCC blogger Matthew DeBord (DeBord report) estimates that business will boom for Starbucks, despite the need to finally invest in a large amount of washable stem- and flatware. But does Starbucks plan to compete as aggressively with small wine bars as it did with independent coffee shops? How do you feel about making Starbucks your stop for both your morning “go-go-go” and your evening “slow-slow-slow?”

Guests:

Bryant Simon, author of "Everything But the Coffee: Learning about America from Starbucks" (University of California Press); professor of history and director, American Studies, at Temple University.

Matt DeBord, KPCC’s business blogger, “The DeBord Report”

IN STUDIO

http://www.scpr.org/blogs/economy/2012/01/23/4370/barbucks-comes-southern-california-sells-beer-wine/

2:00 – 2:40

State of the Union: the polemics, the politics… what do you want to hear from President Obama?

Amid one of the weakest economies in U.S. history, increasingly complicated international friction, and a presidential election year, President Obama’s imminent 2012 State of the Union address could be the most important speech he ever gives. Whether the president specifically alludes to campaign issues or not (the White House says he won’t), the speech will undoubtedly set a tone for the next nine months leading up to the presidential election that may make or break his reelection . Foreshadowing the focus of the speech, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney on Monday stated, “The President will build off the themes of [his recent] Kansas speech in the State of the Union by laying out a blueprint for an America Built to Last. The blueprint will be supported by four pillars: American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and American values.” Clearly, the state of the U.S. economy is the most critical issue currently concerning Americans, but partisanship, Iran, China, North Korea, the Keystone XL oil pipeline, and birth control are among the other topical issues concerning Americans in 2012. What would you like the president to address in his State of the Union speech? Given the current circumstances, how important is the State of the Union address in terms of morale and guidance in America? For better or worse, how much will the speech influence public opinion of Obama?

Guests:

Rep. Brad Sherman, (D-San Fernando Valley), member of the House Foreign Affairs and Financial Services Committees

Rep. Tom McClintock, (R- Northern California), member of the Budget Committee; chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee

2:30 – 240

Historical context of State of the Union messages

Guest:

NOT CONFIRMED – DO NOT PROMOTE THIS GUEST

Douglas Brinkley, presidential historian; professor of history, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy

CALL HIM:

2:40 – 3:00

Lalo Alcaraz on being “pocho”

What does it mean to be Mexican American? For some, it means you’re a “pocho” – neither “Mexican” nor “American” enough. Chicano artist, satirist and cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz has been poking fun at these ideas for decades, first as an editorial cartoonist for the LA Weekly and then as syndicated cartoonist and radio host of the “Pocho Hour of Power” on KPFK. Alcaraz’s first labor of love, however, was Pocho Magazine, a ‘zine Alcaraz produced with his good friend Esteban Zul. Many years and awards later, Alcaraz has recreated the magazine, this time in online form. Pocho.com, news y satire, relaunched in December of 2011 and features contributions from Daily Show Senior Latino Correspondent Al Madrigal, amongst others. Patt checks in with Alcaraz to talk about Pocho, plus his newest project, @MexicanMitt, a satirical Twitter project about candidate about Mitt Romney and his Mexican roots.

Guests:

Lalo Alcaraz is “jefe-in-chief” of the recently-launched Pocho.com; creator of the first nationally-syndicated, politically-themed Latino daily comic strip, “La Cucaracha”; and host of the “Pocho Hour of Power” on KPFK; professor at the Otis College of Art and Design.

IN STUDIO

Patt Morrison for Tuesday, January 24, 2012

2012-01-23T17:38:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Tuesday, January 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

1:00– 1:40

OPEN

1:40 – 2:00

Would you like a lager with that latte? Coming soon to a Starbucks near you

Guests:

NOT CONFIRMED:

Matt DeBord, KPCC’s business blogger, “The DeBord Report”

IN STUDIO

http://www.scpr.org/blogs/economy/2012/01/23/4370/barbucks-comes-southern-california-sells-beer-wine/

2:00 – 2:40

State of the Union: the polemics, the politics… what do you want to hear from President Obama?

Guests:

Rep. Brad Sherman, (D-San Fernando Valley), member of the House Foreign Affairs and Financial Services Committees

Rep. Tom McClintock, (R- Northern California), member of the Budget Committee; chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee

2:30 – 240

Historical context of State of the Union messages

Guest:

NOT CONFIRMED – DO NOT PROMOTE THIS GUEST

Douglas Brinkley, presidential historian; professor of history, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy

CALL HIM:

2:40 – 3:00

Lalo Alcaraz on being “pocho”

Guests:

IN STUDIO

Patt Morrison for Monday, January 23, 2012

2012-01-20T17:16:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Monday, January 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

1:00 – 1:40

OPEN

1:40 – 2:00

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Bruce Norris provokes with “Clybourne Park”

Have you ever seen a movie or a play and wondered what happened to the characters before or after the fictional events of the story took place? Such inquiry is what likely inspired Bruce Norris to write his award-winning comedy, “Clybourne Park,” in which he explores what might have happened in one of the most important houses in history both before and after the events of the famous play “Raisin in the Sun,” by Lorraine Hansberry. Both plays address controversial social issues including race relations and socio-economic struggle. Prior to writing “Clybourne Park,” for which Norris earned a Pulitzer Prize in 2011, the accomplished artist worked as an actor in theatre and television and later wrote several plays that were produced by the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. “Clybourne Park,” featuring the original cast and director, will be opening the 45th Season of the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles beginning January 25, 2012.

Guest:

Bruce Norris, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright; his play “Clybourne Park” opens at the Mark Taper Forum on January 25.

2:060– 2:30

Will Apple’s iPad mark the beginning of the end for traditional textbooks?
Apple Inc. has made a habit of revolutionizing the way we do many things and the computer and software innovator is now turning its digital sights on the textbook. Traditional paper bound textbooks are bulky and expensive, not to mention labor intensive to update - making them fall quickly out of date in the information age. Apple is betting that the market and the halls of academia are ready for virtual textbooks that are portable and easily updated – and that feature videos, animations, definitions, flashcards, quizzes and interactive content. A pilot program in Riverside, California found that students who used digital algebra textbooks on Apple’s iPad had scores 20 percent higher than their fellow students using traditional textbooks. But some experts are wary. Apple’s 70/30 revenue model has ruffled feathers in the music business and Apple’s policies dictate that content created with their software can be sold only through Apple’s iBookstore. So are virtual textbooks a leap forward or an expensive and profitable way to solve a problem that doesn’t exist? Would you prefer a digital version of your venerable study aids?

Guests: TBA

2:30 – 3:00

Watch out for that manhole! … walking distracted and paying the price

If your gut has been telling you not to wear headphones while you walk around town, you now have vindication. A new study in the journal Injury Prevention looks at statistics in accidents between pedestrians and vehicles from 2004–2011 and concludes that nearly three-quarters involved headphones. The same study reports that in thirty percent of the cases, someone sounded a warning before the collision actually occurred. Besides the obvious conclusion (if the volume is up too loud, pedestrians can’t hear the city around them), scientists also pointed to a phenomenon they call “inattentional blindness”. Apparently, your brain gets so busy processing whatever’s on your iPod or MP3 player that it fails to “see” – or pay attention to – things like traffic.

Do you wear headphones while you’re walking or jogging near traffic? Do you feel you’re more aware of your environment than say, that person wearing headphones on his or her bike? Or that guy over there texting while he crosses the street?

Guests:

Amy Alkon, advice columnist and author of "I see Rude People: One woman's battle to beat some manners into impolite society."

CALL HER

AirTalk for Monday, January 23, 2012

2012-01-20T16:30:00.000-08:00

Contact: Producers Linda Othenin-Girard, Karen Fritsche, Katie Sprenger & Jasmin Tuffaha

626-583-5100

SCHEDULE FOR AIRTALK WITH LARRY MANTLE

Monday, January 23, 2012

10:06 –10:30

Topic: South Carolina primary results and other news from the campaign trail with NPR’s Political Junkie, Ken Rudin: This weekend’s South Carolina primary was either a total shock or exactly what everyone expected. With Mitt Romney’s big win, or small win, or Newt Gingrich’s upset, or Ron Paul’s upset or Rick Santorum’s upset, we either have a clear shot to November or the in-party in-fighting will continue. What’s next in the race to the top of the republican presidential heap? On whom will the axe fall next? How will the frontrunner or the surprise upset candidate fare against President Obama? And WHEN will the media FINALLY start talking about Ron Paul?! We’ll get the inside scoop from NPR’s Political Junkie Ken Rudin, who will join Larry in-studio. (BLURB TO BE UPDATED MON A.M.)

Guest: Ken Rudin, political editor for NPR; writer of the Political Junkie blog

IN STUDIO

NOTE: Ken Rudin is here to attend the KPCC Leadership brunch on Sunday, January 22 at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach.

10:30 –11:00

Topic: Super PACS larger than presidential campaigns? Chances are, you’ve heard about the tongue-in-cheek effort by Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart to educate Americans about Super PACS – an outgrowth of the 2010 Supreme Court ruling allowing independent political groups to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money for candidates – as long as they’re “Definitely Not Coordinating” with the campaign. Most of the cash raised by Super PACS gets spent on political ads and spending this year has already exceeded $27-million, according to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). But this year, the political ads are different, say the critics of Super PACS. They can use what’s called “express advocacy” – a highly aggressive form of political speech. Supporters of GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney, used Restore Our Future to tank Newt Gingrich in Iowa, while Gingrich backers depended on Winning Our Future for revenge in South Carolina, according to a ProPublica report. At recent Republican debates, candidates have denounced their own Super PACS for running ads that opposing candidates deemed false or riddled with personal attacks. Have Super PACS become larger than the campaigns themselves? Some experts say no. They argue that Super PACS have become a focus in this election because they are required to disclose their expenditures, making it easier for media to report on them. Others say yes, Super PACS have uniquely affected the political climate surrounding this election unlike ever before. Now that the results of the South Carolina primary are in, what impact did all this spending have there? What’s the takeaway in terms whether these Super PACS are forces of good or forces of something not-so-good? Are the biggest spenders winning? We’ll crunch the numbers, and results to date, and debate the pros and cons of unlimited spending in this election cycle.

Guest: Ken Rudin, political editor for NPR; writer of the Political Junkie blog

IN STUDIO

Guest: Bill Allison, Editorial Director, Sunlight Foundation

BY PHONE

Guest: Bradley A. Smith, Professor of Law, Capital University Law School

BY PHONE

11:06 –11:30

OPEN

11:30 –12:00

Topic: Bratton and Tumin on how collaborating across boundaries, changes the game: William Bratton led police departments in New York and Boston, where he’s still known as “Commissioner.” In Los Angeles, where he was top cop from 2002-2009, he’ll always be “The Chief.” Whatever moniker one uses, Bratton is largely thought of as a charismatic, tough-on-crime law enforcement leader, credited with reducing crime, improving safety and bringing people together. Now, Bratton has joined forces with Harvard researcher Zachary Tumin, to lay out a streetwise playbook on how to share information and collaborate across groups, divisions, agencies, companies and industries in today’s highly networked world. In Collaborate or Perish!, Bratton and Tumin offer up their own professional experiences by way of demonstrating how teamwork is not only central to success, it’s imperative. Technology helps – but it’s ultimately people who make it happen. And, Bratton and Tumin argue, governments and organizations that fail to collaborate and engage citizens, customers and suppliers, are doomed to perish. So, what can we learn from this cop/researcher team? Can Bratton and Tumin’s field-tested counsel bring divided politicians together in order to get more done? What can managers and employees do to get along better? Is collaboration always better than going it alone? Bratton and Tumin collaborate with Larry in-studio and take your questions and calls.

Guest: William Bratton, co-author, Collaborate or Perish: Reaching Across Boundaries in a Networked World (Random House/Crown Business); Chairman of Kroll, a risk consulting company; former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (2002–2009); former Boston Police Commissioner and New York City Police Commissioner

IN STUDIO

Guest: Zachary Tumin, co-author, Collaborate or Perish!: Reaching Across Boundaries in a Networked World (Random House/Crown Business); Special Assistant to the Director and Faculty Chair of Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program

IN STUDIO

FORWARD PROMOTE: Bill Bratton and Zach Tumin will discuss their book with KPCC’s Patt Morrison at Barnes & Noble at The Grove, tomorrow, Tuesday, January 24 @ 7pm. More info on the AirTalk page at kpcc.org

Event info for web: http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/73647

For web: http://www.brattonandtumin.com

Twitter: @BrattonTumin

Karen X Fritsche
Producer - AirTalk with Larry Mantle
89.3 KPCC 89.1 KUOR 90.3 KVLA
Southern California Public Radio
474 S Raymond Ave
Pasadena, CA 91105
Desk: 626-583-5164 | Studio: 866-893-5722

Scpr.org | Facebook | Twitter

AirTalk is Best Talk & Public Affairs Program, LA Press Club 2011; host Larry Mantle is SPJ/LA's Distinguished Radio Journalist of the Year 2011

RE: Patt Morrison for Friday, January 20, 2012

2012-01-19T18:11:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, January 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 –1:30 OPEN

1:30 – 1:58:30

South Carolina primary: four remaining candidates face “firewall” election

The Republican presidential primary race is getting more contentious by the minute. The four remaining candidates – Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, newly crowned Iowa winner Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul – faced one another on stage on Thursday night in a final showdown before the forthcoming South Carolina primary election. The Charleston debate followed the announcements that Texas Governor Rick Perry was dropping out of the running and that Santorum actually won more votes than Romney in the Iowa caucus. According to polls, Gingrich experienced a surge of support in the Palmetto State going into the debate, so his performance was thus closely observed. This “first in the south” primary has traditionally determined which campaigns have what it takes to go the distance in the presidential race. With Perry now out, it remains to be seen who will renounce next. How influential is South Carolina when it comes to weeding out weak presidential campaigns? How realistic are Gingrich’s chances of winning over Romney?

Guests:

Bill Schneider, resident fellow at Third Way, a think tank in Washington; former political analyst for CNN and the Los Angeles Times.

2:06 – 2:30
The rise of super PACs and the 2^nd Anniversary of Citizens United
Saturday, January 21^st 2012 marks the two-year anniversary of the Citizens United decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which granted de facto citizenship rights to corporations and opened the floodgates for organizations to raise and spend money on political campaigns. The decision saw the rise of “super PACs” – a new type of political action committee with confusing restrictions governing how these groups can allocate money. As the ruling comes head-to-head with the first major election season some candidates who supported it are now experiencing buyer’s remorse. Former House Speaker New Gingrich went so far as to make public statements disavowing an inaccurate documentary put together by a set of former aids. Super PACs have contributed more than $27 million in 2012 alone, heating up the primary season and affecting the political landscape. Now that some Republican candidates who supported the Citizens United decision are facing super PACs who are focused on supporting their rivals, they’ve changed their tune and are crying foul. In an ongoing parody on Stephen Colbert’s late night comedy program, The Colbert Report, the comic and satirist has been exposing what he has referred to as “loop chasms” in the rules governing super PACs by forming a super PAC and subsequently announcing his candidacy for “President of South Carolina,” requiring him to turn over control of his super PAC to his Comedy Central cohort John Stewart. Is it too late to stop the influence of super PACs? How will they affect the balance of the 2012 election?

Guest:

Lisa Graves, executive director of the Center for Media & Democracy, an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, public interest organization that focuses on investigating and countering spin by corporations, industries, and government agencies; former deputy assistant attorney general and chief counsel for nominations for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

UNCONFIRMED

Representative from either Trillium Asset Management or Green Century Capital—they filed shareholder resolutions on behalf of investors at Bank of America, 3M & Target Corporation asking the corporations to refrain from political spending.

Trevor Potter is a member in Caplin & Drysdale's Washington, D.C. office. He is one of the country's best-known and most experienced campaign and election lawyers, and a former Commissioner and Chairman of the Federal Election Commission. Mr. Potter now represents Stephen Colbert and his SuperPAC and 501C-4. He advises Mr. Colbert on campaign finance issues on The Colbert Report.

Mr. Potter is a leading authority on lobbying regulation, government ethics and campaign finance issues. He advises corporations, nonprofit organizations, and candidates on structuring new political efforts and administering their political, lobbying, and issue-advocacy projects.
Mr. Potter served as General Counsel to John McCain 2008 and 2000 presidential campaigns. He also served as Deputy General Counsel to the George H.W. Bush 1988 campaign. He is the founding President and General Counsel of the Campaign Legal Center, a Washington, D.C. based nonprofit which focuses on campaign finance issues in the courts and before the FEC. Mr. Potter now represents Stephen Colbert and his SuperPAC and 501C-4. He advises Mr. Colbert on campaign finance issues on The Colbert Report.

2:30 – 2:39 OPEN

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

Quick on the draw: David Horsey takes on political cartooning for the Los Angeles Times
There’s a new voice in town, and it’s a colorful one, in more ways than one. The Los Angeles Times has brought former Seattle Post-Intelligencer political cartoonist David Horsey on to revive its political blog, “Top of the Ticket.” The gig started January 1, 2012, and, as expected, the liberal Horsey hasn’t pulled any punches. Recent cartoons have lambasted Republican candidates Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich , and Jon Huntsman, not to mention the Tea Party itself. If Horsey’s square-jawed, strong-chinned caricatures look iconic or familiar to you, it’s only because he’s been in the business for over thirty years. For a great retrospective, check out his last few posts at the Post-Intelligencer site, where Horsey recaps the last three decades in text and image.

Guests:

David Horsey, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist who has just joined the Los Angeles Times. He’s in South Carolina chasing GOP candidates.

RE: Patt Morrison for Thursday, January 19, 2012

2012-01-18T18:04:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Thursday, January 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 –1:39 OPEN

1:41:30 – 1:58:30

Heal the Bay president, Mark Gold, steps down after 23 years with the group

One of California’s most prominent environmental advocacy groups, Heal the Bay, is saying goodbye to its president, Mark Gold, after his 23 years of service. Gold is leaving the Santa Monica-based nonprofit to take a position as associate director of the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, where he has taught as an adjunct professor and serves on its board. Heal the Bay is primarily known for its Beach Report Card that issues letter grades to hundreds of beaches in California, Oregon, and Washington based on water quality. The group also promotes environmental education, marine habitat conservation, and operates the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Gold joined Heal the Bay as a volunteer in 1986 and was hired as its first employee in 1988. Since becoming president in 2006, Gold has been the public face of the organization as he pushed for coastal protection laws. Gold earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology and his doctorate in environmental science and engineering at UCLA and said he was excited to return to his alma mater and try something new and different. In what ways are you inspired by Mark Gold’s dedication to Heal the Bay and its causes? What more can be done to protect and preserve the western coastline?

Guests:

Mark Gold, outgoing president, Heal the Bay

IN STUDIO

2:06 – 2:30

Mitt Romney pays 15 percent, should you too?

Republican presidential frontrunner and multimillionaire Mitt Romney sparked political backlash this week when he revealed that he pays federal taxes at a rate of about 15 percent. But the hoopla over Romney’s lower tax rate points to a more complicated issue, that the 15 percent figure is based not on earned income, but rather income that “comes overwhelmingly from investments made in the past,” Romney said Tuesday. Under Bush-era tax cuts supported by many Republicans, investment income is subject to significantly lower tax rates. Still, 15 percent is the tax bracket for those earning about $34,000 a year, while the maximum marginal U.S. income tax rate of 35 percent applies to those with taxable income of more than $388,500 in earnings. According to The Associated Press, President Obama and his wife paid federal taxes of just over 25 percent of their 2010 income of $1.7 million, mostly from book royalties and a $400,000 presidential salary. Romney’s Republication rival Newt Gingrich said Wednesday he himself paid 31 percent of his income in taxes for 2010. “My goal is not to raise Mitt Romney's taxes but to let everyone pay Romney's rate,'' said Gingrich, pointedly mentioning his proposed plan giving Americans the option of paying a 15 percent flat tax. With pressure building, Romney now says he will release tax filing information for 2011 in April, as the Republican nominee race comes to a head. How do you feel about Romney’s tax rate? Should he pay more, or should everyone pay 15 percent, regardless of whether income comes from earnings or investments?

Guest:

Selwyn Gerber CPA managing partner and founder of Gerber & Co., Inc., located in Century City

UNCONFIRMED

Representative from the Cato Institute

2:30 – 2:39

Let the Sundance Indie Film Dance Begin

Park City, Utah, is engulfed, once again, by the annual Sundance Film Festival frenzy. Organized by Robert Redford's Sundance Institute, this year’s festival includes 117 feature-length films, chosen from 4,000 submitted from around the world. The festival is meant to focus on and promote independent films, but Hollywood A-listers in attendance often attract attention as well. Robert De Niro, Danny Glover, and rap star Common are among the performers with movies being screened this year. Many of the films that will be shown at the festival do not have distribution deals yet, but a considerable amount of deal-making is anticipated. Documentaries often capture audiences at the event and those being shown this year include “Queen of Versailles,” “Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare,” and “Love Free or Die.” Other films that are highly anticipated include “Celeste and Jesse Forever” about a divorcing couple, “Red Lights with Cillian” about a legendary psychic, and “Filly Brown” about a young hip-hop artist from Los Angeles. The Sundance Film Festival runs from Thursday, January 19 through Sunday, January 29.

What films from this year’s Sundance Film Festival are you most interested in? How vital is the festival for the promotion of independent films? Has the festival maintained autonomy or has it been tarnished by Hollywood?

Guest:

Shirley Jahad, KPCC reporter at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

What can we learn from gay men about being happy?

Sometimes life can feel mundane, but there are those among us who somehow manage to maintain exuberance in their lives. Gay men, according to author Simon Doonan, are experts in fabulous living and he is determined to share this expertise with the world. In his book “Gay Men Don’t Get Fat,” Doonan discloses why gays know how to work, play, and dress better than anyone else. The author colorfully educates readers, gay and straight, about how they can learn and benefit from the exemplary stereotypical gay lifestyle in terms of work, culture, diet, trends, and self-image. Doonan emphasizes that everyone can profit from the happy trail blazed by gay men. After all, the word “gay” isn’t just a sexual term; it is also synonymous with the word “happy.” How has gay culture impacted mainstream society? Has the gay lifestyle become more widely accepted? How have you been inspired by the gay men in your life?

Guest:

Simon Doonan, creative director, Barneys; author of “Gay Men Don’t Get Fat”

IN STUDIO

Patt Morrison for Wednesday, January 18, 2012

2012-01-17T17:28:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Wednesday, January 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 – 1:58:30

Can we train the next generation of football players to avoid brain injury, or is the problem the sport itself?

The news keeps getting worse when it comes to the long-term side effects of head injuries in sports like boxing and football. The specter of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and its symptoms – depression, memory loss, irritability, aggression, and confusion – has haunted the NFL for the last few years, but recent studies have revealed that even amateur players at the high school and college level can develop the disease. In 2010, early CTE, or the long-term swelling of the brain due to repeated concussions, was discovered during the autopsy of Owen Thomas, a 21-year-old junior lineman at the University of Pennsylvania. Thomas had committed suicide by hanging himself. Even without CTE, the risks of high school football are high: just ask Greenville, North Carolina’s J. H. Rose High School Rampants, who lost their running back, Jaquan Waller, in 2008 after he was allowed to play with a mild concussion and received another hit. J.H. Rose changed their medical policy to reflect their growing concern, making sure to have certified sports trainers at every practice and game. While this is an option for J. H. Rose, which has access to Greenville’s universities and sports medicine programs, is it financially affordable in other, smaller towns? Do you want to see teams train and play more safely? How have you witnessed your own teams making changes to the way they train and play?

Guest:

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN chief medical correspondent and practicing neurosurgeon

IN STUDIO

2:06 – 2:39

Big Man on Campus – LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy on the latest challenges facing the district

This is an inopportune time for school districts in California and the Los Angeles Unified School District is no exception. At the first board meeting of the year, LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy disclosed a $543 million budget shortfall for the next academic year, the possibility that thousands of employees could face layoffs, and that months of school could be lost. Furthermore, even if Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed tax hikes are approved, some analysts insist that school districts will still have to make spending cuts. Also the board is asking the superintendent to look at district boundaries and consider greater flexibility for students to attend different schools within their districts. LAUSD board president Monica Garcia said her colleagues are concerned about a recently published study of the district by The Education Trust – West, which indicates that lower-income, Latino, and African-American students are unintentionally being educated by less effective teachers. Accordingly, losing out on good teachers is doubly detrimental in light of findings released by joint researchers at Harvard and Columbia that demonstrates good teachers, in addition to raising test scores, have a wide-ranging and longer-lasting positive effect on the lives of pupils in terms of teenage-pregnancy rates, college matriculation, and adult earnings. Truant students could be given a break after Judge Michael Nash, the presiding judge of L.A.’s Juvenile Court, has put in place new guidelines that dismiss truancy citations for students who were late to class and can prove they were on their way to school when they were cited. Patt discusses all of this and more with LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy.

Guest:

LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy

IN STUDIO

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

Boing Boing, Wikipedia, the list goes on: Websites black out to protest SOPA

With debate heating up over pending controversial anti-piracy House bill Stop Online Privacy Act (SOPA), websites such as Wikipedia and Boing Boing claiming the legislation promotes censorship have decided to take action by blacking out their content in protest for one day. The 12-hour blackout Wednesday, between 8 a.m. EST and 8 p.m. EST, is also a resounding critique of Senate piracy bill the Protect IP (Intellectual Property) Act, or PIPA. Both bills intend to stop the illegal copying of movies or music, which Hollywood companies and organizations such as MPAA say have threatened their industry. MPAA head Chris Dodd on Tuesday criticized the growing list of websites blacking out as “a disservice to people who rely on them for information.” A House committee is expected to resume working on the SOPA bill on Jan. 24. Do you agree or disagree with the goals of SOPA and PIPA to crack down on piracy? Do you side with websites such as Wikipedia, Boing Boing and Reddit that “going dark” is an effective way to protest the bills?

Guests:

Karen North, director of the online communities program at USC’s Annenberg school of Communications and Journalism

Rob Beschizza (Beh-SKIT-zah), managing editor of blog BoingBoing.net, one of a growling list of websites blacking out their content to protest SOPA and PIPA.

Patt Morrison for Martin Luther King holiday, Monday, January 16, 2012 - SHOW ON TAPE

2012-01-13T16:32:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Monday, January 16, 2012

1-3 p.m.

HOLIDAY SHOW – ON TAPE

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE ON THE PATT MORRISON BLOG AT KPCC-DOT-ORG

1:00 – 1:20

1965, 1992 and 2012: change for African-Americans in L.A.?

In 1965, at the request of local citizens’ groups after what has come to be known as the Watts Riots, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., traveled to Los Angeles to inspect the situation and attempt to ease tensions. Stunned by what he saw, King wrote that not only had federal, state, and city governments failed to do their due diligence for Los Angeles’ African American community, but that the Southern civil rights movement was also culpable, due to its failure to provide the kind of organizational support necessary to help Northern communities. King’s legacy in Los Angeles began before this visit and continued long after, but 1965 was a watershed moment in the effort to end poverty and economic inequality in South Los Angeles via community organizing. While many of the original community activist groups in Southern Los Angeles have either folded or been folded into larger (sometimes governmental) organizations, other groups continue to arrive – and thrive, such as the Community Coalition of Los Angeles, founded in 1990 by Congresswoman Karen Bass, D-CA’s 33rd District. Originally established in response to the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, the Community Coalition expanded exponentially after the 1992 riots which followed a jury acquittal of four LAPD officers accused in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King following a high-speed pursuit. particularly its approach towards eliminating “nuisance businesses” – such as liquor stores – in Southern Los Angeles. On today’s program, Patt checks in with Congresswoman Bass and current Community Coalition president and CEO, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, about King’s legacy of community activism and its effect on Southern Los Angeles, especially post-1992.

Guests:

Rep. Karen Bass (D – Los Angeles); founder of the Community Coalition of South L.A.

Marqueece Harris-Dawson, president and CEO of the Community Coalition of South L.A.

1:20 – 1:40

Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers surprising ancestry of famous Americans

When Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. was famously arrested by Sgt. James Crowley in 2009 after allegedly breaking into his own home, no one would have guessed that the two men were actually distant cousins and share a bloodline that dates back to 450 A.D. This surprising fact was discovered after the two men made amends at the so-called “beer summit” President Obama held at The White House and is an example of the type of discoveries uncovered in a new PBS miniseries called “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.” The 10-part series, hosted by Gates, explores the surprising ancestry of notable individuals such as Harry Connick, Jr., Barbara Walters and Condoleezza Rice. Gates works closely with leading U.S. historians and genealogists to investigate and analyze the fascinating ancestral history of prominent Americans. How would you react if you discovered that you were related to someone who discriminated against you? How much have race relations improved, if at all, since the “beer summit” and President Obama’s 2008 election? How can we benefit from learning more about our genealogical and ancestral history?

Guest:

Henry Louis Gates, Alphonse Fletcher Professor at Harvard University, where he is director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research; He is also the host of the PBS series Finding Your Roots, which airs Sunday, March 28^th at 8 pm

1:40 – 2:00

What’s the Economy For, Anyway?

Is the point to have the largest GDP, or a healthy and happy society? What do Americans hold as their most powerful economic ideals—teamwork? Pragmatism? Equality? These are questions economists John de Graaf and David K. Batker set out to answer in their film and new book, What’s the Economy For, Anyway? De Graaf, who writes on overwork and overconsumption issues, and Batker, an environmental economist, challenge the U.S. reliance on the GDP as an indicator of progress, which they argue can run contrary to overall quality of life factors, as it did during the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, according to data analyzed by de Graaf in areas such as quality of life and health outcomes, the U.S. often under-performs, and not just against Western Europe, but poorer nations, too. Do you equate GDP with our national well-being? Are there other factors you consider to be more important?

Guest:

David Batker, director of Earth Economics, a non profit that provides ecologically-oriented economic analysis; he’s co-author with John de Graaf of What’s the Economy for Anyway? Why It’s Time to Stop Chasing Growth and Start Pursuing Happiness

HOUR 2

2:00 – 3:00

Justice Sandra O’Connor talks about her legacy

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court and she was the tiebreaking vote on landmark cases such as Bush v. Gore. What she experienced there has made her a crusader for civics education. The Justice joins Patt to walk through what she believes will be her greatest legacy, www.iCivics.org, a web site designed to engage and educate today’s young people to become tomorrow’s civic leaders. Patt talks with her about the Justice’s legacy on the Supreme Court and the challenges of inspiring today’s students to become informed, active participants in our democracy and justice system.

Guest:

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, former Supreme Court Justice (1981-2006) appointed to the court by President Ronald Reagan; she is also the founder of iCivics

Patt Morrison for Tuesday, January 17, 2012

2012-01-13T16:22:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Tuesday, January 17, 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

1:00 – 1:30

Governor Jerry Brown’s State of the State: what should he say?

While Governor Jerry Brown prepares to give his State of State message, scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow [Wednesday] before a joint session of the California legislature. Patt Morrison talks with Californians about what they want and need to hear.

Guests: TBD

1:30 – 2:00

OPEN

2:00 – 2:30

New studies prove that when it comes to civics and statistics, it’s all about your state of mind.

The results are in: either we don’t do math, or numbers really don’t matter. Recent polls show that Americans overestimate federal spending on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting by a factor of 100, the percentage of illegal U.S. residents by a factor of six or seven, and the number of residents receiving welfare by about two. We also underestimate the amount of spending on Social Security and Medicare. If you find this concerning, consider this: recent studies also show that even when provided with the correct information, most people won’t change their opinion. And the most misinformed tend to be the most confident. How can people be helped to make more informed decisions if they refuse to base their decision on factual information?

Guests: ON TOGETHER, TAKING CALLS

Carl Bialik, The Numbers Guy for the Wall Street Journal

CALL HIM:

Jack Pitney, professor of government, Claremont McKenna College

CALL HIM:

WEB: Americans Stumble on Math of Big Issues

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203471004577144632919979666.html

2:30 – 3:00

With an outrageous tale, authors Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel explore the lunatic fringe

How do two buffoons from suburban New Jersey become legendary international criminals? Award-winning authors Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel join forces to answer this question with their new book “Lunatics.” Barry and Zweibel employ their fictionalized alter egos Jeffrey Peckerman and Philip Horkman as troublemakers who, through their own stupidity, turn a disputed call in a girls’ soccer game into global mayhem. Peckerman and Horkman are charged with, among other things, committing acts of terrorism in New York City, endangering zoo animals, hijacking a clothing-optional cruise ship, extorting hundreds of millions of dollars, and critically damaging a guitar belonging to the singer Charo. Despite their misadventures, the two somehow manage to become the most famous and adored human beings on the planet. Along the way, Barry and Zweibel dynamically address everything from international conflicts to the hazards of school soccer leagues. Join Patt as the authors tell their raucous tale.

PATT: The authors will be discussing their book tonight [Tuesday, 1/17] at 7:30pm at the Skirball Cultural Center with comedian David Steinberg moderating the conversation. A Q&A and book signing follow the program.

Guests:

Dave Barry, Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist and New York Times-bestselling author of more than thirty books, including “Tricky Business” and “I’ll Mature When I’m Dead.”

Alan Zweibel, original writer, “Saturday Night Live;” four-time Emmy award winner; author of six books, including “The Other Shulman”

BOTH IN STUDIO

Patt Morrison for Friday, 1/13/2012

2012-01-12T17:24:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, January 13, 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

1:00 – 1:30

OPEN

1:30 – 1:50

A transgender child in the Girl Scouts

Many people love the crunchy sweet taste of Girl Scout cookies, but not everyone loves the inclusion of a transgender child into the actual Girl Scouts organization. Last fall, the Girl Scouts of the USA admitted then 7-year-old Bobby Montoya, a child born a boy, but who identifies as a girl, to a troop in Colorado. Both widespread backlash and support have followed that decision. “For 100 years, Girl Scouts has prided itself on being an inclusive organization serving girls from all walks of life,” Girl Scouts of the USA has said in a statement. “We handle cases involving transgender children on a case by case basis with a focus on ensuring the welfare and best interests of the child in question and the other girls in the troop as our highest priority.” But in a video posted to the site HonestGirlScouts.com, a 14-year-old girl who only identifies herself as Taylor and a Girl Scout herself rails against the decision, and calls for a boycott of Girl Scout cookies in protest. “Right now, Girl Scouts of the USA … is not being honest with us girls, its troops, its leaders, its parents or the American public,” she says in the video. Do you think transgender children and teens should be accepted as Girl Scouts? Do you side with the organization’s stance of inclusivity, or with Taylor?

Guests:

TBA, anti gay-inclusion in the Girl Scouts-voice

Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality

CALL HER @ office 202-903-0112

Backup cell @ 202-746-6272

Girl Scouts of the USA not speaking on the record, but provided a written statement:

”For 100 years, Girl Scouts has prided itself on being an inclusive organization serving girls from all walks of life. We handle cases involving transgender children on a case by case basis with a focus on ensuring the welfare and best interests of the child in question and the other girls in the troop as our highest priority.

As a beloved American institution, the Girl Scout Cookie Program is a natural target for those seeking to draw attention to themselves or their cause. It's important for everyone to know that nearly 100% of the proceeds from these sales stay in the local market and are used to fund programs for girls."

1:50-2:00

100 billion planets and counting in the Milky Way, according to new survey

The Earth really is a tiny grain of sand on a cosmic beach, according to a new survey that indicates 100 billion planets exist in the Milky Way galaxy alone. The approximation is based on a study headed by lead astronomer Arnaud Cassan at the Institute of Astrophysics in Paris. Dr. Cassan and his colleagues examined 100 billion stars up to 25,000 light years from Earth and by their calculation most of the stars have at least one planet orbiting them. “One can point at almost any random star and say there are planets orbiting that star,” said astronomer Uffe Grae Jorgensen, who was a member of Dr. Cassan’s team as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Researchers say 100 billion planets is the most conservative estimate and that most of these planets are larger than Earth, but that none of the alien planets identified so far appear suitable for carbon-based life. The most unique discovery associated with the survey is that millions of these planets may circle two stars, a circumstance previously considered to be virtually non-existent.

How might we benefit from studying billions of other planets? How important is this type of research in terms of practicality? How does the realization that Earth is a minuscule speck of dust impact the way humans contemplate our existence in the universe?

Guest:

Kilash Sahu (KY-lash), inaugural researcher on the study and staff astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STSCI), one of twenty observatories involved in the research

2:00 – 2:20

1965, 1992 and 2012: change for African-Americans in L.A.?

Guests:

Rep. Karen Bass (D – Los Angeles), member of the House Budget and Foreign Affairs Committees and of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Marqueece Harris-Dawson, president and CEO of the Community Coalition of South L.A.

2:20 - 2:40

Zombie bees: what’s really to blame for colony collapse?

Colony collapse – the sudden deaths of entire honeybee colonies – has caught the attention and imagination of many. It’s not a gradual extinction, but a sudden and sharp disappearance, or silencing. Theories and explanations have varied, including viruses and fungi, and now there’s a new culprit in town; researchers at San Francisco State University have discovered a type of parasitic fly that may be to blame. The phorid fly lays its eggs in bees’ abdomens, causing disorientation that ultimately causes them to abandon the hive. In the words of the Associated Press, the fly “hijacks their bodies” – leaving “zombie bees” behind. Whether the fly is the sole reason for colony collapse is unknown, but the San Francisco team discovered the fly in three-quarters of the hives they surveyed.

John Hafernick, professor of Biology, San Francisco State University, trustee and president, California Academy of Sciences and discoverer of the parasitic phorid fly

CALL HIM

David Hackenberg, former president of the American Beekeeping Federation and owner of Hackenberg Apiaries, he is widely credited with discovering the bee colony collapse disorder and he joins us live from the annual American Bee Keeping Federation meeting in Las Vegas

2:40 - 3:00

“The Artist”: the artistry of wordlessness

In a modern era inundated with multi-million dollar entertainment extravaganzas filled with 3-D special effects that were unimaginable a few decades ago, who would have guessed that a silent black and white film would be not only successful, but a critically acclaimed hit? Even the makers of “The Artist” probably could not have predicted how well-received the film would be, but nonetheless the picture has won over audiences and critics alike. The film’s story begins in 1927 and focuses on the relationship between the silent film movie star George Valentin, played by Jean Dujardin, and young starlet Peppy Miller, played by Berenice Bejo. The movie illustrates the impact the addition of sound had on the previously silent movie-making industry and on Hollywood culture. At its core, “The Artist” is a good old-fashioned love story, but the film is also an homage to the silent era through. How surprised are you that a silent black and white film has gained immense popularity in the age of “Avatar” and “Transformers”? What does the success of “The Artist” say about American audiences tastes?

Guest:

TBD

Patt Morrison for Thurs, 1/12/2012

2012-01-11T17:18:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Thursday, January 12, 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

1:00 – 1:30

OPEN

1:30 – 1:39
Porn in prison

More than two million Americans are currently serving time in prison, and the majority of them are men. Jail can be a lonely place, so where can a repressed convict turn for release of a different kind? How about pornography? An inmate in a Michigan jail last summer sued the state for depriving him of his porn while in jail. Although widely assumed to be a prevalent practice, masturbating behind bars is verboten in most prison systems. Only six states allow conjugal visits – the remaining forty four have rules ranging from a sort of "don't look, don't tell" policy to outright bans on self gratification. Prison officials argue that masturbation is a form of sexual harassment, although some sex researchers believe that allowing prisoners a sexual outlet may curb sex crimes and curtail the proliferation of sexually transmitted diseases in the prison population. So, should prisoners have the right to take care of their own business? And should Vivid Video be allowed in the Big House?

Guests:
Brenda Smith, American University law professor and project director for the United States Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections Cooperative Agreement on Addressing Prison Rape

Dr. Marty Klein, licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist for 31 years, and the author of several books, including newly published "Sexual Intelligence: What We Really Want from Sex and How to Get It" (HarperCollins)

2:00 – 2:30
'Born (and retired) to be wiiiiild': Retirement villages for the Woodstock generation

Attention baby boomers, retirement villages are embracing you with open arms, and they're way hipper than any facility your parents lived in. Senior living communities such as Laguna Woods Village in Orange County have been appealing to those of a generation who lived through the 1960s, attended Woodstock and possibly have a penchant for medical marijuana. Laguna Woods Village boasts a Baby Boomers Club, founded in 2008, and dozens of other youthful, counter culture-based clubs. The Concerned Citizens of Laguna Woods Village, according to the village's website, is "an active, interactive group promoting a commitment to peace, social and economic justice, good government, and protection of the environment." According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the first members of the baby boom generation will have reached 65 last year. By 2050, the number of people 65 and older will comprise 20 percent of the total population at that time. As a baby boomer, do these untraditional retirement communities appeal to you, and why? Do they reflect the needs of a more socially progressive older generation?

Guests:
John Pynoos, professor at the USC Davis School of Gerontology

David Dearing, retired high school teacher and resident at Laguna Woods Village, a retirement community in Orange County

2:30 – 3:00
Do placebos really work?

If you are merely told that you are getting a good workout every day, even if you aren't, you will lose weight. If you are simply lead to believe that the food you eat is indulgent and filling, even if it isn't, you will feel fuller after eating it. These statements may sound far-fetched, but they are actually proven to be true, according to several medical studies conducted in the last few years on the "placebo effect." In addition to losing weight, research shows placebos have real-world benefits for many health conditions including Parkinson's disease, depression, and irritable bowel syndrome. In some instances, placebos have even been reported to be more effective than actual treatment. Doctors continue to study placebos in order to more effectively use them, but evidence indicates that a patient's mind-set and openness to change really does make a difference. How have you benefitted from taking a placebo or from changing your mind-set? How can medical professionals more effectively utilize placebos?

Guest: Michael Specter, staff writer, The New Yorker; author, "Denialism"

Patt Morrison for Wed, 1/11/2011 L.A. TIMES COLUMNIST DAVID LAZARUS IS GUEST HOST

2012-01-10T17:18:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Wednesday, January 11, 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.A. TIMES COLUMNIST DAVID LAZARUS IS GUEST HOST

1:00 – 1:40

OPEN

1:40 – 2:00

Supreme Court rules in favor of business seeking to force arbitration with unhappy consumers

In a decision being heralded as a win for business, the Supreme Court this week ruled that disputes between consumers and companies that issue low-rate credit cards to people with bad credit ratings can be handled in “business-friendly” arbitration, an alternative dispute resolution, rather than in federal court. The 8-1 ruling reverses a federal appeals court decision that upheld consumers’ rights to sue such companies in federal court, a right that was established by a 1996 law signed by President Bill Clinton. The ruling follows a recent pattern of high court decisions, all favoring businesses and arbitration over consumers and their right to sue in federal court. Why is arbitration more business-friendly and what does this ruling mean for the consumer? David breaks down the legal issues with a Supreme Court scholar.

Guests:

NOT CONFIRMED

Emily Bazelon, Slate senior editor

2:00 – 2:40
Ask the Chief
Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck had a busy fall contending with the Occupy LA demonstrations. The situation ended largely without incident, but Los Angeles officials soon had their hands full with an arson wave over the New Year’s holiday. Hundreds of extra firefighters and police officers were involved in the fires, and although the prime suspect is behind bars the investigation into the fires continues. And Chief Beck and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced yesterday the year-end results of the Los Angeles’ Gang Reduction and Youth Development program. Overall gang crime dropped 15% in 2011, which is nearly 850 fewer gang-related crimes than in 2010. The crime numbers reflect declining crime across L.A. County despite the struggling economy. Although crime may be down, a recent study published by the University of North Carolina-Charlotte says that 30.2 percent of young people will be arrested by age 23. And even if there are fewer crimes taking place, Los Angeles police may not know about them due to reports that most of the city’s downtown crime cameras have been non functional and off line for two years. Taking time out of his busy schedule, Chief Beck joins us for our regular Q&A on these issues and more.

Guest:

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck

IN STUDIO

2:40 – 3:00

Health policy expert Gary Taubes on why we get fat

You exercise, you diet, but you still get fat. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Many of us have heard that over one third of adults in the United States are obese, as documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but many of us do not know exactly why… why do we get fat? In his book “Why We Get Fat” health policy expert and author Gary Taubes answers this question by explaining the scientific causes of obesity. Taubes insists that obesity is widely attributable to a history of misleading nutritional science. The author shatters many conventional myths about human biology, diet, and exercise and explains how misinformation has been detrimental. Taubes emphasizes that our dietary choices are what primarily lead to obesity and that avoidance of weight-gain can be achieved by simply reevaluating how we approach nutritional choices. What method do you employ for losing weight? How successful have you or people in your life been at losing weight and keeping it off? How much do you truly understand about the scientific causes of obesity?

Guest:

Gary Taubes

Patt Morrison for Tuesday, January 10, 2012

2012-01-09T17:44:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Tuesday, January 10, 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
Avatars in advertising – should it be legal to use your pictures to sell products to you?

Imagine walking down the street in 2014… you glance in a store window and there you are, smiling back at yourself from a digital ad in the window of a clothing shop – and in it you’re wearing the store’s latest sweater. Sound like sci-fi Minority Report territory? The technology necessary to use your online pictures to advertise to you isn’t quite here but some of the pieces are in place, and the theoretical practice is already raising a host of privacy concerns. Young people who make up “Generation Z” are largely less concerned about online privacy than older people. Social media sites like Facebook already have access to your photo albums – pictures of you in every conceivable situation from which to snag your visage and insert it into advertisements. And retailers are banking that when consumers see themselves using products in ads, they’ll be more likely to take those products home. Is this an invasion of privacy or a chance to see how you look in the latest fashions? Just who owns those pictures you post online, and should companies be able to use them to convince you to buy products and services?

UNCONFIRMED
Guest: John Abell, New York City bureau chief for Wired Magazine

2:06 – 2:30

Guide to Starting Fresh: How to Leave Financial Hardships Behind and Take Control of Your Financial Life

In the wake of the most devastating economic decline since the Great Depression, millions of homeowners have fallen behind on their mortgages, millions more have lost their homes to foreclosure, and countless Americans have lost employment and income. A reported 1.5 million Americans are filing for bankruptcy each year. Being traumatized by an extreme financial hardship can make life feel hopeless, but author Karen Blumenthal shows that recovery is possible in “The Wall Street Journal Guide to Starting Fresh: How to Leave Financial Hardships Behind and Take Control of Your Financial Life.” Blumenthal walks readers through the necessary steps to get back on track financially, including establishing a trusted set of advocates, repairing credit records, and budgeting for a sustainable future. What is the most difficult financial hardship that you have ever had to face and how did you deal with it? Call in with your questions.

Guest: Karen Blumenthal, writes the Getting Going personal finance column for The Wall Street Journal; author, “The Wall Street Journal Guide to Starting Your Financial Life” and “Grande Expectations: A Year in the Life of Starbucks' Stock,” as well as four nonfiction books for young people. Her latest book is “The Wall Street Journal Guide to Starting Fresh.”

2:30 – 2:58:30

Haterade: Does ‘commenting culture’ promote conversation or kill it?

“You are a vile, loathsome, despicable pig. Your stench permeates through the web,” wrote a commenter targeting columnist Meghan Daum. Such comments inspired Daum’s new essay “Haterade,” about how “commenting culture,” as she calls it, “infects the internet, inviting us not to ‘join the conversation’ so much as to join a fight — or at least gawk from the sidelines.” Daum examines the persistent unconstructive counter culture that appears to continuously flood the internet. According to Daum, haters “take the very privilege the internet has afforded all of us— the privilege of equal opportunity, instant expression—and spit on it, making the very notion of ‘speaking your mind’ seem almost like a dirty practice, the national pastime of the lowest common denominator.” Has the internet leveled the playing field so that anyone with access to a computer can join the conversation or has it unleashed an unproductive surge of hatred? How has the anonymity and immediacy of cyberspace influenced how we communicate? And has that blog invitation to ‘’join the conversation’’ become ``join the blog brawl’’?

Guests: Meghan Daum, L.A. Times columnist and author of “Haterade”

IN STUDIO

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

Patt Morrison schedule for Monday, January 9, 2012

2012-01-06T17:13:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Monday, January 9, 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

1:00– 1:30

OPEN

1:30 – 2:00

What’s the Economy For, Anyway?

Guest:

David Batker, director of Earth Economics, a non profit that provides ecologically-oriented economic analysis; he’s co-author with John de Graaf of What’s the Economy for Anyway? Why It’s Time to Stop Chasing Growth and Start Pursuing Happiness

CALL HIM

2:00 – 2:30
How women vote
White males have long been a bellwether when it comes to the perception of how America votes, but toss in the simple twist of gender and the situation becomes much more complicated… and nuanced. Research into the voting habits of women has provided some data that flies in the face of assumptions about voting. In fact, the lauded white male proves to be a far more fickle creature than expected once in the voting booth. Some of the research pins the shift on Ronald Reagan, whose hawkish stance and fiscal policies resonated with much of the white guy demographic, causing them to a shift to the political right while women stayed largely the same. Research has also indicated that when women shift their positions to one party or the other, men tend to follow suit, but in much more dramatically. So who’s moody now? What issues make women vote one way or the other? What can candidates do to court the female vote?

Guest: TBA

2:30 – 2:40

OPEN

2:40 – 3:00

Mystery in the jungle: Charlie Hood returns in T. Jefferson Parker’s “The Jaguar”

A Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter waits in a crumbling castle deep in a Yucatecan jungle, held hostage by the head of a powerful cartel. His demand? That she write him “the greatest narcocorrido of all time.” This is the plot of “The Jaguar,” the newest Charlie Hood novel from author T. Jefferson Parker and the third in his “Border Quartet.” Parker and his family spent time in Veracruz, Mexico, researching “The Jaguar”, and the novel roots itself in place as much as is the conflict caused by Mexico’s drug trade. Is “The Jaguar” truly “Scheherazade meets ‘No Country for Old Men,’ as Parker claims? Join Patt as she chats with Parker and finds out.

PATT: On Saturday, January 14^th, Mr. Parker is appearing at noon at Mysteries To Die For in Thousand Oaks and at 4pm at Vroman’s Bookstore at All Saints Church in Pasadena.

Guests:

T. Jefferson Parker

IN STUDIO

Patt Morrison schedule for Friday, January 6, 2012

2012-01-05T17:36:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, January 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 – 1:58:30

Money, money, money: that’s what it takes to run for office and what many make when they get there

Nearly half of the members of Congress are millionaires. And according to recent articles published in The New York Times and The Washington Post, the median net worth for members of Congress in 2011 ($913,000) is over nine times the median net worth for the average American ($100,000). The New York Times reports that “the median net worth for Congress members jumped 15 percent between 2004 and 2010,” held steady for the richest 10 percent and dropped 8 percent for all other Americans. The wealth gap between members of Congress and the average American has some concerned about their ability to relate to the issues most citizens are grabbling with like unemployment, health care and the cost of education. Congress members make about $175,000, but seem to acquire wealth while in office. How does the office become lucrative for candidates and should it? Are Congress members too focused on their bottom line and not connected enough with the average American’s? Does a potential candidate have to have vast economic resources to run for office? Does our current political system make it impossible for a person of humble means to acquire a position in Congress?

Guests:

Daniel Newman, president & co-founder of MapLight; MapLight is a nonpartisan research organization the reveal money's influence on politics

UNCONFIRMED

Representative from the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit research group.

2:06 – 2:30

Access to porn in libraries: What’s the line between censorship and free speech?

Back in November, a homeless man at the public library in Laguna Beach was accused of touching himself in a not-so-appropriate way while looking at internet porn at the library. The fact that he even had access to porn in a known public institution focused on tenets of learning, reading and the inclusion of both children and adults came as a shock to some. Yet librarians, aware of protecting free-speech rights, have said they are obligated to provide internet access, even when the patron accesses porn. In the case of porn access at libraries, what constitutes free speech protection, and what constitutes censorship? In 2003, the Supreme Court upheld a law that public libraries receiving certain types of federal funding have the authority to filter out pornography and obscene material considered damaging to minors. Yet privacy filters may block out other content, such as access to websites with the words “breast cancer.” According to the American Library Association, librarians have the authority to intervene when patrons are viewing what may be deemed as inappropriate content by either tapping someone on the shoulder or making that person leave the library outright. Do you think librarians should take a more active role in limiting access to online content, including porn? What about the possible use of privacy screens, or a separate monitored room for adults?

Guests:

Eugene Volokh (VAH-luhk), law professor at UCLA School of Law specializing in free speech and criminal law

Barbara Jones, director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom

2:30 – 2:50

Midseason TV heats up this winter

Patt previews the new television offerings of 2012, and it’s an interesting mix, spanning everything from Broadway musicals to prison mysteries “Lost” producer J.J. Abrams, returns with another unusual series called “Alcatraz,” a suspense-filled drama about mysterious events that unfold on the infamous prison island. Dustin Hoffman stars in a new HBO drama called “Luck,” fashioned by “Deadwood” creator David Milch, about the world of horse racing. Fans of the Tom Hanks show “Bosom Buddies” will probably enjoy the new sitcom “Work It,” about two men who dress as women in order to remain employed. “Glee” fans might also appreciate Steven Spielberg’s “Smash,” which follows the cast and crew of a fictional Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe. Other new shows that appear to be gaining traction are “Awake,” “Touch,” and Showtime’s “House of Lies.” What new shows are you most looking forward to watching? How do you rate the 2011-2012 TV season overall?

Guests:

Robert Thompson, trustee professor of Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, where he is also the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture

2:50:00 – 2:58:30

“Downton Abbey” returns to PBS for season 2

Although not new, “Downton Abbey,” one of the most critically acclaimed shows on television, returns with its second season premier this Sunday. The PBS British period drama follows the staff and inhabitants of the country house Downton Abbey and has been compared to series like “Upstairs, Downstairs.” Americans kicked out King George III, so why do we love all that lord and lady stuff? PBS is hoping the show will attract new viewers and “re-brand” public television a bit more like the top-tier programming on commercial channels like HBO and Showtime. Why are American audiences so enthralled with shows about class relations and why, with the exception of films like “The Help,” don’t you see more of that in American pop culture?

NOT CONFIRMED

Julian Fellowes, creator and writer, “Downton Abbey”

David Schmid, associate professor of English at the University of Buffalo, where he teaches Cultural Studies, Popular Culture, 20th Century and Contemporary British and American Fiction

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

Patt Morrison schedule for Thursday, January 5, 2012

2012-01-04T17:39:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Thursday, January 5, 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

Ask your Congress member: Rep. Xavier Becerra talks to his constituents

Patt kicks off a mini-series checking in with some of our local congress members before they head back to work in Washington D.C. Today she welcomes Rep. Xavier Becerra, the Democratic Congressman representing California’s 31st District, to the show. Perhaps most recently known as one of six Democrats appointed to the supercommittee on deficit reduction, Patt checks in on what comes next after the committee’s failure to reach a consensus as well as how his party can work more effectively with Republicans. Can a budget deal be worked out where the size and scope of government will be cut back in exchange for higher taxes on rich Americans? And with all the political rancor, lack of bipartisan cooperation, and record-low approval ratings, is it possible to get anything done in Congress during an election year? Has the political gridlock gotten any better? Patt covers everything from the one year anniversary of the shooting of his colleague, Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, to reports on the widening wealth gap between members of Congress and the people they represent (half of congress members are millionaires). Call in with your questions, too.

Guests:

Rep. Xavier Becerra, Democrat representing the 31st Congressional District of California, which includes parts of central and northeast Los Angeles; he’s vice-chair of the House Democratic Caucus and a member of the Ways and Means and Budget committees

2:06 – 2:30

TSA PreCheck comes to Southern California: Faster airport check-in, but at what privacy cost?

Imagine sailing through airport check-in with no hassle. Exciting! In return, though, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)is allowed to perform a background check on you and gather personal information. TSA’s PreCheck system is a voluntary passenger pre-screening pilot initiative implemented last October in cooperation with Delta and American Airlines in several airports around the country: Atlanta, Detroit, Dallas, Miami and recently Las Vegas. PreCheck is now expanding to Southern California. Expected to launch in a few weeks, the system will specifically expand to Los Angeles International Airport’s American Airlines hub at Terminal 4. The TSA’s PreCheck background check includes information about the passenger’s flying habits and payment types. Approved PreCheck passengers are able to keep their shoes and belts on during check-in, leave laptops and zip-locked liquids in their carry-on bags and walk through a separate security path. Do you think giving the government detailed personal information is a fair trade off for quick access to a hassle-free experience at the airport? Should this option be available to all flyers or only those who fly frequently? Do you think the current screening system is effective?

Guests:

Charlie Leocha, director, Consumer Travel Alliance

UNCONFIRMED GUESTS

Nico Melendez, spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration

TBA, Representative from ACLU

2:30 – 2:39 OPEN

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers surprising ancestry of famous Americans

Guests:

ON TAPE

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

Patt Morrison schedule for Wednesday, January 4, 2012

2012-01-03T17:08:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Wednesday, January 4, 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

Confused about the new health care law? Comic book explains all

If you can’t figure out what the health care overhaul is all about, there’s a comic book—er, graphic novel—to make it all clear. In a new approach for the masses, Jonathan Gruber, an MIT economics professor who was intimately involved in the crafting of Governor Mitt Romney’s universal health care plan in Massachusetts and again in President Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), distills the seemingly complex changes to the health care system into basic comic strip form. Got a question about the health care phased-in mandates, prohibitions on screening for pre-conditions or which standard insurance coverage level to choose? Call and ask, but don't expect any superheroes or villains in this strip. Gruber hopes the straightforward book "Health Care Reform: What It Is, Why It's Necessary, How it Works," will better explain the law—even as repeal efforts continue in the Supreme Court. And who knows, maybe the justices will even read it as they sit in judgment?

Guests:

Jonathan Gruber, MIT Professor and paid consultant to both the Romney and Obama Administrations on health care reform; author of "Health Care Reform: What It Is, Why It's Necessary, How it Works"

2:06 – 2:30

Stalled economy fosters creative criminality and theft of some strange loot

Crafty criminals are casting a wider net: Farm league criminals may be partial to convenience stores, but the economic downturn has inspired some enterprising thieves to widen the scope of their illegal endeavors… in some cases to actual farms. Items now being targeted by thieves have recently included hogs, dogs, brass and coupons. With pork prices at an all-time high and designer dogs in a lot of backyards, maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that these items have turned up missing. Other criminals are casting an even wider net to make some cool cash. Brass rings from inside fire hydrants can fetch $15 a piece at the scrap yard, and thrifty thieves have even resorted to stealing coupon inserts right out of peoples’ mailboxes. Another peculiar item on the list of criminals’ top ten is human hair. (Yuck.) Human hair is frequently imported from Malaysia and India to be used for pricey weaves, wigs and extensions. The market for hot locks is more lucrative than one would believe – one hair heist netted the perps around $70K to $90K of hair. Are Tony Soprano and Co. diversifying?

How do you target criminals when they’re stealing everything? Is anything safe? What can law enforcement about it?

Guest:

Brad Tuttle, covers personal finance, travel and parenting, among other topics for TIME’s Moneyland

2:30 – 2:58:30

A Safeway in Arizona: What the Gabrielle Giffords Shooting Tells Us About the Grand Canyon State and Life in America

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was sitting at a table greeting constituents in front of Safeway one year ago, when a man walked up, shot her in the head, and then killed six bystanders, including a federal judge and a little girl. What happened and what’s happened since that shooting at a Safeway? Award-winning author, investigative journalist, and former Giffords campaign staff member Tom Zoellner examines the terrible events that took place and the socio-economic factors that may have perpetuated the twenty two-year-old shooter Jared Lee Loughner to commit mass murder. Zoellner, a fifth generation Arizonan, reflects on how the political climate and state of affairs in Arizona, including its immigration policies, economic problems, and the accessibility of guns are representative of the problems in greater America. How might the contentious socio-economic environment in Arizona have influenced Loughner’s violent actions? What other issues might have lead to the tragic incident in January of 2011? What more can be done to help people like Loughner before they become violent?

Guests:

Tom Zoellner, author of “A Safeway in Arizona: What the Gabrielle Giffords Shooting Tells Us About the Grand Canyon State and Life in America”

Via ISDN

THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY IS THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 8

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

RE: Patt Morrison schedule for Tuesday, January 3, 2012

2011-12-30T15:47:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Tuesday, January 3, 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

Who owns your Twitter account, and how much is each follower worth?

Say you work for a company and open a Twitter account, combining your name with the company’s. Are the myriad of followers you rack up tied to you as a personal entity, or to the company? When Noah Kravitz, a writer for cell phone news and reviews site PhoneDog.com, quit the company in October 2010, he not only changed his Twitter account from @Phonedog_Noah to @NoahKravitz, but he kept the 17,000 followers tied to his account. According to Kravitz, PhoneDog at first allowed him to keep the account, with the changed name, in exchange for tweeting about the company occasionally. Then eight months later, in July, PhoneDog sued Kravitz, claiming his massive Twitter follower list was a customer list. The company is seeking damages of $2.50 a month per each Twitter follower for eight months: a total of $340,000. The lawsuit, filed in Northern California, has sparked a larger debate. Do you think an employee can claim ownership to Twitter followers they’ve accumulated as part of their job? If they belong to the company, how much are they worth? Should an employee have to pay to keep them?

Guests:

Noah Kravitz, Editor at Large with TechnoBuffalo dot com and former writer for PhoneDog.com; he is being sued by the company over his Twitter account

Dashiell Bennett, author of “Lawsuit Asks ‘Who Owns a Twitter Follower?’” at TheAtlanticWire.com

Michael Overing, practicing attorney, and an adjunct professor at USC's Annenberg School of Communication who teaches courses in media law

2:06 – 2:30

Your computer will read your mind. No kidding.

On December 19, 2011, IBM unveiled its sixth annual “5 in 5” list, or five innovations that will change our lives within five years. What should you expect by 2016? Mind-reading, an end to junk mail, and (finally!) a farewell to the clumsy password system. That is to say, expect to provide biometric data (retinal scans, etc) instead of your mother’s maiden name or daughter’s birthday; expect the precision of your spam filters to increase; and expect computers and smart phones to read your brainwaves through bioinformatics—meaning they’ll call dad when you think “call dad.” Plus, kinetic energy-powered households and a much narrower gap between the digital “haves” and the digital “have nots,” thanks to improvements in mobile phone technology. Do you have a prediction that didn’t make the list? A fear or hope about a technology that did?

Guest:

Bernie Meyerson, research fellow and vice president for innovation at IBM. In 1992, he was appointed an IBM Fellow, IBM’s highest technical honor.

2:30 – 2:39: OPEN

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

The Yosemite Project: In four seasons

Millions of people have visited and photographed Yosemite National Park, but many of those visitors have not seen the park in all four seasons. Los Angeles Times photographer Mark Boster spent a year photographing all four seasons in the region that spans eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, for what he has called Project Yosemite, “the project of my dreams.” Boster has been smitten by the beauty and grandeur of Yosemite since he first visited the park as a child with his family. With over 100 stunning photographs, Boster showcases the park’s colorful blooms and rushing waterfalls of spring, clear skies and copious tourists of summer, golden hues of fall, and winter's frozen glimmer. What is the most beautiful time of year to visit Yosemite National Park? How does Yosemite compare to other national parks in terms of aesthetic allure? Tune in to find out.

Guest:

Mark Boster, (“boss-tuhr”) Los Angeles Times staff photographer. He’s been part of two Pulitzer Prize-winning teams during his 28 years with The Times and was recently recognized for his year-long Yosemite project at the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards.

Noelle Conti, Producer

Patt Morrison - winner of the 2010 RTNA Golden Mike for best Public Affairs program

Southern California Public Radio

89.3 KPCC-FM

474 South Raymond Ave

Pasadena, CA 91105

Desk: 626-583-5168| Mobile: 323.309.2997

www.scpr.org | nconti@kpcc.org

Patt Morrison schedule for Monday, January 2, 2012

2011-12-30T14:25:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Monday, January 2, 2012

1-3 p.m.

HOLIDAY SHOW ON TAPE

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE ON THE PATT MORRISON BLOG AT KPCC-DOT-ORG

1:06 – 1:40

LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy talks about changes, progress and shrinking budgets
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy recently announced an
“historic” contract with United Teachers Los Angeles – an unprecedented agreement that Deasy called “groundbreaking work” that is aimed at providing more freedom for teachers, school administrators and parents to manage their respective schools. In terms of “value added” teacher assessments, L.A. Unified will continue to provide the media with teachers’ scores but will do so without identifying the instructors. The district got caught in a firestorm of controversy last year when assessments were made public by the L.A.Times and teachers could be singled out based on job performance. California Governor Jerry Brown recently announced $1 billion in state budget cuts – on top of additional “trigger cuts” that will affect the district’s finances. The governor warns that additional cuts are on the horizon and LAUSD will have to find more places to cut. And high on the student body’s priorities is the district’s new healthful menu. Students have been crying foul that the new items on the cafeteria menu are less than appetizing – prompting the creating of a “junk food black market” where students are now eating more potato chips and soda than they did before the changes. What does John Deasy think LAUSD can do to deal with the budget crisis? What other changes might we see from LAUSD in 2012?

Guest:

John Deasy, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District

ON TAPE

1:41:00 – 2:58:30

Comedy Congress: live from the Crawford Family Forum

As far as political humor is concerned, what’s the gift that keeps on giving? The presidential primaries, of course. Comedy Congress hung up its Christmas stocking and found it full of Mitt and Newt and Barack – and it’s our holiday gift to you. Perry ups the voting age; Obama very politely asks Iran for his drone back and we play the highlight reel of Cain’s self-described brain twirlings! And just as we thought the Occupy movement was going into hibernation for the winter...Comedy Congress is here to take an unapologetic look at current events and review the best and worst stories of 2011.

Guests:

Alonzo Bodden, winner of season 3 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, regular performer and field correspondent for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; his DVD “Who’s Paying Attention” is available at Amazon

Greg Proops, host of the weekly podcast, The Smartest Man in the World, which you can find on iTunes or Proopcast.com

Ben Gleib, host of his own podcast Last Week on Earth with Ben Gleib on Kevin Smith's network

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

RE: Patt Morrison schedule for Friday, December 30, 2011

2011-12-29T18:06:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, December 30, 2011

1-3 p.m.

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

DAVID LAZARUS IS GUEST HOST

PLEDGE DRIVE

1:07 – 1:19 OPEN

1:26 – 1:53

Time Warner Cable’s rates go up, again – will customers go too?

Time Warner Cable, the country’s second largest cable company, is giving its Southern California customers a not-so-nice present for the New Year: a substantial rate increase. Some rates for local broadcast channels will go up a whopping 27.4 percent, from $13.34 to $17. There will be a 9.5 percent increase for broadcast plus basic cable channels, and a 7.3 percent increase for the digital video package. Even the initial installation of Time Warner for video, internet or phone service is set to soar, from $32.99 to $49.99, a 51.5 percent increase. A Time Warner spokesman says the elevated rates are due to higher fees charged by broadcasting companies for access to channels such as ESPN and Fox Sports. Other cable companies, however, such as Comcast, say they don’t anticipate rate hikes in the immediate future. Will you switch cable companies, or drop cable altogether?

Guest:

Judy Dugan, research director, Consumer Watchdog

Jim Gordon, a spokesman for Time Warner

ON TAPE

2:08 – 2:44

If you'd like to make your New Year's resolutions stick, try this: have someone else make them for you.

New Year’s resolutions: noble and ephemeral, they make their appearance in the dead of winter, and somehow, in our bumbling attempts to stick with them, we claw our way to spring. By the end of the year’s first quarter, however, most of us have broken from our stated goals and moved onward down that road paved with good intentions. What if, however, you were no longer reporting just to yourself? Last year, New Yorkers Elizabeth and Michael Singer made resolutions for each other, instead of for themselves. Karen Pratt and her son Ben have given each other resolutions for ten years running—since Ben was 12, in fact. How hard would it be to hear someone other than yourself tell you to lose those pounds? Would you be willing to stick with your resolution if it was based on an observation from someone else? Or does the idea of facing a Quarterly Progress Report from someone other than your employer make you clench your teeth?

Guest:

Elizabeth Bernstein, writer of the Bonds column for the Wall Street Journal, where she explores human interactions at home, at work or among friends.

2:44– 2:54

The best of Steven King

Almost a decade has passed since literary critic Harold Bloom called the men and women of the National Book Foundation idiots for choosing to honor author Stephen King with a medal for distinguished contribution. Bloom criticized King for his pop horror and sci-fi genre affiliation, which he deemed without literary value. So we wonder what Bloom would make of the New York Times’ “Best Books of 2011,” which, for the first time ever, includes a work by King: “11/22/63,” his alternate take on the John F. Kennedy assassination, released in November. It’s King’s 52nd book, following up a continuous line of creepy, compelling novels going back to 1974’s “Carrie,” long considered a horror classic. Known for his prolific output, King has also been working on a sequel to his 1977 opus “The Shining” called “Dr. Sleep.” Have you read “11/22/63”? Do you think it’s as good as King’s other novels, and deserves a New York Times “Best Books of 2011” honor? What are your favorite books by King? Why does he merit appreciation, or not?

Guest:

TBD

Patt Morrison schedule for Thursday, December 29, 2011

2011-12-28T16:59:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Thursday, December 29, 2011

1-3 p.m.

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

1:07– 1:19 SEGMENT 1: OPEN

(1:19 – 1:26: PITCH BREAK)

1:26 – 1:38 SEGMENT 2: Do you have egg on your face? If it’s dull, maybe you should

It’s that time of year again…when our skin gets unbearably dry. We spend tons of money on skin care products in this country, but are they worth it? Many of the products made by the beauty industry aren’t regulated, so it’s unclear if all the ingredients are safe or live up to their claims. Could some of the stuff in our refrigerator work just as well? We’ve heard that egg whites can firm skin and tighten pores; bananas exfoliate and moisturize, both beer and coconut oil can make hair shiny; oats can be used as a facial scrub; the lactic acid in yogurt moisturizes skin and can make it lighter; and olive oil is good for everything. Are these claims ‘old wives’ tales’ or do they actually work?

Guest: TBD

(1:38 – 1:43:00: PITCH BREAK)

1:43:00 – 1:53:00 SEGMENT 3: Do you have egg on your face? (Cont’d.)

(1:53:00 – 2:00: PITCH BREAK)

2:08 – 2:20:00 SEGMENT 1: Rock the Casbah: Robin Wright on the Arab Spring

“For the majority of Muslims today, the central issue is not a clash with other civilizations. It is instead a struggle within the faith itself to rescue Islam’s central values from a small but virulent minority.” So asserts foreign correspondent Robin Wright in her new book, “Rock the Casbah: Rage and Rebellion Across the Islamic World.” In “Rock the Casbah,” Wright, who has covered the Middle East since 1973, focuses on another small but fierce group: protestors and activists of the next generation, who name “pluralism” and “commonality” as their primary interests. To this end, Wright bases “Rock the Casbah” on stories of Muslims like Hissa Hilal, an amateur poet who reached the final round of “Poet of Millions” (think “American Idol”) by reciting a poem deeply critical of Islamic militants and militant clerics, earning multiple death threats in the process. In reviewing “Rock the Casbah” for the New York Times, Professor Mohamad Bazzi lauds Wright for her coverage of this community, but points out that the book’s argument “rests on [the] sweeping assertion” that this group is at all representative or effective. Bazzi also questions why Wright fails to discuss where groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Muslim Brotherhood fit in to the idea of the “jihad against the Jihad,” given their continued popularity.

Guests:

Robin Wright, foreign correspondent and author, “Rock the Casbah: Rage and Rebellion Across the Islamic World”

(2:20:00-2:27:00: PITCH BREAK)

2:27:00 – 2:39:00 SEGMENT 2: Rock the Casbah: Robin Wright on the Arab Spring (Cont’d.)

(2:39:00-2:44:00: PITCH BREAK)

2:44:00 – 2:54:00 SEGMENT 3: The latest rumors on the NFL coming to LA
Over the weekend, it seemed as if the Minnesota Vikings, one team being courted to move to Los Angeles, was going to stay put. However, those reports were unfounded, and we may just see another Minnesota team move to L.A. It isn’t just the Vikings that are being talked about, but also the San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, and St. Louis Rams. All of the teams are looking for a new stadium. As it happens, there are two competing plans to build a stadium in L.A. One plan, by developer Ed Roski’s Majestic Realty, would be called Los Angeles Stadium, though it would be built in the nearby City of Industry. AEG’ Farmers Field is a competing plan, which would build next to Staples Center in downtown L.A. The Chargers have been in talks with San Diego since 2006 about getting a new stadium, but those talks have stalled because of the city’s inability to fund the project. The Jacksonville Jaguars were a team many discussed as possibly primed to move, but the new owner has promised to keep the team in Jacksonville. The Raiders have no firm plans to move or find a new stadium. Raiders’ owner Al Davis, who recently passed away, did not leave any plans as well. A provision in the Rams’ lease would allow them to leave the city if their stadium isn’t among the top eight stadiums in the NFL in 2014. There have been 19 stadiums built since St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome, which was erected in 1995. Rumors have been swirling around a possible football team moving to L.A. for years now. Is this just another case of always the bridesmaid and never the bride? What do you think the team should be named? Why can’t we just create our own team?

Guest: Matt “Money” Smith, co-host of “The Petros & Money Show” on Fox Sports Radio, heard locally on AM 570 KLAC

(2:54:00-3:01:00: PITCH BREAK)

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

PATT MORRISON schedule for Wednesday, December 28, 2011

2011-12-27T16:44:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

PLEDGE DRIVE

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

1-3 p.m.

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

1:08 – 1:19 SEGMENT 1: OPEN

(1:19 – 1:26 PITCH BREAK)

1:26 – 1:38 SEGMENT 2: Why not Jon Huntsman?

Just what is wrong with Jon Huntsman? He’s the former US Ambassador to China and the former governor of Utah. He’s got a proven track record of working toward a common goal with politicians outside his own party—a background that seems like it should matter to a nation that consistently gives its Congress less than 10% approval ratings. New Hampshire’s Concord Monitor endorsed him last week, saying Huntsman “would present the greatest challenge to Obama” and “provide mature, informed and steady leadership.” On paper, he looks like a great candidate for the GOP nomination—and yet, he consistently polls lower than the rest of the candidates, attracting about 2% of the vote. As the republican field narrows, why didn’t Huntsman catch fire? And how is the field shaping up with less than a week before the Iowa caucus?

Guest:

Ron Elving, senior Washington editor for NPR

VIA ISDN

(1:38 – 1:43 PITCH BREAK)

1:43 – 1:54 SEGMENT 3: Why not Jon Huntsman? (Cont’d )

2:08 – 2:20 SEGMENT 1: OPEN

(2:20 – 2:27 PITCH BREAK)

2:27 – 2:39 SEGMENT 2: Hawaii’s controversial past

Most people know that Hawaii was the last region in North America to enter the union, but many don’t know the elaborate history of the islands prior to being annexed. In her book Lost Kingdom: Hawaii’s Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America’s First Imperial Adventure, author Julia Flynn Siler sheds light on the influential people and events that contributed to defining Hawaiian history and culture. Siler depicts the ancient monarchy that ruled the islands for generations and illustrates how the U.S. controversially pushed the last Queen of Hawaii, Lili’uokalani, out of power for U.S. military and commercial interests. Patt takes a closer look at that island paradise, the battleground of empire that a queen and our current president have called home.

How has Hawaiian culture changed since it became a state? How appropriate was it for the United States to annex Hawaii in light of the Congressional Apology Resolution and the Hawaiian sovereignty movement? What more should the U.S. do, if anything, to redeem itself to the indigenous people of Hawaii?

Guest:

Julia Flynn Siler, author of Lost Kingdom: Hawaii's Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America's First Imperial Adventure

(2:39 – 2:44 PITCH BREAK)

2:44– 2:54 SEGMENT 3: Hawaii’s controversial past (Cont’d.)

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE for Tuesday, December 27, 2011

2011-12-26T14:35:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

1-3 p.m.

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

1:06 – 1:30: OPEN

1:30 – 1:39

PTHSD: Do you have Post Traumatic Holiday Shopping Disorder?

Holiday shopping, drinks, dinners, travel and the spirit of giving is wonderful until …the tab for all the festivities shows up in your inbox or mailbox. There’s nothing like the black and white tally of the damage to snap us back to reality. It adds up quickly and if you aren’t paying close attention, you could wind up paying off your holiday debt much longer than is necessary. Have outstanding balances on numerous cards? Can you transfer them to the one with the lowest interest rate? Does it make sense to take out a low interest loan to pay off holiday debt? What about in-store price adjustments on merchandise you bought before the holidays that’s now on sale? All your post holiday shopping questions answered today on Patt Morrison.

UNCONFIRMED

Guest:

Rebecca Rothstein, managing director Beverly Hills branch of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; she is ranked #1 Woman Advisor in America by Barron’s

2:06 – 2:30: OPEN

2:30 – 2:39

B.R. Myers addresses allegations of fake mourning and self image in North Korea

As inhabitants of the world’s most isolated nation, North Koreans believe what they’re told. Propaganda has persuaded them that they are racially and morally pure, and that food donations to famine victims are in fact tribute from a terrified United States. After years of studying North Korean culture, literature and newspapers, analyst B.R. Myers argues that North Korean thinking is based on a belief system that views the North Korean people as innocent children at the bosom of a nurturing “Parent Leader,” whose primary role is to foster his (or her) children’s pureness and selflessness, protecting them from enemies like the US. The less we see North Korea in terms of Stalin and Confucius, he argues, and the more we understand this ideology, the closer we’ll be to understanding what motivates North Koreans, including former supreme leader Kim Jong Il and his successor, Kim Jong Un.

Guest:

B.R. Myers, a North Korea analyst at Dongseo (dongs-uh) University and the author of The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves—and Why It Matters

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

Patt Morrison for Monday, December 26, 2011 PROGRAM IS LIVE

2011-12-23T15:10:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Monday, December 26, 2011

1-3 p.m.

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

1:00 – 1:20

OPEN

1:20 – 1:40

Best and worst Christmas gifts…and what to do about them

Was it a Snuggie? A Chia pet? A monogrammed pink bunny suit? On the day after Christmas, what’s the etiquette of returning gifts, and of everything post-Christmas? Can you re-gift it? A recent Canadian poll found that 75 percent of people may hold on to their unwanted holiday gifts this season, even though the idea of re-gifting polls as being increasingly acceptable. What's causing us to hold on? For most, it's feelings of guilt or shame in hurting the gift-er's feelings. Advice goddess Amy Alkon joins Patt to answer all your questions, big and small, about holiday gift etiquette.

Guests:

Amy Alkon, advice columnist and author of “I See Rude People: One woman’s battle to beat some manners into impolite society”

CALL HER

1:40 – 2:00

All about Griffith Park and the La Brea Tar Pits, if you aren’t visiting them as we speak.

New York has its 843-acre Central Park; San Francisco has its 1017-acre Golden Gate, but both are tame in comparison to what the city of Los Angeles has to offer—the 4210 unwieldly acres of Griffith Park. Established in 1896 when L.A.’s population was only 110,000, the park used to lie outside city limits. The original donor of the land, Griffith J. Griffith, insisted that rail fares to the park be capped at a nickel so that all of L.A.’s citizens could enjoy it. The city has grown to surround the park, and many of us living in walking distance, but how much do you know about its history? If you aren’t out walking around in the park itself, join Patt and authors E.J. Stephens and Cathy McNassor to talk about their books on Griffith Park and the La Brea Tar Pits. E.J. Stephens has compiled images and facts on Griffith Park starting from the late 1800s; McNassor is the museum archivist of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the George C. Page Museum at the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits and has put together a visual history of the Tar Pits. The stories of each of these iconic components to our cityscape, today at one o’clock.

Guests:

Cathy McNassor, author, “Los Angeles’s La Brea Tar Pits and Hancock Park”; museum archivist, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the George C. Page Museum

IN-STUDIO

E.J. Stephens, co-author, “Griffith Park”; writer, Deadwrite's Dailies, a daily blog on cultural history

PHONE HIM

2:00 – 2:33

Surprise – men don’t think about sex as much as we (and they) think they do
We’ve all heard the ballpark statistics about men and their incessant daydreaming about sex. But some new research from the Ohio State University is throwing a little cold water on the common assumptions. The study showed that, while men do think about sex more than women on a daily basis, the number of times men think about sex isn’t nearly as high as we heard in junior high (...that men think about sex every seven seconds). The reality is closer to 19 times a day for men, and, surprising to some, that women think about sex 10 times per day. Even more surprising was the range of frequency of thoughts about sex between the genders – men’s racy suppositions ranged between one and 388 per day and women’s between one and 140, meaning that there aren’t many Americans of either gender who don’t think about sex at all. But the fact remains, though less that imagined, men still think about sex more than women. What do you think accounts for the difference? How often do you entertain thoughts of making whoopee?

Guest:

Terri Fisher, professor of psychology, Ohio State University and author of the study

2:33 – 3:00

“Tension City”: journalist Jim Lehrer on presidential debates

Award-winning journalist Jim Lehrer’s new book “Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates, from Kennedy-Nixon to Obama-McCain” takes a witty, behind-the-scenes look at more than 40 years of televised presidential debates. Lehrer, long considered one of the most well respected figures in broadcast journalism, has interviewed every president since Gerald Ford, and has moderated eleven presidential and vice presidential debates. He is the executive editor and former anchor of PBS News Hour and author of 20 novels, two memoirs and three plays. Lehrer’s book includes in-depth interviews with candidates and other moderators, revealing the stories behind debate blunders, snafus, off-air conversations and critical moments. From candidate hesitations to jokes gone wrong, these tiny televised details had a direct impact on presidential elections, and, of course, history. Lehrer’s lively tales from the frontlines include Ronald Reagan’s affinity for one-liners, John McCain and President Barack Obama exchanging little eye contact during one 90 minute debate and Dan Quayle comparing himself continuously to John F. Kennedy. What presidential debate moments have surprised or shocked you the most? What moments would you like Jim Lehrer to shed some light on?

Guests:

Jim Lehrer, award-winning American author, playwright and journalist. He is the executive editor and former anchor of PBS News Hour and author of 20 novels, two memoirs and three plays.

Spanning a fifty-year career, Lehrer has interviewed every president since Gerald Ford and has moderated eleven presidential debates.

Patt Morrison for Friday, December 23, 2011

2011-12-22T16:53:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, December 23, 2011

1-3 p.m.

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

1:06 – 1:18: OPEN

1:23 – 1:39

"Victory Day" 2.0—the new face of homecoming?

A modern twist on an old tradition played out this week in Virginia Beach, Virginia when two female sailors kissed to celebrate the homecoming of the U.S. Navy ship Oak Hill, which returned after eighty days at sea. The coveted “first kiss” is part of a Navy custom inspired by the famous photograph “V-J Day in Times Square,” of a sailor kissing a nurse on “Victory over Japan Day” in 1945. According to convention, sailors on ships buy raffle tickets with the hope of winning the chance to be the first one off the ship to kiss their loved one. This week, the winners of the drawing happened to be 23-year-old Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta. When she kissed her girlfriend, 22-year-old Citlalic Snell, the crowd of on-lookers cheered. Navy officials said it was the first time on record that a same-sex couple was chosen for the first kiss upon a ship's return. The two women reportedly met at a Naval training school and have been dating for two years, which they said was difficult under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Regarding the historical implication of the kiss, Gaeta acknowledged, "It's a big deal. It's been a long time coming." What is the significance of this kiss in the context of the U.S. military and society in general? How far has the LGBT community come in terms of gaining acceptance in mainstream society?

Guests: TBD

1:41:30 – 1:58:30

‘Tis the season for giving…layaway payoffs and others random acts of goodwill

At a time when people have less, they seem to be giving more. We’ve seen reports of “layaway angels” popping up and paying off layaway accounts at Kmart and Wal-Mart stores across the country; a woman in Winston-Salem dropped her emerald and diamond bracelet in a Salvation Army kettle and for the fourth year in a row a couple gave out $12,000 in $100 dollar bills to total strangers in Lincoln Park and Detroit. David Wilson, the owner of several car dealerships in Orange County, was so inspired by the “layaway angels” he wrote a $15,919.61 check to pay off the layaway accounts of lucky customers at a Kmart store in Costa Mesa. What’s inspiring the acts of goodwill and generous giving? Have you given money to a total stranger just for the sake of helping someone in need?

Guest: TBD

2:06 – 2:39

Dear Prudence, how should I navigate the holidays?

Happy holidays! Whether you’re choosing to spend this time with friends, by yourself, or with family, the winter holidays bring out the best and worst in us. We give and receive, compliment and complain, and carry with us the same expectations and concerns as always. If you’re worried about exploding at the dining room table, missing whomever it is you had a falling out with last year, or feeling trepidatious about reaching out and reconnecting, we’ve got the perfect guest for you: Slate’s “Dear Prudence” columnist Emily Yoffe is here to listen to your woes and to tell you to stop being such a scrooge.

Guest: Emily Yoffe, aka Dear Prudence, Slate’s advice columnist

2:41:30-2:48:00

Astronomers discover stars multiplying at shockingly high rate

It is difficult to imagine a galaxy in which the equivalent of about 100 of our suns per year are materializing, but that is exactly what astronomers have discovered in a blob-shaped galaxy called GN-108036. Stars are being created in this galaxy more than three times the rate than in our own Milky Way, which consequently renders GN-108036 the brightest extremely distant galaxy found to date. Researchers, including University of California, Riverside’s, Bahram Mobasher and his graduate student Hooshang Nayyeri, made the discovery using NASA's Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes. Because light from the distant galaxy has taken 12.9 billion years to reach us, scientists say that it lies near the beginning of time itself, which is thought to have originated about 13.7 billion years ago when the “Big Bang” occurred. This development indicates that events now being observed in this galaxy happened when the universe was only about five percent of its current age and may exemplify how most galaxies originally evolved. What implications might this amazing discovery have for future space exploration?

Guest:

Bahram Mobasher (BAH-rahm moh-BAH-sher), professor of physics and astronomy, University of California, Riverside

2:48:00 –2:58:30

John Henry Faulk’s Christmas Story

It was more than forty years ago that story-teller and radio host John Henry Faulk first recorded his “Christmas Story.” Since then it’s become a Christmas tradition. But Faulk was more than a story teller. Among other things, he was an activist, author, playwright, and husband. Faulk was branded a communist in the late fifties, but won a libel suit that helped to bring an end to the Hollywood blacklist. He was known for his work as a proponent of civil rights and made speeches at universities on the First Amendment. But, let's hear that wonderful story he told so many years ago.

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

Patt Morrison for Thursday, December 22, 2011

2011-12-21T16:25:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Thursday, December 22, 2011

1-3 p.m.

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

1:06 – 1:30: OPEN

1:30 – 1:58:30

Autism diagnoses spike: an epidemic in the making?

The number of children diagnosed with autism in the United States is twenty times higher than it was a generation ago and the disease affects approximately one percent of all children, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Scientists are striving to determine an explanation for the spike, and one possible explanation could be that the percentage of people with autism has always been the same, but was gone previously undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. If the disorder is simply being more widely identified, then concerns about a possible epidemic can be disregarded. But as scientists and doctors examine the condition, parents and family members still struggle to take care of those suffering from the disorder. Many adults with autism have trouble fitting into society, are unable to maintain gainful employment, and struggle with associated high costs of healthcare. While some try to live with the disorder, others seek recovery through various treatments such as Applied Behavior Analysis. Although a lot of issues surrounding the disorder remain uncertain, one thing is clear: the way we diagnose, treat, and think about autism appears to be changing. How sufficient is our understanding and acceptance of people with autism? Have you ever wondered if you or a loved one might be autistic, but undiagnosed? What more can be done to improve recognizing and treating this disorder?

Alan Zarembo, staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. He wrote the in-depth series, “Discovering Autism.”

IN STUDIO

WEB:

“Discovering Autism” www.latimes.com/autism

2:06 – 2:58:30

Justice Sandra O’Connor talks about her legacy

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court and she was the tiebreaking vote on landmark cases such as Bush v. Gore. What she experienced there has made her a crusader for civics education. The Justice joins Patt to walk through what she believes will be her greatest legacy, www.iCivics.org, a web site designed to engage and educate today’s young people to become tomorrow’s civic leaders. Patt talks with her about the Justice’s legacy on the Supreme Court and the challenges of inspiring today’s students to become informed, active participants in our democracy and justice system.

Guest:

Sandra Day O’Connor, former Supreme Court Justice (1981-2006) appointed to the court by President Ronald Reagan; she is also the founder of iCivics

ON TAPE

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

PATT MORRISON for Wednesday, December 21, 2011

2011-12-20T17:11:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

1-3 p.m.

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

1:00 – 1:30

OPEN

1:30 – 2:00

No books, no pencils, no paper, no learning. Are too many teachers paying for classroom supplies?

Faced with cuts, cuts and more cuts, teachers are on the frontlines of the school budget crisis and many wind-up spending their own money to get the supplies their students need. An eraser here, a few books there and it can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. How to do more with less is a conundrum teacher-after-teacher faces in these tough economic times. “If only we had the money to read this book or go on that field trip” is a conversation taking place in classrooms across the country. “Donors Choose,” an online charity that creates a connection between needy students and those who want to support public education is making those fantasies a reality. Public school teachers post individual classroom needs such as history books, paints for art class or microscope slides for biology and individual donors can contribute to the cost of purchasing those items. Is Donors Choose a viable alternative for funding public education? What impact is it having on those who are using it? Will this help buffer the pressure on teachers? How would you improvise if the school district couldn’t provide the books or supplies you needed? Would you be tempted to spend your own money?

BOTH TEACHERS HAVE USED DONOR’S CHOOSE & HAVE SPENT THEIR OWN MONEY ON SUPPLIES

Alaina Kommer, art teacher, Grant High School in North Hollywood

CALL HER@

Brock Cohen, teacher, Grant High School in North Hollywood

CALL HIM@

Charles Best, founder and CEO, Donor’s Choose, an online charity connecting donors with classrooms in need.

CALL HIM Guests:

2:00 – 2:40
LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy talks about changes, progress and shrinking budgets
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy recently announced an
“historic” contract with United Teachers Los Angeles – an unprecedented agreement that Deasy called “groundbreaking work” that is aimed at providing more freedom for teachers, school administrators and parents to manage their respective schools. In terms of “value added” teacher assessments, L.A. Unified will continue to provide the media with teachers’ scores but will do so without identifying the instructors. The district got caught in a firestorm of controversy last year when assessments were made public and teachers could be singled out based on job performance.

California Governor Jerry Brown recently announced $1 billion in state budget cuts – on top of additional “trigger cuts” that will affect the district’s finances. The governor warns that additional cuts are on the horizon and LAUSD will have to find more places to cut. And high on the student body’s priorities is the district’s new healthful menu. Students have been crying foul that the new items on the cafeteria menu are less than appetizing – prompting the creating of a “junk food black market” where students are now eating more potato chips and soda than they did before the changes. What does John Deasy think LAUSD can do to deaL with the budget crisis? What other changes might we see from LAUSD in 2012?

Guest:

LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy

IN STUDIO

2:40 - 3:00

EMBARGOED

NOT CONFIRMED: DO NOT PROMOTE

New report on California redistricting

PATT MORRISON for Tuesday, December 20, 2011

2011-12-19T17:39:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

1-3 p.m.

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

1:06 – 1:30: OPEN

1:30 – 1:58:30

California’s smallest baby raises host of really big questions

On August 30, 2011, doctors at the Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center delivered Melinda Star Guido, the smallest baby ever to be born in the state of California and the second smallest baby to be born in the United States. Fully four months premature, Guido weighed 9 oz at birth; just one ounce more than a can of soda. Three and a half months later, Guido is up to 4 lbs, 1 oz. Doctors are happy with her progress but plan on monitoring her for the long term—at least until she hits 6 years old, barring any complications. Melinda’s parents, Haydee Ibarra, 22, and Yovani Guido, 24, are overjoyed. The story of the happy family has another side to it, however, and the ethical questions are beginning to percolate, beginning with whether or not it’s in anyone’s best interests to establish a policy of saving babies that might be prone to health problems for the rest of their lives. Also on the table are questions of economics and access—the total cost of raising Melinda is estimated at a half million dollars, most of which will be paid by the county and the state, due to the fact that her parents are on Medi-Cal. If keeping preemies born this early were to actually become a trend—even just a few—would publically-funded health care programs be able to absorb the costs? And if not, would that mean a whole demographic group left without access to these options? What are your thoughts on the ethical factors involved in premature births, and why? Do you have similar feelings about end-of-life care?

Guests:

Arthur Caplan, director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania

NOT CONFIRMED:

Dr. Udayakumar Devaskar, chief, Pediatric Neonatology at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

2:06 – 2:30

It’s almost New Year’s Eve – last minute tax tips for 2011

With less than two weeks left in 2011, income tax accountants across America are reminding their clients to tie up loose ends and get their ducks in a row before January 1st. Tasks such as donating tax-deductable charitable gifts, making estate transfers and selling off certain investments must be finalized before the end of the year in order to be included on 2011 income tax statements. Amidst the distractions of the holiday season, it can be difficult to keep financial planning in mind, but advisers offer last minute advice and helpful tips for preparing to pay Uncle Sam. What is at the top of your list of tax preparation objectives? What questions and concerns do you have about filing your income tax statement for 2011? Has the recent economic recession changed the way you think about taxes?

Guest:

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

2:30 – 2:58:30

Holiday music at its best – and worst
Christmas music…entire stations on the radio dial are devoted to it for at least a month every year. Record stores have entire sections full of it. It inspires delight and sometimes loathing, depending on your faith and musical preferences. But the thing about Christmas music is that it isn’t really a genre unto itself. In what other category do you find songs of every conceivable style and spanning several hundred years? There are songs sacred and secular; there are the time-honored melodies and more recent classics sung by Nat, Bing and Burl; there are pop novelty songs and countless others. It seems that every artist takes their turn at making a holiday album, sometimes using it as an excuse to foist unforgivable sins of bad musical taste upon the holiday masses. Christmas music even transcends religion - a significant percentage of the most cherished Christmas songs were written by Jewish composers. And what if you have no faith at all? Just try setting foot in a mall after Halloween without hearing sleigh bells. Which songs get you into the holiday spirit? And which ones make you pine for the end of the season? And does a song have to be vintage to be a Christmas classic?

Guest:
Noel Murray, music and pop culture writer for The Onion’s A.V. Club

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org @Patt_Morrison

Patt Morrison for Monday, December 19, 2011

2011-12-16T17:17:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Monday, December 19, 2011

1-3 p.m.

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

1:00 – 2:00

OPEN

2:00 – 2:40

Are Americans being robbed of their nest eggs? Ellen Schultz, author of “Retirement Heist,” says yes.

You’ve heard it before—the sound of big business crying out that it can’t pay its pensions, or that employee retirement plans are a drain on its profits. This is simply not the case, argues Ellen Schultz, an investigative report for the Wall Street Journal. Schultz has covered the retirement industry for nearly a decade, and her new book, “Retirement Heist: How Companies Plunder and Profit from the Nest Eggs of American Workers” (Portfolio Penguin), details how the current retirement crisis “was manufactured by an alliance of two groups: top executives and their facilitators in the retirement industry—benefits consultants, insurance companies and banks.” Schultz explores how company executives exploited loopholes in regulations to turn pension funds into tax shelters and piggy banks—for themselves, that is. Other practices include siphoning from pensions to finance downsizing, cutting employee benefits while inflating executive pay, and excluding low-paid workers from 401(k)’s to increase the value for top-paid employees. Culprits include AT&T, Bank of America, IBM, Cigna, General Motors, GE, Comcast, UPS, and even the NFL. What does your pension plan look like these days, or have you given up on the idea? Should employers even be obligated to provide pensions? If so, what kind of protections should be put in place to make sure that the funds aren’t touched?

Guest:

Ellen Schultz, author of “Retirement Heist: How Companies Plunder and Profit from the Nest Eggs of American Workers”; investigative reporter for the Wall Street Journal

CALL HER:

2:40 – 3:00

Kathleen Turner turns up the heat in “Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins”

Sass, spunk, and talent are three traits that actress Kathleen Turner shares with the late Molly Ivins, who died of breast cancer in 2007. Ivins, portrayed by Turner in a one-woman show entitled “Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins,” is best known for her colorful work as a newspaper columnist for the New York Times among other publications. Ivins was a witty outspoken liberal from Texas who was often described as a modern-day Mark Twain. Turner has earned critical acclaim for her performance in the play, which will be showing at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles beginning January 3^rd. Margaret and Allison Engel are the co-writers of the piece.

What do you think of Ivins as a journalist? Which contemporary female journalists are comparable to Ivins? How will Turner’s portrayal shape how Ivins is remembered?

Guests:

Kathleen Turner, actress known for her beauty and sexuality as shown in films such as “Body Heat” (1981) and “Prizzi’s Honor (1985); she was nominated for an Oscar for her role as a dissatisfied housewife who gets a second chance to alter her life in Francis Ford Coppola's moving “Peggy Sue Got Married” (1986).

CALL HER:

Patt Morrison for Friday, December 16, 2011

2011-12-15T17:07:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, December 16, 2011

1-3 p.m.

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

1:00 – 1:40

OPEN

1:40 – 3:00

Comedy Congress: live from the Crawford Family Forum

As far as political humor is concerned, what’s the gift that keeps on giving? The presidential primaries, of course. Comedy Congress has hung up its Christmas stocking and finds it full of Mitt and Newt and Barack – and it’s our holiday gift to you. Perry ups the voting age; Obama very politely asks Iran for his drone back and we play the highlight reel of Cain’s self-described brain twirlings! And just as we thought the Occupy movement was going into hibernation for the winter...Comedy Congress is here to take an unapologetic look at current events and review the best and worst stories of 2011.

Guests:

Greg Proops, host of the weekly podcast, The Smartest Man in the World, which you can find on iTunes or Proopcast.com

Ben Gleib, host of his own podcast Last Week on Earth with Ben Gleib on Kevin Smith's network

Patt Morrison for Thursday, December 15, 2011

2011-12-14T18:10:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Thursday, December 15, 2011

1-3 p.m.

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

1:00 – 1:40

OPEN

1:40 – 2:00

Analog Christmas cards in the digital age – do you send them?

Sending Christmas cards has long been as much a part of the holiday season as egg nog and decorating the tree. Then came the Internet and social media sites like Facebook. Suddenly, sending a paper card seemed so 20th Century. But the ritual of sending Christmas cards has hung around in the new millennium. Although the numbers are slightly down from 2010, the American Card Association says that 1.5 billion Christmas cards will crisscross the globe this holiday season, sending glad tidings by way of your actual mailbox. And that figure does not include "e-cards" or web sites that allow users to create and send custom paper cards. Do you still send Christmas cards? Have social media and e-cards changed the number of cards you send and the way you send them?

Guests:

Susan January, president, Greeting Card Association; vice president, Leanin' Tree in Boulder, Colorado, a family owned business that sells traditional and e-cards.

CALL HER:

Jaci Twidwell "JACK-ee TWID-well", Hallmark spokeswoman

CALL HER

2:00 – 2:30

Is being left-handed a health “risk”?

New research on “handedness,” or the dominance of one hand over the other, shows the following breakdown: 89% of the population is right-handed, 10% of the population is left-handed, and 1% qualifies as mixed-handed (using different hands for different tasks without a dominant side). And it’s not about the genes. Twins, for instance, can demonstrate differences in handedness. Researchers in Denmark and Sweden have uncovered evidence that links left-handedness to environmental factors in the womb, particularly stress. Interestingly, being left-handed does not always correlate to right-brain dominance, as previously thought. 70% of lefties are still left-brain dominant, while 30% are either right-brain dominant or show a “distributed pattern” of brain use. Even more interestingly, researchers admit that it’s hard to collect data on the left-handed because differences in brain wiring makes it difficult for them to participate in neuroimaging studies. So what’s the evidence that being left-handed could be a health risk? Several studies have shown psychiatric and developmental disorders such as ADHD and schizophrenia to be more common amongst the left-handed. For example, despite the small number of lefties in the general population, 20% of schizophrenics are left-handed.

Do statistics like these cause you to think of being left-handed as an actual health risk? Would you want to know ahead of time if your child was going to be right- or left-handed? If you’re left-handed, please share your stories of surviving in a world prejudiced toward the right hand.

Guest:

Shirley Wang, reporter for The Wall Street Journal. Her article on the health risks of being left-handed was published on December 6^th.

CALL HER:

2:30 – 3:00

Christmas - a good time of year to be an atheist

“No God? No problem!” That’s the message the American Humanist Association is conveying this holiday season. The AHA and organizations like it are spreading the word that, like virtually all paradigms of belief, atheism is okay, even around Christmas time. “It’s always a great time of year to be an atheist,” said Bobbie Kirkhart, head of Atheists United. Kirkhart claims that atheism and the celebration of the non-religious winter solstice are beginning to register throughout society as a reaction, in part, to the presidency of George W. Bush, which she refers to as “eight years of something pretty close to an open theocracy.” However, Kirkhart reports that atheists are still discriminated against because of their humanist ideas. How vocal should atheists be about their ideas during the holiday season? Or can we all celebrate our particular beliefs together without prejudice?

Guest:

Bobbie Kirkhart, president, Atheists United; past president and current vice president, Atheist Alliance of America

CALL HER:

Patt Morrison for Wednesday, December 14, 2011

2011-12-13T18:18:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

1-3 p.m.

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

1:00 – 1:30

OPEN

1:30 – 2:00

Keeping your pets safe during the hustle and bustle of the holidays

The holidays can bring out some peculiar behavior in people, and pets aren’t immune to the chaos that can comes with this busy season. Many pets even find themselves in a new home after being adopted as a holiday gift. Unfortunately, pets are not always properly cared for this time of year, as people get caught up with all of the holiday festivities and food. Dogs and cats, for example, are sometimes accidentally allowed access to chocolate, poinsettias, or mistletoe, all of which can be fatal to our four legged friends. Before you give your loved one a new puppy or new kitty this holiday season, make sure you take all of the necessary safety precautions into consideration, life keeping plants, flowers, alcoholic drinks and electric wiring out of reach. How do your pets spend the holidays? If you’ve ever given or received a pet as a holiday gift, tell us your story.

Guest:

Michael Chill, dog trainer and behavior specialist

CALL HIM

2:00 – 2:40

Ask the Chief: law and order with LAPD Chief Charlie Beck

Fourteen hundred police officers with batons and riot gear marched into the park in front of Los Angeles City Hall in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, November 30th to evict Occupy protesters who had been camping there for weeks; this was just one of numerous incidents that have kept the LAPD and Chief Charlie Beck busier than usual lately. To clear the Occupy camp, the LAPD abandoned classic strategies and designed a crowd control plan that was unique to the downtown site. Beck said police knew they did not want to merely push the protestors out because, as he explained, “the last thing we wanted was to be chasing them through the streets.” Accordingly, the police executed a strategy that would ideally divide and isolate protesters and minimize conflict. The department also used undercover officers in the weeks leading up to the raid in order to obtain inside information from protesters regarding any potential complications such as planned violent resistance. In an apparent retaliation for the LAPD raid, CabinCr3w, a hacker group associated with Anonymous, posted the names, addresses, emails, and other personal information (including family members) of between 40 and 50 LAPD officers on the internet. On another note, the towing and impound practices of cars belonging to unlicensed drivers is under scrutiny and texting while driving increased 50 percent over the last year, adding to the already maddening traffic in L.A. Taking time out of his busy schedule, Chief Beck joins us for our regular Q&A on these issues and more.

Guest:

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck

IN STUDIO

2:40 – 3:00

OPEN

RE: Patt Morrison for Tuesday, December 13, 2011

2011-12-12T18:27:00.000-08:00

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

1-3 p.m.

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

GUEST HOST: DAVID LAZARUS

1:06 –1:39 OPEN

1:41:30- – 1:58:30

Obama and GOP lawmakers clash over nominee for new consumer bureau
Unsurprisingly, Republican senators recently blocked a vote on whether to approve President Obama’s nominee, Attorney General Richard Cordray, to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The primary reason given by Republicans for the block is that they want the law that created the regulatory agency to be re-written, making the bureau more accountable, before leadership is appointed. The establishment of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has become a major point of contention in Washington in the wake of one of the worst economic recessions in U.S. history, which is widely thought to have originated from predatory lending practices conducted by banks and financial firms that the new watchdog agency is charged with monitoring. Reportedly, Obama may try to install Cordray as director of the bureau in a recess appointment in January as a counter tactic to the recent Republican block. Round one in the battle over the direction of the bureau appears to have been won by Republicans, but apparently the White House is primed for round two. Who stands to gain the most from the delayed appointment of the future director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? How urgently do consumers need protection from financial companies?

Guests:
Pedro Morillas, legislative director, Cal Pirg, California Public Interest Research Group

UNCONFIRMED

Representative from Cato or Heritage

2:06 – 2:30

“Lost in Transition”: How American society has failed emerging adults

Take a moment to reflect back on your college years. Ah, the enthusiasm. The freedom. The dating pool! Today’s young adults, however, have to deal with new, complex 21st-century problems, at least according to Christian Smith, professor of sociology at the University of Notre Dame. In his book, “Lost in Transition: The Dark Side of Emerging Adulthood,” Smith and his co-authors, Kari Christoffersen, Hilary Davidson, and Patricia Snell Herzog, point to five major problems for emerging adults (ages 18-23): confused moral reasoning, routine intoxication, materialistic life goals, regrettable sexual experiences, and a disengagement from civic and political life. This group is really just a symptom, however. Smith wants older adults to recognize and accept responsibility for creating a culture of rampant consumer capitalism, hyper-individualism, moral relativism and educational failure.

If you’re thirty-plus, what do you think of the emerging generation? If you’re 18-23, do you feel Smith’s portrayal is accurate, or overblown? Regardless, what’s the best way to engage these emerging adults?

Guest:

Christian Smith, professor of sociology at the University of Notre Dame. His books include “Souls in Transition,” “Moral,” “Believing Animals,” and “Soul Searching.”

2:30 – 2:58:30

The sexiest woman ever… is… Jennifer Aniston?
How many magazines, calendars, swimsuit issues, World War II pinups, television shows and movies have inspired men to wax prophetically about which lovely lady should hold the coveted title of “Sexiest Woman Ever?” Men’s Health magazine recently polled their readers and compiled a list of the top one hundred sexiest women. Most surprising was that America’s favorite girl next door, Jennifer Aniston, took the top spot - over Marilyn, Raquel, Angelina, Sophia and a host of other women whose legendary physical attributes warrant that they can be recognized by their first name only… as well as many more who may be more recognizable by their sultry eyes, hourglass figures or shapely legs. But is a knockout girl next door sexier than a come-hither vixen? Is Jennifer Aniston the sexiest woman ever?

Guests:

Lois Banner, professor of history and gender studies at USC