Digital hoarding may be sleekly contained in a laptop or smartphone, but it’s hoarding nonetheless: how do you keep your digital life organized?; Credit: /iStockphoto

Overflowing inboxes, endless streams of photos and enormous contact lists are the norm. In the era of massive computer memory, cheap external hard drives and simple cloud storage, holding on to our digital possessions is easy.

Phones, tablets and laptops easily store thousands upon thousands of photos, Gmail logs away years of correspondence and entire works of literature can be filed away in a tiny folder (the complete works of Shakespeare clock in under 10 MB, the size of two song downloads). We keep our music, college papers, photos (good and bad, why bother choosing?) and our writing. Blogs log away personal writing and memories, our social media accounts chronicle every last update.

Digital hoarding may be sleekly contained in a laptop or smartphone, but it’s hoarding nonetheless: How do you keep your digital life organized? Is your technology cluttered, or do you trash the things you don’t use?

Guests: 

Zeynep Tufekci, assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, faculty associate at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University

Joshua Zerkel, director of worldwide training and consulting at Evernote, productivity strategist, Certified Professional Organizer, and founder of Custom Living Solutions

A cameraman covers a camera in a TV studio of the independent tv network RTL Klub, Hungary's largest commercial media company in Budapest on June 5, 2014. ; Credit: ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images

Tinseltown has lost a large number of TV and movie productions to places like New York and Georgia, which both offer larger tax incentives for the studios that produce.

Senator Kevin De Leon has proposed an amendment to the current lottery, which provides $100 million a year in film tax credits that would expand the film credits to $400 million and include bigger TV and movie productions that were once excluded.

Productions that hire a larger number of people will receive bigger incentives to ensure “the greatest economic impact.” Through the existing lottery, productions are selected for credits without consideration of production size or new employment numbers.

Should California adopt these larger credits for film studios? What should be the criteria for larger subsidies? How will these credits affect the state overall?

Guest:

Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), State Senator representing California’s 22nd Senate District, which includes Los Angeles, Alhambra, East Los Angeles, Florence-Graham, Maywood, San Marino, South Pasadena, Vernon, and Walnut Park.

SB 835, sponsored by Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), would ban the use of certain drugs in cattle and poultry.; Credit: Amy Standen for NPR

SB 835, sponsored by Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), would ban the use of certain drugs in cattle and poultry. It would also require a prescription from a veterinarian before an antibiotic could be obtained. It also bans the use of drugs to fatten animals used for food.

Sounds good, no? But environmentalists say the bill has a big loophole in that it allows the use of antibiotics as a preventive measure.  Hill counters by saying that SB 835 is an important first step in addressing an impending health crisis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fatalities from antibiotic-resistant superbugs are on the rise.  Humans are becoming immune to drugs from consuming livestock injected with antibiotics.

The bill has cleared legislature and is awaiting Gov. Brown’s signature.

Guests:

Patrick Welch, Legislative Consultant working with California State Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), who introduced the bill

Bill Allayaud, California Director of Governmental Affairs at the nonprofit Environmental Working Group

Dave Daley, Interim Dean, College of Agriculture, California State University, Chico and California Cattlemen’s Association 2nd Vice President. He’s also a rancher

Attorney General Eric Holder will meet with local leaders, FBI investigators, and Department of Justice prosecutors during his visit to Ferguson, Missouri. ; Credit: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

Attorney General Eric Holder arrived in Ferguson, Missouri today to follow up on a pledge that the Justice Department will conduct a full, fair, and independent investigation into the shooting of unarmed teenage Michael Brown.

Holder will meet with local leaders, FBI investigators, and Department of Justice prosecutors during his visit. Holder wrote an op-ed published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talking about widespread concern about the state of the U.S. criminal justice system more general. While Holder has frequently taken a strong stance on civil rights and equality, and has been outspoken about federal involvement in Ferguson, critics of the Obama administration argue that the president should be more vocal about the situation. Holder’s role as a proxy for president Obama is a test for him and for the administration.

How will federal involvement in Ferguson influence developments there? Who can conduct the most thorough and fair investigation? Is the White House handling the situation appropriately?

Guests:

David Nather, Senior Policy Reporter, POLITICO; Politico: Holder's Big Test: Ferguson

Julian Zelizer, Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University and the author of multiple books on U.S. political history, including On Capitol Hill: The Struggle to Reform Congress and its Consequences, 1948-2000

David Nakamura, Staff Writer, The Washington Post; Washington Post: Top Obama Advisers tell African American leaders that justice will prevail in Ferguson

Landlords and tenants in Los Angeles are often at odds, but they are coming together to support a new plan allowing permits for illegal apartments.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Landlords and tenants in Los Angeles are often at odds, but they are coming together to support a new plan allowing permits for illegal apartments.

There are countless dwellings that either are not up to code or were built before permits were mandatory. Advocates for low-income renters say as long as the apartments are safe, they should be considered lawful. However, some homeowners associations say laws governing apartments were meant to protect quality of life for entire neighborhood — ensuring sufficient parking and recreation space. Barbara Broide, president of the Westwood South of Santa Monica Blvd. Homeowners Association, says some apartment owners have converted recreation rooms into apartments in a city with a scarcity of park space.

Guests:

James B. Clarke, Executive Vice President, Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles

Barbara Broide, President of the Westwood South of Santa Monica Blvd. Homeowners Association

Yesterday, ISIS released a video showing the beheading of the 40-year-old Foley, who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012. ; Credit: Steven Senne/AP

President Obama today condemned Islamic militant group ISIS' (also known as ISIL) murder of U.S. journalist James Foley. In a strongly worded statement, the president called the group a "cancer" that must be eliminated.

"ISIL speaks for no religion. No just God would stand for what they did yesterday, or what they do everyday," Obama said from Martha’s Vineyard.

Yesterday, ISIS released a video showing the beheading of the 40-year-old Foley, who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012. Foley was a freelance journalist for the news site, GlobalPost.

Foley was among more than 80 journalists who have been captured in Syria by militant groups since the start of the conflict in 2011, according to the advocacy group Committee to Protect Journalists. His death underscores the danger journalists face working in the area.

Guest:

Courtney Radsch, Advocacy Director at the advocacy group Committee to Protect Journalists, which tracks missing journalists around the world. CPJ has been following the James Foley abduction since he was kidnapped in 2012

Facebook announced this week that it’s testing out a “satire” tag, which would label articles from parody news sites like The Onion as satire.; Credit: KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images

It’s been said that “sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but the highest form of intelligence” and now Facebook thinks we need help in understanding the fine art of satire. The social media giant announced this week that it’s testing out a “satire” tag, which would label articles from parody news sites like The Onion as [satire.]

To be fair, the Internet has made knowing what’s fake news and what’s real news much more difficult and even the most finely tuned of us have fell victim to thinking that a fake headline is real.
Do you think the [satire] label is a good idea? 

Guest: 

Melissa Dahl, senior writer for New York Magazine who wrote about why the satire designation is necessary on Facebook

Less than a month after being airlifted from Liberia, Dr. Kent Brantly will be released from the hospital where he's been treated for Ebola.; Credit: Joni Byker/Courtesy of Samaritan's Purse

Two Americans who were flown to the U.S. after contracting Ebola on an aid mission in Africa have been sent home with a clean bill of health. Nancy Writebol and Dr. Kent Brantly were cured of the virus after receiving the experimental treatment ZMapp.

The spread of Ebola in Africa has been persistent, with over 2,000 infected and over 1,100 dead. While some are concerned about potential movement into the U.S. and Europe due to air travel, experts say the risk of spread outside of Africa is low. A Sacramento resident who was tested for the virus after return from travel in West Africa has been deemed a low risk.

How is the outbreak developing in Africa? What kind of experimental treatment might become available for people who contract Ebola? Are the cured Americans a sign of hope for ZMapp?

Guest:

Dr. Peter Katonah, Clinical Professor of Medicine in Infectious Diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Damon Corkern, who works for ECS Solar Energy Systems, Inc, installs a solar panel system on the roof of a home on April 16, 2009 in Gainesville, Florida. ; Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A massive solar energy plant in the Mojave Desert touts massive environmental benefits, but now its environmental costs are causing concern. As reported by the Associated press, workers at the plant have a term for birds that fly through the plant's concentrated sun rays, -"streamers," for the smoke plumes emitted when the birds ignite in mid-air. The number of birds killed, and what is an acceptable amount, is in dispute. 

The innovate plant that opened in February is a joint project between NRG Energy, BrightSource Energy and Google. Its inaugural announcement touted that “At full capacity, the facility’s trio of 450-foot high towers produces a gross total of 392 megawatts (MW) of solar power, enough electricity to provide 140,000 California homes with clean energy and avoid 400,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, equal to removing 72,000 vehicles off the road.”

What if the state-of-the-art facility means it’s inevitable that thousands of birds will be killed annually? What avian deterrence methods could the plant use? Do we know how successful they’ll be?

Guests: 

Garry George, Renewable Energy Director, Audubon California

Jeff Holland, Director of Public Relations, NRG Solar, which is a partner, along with Google and BrightSource Energy, in the Ivanpah solar facility in the Mojave Desert

Eric Davis, Assistant Regional Director, Migratory Bird Division, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Davis’ region covers California-Nevada

Holiday goers sunbathe on the beach of the French riviera city of Nice, southeastern France, on July 13, 2014. ; Credit: VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

Beach culture is a critical part of Southern California, not just during the scorching summers, but all year long.

The basic rules of the beach are pretty standard: surf in the designated areas so you don’t knock someone out with your board, keep an eye on the kids, watch out for riptides, etc.

But what about the unspoken rules of public beaches? We’ve all seen the PDA-heavy couples, the extra skimpy suits, the family who left their lunch out and attracted a flock of seagulls, and the frisbee-flinging beachgoers who scatter sand all over people’s towels.

What is the best way to stay considerate on the beach? What kinds of beach etiquette should govern the open waters?

Guest:

Meredith McCarthy, program director, Heal the Bay

Across the country, most police officers don't live in the cities they serve. In Los Angeles, less than a quarter of LAPD reside in city limits.; Credit: Pool/Getty Images

What if most of the police officers serving in Ferguson, Missouri actually resided in the city of Ferguson? Would that have made a difference in the shooting death of Michael Brown? Research suggests otherwise. It isn't known how many Ferguson cops live there, but it can't be many considering the city is two-thirds African-American and only 11 percent of Ferguson's police force is black.

As the news site FiveThirtyEight reported yesterday, across the country, most police officers don't live in the cities they serve. In Los Angeles, less than a quarter of LAPD reside in city limits. Terrance Allen, a professor at the University of Texas, Austin, says residents prefer to have law enforcement in the neighborhood, but data shows it does not make a difference on reports of misconduct.

"There are arguments on both sides," says Allen. "Police departments fight against residency for a number of reasons: for fear of retribution and having their families being exposed to criminal elements. They also have concerns about police officers doing favors for neighbors. Plus there’s the issue of police officers being able to afford homes." Allen found that residency requirements do not affect police conduct nor misconduct.

Even if one argues the residency discussion is simply a proxy for race, criminologists say black police officers treat black citizens the same as white officers. The tipping point for Allen is the importance of perception. "People in minority communities prefer to have minority officers, so that should be respected because policing has the potential to be so explosive."

Does race and residency have any impact whatsoever on policing? Would you prefer to have law enforcement officers reside in your neighborhood, rather than two counties away?

Guest: 

Terrence Allen, assistant professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin; Allen has studied police residency requirements

Connie Rice, Civil Rights Attorney; Co-Director, The Advancement Project; Board member, Southern California Public Radio

A picture shows a collection of early editions of novels written by British author Charles Dickens at the Charles Dickens Museum based in a house where the novelist lived in central London on February 6, 2012.; Credit: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images

Two young women from South Los Angeles have gained admittance into the ‘Dickens universe’ after writing two winning essays granting them an all-expense trip to a Charles Dickens’ themed conference.

Kenia Coyoy and Karen Molina are the first students from the Los Angeles Unified School District to win the essay contest, which draws entries from all across the U.S. and abroad. The two had to indulge and dissect over 800 pages of “Our Mutual Friend” by Charles Dickens, connecting the author to their daily life in South L.A.

Both scholars will join us to talk about their winning essays and their prize: a weeklong conference and their contributions to the discourse of all things Dickens.   

Guests:

Karen Molina, recent graduate of the Foshay Learning Center and neighborhood academic initiative scholar; she’s heading to USC in the fall

Kenia Coyoy, recent graduate of the Foshay Learning Center and neighborhood academic initiative scholar; she’s heading to UCLA in the fall

A landfill in The Riverside County Waste Management Department; Credit: CSACCounties/YouTube

A draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) from the city on Glendale on a proposal to expand the Scholl Canyon landfill has angered residents of neighboring Eagle Rock. The 535-acre dump is located in Glendale and serves that city, along with Pasadena, San Marino and other communities. It doesn’t, however, take trash from Eagle Rock, even though trash trucks must go through that community in order to reach the landfill.

"We have had a raw deal for the city of Los Angeles for many, many years." Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar told NBC Los Angeles. "We live with the air pollution, we live with the noise, we live with the impact to our streets, yet we are not allowed to use the landfill."

The Glendale proposal would increase the amount of trash disposed at the Scholl Canyon facility by up to 8 million tons. The Glendale City Council must approve the plan before it could move forward.  The public comment period for the draft Environmental Impact Report ends August 29.

Guests:

Scott Ochoa, City Manager, City of Glendale

Rick Coca, Communications Director and Senior Advisor to Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar, who represents the 14th District - encompassing Eagle Rock

Actors Bruce Willis (L) and Josh Brolin pose at the after party for the premiere of Dimension Films' "Sin City: A Dame To Kill For" at the Roosevelt Hotel on August 19, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. ; Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Amy Nicholson and Henry Sheehan review this week’s releases, including “Sin City: A Dame To Kill For,” “When The Game Stands Tall,” “To Be Takei” and more. TGI-Filmweek!

Sin City: A Dame To Kill For:

When The Game Stands Tall:

To Be Takei:

Guests:

Amy Nicholson, film critic for KPCC and LA Weekly

Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and CriticsAGoGo.com

Actor George Takei attends 18th Annual Webby Awards on May 19, 2014 in New York, United States.; Credit: Brad Barket/Getty Images

He is known as the iconic Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek, the victim of discrimination during his stay at a Japanese Internment Camp, and one of the most influential activists in the current gay-rights movement.

George Takei joins us to talk about his new documentary “To Be Takei,” which chronicles Takei and his husband Brad in their journey to raise awareness against homophobia. According to director Jennifer Kroot, the film documents Takei’s linear history, from his beginnings in Japanese internment camps and his struggle to obtain non-stereotypical roles as an actor. The documentary follows the legendary actor on his guest appearances on numerous television shows, but also portrays the less glamorous day-to-day activities, which is also a part of what it means “To Be Takei.”

What do you feel is George Takei’s biggest contribution to popular culture? Do you see Takei as a leader against homophobia and racial stereotypes?

"To Be Takei" Trailer:

Guest:

George Takei, actor and activist; he’s the star of the documentary “To Be Takei”

A report by a committee chaired by LAUSD Board of Education member Monica Ratliff found that LAUSD’s iPad program has issues with planning, transparency, and bidding problems. ; Credit: Photo by Lexie Flickinger/Brad Flickinger via Flickr Creative Commons

A report by a committee chaired by LAUSD Board of Education member Monica Ratliff found that LAUSD’s iPad program has issues with planning, transparency, and bidding problems.

The program has been widely criticized as a misuse of funding, and the report found that a flawed bidding process catered directly to providers Apple and Pearson. The committee, made up of parents, employees, district officials, and community members, found that LAUSD needlessly limited its options on price and product, creating tailored restrictions to involve Apple and Pearson in the project.

The iPad program has had issues from the start, with some schools having to modify internet filters and change rules about when and where the technology should be used. Proponents of the program say that students and teachers are excited about the opportunity to use iPads in the classroom and that LAUSD’s incorporation of technology breaks down access barriers.

What issues does the iPad program face? How should the district address these problems?

Guests:

Annie Gilbertson,KPCC education reporter covering LAUSD

Steve Zimmer, member of the LAUSD Board of Education representing District 4, including Brentwood, Hollywood, Encino, and Marina Del Rey

Alex Caputo-Pearl, president, UTLA

In this May 27, 2011 file photo, American journalist James Foley, of Rochester, N.H., who was last seen on Nov. 22, 2012 in northwest Syria, poses for a photo in Boston.; Credit: Steven Senne/AP

Since news of journalist James Foley’s death began circulating Tuesday, some, like journalist David Rohde, have argued that the US needs to change its policy of not paying ransoms to terrorists.

Foley’s family and colleagues were working to raise $123 million that his captors had demanded as a ransom for his release--something that the FBI had discouraged them from doing,  arguing that paying ransom only fuels the kidnapping industry. We’ve since learned that special forces did make an attempt at rescuing Foley.

It’s reignited the debate over the U.S. position on negotiating with terrorists--one that’s significantly different from many European countries, which have had success with paying for the release of kidnapped journalists.

Are there some instances in which the U.S. should consider negotiating with terrorists or paying ransom for hostages? Or is that a slippery slope and something that, if handled at all, should be done so by private intermediaries?

Guest:

Josh Keating, staff writer at Slate focusing on international affairs and writes the World blog.

Brian Michael Jenkins, Senior Advisor to the president, RAND

The State Capitol in Sacramento; Credit: Craig Miller/KQED

As California’s legislature wraps up its biennial session, important bills are going through final processes towards passage.

These logistical funnels are intended to deal with the fiscal aspects of legislature, but what really goes on is more complicated: the final stages of analysis become a battleground over policy in the bills. Some bills proceed with amendments not known to the public, while others have been put “on suspense” — effectively a death sentence.

Sacramento is flush with entirely new bills as well, and now provisions added to older legislature. What’s happening behind closed doors? Is the “gut and amend” process a way for politicians to tweak legislature with less transparency? How could this process change?

Guests:

Dan Walters, political columnist for the Sacramento Bee

Melanie Mason, covers state government and politics in Sacramento for the Los Angeles Times

The Buypartisan app allows you to view the political parties manufacturers support before making your purchase.

A new smartphone app makes it easier for consumers to vote with their wallets. BuyPartisan, created by former Capitol Hill staffer Matthew Colbert, allows food shoppers to scan grocery store barcodes, then reveals political spending of the manufacturer and its corporate board members.

For example, a quick scan of Kashi Crunchy Granola Bars shows an overall average of 78.5 percent in Republican spending, 11.5 percent Democrat, and 10 percent "others." The data is compiled from the Center for Responsive Politics, the Sunlight Foundation and the National Institute on Money in State Politics. During an era that many analysts call “hyperpartisan,” the app might catch on quickly with constituents.

Would you use this app? Do you foresee any unintended consequences? Why stop at grocery store products - will it include magazines, furniture, clothing?

Guest:

Matthew Colbert, Founder of app developer Spend Consciously, which created the BuyPartisan app

Margaret Kimbrell, Executive Director, No Labels, a national movement of Democrats, Republicans and independents dedicated to decreasing "hyper-partisanship."

Winemaker Tom Montgomery stands in wine and reacts to seeing damage following an earthquake at the B.R. Cohn Winery barrel storage facility on Sunday in Napa Valley.; Credit: Eric Risberg/AP

Sunday’s 6.0 earthquake in Northern California dealt a structural blow, with particular impact on Napa Valley.  A warning from the Seismological Laboratory at UC Berkeley sent an alert about the temblor 10 seconds before the earthquake hit Napa Valley: the high-magnitude quake struck at 3:20am and left 89 people injured and 20,00 Napa residents without power.

Damage to structures in Northern California included the loss of winery reserves worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The quake raises questions about how early warning systems can be made most effective as well as how buildings can be repaired and retrofitted to better withstand big earthquakes. How do you prepare for a quake?

Guests:

Thomas Heaton, Professor of Geophysics and Professor of Civil Engineering Director of the Earthquake Engineering Research Laboratory at CalTech

Andrew Adams, Reporter, Wines and Vines

Elizabeth Weise, Reporter, USA Today