Head coach Lane Kiffin gives instructions in the offensive huddle during the USC Trojans spring game on May 1, 2010 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. ; Credit: Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

College football season is finally here. Hometown teams and archrivals the Bruins and the Trojans are both title contenders this year. In their season openers this Saturday, the Bruins will face the Virginia Cavaliers, and the Trojans are up against the Fresno State Bulldogs.

The Bruins return with star Brett Hundley in the quarterback position, who's already being touted as a Heisman candidate. The Trojans have a new head coach in the form of Steve Sarkisian, erstwhile coach at the University of Washington.

This week, Sarkisian's team has made news for events that have little to do with their performance on the field. First, there is the news about Josh Shaw, who lied about how his ankle injury. On Thursday, senior running back Anthony Brown announced that he's quit the team and called Sarkisian a racist in an Instagram post.

Guest:

Vincent Bonsignore, sports columnist at the LA Daily News

The Compton School board's decision to allow campus police officers to carry AR-15 semi-automatic weapons on campus is raising concerns for parents.; Credit: Stuart Palley/ KPCC

A Compton School board member wants the district to reverse its decision to allow campus police officers to carry AR-15 semi-automatic weapons. When school was out-of-session this summer, the Compton Unified School District Board passed the new policy. Compton Unified Police Chief, William Wu, says the wish to arm campus police with such weapons is for safety reasons in case of a terrorist attack or mass shooting.

In a recent statement, Wu added, “These rifles give us greater flexibility in dealing with a person with bad intent who comes onto any of our campuses. The officers will keep the rifles in the trunks of their cars, unless they are needed. It should also be pointed out that many other community and school law enforcement departments already have these weapons.”

Some parents are expressing concern that children might feel scared about campus officers being armed with such weaponry. Some feel that Compton’s image is unfairly associated with violence, and this policy exacerbates that. Others feel that money that will go towards ammunition and training of these officers paid by the district, should be used for basic needs like books and nutrition. In your view, should Compton police be armed with these rifles? Should parents have more of a voice when it comes to these types of school board decisions?

Guest:

Paulette Simpson-Gipson, President of the Compton chapter, NAACP

Oscar Jaenada is the lead actor in the new film, "Cantinflas."; Credit: Ángel González

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein, Claudia Puig and Charles Solomon review this week’s releases, including “As Above So Below” “Cantinflas” “The Last of Robin Hood” and more. Film critic Peter Rainer will also join us from Westchester, New York to talk about the Montreal film festival. TGI-Filmweek!

As Above So Below:

Cantinflas: The

The November Man

Guests:

Lael Loewnstein, film critic for KPCC and Variety

Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and USA Today

Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC; author and historian for amazon.com

Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor

Eve Marie Saint spoke with AirTalk's Larry Mantle.; Credit: Benjamin Brayfield/KPCC

Angeleno, legendary actor and AirTalk fan Eva Marie Saint joins Larry to talk about her experience working with director Alfred Hitchcocks and leading men like Cary Grant and Marlon Brando. Saint is hosting this year’s Big Picture: Hitchcock! taking place this Sunday at the Hollywood Bowl. Audiences will be treated to a tribute to the classic films of Alfred Hitchcock and the haunting scores by Bernard Herrmann (Vertigo, North by Northwest), Dimitri Tiomkin (Strangers on a Train, Dial M for Murder) and more. The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra will perform the music live, under the direction of conductor David Newman.

Guest: 

Eva Marie Saint, actor known for her roles in “North by Northwest” (1959) and “On the Waterfront” (1954). She is the host of The Big Picture: Hitchcock! at the Hollywood Bowl this Sunday, August 31, at 7:30 p.m.

The man who was caught on surveillance video kicking a puppy in an elevator has resigned from his post as the CEO of a catering company.; Credit: Security Footage/Global Post

The man who was caught on surveillance video kicking a puppy in an elevator has resigned from his post as the CEO of a catering company.

The board of directors at the Connecticut-based Centerplate released a statement today saying that Desmond Hague has been forced to leave the company. “The decision comes as a result of Hague’s personal misconduct involving the mistreatment of an animal in his care,” the press statement reads.

The video in which Hague was seen kicking a puppy went viral last week. Hague apologized to his employees and clients, saying what he did was “out of character.” He also agreed to donate $100,000 to an animal charity and serve 1,000 hours of community service.

But his mea culpa wasn’t enough. The video sparked a change.org petition calling for his removal from the company and outrage across the web. Is Hague’s resignation inevitable? Is there anything else the company can do to appease consumers and shareholders without dismissing Hague? His action was caught on video, how does that complicate crisis management efforts?

Video: CEO caught on camera abusing dog

Video: CEO caught on camera abusing dog

Guest:

Susan Tellem, senior partner with Tellem Grody PR, Inc. based in Los Angeles

Hannah Rood, 3, receives an H1N1 vaccine at a clinic in San Pablo, California, during the 2009 swine flu epidemic.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Fewer California parents are vaccinating their children: kindergarten-age children who are not immunized have more than doubled than seven years ago, according to a Los Times analysis of data released by the California Department of Public Health. 

Health experts attribute the resurgence of measles outbreaks in the state to the immunization drop, and warn that we could see the reappearance of other serious diseases for the same reason.

What are the sociological and economic factors behind the emergence of the anti-vaccination movement?

Guests:

Michael Shermer, founding publisher, Skeptic magazine and a columnist for Scientific American

Dr. Oliver Brooks, Chief of pediatrics at Watts Healthcare Corporation and Vice Chair of the California Immunization Coalition

This still image from an undated video released by Islamic State militants on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, purports to show journalist Steven Sotloff being held by the militant group. The Islamic State group has threatened to kill Sotloff if the United States doesn't stop its strikes against them in Iraq. Sotloff's mother, Shirley Sotloff, pleaded for his release Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014, in a video message aimed directly at his captors that aired on the Al-Arabiya television network. (AP Photo); Credit: Uncredited/AP

Yesterday, a video surfaced on the Internet purporting to show journalist Steven Sotloff, 31, being beheaded by a militant of the Islamic State group in Syria. This comes two weeks after the group posted a video of the murder by beheading of journalist James Foley, 40.

Both men were freelancers who worked at times for established news outfits, but without the backing afforded to staff correspondents. As Hannah Storm of the International News Safety Institute explains: "With a dearth of jobs in newsrooms and overseas bureaux being cut by major news organisations, many freelancers have turned to conflicts to cut their teeth. In some instances, they are filling the roles that staff journalists previously had, but often with less of the structure and support of their employed colleagues."

From bodyguards to equipment, ransom insurance and employing locals, the costs add up of keeping foreign correspondents on staff. If freelancers are filling the void, what protections do they have? If they do not have an editor as a supervisor reigning them in during dangerous times, who can play that role?

Guest:

Judith Matloff, teaches conflict reporting at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism; Matloff has covered international affairs for 30 years, as a correspondent for Reuters and Christian Science Monitor

Mike Shuster, Former foreign correspondent for NPR; Senior Fellow, UCLA’s Burkle Center

Jenny Carlino (R) who is a regional manager for the Italian company Aviointeriors S.P.A, tries out her firms new "Skyrider" standing seat which aims to allow airlines to cram more passengers onto budget flights, at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Long Beach on September 16, 2010. ; Credit: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

Three flights in nine days have been diverted after altercations between passengers over legroom and reclining seats.

For tall passengers, the ever-shrinking amount of space in economy class seats is a pain, literally. But inventions like the Knee Defender, which stops the seat in front of the user from reclining, are banned on many airlines and encroach on another passenger’s right to recline their own seat.

On many flights, coach tickets allow for only 32-33 inches of legroom, with more space available at a higher price. Many people feel their tempers flare when the person in front of them leans back, and recent disputes have been problematic enough that flight crews felt physically threatened, forcing pilots to land planes and remove the dueling passengers.

How hard are you willing to fight for your personal space on a plane, and how much are you willing to pay? Is it the fault of a few passengers that these flights have been diverted, or is there a larger problem with space squeezing across the industry? Are cramped seats worth it for lower prices? Should everyone be allowed to recline freely?

Guest:

Seth Kaplan, Managing Partner, Airline Weekly

Americans eat 10 times more almonds than they did in 1965, and their consumption is still growing. But, is the holy grail of healthy snacks hurting more than it is benefiting people?; Credit: Photo by Harsha K R via Flickr Creative Commons

On paper, almonds seem to be the ultimate health food. They help aid weight loss, lower the chances of heart disease and even help prevent diabetes. Americans eat 10 times more almonds than they did in 1965, and their consumption is still growing. But, is the holy grail of healthy snacks hurting more than it is benefiting people?

It takes nearly 1.1 gallons of water to grow each almond. Despite being in an extreme drought, California is the only state in the country that grows almonds. In fact, 82 percent of all commercial almonds are grown in the sunny state.  1.4 million honey bees are also required for California’s almond industry, as farmers rely solely on the bees to pollinate trees. A large number of bees die each year due to the exposure to pesticides.

Should California continue farming such a large percentage of almonds in the state? Are the effects of almond farming more detrimental to the environment than the health benefits they provide for people?

Guests:

Patrick Cavanaugh, owner of the California Ag Today radio network and editor of numerous agricultural publications

Claire O’Connor, Agricultural Water Policy Analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

The Supreme Court will decide this month whether to take up the case against Tarek Mehanna, a young Muslim American sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison for translating radical Islamic texts and posting them on a pro-jihadist website he runs. ; Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

The Supreme Court will decide this month whether to take up the case against Tarek Mehanna, a young Muslim American sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison for translating radical Islamic texts and posting them on a pro-jihadist website he runs.

Mehanna and a friend had traveled to Yemen in 2004 to join a terrorist training camp but was turned away. After his return, he began translating pro-Al Qaeda and Arab-language materials into English.

At issue is whether what he did was protected under the 1st amendment, and whether his translation and dissemination of these texts constituted an incitement of violence. Mehanna was convicted for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, among other charges, in 2011. His conviction was upheld by by a federal appeals court in Boston in 2013.

Guests:

Rachel VanLandingham, Associate Professor of Law, Southwestern Law School. She is a military law expert and 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force

Sahar Aziz, associate professor at Texas A&M School of Law in Fort Worth, Texas where she teaches national security, Middle East, and civil rights law.  She is the author of "Policing Terrorists in the Community," which was published in the Harvard National Security Journal

Matthew Hirsch of Michigan, a marketing and design professional, created "Hirschy's" chocolate bars with labels featuring his skills while job seeking. ; Credit: Matthew Hirsch/Hirsch Creative.com

In this buyers' market, what have you done to set yourself apart when job hunting? Fred Brumwell of Ontario wants to work at a local Google office, so he rented a billboard to get the company's attention.

Man interviewing with Google after his billboard pops up by the company's Kitchener office http://t.co/seeCRvQaTYpic.twitter.com/yxtwNdVSOf

— Metro Kitchener (@MetroKW) September 4, 2014

According to CBC News, he wants to send a message that he would go above and beyond working for Google. "It was more than 500 bucks, but it was worth every penny," Brumwell said because he has landed an interview. Another inspiring example was mocked up by job seeker Matthew Hirsch of Michigan. The marketing and design professional created "Hirschy's" chocolate bars with labels featuring his skills.

These hard-to-ignore extreme job hunting tactics might work for some companies, but what if you want to work at a bank? How far can you go without turning off hiring managers? What about adding photographs to a CV or sending a fruit basket?

Guest:

Cathleen Snyder, Director of Client Relations, at strategic HR, inc. - a human resource management firm in Cincinnati, Ohio

; Credit: Photo by Brad Montgomery via Flickr Creative Commons

Several restaurant owners in Los Angeles have implemented a three percent surcharge to their customers’ bills in an effort to cover healthcare services for their employees.

This tactic, which is already used in San Francisco, has been met with mixed reviews. Critics question why restaurants such as Lucques, Tavern and A.O.C. don’t add the surcharge directly to the menu items.  Owners have responded, saying that the extra percentage provides a more clear explanation of where the funds go, and point out that customers can opt out of paying the fee if they wish to do so. Additionally, the restaurant owners have hinted that other local restaurants such as the Hungry Cat, Mélisse, Son of a Gun, Trois Mec among others, would be following in their footsteps.

Would you pay a three percent surcharge at any of these eateries? Should healthcare surcharges be required of all restaurants? Does the size of the restaurant or affiliation to a chain change your decision in paying extra for your meal?

Guests:

Josiah Citrin, Owner of Mélisse Restaurant in Santa Monica

Anthony Dukes, Marketing Professor at USC Marshall School of Business

"Suspicious MInds: How Culture Shapes Madness" by Dr. Joel Gold and Ian Gold.

What if you woke up with the alarming suspicion that you were being watched? The premise for “Suspicious Minds: How Culture Shapes Madness,” written by psychiatrist Dr. Joel Gold and his brother Ian Gold, a philosopher and psychologist, is rooted in a newly-common psychological issue they call the Truman Show Delusion.

The nickname for the delusion is based on “The Truman Show,” a film starring Jim Carrey as the titular character -- a man who was unknowingly raised as the subject of a television show, living amongst actors, his whole world controlled by the show’s creator. In recent years, many people have experienced delusions revolving around a similar idea: that the patient is the subject of a reality TV show, that everyone around them is watching them, that their lives are controlled by producers.

Delusions and hallucinations have changed over time. People with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses that cause delusions and hallucinations have, over the decades, recounted feeling as if they were being controlled by Japanese radio waves, Soviet satellites, and CIA microchips. The Golds argue that delusions are the product of interactions between the human brain and sociocultural influences.

How have delusions changed over time? What does the Truman Show Delusion say about our culture?

Guest:

Joel Gold, M.D., co-author of “Suspicious Minds: How Culture Shapes Madness,” (Simon & Schuster, 2014), clinical associate professor of psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine and was an attending psychiatrist in the department of psychiatry at Bellevue Hospital Center

Promotional portrait of American comedian and actor Joan Rivers, 1980s. ; Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Joan Rivers, comedian and talk show host, has died at age 81 in New York, her daughter confirms. Rivers was hospitalized after going into cardiac arrest during a routine procedure.

Melissa Rivers said that her mother died surrounded by family and friends. "My mother's greatest joy in life was to make people laugh," she said, "Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon."

Joan Rivers' sharp-tongued comedy broke barriers for women in a heavily male-dominated industry.

We'll remember Joan Rivers and her comedic legacy. Weigh in with your memories below and listen to AirTalk's 2008 interview with Rivers in the sidebar. How do you remember Joan Rivers? 

Guest:

Jamie Masada, founder and CEO of The Laugh Factory comedy club in Los Angeles

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that Yelp does not extort its businesses after plaintiffs alleged in 2010 that the company extorted them to buy advertising by manufacturing and manipulating reviews and ratings on the site.; Credit: Steve Rhodes via Flickr Creative Commons

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that Yelp does not extort businesses. The years-long case goes back to 2010, with plaintiffs alleging that Yelp extorted them to buy advertising by manufacturing and manipulating reviews and ratings on the site.

The court ruled in favor of the restaurant reviews site, saying that the case didn’t adequately allege extortion: Yelp did not directly threaten businesses that did not buy advertising with economic harm, removing positive reviews is allowed because Yelp doesn’t have to publish any reviews at all, and featuring negative reviews is fair game because Yelp retains a legal right to “post and sequence the reviews.” The court also determined that there was insufficient evidence that Yelp generated non-user reviews. Though Yelp has said that they don’t manipulate ratings or reviews, the ruling is a big win for consumer review websites across the board. These sites are frequently accused of extortion, and the court’s decision that the sites do have the to change, delete, and sequence reviews in any way (even if they don’t) without committing extortion may stop future claims.

Even if it doesn’t qualify as extortion, should Yelp have the right to manipulate reviews and ratings? Do businesses have a “right” to good reviews on consumer reviews sites? How might this case progress?

Guest:

Vince Sollitto, Yelp's VP of corporate communications and government affairs

“Leonard Maltin’s 2015 Movie Guide” will be the final installment of the acclaimed book due to lower sales as film reviews have become easier to access online. ; Credit: Mark Davis/Getty Images for SBIFF

TV personality and film critic Leonard Maltin released the final installment of his movie guide this week. “Leonard Maltin’s 2015 Movie Guide,” a cinematic history lesson and a go-to for reviews, is the last of a series he started in 1969.

As film reviews have become easier to access with sites such as IMDB and the vast blogosphere, Maltin told CNN, that his book sales have plummeted. He published the first edition at 18 years old, originally titled “TV Movies.” The 2015 edition chronicles the modern era of film beginning in 1965 to present, alphabetically listing everything from cult classics to rare B movies. The guide includes nearly 16,000 reviews, brief summaries and an actor index.

Producing his book is the only thing he’s retiring from. The Angeleno hosts Maltin on Movies on the cable channel Reelz, runs his IndieWire blog and lectures at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.

Guest: 

Leonard Maltin, film critic, author “Leonard Maltin’s 2015 Movie Guide”

A rendering of the Carlsbad Desalination Project Site at Encina Power Station.
; Credit: Photo credit: SDCWA.org

Construction is underway for the west’s largest ocean desalination plant in Carlsbad, set to open in 2015. The plant aims to provide a drought-proof water source, pumping 50 million gallons of drinking water a day for San Diego County residents.

Supporters and opponents are keeping a watchful eye on the project to determine whether the $1 billion project can be replicated along the California coast or will prove to be too expensive and harmful to the environment. San Diego County customers will see an estimated increase of up to $7 on their water bills and the plant’s effect on the local fish and marine life populations is yet to be seen. Desalinated water costs two times more than it would to build a new reservoir or recycling waste water, according to a 2013 report from The Department of Water Resources.

With a three-year drought in place, are these pricey plants the best solution?

Guests: 

Ken Weinberg, Director of Water Resources at San Diego County Water Authority, which serves about 3.1 million residents in San Diego County. The agency has signed a 30-year contract to buy water from the Carlsbad plant.

Joe Geever, Water Programs Manager at the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit environmental organization

Gov. Jerry Brown, left, listens as Republican challenger Neel Kashkari speaks during a gubernatorial debate in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014. Thursday's debate is likely to be the only one of the general election. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, Pool); Credit: Rich Pedroncelli/AP

California Governor Jerry Brown and Republican Gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari took part in the first and only debate of the election last night in Sacramento. Kashkari had challenged Governor Brown to 10 debates, but after last night’s testy battle, Brown made it clear that he would not participate in any additional debates.

Kashkari’s platform focuses on rebuilding California’s middle class, focusing on big issue bills, and improving education, especially for underserved populations. Brown challenged Kashkari’s platform as well as his candidacy, essentially saying the he has no chance of winning the election. Governor Brown also pointed to the progress made in California during his terms as Governor, focusing his argument on his contributions to the budget surplus.

What does last night’s debate say about the gubernatorial election? Which issues stood out for the candidates?

Guest: 

John Myers, Senior Editor of the California Politics and Government desk at KQED. He moderated yesterday's debate between Gov. Jerry Brown and GOP gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari

Actor Jack O'Connell from "Starred Up" poses for the Tribeca Film Festival Getty Images Studio on April 21, 2014 in New York City. ; Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for the 2014 Tribec

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Tim Cogshell, Henry Sheehan and Charles Solomon review this week’s releases, including “The Longest Week” “The Identical” “Starred Up”and more. TGI-Filmweek!

The Longest Week:

The Identical:

Starred Up:

Guests:

Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC and Alt FilmGuide

Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and CriticsAGoGo.com

Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC and amazon.com

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 07: Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during an Apple product launch event at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on March 7, 2012 in San Francisco, California. In the first product release following the death of Steve Jobs, Apple Inc. introduced the third version of the iPad and an updated Apple TV. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images); Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Fresh off a security scandal last week that saw Apple iCloud accounts hacked for nude photos of celebrities such as actress Jennifer Lawrence, the folks in Cupertino will have a chance to change the story when unveiling their latest technology tomorrow.

The most anticipated, and long rumored, products are larger iPhones, a wearable iWatch, and digital wallets. Smartphone analysts say the demand is growing for larger smart phones, so Apple is expected offer a 4.7-inch diagonal screen and 5.5-inch version (the current screen measures 4 inches). Digital news site Re/code said the iWatch -- geared toward health and fitness needs -- might not be ready to ship until 2015, and speculates about a $400 price tag.

The news that could have the biggest impact is a mobile payment system. Wired magazine explains “How the Next iPhone could Finally Kill the Credit Card” – but not quite yet. If all the conspiracies of planned obsolescence turn you off Apple, last week Samsung and Sony unveiled their new products. A virtual reality headset, the Gear VR Innovator Edition, was Samsung’s big announcement - along with its Galaxy Note Edge that includes an innovative spillover screen making it easier to see tickers and manage calls. Sony is continuing to focus on its gaming market. Its new Xperia Z3 phones and tablets will host WiFi-streamed Playstation games. Finally, Sony also showed off a prototype of wearable glasses.

What are you anticipating most eagerly? What is on your wish list for these tech companies to start or stop doing?

Guest:

Lauren Goode, Senior Reviewer at Re/code - an independent tech news, reviews and analysis site.