Head coach Bo Ryan of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts after a play in the second half against the Duke Blue Devils during the NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana.; Credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Duke Blue Devils beat the Wisconsin Badgers last night to capture a fifth NCAA title under coach Mike Krzyzewski.

The game was a nailbiter up to the final minutes between the two top teams. As evenly-matched as they are, there is one difference: the Blue Devils are thought of as a "one-and-done" team, made up of freshmen that will likely enter the NBA draft after playing for a year, while the Badgers are known to cultivate committed players.

The "one-and-done" rule has been in place since 2006, which barred players from entering the NBA draft straight out of high school. The system has been much maligned, and critics have long called for its dismantlement.

What are other alternatives? Do you think the “one-and-done” rule harms college basketball?

Guests:

Warren K. Zola, Adjunct professor of Sports Law and the Business of Sports at the Carroll School of Management at Boston College; contributor to Sports Law Blog

Jeff Borzello, writer at ESPN.com’s College Basketball Insider. He tweets @JeffBorzello

Budapest or Dublin, Dear?; Credit: Dave Collier via Flickr

For many, travel agencies are a thing of the past.

Sites like Expedia, Kayak, and Booking make it relatively easy for just about anyone to book an affordable vacation in a few simple steps.

But reports in the last couple of years suggest that travel agents are coming back into demand, possibly due to the overwhelming number of online travel sites. A recent report from the American Society of Travel Agents shows that 74 percent of its members employ at least one additional person or independent contract, which is the highest percentage since 2010 when the rate was 77 percent.

Why are people turning to travel agents once again in the age of booking online? What do travel agents offer that travel websites can’t or don’t?

Guest:

Zane Kerby, President and CEO of the American Society of Travel Agents

Nurse Allison Miller checks the blood pressure of Keri Anderson as nurses and physicians give free basic health screenings and call attention to what they say is the ongoing healthcare emergency despite the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the Affordable Care Act, on July 10, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. ; Credit: David McNew/Getty Images

Tuesday morning, Democratic lawmakers pulled the tarp off of an immigration package containing 10 bills that the state legislators hope will build momentum for federal immigration action.

One of the bills, proposed by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) would allow enrollment in Medi-Cal for immigrants so long as they qualify, regardless of their immigration status. Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) has also proposed a bill that would prohibit businesses from refusing to provide service on the basis of citizenship or immigration status.

Will this bill package help spur federal immigration action? Would you change anything about the bills proposed?

Guests:

Polo Morales, political director for CHIRLA, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles

Joe Guzzardi, national media director for CAPS, Californians for Population Stabilization

Indonesian muslims perform Eid Al-Adha prayer at Parangkusumo beach on October 15, 2013 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Eid Al-Adha, known as the 'Feast of the Sacrifice', is one of the most significant festivals on the Muslim calendar. ; Credit: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images

Christianity has been the world’s largest religion since 2010, with Islam coming in second. But if current demographic trends continue, researchers at PEW say Muslims will catch up by 2050, and could surpass Christianity by 2070.

The future growth is determined mostly by where each religious group is geographically located, and Muslims are a youthful population with high fertility rates, living in the fastest growing parts of the world. The study released last week, is the first formal demographic projections using data beyond just age, fertility or mortality that extends to migration and religious switching for multiple religious groups around the world.

By 2050, people unaffiliated with a religion including Atheists and agnostics, despite increasing in the U.S. and France, will be declining. The global Buddhist population will be the same as it was in 2010, but Hindu and Jewish populations will be larger. In the U.S., Judaism will no longer be the largest non-Christian religion and Christians will make up two-thirds of the population.

The projections are limited to a 40-year time frame because many unforeseen events such as social movements, political upheavals or natural disasters could shift demographic trends. Have you noticed a religious shift, or lack thereof, in your community?

Guest:

Jenny Trinitapoli, Professor of Sociology, Demography and Religious studies at Penn State. She contributed to the Pew Report

Todd M. Johnson, Associate Professor of Global Christianity and Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Johnson is visiting Research Fellow at Boston University’s Institute for Culture, Religion and World Affairs leading a research project on international religious demography; Johnson contributed to the Pew Report

The New Yorker magazine's October 15 edition is diplayed in an Upper East Side newstand in New York on October 9, 2012. ; Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Mary Norris has the distinction of working with some of the world’s biggest literary names as the copy editor of The New Yorker.

She has spent over three decades at the venerable publication, but that’s not her only career. How she found her calling is the subject of her new memoir, “Between You & Me.” Along the way, Norris dispenses her wisdoms on vexing spelling, punctuation, and grammatical issues we encounter every day.

Guest:

Mary Norris, copy editor at the New Yorker. Author of “Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen” (W. W. Norton & Company, 2015)

People search for survivors under the rubble of houses destroyed by Saudi airstrikes near Sanaa Airport, Yemen, on Thursday.; Credit: Hani Mohammed/AP

On Tuesday, aid workers warned of an unfolding humanitarian crisis in Yemen saying at least 560 people, including dozens of children, have been killed in recent weeks.

The World Health Organization says 100,000 people have fled their homes as fighting intensified between Houthis and forces loyal to the embattled president. The situation is extremely fluid and confusing, but in a new documentary for PBS Frontline, independent journalist Safa al Ahmad was able to gain rare access to Houthi militias and learn more about their aims and strategies.

“The Fight for Yemen” is available at PBS.org/Frontline  

Guest:

Safa al Ahmad, Independent Journalist, PBS Frontline's "The Fight for Yemen"

Mayor Garcetti's sustainability plan calls for reductions in purchased water and increases in local sourcing.; Credit: Mayor's office

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti has unveiled a detailed strategy for environmental sustainability in Los Angeles.

Dubbed the “pLAn,” the proposal pinpoints 14 specific areas to be reformed in the next 20 years. With a strong focus on water conservation, solar power and energy-efficient building, pLAn sets specific milestones to be met in the years 2017, 2025 and 2035.

The mayor says his plan will be used as a blueprint for city planning.“I intend to use the pLAn as a tool to manage the city,” Garcetti writes in the report. “Reviews of our department General Managers will incorporate whether they are meeting the goals of the pLAn. The outcomes in the pLAn that require additional funding will receive priority in my annual budget process.”

Some of the mayor’s top concerns include addressing the effects of climate change (like drought, extreme weather, extreme heat days), developing transit infrastructure, preparing the city for a big earthquake, creating more Green Jobs and improving air quality. A full text of the report can be found here.

Mayor Garcetti says that he wants L.A. to be a sustainability leader. Will his plan get us there? Is the mayor’s plan too ambitious? What do you think should receive a priority? Should environmental sustainability be a priority in the city?

Guests:

Matt Petersen, Chief Sustainability Officer for the city of Los Angeles

Daniel Freedman, board chair and co-founder of the Los Angeles Sustainability Collaborative. He is also an environmental lawyer at the L.A. firm Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell.

Ellen Pao (R) leaves the San Francisco Superior Court Civic Center Courthouse with her attorney Therese Lawlwess on March 27, 2015 in San Francisco, California. A jury found no gender bias against Reddit interim CEO Ellen Pao. Now, Pao is banning salary negotiations at Reddit.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Reddit is banning salary negotiations in an attempt to eliminate the gender pay gap at the company.  

Details are scant, but in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, interim CEO Ellen Pao explained that one reason behind the decision is because men are traditionally stronger negotiators than women.

“Men negotiate harder than women do and sometimes women get penalized when they do negotiate,” Pao told the Journal. “We come up with an offer that we think is fair. If you want more equity, we’ll let you swap a little bit of your cash salary for equity, but we aren’t going to reward people who are better negotiators with more compensation. We ask people what they think about diversity, and we did weed people out because of that.”

What do you think of Reddit’s latest move? Does it turn away qualified candidates? Does it really level the playing field for all employees?

Guests:

Joelle Emerson, CEO and cofounder of Paradigm, a consultancy in the Bay Area that works with tech companies to cultivate a diverse workforce

Rebecca Kieler, career management consultant based in the Bay Area with 20-plus years of experience in the field. She’s worked with companies such as Sun Micro Systems, Johnson & Johnson, and Yahoo

Beverly Hills Hotel, California, United States; Credit: Photo by Mark Weston via Flickr Creative Commons

Despite calls to save water, Southern California saw an an increase of more than 2 percent in use for February compared to the same month in 2013, according to a report released Tuesday.

Among the worst offenders are La Cañada Flintridge, Malibu, Beverly Hills, and Rancho Palos Verdes. Now a possible sliding scale of water restrictions could mean 35 percent cuts in usage for those locales and 20 percent for cities conserving water already.

Read more: California Drought: Under proposal, city of LA would need to cut water use 20 percent; Beverly Hills, 35 percent

Read more: Heavy water user La Cañada among cities that might have to cut usage by 35 percent

What is a fair way to demand water conservation? What can neighborhoods with heavy water users do to conserve? How will this affect the cost of water?

Guest:

Molly Peterson, KPCC Environment Correspondent

Stan Freberg is honored at American Cinematheque Hosts The Genius Of Stan Freberg: 70 Years Of Creative Entertainment at the Egyptian Theatre on November 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California.; Credit: Michael Kovac

Chances are good that if you watch commercials or listen to radio shows today, you’ll hear Stan Freberg’s influence.

The advertising legend, comedian, and radio host died Tuesday at the age of 88 from what his family said were a number of age-related illnesses.

Freberg was born in Pasadena, and became a giant in the advertising and radio industry, thanks to his satirical, and often off-the-wall, style of writing. Instead of making comedy albums like stand-up comedians did, Freberg went into the studio and recorded what he called “audio moments,” which featured sound effects and actors.

His most famous work may be “Stan Freberg Presents The United States of America,” which comedically goes through American history from Christopher Columbus to the American Revolution, with Freberg playing many of the main characters.

What do you remember most about Stan Freberg’s work? What is the legacy he leaves in advertising? In comedy?

Guest:

Jeff Goodby, advertising executive and the co-founder of Goodby, Silverstein, & Partners, an advertising agency in San Francisco

An officer tickets a driver on N. Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood on Aug. 24, 2012.; Credit: Chris Yarzab/Flickr

A new report released by a coalition of civil rights organizations finds that unpaid traffic tickets and additional penalties disproportionately affect low-income and ethnic minorities in the state.

The report, “Not Just a Ferguson Problem: How Traffic Courts Drive Inequality in California,” says that 1 in six California drivers have had their driver licenses suspended due to overdue fines. It argues that the punitive move sinks those who are the most vulnerable in the state further into economic hardship, and calls for the state to end driver license suspensions and lower fees and penalties added on to an overdue ticket that could turn a $100 ticket into a $1,000 fine.

What do you think? Should driver license suspensions be disallowed? If so, what are the implications for public safety?

Guest: 

Meredith Desautels, an attorney with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, the lead author of the report, “Not Just a Ferguson Problem: How Traffic Courts Drive Inequality in California”

Texting Emoji; Credit: Intel Free Press via Flickr

Language is always evolving. Pick up a book printed 100 years ago and it’s clear that English has come a long way. But English has changed significantly even since the advent of computers.

While some linguists might say technology has led to the degradation of the English language, sociolinguist Lauren Collister contends that emoticons and text-speak have actually made our language more efficient, giving us the ability to say more while using fewer words.

80 years ago, an apology letter to a friend may have looked like this:

Dear Jackie,

My sincerest apologies for leaving you behind at the bar last night. I was entirely unaware that you weren’t with us.

Please know that I would never intentionally leave you behind. Our next cab ride is on me.

Collister says that today, your text to Jackie might look something like this:

JACKIE!! IM SO SO SO SORRY! I thought u were behind us in the cab and then I saw you weren’t!!!!! I feel soooooo bad! Catch another cab and ill pay it for youuuu!!!

While many writing rules were broken in the example above it was still effective at communicating the desired tone.

Making a case for emoticons, Collister says that “smileys” are used to convey happiness or a “joking” tone. Often, smilies are used to lighten the mood for what might, otherwise be interpreted as a terse statement.

Compare this sample text exchange between people who have been dating for a few weeks:

You didn’t call me when you got home last night. You said you would!

Versus:

You didn’t call me when you got home last night. :-( :-( You said you would! :-)

The first version of the text came across as accusatory and even suspicious, but the addition of smileys allows one to approach sensitive subjects without making things awkward.

While emoticons can be valuable in text conversations, some might argue that using pictures instead of words is a sign that language may be moving backwards. Though there may be merit to this concern, the wide variety of emoticons that have become available offer users more emotional range than ever, making complicated wordings unnecessary.

How often do you use emoticons or “smileys” in your daily correspondence? Do you feel like they help you convey the right message? Do you text differently than you email? Do you use elongated words, exclamation points or ellipses when you text?

Today on AirTalk, a discussion about the role text-speak plays in the way we communicate.

Guests:

Lauren Collister, sociolinguist and Electronic Publications Associate at the University of Pittsburgh. Lauren wrote the op-ed “Emoticons are improving the English language“ for Quartz

Tyler Schnoebelen, sociolinguist and co-founder of Idibon, a text analytics company that mines social media, emails and websites for business intelligence. Known as the “father of smiley linguistics”

A group of teens check their smartphones outside the Natural History Museum in Washington on April 8, 2015. A Pew Research Center survey released found that 92 percent of US teens go online daily. The survey of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 found that 73 percent had a smartphone and 30 percent had at least a basic cellphone. ; Credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Pew finds notable gap in smartphone and internet use among white, African-American and Hispanic teens.

The new “Teens, Social Media & Technology Overview 2015” report finds that nearly 75 percent of teens surveyed have or have access to a smartphone. African-American teens are mostly likely to own a smartphone, compared with 71 percent of both white and Hispanic teens.

Smartphones and tablets are the primary devices American teens used to get online, according to the report, and 92 percent of them say they go online daily. The report defines a teen as someone between the ages of 13 to 17.

Guest:

Amanda Lenhart, Associate Director of Research at the Pew Research Center. She is the author of the new pew report, “Teens Social Media & Technology Overview, 2015”

A pedestrian walks a sign on Microsoft Headquarters campus July 17, 2014 in Redmond, Washington. ; Credit: Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

Looking to expand diversity in the workplace, Microsoft has announced it will be looking to hire more people with autism.

Mary Ellen Smith, Microsoft’s Vice President for Worldwide Operations, announced the move in a blog post last week. The first program will launch with 10 candidates and will be working with a Danish company called Specialisterne, a consulting and training firm that helps connect autistic workers with jobs.

What factors do companies consider when hiring people who fall on the autism spectrum? How do those with autism behave and interact in the workplace? Are there certain professions that are better suited for employees who fall on the spectrum? What resources are there for people with autism to help find jobs?

Guests:

Dave Kearon, director of adult services at Autism Speaks, where he works with adults on the autism spectrum to find employment

Becky Ketts, director of rehabilitation services at Nobis Works, a non-profit in Marietta, Georgia that develops and provides job training, employment, and vocational support for youth and adults with disabilities.

Peaceful protesters stand with candles as they gather outside the North Charleston City Hall in North Charleston, SC, April 8, 2015, after the latest in a series of police killings of black suspects was caught on video. ; Credit: JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images

South Carolina police officer Michael Slager is being charged with murder for the shooting death of Walter Scott.

Though not much is known about the events leading up to the shooting, a video surfaced recently showing Slager shooting Scott multiple times in the back as Scott ran away from the officer. The video directly contradicts portions of the officer’s written report of the incident, notably where a slow-motion portion reveals Officer Slager walked over to Scott and dropped his stun-gun near him whereas the report claims he fired in self-defense after the suspect grabbed his Taser.

As video of the incident has been played on repeat across many cable networks, the Justice Department has stepped in to aid the investigation and determine if there was any racial bias in the shooting. Concurrently, protests and condemnations have risen in North Charleston.

Has the news media properly reported the facts of the case without bias? Will the video of Walter Scott’s shooting prompt a faster shift towards cameras on police officers? What role does the public have when faced with disparate evidence?

Guests:

Al Tompkins, senior faculty at the Poynter Institute

Eugene O’Donnell, professor of law and police science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice; former NYPD officer; former prosecutor in Kings County (Brooklyn)

"Ex Machina" writer/director Alex Garland and actress Alicia Vikander on set. ; Credit: A24

The science fiction thriller “Ex Machina,” opening this weekend starring Oscar Isaac, is a vivid, chilling look at the creation of an exceedingly human android.

In the high-concept film, a young programmer (played  by Domhnall Gleeson) is selected to participate in a breakthrough experiment in artificial intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breathtaking female A.I.

The writer and director Alex Garland, who previously penned the smart zombie horror "28 Days Later" was inspired by cognitive robotics expert Murray Shanahan. He wrote a book called “Embodiment and the Inner Life.” It looks at the intersection of consciousness and artificial intelligence. Shanahan emphasizes that any discussions about AI are highly theoretical, and that the science seen in “Ex Machina” would be decades away at least. Still, the choice by Garland to set the film in a future “ten minutes from now” makes it all seem more “sci-fact” than science fiction.

Why is AI so frightening to some? What types of intelligence and capabilities would an AI have to make it seem human like? What is society’s responsibility to an android with a conscience and feelings - and vice versa?

Guest:

Murray Shanahan, professor of cognitive robotics at Imperial College, London. He was an official advisor for science fiction film Ex Machina, a psychological thriller about a revolutionary new form of artificial intelligence (AI).

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attends a round table conversation and press conference announcing a childhood development initiative with first lady of New York City Chirlane McCray on April 1, 2015 in New York City. ; Credit: Andrew Burton/Getty Images

Ending months of speculation, Hillary Clinton plans to announce her run for president on Sunday.

The 67-year-old former FLOTUS is expected to make the official announcement via a social media message. Clinton appears to have big aspirations for the roles of technology and social media in her campaign. Earlier this week, she hired Google director of product management Stephanie Hannon to be her chief technology officer. It will come a day before Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio plans to announce his entry into the race.

The message is expected to be aimed at middle and working-class voters, unlike her 2008 campaign entry message, which featured her seated in her Washington D.C. mansion, Whitehaven. She has strong support among Democratic women voters, and early polls suggest she leads by a wide margin over other potential Democratic candidates like Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, and former Virginia Senator Jim Webb.

What does Hillary have to do differently this time around than she did in 2008? Do you think her focus on technology and social media will draw voters? Are there any potential Democratic candidates who can compete with Hillary?

Guest:

Amie Parnes, Senior White House Correspondent, The Hill; Co-author of the recent New York Times Bestseller “HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton”

Ed Espinoza, Executive Director of strategy firm, Progress Texas; From 2009-2011, Espinoza served as Western States Director at the Democratic National Committee; California Superdelegate for Barack Obama in 2008

; Credit: Photo by mr. Wood via Flickr Creative Commons

Video on demand is...well...in demand, so large chains and independent theater owners alike are trying to find ways to keep customers’ behinds planted firmly in a theater seat, popcorn and soda in hand.

AMC Entertainment is teaming up with audio giant Dolby to build 100 new, high-tech movie theaters across the country, 14 of which will be right here in Southern California. AMC and Dolby are promising fancy new features like reclining seats that also vibrate with the action on-screen as well as Dolby’s Atmos sound system, which creates lifelike sound and music that will surround movie-goers during the film. AMC says it will debut the new Dolby Cinema locally in Burbank in May.

The plan is the latest move by theaters to keep up with the increasing popularity of video-on-demand. Films like ‘The Interview’ and ‘Snowpiercer’ were day-and-date releases, meaning they were put out in theaters and on VOD simultaneously.

Could movies like these spell the end of theaters as we know them? Will high-tech theaters like the Dolby Cinemas push back on day-and-date releases? Why are companies continuing to invest in high-tech theaters when there is such a push to divert films to VOD?

Guests:

Doug Darrow, Senior Vice President of Cinema at Dolby Laboratories

Paul Degarabedian, Senior Media Analyst for the media research company Rentrak

A man opens a bottle of Diet Coke as he eats before the start of the baseball game with the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves at AT&T Park July 24, 2007 in San Francisco, California. ; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A consumer advocate group has called for the federal government to look into the use of the term “diet” by the beverage industry.

The Oakland-based group, U.S. Right to Know has filed a request with the Federal Trade Association and the Food and Drug Administration to investigate if the use of that adjective falls into the category of false and deceptive advertising.

The group claims that research has shown that the consumption of diet beverages in many cases actually lead to weight gain, as opposed to weight lost.

Statement from the American Beverage Association, a trade group representing the beverage industry:

"Previous research, including human clinical trials, supports that diet beverages are an effective tool as part of an overall weight management plan.  Numerous studies have repeatedly demonstrated the benefits of diet beverages – as well as low-calorie sweeteners, which are in thousands of foods and beverages – in helping to reduce calorie intake. Furthermore, low- and no-calorie sweeteners have repeatedly been deemed safe by decades of scientific research as well as regulatory agencies around the globe – including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.”

Guest:

Gary Ruskin, Executive Director and co-founder of U.S. Right to Know, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group in Oakland that focuses on issues related to the food industry.

Marianne Smith Edge, Senior Vice President of Nutrition & Food Safety for the international Food Information Council, a DC-based nonprofit health and food safety organization. She is a past president of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

(L-R) Associate producer Daniel Findlay, producer Share Stallings, actors Simon Pegg, Luke Hemsworth, director Kriv Stenders, producers Tania Chambers, Laurence Malkin and actress Teresa Palmer attend the "Kill Me Three Times" premiere during the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival at Scotiabank Theatre on September 6, 2014 in Toronto, Canada.; Credit: Aaron Harris/Getty Images

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Henry Sheehan and Tim Cogshell review this week’s releases, including the latest Nicholas Sparks adaptation “The Longest Ride,” sci-fi thriller "Ex Machina," Simon Pegg in "Kill Me Three Times," and more. TGI-Filmweek!

Guests:

Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC and Alt Film Guide

Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and CriticsAGoGo.com