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California bill gives minors chance to repair online reputation

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How will this bill be enforced?

How will this bill be enforced? ; Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

A California bill seeking to give minors the right to delete questionable posts, images, videos and other materials they post online was signed into law today by Governor Jerry Brown. The so-called eraser provision is part of a broader bill, SB 568, which limits online marketing to kids.

Proponents say the measure gives kids a chance to keep what they do online from causing damage in real life; horror stories abound of people who have lost out on job opportunities because of ill-advised photos or comments they posted on the internet years before. Opponents, though, worry that the bill would be too difficult to enforce and might have the unintended effect of further putting a young person's privacy at risk.

Some websites like Facebook and Twitter already give users that option. The law, the first of its kind to pass  in the country, now requires all websites to do the same for minors in California.

Guest:

Joni Lupovitz, Vice President of Policy at Common Sense Media, a San Francisco-based media and technology advocacy group that pushed for the law.


Egyptian Court bans Muslim Brotherhood activities

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EGYPT-POLITICS-UNREST-DEMO

Supporters of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi raise up posters with the four finger symbol during a demonstration against the military backed government in the Egyptian capital Cairo, on September 13, 2013. An Egyptian court Monday banned all Muslim Brotherhood activity and seized the group's financial assets.; Credit: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

On Monday, an Egyptian court issued an injunction to dissolve the Muslim Brotherhood, and seize their assets.  The ruling was made by the Cairo Court for Urgent Matters, but is a preliminary injunction on the Brotherhood until a higher court can make a more permanent action.

Since Mohamed Morsi’s ouster, Brotherhood members have participated in mass protests against the takeover. This ban would also impact the philanthropic role the Brotherhood has played in communities in Egypt.  

What does this mean for the future of the Muslim Brotherhood? Is it a positive or negative for Egypt? What does it say about the military rule in Egypt?

Guest:

Borzou Daragahi, Foreign Correspondent, Financial Times 

Obama: U.S. to pursue face-to-face negotiations with Iran on nuclear program

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UN-GENERAL ASSEMBLY-US-LEBANON

President Barack Obama listens to President Michel Sleiman of Lebanon speaking to the media before a bilateral meeting on the sideline of the 68th United Nations General Assembly at the UN in New York on September 24, 2013. At the assembly, Obama talked about the importance of engaging diplomatically with Iran.; Credit: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

President Barack Obama today spoke at the United Nations General Assembly. In addition to pushing for an international resolution on Syria’s chemical weapons, Obama wants to have a face-to-face to President Hassan Rouhani about Iran’s nuclear program.

This historic meeting would be the first time the U.S. and Iran has met in over 30 years. President Obama believes that this would be the first step towards settling decades of suspicion and mutual mistrust.

He said this morning that the U.S. “respects the right of Iranian people to access peaceful nuclear energy” but not the development of nuclear weapons. Although Iran has stated they have no intention of developing nuclear weapons, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not supportive of allowing Iran to enrich uranium, according to the Associated Press. President Rouhani is planning on speaking later today.

What will President Rouhani say in response to President Obama’s speech? Is a meeting between the U.S. and Iran long overdue or is it still too soon? How will the rest of the world respond?

Guests:

Reza Marashi, research director of the National Iranian American Council

Alireza Nader, Senior International Policy Analyst at the RAND Corporation

It’s Banned Books Week...what are you reading?

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What banned book do you want to read?

What banned book do you want to read? ; Credit: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

 The American Library foundation has declared the last week of September as Banned Books Week. Every year, libraries, booksellers, publishers, teachers and readers come together in support of intellectual freedom and to highlight books that have been subjected to threats of censorship -- and actual censorship. The frequently challenged books include classics like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger and Animal Farm by George Orwell.

But there were dozens of books banned in American schools and libraries in 2012, including The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Beloved by Toni Morrison and Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James. Some are banned for political reasons, religious viewpoint, offensive language and sexually explicit content.

But how much of a problem is book banning these days? How does one ban a book in free speech America today? Do book challenges actually make books more powerful? What are your favorite banned books?

Click here for more information on Banned Books Week 

Guest:

John Szabo, City Librarian, Los Angeles Public Library

When is it okay to snap and share pics of strangers?

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Holding olympus

It's legal to take photos of people in a public space, but does always mean it's ethically okay to take them?; Credit: Hugo Chinchilla/Flickr

Photography has become so easy, instantaneous, fleeting and disposable. To complicate matters, unless you're a flip-phone holdout, your smartphone isn't just equipped with precision cameras but a connection for sharing it with the entire world at the simple touch of your finger. 

While it is legal to photograph a stranger in a public place, is it ethical? If you snap a picture for well-intentioned reasons, does that make it okay? What if you sneak a photo of someone wearing a ridiculous or hideous outfit? Or someone who is embarrassingly drunk? And if you don't plan to share it on social media, does that make it okay? Do you have to ask permission first? Or should we all be on our best behaviour in our Sunday best, because it’s a free-for-all?

Popular Science ends article comments; is engagement dead?

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This photo taken on January 7, 2010 show

Do you think comments are helpful of harmful? ; Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

The science magazine announced yesterday that it has decided to turn off its article comment feature online. Trolls and spammers are primarily  to blame. Suzanne LaBarre, PopSci’s online content director, says these bad apples aren’t just disruptive, they have proven to change people’s perception of facts.

"[C]ommenters shape public opinion; public opinion shapes public policy; public policy shapes how and whether and what research gets funded—you start to see why we feel compelled to hit the 'off' switch," LaBarre explains.

RELATED: 'Popular Science' shuts comments, citing Internet 'trolls'

Magazines and blogs have been dealing with the thorny issue of how best to get the most out of user comments--and how to weed out the bad ones. Huffington Post said it’d start banning anonymous comments this month and YouTube has just announced an overhaul of its commenting system to ensure that only the most productive remarks get noticed.

Is engagement dead, at least in the form of user comments, dead?

Guest:

Dan Nosowitz, Associate Editor at Popular Science

Andrew Beaujon reports on the media for Poynter Online

'Humor Abuse' explores growing up in the circus

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Actor Lorenzo Pisoni plays a clown in his one-man show, "Humor Abuse."

Actor Lorenzo Pisoni plays a clown in his one-man show, "Humor Abuse." ; Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

In the new one-man show, “Humor Abuse,” which opened Saturday at the Mark Taper Forum, actor Lorenzo Pisoni plays a clown reminiscing about a life of pratfalls, juggling, and the divorce of his parents.

Pisoni, the son of a circus clown in real life, created the show along with director Erica Schmidt, and while the stage is simple and the cast is but one man, it’s an action-packed tale of a young man building the courage to run away from a life in the circus...an ironic twist on the cliched boyhood dream of doing just the opposite. Even if you grew up terrified by clowns, Pisoni’s performance may just convert you.

Guests:

Lorenzo Pisoni, star and sole cast member of “Humor Abuse” which opened at the Mark Taper Forum this past Saturday 9/21

Erica Schmidt, director of “Humor Abuse” which opened at the Mark Taper Forum this past Saturday 9/21

What’s the impact of Ted Cruz’s faux-filibuster on… Ted Cruz?

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March For Jobs Protests Illegal Immigration, Lack Of Jobs

Has the faux-filibuster harmed or helped Ted Cruz?; Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Senator Ted Cruz concluded his 21-hour non-stop solo effort to defund healthcare reform this morning. The Texas lawmaker stood the entire time and only took a break from speaking when he fielded questions from fellow lawmakers.

Cruz has set a record for staging the longest political speech ever (by beating Senator Rand Paul's nearly 13-hour speech delivered last March) with the epic all-nighter. Despite earning that distinction, the gambit was considered an exercise in futility from the start.

Democrat and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called the maneuver a "big waste of time." Lawmakers within Cruz's own party similarly criticized the move. Republican congressman Peter King, for instance, characterized what Cruz did as "a form of governmental terrorism."

Cruz has not been shy about his presidential ambitions for 2016. Has his stunt harmed or helped him?

Guest:

Tamara Keith, Congressional Correspondent at NPR

Jonathan Strong, Reporter, National Review

 


Would tiered course pricing help or hurt community college students?

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Would tiered tuition help community colleges?

Would tiered tuition help community colleges? ; Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Some California community colleges might soon be allowed to charge more for highly sought after classes during summer and winter intersessions.

A new bill, AB 955, by Assemblyman Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) has passed in the Senate and Assembly. It’s currently waiting Governor Brown’s approval, which could happen anytime before October 13.

Currently, only six community colleges are considered eligible to implement this voluntary program. Of that list, Pasadena City College has opted out, but Long Beach City College hopes to begin the pilot program as soon as possible.

Long Beach City College currently charges residents $46 per unit and non-residents $190 per unit. Under AB 955, summer and winter classes with long wait lists will have non-resident fees. According to the Los Angeles Times, those are typically core classes such as transfer-level English, algebra and history.

Superintendent-President of Long Beach City College, Eloy Ortiz Oakley, says AB 955 is the “only viable alternative” for community colleges to help students graduate or transfer quickly. With a rise in enrollment and a lack of funding, students are not able to obtain necessary classes in a timely manner.

"We've turned away thousands and thousands of students due to state budget cuts, and we have no other mechanism to be able to offer courses to our students," said Oakley on AirTalk. "We've been hopeful that we can convince the legislature and the Governor...to give our students one more choice."

By charging more for intersession classes, community colleges would be able to offer more classes at no cost to the state.

However, many students and faculty oppose AB 955. Chancellor Brice Harris of the California Community Colleges has spoken publicly against it, saying a two-tiered tuition would create two-tiered classes of students  those who can afford to pay and those who can’t. Long Beach students have protested the bill and have called on their peers all over California to stop this legislation.

Would tiered tuition help community colleges? Should more community colleges implement this pilot program? Should it be mandatory? Would it create two classes of students? Does it disadvantage low-income students?

Guests:

Eloy Ortiz Oakley, Superintendent-President of Long Beach City College

Vincent Stewart, Vice Chancellor of governmental relations for the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office

MacArthur 'geniuses' Carl Haber and David Lobell on why they won

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IRENE scans a record

Carl Haber’s optical scanning and audio preservation tool, IRENE. Haber got the idea to create IRENE after hearing a report on NPR in 2000 about the Library of Congress’ backlog of rare, priceless records that were deteriorating and in need of digital preservation. IRENE is now being integrated into the work flow at the new Library of Congress’ preservation facility in Virginia. Not only does IRENE optically scan the surface of the record without ever touching it but it also generates a visual image of the record’s surface which can “erase” some of the surface noise of crackles and hisses that crop up over time. Image Source: Sheraz Sadiq; Credit: kqedquest/Flickr

Among the 24 recipients of the just-announce MacArthur Genius Grants for 2013 is physicist Carl Haber, who has applied the technology used to study subatomic particles at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at UC Berkeley to restoring sounds thought long gone.

In a post on the lab’s website, Haber says:

"About 10 years ago, I happened to hear a report on NPR about the Library of Congress and their large collections of historic sound recordings, which described them in some cases as being delicate, damaged, deteriorating and so forth. Using scientific cameras and measurement tools that just use light, we create essentially a picture ... and then write a program where the computer analyzes the image and calculates mathematically how the needle would move rather than use the needle.”

The result was bringing the voices of America’s past, including Alexander Graham Bell and a Native American speaking a language now gone, back to life.  

"In the modern era, when you think phonograph, you think of this sort of disc," said Haber on AirTalk. "As you go back in time, particularly into the 19th century, there was a huge diversity of materials, formats, shapes and sizes of things that people tried to record sound on, mostly experimentally – tin foil, paper, disc cylinders, discs of aluminum foil, sheets of aluminum foil, all different sorts of waxes — just a whole variety of different things.”

What Haber and has developed is a way to scan old records, no matter what surface or shape, to create high-resolution digital images. These images are then analyzed and the once-missing data can be recovered and the music can be played. 

“I don’t want to overstate things, but I really feel like anything that has sound recorded on it in the form of a groove or other image-able structures, we can play back if there is information left to retrieve," said Haber. 

RELATED: What Caltech MacArthur fellow Colin Camerer will do with the money

One of the youngest MacArthur Geniuses is Stanford’s David Lobell, 34. His research asks very tough questions about how climate change will affect food security for all of humanity.

“We’re not really in the business of saying exactly what will happen in 10 or 20 years. There are a lot of problems with trying to do that," said Lobell on AirTalk. "What we’re trying to say is: these are the things that we’re pretty confident if you do, then you’ll be better off.”

The agricultural ecologist explains, "I'm interested in how to feed the world and protect the environment at the same time … . While there are many theories about how to do that, my work tries to test these theories, often using data that were collected for completely different reasons."

Lobell is optimistic that good public policy can ensure food supplies. What does his work mean for California? How have his world travels influenced his research?

RELATED: Calif. physicist one of 24 MacArthur 'genius grant' recipients

Guests:
Carl Haber, physicist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at UC Berkeley and one of 24 recipients of 2013 MacArthur Genius Grants

David Lobell, an associate professor of environmental Earth system science, Stanford University and one of 24 recipients of 2013 MacArthur Genius Grants

Click here for more stories on scholars' work in recovering lost sounds

Army to revise tattoo policy, again. This time to make it more stringent.

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Army Base Zerak Sustains Heavy Rocket and Mortar Attack

Would the army's new policy on tattoos make it even harder for the Army to bring new people in?; Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

New rules that would ban new recruits from having tattoos below the elbows and knees or above the neckline have been approved by the Army, military magazine Stars and Stripes reports. The new policy has been in consideration for a year and is awaiting the final signature of Army Secretary John McHugh.

The new rules only apply to Army soldiers, as other military branches have their own standards governing appearance and grooming. While current soldiers may be exempt from the new policy; newcomers are responsible to pay for tattoo removal themselves. All soldiers are prohibited from having tattoos that are “racist, sexist or extremist.”

The Army last revised its policy on tattoos in 2006, allowing soldiers to have them on their hands and the back of their necks to boost recruitment for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Recruitment goals for the Army have dropped in recent years and because of the economy, finding new soldiers to join hasn’t been that much of an issue. With the economy recovering, the Army is bracing for recruitment challenges for 2014. Would its new policy on tattoos make it even harder for the Army to bring new people in?

Activist documentary seeks broader ban on declawing cats (Poll)

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Animal Sanctuary Needs £200,000 To Avoid Closure

Would you consider declawing?; Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

The practice of declawing cats might not be as simple as some pet owners may think. That’s the message Dr. Jennifer Conrad, a California veterinarian is trying to spread in her documentary against declawing, “The Paw Project.”

Declawing is a surgical procedure performed on cats that scratch people or tear up furniture with their claws. The most common declawing method is called an onychectomy, which is an amputation of the last bones in a cat’s claws.

It’s likened to a human having the tips of their fingers cut off at the last knuckle.  The best case scenario is the cat heals within a few days of surgery, but it’s estimated that 25-50 percent of cats that undergo declawing surgery suffer from some complication.

Proponents of declawing say the practice saves the lives of cats that might otherwise be placed in shelters or left out on the street because of behavioral issues. While declawing may be necessary in some cases, Dr. Conrad argues that the practice occurs far too often and in cases where the surgery is not medically necessary.  

She and other veterinarians against declawing say there needs to be more education surrounding the procedure and possible alternatives. Declawing is outlawed in Israel, Brazil, Germany and many European countries, as well as some cities in California. 

KPCC's online polls are not scientific surveys of local or national opinion. Rather, they are designed as a way for our audience members to engage with each other and share their views. Let us know what you think on our Facebook page, facebook.com/kpcc, or in the comments below

Should declawing be banned in the U.S. if not medically necessary, or should pet owners always have the option to declaw their cats? Have you had experiences with cats that scratch? Would you consider declawing?

The Paw Project will be playing at the Pasadena Playhouse starting Friday, October 18, 2013 for a one-week run

Guests: 

Dr. Aubrey Lavizzo, Veterinarian and Colorado State Director of “The Paw Project” - a non-profit that rehabilitates declawed cats - big and small; Lavizzo was awarded Veterinarian of the Year in 2011 by the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association

Dr. Julie Meadows, Veterinarian and Section Head of UC Davis’ Small Animal Community Medicine and a faculty member in the Internal Medicine Service.

The delicate dance of decommissioning the San Onofre nuclear plant

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View of the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant

View of the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant in north San Diego County The San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant sits at the edge of the Pacific Ocean on a 84-acre site between San Diego and Orange County and provides much of Southern California its power. ; Credit: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

At a public hearing tonight in Carlsbad, California, the public will get their first glimpse at what decommissioning the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station will entail. Is the public interested in knowing more?

Well, if it’s any indication of the level of concern, the meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. at the Omni La Costa Hotel in a room that can hold 2,000. The topic of where the nuclear waste from the plant will be stored, and environmental groups are very concerned about how the delicate process of taking the operation offline will be handled.

Do you think storing the waste onsite is the right way to proceed? If it’s not stored onsite, where should it go? Has the drama of San Onofre put a bad taste in your mouth about nuclear power?

Guests:

Ed Joyce, KPCC’s Orange County reporter

Bruce Watson, Chief of the Reactor Decommissioning Branch, United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Rethinking the 'trophy industrial complex' and letting kids lose

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Should everyone get a trophy?

No one wants to see their kid hurt or defeated. So it’s understandable why many parents, teachers and coaches dole out loads of praise – and awards.

In school, kids are given gold stickers for showing up, and in sports, they’re handed trophies, just for playing the game. In Southern California, a local branch of the American Youth Soccer Organization passes out about 3,5000 awards each season, because every player gets one.

But is all this praise good for kids? According to author Ashley Merryman, the science is clear, “Awards can be powerful motivators, but nonstop recognition does not inspire children to succeed. Instead, it can cause them to underachieve.”

In her New York Times op-ed piece titled “Losing is Good for You,” Merryman argues that by age 4 or 5, kids are wise to the game anyway. They know who actually did well and who didn’t and by passing out participation trophies to everyone, you’re not only robbing them of the excitement of competition, but the motivation to improve.

So, is it time to let kids lose a few? Are the hard knocks of sports actually good for children? Or should we protect and praise our little ones, while we can?

Guest:

Ashley Merryman, is the author, with Po Bronson, of “NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children” and “Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing”

John McCain the 'Maverick' works on his legacy

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Senate Republicans Speak To The Press After Weekly Policy Meetings

If McCain steps out of politics, who will take over as peacemaker?; Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Senator John McCain took fellow Republican Ted Cruz to task yesterday for his 21-hour speech on the Senate floor where Cruz accused his party of dropping the ball on trying to defeat ObamaCare.

McCain hit back saying the fight had already been lost in the legislative process and rejected Cruz’s analogy that Republicans were behaving like Neville Chamberlain and appeasing the Nazis. It’s just another example of the self-described ‘Maverick’ McCain at work. McCain has hinted that his current Senate term may be his last and the longtime squeaky wheel of the Republican party is starting to eye his legacy.

McCain is acting as the bridge between Republicans and the White House but is it doing any good if the party is so split? Is there still a middle ground when it comes to the GOP? Is McCain shooting himself in the foot by going up against Tea Party favorites like Cruz? Or is McCain Washington’s last best hope as a moderator amid the political gridlock? If McCain steps out of politics, who will take over as peacemaker?

Guest:

Alexander Bolton, senior staff writer at The Hill


Dodgers fan stabbed to death after game in San Francisco

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Los Angeles Dodgers v San Francisco Giants

What security measures should be taken at games? ; Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

A man wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers hat was stabbed to death in San Francisco after a Giants-Dodgers game at the AT&T Park.

Details are scant. But police said a fight broke out  between a group of Dodgers and Giants fans a few blocks from the ballpark. The victim, 24-year-old Jonathan Denver, was stabbed at 11:30pm, about 90 minutes after the game ended.

Two men, ages 21 and 18, were arrested.

The Dodgers and Giants are longtime rivals. Stadium security in Los Angeles and San Francisco has been ramped up since another episode of violence between fans of the two teams in 2011, when Giants fan Bryan Stow was severely beaten in the parking lot of the Dodger Stadium.

San Francisco Police Department asks for tipsters regarding this crime to call: 415-553-1146

Guests:

Officer Albie Esparza, Public Information Officer, San Francisco Police Department

Steve Adelman, Attorney specializing in sports venue liability and security, based in Arizona

Filmweek: Don Jon, Baggage Claim, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 and more

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"Don Jon" Premiere - Arrivals - 2013 Toronto International Film Festival

Actress Scarlett Johansson and actor/filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt arrive at the "Don Jon" Premiere during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 10, 2013 in Toronto, Canada. ; Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Guest host Patt Morrison is joined by KPCC critics Tim Cogshell, Andy Klein and Charles Solomon to review this week’s releases including Don Jon, Baggage Claim, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 and more! TGI-FilmWeek!

Don Jon

Baggage Claim

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2

Guests:

Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC and Alt Film Guide

Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC and the LA Times Community Papers chain

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

Meet Tom Sherak, Los Angeles’ first film czar

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What is Sherak’s plan for keeping production in the area?

What is Sherak’s plan for keeping production in the area? ; Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed the Hollywood veteran to be the city’s first film czar and head up the new Entertainment Industry and Production Office. The office is designed to make it easier to film movies and television shows in the city and to lobby for money to boost the California’s film incentive program. Sherak is a familiar face around Hollywood.

He was president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 2009 to 2012, held numerous roles at Twentieth Century Fox and was a partner with Revolution Studios. Garcetti said it was his goal to stop ‘runaway’ film production from leaving the state and Sherak says he’s up for the job of keeping production here in California.

What is Sherak’s plan for keeping production in the area? What’s the state of the industry in Los Angeles? Is there more money out there to offer studios to film here in California?

Guest:

Tom Sherak, Senior Advisor and Director of the Mayor’s Entertainment Industry and Production Office

Are fast food giants banking on sneaky "healthy halo" effect with new diet options?

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McDonalds Offers Real Life Choices Diet In New York City

Are healthier options at Fast Food Restaurants a good thing? ; Credit: Stephen Chernin/Getty Images

McDonald’s has announced that it would no longer market junk food to kids and it’s going to include more fruits and vegetables in on its adult menu. The move came after another fast food joint, Burger King, rolled out the lower-calorie French fries it has dubbed “Satisfries.” Apparently, they are 20% healthier but “taste the same.”

The fast food industry has been under pressure to do their part in the fight against obesity. But what Burger King and McDonald’s doing might have the opposite effect, if a much-cited study is to be believed. In a research paper published in 2009, a team of researchers found that the inclusion of healthier choices on  a menu has a way of causing people to choose items that are worse for them.

In other words, if both veggie burgers and bacon-cheeseburgers are on the menu, consumers typically go for the latter thing. The academics called the phenomenon “vicarious goal fulfillment.”

Guest:
Dr. Peter Ubel, physician and behavioral scientist who specializes in healthy policy and economics; Professor of Business Administration and Medicine & Professor of Public Policy, Duke University

Escape from Tomorrow" showcases DIY film advances

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Emozioni Primarie (Far East Film Festival 10 - 2008)

What are some of the challenges of do-it-yourself filmmaking?; Credit: Piero Fissore

A feature film shot surreptitiously at Disney World - featuring Epcot Center, pretty princesses and It’s a Small World - is somehow escaping litigation and coming to a handful of theaters and video-on-demand October 11.

The strange guerilla film centers on a family whose Disney vacation turns into a surrealist horror. The filmmaker, Randy Moore, and his cast and crew spent days and days at Florida’s Disney World using small, but pro cameras, to pull off the high-production-value feature. The advent of affordable, high-quality digital cameras, such as Canon’s 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera and the RED ONE mean do-it-yourself filmmakers can come off looking like Spielberg.

So if “Escape from Tomorrow” was hugely buzzworthy when it premiered at Sundance, why hasn’t it provoked a lawsuit from Disney? How far can independent filmmakers go in avoiding proper permits and licenses? If you’re an independent filmmaker, what risks do you take to envision your dream?

AirTalk speaks to intellectual property attorney, Ruth Carter, and for the indie filmmaker perspective, co-founder of SlamDance (a truly indie collective created as a backlash to Sundance going “too commercial”), Peter Baxter.

Guests:

Ruth Carter, Attorney specializing in intellectual property, based in Arizona

Peter Baxter, Founder and Director, Slamdance - a film festival and film collective; Filmmaker - upcoming documentary “Wild in the Streets”

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