Arizona's immigration law prompts calls to boycott the state. What's memory made of? Tough tarmac rules take effect tomorrow--can cash-strapped airlines afford it? Later, OSU basketball coach Craig Robinson shares his philosophy on life and sports--and childhood memories of his sister, Michelle Obama.
Boycotting Arizona over immigration law
Cities and advocacy groups are calling for boycotts of Arizona in response to its strict new immigration law. Seven members of the Los Angeles City Council have signed onto a proposal to refrain from conducting business or attending conventions in Arizona. DC is weighing a boycott. San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom has banned city travel to the state. Some local baseball fans will stay home from Diamondbacks games in protest. And in Mexico boycotts of the state are multiplying—while that might sound like good news to supporters of the law, Arizona may not be able to afford lost business with its number one trading partner. What do you think? Are the the boycotts a good idea? Will Arizona change course? And will the international outcry move the U.S. Congress to tackle immigration reform?
What is memory made of?
Journalist Terry McDermott spent two years observing larger-than-life neuroscientist Gary Lynch and his quest to understand the structure and processes of human memory. In 101 Theory Drive- a book named after the address of Lynch's UC Irvine laboratory- McDermott chronicles Lynch's turbulent research breakthroughs and setbacks, as well as his discovery of a class of drugs that could treat Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ADHD. Terry McDermott talks with Larry Mantle about one scientist's obsessive drive to uncover the biochemical workings of memory.
Terry McDermott will appear with neuroscientist Gary Lynch at the Los Angeles Public Library in the Mark Taper Auditorium tonight, Wednesday, April 28, at 7 pm.
Guest:
Terry McDermott, author of 101 Theory Drive: A Neuroscientist's Quest for Memory (Knopf Doubleday). He is a former national reporter for the Los Angeles Times whose other books include Perfect Soldiers: The 9/11 Hijackers- Who They Were, Why They Did It.
Tough tarmac delay rule goes into effect Thursday
Attention airline passengers: your complaining has paid off. Starting tomorrow, the nation’s new tarmac delay rule goes into effect. If (when?), domestic flights are delayed beyond three hours, airlines will be fined up to $27,500 per stranded passenger. Carriers will also be required to provide food and water for passengers within two hours. There were nearly 900 ground delays of at least three hours between February 2009 and February 2010, according to the latest government figures. Airlines including Delta, American and Continental have requested certain exceptions. So far, these requests have been denied and transportation secretary Ray LaHood is promising strong enforcement. Passenger advocate groups are cheering, but airlines warn there may be more cancelled flights as a result. Can cash-strapped airlines afford this? Will it be an improvement for travelers? Or might it cause even more travel nightmares?
Guest:
Michael Cintron, Director for Consumer and Travel Industry Affairs, for the International Airline Passengers Association
Amy Cohn, Assistant Professor, Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan, College of Engineering
Craig Robinson’s got game: OSU coach—and brother to Michelle Obama—reflects on life and basketball
During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Barack wasn’t the only Obama at center stage. Michelle Obama stumped around the country, talking about her childhood on the South side of Chicago, and how thanks to her hardworking parents, she and her brother graduated to Ivy League schools and prestigious jobs. Now, Craig Robinson shares his memories of that same childhood, his early memories of Barack—including an on-the-court interview—and why he left a lucrative banking career to become head coach of Oregon State University’s basketball program in his memoir, A Game of Character.
Guest:
Craig Robinson, author of A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago’s Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond (Gotham Books); he is also the Oregon State men’s basketball coach and brother of First Lady Michelle Obama.