The tragedy in Venice Beach is sparking possible new safety measures. What do you think should be done? Then, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner is in rehab for two weeks. Will the treatment actually help him? Next, what does your messy or clean workspace say about you? Then, would closing Fannie and Freddie help homebuyers? Next, are doctors over treating back problems? Last, beer consumption in the US is dropping. Are you drinking more wine than beer?
Venice Beach tragedy sparks new safety measures
In the wake of the deadly crash on the Venice boardwalk, the Los Angeles City Council has moved to install temporary traffic barriers to prevent cars from driving onto the Ocean Front Walk as they look for a permanent solution.
There are nearly 30 streets and alleys connected to the Venice boardwalk and some of them lack any kind of traffic barriers. On Saturday, a man maneuvered around fours poles on Dudley Avenue in Venice and drove a sedan onto the boardwalk, killing an Italian tourist and injuring 12 others. He turned himself in an hour after the rampage.
City Councilman Mike Bonin says it’s way too easy for cars to get on the Venice boardwalk as things currently stand and says there are 15 to 20 close calls a day. The council has given city officials 14 days to come back with additional safety proposals for the boardwalk.
Guest:
Mike Bonin, Los Angeles City Councilman for District 11, which includes Venice
What is 'intensive therapy' for sexual harassment offenders?
With nearly a dozen sexual-harassment accusers going public, embattled San Diego Mayor Bob Filner has begun a two-week, "intensive" therapy program. Filner has admitted wrongdoing, but refuses to resign and wants the city of San Diego to pay his legal fees. From colleagues to constituents to passing acquaintances, 11 women allege he made unwanted sexual advances, some included groping and kissing. Laura Fink, a former deputy campaign manager for Filner, is skeptical of the rehabilitation treatment saying, "It is highly doubtful that two weeks of therapy will correct for decades of reprehensible behavior." Therapists concede it's a difficult process that does not work for everyone.
How do experts define this type of harassment? Is it about sex or power or a lack of empathy? Or all of the above and more? What are the stages of treatment? How can a perpetrator confront denial while navigating legal battles?
Guest:
Robert Weiss, Clinical Social Worker and Founding Director of the Sexual Recovery Institute, which counsels people with a variety of problems, including sexual harassment offenders.
What does a clean or cluttered workspace say about you?
We want to see your workspaces! Message us a pic on Facebook or tweet us at .
Is a messy desk a sign of genius or merely a sign of a messy desk? It’s probably somewhere in between, say researchers at the University of Minnesota.
According to new studies published in the journal Psychological Science, disorderly environments can represent a break from tradition, which can in turn inspire more creativity. But before you start throwing office files about, there are perks to being neat and orderly too.
It turns out people who keep their desks organized, are more likely to be charitable and to eat better. Why? Well, being in a clean room seemed to encourage people to do what was expected of them, explains psychological scientist Kathleen Vohs.
What else do our desks say about us? Can altering our environment, improve our performance? Will this data lead to greater understanding or spark bigger battles between co-workers with different styles?
Guest:
Kathleen Vohs, co-author of Carlson School study, Consumer Scientist and Professor of Marketing at the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota
Would closing Fannie & Freddie help or hurt homebuyers?
It’s been almost five years since the federal government bailed out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, costing taxpayers $187.5 billion. With the housing market on the mend, President Obama says it's now time to wind down the two mortgage giants and for private investors to take on a bigger role. Obama made his remarks on Tuesday in Arizona, a state that was hit very hard by the housing bubble in 2007 and 2008, leading to a wave of foreclosures. The approach Obama endorsed this week mirrors a bipartisan Senate bill that would minimize the government’s role in the U.S. mortgage finance market. “For too long, these companies were allowed to make big profits buying mortgages, knowing that if their bets went bad, taxpayers would be left holding the bag,” Obama said. “It was heads we win, tails you lose. And it was wrong.”
But is private lending the best solution? Should Fannie and Freddie, which own or insure 2/3 of U.S. home loans, be shuttered or reformed? What should the fed’s role be in home buying?
Guest:
Clea Benson, Housing Policy Reporter, Bloomberg News
MRIs, opiates, and complicated surgeries: Are we over-treating back problems?
A recent study by researchers at Harvard University found that doctors are increasingly eschewing best practices when treating those suffering from back pain. More and more, doctors are referring patients to surgery, suggesting expensive and potentially dangerous tests, and prescribing powerful pain medication, when most know that back pain is most effectively treated with ice, rest, rehabilitation, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. Back pain is an $86 billion business in the United States, and a better understanding of how we’re treating back pain and why could lead to cost savings as well as cutting the risk of unnecessary prescriptions and surgeries.
Why are doctors over-prescribing a cure for something sufferers know has no quick fix? Do you suffer from back pain? How do you handle it?
Guest:
Dr. John Mafi, M.D. , lead author of the study “Worsening Trends in the Management and Treatment of Back Pain” published in JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association
Americans are reaching for something other than a Bud
Beer has lost its place as America's favorite alcoholic beverage, according to a new poll. Gallup says Americans are just as likely to drink a cold brew as they are to order a glass of red or white. Two decades ago, 47 percent chose beer and only 27 percent wine. Those between 18- to 29-year-olds who are non-white are particularly embracing wine as booze of choice.
The beer industry has experienced a bifurcation in the last few years. On the one hand, sales for well-known entities like Budweiser, Bud Light and Miller Lite have seen a steep drop, but craft and craft-related brands have continued to see double-digit growth. Los Angeles seems to bear out this trend with new microbreweries cropping up every few months.
Are you drinking more wine than beer? What's your favorite beer? Are you an imported beer person, a domestic beer drinker, or a home-brew devotee?
Guests:
Jenny Zegler, beverage analyst at Mintel, a global market research firm
Tom McCormick, executive director of California Craft Brewers Association