Comcast-NBC Universal to merge; Tiger Watch; latest news from the OC; economics columnist Justin Fox doubts that markets can regulate themselves; and MOCA celebrates it's 30th anniversary.
Comcast and NBC tie the knot
Sold! The country’s largest cable company is getting into the network biz. Comcast announced this morning it’s buying a controlling portion of NBC, giving the cable operator power over one-fifth of all U.S. viewing hours. The 30-billion-dollar deal includes control of Universal Pictures Studios in Hollywood and the Universal Studios theme park in Universal City. Is Comcast overreaching? What impact will this have on network, cable and web programming?
Guest:
Jon Friedman, Media columnist for MarketWatch
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, Media Editor for the Financial Times
What does Tiger Woods owe us?
The flurry of media attention surrounding Tiger Woods' prowling—his car accident and alleged affairs—is peppered with references to Tiger's "squeaky clean image" and role model status. Beyond the usual celebrity intrigue, many people seem personally offended by Tiger's "transgressions." Do we have realistic expectations for our public figures? What do celebrities owe us in their personal behavior?
Orange Country Journalists Roundtable
Larry talks with Gustavo Arellano, OC Weekly staff writer, OC journalist William Lobdell and Teri Sforza, staff writer for the Orange County Register about the latest news events and developments in Orange County.
Guests:
Gustavo Arellano, staff writer for the OC Weekly and author of "Ask A Mexican"
William Lobdell, co-publisher of the Newport-Mesa Daily Voice, an online local paper; and author of "Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America - and Found Unexpected Peace"
Teri Sforza, Staff Writer for the Orange County Register
Risk, reward, and delusion on Wall Street
The financial crisis gripping global markets was unleashed in part because investors in mortgage securities thought they knew what they were doing and that prices set for securities accurately reflected the risks at stake. The theory that markets behave logically, is rooted in early 20th century ideas from physics and mathematics that trickled into economics. The premise soon traveled beyond the stock market to other securities and especially to derivatives. But Justin Fox, TIME magazine’s economics columnist, challenges the notion that markets can regulate themselves. Fox joins Larry in studio to discuss his new book, "The Myth of the Rational Market."
Guest:
Justin Fox, author of "The Myth of the Rational Market: A History of Risk, Reward, and Delusion on Wall Street" (HarperBusiness). He is the TIME editor-at-large and economics columnist and writes the popular Time.com blog The Curious Capitalist
Happy 30th birthday, MOCA
This year marks the 30th anniversary of LA's Museum of Contemporary Art. To celebrate, MOCA is showcasing works from its permanent collection. Local art lovers breathed sighs of relief last year when the museum received a personal bailout from Eli Broad. How are area museums faring in this economic climate?
Guest:
Paul Schimmel, Chief Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Los Angeles