LAPD defends traffic cameras. Is it EVER ok to Google during dinner? Here comes the cap-and-trade - California style. What's hot and what's not in video games.
LAPD defends traffic cameras
Red-light cameras are effective at reducing traffic accidents, according to the LAPD. Assistant Chief Michael Moore told the police commission yesterday that intersections where the cameras were installed have seen a substantial reduction in accidents. But the department is losing money on the program--despite the hefty fines--because people aren't paying up. Is there a way to beef up enforcement and re-coop costs? Should the LA stop the program if it can't make it profitable?
Guests:
Michel Moore, Assistant Chief, Office of Special Operations, Los Angeles Police Department
Wendy Greuel, Los Angeles City Controller
Hamid Bahadori, Transportation policy expert, Auto Club of Southern California
Digital dining: is it EVER ok to Google during dinner?
The rules of table etiquette vary, but have a lot to do with the appropriate use of utensils. These days, the debate isn’t over which fork to use, but which – if any – digital device. Etiquette powerhouses like Emily Post argue for a total ban on cell phones at the dinner table. But what if a quick Google search could answer a burning question or save a burning meal? Perhaps smart phones or Ipads can enhance dinner conversation or even bring the family closer together through shared searches. How tall is Mount Kilimanjaro anyway? On the other hand, recent studies indicate that kids already spend 7 ½ hours a day staring at screens. And, one could argue, that the fine art of conversation is being replaced by texts and tweets. Should dinner be a sacred, digital-free zone? Or is it ok to Google during dinner?
Guest:
Bruce Feiler, author of NY Times article "Should You Google at Dinner?"; author of Walking the Bible and The Council of Dads
Here comes cap-and-trade – California style
The California Air Resources Board is set to vote tomorrow on whether to approve the cap-and-trade provisions at the heart of the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32). The program is designed to reduce greenhouse gasses in California to 1990 levels by 2020, by setting caps on the amount of carbon pollution large facilities can emit and requiring companies to buy permits to release those gases. The hope is that companies can reduce carbon pollution by using green technologies that emerge. Businesses could also buy offsets, such as planting trees, to counteract the pollution they create. Critics warn that the new rules will lead to “leakage” – regulation-induced exodus of businesses from California. But recent studies indicate that the economic impact on the state will be minimal, with net benefits in the long-term. Is California ready for this sweeping climate strategy? How will the program work? Will big polluters find greener ways to operate?
Guests:
Molly Peterson, KPCC’s environment reporter
Gary Gero, President, Climate Action Reserve
Dorothy Rothrock, Vice President of Government Relations, California Manufacturers and Technology Association (CMTA); founding member of AB 32 Implementation Group
Call of Duty: Black Ops, Halo: Reach, Donkey Kong Country Returns - what’s hot & what’s not in video games?
Video games these days have something for everyone. There are plenty of offerings for the warriors among us. For more light-hearted adventure, there are offerings like “Donkey Kong Country Returns.” “NBA 2K11” scores points with sports fans. And platforms like Nintendo’s Wii allow gamers to swing into untethered action. Want to dance? Try “Dance Central” for the Xbox Kinect. It does away with controllers altogether—the game reads our physical movements. What are the most exciting video games out there? What platforms offer the most versatility? What are the best holiday buys for the gamer in your life?
Guests:
Dan Ackerman, Senior Editor at CNET
Jason Schreier, writer for Wired.com's gaming blog, Game|Life