Broadcom backdating. An update from Copenhagen. Best LA theatre of 2009. Then, how did Oral Roberts change the face of Protestantism? Teenage binge drinking. Later, Michael Shermer and Dinesh D'Souza debate the likelihood of life after death.
Broadcom fraud charges dismissed
Tuesday, a federal judge threw out stock fraud charges against Broadcom's co-founder and former CEO, Henry T. Nicholas III. The judge also dismissed a civil lawsuit the SEC filed against Broadcom and called the government's pursuit of the executives "shameful and contrary to American values of decency and justice." Has justice been served? Is the backdating of stock options a viable and justified action by billion-dollar companies like Broadcom?
Guests:
Scott Reckard, Business reporter, LA Times
Prof. Charles Elson, Professor of Corporate Governance, Lerner College of Business & Economics University of Delaware
Copenhagen protests & progress
More than 200 protesters were arrested outside the climate talks yesterday. This, shortly after Connie Hedegaard, the Danish president of the conference, resigned. Is there any good news, or dare we dream, progress? Larry gets the latest from KQED’s Rob Schmitz who’s covering the historic talks in Copenhagen.
Guest:
Rob Schmitz, KQED reporter in Copenhagen
Theatre roundup
Larry Mantle and theatre critics Don Shirley of LAStageBlog.com and Steven Leigh Morris of the L.A. Weekly review the major stage productions around Southern California, and re-cap the year’s best in theatre.
Guests:
Don Shirley writes the LAStageWatch column for LAStageBlog.com
Steven Leigh Morris, critic at large for the L.A. Weekly
Is teenage binge drinking on the rise?
Overall, teen drinking seems to be down, but binge drinking is another story. On Saturday, a South Pasadena student leader died after attending a party, apparently due to alcohol poisoning. Friends and family will remember the teen, who would have celebrated his 18th birthday Monday, in a memorial walk tonight. How common is binge drinking among older teens? Why is it on the rise? And what cans parents and teens do to monitor risky behavior?
Guests:
Lloyd Johnston, researcher at the University of Michigan and principal investigator of the "Monitoring the Future Study," which looked at teenage substance abuse nationwide
Renee Zito, director of the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs
Oral Roberts dies
Evangelist Oral Roberts died Tuesday at the age of 91. Larry Mantle discusses his life, legacy and his effect on the Protestant church.
Life: Is that all there is?
We’re all going to die. But what happens after that? The question has perplexed scientists, philosophers and people of faith since time immemorial. In recent years, atheists have used reason to “prove” that life after death is merely a naïve notion. Now, bestselling author Dinesh D’Souza argues that it’s not only logical, but likely. Professional skeptic, Michael Shermer remains unconvinced. Larry hosts a debate between the two, while they’re still verifiably alive.
Guests:
Dinesh D’Souza, author, Life After Death: The Evidence (Regnery)
Michael Shermer, Executive Director of the Skeptics Society; monthly columnist for Scientific American.