Howard Dean to Senate: your health bill is worthless. We talk with Avatar director James Cameron; all the latest news from Orange County; and, walking the line between fun and embarrassment at holiday office parties. Later, "Trade-Off" author Kevin Maney highlights products that strike the perfect balance between quality and convenience.
Dean says, let Senate health bill fail
President Obama likes the Senate health care compromise and is urging lawmakers to pass it before Christmas. Howard Dean disagrees. The former Democratic National Committee chairman says without the public option or Medicare buy-in, the watered-down bill should be killed, adding, "This is a bigger bailout for the insurance industry than AIG." Is a flawed bill better than no reform at all? Or is it time to pull the plug?
Guest:
Shana Alex Lavarreda, Director of Health Insurance Studies at the UCLA Center for Health Policy
Avatar: James Cameron returns
From the "Terminator," to "Aliens," to "Titanic," American filmmaker James Cameron is an institution in Hollywood. His latest film, "Avatar," promises to be a technological tour-de-force, with new 3D computer effects for a high-concept science fiction film. Larry talks to Cameron about his influences and movies.
Guest:
James Cameron, writer and director of Avatar; Oscar-winning director of "Titanic"
Orange County journalists' roundtable
Larry talks with Gustavo Arellano, OC Weekly staff writer and OC journalist William Lobdell 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"
Drinking at office parties
It's that time of year again. The holidays are approaching and companies are holding holiday office parties. It's a great time to enjoy food, socialize with co-workers and have a drink. Or is it? Drinking too much can result in embarrassing and career-compromising behavior. On the other hand, isn't it okay to let loose? Larry asks KPCC's listeners: how much is too much at the company party?
Trade-off: why some things catch on and others don't
Why did camera phones become so popular? Why are Internet TV shows barely present? What's the appeal of iPods and Walmart? With all products, there's a trade-off between quality and convenience. In "Trade Off," writer Kevin Maney looks at the American consumer's relationship with these two conflicting forces and examines how they shaped the relative success or failures of different products.
Guest:
Kevin Maney, author of "Trade-Off: Why Some Things Catch on and Others Don't" (Crown)