Does Michael Vick deserve a second chance? Accidents on the slopes raise concerns about safety & etiquette. Brown budget: are you willing to share the pain? Euphemania - Our Love Affair with Euphemisms. Surprising, scandalous & most bizarre lawsuits of the year. Plus, the latest news.
Does Michael Vick deserve a second chance?
A conversation between President Obama and Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, focused primarily on what the Eagles have done on behalf of green energy, has animal rights activists up in arms. Why? During the conversation President Obama took time to commend Lurie on giving Michael Vick a second chance. The President expressed his belief that those who have served their time and been released deserve to be re-welcomed into society and allowed to rebuild their old lives. Many animal rights activists are furious at the notion that Vick be allowed to play professional football again. They argue that if Vick was not a star football player he would not get this second chance. Does everyone deserve a second chance? Or are some crimes unforgiveable? Is it time for a national discussion about prisoner rehabilitation?
Guest:
David Weigel, Slate political reporter
Accidents on the slopes raise concerns about safety & etiquette
There’s another storm making its way through the Southland that’s expected to drop lots of fresh snow on the mountains. If you’re a skier, this is probably good news. But recent accidents are raising concerns about safety on the slopes. On Christmas Eve, a 23-year old snowboarder collided with a 5-year old girl on skis in Wyoming. Both died in the tragic accident and the girl’s mother was seriously injured. On Monday, a snowboarder died after crashing into trees at a ski resort in Wrightwood, California. Could these accidents have been prevented? The subject of slope safety is an emotional and divisive one. Many skiers report having bad experiences with snowboarders, who, they say, lack respect and control on the slopes. On the other hand, the snowboarding phenomenon has brought great life to the industry and its popularity is undeniable. Are the dynamics between skiers and snowboarders part of the problem? What should be done to improve safety? Should there be special rules for kids or are these sports just too risky for children?
Guests:
Sam Bass, editor at Skiing Magazine
Dave Byrd, Director of Education and Risk, National Ski Areas Association (NSAA)
Brown budget: are you willing to share the pain?
Jerry Brown fought hard to get his old job back, but now that he’s got it, one might ask, why would anyone want it? California is facing a whopping $28-billion budget shortfall. So what’s on the table? Brown’s blueprint is starting to take form: cut some of everybody’s spending projects and raise taxes. He’s even pledged to cut his own budget by 25 percent. In other words, swiftly—but equitably—irk everybody. Are California’s politicians and the electorate ready for this? And are you willing to pay more in taxes and receive fewer services, if that’s what has to be done to get the state’s financial house in order?
Guests:
Shane Goldmacher, staff writer for the LA Times based in Sacramento
Stephen Levy, Director of the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy
Surprising, scandalous & most bizarre lawsuits of the year
It’s known in popular culture as the “hot coffee lawsuit.” But the famous 1994 case, in which a New Mexico jury awarded a 79-year-old woman $2.86 million in damages after she burned herself with hot McDonalds coffee, is officially known as Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants. This year, brought its own share of seemingly bizarre lawsuits, such as the man in Florida who was sued for defamation for posting a critical review on eBay. And the Utah woman who sued Google for providing an “unsafe” walking map that, she argues, resulted in her getting hit by a car. Are these examples of a legal system gone mad? Or are these suits more legitimate than they seem? Have you ever been the victim of an over-the-top lawsuit?
Guests:
Larry Rosenthal, Professor of Law at Chapman School of Law
John Eastman, Former Dean and Professor, Chapman University School of Law; Founding Director, Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
Why we use euphemisms and what they say about our culture
Kick the bucket. Bun in the oven. Powder your nose. Euphemisms have been with us forever and they aren't going away any time soon. Where did they come from? Did you know that euphemisms originally became widely used as a clever way to avoid blasphemy? In his new book, Euphemania, author Ralph Keyes traces the origins of euphemisms from a tool of the church to a form of gentility to today's instrument of commercial, political, and postmodern doublespeak. Equal parts social commentary and fodder for word lovers, Euphemania, explores our power over words and their power over us. Why do we use euphemisms? What do they say about us? Have you used euphemisms to get away with blasphemous or anti-social ideas?
Guest:
Ralph Keyes, author of Euphemania - Our Love Affair with Euphemisms (Little, Brown and Company)