Protests in Egypt become clashes in the street. Orange County Journalists Roundtable. Is ours the only universe? Egypt's turmoil continues. Director, writer and actor Kevin Smith talks about his controversial new film, Red State.
Protests in Egypt become clashes in the street
The protests in Egypt have escalated as Mubarak supporters and anti-government protesters clash in the streets. The U.S. State Department is now urging Americans who want help getting out of Egypt to "take advantage of U.S. government charter flights while they are available." There are now indications that reporters have been attacked by pro-government supporters. Most recently, the Egyptian Interior Ministry has allegedly arrested at least two dozen reporters, including two Washington Post staff members. What began as an uprising could very well deteriorate into a battle. With the chaos escalating in Egypt, hopes that this will be a quick transition are fading rapidly.
Guest:
Anthony Shadid, Baghdad bureau correspondent for the New York Times, currently in Cairo
Orange County Journalists Roundtable
Larry and our talented trio of Orange County journalists riff on the latest news from the OC including the fate of a shopping center on the beach in San Clemente, the lawsuit by residents of Sunset Beach to block its annexation by Huntington Beach, and the OC DA’s investigation that could lead to criminal charges against 11 students who interrupted a speech by the Israeli ambassador last year.
Guests:
Gustavo Arellano, Managing Editor of the OC Weekly and author of Ask A Mexican
William Lobdell, Orange County-based freelance journalist and columnist for the Daily Pilot in Newport Beach
Teri Sforza, Staff Writer for the Orange County Register
Is ours the only universe?
From recent theories developed to explain the behavior of subatomic particles and the dark recesses of space come the “multiverse” theory that proposes not one but an infinite number of universes. One might contain an infinite number of doppelgangers, one might be a huge sea of bubble universes or be made purely of mathematics. With wit and precision, physicist and science writer Brian Greene explores these parallel worlds and reveals how our concept of reality is challenged by their possible existence. How can fundamental science proceed if huge swaths of reality are outside of our reach?
Guest:
Brian Greene, author, The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos (Alfred A. Knopf)
Egypt turmoil continues
Omar Suleiman, a former intelligence chief in Mubarak's government who was appointed vice president last week, pleaded for patience in implementing reforms- but resolutely rejected opposition demands that President Hosni Mubarak leave power immediately. "The issue of stepping down is an alien philosophy to the ideology of the Egyptian people," Suleiman said. "We all respect the father, the leader." With protesters demanding Mubarak step down and Mubarak remaining in place, this sews the seeds for a lengthy stand off. A stand off in which, already, potentially dozens of reporters have been rounded up and detained, including Washington Post Cairo bureau chief Leila Fadel and Post photographer Linda Davidson. To discuss this matter we have two reporters on the ground in Egypt and one reporter who is currently being detained.
Guests:
Ned Parker, Los Angeles Times Baghdad Bureau Chief, currently in Cairo covering the situation in Egypt
Sonia Verma, reporter with The Globe and Mail, currently in Cairo
David Common, Correspondent with CBC News, in Cairo
Silent Bob has lots to say
Kevin Smith’s career has been wholly unconventional; starting with his first film, Clerks, which was produced for $27,000 and became a Generation X cult classic. In his latest film, Red State, the actor, writer, director gives us something altogether different. It’s been billed as a horror flick and while it does have some campy Friday the 13th-type plot nods (think teens seeking sexual adventure, find danger instead), it’s really about a Fred Phelps-like cult family that kills in the name of God. The film isn’t slated for wide release until October of this year. But it did take its first bow for critics at the Sundance Film Festival. There, the buzz was that Smith would auction off the film. Instead, he sold it to himself for $20, with the intention of distributing it himself to the masses. His plan is to take the actors on tour and sell tickets through word of mouth. One such event will take place at the Wiltern in Los Angeles on April 9th. Tickets for that go on sale February 4th. The movie was shot in four months and only cost $4-million to make, so Smith didn’t see any sense spending $20-million to advertise it. Will swearing off distributors pay off? Smith would like it to, but ultimately, Silent Bob says he’s happy just getting to do his own thing.
Guest:
Kevin Smith, actor, writer, director; His latest film is Red State