China has become the world's top trader. In the US, new employment numbers have been released. Why don't the job numbers match optimism from economists of late? A new California law bans bare hand contact with ready to eat foods. How will chefs respond to this new law? Later, can movies shift your political attitudes?
Economic roundup: China crowned top trader, Target security breach swells, employment numbers confuse
China has long been a major exporter on the world market, but its increase in imports in 2013 add up to the country usurping the U.S. as the biggest trader of goods in the world, according to the Financial Times and figures released by Beijing.
The country's annual trade topped $4 trillion - despite its export growth slowing through last year. The new figures come after billionaire investor George Soros warned last week that China’s future is the “major uncertainty” facing the global economy.
On the flipside, one uncertainty facing China is consumer behavior in the U.S. New employment numbers out today are not inspiring huge confidence. While preliminary data shows a welcome decrease in unemployment from 7 percent in November to 6.7 percent in December, analysts say a major driver was the number of Americans who stopped looking for work.
New jobs showed just a slight uptick of 74,000 jobs added last month.Why don't the job numbers match optimism from economists of late? What fed China's growth in trade last year? And what are the reverberations of its new position?
Guests:
Phillip Izzo, economics reporter at the Wall Street Journal
William Yu, economist that specializes on Chinese trade issues at the UCLA Anderson Forecast, which provides economic analysis for business, government and the academic community
New rule requires sushi chefs to wear gloves. Do you approve?
A new addition to the California Retail Food Code bans restaurant workers from handling ready-to-eat food with bare hands. This includes sushi chefs, deli workers, or anyone preparing food that will not be cooked or reheated.
Instead, workers are now required to wear gloves or use utensils. Local health departments are responsible for enforcing the new law, which went into effect at the start of this year. However, because many local health department have not done adequate outreach on the issue, the law will have a soft roll out for the first six months of 2014.
Establishments found in violation of the law will receive a warning.
There is an opportunity for restaurants to apply for an exception to the rule, as long as they're not serving a "highly susceptible population," and obtain approval from a local health department.
The application for approval includes identification of foods touched by bare hands, documentation of employee training in proper hand washing, prevention of cross-contamination, a written health plan and documentation that employees use added measures to prevent contamination.
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Will this reduce food contamination and the spread of disease? How will chefs respond to the new law, especially those who handle foods constantly?
Guests:
Professor Michael Roberts, Executive Director of the UCLA Law Resnick Program on Food Law and Policy
Raymond Graham, Assistant Manager of Dog Haus
Hot coffee! McDonald's faces another lawsuit 20 years after the original
The story goes like this - a woman orders coffee from McDonald's, spills it on herself, sues the restaurant and becomes an overnight millionaire. In the early 1990s, the case of Liebeck vs. McDonald's became legendary as an example of the frivolity of American lawsuits. The reality of what actually happened to Ms. Liebeck became lost in late night jokes and media headlines.
Now, 20 years later another lawsuit has been filed by a Los Angeles woman who says she had hot coffee spilled on her at a McDonald's drive-through when the lid to the cup was not secured properly. Paulette Carr is seeking unspecified monetary damages in the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
How similar are the two cases? How has tort law changed in the two decades since the 1994 decision made it the punchline of jokes? Why was the original Liebeck vs. McDonald's case so misrepresented?
Guests:
Ken Wagner, attorney in Albuquerque, NM who represented Stella Liebeck in the original case.
Adam Zimmerman, professor of law at Loyola Law School
Filmweek: The Legend of Hercules, Cold Comes the Night, The Truth About Emanuel and more
Larry and KPCC film critics Andy Klein and Alynda Wheat review this week’s releases, including The Legend of Hercules, Cold Comes the Night, The Truth About Emanuel and more. TGI-Filmweek!
The Legend of Hercules
Cold Comes the Night
The Truth About Emanuel
Guests:
Alynda Wheat, film critic for KPCC and People
Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC and the L.A. Times Community Papers chain
Can films change our political attitudes?
Blockbuster films can make lasting impacts on our political attitudes, according to recent research.
A University of Notre Dame study published last month found that viewers who watched a movie with a health care-related message—in this case Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Rainmaker” or James L. Brooks’ “As Good As It Gets,” saw their support for the Affordable Care Act increase.
The findings build on other research demonstrating film’s impact on public opinion. “The Day After Tomorrow” changed minds about global warming, one study found. “The Cider House Rules” shifted opinions on abortion, according to another. “All The President’s Men” impacted the public’s view of the press along partisan lines.
What movies have you seen that changed your mind on a political issue? How effective can message films be? How does film’s political influence compare to that of news reports or advertisements?
AirTalk listeners shared lots of examples of films that changed their minds or shaped their perspectives on political and social issues. What do you think of the titles--listed below--that they mentioned?
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
A Better Life (2011)
Sophie’s Choice (1982)
John Q (2001)
Dead Man Walking (1995)
Girl in the Café (2005)
Boys in the Band (1970)
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? (1967)
Network (1976)
Blood Diamond (2006)
The Corner mini-series (2000)
Sicko (2007)
Gran Torino (2008)
Billy Jack (1971)
Guests:
Kenneth Mulligan, professor of political science at Southern Illinois University
Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC and the L.A. Times Community Papers chain
Alynda Wheat, film critic for KPCC and People