Larry talks about newly detected tremors on the San Andreas fault. And, is there a need for a new federal stimulus package? Larry also gets all the latest Orange County news, reviews the week's new films and discusses the life of Lena Horne.
Mysterious tremors
UC Berkeley seismologists have detected a series of mysterious tremors on a section of the San Andreas Fault that produced a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 1857. The researchers studied seismic activity near San Luis Obispo and detected unusual vibrations that occur deep below the earth’s surface. These vibrations are typically connected to volcanoes, not earthquakes, but the research team recorded unusually strong rumblings before an earthquake in 2004. Larry talks with the lead seismologist on the study about these newly discovered tremors and how predictive they might be of earthquakes on the famed San Andreas Fault.
Robert Nadeau, Assistant Research Seismologist at the UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory
Is the stimulus stimulating?
According to Robert Nabors, deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, the job loss rate is slowing – even though June saw a loss of 467,000 jobs. Other indicators such as durable goods are on an up turn. Yet the daunting numbers are leaving Americans wondering if the $787 billion stimulus plan is actually stimulating the economy. Though there isn't any official discussion about a second stimulus plan, there are some murmurs. Larry talks to Neil Irwin of The Washington Post and listeners about the mixed bag of economic indicators.
Neil Irwin, National Economy Correspondent for The Washington Post
Orange County journalists roundtable
Larry Mantle talks with Gustavo Arellano, OC Weekly staff writer, and Orange County journalist William Lobdell about the latest news events and developments in Orange County.
Gustavo Arellano, staff writer for the OC Weekly, and author of "Ask A Mexican"
William Lobdell, Orange County journalist formerly with the L.A. Times, and author of "Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America - and Found Unexpected Peace"
FilmWeek
Larry Mantle talks with KPCC film critics Claudia Puig of USA Today and Andy Klein of Brand X about the week’s new film releases including Bruno, I Love You Beth Cooper, Blood: The Last Vampire, Weather Girl, Soul Power, An Unlikely Weapon, and Herb and Dorothy.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
Andy Klein, Brand X
The life of Lena Horne
In James Gavin's new biography "Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne," (Atria Books, 2009) he outlines the life of an icon. Though Horne was reluctant to adopt the title, the singer-actress paved the way for African Americans. At a time when African American actors were overlooked for serious roles, Horne worked hard to fight the color barrier. Known for her roles in the films "Cabin in the Sky" and "Stormy Weather" Horne played Glinda the Good Witch in "The Wiz" and continued to act well into the 1980s. Now at 92, Lena Horne is known as a recluse, but remembered as a trail blazer. Larry Mantle speaks to James Gavin about the life and times of Lena Horne.
James Gavin, author of "Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne"