Romney pulls one out in Illinois, winning 7 to 1 against Rick Santorum. Bed bugs jump in Los Angeles. Online dating services agree to screen sex offenders – what should individuals do to protect themselves? Paul Ryan releases a republican budget blueprint, we'll explain the GOP's plan. Employers want access to your Facebook profiles and require your account password.
Romney pulls one out!
In the seemingly never-ending GOP primary race, which is arguably at the same position today as it was before it even started, we come to our newest battleground. Last night, the state of Illinois voted in a primary for their choice as the Republican candidate for president, and Mitt Romney finally won a decisive victory.
Rick Santorum, who is positioning himself as the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, had a lot riding on this, and now he has even more at stake in the next few contests. While he most likely won’t be able to overtake Romney in actual delegates, he may be able to stay competitive to the point of bringing the fight all the way to the floor of the Republican Convention in Tampa.
However, Mitt Romney is doing everything in his power to fend off such an event. He is reaching deep into his campaign coffers for advertising. In the days leading up to the Illinois primary, Romney outspent Santorum 7 to 1 in all of Illinois, and 21 to 1 in the greater Chicago area. This is a pattern that will most likely continue until Romney is the only man in the race.
How did the candidates fare across the state? What poll results surprised the pundits, or caused consternation for those running? Who won the night, both in the short and long term? Is the race coming to a close, or did it just get a little longer?
Guest:
Mark Barabak, Political Writer, Los Angeles Times
Bed bugs jump to Los Angeles
Once considered a New York phenomenon, the pesky critters have now been making their presence known in Los Angeles.
Bed bugs, which are actually tiny mites, are not really harmful, but they do leave itchy welts on skin as a result of drinking blood. They are persistent, hungry and very difficult to eradicate, often requiring several rounds of vacuuming carpets, drying clothes and spraying pesticides.
Data from the extermination company Orkin shows that bed bugs are thriving in L.A. Once 25th in number of bedbug infestations, the city now ranks fifth. Furthermore, the amount of bed bug cases has risen a drastic 33% in one year. Experts concede it may not be the warm weather and sunny beaches which attract bed bugs here, but just the fact that people are traveling now more than ever.
Orkin recommends inspecting mattresses at hotels, as well as your luggage, where the pests regularly set up shop. Then, stay vigilant by keeping used luggage away from your bed and immediately throwing your clothes in the dryer on high.
WEIGH IN:
Have you had an experience with bedbugs? How did you solve the problem? Was your landlord helpful with handling the problem, or did that become a nightmare as well? If you’re currently battling an infestation, how are you staying sane?
Guest:
Robert Kimsey, Entomologist at UC Davis
Online dating services to screen sex offenders – what should individuals do to protect themselves?
California’s Attorney General Kamala Harris announced a joint agreement yesterday with eHarmony, Match.com and Spark Networks, operators of websites such as JDate and ChristianMingle, that the online dating companies will screen subscribers against national sex offender registries and create a quick reporting system for members.
The new system, which has already been implemented, aims to ensure that any member who is identified as a registered sex offender will be barred from using the services. But obviously, there are still risks involved, as no system can be perfect. The onus still falls on the individual to protect his or her own self.
WEIGH IN:
What precautions do you take using these sites to ensure your safety? Do you have any tips for other users? What have you learned in your experience in online dating that has made you a better, and safer, dater?
Paul Ryan releases Republican budget blueprint
Last year, when Republican congressman from Wisconsin, Paul Ryan, released the GOP’s budget plan it was alternately lauded and loathed depending on which side of the aisle one sat. Democrats said the plan would effectively kill Medicare and made outsized projection on job growth. Republicans claimed the plan was a heroic effort to get spending under control.
Ryan’s latest plan doubles down on some of his previous proposals, like reducing taxes and simplifying the tax code. Under this plan there would be only two tax brackets instead of six among other reforms. Ryan stepped back a bit on Medicare. Last year’s plan would completely privatize Medicare and give individuals “premium support” to buy coverage on the open market. This year, seniors would have the option of staying on traditional Medicare or go to a private plan. There are also big cuts to education, transportation and social services.
Even though the Ryan plan has absolutely zero chance of being enacted, it will still make political waves. It shows a marked difference between the priorities of the two parties and shows that Republicans are offering alternatives to the Obama administration’s policies. But how effective would those policies be?
Who really has the right idea when it comes to the economic direction of the country? And, last year Paul Ryan and the republicans had a tough time weathering the “don’t kill Medicare” storm, how will they fare this year with a pared down proposal?
Guests:
Adam Schiff, Democratic Congressman representing California’s 29th District which includes Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, Glendale, Griffith Park, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena, Temple City
James Lankford, Republican Congressman from Oklahoma’s 5th District
Theodore Marmor, Professor Emeritus of Public Management and Political Science at Yale University and author of "Fads, Fallacies and Foolishness in Medical Care Management and Policy"
Mike Needham, CEO of Heritage Action, the advocacy arm of the Heritage Foundation
Employers want your Facebook password
Interviewers are starting to delve a little deeper into who you are by asking for your social networking passwords. While it is common practice for employers to search for applicants' public profiles, the claim of this new practice is to find out if someone is involved in illegal or unsavory activity. Looking into what most people consider their private life is crossing the line for some job seekers, though.
The practice, called "shoulder surfing," is more common in public agencies such as law enforcement. It has also expanded into education, as the University of North Carolina now requires that their student athletes "friend" at least one of their coaches in order to monitor potential policy violations. Orin Kerr, a George Washington University law professor, describes it as "akin to requiring someone's house keys," and "an egregious privacy violation."
Although shoulder surfing is against Facebook terms of service and considered a federal crime, recent testimony by the Department of Justice makes it clear that logging into someone else's account will not be prosecuted. A suggested alternative is logging into your own account, but that could still give a potential employer unwanted access. In today's job market, some may not feel they have the choice of refusing the intrusion, simply for the need of income.
Meanwhile, legislation intended to prevent public agencies from accessing social networks is starting to make its way through Illinois and Maryland, with others sure to follow.
WEIGH IN:
Would you be comfortable sharing your password with an interviewer? Does this interview tactic have merit for certain jobs, but not others? Would it make you, as an applicant, change anything about your online presence?
Guest:
Lewis Maltby, President, National WorkRights Institute