New York dam cyber attack, the Oxford English Dictionary's request for favorite SoCal words and TGI-FilmWeek!

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Weighing the probability of U.S. infrastructure vulnerability after servers were infiltrated at a small dam in New York; The Oxford English Dictionary is asking for suggestions on which SoCal words to add to its list; and KPCC film critics weigh in on this week's releases and whether actors should play roles that are true to their ethnicity.

New York dam cyber attack, the Oxford English Dictionary's request for favorite SoCal words and TGI-FilmWeek!

Weighing the probability of U.S. infrastructure vulnerability after servers were infiltrated at a small dam in New York; The Oxford English Dictionary is asking for suggestions on which SoCal words to add to its list; and KPCC film critics weigh in on this week's releases and whether actors should play roles that are true to their ethnicity.

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Weighing the probability of U.S. infrastructure vulnerability after servers were infiltrated at a small dam in New York; The Oxford English Dictionary is asking for suggestions on which SoCal words to add to its list; and KPCC film critics weigh in on this week's releases and whether actors should play roles that are true to their ethnicity.

New York dam cyber attack raises fears of US infrastructure vulnerability

Yesterday the Justice Department indicted seven Iranian computers specialists for allegedly infiltrating the servers of a small dam in New York and close to 50 financial institutions including Bank of America and the New York Stock Exchange.

Federal investigators claim that one of the men was able to repeatedly gain access to computers controlling key systems of the dam located only 29 miles from Manhattan. At the time in 2013, the dam was disconnected to the facility’s computer, but had it been operational, the hacker would have been able to control both water level and flow rate.

Breaches of some of the largest banks and financial groups in the country are estimated to have cost millions of dollars.

Though the indictment did not specifically allege the Iranian government of directing the attacks, it indicated that the suspected attackers worked as computer contractors for the Iranian government. The charges are bringing attention to the risk of terrorist groups like ISIS targeting critical infrastructure from the power grid to oil and water pipelines.

According to Dell Security, attacks against industrial control systems more than doubled between 2013 and 2014 from about 160 thousand to 675 thousand. Given the unlikelihood that the Iranian government would allow the US to extradite the suspects to the US, the move by the Justice Department is seems as part of a symbolic plan to “name and shame” cyber-attackers. The charges come only months after a landmark deal was negotiated between the US, Iran, and several other nations over Iran’s nuclear program, which led to the removal of economic sanctions that crippled the country for decades.

What do we know about the involvement of the Iranian government in the attacks? What will the charges mean for the recent thaw in relations between the US and Iran? What kinds of infrastructure are considered critical? What kind of damage could be inflicted by breaches of these systems? Just how close are terrorists to causing what has been described as a “cyber-Pearl Harbor”?  And how prepared is the US to detect and recover from these smart grid infiltrations?

Guests:

Jason Healey,  Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, and Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council  

Kim Zetter,  Senior staff writer, "Wired";  Author, "Countdown to Zero Day: Stuxnet and the Launch of the World's First Digital Weapon"

Why California is holding off on BPA labels and why it’s irritated public health groups

(Ellen Knickmeyer | AP) California plans to delay state-required warnings on metal cans lined with the chemical BPA, arguing too-specific warnings could scare stores and shoppers in poor neighborhoods away from some of the only fruits and vegetables available — canned ones, officials said Thursday.

Instead, the state on May 11 will require stores to post general warnings at checkout counters about the dangers of BPA and note that some canned and bottled products being sold have liners with the toxic chemical.The decision and rationale of the California Environmental Protection Agency are angering some community and public-health groups.

Read the full story here.

Guests:

Allan Hirsch, chief deputy director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, the state agency that monitors and evaluates risks posed to public health by hazardous substances

Michael Green, founder and executive director of the Center for Environmental Health, an Oakland-based organization championing Proposition 65

SigAlert, Valley girl, PCH… Oxford Dictionary wants your favorite SoCal words

The Oxford English Dictionary is looking to expand on its current list of 150 California-originated words. Submissions could be words that are used locally, words that were coined In Southern California and have gained popularity across the nation, or, they can also be a common word that has taken on a new meaning. Zinfandel, West Coast and Cal-Mex are a few examples of words that have deep roots in California.

Here’s a short list of some of the best suggestions from AirTalk listeners:

Got a good suggestion? Click here to submit your word to the Oxford English Dictionary.

Help us build a

supplement to the

! Submit your favorite words at

Hollywood is a Verb

— Library Foundation (@LibraryFoundLA)

Help us build a #SoCal supplement to the #OED! Submit your favorite words at https://t.co/HVOSz9KVfV pic.twitter.com/9jYOC8L70F

— Library Foundation of Los Angeles (@LibraryFoundLA) March 21, 2016

Guest:

Ken Brecher, president of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles

FilmWeek: ‘Batman v. Superman,’ ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2’ and more

Patt Morrison and KPCC film critics Justin Chang and Tim Cogshell review this week’s new movie releases including the self-explanatory “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” the next generation, Nia Vardalos comedy “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2,” Ethan Hawke as Chet Baker in “Born to be Blue,” a baseball documentary narrated by Kevin Costner called “Fastball” and more.

TGI-FilmWeek!

Justin's Hits:

• "Born to be Blue"
• "Mountains May Depart"

Tim's Hits:

• "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2"
• "Born to be Blue"
• "Mountains May Depart"
• "Lolo"
• "Fastball"

This week's misses:

• "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice"
• "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2"
• "I Saw the Light"
• "Get a Job"

Guests:

Tim Cogshell, Film Critic for KPCC and Alt-Film Guide; Tim tweets from

Justin Chang, film critic for KPCC and chief film critic for "Variety;" he tweets from

Hollywood’s casting controversy: Should actors play roles that are true to their ethnicity?

Authentic casting is a hot topic in Hollywood.

With upcoming movies such as “Nina” with Zoe Saldana, an Afro-Latin actress playing Nina Simone, and British actor, Alfred Molina, playing an Afghan politician in “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot,” critics are asking why actors with the same ethnicities of these characters were overlooked.

Casting actors of a different ethnicity than their characters was the norm in early Hollywood. In the 1940’s English actor, Rex Harrison, played the king in “Anna and the King of Siam” and Viennese-American actress, Hedy Lamarr, played an Egyptian-Arab in “White Cargo.”

Today, casting decisions regarding ethnicity are not as far-off, but star power still rules when it comes to filling leading roles - even if performers don’t fit the ethnic backgrounds of characters to a tee.

To combat the diversity crisis Hollywood, studios are taking the leap to make movies with a wider range of roles for actors of different ethnicities, but the challenges of a more inclusive entertainment industry go beyond the decision to make a biopic about Nina Simone.

Avy Kaufman has worked as the casting director for numerous films such as “Lincoln” and “Brokeback Mountain.” She also cast English-Indian Actress Sarita Choudhury for the role of a Saudi doctor in the upcoming film, “A Hologram for the King,” with Tom Hanks.

Kaufman joined Patt Morrison and FilmWeek critics, Justin Chang and Tim Cogshell, to talk about factors that go into casting and the challenges of putting actors in roles that reflect their ethnicity. Here are some highlights of their conversation:

During the discussion, Kaufman spoke about the audience’s ability to dive in to a film without letting the actor’s ethnicity overshadow the story.

Kaufman also commended Zoe Saldana for taking on the role of Nina Simone.

On the subject of the film, “Nina,” Tim Cogshell says Saldana’s performance isn’t the issue in question, but having a lighter-skinned Afro-Latina actress play Simone cannot be ignored, especially within the Black community.

After watching “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot,” Justin Chang says he didn’t recognize American actor, Christopher Abbot, who played a character who was Afghani. He credits this “suspension of disbelief” to Abbot’s acting skills, but wasn’t pleased to discover the part wasn’t played by an Afghani actor.

Guests:

Avy Kaufman, Casting Director, “A Hologram for the King,”  “Lincoln,” “Brokeback Mountain” and many more

Justin Chang, film critic for KPCC and chief film critic for "Variety;" he tweets from

Tim Cogshell, Film Critic for KPCC and Alt-Film Guide; Tim tweets from