What have we learned about the Seal Beach shooting? A helping hand -- in the land of the drug-free. William Shatner – the busiest man in showbiz cuts a new album. Busting Out! busts up audiences.
Seal Beach tragedy may be linked to custody dispute
Orange County’s normally peaceful Seal Beach community is struggling with the shocking events of yesterday afternoon. Scott Dekraai stormed into the Salon Meritage and began shooting, killing eight people and critically wounding a ninth.
Dekraai’s ex-wife – Michelle Fournier, a stylist at the salon – was reportedly one of the victims. The couple had been involved in a nasty custody dispute over their son. But friends described Dekraai as a doting father and Good Samaritan – anything but the image of a mass murderer. His next-door neighbor called him “the nicest guy ever.” His ex-wife’s attorney told a local newspaper that his "demeanor was always very controlled, almost serene; in my dealings with him, I never saw him get upset, get agitated." In fact Dekraai, a former tugboat operator, had been seriously injured in a boating mishap in 2007 while trying to help another crew member out of danger.
WEIGH IN
So, why did Dekraii snap? What could push this apparently mild-mannered guy over the edge? Were there warning signs that nobody picked up on? Could it happen to anyone in your community? Have you ever felt close to the edge because of circumstances in your life?
Guest:
Dr. John Sharp, M.D., assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA); psychiatrist and neuropsychiatrist with private practices in Boston and Los Angeles; author of "The Emotional Calendar: Understanding Seasonal Influences and Milestones to Become Happier, More Fulfilled, and in Control of Your Life"
A helping hand in the land of the drug-free
In nearly three dozen states this year, legislation has been proposed to require mandatory drug testing for those applying for public assistance – that includes welfare, job training, food stamps and public housing.
In Florida, which recently passed the most far-reaching of these laws, applicants for their Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) program are required to take a drug test at their own expense — despite reports showing that TANF applicants use drugs at a lower rate than the rest of the population.
The Florida law is currently under challenge by the ACLU, but other states, including Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana and Oklahoma — are considering similar restrictions. And the Drug Free Families Act of 2011, introduced by Republican Senator David Vitter of Louisiana, would take the issue to the federal level by requiring all fifty states to adopt the drug-testing mandate. Proponents of the laws estimate they will save millions and ensure that tax dollars aren’t going to support drug habits. And if drug tests are required for many jobs, they argue, why not for government handouts?
But critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, argue that the practice unfairly targets and stigmatizes the needy. No significant difference has been found in rates of drug use between welfare recipients and others; in fact, one study reports, most illegal drug users are employed full-time. With the ranks of the jobless growing and more and more Americans having to swallow their pride to put food on the table, this hurdle would seem to add further indignity to the already humbling experience of applying for assistance.
WEIGH IN:
Would you submit to a drug test in order to join the welfare rolls? To get food stamps? To apply for unemployment? Would you consider it an unwarranted — and unconstitutional — invasion of privacy? As a taxpayer, how important is it to you that those seeking public assistance be certified drug-free?
Guests:
Jason Williamson, staff attorney with the ACLU Criminal Law Reform Project
James Copland, director of the Center for Legal Policy at The Manhattan Institute
William Shatner – the busiest man in showbiz cuts a new album
If you only think of Star Trek's iconic Captain Kirk when you think of William Shatner, then you are way behind the times, friend. If you think only of his Emmy and Golden Globe winning work on TV shows The Practice and Boston Legal – you’re missing out.
The acclaimed actor is also a cult hero for his one-of-a-kind approach to the art of musical spoken-word.
Shatner says he got into showbiz at age 6 when he realized he could “make people laugh and cry;” now at age 80, his albums provoke both laughter and tears. In 2004, "Has Been" was well-received for its inimitable cover songs and originals.
This week, with the release of "Seeking Major Tom," Shatner has gone even bigger. His back-up artists include Peter Frampton, Bootsy Collins, Brian May and Ritchie Blackmore. They perform on their original songs as Shatner offers new vocal stylings of inter-stellar hits including "Major Tom," "Spirit in the Sky," "Space Oddity" and even "Bohemian Rhapsody."
He worked on the album in between stage tours, new television shows, Priceline ads, charity work, and being a husband and father. He himself uses the phrase "the many iterations of William Shatner."
WEIGH IN:
At his age, how does he do it? What keeps him inspired? How can he keep going at warp speed? This year his native country, Canada, gave him its most prestigious award, the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for lifetime achievement. What has been his favorite accolade so far? And what's next for this next-century "Renaissance Man"?
Guest:
William Shatner, actor, musician, recording artist and author
"Busting Out!" busts up audiences
Last night, North American audiences got their first taste of the bawdy theater experience known as "Busting Out!", now playing at the Hayworth Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Already the show has wowed houses down-under and throughout the U.K., with sold out runs from Adelaide to Edinburgh.
The show is part stand-up, part musical and part cabaret, but the biggest part of "Busting Out!" is … boobs. That’s right. Boobs. "Busting Out!" is a mostly top-less production in which the two stars, Emma Powell and Mandi Lodge, take back the power of the female form, using their assets in funny and creative ways.
According to Powell, who created the show, women are bombarded with overly idealized versions of what women’s bodies should be. "Busting Out!" is about busting those myths and reminding women that our bodies look the way they look … and that’s fine. Powell says her goal is to demystify and celebrate what women really look like under their bras, and have a good laugh in the process. Comedy is a great tool for holding a mirror up to society; according to critics this show makes an effective political statement about body image and female empowerment – and does it with laugh-out-loud entertainment value.
WEIGH IN:
Can a bawdy, busty comedy really drive home the point that beautiful women come in all shapes and sizes?
Guests:
Emma Powell, writer, creator and star in "Busting Out!"
Mandi Lodge, star, "Busting Out!"
Busting Out! is playing at in a limited engagement at The Hayworth Theatre. For tickets: click here.