Russia's proposal to destroy Syria's chemical weapons is an alternative solution to U.S. military strikes. Could this avert a war with Syria? Then, Apple announced the updated features for the new iPhone. Will you be buying the latest one? Next, what are coffehouses doing to combat Wi-Fi Squatters, and what can a renter do to increase their chances of getting a place? Then, we're talking with author Katy Butler about everyone's right to refuse medical treatment to prolong life. Lastly, we will preview tonight's soccer match of USA vs.Mexico.
Russia proposal could avert war with Syria
An alternative to a US military strike against Syria is taking shape internationally, hours before President Obama's planned address to the American people over the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons.
The proposal came from Russia and would destroy Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons. The plan has the support of the government of Bashar al-Assad, and President Obama has thrown his weight behind it. France plans to submit the resolution for an U.N. Security Council vote. President Obama's threat of war against Syria has met with lackluster domestic support and little international backing.
What would a chemical disarmament look like? How can the U.N. ensure that Assad regime destroy its arsenal? Could this avert outright war with Syria? Is this President Obama’s way out?
Guests:
Nada Tawfik, BBC Producer/Reporter at the United Nations
Bruce Bennett, Senior Defense Analyst focused on Weapons Counterproliferation at the RAND Corporation
Do you want fingerprint security to access your smartphone?
In one of Apple's signature Cupertino events, the technology company unveiled its latest iPhones. One is a cheaper version of the pricey smartphone, called the 5C. The other, which had fevered speculation going for weeks, is the 5S. Today Philip Schiller, Apple's Senior VP of Global Marketing, called the "most forward thinking phone we have ever created."
What do consumers want in their next-generation smart phones? With a lot of theft of Apple devices, what's the best way to increase personal security? Fingerprint sensors could mean companies such as Apple would store your biometric data. How would you feel about that? Are you confident tech companies could securely store your personal information? How much does that matter to you, if at all?
Guests:
Anand Srinivasan, Senior Hardware Analyst, Bloomberg Industries
Marco Tabini, Technology journalist
Coffeehouses fight back against Wi-Fi squatters
Cafes and coffee shops that offer free Wi-Fi are dealing with an unpleasant side effect: the Wi-Fi squatter. They're people who come into the shop loaded down with iPads and laptops and work for hours without spending more than a few dollars on a cup of coffee.
Cafes that offer Wi-Fi are trying to attract customers with an added perk, but some are now re-thinking the value of having Internet access. Swork Coffee Bar in Eagle Rock used to offer free, unlimited Wi-Fi.
But when freeloaders starting parking curbside and using it without even buying anything, they switched to a purchase-required policy. New York's aptly-named Café Grumpy has banned laptops in four out of their fives cafes.
So where do you draw the line on Wi-Fi etiquette? How long do you feel comfortable sitting at a coffee shop without buying anything? How much do you feel you need to spend to stay for hours using their Wi-Fi? If you own or work at a café: Does it bother you when people buy the cheapest thing there and hang out for hours? Would you continue to go to a coffee shop that didn't have Wi-Fi?
Guest:
Patricia Neale, owner, Swork Coffee Bar in Eagle Rock, California
Getting waitlisted and outbid: it’s becoming the story of renters in L.A., too
Stiff competition in the housing market is steering a lot of aspiring homebuyers in Southern California from the housing market to the rental market. If anecdotes we’ve been hearing from people are true, the rental market in Los Angeles is also becoming very cut-throat. Bidding wars between potential renters are apparently common and landlords often get inundated by inquiries minutes after posting their properties on Craig’s List.
According to the Los Angeles Times, rental prices have gone up only incrementally, helped by a steady supply of inventory. Still, it doesn’t make finding that ideal rental any easier. The real estate rental startup, Lovely, put out a list of the hottest rental neighborhoods in Los Angeles; on average, it takes just 8 days for a place in Beverly Glen to get rented out.
What can renters do to increase their chances at getting a place? Call in and tell us about your hunt for a residential rental.
Guests:
Stuart Gabriel, Professor of Finance and Director of the Richard S. Ziman Center for Real Estate at UCLA
Elizabeth Pietrzak, Communications & Marketing Lead at Lovely, a national apartment rental startup based in San Francisco. They put out a list of the hottest neighborhoods in LA for renters.
Knocking on Heaven’s Door: A path to a better way of death
When Katy Butler’s father suffered a stroke, medical treatments left him with a life that was almost not worth living. Though he was well cared for and able to see his family everyday, he told Butler at one point that he was simply living too long.
The expansion medical treatments that prolong life has created difficult situations for those at the end of their lives and their families. Pressure from doctors, family members and friends can make choosing to pull the plug on a loved one the most difficult decision anyone can make.
Butler’s book, “Knocking on Heaven’s Door: The Path to a Better Way of Death” emphasizes everyone’s right to refuse medical treatment and more importantly, to choose for themselves what constitutes a meaningful life.
Guest:
Katy Butler, journalist who has covered neuroscience, medicine, Buddhism, and human behavior for the New Yorker, The New York Times, Vogue, and the Los Angeles Times and author of “Knocking on Heaven’s Door: The path to a better way of death”
Mexico faces heavy lift to qualify for World Cup 2014
Mexico faces heavy lift to qualify for World Cup 2014: With just three matches left in their campaign to qualify for the 2014 World Cup tournament in Brazil next summer, Mexico’s national team faces a steep climb after winning only one of its first six qualifying matches.
Tonight they take on the U.S. national team in Columbus, Ohio, and they know that they must turn things around if they want to be on a jet to Brazil in 9 months. “El Tri” (as Mexico’s national team is known south of the border) has history on its side, with almost twice as many losses as wins in the 80 year track record of run-ins, though in recent years, the U.S. has been gaining ground. Regardless of history, though, this clash has become one of the must-watch events on world soccer’s calendar, especially when a lot is on the line.
The Mexicans will be buoyed by the fact that Team USA has three starters out on suspension, and they lost their key central midfielder, Michael Bradley, to an ankle injury in warm ups during the team’s trip to Costa Rica last week. But despite the weakened side, the fact is, the United States has never lost in nine games at Columbus Crew Stadium is undefeated in six straight home qualifiers against Mexico, last losing in 1972. Can you say “fortress America”?
The game is televised live on ESPN at 5:00 p.m. PST.
Guest:
Doug McIntyre, covers the U.S. national soccer team for ESPN the Magazine