2.5 million Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones were called back after users said their devices caught fire while charging, but the recall has faced stumbling blocks – we dive into what happened and what went wrong; post #OscarsSoWhite, the Academy is stripping inactive members of Oscar voting rights, but one 91-year-old man wants to fight back; and KPCC film critics join Larry Mantle to talk about the week’s newest releases, as well as ageism in Hollywood.
What Samsung owners need to know and the anatomy of a recall
Samsung was riding high.
It's last two releases of smartphone models have garnered rave reviews and strong sales. The Galaxy Note 7 was the latest and greatest.
But a big problem started surfacing soon after release. Dozen of the phones dramatically caught fire. Seems batteries from one of Samsung's suppliers tended to overheat and spark fires. The solution seems straightforward. Have users with the faulty batteries return their Note 7s for replacements. But most Note 7 owners haven't turned in their phones.
What's gone wrong? What owners of this phone need to do now? And how do recalls like this work? Is it always up to the company to initiate the recall and then for the government to be asked into the process?
For more information regarding the recall, click samsung.com/us/note7recall or call 1-844-365-6197.
Guest:
Chris Morran, Deputy executive editor for The Consumerist, a not-for-profit subsidiary of Consumer Reports
Trucking industry, safety advocates discuss proposal to limit speed of tractor-trailers
Truckers are warning that a government plan to electronically limit the speed of tractor-trailers will lead to highway traffic jams and possibly an increase in deadly run-ins with cars. More than 150 people, most identifying themselves as independent truckers, have filed comments recently with the government about the proposed rule, unveiled last month by two federal agencies. There were only a few comments in favor.
The government has proposed requiring electronic speed limiters on all trucks and buses over 26,000 pounds (11,794 kilograms) manufactured after the regulation goes into effect. Speeds could be limited to 60, 65 or 68 miles per hour (97, 105, or 109 kilometers per hour) when the rule is finalized after a comment period that ends Nov. 7.
For the full story, click here.
Guests:
Russ Rader, senior vice president of communications at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
Todd Spencer, executive vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which represents hundreds of thousands of independent owner-operators in all 50 states
Is #OscarsSoWhite creating ageist consequences?
Hollywood writer, Robert Bassing, is threatening to sue the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences.
The potential suit was sparked by a recent policy to take away inactive members’ Academy voting rights. According to an article from “The Hollywood Reporter,” Bassing, 91, is accusing the Academy of phasing out older, white members to make room for more diversity.
Does taking away voting rights from inactive members ageist, or is it necessary to help Hollywood’s diversity problem?
Guests:
Patricia Resnick, writer and Producer whose credits include Robert Altman films, the iconic comedy “9 to 5” and the TV series Mad Men; she tweets
Darnell Hunt, director of the UCLA Bunche Center for African American Studies, which puts out the annual “Hollywood Diversity Report," and chair of the Sociology Department at UCLA; he tweets from
FilmWeek: ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby,’ ‘Snowden,’ ‘Blair Witch’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein and Christy Lemire review this week’s new movie releases including Oliver Stone’s “Snowden,” about the NSA whistleblower; a return to the woods of the found-footage horror, “Blair Witch;” plus Renee Zellweger’s reprise in “Bridget Jones’s Baby;” and more.
TGI-FilmWeek!
Christy's Hits
Lael's Hits
- "Operation Avalanche"
- "Fatima"
- "The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years"
- "Cardboard Boxer"
Mixed Reviews
- Lael: "Miss Stevens"
- Lael: "Mr. Church"
- Christy: "Cardboard Boxer"
This Week's Misses
- Lael and Christy: "Bridget Jones's Baby"
- Christy and Lael: "Snowden"
- Christy: "Blair Witch"
- Christy: "Cardboard Boxers"
- Lael: "London Road"
Guests:
Christy Lemire, Film Critic for KPCC and Host of YouTube’s “What the Flick?;” she tweets from
Lael Loewenstein, Film Critic for KPCC
Toronto Film Fest in full swing with ‘La La Land,’ ‘Loving’ and more
Dazzling contenders for the 2017 Oscar season are screening this week at the Toronto International Film Festival. "La La Land," a romance musical set in fair Los Angeles starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, wowed critics.
In the drama category, "Manchester by the Sea" from Kenneth Lonergan and "The Birth of a Nation" from Nate Parker confirmed solid expectations.
KPCC film critic Peter Rainer joins "AirTalk" from Toronto to fill in details on these films and more including "Loving," "Nocturnal Animals," and "Julieta."
Guest:
Peter Rainer, Film Critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor
The ‘endangered species’ of Hollywood
Silver hair is underrepresented on the silver screen.
According to a new study released Tuesday, only 11 percent of over 4,000 speaking characters in last year’s top 100 U.S. films were 60 or older. Seniors were leads or co-leads in just 10 of these roles. Within this fraction of seniors, the representation was problematic across the board – from race (82% white), to gender (72% male) to LGBT status (2 characters were coded as gay).
And respecting elders wasn’t in the cards either. Over half the films that did feature a senior character included ageist dialogue. This came in a variety of flavors, including barbs regarding physicality (“Careful. You’ll never get back up again.”) and cognition (“Wow, what was your major? Do you remember?”).
So do you think elders are an “endangered species” in Hollywood? How would you want to see seniors portrayed in movies? And what are your favorite movies starring characters and actors over 60?
Guests:
Christy Lemire, Film Critic for KPCC and Host of YouTube’s “What the Flick?;” she tweets from
Lael Loewenstein, Film Critic for KPCC