The FDA has changed the rules for blood donations from gay men, 'Concussion' writer and director Peter Landesman, SpaceX makes a historic landing.
FDA ends ban on blood donations from gay, bisexual men
The Food and Drug Administration announced this week an end to a 30-year-old ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men.
The rule first emerged during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in this country.
Under the new guidelines, men may donate blood but only if they have not had sex with another man in the prior 12 months.
But this change has not pleased LGBT activists, who say the policy remains discriminatory.
Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, professor of medicine at UCLA and faculty member at the UCLA AIDS Institute, tells Take Two about the initial rationale behind the policy and what the change means for medicine.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.
Nursing home employees exploiting residents on social media, ProPublica finds
For years, there have been harrowing stories about the mistreatment of seniors living in nursing homes.
There have been reports of sexual assault, poor living conditions, and theft. But now there's a new concern: Some staff members have been posting humiliating pictures of residents online. ProPublica has been looking into this deeply disturbing trend.
Host Alex Cohen hears more from Charles Ornstein, a senior reporter for ProPublica covering health care and the pharmaceutical industry covering this story.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.
Movies for the whole family this holiday
As the holidays are upon us, many will find themselves trapped indoors with a variety of relatives – some you might cherish, some you might despise.
What might help is movies that everyone would enjoy. Our favorite writer and film historian Mark Jordan Legan stopped by with his suggestions.
First up is the 1996 film, "Matilda." Danny DeVito not only directed the film, but he also starred in it with his wife, Rhea Perlman as Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, and Mara Wilson as Matilda.
Next is the film, "My Neighbor Totoro." A beautiful hand drawn animated film from Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, who became a major influence on many animators, including Pixar creator John Lasseter. This sweet, imaginative story is about two young sisters who move to the countryside to be closer to their ailing mother in the hospital. They soon discover the nearby woods are full of magical creatures and one Totoro becomes their friend and protector.
Next we talk about 1963's all-star comedy classic, "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World." It's from producer/director Stanley Kramer who brought together several generations of comedy legends Phil Silvers, Ethel Merman, Sid Caesar and Jonathan Winters among others.
And we close with 2003's adaptation of "Peter Pan" from acclaimed director PJ Hogan.
Mark Jordan Legan is a writer living in Los Angeles.
2015: A year in language
As the curtain closes on 2015, Take Two has been looking back at the people and events that have defined our year.
It's difficult to discuss a year, however, without taking a moment to examine how we spoke during said year.
Over the past 12 months, a number of words and phrases have woven their way into our vernacular. Some of the top terms have been comical; some rose to popularity after tragedies. Regardless of where a word finds its genesis, each just might provide future generations with valuable insight into the way we understand the world around us.
Lauren Collister is a sociolinguist with the University of Pittsburgh. She explained some 2015 gems to Alex Cohen.
the word of the year
Collister says the suffix “-ism” might arguably be one of the most important terms of 2015.
On Fleek
Synonymous with “on point," the origins of the phrase can be traced to a viral vine video.
Collister says it’s often more difficult to determine where popular phrases first get their start.
Mastermind or ringleader?
The terms “mastermind” and “ringleader” are words redefined after a resurgence of devastating terror attacks. Collister says these particular words reveal a lot about the concerns of people living through this time, and our desire to find the people behind a violent act.
Words of the future
Looking ahead, Collister predicts the 2016 presidential election will introduce a series of new words to our national vocabulary.
Press the blue play button above to hear more words from 2015
The music you should be listening to this Christmas
If you love new music, but you don't have the time to keep up with what's hip and new, we've got the perfect segment for you: Tuesday Reviewsday. Every week our music experts bring in their top picks, which we promise, will keep you and your musical tastes relevant. This week music supervisor and Oliver Wang from Soul-Sides join Alex Cohen to talk about the best music you should be playing on Christmas morning.
Morgan Rhodes
Artist: India Arie and Joe Sample
Album: "Christmas with Friends"
Song: "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm"
Artist: Otis Redding
Song: "Merry Christmas Baby"
Artist: John Legend for Stella Artois
Song: "Under the Stars"
Oliver Wang
Artist: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
Album: "It's a Holiday Soul Party"
Song: "Please Come Home for Christmas"
Artist: Kurt Hugo Schneider featuring Chase Holfelder
Song: "All I Want for Christmas (Minor Key)"
Artist: Kanye West, Teyana Taylor and the GOOD Music Family
Song: "Christmas in Harlem"
California to consider easing water restrictions
A new proposal will slash Gov. Jerry Brown's water reduction mandate from 25 to 22 percent. Max Gomberg, climate conservation manager for the State Water Resources Control Board tells Take Two host Alex Cohen that there could be more easing if El Niño comes through with more rain and snow.
What the SpaceX landing means for the private space industry
What goes up must come down, but that doesn't mean it comes down smoothly and safely.
Which is why the successful landing of a Falcon 9 rocket Monday night elicited a roar cheers from SpaceX employees.
The rocket launched 11 satellites before returning safe and sound just outside Cape Canaveral, Florida.
KPCC's very own space guy
explains why the SpaceX landing is a big deal.
Peter Landesman on 'Concussion' and why he wouldn't let his kids play football
"Concussion" is a movie starring Will Smith who plays Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerian born forensic pathologist who discovered the degenerative disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE, in football players.
Omalu was working in Pittsburgh when former Steelers center Mike Webster was brought into the coroner's office. He felt that something about the athlete's death just didn't seem right, so he investigated. That's when he made his discovery.
CTE can lead to memory loss, aggression and depression, and over the years, several NFL players diagnosed with CTE have killed themselves. But even though Omalu discovered this prevalent and life-ruining issue, the NFL was and has been resistant to his recognizing his discoveries.
"Concussion" is a movie about Omalu's journey, and is written and directed by Peter Landesman, a former college football player, who later became an investigative journalist and later turned his talents to filmmaking.
This is his third film he's written, with all of his work based on real life stories.
To hear the entire conversation between Landesman and Alex Cohen, click on the audio embedded at the top of the post.
Delia Ephron on making manners fun for kids
The holidays are here!
For many, that means holiday parties, family gatherings and all sorts of affairs where you may bring the kids along... and hope and pray that they behave.
But why leave it to luck when you can teach them with a book?
Author Delia Ephron joined Take Two to discuss her update to "Do I Have to Say Hello? Aunt Delia's Manners Quiz for Kids and Their Grownups," 25 years after its original publication.
Manners are really important stuff to Ephron.
Her top holiday season tip?
"I believe in thank you notes... especially for children. Because I think that it's a time of year when you're getting so much, it's very grabby, you know, it's all this stuff under the tree and this that and the other, and everybody's giving you things. And I think that for your child to take a moment and actually write a thank you note to remember that somebody took time to buy something for you and send it to you, I think that's an important thing to learn. And that's an old-fashioned thing, but I just totally believe in it."
To hear the full interview with Delia Ephron, click the link above.