Gov. Jerry Brown is spearheading international climate change efforts, the hottest gifts for Cyber Monday, Kobe Bryant announces his retirement.
How to understand the UN climate talks in 3 easy numbers
As global leaders kick off the latest round of the UN Climate Summit in Paris, talk is suddenly filled with a swirl of data, studies and projections. And it all can get pretty confusing.
So we're highlighting just three numbers that may help to understand what scientists say is going on and what can be done about it:
- 2 degrees Celsius. That's the number that UN scientists say is the upper limit for global temperatures to rise, compared to pre-industrial levels, before hitting the most disruptive consequences of climate change. For context, since around the start of the Industrial Revolution around 1880, global temperature has risen less than 1 degree (.86) Celsius. In 2009, countries, including the U.S., signed on to a deal in Copenhagen agreeing to take action to avert more global warming, citing the 2 degree number, but how countries will get there is still a big question. And some, including representatives from low-lying island nations, have criticized the 2 degree mark as too high.
- 80 percent of the world's energy still comes from fossil fuels. That's according to the Institute for Energy Research. A key issue in Paris will be how large, developing nations – such as China, India and Brazil – will power their economies. A World Bank report out this year found that poor communities tend to live in more vulnerable areas when it comes to climate change, and extreme climate events could increase wealth inequality in the future. India, for example, pledged to have 40 percent of its energy come from renewable sources by 2030, but still relies heavily on coal to bring electricity to millions of its residents. Where will the world's future energy come from and what role will renewables play?
- 2017 is the year the world economies have to turn the tide on carbon emissions. So said the chief economist for the International Energy Agency back in 2011. The agency also predicts that the world's demand for energy is going to grow by nearly a third (between 2013 and 2040). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says timely action will require "an urgent and fundamental departure from business as usual." President Barack Obama added further urgency this week, when he told leaders at the Paris talks that it was nearly too late for action and that "when it comes to climate change, that hour is almost upon us.”
Hermosa Beach: how one coastal city is bracing for sea level rise
California has more than 1,000 miles of coastline that is home to businesses, neighborhoods and vital shipping and agriculture areas.
Sea level rise could pose a risk to much of it, according to the California Coastal Commission. During the past century, California's coastal sea level has risen 8 inches, in pace with the rise globally, according to the Commission. That's expected to increase in the coming decades.
In response, some communities are putting measures in place to get ready for the change.
"We're looking at areas that are vulnerable," said Kristy Morris, environmental analyst with the city of Hermosa Beach, a small coastal community in the South Bay.
Kristy Morris, environmental analyst with the city of Hermosa Beach, stands near the pier, where scientists predict sea level rise could affect businesses and homes in the coming years.
The city has created high sand berms by the pier, is stacking sand bags by the strand wall and is trying to make sure storm drains will flow freely, especially ahead of an expectedly strong El Niño, said Morris.
"That's probably our biggest mitigation measure, really getting down into those storm drains and giving them a good clean," she said. "And then a lot of education and outreach to residents."
Kobe Bryant and the psychology behind retiring
Kobe Bryant's career clock now has a hard expiration date. The five-time Lakers champ announced yesterday that this season would be his last.
That's not too surprising, considering that he's in his 20th season and the final year of his contract with The Lakers.
The surprise comes in the manner in which he announced it, through a poem titled "Dear Basketball," an ode to the sport and what it has meant to his life.
To better understand the psychology behind retiring, Take Two spoke to Ron Riggio, professor of leadership and organizational psychology at Claremont McKenna College.
Press the blue play button above to hear more.
50 years of 'a little love' from 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'
In 1965 the animated holiday special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" first aired on television.
ABC will be celebrating the golden anniversary by airing the show Monday at 9 p.m., along with an additional feature entitled "It's your 50th Christmas Charlie Brown" with host Kristen Bell at 8 p.m.
These days, it's hard to think of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" as anything less than a holiday classic, but according to Lee Mendelson, who produced the special along with Peanuts creator Charles Schulz and director Bill Melendez, no one expected that it would ever get the amount of attention that it did.
"I thought we had ruined Charlie Brown," Melendes says. "The network didn't like it either. They thought it was too slow. We thought it was going to be a one time and out."
Their doubts couldn't have been more wrong.
Mendelson's relationship with Schulz began when he called him up with the idea to create a documentary about the Peanuts comic strip. The finished documentary attracted the attention of a certain popular brand.
"Coca-Cola called," Mendelson recalls. "They had seen our documentary and liked it and they said, 'Have you folks ever thought about doing a Christmas show?' and I said, 'Absolutely!'"
All that was left was to get Schulz on board with the idea.
"I called Mr. Schulz and I said, 'I think I just sold A Charlie Brown Christmas.' and he said, 'What in the world is that?' and I said 'That's something you're going to write tomorrow!'"
The production was a major risk. In addition to having children voice the main characters, Mendelson decided to have jazz-musician Vince Guaraldi create the music.
He knew it was the right decision the first time he heard Guaraldi play the classic song, "Linus and Lucy."
"I remember saying this is going to change Vince's life and my life," Mendelson says. "Why I thought that, I have no idea."
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" is full of moments that have resonated with audiences. Mendelson says that his personal favorite comes when Linus wraps his blanket around Charlie Brown's scrawny little tree.
"[Linus] says, 'All it needs is a little love.' That's always the line that I remember the most" Mendelson says. "I thought that particular line was very very important."
To hear the entire interview, click on the blue player above.
The best Cyber Monday tech buys
It was not a great weekend for retailers -- at least at physical stores.
But sales online were good, and there's an expectation that today, Cyber Monday, will surpass last year by as much as 12 percent.
A big part of online shopping involves gizmos, gadgets and digital stuff, but how to make sure you are getting a deal? Take Two put that question to Dave Johnson, editor-in-chief at review website TechWalla.
Smartphones
Johnson says that shoppers searching for a smartphone have many of the same options that they did last year. There are a few newcomers, however.
“Apple did their minor refresh of the iPhone, so now we have the 6s and the 6s Plus. There’s just a few minor improvements, but for anybody that loves Apple, that’s the phone to get. On the Android side, there are two new phones, the Nexus 6P and the Nexus 5X. Those are considered pure phones because they don’t have extra software on them, they’re just running a pure version of the Android Marshmallow operating system.”
Shoppers who are unsure if they are team Android or team iOS might find guidance in Johnson’s quick-and-dirty review of the two systems.
“Android has an industrial feel. It feels as though it was manufactured, not designed,” Johnson says.
Tablets
Shoppers on the hunt for a serious stocking stuffer need look no further than Amazon’s Fire tablet, which sells for about $50. Johnson says it’s a good deal, but he recommends managing expectations.
“It’s a serviceable tablet, it’s not gonna knock anybody’s socks off,” Johnson says. “It gets the job done. It’s running Amazon’s OS, so it gives you access to all the same products and services and apps and media that you can get with a more expensive tablet, it just has some rough edges.”
Press the blue play button above to hear more.
What buyouts at the LA Times will mean for the future of the paper
Thanksgiving Eve was the last day of work for about 80 newsroom staffers at the Los Angeles Times. The employees accepted buyout offers made by the newspaper in an effort to reduce costs and survive in an era which has been tough on print media.
Tony Perry, former Los Angeles Times San Diego bureau chief, and media analyst
joined Take Two for a discussion about how the paper will function in the wake of the buyouts.
Tweet from Rupert Murdoch fuels speculation of LA Times sale
On Friday, media mogul Rupert Murdoch tweeted there was "strong word" the L.A. Times parent, Tribune Publishing Company, would be sold, and the L.A. Times would be spun off to philanthropist Eli Broad.
Strong word Tribune newspaper group to be bought by big Wall St firm, LA Times to go to philanthropist Eli Broad and local group.
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) November 27, 2015
But this morning Tribune Publishing issued a denial, saying no discussions to sell the paper are underway. Southern California Public Radio's Ben Bergman joined Take Two with more details.
How California is preparing for foster care 'treatment centers'
Under a new law that takes effect in California on Jan. 1, the state will begin to replace privately run group homes for foster children with what social services is calling "treatment centers." Kids will stay at these centers for no longer than six months.
Karen De Sa of the San Jose Mercury News joins the show to tell more about how the state is preparing to meet this new goal.
$100M to spend on LA's homeless, but how to do it?
Los Angeles is spending $100 million to combat homelessness. Temporary shelters are getting the early attention with officials worried about people living on the streets with the impending El Niño rains.
However, there is a debate among homeless service providers over whether shelters are the most cost-effective long-term solution to ending the crisis.
"Permanent housing is the only thing that ends homelessness," argues Christine Margiotta, founder of the Home for Good program at United Way–LA.
Shelters can help people in the short-term, but they can only go so far without services to help people find a permanent home, too.
That may include subsidizing the security deposit of a new apartment or building affordable housing units.
"When someone is in shelter, they are waiting for permanent housing," she says, "so unless we invest in that infrastructure of permanent housing, they will continue to be homeless."
Reverend Andy Bales of Union Rescue Mission argues, however, that a focus on shelters is a better cost-effective measure.
"You can build permanent supportive housing and get about 108 units for 108 people, but it's going to take years to obtain the rights and then build that," he says with a nod to the current housing crisis also facing Los Angeles.
"Or for $40 million, you can build two Union Rescue Missions and help 1,600 people at a time," says Rev. Bales.
Both agree, however, that the city's pledge of $100 million should only be the start of its commitment to ending homelessness.
"The biggest thing we need in L.A. is we need a change of heart," says Rev. Bales.
Margiotta adds, "The political will we're seeing out of the city and county is unprecedented."
On the Lot: Big holiday movie weekend, sneak of DiCaprio's 'The Revenant'
Retailers were disappointed that shoppers didn't mob stores over the holiday weekend. Maybe that's because they were at the movies. The box office was strong, as the LA Times' Rebecca Keegan tells us, driven by "Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part Two," "Creed," and "The Good Dinosaur."
While regular America was watching these hits, some members of the Hollywood elite got their first glimpse of the much-anticipated "The Revenant," starring Leo DiCaprio and directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. They'd read (or heard) stories about how difficult the film was to make, and apparently, some found it difficult to watch, especially a scene in which DiCaprio's character is mauled by a bear. Still, it's among the films considered to be Oscar material. It opens in limited release on Christmas Day.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.