KUCI: Ask A Leader

Gloria Mark, UCI Professor of Informatics, gets the full hour to talk about her latest book "Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity." It’s published by Hanover Square Press. Luckily there’s a few people left with long enough attention spans to write about it, so we can have a little agency to regain, shore up the decline of this capacity, and achieve some balance. Copies are available at her website gloriamark.com, or your favorite independent book dealer - eventually and hopefully at the campus’ The Hill.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa - album; Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, “In Motion” Social Network – film.

For this 2023 Memorial Day edition, my guests return in these reprised interviews, with emphasis on prize. The first is a segment of my longer interview with Air Force veteran Don Fisher who served during WWII. In his later years, Don understood the value he had as a relic of that war period, considering his experience in training, serving, and surviving those years, so he began offering his stories to the National Archive, and later shared on “Ask A Leader.” The full program is available on the 10/09/2010 episode at: https://askaleader.com/?p=826. Don Fisher died in October 2015 at the age of 97. The second segment is the full 25 minute interview with Don Lipstein, then a volunteer at Tragedy Assistance for Survivors (TAPS) talking about surviving his son Joshua who at the age of 23 died by suicide in March 2011 after serving in Iraq as a Navy Casualty Assistance Officer. This interview is also available, 6/25/13 at: https://askaleader.com/?p=53. Don Lipstein continues his connection with this humble radio program and has moved on as a consultant, having founded a new firm, Imagine Family Recovery, which offers services to families who survive a loved one who dies by suicide after military service.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa - album; César Franck, "Le Chausseur maudit," performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Tadaaki Otaka conducting; Fabrizio Bossa, Max Ionata, Roc Flowers, and Stefano de Donato, “Mood Variations,” Ovision – album.

Finally, Irvine, the largest city in California to have at-large city council members, is transitioning toward creating distinct city council districts from which the candidates would run. The City will also add 2 seats to the City Council. Our guide to this process for the full hour is demographer Justin Levitt, retained by Irvine’s City Council. He lays out the process under way, wherein the City of Irvine is drawing these 6 council districts for the voters’ approval on the Spring 2024 Primary election ballot. The November 2024 general election vote would include voters in 4 of those districts. Residents of Irvine are welcome to participate in this process by spending time at: https://drawirvine.org/.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa - album; Rodney Whitaker, “Minorabilia,” Oasis – album.

This is a continuation of Mark and A.J.'s discussion of nuclear power, including an industrial application of a closed loop system.

Taking the heat down a few notches are today’s guests: Mark Nelson, engineer and founder and managing director of Radiant Energy Group; and A. J. Shaka, UCI chemistry professor and director of the UCI Nuclear Reactor Facility. We go local and zoom out to international cases with their consideration of the viability of nuclear power in the energy mix, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gases overall. An extension of this interview is posted on this same day.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa - album; Terry Riley, “A Rainbow in Curved Air.”

Virginia Parks, UCI professor of Urban Planning and Public Policy and director of UCI's Labor Center presents her recent findings on how the closure of a Marathon refinery affected its displaced workers; a story of the challenge in transitioning to renewable. The full report is available at the U.C. Berkeley Labor Center.

In the second segment (approx minute 36), we continue coverage of South Coast Rep after their completion of last week's Pacific Playwrights Festival, with playwright and performer Michael Shayan. He brings phenomenal story-telling in his world premiere of avaaz, running now through May 27 at the Segerstrom Stage in Costa Mesa, https://www.scr.org/plays/productions/22-23-season/avaaz/.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa - album; Laura Love, “If I Knew,” Octoroon – album; Jalal Hemati, “Baba Karam.”

Back in full swing, in their new Santa Ana location, is Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development with a whole roster of community activation building leaders, supporting labor, and guiding prospective citizens - all this under the helm of their executive director Ely Flores. Find out what's the next event on their roster at: https://www.occord.org/. or call 714-621-0919 et 6. The National Day of Action will be celebrated this week 5-4-23.

In the second segment (approx. minute 34:26) is Andy Knight, co-director of the South Coast Repertory’s 25th Annual Pacific Playwrights Festival, underway through May 7. SCR’s outsized role in dramatic arts comes through with this incubation of plays: from ideas to final production. Details about the May 5-7 events at the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts in Costa Mesa are available at: https://www.scr.org/plays/plays-landing/pacific-playwrights-festival/2023-pacific-playwrights-festival/.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa - album; Hermanos Guitérrez, “Esperanza” single; The Musical Stage Company performing “Dr. Silver is Gone,” Dr. Silver a musical by Anika & Britt Johnson.

Women For: Orange County Board member Felicity Figueroa muses with us about the much treasured, the annual Great American Write-In returning to the community after a three-year hiatus. The public is welcome to attend on May 6th 9:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. at the Delhi Community Center at 505 East Central Ave. in Santa Ana. Reservations on evite are recommended: http://www.womenfororangecounty.org/.

In the second segment (approximately minute 26), Families Forward CEO Madelynn Hirneise returns with the challenges, changes, and expansions of their operations to serve families around Orange County. They are a part of “Help Them Home,” a giving day 24 hours with 25 non-profits, on April 26th, details: https://help-them-home-giving-day.ocnonprofitcentral.org/.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa - album; Charlie Haden & Liberation Music Orchestra, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” Not in Our Name – album; Alex Goodman, “Acrobat,” Border Crossing – album; The Lemon Twigs, “The One,” Song for the General Public -album.

Anna had more to say about how "In the Green" performances are going so far. She lifts up the curtain a bit about the crew and the audience reception.

Stephanie and Susan had a tab more to say; in this extension they talk about the residential requirements for people to travel to other states for more end of life options than are available in the states where they reside.