The Language of Diplomacy -- California's Department of Education has just adopted a set of standards to help increase foreign language proficiency among kindergarten through 12th-grade students. This follows federal efforts to bolster second language acquisition for defense and intelligence purposes. We talk with experts about how language proficiency may smooth international relations. Guests include: Ladan Sobhani, a parent; William Martel associate professor of international security studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University; and Elaine Taroneone, distinguished teaching professor in second language studies at the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA).
Host: with Dave Iverson

Privacy and Free Speech in the Digital Age -- A San Francisco chiropractor has sued a former patient for defamation after the patient posted a negative review on the web site Yelp. The case raises questions about the limits of privacy and free speech in an age of mass and instant communication. We speak with Matt Zimmerman, senior staff attorney at Electronic Frontier Foundation and take your calls.
Host: with Dave Iverson

During a recession, the price of a movie ticket or dinner out can seem daunting. Fortunately, Northern California has no shortage of free or cheap events and activities -- if you know where to look. We talk with the editors of several websites devoted to digging up the best free concerts, happy hours, museum exhibitions, street fairs and other low-cost diversions. And as always, we get our listeners' recommendations.
Host: Dave Iverson
Guests:
• Dave Schonenberg, editor-in-chief of the San Francisco edition of myopenbar.com, a source of information on open bars and drink specials
• Doug Bartlett, marketing principal for mybart.org, a listing of free events located near BART stops
• Johnny Hayes, AKA Johnny Funcheap, founder of funcheapsf.com, a listing of fun but affordable things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area
• Kim Boyd-Bermingham, editor of sfkids.org
More info:
• FunCheapSF.com : a database of fun, affordable events in the Bay Area
• MyOpenBar.com : a city-specific database of events offering free drinks
• Artsopolis.com : a database of cultural events in the South Bay Area
• BayAreaKidFun.com : kid-friendly events in the Bay Area
• BookZoo.net : an Oakland used book store featuring literary and cultural events
• Brava.org : Brava Theater Center, for women in the arts
• KembleScott.com : a Bay Area Literary Arts Newsletter
• MyBart.org : a database of events close to BART stops
• OneBrick.org : a city-specific database of volunteer activities
• SFArts.org : an arts events database
• SFChamberOrchestra.org : a calendar of free classical music events
• SFKids.org : a database of kid-friendly events in the Bay Area
• TunedInSF.com : a free music events database
• Ya-Nc.org : Young Audiences of Northern California
• GoldStar.com : an events database

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We discuss the ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip, and speak with experts about how the United States should approach the conflict.
Host: Dave Iverson
Guests:
• Beshara Doumani, professor of history at UC Berkeley
• Boaz Ganor, visiting professor at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University
• Christopher Gunness, press spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, responsible for humanitarian aid to Gaza
• Patrick Tyler, former chief correspondent for the New York Times, former Washington Post correspondent and author of "A World of Trouble: the White House and the Middle East from the Cold War to the War on Terror"

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The selection of former California congressman and White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to lead the CIA has produced more raised eyebrows and senatorial chagrin than all the rest of the president-elect's nominations. What does it take to lead the CIA?
Host: Dave Iverson
Guests:
• Jane Wales, president and CEO of the World Affairs Council and former senior director of the National Security Council
• Tim Weiner, author of "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA"

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