Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Science of Humor, Matzo, and Rent Is Too Damn High
Today we look into the science of comedy, why LA renters pay more than 45% of their income on rent, and offer some ideas for that leftover matzo.
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenLA renters pay a larger percentage of their income, on average, than people in any other city in the country. And rent controlled apartments are disappearing at a growing clip because of something called the Ellis Act. Seders are over, but Passover isn’t: we have some ideas for what to do with all that matzo. A professor and a journalist think they have uncovered the secrets of comedy, and they explain their findings in a new book The Humor Code. Alibaba did more business last year than Amazon and eBay combined. You may never have heard of it, but it’s going public, and its IPO could generate more than the $16 billion Facebook raised in 2012.
Banner Image: Sarah Silverman performing at UCB in LA; Image Credit: Kevintporter
In this episode
5 storiesThe Rent Is Too Damn High
In a country-wide look at median rents vs median incomes, Zillow.com finds that the average LA family has to pay more than 45% of their income on rent -- more than any other city in the country.
Read the story9 minThe Ellis Act: How to Kick Out Rent Control Tenants
While we may have the most expensive rent in the country, we do have rent control rules here in LA for people who live in buildings built before 1979. The owners of those buildings can only raise rent a small percentage each year.
Read the story9 minWhat to Do with All That Matzo
The Seders are over, but Passover is not. Observant Jews will continue to avoid eating leavened bread until the holiday ends on Tuesday night, and that means a whole lot more matzo for a whole lot of people over the next few days. And let’s face it, it’s not the most... interesting food to eat.
Read the story8 minThe Humor Code
What makes a joke funny? A professor and a journalist think they’ve uncovered the secrets of comedy, and they explain their findings in a new book The Humor Code : A Global Search For What Makes Things Funny.
Read the story13 minAlidaba: The Biggest Company You've Never Heard Of
There’s a tech company that did more business last year than Amazon and eBay combined. You’ve probably never heard of it, but chances are you will soon. Alibaba, China’s biggest e-commerce company, is about to go public in the United States, and it could be the biggest tech IPO of the year.
Read the story7 min
