Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Computer Insecurity, Saying "No" to Tests & Bush the Painter
The Heartbleed Bug, opting out of standardized tests, a music festival in downtown L.A., the power of microaggressions, and George W. Bush's paintings.
By Madeleine Brand • • 51m ListenA lot of people are panicked today over the discovery of a computer flaw that may be exposing millions of people’s personal information online, including banking info. We hear from an education journalist who’s asked her daughter to opt-out of standardized tests. Mayor Eric Garcetti wants to bring a big music festival curated by Jay Z to downtown L.A. this summer, but critics say “not so fast.” Some college campuses across the U.S. are addressing an issue they call “microaggressions”: seemingly harmless comments that might not be so harmless. And art critic Jerry Saltz reviews George W. Bush’s paintings on display in a new exhibition.
In this episode
5 storiesComputer Insecurity
A lot of people today are panicked over the discovery of the so-called Heartbleed computer bug. Heartbleed is a flaw in the software used to protect most public websites that require security, from Google Docs to Amazon, and probably even your bank’s web site.
Read the story10 minSaying "No" to the Test
High school students across California are sitting down to take pilot versions of a new statewide exam. It’s designed to fit with the Common Core State Standards, a new curriculum that’s supposed to encourage critical thinking over rote memorization. We’ll hear why L.A.
Read the story6 minDowntown Music Festival
Mayor Eric Garcetti wants to bring a big music festival curated by Jay Z to downtown L.A. this summer. But critics say “not so fast.” City Councilmember Jose Huizar says street and sidewalk closures would create a traffic nightmares and that community members need to be engaged in the planning process.
Read the story9 minMicroaggressions
Some college campuses across the U.S. are addressing an issue they call “microaggressions”: seemingly harmless comments that might not be so harmless. These are comments that we hear all the time that could be a form of subtle racism or bias.
Read the story13 minGeorge W. Bush, The Painter
A major exhibition by an important new artist debuted in Dallas this month: his name is George W. Bush. The former president’s paintings are on display at the Bush Presidential Centre in Dallas, Texas. And art critic Jerry Saltz has mixed feelings about them. The New York Magazine writer joins us for a review.
Read the story7 min
