The Conversation: Wednesday, July 22nd 2015
This week, the University of Michigan opened a test site for driverless cars. Meanwhile, researchers at Arizona State University and Brookings Institute say government will have to be innovative and nimble to respond to quickly developing technology. Innovative and nimble aren’t exactly words you generally associate with government either in Hawai‘i or elsewhere, except maybe in the U.K. Autonomous cars are also having trial runs there, using a code of practice written by the Department of Transportation for just that purpose. With all the attention on the testing of driverless cars, contributing editor Neal Milner reviewed the recent research from Arizona State and Brookings.
- Intro Music: Panama City (Soul Descarga) by The Quantic Soul Orchestra
- Outro Music: Melodious Wayfarer (Soul Montuno) by The Quantic Soul Orchestra
Smooth Jazz Concert: Michael Paulo
When you mention smooth jazz, you might automatically find yourself flowing into a very mellow state of mind or turning up your nose. There are some folks who say “Smooth Jazz? Oh, that’s so ‘Eighties!’” Still others may owe their very lives to smooth jazz! Smooth jazz, plus romantic parents – well, you get the picture. Michael Paulo’s sax stylings have been keeping endorphins flowing for a good long time. He’ll be part of a smooth jazz concert coming up this weekend.
- Intro Music: Feelin’ Alright by Michael Paulo
- Outro Music: Hawaiian Sunshine by Michael Paulo
Bill 20, Accessory Dwelling Units: Ron Menor
They go by lots of names: an ‘ohana unit, a detached mother-in-law suite, even a tiny cottage. To the Honolulu City Council they are added stock of affordable housing. Bill 20 would create more of them. But critics of a bill up for consideration this week also call them potential illegal B&B’s. Council member Ron Menor is a supporter of the bill.
- Intro Music: Our House by Madness
- Outro Music: Good Life (Instrumental) by OneRepublic
Lots of people who’ve seen a Gridiron Show at Diamond Head Theatre are a little confused. They say, “Why is it called Gridiron? It’s not about football!” Well, here’s why, the Gridiron Club was founded by members of the Washington D.C. press corps in 1885 to put on an annual political satire show. And in those days, the newspaper was printed on a large iron grid, called a Gridiron. Now, sportswriters noticed that the markings on football fields resembled a gridiron, so they started applying that press term as a nickname. And now, 130 years later, many people are thoroughly convinced the Society of Professional Journalists’ Gridiron Show is a football gig.
- Intro Music: The Gridiron Club by John Phillip Sousa
- Outro Music: Tropidelico (Occidental) by The Quantic Soul Orchestra
