Online social media has brought the digitization of our lives to new heights in just a few short years with the explosion of tools like Facebook and the adoption of Internet-ready smart-phones.  But all of this information sharing comes at a price: privacy.  Today on the show, UC Santa Barbara Computer Science Professor Dr. Ben Zhao discussed privacy implications in the wide world of Web 2.0.

Worldwide, 12 million people  suffer from autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease or ADPKD.  In the U.S. the number is larger than those affected by Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and sickle cell anemia combined.  UC Santa Barbara’s Dr. Thomas Weimbs, associate professor and director of the Weimbs Lab joined Levi and Tim this morning to discuss his team’s latest findings which could lead to one of the first drug treatments for a disease which currently can only be treated through dialysis and transplant.

After returning from a tour of the Pacific Rim with the Beach Boys, Christian Love, Randell Kirsch and Ed Prado delight the KCSB morning audience with an acoustic set from Studio A.  The group shares stories from the road, their influences and the latest on the progress with the band’s new album.  Listen to the podcast for special live music and the interview.  Visit myspace.com/5alarm for more info or pick up their album on iTunes.

The January 12th earthquake in Haiti devastated 3 million people on the small island-nation. Santa Barbara-based Direct Relief International has helped bring tens of millions of dollars in medical aid to Haiti. The organization is one of the most efficient charities providing relief in the area. Jim Prosser, the media relations manager answered questions today on DRI’s relief efforts in the Caribbean and worldwide.

This is a replay of an interview originally recorded November 20, 2009.  Since that broadcast there have been some new developments in the case of the Chavez School [11/25/09 Independent.com: Cesar Chavez Saved for Now: Charter Extended Till End of School Year].

As the Santa Barbara School Board ponders the fate of the Cesar Chavez Charter School Dr. Jin Sook Lee was in the studio today to discuss the the school’s unique dual-language immersion program. Dr. Lee is a professor of Cultural Perspectives and Comparative Education at UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz Graduate School of Education. Her research focuses on understanding how societal, cultural, and psychological variables influence the way people learn foreign languages. See this link for Dr. Lee’s statistics on California dual immersion programs.

Dr. Jane Close Conoley, the dean of UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School visited KCSB this morning to talk about the Harding University Partnership between UCSB and Santa Barbara School Districts.  Dean Conoley shared the details of the deal which will bring needed support to the struggling neighborhood school using the International Baccalaureate model.

Julia Nagy, the executive director of the Tri-Counties Division of the American Heart Association was in-studio today to talk about the organization’s 2010 Go Red For Women campaign along with the event’s chair Janet Garufis, president and CEO of Montecito Bank and Trust.  The Heart Association will host a fundraising Women’s Health Expo on March 5, 2010 at Fess Parker’s Double Tree Resort.  The group discussed building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke and simple ways to make healthy changes.

Levi and Tim welcomed with the director of UCSB’s Meso American Research Center and the recipient of the 2000 Rolex Award for Enterprise, Dr. Anabel Ford.  She has dedicated years to the study of the ancient city of El Pilar.  This historic Maya community sits on the border of Guatemala and Belize.  Dr. Ford contests, contrary to many of her colleagues, that El Pilar is a model of the sustainable practice of “forest gardening.”  She and her team have worked diligently to study, understand and preserve this early gem. [view El Pilar video]

Levi and Tim kicked off their KCSB premiere with Cathy Murillo, KCSB’s news director. Cathy highlighted the station’s contributions to the community with its coverage of important visitors like the Dalai Lama, and past emergency coverage of local wildfires as the station gears up to provide important information on potential local winter floods.

As the Santa Barbara School Board ponders the fate of the Cesar Chavez Charter School Dr. Jin Sook Lee was in the studio today to discuss the the school’s unique dual-language immersion program.  Dr. Lee is a professor of Cultural Perspectives and Comparative Education at UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz Graduate School of Education.  Her research focuses on understanding how societal, cultural, and psychological variables influence the way people learn foreign languages. See this link for Dr. Lee’s statistics on California dual immersion mentioned in broadcast.

Also, listen in for Levi and Tim’s funk and soul special this week as we take music education old school!

[Update 11/25/09 from Independent.com: Cesar Chavez Saved for Now: Charter Extended Till End of School Year]

Artist / Song / Album / Label
1 GF & Friends / Body Motion / Unknown / Unknown
2 Keb’ Mo’ / Color Him Father / Big Wide Grin / Sony
3 Marlena Shaw / California Soul / Spice of Life / Verve
4 Curtis Mayfield / Move on up / Curtis / Warner
5 James Brown / The Boss (Soundtrack/Black Caesar) / Black Caesar / Universal Motown Records Group
6 Sam Cooke / (Ain’t That) Good News / A Change Is Gonna Come – EP / ABKCO
7 The Jade Shader / I’ve been loving you – final / unreleased / unreleased
8 Otis Redding / Try a Little Tenderness / The Very Best of Otis Redding / Rhino
9 Ben Harper/The Funk Brothers / I heard it through the Grape Vine / Standing in the Shadows of / Hip-o
10 The Bar-Kays / Shake Your Rump to the Funk / The Bar-Kays: All-Time Greatest Hits / K-Tel
11 Bootsy Collins / I’d Rather Be With You / Stretchin’ Out In Bootsy’s Rubber Band / Warner Bros
12 Eddie Hazel / I Want You (She’s So Heavy) / “Game / Dames and Guitar Thangs” / Collector’s Choice