7/14/00

LC000714

WARREN>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

BOWLING ALLEYS, THE LOW-TECH KIND WHERE YOU KEEP SCORE WITH A PENCIL, ARE ON THE ENDANGERED LIST, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM WON'T GO QUIETLY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IN BETTER TIMES, HOLIDAY BOWL WAS A LOCAL LANDMARK, A GATHERING PLACE FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND DIFFERENT CULTURES FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES.

IVAN LAW>> WELL, A BOWLING ALLEY'S NOT JUST A BOWLING ALLEY. MAYBE IT IS JUST A BOWLING ALLEY, BUT THE THING IS, IT'S OUR BOWLING ALLEY.

WARREN>> THIS IS FRIDAY AND THAT MEANS POLITICAL WATCHDOGS, MADDOX & HEWITT, ARE ON DUTY.

HEWITT>> OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR, FRANK KEATING, HAS THE INSIDE TRACK FOR THE GOP NOMINATION FOR VEEP. WHY DON'T THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ANY GOOD CANDIDATES?

MADDOX>> WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF GOOD CANDIDATES, AND THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT BERNARD PARKS OUGHT TO BE RE-UPPED.

HEWITT>> COMING UP ON MADDOX & HEWITT.

WARREN>> ALSO TONIGHT, EARTHLY SIGNS OF OUT OF THIS WORLD EVENTS. THESE STONE TABLETS AND DRAWINGS WERE USED TO TRACK COMETS BLAZING ACROSS THE SKY TWO MILLENNIA AGO.

THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIME TONIGHT FOR FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2000.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

AND THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

WARREN>> GOOD EVENING, I'M WARREN OLNEY. VAL ZAVALA IS OFF. SHE'LL BE BACK ON MONDAY.

OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, THE STRUGGLE TO PRESERVE AN OLD PASTIME. IF IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU'VE BOWLED A FEW FRAMES, YOU MAY BE SURPRISED BY WHAT'S HAPPENED AT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BOWLING ALLEY. THAT IS, IF IT'S STILL THERE. PHILIP BRUCE HAS THIS REPORT.

PHILIP>> TO THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW BETTER, IT'S JUST A BOWLING ALLEY OR AT LEAST IT USED TO BE. NOW IT'S JOINED THE EVER-GROWING COLLECTION OF VACANT AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS ALONG CRENSHAW BOULEVARD. IN BETTER TIMES, HOLIDAY BOWL WAS A LOCAL LANDMARK, A GATHERING PLACE FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND DIFFERENT CULTURES FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES. THE BOWLING ALLEY AND COFFEE SHOP SURVIVED THE RIOTS OF '92 AFTER LOCAL RESIDENTS STOOD BETWEEN THEM AND LOOTERS. BUT TO LOOK AT IT NOW, YOU'D NEVER KNOW ANYONE CARED ABOUT THIS PLACE AT ALL.

IVAN LAW>> WELL, A BOWLING ALLEY'S NOT JUST A BOWLING ALLEY. MAYBE IT IS JUST A BOWLING ALLEY, BUT THE THING IS, IT'S OUR BOWLING ALLEY.

PHILIP>> IVAN LAW IS A LIFELONG CRENSHAW RESIDENT WHO SET UP SHOP IN THE PARKING LOT OF ANOTHER GHOST FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S PAST, A VACANT CAR LOT NEXT DOOR TO HOLIDAY BOWL. TODAY IVAN SELLS LAKERS T-SHIRTS, BUT THE GAME THAT BROUGHT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TOGETHER, HE SAYS, WASN'T BASKETBALL. IT WAS BOWLING. OLD-TIMERS AND YOUNGSTERS, BLACKS AND ASIANS, PLAYING SIDE BY SIDE. NOW IT'S ALL GONE AND SOON EVEN THE SHELL OF HOLIDAY BOWL MAY BE CLEARED IN THE NAME OF SOME NEW STORE OR SHOPPING CENTER.

IVAN LAW>> LEAVE IT ALONE. LET IT STAY WHAT IT IS. WE HAVE ENOUGH SHOPPING CENTERS. WE GOT A SHOPPING CENTER OVER THERE, A SHOPPING CENTER OVER THERE, A SHOPPING CENTER OVER THERE. WE NEED A BOWLING ALLEY. IT'S OUR BOWLING ALLEY. IT'S NOT JUST A BOWLING ALLEY. IT'S OURS, YOU KNOW? IT BECOMES A PERSONAL POSSESSION.

PHILIP>> THE CRENSHAW DISTRICT BY NO MEANS IS THE ONLY NEIGHBORHOOD IN LOS ANGELES WHERE A TREASURED BOWLING ALLEY HAS BITTEN THE DUST. IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER, BUT THE IRONY IS IT'S HAPPENING AT A TIME WHEN THE GAME OF BOWLING ITSELF IS BEING REINVENTED FOR A BRAND NEW GENERATION.

THIS IS BOWLING FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM. HIGH-TECH, HIGH-ENERGY WITH LOTS OF GLITZ AND EVERY GIZMO THEY CAN THINK OF FROM PSYCHEDELIC BOWLING BALLS TO LANES BATHED IN BLACK LIGHTS THAT MAKE THE WHOLE PLACE SEEM TO GLOW. ADD TO THAT A COLLECTION OF JUMBO TV SCREENS, A THROBBING SOUND SYSTEM AND A COMPUTER THAT KEEPS SCORE AND YOU'VE GOT THE NEW FACE OF BOWLING IN AMERICA. NOBODY'S GOT IT DOWN BETTER THAN JILLIAN'S, A BRAND NEW STATE OF THE ART BOWLING COMPLEX LOCATED AT UNIVERSAL'S CITY WALK NEXT TO THE THEME PARK.

JIM BENNINGTON>> WITH THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE NOW, WHAT WE'RE REALLY SEEING IN THE INDUSTRY IS A LOT MORE INTERACTION WITH THE GUESTS. WE HAVE TOUCH SCREENS. YOU'RE NO LONGER SEEING THE PIECE OF PAPER, KEEPING SCORE. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE COMPUTERS NOWADAYS THAT ARE SO MUCH IN OUR LIVES, WE BROUGHT IT INTO THE BOWLING REALM AND WE REALLY SEE THE GUESTS GETTING INTERACTIVE WITH THE GAME AGAIN. IT'S REINVENTING ITSELF.

PHILIP>> WHILE OLD BOWLING ALLEYS ARE GOING THE WAY OF THE DRIVE-IN THEATER, THESE NEW HI-TECH BOWLING PALACES ARE AS CUTTING EDGE AS THE DVD AND THEY'RE PULLING IN LARGER AND LARGER CROWDS, INCLUDING SCORES OF YOUNG PEOPLE, CROWDS THAT UP UNTIL LATELY HAVE PRETTY MUCH ABANDONED BOWLING AS A DINOSAUR FROM OUR NOT SO DISTANT PAST.

WOULD YOU BE MORE LIKELY TO COME IN A PLACE LIKE THIS THAN YOU WOULD LIKE A TRADITIONAL BOWLING ALLEY? I MEAN, IS THAT A BIG CHANGE FOR YOU?

JOE FORGACS>> YES, I USUALLY LIKE THE MUSIC AND EVERYTHING ELSE. IT USUALLY HELPS ME BOWL A LITTLE BIT. IT GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A DISTRACTION.

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PHILIP>> IT USED TO BE, THE GAME ITSELF WAS DISTRACTION ENOUGH, EVEN FOR A ROWDY THRILL-SEEKER LIKE JACK NICHOLSON. IN A CLASSIC SCENE FROM HIS CLASSIC MOVIE, "FIVE EASY PIECES", NICHOLSON'S CHARACTER STARTS RE-EVALUATING HIS LOVE LIFE AFTER GIRLFRIEND, KAREN BLACK, BECOMES THE QUEEN OF GUTTER BALLS.

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PHILIP>> THERE ARE STILL LOTS OF TRUE BELIEVERS WHO SAY BOWLING IS A SPORT, NOT A VIDEO GAME, BUT THEY'RE VANISHING AS FAST AS THEIR OLD HANGOUTS. IN DUARTE, FANS OF THE OLD COLUMBIA BOWL ARE HOPING TO SAVE THIS PLACE FROM THE WRECKING CREW. THIS 50'S ERA BOWLING LANDMARK IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY IS SET FOR DEMOLITION TO MAKE WAY FOR A NEW DRUGSTORE. BOWLERS SAY THAT'S THE KIND OF PROGRESS THEY CAN DO WITHOUT AND THEY'RE TRYING TO HAVE COLUMBIA BOWL DECLARED A STATE LANDMARK BEFORE THE BULLDOZERS GET HERE.

MEANWHILE, THIS NEW BRAND OF BOWLING IS THRIVING AND TAKING THE GAME TO THE NINTENDO CROWD.

WENDY SOSA>> WELL, IT'S SUMMER VACATION AND IT'S MY NIECE'S BIRTHDAY AND THIS IS WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO, SO THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE.

PHILIP>> THE GADGETS ARE ALL NEW, BUT THE REASONS FOR COMING HERE ARE THE SAME AS THEY WERE WHEN BOWLING ALLEYS WERE MOSTLY LOW-TECH PLACES THAT SMELLED OF STALE BEER AND RENTED SHOES. IT'S STILL A PLACE FOR ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE FUN. BUT WHILE PURISTS MAY CRINGE, TECHNOLOGY MAY BE THE THING THAT SAVES A 20TH CENTURY PASTIME FOR ANOTHER 100 YEARS.

WENDY SOSA>> I THINK THAT IT DEFINITELY IS COMING BACK, YEAH, ESPECIALLY WITH PLACES LIKE THIS. YOU KNOW, IT GETS THE YOUNG KIDS INTERESTED IN IT.

PHILIP>> AS FOR THE DINOSAURS, THEIR DAYS MAY BE NUMBERED, BUT THE FAITHFUL HAVEN'T GIVEN UP. IN THE CRENSHAW DISTRICT, IVAN LAW HOPES THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN PERSUADE THE CITY COUNCIL TO INTERVENE AND SPARE THIS OLD BOWLING ALLEY SO IT MAY HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO COME BACK FROM THE DEAD.

IVAN LAW>> A LADY PASSED BY TODAY AND SAID, "PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR BOWLING ALLEY." SO WE'RE PRAYING FOR THE BOWLING ALLEY. HOLIDAY BOWL. THAT'S OUR HOLIDAY BOWL.

WARREN>> OKAY, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF A HISTORIC MONUMENT DOWN THERE IN THE CRENSHAW DISTRICT?

PHILIP>> WELL, WE'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF LANDMARKS ACROSS THE CITY. SO FAR, NO BOWLING ALLEYS, BUT THE CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION HAS SAID THIS IS, IN FACT, A BONA FIDE LANDMARK. IT'S UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO DECIDE AND, RIGHT NOW, NATE HOLDEN, THE COUNCILMAN THAT REPRESENTS THE CRENSHAW AREA, SAYS IT'S BOLOGNA. IT'S AN EYESORE, GET RID OF IT.

WARREN>> ALL RIGHT. IT'S TIME FOR THE MOMENT OF TRUTH. HAVE YOU EVER BOWLED?

PHILIP>> I HAVE NEVER BOWLED, WARREN, BUT I AM A FINE AND KEEN OBSERVER OF THE SPORT.

WARREN>> YOU WENT OUT TO ALL THOSE GREAT PLACES AND YOU NEVER EVEN THREW A BALL DOWN THE ALLEY?

PHILIP>> MINE IS TO BE AN OBJECTIVE REPORTER OBSERVING, NOT TO PARTICIPATE.

WARREN>> WELL, WHICH ONE DID YOU LIKE BETTER? THE OLD KIND OR THE NEW KIND? THE SCREENS UP THERE TO --

PHILIP>> -- YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO PAINT A DOOMSDAY STORY, BECAUSE I TELL YOU, THERE ARE SOME OF THE OLD PLACES OUT THERE THAT ARE STILL THRIVING AND THEY'RE HAVING A HARDER TIME. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE IRONY IS, BOWLING LEAGUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH. THEY'RE THRIVING, BUT THIS NEW KIND OF BOWLING IS REINTRODUCING THE GAME TO A LOT OF KIDS AND THAT'S CLEARLY GOING TO BE THE FUTURE OF IT.

WARREN>> WELL, YOU LEARN SOMETHING EVERY DAY. MAYBE WE'LL HAVE LEARNED TO BOWL --

PHILIP>> MAYBE I WILL TRY IT SOMEDAY.

WARREN>> -- AS A RESULT OF DOING THIS STORY. PHILIP, THANK YOU.

PHILIP>> THANK YOU.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES WEEKEND, WE FOCUS ON THE LAW. WE'LL TALK WITH SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE KEVIN ROSS ABOUT A NEW TV SHOW STARRING SOME VERY FAMILIAR FACES.

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WARREN>> REAL CASES WITH REAL LAWYERS HAMMING IT UP FOR THE CAMERAS. IS THAT A GOOD IDEA? THAT'S COMING UP TOMORROW AT 2:00 P.M. ON LIFE AND TIMES WEEKEND EDITION.

NOW, THOUGH, IT IS TIME FOR MADDOX & HEWITT WITH THEIR OPENING STATEMENTS.

HEWITT>> KERMAN, IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE MAYORAL DEBATE THAT OCCURRED THIS WEEKEND, WHAT WAS SAID AND NOT SAID ABOUT POLICE CHIEF BERNARD PARKS, BUT FIRST THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL SWEEPSTAKES ARE HEATING UP. WE'LL LET THE DEMOCRATS GO FOR A SECOND AND FOCUS ON THE REPUBLICANS. THEY'RE FIRST UP IN PHILADELPHIA.

I HAD JOHN [GIZZY] ON MY RADIO SHOW THIS MORNING. HE'S THE EDITOR FROM HUMAN EVENTS WHO DOES POLITICAL COVERAGE FOR THAT CONTRIBUTIVE NEWSPAPER. HE'S SAYS FRANK KEATING IS THE FELLOW, THE OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR WHO IS A ROMAN CATHOLIC. HE'S BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE THREE DIFFERENT TIMES, INVESTIGATED OUT THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. NOTHING'S WRONG WITH FRANK KEATING. HE IS A DYNAMIC SPEAKER AND A LAW AND ORDER MAN. IT LOOKS LIKE A CATHOLIC WILL BE ON THE REPUBLICAN TICKET FOR ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN MODERN TIMES, INCLUDING BILL MILLER WHO, OF COURSE, WAS ON BARRY GOLDWATER'S TICKET IN 1964. DOES THAT PROSPECT ALARM YOU?

MADDOX>> NO, IT DOESN'T ALARM ME, ALTHOUGH IT'S SMART TO THINK ABOUT HIM BECAUSE I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS, ONCE THE CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF, WE WILL REMIND PEOPLE ABOUT THE VISIT TO BOB JONES UNIVERSITY THAT ALIENATED A LOT OF CATHOLICS, SO I'M SURE REPUBLICANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. SO THE THOUGHT THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT KEATING WHO, AS A CATHOLIC, COULD HELP YOU OUT. WHAT TROUBLES ME FOR YOU GUYS IS THAT HE'S PRO LIFE. I THINK WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE DOING WELL WITH WOMEN VOTERS, BUT IF YOU HAVE HIM ON THE TICKET, HE'S A PRO LIFE GUY. I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS DRIVE A WEDGE AND LOSE A LOT OF THE WOMEN SUPPORT THAT YOU'RE GETTING WHICH, TO ME AS A DEMOCRAT, MAKES ME FEEL GOOD BECAUSE DEMOCRATS NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET SOME OF THOSE WOMEN VOTERS BACK IN TO THE GORE COLUMN. I HOPE YOU RUN WITH KEATING, FRANKLY, AS A DEMOCRAT.

HEWITT>> NOW, KERMAN, WE'RE PAST ARGUING THE SPECIFICS OF THIS ISSUE. I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AND YOU KNOW WHERE I AM, BUT I POINT OUT THAT, FOR THOSE WOMEN FOR WHOM ABORTION IS AN ABSOLUTE ISSUE, WHO WANT PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION PRESERVED, DON'T WANT CHILDREN NOTIFIED WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ABORTION, THEIR PARENTS DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, FOR THOSE EXTREMISTS, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO WE HAVE ON THE TICKET. THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE DEMOCRAT ANYWAY. WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT OUR BASE, THAT IS THE REPUBLICAN BASE WHICH IS PRO LIFE, IS HAPPY WITH THE TICKET. THAT'S WHY I THINK TOM RICH, WHO'S OTHERWISE A PERFECTLY FINE CANDIDATE, HAS BEEN EXAMINED IN LIGHT OF THE DEMANDS BY PEOPLE LIKE JAMES DOBSON AND OTHERS THAT THERE BE A PRO LIFE PURITY ON THIS TICKET AND HAVE BEEN FOUND WANTING. GEORGE W. BUSH KNOWS IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO HIM AND AL GORE, BUT LET'S NOT HURT OUR BASE. FRANK KEATING IS PREPARED TO BE PRESIDENT, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. HE'S BEEN AROUND WASHINGTON, HE'S BEEN AN ADMINISTRATOR OF A LARGE AGENCY, HE'S BEEN AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB AT OKLAHOMA. HE PRESIDED WITH DIGNITY AND WITH FIRMNESS --

MADDOX>> -- FORMER FBI AGENCY.

HEWITT>> -- YEAH, AFTER THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING. HE'S READY TO BE PRESIDENT AND THAT, YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE RULE OF VICE PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION, DON'T HURT YOURSELF. WE DON'T HURT OURSELVES WITH KEATING.

MADDOX>> I DON'T THINK YOU HURT -- I DON'T DISAGREE. I DON'T THINK YOU HURT YOURSELF, BUT I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW MUCH YOU GAIN. NOW HE COMES FROM OKLAHOMA AND I UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS ARE DOING WELL IN OKLAHOMA. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS, RIDGE IS PRO CHOICE, BUT HE ALSO COMES FROM PENNSYLVANIA. YOU AND I KNOW PENNSYLVANIA'S ONE OF THOSE BATTLEGROUND STATES. I THOUGHT HE WOULD REACH OUT TO TOM RIDGE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF ELECTORAL VOTES ALLOCATED IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, BUT THE FACT THAT YOU'RE GOING WITH KEATING IS FINE. LET ME TELL YOU SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

HEWITT>> OKAY.

MADDOX>> YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO MAKE YOUR SELECTION FIRST, SO YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE FIRST BUMP. THERE ARE THREE CANDIDATES WHO ARE RECEIVING A LOT OF ATTENTION. ONE IS NOT GRAY DAVIS, THE GUY YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. EVAN BAYH, THE SENATOR OUT OF INDIANA, THE SON OF BIRCH BAYH. WE ALSO HAVE SENATOR BOB KERRY FROM MASSACHUSETTS, AND I THINK THE GUY WHO'S PROBABLY GETTING THE MOST ATTENTION RIGHT NOW IS SENATOR BOB GRAHAM FROM FLORIDA. FLORIDA, OF COURSE, HAS 25 ELECTORAL VOTES. WE REALLY NEED FLORIDA. AL GORE BUNGLED BADLY THE ELIAN GONZALEZ SITUATION, SO I THINK DEMOCRATS THINK WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE A REAL RUN AT FLORIDA. SO I WOULD SAY AT THIS POINT, PROBABLY BOB GRAHAM HAS THE INSIDE TRACK. THE PROBLEM IS, BOB GRAHAM IS EVEN MORE BORING THAN AL GORE, SO THE COMBINATION OF AL GORE AND BOB GRAHAM IS GOING TO PUT EVERYBODY TO SLEEP.

HEWITT>> WELL, THAT MORE BORING THING, THAT'S STATISTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE, BUT LET ME ADD WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. FLORIDA IS A GIVEN FOR THE REPUBLICANS AFTER THE ELIAN GONZALEZ RAID AND WITH JEB BUSH, WHO'S A VERY POPULAR GOVERNOR IN FLORIDA. IT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE. I'LL TELL YOU WHO WORRIES ME. IT'S NOT EVAN BAYH. HE'S BEEN VETOED BY THE ABORTION ABSOLUTISTS WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. AND GRAY DAVIS' ABYSMAL PERFORMANCE ON THIS WEEK WITH SAM AND COKIE LAST SUNDAY. IF YOU DIDN'T SEE IT, HE BLEW ANY CHANCE HE HAD OF EVER BEING ON THE TICKET BECAUSE HE FAILED TO DEFEND THE NOMINEE, HE WAS UNDISTINGUISHED, HE WAS COMPLETELY DULL. IT JUST WAS TERRIBLE. IT'S JOHN KERRY. JOHN KERRY HAS CHARISMA. HE HAS AN APPEAL IN THE NORTHEAST WHICH MUST BE SOLID AND HE CAN DEBATE. HE'S GOT A LOT GOING FOR HIM, SO I THINK YOU PUT YOUR FINGER ON THE FELLOW WHO WORRIES US THE MOST AND WHO IS LIKELY TO BE ON THAT TICKET.

MADDOX>> LET'S TALK ABOUT GRAY DAVIS. FIRST OF ALL, GRAY DAVIS HAS MADE IT CLEAR, HUGH, THAT HE'S RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION. HE WILL GET RE-ELECTED. HE WASN'T INTERESTED IN BEING VP. I DIDN'T SEE HIS PERFORMANCE ON THE SHOW, SO WHETHER HE DID GOOD OR BAD IS REALLY INSIGNIFICANT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE ON THE TICKET, NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, BOB KERRY. I LIKE BOB KERRY A LOT. I'D LOVE TO SEE BOB KERRY IN THE WHITE HOUSE. THE PROBLEM IS --

HEWITT>> JOHN KERRY, YOU MEAN?

MADDOX>> JOHN KERRY, I'M SORRY. WELL, NO, BOB KERRY FROM MASSACHUSETTS --

HEWITT>> -- NEBRASKA. JOHN KERRY IS MASSACHUSETTS.

MADDOX>> BOB KERRY IS WHO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FROM MASSACHUSETTS. WE'RE DOING WELL IN THE NORTHEAST, SO I'M NOT SURE HE BRINGS A WHOLE LOT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT GEOGRAPHICAL BALANCE AND THE NUMBER OF ELECTORAL VOTES WE NEED. SO I LOVE BOB KERRY, BUT HE COMES FROM MASSACHUSETTS. WE NEED SOMEONE WHO COMES FROM THE MIDWEST. THAT'S WHY PERSONALLY I LIKE EVAN BAYH AND WE ALSO NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN CORRECT THINGS IN FLORIDA. NOW I'M NOT CONCLUDING LIKE YOU THAT FLORIDA IS OVER AND DONE. YEAH, WE BLEW ELIAN GONZALEZ AND YET BUSH IS PRETTY POPULAR. BUT I THINK FLORIDA IS STILL IN PLAY.

HEWITT>> WELL, NOW, I WANT TO GO BACK TO EVAN BAYH. REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE SENATOR'S FIRST NAME IS, I THINK IT'S JOHN AND YOU THINK IT'S BOB, DOESN'T MATTER. EVAN BAYH HAS BEEN VETOED BY PATRICIA IRELAND AND THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN. SHE SAID NO, HE SUPPORTS A BAN ON PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION, MAKING HIM A MODERATE AND NOT AN ABSOLUTIST. THAT'S THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH. YOUR EXTREMIST WING HAS SAID NO. YOU CAN'T GO AGAINST THAT.

MADDOX>> IT'S NOT THE EXTREMIST WING, BUT THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, THE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY MAKES THE SELECTION IS NOT PATRICIA IRELAND, IT'S AL GORE HIMSELF.

HEWITT>> ONE OF THE THINGS GRAY DAVIS DID THAT TOOK HIM OUT OF THE RUNNING -- HE TOOK HIMSELF OUT AFTER THAT INTERVIEW, BY THE WAY -- IS THAT HE AGREED WITH PATRICIA IRELAND THAT THERE WAS A LITMUS TEST ON PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION. 

KERMAN, WE GOT TO GO ON TO CHIEF PARKS. I THINK THIS WAS VERY IMPORTANT. YOU WERE AT A MAYORAL'S DEBATE. SET UP WHAT HAPPENED.

MADDOX>> YEAH, WHAT HAPPENED IS THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR, THE FIVE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR, ATTENDED A DEBATE RECENTLY PUT ON BY THE POLICE PROTECTIVE LEAGUE. THAT IS THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS POLICE OFFICERS. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED, ALL OF WHICH SPOKE TO THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO POLICE OFFICERS. THERE WERE TWO QUESTIONS THAT WERE VERY INTERESTING. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS POSED TO ALL THE CANDIDATES WAS, "IF YOU WERE ELECTED MAYOR, WOULD YOU RE-APPOINT CHIEF OF POLICE BERNARD PARKS TO ANOTHER FIVE-YEAR TERM?" NOT ONE CANDIDATE SAID YES. NONE OF THEM SAID NO, BUT WHAT THEY ALL SAID IS, "HE'S UP IN THE YEAR 2002. AT THAT POINT, WE WILL RE-EVALUATE HIM AND SEE HOW HE'S DOING. WE'LL MAKE THE DECISION AT THAT POINT."

THE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION WAS, "IF YOU COULD GRADE HIM ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN, TEN BEING BEST, WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE HIM?" NONE OF THEM BID ON THAT. SO WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS MAYORAL DEBATE, THE TENURE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE CAME UP AS A CAMPAIGN ISSUE AND NOBODY WAS REAL DEFINITIVE ABOUT GIVING HIM ANOTHER FIVE YEARS. NOW I'M NOT GOING TO SUGGEST HE'S NOT GOING TO GET ANOTHER FIVE-YEAR TERM, BUT IT'S INTERESTING THAT NONE OF THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR WOULD BE DEFINITIVE AND GO OUT AND SAY, "HE'S MY CHIEF OF POLICE."

HEWITT>> QUICK QUESTION. JIMMY HAHN IS THE CANDIDATE MOST DEPENDENT UPON THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTE IN THE PRIMARY. HE DIDN'T RISE TO THE CHALLENGE? THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS FOR HIM.

MADDOX>> NO, HE DIDN'T, AND THAT SURPRISED ME. YOU KNOW, JIMMY HAHN HAS CREATED SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE CHIEF ON WHETHER OR NOT WE OUGHT TO HAVE A FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE IN THE RAMPART THING, SO THIS IS AN ISSUE WE NEED TO PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO.

ALL RIGHT, THAT WRAPS UP ANOTHER SEGMENT. WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO WARREN.

WARREN>> GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU.

TIME NOW TO HEAR WHAT YOU, OUR VIEWERS, HAVE TO SAY ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS.

LAST THURSDAY, WE REPORTED ON RACIAL PROFILING. THAT'S THE PRACTICE OF POLICE PULLING OVER HISPANIC OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN DRIVERS ALLEGEDLY BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE. FRITZ MEHRTENS OF IRVINE FELT THAT WE WERE A LITTLE ONE-SIDED. HE WRITES THIS:

"YOU FAILED TO PRESENT ANY INFORMATION FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AS TO WHY THEY RESORT TO THESE DISCRIMINATORY TACTICS. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN USEFUL TO KNOW IF BLACK POLICEMEN USE RACIAL PROFILING."

AND ON MONDAY, WE SHOWED YOU THE CHASE KNOLLS GARDEN APARTMENTS IN SHERMAN OAKS. MORGAN MCBAIN OF VENICE WROTE THIS:

"IT'S REALLY A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THROW-AWAY ARCHITECTURE (OR SHACK-A-TECTURE) THAT WAS PIONEERED JUST AFTER THE WAR AND THRIVES TODAY."

CONTRARY TO MORGAN MCBAIN'S BEST WISHES, THE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY GAVE CHASE KNOLLS GARDEN APARTMENTS IN SHERMAN OAKS HISTORIC PROTECTION.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT OUR STORIES, THE ONES WE COVER ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, AND HERE ARE THE WAYS YOU CAN REACH US:

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
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LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

WARREN>> ARE YOU A STAR GAZER? NOT THE HOLLYWOOD VARIETY. THE KIND IN THE NIGHT SKY. THE HEAVENLY BODIES HAVE FASCINATED PEOPLE, OF COURSE, SINCE THE ANCIENT TIMES. WHAT DID THEY THINK ABOUT THE STARS AND HOW DID THEY TRACK THEM? THAT'S ONE OF THE TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED THIS WEEKEND AT "UNIVERSE 2000", AN EXPOSITION PRESENTED BY THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC. WE'LL LEARN ABOUT "UNIVERSE 2000" IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS.

ONE OF THE PROGRAMS BEING OFFERED THIS WEEKEND EXPLORES HOW THE ANCIENT CHINESE KEPT TRACK OF COMETS. THESE EARLY OBSERVATIONS ARE STILL USEFUL TODAY IN HELPING ASTRONOMERS FOLLOW THE PATTERNS OF DIFFERENT COSMIC EVENTS. JOINING US NOW ARE JAMES WHITE, WHO IS HEAD OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC, AND DON YEOMANS OF THE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY IN PASADENA. GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH US.

JAMES WHITE>> THANK YOU.

WARREN>> JAMES WHITE, LET ME START WITH YOU. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SOCIETY. WHAT IS IT?

JAMES WHITE>> IT'S ACTUALLY THE WORLD'S OLDEST AND LARGEST GENERAL ASTRONOMY SOCIETY. WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 112 YEARS, FOUNDED IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, BUT NOW TRULY INTERNATIONAL. WE'VE GOT MEMBERS IN ALL STATES AND ABOUT 70 COUNTRIES.

WARREN>> HOW OFTEN DO YOU HAVE AN EXPOSITION LIKE THE ONE COMING UP?

JAMES WHITE>> ONCE A YEAR. ONCE A YEAR, AND IT ROVES ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY. LAST YEAR, WE WERE IN TORONTO, YEAR BEFORE IN ALBUQUERQUE, SO NOW WE'RE IN PASADENA.

WARREN>> DO YOU GET A BIG CROWD?

JAMES WHITE>> YES, WE'RE EXPECTING A LEAST A COUPLE OF THOUSAND PEOPLE AND HOPEFULLY A LOT MORE THAN THAT TOO.

WARREN>> OKAY, 112 YEARS. NOT MUCH BY COMPARISON TO WHAT YOU ARE HERE TO TELL US ABOUT, DON YEOMANS. ANCIENT PEOPLES TRACING THE EVENTS THAT OCCUR IN THE NIGHT SKY?

DON YEOMANS>> YES. AT THE EXPO, I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE USE ANCIENT CHINESE AND BABYLONIAN OBSERVATIONS TO MAKE SOME SENSE OF WHAT COMETS ARE TODAY, WHEREAS THE ROMANS USED STYLIZED IMAGES OF COINS --

WARREN>> -- WHICH WE HAVE A PICTURE OF ON THE SCREEN. I THINK WE CAN GET ONE UP AND SHOW US THE ROMAN COIN. THERE IT IS. GO AHEAD.

DON YEOMANS>> THEIR STYLIZED VERSION OF THE COMET OF '44 APPEARS ON THIS ROMAN SILVER DENARIUS COIN AND THAT'S ABOUT AS FAR AS THEY WENT.

WARREN>> WHERE IS IT? I SEE THE HEAD OF CAESAR. IS IT ON THE OTHER SIDE OR -- YEAH, THERE IT IS.

DON YEOMANS>> THERE IT IS. THAT'S THE COMET OF '44 B.C. IT'S THOUGHT TO BE THE SOUL OF JULIUS CAESAR RISING UP INTO THE HEAVENS AFTER HE WAS ASSASSINATED IN THE SAME YEAR. SO THAT WAS THE ROMAN IDEA OF COMETS, WHEREAS THE CHINESE ACTUALLY OBSERVING THE COMETS FOR ASTROLOGICAL REASONS WOULD SHOW DETAILED DRAWINGS ON SILK DISCOVERED IN A HAN TOMB THAT WAS IN PLACE IN 168 B.C. ON THIS SILK, WE CAN SEE STYLIZED VERSIONS OF THE COMETARY TYPES.

WARREN>> SO THESE -- I CAN SEE THEM NOW ON THE SCREEN -- ARE THOSE THINGS ABOVE THE LETTERING, THE WRITING, THE PICTOGRAPHS I SHOULD SAY, ARE THOSE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE COMET?

DON YEOMANS>> THAT'S RIGHT. THOSE ARE THE VARIOUS TYPES OF COMETS THAT APPEARED IN THE SKY AND THE DISASTERS THAT WOULD FOLLOW IF THAT COMET WAS SEEN.

WARREN>> I SEE. SO YOU USE THIS TO PREDICT EVENTS WHICH MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT HAVE OCCURRED?

DON YEOMANS>> EXACTLY. MOST OF THEM WERE A COMET WOULD APPEAR IN THE SKY, A RULER WOULD BE DEPOSED. IT'S SORT OF MANDATORY TERM LIMITS FOR SOME OF THE RULERS OF THE DAY.

WARREN>> SO, NOT A GOOD THING IF YOU'RE THE RULER AND A COMET SHOWS UP.

DON YEOMANS>> NO, NOT A GOOD THING AT ALL, BUT THEY WERE SO PRECISE IN THEIR OBSERVATIONS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY USE THOSE DATA TO TRACK THE MOTION OF COMET HALLEY BACK TO 240 B.C. AND THE MOTIONS OF SEVERAL OTHER COMETS AS WELL, SO WE GET AN IDEA OF THEIR LONG-TERM BEHAVIOR.

WARREN>> GIVES YOU A HISTORY THAT OTHERWISE, IF YOU HAD TO RELY ON THE ROMANS, YOU SIMPLY WOULDN'T HAVE.

DON YEOMANS>> THAT'S TRUE.

WARREN>> WHAT ABOUT THE BABYLONIANS? YOU MENTIONED THEM EARLIER.

DON YEOMANS>> WELL, WHEN WE TRACED COMET HALLEY'S MOTION BACK TO 240 B.C. ON OUR COMPUTERS --

WARREN>> -- THERE IT IS ON THE SCREEN.

DON YEOMANS>> -- WE NOTED THAT, IN 164 B.C., THE CHINESE DIDN'T OBSERVE THE COMET AND WE THOUGHT THEY SHOULD HAVE, ACCORDING TO OUR COMPUTER SIMULATIONS. THEN WHEN LOOKING IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM IN THE BABYLONIAN SECTION -- THESE ARE BABYLONIAN CUNEIFORM CLAY TABLETS ABOUT THE SIZE OF MY FIST -- THIS DISCOVERED --

WARREN>> -- THE SIZE OF YOUR FIST? THAT'S VERY SMALL WRITING ON THAT.

DON YEOMANS>> IT IS VERY SMALL, VERY SMALL. THIS IS SORT OF THE FIRST HARD DRIVE. THEY GOT ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF DATA ON THERE. ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE, THE CUNEIFORM TEXT ACTUALLY OUTLINES THE MOTION OF COMET HALLEY IN SEPTEMBER OF 164 B.C.

WARREN>> WOW. SO YOU KNEW IT OUGHT TO BE THERE AND THEN FOUND IT AFTERWARD?

DON YEOMAN>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WARREN>> THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY. SO WRAPPING IT UP, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE COMETS AS A RESULT OF THESE CHINESE AND BABYLONIAN RECORDS?

DON YEOMAN>> WELL, AS A RESULT OF THESE RECORDS, WE KNOW THAT THE COMET WAS AS BRIGHT TWO MILLENNIA AGO AS IT IS TODAY. IT'S PUTTING OUT AS MUCH GAS AND DUST THEN AS IT DOES TODAY, SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY A FAIRLY ROBUST COMET. WE KNOW THAT THE NUCLEUS, WHICH IS ABOUT TEN MILES IN DIAMETER, A DIRTY ICE BALL, IS PUTTING OUT EVERY BIT AS MUCH GAS AND DUST TODAY AS IT DID IN THE ANCIENT CHINESE TIMES.

WARREN>> SO A ROBUST COMET IS A LONG-LIVED COMET.

DON YEOMAN>> YOU BET.

WARREN>> ALL RIGHT. TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN ADDITION TO MR. YEOMANS AT THE EXPO.

JAMES WHITE>> OH, GOODNESS GRACIOUS, WE HAVE ACTUALLY A WIDE SLATE OF ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION TO HISTORY PAPERS, WE HAVE TRADITIONAL LECTURES ON THINGS FROM EINSTEIN'S GREATEST BLUNDER. WE LIVE IN AN EXPANDING UNIVERSE AND ALEX FILIPPENKO FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSING EXACTLY WHAT RECENT OBSERVATIONS TELL US ABOUT A UNIVERSE THAT'S NOT ONLY EXPANDING, BUT APPARENTLY ACCELERATING AS IT EVOLVES.

WARREN>> WHAT WAS EINSTEIN'S MISTAKE?

JAMES WHITE>> WELL, HE HAS A NICE SET OF EQUATIONS TO DESCRIBE WHAT HE CALLED HIS GENERAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY. WHAT THOSE EQUATIONS ACTUALLY PREDICTED IS THAT THE UNIVERSE ITSELF SHOULD EXPAND, AND HE SAID, "NO, THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT" BECAUSE HE WAS A CREATURE OF THE TIME, AND HE SAID, "I BELIEVE THAT THE UNIVERSE IS INFINITELY LARGE AND STATIC. IT'S NOT MOVING." 

WARREN>> SO HE DIDN'T BELIEVE HIS OWN --

JAMES WHITE>> -- DIDN'T BELIEVE HIS --

WARREN>> WOW.

JAMES WHITE>> THAT'S RIGHT. SO HE ADDED ON AN EXTRA TERM TO COUNTERACT THE EXPANSION OF FACT AND NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT POSSIBLY HE WAS RIGHT TO DO THAT. THIS EFFECT IS PROBABLY A REAL EFFECT. SO WE'LL BE CONSIDERING THINGS LIKE THAT. SEARCHES FOR EXTRA SOLAR PLANETS, WHICH ARE PLANETS AROUND OTHER STARS, AND THEN, IN ADDITION TO A WIDE VARYING SELECTION OF ASTRONOMY TOPICS, WE'LL ALSO HAVE SOME ENTERTAINMENT SECTIONS AS WELL, OR ENTERTAINMENT-RELATED.

WE HAVE TWO PANELS. ONE IS CALLED "COMMUNICATING SCIENCE TO THE PUBLIC" BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE COME TO SCIENCE THROUGH WHAT THEY SEE IN THE MOVIES AND WHAT THEY SEE ON TV. THIS PANEL IS GOING TO HAVE, AMONG OTHER PEOPLE, K.C. COLE FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, BILL NYE, THE SCIENCE GUY, IS GOING TO BE AROUND ALSO FOR OTHER EVENTS TOO. THERE'S A SECOND PANEL CALLED "VISIONING THE FUTURE" THAT ASKS HOW DO WE ACTUALLY START TO IMAGINE WHAT THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BE LIKE? ON THAT, WE HAVE SYD MEADE, A LEGENDARY PRODUCTION DESIGNER FROM "BLADERUNNER" AND "2010", WE HAVE FRANK SPOTNITZ, THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF "THE X-FILES" AND ON AND ON LIKE THAT.

WARREN>> OKAY. WELL, NO EXTRATERRESTRIALS, THOUGH, ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT THE --

JAMES WHITE>> NONE EXPECTED TO VISIT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE NATURE OF EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE.

WARREN>> YOU NEVER KNOW.

JAMES WHITE>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WARREN>> ASK THE CHINESE AND THE BABYLONIANS IF THEY'RE GOING TO APPEAR. THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH, AND GOOD LUCK.

JAMES WHITE>> THANK YOU.

WARREN>> YOU CAN CHECK THE WEB SITE ON YOUR SCREEN FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT "UNIVERSE 2000". IT IS THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT THE PASADENA CONVENTION CENTER.

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