4/30/01

LC010430

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

HERE'S THE SCENARIO FOR POWER BLACKOUTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO PRODUCE THE FOOD WE EAT.

LEAH SANDERS>> FROM EGG-LAYING HENS TO MILKING COWS AND THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT FILL OUR LANDSCAPE, ELECTRICITY AND WATER ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF FARMING. ROLLING BLACKOUTS THIS SUMMER COULD PROVE DEVASTATING.

PAUL BAHAN>> ON A HOT DAY, HUMIDITY, NO FANS, NO MISTERS, NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DISASTER.

VAL>> AND ON TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS --

JEANONE ADAMS>> WHEN I AM NAKED AND CANNOT CLOTHE MY SPIRIT IN SMILES, WHEN PAIN FEELS BIGGER THAN BLESSINGS....

VAL>> POETRY WITH A BEAT COMING OUT OF L.A.'S LEIMERT PARK. POETRY IS POPULAR TODAY AND WE'LL HEAR WHY IT'S SHOWING UP IN SOME UNEXPECTED PLACES.

AND A DANCE INSTRUCTOR HELPS OTHER WOMEN FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR BODIES. SO WHAT FINALLY MADE HER DECIDE TO GET BREAST IMPLANTS LATE IN HER LIFE?

THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

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.

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.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA. JESS MARLOW HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, AGRICULTURE AND ROLLING BLACKOUTS. THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE FOOD THAT WE PUT ON OUR TABLES COULD BE DEVASTATED IF THEIR POWER IS CUT AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR POULTRY PRODUCERS BECAUSE, FOR THEM, ROLLING BLACKOUTS COULD KILL OFF THOUSANDS OF THEIR CHICKENS. LEAH SANDERS SHOWS US HOW, WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING ANIMALS ALIVE, CALIFORNIA FARMERS HAVE FEW OPTIONS.

LEAH>> THE MECHANIZED AND COMPUTERIZED NATURE OF FARMING MAKES AGRICULTURE ONE OF THE MOST POWER-DRIVEN BUSINESSES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. FROM EGG-LAYING HENS TO MILKING COWS AND THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT FILL OUR LANDSCAPE, ELECTRICITY AND WATER ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS RURAL-BASED INDUSTRY. BOB KRAUTER IS THE SPOKESMAN FROM THE CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION. HE SAYS, FOR THE EGG, DAIRY, FRUIT AND VEGETABLE FARMERS WHO PRODUCE MORE THAN 250 COMMODITIES IN THE STATE, THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY.

BOB KRAUTER>> ENERGY IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT. YOU KNOW, DIESEL FUEL TO RUN TRACTORS AND ELECTRICITY TO RUN PROCESSING PLANTS AND IRRIGATION PUMPS. YOU KNOW, NATURAL GAS TO KEEP GREENHOUSES COMFORTABLE. ENERGY THAT'S NECESSARY FOR POULTRY OPERATIONS, TO KEEP POULTRY COMFORTABLE. ENERGY IS VERY CRITICAL TO OUR FOOD SUPPLY AND ANY INTERRUPTION IN THAT ENERGY SUPPLY MEANS THE CONSEQUENCES CERTAINLY FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND CERTAINLY POTENTIALLY CONSUMERS.

LEAH>> POULTRY PRODUCERS SAY, OF ALL FARM ANIMALS, THEIR BIRDS ARE THE MOST AT-RISK IF ROLLING BLACKOUTS HAPPEN THIS SUMMER. BOTTOM LINE? OUTAGES COULD MEAN DEATH FOR THEIR CHICKENS. AAA EGG FARMS IS JUST OUTSIDE RIVERSIDE COUNTY. THE BAHAN FAMILY HAS OWNED IT FOR 40 YEARS.

PAUL BAHAN>> WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL HERE FOR TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC DISRUPTION. WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL HERE TO PUT THE COMPANY OUT OF BUSINESS.

LEAH>> PAUL BAHAN SAYS A BLACKOUT OF JUST MINUTES COULD KILL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HIS EGG-LAYING HENS. TO SURVIVE, THESE BIRDS NEED GOOD FEED, GOOD WATER, GOOD AIR AND A GOOD TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 68 AND 72 DEGREES.

PAUL BAHAN>> A HOT DAY, HUMIDITY, NO FANS, NO MISTERS, NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DISASTER.

LEAH>> THESE FANS PROVIDE A CONSTANT FLOW OF CHILLED AIR KEEPING A CHICKEN'S BODY COOL AND ALLOWING IT TO BREATH. THE FANS COME ON ONE BY ONE AS THE HENHOUSE GETS HOTTER. JUST TO SHOW YOU HOW FAST THAT CAN HAPPEN, WE TURNED THE FANS OFF DURING THIS INTERVIEW. WITHIN FIVE MINUTES, THE TEMPERATURE WENT FROM THE MID-70'S TO OVER 80 DEGREES. WHEN THE POWER IS OFF, THE PRIME METHOD OF DEFENSE TO KEEPING THE HENHOUSES COOL IS DROPPING THE SO-CALLED CURTAINS OR WALLS THAT SURROUND THE FACILITIES, BUT BAHAN SAYS, ON A 90-DEGREE DAY WITH NO BREEZE, THAT DOESN'T HELP.

PAUL BAHAN>> WE DO HAVE A SYSTEM OF MISTERS THAT WILL COME ON THAT OPERATES STRICTLY ON WATER PRESSURE AND THEY WILL PUT FINE MISTS OF WATER INTO THE AIR INTO THE HOUSE AND THAT WILL HELP QUITE A BIT.

LEAH>> BUT IF THE POWER IS OUT AND THE WATER DISTRICT CAN'T MAINTAIN WATER PRESSURE, THEN THE MISTERS WON'T WORK EITHER. THE FARM BUREAU'S KRAUTER SAYS THERE ARE FEW SUFFICIENT ENERGY ALTERNATIVES.

BOB KRAUTER>> FARMERS, YOU KNOW, TRY TO SCRIMP, CONSERVE, SAVE, PLAN THE BEST THEY CAN. YES, SOME OF THEM ARE BUYING GENERATORS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT A FIX. IT WILL COST MONEY TO RUN THOSE GENERATORS. THEY'RE KIND OF A TEMPORARY FIX. SOME FARMERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RUN GENERATORS BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT AIR QUALITY.

LEAH>> FARMERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE AIR REGULATIONS RELAX DURING ROLLING BLACKOUTS SO THAT GENERATORS CAN BE FIRED UP, BUT REX LAIRD OF VENTURA COUNTY'S FARM BUREAU SAYS REGULATORS HAVE LITTLE SYMPATHY.

REX LAIRD>> SINCE WE'VE NEVER BEEN IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS BEFORE ON A STATEWIDE BASIS OR HERE IN THE COUNTY, IT'S DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN ALL THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT ARE GOING TO OCCUR. BUT THE CONCERN THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THE RIPPLE EFFECT THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE, IF YOU CAN'T RUN THE PACKING HOUSES, THEN THERE'S NO USE TO PICK. IF YOU'RE THE PICKERS, YOU CAN'T PICK AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE EMPLOYED, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A TREMENDOUS INCREASE ON SOCIAL SERVICES AND OTHER EXPENSES TO GOVERNMENT.

LEAH>> NOT TO MENTION ADDING TO THE STIFF COMPETITION CALIFORNIA'S EGG PRODUCERS ALREADY FACE FROM IMPORTS. FOR EXAMPLE, SOME 30 PERCENT OF EGGS SOLD HERE ARE BROUGHT IN FROM OTHER STATES. FARMERS FEEL BLACKOUTS, TOGETHER WITH INCREASED ENERGY COSTS, COULD DRIVE THEM OUT OF BUSINESS. ENERGY IS OBVIOUSLY CRITICAL IN KEEPING THESE HENS ALIVE, BUT YOU'D BE SURPRISED. THIS REALLY ISN'T THE MOST ENERGY-INTENSIVE AREA OF AN EGG FARM.

PAUL BAHAN>> THIS MACHINE TAKES EGGS IN FROM THE BACK, ALL THE WAY FROM THE BACK OF THE ROOM, WASHES THEM, RUNS THEM THROUGH A CANDLING BOOTH AND THEN RUNS THEM THROUGH A COMPUTER TO CHECK FOR THE PURITY OF THE EGG, NO BLOOD, DIRT, THAT KIND OF THING, AND THEN INDIVIDUALLY WEIGHS AND HANDLES EVERY EGG AND CHECKS FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE SHELL. THEN THE COMPUTER DECIDES WHERE, ON EACH OF THESE PACKING LANES, THAT EGG WILL GO.

LEAH>> PAUL BAHAN EMPLOYS SOME 75 PEOPLE TO CARE FOR THE CHICKENS AND CLEAN, GRADE AND PACK EGGS IN THIS WAREHOUSE. MOST OF THEM WORK RIGHT HERE AT THIS COMPUTER-DRIVEN MACHINE.

PAUL BAHAN>> IT RUNS VERY FAST. IT USES A LOT OF ENERGY. IT MOVES A LOT OF EGGS THROUGH HERE PRETTY QUICK.

LEAH>> IT'S A MAJOR HELP IN GETTING THESE EGGS TO SOME 300 CUSTOMERS THAT AAA FARMS SERVES, INCLUDING MAJOR SUPERMARKETS. THE SYSTEM EVEN FINDS SMALL HOLES IN SHELLS THAT THE HUMAN EYE CAN'T DETECT. PAUL BAHAN SAYS HIS FIRST CONCERN IS KEEPING HIS CHICKENS ALIVE DURING ROLLING BLACKOUTS, BUT EVEN IF THAT'S DONE WITHOUT THIS MACHINE, IT COULD BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE FOR WORKERS TO KEEP UP WITH PROCESSING THE HALF MILLION EGGS A DAY HIS BIRDS PRODUCE.

PAUL BAHAN>> WE NEVER ANTICIPATED RUNNING THIS LIKE A THIRD WORLD CHICKEN RANCH AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS SUMMER.

VAL>> MY GOD, LEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF CHICKENS. HOW MANY CHICKENS DOES HE HAVE THERE?

LEAH>> HE HAS A TOTAL -- I BELIEVE ON THAT ONE SITE, BECAUSE HE HAS A COUPLE OF SITES, THERE'S ABOUT, HE SAID, 700,000.

VAL>> 700,000?

LEAH>> YOU KNOW, IN THE ONE ROOM -- IT WAS KIND OF HARD TO SEE THE ROOM THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT LIGHTER WITH THE WHITE CHICKENS -- THERE WERE SEVERAL, YOU KNOW, ROWS OF CHICKENS AND THEN, ON TOP OF THAT, THERE WAS LIKE FOUR, YOU KNOW, FOUR ROWS OF CHICKENS, SO A LOT OF BIRDS.

VAL>> NOW IF THE POWER GOES OUT, COULDN'T HE HAVE GENERATORS ON STANDBY TO KICK IN?

LEAH>> THEY CAN, BUT AIR QUALITY, THE AQMD? THEY CAN ONLY RUN THE GENERATORS FOR SO MANY HOURS A DAY. THEY'RE DIESEL-POWERED, SO, YOU KNOW, AIR QUALITY AND EMISSIONS, THAT'S IN QUESTION. AND THE AMOUNT OF POWER THAT THEY NEED, IT REALLY WOULDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT WOULDN'T HELP THEM FOR AS MUCH AS THEY NEED, YEAH.

VAL>> THAT'S NOT A TOTAL SOLUTION. IN THE MEANTIME, EVEN IF THE POWER DOESN'T GO OUT, HIS BILLS HAVE TO BE GOING UP.

LEAH>> YOU KNOW, HE WAS SAYING FROM THIS TIME LAST YEAR, HE'S LOOKING AT ABOUT A 48 PERCENT INCREASE ON HIS ELECTRICITY BILLS, SO, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THE POWER DOESN'T GO OUT, HE'S STILL BEING HIT BY THESE INCREDIBLE BILLS EACH MONTH, YOU KNOW, JUST TO KEEP THESE BIRDS COOL AND KEEP THE OPERATIONS GOING.

VAL>> IS THE STATE DOING ANYTHING OR ANY AGENCY STEPPING IN TO DO ANYTHING?

LEAH>> YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY THEY'VE BEEN MEETING WITH PEOPLE, STATE LEGISLATORS, BUT RIGHT NOW, NOBODY HAS A SOLUTION. IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. REX LAIRD SAID TO ME, YOU KNOW, THIS IS KIND OF LIKE HAVING A BLIZZARD IN THE MIDDLE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. WE WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE WOULDN'T HAVE SNOWPLOWS, WE WOULDN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE SAND TO PUT ON THE GROUND, THE GRAVEL TO PUT ON THE GROUND. THEY JUST RIGHT NOW DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT OR THE KNOWLEDGE TO HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

VAL>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT THE PRICE OF EGGS AND THE PRICE OF CHICKENS WON'T GO UP.

LEAH>> WE'LL SEE.

VAL>> THANKS AGAIN.

OUR TOP STORY TOMORROW NIGHT, REMEMBER CLOTHESLINES? WELL, THEY COULD BE MAKING A COMEBACK COMPLIMENTS OF THE ENERGY CRISIS. AND YET, IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS, THE COMMON CLOTHESLINE COULD BE ILLEGAL. THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AT 7:00 P.M.

IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, WE LOOK AT THE STATE OF MODERN POETRY. APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH AND THIS ANCIENT ART FORM IS THRIVING ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IN FACT, POETRY HAS BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF POP CULTURE, AS EVIDENCED BY TV AND FILM.

>> WHERE ARE YOU GOING? DO YOU KNOW? I HAD AN URGE TO HOP THE NEXT FLIGHT TO A BALMY ISLAND NAMED AFTER SOME FRENCH SAINT, BUT THEN I SAW WHAT THE TICKET COSTS IF YOU DON'T BOOK IN ADVANCE.

>> WOMAN. W-O-MAN. WOOOOMAN. SHE WAS A THIEF. YOU GOT TO BELIEVE. SHE STOLE MY HEART AND MY CAT.

>> I AM DANCING, A BRIGHT BEAM OF LIGHT. I AM REMEMBERING LOVE.

VAL>> SO HOW IS THE POETRY SCENE FARING IN LOS ANGELES? HERE TO TELL US ARE TWO LOCAL POETRY ADVOCATES. FRED DEWEY, HE IS THE EXECUTIVE AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AT "BEYOND BAROQUE", A LITERARY ART CENTER, AND SUZANNE LUMMIS, SHE IS POET, TEACHER AND DIRECTOR OF THE LOS ANGELES POETRY FESTIVAL. WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

SUZANNE LUMMIS>> WELL, THANKS FOR HAVING US.

FRED DEWEY>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

VAL>> NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY, "POETRY? GIVE ME A BREAK. THAT SILLY ARCANE STUFF THAT I USED TO TRY TO AVOID IN HIGH SCHOOL?" IS IT MAKING A COMEBACK?

SUZANNE LUMMIS>> I THINK IT HAS FOR ABOUT, OH, FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY, IT'S BECOME MORE AND MORE POPULAR, DON'T YOU THINK, FRED?

FRED DEWEY>> VERY MUCH SO.

SUZANNE LUMMIS>> AND THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT KINDS OF POETRY FOR EVERYONE AND SOME PEOPLE RESPOND TO A VERY SORT OF ELEGANT POETRY AND OTHER PEOPLE LIKE A SORT OF FIERCE, YOU KNOW, DRAMATIC RANT TO POETRY. BUT EVERY PERSON HAS A TYPE OF POETRY THAT THEY WILL RESPOND TO, DON'T YOU THINK, FRED?

VAL>> YOU'RE BOTH WRITERS?

FRED DEWEY>> YES, I'M A WRITER AND IT'S --

VAL>> -- WHAT KIND OF POETRY DO YOU WRITE?

FRED DEWEY>> I ACTUALLY WRITE NONFICTION. I WRITE ON POLITICS AND CULTURE, WHICH HAS GIVEN ME A GOOD POSITION TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO STRENGTHEN THE POETRY WORLD HERE IN LOS ANGELES.

VAL>> WAIT, YOUR POETRY IS ON POLITICS?

FRED DEWEY>> NO, ACTUALLY, I WRITE ON PUBLIC-BASED ISSUES, BUT LOS ANGELES, I THINK, HAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST VIBRANT AND CREATIVE POETRY SEATS IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

VAL>> AS EVIDENCED BY -- HOW DO YOU MEASURE SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

SUZANNE LUMMIS>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS. ONE THING, THERE'S AN INCREDIBLY STRONG COMMUNITY. I CONSIDER MY COMMUNITY TO BE MAYBE 60, 70 OR 80 POETS WHO ARE ALL PUBLISHING AND ALL FRIENDS OF EACH OTHER AND WE HAVE TREMENDOUS AFFECTION FOR EACH OTHER. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS REALIZE, THAT THERE'S NOT RIVALRY OR SQUABBLING OR BITTERNESS. I'VE HAD -- YOU KNOW, FRED, IN THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, ABOUT TEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO ME, I'M SO HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND I LOVE EVERYBODY SO MUCH. AND THAT'S NOT TRUE EVERYWHERE IN EVERY FIELD, YOU KNOW?

FRED DEWEY>> POETRY, I THINK, SERVES A VERY SPECIAL FUNCTION IN SOCIETY, ESPECIALLY A MASS TECHNOLOGICAL COMMERCIAL SOCIETY LIKE AMERICA. POETS, THEIR ROLE REALLY IS TO REJUVENATE THE LANGUAGE AND GIVE IT DEEPER MEANING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TRY TO DO AT "BEYOND BAROQUE" IS HAVE POETS, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, READ TO AUDIENCES AND OTHER POETS. WE HAVE ABOUT 500 POETS A YEAR. WE DO READINGS ON THE EAST COAST. WE JUST DID A READING IN PALM SPRINGS. BUT THE THING THAT POETS, I THINK, REALLY REPRESENT IS, IT'S ALMOST A DISSIDENT POSITION BECAUSE YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE IN A MASS SOCIETY FOR TURNING INWARDS AND TURNING YOUR EXPERIENCES INTO LANGUAGE AND CRAFTING THAT LANGUAGE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY IN A WORLD WHERE SO MUCH OF LANGUAGE IS DOMINATED BY ADVERTISING AND EVEN PROPAGANDA. POETRY IS A VERY POWERFUL MEDIUM.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT AN L.A. POET. HER NAME IS JEANONE ADAMS AND SHE IS READING HER POETRY AT THE WORLD STATE THEATER IN LEIMERT PARK. HERE SHE IS.

JEANONE ADAMS>> WHEN LIFE IS NOT A CIRCLE, BUT A LINE, AND I CANNOT SEEM TO MAKE ENDS MEET, BE THE CINNAMON SUGAR IN MY OATMEAL AND PEPPERMINT DROPS FOUND WAY, WAY DOWN DEEP IN THE BOTTOM OF MY PURSE; SOLID OF MY BONE AND TENDERNESS, TENDERNESS, TENDERNESS IN THE PADS OF MY FINGERS; BE MY EVERYTHING, EVEN WHEN I FORGET THAT YOU ARE, AND KEEP ME.

VAL>> THAT IS VERY PERSONAL, I GUESS. (LAUGHTER)

SUZANNE LUMMIS>> AND VERY VITAL. I THINK WHAT FRED SAID IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. EVERY POET I KNOW FEELS THAT WHAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN DOING IS MAKING THE LANGUAGE VITAL AND VIVID AND ALIVE BECAUSE, AS FRED SAID, WE'RE SURROUNDED BY VERY BANAL LANGUAGE, CLICHES. YOU KNOW, I THINK POETRY IS THE ARCHENEMY OF CLICHES, DON'T YOU THINK, FRED?

FRED DEWEY>> WELL, WE TRY TO MAKE IT THAT WAY.

SUZANNE LUMMIS>> YES, YES.

VAL>> HERE'S ANOTHER L.A. POET. HIS NAME IS RUSSELL LEON AND THIS COMES FROM A PROGRAM THAT WAS AIRED ONE TIME ON PBS CALLED "THE UNITED STATES OF POETRY".

RUSSELL LEON>> AS A CHILD, I SEE THAT HE FLEES FROM ME, HE WHO IS BOUND TO SUFFER IN THE SHADOW OF HIS BODY, CASUALLY AS A BOY BUT [INAUDIBLE] AS A GIRL. AS A CHILD, HE PLAYS HIDE AND SEEK BEHIND THE GRAY THOUGHTS OF HIS MOTHER AND FATHER. NOW YOU SEE HIM, NOW YOU DON'T.

VAL>> NOW WHAT IF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING AND THERE'S A LITTLE VOICE INSIDE THEM SAYING, YOU KNOW, I THINK I COULD DO THAT. I'D LIKE TO DO THAT. I'VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE WRITING POETRY. HOW CAN YOU START? HOW CAN YOU --

SUZANNE LUMMIS>> -- THEY CAN GO TO "BEYOND BAROQUE" OR THEY CAN CALL THE L.A. POETRY FESTIVAL NUMBER, WHICH IS SHOWN WHEN THIS IS DONE. THEY CAN FIND A LITTLE MAGAZINE THAT COMES OUT OF LONG BEACH CALLED "NEXT", WHICH LISTS EVERY SINGLE POETRY READING. WHAT ELSE CAN THEY DO, FRED?

FRED DEWEY>> WELL, I THINK THE MAIN THING IS TO WRITE AND TO READ YOUR WORK FOR OTHER PEOPLE. MAYBE IT'S A DINNER PARTY, MAYBE IT'S WORKSHOPS THAT WE OFFER. WE HAVE FREE WORKSHOPS. I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING THAT "BEYOND BAROQUE" DOES IS, IT PROVIDES A KIND OF A REFUGE WHERE PEOPLE CAN CRAFT THEIR LANGUAGE AND BUILD A COMMUNITY BECAUSE POETS -- AS SUZANNE WAS SAYING EARLIER, I THINK POETS HAVE THEIR DIFFERENT STYLES, THEY HAVE THEIR DIFFERENCES ON SUBJECT MATTER, BUT THEY ALL SHARE A COMMON PROJECT WHICH IS TO DEEPEN THE LANGUAGE AND IT BECOMES A VERY MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU HAVE A POET, LET'S SAY, THEY'VE ONLY BEEN WRITING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS OR MAYBE SIX MONTHS OR TWO WEEKS. THEY COME TO A FREE WORKSHOP AT "BEYOND BAROQUE" AND THEY GET UP IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE AND THEY TRY OUT THEIR WORK. MAYBE IT WORKS, MAYBE IT DOESN'T, BUT THEY LEARN AND THEY GET FEEDBACK --

SUZANNE LUMMIS>> -- AND THE FEEDBACK IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT AND THE WORKSHOP PROCESS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR WRITERS. IT'S WHERE THEY TAKE THE POETRY IN AND OTHER PEOPLE RESPOND TO THE WORK. IN POETRY, THE DETAILS OF THE LANGUAGE ARE TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT, SO THAT'S WHERE POETS LEARN HOW TO SORT OF SCULPT THEIR LANGUAGE SO THAT IT WILL HAVE IMPACT ON THE READER. IT'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT PROCESS.

VAL>> AND FOR APRIL, WHICH IS POETRY MONTH, THERE ARE SOME GREAT LITTLE POETRY PROJECTS THAT PEOPLE WILL NOTICE AROUND TOWN. ONE OF THEM HAS TO DO WITH BUSES?

SUZANNE LUMMIS>> THAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING -- ACTUALLY, THAT'S PSA, THE POETRY SOCIETY OF AMERICA. IT'S GOING TO HAVE POETRY ON MTA BUSES STARTING AT THE END OF, I THINK, THE END OF MAY AND THEN "POETRY IN THE WINDOWS" IS A PROJECT BY THE ARROYO ARTS COLLECTIVE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE IN HIGHLAND PARK ALL ALONG FIGUEROA, POEMS GOING UP IN LITTLE SHOP WINDOWS. THAT'S IN JUNE, THAT'S IN JUNE. SO ACTUALLY THESE ARE PUBLIC MANIFESTATIONS OF POETRY POPPING UP ALL OVER THE PLACE AND I THINK PEOPLE WILL REALLY ENJOY THIS.

FRED DEWEY>> IF THEY HAVE A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY AFTERNOON TO SPARE, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU GO DOWN TO THE VENICE BOARDWALK. WE JUST RECENTLY CREATED A PROJECT ENGRAVING POEMS FROM LOCAL VENICE POETS IN THE WALLS AROUND THE PARK AND IT GIVES --

VAL>> -- ENGRAVING THEM IN THE WALLS?

FRED DEWEY>> IT'S GROUND INTO THE CONCRETE, SO IT WILL LAST HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, FOREVER.

VAL>> AN ENTIRE POEM?

FRED DEWEY>> WELL, FRAGMENTS.

VAL>> OKAY. (LAUGHTER)

FRED DEWEY>> BUT IT GIVES A SENSE, I THINK, OF THE ROLE THAT POETRY CAN PLAY IN PUBLIC SPACE IN THE SOCIETY AND TO SEE THAT IT'S REALLY AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR LIVES. EVERYONE SHOULD CONSIDER THEMSELVES A POET SOMEWHERE INSIDE AND FEEL FREE TO CRAFT THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.

SUZANNE LUMMIS>> THE ROOT OF ALL OF THE LANGUAGE ARTS, PLAYWRIGHTING, NOVEL WRITING, WHATEVER SORT OF LANGUAGE ART YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, POETRY IS THE VERY FOUNDATION OF THAT.

VAL>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING US APPRECIATE IT AND MAYBE GIVING A LITTLE BIT OF COURAGE TO ALL THOSE WOULD-BE POETS OUT THERE WHO'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THE COURAGE TO --

FRED DEWEY>> -- YES. WRITE ON.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) SUZANNE LUMMIS, FRED DEWEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

SUZANNE LUMMIS>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

VAL>> AND YOU CAN CHECK THE NUMBERS AND THE WEB SITES ON YOUR SCREEN FOR MORE INFORMATION ON "BEYOND BAROQUE" AND THE LOS ANGELES POETRY FESTIVAL. THEY CAN TAP YOU INTO A NUMBER OF POETRY EVENTS, AS WE MENTIONED, AROUND LOS ANGELES.

310-822-3006
WWW.BEYONDBAROQUE.ORG

323-255-5223
WWW.LAPOETRYFESTIVAL.ORG

VAL>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT POETRY OR ANY OF THE SUBJECTS WE TALK ABOUT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. HERE'S HOW YOU CAN REACH US:

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

VAL>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS, ANOTHER IN OUR SERIES OF TELEVISION DONE BY PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA. TONIGHT A USC JOURNALISM STUDENT BRINGS US HER REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF PLASTIC SURGERY. NICOLE DEFUSCO INTERVIEWED FOUR DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO UNDERWENT VARIOUS TYPES OF PLASTIC SURGERY, FROM A CHILD WITH A CLEFT PALATE TO A FIREFIGHTER WITH A BURNED HAND. IN THIS SEGMENT, DEFUSCO TALKS WITH KARYN KLEIN, WHO CHOSE BREAST IMPLANTS FOR COSMETIC REASONS. THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED ON THE USC NEWS PROGRAM "IMPACT".

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> WHEN YOU THINK OF A DANCER, A BEAUTIFUL, THIN, GRACEFUL FIGURE COMES TO MIND, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL IT IS.

KARYN KLEIN>> DANCERS ARE EXTREMELY NEUROTIC AND SOME OF THAT IS SELF-IMPOSED AND, OF COURSE, SOME OF THAT IS IMPOSED FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD. WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I DEFINITELY WANTED TO BE IN AMERICAN BALLET THEATER. THAT WAS IT. THAT WAS MY VISION. BUT, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN THINGS, LIKE, GOT IN THE WAY. PETITE DANCERS WERE OUT AND TALL, LANKY DANCERS WERE IN AND I CERTAINLY WAS NOT GOING TO BE THAT.

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> KARYN KLEIN DIDN'T FIT THE IDEAL BALLET FIGURE AND SHE DOESN'T FIT OTHER FIGURES EITHER. THE AVERAGE AGE FOR BREAST IMPLANTS IS AROUND 30.

KARYN KLEIN>> I WILL BE 43 THIS SUMMER AND I HAD MY BREAST IMPLANTS WHEN I WAS 41.

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> SURPRISINGLY, KARYN'S LATE-LIFE DECISION TO GET BREAST IMPLANTS HAD LITTLE TO DO WITH HER DANCING.

KARYN KLEIN>> FOR ME, IT HAD TO DO WITH AGING. AS I GOT A LITTLE BIT OLDER, I STARTED SEEING, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN PARTS OF MY FACE AND I STARTED SEEING PLASTIC SURGERY ALL AROUND ME.

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> THE SURGERY HELPS KARYN ACCEPT AGING WITH THE GRACEFULNESS OF A DANCER.

KARYN KLEIN>> THE REALITY IS THAT WOMEN WILL AGE. EVERY PERSON, UNLESS SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAPPENS TO THEM, WILL GO THROUGH WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH.

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> BUT NOT EVERYONE UNDERSTOOD WHAT KARYN WAS GOING THROUGH, INCLUDING HER HUSBAND.

KARYN KLEIN>> WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER SO LONG, WE TRY NOT TO FIGHT ANYMORE. WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS NOW, SO WE HAD KIND OF A DISCUSSION, OR SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS, ABOUT IT. HE WASN'T HAPPY. HE REALLY DIDN'T WANT ME TO DO IT.

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> BUT THE SURGERY WAS SOMETHING SHE HAD TO DO FOR HERSELF AND HER HUSBAND SUPPORTED HER.

KARYN KLEIN>> AT 40, THEY SAY THAT WOMEN GO THROUGH A LITTLE TRAUMA. I KNEW IT WOULDN'T FIX THINGS, BUT I ALSO KNEW, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, MY BODY AND, YOU KNOW, JUST MAYBE TAKE A LITTLE OF THE EDGE THAT I WAS FEELING ABOUT MINE.

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> WHAT KARYN WAS FEELING IS NOT UNUSUAL. MOST WOMEN GET BREAST IMPLANTS TO IMPROVE THEIR SELF-IMAGE. IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, THE NUMBER OF BREAST IMPLANT SURGERY HAS RISEN ALMOST 400 PERCENT.

KARYN KLEIN>> I THINK THAT WHEN WOMEN ARE OUT OF CONTROL IN THEIR LIVES, WHEN SOMETHING DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT OR THEY CAN'T GET A HANDLE ON SOMETHING OR THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY SHOULD DO NEXT, THEY SUPERIMPOSE THAT ON THEIR BODIES TO TRY TO FIX THINGS BECAUSE THEY CAN CONTROL THEIR BODIES.

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. KARYN HAD THE SURGERY AT AN OLDER AGE WHEN WOMEN ARE GETTING BREAST IMPLANTS AT A YOUNGER AGE.

KARYN KLEIN>> AND THEY'RE SO UNHAPPY WITH THEIR BODIES AND THEY HAVE WONDERFUL FIGURES AND IT'S MIND-BOGGLING TO WATCH THEM, WELL, I'M JUST GOING TO -- IF I MAKE MY BREASTS BIGGER, EVERYTHING WILL BE BETTER -- MEN WILL LIKE ME -- YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THIS IMAGE OF ALL KINDS OF REASONS WHY THEY WANT THEIR BREASTS, YOU KNOW, TO BE LARGER. MOST OF IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW THE OUTSIDE WORLD SEES THEM AND HOW THAT AFFECTS HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THEMSELVES.

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> EVEN THOUGH SHE GOT BREAST IMPLANTS, KARYN TRIES TO HELP YOUNG WOMEN FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES THE WAY THEY ARE.

KARYN KLEIN>> YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE IN SMALL WAYS YOU CAN INFLUENCE PEOPLE. AS A TEACHER, I CAN IMPART SOMETHING DEEPER IN TERMS OF PHILOSOPHY SO THAT YOUR STUDENTS DON'T JUST LOOK AT HOW YOU WOULD AT TV, BUT ALSO LOOK AT REAL LIFE.

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> THE REAL LIFE APPROACH WHEN CONSIDERING BREAST IMPLANTS IS TO REMEMBER THAT THEY WILL NOT CHANGE YOUR LIFE OR SUDDENLY MAKE YOU HAPPY.

KARYN KLEIN>> MY BREASTS DO NOT MAKE ME GET UP IN THE MORNING AND SAY I'M A BLESSED HUMAN BEING. MY FRIENDS DO, MY FAMILY DOES, LOVE IN MY LIFE DOES, WORK THAT'S IMPORTANT DOES.

VAL>> BOY, YOU TOOK ON A VERY TALKED-ABOUT SUBJECT IN LOS ANGELES. NICOLE DEFUSCO, WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> NOW WHEN YOU WENT ABOUT CHOOSING A SUBJECT, HOW DID IT EVEN OCCUR TO YOU THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THIS SUBJECT?

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> WELL, ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, BEFORE I STARTED COLLEGE IN LOS ANGELES, I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT AND I WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH ABOUT THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY MYSELF.

VAL>> ON YOUR FACE, I ASSUME?

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> UM-HUM, ON MY FACE.

VAL>> THAT MUST HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIC. SO YOU GOT FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE EXTENSIVELY WITH RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY.

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> RIGHT. THEN WHEN I CAME OUT HERE, IT WAS KIND OF DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SEE HOW PEOPLE REGARDED PLASTIC SURGERY KIND OF LIKE A BARBIE DOLL. SO IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO TRY AND FIND PEOPLE WHO COULD SHOWCASE PLASTIC SURGERY AND ALL THE POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT THAT.

VAL>> NOW YOU JUST HAPPENED TO FOCUS ON HER. THIS IS A CASE OF A WOMAN CHOOSING IT FOR COSMETIC REASONS, BUT THE OTHER PEOPLE YOU LOOKED AT IN YOUR SERIES, SOME DID IT FOR MEDICAL REASONS, YES?

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> RIGHT.

VAL>> NOW DO YOU THINK THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING A LITTLE HYPOCRITICAL IN THE DANCE INSTRUCTOR? SHE'S TELLING YOUNG WOMEN TO BE COMFORTABLE, YET SHE GOES AHEAD AND GETS IMPLANTS.

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK THAT THE GIRLS SHE HAS CONTACT WITH ARE YOUNG GIRLS IN THEIR TWENTIES. SHE'S NOW IN HER FORTIES. SHE'S ESTABLISHED. SHE GOT THEM FOR HER AGING TO HELP HER FEEL BETTER AS SHE GOT OLDER. SO I THINK YOUNG GIRLS DON'T NEED TO CHANGE THEIR BODIES RIGHT NOW. IF IT WOULD MAKE THEM FEEL BETTER, THEN --

VAL>> -- BUT ALSO, I SUPPOSE IF YOU'RE YOUNGER, YOU MIGHT WANT TO FEEL BETTER THROUGH SUPERFICIAL MEANS WHEREAS YOU'RE OLDER, I GUESS YOUR SELF-IMAGE IS MORE STABLE.

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> RIGHT.

VAL>> WHEN YOU WENT ABOUT DOING THIS, DID YOU GET TO KNOW THESE PEOPLE REAL WELL?

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> NOT VERY WELL, UNFORTUNATELY. I WAS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THEM THROUGH THE SURGERY AND THE FACT THAT I HAD ALSO GONE THROUGH THE SURGERY. THEY WERE ALL SUCH KIND PEOPLE AND VERY FRIENDLY AND VERY SUPPORTIVE AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

VAL>> AND WHO ELSE DID YOU -- YOU DID A YOUNG PERSON --

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> -- THERE WAS A BABY.

VAL>> A BABY?

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> SHE WAS BORN WITH A CLEFT LIP AND A CLEFT PALATE AND SHE HAD RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY AT ONLY THREE MONTHS OLD.

VAL>> SO I ASSUME YOU OBVIOUSLY MET WITH THE PARENTS WHO WENT THROUGH THIS. DID IT COME OUT WELL?

NICOLE DEFUSCO>> YEAH, I WAS VISITING WITH MARY AND SHE'S DOING WELL.

VAL>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, NICOLE DEFUSCO, FOR SHARING SOME OF YOUR WORK WITH US. USC JOURNALISM AND FILM STUDENT, GRADUATING THIS MAY, CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.

THAT'S IT FOR OUR PROGRAM THIS EVENING. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

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