12/16/02

LC021216

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> A LOOK AT HIGH-TECH GADGETS THAT MIGHT PROTECT A CHILD FROM A PREDATOR, BUT ARE PARENTS PUTTING TOO MUCH FAITH IN TECHNOLOGY?

TRICIA HERNANDEZ>> IF IT BRINGS JUST THAT ONE LITTLE BIT OF REASSURANCE TO ONE PARENT, THEN IT’S WORTH IT. IF IT CAN FIND JUST ONE CHILD THAT’S MISSING, THEN I THINK THAT IT’S A VERY WORTHWHILE PRODUCT.

VAL>> WE’LL ALSO LAUNCH AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE BELIEVE ABOUT GOD, MORALITY AND WHERE THEY FIT IN.

DAVID PRESENT-THOMAS>> I FEEL THAT I HAVE A LOT MORE STUFF TO WORRY ABOUT THAN MOST OTHER PEOPLE. LIKE THE FACT THAT I’M MIXED, THAT I’M JEWISH, THAT I DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD. I GET PRESSURES FROM EVERYBODY.

JESS>> PLUS, WE’LL GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WHEN A MARIACHI GROUP PERFORMS HERE ON THE KCET PLAZA.

[MARIACHI SOL DE MEXICO PERFORMANCE]

JESS>> THEY HAVE AN INTERESTING STORY TO TELL ABOUT HOW THEIR MUSIC LANDED THEM IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

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

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 ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I’M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I’M JESS MARLOW. THE TECHNOLOGY WAS CREATED FOR THE PENTAGON, BUT CONSUMERS TAPPED INTO IT LONG AGO. IN FACT, IF YOU DRIVE A CAR WITH ONE OF THOSE ELECTRONIC NAVIGATION SYSTEMS, YOU’RE ALREADY PLUGGED IN. BUT THIS YEAR, THERE IS SOMETHING NEW.

VAL>> WE’RE TALKING ABOUT HIGH-TECH GADGETS THAT CAN PINPOINT THE LOCATION OF A CHILD. FOR NERVOUS PARENTS, THE DEVICES MAY OFFER PEACE OF MIND, BUT AS GAY YEE REPORTS, THEY ALSO MAY BE FUELING A PARANOIA THAT IS UNWARRANTED.

GAY YEE>> IT’S MORNING AT THE HERNANDEZ HOUSE IN RIVERSIDE. TIME FOR THE SEVEN A.M. SCRAMBLE. TRICIA HERNANDEZ SCURRIES OUT THE DOOR WITH HER FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, SARAH. SHE’LL DROP HER OFF AT PRESCHOOL ON THE WAY TO WORK. BUT BEFORE TRICIA LETS SARAH GO, SHE CLIPS A DEVICE ON HER LITTLE GIRL. IT LOOKS LIKE A PAGER, BUT IN FACT IT’S A HIGH-TECH TRACKER, A DEVICE THAT USES GPS SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP TABS ON SARAH’S WHEREABOUTS AT ALL TIMES. SO EVEN AFTER TRICIA SAYS GOODBYE, SHE CAN STILL KEEP AN EYE ON HER DAUGHTER. ALL IT TAKES IS A COMPUTER WHERE SHE CAN LOG IN AND SEE EXACTLY WHERE SARAH IS.

TRICIA HERNANDEZ>> I ACTUALLY HAD ONE PARENT TELL ME THAT IT WAS RIDICULOUS THAT I HAD MY DAUGHTER WITH THIS. LIKE I TOLD HER, IF MY DAUGHTER’S GONE FOR MORE THAN TEN SECONDS OUT OF HER BOUNDARY, I KNOW WHERE SHE’S AT. IF SHE’S WITH AN ABDUCTOR, I KNOW WHERE SHE’S AT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL KNOW WHERE SHE’S AT AND I DON’T NEED TO SECOND-GUESS HOW I’M GOING TO FIND HER OR HOW SHE’S GOING TO BE PROTECTED.

GAY YEE>> TRICIA ISN’T THE ONLY PARENT WHO IS SEEKING A LITTLE ADDED PEACE OF MIND IN WHAT’S BEEN A SUMMER OF CHILD ABDUCTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY. WORRIED PARENTS HAVE CREATED A BOOMING NEW MARKET FOR THE PRODUCERS OF HIGH-TECH TRACKING DEVICES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THEM OUT THERE. EVERYTHING FROM A MICROCHIP THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF RICE THAT CAN BE IMPLANTED IN A PERSON’S BODY TO THESE WRISTWATCHES THAT USE SATELLITE AND CELL PHONE TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP TRACK OF CHILDREN. ALMOST ALL THE DEVICES RELY ON THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM, OR GPS. A NETWORK OF SATELLITES MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO PLOT EXACT LOCATIONS ON THE GROUND.

DAVID ADDINGTON>> AND YOU CAN SEE THE ANTENNA’S KIND OF BEVELED UP HERE AND THAT IS SO IT CAN POINT UP TOWARDS THE SKY WHERE THE GPS SATELLITES ARE IN ORBIT.

GAY YEE>> DAVID ADDINGTON IS A VICE PRESIDENT AT DIGITAL ANGEL CORPORATION IN RIVERSIDE, MAKER OF THE DEVICE SARAH WEARS. IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR ALZHEIMER’S PATIENTS. NOW IT’S POPULAR FOR CHILDREN AND PETS. THIS MODEL HAS A DISTINGUISHING FEATURE. IT ALLOWS PARENTS TO SET A PREDETERMINED BOUNDARY AROUND THE PERSON THEY WANT TO PROTECT. AN ALERT IS GIVEN IF THE CHILD IS MOVED OUTSIDE THOSE LIMITS. ADDINGTON CALLS IT GEO-FENCING.

DAVID ADDINGTON>> IF A CHILD OR AN ALZHEIMER’S PATIENT WANDERS OUTSIDE THEIR GEO-FENCE, AN ALERT IS GENERATED. IT COMES TO OUR DATA CENTER AND WE SEND A PAGE TO THE PERSON DESIGNATED AS THE CARER FOR THE WEARER OF THE DEVICE. THEY WILL ALSO GET AN E-MAIL.

GAY YEE>> IF THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE AND YOU CAN AFFORD IT, SOME PARENTS SAY WHY NOT? BUT CRITICS SAY THEY’RE JUST WASTING THEIR MONEY, THAT THE PROBABILITY OF A CHILD BEING ABDUCTED BY A STRANGER IS MINISCULE, ONE IN A MILLION, THAT IT’S MORE PROBABLE THAT THAT SAME CHILD BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

BARRY GLASSNER>> IF YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THE MEDIA COVERAGE, ESPECIALLY ON THE CABLE NEWS CHANNELS, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS GOING ON ALL THE TIME. BUT IN FACT WHAT’S HAPPENING IS THAT THESE ARE VERY RARE. IN FACT, THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN. THERE ARE FEWER STRANGER ABDUCTIONS THIS YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE FBI, THAN LAST YEAR.

GAY YEE>> BARRY GLASSNER IS A USC SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR AND AUTHOR OF “THE CULTURE OF FEAR: WHY AMERICANS ARE AFRAID OF THE WRONG THINGS”. HE SAYS ONLY ABOUT A HUNDRED CHILDREN ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE ACTUALLY KIDNAPPED BY STRANGERS LAST YEAR. THE VAST MAJORITY OF MISSING CHILDREN ARE RUNAWAYS OR TAKEN BY FAMILY MEMBERS. GLASSNER SAYS, IF PARENTS WANT TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN, A BETTER INVESTMENT WOULD BE BICYCLE HELMETS AND HOUSEHOLD REPAIRS.

BARRY GLASSNER>> THERE ARE ABOUT 6,000 UNINTENTIONAL DEATHS OF CHILDREN EVERY YEAR IN THIS COUNTRY. ABOUT FORTY PERCENT OF THOSE ARE IN THE HOME. MOST OF THOSE CAN BE PREVENTED WITH SOME SIMPLE, SIMPLE STEPS THAT ARE USUALLY INEXPENSIVE AND IT’S A MUCH BETTER EXPENDITURE OF MONEY THAN TO GET ONE OF THESE HIGH-TECH DEVICES TO TRY TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD AGAINST SOMETHING THAT IS PHENOMENALLY UNLIKELY TO EVER HAPPEN.

GAY YEE>> BUT TRICIA HERNANDEZ ISN’T CONVINCED.

TRICIA HERNANDEZ>> IF IT BRINGS JUST THAT ONE LITTLE BIT OF REASSURANCE TO ONE PARENT, THEN IT’S WORTH IT. IF IT CAN FIND JUST ONE CHILD THAT’S MISSING, THEN I THINK THAT IT’S A VERY WORTHWHILE PRODUCT REGARDLESS IF THEY THINK IT’S JUST A PROPAGANDA JUST TO SELL MORE UNITS OR WHATEVER.

GAY YEE>> SHE’S A SINGLE MOM WHO BELIEVES THE NEW TECHNOLOGY DOES HAVE VALUE REGARDLESS OF THE HYPE AND, IF THE DEVICES SAVE JUST ONE CHILD LIKE HERS, TRICIA SAYS IT’S MONEY WELL SPENT.

JESS>> THE DEVICES HAVEN’T BEEN ON THE MARKET LONG ENOUGH TO DEVELOP A TRACK RECORD, BUT WE DO KNOW THEY ARE NOT CHEAP. THEY CAN COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS APIECE, PLUS THERE IS A MONTHLY SERVICE FEE.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, WHAT’S HAPPENING TO THE PEOPLES' REPUBLIC OF SANTA MONICA? THE ONE-TIME BASTION OF LIBERALISM IS GETTING TOUGH ON THE HOMELESS AND TURNED ITS BACK ON THE LIVING WAGE, SO WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CITY BY THE SEA? THAT’S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> YOU MAY THINK THAT DEEP THOUGHTS AND TEENAGERS AREN'T PART OF THE SAME UNIVERSE, BUT TONIGHT YOU'LL MEET A YOUNG MAN WHO'S THINKING A LOT ABOUT GOD, MORALITY AND WHERE HE FITS IN IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF LIFE.

VAL>> HIS NAME IS DAVID. HE'S HALF JEWISH AND HE'S STRUGGLING WITH PRAYER, FAITH AND HIS OWN IDENTITY. HE'S PART OF A COMPELLING NEW DOCUMENTARY CALLED "WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?" HERE'S DAVID'S STORY.

DAVID PRESENT-THOMAS>> I FEEL THAT I HAVE A LOT MORE STUFF TO WORRY ABOUT THAN MOST OTHER PEOPLE. LIKE THE FACT THAT I'M MIXED, THAT I'M JEWISH, THAT I DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD. I GET PRESSURES FROM EVERYBODY. IF SOMEONE TELLS ME, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT BLACK, THAT'S THEIR OPINION. I KNOW THAT I'M BLACK. THEY SAY I'M NOT JEWISH, I KNOW I'M JEWISH. BY JEWISH LAW, IF YOUR MOTHER IS JEWISH, YOU'RE JEWISH. MY MOM'S JEWISH. I WAS BAR MITZVAHED. MY DAD IS A CHRISTIAN. HE USED TO GO TO CHURCH, I BELIEVE, BUT HE'S NOT VERY RELIGIOUS AT ALL. HE'S EVEN COME TO TEMPLE OCCASIONALLY.

I THINK OF JUDAISM MORE AS A COMMUNITY AND I TRY TO BE, YOU KNOW, A GOOD MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT JEWS ARE ESPECIALLY OPEN TO OTHER JEWS. I ACTUALLY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH MY JEWISH FRIENDS, LIKE I FEEL THAT I CAN TALK TO THEM MORE THAN MY FRIENDS WHO AREN'T JEWISH. I THINK ANOTHER BIG PART OF JUDAISM IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GONE THROUGH SO MUCH CRAP TOGETHER, BEING KICKED OUT OF PLACES, BEING KICKED OUT OF WHERE YOU GO TO. I MEAN, WE'VE GONE SO FAR TOGETHER, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON NOW THAT WE SHOULD BREAK APART.

THERE'S ONLY ONE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING MUSLIM, BEING JEWISH AND BEING CHRISTIAN AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHO THE MESSIAH IS. JUDAISM, ALTHOUGH THEY BELIEVE THAT JESUS EXISTED, THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT HE'S THE SON OF GOD. JUDAISM DOESN'T KNOW -- THEY HAVEN'T FOUND THE MESSIAH YET. HE HASN'T COME AND THEY'RE JUST WAITING FOR HIM OR HER.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT SECTS OF JUDAISM. SOME FOLLOW ALL THE COMMANDMENTS AND ARE VERY STRICT ABOUT WHAT THEY DO. I'M NOT LIKE THAT. I DON'T KEEP KOSHER, WHILE SOME JEWS DO. I MEAN, THEY DON'T EAT PORK. I EAT PORK. SOME JEWS CHOOSE TO COVER THEIR HEAD. THEY WEAR YARMULKES. I DON'T WEAR A YARMULKE ON A REGULAR BASIS. I ONLY WEAR IT WHEN I GO INTO TEMPLE.

SO MANY THINGS THAT GO ON IN MY LIFE THAT I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO THINK ABOUT OR I NEED TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TALK ABOUT IT OR WHO TO TALK ABOUT IT WITH. I PRAY, BUT USUALLY I'M NOT PRAYING TO ANYTHING. I DON'T KNOW. WHEN I PRAY, I FEEL LIKE I'M TALKING TO SOMETHING. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT AND I DON'T THINK WHATEVER I'M TALKING TO COULD DO ANYTHING. I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S A BETTER WAY OF GETTING THINGS OFF MY CHEST.

PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY GOES THROUGH HARD TIMES AND, YOU KNOW, GREAT TIMES. I DON'T THINK BELIEVING IN A GOD IS GOING TO CHANGE THAT. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO ENHANCE. YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK, IF YOU FEEL GOOD, BELIEVING IN GOD IS GOING TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT FEELING BAD, IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD, YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL WORSE.

I REALLY CARE ABOUT MY SISTER. MY SISTER HAS DEPRESSION AND I MIGHT ACTUALLY ALSO HAVE DEPRESSION. THE WORST YEAR OF MY LIFE WAS WHEN I WAS IN EIGHTH GRADE AND THAT WAS WHEN SHE WAS GOING THROUGH HER WORST TIME AND SHE TRIED TO KILL HERSELF. I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHEN I STOPPED BELIEVING IN GOD. ALSO THAT'S WHEN I REALLY STARTED LEARNING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN HISTORY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE HOLOCAUST. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WENT ON IN CONCENTRATION CAMPS ARE JUST BEYOND IMAGINATION, THE PAIN AND THE SUFFERING THAT THEY WENT THROUGH. SLAVERY IS ANOTHER REASON. HOW PEOPLE COULD ACTUALLY BELIEVE THEY'RE SUPERIOR JUST AMAZES ME.

THE ONLY PERSON IN MY FAMILY WHO'S BEEN TO ISRAEL IS MY GRANDMOTHER WHO JUST RECENTLY PASSED AWAY, SO I FEEL KIND OF COMMITTED NOW MORE SO THAN BEFORE TO GO TO ISRAEL AND ACCOUNT FOR OUR FAMILY. IT'S WHERE JUDAISM STARTED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME WHEN I GO TO ISRAEL. I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE CAN REALLY TALK ME INTO BELIEVING IN GOD, BUT I BELIEVE THAT CERTAIN EXPERIENCES COULD HELP ME BELIEVE IN GOD. I'M DEFINITELY NOT PUSHING GOD AWAY. LIKE IF I FELT SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, REALLY MADE ME BELIEVE IN GOD, I WOULD BELIEVE IN GOD. YOU KNOW, I KIND OF DO HOPE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS. I'M HOPING THAT I BELIEVE IN GOD BECAUSE, PRETTY MUCH, I DO WANT TO BELIEVE IN A GOD, BUT RIGHT NOW I'VE NO REASON TO. I THINK THAT, IF I AM TOUCHED BY GOD, I'LL KNOW IT.

VAL>> "WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?" IS PRODUCED BY INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER, SARAH FEINBLOOM. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FULL DOCUMENTARY BY LOGGING ONTO THE WEBSITE WHATDOYOUBELIEVE.ORG. IT PROFILES NOT ONLY DAVID, BUT FIVE OTHER TEENAGERS ALL FROM DIFFERENT FAITHS.

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

JESS>> ALL THIS WEEK, WE'RE TRYING SOMETHING NEW, A MUSIC LOOK AT HOW SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS GETTING INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT. IT'S A REAL TREAT FOR ALL OF US SINCE SOME VERY TALENTED PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE TO THE KCET STUDIOS IN HOLLYWOOD TO PERFORM IN OUR MAIN PLAZA.

VAL>> WE'RE BEGINNING WITH A MARIACHI GROUP FROM EL MONTE. THEY STARTED OUT IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS AND WOUND UP WITH A RESTAURANT. TONIGHT KITTY FELDE FROM KPCC PUBLIC RADIO JOINS US WITH THE FIRST OF OUR SPECIAL HOLIDAY CONCERTS ON THE KCET PLAZA.

KITTY FELDE>> HELLO, I'M KITTY FELDE. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH A WONDERFUL MARIACHI GROUP, MARIACHI SOL DE MEXICO. IT WAS FORMED BY JOSE HERNANDEZ IN 1981 AND THE GROUP HAS PLAYED EVERYWHERE FROM THE MANDALAY BAY IN LAS VEGAS TO SANTIAGO, CHILE TO THE ACADEMY AWARDS, AND ALSO CIELITO LINDO, THE "LITTLE RESTAURANT" IN SOUTH EL MONTE. THEY ARE HERE TO ADD A LITTLE HOLIDAY CHEER AND THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY FOR US "AVALITO DE NAVIDAD". JOSE, TAKE IT AWAY.

[MARIACHI SOL DE MEXICO PERFORMANCE]

KITTY FELDE>> THAT'S WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.

JOSE HERNANDEZ>> THANK YOU.

KITTY FELDE>> QUICKLY, JOSE, TELL ME. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MARIACHI GROUP OR THE RESTAURANT?

JOSE HERNANDEZ>> WELL, FIRST THE MARIACHI GROUP. I FORMED THEM IN 1981 AND IT WAS A JUST A STUDIO MARIACHI GROUP. WE WERE JUST DOING RECORDINGS FOR A LOT OF SINGERS THAT WOULD COME TO RECORD HERE IN LOS ANGELES.

KITTY FELDE>> I ALWAYS WONDER, YOU KNOW, YOU PLAYED THE GREEK AND OTHER BIG VENUES. NOW IS IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT PLAYING IN CIELITO LINDO?

JOSE HERNANDEZ>> ACTUALLY, WE LOVE THE CIELITO LINDO BECAUSE OUR FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN SUPPORTING US FOR OVER SIXTEEN YEARS THERE NOW AND JUST TO BE ABLE TO BE SO CLOSE TO THEM AND TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM TO FEEL THE MUSIC AND THE LYRICS THAT WE'RE SINGING ABOUT THE TRADITIONAL MEXICAN SONGS, IT'S A GREAT FEELING.

KITTY FELDE>> JUST IMAGINE, FOR THE PEOPLE LISTENING AS WELL. NOW WHEN YOU HAVE A MARIACHI GROUP, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN KIND OF GROUPING OF INSTRUMENTS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR VIOLINS, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE YOUR TRUMPETS. BE LOVELY TO HAVE A HARP LIKE THAT. NOT EVERYBODY DOES. THEN A WHOLE COLLECTION OF VERY INTERESTING GUITARS. SO TELL ME ABOUT THE GUITARRON AND THE OTHER COMPANION GUITARS.

JOSE HERNANDEZ>> WELL, THE GUITARRON AND THE VIHUELA ARE THE ONLY TWO HUNDRED PERCENT MEXICAN INSTRUMENTS THAT THE MARIACHI ENSEMBLE DOES HAVE. FIRST IS THE GUITARRON WHICH IS A SIX-STRING BASS GUITAR AND IT'S PLAYED IN OCTAVES. ACTUALLY, IT'S THE BODY OF THE WHOLE MARIACHI SOUND, THAT BASS SOUND. THEN WE HAVE THE VIHUELA WHICH IS A FIVE-STRING RHYTHM GUITAR. IT SOUNDS A LITTLE HIGHER. THE TUNING IS A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THE GUITAR. THE VIHUELA ALSO HAS A VERY CUTTING EDGE TYPE OF SOUND.

KITTY FELDE>> WELL, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN HEAR THAT THIS TIME AROUND. AND WE'RE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER ELEMENT HERE. WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE A LITTLE DANCING COMING UP AND BRING ON FOLKLORICO DE LAS AMERICAS.

JOSE FERNANDEZ>> YES, THE FOLKLORICO DE LAS AMERICAS, THE DANCERS THAT TRAVEL WITH US AROUND THE UNITED STATES AND WE FEEL VERY HONORED TO HAVE THEM AS PART OF OUR SHOW.

KITTY FELDE>> WELL, WE FEEL VERY HONORED AS WELL. WHAT ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO BE PLAYING TOGETHER?

JOSE FERNANDEZ>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO BE PLAYING TOGETHER EL SON DE LA NEGRA, WHICH IS, I THINK, THE MOST TRADITIONAL MEXICAN MARIACHI SONG THERE IS.

KITTY FELDE>> FROM JALISCO.

JOSE FERNANDEZ>> FROM THE STATE OF JALISCO.

KITTY FELDE>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET'S GET A LITTLE JALISCO MOVEMENT GOING ON. FOLKLORICO DE LAS AMERICAS AND MARIACHI SOL DE MEXICO. TAKE IT AWAY, GUYS.

KITTY FELDE>> OH, WONDERFUL! FOLKLORICO DE LAS AMERICAS AND MARIACHI SOL DE MEXICO. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOSE.

JOSE HERNANDEZ>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAVE A MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS.

KITTY FELDE>> FELIZ NAVIDAD.

JOSE HERNANDEZ>> FELIZ NAVIDAD.

KITTY FELDE>> ALL RIGHT, AND IF THAT DOESN'T GET YOU IN THE MOOD FOR FELIZ NAVIDAD, NOTHING WILL.

JESS>> OUR THANKS TO KITTY AND TO ALL THE KCET PRODUCTION CREW WHO WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE THOSE CONCERTS POSSIBLE. THE NEXT ONE IS ON WEDNESDAY.

VAL>> I'M VERY IMPRESSED BY KITTY'S SPANISH. IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

JESS>> YES.

VAL>> AND, AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST SHOWS OF LIFE AND TIMES AND KEEP TRACK OF UPCOMING STORIES BY LOGGING ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG.

JESS>> AND THAT'S TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANKS AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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

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 ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, CALL 323-953-5555. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT’S PROGRAM.