Scary Movies for Families

Guest: Eileen Ahlin, PhD, Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice, School of Public Affairs, Penn State Harrisburg Supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh said on Fox News Monday night that he “never sexually assaulted anyone, in high school or otherwise.” Later this week, the Senate will hear testimony from Christine Blasey Ford who alleges Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a drunken party when they were in high school. Ever since these allegations against Kavanaugh surfaced a week ago, one line of debate has centered on how much weight a person’s behavior in childhood should reflect on their character and standing as adults.

Guest: David J. Byrne, President, Clan Buchanan Society International That’s a bit of “Scotland the Brave” performed by the Pipes & Drums of the Royal Tank Regiment to launch us into this next conversation: The Clan Buchanan – one of Scotland’s most storied clans – has been without a recognized leader for more than 300 years. Only someone with proven descent from a chief can claim the title – and until now, no one’s been able to do so. But a Scottish millionaire landowner named Mike Buchanan always believed he was descended from clan leadership. Now, thanks to some serious genealogical work, he’s proven his claim and been officially appointed chief of The Clan Buchanan.

Guest: Kristyn Vitale, PhD Student, Oregon State University Dogs have a reputation for being social and smart and helpful. Cats, on the other hand, are aloof and only interested in humans as a source of food. But research being done by Kristyn Vitale at Oregon State University’s Human/Animal Interaction Lab suggests those stereotypes are wrong. Cats are social. Many seek out interaction with humans. And – get this – they can be trained.

Guest: Ali Crandall, Assistant Professor, Public Health, Brigham Young University Earlier in the show we talked about the debate in America over whether teenagers who commit crimes should be treated as adults. Let’s dig a little more deeply into what we know about the development of the teenaged brain.

Guest: Tristan R. Brown, PhD, JD, Assistant Professor of Energy Resource Economics, State University of New York Every time American drivers fill up their gas tanks, corn farmers in Iowa get a paycheck. That’s thanks to federal fuel requirements and tax subsidies that see to it most gas for vehicles contains at least 10% ethanol. But there is not universal agreement than adding corn ethanol to gasoline is good for the environment or economy. So why are we still doing it?