1. How many Starbucks shops are in Vermont, and in the world?
2. What is Radio Free Vermont, and what is its slogan?
3. What state has the most breweries per capita?
4. Why don't the activists just toss the Coors over the side and let the driver go?
5. Who was captain of the Green Mountain Boys, and who did he call "narrow and bigoted"?
6. Why can't the authorities trace RFV's location?
7. Who is Vern? Who is the woman activist in the balaclava?
8. What symbolizes everything right and good about a local economy?
9. Why can't Vern converse with his listeners?
10. How was Vermont changing when Vern started his career? What does he say was starting to fail?
11.What "visual pun" did Vern's compatriot perform at Wal-mart?
12. Add yours
Discussion Questions
- Add yours
- Do you hang out, or work, in a Starbucks (or comparable place)? Do you find it "a great pleasure" or reassurance that you can duplicate that experience almost anywhere now? Or is it troublesome that even the quirkiest and most distinctive places are increasingly indistinguishable from everywhere else?
- Do you like beer? Do you consume mass-market commercial beers like Coors? Should you?
- Is the kind of activism described in the early chapters of RFV defensible? Would you participate in such behavior yourself?
- Is the most effective activism local? Is there a danger of it becoming parochial? ("Vermont milk, Vermont beer, Vermont music" etc.)
- Should we be more focused on local news, instead of national and global? Should we act and think more locally?
- Do you have a favorite eco-activist radio show, podcast, or other media platform?
- Do you patronize Wal-mart? (Or Chik-filet, or... ?) Should we?
McKibben's The End of Nature (1989) was "the first book for a general audience about global warming... sadly, the story has played out" as predicted...
Max McConnell
ReplyDelete1. What is the calming soundtrack in the Starbucks compared to? Pg 2 The muffled bu-dump-bu-dump of the womb.
2. What does the woman in the balaclava say they take very seriously in this state? Pg 4 DUI’s
3. What metaphor does Perry use to describe how they stay under the radar to Vern? Pg 11 “it’s like they’ve blockaded the airport and we’re at the train station.”
4. What point does Perry argue with Vern as to why they should play music from artists who aren’t from Vermont? Pg 12 “music… travels. And if some of it lasts because it’s… good.” He also argues that they wouldn’t only read books or look at paintings only made in Vermont.
5. What depresses Vern? Pg 13 “the sheer brownness of it all.”
6. When he was younger, what did he do? How did Vern describe how he felt on the ice? Pg 13 He skied and described himself as “lethal” on the ice.
7. What does Vern say is an essential skill for the bruce administration? Pg 18 “not noticing”
8. What is liquid bread? Pg 19 beer
9. What and when was the first time anyone every told Vern not to discuss something on the air? Pg 27 ‘big media barons’ after some bought up his station, and he had Bernie Sanders on his show to talk with him about it.
10. How does Vern react when Perry apologizes for the sewage incident? Pg 33 He thanks Perry.
11. How does Sylvia tell her students to imagine her? Pg 36 “as Jesus with a tow chain and a Stihl saw.”
•Do you patronize Wal-mart? (Or Chik-filet, or... ?) Should we?
ReplyDeleteI do not patronize Wal-Mart. I find it difficult to shop at a store that does not restock their shelves consistently and the quality of their goods are cheap and everything seems picked over like a unmanned swap meet or garage sale. I used to shop at Wal-Mart a long time ago, but when I started to see how ineffective their ordering services are – I would become so frustrated. They would have rows and rows of the same product and within a few days – the shelves would be completely bare. I asked an employee once how they reorder and they stated that as soon as an item is scanned at the register, it would automatically add the item to a reorder list. So why is it that days, weeks and even months later the product still hasn’t been restocked? It seems that ineffective processes lead to frustrating shopping experiences? It is also extremely frustrating that Wal-Mart prides itself on having 30 checkout lanes, but only a couple are manned. So they have customers in long lines blocking the main aisle while parents are fighting their kids – or others having to deal with someone else’s children by parents uninterested in their children’s behavior, most likely because they are more involved in their cell phone. The quality and service do not balance out and it becomes a emotionally and mentally draining experience.
I do frequent Chick-Fil-A, even though they have super long lines, my food is always fresh and the workers make each customer feel wanted and appreciated. The service is always excellent and patrons except the lengthy wait – because the overall experience will make up for the wait, unlike that of McDonalds, where you are really lucky to get your order right, food hot and fresh and great customer service. If that happens – I suggest you go out and buy a lottery ticket, because lady luck is definitely on your side.
ReplyDeleteAlternate quiz questions:
1. What famous singer was on Perry’s t-shirt? (9) Aretha Franklin
2. What kind of car does Sylvia drive? (15) Subaru Outback
3. Who was assisting Augustus in the search for Vern? (17) The FBI
4. Who is Tommy Augustus? (18) Vermont State Police Commissioner
5. Whose beer ended up on the Coors truck and what is the brand? (18) Angus McTavish, brewer of Brattleboro
6. What is the slogan for Lawson’s brewery? (22) “Sip of Sunshine”
7. How are we to remember to drink responsibly? (22) “if your ale doesn’t hale from your county, then just say no”
8. What does extra recess cause? (23) “a sound body goes with a sound mind”
9. Who built WVRT? (26) Bob Earle
10. Who was the author’s favorite politician? (26) Senator Sanders.
1)One of my favorite Netflix shows depicts Wal-mart the way I do. "Wal-mart is evil'. 'Mom. you shop there." "only when I buy in bulk. It's bulk evil." -Ruth Whitefeather Feldman, Disjointed (2018).When it just comes down to it, sometimes you can't make what you need so you have to capitalize on what you earn to have what you need/want.
ReplyDeleteI do not patronize Chick-fil-A. I do not want to give my money to a company that readily denounces being homosexual as an act against "God" and frequently gives money to corporations or facilities that sends homosexuals to camps to "pray the gay away." How does having many gay men in the same cabin help anything? If you do not love your child for who he is in his heart you don't deserve the devotion and satisfaction having a child can entail. Homosexuality is on a scale anyway, and truth be told I'm sure you've met someone that you would let into your heart and take care of them the way you would anyone else you love, even if you do not have sex with them. God is love, that's about it. Fight me on it.
Alternate Quiz Questions
ReplyDelete1. How have weather patterns in Vermont changed since Vern’s youth? How does that make him feel? (14)
2. What does Vern think are the reasons for the Oklahoma office telling him the topic of “big media barons” was off limits? (27)
Discussion Questions:
1. Vern is upset about how things are not as they were when you was young. This is a pervasive concept. Do you think his basis for this opinion is justified? If so, how?
2. Sylvia is critical of anyone who has not learned to drive a manual transmission vehicle. This type of transmission is not used in hybrid or electric cars due to the nature of electric motors. Should she reevaluate this bias?
AT
I like beer, I prefer Blue Moon when I buy it. I'm more of a vodka aunt and I can get down with some wine on any night I'm at home and comfy cozy. I don't really feel bad about it, I'm not the type to have an addictive personality and no one has ever come up to me to say "Kari, you're too drunk, don't drive home" or "Kari, I think you need rehab". I'm just good with one or two beers, hanging out at least two hours and then driving home or falling asleep. It's about priorities and frankly, drinking isn't a priority for me so I've never been in a situation of getting a DUI or thankfully, being checked into rehab. Never been into cigarettes or other controlled substances. Growing up in an LDS household my parent's didn't drink or smoke so I think it helped with my attitude towards those types of substances. When I watch the show Intervention I see in most cases there's a sort of underlying issue of pain or trauma that the individual would like to escape from so they turn to the substance to ignore or control the pain/circumstance. Once they get into rehab they find the necessary coping mechanisms they've been living without and it gives a new lease on life.
ReplyDeleteIf you're trying to quit smoking I can let you in on a little secret: Don't buy any more packs. When you feel the urge, put that money into a savings account and list something that you've wanted and maybe haven't had the money to spend. Then when you're around your friends and they offer you a smoke just say "hey, thanks anyway, but I'm trying to quit." If those friends really love and care about you, they would support your decision. They say it takes 30 days to break a habit and 90 days to change a lifestyle. Just keep at it, know that you can do it and believe in yourself. Get some gum to help that oral fixation, maybe get a journal to write down your reasons for stopping the habit. It helps, I promise. Good luck, love yourself and accept yourself!
I usually hang out at Starbucks if someone else is going with me and they suggest it, but if I'm getting coffee out of my house then my fix is Dunkin'. I'm pretty obsessed with this stir-in instant coffee I get at the grocery store right now. It's nostalgic for me because my grandmother drinks it and she would let me make some for myself (or make it for me) when I visited. Growing up LDS, I wasn't allowed to drink coffee so it was like our little secret.
ReplyDeleteQUIZ QUESTIONS:
ReplyDelete1) What did the people in the balaclavas do with the Coors beer?(4)
2) What test were the high schoolers taking?(6)
3) Why was the testing "cancelled"? Who's birthday was it? (7 / 8)
4) When did Perry graduate? (10)
5) Why is the Radio Free Vermont website down more than its up? (10)
6) Who was a "wanted man"? (12)
7) What really bothered Vern about the change in climate? Why did it make him feel old and mad? (14)
8) According to Vern, what would've happened if Ethan Allen hadn't taken sufficient recess? (23)
9) Why does Vern think that there wasn't any shortage of people wanting to call in and talk? (25)