Late+Nights+on+Air

**LATE NIGHTS ON AIR ** ** Week 4 Discussion Question:

CHIPPINM - Why do you think that Dido "disappears with a sexy, yet violent radio technician" when the four of them are on the trip? From that sentence, do you think that Harry is actually violent, and that maybe this is a clue to what the author wants the characters to think? Throughout the entire novel, nothing is predictable, but when a dead body is found and people go missing on the canoe trip, how come things begin to become so easily predictable?

HANSENM - I think she disappeared with the radio technician because that is what so many readers were hoping to happen because in the story, Harry and Dido both have a thing for eachother. When the author uses the word "violent" to describe Harry, I do not think she truely meant that he was going to be dangerous, BUT I have not finished the book yet. I think that at the end of the novel, things begin to become predictable because the readers have waited so long for at least something to happen. Also, when the story becomes easier to predict, the closure finished much nicer I find.

WALLACEJ- I think that Dido doesn't really know what she wants in life, and after being with Eddy, just decides to see what her life would be like with Harry. I personally don't believe that Harry is violent, but I think that the author wants us to believe that he is, and to form connections between what is happening in the novel and the characters. I don't think Harry killed the person, but anything is possible.

CHIPPINM - Things become so easily predictable because the author wants them to become that way. Certain parts of most novels are easily predictable. This is just the manner that some authors write.

HANSENM - I think that is true also, about the fact that some authors want it to be predictable. Also, I think that it is time for the readers to be able to picture what they think is going to happen in the novel. The author has made it hard for the readers to predict, so maybe now it is our turn to come up with conflicts and resolutions before they are given away. From that sentence, it hints that the radio technician is violent and that Dido disappears with him, but I actually do not think that he will do any harm to her, because throughout the book I could tell that they had something for each other, and maybe now is when their relationship will bloom.

WALLACEJ- I don't think that Harry and Dido will have a long lasting relationship, because Dido is someone who doesn't want to be held down. There is a significant age difference between Harry and Dido, and I personally think that Dido will leave Harry to be with Eddy. That is part of the author's plan to make things unpredictable, but I find that her style of writing is way to confusing and is all over the place.

CHIPPINM - I think Dido and Harry have the sort of relationship that happens over time. If anyone spends enough time with somebody they start to appreciate them.

Week 3 Discussion Question:

HANSENM - What really interests me is that we are already passed halfway through the book, and the major problem is still not clear. There have not even been that many conflicts as well. Why do you think the author keeps her readers so limited with what is happening and why does she not want there to be a lot of events. Discuss what you think is going to happen next and what makes you think that. Also, talk about any of the author's foreshadowing techniques. **

**CHIPPINM - I think that something exciting is going to happen where some of the characters in the novel are going to experience certain problems. Maybe, while the characters are on their canoe trip, something may occur where one becomes injured and the others must care for that person.**  
 * WALLACEJ - I think that the author keeps the action so limited because this book is more about understanding the characters than an action book. I personally find these kinds of books hard to concentrate on. I also think that something major will happen on the canoe trip, and that there may be a death of one of the characters. This would defenitely throw a twist into things, and could definitely make the book more interesting.**
 * HANSENM - I also think that something bad will happen on the canoe trip. I think that because so far there has been no major conflicts with any of the characters and many negative situations have been overcome. I think that this will be a good time for something to happen to the characters. It is true that the author does not foreshadow a lot. Maybe she does not want her readers being able to predict anything, so the book will not be ruined. The only foreshadowing I have noticed is the build up she has made to the 'canoe trip'. Other than that, there has been a small amount of any type of foreshadowing.**


 * CHIPPINM - The author does not use much foreshadowing which makes for a more exciting, unpredictable story. The author keeps the** **readers with limited knowledge because she wants the novel to be extremely unpredictable.**


 * WALLACEJ - I wish that the author would use more foreshadowing in the book to give the readers something to look forward to. As it is, we have just been reading through chapters in which nothing progresses in the book, and make it very difficult to read and concentrate on. I think that the novel needs more action, because as it is, it is quite bland. If the author did use more foreshadowing, we could at least hope that the book would take an interesting twist. 

HANSENM - That is a good point. The book really does need an interesting twist in order for things to be exciting. The book IS very bland because nothing major has happened. I also hope that something happens on the canoe trip so that the book might be more memorable to me. Maybe the point that Joe made, about the author focusing more on the characters than the action, is true. The author might be a different writer in this case. On the canoe trip, I do hope someone dies or gets hurt badly, or something happens that will capture my attention more. The author has not even used that many techniques or tools to keep the readers interested throughout the book, therefore some action during the trip is much needed.

Week 2 Discussion Question:**

**WALLACEJ- After reading this weeks part of the book, I have come to realize that there are many different relationships going on at the radio station. There are strong relationships and weak relationships, and there are also good and bad relationships. Do you think relationships in** **the workplace are healthy or do you think they will get in the way of your employment? How would relationships affect your work ethic? Explain.**

**HANSENM - I see both views on this subject. First of all, I think that relationships in the workplace can affect someone's work ethic if they let it take over their life, but on the other hand, I think some people are able to balance relationships and their work life without it becoming unhealthy. In order for relationships to not get in the way of your employment, I think people need to understand how important work is compared to your private life. Relationships should take place outside of work most of the time, unless there is an emergency. I only think that a relationship would affect my work ethic if I let it get in the way, and take over myself. On a positive note, I wouldn't let that happen!**


 * <span style="color: rgb(0,0,255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">CHIPPINM - I see nothing wrong with workplace relationships. Actually being in a workplace relationship is a character builder. If one is able to be in a relationship without it having an effect on their career then this is very good for the person's work ethic.

<span style="color: rgb(255,31,0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">HANSENM - lso think that it builds character as well. I actually work with people who are in a relationship and they seem to be able to keep their personal lives and problems outside of work. I actually think that they work really well together. On the other hand, there are people I also work with who argue at work and talk about all their problems, about each other, to everyone at work. It does get tiring to listen to and I really think it affects their work ability. That situation sort of reminds me of the book because in the book, characters will constantly be talking or thinking about others while they are working, causing a huge distraction for them.

WALLACEJ- I agree with Mallory with the way that it sometimes depends on the people. Like in the book, one character can't seem to make up her mind with who she wants to be with, and this causes problems for many people at the radio station, mostly between two guys who are fighting for the woman. I personally think that it would be better to keep relationships out of the workplace because you never know how they are going to affect you or the people around you.

<span style="color: rgb(0,0,255); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">CHIPPINM - Some people when in relationships have no self control and have urges which whether in the workplace or not is not good. Some people need to learn self control when dealing with relationships whether in the workplace or not. ** <span style="color: rgb(128,0,128); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(0,0,128); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**<span style="color: rgb(128,0,128); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">WALLACEJ- I think that if people do decide to become involved with a co- worker they should agree to put everything with the relationship aside even before they go to work. That way, they can focus on their job so they do a good job and get things done more efficiently. Like Matt said, some people need to have some self control when dealing with these situations because things could get out of hand very quickly. <span style="color: rgb(0,0,0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Week 1 Discussion Question:

<span style="color: rgb(255,31,0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">HANSENM - I was the connector this week and thanks to that, it made me realize what kind of higher-power and governmental threats we have to our community and environment. In the section we read, characters talked about how gas lines were going to be put in the Arctic and how it would ruin the land and cause most of the people (mostly natives) to have to move to other grounds. At the radio station, most people were calling in to complain about how they do not want their land to be ruined and that they do not want to have to move from their original homes and grounds to ones that they are not deeply rooted to. Can you think of more events like this where large groups of people are forced to make a change without having a choice? How do you think this affects them and how it would affect you?

<span style="color: rgb(0,0,255);">CHIPPINM - When I think of this I think of the many people who are forced to move because the bank has foreclosed on their property. These people, similar to the ones in the novel, are forced to move to places where they may not be comfortable. Quite frankly, I would not want this to occur to me because when you become settled somewhere and are forced to move it is not an easy feat. **

<span style="color: rgb(0,0,128); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**<span style="color: rgb(128,0,128); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">WALLACEJ - The way that these people are forced to leave reminds me of the way that different countries are taken over by war. Innocent people are being forced to leave, all because of an escaladed disagreement. To me, it doesn't seem very fair. Having no choice in the matter, they have to get up and leave, leaving many belongings and memories behind, all because of something that they didn't even do. I can't even imagine what it would be like if I was one day told that I had to leave my house, with no other arrangements made to live somewhere else. It would be a terrible thing to go through. <span style="color: rgb(255,31,0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> ** <span style="color: rgb(255,0,255);"> <span style="color: rgb(0,0,128); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**<span style="color: rgb(255,31,0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">HANSENM - The first thing that came to my mind was about people going bankrupt, just like what Matt said. When people take out loans and do not have enough money to pay back the bank after a certain amount of time, their property is taken away and they are forced to move elsewhere. Many people in this position are given no choice at all, it is put upon them. I know someone that this has recently happened to and their life is very different from what it used to be like a year ago. Their are so limited that what they can afford and a lot of time, they cannot even afford most necessities. <span style="color: rgb(167,37,167); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> ** <span style="color: rgb(0,0,128); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(128,0,128); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">WALLACEJ - I agree that it would be very bad, and that it wouldn't feel very good to be very limited financially. It isn't even these peoples fault, and most times it occurs because of an unexpected loss of a job and not being able to find work, which is happening more and more frequently nowadays. Just like Mal said, their property is taken away, and I think that it affects not just them but also the people around them, mostly their family. They are called on to support them and it just reminds me of how important family is.

<span style="color: rgb(255,31,0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">HANSENM - That is true. When people lose such important things like their home and property, they turn to their family and friends. In the novel, I think that maybe when the gas pipeline is constructed and when people are forced to move from their original lands, they will turn to each other for support and stick together. Even the people at the radio station are always talking about how no one wants this to happen. That is also the reason why I think the author spends a lot of time talking and describing about the characters' relationships. He wants the readers to form ideas about how they will react to this event and how they will help each other. <span style="color: rgb(255,31,0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(128,0,128); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> ** <span style="color: rgb(0,0,128); font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">