Merlin Mann - Part 1: The Lorax Rebellion, Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions, and the Sociology of Soloflex

Merlin Mann (NCF '86) joins Mike, Megan, and Grant for an entertaining spiel on his days at New College in the late 80s, including another facet of the story of the Lorax Rebellion tree-hugging protest that led to 43 arrests, including his own. It was a tumultuous time in many ways and Merle shares his trials and tribulations navigating it as an RA, student government rep, and member of the foundation board, including a clash with the terrifying General Heiser and remembrances of a huge cast of characters from his cohort. More details emerge about how it came to be that New College students were invited to breakfast with Kurt Vonnegut after creating an intensive 7-week module reading all of his works. Merlin opens up about the challenges of growing up in the "crushing machine" of Florida and the ways New College opened his eyes to perspectives far beyond the limited horizons of his prior education. Throughout, he looks back on his younger self, contemplating the growing consciousness that helped him uncover his privileged blind spots and move beyond the growing pains and traumas. Without veering too far into Proustian reverie, Merle opens up his "bag of hair" and ponders the meaning and importance of New College, where he "learned how to learn," started to fight "hegemonic ideology," and made lifelong friends. Show notes: A “kenning” is “a conventional poetic phrase used for or in addition to the usual name of a person or thing, especially in Icelandic and Anglo-Saxon verse, as ‘a wave traveler’ for ‘a boat.’” At New College, it was a way to distinguish between people with the same first name; e.g. “Big Jen, Little Jen, or Littlest Jen?” or “That was Adam Frisbee, not Adam Uniform.”  Merlin’s “On Not Writing About New College.” Merlin’s Awkward Hair Odyssey includes a hegemonic ideology T-shirt and mug shot 1988 articles about the Lorax Rebellion Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions has been banned, occasionally. So it goes.  Unstuck in Time documentary mentioned. Hegemonic ideology. Ruskin, Florida, is famed for its tomatoes (and vegetable prepackaging technology), but was founded by the Millers as a cooperative community dedicated to the ideals of John Ruskin.  Commander (now Captain) Jonathan White testifying in the Senate on the family-separation policy.  Back to School, starring Rodney Dangerfield and Kurt Vonnegut The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, MD.  General Rolland V. Heiser, leading light of New College.  CGP Grey’s mind-splitting video “You Are Two.” New College zines mentioned: Red Beans and Rice and Crystal Method.