Letters to a Young Contrarian: Take Away

I don't intend on finishing this book. It's not because I necessarily think that it's a bad read, I just couldn't find it interesting even though I know a lot of people in the class did! I think I just found his points really obvious and I couldn't understand what he was trying to prove. The way he words his sentences is also really strange and made me frustrated when I tried to interpret what he was saying. I wish I could say I enjoyed reading it, it was difficult to get through. But in a way I can appreciate that because I wanted to experience a challenge in this class. Maybe I'll pick this book up one boring night during my summer and read it. Maybe I just need to give it a second try!

What I've taken away from this class

I'm going to be completely honest, and I mean no offense by this, but I didn't expect for this to be one of my most useful classes - or at least from the beginning. Our projects weren't too difficult, they were something that I could have done on my own. With our generation being so technologically advanced, these projects (instagram, vine, podcasts) were all things that we could have figured out with our common sense. However, I did find myself enlightened by a few things that we went over in class. I was never informed about the Edward Snowden case, Ingress, Geocaching, the scholarly sources issue or what was going on with user agreements! I loved learning about that because it was topics that were modern and needed to be learned about, especially with my generation who cares less about educational issues and more about social media (ie everything that we went over in the beginning of the year). Overall, the class was awesome and I really enjoyed coming into class to learn more about what I can do with my major. Thanks for a great semester!

Letters to a Young Contrarian: Chapter 9

"I do not envy believers their faith. I am relieved to think that the whole story is a sinister fairy tale; life would be miserable if that the faithful affirmed was actually the case." (Hitchens, 55)

After taking my World Literature class and reading the ENTIRE book of Genesis, I think I would have to agree. I have nothing against the Christian religion, and maybe it's because this was my first time reading the bible and it was ridiculously long, but the bible has a lot of ridiculous expectations from humans. Fearing "God" was more important than praising "him" for the good things that he would offer for his people, please. People are also reluctant to believe in the powers of religion when it's constantly being shoved down your throat. Abortion is against the will of God, drinking and indulging will result in a lifetime in hell. "Do this and you'll be sinned, do that and you will be rewarded", it's all repetitive and tiring. People just want to live their own lives. For once, I think I actually appreciate this point that Hitchens is trying to make.

Letters to a Young Contrarian: Chapter 7

"We are an adaptable species and this adaptability has enabled us to survive. However, adaptability can also constitute a threat; we may become habituated to certain danger and fail to recognise them until it's too late." (Hitchens, 51)

Similar to my previous post, I find that when Hitchens tries to make points I often mistake his words for another meaning. He might actually be talking about the way evolution works on humans. How we evolved and adapted according to certain conditions that happen over time. I see the words "adapt" differently. When adaptability poses a threat, it often has to do with comfortability in relationships. It could be a friendship, or a romantic relationship. After some time one of or both of those people will get so comfortable that it becomes toxic. Ask any teenage girl who's been heart broken. She'll tell you that he was so sweet, she never saw it coming. She wasn't looking out for the signs of a stone cold killer (just kidding). But really! Like Hitchens like, "we may become habituated to certain danger and fail to recognise them until it's too late." Often times, people who are caught up in the honeymoon phase fail to see what comes next - reality. Life isn't sugar coated, and I'm glad Hitchens pointed this out. Or then again, maybe he was talking strictly neanderthals.

Letters to a Young Contrarian: Chapter 6

"You can't hope to change human nature...because nature is given." (Hitchens, 41)

I'm sure Hitchens means this in the most vague way possible, but with everything that is happening with Bruce Jenner - I can't help but form an opinion on gender equality. Most of the time I try not to involve myself with heated disputes on what is right and what is wrong. Of course I have taken a stance long before I realized the seriousness of the issue, and that is my belief on humans being born with their preferences, their feelings, what makes them happy. What makes one person better than another? Is it success, sexual preference, experience, what they choose to say and express? Hitchens is totally right, at least in terms of how I took his words. Nature is given, no one should try to change another person's nature.

Letters to a Young Contrarian: Chapter 5

"You can't achieve 100 percent control over humans, and if you could, you could not go on doing so. It is - fortunately - too much responsibility for any human to assume, not that this keeps the control freak from continuing to try." (Hitchens, 37)

I think I was just talking about this the other day with someone. I think it's great to motivate people to make a difference, but quite often they will use that as an excuse to act like a dictator. Most of the time, they will totally think this is okay. I find that you'll see this a lot in young girls, and I mean young girls. There's always that one girl who absolutely has to play the mom during recess when her and her friends are playing house. She is the one that wants to be in control, she is the one who proclaimed herself "leader" of the playground pack. If someone doesn't let this girl know that she's being a complete tyrant, she'll grow up to be the selfish bully that all know. There comes to a point where leadership its no longer in play and controlling behavior starts to take its place.

Project 4 (Final Blog Entry)

Here are some helpful nail art videos that anyone can do! Enjoy :)

Galaxy Nails

Neon Ombre Nails