THIS IS ABSURD

To me, absurd means anything so senseless and illogical it dumbfounds me.

What I find absurd is religion. Actually more the religious. In this age where almost everyone has all the information of humanity at their fingertips, like I do now, they still believe in magic sky daddys, talking snakes and that all of humanity could come from 2 people without severe genetic repercussions. What's worse is even when these people are told where they're wrong they deny, lie, and mock, all to bolster some desert fairy tales. This is truly absurd to me.

THE END OF GATSBY

The Great Gatsby ends unexpectedly. Gatsby is killed, his funeral is empty, save for his father, Nick and that owl eyed man. Not even Daisy shows up. This exemplifies Gatsby's loneliness.

 For 5 years he has been chasing the green light across the water. Always trying to recreate what it was like in the past, but in the time it took him to buy the car that'd allow him to join the race for Daisy's love, the past had already gone by, the tide had left the shore, and all Gatsby could do was try to fight the current of the past, while never looking to the future. When Nick first saw Gatsby, he was reaching for the green light across the bay. This light seemed unreachable, and indeed it was. Gatsby couldn't reach Daisy, couldn't reach that hopeful green light.

Nick ends up leaving the east, going back to the west. While he sees Tom, and it's revealed Tom told Wilson it was Gatsby's car, Nick doesn't tell him who was really driving. Nick also talks to Jordan, finally ending his relationship with her. Nick takes one last look at that "failure of a house." Still empty, and seemingly forgotten by the world. Nick leaves New York and that haunting past behind him, once and for all.

the first seven years

      The First Seven Years was quite the interesting story. Much of the story was narration, broken up by the occaisional conversation. Time was lapsed quite a lot. Weeks vanishing practically between sentences. Despite that, the characters were all represented very well. I felt I knew each of them individually. Characterized first, usually, indirectly, then directly. I found it interesting how the specific time period was mostly just hinted at. Sobel being a Polish immigrant, followed by Feld mentioning "escaping Hitler's incinerators" indicates the time period is around World War II. Since it has been several years since Sobel arrived, it's likely it's after WWII has ended, but this is never directly stated, which I thought was nice.

     Throughout the story Feld only wants his daughter to have a better life than he does. He never once thinks about her own happiness, or what she wants. While has had good intentions I can't help but fault him for this. I also think very highly of Sobel for essentially sacrificing 5 years of his life working for low wages for Faber all to someday marry Miriam. It's not until the end Faber realizes his daughter's happiness is far more important than her being married to someone who's more successful than a shoemaker. The fact it took him insulting Sobel to the point he starts crying tells me he's a bit dense in some aspects,however.

(as a side note,i found a movie version of the first seven years on youtube)

thought i'd share a video i found of a logical fallacy in action.this is an argument from ignorance,as Matt points out at the end of this video

Vocabulary fall list #8

flout-openly disregard.
caveat-a warning or caution; admonition
blazon-to set forth conspicuously or publicly
filch-to steal
fractious-refractory or unruly
equitable-characterized by equity or fairness
autonomy-independence or freedom
addendum-a thing to be added; an addition
amnesty-a general pardon for offenses, especially political offenses, against a government, often granted before any trial or conviction.
 axiomatic-obvious.
extricate-to free or release from entanglement
soporific-causing or tending to cause sleep
scathing-bitterly severe, as a remark unwieldy-wielded with difficulty vapid-lacking or having lost life, sharpness, or flavor
prognosticate-to forecast or predict (something future) from present indications or signs
sepulchral-of, pertaining to, or serving as a tomb
salutary-favorable to or promoting health; healthful.
 straitlaced-excessively strict in conduct or morality
scourge-a whip or lash, especially for the infliction of punishment or torture.
 precept-a commandment or direction given as a rule of action or conduct
transient-not lasting, enduring, or permanent