Nick's Nightly Notions

We have all read it. We have all watched it. We have all been pissed off about it. The definition of deus ex machina from Merriam Webster Dictionary "is a person or thing (as in fiction or drama) that appears or is introduced suddenly and unexpectedly and provides a contrived solution to an apparently insoluble difficulty". It can be convenient for the writer but dissatisfying to the reader.  I believe the introduction of deus ex machina into the idea of religion or otherworldly beliefs has taken away the true meaning of life for many. This is not me trying to demean these beliefs, but more to challenge you in your thoughts of them. Is it easier to believe that something is controlling everything and will either save you or let you down? Or would you rather believe that we control our destinies? At first glance, you probably shout the latter, but after a few minutes, I think you will agree that the former is a lot easier to swallow. Why take responsibility if we do not...

In a world controlled by social media; powered by likes and retweets and followers we are faced with an overwhelming sense of comparison that the human race has never before faced. For many people living in small-town America, this is a hard fact of life to get over. In the small town I grew up in, everyone could be the best at something. You had the best lawyer, best doctor, best athlete, best musician- ect. Everyone knowing their place creates an easy to follow hierarchy where order reigns supreme and chaos is lessened. For the past 50 years prior, college was often the time where this structure came crumbling down. All of the sudden the town's "geniuses" who went to top-tier schools become the "dumbest" kid in their class. The top-tier athlete in high school spends most of his time on the bench. This collapse of structure is what I believe is a main culprit of the on-set of anxiety, depression and other forms of mental health that often surface in colleg...