"Why Did Jesus Die on the Cross?"

The main reason Jesus died on the cross was to defeat Satan and set us free from his oppressive rule. Everything else that Jesus accomplished was to be understood as an aspect and consequence of this victory (e.g., Recapitulation, Moral Influence, etc.).
This understanding of why Jesus had to die is called the Christus Victor (Latin for “Christ is Victorious”) view of the atonement. But, what exactly was Christ victorious from, and why? To find out the answers to these questions, we have to turn to the Old Testament, as that's what the apostles would often allude to in order to properly teach their audience the message they were trying to convey (Rom. 15:4).
The OT is full of conflict between the Father (YHVH) and false gods, between YHVH and cosmic forces of chaos. The Psalms speak of this conflict between YHVH and water monsters of the deeps (an ancient image for chaos) (Psa. 29:3-4; 74:10-14; 77:16, 19; 89:9-10; 104:2-9, etc).
The liberation of Israel from Egypt wasn’t just a conflict between Pharaoh and Moses. It was really between YHVH and the false gods of Egypt.
Regardless of whether you think the aforementioned descriptions are literal or metaphorical, the reality that the Old Testament describes is that humanity lived in a “cosmic war zone.”
The Christus Victor motif is about Christ reigning victorious over wicked principalities and Satan's kingdom, and is strongly emphasized throughout the New Testament. Scripture declares that Jesus came to drive out "the prince of this world” (John 12:31), to “destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), to “destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14) and to “put all enemies under his feet” (1 Cor 15:25). Jesus came to overpower the “strong man” (Satan) who held the world in bondage and worked with his Church to plunder his "palace" (Luke 11:21-22). He came to end the reign of the cosmic “thief” who seized the world to “steal, and to kill, and to destroy” the life YHVH intended for us (John 10:10). Jesus came and died on the cross to disarm “the principalities and powers” and make a “shew of them openly [i.e., public spectacle]” by “triumphing over them in [the cross]” (Col. 2:15).
Beyond these explicit statements, there are many other passages that express the Christus Victor motif as well. For example, the first prophecy in the Bible foretells that a descendent of Eve (Jesus) would crush the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). The first Christian sermon ever preached proclaimed that Jesus in principle conquered all YHVH's enemies (Acts 2:32-36). And the single most frequently quoted Old Testament passage by New Testament authors is Psalm 110:1 which predicts that Christ would conquer all YHVH’s opponents. (Psalm 110 is quoted or alluded to in Matthew 22:41-45; 26:64, Mark 12:35-37; 14:62, Luke 20:41-44; 22:69, Acts 5:31; 7:55-56, Romans 8:34, 1st Corinthians 15:22-25, Ephesians 1:20, Hebrews 1:3; 1:13; 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:11, 15, 17, 21; 8:1; 10:12-13, 1st Peter 3:22, and Revelation 3:21.) According to New Testament scholar Oscar Cullman, the frequency with which New Testament authors cite this Psalm is the greatest proof that Christ’s “victory over the angel powers stands at the very center of early Christian thought.”
Because of man's rebellion, the Messiah's coming involved a rescue mission that included a strategy for vanquishing the powers of darkness.
Since YHVH is a God of love who gives genuine “say-so” to both angels and humans, YHVH rarely accomplishes His providential plans through coercion. YHVH relies on His infinite wisdom to achieve His goals. Nowhere is YHVH's wisdom put more on display than in the manner in which He outsmarted Satan and the powers of evil, using their own evil to bring about their defeat.
Most readers probably know the famous story from ancient Greece about the Trojan Horse. To recap the story, Troy and Greece had been locked in a ten-year-long vicious war when, according to Homer and Virgil, the Greeks came up with a brilliant idea. They built an enormous wooden horse, hid soldiers inside and offered it to the Trojans as a gift, claiming they were conceding defeat and going home. The delighted Trojans accepted the gift and proceeded to celebrate by drinking themselves into a drunken stupor. When night came and the Trojan warriors were too wasted to fight, the Greeks exited the horse, unlocked the city gates to quietly let all their compatriots in, and easily conquered the city, thus winning the war.
Historians debate whether any of this actually happened. But either way, as military strategies go, it’s brilliant.
Now, there are five clues in the New Testament that suggest YHVH was using something like this Trojan Horse strategy against the powers when he sent Jesus into the world:
1) The Bible tells us that YHVH's victory over the powers of darkness was achieved by the employment of YHVH’s wisdom, and was centered on that wisdom having become reality in Jesus Christ (Rom. 16:25, 1 Cor. 2:7, Eph. 3:9-10, Col. 1:26). It also tells us that, for some reason, this Christ-centered wisdom was kept “secret and hidden” throughout the ages. It’s clear from this that YHVH's strategy was to outsmart and surprise the powers by sending Jesus.
2) While humans don’t generally know Jesus’ true identity during his ministry, demons do. They recognize Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah, but, interestingly enough, they have no idea what he’s doing (Mark 1:24; 3:11; 5:7, Luke 8:21). Again, the wisdom of YHVH in sending Jesus was hidden from them.
3) We’re told that, while humans certainly share in the responsibility for the crucifixion, Satan and the powers were working behind the scenes to bring it about (John 13:27 cf. 1 Cor. 2:6-8). These forces of evil helped orchestrate the crucifixion.
4) We’re taught that if the “princes of this world [age]” had understood the secret wisdom of YHVH, “they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor 2:8 cf. vss 6-7). Apparently, Satan and the powers regretted orchestrating Christ’s crucifixion once they learned of the wisdom of YHVH that was behind it.
5) Finally, we can begin to understand why the powers came to regret crucifying “the Lord of glory” when we read that it was by means of the crucifixion that the “handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us [i.e., the charge of our legal indebtedness]” was “[taken] out of the way [i.e., canceled]” as the powers were disarmed. In this way Christ “triumph[ed] over” the powers by "his cross” and even “made a shew of them openly” (Col. 2:14-15). Through Christ’s death and resurrection YHVH's enemies were vanquished and placed under his Messiah's feet, and ultimately His own in the end (1 Cor. 15:23-28).
Putting these five clues together, we can discern YHVH's Trojan Horse strategy in sending Jesus.
The powers couldn’t discern why Jesus came because YHVH's wisdom was hidden from them. YHVH's wisdom was motivated by unfathomable love, and since Satan and the other powers were evil, they lacked the capacity to understand it. Their evil hearts prevented them from suspecting what YHVH was up to.
What the powers did understand was that Jesus was mortal. This meant he was killable. Lacking the capacity to understand that this was the means by which YHVH would ultimately bring about the defeat of death (and thus, pave the road for the resurrection itself), they never suspected that making Jesus vulnerable to their evil might actually be part of YHVH's infinitely wise plan.
And so they took the bait (or "ransom"; Matt. 20:28, Mark 10:45, 1 Tim. 2:5-6). Utilizing Judas and other willing human agents, the powers played right into YHVH’s secret plan and orchestrated the crucifixion of the Messiah (Acts 2:22-23; 4:28). YHVH thus brilliantly used the self-inflicted incapacity of evil to understand love against itself. And, like light dispelling darkness, the unfathomably beautiful act of YHVH's love in sending the willing Messiah as a "ransom" to these blood-thirsty powers defeated them. The whole creation was in principle freed and reconciled to YHVH, while everything written against us humans was nailed to the cross, thus robbing the powers of the only legal claim they had on us. They were “spoiled [i.e., disempowered]” (Col. 2:14-15).
As happened to the Trojans in accepting the gift from the Greeks, in seizing on Christ’s vulnerability and orchestrating his crucifixion, the powers unwittingly cooperated with YHVH to unleash the one power in the world that dispels all evil and sets captives free. It’s the power of self-sacrificial love.

Why Penal Substitution Is Unbiblical

For the sake of keeping this already lengthy post as short as possible I'm not going to spend too much time on why exactly PSA (Penal Substitutionary Atonement) is inconsistent with Scripture, but I'll go ahead and point out the main reasons why I believe this is so, and let the reader look further into this subject by themselves, being that there are many resources out there which have devoted much more time than I ever could here in supporting this premise.

"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:"-1 Corinthians 5:7

The Passover is one of the two most prominent images in the New Testament given as a comparison to Christ's atonement and what it accomplished, (the other most common image being the Day of Atonement sacrifice).
In the Passover, the blood of the lamb on the door posts of the Hebrews in the book of Exodus was meant to mark out those who were YHVH's, not be a symbol of PSA, as the lamb itself was not being punished by God in place of the Hebrews, but rather the kingdom of Egypt (and thus, allegorically speaking, the kingdom of darkness which opposed YHVH) was what was being judged and punished, because those who were not "covered" by the blood of the lamb could be easily identified as not part of God's kingdom/covenant and liberated people.
Looking at the Day of Atonement sacrifice (which, again, Christ's death is repeatedly compared to throughout the New Testament), this ritual required a ram, a bull, and two goats (Lev. 16:3-5). The ram was for a burnt offering intended to please God (Lev. 16:3-4). The bull served as a sin offering for Aaron, the high priest, and his family. In this case, the sin offering restored the priest to ritual purity, allowing him to occupy sacred space and be near YHVH’s presence. Two goats taken from "the congregation” were needed for the single sin offering for the people (Lev. 16:5). So why two goats?
The high priest would cast lots over the two goats, with one chosen as a sacrifice “for the Lord” (Lev. 16:8). The blood of that goat would purify the people. The second goat was not sacrificed or designated “for the Lord.” On the contrary, this goat—the one that symbolically carried the sins away from the camp of Israel into the wilderness—was “for Azazel” (Lev. 16:8-10).
What—or who—is Azazel?
The Hebrew term azazel (עזאזל) occurs four times in Leviticus 16 but nowhere else in most people's canon of the Bible, (and I say "most people's canon," because some people do include 1 Enoch in their canon of Scripture, which of course goes into great detail about this "Azazel" figure). Many translations prefer to translate the term as a phrase, “the goat that goes away,” which is the same idea conveyed in the King James Version’s “scapegoat.” Other translations treat the word as a name: Azazel. The “scapegoat” option is possible, but since the phrase “for Azazel” parallels the phrase “for YHVH” (“for the Lord”), the wording suggests that two divine figures are being contrasted by the two goats.
A strong case can be made for translating the term as the name Azazel. Ancient Jewish texts show that Azazel was understood as a demonic figure associated with the wilderness. The Mishnah (ca. AD 200; Yoma 6:6) records that the goat for Azazel was led to a cliff and pushed over, ensuring it would not return with its death. This association of the wilderness with evil is also evident in the New Testament, as this was where Jesus met the devil (Matt. 4:1). Also, in Leviticus 17:1-7 we learn that some Israelites had been accustomed to sacrificing offerings to "devils" (alternatively translated as “goat demons”). The Day of Atonement replaced this illegitimate practice.
The second goat was not sent into the wilderness as a sacrifice to a foreign god or demon. The act of sending the live goat out into the wilderness, which was unholy ground, was to send the sins of the people where they belonged—to the demonic domain. With one goat sacrificed to bring purification and access to YHVH and one goat sent to carry the people’s sins to the demonic domain, this annual ritual reinforced the identity of the true God and His mercy and holiness.
When Jesus died on the cross for all of humanity’s sins, he was crucified outside the city, paralleling the sins of the people being cast to the wilderness via the goat to Azazel. Jesus died once for all sinners, negating the need for this ritual.
As previously stated, the goat which had all the sin put on it was sent alive off to the wilderness, while the blood of the goat which was blameless was used to purify the temple and the people. Penal substitution would necessitate the killing of the goat which had the sin put on it.
Mind you, this is the only sacrificial ritual of any kind in the Torah in which sins are placed on an animal. The only time it happens is this, and that animal is not sacrificed. Most PSA proponents unwittingly point to this ritual as evidence of their view, despite it actually serving as evidence to the contrary, because most people don't read their Old Testament and don't familiarize themselves with the "boring parts" like Leviticus (when it's actually rather important to do so, since that book explains how exactly animal offerings were to be carried out and why they were done in the first place).
In the New Testament, Christ's blood was not only meant to mark out those who were his, but also expel the presence of sin and ritual uncleanness so as to make the presence of YHVH manifest in the believer's life. Notice how God's wrath isn't poured out on Christ in our stead on this view, but rather His wrath was poured out on those who weren't covered, and the presence of sin and evil were merely removed by that which is pure and blameless (Christ's blood) for the believer.
All this is the difference between expiation and propitiation.

The Content of Paul's Gospel Message

When the New Testament writers talked about “the gospel,” they referred not to the Protestant doctrine of justification sola fide–the proposition that if we will stop trying to win God’s favor and only just believe that God has exchanged our sin for Christ’s perfect righteousness, then in God’s eyes we will have the perfect righteousness required both for salvation and for assuaging our guilty consciences–but rather they referred to the simple but explosive proposition Kyrios Christos, “Christ is Lord.” That is to say, the gospel was, properly speaking, the royal announcement that Jesus of Nazareth was the God of Israel’s promised Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
The New Testament writers were not writing in a cultural or linguistic vacuum and their language of euangelion (good news) and euangelizomai would have been understood by their audience in fairly specific ways. Namely, in the Greco-Roman world for which the New Testament authors wrote, euangelion/euangelizomai language typically had to do with either A) the announcement of the accession of a ruler, or B) the announcement of a victory in battle, and would probably have been understood along those lines.
Let’s take the announcements of a new ruler first. The classic example of such a language is the Priene Calendar Inscription, dating to circa 9 BC, which celebrates the rule (and birthday) of Caesar Augustus as follows:
"It was seeming to the Greeks in Asia, in the opinion of the high priest Apollonius of Menophilus Azanitus: Since Providence, which has ordered all things of our life and is very much interested in our life, has ordered things in sending Augustus, whom she filled with virtue for the benefit of men, sending him as a savior [soter] both for us and for those after us, him who would end war and order all things, and since Caesar by his appearance [epiphanein] surpassed the hopes of all those who received the good tidings [euangelia], not only those who were benefactors before him, but even the hope among those who will be left afterward, and the birthday of the god [he genethlios tou theou] was for the world the beginning of the good tidings [euangelion] through him; and Asia resolved it in Smyrna."
The association of the term euangelion with the announcement of Augustus’ rule is clear enough and is typical of how this language is used elsewhere. To give another example, Josephus records that at the news of the accession of the new emperor Vespasian (69 AD) “every city kept festival for the good news (euangelia) and offered sacrifices on his behalf.” (The Jewish War, IV.618). Finally, a papyrus dating to ca. 498 AD begins:
"Since I have become aware of the good news (euangeliou) about the proclamation as Caesar (of Gaius Julius Verus Maximus Augustus)…"
This usage occurs also in the Septuagint, the Greek translations of the Jewish Scriptures. For instance LXX Isaiah 52:7 reads, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news (euangelizomenou), who publishes peace, who brings good news (euangelizomenos) of salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.'" Similarly, LXX Isaiah 40:9-10 reads:

"…Go up on a high mountain, you who bring good tidings (ho euangelizomenos) to Sion; lift up your voice with strength, you who bring good tidings (ho euangelizomenos); lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Ioudas, “See your God!” Behold, the Lord comes with strength, and his arm with authority (kyrieias)…."-NETS, Esaias 40:9-10

This consistent close connection between euangelion/euangelizomai language and announcements of rule strongly suggests that many of the initial hearers/readers of the early Christians’ evangelical language would likely have understood that language as the announcement of a new ruler (see, e.g., Acts 17:7), and, unless there is strong NT evidence to the contrary, we should presume that the NT writers probably intended their language to be so understood.
However, the other main way in which euangelion/euangelizomai language was used in the Greco-Roman world was with reference to battle reports, announcements of victory in war. A classic example of this sort of usage can be found in LXX 2 Samuel 18:19ff, where David receives word that his traitorous son, Absalom, has been defeated in battle. Euangelion/euangelizomai is used throughout the passage for the communications from the front.
As already shown throughout this post, the NT speaks of Jesus’s death and resurrection as a great victory over the powers that existed at that time and, most importantly, over death itself. Jesus’ conquest of the principalities and powers was the establishment of his rule and comprehensive authority over heaven and earth, that is, of his Lordship over all things (again, at that time).
This was the content of Paul's gospel message...

Justification, and the "New" Perspective on Paul

The following quotation is from The Gospel Coalition, and I believe it to be a decently accurate summary of the NPP (New Perspective on Paul), despite it being from a source which is in opposition to it:

The New Perspective on Paul, a major scholarly shift that began in the 1980s, argues that the Jewish context of the New Testament has been wrongly understood and that this misunderstand[ing] has led to errors in the traditional-Protestant understanding of justification. According to the New Perspective, the Jewish systems of salvation were not based on works-righteousness but rather on covenantal nomism, the belief that one enters the people of God by grace and stays in through obedience to the covenant. This means that Paul could not have been referring to works-righteousness by his phrase “works of the law”; instead, he was referring to Jewish boundary markers that made clear who was or was not within the people of God. For the New Perspective, this is the issue that Paul opposes in the NT. Thus, justification takes on two aspects for the New Perspective rather than one; initial justification is by faith (grace) and recognizes covenant status (ecclesiology), while final justification is partially by works, albeit works produced by the Spirit.

I believe what's called the "new perspective" is actually rather old, and that the Reformers' view of Paul is what is truly new, being that the Lutheran understanding of Paul is simply not Biblical.
The Reformation perspective understands Paul to be arguing against a legalistic Jewish culture that seeks to earn their salvation through works. However, supporters of the NPP argue that Paul has been misread. We contend he was actually combating Jews who were boasting because they were God's people, the "elect" or the "chosen ones." Their "works," so to speak, were done to show they were God's covenant people and not to earn their salvation.
The key questions involve Paul’s view(s) of the law and the meaning of the controversy in which Paul was engaged. Paul strongly argued that we are “justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law” (Gal. 2:16b). Since the time of Martin Luther, this has been understood as an indictment of legalistic efforts to merit favor before God. Judaism was cast in the role of the medieval "church," and so Paul’s protests became very Lutheran, with traditional-Protestant theology reinforced in all its particulars (along with its limitations) as a result. In hermeneutical terms, then, the historical context of Paul’s debate will answer the questions we have about what exactly the apostle meant by the phrase "works of the law," along with other phrases often used as support by the Reformers for their doctrine of Sola Fide (justification by faith alone), like when Paul mentions "the righteousness of God."
Obviously an in-depth analysis of the Pauline corpus and its place in the context of first-century Judaism would take us far beyond the scope of this brief post. We can, however, quickly survey the topography of Paul’s thought in context, particularly as it has emerged through the efforts of recent scholarship, and note some salient points which may be used as the basis of a refurbished soteriology.
[Note: The more popular scholars associated with the NPP are E.P. Sanders, James Dunn, and N.T. Wright. Dunn was the first to coin the term "The New Perspective" in a 1983 Manson Memorial Lecture, The New Perspective on Paul and the Law.]
Varying authors since the early 1900's have brought up the charge that Paul was misread by those in the tradition of Martin Luther and other Protestant Reformers. Yet, it wasn't until E.P. Sanders' 1977 book, Paul and Palestinian Judaism, that scholars began to pay much attention to the issue. In his book, Sanders argues that the Judaism of Paul's day has been wrongly criticized as a religion of "works-salvation" by those in the Protestant tradition.
A fundamental premise in the NPP is that Judaism was actually a religion of grace. Sander's puts it clearly:
"On the point at which many have found the decisive contrast between Paul and Judaism - grace and works - Paul is in agreement with Palestinian Judaism... Salvation is by grace but judgment is according to works'...God saves by grace, but... within the framework established by grace he rewards good deeds and punishes transgression." (Paul and Palestinian Judaism, p. 543)
N.T. Wright adds that, "we have misjudged early Judaism, especially Pharisaism, if we have thought of it as an early version of Pelagianism," (Wright, What Saint Paul Really Said, p. 32).
Sanders has coined a now well-known phrase to describe the character of first-century Palestinian Judaism: “covenantal nomism.” The meaning of “covenantal nomism” is that human obedience is not construed as the means of entering into God’s covenant. That cannot be earned; inclusion within the covenant body is by the grace of God. Rather, obedience is the means of maintaining one’s status within the covenant. And with its emphasis on divine grace and forgiveness, Judaism was never a religion of legalism.
If covenantal nomism was operating as the primary category under which Jews understood the Law, then when Jews spoke of obeying commandments, or when they required strict obedience of themselves and fellow Jews, it was because they were "keeping the covenant," rather than out of legalism.
More recently, N.T. Wright has made a significant contribution in his little book, What Saint Paul Really Said. Wright’s focus is the gospel and the doctrine of justification. With incisive clarity he demonstrates that the core of Paul’s gospel was not justification by faith, but the death and resurrection of Christ and his exaltation as Lord. The proclamation of the gospel was the proclamation of Jesus as Lord, the Messiah who fulfilled Israel’s expectations. Romans 1:3-4, not 1:16-17, is the gospel, contrary to traditional thinking. Justification is not the center of Paul’s thought, but an outworking of it:
"[T]he doctrine of justification by faith is not what Paul means by ‘the gospel’. It is implied by the gospel; when the gospel is proclaimed, people come to faith and so are regarded by God as members of his people. But ‘the gospel’ is not an account of how people get saved. It is, as we saw in an earlier chapter, the proclamation of the lordship of Jesus Christ….Let us be quite clear. ‘The gospel’ is the announcement of Jesus’ lordship, which works with power to bring people into the family of Abraham, now redefined around Jesus Christ and characterized solely by faith in him. ‘Justification’ is the doctrine which insists that all those who have this faith belong as full members of this family, on this basis and no other." (pp. 132, 133)
Wright brings us to this point by showing what “justification” would have meant in Paul’s Jewish context, bound up as it was in law-court terminology, eschatology, and God’s faithfulness to God’s covenant.
Specifically, Wright explodes the myth that the pre-Christian Saul was a pious, proto-Pelagian moralist seeking to earn his individual passage into heaven. Wright capitalizes on Paul’s autobiographical confessions to paint rather a picture of a zealous Jewish nationalist whose driving concern was to cleanse Israel of Gentiles as well as Jews who had lax attitudes toward the Torah. Running the risk of anachronism, Wright points to a contemporary version of the pre-Christian Saul: Yigal Amir, the zealous Torah-loyal Jew who assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin for exchanging Israel’s land for peace. Wright writes:
"Jews like Saul of Tarsus were not interested in an abstract, ahistorical system of salvation... They were interested in the salvation which, they believed, the one true God had promised to his people Israel." (pp. 32, 33)
Wright maintains that as a Christian, Paul continued to challenge paganism by taking the moral high ground of the creational monotheist. The doctrine of justification was not what Paul preached to the Gentiles as the main thrust of his gospel message; it was rather “the thing his converts most needed to know in order to be assured that they really were part of God’s people” after they had responded to the gospel message.
Even while taking the gospel to the Gentiles, however, Paul continued to criticize Judaism “from within” even as he had as a zealous Pharisee. But whereas his mission before was to root out those with lax attitudes toward the Torah, now his mission was to demonstrate that God’s covenant faithfulness (righteousness) has already been revealed in Jesus Christ.
At this point Wright carefully documents Paul’s use of the controversial phrase “God’s righteousness” and draws out the implications of his meaning against the background of a Jewish concept of justification. The righteousness of God and the righteousness of the party who is “justified” cannot be confused because the term bears different connotations for the judge than for the plaintiff or defendant. The judge is “righteous” if his or her judgment is fair and impartial; the plaintiff or defendant is “righteous” if the judge rules in his or her favor. Hence:
"If we use the language of the law court, it makes no sense whatsoever to say that the judge imputes, imparts, bequeaths, conveys or otherwise transfers his righteousness to either the plaintiff or the defendant. Righteousness is not an object, a substance or a gas which can be passed across the courtroom. For the judge to be righteous does not mean that the court has found in his favor. For the plaintiff or defendant to be righteous does not mean that he or she has tried the case properly or impartially. To imagine the defendant somehow receiving the judge’s righteousness is simply a category mistake. That is not how the language works." (p. 98)
However, Wright makes the important observation that even with the forensic metaphor, Paul’s theology is not so much about the courtroom as it is about God’s love.
Righteousness is not an impersonal, abstract standard, a measuring-stick or a balancing scale. That was, and still is, a Greek view. Righteousness, Biblically speaking, grows out of covenant relationship. We forgive because we have been forgiven (Matt. 18:21-35); “we love" because God “first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Love is the fulfillment of the law (Rom. 13:8, 10, Gal 5:14, Jam. 2:8). Paul even looked forward to a day when “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10), and he acknowledged that his clear conscience did not necessarily ensure this verdict (1 Cor. 4:4), but he was confident nevertheless. Paul did in fact testify of his clear conscience: “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation [i.e., behavior] in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward” (2 Cor. 1:12). He was aware that he had not yet “attained” (Phil. 3:12-14), that he still struggled with the flesh, yet he was confident of the value of his performance (1 Cor. 9:27). These are hardly the convictions of someone who intends to rest entirely on the merits of an alien righteousness imputed to his or her account.
Wright went on to flesh out the doctrine of justification in Galatians, Philippians, and Romans. The “works of the law” are not proto-Pelagian efforts to earn salvation, but rather “sabbath [keeping], food-laws, circumcision” (p. 132). Considering the controversy in Galatia, Wright writes:
"Despite a long tradition to the contrary, the problem Paul addresses in Galatians is not the question of how precisely someone becomes a Christian, or attains to a relationship with God….The problem he addresses is: should his ex-pagan converts be circumcised or not? Now this question is by no means obviously to do with the questions faced by Augustine and Pelagius, or by Luther and Erasmus. On anyone’s reading, but especially within its first-century context, it has to do quite obviously with the question of how you define the people of God: are they to be defined by the badges of Jewish race, or in some other way? Circumcision is not a ‘moral’ issue; it does not have to do with moral effort, or earning salvation by good deeds. Nor can we simply treat it as a religious ritual, then designate all religious ritual as crypto-Pelagian good works, and so smuggle Pelagius into Galatia as the arch-opponent after all. First-century thought, both Jewish and Christian, simply doesn’t work like that…. [T]he polemic against the Torah in Galatians simply will not work if we ‘translate’ it into polemic either against straightforward self-help moralism or against the more subtle snare of ‘legalism’, as some have suggested. The passages about the law only work — and by ‘work’ I mean they will only make full sense in their contexts, which is what counts in the last analysis — when we take them as references to the Jewish law, the Torah, seen as the national charter of the Jewish race." (pp. 120-122)
The debate about justification, then, “wasn’t so much about soteriology as about ecclesiology; not so much about salvation as about the church.” (p. 119)
To summarize the theology of Paul in his epistles, the apostle mainly spent time arguing to those whom he were sending letters that salvation in Christ was available to all men without distinction. Jews and Gentiles alike may accept the free gift; it was not limited to any one group. Paul was vehement about this, especially in his letter to the Romans. As such, I will finish this post off by summarizing the letter itself, so as to provide Biblical support for the premises of the NPP and for what the scholars I referenced have thus far argued.
After his introduction in the epistle to an already believing and mostly Gentile audience (who would've already been familiar with the gospel proclaimed in verses 3-4), Paul makes a thematic statement in 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” This statement is just one of many key statements littered throughout the book of Romans that give us proper understanding of the point Paul wished to make to the interlocutors of his day, namely, salvation is available to all, whether Jew or Gentile.
In 1:16 Paul sets out a basic theme of his message in the letter to the Romans. All who believed, whether they be Jew or Gentile, were saved by the power of the gospel. The universal nature of salvation was explicitly stated. The gospel saved all without distinction, whether Jew or Greek; salvation was through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Immediately after this thematic declaration, Paul undertakes to show the universal nature of sin and guilt. In 1:18-32 Paul shows how the Gentile is guilty before God. Despite evidence of God and his attributes, which is readily available to all, they have failed to honor YHVH as God and have exchanged His glory for idolatrous worship and self-promotion. As a consequence, God handed them over in judgment (1:18-32). Paul moves to denunciation of those who would judge others while themselves being guilty of the very same offenses (2:1-5) and argues that all will be judged according to their deeds (2:6). This judgment applies to all, namely, Jew and Greek (2:9-10). This section serves as somewhat of a transition in Paul’s argument. He has highlighted the guilt of the Gentiles (1:18ff) and will shortly outline the guilt of the Jew (2:17-24). The universal statement of 2:1-11 sets the stage for Paul’s rebuke of Jewish presumption. It was not possession of the Law which delivered; it was faithful obedience. It is better to have no Law and yet to obey the essence of the Law (2:12-16) than to have the Law and not obey (2:17-3:4). Paul then defends the justice of God’s judgment (3:5-8), which leads to the conclusion that all (Jew and Gentile) are guilty before God (3:9).
Paul argues that it was a mistaken notion to think that salvation was the prerogative of the Jew only. This presumption is wrong for two reasons. First, it leads to the mistaken assumption that only Jews were eligible for this vindication (Paul deals with this misunderstanding in chapter 4 where he demonstrates that Abraham was justified by faith independently of the Law and is therefore the father of all who believe, Jew and Gentile alike). Second, it leads to the equally mistaken conclusion that all who were Jews are guaranteed of vindication. Paul demonstrates how this perspective, which would call God’s integrity into question since Paul was assuming many Jews would not experience this vindication, was misguided. He did this by demonstrating that it was never the case that all physical descendants of Israel (Jacob) were likewise recipients of the promise. In the past (9:6-33) as in the present (at that time; 11:1-10), only a remnant was preserved and only a remnant would experience vindication. Paul also argued that the unbelief of national Israel (the non-remnant) had the purpose of extending the compass of salvation. The unbelief of one group made the universal scope of the gospel possible. This universalism was itself intended to bring about the vindication of the unbelieving group (11:11-16). As a result of faith, all (Jew and Gentile) could be branches of the olive tree (11:17-24). Since faith in Christ was necessary to remain grafted into the tree, no one could boast of his position. All, Jew and Gentile alike, were dependent upon the mercy and grace of God. As a result of God’s mysterious plan, He would bring about the vindication of His people (11:25-27). [Note: It is this author's belief that this vindication occurred around 66-70 AD, with the Parousia of Christ's Church; this author is Full-Preterist in their Eschatology.]

Forced optimism is what I call the new trend to rename everything bad into something better sounding. Sometimes, it is not even something bad, just something considered less desirable, or something that comes with advantages or disadvantages.
Two main cases come to mind:
Used stuff is labeled as "pre-loved" - this phrase is infantilizing and assumes I am too dumb to understand that a thing is used if the word used is not used (pun not intended but accepted with pride). On the other hand, it also sounds predatory because there might be people out there with genuine cognitive problems that will not understand what that means or won't think it through when buying.
Differently abled (and variations like birth defect = birth enhancement) - I understand the very valid concern that people with disabilities don't want to be viewed as infantile or helpless. People with disabilities are first and foremost people, and as such, they have infinite potential. I am absolutely astonished how much some of them accomplish in unexpected fields, like people with no fingers or arms learning to play guitar - and not only do they play - some of them could outshred the most famous touring guitarists alive today. It truly is impressive.
At the same time, their disability still makes life harder for them - not easier. It is simply the truth. The fact they overcame the presented difficulties should, in my opinion, be worn with pride, and people without disabilities should give them the respect they deserve. I don't care how people with disabilities refer to themselves and in their own discussions, but I don't intend to accept being shamed into lying to myself and everyone around me by calling obvious disabilities and deformities "enchantments" or "super powers". I am an overweight person and I don't call myself "differently fit" or "fat-enhanced". I am overweight and possibly even obese. I don't need people lying to me about it. We are far more than our bodies and accepting that our bodies are not perfect is part of life. Bodies are not a competition (unless, you know, you enter into a body building competition or beauty contest or whatever).
There. Explain to me why I'm wrong.

Forced optimism is what I call the new trend to rename everything bad into something better sounding. Sometimes, it is not even something bad, just something considered less desirable, or something that comes with advantages or disadvantages.
Two main cases come to mind:
Used stuff is labeled as "pre-loved" - this phrase is infantilizing and assumes I am too dumb to understand that a thing is used if the word used is not used (pun not intended but accepted with pride). On the other hand, it also sounds predatory because there might be people out there with genuine cognitive problems that will not understand what that means or won't think it through when buying.
Differently abled (and variations like birth defect = birth enhancement) - I understand the very valid concern that people with disabilities don't want to be viewed as infantile or helpless. People with disabilities are first and foremost people, and as such, they have infinite potential. I am absolutely astonished how much some of them accomplish in unexpected fields, like people with no fingers or arms learning to play guitar - and not only do they play - some of them could outshred the most famous touring guitarists alive today. It truly is impressive.
At the same time, their disability still makes life harder for them - not easier. It is simply the truth. The fact they overcame the presented difficulties should, in my opinion, be worn with pride, and people without disabilities should give them the respect they deserve. I don't care how people with disabilities refer to themselves and in their own discussions, but I don't intend to accept being shamed into lying to myself and everyone around me by calling obvious disabilities and deformities "enchantments" or "super powers". I am an overweight person and I don't call myself "differently fit" or "fat-enhanced". I am overweight and possibly even obese. I don't need people lying to me about it. We are far more than our bodies and accepting that our bodies are not perfect is part of life. Bodies are not a competition (unless, you know, you enter into a body building competition or beauty contest or whatever).
There. Explain to me why I'm wrong.

Forced optimism is what I call the new trend to rename everything bad into something better sounding. Sometimes, it is not even something bad, just something considered less desirable, or something that comes with advantages or disadvantages.
Two main cases come to mind:
Used stuff is labeled as "pre-loved" - this phrase is infantilizing and assumes I am too dumb to understand that a thing is used if the word used is not used (pun not intended but accepted with pride). On the other hand, it also sounds predatory because there might be people out there with genuine cognitive problems that will not understand what that means or won't think it through when buying.
Differently abled (and variations like birth defect = birth enhancement) - I understand the very valid concern that people with disabilities don't want to be viewed as infantile or helpless. People with disabilities are first and foremost people, and as such, they have infinite potential. I am absolutely astonished how much some of them accomplish in unexpected fields, like people with no fingers or arms learning to play guitar - and not only do they play - some of them could outshred the most famous touring guitarists alive today. It truly is impressive.
At the same time, their disability still makes life harder for them - not easier. It is simply the truth. The fact they overcame the presented difficulties should, in my opinion, be worn with pride, and people without disabilities should give them the respect they deserve. I don't care how people with disabilities refer to themselves and in their own discussions, but I don't intend to accept being shamed into lying to myself and everyone around me by calling obvious disabilities and deformities "enchantments" or "super powers". I am an overweight person and I don't call myself "differently fit" or "fat-enhanced". I am overweight and possibly even obese. I don't need people lying to me about it. We are far more than our bodies and accepting that our bodies are not perfect is part of life. Bodies are not a competition (unless, you know, you enter into a body building competition or beauty contest or whatever).
There. Explain to me why I'm wrong.

I went through a journey during the past six months that helped me explore a part of myself that I did not know. I feel that I have changed radically since I started following it (I am 17, but I feel that I have become more mature than other adults).
At first I didn't know about Grimes, but I was an obsessive, worshipful Elon Musk fan, interested in his daily habits like working 12 hours and sleeping 7 hours a day (which he lied about), and I stuck my nose into his personal life (like an obsessive K-Pop fan ), I found that most of his previous women were attractive (blonde and very traditional attractiveness) except for Grimes, who I found ugly and witch-like in their first appearance on the Met Gala, so I decided to search for her more (and it was the best work I did in my life), I was I was worried about this woman. I felt that she was a Freemason and belonged to the Illuminati (because of her strange clothes and her album covers) or that she was a witch and cast black magic spells in her songs to enchant her audience and kill them, and I was very afraid.
I had a strange feeling for her and went to her YouTube channel and listened to Oblivion and it seemed like a bad and ugly song the first time (I mean, my taste is bad) and I said to myself that I would never listen to any of her songs again since Oblivion was the most viewed song and I didn't like it (my view was superficial and ridiculous), I went to reddit and found that her fans were praising her playing. I was amazed to know that she produces her own music and melodies unlike other pop stars like Selena or Taylor. I listened to Oblivion again and this time focused on the vocal tracks and Then I listened to Genesis and it sounded like a fortune teller or something like that. I then listened to all of her songs and went to translate them. I was amazed that they did not contain the words of a prostitute girl and cursing, and she rarely sings about love. I was interested in her from that moment on and it went. To watch all of her interviews she seemed so spontaneous and unconventional. I loved that she expressed her political opinions even on unrelated topics (like her talk about challenging societal norms of diet and weight and her controversial talk about being a vegetarian and eating hot dogs). Teens and Kids benefit from interviewing her (even about preferences) unlike other celebrities whose interviews are mostly a waste of time.
I stopped by to watch her other interview with Lex Friedman, found it helpful except for a few points (I wrote down every word she said in the interview in a notebook) and bought those books she recommended like the "Culture Series" and even watched the anime "Totoro" which she recommended for kids. I used to watch podcasts about famous singers and almost the same thing is repeated by most of them and there is no value learned, but for me every interview with Grimes is a big change for my personality.
I finished all of her interviews and went to follow all of her accounts, and I was surprised that she responded to comments (such as her response to a comment about makeup) because I was accustomed to the culture of celebrities who leave thousands of comments without responding. I also compared the comments, as the comments of celebrities are frequent (such as: I love you (You're beautiful, you're sexy, heart and rose emojis...) and the comments on the grimes account are full of mature and creative people and I loved her interactions with fans and the awkward things like her talking to the grimes AI (which they designed to be immortal grimes...), and her tweets Regarding preferences about anime and manga, and her crazy looks that show her asymmetrical artistic body, her embarrassing interviews, and her big nose, all the way to her foolish and controversial opinions, although I do not like many of the stupid things that she says, but I love her frank personality without apology, she says Things she knows lead to her being hated, unlike other stars who flatter and pretend to be nice and kind to get as many obsessed fans as possible.
I've changed a lot during the 6 months I spent looking at anything related to grimes. I've become more confident in myself. Well, I hate something called self-confidence. I'll replace it with: "I've become more embarrassed." I used to be shy about revealing that I'm an otaku, and now I am... I became more frank and more open to declaring the world I had created inside my imagination - Vikings, cards, and science fiction. I became less anxious and considered my very thin, asymmetrical yellow body to be an unconventional standard of beauty. I became open to different cultures, ancient civilizations, and ancient poetry. And history, and I invented unique hair colors instead of blonde, and made my body and face a guinea pig for crazy tricks with liquid eyeliner. They also became more accepting of my damned embarrassing personality instead of searching for silly videos about increasing self-confidence and a strong personality that attracts men. I was obsessed with Elon Musk, but after I learned about his crazy relationship with Grimes, I learned that he is just a fat, narcissistic, sadistic child, and billionaires should not be taken as an example.
I'm not a huge fan of grimes but she is an interesting person and anyone who is trapped in the shell of being obsessed with Taylor Swift (but not limited to) should know about grimes

(Sips tea, a complete satire) Getting famous in Nigeria is really not easy! 60% of people in Nigeria are multi-talented, the other 40% are super rich and do not even need fame. The entertainment industry is getting oversaturated. The sky isn't big enough anymore 😂
Gone are the days were fame was given to those that geniuly deserve it. These days, there are patterns and cheat codes to fame as an entertainer. Funny enough you don't not need money at all to be famous 🎯

1. Fake your death: There is a 70% change you will become famous when you act like you have died. People get to love you some more, spread your news around and inform the rest of the world the amazing things they did for you while you were alife.
   
2. Go to Jail: Nigerians will hate you until you enter jail, that it when the love will come. We begin to love the criminal and blame the government for the terrible system. You hear things like, “yes he stole but do you know how much politicians steal everyday”. The moment you're out, you become a national hero and a motivation to many.
   
3. Leak your sex tape: This one would shoot you straight to the top. The more skin you show, the crazier it gets. Nigerians love to talk. Just show them your body and you will become famous. They will hate you for a week or two but after that you become an influencer and a favorite of many.
   

Please if you know other ways, kindly drop them in the comments, lets laugh at the beautiful country together. (Proudly Nigerian by the way, say nonsense and you go collect woto-woto 😂😂).

"Good-bye, lover-- It's been fun... And I always did want to go in battle. You get to keep your planet, kid... Don't forget me... Don't forget me"
Bio: Val Armorr was the son of Japan's greatest crimelord, Kirau Nezumi, also known as Black Dragon, When he was born, his mother, the American secret agent Valentina Armorr, tried to hide him from his father, but she failed and was killed for her affront. Japan's biggest hero Sensei Toshiaki, the White Crane, eventually killed Black Dragon for his crimes and adopted the infant Val. He raised Val as if he were his own son, and trained him in all manner of the martial arts.
Origin in scan form ^{(Superboy vol 1 #210})
Alternate look at his origin ^{(Secrets of the Legion of Super-Heroes #2})
Databook entries

• Superboy #205
• All-New Collector's Edition #55
• Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #12
• Who's Who in the Legion of Superheroes #3
• DC Comics Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded
• All New DC Comics Encyclopedia

Original Val

Strength
Note: Karate Kid needs to concentrate and channel his chi to perform feats of strength ^{(Adventure Comics #359})

• In his origin, chops through a steel beam ^{(Adventure Comics #346})
• Chops through a spaceship hull ^{(Adventure Comics #347})
• Lightning Lad flashes back to Karate Kid stopping a car with a single chop ^{(Adventure Comics #351})
• Knocks out a Jovian Mastodon and a Tricorn Beast with a single strike each, and judo throws a Sloth Ape ^{(Adventure Comics #358})
• Chops through two trees in one swing ^{(Adventure Comics #358})
• Analyzes some thick gates, then chops through them ^{(Adventure Comics #360})
• Kicks away a hover car ^{(Adventure Comics #361})
• Chops through a tank, then starts a small earthquake with a stomp ^{(Adventure Comics #367})
• Destroys a practice bot in a rage ^{(Adventure Comics #373})
• Claims his chops could fell giant redwoods ^{(Superboy vol 1 #203})
• Creates an earthquake with a stomp that breaks apart a statue ^{(Legion of Superheroes vol 3 #31})
  • Note: This is a flashback to earlier times, so despite being in vol 3, takes place Chronologically in vol 1, as shown by him wearing the brown gi instead of his more famous white one
• Punches through a robot ^{(Superboy vol 1 #214})
• Kicks a meteor to pieces ^{(Karate Kid #2})
• Creates a counter-vibration strong enough to reverse Major Disaster's artificial earthquake. ^{(Karate Kid #2}.)
• Flexes off six cavemen ^{(Karate Kid #11})
• [MASSIVE OUTLIER] When bound with ropes made of indestructible Inertron, he somehow manages to break free. ^{(Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #231})
  • Album of Inertron being invulnerable/unbreakable/strong enough to resist Kryptonians
• Breaks out of a machine that saps powers, minds and will (Legion of Super-Heroes vol 3 004)

Speed

• Moves "with the speed of thought" ^{(Adventure Comics #361})
• Dodges Mano and Persuader's attacks ^{(Adventure Comics #378})
• Dodges Validus' mental lightning ^{(Adventure Comics #378})
• Dodges a blast from the Emerald Eye of Ekon ^{(Superboy vol 1 #198})
• Dodges a blast from *sigh* Radiation Roy ^{(Superboy vol 1 #208})
• Rushes forward and front tuck into a Rider Kick in a fraction of a second ^{(Superboy vol 1 #214})
• Dodges a bolt from Lightning Lad ^{(Karate Kid #1})
• Dodges radiation blasts from Nemesis Kid ^{(Karate Kid #1})
• Intercepts a falling meteor ^{(Karate Kid #2})
• Backflips over a bullet ^{(Karate Kid #2})
• Dodges a laser ^{(Karate Kid #13})
• Leaps over a bullet and behind a guy in less than a fifth of a second ^{(Karate Kid #15})
• Dances around Pharoxx's strikes ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes #309})
• Redirects Pharoxx's own magic against him ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes #309})

Durability

• Survives an explosion that KO'd and nearly killed his sensei ^{(Adventure Comics #367})
• Smacked by a giant robot and recovers being back to fighting shape on the next page ^{(Adventure Comics #373})
• Endures ever-increasing pain through meditative techniques even though the pain was so bad, it made Timber Wolf go feral within a few minutes ^{(Superboy vol 1 #209})
• Clears his mind of mental influences ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes vol 2 #268})
• Wades though blasts from Pharoxx ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes vol 2 #288})
• While sick, takes a blast from Pulsar ^{(The Brave and the Bold #198})
• Pulsar explodes right next to him and he's all good. ^{(The Brave and the Bold #198})
• Gets clawed by a monster and shrugs it off ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes #309})
• Gets blasted by Pharoxx's magic and recovers, while Pharoxx getting hit with the same blast made him immediately flee ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes #309})
• [Limit] Dies after being beaten nearly to death by Nemesis Kid, then missile launches himself into a planet-draining machine. ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes vol 3 #4})

Skill
Statements and styles

• Great Skill in all forms of martial arts, but especially Karate and Judo ^{(Adventure Comics #346})
• Master of all forms of fighting ^{(Adventure Comics #359})
• Switches from Boxing to Savate to Kendo against a robot ^{(Adventure Comics #363})
• Knocks some guys out with chops to the back of the neck ^{(Adventure Comics #360})
• Mastered every weapon form "from fencing foils to Jovian trident spears" ^{(Adventure Comics #368})
• Temporarily puts Timber Wolf in a Judo hold ^{(Superboy vol 1 #209})
• Falkone IV arm riflie technique ^{(Karate Kid #12})
• Loback III restraining hold for non-powered people to restrain super-powered people ^{(Karate Kid #12})
• Karate, Judo, "Arcturian Sli-tilla", "Venusian Txrxvrx", and boxing ("the good old one-two punch") in one page ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes vol 2 #268})

Against skilled opponents (Solo)

• Beats a boxing champion ^{(Adventure Comics #377})
• Beats the absolute stuffing out of Black Mace ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes vol 3 #31})
  • Black Mace is stated to be Ganglands's answer to Karate Kid ^{(Adventure Comics #374}) and a fast, strong invincible fighter ^{(Superboy #213})
• Beats Black Mask again, with an assist from Princess Projectra ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes vol 3 #31})
• Quickly beats a dual nunchaku wielding black belt ^{(Karate Kid #3})
• Beats the Samurai known as Master Hand ^{(Karate Kid #4})
• Had the advantage on Black Dragon II, the student of his father he previously beat in Superboy vol 1 #210 ^{(Karate Kid #10})
• Karate Kid vs Black Dragon II in a ceremonial fight. ^{(Karate Kid #10})
• Beats Dick Grayson quickly ^{(Karate Kid #14})
• Wins a tournament and the title of Samurai, going down as the youngest to gain the title ^{(Secret Origins vol 2 #47})

Against Skilled opponents (groups)

• Defeats three Black Belts he claims could waste a battalion of ordinary men ^{(Superboy vol 1 #210})
• Beats six opponents trained by his father, Black Dragon, including the future Black Dragon II ^{(Superboy vol 1 #210})
• Beats a bunch of 20th-century martial arts masters ^{(Karate Kid #1})
• Quickly beats four martial artists ^{(Karate Kid #4})

Against superpowered opponents (1v1)

• Fights Superboy and does so well, Clark says he needs to be in the Legion ^{(Adventure Comics #346})
• Training with Superboy ^{(Adventure Comics #368})
• Gets the advantage over Don Allen, descendent of Barry Allen and a speedster ^{(Adventure Comics #373})
• Defeats Ultra Boy ^{(Adventure Comics #375})
• A brainwashed Karate Kid easily beats Ultra Boy ^{(Superboy vol 1 #205})
• Survives a fight with Superboy, though he constantly mentions he's outmatched and it's taking all of his skill to just survive . ^{(Karate Kid #12})
• Temporarily holds Superboy, but admits he needs help immediately and is losing him and is saved by Mordru's magic wearing off ^{(Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #245})

Against Superpowered opponents (groups)

• Solos the Fatal Five ^{(Adventure Comics #378})
• Manages to hold his own against Lightning Lad, Superboy, Colossal Boy, Saturn Girl, Sun Boy, and Chameleon Boy before being stopped by Cosmic Boy ^{(Karate Kid #13})

Against Skilled Superpowered opponents

• Fights four superpowered assassins and is holding his own ^{(Adventure Comics #361})
• Beats Pharoxx of Orando in a sword fight, forcing Pharoxx to resort to magic ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes vol 2 #286})
• Beats Timber Wolf in a spar ^{(Legion of Superheroes vol 4 #52})

Accuracy

• Splits a rock so each half flies off and KOs a foe ^{(Adventure Comics 361})
• Hits a knight with a stone and KO's him ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes vol 2 #288})
• Uses his sash as a lasso to disarm Pulsar of his power staff ^{(The Brave and the Bold #198})

Agility

• Rushes forward and front tuck into a Rider Kick in a fraction of a second ^{(Superboy vol 1 #214})
• Contorts himself in mid-air to stop himself from falling out of a building then Jumps back in ^{(Karate Kid #1})
• Jumps from the street to a sign to a third story roof ^{(Karate Kid #2})
• Does a series of flips to land safely after jumping out of a building while holding someone ^{(Karate Kid #2})
• Jumps out of a window, does a ton of flips, and starts running on cars ^{(Karate Kid #3})
• Flips on a pole ^{(Karate Kid #11})
• Flips over a car ^{(Karate Kid #11})
• Flips out of Batman's grasp ^{(The Brave and the Bold #198})
• Rolls back to get out of a monster's range, then launches himself into a flying kick ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes vol 2 #309})

Weak Point Sensing

• Finds the weak point in a diamond ^{(Adventure Comics# 365})
• Finds the weak point in a wall ^{(Superboy vol 1 #210})
• Finds Omega's weakest point, but is too weak to capitalize on it ^{(Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #251}). This is the first time it's called an explicit "power" and not a skill.
• Finds the weak point in a hatch ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes #277})
• Originally struggled to find a weak point in massive chains encircling Earth, but after getting a hint from Princess Projectra manages to sense and destroy it ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes vol 2 #279})

Retroboot Val

Despite dying.....Val Armorr's back and in the past! ^{(Justice League of America vol 2 #7}) How? Never explained! ^{(Justice League of America #10}) Here's his feats. Note: All feats are done while he's dying (Countdown Weeks 14-15/ 38-37) from what's later revealed to be the Morticoccus Virus

• While disguised as a supervillain, freezes Parasite without Black Lightning realizing Parasite was the target ^{(Justice League of America vol 2 #2})
• KO's Black Lightning with a chop to the neck and stalemates (and arguably has the advantage over) Batman while sick and memoryless ^{(Justice League of America vol 2 #8})
  • Another view of the fight ^{(Countdown Week 2/#50})
  • Doctor Mid-Nite says Karate Kid very nearly took down Batman in that fight ^{(Countdown Week 7/#45})
  • Batman conceeds Val outfought him but claims he wouldn't in a rematch though he may have been being a jerk to get into Val's head ^{(Countdown Week 10/#42})
• Is still conscious and talking despite being loaded up with enough tranquilizers to give Wonder Woman trouble ^{(Justice League of America vol 2 #8})
• Somehow survives Speed Force Lightning that should have insta-killed him ^{(Justice League of America vol 2 #10})
• Finds the weak point in a vault he's sealed in ^{(Countdown Week 13/#39})
• Tears through Oracle's tendrils and punches through a wall ^{(Countdown Week 13/#39})
• Hurts Equus, an enhanced being who bragged he had fought Superman ^{(Countdown Week 16/#36})
• Kicked Equus arm clean off his body ^{(Countdown Week 17/#35})
• Breaks shotguns and kicks a police car over ^{(Supergirl vol 5 #21})
• [Limit] While he can dodge her attacks, can't move Supergirl with his strikes ^{(Supergirl vol 5 #21})
• Chops Equus arm off ^{(Supergirl vol 5 #22})
• [Limit] The closer to death he gets, the less he's able to focus and use Super-Karate feats ^{(Countdown week 32/#20})
• Takes out four Apokoliptians ^{(Countdown Week 41/#11})
• Takes a hit from an OMAC and shows some agility ^{(Countdown Week 42/#10})
• Dies of the virus ^{(Countdown Week 45/#7})
• Time Trapper puts his and Una's bodies in the mainline Earth when they had died in Earth-51 ^{(Action Comics #864})

Misc

• As a Legionnaire, he has a Legion flight ring ^{(Karate Kid #1})
• Invited his 20th-century friend to his wedding, not realizing she was in love with him ^{(The Brave and the Bold #198})
• Man married a princess. Respect. ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes Vol 2 annual 2})
• Brave enough to try to hit Darkseid with a flying kick, though all it accomplishes is knocking himself out. ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes vol 2 #294})
• It's implied he somehow came back/will come back to life again, but this wasn't elaborated on because of the Flashpoint thanks Barry ^{(Legion of Super-Heroes vol 6 #6})
  • Time Trapper also foreshadowed this ^{(Action Comics 864})

I never thought I would ever enter one of these "Entitled" subreddits with a story of my own before, but apparently, the fates have decreed otherwise, for last week, I too, was blessed to be in the presence of a Karen. An EB. A whackjob. Whatever you want to call her.
The lady in question is someone whom I shall refer to, going forward, as "Hyacinth", mostly because she acts a LOT like Hyacinth Bucket from the Britcom "Keeping up Appearances". For those familiar with the TV show, why she has earned this moniker will soon become painfully obvious.
To continue...
I met Hyacinth about a year ago. Some friends and I were setting up a public exhibition, and I had volunteered to be one of the tour-guides, to explain said-exhibition to potential museum visitors, and guide them through the photographs, antiques, and other things that made up our display. One day, a friend texted me if I was free that Friday to meet-and-greet a group of people who were coming to see the exhibit. I said "yes".
Among this group was Hyacinth.
I did not at the time have any inkling of how bad this would get.
Fast forward about six months, then.
In the short time I've known her, a few things have become painfully obvious about Hyacinth - she loves - LOVES - LOOOVES (did I say 'loves'?) to talk about her family, her relatives, who she's related to, how she's related to them, why, what they do, how much they earn, how much they're worth, who else she knows, who her friends are, what they do, how much they earn, and how much they're worth. The words "Millionaire" and "Billionaire" pop up so often, you'd think you were reading the Forbes List. And she would talk about them for AGES - what should be a five-minute phone-call would turn into a 30 minute lecture about how well-connected she is.
For the most part, she was generally civil. She invited me out to meals with her friends, she asked me to tell them about myself...always, again, for some reason, with heavy emphasis on family history and connections and occupations and jobs and stuff. By now I had accepted that she was just weird, and eccentric and whatever. Takes all types, as they say, and I assumed that was it.
Something to know about the two of us is that we're both members of a local club. This club is a cultural club, dedicated to the promotion and preservation of our shared ethnic heritage. There's the main club, and then there's the smaller youth-group within the main club. Said youth-group is run by a friend, and we have a FB group. In this group we share videos, recipes, photos of food, family, friends, events we went to, or hosted, or participated in, and occasionally, historical stuff related to our culture - photographs, antiques, family heirlooms, and such-like.
The reason for this post is because of what happened about a week ago - in this group.
I had written a FB post about similar such organisations as our club, and a bit about their history, how they had formed, why, and where at. For visual interest, I'd added a photograph into the post, which was of the first-ever such club, at its formation, which was WELL OVER 100 years ago (our club doesn't go back that far!!).
I posted it in one group on FB and then shared it into the youth-group's FB group as well, and just...left it.
In a matter of a couple of hours, Hyacinth was attacking me on FB.
Which members of this photograph are my ancestors? Which ones are my relatives? Which ones are my family?? I told her none of them are - it's a historical photo in the public domain, it was relevant to what I was writing, it was relevant to our group, I shared it. End of story.
No, not good enough.
She immediately demanded to know by what right I shared this photograph, whether I'd asked anybody's permission, and why I hadn't contacted the descendants of the people in the photograph - which is WELL OVER 100 years old - 120+, to give you an idea.
I told her I had no idea how to do that, even if I had the names. She got furious and demanded I contact these people (how??) and ask their permission, or she would, and get me sued. She was also FURIOUS that I dared to share the photo in another group, which wasn't about our club, or culture, or heritage - and that I have NO RIGHT to do so!!
I'm like - that's my damn FB group - you don't have any right to tell me what I can or can't share in my own group. You don't get to dictate to me how I use my social media account.
But no, not good enough. She went on a diatribe that lasted two days, and a messenger diatribe that lasted at least two hours. Now she's threatening to send emails and screenshots and whatever, because I dared to share a public domain photograph, to some people who she says are SUPER RICH and SUPER INFLUENTIAL and SHE KNOWS THEM and THEY'LL SUE ME!!
Anyway, I reported her to our group-admin, who is my friend, who reported her to the club committee, citing harassment of a member as the reason.
The committee is currently in conference about this (and other incidents) surrounding Hyacinth - to decide what to do with her, finally, at long-last. According to my friend, Hyacinth has made loads of enemies, has done nothing but complain, has made outrageous suggestions to the club, and has attacked at least 2 or 3 other members - my incident is just the most recent one IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS!!
I'm waiting on my friend to provide an update about this, and if necessary, for me to provide evidence of the encounter.
My friend was shocked that this happened - and frankly, so was I - that Hyacinth was this aggressive about something which is REALLY a non-issue. We both agreed that any friendship that existed between us and her, was now fully, and completely dissolved.
Hyacinth is not going to like that - as I said - she's all about bragging and connections and who she knows and how famous they are...she's not going to like this at all. Especially if they kick her out of the club.

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Traveling is an opportunity to discover new places, but for many, it also offers the chance to give back and create meaningful connections with people and communities. Embarking on a volunteer adventure allows you to immerse yourself deeply in a new culture, making a lasting impact while finding your flock of like-minded travelers. Let's explore some incredible destinations where you can bloom as a social butterfly through impactful volunteer work.

And no one does that better than this man:
“Let me be clear,” he (Joe Biden) said, “we reject the ICC’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders. Whatever these warrants may imply, there’s no equivalence between Israel and Hamas. “What’s happening is not genocide.” He also accused the ICC of overstepping its authority. -Robert Tait, The Guardian
As Biden’s colleagues “grilled” Begin over Israel’s disproportionate use of force, including by targeting civilians with cluster bomb munitions, Begin said Biden “rose and delivered a very impassioned speech” defending the invasion. Begin said he was shocked at how passionately Biden supported Israel’s invasion when Biden “said he would go even further than Israel, adding that he’d forcefully fend off anyone who sought to invade his country, even if that meant killing women or children.” -Jeremy Scahill, The Intercept
The U.S. sees Israel as a critical “strategic ally” in the Middle East. During his recent meeting with Herzog, President Joe Biden repeated a line he famously said in 1986: “If there were not an Israel, we’d have to invent one.” -M. Muhannad Ayyash, The Conversation
"Biden's connection to Israel is deeply engrained in his political DNA," said Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator who served six secretaries of state in both Democratic and Republican administrations. "Whether he likes it or not, he's in the midst of a crisis he'll have to manage." When Joe Biden met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet during his visit to Israel, the U.S. president assured them: "I don't believe you have to be a Jew to be a Zionist, and I am a Zionist." -Jeff Mason & Patricia Zengerle, Reuters
I find all of these comments to be deeply disturbing. Not just because of how absurd and/or maniacal they are, but also because they highlight a problem within our political ecosystem, that's often ignored. The fact that there's more Zionists in the entire world from any given Christian congregation than there are Jewish people. In a country like the US where religiosity thrives as part of personal identity. It is no surprise that much of our politicians are devout Christians. And it's not just the Evangelical ones that are Zionists, oh no. Biden is a Catholic.
For these people, the bigger picture then becomes antisemitic End Times prophecies in which, above all else, they get to be in an eternal paradise. The same people that are meant to be wiped out according to their prophecy, that they don't like anyway --not really at least-- create lobbying groups and pay them money for things that already allign with your their twisted beliefs? Life's good.
And the Palestinians?
The world's third oldest church got bombed in Gaza? Every church in Gaza could get bombed.
Two nuns were shot dead by IDF soldiers while taking shelter within their place of worship? They can shoot two more for all they cared.
For Christian Zionists, Palestinian suffering isn't anywhere near being the focus. The Palestinians are outside of the frame.

Alright, so, Pagtatag era has concluded, and since then it's been a blast. Though, that is not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about being a fan of SB19 or simply being an A'tin, also liking something that is not simply your thing before and being a fan of boy/girlbands in general, and why it became popular. The most famous question about it is, how you became a fan, or why did you become a fan, right? Well, it's simple really, just like any other individual who likes something or someone. It is simply because you are amazed by it or by them. You are captivated.
So, let's get into boyband/girlbands. Before, there's Jackson 5, NKotB, Menudo, BSB, Hanson, Boyzone, TLC, Spice Girls, Nsync, Boyz II Men, Destiny's Child, Westlife, 98 Degress and many more (can't really list all of them and these are mostly western artists lol). They are an automatic hit to the public, but little did we know that they are ridiculed as well by most genres outside of them, at least that's what I know back then. However, since people did not really care about it, they just continued their thing. Fast forward to this day, it is evident that they are the main inspiration of modern pop genre for many boy/girlbands. What I really want to talk about here is, why is it easy to accept them before than modern boy/girlbands.
I'm a straight guy in my early 30s, I never liked any boy/girlbands before in my teenage and young adult years (early and mid 20s). I'm a metal head, as the popular term for it. I'm kind of a musician myself and on a band before. Our main genre of music is circled on hardcore punk/emo, alternative/hard rock, blues, progressive/heavy metal, smooth/blues jazz and sometimes classical etc (Incubus, Pearl Jam, Dream Theater, Alice in Chains, John Mayer, Weather Report, Rush, Stone Temple Pilots, Tool, Motorhead, Primus, and so on). I'm the typical guy who don't like that "cutesy music" in the early 2010s like Justin Bieber, One Direction or Miley Cyrus when they started. When Kpop became a thing here in our country (2006-2009), I've only liked one group (Wonder Girls) and never did like any groups after that. Though, I did not bad mouth them in any way, but I admit, I questioned its popularity. The thing is, during those days, I realize that I liked legacy boybands like BSB, Nsync, A1 and so on and compared that they are so much better. Back in the day, as I mentioned, those boybands are kind of ridiculed too in the underground music, here in the country because of their "Pa-pogi demeanor music" that is not very "masculine" at all.
Now, going back to the question, why is it easier to accept the music of boy/girlbands before, than now? Yes, BTS and One Direction almost conquered the music industry as successor to the genre, but that's just about it, and they are still ridiculed outside of their genre (I'm not a fan of them by the way). I never liked them, but I admire their talent just recently. Now, Ppop is rising though I can't really say steadily. SB19 and other Ppop groups is now doing all they can to up the music of OPM and introduce Ppop to international stage, but they are still ridiculed. I for one, is also being ridiculed by my peers just because I like them and the genre itself. Though, I don't really mind and actually won't talk about it to them often. One time, I've shown one of my former bandmate and friend a performance of SB19 from Rappler (Ilaw). The immediate thing he noticed is their style of fashion and said "ambaduy ng suot nila". I retaliated immediately as well, if you don't like their fashion, don't look at it and focus on their singing instead. He then admitted that they're good, but still feel that he's just being "nice" to me since we're friends. I'm not saying my friends are constantly teasing or insulting me for liking SB19. It's just that, I guess it is natural, since it is not my thing before.
So, why is it easier to accept the music of boy/girl bands before? I think it's simply because of the fact that people don't really give an F on what anyone is saying most of the times. Now, social media is everywhere, and you can share something very easily in just one click. You can stream/watch music anywhere. Just like what I heard from an interview, that the popularity of artists before are considered as the "legitimate one" because everything is manual and hard copied. No digital consummations of music/product and mostly are analog as the term for it.
Anyway, going back to SB19, I always tell myself that, SB19 are the "Jesus" of Ppop haha just because they are the ones who constantly received all derogatory talks and insults when they started. They are the ones who simply received the first ridicule in modern Ppop (kpop wannabee, pa-cute, gender insults, etc.) before Ppop has been officially recognized all over the country. Til today, they are still the subject of ridicule just because they're "pogi and cute". I mean, obviously, other groups still receive those typical insults, but they are the ones that is heavily receiving it even before they debut, but like I said, the same as Jesus, they are also the ones who salvaged the genre of Ppop and be recognized as OPM. In conclusion, as always, people only look the imperfection of something/someone, before checking it first, but I guess that is the beauty of it sometimes because we will see what can be improved from it. I admit, I'm still doing that as well. I guess, that is not in our control, as long as SB19 and other Ppop groups will do what needs to be done, time will only tell that Ppop and OPM is one that can rise exponentially in the music industry globally.
Thank you for going to my TEDxTalk lol..

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beauty
which i have now
fades so quick
i can’t even grasp it
actors and actresses
statues looking at you
only the garb changes
one of the strongest emerging social trends that arise as a consequence of increased longevity is a necessity to think about slowing cognitive decline in the over 50’s which means attention to diet and supplements, exercise , general fitness and "wear and tear", alcohol and drug consumption
my feeling is we are going to see sharp divides between subcultures in this respect and a lot of individual variation
also, a lot of the public health advice and cultural opinions are wrong minded or ill-informed, you have to do your own research and experimentation
a way of looking at the covid public health debacle (which continues despite the cardiovascular and cancer risks of boosters) was to trade off a reduced death rate in the elderly for an increased vaccine injury problem for the young
a verse by touzi on #3 of master fushan’s sixteen themes translated by suru
the death within life
birds clench the falling blossoms before the emerald cliffs, every word responds to conditions, spreading throughout — they ask of coming west, pointing to the cypress in the yard, but how could the passage through the lush mountain peaks be shut ?
活中死。鳥銜華落碧嵓前。對境皆言到處傳。人問西來指庭柏。豈關蒼翠嶺頭穿。
my reply:
what cannot be shut
is always open
but to avoid the common herd
it is disguised
why write things people understand ?
they just make your life a misery with their missionizing of a contrary view
to confuse them is better
they can’t target you
no "master"
except the claim
fantasies about reality
seek a center
its doesn’t exist
non-existence or otherwise
ed. zen is full of fake claims to authority by the appellation of "zen master", same with any religion and its "pooh-bahs"
that’s the trouble with writing
its lasts forever
so
necessarily
you are writing forever
i am appreciating the philosopher gilles deleuze more
the untranslated portion at the end goes
so you understand, when you have such an idea, the important is not to know whether it is true or false
the question is to know if it is important, if it is interesting, and if it is beautiful
and it is the same in science, it is the same in philosophy, you know
waterslipt
a furball
widening ripples on
the smooth surface
of a reflective river
a platypus
ed. i was having lunch at a clearing on the bank of the mersey river near the eastern end of bridle track road, the day was amazingly clear and windless and the river smooth and i noticed a platypus working its way feeding on the bottom to surface occasionally for breath then go back down again
this morning i serendipitously put on a shirt and trousers that "matched", i have always been sceptical of the concept, but since there are clothes that don’t match, there must be those that do match, though what constitutes the female sense of this, i still cannot fathom
the abdication of the duke of windsor was in fact a surface effect of a deeper political struggle, would britain become a client state of germany or would it resist ?
the outcome was not as obvious as you might think
taking actors as real
and a set as reality
is it any wonder
the dissembling mess
collapses ?
the circle of the contemporary
rubbish generating more rubbish
stay there at your own risk
sharing the same road for a while
but later
looking at the forks and branches
i realise
we are apart
inscribed on the tower at veneration monastery
in cold spring, a hundred-foot tower
i climb up alone, and then back down alone
who can manage such distances of the heart ?
david hinton
classical chinese poetry
the poet is tu mu (803 to 853 a.d.) with a bio on page 378 of the "classical chinese poetry" pdf link
definitely medieval with the mention of a functional tower
an interesting thing about frieda hughes is she did not have her mother’s talent, of course neither did ted
there is just a remarkable depth to sylvia plath’s work and this was despite all the obstacles, what genetic quirk created her or would , if her parents had more children, they have a similar talent ?
this prosaic world
because its written in prose of course
its not a poetic world
because its not written in poetry
if you take away the "zen master" or saint or prophet as an authority figure, what do you then have ?
Regulus replies:
People acceptant of the existent reality
my reply:
the monk asked zen master regulus "what is required to be enlightened" ?
zen master regulus replied "be accepting of existing reality"
the monk was left speechless
lee smolin doesn’t like jonathon oppemheim’s stochastic gravity approach
its interesting to watch lee talk with the constant gesticulatory body movements, almost tourette's, but he is using them to think, they are part of his cognition process
how simple is the world ?
its not that simple
and certainly not as simple as the way we view it to be
insight
takes you back
and obviates
some future lives
the brain
is
a
quantum
machine
words in a story
believable or unbelievable ?
don’t
be
fooled
.
words in a story
believable or unbelievable ?
don’t be fooled
so much knowledge
everywhere
each branch opens up exponentially
drowning in detail
its pursuer
i guess i have got so interested in hearts because of hunting and looking at them, in one animal, it beat for minutes cut out from the body; never seen any that had human like aging diseases
i think as a society we have lost touch with our own raw "viscerality", i hunt for my own meat; the killing, butchering and eating does bring one back in touch with that, the commonality with our homonin history
heart and lungs animation
the number of people who have no understanding of what even moderate levels of drinking does to their lives and long term health
you have won the existential lottery where the odds are so small of winning, no number covers it and to chip away at brain function with drugs and alcohol like that . . .
you want to experiment with doing some translation yourself with google and you will realise how its possible to construct almost any sense out of the chinese, its actually not meaningful to do any commentary without going back to the chinese, the variance is so large, translators follow their own biases to create a narrative that suits them
“ continuous as the stars that shine and twinkle on the milky way ”
wordsworth’s famous poem which he wrote based on notes by his sister dorothy was in effect co-authored by her
strangers to me
thirty years of no contact
exile speaks
of unwanted distance
.
strangers to me
thirty years of no contact
exile speaks
unwanted distance
ed. looking at a photo of my sister, niece and brother in law who are all very much changed since i last saw them notions of exile are not common in western literature, but are certainly there in the chinese
lost roads
can’t be recovered
what we have travelled
always
takes us
to
a different place
i love a sotherby’s auction , vast sums spent for my entertainment, all free, it don’t get slicker, a living made from networking skills and being personable
i was about to go negative on the painting by lucy bull, but on looking further i quite like her work
you have to be careful, auctioneers like these can talk the money out of your wallet
xu qiyao’s advice to his son on being successful in CCP politics
“ the path of understanding requires objectivity and experience ”
ed. the above is my reworking of the first lines of the xinxin ming which, amongst its more "normal" translations is
“ the great way is not difficult, just avoid picking and choosing ”
the xinxin ming is an abridged version of the mind inscription
心性不生何須知見
“ reality is either itself or not. is there any point to understanding this ? ”
ed. my translation of the first line of the "mind inscription"
"don’t interrupt your enemy when he’s making a mistake" — napoleon
i think in the context of divorce , what people find difficult is the necessity of switching to the extreme mindset of being at war and all that entails because that is what is immediately required
billie and finneas o’connell discuss how they created the "what am i made for" song for the film "barbie"
“ Dr. Raszek provides insights from his participation in a comprehensive review concerning the utilization of synthetic uridines in mRNA vaccines (ed. covid) and their potential implications for cancer development
The discussion delves into the intricate mechanisms that could be at play, exploring how these synthetic components might inadvertently suppress the body's innate immune system, induce frameshifting phenomena, and contribute to the production of IgG4 antibodies, all of which could potentially influence cancer growth ”
my comment
i think we can expect an upsurge in cancers, especially amongst the elderly as a result of the misguidedly intensive "booster" campaign, though it may take a while to show
the forward momentum
of habituation
leading
to
habits
that
become
unbreakable
the fallacy of "negation"
its not this, its not that
but its what its not
negation is a stylised buddhist rhetorical technique, nāgārjuna of course and you get it in dogen, they’ll say something then walk it back through its negation
but having walked it forwards, there is a sense in which it can’t be walked back or it could not be walked forwards another way of putting it is there is no ontological unity, everything is constantly splitting apart
zen masters and the authority they carry are literary constructs
buddha is a literary construct
jesus, muhammad and moses are literary constructs
the egyptian book of the dead is a literary construct
does it bother you that your advice is so bad ?
no
the blindness of narcissism

Hello again everybody!
Before we get started on today's post the current voting for Alolan-Decidueye currently has B tier votes in a battle with the Abstaining votes. While doing these next few votes in an effort to get through all the traditional starters unless Abstaining votes end up winning out by a decisive margin (like twice as many as the most votes for any single tier) we will tier the Pokemon into the tier that has the highest amount of votes as opposed to putting them off until later.
So with that being said we will put Alolan-Decidueye into B tier for the time being. Like with all previous votes I'll continue to check the numbers and if anything changes I'll update it on tomorrow's post.
(Please note that this voting/tiering is centered around Classic as after a certain point in Endless only about 5 Pokemon and 2 abilities are truly viable.)
So current tiers are:
S tier - Garganacl, Cloyster, Skeledirge, Gholdengo, Tinkaton
A tier - Gyarados/Mega, VenusauMega/Dyna, Aegislash, Corviknight/Dyna, Excadrill, GardevoiMega, Toxapex, ScizoMega, GengaMega/Dyna, Delphox
B tier - Kanto-Persian/Dynamax Kanto-Meowth, Weavile, Starmie, Rhyperior, Quagsire, Mamoswine, Whimsicott, Aggron/Mega, Infernape, Alolan-Decidueye
C tier - Linoone
F tier - Dustox
With that being said let's get to today's vote!
Today is day 34 of tier voting and today we begin the gauntlet of getting through the rest of the traditional starters that we haven't voted on yet (for the moment we will skip over Charizard, as well as Greninja and Meowscarada since they have abilities that aren't yet implemented which will likely effect how well they do in the game). So that brings us to Blastoise as well as its Mega and Dynamax Evolved forms! Blastoise is the bulkiest of the Gen 1 starters at the tradeoff of having the worst attacking stats out of the 3. This combines well with being a pure Water type as Water only has 2 weaknesses and 4 resistances giving it good survivability even in its base form. Its Hidden Ability is somewhat niche but good on a Rain team or when trekking through the game's various Water-based biomes. All 3 of its forms are a bit slow but it is able to remedy this through natural access to one of the best boosting moves in the game in Shell Smash. Its Mega form greatly improves its mediocre attacking stats and also boosts its already good bulk even further while it's Dynamax form goes the full-on bulky wall route while also boosting its attack stats somewhat. It has a very good movepool for its Mega form, made even better by the addition of this game's Egg Move choices for it. Its Passive Ability is somewhat famous in Endless but maybe a little more situational in Classic mode (which is what these votes are centered around), it does allow it to guarantee a Shell Smash and survive however which is always useful in its own right.
(Please note that Pokemon with Mega/Dynamax evolutions will be tiered as one Pokemon and not tiered separately for their Mega/Dynamax form. Different variants such as Alolan Persian vs. Kanto Persian will be tiered separately however.)
(Also here is the post with rules for voting/tiering posts and a little more explanation about them in general: https://www.reddit.com/pokerogue/s/0LNZhPPzR9 Links to past votes can all be found here as well in comments added to the OP with each new vote)
And here is a quick reminder of what each tier generally means:
S tier: Top tier, can make or break your entire run, essentially the cream of the crop
A tier: really strong but not quite top tier, maybe slightly outclassed or has a slight weakness holding it back
B tier: solid choices that can make it to your endgame team, might be reliant on team composition to truly function well or might just be outclassed as well
C tier: usually early-mid game Mons, ones you don't really want to take to end game if you can avoid it, usually pretty decently glaring weakness but something redeeming enough to keep from F tier
F tier: no reason to use in end game unless you're doing it for a meme/joke
Abstain/No Opinion: this will be a voting option mostly just for Pokemon people haven't unlocked/used to their full potential yet. If Abstaining votes outvote each individual tier then the Pokemon will be tabled for the time being and another vote will open up for it later (can mostly see this happening with Legendaries).
(Data in parentheses is for Mega Blastoise) [Data in brackets is for Dynamax Blastoise]
*
Blastoise (Mega) [Dynamax]
Type: Water
Mega: Yes
Dynamax: Yes
Starter cost {Squirtle}: 3
Possible Egg moves: Ice Beam, Dark Pulse, Origin Pulse, Bouncy Bubble
Abilities: Torrent (Mega Launcher) [Torrent]
Hidden Ability: Rain Dish (Mega Launcher) [Rain Dish]
Passive Ability: Sturdy - this Pokemon can not be knocked out from full HP by a single attack, it is also immune to OHKO moves
Evolution: Squirtle evolves into Wartortle at level 16. Wartortle evolves into Blastoise at level 36. Blastoise can Mega Evolve with Mega Bracelet and Blastoisinite. Blastoise can Dynamax with Dynamax Bracelet and Max Mushrooms.
Base stats:
HP - 79 (79) [100]
Attack - 83 (103) [95]
Defense - 100 (120) [130]
Sp. Attack - 85 (135) [105]
Sp. Defense - 105 (115) [125]
Speed - 78 (78) [75]
Learnset by level up: Tackle, Tail Whip, Water Gun, Withdraw, Rapid Spin, Bite, Water Pulse, Protect, Rain Dance, Aqua Tail, Shell Smash, Iron Defense, Hydro Pump, Wave Crash, Flash Cannon
Notable TMs: Chilling Water, Dig, Brick Break, Zen Headbutt, Body Slam, Ice Punch, Rock Slide, Rest, Sleep Talk, Body Press, Crunch, Liquidation, Aura Sphere, Dragon Pulse, Surf, Ice Spinner, Helping Hand, Hydro Pump, Blizzard, Earthquake, Focus Blast, Haze, Weather Ball, Flip Turn, Muddy Water, Whirlpool, Scald, Outrage, Waterfall, Swagger, Double Team, Brine
*
Tomorrow's vote: Meganium!
Pokemon on the radar for voting very soon: Flygon, Leavanny, Gallade/Mega, Comfey, Araquanid, Crobat, Malamar, Ferrothorn, Walrein, Gliscor, Roserade, Vileplume, Minior, Hitmonchan, Bibarel, Chandelure, Archaludon/Dynamax Duraludon, Alakazam/Mega, Flamigo, Volcarona, Barbaracle, Butterfree/Dyna, Beedrill/Mega, Mawile/Mega, Drednaw/Dyna, Annihilape, Cramorant, Aerodactyl/Mega, Glimmora, Heatran, Tapu Koko, Dialga/Primal, Galarian-Zapdos, Regieleki, Regidrago, Zacian, Zamazenta, Rayquaza/Mega, Latias/Mega, Latios/Mega, Ho-Oh, Volcanion, Toxtricity/Dyna, Carbink, Porygon-Z, Cinccino, Snorlax/Dyna, Wishiwashi
(Other requests will be added to this list and this list is not necessarily in order)
Happy voting!
View Poll

In case anyone else with an upper beginner to intermediate reading level is struggling to find good Russian books they can actually read, I just wanted to give my recommendation for this one. It's by Ilf & Petrov, who are probably most famous for Двенадцать Стульев, but it's non-fiction so much easier for a learner - it's basically a travelogue, describing their journey across 1930s America.
If you're more towards the beginner level, like me, you'll probably have to look up a lot of words, but not so many that it stops being enjoyable. The sentence structure is mostly not too complex (if you understand all the words you'll almost always understand the sentence, which has not been the case for some of the novels I've tried so far!) And the authors are describing their daily life in America so you'll learn loads of useful vocabulary for things like furniture, food, buildings etc. There's also an English translation called Little Golden America if you want to read them side by side, although as I haven't read it I don't know whether the translation is good or not.
It's very funny in parts, and the humour comes across even if you can't understand the language perfectly. It's also just quite charming to listen to people from the 1930s marvelling at exotic things like cafeterias with tomato juice :) I'm only about 50 pages in but I'm really enjoying it so far.
If anyone has any other recommendations for books at a similar reading level I'd love to hear them!

I love scarlett johansen. She's by far one of my favorite actors. Nevertheless, I don't see her ;p having a case against open AI.
What I think this is about is more the notion that artists want to protect themselves against AI period. That's probably more justifiable. However, in my opinion she may do more harm than good.
How do you prosecute in her favor with something so unclear to the line.
Probably 100 people could come out and say their voice sound like a voice similar to ScarJo.
Are they less entitled because they're not famous?
It barely sounds like ScarJo at that. Yes it's similar but it's not a pure clone.
Also, as a side note how many times can Microsoft keep screwing up the best voice of all which is cortana.
Please openai just use cortana and the whole world would love you for it. If there's a superhuman ai that will lead from a sure AI death we need it to be Cortana /s
No seriously, I just want cortana.
But again, any AI voice is going to sound like someone. I don't feel fake makes your voice better than anyone else's.
Now, for music or movies use of another persons voice would be very wrong and I wouldn't agree with that. But if we have Humonoids one of the obvious features is going to be my favorite celebrates voice.
Like Madden, they're going to get a licensing deal and just do it.
If openai charged me extra money to use a more authentic ScarJo voice and I wanted it id pay for it regarding consumer use only. Not commercial or any other usage rights. Yea, I'd pay for that.
I feel like she's complaining about nothing and should've taken the deal.
Like black widow and marvel she's probably going to lose one too.

For starters I'll present Dr. Eshwar Mestec
Eshwar Mestec, a pioneering mind turned corrupt
Eshwar Mestec, a visionary ahead of his time, dreamt of unraveling the mysteries of Evergreen's origins. However, studying the world was a forbidden pursuit in his youth. So he waited, patiently enduring centuries of societal disapproval until finally, in 349AGE, curiosity bloomed. Eshwar seized this opportunity, embarking on groundbreaking research.
His brilliance shone through in his first project: investigating the properties of Aletine, the enigmatic gem. After 125 years, he presented his findings to Steffy and The One Hundred, garnering widespread acclaim. This success propelled him to publish numerous books and, centuries later, contribute to the creation of Evergreen's first encyclopedia in 678AGE. He even collaborated with Yeori Hetrayo on longevity research.
The origins of the obsession
Eshwar's crowning achievement arrived around 2000AGE. He discovered the Gray Realm, a hidden dimension defying existence for millennia. Not only did he unearth this realm, but he also devised a method for retrieving the dead and lost from within it. This accomplishment, however, came at a terrible cost. Years of relentless study bordering on obsession drove him to near-madness and inexplicably extended his lifespan, perhaps due to prolonged exposure to Dark Matter. When he published his document on the Gray Realm at the age of 4786, speculation swirled about the cause of his extended life.
Descent into darkness, the 7676AGE disaster
By 7676AGE, Eshwar's brilliance had morphed into a dangerous fixation. Obsessed with replicating Aletine to create a cheaper alternative, he amassed funding for millennia and established his own lab. Here, his focus turned to the rumored properties of the purple and orange heatherberry. In a ruthless act, he stole a staggering amount, over 70,000 berries, from the Gatosi farm, devastating their livelihood. After returning to his laboratory he went on a rampage successfully kidnapping over 60 people from various towns in the kingdom. His descent into madness culminated in the kidnapping of over 60 people, including a guard from the revered Steffy's Mansion, a previously unthinkable act.
These unfortunate souls were held captive for a horrific six years as Eshwar subjected them to his twisted experiments. Yeori Hetrayo broke under the thought of so many people being kept captives as guinea pigs for Eshwar’s horrific expirements. Yeori went to Steffy himself and reported her findings of Dr.Eshwar’s human experiments. At first Steffy didn’t believe a word considering how Eshwar was the brightest man in the kingdom and the oldest too, hence the wisest. Yeori brought even more evidence, including the dismembered remains of a 8 year old girl that Eshwar had kidnapped when she was only 2 years old, photos depicting Eshwar covered in blood holding the red hot remains of a young man aged around 19. The king had no choice but to send a highly militarized squadron of the best trained Aletinians to arrest Eshwar and stop him from torturing even more people. A 3 day long siege was launched on his laboratory and the surrounding villages were reduced to ruins as the brilliant scientist had managed to fully equip his laboratory with weapons that the Aletinian guard could not hold back against. By the end of it 58 people perished in the siege and a further 3765 were injured. The main cause for these civilian deaths was the use of biochemical weapons and Dark Matter energized weapons that Eshwar had created prototypes of. When the guards finally got a hold of Eshwar he was nowhere near who he used to be 6 years prior. He was eventually sent to the lowest quarters of Steffy’s Mansion and subjected to solitary confinement and mental torture to reconstruct his ravaged mind. After 5 years of the torture he was classified as perfectly sane and was released back into society to continue his studies. But not only his mental state was affected during those 5 years, his physical body was almost completely destroyed. During the siege he had lost both an arm and a leg and over the course of the 5 years his physical state was deteriorating. A famous quote from Yeori Hetrayo says “he looked like a living mummy, a sort of shell of what he used to be, slowly being turned into dust with a body so thin that veins looked like worms crawling throughout him and a skin so ghostly pale that it could rival even the whitest Heatherlean snow”. A brilliant mind was forever tainted. He now resides in Azalea, a shell of his former self.

I'm rereading Savage Detectives for the 3rd time. I'm almost at the end. This reread has been very heavy and resonant for me. Savage Detectives and 2666 have been my favorite novels since I read them for the first time.
I'm ever more aware of time passing. I was 23 when I first encountered the book. I was a young writer (or at least a young man with literary ambitions). I imagined a whole career ahead of me. Now I'm 34 and have given my life to writing, which has led to endless pain and grief. I still write though. I write more than ever. I've never loved writing more. I've never been more confident in my life as a writer, even as it's broken me over and over. I've been working on my first novel for the last three years and draw no small inspiration from Bolaño.
My life has spiraled out like a slow-motion hurricane with people coming and going, me coming and going, connecting so deeply and meaningfully with people and then never seeing them again, rubbing elbows with some of the most famous and talented artists you can think of, and having all this fall apart or drift away or come to mean nothing beyond just another chapter in my story. I've experienced life that now in a way I hadn't yet 23. I've lived through (and continue living through) the disappointments of heartbreak, failure, death, foolishness, and chaos courted by my artistic life. In many ways I'm terribly diminished. In other ways I've gained so much. I have no idea how it will tally up. And I doubt I ever will. I think that's what Savage Detectives is about.
When I was younger I thought the dogged pursuit of creative aspirations was glamorous and poetic. Now I understand there is very little poetry in it outside the kind you create. Your best friends can end up strangers. Your world can grow to be both bigger than you can ever imagine and degraded to the point of nothingness. Writers endure a loneliness and alienation so unbearable and encompassing, it took Bolaño 648 (translated) pages to render it properly. At this point, I've never felt more lost. The weight of it all seems to increase over time. It accumulates. I still write though.
With Savage Detectives, Bolaño is saying something about the possibilities of literature. It might be something. I don't know. I'm meeting old friends in Mexico City this weekend. I've never been. So I don't know if it's cliche to end my post by saying something like: Even if I make it home, I know I'll still be lost. But that's cliche, right? It might be something.

Hey everyone , i hope yell are having a great day and making sure to hydrate yourself in the rising heat. Well to introduce myself , I'm an international student here at Georgian college , and as most of u must have guessed , i am an Indian , south Indian to be more specific. Anyway my point of this post is to try something. Just like almost all the students I'm also broke and in need of money ,the place where i work no longer gives me much shifts as they used to , and if i get any shifts they put me in the worst department which is a very hard labor focused department . I am also got my fees to pay for the 3rd and 4th semesters. I was thinking about selling something i cook . I am a culinary student with a passion for cooking and making people happy with my food so trust me when i say I'm good in a kitchen . I was thinking about selling 2 of my best dishes . both of them are Indian dishes , south Indian dishes to be specific .
1) Chicken biriyani
2) Ghee rice and chicken stew
for now those 2 are the dishes and I'm charging both 15 dollars per portion. both these dishes are going to be south Indian
Biriyani is a rice dish with soft and slow cooked chicken , ill also be making it in a special way exclusive to the south of India , called Dum , its a process where the half cooked chicken and the half cooked rice is packed in an air tight pot and is cooked under very low heat . the Dum process adds more flavor and texture to the rice and chicken unlike the non-Dum versions.
Ghee rice and chicken stew is another famous dish in south India , its basically Rice pilaf with ghee and and chicken stew is a type of stew with coconut milk . the creamy texture of chicken makes it very delicious and a great combination with any sort of breads.
For those who wants to know , Im from a state called Kerala and in that state im from a city called Calicut which is very famous for the wide variety of cuisines . I hope you guys can support me and get me some orders . I was thinking distributing the orders on 30th of may , so ill be taking orders till 29th of may. You can reach out to me through DM or by leaving a comment and i will personally DM you , im really active on reddit , ill reply ASAP. The dishes will be cooked and distributed fresh on 30th between noon and evening . I would really appreciate your help . i hope everyone have a good day, peace.
PS: all the money i make from this will be used to either pay my tuition fee or pay my credit bill , i promise you i wont misuse the money like on drugs or alcohol.

Ahoy Mateys! It is time for the 5th #letswriteamystery thread, Nancy Drew and the Curse of the Arctic Star, an adaption of the ND Diaries. If you are not familiar with these collaborative mysteries, I write a basic story and post chapters every Monday, each chapter has a poll at the end and you just comment if you want A, B, or C. You could even write in your own option if you feel like it. You have all week to vote, and then whatever option gets the most is used in the story! For the sake of clarity, I will post this week's chapter, and last weeks chapter in case you missed it. There are usually about 10 chapters total, so buckle up for a couple months of fun. Let's set sail on adventure!
NDARCTICSTAR #Titanic
“Dear Hannah,
Thanks to a client of my father, Becca White, my friends and I are off on a transatlantic journey of a lifetime! She works for Arctic Star Line, owned by an eccentric billionaire named Clive Parker whose passion project is finally coming to fruition, a full scale replica of the Titanic. Her maiden voyage is the most exclusive cruise in the world, and will have all sorts of famous celebrities and important people in attendance as we sail across the Atlantic, from New York City to Southampton and Belfast. Guests can dine on items from the original menu, enjoy a 5-piece band performing the set list of the doomed musicians before them, and sail to the site where so many souls were lost for a tasteful ceremony, hopefully returning unscathed to the Titanic’s port of origin. Becca assures me it has fully modern safety measures in place and there will be no iceberg. But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing, after a series of mishaps that have delayed the launch for several years, Becca is worried something very real is cursing this ship, and has asked my friends and I to go undercover and make sure nothing happens on her maiden voyage. Will she be doomed to the depths, like her namesake? Or sail off into the horizon, unscathed? Off I go, on an adventure through time. Bon voyage!
🚢🚢🚢 🌅🌅🌅 🧊🧊🧊

I am a 31 year old man, I have a good job I make 90k a year at a civil engineering firm, I got the job without a college degree. I'm on a roadmap for upper management there, I do very well at my job. That's all I really have going for me. I don't manage my money well so even as a single guy renting a small place with the 90k in a small college town I am broke all the time. I weigh 285lbs at 6'2" and am already having health problems from my weight and have to take blood pressure medication. I've never had a long term relationship (I have had short ones, not a total beginner). I smoke. I drink on the weekends with friends. I don't get good sleep. I sometimes see the worst in people, I can be very judgmental. When I get angry I say things to people I shouldn't, including people I really care about. The only place I feel competent is at work frankly. I've basically skated by through life with very little effort by just relying on my natural talents which are really only relevant at my job. I'm a programmer and a project manager who leads large conference calls, I'm good at solving little logic problems like the ones that exist in programming and I'm good in meetings I express myself well and can argue with clients or other firms effectively and respectfully and don't really get nervous about talking. My personal life is a mess and sometimes I'd rather just be at work all the time where I am rewarded for being kind of a hard-ass and writing code to solve some problems. Unlike in my personal life I am praised and rewarded at work even though I am just relying on my natural talents there. I wish I had the tenacity and endurance and discipline I see others have in their life. Life is more than just being good at your job, especially when you didn't even work hard to be good at it. I wish I could be kinder, have more compassion for others, take care of my physical health, find a long term romantic relationship, get my finances in order, stuff like that. I want to have kids, I want a wife, I want to afford vacations and a home. I want to know what it's like to be physically fit for once. I want to have more sex and be good at it. I want to learn another language. I want to read more books. I want to live my fucking life, like really live ya know? And I'm not. I'm not asking to be rich and famous, I'm not asking to become a genius. I'm not asking to be remembered when I'm gone. I just want a fulfilling life like everyone else on this rock.
Over the years, ever since I was probably 18 years old till now, I have tried every trick in the book. The X Effect, Atomic Habits, Goleman's "Emotional intelligence", Marc Manson, Cal Newport, Wayne Dyer, habit trackers like TickTick, alarms on my phone, visual reminders all over my house to eat well, take care of myself, blah blah blah. Personal trainers, therapy, drugs like wellbutrin and vyvanse, meditation, journaling, and much more. If there's some self-help thing out there for getting disciplined I've tried it. I have never really once showed up for myself in life. The only times I've worked especially hard is if I'm on a team, if others are relying on my output. I won't put out shitty work, I really won't, and I will stay late or work at home into the wee hours if there are others relying on my output. One of my big goals is I should go finish my college degree so I can make more money but the discipline required to do that while working I know I simply do not have.
I'm kind of looking for anything, any stories any hope from anyone. I am already 31 I feel like if I was going to get it together I would have by now. My performance at work will only get me so far in life, I can't totally rely on it and let it be my only source of pride and happiness. I will end up at 55 single and alone and yea they might pay me super well by then and I'll be some bigshot at the office but I'll be the guy staying late every night because I never made a family, never made my own life outside of work - and I'll be dying early because I never lost the weight, never stopped smoking, never stopped drinking. I can see all this happening now. I want to change but everytime I try to change, a few days in I break. I give myself excuses, or re-frame the problem in such a way that I can have the cheeseburger or go buy a pack of smokes or be late on my car payment or not download the dating apps or not go for a walk or to the gym. I can always think my way around it and justify not doing it in my head. I say shit like: "Tomorrow will be a better day to start the diet because you didn't sleep well your willpower is low today" or "You have like 4 meetings today there is no way you should hit the gym before work you will be too tired towards the end of the day when you really need your brain" or "have some compassion for yourself we approached this all wrong go ahead and buy a pack of cigarettes and we will come up with a more reasonable plan than going cold turkey we will make a plan to stop smoking over time we'll do it tomorrow night" - I can always tell myself some bullshit story or some bullshit lie or I can be having an emotional moment that just overrides everything and I just do whatever the fuck I want to do regardless of my true wants, needs, goals, responsibilities. I'm 31 years old like I said a bunch of times, it's not funny anymore it's getting sad and scary and I am starting to have little hope for the future. I think dark thoughts, sometimes.
Any help or stories are greatly appreciated, thanks for reading.

I am a 31 year old man, I have a good job I make 90k a year at a civil engineering firm, I got the job without a college degree. I'm on a roadmap for upper management there, I do very well at my job. That's all I really have going for me. I don't manage my money well so even as a single guy renting a small place with the 90k in a small college town I am broke all the time. I weigh 285lbs at 6'2" and am already having health problems from my weight and have to take blood pressure medication. I've never had a long term relationship (I have had short ones, not a total beginner). I smoke. I drink on the weekends with friends. I don't get good sleep. I sometimes see the worst in people, I can be very judgmental. When I get angry I say things to people I shouldn't, including people I really care about. The only place I feel competent is at work frankly. I've basically skated by through life with very little effort by just relying on my natural talents which are really only relevant at my job. I'm a programmer and a project manager who leads large conference calls, I'm good at solving little logic problems like the ones that exist in programming and I'm good in meetings I express myself well and can argue with clients or other firms effectively and respectfully and don't really get nervous about talking. My personal life is a mess and sometimes I'd rather just be at work all the time where I am rewarded for being kind of a hard-ass and writing code to solve some problems. Unlike in my personal life I am praised and rewarded at work even though I am just relying on my natural talents there. I wish I had the tenacity and endurance and discipline I see others have in their life. Life is more than just being good at your job, especially when you didn't even work hard to be good at it. I wish I could be kinder, have more compassion for others, take care of my physical health, find a long term romantic relationship, get my finances in order, stuff like that. I want to have kids, I want a wife, I want to afford vacations and a home. I want to know what it's like to be physically fit for once. I want to have more sex and be good at it. I want to learn another language. I want to read more books. I want to live my fucking life, like really live ya know? And I'm not. I'm not asking to be rich and famous, I'm not asking to become a genius. I'm not asking to be remembered when I'm gone. I just want a fulfilling life like everyone else on this rock.
Over the years, ever since I was probably 18 years old till now, I have tried every trick in the book. The X Effect, Atomic Habits, Goleman's "Emotional intelligence", Marc Manson, Cal Newport, Wayne Dyer, habit trackers like TickTick, alarms on my phone, visual reminders all over my house to eat well, take care of myself, blah blah blah. Personal trainers, therapy, drugs like wellbutrin and vyvanse, meditation, journaling, and much more. If there's some self-help thing out there for getting disciplined I've tried it. I have never really once showed up for myself in life. The only times I've worked especially hard is if I'm on a team, if others are relying on my output. I won't put out shitty work, I really won't, and I will stay late or work at home into the wee hours if there are others relying on my output. One of my big goals is I should go finish my college degree so I can make more money but the discipline required to do that while working I know I simply do not have.
I'm kind of looking for anything, any stories any hope from anyone. I am already 31 I feel like if I was going to get it together I would have by now. My performance at work will only get me so far in life, I can't totally rely on it and let it be my only source of pride and happiness. I will end up at 55 single and alone and yea they might pay me super well by then and I'll be some bigshot at the office but I'll be the guy staying late every night because I never made a family, never made my own life outside of work - and I'll be dying early because I never lost the weight, never stopped smoking, never stopped drinking. I can see all this happening now. I want to change but everytime I try to change, a few days in I break. I give myself excuses, or re-frame the problem in such a way that I can have the cheeseburger or go buy a pack of smokes or be late on my car payment or not download the dating apps or not go for a walk or to the gym. I can always think my way around it and justify not doing it in my head. I say shit like: "Tomorrow will be a better day to start the diet because you didn't sleep well your willpower is low today" or "You have like 4 meetings today there is no way you should hit the gym before work you will be too tired towards the end of the day when you really need your brain" or "have some compassion for yourself we approached this all wrong go ahead and buy a pack of cigarettes and we will come up with a more reasonable plan than going cold turkey we will make a plan to stop smoking over time we'll do it tomorrow night" - I can always tell myself some bullshit story or some bullshit lie or I can be having an emotional moment that just overrides everything and I just do whatever the fuck I want to do regardless of my true wants, needs, goals, responsibilities. I'm 31 years old like I said a bunch of times, it's not funny anymore it's getting sad and scary and I am starting to have little hope for the future. I think dark thoughts, sometimes.
Any help or stories are greatly appreciated, thanks for reading.