I’ve been on this sub for about a 1.5 months now and, honestly, I’m forever grateful for it. The advice, stories and genuine support have guided me on journey.
However, the one thing that has helped me the most, was remembering who I am with a relationship, good or bad. It seems a lot of us have lost sight of ourselves while catering to the needs of our ex. They never respected or appreciated that effort; which brings me to my next point:
I think we have to stop feeling sorry for ourselves, pick our asses back up and move forward. Our exes don’t care and neither should we. Contrary to some of the wisdom on this sub, branching out to new potential partners has greatly helped. I’m not saying sleep around but honestly get the fuck out there. I had one bad experience my initial attempt but I was honest with that person and we’re still communicating. I’ve other’s I’m talking with as well. It makes a world of difference. Be hones but not overly bearing, be slow.
Secondly, share your story with close friends. Don’t bottle that shit up. Express it but then be done. Shit happens.
P.S. I had a great night at the local pub 🤷‍♂️

“God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe say, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God say, "No, " Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want Abe, but
Next time you see me comin', you better run"
Abe said, "Where do you want this killin' done?"
God said, "Out on Highway 61"
The radio, a martyr’s relic from a bygone era, sounded half as faded as I was.
I reeked of vodka and middy weed. I didn’t care. This lonely stretch of highway belonged to no one as far as I was concerned, and you gambled taking the curves in the dark.
It was your fault if you choose to gamble with me. Least, that’s the way I saw it.
Texas felt so far away.
“Well, Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene
He goes to the reservation, drinks and gets mean
And he's gonna start a war
He's gonna start a warrrrrr
And he hops in his pickup
Puts his pedal to the floor
And says, "I got mine
But I want more"
Because Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene
He goes to the reservation, drinks and gets mean
He goes to the desert, fires his rifle in the sky
And says, "God, if I have to die, you will have to die"
I hacked up what felt like part of a lung. My hand was stained, the oxidized rust of old blood mixed with a fresh coat of red, a fresco that highlighted a life poorly lived.
Wait.
What happened to Bob Dylan?
Or was it Johnny Cash?
Wasn’t I just listening…
Gaps in time. I prayed I hadn’t taken the ketamine.
That was for later.
If you want proof time is just a strongly worded opinion, just slip into a k-hole.
That was for later.
My eyelids felt heavy.
There were no stars.
Endless pines, only shadowy outlines in the dark, still cover for the night’s starving predators, were all I could make out.
I just guessed at where the road kinked and turned and straightened.
I was playing a game with God, and I wanted to lose.
I wanted us all to lose.
“Dance, Dance to the radio
While the, Devil takes control,
Dance, Dance to the radio,
While the, Devil takes control…”
The warm hug of oblivion, a feeling like endless cookies and Saturday morning cartoons, began slipping its infinite arms around me.
Come and See, and I saw.
It was still the witching hour when I woke with a startled gasp. I could feel the claws of need, withdrawal, dragging up my arms, burrowing into my skin, making the back of my eyeballs vibrate.
Every day the need grew stronger, and every day, I killed off a little bit more of me.
One is too many, and a thousand is never enough.
I was in a ditch.
This wasn’t new or news. I tended to wake up in a lot of ditches. Beats Motel 6. Fewer roaches and you could smoke in every room.
My truck wouldn’t start.
Not even the wheezing gasps of a machine trying to cling to artificial life. Just a click and utter silence.
The battery couldn’t be dead. I checked my watch.
5:55 A.M.
I figured I’d tried to hit the eternal snooze button around 3 A.M. It had only been a few hours. Battery should be fine.
A cursory inspection showed no external damage. No blown tires, no misbegotten wires or missing spark plugs. Hell, it seemed like I’d just slowly cruised into this dark little corner of the universe.
It was as though the truck just gave up the ghost and said, "I’m done." The thirsty horse dropping to the ground in an endless desert, done with the death march.
I bear crawled up the small ravine and onto the highway.
A generous term for a lonely road in whatever the Hell backwater burg America had shit out here.
All I could see were outlines in the dark.
Fitting, I thought.
And then an explosion stole my vision.
Let there be light.
And there was.
And it was good.
Especially good.
Because it was a bar.
A ramshackle of a spot, dive joint meets biker meth hangout, from the looks of it, and it was just powering up.
Shit, if you couldn’t drink on Sunday morning, were we really free? Were we really God’s children at all?
I started ambling toward the light, my eyes adjusting to the deep gloom.
“The Man from Capernaum.”
Hell of a name for a spot in the middle of BFE.
Hell of a name.
Hell.
Hell, I needed a drink.
My watch read 6 a.m. but it was 5 o’clock somewhere, and this place had electricity buzzing it had to pay for and didn’t much strike me as the sort of establishment that probably saw the law as anything more than a nuisance.
I sauntered up to the door, my black boots clicking loudly against the rotten wooden porch.
Into the lion’s den we go.
Unsurprisingly, it was empty as a church on Friday night. Why kill the Son if you can’t have the sin, after all?
But it was unlocked and music was softly crooning from somewhere.
“As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that Good Ol’ Way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way”
Fantastic. No bartender and proselyting in a shit joint. That’s just what my migraine and itchy skin called for.
I considered hopping the bar and grabbing a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, but this struck me as a place where your head might become acquainted with a shotgun right quick and nobody would kick up much fuss.
I was going out, a lamb among wolves, but on my terms. I’d had enough violence. I wanted to feel the void swallow me whole, not feel a hole swallow my head.
Plopping down on an empty stool, I risked lighting up a smoke. Certainly they wouldn’t get bent out of shape over a cowboy killer or two.
And shit, who was there to kick up dirt anyway? A ghost town without the spirits, save the ones just behind the bar and out of reach.
The tantalizing fruit in the garden.
God, I need a cold one, now.
“Till armageddon no shalam, no shalom
Then the Father Hen will call His chickens home
The wise man will bow down before the throne
And at His feet they'll cast their golden crowns
When The Man comes around”
The hairs on my arm stood up.
That wasn’t the gentle croon of some A.M. gospel channel. That was someone singin’ in the bar.
In the furthest stool at the left end of the bar, a wild looking man sat, intermittently taking greedy gulps of amber beer and singing loudly, his other arm flailing frenetically as though conducting an unseen orchestra.
Ah, good, a ninja crackhead. That’s just what I need.
He looked over at me and I leapt from my chair and damn near outta my boots.
Ancient as the hills, this man looked like he’d just come down the mountain from communing with the darkness itself.
God damn.
A wild, grey, patchy beard splayed out in every direction, as though the hair itself was trying to escape the vessel that grew it.
The crown of his head was bald but the rest was shaggy white hair, matted in some places, errantly sticking up in others, as though it couldn’t choose between electrocution and submission.
He wore what looked like a white robe, but it was stained with all manner of mess. Copper, brown, yellow, black. Blood, shit, piss, and Heaven only knows what. A fetid robe of many colors.
Tattered, rudimentary sandals held in dirty feet with long, yellowed toenails.
The man reeked worse than sulfur. Worse than death. It was like the pungent stank of the human stain clung to him with reckless abandon.
He was chubby and withered and maddened.
But none of that held a penny to his eyes.
Orbs of the purest white, ringed with seared, blackened flesh around the edges.
Nothing but endless, empty white that somehow felt like it saw nothing but what we all couldn’t see. Nothing of this world but everything we hide in it. Our lies, the horrors behind the masks, what we do in the dark, this tattered, horrible amalgam we have the audacity to still call “a soul.”
Fuck this.
I went to run but found I had no will to do so.
My boots had become one with the earth, like the leather was finally gonna join the cattle that had to die for me to feel like a man.
A crash of thunder stole my hearing, a tiny whirlwind began lifting and smashing bottles from behind the bar.
The seals of the bottles came open, spraying spirits everywhere.
The bar was alight with white fire and a light blasted through the bar that would embarrass the Sun.
Then all was silent and still.
“Nice hooves,” the man said in a velvety baritone.
I looked down at my black boots and back up at him.
There is probably a drug cocktail somewhere in existence where, if mixed properly and taken with utter scientific precision, probably unlocks the gates to Heaven in the human consciousness.
I think I might have found the one’s that unlocked Hell’s.
The man wore a wide, warm grin. Authentic and inviting, the jovial visage of every TV grandfather. Creature comfort. He no longer looked like a raving maniac.
Far from it.
The man was now young, maybe late 20’s.
Golden, feathered locks elegantly curved just behind his ears.
A black cardigan, dark jeans, and new Grecian sandals graced a well-kept temple, a body of with seemingly perfect porcelain skin.
Sapphire blue eyes, pools of painful beauty, the kind that feels like a knife twisting your gut, looked at me with compassion.
I could smell lilac and some spice that seemed reminiscent of a world long gone by but made me what want to curl up with a blanket and read a good book by the fire wafted my way.
A single, marred tattoo of a small cross ran down the index finger of his left hand.
The man sat down and said, “why don’t you and them hooves join me, Pappy?”
I go by a lot of names to keep myself safe in this shithole world, but I hadn’t gone by my real name since I beat a kid black and blue in elementary school for mocking me for it and my daddy had told me he was proud of me. Put a cigarette out on the back of my neck later that same night after a few too many for causing trouble.
The duality of man or whatever the Hell the academics prattle on about, I guess.
“They’re boots,” I snarled, playing at bravery, bluffing like I did every day of this wasted life, hopin’ it might but him back on his heels.
I didn’t know if I was messing with some damned creature not of this world or was just higher than a kite and seeing nonsense. While the latter seemed far more likely, I wanted to prepare for the former.
“Sure,” he said kindly, “sure.”
I sat down on the tattered stool.
“Where’s the bartender? And how the Hell do you know my name?”
“Calm down, son. You look like you could use a drink of the old blood. Sure beats those poisons you keep sticking in that body we gave ya.”
A wine glass appeared before each of us, filled to the brim. The man, or whatever it was, sipped away, humming some forgotten hymnal.
“I ain’t much of a vino fan. Got any Irish whisky?”
He lifted his glass as though to toast me and said “Sure. And you certainly will need that later. For now, the grapes of wrath, as it were.” A soft chuckle left his lips.
I sipped the wine. No sense bucking the bull when you don’t know how big or angry it really is.
It tasted like nothing I had ever had before. An indescribable, wicked deliciousness.
It warmed me up and filled me with light and hope and covered up all the dark holes that had punched through me by others.
Even plugged the ones I’d punched myself.
“We?”
The man took a small sip. “Sorry?”
“You said ‘the body *we* gave ya. *We*.”
It was only then I noticed he was crying.
There were no sobs, no audible gasps, no tremors or shakes, just slow, steady tears of blood dripping from those perfect blue orbs.
“Name’s Arah. I’m an Angel.”
Arah downed the goblet of wine, flecks of his bloody tears caking the glass’s rim.
“Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.”
This obvious machination of my drug addled brain chuckled louder this time, a slight slur and anger tinging his words.
“I’m even less for all that religious babble than I am for wine. Though this shit’s pretty damn good, I gotta admit.”
“LIAR!” Arah screamed, shaking the whole bar. His eyes were wide and obsidian and his chest heaved heavily.
“Liar.” This, a quiet whisper.
“You spent your whole life in church.
You soaked up every hopeful word, every promise of redemption and fixing, and the truth of that still rattles around inside you.
You can stick all the needles you want into that arm so you can lie to yourself and take away the pain you were meant to bear, but you can’t lie to me. We see everything, for we are many.”
Arah refreshed his glass with a small flourish of his hand before downing it again, his disposition getting slightly wobblier.
“DRINK!” he screamed, and when the world stopped shaking and those eyes turned blue again, I sure as shit started pounding the fermented fruit.
Ain't the time to be picky.
“You aren’t having a bad trip. I'm having a bad trip.”
The endless tears of blood fell quicker, like a swift red river coursing from a deep blue waterfall.
Small pools of it began forming of the bar. A slight acrid smell was on the air, barely noticeable behind all the wonderful aromas.
I felt warm and real and firm. I felt human again. My glass had been refilled and I downed another.
Okay, so I was getting wasted with an angel. Admittedly a first, even for my winding and warped road, but getting blitzed on Jesus Juice sure beat pissing off some emotionally unhinged cherub motherfucker.
“I can’t find Him. I can never find Him.”
Slight groans left Arah’s lips and he gulped down another glass.
With a minor twitch, the glass flew and smashed against the wall.
A nanosecond, if even, after the sound of shattering, it reappeared anew, full of the deep blood wine, before him, and he slurped it down his gullet.
I was trying to keep pace with him.
Shit I could drink a fifth of whisky and make it home alive but something in this good good had me slippin’. A part of me knew I should be petrified to ask, but the rest of me was too faded to care.
“Find who? What brings you here, cryin’ tears in yer beers?”
Now I was the one slurring.
“Take them.”
I looked down at the bar.
A belt. A syringe full of something brown and beautiful.
All the gear.
And six shots of what I prayed was Jameson.
“But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”
Arah was slurring hard now, slowly spinning in his chair, laughing and crying.
“Have a taste. At least there’ still manna.”
I shot the whole thing and downed that beautiful Irish whisky. Warmth and light filled me up and stole me away from this putrid rock.
Somehow, as wrecked as I was, I felt I could see Arah all the clearer, like the Sun pushing out the remnants of a storm. His hands looked withered, and those blue eyes looked heavy and tired.
“I miss Him. God. Father.”
I began to mumble some apocryphal question, but a raised hand silenced me.
“We’re taking communion here, son, an act of contrition, of grief, celebration and loss. I’m not giving about to give you a seminar on the finer points of how you all bungled what we gave you and called it ‘religion.’ Just shut the fuck up and drink.”
We downed a glass of wine in unison, a broken human and clearly a broken angel, performing a ritual at the alter we were left with.
“You wanna know why I’m here drinkin’? I know you do. I can hear it rattling around in that little rat brain of yours, gnawing, gnawing, gnawing.
Well, here’s why. GOD LEFT.
You remember your Bible.
Like a schizophrenic mother when the voices just crept too far in, he drowned all his children in the bathtub. He felt regret.
You apes can’t come to terms with the fact that it isn’t cognitive dissonance to be perfect and make mistakes. Your binaries and absolutes are the pathetic crutches you rest on, the prisons you build for yourselves. You think you live in the grey but you don’t. You are the simple minded mistake of something far greater than you could possibly fathom.
Hell ain't nothin' but a door locked from the inside.
He was right to drown all of you, ya know.
You’re an abortion that didn’t take.
You’re the science experiment gone wrong.
You’re the motherfucking poisonous residue left over when the manufacturing process goes the slightest bit awry.
He TRIED. He gave you EVERYTHING. And you chased him away.
He wanted to put you all down. Wipe the slate clean. Shoot the wolf with the broken leg caught in the trap. Mercy. But He had made those fuckin’ rainbows, and He kept his word.
You all sit and pout and scream and gnaw and gnash and blow each other up. Always the same shit in this horrible flat circle.
"My god is real, your god is fake! "
You never once consider you’re all talking about the same damn thing, and more to the point, you're spend your entire lives debating His existence. What a catastrophic waste to be so far from the mark.
Is He real? Is He a fairy tale?
Is there a big bearded man with a sword in the sky or is it just what some primitive apes told themselves to explain the lights in the night sky, a mechanism of control and purpose in an entropic and meaningless world?”
I felt frozen listening to Arah rant.
Somewhere, between the distant sound of brutal words, I heard that radio kick on.
“The Third Planet is sure that they’re being watched
By an Eye in the Sky that can’t be stopped
And when you get to the Promised Land
You’re gonna shake the Eye’s hand”
“You won’t.”
Arah spoke quietly and sipped and audibly sobbed.
“I…I won’t what?”
“Shake his hand. He’s GONE.
You all fight with words and books and swords and shells and atoms about whether he exists. It’s your relentless, simpleminded addiction to dichotomy. It would be so boring if it wasn’t so sickening.
You think He exists, and if He does, He is here and He loves you and hears your stupid little prayers about football and bone cancer and bank accounts and AIDS.
And if He doesn’t exist, well, it’s just a bunch of conmen working over some fools with a fairy tale.
Any of you shitbirds ever consider He exists and LOATHES you? That he cut the cord to that existential phone line and ain’t nobody on the other side of that line anymore?
You live in an infinite universe that is forever exploding and expanding. He exists outside of even that.
You think you’re special? You’re one tiny experiment among so fucking many, I couldn’t make the smartest mathematician in the history of this planet understand how infinitesimally numerically irrelevant you are.
The question isn’t, is God real or is it all a hoax, a self-delusion?
The salient question, Pappy, is whether He’s here. And He ain’t.
He kept his word and let you all live and fester and replicate and mutate like the virus you are. The fruit that ate itself.
But daddy split. Went out for smokes and He ain’t never coming back. Moved onto a new family. Just like He's done again and again and again. And I'm guessing will keep doing 'till He decides He got it right. Ain’t been here for a long time. Long, long time.”
6 glasses of wine appeared before Arah and he downed them all with lightning speed, spewing blood, sobbing and gasping and drinking.
His hair greyed and whitened and fell to the floor.
His nails began to decay and yellow.
The smell of shit and piss and bile crept up and began to make me nauseous.
“And you know who got really fucked? US. The angels.
God gave us instructions and we followed it. We knew what we had and we didn’t deviate. We did our duty. And He left us behind, too.”
Arah’s clothes began to whiten and dirty.
The enrapturing blue of his eyes began to fade, growing paler and lifeless. A wild, twisted beard and belly began to sprout.
“Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation."
Arah began shrieking.
"Fucking humans.
I AM AN ANGEL OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND I AM BOUND FOREVER TO THIS SHITHOLE OF A ROCK, ENDLESSLY SEARCHING THE COSMOS FOR A FATHER I CAN NEVER FIND, TRAPPED IN A PRISON I CAN NEVER LEAVE, FOR A CRIME I DIDN’T COMMIT.
YOU ALL DID THIS.
YOU ALL DID THIS.
YOU DID THIS.”
Arah leapt up and grabbed me by the throat, lifting me on high.
Fire scorched his eyes, leaving empty pale pools singed to a blackened crisp at the edges.
The wild, infested thing I’d seen before held me as though I weighed less than the judgment feather.
He was sobbing.
“I…I just did what I was told.
Do you know what Hell is? There’s no fucking lake of fire or torture rack with goats.
It’s this.
An endless existence having tasted God’s grace and love and then forever being separated from it, eternally searching for that one drug you know you can never find.
'Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss.'
This, this place, is Hell.”
All the opium in the world couldn’t save me from the stark terror of this celestial’s tortured judgment.
I was quaking and pissed myself.
“Now I got ya shakin’ in your boots. Nice hooves.”
He threw me and I slammed against the wall and I felt every ounce of wine and heroin and whisky spill out of my body and onto the floor.
In that moment, I felt the unmitigated suffering of absolute sobriety, and I’ve been sober every moment since.
This wild, unfettered thing inched closer to me.
It was only then I noticed the tattoo on his finger more closely. It was…clearer to me now. Everything was. That little cross on his finger was upside down as it faced me.
“What does your name mean, Arah? What did you do that made God leave all his angels behind?”
Arah opened his mouth and two snakes, one a viper, the other a colorful coral, slid out of his mouth and began encircling his head and neck, never striking, never squeezing, simply coiling infinitely.
“YOU FUCKING APES. I’LL RIP THE SOUL OUT OF EACH OF YOU AND EAT IT FOR LIFE ETERNAL.”
Arah, this manifestation of man’s worst nightmare, leapt at me, blood spewing, snakes dancing, the bar shaking and burning and reeking.
Alas, Babylon, for me.
Inches from me Arah froze, held still by some unseen force, his mouth snarling words that only came out as unintelligible, wet squelches.
A voice from the bar’s door whispered a single word.
“World.
In the first tongue, 'Arah' meant ‘World.’
At the door stood an older black woman with the kindest eyes I’d ever seen.
She wore a bracelet of thorns and a dress made of every flower my mind could conceive.
Golden eyes flecked with amber looked at me lovingly.
She quietly sauntered up to Arah and shook her head wistfully, a disapproving but loving mother wishing her child would just behave.
“You would do well to accept your place here, Arah. The Father may be gone, but this is where you and your lot stay. It was not man’s fall that bound you here.
Tell him what you did...Angel.”
Arah fell suddenly to the barroom floor, all the strength clearly sucked out of him.
“I..I did what I was told. I followed the orders I was given. It was for Him, Uriel.”
Uriel tutted her tongue as though an impudent child had told her a silly, obvious fib.
“You can lie to yourself all you want, Arah, but you cannot lie to me.
You, who whispered endlessly to Herod.
You, who dwelt in Caligula.
You, who served Qin Shi Huang.
You, who sought refuge in Robespierre .
You, who possessed Mengele.
‘And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.”
Uriel helped me to my feet, brushed me off, and lightly put her hand on her cheek. It was the only moment in my life I knew what the word “home” meant.
“And you won’t lie to Man, either.
You remember the deal you begged for, Arah? Let remind you:
'They began to entreat Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.'
You had the gall to call his creation, however staggeringly imperfect, swine.
You got what you asked for, then.
And you will have it for all time.
Get behind me.”
Uriel picked me up as though I were a mere baby and carried me to my truck. She laid me gently in the passenger side and started the engine.
The radio kicked on.
“I’m a rolling stone
All alone and lost
For a life of sin
I have paid the cost
Take my advice
Or you’ll curse the day
You started rollin’ down
That Lost Highway”
As she pulled away, I looked back at The Man from Capernaum one last time.
It was consumed in fire and the squeals of pigs shrieking carried through the cool night air.
“Do not pity him.
‘You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons.’
God may have left this world but let the Demon burn.”

Making Contact is about an object-oriented investigation of the universe for signs of intelligent life, which assumes the intelligent life will be somewhere out there – gestures to cosmos – and therefore essentially spatial in its orientation to reality. Spatiality has something to say about the presence of a body as the site of identity and intention, and the body is assumed to develop technology to amplify use-of-force as a form of authority – you can see how it all tumbles out. The inner and outer search for extraterrestrial intelligence likewise represents the directionality of the alien other – the alien is out there, seeming remarkably like ourselves. Given the potential for the intelligent alien other to be appearing trillions of times, universe wide, the notion that some of them will be like us – curious primates with opposable thumbs – seems reasonable.
Reasonable! Have I got a bridge to sell you! Crosses parsecs like nobody’s business, not that we have a good feel for economy at such scales, and even if we did, once such a distance is crossed, by vehicle or electromagnetic frequency, what topics do we use to break the ice? Pet peeves? Travel plans? If you had one superpower, what would it be? Let’s say we get past that, x-ray vision or whatever, aren’t we even mildly apprehensive – sits upright, steeples fingers – about having alien awareness enter our experience of consciousness? If an interstellar vehicle landed in the town square and an alien, by ramp or ladder, appeared before us, would we feel any anxiety at all if the first words that emerged from its lipless mouth were, drink this – meaning the corked veil it just extended in our direction, the contents of which is a complete mystery?
Here in the west, faith serves many functions, not the least of which is to cushion the blow of divine authority as a lived experience. Perhaps we think of divine authority as a magic trick – watch me pull loaves and fishes out of a hat – or like the scene a first-responder might run up against – then we wrapped Lazarus in Mylar, waited for the ambulance to arrive. Reasonable, no? Divine authority and the alien other may be silent threads adding stitches to the dress of day, but then suddenly they’re wearing it, turning this way and that before a mirror, which is us – how exactly do we cope? Yes, I’m worrying at an image of the divine, both in and of our minds, but every now and then, right in front of us, then all around us, relentlessly so, lasting mere minutes, a handful of seconds – but then going on to reorganize the rest of your life.
Faith! May the nothingness-with-a-bounce-in-its-step that is my waking life ever feel your hand in mine, the two of us taking windy walks over hot coals. When scientists hunting for life in the universe inspect the latest data for patterns in the firmament, do they prepare for the moment ritually? A prayer? A few deep knee bends? Some self-styled promise not to lose every hint of personal volition – a puff of smoke in a windstorm – because something with the circumference of a supreme being just leaped out of the data and onto the ledge of one’s mind? Do we imagine numbers and graphs are what’s actually discovered? Sure, I know, peer review, the expectations of the industry, I mean field – the expectations of the field, and what proper science looks like in the raw. The rawness itself is vastly assembled, industries working in concert to make even that.
Where does the contact experience begin and end? – what I worry about with the scientists and the data. A very reliable place to observe something analogous, in most any municipality, is arraignment court – a venue where the contact experience is governed by state authority, and the matter of being kidnapped by aliens toting glocks and tazers, then put in cages – takes on a whole other level of real. Defendants appear before the judge, are read the charges against them and possible penalties, and their expression says volumes about what contact with an authority greater than our own will be like – not a violation of anyone’s law but such a challenge to self-determination that months might go by, even years, before that moment in arraignment court can bear to be remembered. The court’s decisions are likewise driven by peer-reviewed data.
The woman in jail stands before the court via video screen, accused of aggravated domestic battery during a dispute the night before. By the time she stands before the judge, she has been in jail for 10 hours and stares unblinking, like someone using all her strength to remain upright and conscious. When the matter of bond comes up, the attorney for the prosecution reads from the police report about what was alleged to have happened, which report includes direct quotes – Black vernacular, filled with regrettable threats, read aloud by a perfectly sober white attorney who stresses the consonants at the ends of words. The woman I see before me, standing inside an airless space created by the authority of the state, begins sobbing uncontrollably, covers her face, doubles over. Such are the agonies of the contact experience, when the facts are added up.
She is alleged to have stabbed him with a 10-in. kitchen knife – a nonlife-threatening wound, but a moment of jarring truth that gets everyone’s attention in the courtroom. Did the contact experience begin then, when she reached for the kitchen knife? Before then? Did their love grow faint in the kitchen in particular? Near an ordinary cutting board to extremes? Did personal volition vacate the premises, the matter of making decisions fall under the spell of something else? Where terror comes to rest, we throw a sheet upon it, call it rage. The defendant’s tears in arraignment court, 10 hours after it happened, are about more than regret – also a bewildered exhaustion about what it feels like when one way of being in the world is rapidly replaced by another, and you’re alone in jail, bond set at $25,000, which someone paid the following day.
Could a dataset do that? Place the mind inside an alien organism for years at a time, even as the body goes about its business? The legendary science fiction author Philip K. Dick reported an encounter with the alien other on February 3, 1974, that precipitated an 8000-page exegesis, plus a series of books in which the author postulates the presence of a vast active living intelligence system, the system part seeming to me a little perfunctory – like he was probably detecting the outline of his own ontology with the system part. The encounter undoubtedly changed his life and to such a degree, the future might know Philip K. Dick as an avatar who happened also to write compelling science fiction. I haven’t read his work in a while, but he seemed to enjoy what he did, realized success in his own lifetime, rubbed shoulders with the noted and notorious.
What transpires when the unknown becomes known? A point in space opens its mouth as wide as it can, swallows the unknown, end to end, in its entirety – can you imagine that from the inside out? A mind grander than conception can itself conceive takes the place of the sky, and the daylight hits the window sill with an all new sense of purpose in its stride, like its ready to grow an entirely different kind of life. And what would any new life want to know before it commits to making contact with the human? Despite the skulls inside our heads, we are not a prison planet! And we vow to love one another despite the numerous exceptions! And someday everyone will do the right thing for the right reason all the time, feel the freer for it! But for now, our teleportation device tends to be on the glitchy side, fills in the gaps with intuition.
May future datasets furnished by the aliens greet science like the exhaust ports of bakeries in the morning. For now, though, we’ll take what we can get.

Usually just a lurker but I've been seeing a lot of complaints about the manhwa being shallow or 'too light' compared to the dark gritty light novel. This opinion was held by a portion of the fanbase 1-2 years ago when this sub was more active as well, recent complaints are coming from a certain user whose username rhymes with 'basleep bassion 3829.'
I would like to preface this is NOT a targeted attack on anyone's preferences, especially not Basleep Bassion's. Nor am I criticizing anyone's direct character or intelligence for holding those preferences. This is a genuine response that simply aims to convey why I disagree with said preferences. Basleep Bassion or anyone who agrees with them is free to respond and support their stance in kind, just make sure to keep the civility obviously.
Also this will be VERY LONG. Don't read if you're more of a casual reader and don't care that much for the difference. or do, I've got nothing against that. I have a lot of love for the manhwa, and I took quite a bit of time to make my argument as objective as possible, to legitimize and express how passionate I am, how admiring I am at the risks that the creators of the manhwa took. If you don't want to read this much but still want to know my conclusion:
TLDR: I think the manhwa is vastly superior in writing to the light novel, made many significant improvements overall, and does not deserve to be considered a faulty adaptation or anything of the like. It is a splendid rendering of the original story in a more visually appealing and more importantly, a more dramatically interesting version.
If anyone is super curious about how much of either I've read, I am caught up with the manhwa translation by leviatanscans, and read to about chapter 160ish about 2-3 years ago (I checked today on novelupdates it seems the site for the novel is dead sadge). When I dropped the novel the events were actually pretty close in chronology to the manhwa with the dragons and stuff but anyone who knows the difference between the two works also understands that these two are basically two different stories by this point.
I also want to start off by shooting down some counterpoints that I personally find super cheap and indicative of someone who doesn't actually want to discuss the main point and instead just wants to flex their intellectual bicep on a cheap philosophical high horse. Again, not saying that you can't have these opinions, but I'm stating here that I'm not really interested in debating these topics since they are EITHER irrelevant to the argument I'm making, OR circular rabbit holes that dismiss the point of comparing the two versions on equal grounds.1."manhwas are adaptations, and therefore should stick firmly and strictly to the source material"

• Change isn't 100% bad. Past that basic rebuttal, adaptations drastically deviating from the source material has never been the worst thing that happened to a story. The most immediately recognizeable example I can think of right now is Iron Man and The Guardians of the Galaxy, two stories which were basically completely reconstructed and saw absolute critical acclaim. Adaptations should be allowed to adapt the story to better fit the context it is being transitioned into, not shiny knock-offs.

1. "you're delusional/stupid/compensating/snowflake/overreacting/L+ratio/KEKW"

• ur mom.

1. "Sword King SHOULD be like so and so on."

• This is something I am uncertain about the answer to, and falls into the circular loop of whether critics should have authority in how an creator's vision ought to unfold. Regardless of the true answer, the distinction between this topic and my main stance is that I am comparing the craftmanship of two pieces of art as they currently are, not what they should or should not be.

Alright, now that I've gotten that out of the way, those reading this far probably care enough to read the whole thing. First some hard facts:

1. the art is really nice. say what you want about any visual design choices or I also know some are a bit peeved about lots of cute kivye wholesome fanservice shots, but among the korean webtoon scene, we were lucky to get a studio this good.
2. The studio has taken lots of liberties with both the chronology and the characterization. Whole arcs have been either reconstructed, scrapped, or order shifted. Characters like Zang Luxin have been flipped complete 180 in personality while others like Barolt were built from scratch since in the novel barolt is dead and buried before the squad even reach him.
3. the manhwa has also shifted significantly in tone, embracing a lot of comedy tropes common in other fantasy/system webtoons. This has resulted in the mood being much brighter.

These last two points I want to defend; it is my claim and opinion that the drastic changes to the plot, characters, and tone made in the manhwa are not only fine, but result in a SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER story than the light novel. With TWO SPECIFIC EXCEPTIONS, I find ALL of the changes and edits made to the original plot structure to be absolute SMASH HITS in terms of writing skill and reading enjoyment.
I am working off of memory here, so I don't remember very very specific details, but every major difference I list here I am quite confident in the accuracy of, mostly because the changes are quite memorable and distinctive.From now on, MH and LN stand for ManHwa and Light Novel respectively, so for example MH Bin is manhwa Bin, and LN Bin is Light Novel Bin.
The two exceptions I have are:
MH Laude Roud is completely relegated to comic relief so far. LN roud is not exactly more important, but I consider the comedy angle on Roud to lean more towards cringe. His monsterification element has potential, but is poorly developed as of now in MH. As a whole, the Buckman Roarpool gang is also unnecesary. I don't even need to label them MH or LN because they don't exist in the novel. MH Bin would have been completely the same off without this package of pure quips and funny panels.
The whole gun thing with Atisse is kind of weird. I'm reading a fantasy story, I don't need to add guns because I want to see swords and magic. If I wanted to see guns, I wouldn't be here.

1. LN Barolt is the toxic juiced fitness influencer trying to pass off as natty, MH Barolt is the healthy father figure that teaches you to always strive for self-improvement.

• I guess I'll start with Barolt. LN Barolt is the most basic of battle junkies; he lives to fight, grow stronger, fight again, survival of the strongest, all that jazz. Now remember, MH Barolt also has these qualities; in fact, MH Barolt is revealed to have been that stuck-up, must fight to be strongest ape in the past, with the key change being that he has matured out of that phase which allowed him to attain divinity through his own efforts. LN Barolt fights the divine beast and succumbs to his wound, largely in part due to his de facto sidekick/healer being a spy for Zenovia all along. MH Barolt killed the Beast long ago and is alive for long enough to guide Bin and inspire hope by contesting Garhan.
• LN Barolt is simple because his role is simple: from his corpse, Kivye is able to channel her domain as goddess of death and obtain his special sword-king training and techniques. LN Han Bin then proceeds to use these to qualitatively change his aura usage (which btw he learned how to consciously control much earlier in LN compared to MH). Because LN Barolt is practically just a class upgrade loot chest by the time the squad reaches his corpse, he lacks any depth: just a berserker-type challenging impossible odds and surviving by the skin of his teeth. LN Barolt has no personality, just an inclination for violence.
• MH Barolt, on the other hand, is given the role of a teacher, a friend, and a symbol of hope. He is no glorified loot box, instead he serves as not only teacher to MH Bin, but also a role model. He teaches MH Bin how to manipulate aura by pushing absolute limits, with a reveal that made my heart race when I first read it. For those who need a little memory jog, this was the test to fight the angel arm stuck in the portal and MH Bin needed to exhaust his aura reserves in order to detect the other 3 energies since his disgusting amount was smothering his senses.
• That is just one example on the expansive nature of this character change. LN Barolt is a disappointment to LN Bin when they hear of how his personality really was (kind of a piece of shit). MH Barolt is probably the first genuine role model to Bin, someone who inspires him in both strength and nature.

1. Speaking of which, a major complaint I have of the LN is that none of the 4 heroes are remotely decent people. The theme here is the familiar trope of heroes actually being villains, a common subversion of expectations writing pattern that asks important questions about the nature of heroes and of corruption by power and authority.

• The trope is good, but the LN execution is rather uninspiring. Zenovia and Garhan are the megalomaniac greeders for power, which is fine, but LN Hollian is essentially Zenovia 2.0 in personality and LN Barolt is a loot box. So we have three greedy and spiteful characters plus an underdeveloped gorilla. Lots of variety here to be sure...
• In contrast, the LN decides to branch out with Hollian and Barolt. MH Barolt I have supported above as the one true hero amongst his compatriots, but even Hollian is given a much more unique and interesting character role. LN Hollian is in on the plan, and is the rear guard and villain in Rath'na while Zenovia and Garhan conquer the divine domain. LN Hollian is nigh indistinguishable from the personality of Zenovia, being similarly spiteful and arrogant, feeling entitled to greater rewards for being the hero. Since Zenovia already fills that role, MH Hollian is more sensibly relegated to a tragic saint trope where she means perfectly well but is being deceived by her compatriots. Overall, this grants a more balanced dynamic within the 4 heroes cohort, with two being bad and 2 being good; furthermore, MH Hollian is perfect for juicy drama of a 'are we the bad guys' redemption arc.

1. MH Zang Luxin is actually his own character, LN Luxin is a cheap throwaway.

• LN Luxin spawns in a town Bin and gang are staying in, and is caught and chased as an invader, which reveals some serious savior complex as he whines about not being treated as the protagonist he 'rightly' deserves to be, subsequently losing himself to the O blessing, becoming a similar monster as in the MH. Difference is, LN Luxin is killed by Bin a couple chapters after he is introduced.
• This is what I consider to be the best change. LN Luxin was the most boring one-off mirror villain to me. He is intended to reflect to LN Bin the horrors that Earthlings could be to the Rath'nians, and serves as a dark mirror. The problem is that LN Luxin is a really cheap dark mirror, and offers no actual interesting discourse since his personality was problematic and childish from the start, leaving no doubt that he was not a good person and would thus abuse the system.
• In contrast, MH Luxin portrays the evil of the Guideline to its max: MH Luxin is extremely kind and forgiving, to the point of naive idiocy, and is the textbook plucky hero with not a bad bone in his body. He is genuinely a good person and genuinely wishes to help the world he has been sent to conquer, which makes it absolutely gut-wrenching for him to do the opposite against his control by the guideline and O blessing. He starts out annoying to Bin but grows on us, and is still being utilized in the background of MH. Overall a vast improvement on a villain of week.

1. Atisse, Leonhart, and Ephyr are upgraded super

• LN Atisse and Ephyr are quite literally useless at this stage: LN Bin is essentially the sole combatant capable of taking on each new threat since anyone who is remotely dangerous to him absolutely outclasses the rest of the gang. I love the actual agency they get in MH: while still vastly outleveled, MH Atisse and Ephyr are able to outwit their opponents in clutch scenarios, and I'm excited for how they'll continue to be relevant.
• LN Leonhart fights Bin to a close loss, then is basically irrelevant for the rest of the time. He is strong, but not strong enough to contend with anyone remotely higher tier, again to highlight Bin and his solo job. I will say this here: solo power fantasies aren't that interesting. It gets super old seeing the mc solo everything and the side characters being cheerleaders. I want development for my supporting cast too mate. MH Leonhart is honestly a treat; he is a powerhouse without taking away from Bin's spotlight as his strength lies in his unorthodox combat style. Stuff that Bin can't do MH Leonhart does with is super cool, like creating prana structures and beams to attack enemies bluntly instead of sharp sword aura.

1. Hot take: the comedy is actually overall good for the series.

• I have conceded that the comedy in earlier chapters is rough. Roud, buckman, etc are all pretty cheap laughs. But despite all that, the dialogue for MH really picked it up later. I hardly find myself cringing at the lighthearted banter anymore, because it has become sparser and much improved. I find myself enjoying the humor more and more as time goes on
• Here's my take that I don't think is so hot: the LN is super dry to read. There is no engaging dialogue, everything either talks about exposition or is combat taunts. They're all friends, but don't joke or talk shop with each other. I have no sense that the LN squad is an actual cohort, with lovable personalities and unique characters. The comedy in MH has also included a lot of background character development (the types of jokes different characters make speak to their character type). MH characters are so much more alive than LN, which feels bland and dry (to me).

1. the plot sequence changes are overall positive, and create more seamless character and story development

• so this is the point I have the least support for, mostly because I can't remember what exact order the LN was originally. All I remember is that the dragon's nest energy absorption arc was much later in LN and much less important. In LN Bin crushes the blue haired Earthling on the squad's walk out in the sun in a simple 1v1, with the dragon's nest thing being practically an afterthought.
• The broodmother arc in the elven domain was also different, but my memory is hazy so I won't speak too much on it.

1. Snow and Rondelle are so much better.

• You think MH Rondelle is bratty, LN Rondelle is 10 magnitudes more snotty, incompetent, and arrogant. I'm not MH rondelle's biggest fan, but I'll take him over a literal incel.
• in LN Snow doesn't really exist, this child angel that wants a family. Instead LN is the broodmother which drives Bin into his first real hard fight that ends up awakening his aura. MH gives a more interesting event structure than a straight up fight, I quite enjoyed the thriller and non-combative nature of the memory manipulation family thing.

Side note: I've added a password, so read carefully. If you message me WITHOUT the password, your messages are automatically IGNORED. tired of getting hit up with people who don't read 😒. It's ridiculous cause I've ignored 5+ chats cause none of them contained the password. Things are written for a reason.
Facts about me:

• I have been roleplaying since 2012. Yes, I got experience under my belt, and yes, my ideas usually have really long reads, but don't let that scare you off! After the starter is off, I may lower myself down to a decent paragraph or two, sometimes three! It all depends on what I've got to work with.
  
• My timezone is EST. I'm awake from 9am - 2am and I'm usually free unless I'm busy doing house chores, out of the house, asleep, or playing video games on my switch. I'm usually become REALLY active at or around 8pm.
  

Rules:
1: if you don't like 50/50 mixture of sex scenes and story, don't bother hopping into my inbox. I'm fine with sex scenes, but when it's constantly back to back, the roleplay itself gets boring.
2: Be literate. No one liners. I like to write..it's annoying when I send a 2-3 paragraph response and I get 3 lines...just...no. I am not accepting people who are just starting out! If you aren't experienced in writing or roleplaying, kindly stay out of my inbox.
3: Be okay with playing canon characters. I'm mainly doing fandom roleplays right now and it's going to be Canon x my oc. No, I'm not doing double ups. Do not even ask, because the answer will be no every time. I do not give a shit if you think that makes me 'lazy' or 'selfish', if you've got a problem, you can simply ignore or block me. Commenting on my post to bitch and whine about me not doubling up will only result in me blocking you. The ONLY time I'll double up, and if I'm confident enough, I'll only do female characters. I suck at males. Got a problem? Not my issue. Block and move on.
4: Roleplay in third person. I can't and won't adapt to first. Don't even bring up the idea of you playing first person and me playing third. Believe it or not, I've been asked this twice and that is just a hell no for me. The only time I do first, is when I'm writing into my book.
5: if you don't know how to share ideas, then don't bother messaging me. I'm tired of carrying the story when the other person doesn't help. If you've got ideas, then PLEASE speak up! Your opinion on the roleplay matters too! I'm an easy going person, and easy to get along with (dispite my rules).
6: DO NOT control my character. I control what she says, does, hears, sees, ect. I don't control yours, so don't control mine. HOWEVER, if it's highly necessary and needed, then run it by me first and ask me. Just leave me some wiggle room so I can make a decent response. Failure to comply by this rule, results in immediate drop of the rp.
End Note:
Yes, I've updated my rules just a tad. I do not care if it makes me sound mean or rude, because I'm neither of these things. I'm just tired of putting these rules down for a specific reason and they go ignored because I can tell when someone hasn't read them, and lied about it. I'm just trying to get my point across and roleplay. I'm a very easy going person who loves to make friends on the side (which I've somewhat given up on making friends...only a selective few have actually gained my friendship).
Do not hop into my inbox with a simple 'hey' 'hi' 'sup', etc and for God's sake, don't message me with a 'rp?'and proceed me to flash me with your talliwhacker. I promise you, you'll get your feelings hurt and I'll be here laughing at ya 😂. Nobody wants a peen on their screen. Do not send me an image of your one eyed noodle. Thank you. The password is pineapple.
Fandoms & Pairings
Pokemon ((MAYBE. Don't be nasty about it either!))
Bridgerton (or something like it. Can be Oc x Oc)
Disney Decedent's (or anything Disney) (oc x oc)
Orange is the new black (this can be oc x oc).
Criminal Minds (REALLY wanna do)
Marvel:
Loki x my oc
Spiderman (Tom Holland) x my oc
Dog The Bounty Hunter (REALLY wanna do):
Dog Chapman x my oc
The walking dead (REALLY wanna do!!):
Daryl X my oc
Batman x my oc
Lucifer (Netflix show series) x my oc (really wanna do)
The Originals: Klaus x my oc (PLEASE !! I REALLY wanna do this one!)
American Horror Story: Tate x my oc (REALLY wanna do)
Dragon Ball Z - Super (vegeta x my oc) (really wanna do)
Naruto: Minato x my oc
Harry Potter (thanks to the wonderful world of rp, the characters will be 18 or older. For me, I'd like it if it was Draco x my oc. REALLY wanna do)
Game Of Thrones (I'm still very early in the show, but I think we could think of something!)
Once Upon A Time:
killian x my oc, REALLY wanna do 🥺.
Avatar the last Airbender:
Zuko x my oc
Twilight:
Jacob x my oc
(Course, our version will be alot better than the movies).
If any of these interests you, message me!
End note part 2:
Congratulations! You've made it to the end. Still interested? You've got the password. Message me and let's get started 😁.

I didn't have crushes growing up as a gay kid. I didn't let myself catch feelings for guys and desperately tried to like girls, obviously to no avail. I really repressed myself and in college, I just didn't see the point in being in a relationship
Recently, however, I've developed a crush on a guy at school. We got into a study group together and have become really good friends. I think the thing I like the most about him is that he's such a genuinely nice guy. He's very very kind to everyone and that makes me admire him a lot. This may sound like a generic nice thing to say about someone, but I truly mean it. He's such a good person
He's also one of the smartest guys I have ever met, and I've met a ton of smart people. He always get A's on exams when the class average is like 65 and understands difficult subjects easily. But the thing about this I like the most is that he never acts better than anyone else despite being smart. He doesn't feel the need to show off how smart he is or put other people down for being wrong
We also share the same interests and talk for hours and hours. I don't think I've ever felt as comfortable with someone else as I do with him
However, he's straight and has a girlfriend. I know a lot of people would be sad about this but I still feel glad. I've never realized how beautiful having a crush on someone is. It just makes you feel good inside and makes you care about them. I've never been in love, but the fact that being genuinely in love with someone feels better than just having a crush on them makes me feel pretty excited about finding my future partner
I just wanted to share how awesome this feels. It's such a nice warm feeling in my stomach that makes me realize how beautiful the world and living is. I'm ok with nothing ever happening between us. I honestly just appreciate the friendship

Road to Revolution

After MJF disappears from the screen, his internet activity becomes more and more cryptic. He often posts about contracts, about Punk being a shell of his old self, nothing but an old man trying to cling to relevancy. When Punk is asked about he simply says he moved on from Max, that, in a way, Max failed him. Punk fully expected to lose to MJF, he went into the match hoping MJF would dethrone him, but when it came to in ring skills, MJF left a lot to desire, and as a result, Punk now has his sights into properly being a champion, being the time for him to start steering the ship into a great future.
On the following episode of Dynamite from said interview, Punk addresses The Firm, going off about how ashamed he is from what went down at Full Gear, he says he was more than ready to lose to Max, even with the clear testament that Punk is the better wrestler now that he is 2-1 over MJF, the undeniable truth is that he’s old and his time is running out BUT having the final stretch of his legacy being tarnished by the involvement of The Firm, he can’t help but feel sorry for Max. It doesn’t matter how despicable and miserable MJF is, the only feeling Punk has for him is pity. He caps the segment off by saying that “the cowards under contract with Stokeley aren’t on the show right now, so I hope next week they’ll be here so I can start correcting some wrongs, with nothing more nothing less than some good ass kicking.”
The following week, Punk is ambushed backstage by The Firm but not without showing some fight, the numbers game eventually being too much for him. Security team floods the area, big W. Morrissey cleans the house and Stokeley calls the attack off. Punk is left laying on the ground like a bag of meat.
On the following Dynamite episode, Punk is arguing with TK about The Firm, he says he wants to take them on, doesn’t matter when or how, he just demands Tony Khan to make it. After some bickering Tony Khan decides. “Next week on Rampage, it will be CM Punk in a GAUNTLET MATCH against The Firm! If you survive through that, great for you, if you don't, whoever pins you gets a title match, I do need to be fair with them too.” And so it’s made official
CM Punk Vs. The Firm Gauntlet

Punk, still feeling the effects of his last match against MJF, looks very worried with this match, on his way to the ring he keeps on checking his foot and arm, which Max targeted throughout their match. The first member of The Firm is Austin Gunn, who jumps the fucking gun, eats a GTS on the first 8 seconds of the match and is instantly eliminated.
Out comes his brother Colten, who also jumps the fucking gun, gets hit with a Piledriver on the middle of the ring and rolled back up into a GTS!!! The Gunns got eliminated in the first 30 seconds of the match! The crowd roars in favor of Punk as Lee Moriarty marches down the ramp.
Lee Moriarty after getting inside the ring doesn’t do the braindead shit of going straight at Punk, instead, he waits for Punk to step up, and once it’s done, Lee chain wrestles the old man to the ground, focusing on grinding the feet of Punk. For the next 7 minutes, it’s a sequence of counters to complicated locks and transitions. Moriarty is able to escape the Anaconda Vice and locks in an arm bar, which Punk breaks with a Buckle Bomb followed up by a Shining Wizard! Even with Moriarty superior speed, Punk’s experience plays a major role, his ring IQ being displayed as he begins to out-maneuver Lee. Eventually Punk is able to hit Moriarty with the Pepsi Twist that he quickly turns into the GTS! Lee Moriarty has been eliminated.
Out comes Ethan Page! From here on it's simple. Page is able to overpower Punk for the next 8 minutes, with slow comebacks from Punk being squashed. This would repeat until a GTS out of nowhere was about to get Ethan Page, but he expertly grabbed Punk’s leg and began to maul it. Punk is able to mount a comeback after being stopped multiple times and he’s finally on the verge of nailing Ethan with a Piledriver when Stokeley climbed on the apron, catching the referee’s attention and we all know where this goes. A distracted referee, Punk gets hit out of nowhere with a Big Boot by W. Morrissey! With the help of the big man to put Punk on All Ego’s shoulders, an Ego’s Edge in the middle of the ring, the ref never saw the attack, 1…2…3! Ethan Page secures himself a title match for Winter is Coming, but the punishment still has only begun.

The Firm starts their pack attack on Punk, ready to nail him with a Championship Belt to the head when suddenly, a hooded figure jumps the barricade, steel chair in hands, runs to the ring, drops Moriarty with a chair shot, neutralizes Ethan Page, takes out The Gunns! But when he goes for a shot at W. Morrissey, a Big Boot to the chair stops the attack. The hooded figure slips something on his hands, rushes to Morrissey AND DROPS HIM WITH A SINGLE PUNCH! The hooded figure reveals himself to be MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN!!!!!! MJF approaches the fallen CM Punk, he motions to help him back up but he grabs the World Title instead and stares at it for a moment while Punk gets back up.
Both men are now in the middle of the ring, a tired, old and hurt CM Punk stares at Max with murderous intent. MJF goes to give the belt back, drops it and when Punk goes to pick it up, at the motion of bending down, MJF NAILS PUNK WITH AN UPPERCUT WITH THE DYNAMITE DIAMOND RING! Max begins to viciously attack Punk, he drags him around ringside, throwing him on barricades, on the ground, everything. Eventually the attack ends when Max PILEDRIVES CM PUNK ON THE PYRO GRATE! PUNK’S LIMP BODY FALLS TO THE GROUND AS RAMPAGE ENDS WITH MJF STANDING TALL OVER THE CHAMPION!
The following episode of Dynamite, MJF opens the show in a similar fashion to when he won the World Title from Mox IRL. Coming out to a thunderous roar and cheers.
He gets a microphone on one hand, on the other, he has a contract! He begins reading the details but he does not specify when it expires, how much he makes and how much backstage pull he has, but he makes sure to say the most important clause of the contract: “As long as this contract is valid, Maxwell Jacob Friend has the right to, with previous warning as to set the card, challenge for ANY title he wants AS LONG AS he haven’t won them before”. At that, Cult of Personality hits and out comes the champion himself! Completely battered and bruised, he has his arm on a sling and he’s limping to the ring. Before Punk hits the ring, Max cuts anything he would do by simply saying “Stop there old man, we don’t want you to get hurt YET! I’ll spare you the breath so you have some when the match actually comes, please do be ready by then, The Devil will show himself to be crowned after his dominant win against Old Man Punk at REVOLUTION! Very poetic considering the whole landscape of AEW will change on that day, obviously for the better, BECAUSE I’M MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN AND I’M BETTER THAN YOU AND YOU KNOW IT!”
Max goes out of the ring to a thunderous reaction while leaving CM Punk to be dragged backstage by the medic team.
From here on out there isn’t much to say, the “less is more” game is played to perfection, with the final Dynamite before Revolution being closed with Punk and Max brawling through the arena(again) prompting TK to declare their match as a NO DQ MATCH! This being the final straw in hopes those two either drown this hatred under liters of blood or they die trying.

AEW Revolution 2023

CM Punk Vs. MJF - AEW World Championship - No Disqualification Match

Take their dog collar match. Now make it more bloody. That’s what you get. In the first 5 minutes Punk gets busted open after being hit with the Dynamite Diamond Ring, an attack he answers after being dragged to the outside by slamming Max’s head into the steel steps multiple times.
This goes crazy, we have backstage fight, they fight on the crowd, there are barbed wires from Hangman and Moxley’s match, there are steel chairs, ladders, a fucking Pepsi Plunge through a table. The brick simply doesn’t come into play because they didn’t find it.
Just like the Danielson match, it stops mid action because both wrestlers are being administered oxygen, all for the sake of the match having a true winner. We get the oxygen tank spot BUT Max adds insult to injury by hitting Punk with a Stone Cold Stunner and proceeding to tie Punk’s damaged leg together with the previously damaged arm using a chain and wrenching both members back, in a weird Fujiwara Armbar where he simply pulls the chain back. Punk is able to almost crawl towards the ropes when MJF drags him back to the middle of the ring, keeps on the punishment and CM PUNK TAPS OUT!!! AFTER 54 MINUTES OF PURE HELL, HE TAPS OUT, THE DEVIL IS YOUR NEW AEW WORLD CHAMPION!!!!!!!!

With this, Punk gets written of TV to recover from his injuries and we get to the same place we are IRL, with Max as a dominant champion that still has a lot to prove and with a shining path ahead of him!
footnote: the swerve in our glory shit got scrapped last minute because I’m an asshole

TW: ED i, 19F, have usually been a pretty upbeat and confident person. now out of nowhere, i feel extremely insecure about every feature i have, mostly my stomach as i have gained weight and now have a belly. i know i am not overweight yet somehow i think i am. i am a recovered bulimic and thought my days with eating problems were long over, by well over two years now, but i now recognise some patterns in my eating (binging and purging) that worry me. i can’t help but see myself and think i’m this ugly mess that doesn’t deserve love, and now this problem is rubbing off on the relationship i have with my partner. he is my rock and i think he’s the best person i’ve ever met, and i trust him with my life. but now my insecurities are getting in the way of the immense trust i have in him. i never thought he would do anything to hurt me or betray my trust, but now because i think i’m so ugly i’m scared to death that he’ll cheat on me with someone prettier. i don’t know how to handle these feelings or how to make them go away. i have tried distracting myself with hobbies and trying to view myself from his point of view but nothing works. i don’t understand how i think of myself as this hideous beast because of my new belly, when my boyfriend has one too and i think he is the most beautiful man to walk the earth. this weekend, he’s been at a friends place when usually he is staying with me and i’ve been messaging him and calling him to talk to him but he says i’m being delusional and obsessive. i finally cracked and explained through tears on the phone to him that the reason i’ve been so upset and eager to speak to him is because my paranoia is ruining my trust and i want to check up on him and that i’m scared that he would cheat on me. he of course is having none of it and just wants some space, which i understand completely. i want to go back to being confident within myself and being trusting of him, but i don’t know how. he hasn’t done anything to deserve not being trusted. my bf means the world to me and i don’t want things to end. how do i make a change?

I’ve been on antidepressants for around 3 months now and I’m deciding to quit after an eye-opening acid trip. I’ve realized that my medication has made me into a careless zombie with no feelings. I don’t feel emotions throughout my day, I only feel good when something REALLY good happens, and I’ve become distant in my relationship with my partner ever since starting antidepressants. I recently had my first acid trip at around 200 ug of LSD, but it seemed less intense compared to other people’s experiences, probably because of my medication. On this trip, I realized that the feeling of joy and happiness that I was feeling while tripping was amazing; everything was connected and good in the world. I thought the meaning of life was to spread this knowledge lol. I realized that I can achieve this without a medication that constantly regulates the chemistry of my brain. I had already been feeling this way, as I feel that talk therapy has been more beneficial than antidepressants. I’m going to gradually taper off, and make a plan with my doctor. I’m hoping that after I’m off my meds for a good while, I can get back to who I really am and have another beautiful, insightful trip, without the interference of SSRIs, that I can learn from.
TLDR: Took 200 ug of acid for my first time while on antidepressants, now i’m quitting them.

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts (2 Peter 3:3)
There are many studies with differing findings on masturbation. Some say it is good for health, others say abstaining from it is good for health.
This post is a Biblical perspective, and includes my testimony of the purely positive effects not masturbating has had on my life, as well as how to go about stopping altogether.
Don’t you know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (1 Cor 3:16-17)
Masturbating to pornography is idolatry. Masturbating without pornography is in most cases still idolatry. Masturbation is always a desecration of the LORD’s temple. Satan convinces men to pervert their God-given procreation ability, waste their life-giving seed, and look ridiculous in doing so.
I masturbated almost every day from the age of 16 to 25. Back then I had severe anxiety around females, and erectile disfunction. Once I stopped masturbating, both of those problems went way in a matter of months. Of course, these are not reasons to replace masturbation with fornication. Wait for a righteous wife, and in the meantime pursue the LORD’s righteousness yourself.
When a man is engaging in filthy acts, he is going to attract a filthy woman. Likewise, a man who works to clean up his life will attract a similarly clean woman. A wicked woman is given as a portion to a wicked man: but a godly woman is given to him that fears the Lord. (Ecc 26:23)
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (Gal 6:7-8)
Also, women are very spiritual and intuitive beings. Most can sense a man's filth just from being in his presence or observing his countenance.
A lot of us began masturbating before we were even men. I strongly encourage you to test yourself and see what life is like without this perversion. Observe the powerful effects of not masturbating. These effects include increased confidence around women, a brightening of countenance, and increased energy. The longer you abstain, the greater the results. Your wife, present or future, will thank you.
You have never been tempted to sin in any different way than other people. God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted more than you can take. But when you are tempted, He will make a way for you to keep from falling into sin. (1 Cor 10:13)
Breaking free of strongholds is easier said than done, but always possible with the LORD’s help. The ultimate key is truly desiring to do God’s will. We must fully desire to increase in holiness and become fully obedient to Him. We must be willing to reject the ways of the world, and commit ourselves to an ever-developing prayer-life and study of His word. What is impossible with man is possible with God (Luke 18:27)
When we truly desire God’s righteousness, we will be willing to utilize the control we have over our eyes. We might see a physically attractive woman on the street, but we can choose to not stare at her. If we were to stare at her features, we’d be strongly tempted to have dirty imaginations. If left unregulated, dirty imaginations are keen to escalate into fornication or masturbation down the line. Control of the eyes is especially important in this world of screens. We need to avoid using forms of social media and following pages that we know are going to have tempting images. The same goes for movies and TV. Still, even when an unexpected image appears, we always have the ability to divert our eyes. This ability can be trained and sharpened, but requires a willingness. Diverting the eyes is one of the most effortless actions the LORD has given us, yet most are not willing to do it, because most love the world. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.(1 John 2:15)
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. (Psalm 101:3)
Sometimes lustful thoughts enter the mind without a visual stimulus. Understand though, lustful thoughts occur much less frequently when the eyes are being guarded vigilantly.
When a lustful thought emerges, we must not entertain it. We must “nip it in the bud” by quickly bringing our attention to the LORD and His Word. Often, we must get away from the cellphone and computer, and begin praying, reading the Bible or meditating on it. We must practice keeping our attention in the present moment. Being present offers the opportunity shift our focus to God.
Regardless of how deep we are into a thought or imagination, we always have time to shift our attention to God and avoid physically sinning. Our minds can only focus on one thing at a time. With the awareness to focus our minds on God at the onset of a lustful thought, we can prevent it from escalating into physical sin. This “nipping in the bud” via the shifting of focus applies to all unworthy thoughts, such as those of a prideful and vain nature. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor 10:5)
This is much easier when we already meditate on God habitually. Furthermore, we need to keep God on our minds as much as possible, praying to Him and studying His word. This brings us closer to Him. The closer we are to God, the easier it is to instantly bring our attention to Him and call Him for help. Turn to me, says the LORD, and I will turn to you. (Zech 1:3)
When we truly desire to please God and become fully obedient to Him, when we are willing to put effort into works, when we are willing to make difficult changes, when we are willing to leave unhealthy relationships, when we are willing to reject the ways of the world, when we truly love God with our whole hearts, minds and souls, only then does avoiding sin become simple. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you will meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it, for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8)
The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. (Psalm 34:17)
You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3)
Keeping our attention in the present moment allows us to consider the fruits of entertaining a certain thought or taking a certain action. We constantly need to ask ourselves: Are these thoughts and actions serving our own wills, flesh, pride and pointless curiosities, or are they serving the Almighty Father who gives us life?
As always, when pursuing righteousness, expect Satan to enter the mind with clever lies and blasphemy to try to confuse, deter and deject. Rest assured, putting forth real effort into make lasting changes for the sake of avoiding sin is very pleasing to God, who gives us the strength to do all things.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7)

hey!
here’s what I look like
I’m in chicago, in the middle of my phd, using the sacred few hours of sleep I got to scroll reddit while binging on the trashiest reality TV and early 00s MTV music videos… I’m known for taking wise choices :P
a few sentences about myself
I’m a very proud mexican doing his phd in theoretical biophysics in the US (somewhere in the midwest). sometimes I like to think I’m super smart… then I remember how much trashy reality tv trivia I know. tbh, since moving here I’ve been aching to meet people that aren’t related to my professional or academic sphere, and rarely got the time to do much outside the lab, so, here I am, it seems meeting people online could be good bet :O
some random trivia

• my work is on machine learning and proteins
• love running and cycling, pretty much any heavy cardio activity
• love playing soccer but suck at it
• love signing but suck at it
• love drawing but suck at it
• I only sing in spanish, because I got a thiccc accent and feel a bit self-conscious singing in english
• expert in early 00s shitty pop music
• best disney movie is ratatouille
• most overrated disney movie is up
• love dancing cumbia and bachata… and actually do not suck at it! lmao
• can move my ears on command
• have lived in 4 countries, 6 cities, 2 continents
• I’m trying to get into video games. help? I have a swtich, xbox, and pc
• not a fan of scifi or fantasy :(
• once got jump-scared by a possum while riding my bike
• knows two and a half languages
• love crafts (specially origami) and playing the accordion

here are two truths and a lie

• I was personally invited to a fancy rooftop party by a google hotshot, but bailed on it
• a mexican bill saved my life while I was stranded in serbia
• I was suspended from middle school for burning a whiteboard with body spray and a lighter

If you're interested in talking, send me a line about yourself!

Ive just gone ONE STEP BEYOND in the 3D printing world,
Printing a 2 part stand that can only be printed one piece at a time, so I sent the first parts g-code home to my 3D printer and printed it, then when it was finished, I manipulated the printer to knock the part off and then sent g-code pt2 to the machine and started that too. All done from 10km away.
It should be complete by the time I get home at 10 pm tonight.

If you're an avid fan of Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket, you know the thrill of watching teams like the Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders battle it out on the pitch. But what if you're living in the United States, thousands of miles away from the action? Don't worry, my friend, you're not alone. The broadcasting rights of IPL can make it tricky to watch the games live in the USA. But fear not, for there is a solution that can unlock the digital shackles - a VPN!
VPN or Virtual Private Network is your ultimate ticket to watching every game of IPL 2023 live. It can change your digital location to India, provide you with a new IP address, and safeguard your online presence from prying eyes. Plus, it's easy to set up and use, even if you're not tech-savvy.
So, how does a VPN work, and how can it help you watch IPL 2023 in the USA? First, a VPN encrypts your internet traffic and reroutes it through a remote server located in a different country. This process masks your original IP address and assigns you a new one, making it seem like you're browsing the internet from a different location.
Secondly, VPNs can bypass geo-restrictions and content blocks by granting you access to IPL live streams that are only available in India. By connecting to an Indian server, you can access streaming services like Hotstar and watch every game of IPL 2023 in real-time.
But not all VPNs are created equal and choosing the right one can make all the difference. Look for a VPN provider that offers fast connection speeds, reliable servers in India, and excellent customer support. Also, make sure that the VPN you choose has a strict no-logging policy to protect your privacy.
From VPN to ESPN+: A Five-Step Guide to Watching IPL in the USA"
So, you're a cricket fan living in the USA, and you want to watch Indian Premier League (IPL) live streams. Unfortunately, strict broadcasting rights can make it challenging to access IPL games from outside India. But don't throw in the towel just yet. With the help of a VPN and ESPN+, you can watch IPL games in the USA hassle-free.
Here's a five-step guide on how to watch IPL in the USA using a VPN and ESPN+:
Step 1: Pick a VPN with servers in India.
I suggest NordVPN, as it offers fast speeds, reliable servers in India, and excellent customer support. And guess what? It's currently 63% off! That's a pretty sweet deal.
Step 2: Download and launch the VPN on your device.
NordVPN is easy to set up and use, even if you're not a tech whiz. Simply download the app, log in, and connect to an Indian server.
Step 3: Connect to an Indian server.
Connecting to an Indian server will give you an Indian IP address, which will unlock access to IPL live streams that are only available in India.
Step 4: Visit ESPN+ to find an IPL live stream.
ESPN+ is an online streaming service that offers live and on-demand sports content, including IPL games. Once you've connected to an Indian server using NordVPN, go to the ESPN+ website and search for IPL live streams.
Step 5: Relax and enjoy the cricket!
Now that you've successfully set up your VPN and connected to ESPN+, it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the cricket. Grab some snacks, put on your favorite jersey, and cheer for your favorite IPL team.
NordVPN
Are you tired of missing out on the Indian Premier League (IPL) action just because you live in the USA? Well, fret no more, my friend. NordVPN is here to save the day!
NordVPN is the best VPN for streaming IPL in the USA, and for a good reason. It boasts around 30 servers in India, making it ideal for unblocking live IPL streams. But that's not all. With over 5500 servers worldwide, NordVPN can unblock all sorts of streaming content, including BBC iPlayer, Sky Sports, Netflix Japan, and more. It's like having a world tour of streaming at your fingertips!
When it comes to streaming IPL, NordVPN's fast and reliable connections deliver buffer-free streaming, so you don't miss a single ball. Plus, with NordVPN, you don't have to worry about your online safety. Its instant kill switch and 256-bit AES encryption keep all your data safe and sound. You can sit back, relax, and enjoy the cricket without any worries.
But that's not all. NordVPN also offers excellent customer support, with 24/7 live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, if you're not happy with the service, you can always get your money back, no questions asked.
SurfsharkVPN
Are you tired of missing out on IPL games just because you're not in India? Do you want to unblock streaming sites like ESPN, Netflix, and Disney+ in the USA? Look no further than Surfshark, the shark of VPNs!
Surfshark is the next best VPN for streaming IPL games, and it's not hard to see why. Along with three servers in India, Surfshark has a fleet of over 3200 servers located in 100 countries. That means you can unblock pretty much any streaming site you want, whenever you want, wherever you are. It's like having a magic wand that unlocks the entire streaming universe!
And with unlimited simultaneous connections, you can use Surfshark on multiple devices simultaneously. You can stream two IPL games at the same time or let your housemates unblock Netflix while you're streaming cricket. It's a win-win situation for everyone.
Surfshark is not just fast and reliable, but it's also affordable. It's a premium product with features like end-to-end encryption and some of the fastest VPN connection speeds in the market. So, you don't have to compromise on quality or safety to enjoy streaming IPL games in the USA.
But that's not all. Surfshark also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, 24/7 customer support, and a strict no-logging policy. You can enjoy streaming IPL games in peace, knowing that your online presence is safe and secure.
IPVanishVPN
Are you tired of not being able to watch IPL games live in the USA? Do you want a VPN that's fast, reliable, and secure? Look no further than IPVanishVPN, the VPN that makes your streaming woes vanish into thin air!
IPVanish is another VPN we recommend for unblocking IPL streams. Its fleet of servers includes eight servers in India and 2000 around the world, making it a trusted option for unblocking IPL cricket and major streaming sites. With IPVanish, you can access streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video with ease.
But that's not all. IPVanish delivers fast connections that are secure and private. It's reliable, consistent, and keeps you safe with end-to-end encryption and a kill switch. So, you can stream IPL games without any interruptions or security concerns.
IPVanish also offers a user-friendly interface, excellent customer support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can try it out risk-free and see for yourself why it's one of the best VPNs for streaming IPL in the USA.
Cricket Streaming in the USA: Where to Watch IPL 2022 Online and How to Unblock it with a VPN
Are you a cricket fan living in the USA, wondering where to watch Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 online? Look no further, my friend. We've got you covered. But, there's a catch. To ensure you have access to all the games and channels, you'll need a VPN to get around content blocks. Don't worry; it's not as complicated as it sounds.
Here are some streaming services you can use to watch IPL in the USA and how much they cost:
ESPN+
ESPN+ is an online streaming service that offers live and on-demand sports content, including IPL games. It costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. But, remember, you'll need a VPN to access IPL live streams on ESPN+.
Willow TV
Willow TV is a streaming service that specializes in cricket content. It offers live and on-demand access to IPL games, among other cricket events. It costs $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is a subscription-based streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and sports content, including IPL games. It costs $8.99 per month or $119 per year. But, like with ESPN+, you'll need a VPN to access IPL live streams on Amazon Prime Video.
JioCinema
JioCinema is an Indian streaming service that offers IPL live streams, among other content. It's free to use, but you'll need a VPN to access it from outside India.
Watch IPL Cricket on Your Windows or Mac PC: The Easy Guide You Can't Miss!
Are you a Windows or Mac user who wants to watch IPL cricket games on your PC? Look no further; we've got you covered. With these quick instructions, you can watch IPL on your PC hassle-free.
Step 1: Download a VPN on your computer so you can change your IP address.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) allows you to change your digital location and access content that's only available in specific countries. We recommend NordVPN, as it has around 30 Indian servers and offers fast speeds, reliable connections, and excellent customer support.
Step 2: Install and launch NordVPN.
NordVPN is easy to set up and use. Once you've downloaded the app, install it on your PC, and log in to your account.
Step 3: Connect to an Indian server.
Connecting to an Indian server will give you an Indian IP address, which will unlock access to IPL live streams that are only available in India.
Step 4: Find an IPL stream and get watching!
Once you've connected to an Indian server using NordVPN, you can find an IPL stream on any of the streaming services we mentioned earlier, like ESPN+, Willow TV, Amazon Prime Video, or JioCinema. And that's it! You're ready to watch IPL cricket games on your Windows or Mac PC.
Watch IPL Cricket on Your Smartphone Anywhere, Anytime: The Ultimate Guide!
Are you a cricket fanatic who loves to watch IPL games on your smartphone? Are you tired of not being able to access IPL live streams because of geo-restrictions? Don't worry; we've got you covered. With these easy steps, you can unblock IPL on your iOS or Android smartphone and enjoy cricketing nirvana anytime, anywhere.
Step 1: Download a VPN that supports mobile devices.
To unblock IPL live streams on your smartphone, you'll need a VPN that supports mobile devices. We recommend NordVPN, as it has fantastic apps for iOS and Android, and offers fast speeds, reliable connections, and excellent customer support.
Step 2: Open the app and set up an account.
Once you've downloaded the NordVPN app on your smartphone, open it and set up an account. It's easy and straightforward, and NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out risk-free.
Step 3: Find an Indian server and connect.
To unblock IPL live streams, you need to connect to an Indian server using NordVPN. NordVPN has a fleet of servers in India, so you can easily find an Indian server and connect to it.
Step 4: You're ready to find an IPL stream and enjoy the cricket!
Once you've connected to an Indian server using NordVPN, you're ready to find an IPL stream and enjoy the cricket. You can use any of the streaming services we mentioned earlier, like ESPN+, Willow TV, Amazon Prime Video, or JioCinema.
Stream IPL on Your Favorite Devices with a VPN: The Ultimate Guide!
Are you a cricket fan who wants to stream IPL games on your favorite streaming devices like Roku, Apple TV, Firestick, or Kodi? Do you want to unblock IPL live streams without any hassle? Look no further; we've got you covered. With these easy steps, you can connect your VPN to your router and stream IPL games on your favorite devices.
Step 1: Download a recommended VPN.
To stream IPL games on your favorite devices, you'll need a VPN that's compatible with routers. We recommend NordVPN, as it's easy to set up and use, and offers fast speeds, reliable connections, and excellent customer support.
Step 2: Connect the VPN to your router.
Once you've downloaded NordVPN, you'll need to connect it to your router. You can do this by following the instructions provided by NordVPN or contacting their customer support for assistance.
Step 3: Select an Indian server location.
To unblock IPL live streams, you need to select an Indian server location using NordVPN. NordVPN has a fleet of servers in India, so you can easily find an Indian server and connect to it.
Step 4: Plug your chosen streaming stick into your TV.
Once you've connected NordVPN to your router and selected an Indian server location, you can plug your chosen streaming stick into your TV.
Step 5: Switch on the TV, launch an app that streams IPL and settle down for some cricket!
Now, you're ready to switch on your TV, launch an app that streams IPL, and settle down for some cricketing nirvana. You can use any of the streaming services we mentioned earlier, like ESPN+, Willow TV, Amazon Prime Video, or JioCinema.
Conclusion
Watching IPL cricket games from anywhere in the world is no hassle when you use a VPN. A VPN can give you a new IP address and bypass geo-blocks, enabling you to watch your favorite Indian Cricket League team play live. But that's not all; using a VPN also encrypts your data, keeps your activity anonymous, and ultimately keeps you more protected online.
We recommend going with a respected VPN provider like NordVPN, as it offers fast speeds, reliable connections, excellent customer support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. NordVPN has a fleet of servers in India, making it easy to unblock IPL live streams and enjoy cricketing nirvana.
So, don't let geo-restrictions, snooping ISPs, annoying content blocks, or data-stealing hackers ruin your IPL cricket watching experience. Download NordVPN and enjoy unblocked streaming content from all over the world hassle-free. With NordVPN, you can cheer for your favorite IPL team and experience cricketing nirvana no matter where you are in the world.

Hello, I'm creating a Minecraft bedrock Realm server named wastelands (recommended for PC/XBOX/PS) it will be a apocalyptic world survival with many features including; guns, harder Zombies, custom safe zones and shops, dungeons, custom Bosses, raiding and much more!
The aim of this server will be to raid other players and become the most powerful player or team, teams of 2 is max due to 10 player at a time limit on realms (If this goes well will be made a official server.)
Will be posting updates and pictures as the process goes along, message me to be added to a list where when the game is finished you will get first access and a great starter kit featuring many custom guns and raiding materials.
Updates will be posted!

Kubernetes
I'm new to Kubernetes and Rancher, but have a cluster setup and a workload deployed. I'm looking at setting up an ingress, but am confused by what my DNS should look like.
I'll keep it simple: I have a domain (example.com) and I want to be able to configure the DNS so that it's routed through to the correct IP in my 3 node cluster, then to the right ingress and load balancer, eventually to the workload.
I'm not interested in this xip.io stuff as I need something real-world, not a sandbox, and there's no documentation on the Rancher site that points to what I should do.
Should I run my own DNS via Kubernetes? I'm using DigitalOcean droplets and haven't found any way to get Rancher to setup DNS records for me (as it purports to do for other cloud providers).
It's really frustrating as it's basically the first and only thing you need to do... "expose an application to the outside world", and this is somehow not trivial.
Would love any help, or for someone to explain to me how fundamentally dumb I am and wha tI'm missing!
Thanks.
Answer link : https://codehunter.cc/a/kubernetes/how-do-i-configure-my-dns-to-work-with-rancher-2-0-ingress

Hello You,
Now at this point we’ve all heard that the show has been renewed for the 5th and Final Season and all the discussions on this subreddit have pointed to people wanting one of two endings, the death or incarceration of Joe Goldberg. Since these endings are the most obvious I don’t think they will be the ones the showrunners go with nor do I think they would be particularly satisfying.
My ideal ending would be one where Joe ends up in a situation similar to his father figure Ivan Mooney. I want his story to end with him being a paralyzed vegetable of a man forced to live out the rest of his life rotting in the prison that is his own body unable to interact with the world around him in any meaningful way and forced to observe and live with the fact that he will never get to be with his new obsession. It would be the worst kind of torture for him. To live a paralyzed, powerless, hopeless life where he can never covet the thing he desires most. It would be the most cruel fate for him and that is why it’s the ending I want for Joe Goldberg.
Now I have no idea how this would come about plot wise but I think this is a potential ending that hasn't been discussed very much so let me know what you all think in the comments below!

in an unusual alliance, Gavlaan the Wheeler of the Gyrm Acquisitioners, Skarhunter da Commando, and Daemon Prince Daniel entered combat with Chimeracons of Tarantulas's design, in an effort to capture and return to Megatron of the Decepticons for a generous bounty. on the surface of an ice world, the three were first confronted by a Shark, Squid, and Rabbit Chimeracon, wasting no time in trying to halt the Kin, Ork, and Daemon. the Squid was critically injured by Gavlaan's Graviton Beam Rifle and COG and Ironkin entourage, while Daniel engaged the Shark and Skarhunter fired upon the Rabbit from a distance. the Squid dove down beneath the ice, dragging the shark down with it in an effort to escape. the rabbit was not so lucky as Gavlaan's COGs shot off its leg, and applied a plasma torch into its back, killing it.
Daniel and Skarhunter proceed to follow the two escapees and dove under water, to find a submerged base. Gavlaan attempted to follow, but ran into difficulties navigating, managing to only find 5 more life signatures with his Pan Spectral Scanner. Daniel and Skarhunter manage enter the lab, finding rows of lab equipment, and hanging pods of biogenesis fluid. they meet the squid from before, as well as who seems to be the shark, but reads different scans than before. after smiting the two, five more Chimeracons enter the chamber, including the shark from before, as well as a turtle, manta ray, a Pirahna, and a lobster. near instantly, Skarhunter uses one of his Vortex grenades, damning the Manta and Pirahna to the depths of the warp.
by this time, Gavlaan manages to get his underwater gear working, and finds an advantageous position behind the newer Chimeracons, unloading a full salvo from his Rifle and COGs drawing blood. the Lobster and DAemon Prince Daniel engage in glorious melee while the turtle fires a salvo of missiles upon Skarhunter, singing his skin in the process. in a moment of glory, when Skarhunter 360 no-scopes the lobster unawares, Gavlaan unleashes the Gyrm speciality of Core Buster Fire Patterns, detonating the Turtle in a mechanical gory explosion.
during this time, the original shark had slipped in the din of battle, retreating to an inner sanctum, where the trio then followed. the shark was fearfully twiddling with wires and a triangle connected to an ominous portal, one which Daniel pried the secrets of from the shark using his psyker powers. executing the now worthless creature, Daniel had Gavlaan insert the wires and he himself using the same fell magic aligned the triangle, deducing that Tarantulas must've escaped via this portal, and that he likely was unable to prevent a follow through save for his guards.
instead, a vid-feed began playing of the marked man, as Tarantulas left a recording, intended for Megatron's usual retinue, declaring he had been one step ahead all along, and that Megatron could not see his vision for the future. at the end, a gargantuan Chimeracon was unleashed from a hidden wall, seemingly an amalgamation of the previous guardians, standing nigh 30 meters tall. as Gavlaan and Daniel were deciding between fight or flight, Skarhunter chucked one more of his hazardous Vortex Grenades, landing and detonating square on the titanic menagerie beast. in a flash, the massive creature was dragged into the warp, but still alive. as the base began a separate self-destruct sequence, the three departed, Skarhunter tearing his way out, Daniel rushing and snagging the remains of those slain, and Gavlaan using his Teleport Crest to vanish with his mechanical companions back onboard the Kin vessel in orbit.
aftermath: Skarhunter escaped, plotting his next move. Daniel reclaimed the corpse pieces and found and slaughtered the vanished behemoth for infernal rituals. Gavlaan departed grumbling, placing Tarantulas's name into the Data-vault of Grudges for wasting time and resources by escaping.
Tarantulas is still at large.

I’ve had two Negronis tonight and I always spin into a bit of loneliness and depression when that happens. My cats are good at keeping me company, but it’s not the same as a person. Hoping to find someone fun and interesting to chat with today and into the future. I’ve met a few interesting people off of Reddit, but the connection tends to fade after a bit, so I figured I’d give this another shot to make some new connections.
I’m a 42m located in Minnesota near Minneapolis. I’ve lived here my entire life, other than the four years I spent in Wisconsin for school. I’m an electrical engineer and I work as an engineering manager for a consulting firm. I also just finished up a part-time MBA program at the end of last year, so I’m starting to have a bit more free time. I’m about 5’8”, brown hair and eyes, beard, and overweight, though I’ve been working on it with some significant progress. I have some photos on my profile.
When the weather is nice I enjoy getting outside for walks, hikes, and bike rides. Luckily the weather is starting to improve lately. I enjoy cooking and baking, reading, playing video games and board games, doing puzzles, and playing piano. I love animals and I have two cats, both of which are about a year to two years old. I also really enjoy traveling and went to Morocco for two weeks this past summer.
I’m looking for someone with similar interests who I click with, or someone who can challenge me to see the world in a different way. I spend most of my time alone at home and winter generally just makes the loneliness and isolation worse. I’m lonely and the last two years have been rough. Just looking for people to chat with about whatever.
Send me a note if any of this sounds interesting to you! Looking forward to meeting you!

Ruby had always found solace in video games, but none had captured her imagination quite like Sword Art Online (SAO). In the game, she could be anyone she wanted to be and do anything she wanted to do. She quickly discovered a love for weapons and became incredibly skilled with a scythe.
Despite her talent, she struggled to make friends in the real world. Her family didn't understand her obsession with weapons, and her peers found her strange. The only person who truly understood her was Jaune, a boy she had known since childhood. He was the only person she had ever felt truly close to.
When they both became trapped in SAO, she was initially excited to have someone she knew in the game with her. They fought together and went on quests, and for a while, it felt like nothing had changed.
But then Jaune died. It was a glitch in the game, something that was out of anyone's control. But for Ruby, it was the final straw. She had lost the only person who truly understood her and the only person she cared about.
She became consumed by grief and anger. She blamed the game for taking Jaune away from her, and she vowed to make everyone pay. She joined Laughing Coffin, a guild known for their sadistic tendencies and their love of killing other players.
Ruby became infamous as the Laughing Reaper, a small figure with a plain red mask and a bone-chilling laugh. She wielded her large crimson scythe with ease, despite her small stature, and took pleasure in the pain and suffering of others.
She stopped caring about getting out of the game. For her, it was the only place where she truly felt alive. She reveled in her infamy and the fear that she inspired in others. She had become a monster, but to her, it didn't matter anymore. All that mattered was the game and the power she held within it.
As fate would have it, Ruby's sister Yang was also trapped in the game of SAO. Yang had always been protective of her younger sister, but she had no idea that Ruby was also stuck in the game.
Yang quickly made a name for herself in the game as the Golden Dragon. Her skill with a sword and shield was unmatched, and she had a strong sense of justice that earned her many allies and supporters. She was a beacon of hope and strength for many players in the game.
But despite her success, Yang still felt a sense of loneliness. She missed her family and wondered if they were safe in the real world. She longed for the day when she could leave the game and be reunited with them.
Unknown to her, Ruby felt the same way. But Ruby's grief and anger had consumed her, and she had become a different person entirely. The two sisters were so close, yet so far apart.
As time passed, Yang and Ruby's paths never crossed. They fought for different causes and belonged to different factions within the game. But the two sisters were destined to meet again, and when they did, it would be a battle unlike any other.
For now, they both continued to fight for their lives in the game, unaware of each other's presence. The Golden Dragon and the Laughing Reaper, two sisters trapped in the same world but on opposite sides of the battlefield.
As Yang continued her quest to survive and thrive in the game of SAO, she eventually met two other players, Weiss and Blake. The two had been heavily affected by the Laughing Reaper, just like Yang's sister Ruby. Weiss was a lightning-fast rapier user, while Blake was a shadow-dwelling dagger user.
Weiss and Blake had both been members of separate guilds that had been destroyed by the Laughing Reaper. They had barely escaped, but the experience had left them scarred and determined to seek revenge. When they met Yang, they quickly formed a bond and soon realized that they shared a common goal: to annihilate Laughing Coffin.
Together with a handful of other players who had also been affected by the Laughing Reaper, they formed a new guild called the Golden Tempest. Their goal was simple: to bring justice to the game and put an end to the sadistic guild that had caused so much pain and suffering.
As they worked towards their goal, they encountered many challenges and obstacles. The Laughing Coffin was a powerful and dangerous guild, and they had many skilled players on their side. But the Golden Tempest was determined, and they fought with all their might.
Unknown to Yang, her sister Ruby was a member of Laughing Coffin and had become the notorious Laughing Reaper. The two sisters were unaware of each other's presence in the game, and their paths never crossed.
But as the Golden Tempest continued their fight, they slowly began to unravel the secrets of the Laughing Coffin. And when they finally discovered the truth about the Laughing Reaper, it would be a battle unlike any other.
As the Golden Tempest went on a job to take down a group of Laughing Coffin members, they found themselves facing off against the infamous guild. To their surprise, they were able to defeat them with relative ease, but their victory was short-lived.
As they were about to finish off the Laughing Coffin members, Weiss and Blake suddenly froze in terror, recognizing the sound of the Laughing Reaper's laugh. Yang was confused until she saw the Laughing Coffin members suddenly bisected by a large crimson scythe.
In front of them stood the infamous red mask, and Yang was face to face with the most infamous player in the game. She asked the Reaper why she killed her own members, but the response was chilling. "They were weak, and have no place in my Guild," came the reply, followed by the haunting laugh that sent shivers down Yang's spine.
She quickly grabbed Weiss and Blake, using a teleport crystal to get back to their guild. But little did she know, she had just come face to face with her own baby sister, Ruby.
As the Golden Tempest continued their fight against Laughing Coffin, Yang couldn't shake the feeling that she had met the Laughing Reaper before. It wasn't until much later that she would discover the truth and the shocking realization that her own sister had become the very thing they were fighting against.
It would be a battle of epic proportions as the Golden Tempest fought to bring Ruby back from the brink of darkness and to put an end to the tyranny of Laughing Coffin. But for Yang, it was personal. She had to save her little sister, no matter the cost.
As the final battle between Laughing Coffin and the Golden Tempest began, Yang found herself face to face with the Laughing Reaper once again. The two sides clashed in a brutal and bloody fight, with both sides losing many good members.
Despite the intensity of the battle, Yang still didn't recognize that the Laughing Reaper was her own sister, Ruby. And even though Ruby recognized Yang, her mind was too far gone to care at this point. She was consumed by her own sadness and anger, and nothing could stop her.
The battle raged on, with both sides fighting fiercely. But by the end, Ruby was the only one left standing on the side of Laughing Coffin. She applauded Yang and the remaining members of Golden Tempest, taking sadistic pleasure in seeing Yang breakdown.
In a shocking moment, Ruby removed her mask, revealing her face to her sister. Yang was stunned, unable to believe that the Laughing Reaper was her own baby sister. But before she could react, Ruby went in for the kill.
In that moment, it seemed like all hope was lost. But then, something miraculous happened. Blake and Weiss, who had been fighting alongside Yang, stepped in and killed Ruby, sacrificing themselves to save their friend.
Yang cried uncontrollably, watching her baby sister killed before her very eyes. The battle was won, but at a great cost. The Golden Tempest had lost many good members, including Blake and Weiss, and Yang was left to grieve the loss of her sister and the life that could have been.
In the end, the game of SAO was beaten, but the scars it left behind would never fully heal. Yang would carry the memory of her sister with her always, and she would never forget the lessons she learned in the game. The battle may have been won, but the cost was great, and the scars would never fully heal.
After finally getting out of the game and returning to the real world, Yang went through years of therapy to help her deal with the trauma she had experienced in SAO. It was a long and difficult road, but she eventually reached a point where she felt ready to talk about what had happened in the game.
She sat down with her parents and told them everything, from her experience in the game to the loss of her sister Ruby. It was a difficult conversation, but it was one that needed to happen. Yang's parents were shocked and saddened by what had happened, but they were also proud of their daughter for surviving such a harrowing experience.
Together, they talked about the importance of mental health and how to cope with trauma. They encouraged Yang to continue going to therapy and to take care of herself. They also talked about the importance of family and the need to support one another through difficult times.
In the end, the conversation brought them closer together as a family. They were able to grieve the loss of Ruby together and to come to terms with what had happened in the game. It was a difficult journey, but they had come out stronger on the other side.
Yang knew that she would never forget what had happened in SAO, but she also knew that she had the love and support of her family to help her through it. And with that, she was able to move forward and begin the next chapter of her life, knowing that she could face anything as long as she had her family by her side.

Hey foot soldiers, skip to the bold part if you don't want the backstory, I don't blame ya.
I'm 21yr F. Broken family, oldest child, abusive dad, Mom ran away with the kids to escape him and we lived in a homeless shelter for a bit. Yadda yadda, skip forward a few years, and my s****** attempts began in middle school.
I was told I was just doing it for attention. I think, truly, maybe I even believed it a little bit. Now that I'm older and I can retroactively look back at my actions, I wonder if maybe it was a cry for help.
In high school I began therapy because I found myself physically unable to leave my house. I got diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Agoraphobia. Before that, I was active, lost a ton of weight in the Marching Band (woodwind section shout out) but I wasn't happy. I couldn't bring myself to ever feel comfortable no matter who was around me or wherever I was.
I thought it was just me. I white-knuckled and shut my brain off, refusing to think more than five seconds so I could make it through the day, or else the s******al thoughts would just come back again and again. Finally, my therapist gave me a choice: we could recommend you for SSRI medication (Lexapro).
This is why I'm making this post: These thoughts that I'm about to lay out are completely untrue and took YEARS for me to figure out and grapple with. I was given the option at 16 and didn't start taking them until 20. Four years of torment, mulling over my choices, anguish, and gaining weight led me to understand my own harmful thinking that was pushing me away from being better.

1. If I take this medicine, I'll lose what makes me special.

I thought of myself sort of like a "wounded artist", somebody who lived through the pain but found beauty in it. I thought that maybe I'm MEANT to suffer, and it's my job to make something beautiful out of it like Van Gogh or something.
Nobody is meant to suffer. Nobody should suffer like that. Pain doesn't make you beautiful nor does it make you ugly. Stop romanticizing pain.

1. If I take the medicine, I'll lose my autonomy.

I thought that maybe I'd become a mindless drone if I were to take the medicine. What I failed to realize is that I was a mindless drone WITHOUT the medicine. I couldn't bring myself to think about my pain or my anxiety more than five seconds, and that led me to run out of social gatherings and stay cooped up in my room all the time.
Taking the medicine made me able to be who I was MEANT to be. It gave me the ability to PONDER the world. When was the last time I was able to sit and just .... THINK? Before my medicine, that would've ended in me crying in less than five minutes. Now, I'm not as scared to be alone with my thoughts.

1. If I take the medicine, I'll be less funny.

I thought that if I took the medicine I wouldn't be able to be funny anymore. This one is sort of the "wounded artist" from before, but more a take on Robin Williams who struggled with his own mental health or Richard Pryor.
Taking the medicine won't make you less funny. Your sense of humor becomes more solidified, more stable, more coherent.

1. If I take the medicine, I'll be married to a pill.

This one came from just a gross misunderstanding of how treatment for mental disorders works. Firstly, just because you take medicine for a little while USUALLY doesn't meant that you have to take it forever. Many people decide that they don't want to take it anymore: The important part is to talk to your psychiatrist and come up with a plan to ween you off the medicine so that your brain doesn't get serotonin-whiplash.
Secondly, what is the harm in taking a medicine if it allows you to feel better? What exactly does "Married to a Pill" mean, and why is that harmful? Do you not want to be dependent on a medicine? If that's the case, do you look down on people who, for example, take blood thinners or cancer medication? What is it about the act of taking medicine that is SO harmful?
Once I unpacked that, I realized how stupid that reasoning way, and that taking medicine is nothing to be ashamed of.

1. I don't know the side effects of the medicine.

Without the medicine, I wanted to end my own life. I had to weigh the pros and cons -- and talking with my psychiatrist really helped me. The worst that the medicine would do is make me a little sleepy. What was the alternative? -- pushing myself until I couldn't white-knuckle anymore and ended up taking my own life.
I don't know if this post helped anybody, but I advise everybody struggling or anybody who knows somebody who is struggling to help them unpack these toxic, harmful mindsets. They are what's standing in the way of seeking help.