Dies to Removal

I know Griselbrand goes for about thirteen USD.

I'm not sure what you can sell the girl for though, Z. Looks like a mythic rare.

Death is a transition, a change from one state of being to another. In a spiritual and philosophical sense, life itself is possible because of this kind of death. I am not the same person I was three years ago or even two weeks ago. As Picasso said, "every act of creation is first an act of destruction." Learning to deal with your fear of death is an act of destruction.

My mantra is "This too shall pass." At first I used it to remind myself that the bad things in life are temporary. Now I use it to remind myself that happiness is also transitory, so I need to savor those moments. The trick is to not hold on, to choose again.

Are there any Unitarian
services in your area? I've attended a few, and the community aspect was overwhelmingly positive. It's a sect more or less dedicated to exploring different beliefs without becoming fixated on dogma. If you want a welcoming, open environment, you might want to look there.

If this fear becomes too much of a problem, then you'd benefit from some professional help. Seriously, that type of fear can overwhelm everything else around it. That's not a good place to be, emotionally, spiritually, or physically.

A quick Google search shows there is, in fact, a Unitarian meeting place of sorts in South Bend. I may look into it, if I believe it will help. I think I'll explore a bunch of different things until I find something that resonates.

My girlfriend is Wiccan, and ever since she heard of these doubts of mine she's been trying to "recruit" me or something. But dying a human and being reborn as a tree just doesn't sit well with me.

Oh well. For today, I feel a bit better. Certainly in part because of you fellows. Thank you.

[quote="rcwraspy » Sun Mar 31, 2013 2:50 pmLike others here I don't have any training in a profession where advice in this sort of thing is normal, but I do have my own beliefs and experiences to pull from. Personally, I'd suggest changing your morning mantra a bit. To me it sounds a bit too negative, and you may want to switch it to something more positive. Instead of focusing on "I'm going to die someday, maybe someday soon," you may instead want to think of something along the lines of "I'm going to live today to its fullest."

The idea of not focusing on things outside of your control came up earlier. I think it's easy to translate that into not caring, or being lax about life and death, but it doesn't need to. Instead define for yourself what is and is not outside/inside your control.
Is a terrorist attack on your workplace within your control? Not likely. Is looking both ways when you cross the street within your control? Yup. Things like that. You could even say "Is a genetic disease/illness within my control?" The answer there is likely no. But is maintaining a healthy lifestyle? That one's more likely.[/quote]

I do suppose a more positive morning mantra will help more than the former. I'll try giving these things a shot, too.

I thought a bit about your existential question, Kaze. I was born into a quasi-Catholic family, baptized and confirmed, but that's about as far as it went.

I've always had a healthy suspicion of authority, so it was difficult for me to get behind the idea of an all-knowing all-seeing entity that would keep a tally of plusses and minuses when I died.

nI'm fairly sure that the Catholic idea of god isn't valid, but I see lots of value in adopting a set of morals and values to live life by.

I can't say for sure that I'm an atheist, because I don't know for sure that no god exists. I also don't know for sure that a god does exist, so I've chosen to take a policy of "I'll be a good person while I'm alive, which ought to cover me in the afterlife if there is one"

Regarding the afterlife, I've thought a lot about that, too. If we simply blink out of existence after we die, that's fantastic! If I can't comprehend that I'm not in heaven after I die, because there is no me left, then I won't feel good or bad about it and there's no reason to worry.

If my spiritual butt is covered from a lifetime of treating people well, I ought to be proud of my time spent. If that includes some sort of afterlife, I'll get to spend time with good people who love me because I was good to them.

I'm like the religious version of a hedge fund.

I think I'm in a similar position of just plain not being sure. I would love to go about my life just being as virtuous a person I can and hoping it pays off if I transcend to another life, if it weren't for that whole "accept Christ as your savior, or you shall perish" thing. Assuming the two possibilities are oblivion or Christian afterlife, i'll either vanish forever hence or torment in metaphorical(or actual?) flames for eternity. Neither sounds pleasant. But at the same time, I don't want to prescribe to religion just because of a fear of Hell, or some other consequence. That just doesn't feel genuine. Almost a blatant effrontery to the religion itself.

Also, I suppose I just don't see the thought of "just ending" as okay. I don't want to disappear. I'm not okay with that. I have a hard enough time dealing with myself after I finish a book I really like and there's nothing left to read. I imagine the end of life is like the end of a very long, vivid
storybook.

Life is complicated. Death is complicated. I just can't win.

You guys are awesome. Not a single ounce of ridicule. Who says the internet isn't better than real life? I appreciate you all giving me some words on the subject.

I missed church today, I woke up with a wicked fever and couldn't move out of bed until the better part of the morning was over. I broke out the old bible, though. And I think I'll attend a service next week. That's not to say I intend to take comfort in religion itself, though. At least not yet. It still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth from my younger years of being punished for my "sins" as a child. But I'll give it another shot. I suppose, as far as the psychological problem goes, I need to accept it somehow. I once had someone tell me that if you told yourself something every morning after you woke up, over and over, the subconsciousness of it all takes over and you believe it. "I'm going to die someday, maybe someday soon, and that's okay&
quot; sounds like the correct thing here. It's just become such an issue in my daily life. It distracts me from work, from communicating with people, and such. I don't want to end up clinically insane or something.

So, happy Easter/day off from work/whatever you personally see today as. I think I'll visit my folks today.

So, "Stop worrying about things you cannot control" seems to be the remedy here. But it's far easier said than done, I suppose.

I think the concept of death was a lot easier to bear with back when I was a super-religious teenager. Being raised Baptist left little room for doubts about the existence of a soul and whatnot. But ever since I've left home and my parents aren't exactly able to force me up for Sunday service anymore, those doubts have crept in. "Father, take this cup from me, if it is your will" feels a lot less reassuring when I'm constantly conflicted between my religious beliefs and scientific beliefs.

I think I'm less afraid of death itself than eternal oblivion. I don't know how Atheists deal with the thought. I sure can't.


Also, I was just at MTGS, myself. Came across a "is vexing devil really that bad?" thread. At least most of them said hell yes.

Happy Easter,
and good night.

So, like, people post their life issues on here a lot seeking sanctuary and solace. Anybody mind if I follow suit? I've been having something tearing at me for a while now.

Death. I have a deep-rooted, overwhelming fear of death. Impending doom. Someday it will get me. Someday soon, perhaps. It all started when I was diagnosed with my heart condition. I was nineteen. Up until then, the thought "someday, I will die" had never even crossed my mind. I knew it as fact. I didn't care, I guess? For some reason, it didn't bother me. Now I think about it incessantly. Every day without fail. I fear this will be my last day, hour, minute, moment on Earth. I was raised religious, but I can't help but fear just ceasing to exist after I die. It's unbearable sometimes. I feel like everything I do in life anymore is just a distraction from my inevitable fate. Everyone on Earth will die someday, and not too many people seem
concerned. I don't understand how. Does the thought of dying, whether you move to a new plane of existence or cease existing forever, just not scare people like it does me? I wish I could get over this...

Sorry. I feel weird now. I hate throwing off the feel of the thread.

Vexing Devil sucks. redthirst is the epitome of manliness. Burning-Tree Emissary has no place in a mono-red sligh deck. Carry on.

Blind Obedience is a good way to set an aggro deck one or two turns back. Though it's lost its mainboard potential lately as the meta has progressed, in my opinion. I've moved them out of the mainboard in my aggro decks in favor of Oblivion Ring or Faith's Shield. Though not quite on curve, I'm pretty tired of drawing Blind Obedience against stupid control decks.

Hey guys,got 3-1 at FNM, getting 4th. Lost to Naya, and beat Wolf Run Bant, G/r aggro, and a new kid.... yep.


Here is my deck
[deck]
Creatures
2 Stonewright
4 Stromkirk Noble
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Gore-house Chainwalker
4 Ash Zealot
4 Boros Reckoner
3 Pyreheart Wolf
4 Hellrider
1 Zealous Conscripts

Burn
4 Searing Spear
3 Pillar of Flame

Land
22 Mountain
1 Hellion Crucible

SB
4 Mizzium Mortars
3 Volcanic Strength
2 Mark of Mutiny
1 Pillar of Flame
2 Flames of the Firebrand
3 Hound of Griselbrand
[/deck]

Any Suggestions? My deck feels good, but I feel like it could be better.

Though I'm a huge proponent of fine-tuning
to taste, I find that a burn suite of 4Searing Spear, 4 Pillar of flame, and 2 Brimstone Volley works fantastically in the mainboard. This is naught but personal preference, though.

Everything else looks pretty snazzy.

Does anyone here play Tera Online? Or any MMORPG on a PvP server, for that matter?

Because I'm about ready to throw my computer out the window. Why do people at the level cap take so much joy in picking off little level 15's like myself? I just want to finish my damn quests.

As the Tumblrfags would say, I'm 500% done with this shit.

/rage

Hiya, red mages! I went 4-1 with my Almost-mono-white aggro this evening at FNM. Faith's Shield was an excellent card post-board, and more than once I Champ of the Parish>Boros Elite>Boros Elite>Boros Elite'd for explosive awesomeness. Made some nice trades as well. Good times.

How'd everyone else do?

Kaze, great work! 3 lbs a week of fat loss is really good. What's your diet / workout plan?

Thanks!

My diet mainly consists of portion control more so than actual food choice. Though I do try my best to follow the 30/30/30/4 rule my doctor gave me (30 grams fat, 30 grams carbs, 30 grams protein, 4 meals a day.) I've also been drinking at least three cups of green tea per day. And I switched to Almond milk.

As for workouts, I've been doing this top-down military circuit thing my dad taught me years ago. Basically starting with shoulder presses and working your way down your body to calf raises without resting; doing a shit ton of crunches, leg lifts, and Russian twists at the end; then repeating that 3-4 times or until comatose.
Twice a week I (attempt) to run. Still working on that part...

Man, all this anime talk up in here .

I gave it up when it sort of became the "Uncool thing"

Is there any good one to perhaps get back into?

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is pretty snazzy. It follows the manga rather than the imaginary wtf storyline of the original. It's on Toonami right now.

Cowboy Bebop is always a fine choice. Classic.

Or, if you used to be one of those weeaboo snobs who only watches subbed anime, Hellsing is pretty damn cool. I think it's licensed for dub on Starz or something, but, whatever.

@ Khaos & windstrider - Thanks for the props, guys. I figured, new house, time to redecorate!

Good morning, all. The kids are home for the Easter break, so we are being damned lazy so far.

Hamfactorial health challenge going strong...weighed in at 227 this morning, bidding the 230's goodbye forever. Time for bacon & eggs!

Good job! Progress!

In the spirit of all this self-bettering, I stepped on the scale as well. I'm at 186 now, which marks 20 pounds lost in the last seven weeks.

Oh Kaze...there's a special level of Hell set aside for you and VD...

That looks really impressive to me.

What anime is your avatar from Kaze? I am back to working my way very slowly through One Piece

It's from Bleach. An undoubtedly bad anime anymore with the eons of filler and all, but one of my guilty pleasures.

Ah, Gods, I haven't even heard One Piece mentioned in years. Good stuff, if I remember right.

Now, who wants to marry me?

Can I call dibs? Not only are you assuredly drop dead sexy, but you make tea. I don't think you can comprehend my love of tea. It is much like my love of redthirst, but flatter and fits into a cup.

On that note, it is 3 in the morning, I have a paper due in less than 24 hours, and a
powerful need to sleep. And a coffee date in about 12 of those aforementioned hours.

That being said, g'night gents!

I deem myself claimed! I hope you find my tea making skills satisfactory. It more thank makes up for my lack of...all the other human traits. Hopefully.

Night!

So I figured with the move it was finally time to craft my own sig banner...what do you guys think?

Needs more Vexing Devil.

And the other things suggested.

It's bullshit for her to say that when anyone else on the forum using it would get an infraction. Basically, she's justifying her use of the word by claiming a nonsense defense.

Such is the case with all the staff over there. Trying to defend themselves with stupid arguments they make up on the spot.

That was pretty much the last straw that made me leave, personally.

Good evening, redbros. Work was exhausting. Fiancee is being a fuckstick. I'm holed up in my music room wondering how to escape to the kitchen for food without getting yelled at and/or throwing my hand at her face.

Now, who wants to marry me?

Pizza delivery through the window?

Actually...

That would work.

Thank you kindly.

Good evening, redbros. Work was exhausting. Fiancee is being a fuckstick. I'm holed up in my music room wondering how to escape to the kitchen for food without getting yelled at and/or throwing my hand at her face.

Now, who wants to marry me?

So what's with the special new clan areas that now accompany our thread?

You can read about it in the other thread, but here's the basics:

-This area of the forum is free for anyone to post in - it will ultimately be for new prospects to do their "Hey I want to join" thing.

-The restricted area is free for anyone to read, but only certain members will have posting priviledges - this will be the propper clan thread.

-The hidden area is, well, hidden to anyone without permission to view it - this will be for Tier 3+ members.

Obviously I
need to start posting in the restricted area. Nothing I love more than having privileges over common folk.

I can see the hidden forum, by the way. And I'm still tier 2, last I checked.

So what's with the special new clan areas that now accompany our thread?

I'd like to know, as well.

Do we get this whole forum? o.o

Oh, day 47 of the Ham Challenge.

No mortal can match your hand-abstaining powers, Ham.

It must be all the math.

Good morning, red folks! I'm very much enjoying this transition so far. It already feels like home.

Except I can say fuck now.

Fuck yeah.

Kay, that's out of my system.

Well, hi there, folks!

Home is where the fire is, I do suppose.