A saying I've heard from somewhere: "You know what never betrays you? Your training. What you put in is what you will reap."

Who oversees the whole thing and distributes the rewards? And how do we start the whole thing? What about how the world is set up? Do we just go around creating it as we go?

Of course, but if you're eating potato chips and bacon for breakfast, fried chicken and pizza for lunch with coke, instant noodles with a cheese cake at night, then you aren't going to be losing weight. My point is that with a balanced diet, reducing the proportions of what is consumed will be beneficial to weight loss, and is more effective than just cardiovascular exercises or resistance training. It's not necessary to count the calories to achieve a deficit in caloric intake, but each item that goes into your mouth is a potential energy source you have to burn via running- but you only have so much vitality before you collapse.

So I rank, in order of importance, eating less (but nutritious, less carbohydrates, maybe you can check out some vitamins to supplement your diet?) > resistance training (building more muscles allows you to burn more energy) > cardiovascular activity (pure running) in order of effectiveness in losing weight. Optimally, you could combine all three to achieve maximum results in the shortest time.

That is my opinion.

Keep at it! I started working out (weight training) since last year and lost 16 kg. It's amazing how much "waist" I've lost. Most important thing is to EAT LESS (but a balanced diet).

Hey man, I'm also twenty and stepping out from the shadows of my parents and the paved road. You are no fool. If you think it's time to leave the nest and fly, you need to have checkpoints to make that feeling into reality.

I think that you might want to educate yourself on personal finances first, don't want to kick yourself in the shins after you break away from your parents and starve. A good start would be The Motley Fool's Investment for Teens book, and keeping track of your expenditures in a google doc sheet or some other medium- this allows you to realize how much is required to keep alive and fed. Maybe you find you can start cutting some luxuries off. It's ironic because my parents still pay for everything, but I'm starting to have an understanding of what is required to live indendently. Credit cards, bank accounts, electricity, internet, transportation, water, and food are something I have to be able to pay for on my own. List the money going out, you've got to do it. No umms and IFs, you've got to see the numbers. Also, start thinking more selfishly- for your own best interests, and not someone else's.

Maybe I can suggest another few books: How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie (for social interactions), 48 Laws of Power (sort of self help, but very interesting and have anecdotes), A Random Walk Down Wall Street (Investment).

Social interactions will be crucial. It has been reiterated and sounds absolutely banal, but it's about the people you meet that can connect you with people that can help you. Quality over quantity. In China, having connections is a given.

Have you written a resume? A cover letter? Need those. I was forced to write mine in first year university, and am currently using it. Maybe you could ask your local librarian (I remember they have a lot of resources, not sure about where you are though) for an introduction to how to write one. Then spam it to part time jobs you can apply to. If what they control you with is money, then that is what you can use to free yourself. Know the fight.

The year will be difficult. Part time jobs and university is tough. Quality studying can be done- the key is in discipline. DISCIPLINE.

I love your writing. Best of luck, sorry I'm being brief, typing on my phone is hard. I will try my best to answer any other questions (do take in mind I'm no expert).

I could try to do one from a Westernized Chinese/Taiwanese view. Lived at least 12 years in Beijing, some in America, some in Shanghai, some in Canada. What would you people want to see?

I will look for some more, it's too late at my time.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/singularity/2012/07/19/could-automation-lead-to-chronic-unemployment-andrew-mcafee-sounds-the-alarm/

Also somewhat casual, long time player. If you want to get better, read a few deck guides first, but don't be discouraged by your lack of rare, epic, and legendaries. Secondly, if you're striving to be competitive, you should unlock most tiers of Naxxramas and the first tier of Blackrock Mountain for Emperor Thaurissan. I can't remember if arena still gave GvG cards, but it is the most efficient way to get cards/gold. Still, I just like to open regular packs. We'll make plenty of mistakes when we play, but learn from it

Say we automate: what happens to the low skill workers that were laid off? In an utopia we'd re-educate them and let them develop new skills, fill new economical niches. But in China and India the people who filled those position lacked the education in the first place, and displacing them of their job there leaves many without one, or maybe drives standards of living even lower as they get more desperate. What I'm trying to insinuate is 'what will happen to the displaced low skill workers, and how will they affect society?'

I blocked him a while ago, didn't think he was still around until this came up. Normally I am not one to outright mute someone, because even if I disagree with your input to a discussion, it has merit by stimulating thoughts and counterarguments, which benefits our community. This is blatant harassment, and I dislike that.

Thank you so much for your comprehensive reply! That really was more than I expected and felt like an entry to a wikipedia article, in a more personal way (trying to find the words to compliment you but it eludes me). It appears that Russia, like most countries, has its fair share of people who can drink in moderation, but it may be a western media/ internet that propogates the image of rampant alcoholism. How are things going in Russia, after the annexation of Crimea? Do people talk about it at all? I suppose there are a large majority of people who don't support war but can't really voice it, is this what it's like?

Go for your dreams! I'm glad you have one. I'm afraid I can't do much for you, but I'll share the post and hope other people have a better idea than I do. One thing is for sure though, you'll need to practice a ton (I've heard going over a speech in front of a mirror is really important)! I wish you the best.

''Demosthenes lived in Athens from 384 B.C. to 322 B.C. As a young man, he suffered from a speech impediment—which may have been a stutter, an inability to pronounce the “r” sound, or both. He designed a series of exercises for himself to improve his speech. According to legend, he practiced speaking with stones in his mouth, which forced him to work very hard to get the sounds out. When his diction became clearer, he got rid of the stones and found he was able to enunciate much more effectively than before. He also practiced reciting speeches while running and speaking over the roar of ocean waves to improve his projection. These strategies must have worked, because Demosthenes achieved fame as the greatest orator in ancient Greece.''

You can do it!

How would you describe Russia's culture to an outsider (me) that's never been there before? There's probably quite a few stereotypes I can dispel if I read a few accounts from a native Russian! For example, do you guys really drink that much alcohol (drinking at all is quite inconcievable to me, I really dislike it)?

Would the universe just... sit there in all eternity? In the gloom? No chance of a new big bang?

How do I post the pictures here? I can't seem to figure out from mobile!

Edit: http://postimg.org/image/mb64k557b/

My most recent trip to Xing Jiang, it's a picture of Heaven's Lake. I never usually have the chance to travel with my father, as he was always so busy, so this trip is definitely going to stick in my memories. I don't know when I'll have another chance.