This is a good explanation because it gets at the source. L. Ron was a failed Freudian and had some mental issues of his own, he lashed out at the psychiatry community, and built this whole thing out of a hatred for what (rightfully) rejected him. He just happened to write shitty sci-fi, so he channeled that into pseudo-psychiatry (Dianetics). There’s a reason those e-meters exist: bullshit stress response devices to measure “clearing” certain negative thoughts. They don’t actually work, but that’s the principle: you have a “auditing session,” and let’s say you get asked about your propensity for lying in a certain situation. E-meter response is measured until you’re no longer stressed by the thing you were asked about (according to the meter), you pay them absurd amounts of money, they now have dirt on you in case you try to leave, etc. This is its core, reductively. Anti-psychiatry money mill.

Always liked Power Pete, and if you don’t have vertigo, the Descent series.

Nobody’s mentioned the sensory overload that is Buc-ee’s yet?

I’ve had good results with the cushionlab car-specific one. I know they make a regular one, but the car seat shape works great on the particular mesh chair I have for some reason. Getting out for an occasional walk helps a lot too, even 10 minutes.

Uber Meats. Nothing but gabagool on demand.

But seriously, a VPN.

Ron and Fez. A wealth of entertainment.

Ok!

Because GET BACK TO WORK

Man, people tried harder against Salman Rushdie for $6 million.

Related: Connor O’Malley has a great (nsfw) stand up special on YouTube called “Stand Up Solutions” satirizing start-up VC hustle culture.

No need for the internet, all electronic toothbrushes have been compromised. They use ultrasonic tooth mapping technology to direct a miniature version of Havana Syndrome where we least expect it, causing the terrible affliction known as… gingivitis

For iOS/mac, I love the Vinegar extension. It’s great for stripping YouTube down to just the video, provided you use Safari instead of the YouTube app. It also regularly updates. Yes, I know there are free ways to do this (it’s $1.99), but this is more about convenience and supporting a dev.

I just wish the credits rolled over a secret service agent coming out of the bushes at night and slowly scattering handfuls of leaves in the pool

Don’t forget the second-rate LJS: Captain D’s

Wouldn’t work, they’d need appointments to keep up with incredible demand and scheduled maintenance for the ol corpse wiggler out back.

I agree, I think most people want to make a point without caring about whether or not they’re being persuasive. It’s the basic tenant of rhetoric that you are open to changing your mind; instead, internet commenters like to be hecklers, and you’ve frequently got a couple going at once. I think the post and comment thread format on the internet is part of the problem, because 1. OP is trying to manage a bunch of “conversations,” 2. There’s no turn order of speaking, partially due to 3. You’ve got potentially millions of people chiming in simultaneously, so how do you find the quality ones? And 4. Replies, as you said, try to be “gotchas” to end whatever dialogue, so no real progress is possible, and those responding aren’t here for a productive discussion.

Tl;dr quality vs quantity and willingness to change an opinion are difficult to get online

He’s a master at knowing what will make someone click

He effectively dedicated a couple years to “study” this, which is exactly what you can do with your life when you live in Greenville, NC.

5 apps with 2 responses, and locally? You’re doing really well. Seriously. It sounds like you are qualified enough to get what you want, and the number of responses already is a very good sign.

Small rant:

My experience: a Ph.D., two years applying through Indeed/LinkedIn/directly, several rounds of professional development to overhaul networking approaches/resumes, maybe 150 applications, and I maybe hear back in a couple months with a form letter rejection. The few interviews I’ve had were either a company looking for a unicorn (or just lying about a position), something that lead to a task-based assessment, or a goddamn AI-analyzed one-way interview which is the biggest red flag.

Tl;dr it’s really bad out there, and you honestly have great results so far, even if it doesn’t seem like it! All the best to you, and I hope you find something you’ll enjoy.

I know this is a cop-out because of the vast number of other improvements to devices and infrastructure, but I really liked having a seemingly indestructible phone with a removable 10-day battery and an absolute death grip on that 2g/3g network.