Then that’s on you for missing the point entirely

No. I have a star shaped tattoo. Because I like star shapes.

I already exist, and that’s enough justification on its own. Whether you care or not doesn’t make a difference.

Now, swap around “I” and “you”.

No. High school for me was spent with people with which I have nothing in common, so I didn’t keep in touch with anyone there.

I still stumble into people I once knew, and I of course say hi and engage in some chitchat, but nothing beyond that.

This implies that they’d be willing to wait while I spend forever saying my final prayer, in an effort to filibuster my own murder.

It just so happens that I’m an ordained priest and pretty good at talking shit about nothing.

Disclaimer I’m not American, and I don’t really have much actual knowledge on this subject.

…but I THINK the US presidents can actually do this. I’m not sure what the legal mechanism is, but I do remember some chatter some15 years ago about Obama releasing the reserves. This makes me believe that the strategic reserve builds up during normalcy, and can be drained through executive action.

Steak, usually Entrecote. Or if there are enough guests to justify it, pork belly roast.

I watched a lot of movies as a kid, but I never noticed until Back to the Future (the 2nd one, I think), with Biff Tannen cocking his revolver excessively on the roof. That movie caused me to start counting.

Ten years later: “Sorry, I need more time… those fucking gym memberships, you know…”

Usually not as a threat, though

“They” is used a bit ambiguously. I think OP refers to state employees, “they” meaning the state in the second half of the first paragraph.

Can confirm. After trying out a lot of different jobs and careers, I’ve concluded that working harder for more pay only applies to jobs where your abilities aren’t much of a factor; You’re only renting out your muscles. These jobs can be hard as fuck, and often don’t pay very well.

Then there are jobs where the employee matters more. Some jobs because of what you’re allowed to do (certs, licenses, etc), and then there are the jobs that require niche skills - They don’t hire you to work hard, they’re hiring you for what you can do when needed. Think of a lawyer on a retainer.

I, for example, have a few certs and licenses, combined with very niche skills. My job is easy as fuck (for me), and there aren’t many others who can do it.

It’s pretty easy in Norway too. “I am a business”-scale is registered online, and there’s a miniscule fee, and after a few days you get the paperwork in the mail confirming it.

If you’re very low volume and revenue, that’s it, basically. Above a certain level you need to file for a VAT number, but it’s pretty simple. And scaling up as you need to is no biggy.

Source: I’m kind of a business owner. Revenue: around 400$ equivalent last year.

Because not EVERYTHING is a total dumpsterfire. The news cycle usually focuses on the negative, while I can see a lot of positive out my window.

When global news is too depressing, I find something positive on a local level. There’s always something. No matter how small, and how limited in scope, there’s always something bright to be found. I could give you plenty of examples, but it’d be highly anecdotal and probably not applicable to you.

But look outside: There’s probably a park being opened somewhere. A volunteer group is probably making a difference somewhere. There are always someone making am effort. There’s always someone being concerned with the wellbeing of others.

Look for the helpers. (Yes, I stole that from Dungeon Crawler Carl). They may not be the most visible aspect of your surroundings, but they’re definitely there.

And since you asked for examples from my life:

• The rose park close to my house is getting an upgrade
• I visited my childhood home today. It was nice seeing that the ones who bought it take well care of it. Seeing the inside was refreshing and new, without being unfamiliar. My dad built that house shortly after I was born, and while it is showing its age, the loadbearing timber was sourced from our property, and overkill for what they were supposed to handle. Some regular renovations will ensure that house stands for another 43 years at least.
• The tiny town O gew up in (even though “town” is an overstatement) has gotten a major face-lift over the past few decades. Local politicians are actually doing a stellar job when it comes to funding nice things.

Depends a lot on where you are, but I think odds and society is stacked against you here. In theory, adoption is a possibility, but I suspect you’d face a lot more scrutiny than a single woman would in this situation.

I was thinking more of embedding single-frame porn into videos

Luck, basically. I landed a career that I actually enjoy, it pays decently, and I’m given a lot of freedom and flexibility. I tried having a “normal job”, but in my mid 30s I concluded that normal jobs are for normal people, so I reached out to some former coworkers and got back into offshore seismic survey. I have since landed a supporting role where most of it is done from home.

Depends on the person, but in my case:

• Financial stability
• Fewer worries
• I’ve learned to relax and not take things too seriously. Especially when it comes to myself.
• I finally know what I’m gonna do “when I grow up”
• Time and resources to spend on my hobbies

Does it involve something Tyler Durden would do?

My first printer was way back when Prusa was but a set of instructions and suggestions. Prusa did a lot of the research that caused other companies to succeed. And seeing what Bamboo is doing with it, it’s important for me to support prusa as I detest closed ecosystems.

So when it was time to get back into the hobby last year, I went for a Prusa Core One, and I’ve had no regrets.

It’s an excellent printer that is easy to use, and it’s very versatile, so that’s my suggestion.

The price tag is a bit higher than the competitors, but I don’t mind - they floated the R&D bill for the entire industry, and that carries an interest.