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hhmmm, guy who makes his living selling books about how to do well at college blasts essay from guy who says 'college... meh'. nuff said.

No kidding. I didn't notice that. Now I get what this is about. SEO. Oddly enough that makes it less annoying.

doesn't that count as ad hominem?

Yes; and conflict of interest is a perfectly valid basis for questioning impartiality as a matter of jurisprudence.