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^ Pictured above: Billionaire Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel went to Coachella with his supermodel wife, and then two days later laid off over 1,000 employees. I was one of them. So was my entire team of about 40 people.
We were the Bitmoji team at Snapchat, and except for a few people in LA, our team was completely eliminated. Acquired by Snapchat, Bitmoji remained, at least in spirit, a somewhat semi-autonomous republic within the larger company. But eventually the Bitmoji founders departed or were ousted, along with some long-time artists, and the corporate tech tentacles slowly creeped in to smother what was once a quirky creative team. I joined part way through the process, so I got to taste that fun/creative culture, but also witness its decline.
Honestly, we were all there by accident - artists, animators, and illustrators hiding in the corner of a Tech Company, quietly shocked at the generous salaries and benefits (and free lunches) we received, a contrast to the poor-paying studios and freelance illustration gigs that had come before.
The 5 years I spent there were amazing and horrible. Amazing because (1) Big Tech Salary, and (2) I got to work with some of the most fun, creative and intelligent people. No dead wood on this team. It was also horrible, because ultimately I was just making digital crap to keep users' eyes glued to an app and its advertisers. The pressure to perform and scale production was really high. I lost sleep and gained weight, and got to suffer from anxiety for the first time.
And now suddenly it's done. We're all out. Ostensibly "because AI", despite the fact that we barely used any AI in our creative pipelines, and only for non-creative tasks. I didn't lose my job because of AI, I lost it because of the *idea* that AI could do it all. And of course because Snap's stagnating stock price needed a boost.
It's honestly a relief. I've spent the last month relaxing and decompressing; I had accumulated a month's worth of unused vacation anyway. I'll eventually try to figure out what's next, but for now I have a generous severance to give me some breathing room. I'm free now, as are my fellow artists. I'm happy they can go use their creative gifts for things that are hopefully more meaningful to our society and culture.
thanks for reading my brain dump mltshp friends. That concludes my ted talk.
We were the Bitmoji team at Snapchat, and except for a few people in LA, our team was completely eliminated. Acquired by Snapchat, Bitmoji remained, at least in spirit, a somewhat semi-autonomous republic within the larger company. But eventually the Bitmoji founders departed or were ousted, along with some long-time artists, and the corporate tech tentacles slowly creeped in to smother what was once a quirky creative team. I joined part way through the process, so I got to taste that fun/creative culture, but also witness its decline.
Honestly, we were all there by accident - artists, animators, and illustrators hiding in the corner of a Tech Company, quietly shocked at the generous salaries and benefits (and free lunches) we received, a contrast to the poor-paying studios and freelance illustration gigs that had come before.
The 5 years I spent there were amazing and horrible. Amazing because (1) Big Tech Salary, and (2) I got to work with some of the most fun, creative and intelligent people. No dead wood on this team. It was also horrible, because ultimately I was just making digital crap to keep users' eyes glued to an app and its advertisers. The pressure to perform and scale production was really high. I lost sleep and gained weight, and got to suffer from anxiety for the first time.
And now suddenly it's done. We're all out. Ostensibly "because AI", despite the fact that we barely used any AI in our creative pipelines, and only for non-creative tasks. I didn't lose my job because of AI, I lost it because of the *idea* that AI could do it all. And of course because Snap's stagnating stock price needed a boost.
It's honestly a relief. I've spent the last month relaxing and decompressing; I had accumulated a month's worth of unused vacation anyway. I'll eventually try to figure out what's next, but for now I have a generous severance to give me some breathing room. I'm free now, as are my fellow artists. I'm happy they can go use their creative gifts for things that are hopefully more meaningful to our society and culture.
thanks for reading my brain dump mltshp friends. That concludes my ted talk.
ba
Onward and upward!
When I left my job at JP Morgan the sudden drop of cortisol in my system turned into losing ~10lbs in as many days.
Hopefully the break is refreshing and fulfilling and leads quickly and easily into the next project which is hopefully more fun and fulfilling than the last! Lachaim!
Hopefully the break is refreshing and fulfilling and leads quickly and easily into the next project which is hopefully more fun and fulfilling than the last! Lachaim!
oof, man, i'm so sorry, but also... escape velocity! i'm glad you have some runway to consider your options now. vibing for a much more fulfilling next stage for you.
All power to you. Thank you for sharing and excited to see what is next for you whenever that happens.
FWIW I'm certain AI will eat itself.
FWIW I'm certain AI will eat itself.
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Ink painting of a cat intently watching a snail
By Qin Yang
https://www.tumblr.com/pmamtrav...
https://www.tumblr.com/pmamtrav...
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a 2x2 grid of square images, depicting an assortment of tiny translucent resin animals. top to bottom, left to right:
1) a sealed plastic bag containing the various figures
2) the figures in a pile on a blue couch
3) the figures sitting on top of a MacBook, sorted in rows by type and color, with the frogs, chickens, ducks, and rabbits in frame.
4) a pink chicken, pink whale, white rabbit, green frog, blue ducky, and yellow mushroom sit on a windowsill with trees behind it
1) a sealed plastic bag containing the various figures
2) the figures in a pile on a blue couch
3) the figures sitting on top of a MacBook, sorted in rows by type and color, with the frogs, chickens, ducks, and rabbits in frame.
4) a pink chicken, pink whale, white rabbit, green frog, blue ducky, and yellow mushroom sit on a windowsill with trees behind it
@kittons sent me a giant bag of tiny chickens (and whales, and frogs, and rabbits, and frogs, and ducks, and mushrooms) so now i can join in the tiny creature distribution.
dropped two on the counter at my favorite coffee shop yesterday. am now looking forward to lightening the otherwise insane week by hiding a few at work.
previously:
https://mltshp.com/p/1RQ19
https://mltshp.com/p/1RPES
dropped two on the counter at my favorite coffee shop yesterday. am now looking forward to lightening the otherwise insane week by hiding a few at work.
previously:
https://mltshp.com/p/1RQ19
https://mltshp.com/p/1RPES
my brother was doing this last year up in Truckee. he have me a ghost, probably because i hadn't seen him in over ten years
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It’s almost as though the only thing all these situations have in common is that they are profitable to business owners and capitalists. But surely I’m missing something.
Well said, but no one should still be using that website, so zero stars to whoever this is
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A surger, or overlock, sewing machine, tools, and a piece of fabric with an overlock stitch on it
It's been several replacement parts, between five and seven hours of messing with it over three maintenance attempts, at least five YouTube videos, literally locating the original manual, and enough cuss words to get me thrown out of a Walmart, but it actually makes a locking stitch again.
Hooray, good work. I am a fan of fixing stuff.
It’s a resurgence!
👏👏👏
That Soda you like is coming back in style
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Smiling doofus with allergy-smitten wife
I generally avoid big multi-day festivals as typically there are not enough bands I want to see to justify the cost. However, the stars aligned this year. Nearly every band I wanted to see was playing on my birthday. Spent about 10 hours there and it worked out to about 8 bucks a band in the end. My wife was a trooper, she was having allergy issues and is not a crowd person, but she also had a good time when it was all said and done.
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Vienna sausage and mayo sandwich on white bread perched on paper towels
source: https://www.reddit.com/r...
Needs more squeeze cheez
I used to do the liverwurst and onions.
I support this.
That kind of sandwich
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flowchart:
1) action: eat some food remnants, bits of dirt, etc, etc
2) decision: Any vibration or signs of movement? If no, go to 1); If yes, go to 3)
3) decision: Any crack or crevice within reach? If no, go to 4); If yes, go to 5)
4) action: Crawl out of sight. Wait. Go to 2)
5) action: RUN!
6) decision: Squashed yet? If no, go to 3); If yes, end.
Caption: Fig 4. Cockroach Survival Flowchart
1) action: eat some food remnants, bits of dirt, etc, etc
2) decision: Any vibration or signs of movement? If no, go to 1); If yes, go to 3)
3) decision: Any crack or crevice within reach? If no, go to 4); If yes, go to 5)
4) action: Crawl out of sight. Wait. Go to 2)
5) action: RUN!
6) decision: Squashed yet? If no, go to 3); If yes, end.
Caption: Fig 4. Cockroach Survival Flowchart
from "Micromania: The Whole Truth about Home Computers"
Charles Platt with David Langford (1984, reissued 2026)
Illustration: Carl Lundgren
available for free (or donation to TAFF) here: https://taff.org.uk/ebooks...
Charles Platt with David Langford (1984, reissued 2026)
Illustration: Carl Lundgren
available for free (or donation to TAFF) here: https://taff.org.uk/ebooks...
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Four panel color comic:
PANEL ONE: MATTIE, in black pants and jacket, outside on a sunny day and looking at some buildings in the distance: Hey, what's that? BUSINESSMAN,a balding white man wearing a suit: Oh, the economy rectanlge? It doesn't really do anything! But we need them everywhere! Or else:
PANEL TWO: MATTIE: They're quite hot and loud! BUSINESSMAN (sweating): Oh, very many birds will die!
PANEL THREE: BUSINESSMAN: Without them the world economy collapses! Don't you want to buy stuff? ATTIE: I was buying stuff last year no problem withou those things! What happened?! BUSINESSMAN: Well, I've tried everything.
PANEL FOUR: BUSINESSMAN (turning to the side): ...She hates the cubes, guys! SECOND BUSINESSMAN: Uhhh don't you like shopping? THIRD BUSINESSMAN: Put *her* in a rectangle!
PANEL ONE: MATTIE, in black pants and jacket, outside on a sunny day and looking at some buildings in the distance: Hey, what's that? BUSINESSMAN,a balding white man wearing a suit: Oh, the economy rectanlge? It doesn't really do anything! But we need them everywhere! Or else:
PANEL TWO: MATTIE: They're quite hot and loud! BUSINESSMAN (sweating): Oh, very many birds will die!
PANEL THREE: BUSINESSMAN: Without them the world economy collapses! Don't you want to buy stuff? ATTIE: I was buying stuff last year no problem withou those things! What happened?! BUSINESSMAN: Well, I've tried everything.
PANEL FOUR: BUSINESSMAN (turning to the side): ...She hates the cubes, guys! SECOND BUSINESSMAN: Uhhh don't you like shopping? THIRD BUSINESSMAN: Put *her* in a rectangle!
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[vuvuzela intensifies]
Reminds me of a favorite Brautigan poem
The Scarlatti Tilt
"It's very hard to live in a studio apartment in San Jose with a man who's learning to play the violin." That's what she told the police when she handed them the empty revolver.
The Scarlatti Tilt
"It's very hard to live in a studio apartment in San Jose with a man who's learning to play the violin." That's what she told the police when she handed them the empty revolver.
Toot the bad cone
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illustration captioned "Improved lifting and spanking machine" showing a blindfold man using it to spank himself
Which Silicon Valley has reinvented as agentic AI
…beat a path to your door, etc
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Product photograph (likely for eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or similar) of an Atari clone home entertainment system, the Turnir, manufactured by the Ministry of the Electronics Industry and released only in the Soviet Union in 1978. The (machine translated) text on the box reads: "TOURNAMENT
HOCKEY TENNIS TRAINING."
HOCKEY TENNIS TRAINING."
I love the idea of hockey tennis
in Communist Russia pong pings YOU
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Webcam video of a meteor streaking down behind an erupting volcano today in the Philippines.
Webcam video of a meteor streaking down behind an erupting volcano today in the Philippines.
I'll take Signs of the Apocalypse for $400, Alex!
Just needs a little T Rex puppet popping up in the corner OH SHIIIIIIIIT
Is the green from copper? Or does iron do that, if you get it hot enough?
Might be the camera.
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Grey-haired old man, his pretty wife and genius son take up a row of an airplane, in flight.
My kid just graduated HS, and will be bussing tables and interning at a chemistry lab at NU this summer, before heading to University of Illinois in the fall (Chemical Engineering with a music minor). My wife starts a 6 month contract in a week from Monday that will involve a lot of travel. I’m slammed at work with 50-60 hour weeks likely through October.
But first, a week in Central Oregon!
But first, a week in Central Oregon!
I like the idea of bussing tables at a chemistry lab.
Sounds like a fun, fulfilling just time! Congrats and enjoy!
Sounds like a fun, fulfilling just time! Congrats and enjoy!
What a delightful crew!
Have a great time!
enjoy! the vibes are immaculate out there, and i loved hiking in deschutes national forest. hopefully it’s a good brain reset out there.
also congrats to atticus! now he has a weird internet uncle biking around his campus who will not report his misadventures to dad (for a modest fee)
also congrats to atticus! now he has a weird internet uncle biking around his campus who will not report his misadventures to dad (for a modest fee)
*waving from south canada*
Bon voyage!
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A koala bear sat on a branch in a zoo. It is facing away from us so we can see ears, it's back and butt.
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Black and white single-panel cartoon.
A three-eyed fanged monster wearing a graduation cap and gown is standing behind a lectern with a university crest on it, addressing an audience of students (visible only as tasseled mortarboards) at a commencement ceremony.
Caption: "And, as you head out into the world, your fresh, meaty torsos will be ripped apart and roasted to feed your new alien overlords -- wait, why are you all booing?"
By Joe Dator and Kevin Maher.
A three-eyed fanged monster wearing a graduation cap and gown is standing behind a lectern with a university crest on it, addressing an audience of students (visible only as tasseled mortarboards) at a commencement ceremony.
Caption: "And, as you head out into the world, your fresh, meaty torsos will be ripped apart and roasted to feed your new alien overlords -- wait, why are you all booing?"
By Joe Dator and Kevin Maher.
source: https://bsky.app/profile...
Don’t blame me, I voted for Kodos!
Is this the Jerry Seinfield speech?
@homerj I think it's a reference to academics and tutors who are addressing students on what looks like graduation day. They all mention AI and how pivotal it will be. All get booed (I've seen 3 so far).
The kids are alright.
The kids are alright.
@poorusher 👍
Another sad day for free speech on campus.
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i just fell down a massive hole on cyclekarting.
Here is an exhaustive but entertaining page about the roots and basics:
https://www.huntsvillegp.com/baseckgu...
and the link at the bottom of it leads (eventually) to this image, among others, of a proposed offshoot class of cyclekarting named aerokarting.
now all i gotta do is move to Utah.
Here is an exhaustive but entertaining page about the roots and basics:
https://www.huntsvillegp.com/baseckgu...
and the link at the bottom of it leads (eventually) to this image, among others, of a proposed offshoot class of cyclekarting named aerokarting.
now all i gotta do is move to Utah.
Now this is aerokarting.
I dipped into that rabbit hole last year but I didn’t get to the aerokarts. I could see spending my whole retirement building and racing those things.
@hertz +
"now all i gotta do is move to Utah."
Not worth it.
Not worth it.
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Photograph of a blank wall on the side of a housing block. The wall is about 3 stories high.
More than two years ago, one of my neighbors suggested to me that I should paint a mural on an ugly wall at a square down my street.
It took me forever to scrape enough courage together to get funding from various kinds of places. But I managed. I got the money. I got the permits. I got the scissor lift. I got the wall renovated and plastered. I got the paint and a colleague that is going to help me. And it should be ready by June 13, because then it’s going to be officially opened.
I found the whole process rather nerve-racking because all in all it’s about €18,000. But my goodness, will I be happy and relieved once it’s done.
It took me forever to scrape enough courage together to get funding from various kinds of places. But I managed. I got the money. I got the permits. I got the scissor lift. I got the wall renovated and plastered. I got the paint and a colleague that is going to help me. And it should be ready by June 13, because then it’s going to be officially opened.
I found the whole process rather nerve-racking because all in all it’s about €18,000. But my goodness, will I be happy and relieved once it’s done.
This is awesome! I can't wait for updates!
Ooh, this is exciting!
This is going to be massive! I hope you have fun while working your arse off!
This is fantastic! Looking forward to seeing it.
Fantastic! Congratulations are in order!
Hell yes! We 👏🏻 want 👏🏻 updates! 👏🏻
That wall is about to look SO MUCH better!
Woop!
tabula rasa!
i'm hopping up and down with excitement - can't wait for updates :D
Amazing!
Congratulations! This is exciting!
Post pix in progress, looking forward to seeing this
Wow this is cool!
Yes!
YAY
THRILLED FOR YOU!
This is excellent!
So fun!!
Timelapse Timelapse! Looking forward to it!
Oooh. So cool!
Soooo excited for this
That is incredible.
Oh my goodness, thanks for all the comments everybody!!!! I can’t respond to you or even tagging. All of you seems way over the top.
Yes, I will totally post updates here 🙂
@kokogiak will try to do a time lapse of parts of the process!
Yes, I will totally post updates here 🙂
@kokogiak will try to do a time lapse of parts of the process!
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
huzzah!
Yay!
Wotta canvas! so excited Really looking forward to seeing what you do, @waa !!
Ooh
!!!!!
Amazing, so proud of you and happy for you!
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A spherical set of twinkling balls with oscillating strips of b&w ribbons
M C Escher designs a timing belt.
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A woman standing in front of a building in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, wearing the "Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon" medal.
Melanie, my sister who has lived in Japan for 30+ years, received the "Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon" the other day. It's the highest honour that can be given to a civilian (non-politician). She received it for "Contributions to the Australia Japan relationship and economic development". As part of the ceremony she had an audience with the Emperor, who she said "was very short".
Melanie is the little urban overachiever of our family. She's on the boards of Asahi, Mitsubishi Estate and Kawasaki Heavy Manufacturing, in addition to knowing just about everyone in the world. She regularly sends photos when she's out with various Heads of State.
I just happened to have a trip to Japan planned when the award was announced, so I got to represent the family. Unfortunately not allowed to be part of the official events, but we had plenty of drinks with friends afterwards.
Melanie is the little urban overachiever of our family. She's on the boards of Asahi, Mitsubishi Estate and Kawasaki Heavy Manufacturing, in addition to knowing just about everyone in the world. She regularly sends photos when she's out with various Heads of State.
I just happened to have a trip to Japan planned when the award was announced, so I got to represent the family. Unfortunately not allowed to be part of the official events, but we had plenty of drinks with friends afterwards.
Congrats to your sister!
おめでとう!
BTW, for someone who is both (1) a woman and (2) a foreigner to achieve that level of corporate success in Japan is truly impressive. (For example, here's the Board of Mitsubishi Estate: https://www.mec.co.jp/en... )
Wow that is neat, thank you for sharing that news.
@mikenmar It's very impressive.
That said, I have been drunk with Yoshida-san (the Chair) after we both drank too many highballs at a dinner at their private club.
That said, I have been drunk with Yoshida-san (the Chair) after we both drank too many highballs at a dinner at their private club.
Hi five Melanie, this is cool.
In an ideal world there would be very little happening and an Aussie winning Japan's highest honour would be in the news here.
In an ideal world there would be very little happening and an Aussie winning Japan's highest honour would be in the news here.
that’s positively inspiring! 😍
@jordanbrock That's amazing, and also: does Asashi give her free beer?
@snarkout not enough if you ask me. But she occasionally comes to Australia with a carton or two in her luggage, so can't complain.
@Argie There was an article in the AFR. I took this photo while she was posing for the AFR photographer.
That was also pretty surreal. Having a reporter interview your sister while a photographer is doing a photo shoot in front of the Imperial Palace.
That was also pretty surreal. Having a reporter interview your sister while a photographer is doing a photo shoot in front of the Imperial Palace.
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I cannot self-terminate
geez, @n0wak, i hope this ain’t referring to any of your situation.
@MackReed oh it's fine. Just putting stuff into my bag so when it comes I can have the appropriate image to post
Might I also recommend the good old fashioned “Stay Fresh, Cheese Bags” and the phrase Holden Caulfield yells over his shoulder at his dormitory at the end of the first chapter in Catcher in the Rye: “Sleep tight, ya morons!”
good choices but trying to keep it a little low on the insults.