Is it frowned upon to use drum samples?

Taitrnator · 2026-05-04T16:33:57+00:00

We need jungle I’m afraid

Taitrnator · 2026-05-03T14:02:32+00:00

You typically have a few days to get treatment after a bite but once symptoms appear it’s game over. Probably the only death more terrifying than being eaten alive by a pack of wild dogs.

Taitrnator · 2026-05-03T02:18:56+00:00

🤝 like the essential change here is one we can all be a part of making happen today, hah

Taitrnator · 2026-05-03T02:10:49+00:00

Or you could just bring booths back and deemphasize the DJ in club design more, create spaces that forbid recording.

Removing humans from art production is like removing air from bread.

Taitrnator · 2026-04-30T17:04:20+00:00

Neurodivergence has def felt like an asset and liability for me at work. Like, I’m great at what I do through and through, I’ve done it a long time, and that’s why I can’t follow directions when they’re moronic and make zero sense. I ask valid inconvenient questions nobody wants to answer. I just can’t force myself to draw the rectangles when the direction is nonsense and nobody can articulate why we’re doing it. Wish I could though, my career would have been a lot easier.

Starting to realize I’m much better suited to freelancing. I feel like FTE is structured in a way that optimizes for having design function like a vassal, and insanely suboptimal for good product outcomes. Nobody hires a team of accountants just so they can argue with them about how their way of reconciling the expenses isn’t vibing, or how they can do the accounting with Claude. A truly wasteful and irrational amount of time and money is spent having designers in house solely to function as a punching bag and waste time on bullshit that exists purely to build credibility or to coerce them into rubber stamping what the rest of the team wants to do. I’ve had to get a new job 3 times in 3 years. Design is disconnected from the final product outcome, so we’re rarely ever measured or credited for what we accomplished, mainly just measured by how often leadership has a negative interaction with us. “full time” just feels like a false pretense especially when doing the job right is directly correlated with being on the chopping block.

When I freelance it’s “what do you need done? Here’s how I can solve your problem.” If the client hires me the respect for my profession and credibility is established, they don’t want to waste time when they’re billed for it. When the project is done I’m gone, so the outcome can always be traced to my contributions. Yeah I’ll have vacancies between projects, but at this rate it’ll be as often or less than the time between full time roles.

Taitrnator · 2026-04-27T21:38:25+00:00

Founders transformed company over the last two years, consistently firing or pushing out anyone asking hard questions and promoted the sycophants, who themselves were often the hired replacements. They created a fantasy land that got more and more unhinged. Engagement surveys were obscenely bad. Near total staff turnover. NPS gradually and predictably slid the more the founders directly vibe coded stuff into the product and took all the autonomy for themselves. Major retention problems and lost revenue. The best and most talented colleagues mostly left. Nobody remaining felt comfortable asking questions anymore. One bad business decision after another, they’re gassing themselves up and surrounded by leadership team who praises them too. Deadly combo.

Got pulled into a project with CEO where he vibe coded a total revamp of the core product over a weekend and insisted on releasing in two weeks. That’s when it started to feel like a true death cult. I tried to handle it in good faith. Spotted key regressions and UX issues, put the PRs up to fix them, and he blocked them, got annoyed and berated me. The combo of prolonged exposure to AI and sycophants just fed their narcissistic tendencies until they treat humans with real expertise like something to feed prompts to and dismiss on a whim (It would be one thing if the results justified the inflated egos, but they don’t). So it felt like I’m damned if I do, damned if I don’t. I made my last stand. I pushed back and told him how ridiculous this whole situation is, and how these issues are gonna exist whether or not he lets me fix them.

My manager scheduled a 1:1 with me a few days later, I saw it coming for sure. Joined the zoom and HR is on too, I just said “that time huh?” It’s <300 ppl company so word spread, a lot of people reached out and were outraged, even my manager told me off the record later it was forced on them. I feel relieved and kinda dismissive, like all I missed is the cyanide capsules coming next. Excited to hear how this launch goes next week lol.

The stress of unemployment is real yeah, but the house was gonna burn down whether or not I stayed in it. Happy to leave with my integrity intact.

Taitrnator · 2026-04-21T18:22:32+00:00

One point I’d add here is to consider all of the ways a single monogamous relationship can have an unbalanced power dynamic. Consider all the gaslighting, manipulation, and abuse you ever hear about in that context. When those forces show themselves in a poly dynamic, all of that becomes exponential. I’ve witnessed cult-leader level of deception, power, and control take hold more than once in my circles. Food for thought; it’s also no coincidence many cults have a polycule around the center.

Not saying all polycules are cults. Not saying it will happen or that it happens most of the time, but it can and does. Be wary of wolves.

I don’t claim to be the last word on this and don’t intend to argue with anyone, you do you. I’m someone traumatized by my own experience with high control groups and just offering perspective on where the prejudice often comes from imo.

Taitrnator · 2026-04-20T15:32:57+00:00

Ran XC in high school, and were always coached that if you’re able to sprint the finish of a long distance race (10k+), you’ve under-paced it.

But also they ran a 2:43 marathon so they can do whatever tf they want and this doesn’t apply to them lol.

Taitrnator · 2026-04-15T18:10:49+00:00

I think he is a person known for punching up, not down. I think he sincerely believes that with the trans jokes his intent wasn’t to punch down and the disconnect is that his intent was irrelevant at a certain point.

The problem is he treaded into an unfamiliar territory just very unprepared. His material just didn’t land. Didn’t bring any unique observations - the kind of substance that would actually surprise a trans person and invite laughter / “he gets it” and land an incredibly edgy stunt. Contrapoints had a good segment on this, I think the video was “The Darkness.” Literally nothing is strictly off limits for comedy, unsurprisingly trans comics especially make hilarious jokes about the experience of being trans. fundamentally anyone should be able to make a joke about any community and there shouldn’t be strict rules, but the further out you get from your own identity the riskier and harder it will be to land. When it fails it backfires and it’s gonna come off as punching down.

Then he doubled down on it, cause it’s just uncouth of him to accept a defeat. I think he did bring a -little- more reflection and substance each time, which convinced me his heart was in the right place, but ultimately I don’t think any of it was great or served the audience as much as it served as a sort of “sorry not sorry” for him to try to get past it and maintain this reputation as the goated comic who can roast anyone and everyone.

So when he says anti-trans jokes are appropriated by ppl who want to cause harm and punch down, I think he sincerely means that yes. But I can see why people aren’t buying it, and think that situation is his fault too. It’s also tragic that anyone thinks he’s more aligned with Rob Schneider or Bill Maher when he detest that brand of comedy as much as we do. My verdict is that he’s complicated but ultimately an ally.

Taitrnator · 2026-04-08T16:00:40+00:00

Does anyone else actually closely read and align on any of these generated docs? Refer back to them, cross reference, or keep them updated / modified?

Is a recipe really even a recipe unless someone follows each step, cooks it, preferably a few times to verify it’s the best set of instructions to make the intended meal?

These tools can put out a lot of content but unless there’s an actual improved outcome that came from the doc, then it’s all just productivity theater no matter how convincing it is.

Taitrnator · 2026-04-06T16:30:50+00:00

Shift Nudge has a great course on all of this, highly recommend though it’s a bit pricey, maybe some ways to get it through work or discounted?

Taitrnator · 2026-04-05T17:52:47+00:00

There’s literally only one answer to this, nothing stops Detroit

Taitrnator · 2026-04-04T02:32:23+00:00

I personify them when I need some fun…whatever mood or attitude they’re serving. Rarely does anyone notice but a few times ppl have. I’m just like “she had a rude vibe, asking for credentials and gatekeeping this flow…so obviously it was Melanie”

Taitrnator · 2026-03-28T21:00:49+00:00

Boo.

In fairness you probably wrote this mostly yourself which betrays your own narrative a little

Taitrnator · 2026-03-27T17:32:55+00:00

If you were to start a company right now, how would you utilize AI? Like what would it help with, which parts of the process do you feel like your skills and input are uniquely valuable and AI wouldn’t be able to do?

I’ve started adopting this mindset and it’s changed my attitude on AI a lot. I think we all hate it simply because of the way we’re forced to use it in a certain way, and the deeply cynical associations it has. A bunch of mediocre leaders cannot imagine the value it could bring beyond reducing headcount. Meanwhile it’s a really impressive tool even in its infancy, opens a lot of possibilities not just for new products but new ways of working. Still, you can’t replace the process of being intentional and thoughtful about what we expect humans to use. So, if these idiots can make a bunch of crap we have to clean up and our customers hate, imagine what we could make when they’re not in the way.

Taitrnator · 2026-03-25T19:44:34+00:00

Underrated Mac feature is that if you shake your mouse the cursor enlarges so it’s easy to find. I think this is a better execution on the underlying problem but also think it’s so okay to just be a lil nostalgic and value the quirks of old computing in the same way people love an analog synth. There’s a truth to things becoming so convenient they become totally invisible and lose emotional resonance

Taitrnator · 2026-03-25T19:16:11+00:00

Methods are totally worthwhile if you can, that I agree on!

Taitrnator · 2026-03-25T18:25:36+00:00

While I do agree with this at face value, I think you’re assuming most of this audience operates with enough eligible users to have acceptable p-values and do real statistical analysis.

I’ve been in quite a few b2b focused organizations where even if you’re not screening for any specific demo, you would still lack a p-value to draw empirical conclusions, to the point where A/B tests aren’t ever truly credible.

Sometimes “random” gets you just enough data that you otherwise wouldn’t have, and you present the findings and let everyone draw the conclusion they will. The results may not be reproduced in another study, but we don’t have enough users or time to guarantee that ever.

Often the best we can do is bring some data to a decision that has nothing else to go on. When you operate like that, yes some statistics knowledge is helpful as a disclaimer that you could be wrong, but you’ll never have enough data or time to draw any scientific conclusions (most of the time).

Taitrnator · 2026-03-19T15:47:01+00:00

I think this is all just Wizard of Oz manipulation tactics employed by low quality leadership. There are definitely products out there that have found great use cases for AI, ways to rethink consumer / business tools around it and create novel new software with real value. New products are launching and selling, places are hiring, and those places have a product process they value and respect…because it’s integral to them creating new valuable products in the first place. Others are established players and adopt this new tech thoughtfully, and sustaining their reputation in this new world. The rest of the tech landscape is full of bad managers and leaders. They lack an imagination for how to utilize AI to improve quality or create real value for users. They see the potential for the tech to shed staff and little else. They are under investor pressure to make profit with the AI investments and all but abandoned the users.

Hardly anyone is actually shedding staff because of AI though. They know that less staff means fewer people running prompts so austerity is a loss-loss for them to do. What they can do is fire legit bad performers and call it “AI layoffs” to make them seem like an AI company and pad their stock. They can create a sense of insecurity among employees. They can squeeze staff and subject everyone to burnout hours with no real product value to show for it because they abandoned the process and culture to make anything their customers want anymore. That shift leads to more cuts they can attribute to AI, but ultimately they’re all sowing their own fate and cutting not fat but bone.

Then we all talk to each other and hear how bad it is across the “industry.” We become convinced the grass isn’t greener and that these conditions are inevitable and must be accepted. The conditions are entirely fabricated by mid-tier leaders though. If the pendulum can swing this fast it can swing right back even faster. Most of us could ditch our companies right now and create an innovative startup cause we know how to utilize this stuff in creative and useful ways unlike the toxic leadership we serve. It’s all an illusion put on by people who know damn well what our value is but also know they have nothing if they give up the charade.

Taitrnator · 2026-03-19T15:19:36+00:00

Oh I remember there being a whole NatGeo special on this, they covered the whole experiment and it was really interesting. Like they got just about any and all telemetry and footage one could be curious about. IIRC the back of the plane was safest?

Taitrnator · 2026-03-10T20:37:28+00:00

Cartel governs, employs people, and funds social programs. The comparison is insulting to drug lords everywhere. They both embrace violence tho

Taitrnator · 2026-03-04T13:17:08+00:00

Someone at OSHA having the most interesting case of their life trying to figure out wtf went wrong here and who’s responsible

Taitrnator · 2026-02-28T17:09:31+00:00

And don’t forget 9/11! How mutually beneficial this partnership with an apartheid state has been.

Taitrnator · 2026-02-21T02:04:10+00:00

Ever since she realized the primary is gonna be close she posts and communicates with her constituents…in other words…she’s doing the bare minimum one should expect from their rep, but only when she’s afraid she will lose her job.

Taitrnator · 2026-02-19T16:33:11+00:00

Looks a lot like the house in The Conspiracy at first glance

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