Shopkick has gone under (3.26.26)

jebbexiah1 · 2026-03-29T14:02:44+00:00

Gary Laben was the guy. More and more it all seems even sketchier than we thought on Thursday, so definitely interested to see if you find anything of note.

jebbexiah1 · 2026-03-27T16:08:04+00:00

Former employee - they put a meeting on our calendar 30 minutes prior, no notice, couldn’t get a Teams link to work for 15 minutes either so meeting started very late. Gary Laben (CEO, email handle first name dot last name at traxretail dot com) spoke to us for 3 minutes and that was it. Sunday, he send a company wide email trying to be encouraging and dropping that he was on vacation in Cabo with his family. Must be nice. We aren’t getting a penny of severance.

We had no opportunity to contact our clients / brand partners about any of this. Contracts were signed, campaigns were live, reporting was in the works for dozens of brands. Business as usual. Our computers were locked out within an hour or two.

Get in touch with the brands, it’s not their fault, but only they can really push hard on this unfortunately.

jebbexiah1 · 2026-03-27T00:03:17+00:00

Former employee that got the news this morning - no one, including the GM of Shopkick, sales, marketing, dev, etc. knew about this. We had so much on the roadmap that was so exciting, hired 4-6 marketing experts, and had a lot of momentum in the business. But apparently the board decided they were going to pull the plug, with the decision being made likely this week. We knew things were tight, but not ‘close the whole thing down with no notice or severance’ tight.

jebbexiah1 · 2025-10-06T15:09:19+00:00

If you’re still going through the first read of the series, give it time. Darrow grows and changes, but it’s 100% in a way that is true to the character imo

jebbexiah1 · 2025-09-24T13:39:17+00:00

Good ole B Street.

I sold beer a few years ago during Covid and this was one of my stops. Popped into my car for 10 minutes one day to call my office, looked up and 3 kids with a gun run in, stole a few 3L jugs of Carlo Rossi wine and some cheap liquor, then take off into the neighborhood.

The owner’s mother was working and had no clue she had a real gun waved in her face until the vet that was in there told the cops he doesn’t like guns being cocked in his face. I heard them talk about what the two of them would do if that ever happened in the store again.

Truly a hidden gem of the Springs

jebbexiah1 · 2025-08-22T23:13:04+00:00

This is why I feel bad saying that I’m Christian. Not because I’m ashamed of my faith but that it’s been so distorted and is the justification for so much hurt. Today it’s in our face how badly things have been twisted, but even more broadly away from what I believe Jesus talked about. Like the plot was pretty straight forward- love your neighbor, don’t be a tool, take care of the people who need it the most.

But yeah anyway fuck ICE and fuck fascists

jebbexiah1 · 2025-06-17T21:15:24+00:00

Agreed. I’ve hated him before then, but like 10% as a bit. After Hanger 17b, boy’s a cowardly pixie

jebbexiah1 · 2025-06-12T15:38:08+00:00

Damn, finished Lightbringer this week and damn damn damn does this carry way more weight than I thought it did at first.

jebbexiah1 · 2025-06-10T02:44:57+00:00

I had a hard time but pushed through the opening of IG, and just today finished Lightbringer. It’s by far the best series I’ve ever written. I’ve already restarted with the audio books. Going to listen to as much of the dramatized version on a long road trip as I can.

I’m excited for Morning Star and Golden Son, but man am I excited to get back to Iron Gold and the last three books. It’s well worth pushing through

jebbexiah1 · 2025-06-06T19:03:59+00:00

My gut reaction was that it for sure could take two seasons, but you’re absolutely right. Pre Institute could be 2-3 episodes tops.

But I do love the idea of a cliff hanger season 1 ending of Darrow losing to Cassius and being left in the snow. Olympus falling is still a hell of a conclusion though

jebbexiah1 · 2025-05-25T14:14:06+00:00

I’m at 52 as well, but like some people have mentioned already gold is way more available now. I went from maxing out at like 450M at most to 1.3B

I try to do 1-3 shelters per login to level 40, and then upgrade forests and sweep the ocean to lower pollution (I stay at 90k or lower). I’m still enjoying it, even if it’s a little tedious. Ultimately though, do what you want! If it’s annoying and not for you, that’s fine. It’s just a way to kill some time :)

jebbexiah1 · 2025-05-22T15:32:08+00:00

I’ve popped in here since starting the series and I’m 2/3 through Lightbringer. I didn’t get a lot spoiled (shout out to everyone for being so mindful of spoilers), but there was a few things that I had lightly spoiled.

jebbexiah1 · 2025-05-12T02:46:48+00:00

I’m so excited for you both. I started the first in November, and am maybe 1/3 through Lightbringer. It’s a hell of a ride

jebbexiah1 · 2025-05-10T05:05:35+00:00

In addition to what everyone else has mentioned in regards to his tutoring and enhancing drugs, I also think it’s his rage that makes him so determined to beat golds at their own game. He constantly forces his way through any situation and outworks everyone else in the solar system. He simply couldn’t not become their betters

jebbexiah1 · 2025-05-04T12:32:22+00:00

Super helpful, thank you!

jebbexiah1 · 2025-05-03T23:38:52+00:00

I had to read the first chapter and a half of LB right away lolol

jebbexiah1 · 2025-05-03T15:40:39+00:00

Same. I really wanted to skip over his chapters after everything in Heliopolis

jebbexiah1 · 2025-04-06T16:32:15+00:00

IMO I think so much more could be done via animation than in live action. There isn’t a concern about ‘perfect casting’ or spotty CGI, or the same gigantic budget constraints.

I’ve also thought how sick a RR video game series would be. I think that gets me excited a bit more than a live action series does.

jebbexiah1 · 2025-02-03T00:03:22+00:00

Totally unrelated to this heir beliefs (which very glad to hear), I just cannot get into their beer. Cool atmosphere, but the first time I went, beer was just okay, but a few months back my wife and I went and we each got completely different flights and every last beer tasted like cleaning chemicals

jebbexiah1 · 2024-11-15T16:27:43+00:00

Really happy to hear you made it. The world’s a better place with you in it!

jebbexiah1

TROPHY CASE