As the saying goes... Crime pays...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
27.02.2026 01:03
👍 6
🔁 3
💬 0
📌 0
Calling it a "K-shaped economy" makes massive inequality sound like a neutral economic phenomenon rather than a policy choice. It's like calling a house fire "thermally divergent home heating patterns."
Nextdoor published a "Transparency Report."
The link returns a 404 error.
I can't think of a more perfect metaphor for corporate transparency.
A terrible story for those that lost their jobs, but truely a story about the insanity of late stage capitalism and charismatic CEOs.
atwillemployee.substack.com/p/the-wework...
Absolutely. But with unemployment high, and job-seekers desperate, they can just replace workers with new ones to burn out. Obviously not sustainable in the long run, but then companies rarely think about the long run.
Some US AI startups are now proudly adopting "996" culture (9am-9pm, 6 days/week) - a work schedule so brutal that even China's government condemned it. American founders saw a labor model that killed workers and thought "perfect, that's how we'll win the AI race." Good stuff.
Got rejected for a job Thursday. Today: rejected again. Same company, same job. Most companies ghost you. This one rejected me twice to make sure I got the message. Waiting for email #3: "Circling back - still not hired".
U.S. employers announced 108,435 layoffs for the month, up 118% from the same period a year ago and 205% from December 2025. The total marked the highest for any January since 2009 (when we were in the middle of the financial crisis). this time? Greed? AI? Offshoring? Probably all of the above.
As we approach the Super Bowl, and a surge in gambling addiction, some might find this interesting.
open.substack.com/pub/atwillem...
Oh definitely -but aside from all the drinks, they also make Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Ruffles, Tostitos, Fritos, SunChips, Miss Vickie's, Chester's, Cracker Jack. Quaker Oats Chewy Granola Bars, Cap'n Crunch, Life, Rice-A-Roni), Grandma's Cookies, Bare Snacks and more. All crap but people buy it
And just a reminder: Since the pandemic, Pepsi have increased prices by 15%. Twice. And embraced shrinkflation to make sure that you get less for the increased cost. Pulling back slightly because they got too greedy, and pretending they're listening to customers is prime corporate gasslighting.
PepsiCo Foods US CEO Rachel Ferdinando said that she’s “spent the past year listening closely to consumers, and they’ve told us they’re feeling the strain” and that “lowering the suggested retail price reflects our commitment to help reduce the pressure where we can
Translation: We got too greedy
Profit first. There's always the food banks for those laid off.
I was today years old when I learned that the Melania documentary is a real thing, and not a spoof trailer for a documentary that nobody would ever want to watch.
Starbucks scraps $250,000 cap on boss's use of company jet...
If your CEO needs unlimited private jet access and $1.1M in security because of 'credible threats,' maybe - just maybe - you should ask why people are that angry instead of just building a bigger moat.
Roblox Chose Profit Over Protecting Children
open.substack.com/pub/atwillem...
UPS shares rallied to their highest levels in nearly a year. Was it because of the better than expected Q4 numbers, or because they're laying off another 30,000 workers. Got to keep those shareholders happy.
Unfortunately true. And outrageous. bsky.app/profile/at-w...
Corporate leaders when they let their mask slip...
4/4 The utility loves this setup - more infrastructure means bigger rate base means more guaranteed profit. You subsidize Big Tech's AI infrastructure, they get the profits, you get a higher bill, and they drain your community's water supply to keep their servers cool. (Next: Higher water prices)
3/4 Meanwhile, the data center negotiates special commercial rates (often with tax breaks to sweeten the deal). So you pay to build the infrastructure for OpenAI/Microsoft/Google's AI gold rush, while they get discounted electricity to use it.
2/4 Here's how it works: Data center moves in, needs huge power capacity. Utility builds new substations, power lines, grid upgrades. Those infrastructure costs? Spread across ALL customers - including you.
🔌 🧵 Ah, Data centers...
1/4 Your electric bill is going up because AI companies need massive data centers. But here's the scam: you're paying for the infrastructure they're using.
I miss the time when reviews and review scores were actually helpful.
I read that "After a year marked by AI-driven layoffs, influential leaders and top executives are now warning that we can expect to see a huge ramp up in anxiety around the technology in 2026." -This is only partly true. Sometimes it's AI, but often it's offshoring or just greed behind the layoffs.
For those of us who have had to suffer from 'customer service'
atwillemployee.substack.com/p/late-stage...
They have bunkers! Doesn't matter what happens in the neighborhood! But it's wild. Like they can't see that the current trajectory means nobody will be able to afford the crap they're selling.
In the 1980s, there were over 70 domestic airlines operating in the US. Now, it's 12, and the big four (United, Delta, American and Southwest) hold around 80% of the market.
Consolidation killed competition. Now they compete on who can treat you worst while charging the most.
There’s something almost performatively callous about an automated job rejection email hitting inboxes at 9 PM on a Saturday - like the system and company is so indifferent to us as humans that it can’t even be bothered to queue the email for Monday morning.
I have a Yahoo account for less important stuff. They regularly show me the below.
Translation: "Let us scan your emails so we can sell more targeted ads that make us more money."
When I click "Reject all," I get an error message.
It's not a bug. They just don't like taking no for an answer.