Software Defined Talk Episode 546: The cURLing Test
Nov 14, 2025
Discover the surprising link between Facebook's revenue and scams, estimated at 10%. Dive into the debate on the fleeting nature of 'good engineering management'. Explore why curl, a long-standing tool, remains critical and face the intriguing question of whether AI could successfully maintain it. Plus, enjoy lively discussions on when it's appropriate to set up your Christmas tree, and consider the idea of introducing Thanksgiving as a unifying holiday in Europe. It's a mix of technical insights and holiday fun!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Holiday Clash In The Netherlands
- Coté describes Dutch St. Martin's and Sinterklaas traditions and worries Halloween will overtake them.
- He proposes combining holidays or importing Thanksgiving as pragmatic cultural solutions.
Facebook's 'Scam' Revenue Is Structural
- Reuters and TechCrunch reporting suggests Facebook internally attributes billions to scammy revenue streams.
- Hosts note Meta may simply have centralized legacy direct-response channels into its ad fabric rather than isolating fraud.
Be Direct And Generous During Layoffs
- When companies must cut staff, Brandon advises clearer, direct explanations and generous severance.
- He argues transparent rationales and one-time severance payments reduce recurring harm and are financially sensible.