Pinned
John (Herokibs) Smith
@herokibs.com
· May 12
Happy #webcomicday! I can finally say I'm off hiatus, and Tales from Pondia is back! A frog prince, a crow sorceress, and a tadpole journey across the land of Pondia, filled with giant insects, powerful magic, and remnants of ages long past. They are risking it all to be the heroes they long to be!!
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
Let me give some insight on this, as a producer in the dub industry who worked with major streamers, who's witnessed first-hand where this push for AI is coming from.
tl;dr: Only CEOs want this. Tell them how much you hate it. Be loud, email, call, @, post. You will kill this.
🧵⬇️
tl;dr: Only CEOs want this. Tell them how much you hate it. Be loud, email, call, @, post. You will kill this.
🧵⬇️
The only thing less human than these AI dub performances is the decision to sign off on them
A company this big can pay human actors a decent wage, not produce slop that intentionally removes the human element.
A company this big can pay human actors a decent wage, not produce slop that intentionally removes the human element.
November 30, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Let me give some insight on this, as a producer in the dub industry who worked with major streamers, who's witnessed first-hand where this push for AI is coming from.
tl;dr: Only CEOs want this. Tell them how much you hate it. Be loud, email, call, @, post. You will kill this.
🧵⬇️
tl;dr: Only CEOs want this. Tell them how much you hate it. Be loud, email, call, @, post. You will kill this.
🧵⬇️
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
This one gets me yelled at but yeah IP is just a workers rights issue. It doesnt get more leftist when the consumer demands my surplus value instead of the bosses
I imagine most of the people trying to claim that stealing indie ebooks is leftism simply have never had to worry about paying rent or for groceries but sorry, your desire for free luxury goods is outweighed by the material needs of their creators
November 26, 2025 at 11:50 PM
This one gets me yelled at but yeah IP is just a workers rights issue. It doesnt get more leftist when the consumer demands my surplus value instead of the bosses
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
Important update: I have received word from insiders that Crunchyroll executives have deemed the user backlash to be small enough that their subtitle enshittification & OOONA plans will NOT be cancelled, only delayed.
I have added an update to the article. There's a summary at the top now too.
I have added an update to the article. There's a summary at the top now too.
New article on ★ daiz.moe ★
Crunchyroll is destroying its subtitles for no good reason
daiz.moe/crunchyroll-...
A ton of research and effort went into this one. This is the article to read to get to the bottom of Crunchyroll's subtitle changes!
Replies here will show up as comments (eventually)
Crunchyroll is destroying its subtitles for no good reason
daiz.moe/crunchyroll-...
A ton of research and effort went into this one. This is the article to read to get to the bottom of Crunchyroll's subtitle changes!
Replies here will show up as comments (eventually)
Crunchyroll is destroying its subtitles for no good reason | Daiz.moe
With the Fall 2025 anime season, Crunchyroll demonstrates zero respect for anime as a medium as the presentation quality of its subtitles reach an all-time low.
daiz.moe
November 21, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Important update: I have received word from insiders that Crunchyroll executives have deemed the user backlash to be small enough that their subtitle enshittification & OOONA plans will NOT be cancelled, only delayed.
I have added an update to the article. There's a summary at the top now too.
I have added an update to the article. There's a summary at the top now too.
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
Between what’s missing from last month’s rent and this month’s, I’m short $500. I hate doing this every month but I haven’t had as active an art career as of late. 🥲
November 17, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Between what’s missing from last month’s rent and this month’s, I’m short $500. I hate doing this every month but I haven’t had as active an art career as of late. 🥲
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
Authors beware: ClaimsHero is urging authors to opt out of the Anthropic settlement in order to file their own separate lawsuit. Except this outfit has no federal or state court experience with class-action suits. And the judge has called them a fraud.
Predatory Opt-Out Scheme ClaimsHero Targets Anthropic Settlement Participants: What Authors Need to Know - The Authors Guild
In recent weeks, a third-party law firm, ClaimsHero, has launched an aggressive online campaign urging authors to opt out of the Bartz v. Anthropic copyright settlement. ClaimsHero—which has no litiga...
authorsguild.org
November 21, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Authors beware: ClaimsHero is urging authors to opt out of the Anthropic settlement in order to file their own separate lawsuit. Except this outfit has no federal or state court experience with class-action suits. And the judge has called them a fraud.
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
Just so it's clear. It's not allowing AI because it's trying to create a clean dataset for training AI. It's not because any of the involved parties actually care about human created art.
Demons can lie to you. You have to rebuke them categorically, rather than fold when they say the right words.
Demons can lie to you. You have to rebuke them categorically, rather than fold when they say the right words.
Vine is being rebooted under the name diVine, with funding from Twitter’s former CEO Jack Dorsey.
The app plans to feature more than 10,000 previously archived Vines and does not allow AI-generated content.
(divine.video)
The app plans to feature more than 10,000 previously archived Vines and does not allow AI-generated content.
(divine.video)
November 20, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Just so it's clear. It's not allowing AI because it's trying to create a clean dataset for training AI. It's not because any of the involved parties actually care about human created art.
Demons can lie to you. You have to rebuke them categorically, rather than fold when they say the right words.
Demons can lie to you. You have to rebuke them categorically, rather than fold when they say the right words.
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
JFC... Of course they are. There is no mask anymore. Just bold face authoritarianism.
Has been for months but main stream media and politicians still wanna play like this is normal and courts/ rule of law alone can stop this collapse while the SCOTUS enables.
Has been for months but main stream media and politicians still wanna play like this is normal and courts/ rule of law alone can stop this collapse while the SCOTUS enables.
GOP seeks to revoke NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani’s citizenship; experts say they must prove false claims in his application.
Republicans push to strip Zohran Mamdani of US citizenship. Is it possible?
GOP seeks to revoke NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani’s citizenship; experts say they must prove false claims in his application.
bit.ly
November 9, 2025 at 2:13 PM
JFC... Of course they are. There is no mask anymore. Just bold face authoritarianism.
Has been for months but main stream media and politicians still wanna play like this is normal and courts/ rule of law alone can stop this collapse while the SCOTUS enables.
Has been for months but main stream media and politicians still wanna play like this is normal and courts/ rule of law alone can stop this collapse while the SCOTUS enables.
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 1:33 AM
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats have broken the Republican Party’s supermajority in the Mississippi Senate.
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Mississippi Democrats Break Republican Senate Supermajority, Flipping 3 Legislative Seats
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats broke the Republican Party's supermajority in the Mississippi Senate, flipping 3 legislative seats.
www.mississippifreepress.org
November 5, 2025 at 7:33 AM
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats have broken the Republican Party’s supermajority in the Mississippi Senate.
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
KOSA dropping duty of care is great but this article buries a very important lede:
A bill package will be introduced once the govt reopens that is a collection of multiple bad "child safety" bills, COPPA 2.0, the Sammy Act, and the App Store Accountability Act [age verification]
CALL YOUR REPS
A bill package will be introduced once the govt reopens that is a collection of multiple bad "child safety" bills, COPPA 2.0, the Sammy Act, and the App Store Accountability Act [age verification]
CALL YOUR REPS
A contentious kids safety bill might be getting gutted — and nobody’s happy
A contentious kids safety bill might be getting gutted — and nobody’s happy
It’s expected to be introduced with a package of kids online safety bills.
buff.ly
October 31, 2025 at 3:40 PM
KOSA dropping duty of care is great but this article buries a very important lede:
A bill package will be introduced once the govt reopens that is a collection of multiple bad "child safety" bills, COPPA 2.0, the Sammy Act, and the App Store Accountability Act [age verification]
CALL YOUR REPS
A bill package will be introduced once the govt reopens that is a collection of multiple bad "child safety" bills, COPPA 2.0, the Sammy Act, and the App Store Accountability Act [age verification]
CALL YOUR REPS
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
support webcomic artists monetarily because they need personal web sites to avoid 🫱 this shit 🫲
Hey, so I'm probably pulling TENACITY off Globalcomix.
Globalcomix made a promotional Youtube video for TENACITY using ChatGPT to write their script for it. I did NOT give my consent to them for this and asked for the video to be taken down(which they did).
Details below ⏬️
#globalcomix #comic
Globalcomix made a promotional Youtube video for TENACITY using ChatGPT to write their script for it. I did NOT give my consent to them for this and asked for the video to be taken down(which they did).
Details below ⏬️
#globalcomix #comic
October 25, 2025 at 8:26 PM
support webcomic artists monetarily because they need personal web sites to avoid 🫱 this shit 🫲
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
I contacted my representatives today about KOSA, and you should too!
if their phones arent responding to calls, dont forget you can send them emails or letters!
if their phones arent responding to calls, dont forget you can send them emails or letters!
#SaveSpeech
If you're like me and you are struggling to contact your senators re: KOSA via their phone lines this week, I recommend attempting to send physical letters or emails in the meantime.
Here is a script you can use to contact your reps!
www.commoncause.org/find-your-re...
#SaveSpeech
If you're like me and you are struggling to contact your senators re: KOSA via their phone lines this week, I recommend attempting to send physical letters or emails in the meantime.
Here is a script you can use to contact your reps!
www.commoncause.org/find-your-re...
![Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [LOCATION]
I'm messaging to demand [SENATOR] oppose S. 1748, the Kids Online Safety Act, also known as KOSA. This broad legislation does not protect anyone and instead will be used to block any speech that the Trump administration’s partisan FTC disagrees with. It pushes the “duty of care” onto websites and social media platforms to remove content that is “harmful to children”. It would lead to overcompliance, mass censorship, and remove access to crucial information re: everything from mental health, LGBT topics, substance abuse, eating disorders and more.
Additionally, while large, corporate platforms like X can shoulder the weight of “duty of care”, smaller websites cannot, leading to greater and greater concentrations of power online into giant corporate platforms rather than small and medium sized businesses.
KOSA will not make kids safer. It will make the internet more dangerous for anyone who relies on it to learn, connect, or speak freely. Lawmakers should reject it, and fast.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
IF SENATOR COSPONSORED KOSA: Additionally, I want to remark on [SENATOR]’s cosponsorship of this bill. I think it is shameful that [SENATOR] has backed a bill as transparently bad as KOSA. This will not keep kids safe, it is an excuse to censor the free and open internet. I will not be voting for nor donating to [SENATOR] in any future campaigns if they do not drop their co-sponsorship of this bill, and I will encourage everyone in my life to do the same.
Do the right thing.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xawhcpoqu6pdxpp72fd43wuf/bafkreib65hm5kdos6y7hmzzg5pille43b6imitwgjf5exlupkcqyw6mgt4@jpeg)
October 26, 2025 at 7:49 PM
I contacted my representatives today about KOSA, and you should too!
if their phones arent responding to calls, dont forget you can send them emails or letters!
if their phones arent responding to calls, dont forget you can send them emails or letters!
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
The videogame that replaced striking actors is teaming up with the company that replaced the voice of Mob from Mob Psycho 100 merely because he asked them to have a conversation with the union?
Match made in fucking heaven.
Match made in fucking heaven.
Crunchyroll is collaborating with Honkai: Star Rail for the exclusive premiere of the HoYoFair event Chimerric Park on November 6!
Crunchyroll Targets Honkai: Star Rail Players With Exclusive HoYoFair Program Premiere and Other Initiatives
In-game Honkai: Star Rail rewards and a 14-day Mega Fan free trial are also on offer.
anitrendz.net
October 26, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The videogame that replaced striking actors is teaming up with the company that replaced the voice of Mob from Mob Psycho 100 merely because he asked them to have a conversation with the union?
Match made in fucking heaven.
Match made in fucking heaven.
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
CALL STRIPE
CALL PAYPAL
CALL MASTERCARD
CALL VISA
DO NOT. STOP. CALLING!
#rocktheboat
stop-paypros.neocities.org
CALL PAYPAL
CALL MASTERCARD
CALL VISA
DO NOT. STOP. CALLING!
#rocktheboat
stop-paypros.neocities.org
August 13, 2025 at 2:15 PM
CALL STRIPE
CALL PAYPAL
CALL MASTERCARD
CALL VISA
DO NOT. STOP. CALLING!
#rocktheboat
stop-paypros.neocities.org
CALL PAYPAL
CALL MASTERCARD
CALL VISA
DO NOT. STOP. CALLING!
#rocktheboat
stop-paypros.neocities.org
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
TOMORROW Tuesday, October 14th IS #PORTFOLIODAY!
yout.be/09cs_chctNk
Want to combat AI scraping? Try this:
🔸Nightshade and Glaze your images
🔸Images should be web-sized and watermarked
🔸Crop images shared to social media
🔸Keep your portfolio behind a password or paywall
Good luck!💛
yout.be/09cs_chctNk
Want to combat AI scraping? Try this:
🔸Nightshade and Glaze your images
🔸Images should be web-sized and watermarked
🔸Crop images shared to social media
🔸Keep your portfolio behind a password or paywall
Good luck!💛
October 13, 2025 at 2:04 PM
TOMORROW Tuesday, October 14th IS #PORTFOLIODAY!
yout.be/09cs_chctNk
Want to combat AI scraping? Try this:
🔸Nightshade and Glaze your images
🔸Images should be web-sized and watermarked
🔸Crop images shared to social media
🔸Keep your portfolio behind a password or paywall
Good luck!💛
yout.be/09cs_chctNk
Want to combat AI scraping? Try this:
🔸Nightshade and Glaze your images
🔸Images should be web-sized and watermarked
🔸Crop images shared to social media
🔸Keep your portfolio behind a password or paywall
Good luck!💛
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
#SaveSpeech
KOSA has amassed more cosponsors recently, jumping from 42 to 60 total
You need to call your reps and DEMAND that they oppose this legislation ASAP
The link below contains more info about KOSA and an easy way to contact your reps
5calls.org/issue/kids-o...
Please call DAILY
KOSA has amassed more cosponsors recently, jumping from 42 to 60 total
You need to call your reps and DEMAND that they oppose this legislation ASAP
The link below contains more info about KOSA and an easy way to contact your reps
5calls.org/issue/kids-o...
Please call DAILY
October 10, 2025 at 6:13 PM
#SaveSpeech
KOSA has amassed more cosponsors recently, jumping from 42 to 60 total
You need to call your reps and DEMAND that they oppose this legislation ASAP
The link below contains more info about KOSA and an easy way to contact your reps
5calls.org/issue/kids-o...
Please call DAILY
KOSA has amassed more cosponsors recently, jumping from 42 to 60 total
You need to call your reps and DEMAND that they oppose this legislation ASAP
The link below contains more info about KOSA and an easy way to contact your reps
5calls.org/issue/kids-o...
Please call DAILY
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
Gonna say it: if you have time to make fun of me for not wanting to accept censorship in America, you have time to e-mail your reps about the issue. Anytime you feel like dunking on someone because they don't wanna use crypto or a VPN, you should be using that energy to contact reps instead. Thanks!
Some assholes found some of my posts again, looks like. What a bummer! People truly are happy to just accept the censorship sweeping across America and they really think VPNs are going to go unchallenged forever, huh? Yikes.
October 7, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Gonna say it: if you have time to make fun of me for not wanting to accept censorship in America, you have time to e-mail your reps about the issue. Anytime you feel like dunking on someone because they don't wanna use crypto or a VPN, you should be using that energy to contact reps instead. Thanks!
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
jay claims to want good faith, honest discussion on her platform but instead of replying to sincere posts like those mox has written, she’s choosing to make cheap, petty clap backs on others
Jay, you are hurting people. With your actions, lack of actions, lack of compassion, and lack of tact, you are hurting people.
People who adored your platform, saw it as home, the one safe social space, people who talked publicly about excitement to contribute when paid services were rolled out.
People who adored your platform, saw it as home, the one safe social space, people who talked publicly about excitement to contribute when paid services were rolled out.
October 3, 2025 at 9:55 PM
jay claims to want good faith, honest discussion on her platform but instead of replying to sincere posts like those mox has written, she’s choosing to make cheap, petty clap backs on others
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
people give a lot more good faith to weird-looking indie comics than they do to weird-looking kids’ comics. there is an assumption of skill & intentionality when the comic has grownup themes. my hot take is that i think this is annoying sometimes
Anyone have a particularly hot comic take?
October 3, 2025 at 11:28 PM
people give a lot more good faith to weird-looking indie comics than they do to weird-looking kids’ comics. there is an assumption of skill & intentionality when the comic has grownup themes. my hot take is that i think this is annoying sometimes
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
"imagine me attacking james cameron bc jack wasnt a lesbian"
-fellicia houndsworth
-fellicia houndsworth
Instead of complaining on the internet about your headcanons not being realized by people who owe you nothing, imagine all the cool gay shit we could have if we poured that energy into creating the things we wanna see!!
September 30, 2025 at 11:43 PM
"imagine me attacking james cameron bc jack wasnt a lesbian"
-fellicia houndsworth
-fellicia houndsworth
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
Are you kidding me right now? This is the last thing we need. KOSA is back no thanks to Senator Blumenthal who is working with the GOP and bringing in Republican Senators to convince the House to support it.
Please, CALL GOP House leadership and tell them to keep opposing it!
Please, CALL GOP House leadership and tell them to keep opposing it!
September 30, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Are you kidding me right now? This is the last thing we need. KOSA is back no thanks to Senator Blumenthal who is working with the GOP and bringing in Republican Senators to convince the House to support it.
Please, CALL GOP House leadership and tell them to keep opposing it!
Please, CALL GOP House leadership and tell them to keep opposing it!
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
today I learned that @surasshu.com has this massive blocklist for youtube channels that hock bullshit AI generated music, if you're like me and enjoy vapourwave you know it's a fuckin minefield out there so this helps TREMENDOUSLY
surasshu.com/blocklist-fo...
surasshu.com/blocklist-fo...
blocklist for AI music on youtube – surasshu
surasshu.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:01 AM
today I learned that @surasshu.com has this massive blocklist for youtube channels that hock bullshit AI generated music, if you're like me and enjoy vapourwave you know it's a fuckin minefield out there so this helps TREMENDOUSLY
surasshu.com/blocklist-fo...
surasshu.com/blocklist-fo...
Reposted by John (Herokibs) Smith
I know not everyone can send money, and I know I'm behind on commissions, but this month I haven't made enough, again, to pay all my bills… and my spouse cannot afford to cover for me again.
Ideally I need $350 minimum, feel free to buy a sketch or just send $2. Please.
ko-fi.com/ayusheknows
Ideally I need $350 minimum, feel free to buy a sketch or just send $2. Please.
ko-fi.com/ayusheknows
a close up of a girl 's face with circles around her
ALT: a close up of a girl 's face with circles around her
media.tenor.com
September 22, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I know not everyone can send money, and I know I'm behind on commissions, but this month I haven't made enough, again, to pay all my bills… and my spouse cannot afford to cover for me again.
Ideally I need $350 minimum, feel free to buy a sketch or just send $2. Please.
ko-fi.com/ayusheknows
Ideally I need $350 minimum, feel free to buy a sketch or just send $2. Please.
ko-fi.com/ayusheknows