Sign in

Austin Huang ❤️

@ap.austinhuang.me
48 followers 1 following 423 posts

#Software engineer at #Google + #FOSS contributor + #mastoadmin, from Shanghai to Montreal to #Seattle. I quibble on #SliceOfLife, #tech, and #policies. Account speaks […] 🌉 bridged from ⁂ mstdn.party/@austin, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact

PostsRepliesMedia
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 25/09/2026
Air Canada's A320 (C-FKPT) taxiing to the runway of Boeing Field, passing behind one of Museum of Flight's Super Constellation (CF-TGE), painted in the livery of Air Canada's predecessor, Trans-Canada Air Lines. #airplane #planespotting #photography #Seattle
The Air Canada A320 (its right side fully shown) taxiing behind the Super Constellation (with the right side of the front shown) anchored in the parking lot behind Museum of Flight.
012
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 31/08/2026
The Issaquah Valley #Trolley, a single-kilometre heritage streetcar line that has just one stop. I suppose it makes good photo shots. #Photography #Seattle
The Issaquah Valley Trolley (ex-Lisbon car 519) approaches towards the camera as it travels through a single track with trees on both sides.
061
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 30/08/2026
The brutalist fountain at Freeway Park in Downtown #Seattle. #SilentSunday #photography
An inward corner in the fountain, with water flowing down from levels of concrete. Some leaves can be seen.An outward corner in the fountain (partially obscured by another concrete slab in the foreground).View of one part of the fountain, with staircases descending into it. Two people are watching.
003
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 29/08/2026
A few NUMTOTs threw a small funeral for bus routes 550 and 271 in #Bellevue. There were like 10 people, some shared their personal memories with the buses and looking forward to better transit, so it is more of a celebration of life. And we had flowers, which […] [Original post on mstdn.party]
The 550 bus waits for the green light at Bellevue Transit Center temporary stop B. Behind it is Community Transit route 908, itself introduced a few months ago to replace another fellow Seattle commuter route, the 424.Flowers being handed out by one of the attendees, with a label depicting two cartoonish buses with line numbers 550 and 271 and the caption "Thank you for attending the 2026 Bellevue Bus Funeral to celebrate a life well lived~".A flower is left on the front dash (behind the plastic board) on bus #6967, running eastbound on the 271.A couple, in full funeral attire for the event, crosses the street in front of the 550 bus in Chinatown.
010
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 28/08/2026
There are a lot of... let's say floating things on the Ship Canal: aside from the kayakers there are all sorts of cruises like pirate ship, floating saunas, floating bathtubs... and of course we wave to them and they react somewhat. But there's an ice cream […] [Original post on mstdn.party]
From M/V Fremont Avenue, the people on the ice cream cruise make gestures at us.A floating sauna, with glass walls for the sauna and a mini balcony on the top.
000
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 25/08/2026
Over the past weekend I joined a group and sailed on a raceboat on Lake Washington. First time on the water by a vessel that's not a ferry, cruise, or whatnot, so I was a bit clueless (and scaredy, I guess?)... The camera is a bit burdensome on the lake (since […] [Original post on mstdn.party]
Base of the sail as the boat navigates through Lake Washington.Flying on one of the ropes is a pride flag (of the 1978 original design, with pink on top), as the boat passes under the Aurora Bridge seen in the background.
100
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 14/07/2026
Strolling through #Fremont, supposedly the Center of the Universe... #Seattle #StreetPhotography
The Fremont Rocket. Picture taken from its base, looking up.The Center of the Universe sign.Planet Orbs, consists of three balls hanging by arches. According to the Fremont Chamber: "[t]hese planets dangle like a handmade solar system in the peripherals of The Statue of Lenin."Statue of Lenin. The left hand is painted red, presumably by graffiti.
071
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 13/07/2026
#Buses of Capitol Hill... (I came from LFS territory but I do find Xcelsiors having a pretty exterior too. Not the Gilligs though...) #Seattle #StreetPhotography #PublicTransportation
King County Metro bus #8000 (an XDE60) running on route 8 westbound from Capitol Hill light rail station.King County Metro trolleybus #4408 (an XT40) running on route 49 northbound from Capitol Hill light rail station.
061
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 06/07/2026
Gas Works Park. (This was not during Fourth of July, but rather during the r/seattle summer meetup back in mid-June.) #Seattle #photography
011
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 05/07/2026
Exactly two weeks ago I hiked Naches Peak Loop at the Mount Rainier National Park with a few online friends. (We then actually had nachos.) This was said to be a mild trail but the ice on the way made it a lot more challenging. Yes, there's still ice in mid June! #SilentSunday #photography #hiking
Looking towards Mount Rainier.A motorcycle on the side of the road. The driver is lying on the grass a few feet away, on an downward incline.A small pond at about the midway point of the Naches Peak Loop.Ice formation obstructing the trail.
052
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 04/07/2026
I should also mention that I was very surprised to hear English and French announcements on the Link, on Canada Day no less... One would wish that Canada annexed Seattle and started imposing official bilingualism, but It was actually because of the Belgium vs […] [Original post on mstdn.party]
At U District station. Screen shows a service alert with a French message warning travelers of increasing patronage on the train.
000
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 03/07/2026
U District light rail station, with its station art Fragment Brooklyn. #Seattle #PublicTransport #photography
1 line train enters into the station under the various urban building fixtures (windows with digital screens depicting daily life, fire escapes, balconies, etc.) which is part of the station art.The same train leaves the station under a similar set of fixtures.
161
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 02/07/2026
Got myself a (rental) #bike, specifically a Momentum Voya E+, which is an e-bike, although not very much so (the maximum range, which might even be inflated, seems to be based on eco mode which doesn't give a lot of assist). And yes, I've been biking to work (as […] [Original post on mstdn.party]
My e-bike on the practice bus bike rack (that is the same bike rack as used on buses attached statically there) at Kirkland Transit Center.My e-bike on the SR 520 trail, at the eastern end of the floating bridge, looking towards the skyscrapers of Downtown Seattle.
010
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 16/06/2026
Should've posted this earlier, but there's a miniature #Lego model - about 2 stories tall - of the Space Needle at the souvenir shop at its foot, so here's a comparison. #Seattle
Looking up to the Space Needle from its base.Looking up to the Lego Space Needle from its base.
020
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 15/06/2026
And finally, #buses! Sure, it's not 24/7, but since most of the city of #Seattle closes at around 10pm it's not a problem. And it gets me home! They do seem to love using articulated buses here though (even when the ridership doesn't seem to justify it) […] [Original post on mstdn.party]
King County Metro bus 8070 (a 2016 New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60) running on route 48 southbound approaches UW station bay 1 in an evening.King County Metro bus 6992 (a 2012 New Flyer DE60LFR) running on route 255 eastbound approaches UW station bay 1 in an evening.King County Metro bus 8004 (a 2016 New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60) running on route 48 southbound approaches UW station bay 1 in an afternoon.King County Metro bus 6925 (a 2011 New Flyer DE60LFR) running on route 255 eastbound approaches UW station bay 1 in an afternoon.
140
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 14/06/2026
Mount Rainier, from Seward Park, #Seattle. #photography #SilentSunday
The peak of Mount Rainier behind the trees on Mercer Island, as seen east from Seward Park.
021
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 13/06/2026
The other #PublicTransport attraction (that is... not so useful) is undoubtedly the #Seattle Center #Monorail. It's a fairly quick ride, and it looks a lot better from the outside than inside the train. #photography
Monorail approaching Seattle Center along 5th Ave N.Pictured from the Space Needle, the monorail is going along 5th Avenue.A closeup of the control panel for the monorail driver.
120
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 12/06/2026
While #Seattle may not have a #transit system that is as impressively useful as the New York City Subway, it is undoubtedly impressively attractive. Looking at the Washington State Ferries from the Space Needle... #photography #ferry
A Washington State Ferries vessel navigates through the Puget Sound.A WSF vessel is about to arrive at Colman Dock. The Seattle Great Wheel and the Seattle Aquarium can be seen in the foreground; cranes of Port of Seattle in the background.An illustration of a ferry vessel, somehow sunk on the waterbed with a giant crab next to it. (This illustration is seen somewhere near Seattle Center.)
251
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 11/06/2026
It was raining, which pretty much stopped by the time we got to the Space Needle, so a #rainbow came out (pun intended) towards the south. #Seattle #photography
Rainbow appears under cloudy sky, as seen south (towards Boeing Field) of the Space Needle.
111
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 09/06/2026
Some glass panels being covered does not give a sense of safety though. At #SpaceNeedle in #Seattle
At the glass-floored revolving walkway at the lower level of the Space Needle observatory, some glass floor panels are covered with black mats. Despite this people are still standing at nearby (not covered) glass panels.
110
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 08/06/2026
Back on Memorial Day I met up with another Googler from the Bay Area and, y'know, ended up doing touristy things in #Seattle. And yes, that means going to the #SpaceNeedle...
Looking towards Harbor Island from Space Needle. The silhouette of the observatory of the Space Needle is reflected on the glass.
120
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 07/06/2026
There's a small #fish tank right above the entrance of the #Seattle #Aquarium. #SilentSunday #photography
Looking up to the ceiling, a round window that's under a fish tank. Some fish is swimming in it while some natural light is let into the fish tank.
071
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 06/06/2026
no u at South Lake Union, #Seattle #uno
Blue uno skip card dropped on the road, near the curb.
020
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 27/05/2026
It says "everyone belongs at the #library" but the Traditional Chinese text says "everyone belongs *to* the library" which is quite funny in a "all your base are belong to us" way... (The Simplified Chinese text says "everyone can use the library" which is a bit […] [Original post on mstdn.party]
A poster outlining key details of https://spl.org/CommunityAgreement in multiple languages, on a bookshelf.
000
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 17/05/2026
#Flowers at #Bellevue Downtown Park. #SilentSunday #photography
Many white flowers.
071
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 13/05/2026
"YO"
An old Toyota pickup truck (with higher suspension?) parked in front of a home garage. Contains stickers including "bring back the 80s", "I brake for goth girls" and "how's my driving? call 248-434-5508" (which is the rickroll line). The "Toyota" brand in the back has been reduced to only the word "Yo".
001
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 12/05/2026
And yes, I visited udub (ironically with someone not actually from UW). The roads within the campus are quite wide though (car-brained?). The reading room is nice as an attraction (someone was taking wedding photos inside though). #Seattle
The statue of a husky in front of the Husky Stadium.Looking at the Drumheller Fountain, with Mount Rainier in the distant background (topped by clouds).
010
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 11/05/2026
Anyways, now that I've settled in #Seattle (pun not intended) I must try the #transit. And yeah, I've taken the Crosslake a few times now... It's hard to get a good picture on the bridge itself though, so here's the newer train (which I like more than the older […] [Original post on mstdn.party]
A light rail train (Link 2 line to Lynnwood) enters the platform (at Wilburton). Picture taken against its direction of travel.Now looking at the train towards its direction of travel on the same platform. The train still advertises the Crosslake connection (with a Microsoft logo) on its side wrapping.
061
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 10/05/2026
Green Lake, #Seattle. #SilentSunday #photography
Two people row on the water of a lake while a man in the foreground fishes in the lake. More trees and houses in the background.
041
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 19/04/2026
I am never getting out of #Seattle (and this #scp3008)... #ikea #scp
An IKEA shopping list sheet with the words "why da fuq the exit sign takin us in cycles," as well as "=\" emoticon faced properly, written in pencil across the sheet. Printed at bottom is the hours information for the Renton, WA store.
020
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 18/04/2026
How did this #hotel arrive at the choice of a picture of braille & morse code alphabets as room & corridor decorations, respectively?
A picture of the braille alphabet, framed on a wall inside a guest room.A picture of the morse code alphabet, framed on a wall at a corridor.
000
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 16/04/2026
The #airport just has to #ragebait me... #montreal
A placard, with a w/c graphic but with the two people holding it in, the words "washroom temporarily out of service," and a map indicating 1min45s of walking to the nearest working washroom.
000
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 28/03/2026
Since I'd be leaving #Montreal in a few weeks I thought I'd have some #poutine before going to somewhere without that authentic Quebecois #food. So, got the Poutine St-Henri (large), plus a milkshake, at Green Spot. In hindsight I might've eaten too much for a […] [Original post on mstdn.party]
A plate of poutine with green bell peppers, mushrooms, and grounded steak. Next to it is a glass of milkshake.
001
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 27/03/2026
@jessienab's #mastoplush at Fediverse Night at @foulab! #Montreal #plushtodon
Mastodon plush wearing a birthday hat (with the French words "Bonne Fête") sitting on a table. Two traffic signs (an obstacle sign and a temporary tow-away zone sign) and shelves with various things can be seen in the background.
010
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 23/03/2026
Out of curiosity, and since not so many people tried to use #kagi to #translate *from* #LinkedIn speak to English, I decided to test it on an actual LinkedIn post on my feed (happens to be one using "AI" to replace interns) […] [Original post on mstdn.party]
First run. Output:
===

We stopped hiring interns because we're just making our engineers do all the grunt work with Al tools now.

It's not that we're 10x faster; it's just that we're rushing out half-baked products in a week that used to take two months of actual thought.

We basically fired the product managers and designers from the creative process. Now the devs just argue with a chatbot until they get a draft, and the PMs just glance at it before we ship. We've basically replaced meaningful collaboration with a giant, automated feedback loop.

And yeah, it's cheaper than a human being. I'm saving a few bucks on an intern's salary by making my senior staff do everything themselves with a glorified autocomplete.Second run a few days later. Output:
===

We stopped hiring interns because we don't need them anymore.

I gave my engineers AI tools and now I expect them to work ten times faster. We rushed out a recruiting app in a week that probably should have taken two months to actually polish.

We basically fired the middleman. Now the engineers have to write their own requirements by arguing with a chatbot, and the PMs just sit there and "refine" things. We've basically just collapsed the schedule until everyone is exhausted.

And it's cheap. I'm paying less for software subscriptions than I would for a human being's salary, and I'm getting way more out of them.
010
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 04/03/2026
Memories of the midnight #subway... #NewYorkCity #nyc #PublicTransport #photography
An uptown R-211 "A" train approaching the platform at Hoyt-Schemerhorn St.The zebra board (that conductors point their fingers to, for pointing-and-calling procedures) for 5-car G trains hanging from the ceiling on the southern platform of Hoyt-Schemerhorn St.On the southbound G train track, the 8-car stopping position (which is not ordinarily used).A green signal hanging above the platform.
040
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 03/03/2026
Memories of Union Square... #NewYorkCity #nyc #manhattan #photography #StreetPhotography
The iconic green-white lamp, indicating a full-time staffed subway entrance, next to the Union Square bandshell in the evening.A M14A+ bus passes in front of the Duane Reade on East 14th Street.The front red lights of an FDNY ambulance, under a "no left turn" sign, illuminating the surrounding.
080
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 31/12/2025
#Manhattan #Bridge at dusk. Here's to wrapping up 2025! #nyc #NewYorkCity #photography #StreetPhotography
Looking south-east-ward, the arch of Manhattan Bridge at dusk.The "Welcome to Manhattan" sign with Eric Adams's name still on it. This is just off the Manhattan Bridge.
031
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 30/12/2025
It strikes me as extremely odd that, in this day and age (photo taken this October), there is still someone reselling those old-fashioned PHP-based managed #hosting, less having no TLS (on the website, and no free TLS in its offerings) and trying to advertise it […] [Original post on mstdn.party]
A printout of http://nextpayday.runhosting.biz, without background graphics, and with the website URL, "salesperson: JA" and "email: paydaynext@gmail.com" scribbled on the paper, taped onto a street lamppost. Cars on Lafayette Street can be seen behind.
000
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 29/12/2025
Are the delivery robots #flirting with each other when they get unstuck from a bottleneck? #robot
Two delivery robots (essentially a container box on four omnidirectional wheels with a display in front and cameras above it) face each other at an impasse where the pedestrian path is so narrow that only one robot can go through. One of the robots display two white upright triangles as eyes eyes.As one delivery robot retreats to a relative open space behind the bottleneck so to yield to the other, it displays two red heart shapes as eyes (one hidden behind the other's red flag).
000
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 28/12/2025
Final set of pictures... This is from last Sunday. (Today's nostalgia rides are cancelled due to the winter storm on Friday...) #nyc #NewYorkCity #photography #StreetPhotography
A man dressed in a steampunk costume stands on the platform of 2nd Av (F), bowing slightly towards the photographer. He wears a bronze mask with a glowing monocle, a traditional black suit, white gloves, and a hat.Two men dressed in red soldier costumes salute in front of the train. The one on the left has red paper blushes on his face, and the one on the right has a white mask and a more elaborate costume.A man dressed in a red soldier costume holds hands with a woman dressed in a traditional Christmas dress as she reaches out from a train car's window.Crowds of people, some in costumes and others taking pictures, on the platform of 96 St (Q).
021
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 27/12/2025
Here's more jolly dressed-up people at the nostalgia ride! This is for December 14th. #nyc #NewYorkCity #photography #StreetPhotography #MetroCard
A group of four stands in front of one of the holiday train cars with the word "City of New York" under the windows. The masked Spiderman dressed in black squats in front of three people (1 man and 2 women) dressed in retro attire.Inside a holiday train car, a woman dressed in a "Miss Subways" costume (dress with MetroCards on the body, with a "Miss Subways 2025" banner across, wearing a crown with an image of a subway token, wrapped in a green garland with round ornaments representing subway route bullets, and holding a staff decorated with the round subway exit light) sits with another woman dressed in retro attire (red dress).A group of men in retro military attire stands among others dressed in retro suits & jackets. The spiderman is once again in front of them.A woman dressed in a Christmas-ish attire stands in front of the side destination display of a train, leaning onto the train car, posing rather seductively.
130
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 26/12/2025
Here's all the jolly dressed-up people at the nostalgia ride! This is for December 7th. #nyc #NewYorkCity #photography #StreetPhotography
A man dressed in retro attire standing in the doorway, looking onto the left.A teenager talks to the heritage train operator as they both look forward to the tunnel ahead.Spiderman in black attire with black mask and black fedora pulling a string from the photograher's direction.A person dressed as some sort of "mad scientist" with a metal hand prop (what character?) standing in the doorway, body leans forward, looking back at the photographer.
110
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 25/12/2025
The Metro-North electric holiday #train, spotted by coincidence last week, parked on a platform in Grand Central's basement. #Christmas #nyc #NewYorkCity
A red M8 train with Christmas wreath in front and lighting ornaments along the edges of the train, parked on a platform.
021
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 24/12/2025
Happy holidays! As expected I was at @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social's holiday nostalgia ride, so here are some pics from the trains. Nice that the holiday train shows on station countdown clocks this year! #nyc #NewYorkCity #PublicTransport #photography
R-1 car 100 leads the holiday train into the downtown local track (against the wall) at West 4th Street-Washington Square. A person can be seen photographing on the platform.R-9 car 1802 leads the holiday train into the uptown express track at West 4th Street-Washington Square. People can be seen photographing on the platform, and the downtown platform can be seen in the background.Interior of one of the cars (might be R-4 car 401), showing retro ads and the window in front of the door housing.From the opened doors of one of the cars, the next departures display indicates the holiday train (indicated by a subway token in place of the bullet, surrounded by holiday lights on top & bottom) is departing. This is photographed on one of the newer Q stations.
111
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 23/12/2025
We had #Halal cart on the #NYC #Ferry... (It's the new ferry from Staten Island to Brooklyn. Yes, eating meals on fast boats gets nauseous real quick, I quickly recovered, my friend might have not. Yes, the halal cart was near the outlets on Staten Island. I […] [Original post on mstdn.party]
Falafel over (yellow) rice, with white and red (spicy) sauces and some salad vegetables, in an aluminum-foiled container on a table between seats. Background is the window which faces the New York Bay.
010
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 25/11/2025
Who hung a picture behind a road sign? At Jay Street and MetroTech Roadway in Downtown Brooklyn
A painting (replica?) of some mountain-lake scenary, with frames, hung on the top of a sign stand that is behind a road sign (it is for Jay St local traffic restriction).
010
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 23/11/2025
Adding Crystal Light (lemon iced tea packet, which I like) into coconut water (which I dislike) actually tastes pretty good, the coconut taste actually augments the drink mix.
A mug with Crystal Light iced tea packet mixed with coconut water. An unopened packet is seen next to it.
000
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 17/11/2025
Evening #subway is a mood... At Marcy Av. J/Z/M #NewYorkCity #NYC #Williamsburg #photography #StreetPhotography #PublicTransport
A Metropolitan Av-bound M train entering Marcy Av. (J/Z/M), having just got off the Williamsburg Bridge and navigated two sharp curves, in an evening.
112
Austin Huang ❤️ @ap.austinhuang.me · 01/11/2025
Kinda cringe to use old #MicrosoftOffice #WordArt to represent the 70s... #Montreal
Poster says:

LA SOCIÉTÉ HISTORIQUE DE SAINT-HENRI PRÉSENTE L'EXPOSITION
Les années 70 [in the orange diagonal WordArt]
Du 24 octobre au 30 novembre 2025
Au 521 de la Place Saint-
Henri (en haut des pompiers)
Heures d'ouverture:
du vendredi au dimanche
de 11 h à 17 h

along with two black-and-white pictures of people dancing. The poster is attached to a pole with a "yield to pedestrian" sign on a sidewalk.
000