Katherine Derbyshire
@kderbyshire.bsky.social
Renewable energy. Climate science. Semiconductor manufacturing. Plus various randomness.
https://tocarbonzero.tumblr.com/
https://semiengineering.com/author/katherine/
https://beyondwave.tumblr.com
https://tocarbonzero.tumblr.com/
https://semiengineering.com/author/katherine/
https://beyondwave.tumblr.com
My favorite tech toy: Goodnotes + Apple Pencil + iPad = handwritten notes, but digital! I love it.
December 12, 2025 at 12:14 AM
My favorite tech toy: Goodnotes + Apple Pencil + iPad = handwritten notes, but digital! I love it.
I'm here thinking about the solar wind going pew pew pew all over those high end electronics.
December 11, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I'm here thinking about the solar wind going pew pew pew all over those high end electronics.
Is industrial-scale shipping of enslaved humans happening? Probably not. Is it plausible that a ship encountered on the high seas might be carrying humans who are there against their will? Absolutely.
December 11, 2025 at 6:02 AM
Is industrial-scale shipping of enslaved humans happening? Probably not. Is it plausible that a ship encountered on the high seas might be carrying humans who are there against their will? Absolutely.
Do you really think there aren't? Human trafficking is certainly occurring in 2025, and boats are a less risky way to transport people -- especially unwilling people -- than airplanes.
That's not even considering the depressingly large amount of forced labor in maritime industries themselves.
That's not even considering the depressingly large amount of forced labor in maritime industries themselves.
December 11, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Do you really think there aren't? Human trafficking is certainly occurring in 2025, and boats are a less risky way to transport people -- especially unwilling people -- than airplanes.
That's not even considering the depressingly large amount of forced labor in maritime industries themselves.
That's not even considering the depressingly large amount of forced labor in maritime industries themselves.
Depressingly more than zero.
December 11, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Depressingly more than zero.
No argument there.
December 11, 2025 at 5:09 AM
No argument there.
The specific post I was replying to defined "smuggling" as "a global hegemon imposing its will." My point was that genuinely bad smuggling exists and is one of the situations contemplated by the very laws of the sea that the poster seems eager to discard.
December 11, 2025 at 5:04 AM
The specific post I was replying to defined "smuggling" as "a global hegemon imposing its will." My point was that genuinely bad smuggling exists and is one of the situations contemplated by the very laws of the sea that the poster seems eager to discard.
What are the goods being smuggled? Would you have a different opinion if the cargo were enslaved humans rather than oil?
December 11, 2025 at 4:59 AM
What are the goods being smuggled? Would you have a different opinion if the cargo were enslaved humans rather than oil?
Is Plot actually dangerous to either the horse or rider, or just scary? (Not that horses are good judges of danger, but the rider might want to hang on at all costs if the alternative is landing in an even more perilous situation sans horse.)
December 11, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Is Plot actually dangerous to either the horse or rider, or just scary? (Not that horses are good judges of danger, but the rider might want to hang on at all costs if the alternative is landing in an even more perilous situation sans horse.)
This is slowly (slowly!) changing. I've lived in two different small communities -- one east coast, one west -- that created "commons" in their downtowns. Both were overnight successes.
December 11, 2025 at 12:54 AM
This is slowly (slowly!) changing. I've lived in two different small communities -- one east coast, one west -- that created "commons" in their downtowns. Both were overnight successes.
Altman is the person who said "maybe we'll just build a Dyson sphere." I have no idea why anyone takes him seriously.
December 10, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Altman is the person who said "maybe we'll just build a Dyson sphere." I have no idea why anyone takes him seriously.
DeBeers is less powerful than they used to be, thanks to the development of large diamond deposits in Russia.
Not that the emergence of Russia as a major player has made the diamond market more transparent or more ethical!
And that's before you even look at jewelry grade synthetics.
Not that the emergence of Russia as a major player has made the diamond market more transparent or more ethical!
And that's before you even look at jewelry grade synthetics.
December 9, 2025 at 10:13 PM
DeBeers is less powerful than they used to be, thanks to the development of large diamond deposits in Russia.
Not that the emergence of Russia as a major player has made the diamond market more transparent or more ethical!
And that's before you even look at jewelry grade synthetics.
Not that the emergence of Russia as a major player has made the diamond market more transparent or more ethical!
And that's before you even look at jewelry grade synthetics.
Diamonds are a scam. One of the most highly manipulated markets in the world.
It might cost 12 grand to *buy* that diamond, but it's highly unlikely you could *sell* it for that much.
It might cost 12 grand to *buy* that diamond, but it's highly unlikely you could *sell* it for that much.
December 9, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Diamonds are a scam. One of the most highly manipulated markets in the world.
It might cost 12 grand to *buy* that diamond, but it's highly unlikely you could *sell* it for that much.
It might cost 12 grand to *buy* that diamond, but it's highly unlikely you could *sell* it for that much.
Maybe when the greatest writers in the language are your field of study there's a little pressure to up your game?
"I can go read Shakespeare for myself, why should I slog through this?"
"I can go read Shakespeare for myself, why should I slog through this?"
December 9, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Maybe when the greatest writers in the language are your field of study there's a little pressure to up your game?
"I can go read Shakespeare for myself, why should I slog through this?"
"I can go read Shakespeare for myself, why should I slog through this?"
The Muppets, collectively, are very good at parenting, thank you very much. (At least the Sesame Street Muppets. Some of the Muppet Show Muppets, well...)
December 9, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The Muppets, collectively, are very good at parenting, thank you very much. (At least the Sesame Street Muppets. Some of the Muppet Show Muppets, well...)
Didn’t say I was.
December 8, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Didn’t say I was.
I'm willing to pay for it. I'm even willing to go get it. Who is willing to sell it to me? Most sites simply don't have a "single issue" or "day pass" purchase option.
December 8, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I'm willing to pay for it. I'm even willing to go get it. Who is willing to sell it to me? Most sites simply don't have a "single issue" or "day pass" purchase option.
This is because billionaires (and foreign governments) benefit from subsidies to less truth-focused sites.
December 8, 2025 at 8:22 PM
This is because billionaires (and foreign governments) benefit from subsidies to less truth-focused sites.
Those look remarkably like what, in the US, I would call an English muffin. Do you have a link to the recipe?
December 8, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Those look remarkably like what, in the US, I would call an English muffin. Do you have a link to the recipe?
Socializing at someone's home has long been an upper class signifier. Working class people simply didn't have enough space. (Still don't in a lot of places, particularly in cities.) One of the functions of pubs and other "third places" is to temporarily put everyone on an equal footing.
December 8, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Socializing at someone's home has long been an upper class signifier. Working class people simply didn't have enough space. (Still don't in a lot of places, particularly in cities.) One of the functions of pubs and other "third places" is to temporarily put everyone on an equal footing.
Look under your bed before you buy the pullouts. Ours -- king size -- has auxiliary supports under the middle, so standard pullouts won't fit.
December 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Look under your bed before you buy the pullouts. Ours -- king size -- has auxiliary supports under the middle, so standard pullouts won't fit.
Stalin didn't actually make the trains run on time, he just made it dangerous to complain about the trains.
If the propaganda is effective enough, it doesn't matter whether the wins are real.
If the propaganda is effective enough, it doesn't matter whether the wins are real.
December 6, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Stalin didn't actually make the trains run on time, he just made it dangerous to complain about the trains.
If the propaganda is effective enough, it doesn't matter whether the wins are real.
If the propaganda is effective enough, it doesn't matter whether the wins are real.
I'm pretty sure this one (1991) is way more terrible than "We Built This City."
youtu.be/P5mtclwloEQ?...
youtu.be/P5mtclwloEQ?...
Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy (Original Mix - 2006 Version)
YouTube video by Radial by The Orchard
youtu.be
December 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I'm pretty sure this one (1991) is way more terrible than "We Built This City."
youtu.be/P5mtclwloEQ?...
youtu.be/P5mtclwloEQ?...
Not if you, personally, were a serial killer. (Yes, I said it out loud. Jessica Fletcher is a serial killer.)
December 5, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Not if you, personally, were a serial killer. (Yes, I said it out loud. Jessica Fletcher is a serial killer.)