@mkbinder.bsky.social
A non-state CBRN use researcher.
With all kinds of other eclectic interests and opinions. Which I generally manage to keep to myself.
With all kinds of other eclectic interests and opinions. Which I generally manage to keep to myself.
Hyundai announces plan to replace workers with robots, but says this won't result in price reductions because "labor at Hyundai accounts for about 5% to 10% of vehicle manufacturing costs."
Hey!! If labor is such an unimportant factor in costs why is it so hard to pay workers marginally more?
Hey!! If labor is such an unimportant factor in costs why is it so hard to pay workers marginally more?
January 6, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Hyundai announces plan to replace workers with robots, but says this won't result in price reductions because "labor at Hyundai accounts for about 5% to 10% of vehicle manufacturing costs."
Hey!! If labor is such an unimportant factor in costs why is it so hard to pay workers marginally more?
Hey!! If labor is such an unimportant factor in costs why is it so hard to pay workers marginally more?
it's really a shame that folks in the USA don't get even a cursory education on 19th to 20th C imperialism. And other varieties.
Having said which, that won't protect you from malignant types who think empires were awesome for the conquered, but you might get a little more societal resistance.
Having said which, that won't protect you from malignant types who think empires were awesome for the conquered, but you might get a little more societal resistance.
Eyes wide open, folks. They're revealing the supervillain plot.
January 5, 2026 at 11:35 PM
it's really a shame that folks in the USA don't get even a cursory education on 19th to 20th C imperialism. And other varieties.
Having said which, that won't protect you from malignant types who think empires were awesome for the conquered, but you might get a little more societal resistance.
Having said which, that won't protect you from malignant types who think empires were awesome for the conquered, but you might get a little more societal resistance.
It's interesting that we appear to be moving to a "spheres of influence" international system.
And the focus is on the US & RU with the notion that Ukraine is part of the RU sphere.
But spheres overlap & clash in such a world, & the EU is going to seek to maintain a sphere of its own.
And the focus is on the US & RU with the notion that Ukraine is part of the RU sphere.
But spheres overlap & clash in such a world, & the EU is going to seek to maintain a sphere of its own.
January 5, 2026 at 7:29 PM
It's interesting that we appear to be moving to a "spheres of influence" international system.
And the focus is on the US & RU with the notion that Ukraine is part of the RU sphere.
But spheres overlap & clash in such a world, & the EU is going to seek to maintain a sphere of its own.
And the focus is on the US & RU with the notion that Ukraine is part of the RU sphere.
But spheres overlap & clash in such a world, & the EU is going to seek to maintain a sphere of its own.
Lamington booty, courtesy of the Australian Bakery Cafe in Marietta, GA.
Now, if I could persuade them to make pink ones.
Now, if I could persuade them to make pink ones.
January 3, 2026 at 10:59 PM
Lamington booty, courtesy of the Australian Bakery Cafe in Marietta, GA.
Now, if I could persuade them to make pink ones.
Now, if I could persuade them to make pink ones.
Every time I come across the specifications of WW2, especially early WW2, vehicles I am astonished by the derisory levels of engine power they were getting around on.
24 HP for a one ton 4WD car.
91 HP for six wheel drive truck carrying 2,300kg.
265 HP for a 25 ton tank.
325 HP for a 40 ton tank.
24 HP for a one ton 4WD car.
91 HP for six wheel drive truck carrying 2,300kg.
265 HP for a 25 ton tank.
325 HP for a 40 ton tank.
January 3, 2026 at 5:57 AM
Every time I come across the specifications of WW2, especially early WW2, vehicles I am astonished by the derisory levels of engine power they were getting around on.
24 HP for a one ton 4WD car.
91 HP for six wheel drive truck carrying 2,300kg.
265 HP for a 25 ton tank.
325 HP for a 40 ton tank.
24 HP for a one ton 4WD car.
91 HP for six wheel drive truck carrying 2,300kg.
265 HP for a 25 ton tank.
325 HP for a 40 ton tank.
The Gattis, Moffatt, and Vertue Dracula is remarkable most of all for what an astonishing misfire it is.
Strong out of the gate, but then sliding into decrepitude.
Not to mention how VERY Gattis & Moffatt it is. Their unrelenting weakness is how very clever they think their writing is.
Strong out of the gate, but then sliding into decrepitude.
Not to mention how VERY Gattis & Moffatt it is. Their unrelenting weakness is how very clever they think their writing is.
January 2, 2026 at 3:02 AM
The Gattis, Moffatt, and Vertue Dracula is remarkable most of all for what an astonishing misfire it is.
Strong out of the gate, but then sliding into decrepitude.
Not to mention how VERY Gattis & Moffatt it is. Their unrelenting weakness is how very clever they think their writing is.
Strong out of the gate, but then sliding into decrepitude.
Not to mention how VERY Gattis & Moffatt it is. Their unrelenting weakness is how very clever they think their writing is.
How many of our modern troubles are the product of older men & women who can't distinguish between "things were better in the past" & "I was young & had no cares".
Nothing can bring your youth back bro.
And oppressing others won't do it either.
Nothing can bring your youth back bro.
And oppressing others won't do it either.
January 1, 2026 at 5:03 PM
How many of our modern troubles are the product of older men & women who can't distinguish between "things were better in the past" & "I was young & had no cares".
Nothing can bring your youth back bro.
And oppressing others won't do it either.
Nothing can bring your youth back bro.
And oppressing others won't do it either.
Workday may be great for HR, administrative or back office personnel who use it all the time as their core job.
But for an employee who only has to very rarely dip into it the whole system is actively user-hostile.
But for an employee who only has to very rarely dip into it the whole system is actively user-hostile.
December 31, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Workday may be great for HR, administrative or back office personnel who use it all the time as their core job.
But for an employee who only has to very rarely dip into it the whole system is actively user-hostile.
But for an employee who only has to very rarely dip into it the whole system is actively user-hostile.
A fun feature of talking to 90%+ of American foreign affairs types is realizing the degree to which they simply don't see smaller countries as independent actors with agency.
Its not a rejection, its a complete blindspot.
And its not a meaningful conservative/progressive split thing either.
Its not a rejection, its a complete blindspot.
And its not a meaningful conservative/progressive split thing either.
December 30, 2025 at 9:54 PM
A fun feature of talking to 90%+ of American foreign affairs types is realizing the degree to which they simply don't see smaller countries as independent actors with agency.
Its not a rejection, its a complete blindspot.
And its not a meaningful conservative/progressive split thing either.
Its not a rejection, its a complete blindspot.
And its not a meaningful conservative/progressive split thing either.
Well YouTube can FRO with its "sign in to prove you're not a bot" BS.
December 30, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Well YouTube can FRO with its "sign in to prove you're not a bot" BS.
As I grind through yet another year of working every day of the holidays (for reasons) I keep my energy up as best I can.
It can't all be happy hardcore.
It can't all be happy hardcore.
December 30, 2025 at 12:40 AM
As I grind through yet another year of working every day of the holidays (for reasons) I keep my energy up as best I can.
It can't all be happy hardcore.
It can't all be happy hardcore.
So, this isn't troubling if you are thinking about the capacity of Western armies to fight effectively in a modern war.
It's not even the specific details of the drone issue, more the mindsets which seem to be a fusion of GWOT-colonial wars and institutional/mental rigidity.
It's not even the specific details of the drone issue, more the mindsets which seem to be a fusion of GWOT-colonial wars and institutional/mental rigidity.
‘Mavics Are Unnecessary’: Czech Instructors Asked Ukrainians Not to Use Drones due to Excessive Realism - Militarnyi
Mavics are unnecessary: Czech instructors admit that Ukrainian drones make training too realistic.
militarnyi.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:05 PM
So, this isn't troubling if you are thinking about the capacity of Western armies to fight effectively in a modern war.
It's not even the specific details of the drone issue, more the mindsets which seem to be a fusion of GWOT-colonial wars and institutional/mental rigidity.
It's not even the specific details of the drone issue, more the mindsets which seem to be a fusion of GWOT-colonial wars and institutional/mental rigidity.
Still thinking Russo-Ukrainian war.
Has Russia offered a single concession yet?
And a pinky-promise, again, to not stab you later isn't really a concession.
Has Russia offered a single concession yet?
And a pinky-promise, again, to not stab you later isn't really a concession.
December 29, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Still thinking Russo-Ukrainian war.
Has Russia offered a single concession yet?
And a pinky-promise, again, to not stab you later isn't really a concession.
Has Russia offered a single concession yet?
And a pinky-promise, again, to not stab you later isn't really a concession.
I find it hard to believe that a future free Ukraine and Ukrainians will thank the West for doling out aid in penny packets.
Or dialling back support to leverage their surrender.
Always too little, too late, while Ukrainian manpower bleeds into the soil.
Or dialling back support to leverage their surrender.
Always too little, too late, while Ukrainian manpower bleeds into the soil.
December 29, 2025 at 3:07 AM
I find it hard to believe that a future free Ukraine and Ukrainians will thank the West for doling out aid in penny packets.
Or dialling back support to leverage their surrender.
Always too little, too late, while Ukrainian manpower bleeds into the soil.
Or dialling back support to leverage their surrender.
Always too little, too late, while Ukrainian manpower bleeds into the soil.
Well, 2,000 meters to Andriivka is brutally harrowing.
December 29, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Well, 2,000 meters to Andriivka is brutally harrowing.
Dark tinted headlights.
I remain profoundly bewildered that this could be legal in ANY jurisdiction in the USA.
I remain profoundly bewildered that this could be legal in ANY jurisdiction in the USA.
December 28, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Dark tinted headlights.
I remain profoundly bewildered that this could be legal in ANY jurisdiction in the USA.
I remain profoundly bewildered that this could be legal in ANY jurisdiction in the USA.
Fundamental problem with the US-Ukraine-Russia negotiations is two parties are trying to negotiate around terms of surrender for the third party.
But one of the two wants a fig leaf to wear about the place that allows "a decent interval" before conflict resumes.
And the other party DGAF.
But one of the two wants a fig leaf to wear about the place that allows "a decent interval" before conflict resumes.
And the other party DGAF.
December 28, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Fundamental problem with the US-Ukraine-Russia negotiations is two parties are trying to negotiate around terms of surrender for the third party.
But one of the two wants a fig leaf to wear about the place that allows "a decent interval" before conflict resumes.
And the other party DGAF.
But one of the two wants a fig leaf to wear about the place that allows "a decent interval" before conflict resumes.
And the other party DGAF.
One day, the people who worship JFK because he is a symbol of their lost youth & innocence will pass from the earth & I'll never need to hear about camelot etc. ever again.
And maybe we'll be freed from the JFK conspiracy nuts as well, or at least they'll become irrelevant, like hollow earthers.
And maybe we'll be freed from the JFK conspiracy nuts as well, or at least they'll become irrelevant, like hollow earthers.
December 28, 2025 at 2:16 AM
One day, the people who worship JFK because he is a symbol of their lost youth & innocence will pass from the earth & I'll never need to hear about camelot etc. ever again.
And maybe we'll be freed from the JFK conspiracy nuts as well, or at least they'll become irrelevant, like hollow earthers.
And maybe we'll be freed from the JFK conspiracy nuts as well, or at least they'll become irrelevant, like hollow earthers.
Not a UK Royalty obsessive. But . . . .
I find it rather ugly that the anti-monarchic / anti-Charles press are spending their time using Andrew Windsor's awfulness to attack his children & thus Charles for including his nieces in Royal events.
I guess being all sins of the father is AOK.
I find it rather ugly that the anti-monarchic / anti-Charles press are spending their time using Andrew Windsor's awfulness to attack his children & thus Charles for including his nieces in Royal events.
I guess being all sins of the father is AOK.
December 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Not a UK Royalty obsessive. But . . . .
I find it rather ugly that the anti-monarchic / anti-Charles press are spending their time using Andrew Windsor's awfulness to attack his children & thus Charles for including his nieces in Royal events.
I guess being all sins of the father is AOK.
I find it rather ugly that the anti-monarchic / anti-Charles press are spending their time using Andrew Windsor's awfulness to attack his children & thus Charles for including his nieces in Royal events.
I guess being all sins of the father is AOK.
I find it fascinating that the NYT and other outlets use the term "resistance" to refer to anti-Trump administration political efforts.
It sounds cool at first, but "resistance" places you outside of legitimate political processes in a way "opposition" wouldn't.
It sounds cool at first, but "resistance" places you outside of legitimate political processes in a way "opposition" wouldn't.
December 26, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I find it fascinating that the NYT and other outlets use the term "resistance" to refer to anti-Trump administration political efforts.
It sounds cool at first, but "resistance" places you outside of legitimate political processes in a way "opposition" wouldn't.
It sounds cool at first, but "resistance" places you outside of legitimate political processes in a way "opposition" wouldn't.
"I'm traveling at 4.3 miles per second at 1,500 feet in impenetrable clouds. Radar indicates extremely mountainous terrain."
DUDE!!!!
You are cooked!!
DUDE!!!!
You are cooked!!
December 24, 2025 at 10:28 PM
"I'm traveling at 4.3 miles per second at 1,500 feet in impenetrable clouds. Radar indicates extremely mountainous terrain."
DUDE!!!!
You are cooked!!
DUDE!!!!
You are cooked!!
Favourite Christmas movie by far.
I can be a sappy fellow at times.
I can be a sappy fellow at times.
December 24, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Favourite Christmas movie by far.
I can be a sappy fellow at times.
I can be a sappy fellow at times.
Another one of the drawbacks with this nonsense Fentanyl WMD designation.
Integration of law enforcement and national security intelligence agencies sure sounds like something that couldn't become a problem. Right?
Integration of law enforcement and national security intelligence agencies sure sounds like something that couldn't become a problem. Right?
... with chemical warfare.
The classification empowers the Pentagon to assist law enforcement and allows intelligence agencies to deploy tools normally reserved for countering weapons proliferation against drug traffickers.
[...]
The classification empowers the Pentagon to assist law enforcement and allows intelligence agencies to deploy tools normally reserved for countering weapons proliferation against drug traffickers.
[...]
December 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Another one of the drawbacks with this nonsense Fentanyl WMD designation.
Integration of law enforcement and national security intelligence agencies sure sounds like something that couldn't become a problem. Right?
Integration of law enforcement and national security intelligence agencies sure sounds like something that couldn't become a problem. Right?
YHGTBFSM
So apparently there are many Epstein files on the DOJ website where you can highlight the redacted text, copy it, and paste it onto another document to read the redactions
December 23, 2025 at 2:55 AM
YHGTBFSM
How badly messed up are things if, when the population is deeply uncertain and economic times are getting grim, whiskey manufacturers are shutting down major production facilities for all of 2026?
Another administration economic win for MAGA country.
Another administration economic win for MAGA country.
December 23, 2025 at 12:08 AM
How badly messed up are things if, when the population is deeply uncertain and economic times are getting grim, whiskey manufacturers are shutting down major production facilities for all of 2026?
Another administration economic win for MAGA country.
Another administration economic win for MAGA country.