Alon (they/them)
@alonlevy.bsky.social
Transit researcher in Berlin. Lived in Tel Aviv, Singapore, the Riviera, New York, Providence, Vancouver, Stockholm, Paris. https://pedestrianobservations.com/ http://patreon.com/alonlevy alon@pedestrianobservations.com @alon@mastodon.social
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
I never looked at China's export mosaic, and I was surprised how China's economy is nowhere near as diverse as I thought. It's mostly electronics manufacturing!
January 20, 2026 at 1:12 AM
I never looked at China's export mosaic, and I was surprised how China's economy is nowhere near as diverse as I thought. It's mostly electronics manufacturing!
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Some of the memes are good, lol.
January 19, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Some of the memes are good, lol.
One of the insights of @davidshor.bsky.social is that a party or movement can take an unpopular issue and run with it and make it popular among its own voters, getting from 15% support to 45% support, it just can't get over 50% that way. (This is more or less happening re Venezuela.)
Net-Approval For Taking Greenland By Force:
🔴 All: -72%
🔴 Democrats: -94%
🔴 Independents: -80%
🔴 Republicans: -40%
🔴 Black: -86%
🔴 White: -70%
🔴 Hispanic: -66%
🔴 Women: -78%
🔴 Men: -66%
YouGov / Jan 16, 2026
🔴 All: -72%
🔴 Democrats: -94%
🔴 Independents: -80%
🔴 Republicans: -40%
🔴 Black: -86%
🔴 White: -70%
🔴 Hispanic: -66%
🔴 Women: -78%
🔴 Men: -66%
YouGov / Jan 16, 2026
January 20, 2026 at 12:07 AM
One of the insights of @davidshor.bsky.social is that a party or movement can take an unpopular issue and run with it and make it popular among its own voters, getting from 15% support to 45% support, it just can't get over 50% that way. (This is more or less happening re Venezuela.)
The finance ministry has a famously strong civil service and Smotrich is not the kind of minister who'd overrule this civil service on economic matters not directly affecting his national-Orthodox voters. Said ministry also supports congestion pricing and fought Miri Regev on this matter.
January 19, 2026 at 11:08 PM
The finance ministry has a famously strong civil service and Smotrich is not the kind of minister who'd overrule this civil service on economic matters not directly affecting his national-Orthodox voters. Said ministry also supports congestion pricing and fought Miri Regev on this matter.
The genie grants your wish. The mandate passes, but within six months the IT departments split over what distro to use, whether to call it FOSS or open source software, and which Mastodon instance to use.
you can harm microsoft quite egregiously by mandating that government computers use linux b t w
January 19, 2026 at 10:34 PM
The genie grants your wish. The mandate passes, but within six months the IT departments split over what distro to use, whether to call it FOSS or open source software, and which Mastodon instance to use.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Still no explanation for the Spanish rail disaster. Perhaps age of track? This was the country's first high speed line built over 30 years ago.
January 19, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Still no explanation for the Spanish rail disaster. Perhaps age of track? This was the country's first high speed line built over 30 years ago.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
a Minnesotan story. My friend Beth-Ann is a genetic counselor there, and when the Hmong refugees first arrived, found herself working with an entirely new community for the first time. Now genetic counseling involves a lot of cultural navigation, for multiple reasons, but one big one is kinship.
January 19, 2026 at 6:53 PM
a Minnesotan story. My friend Beth-Ann is a genetic counselor there, and when the Hmong refugees first arrived, found herself working with an entirely new community for the first time. Now genetic counseling involves a lot of cultural navigation, for multiple reasons, but one big one is kinship.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
🇮🇷 ☠️ The Iranian human rights organization HRANA: At least 3,919 people were killed in the protests, and an additional 8,949 deaths are under investigation.
January 19, 2026 at 5:06 AM
🇮🇷 ☠️ The Iranian human rights organization HRANA: At least 3,919 people were killed in the protests, and an additional 8,949 deaths are under investigation.
SOE, with a professionally appointed CEO. No elected positions or board. The state or relevant subnational entity funding it exerts control through the budget: if there is a dedicated source of funds, like the Ile-de-France payroll tax, then it is broad and can be changed by the elected government.
Transit question for all of you out there: what transit agency do you think has the best governance model? How are the decision-makers (usually a board) selected? Automatic inclusion of elected positions? Directly elected to the board? Appointed by electeds? How we do get a Metro board that is -
January 19, 2026 at 1:07 AM
SOE, with a professionally appointed CEO. No elected positions or board. The state or relevant subnational entity funding it exerts control through the budget: if there is a dedicated source of funds, like the Ile-de-France payroll tax, then it is broad and can be changed by the elected government.
A single federation of 50 states, from sea to shining sea. E pluribus unum.
January 18, 2026 at 11:11 PM
A single federation of 50 states, from sea to shining sea. E pluribus unum.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Freedom of Speech in America is as strong as ever: you can go to the middle of Times Square and yell "Greenland is American!", just as you can you can go to the middle of the Rådhuspladsen and yell "Greenland is American!".
January 18, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Freedom of Speech in America is as strong as ever: you can go to the middle of Times Square and yell "Greenland is American!", just as you can you can go to the middle of the Rådhuspladsen and yell "Greenland is American!".
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
The reason the UK knew the operational parameters of the Argentine aircraft and missile systems was because they were French.
And the moment the war kicked off, the French government quietly slipped us the full specifications.
And the moment the war kicked off, the French government quietly slipped us the full specifications.
Untrue, of course. UK got lots of support, and never asked for military intervention. But it's not the South Atlantic Treaty Org. At US insistence to avoid colonial wars, NATO only covers Europe, N. America, and the Atlantic north of the Tropic of Cancer. e.g. Hawaii and Guam aren't covered, either.
January 18, 2026 at 8:52 PM
The reason the UK knew the operational parameters of the Argentine aircraft and missile systems was because they were French.
And the moment the war kicked off, the French government quietly slipped us the full specifications.
And the moment the war kicked off, the French government quietly slipped us the full specifications.
Is there any estimate for what proportion of white Americans are immigrants or descendants of post-WW2 immigration? Trying to compare this with migration background numbers in Europe; so far I can only get non-European migration background numbers (the US is 23%; Europe's highest is Sweden, ~22%).
January 18, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Is there any estimate for what proportion of white Americans are immigrants or descendants of post-WW2 immigration? Trying to compare this with migration background numbers in Europe; so far I can only get non-European migration background numbers (the US is 23%; Europe's highest is Sweden, ~22%).
I want to dismiss this as cringe, but is it really more cringe than eine Woche Hammerschlag, eine Woche Häuserquadern? ↙️↙️↙️
True liberals have spent centuries fighting and dying on the barricades so their brothers and sisters can have a world where they are free to live as they please in a society governed by reason and law, not arbitrary force
January 18, 2026 at 4:40 PM
I want to dismiss this as cringe, but is it really more cringe than eine Woche Hammerschlag, eine Woche Häuserquadern? ↙️↙️↙️
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
The Likudnik rants on "Jolani = AQ/ISIS/MB" shtick is as funny as demented. Trump literally does not care. Most Ds and most every R are supportive of the new gov, in their own way and reasons each, they failed to lobby against sanction relief and generally this US gov mainly backed Damascus position
January 18, 2026 at 2:10 PM
The Likudnik rants on "Jolani = AQ/ISIS/MB" shtick is as funny as demented. Trump literally does not care. Most Ds and most every R are supportive of the new gov, in their own way and reasons each, they failed to lobby against sanction relief and generally this US gov mainly backed Damascus position
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Iranian official says verified deaths in Iran protests reaches at least 5,000 reut.rs/3ZiPI21
Iranian official says verified deaths in Iran protests reaches at least 5,000
An Iranian official in the region said on Sunday the authorities had verified at least 5,000 people had been killed in protests in Iran, including about 500 security personnel, blaming "terrorists and armed rioters" for killing "innocent Iranians".
reut.rs
January 18, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Iranian official says verified deaths in Iran protests reaches at least 5,000 reut.rs/3ZiPI21
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
It would have been funny if the 'french' words were actually in french...
"Qu'en est il côte à cote avec un ami" does not mean anything in french lol
"Qu'en est il côte à cote avec un ami" does not mean anything in french lol
January 18, 2026 at 3:11 PM
It would have been funny if the 'french' words were actually in french...
"Qu'en est il côte à cote avec un ami" does not mean anything in french lol
"Qu'en est il côte à cote avec un ami" does not mean anything in french lol
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
I presume it already happened about a year ago.
How many months away are we from a Rubio-Lavrov pact to stab in the back and carve out pieces of Europe?
January 18, 2026 at 3:16 PM
I presume it already happened about a year ago.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Feels like something cracked today in the transatlantic alliance. Europeans have been swallowing their pride, bitting their tongues, and bending the knee. That strategy may have bought them time but it has now clearly failed. It also had a major cost - it has made the WH think Europe will cave. 1/
January 18, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Feels like something cracked today in the transatlantic alliance. Europeans have been swallowing their pride, bitting their tongues, and bending the knee. That strategy may have bought them time but it has now clearly failed. It also had a major cost - it has made the WH think Europe will cave. 1/
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Ongoing fighting in Syria between the STG and the SDF is not about west and east of the Euphrates. Damascus wants full control over territory, means of violence and resources. Redefining the front lines is a means to force the SDF to the negotiation table in this direction.
January 18, 2026 at 7:54 AM
Ongoing fighting in Syria between the STG and the SDF is not about west and east of the Euphrates. Damascus wants full control over territory, means of violence and resources. Redefining the front lines is a means to force the SDF to the negotiation table in this direction.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
The narrative of exceptional Ukrainian resilience is one of the most harmful tropes I’ve seen during this war.
Yes, we refuse to give up. Yes, we have picnics in -15°C. Yes, we keep living, drinking coffee, and even laughing occasionally, but all of this stems from a lack of choice.
Yes, we refuse to give up. Yes, we have picnics in -15°C. Yes, we keep living, drinking coffee, and even laughing occasionally, but all of this stems from a lack of choice.
January 17, 2026 at 4:02 PM
The narrative of exceptional Ukrainian resilience is one of the most harmful tropes I’ve seen during this war.
Yes, we refuse to give up. Yes, we have picnics in -15°C. Yes, we keep living, drinking coffee, and even laughing occasionally, but all of this stems from a lack of choice.
Yes, we refuse to give up. Yes, we have picnics in -15°C. Yes, we keep living, drinking coffee, and even laughing occasionally, but all of this stems from a lack of choice.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
one day I may do a thread on my experience working as a vet tech in Israel vs in Northeastern Murrica, the two places I lived in previously. both were very different and I have sooo many stories!
January 18, 2026 at 5:54 AM
one day I may do a thread on my experience working as a vet tech in Israel vs in Northeastern Murrica, the two places I lived in previously. both were very different and I have sooo many stories!
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Till end of next week, Geelong/Warrnambool V/Line trains run to/from Wyndham Vale due to a new station being built on the RRL.
Geelong to Melbourne (via Wyndham Vale, bus to Werribee, and Metro trains) takes 2h instead of 1h.
Q: why don't we run V/Line trains to Werribee to save people around 30m?
Geelong to Melbourne (via Wyndham Vale, bus to Werribee, and Metro trains) takes 2h instead of 1h.
Q: why don't we run V/Line trains to Werribee to save people around 30m?
January 18, 2026 at 1:41 AM
Till end of next week, Geelong/Warrnambool V/Line trains run to/from Wyndham Vale due to a new station being built on the RRL.
Geelong to Melbourne (via Wyndham Vale, bus to Werribee, and Metro trains) takes 2h instead of 1h.
Q: why don't we run V/Line trains to Werribee to save people around 30m?
Geelong to Melbourne (via Wyndham Vale, bus to Werribee, and Metro trains) takes 2h instead of 1h.
Q: why don't we run V/Line trains to Werribee to save people around 30m?
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Die EU muss eine machtpolitische Antwort darauf geben, dass sich jetzt auch die USA unter Trump von der internat. Ordnung verabschieden.
Es braucht eine „Allianz der Gegenmacht“ zwischen allen Ländern, die faire Regeln & gegenseitige Unterstützung wollen.
Die EU muss aus ihrer Zuschauerrolle raus.
Es braucht eine „Allianz der Gegenmacht“ zwischen allen Ländern, die faire Regeln & gegenseitige Unterstützung wollen.
Die EU muss aus ihrer Zuschauerrolle raus.
January 17, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Die EU muss eine machtpolitische Antwort darauf geben, dass sich jetzt auch die USA unter Trump von der internat. Ordnung verabschieden.
Es braucht eine „Allianz der Gegenmacht“ zwischen allen Ländern, die faire Regeln & gegenseitige Unterstützung wollen.
Die EU muss aus ihrer Zuschauerrolle raus.
Es braucht eine „Allianz der Gegenmacht“ zwischen allen Ländern, die faire Regeln & gegenseitige Unterstützung wollen.
Die EU muss aus ihrer Zuschauerrolle raus.