Alessandro
@poli.sisti.ca
Posts on public policy (in 🇨🇦 or abroad), humanities, classical music, altruism effective and ineffective. Many silly posts. Toronto-adjacent.
"Pheidippides, for all his valour, lacked a sports watch."
The Marathon, the Algorithm, and Me
timharford.com/2026/02/with...
timharford.com/2026/02/with...
February 18, 2026 at 4:02 PM
"Pheidippides, for all his valour, lacked a sports watch."
something I learnt recently: Galileo Galilei was really into visual art. He was once an instructor at the Florentine "Accademia delle Arti del Disegno".
This helped him as a scientist when he made his famous moon drawings (first pic). We also have some other sketches from his notebooks (pics 2-3).
This helped him as a scientist when he made his famous moon drawings (first pic). We also have some other sketches from his notebooks (pics 2-3).
February 18, 2026 at 3:27 AM
something I learnt recently: Galileo Galilei was really into visual art. He was once an instructor at the Florentine "Accademia delle Arti del Disegno".
This helped him as a scientist when he made his famous moon drawings (first pic). We also have some other sketches from his notebooks (pics 2-3).
This helped him as a scientist when he made his famous moon drawings (first pic). We also have some other sketches from his notebooks (pics 2-3).
Reposted by Alessandro
Finding ways to improve trade with the EU is great.
But on the other point in the poll: even considering EU membership is not great. It is likely infeasible. It is very surely unwise.
The reason is that we are North American not European.
But on the other point in the poll: even considering EU membership is not great. It is likely infeasible. It is very surely unwise.
The reason is that we are North American not European.
Support For Increasing Trade With The European Union:
🔵 Support: 77%
🟡 Oppose: 13%
Read it for free here: open.substack.com/pub/canadian...
🔵 Support: 77%
🟡 Oppose: 13%
Read it for free here: open.substack.com/pub/canadian...
Canadians Support EU Membership, While Rejecting American Statehood
Strong majorities support looking overseas for new trade opportunities in the face of American belligerence
open.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Finding ways to improve trade with the EU is great.
But on the other point in the poll: even considering EU membership is not great. It is likely infeasible. It is very surely unwise.
The reason is that we are North American not European.
But on the other point in the poll: even considering EU membership is not great. It is likely infeasible. It is very surely unwise.
The reason is that we are North American not European.
The French organist Thomas Ospital visited Rochester, NY to play a recital and do a masterclass. I had the good fortune to attend!
The end of his concert included three improvisations, which I've written a description of on Facebook: www.facebook.com/story.php?st...
The end of his concert included three improvisations, which I've written a description of on Facebook: www.facebook.com/story.php?st...
February 16, 2026 at 3:25 PM
The French organist Thomas Ospital visited Rochester, NY to play a recital and do a masterclass. I had the good fortune to attend!
The end of his concert included three improvisations, which I've written a description of on Facebook: www.facebook.com/story.php?st...
The end of his concert included three improvisations, which I've written a description of on Facebook: www.facebook.com/story.php?st...
Seeing a concert by one of France's best organists, Thomas Ospital, tomorrow night. So excited!
February 13, 2026 at 4:42 AM
Seeing a concert by one of France's best organists, Thomas Ospital, tomorrow night. So excited!
Get pharmacies to switch from fax machines (Canadian edition)
Challenge level: impossible
Gift link from the Globe and Mail: www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/acfc5cc...
Challenge level: impossible
Gift link from the Globe and Mail: www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/acfc5cc...
February 11, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Get pharmacies to switch from fax machines (Canadian edition)
Challenge level: impossible
Gift link from the Globe and Mail: www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/acfc5cc...
Challenge level: impossible
Gift link from the Globe and Mail: www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/acfc5cc...
Reposted by Alessandro
Elon's decision to shut down USAID is the direct cause of countless deaths. That he isn't persona non grata in many communities after that is a source of shame.
February 5, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Elon's decision to shut down USAID is the direct cause of countless deaths. That he isn't persona non grata in many communities after that is a source of shame.
Reposted by Alessandro
Kinda fun to see someone discover Gladwell for the first time
Holy shit this is bad and Gladwell just sounds like an an arrogant know it all asshole who clearly has no idea what he is talking about
Someone got this for my birthday lol
February 4, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Kinda fun to see someone discover Gladwell for the first time
"stop doing the thing that hurts" is advice applicable far beyond the context of RSIs!
turns out having a mother who is a physical therapist specializing in hands, elbows, and shoulders is very useful
she can provide free consults for when my friends have RSI
(the free consult usually consists of "stop doing the thing that hurts")
she can provide free consults for when my friends have RSI
(the free consult usually consists of "stop doing the thing that hurts")
February 4, 2026 at 9:53 PM
"stop doing the thing that hurts" is advice applicable far beyond the context of RSIs!
Reposted by Alessandro
This is a big step, folks! Been watching this one a while, broad spectrum SARS vaccine! Would be a big deal even w/o Covid but with its 🌟🌟🌟
#ShareGoodNewsToo
"A vaccine called GBP511 has begun clinical testing in Australia. Pioneered by UW Medicine researchers, it is intended to protect against COVID-19 and related coronaviruses — including some that haven’t yet jumped to humans. www.ipd.uw.edu/2026/02/gbp5...
"A vaccine called GBP511 has begun clinical testing in Australia. Pioneered by UW Medicine researchers, it is intended to protect against COVID-19 and related coronaviruses — including some that haven’t yet jumped to humans. www.ipd.uw.edu/2026/02/gbp5...
First vaccine targeting SARS virus family enters human trials – Institute for Protein Design
The computer-designed vaccine aims to protect against coronaviruses that haven't yet emerged, including pandemic threats
www.ipd.uw.edu
February 4, 2026 at 5:23 AM
This is a big step, folks! Been watching this one a while, broad spectrum SARS vaccine! Would be a big deal even w/o Covid but with its 🌟🌟🌟
Reposted by Alessandro
Pierre Poilievre wins leadership review with 87.4% approval | CBC
www.cbc.ca
January 31, 2026 at 5:54 AM
January 30, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Alessandro
Seems like one of those issues that should greatly concern everyone regardless of their politics.
January 29, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Seems like one of those issues that should greatly concern everyone regardless of their politics.
I tried to join the marsupial observatory
unfortunately, they said I didn't have the requisite koalafications
unfortunately, they said I didn't have the requisite koalafications
January 29, 2026 at 3:03 AM
I tried to join the marsupial observatory
unfortunately, they said I didn't have the requisite koalafications
unfortunately, they said I didn't have the requisite koalafications
sneaked into a private club to hear a friend's viol consort concert :)
January 27, 2026 at 2:31 AM
sneaked into a private club to hear a friend's viol consort concert :)
Reposted by Alessandro
Wouldn’t have made it out of the VEEP writers room
January 26, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Wouldn’t have made it out of the VEEP writers room
Reposted by Alessandro
After 5 years I can finally share a full WP of our project conducting cognitive interviews of life satisfaction reporting.
Main findings:
1. LS scales are psychometrically valid, but...
2. Standard statistical assumptions made when analysing LS data are not credible.
osf.io/gv5e3/files/...
Main findings:
1. LS scales are psychometrically valid, but...
2. Standard statistical assumptions made when analysing LS data are not credible.
osf.io/gv5e3/files/...
January 26, 2026 at 8:39 AM
After 5 years I can finally share a full WP of our project conducting cognitive interviews of life satisfaction reporting.
Main findings:
1. LS scales are psychometrically valid, but...
2. Standard statistical assumptions made when analysing LS data are not credible.
osf.io/gv5e3/files/...
Main findings:
1. LS scales are psychometrically valid, but...
2. Standard statistical assumptions made when analysing LS data are not credible.
osf.io/gv5e3/files/...
Reposted by Alessandro
I was into crypto arbitrage in its heyday. I remember the crunch for time, when every minute felt (and was) insanely valuable.
The current moment, with Claude Code etc., feels like that.
The current moment, with Claude Code etc., feels like that.
January 22, 2026 at 8:06 PM
I was into crypto arbitrage in its heyday. I remember the crunch for time, when every minute felt (and was) insanely valuable.
The current moment, with Claude Code etc., feels like that.
The current moment, with Claude Code etc., feels like that.
Reposted by Alessandro
Here’s the really bad part: over time, this dynamic breeds bigger and bigger crises.
Markets keep updating their beliefs about TACO, so it takes ever more extreme actions to convince them he might not TACO.
Buckle up.
Markets keep updating their beliefs about TACO, so it takes ever more extreme actions to convince them he might not TACO.
Buckle up.
January 21, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Here’s the really bad part: over time, this dynamic breeds bigger and bigger crises.
Markets keep updating their beliefs about TACO, so it takes ever more extreme actions to convince them he might not TACO.
Buckle up.
Markets keep updating their beliefs about TACO, so it takes ever more extreme actions to convince them he might not TACO.
Buckle up.
Reposted by Alessandro
His opposition didn't even TRY. They didn't even SUGGEST HE SHOULD BE REMOVED
Even after Trump is gone, the world will remember that he threatened to forcibly seize the territory of a peaceful democratic ally, and our institutions failed to immediately remove him. That makes US dangerously unreliable, not just one senile gangster.
His not being impeached by the end of the business day as a result of this threat is as much a problem as the threat itself. It’s not just Trump that the world has to worry about, it’s a GOP that supports him and Democrats who suck their thumbs and refuse to even discuss pushing to remove him
January 21, 2026 at 3:10 PM
His opposition didn't even TRY. They didn't even SUGGEST HE SHOULD BE REMOVED
Any good articles explaining why Carney chose Qatar in particular?
Canada is forging a new strategic partnership with Qatar. Together we’re making it easier for Canadian businesses to expand their operations here and attract investment from, this dynamic $290 billion economy.
January 21, 2026 at 3:51 AM
Any good articles explaining why Carney chose Qatar in particular?
Reposted by Alessandro
If I'm being honest, the collapse of the post-Cold War international order and the violent occupation of an American city are making it difficult for me to concentrate on housing policy.
January 20, 2026 at 6:15 PM
If I'm being honest, the collapse of the post-Cold War international order and the violent occupation of an American city are making it difficult for me to concentrate on housing policy.
Reposted by Alessandro
So it appears the far right have abandoned their conspiracy theory about the World Economic Forum being some sort of world-domination blood-libel plot now that they’re using it as a meeting place on the regular
January 19, 2026 at 3:26 PM
So it appears the far right have abandoned their conspiracy theory about the World Economic Forum being some sort of world-domination blood-libel plot now that they’re using it as a meeting place on the regular
I was joking with my friends about the seashore
it appears they took it littorally
it appears they took it littorally
January 18, 2026 at 8:26 PM
I was joking with my friends about the seashore
it appears they took it littorally
it appears they took it littorally
From The Economist: the US Congress has stood up to the president on science funding. Funding will be essentially unchanged from last year.
Link for Economist subscribers: www.economist.com/united-state...
Link for Economist subscribers: www.economist.com/united-state...
January 18, 2026 at 4:20 AM
From The Economist: the US Congress has stood up to the president on science funding. Funding will be essentially unchanged from last year.
Link for Economist subscribers: www.economist.com/united-state...
Link for Economist subscribers: www.economist.com/united-state...