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)
The US keeps showing that they cannot be relied upon in this current moment, and the EU should stop hoping that that will change soon and start becoming the sole reliable military supplier for Ukraine. We should also pressure Switzerland into finally giving military aid.
🇺🇸🇩🇪🇺🇦 The US has suspended some arms deliveries to Ukraine and severed one of the direct contacts with German generals who coordinated aid to Kyiv.
This was stated by Christian Freuding in an interview with The Atlantic.
This was stated by Christian Freuding in an interview with The Atlantic.
December 2, 2025 at 10:37 AM
The US keeps showing that they cannot be relied upon in this current moment, and the EU should stop hoping that that will change soon and start becoming the sole reliable military supplier for Ukraine. We should also pressure Switzerland into finally giving military aid.
Why is The Forward entertaining a pardon for Netanyahu? You do not, ever, pardon corrupt leaders. No agreement you make with them will survive the pardon; no power that they think they have with which to hurt you will survive a conviction. Go destroy. forward.com/opinion/7865...
Netanyahu’s pardon request is a staggering act of hypocrisy — and it should be granted, with one condition
Netanyahu’s bid for a pardon raises fears about accountability, political pressure from Trump, and the future of Israel’s democratic norms.
forward.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Why is The Forward entertaining a pardon for Netanyahu? You do not, ever, pardon corrupt leaders. No agreement you make with them will survive the pardon; no power that they think they have with which to hurt you will survive a conviction. Go destroy. forward.com/opinion/7865...
China has both more ton-km per route-km than the US and more p-km per route-km than any European country - and China achieves this on the same network, whereas the US has rounding-error p-km and we have rounding-error t-km west of Ukraine.
it’s always very odd how people talk about rail in a vacuum without mentioning the interstate highway program. Then they get Professor Zuremski to say something that’s arguably not true (the USA has the best freight railroad network).
Very disappointing episode of @planetmoney.bsky.social's The Indicator this morning - basically USA doesn't have a better passenger rail network because cities are far apart, freight is more profitable, and building rail is expensive. But huge factors left unmentioned...
one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5622...
one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5622...
December 2, 2025 at 3:11 AM
China has both more ton-km per route-km than the US and more p-km per route-km than any European country - and China achieves this on the same network, whereas the US has rounding-error p-km and we have rounding-error t-km west of Ukraine.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
it’s always very odd how people talk about rail in a vacuum without mentioning the interstate highway program. Then they get Professor Zuremski to say something that’s arguably not true (the USA has the best freight railroad network).
Very disappointing episode of @planetmoney.bsky.social's The Indicator this morning - basically USA doesn't have a better passenger rail network because cities are far apart, freight is more profitable, and building rail is expensive. But huge factors left unmentioned...
one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5622...
one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5622...
🔊 Listen Now: Why the US chose not to have a passenger train system like Europe
The Indicator From Planet Money on NPR One | 9:02
one.npr.org
December 2, 2025 at 2:52 AM
it’s always very odd how people talk about rail in a vacuum without mentioning the interstate highway program. Then they get Professor Zuremski to say something that’s arguably not true (the USA has the best freight railroad network).
The minimum net migration compatible with a steady state in a developed country, let alone growth, is more than 0. Thus, social divisions get worse the lower the net migration rate, because low net migration comes out of an ideology that treats migration as bad leading to an impossible desire for 0.
December 1, 2025 at 12:02 PM
The minimum net migration compatible with a steady state in a developed country, let alone growth, is more than 0. Thus, social divisions get worse the lower the net migration rate, because low net migration comes out of an ideology that treats migration as bad leading to an impossible desire for 0.
🧵
Now that it looks like the online mob managed to chase *another* big trans account off the site for the long haul (Starfish), I'm gonna take a moment to note that the most interesting contrast in marginalized queer group outcomes has been trans ppl vs furries, b/c of respectability politics.
December 1, 2025 at 5:12 AM
🧵
Pedestrian Observations: It's not the Baumol Effect pedestrianobservations.com/2025/11/30/i...
It’s not the Baumol Effect
The Baumol effect is an observation that wages in an economy rise based on its average productivity, and therefore the wages also rise in sectors with low or no productivity growth, increasing thei…
pedestrianobservations.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Pedestrian Observations: It's not the Baumol Effect pedestrianobservations.com/2025/11/30/i...
Dear Americans: if your theory of some higher education problem (like grade inflation) hinges on a general aspect of American society that also exists in Singapore, like high inequality and a middle-class culture that centers degrees, you should check whether it also exists in Singapore. (Hint: no.)
December 1, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Dear Americans: if your theory of some higher education problem (like grade inflation) hinges on a general aspect of American society that also exists in Singapore, like high inequality and a middle-class culture that centers degrees, you should check whether it also exists in Singapore. (Hint: no.)
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
⚠️ ⚖️ 'Only Those Guilty Seek a Pardon': Opposition Slams Netanyahu's Pardon Request, Ministers Push Herzog to Accept
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/... 🧵
By @barpeleg.bsky.social
and Noa Shpigel
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/... 🧵
By @barpeleg.bsky.social
and Noa Shpigel
November 30, 2025 at 4:34 PM
⚠️ ⚖️ 'Only Those Guilty Seek a Pardon': Opposition Slams Netanyahu's Pardon Request, Ministers Push Herzog to Accept
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/... 🧵
By @barpeleg.bsky.social
and Noa Shpigel
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/... 🧵
By @barpeleg.bsky.social
and Noa Shpigel
How much do I swear, @profanity.accountant?
November 30, 2025 at 8:44 AM
How much do I swear, @profanity.accountant?
Fired: minister named Bezalel who only did half-service at the IDF demanding longer wars with more war crimes
Tired: minister named Aryeh who is fine with longer wars with more war crimes as long as his voters aren't drafted
Inspired: lol nobody in that country
Tired: minister named Aryeh who is fine with longer wars with more war crimes as long as his voters aren't drafted
Inspired: lol nobody in that country
November 29, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Fired: minister named Bezalel who only did half-service at the IDF demanding longer wars with more war crimes
Tired: minister named Aryeh who is fine with longer wars with more war crimes as long as his voters aren't drafted
Inspired: lol nobody in that country
Tired: minister named Aryeh who is fine with longer wars with more war crimes as long as his voters aren't drafted
Inspired: lol nobody in that country
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Cohen said: “The itinerary was looking pretty full, to be fair. I’d have had to hang around the venue until about 11pm, which is usually the time I become a depleted husk of a woman. So this has worked out perfectly.”
Autistic woman left at the altar just glad she’s got the afternoon free now
An autistic woman who has been left at the altar at her wedding is quietly relieved to have the time back, according to witnesses. Talia Cohen, 34, was jilted by her husband-to-be Gavin Monks, 34,…
thedailytism.com
November 29, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Cohen said: “The itinerary was looking pretty full, to be fair. I’d have had to hang around the venue until about 11pm, which is usually the time I become a depleted husk of a woman. So this has worked out perfectly.”
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Interesting new working paper that studies chains of movers after the construction of a new apartment building in Honolulu.
Paper finds that the project resulted in the opening up other, lower cost, housing on the island, benefiting the housing market overall.
Paper finds that the project resulted in the opening up other, lower cost, housing on the island, benefiting the housing market overall.
uhero.hawaii.edu
November 28, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Interesting new working paper that studies chains of movers after the construction of a new apartment building in Honolulu.
Paper finds that the project resulted in the opening up other, lower cost, housing on the island, benefiting the housing market overall.
Paper finds that the project resulted in the opening up other, lower cost, housing on the island, benefiting the housing market overall.
Desirable features of New Atheism 2.0:
1. Like New Atheism 1.0, rootedness in science. Anti-vaxxers must be a major villain.
2. Serious ties with secular non-Christians - not ex-Muslims, but people who ID as Muslim but are as Muslim as I'm Jewish.
3. Anti-transphobia, anti-sexism, anti-homophobia.
1. Like New Atheism 1.0, rootedness in science. Anti-vaxxers must be a major villain.
2. Serious ties with secular non-Christians - not ex-Muslims, but people who ID as Muslim but are as Muslim as I'm Jewish.
3. Anti-transphobia, anti-sexism, anti-homophobia.
November 29, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Desirable features of New Atheism 2.0:
1. Like New Atheism 1.0, rootedness in science. Anti-vaxxers must be a major villain.
2. Serious ties with secular non-Christians - not ex-Muslims, but people who ID as Muslim but are as Muslim as I'm Jewish.
3. Anti-transphobia, anti-sexism, anti-homophobia.
1. Like New Atheism 1.0, rootedness in science. Anti-vaxxers must be a major villain.
2. Serious ties with secular non-Christians - not ex-Muslims, but people who ID as Muslim but are as Muslim as I'm Jewish.
3. Anti-transphobia, anti-sexism, anti-homophobia.
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
The story of how India overtook China's population is a lot longer and more complicated than it looks. No, I'm not going to tell it in a 50-skeet thread.
/1
/1
November 29, 2025 at 1:17 AM
The story of how India overtook China's population is a lot longer and more complicated than it looks. No, I'm not going to tell it in a 50-skeet thread.
/1
/1
The vibes I'm getting are "if you don't like CENTCOM, you'll hate what replaces CENTCOM."
This is actually a relevant factor here: it's been pretty clear SOUTHCOM, whose commander resigned, has been pushing back, at least somewhat. They're putting it under the operational command of SOCOM specifically because that's the most already rotten place you'll find people happy to do crimes.
Why do you need Seal Team 6 to blow up a fucking boat?
November 29, 2025 at 12:25 AM
The vibes I'm getting are "if you don't like CENTCOM, you'll hate what replaces CENTCOM."
A pretend-continent that enthusiastically fell over itself to collaborate with the Nazis on the Holocaust is now, at elite level, enthusiastic to collaborate with Putin and Trump. Filthy collaborators obsessed with racial purity and lovers of fascists. www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Belgian prime minister doubles down on opposition to reparations loan
Hopes to secure a reparations loan for Ukraine have been dashed after the Belgian prime minister blasted the proposal as "fundamentally wrong" and called on the EU to raise fresh debt instead of touch...
www.euronews.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:42 PM
A pretend-continent that enthusiastically fell over itself to collaborate with the Nazis on the Holocaust is now, at elite level, enthusiastic to collaborate with Putin and Trump. Filthy collaborators obsessed with racial purity and lovers of fascists. www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Noch rechtsextremer und noch gefährlicher: Mit ihrer neuen Parteijungend will die AfD ein Bindeglied zur rechtsextremen Jugendkultur schaffen und diese besser kontrollieren. Es droht ein Sammelbecken für rechtsextreme Kader. Mäßigung? Fehlanzeige. 1/x
AfD-Jugend: Von konformistischer Rebellion und SS-Treueschwur
Die neue Jugendorganisation der AfD soll sich der Parteiführung unterordnen, rechtsextreme Positionen muss sie deswegen nicht aufgeben.
www.belltower.news
November 28, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Noch rechtsextremer und noch gefährlicher: Mit ihrer neuen Parteijungend will die AfD ein Bindeglied zur rechtsextremen Jugendkultur schaffen und diese besser kontrollieren. Es droht ein Sammelbecken für rechtsextreme Kader. Mäßigung? Fehlanzeige. 1/x
It's like the story taught in globalization class about the children who visit the US and say "mom, dad, there's McDonald's in America too!".
(Eataly is an Italian chain. Its HQ and first branch are in Torino.)
(Eataly is an Italian chain. Its HQ and first branch are in Torino.)
This, in Rome’s Termini Station, is an undeniable New York City cultural victory but also feels weird
November 28, 2025 at 9:43 AM
It's like the story taught in globalization class about the children who visit the US and say "mom, dad, there's McDonald's in America too!".
(Eataly is an Italian chain. Its HQ and first branch are in Torino.)
(Eataly is an Italian chain. Its HQ and first branch are in Torino.)
Canada should declare English as its sole official language. All education, laws, government communications, and mass media should be in English. Translations into non-official languages such as Mandarin and Punjabi should continue and even expand, but the canonical language should be English only.
November 27, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Canada should declare English as its sole official language. All education, laws, government communications, and mass media should be in English. Translations into non-official languages such as Mandarin and Punjabi should continue and even expand, but the canonical language should be English only.
Paul Johnson's Modern Times literally connected Einstein's theory of relativity with Freudian psychology, Marxism, and cultural relativism.
Special Relativity - ah so there's no absolute reference frame? I don't want to live in a world where up is down, left is right, white is black and man is woman.
November 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Paul Johnson's Modern Times literally connected Einstein's theory of relativity with Freudian psychology, Marxism, and cultural relativism.
Describe your favorite course as though NY Mag just found it.
*Real Simple Lie Algebras*. If they're real simple, why are they a graduate seminar? And why are students taught to lie?
*Real Simple Lie Algebras*. If they're real simple, why are they a graduate seminar? And why are students taught to lie?
Describe your favorite course as though NY Mag just found it.
*Algebraic Geometry.* From radical ideals to blowing up schemes, this course is a prime example of how college campuses are training grounds for America-hating students.
*Algebraic Geometry.* From radical ideals to blowing up schemes, this course is a prime example of how college campuses are training grounds for America-hating students.
Describe your favorite course as though NY Mag just found it.
*Modern Algebra.* How modern can it be when it stops around 1910? Students learn useless things like how to build an unsolvable quintic polynomial, all while writing papers about it in this very unserious liberal arts "math" class.
*Modern Algebra.* How modern can it be when it stops around 1910? Students learn useless things like how to build an unsolvable quintic polynomial, all while writing papers about it in this very unserious liberal arts "math" class.
November 27, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Describe your favorite course as though NY Mag just found it.
*Real Simple Lie Algebras*. If they're real simple, why are they a graduate seminar? And why are students taught to lie?
*Real Simple Lie Algebras*. If they're real simple, why are they a graduate seminar? And why are students taught to lie?
The Hasmoneans survived as an independent polity 78 years. Bibi is desperately making moves that would ensure the modern State of Israel wouldn't beat this record. Do we think he cares enough about tradition to ensure the state should be dissolved on the 9th of Av?
November 27, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The Hasmoneans survived as an independent polity 78 years. Bibi is desperately making moves that would ensure the modern State of Israel wouldn't beat this record. Do we think he cares enough about tradition to ensure the state should be dissolved on the 9th of Av?
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
Santa knows when you're sleeping and he knows when you're awake.
Judah Maccabee knows if you've been assimilating into the surrounding culture and he is NOT going to be okay with it
Judah Maccabee knows if you've been assimilating into the surrounding culture and he is NOT going to be okay with it
Judah Maccabee, auditing your religious practices over the year for any evidence of Hellenization.
November 27, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Santa knows when you're sleeping and he knows when you're awake.
Judah Maccabee knows if you've been assimilating into the surrounding culture and he is NOT going to be okay with it
Judah Maccabee knows if you've been assimilating into the surrounding culture and he is NOT going to be okay with it
Reposted by Alon (they/them)
People call Santa Claus "Father Christmas" or "Kris Kringle" or "Jolly Old Saint Nick."
People call Judah Maccabee "sir."
People call Judah Maccabee "sir."
November 27, 2025 at 4:28 PM
People call Santa Claus "Father Christmas" or "Kris Kringle" or "Jolly Old Saint Nick."
People call Judah Maccabee "sir."
People call Judah Maccabee "sir."