Tom Radcliffe
@tjradcliffe.bsky.social
Physicist, Breakthrough Prize Laureate (SNO), poet, engineer, writer, actor, sailor, canoeist, kayaker, boat-builder, businessman, philosopher (Bayesian), executive, entrepreneur (unsuccessful), consulting scientist, inventor, husband, father, grandfather.
Pinned
Tom Radcliffe
@tjradcliffe.bsky.social
· Dec 12
Capuleft and Montaright
A sword-and-cell-phone nove-in-verse!
siduri.net
My latest book, a sword-cell-phone novel-in-verse that riffs on "Romeo and Juliet", but Romeo's friends aren't all idiots. Nobody dies, lots of people end up in bed. "A fabulous modern take on Romeo and Juliet set in a gritty urban backdrop"-Emily Thompson, ReedsyDiscovery siduri.net/books/capule...
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
Steve Witkoff is such a Russian patsy. Just absolutely embarrassing.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
November 25, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Steve Witkoff is such a Russian patsy. Just absolutely embarrassing.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Building new pipelines is idiotic. They will be nothing but stranded assets AT BEST. Divisive, economically unsound, anti-capitalist (not in a good way), and politically brain dead.
Canada should be focused on nation-building. Instead we are getting sucked into a needless pipeline war to appease Moe and Danielle Smith.
If the PM tries to kill the tanker ban without consulting BC premier Eby or First Nations he will be in for the fight of his life.
And he will lose.
If the PM tries to kill the tanker ban without consulting BC premier Eby or First Nations he will be in for the fight of his life.
And he will lose.
November 25, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Building new pipelines is idiotic. They will be nothing but stranded assets AT BEST. Divisive, economically unsound, anti-capitalist (not in a good way), and politically brain dead.
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
"The purpose of this pledge is to lay out the priorities for indoor air quality, why it matters to us as humans, why it matters from pandemic preparedness and climate resilience and human rights, accessibility for all, workplace safety."
✅ #CleanIndoorAir is a human right!
✅ #CleanIndoorAir is a human right!
Today on Volts: for years, I've wanted to do a podcast on indoor air quality, and I finally found the perfect guest! Dr. Lagoudas & I discuss indoor air pollutants, the policies and technologies that can control them, and the growing need to frame indoor air quality as a basic human right.
What's the deal with indoor air quality?
From CO2 monitors to better building codes, Dr. Georgia Lagoudas outlines how to clean up the spaces where we spend 90% of our lives.
www.volts.wtf
November 20, 2025 at 12:39 PM
"The purpose of this pledge is to lay out the priorities for indoor air quality, why it matters to us as humans, why it matters from pandemic preparedness and climate resilience and human rights, accessibility for all, workplace safety."
✅ #CleanIndoorAir is a human right!
✅ #CleanIndoorAir is a human right!
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
"From Long Flu to Long COVID: A Brief History of Postviral Illness" by Emily Mendenhall and Philip Finkelstein.
From Long Flu to Long COVID: A Brief History of Postviral Illness | Think Global Health
Despite centuries of examples, long-term maladies after flu and other viruses remain absent from mainstream policy
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:10 PM
"From Long Flu to Long COVID: A Brief History of Postviral Illness" by Emily Mendenhall and Philip Finkelstein.
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
Who wants roadblocks, heat dome fires, windstorms, landslides, floods and more for ignoring the province’s environment and the First Nations?
Because this is how you get roadblocks, heat dome fires, windstorms, landslides, and floods.
Because this is how you get roadblocks, heat dome fires, windstorms, landslides, and floods.
Danielle Smith just suckered Mark Carney into reviving the Northern Gateway pipeline.
This is the antithesis of "nation-building."
There is no economic, political or environmental case for Stephen Harper's dream.
This won't end well.
For Canada or Carney.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
This is the antithesis of "nation-building."
There is no economic, political or environmental case for Stephen Harper's dream.
This won't end well.
For Canada or Carney.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Ottawa, Alberta agree to broad outlines of energy deal, including path to pipeline | CBC News
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have agreed to the broad outlines of a memorandum of understanding that would give Alberta special exemptions from federal environmental l...
www.cbc.ca
November 25, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Who wants roadblocks, heat dome fires, windstorms, landslides, floods and more for ignoring the province’s environment and the First Nations?
Because this is how you get roadblocks, heat dome fires, windstorms, landslides, and floods.
Because this is how you get roadblocks, heat dome fires, windstorms, landslides, and floods.
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
As she recounted
a disappointing dinner party
my work friend asked
if I knew the feeling
of being with people
(of being with good people)
but still just feeling
profoundly alone,
and as I adjusted my mask
I looked
at my friend’s bare face
and simply said:
I know the feeling.
a disappointing dinner party
my work friend asked
if I knew the feeling
of being with people
(of being with good people)
but still just feeling
profoundly alone,
and as I adjusted my mask
I looked
at my friend’s bare face
and simply said:
I know the feeling.
November 25, 2025 at 6:28 PM
As she recounted
a disappointing dinner party
my work friend asked
if I knew the feeling
of being with people
(of being with good people)
but still just feeling
profoundly alone,
and as I adjusted my mask
I looked
at my friend’s bare face
and simply said:
I know the feeling.
a disappointing dinner party
my work friend asked
if I knew the feeling
of being with people
(of being with good people)
but still just feeling
profoundly alone,
and as I adjusted my mask
I looked
at my friend’s bare face
and simply said:
I know the feeling.
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
November 25, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
It matters that I'm Palestinian but only insofar as it provides a modicum of context to my argumentation, but I want people to listen to me not on the basis of identity-authority (which is fake) but on the basis of whether or not my argument is sufficient.
Yes, but also no. I want people to listen because I make the argument well not because I'm Arab.
November 25, 2025 at 6:39 PM
It matters that I'm Palestinian but only insofar as it provides a modicum of context to my argumentation, but I want people to listen to me not on the basis of identity-authority (which is fake) but on the basis of whether or not my argument is sufficient.
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
attempting to describe the vibes of the moment. have yet to do better than: "imagine watching a documentary reenacting the burning of the Library of Alexandria set to the soundtrack of 'Yakety Sax'"
February 6, 2025 at 3:59 AM
attempting to describe the vibes of the moment. have yet to do better than: "imagine watching a documentary reenacting the burning of the Library of Alexandria set to the soundtrack of 'Yakety Sax'"
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
Every economy op-ed writer: No see, you can't buy a house because you buy too many avocado toasts but you're hurting the economy by not buying a new $1,000 phone each year. I am very smart. Also don't ask me about my emails with Epstein.
November 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Every economy op-ed writer: No see, you can't buy a house because you buy too many avocado toasts but you're hurting the economy by not buying a new $1,000 phone each year. I am very smart. Also don't ask me about my emails with Epstein.
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
We regret to inform you that Ron Paul is entirely correct here.
November 25, 2025 at 7:08 PM
We regret to inform you that Ron Paul is entirely correct here.
I am deeply grateful to the folks I know with whom I have significant disagreements on substantive issues who do not do this.
My personal test is: "If it came to it, which side of the barricades would they be on?" We can disagree on a lot, and still agree on the answer to that.
My personal test is: "If it came to it, which side of the barricades would they be on?" We can disagree on a lot, and still agree on the answer to that.
Yesterday I saw someone on the losing side of an argument go right to “so we can only conclude that you beat your wife.” They were serious.
Many blocklists could be retitled “I Lost An Argument With This Person So Therefore They Are A Transphobe and Personally Responsible For Gaza Genocide.”
Many blocklists could be retitled “I Lost An Argument With This Person So Therefore They Are A Transphobe and Personally Responsible For Gaza Genocide.”
November 25, 2025 at 7:21 PM
I am deeply grateful to the folks I know with whom I have significant disagreements on substantive issues who do not do this.
My personal test is: "If it came to it, which side of the barricades would they be on?" We can disagree on a lot, and still agree on the answer to that.
My personal test is: "If it came to it, which side of the barricades would they be on?" We can disagree on a lot, and still agree on the answer to that.
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
Just in case you aren't doing a bit, this was yesterday:
November 25, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Just in case you aren't doing a bit, this was yesterday:
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
this kind of "throw every random social justice accusation at the wall and see what sticks" approach actually just discredits social justice. come on. let's do better
November 25, 2025 at 4:42 PM
this kind of "throw every random social justice accusation at the wall and see what sticks" approach actually just discredits social justice. come on. let's do better
I'm saying that until the air is up to ASHRAE 241 standard or better respirators should be required. Asking doesn't work. We know this. Requiring does. In what other industry is it OK to just knowingly endanger kid's health? "Please don't bring asbestos into the daycare" is not good policy.
For instance, shouldn’t we be requiring, by law, that all daycares and kindergartens have supplementary air cleaners?
Shouldn’t employees be, at minimum, be supplied with and encouraged to use KN95, Q100 or N95 respirators? I’m not even saying to require them to be used. Just supplied.
Shouldn’t employees be, at minimum, be supplied with and encouraged to use KN95, Q100 or N95 respirators? I’m not even saying to require them to be used. Just supplied.
November 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
I'm saying that until the air is up to ASHRAE 241 standard or better respirators should be required. Asking doesn't work. We know this. Requiring does. In what other industry is it OK to just knowingly endanger kid's health? "Please don't bring asbestos into the daycare" is not good policy.
Finding new autocratic partners we could do without.
During our visit last week, the UAE committed to invest $70 billion into Canada.
We’re building big things at home — and finding new partners who want to build with us.
We’re building big things at home — and finding new partners who want to build with us.
November 25, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Finding new autocratic partners we could do without.
Can you imagine ANY OTHER INDUSTRY where going to work meant "You have a much better than average chance of being exposed to something that can permanently disable you" and wearing protection for yourself & others was VOLUNTARY?
I've worked in industrial jobs: protection is mandatory. Why not here?
I've worked in industrial jobs: protection is mandatory. Why not here?
Patient came in with sore throat. While waiting for rapid Strep test result we glanced back at the Covid-19 RAT result: positive. Reminder that masking in health care makes sense, if you don’t want everyone in your waiting room to go home sick, your staff to get sick, and physicians to get sick.
November 25, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Can you imagine ANY OTHER INDUSTRY where going to work meant "You have a much better than average chance of being exposed to something that can permanently disable you" and wearing protection for yourself & others was VOLUNTARY?
I've worked in industrial jobs: protection is mandatory. Why not here?
I've worked in industrial jobs: protection is mandatory. Why not here?
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve gone into work to find a patient I had just cared for now diagnosed with Flu, Covid, TB, etc. Masking in healthcare just makes sense! It’s hard to see a downside, actually.
And no, I didn’t get sick with anything…because I’m always in an N95.
And no, I didn’t get sick with anything…because I’m always in an N95.
Patient came in with sore throat. While waiting for rapid Strep test result we glanced back at the Covid-19 RAT result: positive. Reminder that masking in health care makes sense, if you don’t want everyone in your waiting room to go home sick, your staff to get sick, and physicians to get sick.
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve gone into work to find a patient I had just cared for now diagnosed with Flu, Covid, TB, etc. Masking in healthcare just makes sense! It’s hard to see a downside, actually.
And no, I didn’t get sick with anything…because I’m always in an N95.
And no, I didn’t get sick with anything…because I’m always in an N95.
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
Both Kyiv and Odesa were targeted heavily tonight. There are still some shaheds in the air. We probably won't know the full amount of damage until later today.
Air defense shot down a lot of drones and missiles. They are remarkable. Russia spends billions overwhelming them. Russia is dying state.
Air defense shot down a lot of drones and missiles. They are remarkable. Russia spends billions overwhelming them. Russia is dying state.
November 25, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Both Kyiv and Odesa were targeted heavily tonight. There are still some shaheds in the air. We probably won't know the full amount of damage until later today.
Air defense shot down a lot of drones and missiles. They are remarkable. Russia spends billions overwhelming them. Russia is dying state.
Air defense shot down a lot of drones and missiles. They are remarkable. Russia spends billions overwhelming them. Russia is dying state.
This is a crime against graphic design. I had to re-read the blurb before I could figure out what the second line said. Was thinking it might be some word in one of the local Indigenous languages. Sczy? Wasn't that a printer interface standard?
I’m very sorry to announce this to the rest of the country & the world, but a transitional logo has been chosen for the 2034 Salt Lake City Olympics & this is it. Why does it say Utah? We don’t know. Why is the font illegible? Yet another mystery. Did they go ugly on purpose? Again, no idea.
November 25, 2025 at 6:55 AM
This is a crime against graphic design. I had to re-read the blurb before I could figure out what the second line said. Was thinking it might be some word in one of the local Indigenous languages. Sczy? Wasn't that a printer interface standard?
Reposted by Tom Radcliffe
No. No. NO.
Absolutely NO 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Absolutely NO 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Ottawa and Alberta agree to new pipeline through B.C.: report vancouversun.com/news/canada/...
November 25, 2025 at 6:01 AM
No. No. NO.
Absolutely NO 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Absolutely NO 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
BC, however, does not agree. This is the stupidest waste of public money and political capital in years, and that's saying something.
Ottawa and Alberta agree to new pipeline through B.C.: report vancouversun.com/news/canada/...
November 25, 2025 at 6:49 AM
BC, however, does not agree. This is the stupidest waste of public money and political capital in years, and that's saying something.
Yes, I am indeed crying.
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
Fifteen Years
xkcd.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Yes, I am indeed crying.