Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 4h

The whole sense of reading pretend historical non-fiction.

Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 4h

Yes, true. Chicago has important things happening that shouldn’t go uncovered. And I believe that their story is getting out. But that frog is just such a great visual, it’s hard to not be eclipsed by it in the visual media. People are watching both cities, I feel. Just differently. 🐸

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 4h

You’re just green with envy of a frog.

But seriously, they’ve got some good Portland optics going on over there. Marketing matters.

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 4h

Just finished reading this great magical book. Highly recommend!
#books
#nightsofplague

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 5h

Supreme Commander of Antifa

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Reposted by Michael C Merritt

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 7h

It’s pronounced cyclist.

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 10h

And yet, we continue to rig our transportation system for cars.

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 16h

Deep dive into the surge in US pedestrian deaths:

"It’s not that more pedestrians are getting hit by vehicles; it’s that the ones that are getting hit are more likely to die."

"[That] seems like fairly strong evidence for the theory that the rise in large SUVs is behind the uptick in ped deaths."

Why Are So Many Pedestrians Killed by Cars in the US?

It’s unfortunately not uncommon for pedestrians to be killed by cars in the US.

www.construction-physics.com

Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 10h

They got the Portland Frog?

Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 12h

Supreme Allied Commander of Antifa

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 1d

Agreed. I feel the struggle.

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 1d

Genius.

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 1d

It’s really sad.

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 1d

Took me awhile, but finally finished this. Great read from a time when politics was a different game.

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 1d

BZ

The Boston Globe @bostonglobe.com · 1d

MIT became the first university to reject the Trump administration’s compact of demands, after its president Sally Kornbluth said the school already “meet or exceed many standards outlined” by the federal government.

MIT becomes first school to reject proposed ‘compact’ with Trump administration - The Boston Globe

MIT president Sally Kornbluth said the university’s practices already “meet or exceed” the federal government’s list of demands.

trib.al

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 1d

62,000 in custody!

Roger Parloff @rparloff.bsky.social · 1d

R: injunction is preventing ICE/State from finding a 3d country. is that your perseonal belief
S: we currently have 62,000 in custody. ...
R: this was atypical case in terms of notoriety?
S: yes
R: prez of US has tweeted about him
S: yes.
R: Noem
S: dont have twitter or X. dont know

/80

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 1d

Oh, please…

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 1d

Should’ve given Zelenskyy the Tomahawks if he wanted it so badly.

Reposted by Michael C Merritt

AuntBunny @auntbunny.bsky.social · 2d

"Terrible things are happening outside. At any time of night and day, poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes... Families are torn apart; men, women and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared... " Anne Franke

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 2d

But. But. But. We can’t do that here!! This isn’t Europe!

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 2d

“In London cyclists now outnumber cars in the City by 2 to 1. Paris, where they now outnumber motorists across the whole city, is catching up with Europe’s traditional bike capitals, Amsterdam & Copenhagen…In Copenhagen, bikes account for almost half of commuter trips to work/school.” @economist.com

Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport

Pedal power is booming, spinning up a new culture war

www.economist.com

Reposted by Michael C Merritt

American Fietser @americanfietser.bsky.social · 2d

How to design safer intersections:

1. Near-sided signals. Placed before the bike/ped crossing, they prevent drivers from creeping into the path.

2. Pavement differentiation. High-contrast, colored crossings (like this red asphalt) clearly establish priority and command driver attention.

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Reposted by Michael C Merritt

☠️ Texas Lanesaw Massacree ☠️ @runnerlane.bsky.social · 2d

Town Point Park, out front of Nauticus, one of the empty parking lots on Granby (Downtown or Neon).

Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 2d

Northside Park?

BikePortland @bikeportland.org · 3d

This is a big deal because public space only works if the public shows up, and having food trucks and other types of vendors at parks will encourage people not only to visit, but to stay there and hang out a while.

bikeportland.org/2025/10/08/n...

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 2d

Northside Park?

BikePortland @bikeportland.org · 3d

This is a big deal because public space only works if the public shows up, and having food trucks and other types of vendors at parks will encourage people not only to visit, but to stay there and hang out a while.

bikeportland.org/2025/10/08/n...

New city program makes vending at parks easier and cheaper

Imagine grabbing snack in Forest Park after a fun ride in the dirt.

bikeportland.org

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 2d

I’m furious about this— newspapers are so important to our civil society.

Steve Mullis @stevemullis.net · 3d

The documentary "Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink," about how Hedge fund Alden Global Capital is gobbling up newspapers across America and gutting them, is available to watch on PBS.

Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink

A handful of journalists rebel against a hedge fund that is gutting newspapers nationwide.

www.pbs.org

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Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 2d

Congrats!

youtu.be/QOddpk8jOtU?...

The Streets - Let's Push Things Forward (Official Video)

YouTube video by The Streets

youtu.be

Michael C Merritt @mikecmerritt.bsky.social · 3d

Is lead no longer used?

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