Jonathan Mertzig
@mertzigzag.bsky.social
Madison, WI. - Professional destroyer of software. Sewer Socialist. Queer geek. Wannabe polyglot. Car avoider/Walker/Cyclist/Transit Enthusiast. 🦩🍻 same handle on Fedi @urbanists.social and (formerly) Xitter...
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Jonathan Mertzig
@mertzigzag.bsky.social
· Nov 15
Wow! Lots of new followers here today. Here’s what you can expect from me:
1) rants about transit & municipal gov (not just in Madison!)
2) poorly informed takes on soccer and sometimes hockey
3) occasional random attempts at arty photography
4) sometimes: beer, tech, Euro and Canadian politics
1) rants about transit & municipal gov (not just in Madison!)
2) poorly informed takes on soccer and sometimes hockey
3) occasional random attempts at arty photography
4) sometimes: beer, tech, Euro and Canadian politics
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Finally, an Alpha in the White House
December 13, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Finally, an Alpha in the White House
In related news, I upgraded to macOS 26 last night and it *forced* me into full-disk encryption with no immediate opt out. Microsoft has never shanghaied me into BitLocker. Truly weird times.
One amazing thing about 2025 is that, if you start up an Apple product, it forces you to choose between _three different_ window mangers, but if you start up a clean install of a current version of Linux, it just chooses good defaults for you.
December 13, 2025 at 3:09 AM
In related news, I upgraded to macOS 26 last night and it *forced* me into full-disk encryption with no immediate opt out. Microsoft has never shanghaied me into BitLocker. Truly weird times.
And on the topic of fun festive lights, I do love that Madison puts holiday lights on the State Street BRT station. 🎄
December 13, 2025 at 2:49 AM
And on the topic of fun festive lights, I do love that Madison puts holiday lights on the State Street BRT station. 🎄
I WANT TO GO TO THERE
imagining an all night diner in a redwall world. little rat smoking while cooking on a flaptop. burned coffee in an acorn mug. the whole thing is inside a pumpkin
December 13, 2025 at 2:34 AM
I WANT TO GO TO THERE
Went to see “Scott Pilgrim…” at the TIFF Scotia Lightbox. On the way there I had to traverse a street that was closed for a film production. The “They make movies in Toronto?!?” line got a massive laugh.
Raising the always fun question: What are your most memorable theater-going experiences?
Mine also include The Matrix, Blair Witch, and being way too stoned in Belgium when Fellowship of the Ring was sold out so we sat in the back row for Mulholland Drive instead.
Mine also include The Matrix, Blair Witch, and being way too stoned in Belgium when Fellowship of the Ring was sold out so we sat in the back row for Mulholland Drive instead.
It was hands-down one of the most memorable theater-going experiences I can remember, a collective 30-minute butt-clench/armrest-grab for the final climb. And we knew he lived! Wild.
December 13, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Went to see “Scott Pilgrim…” at the TIFF Scotia Lightbox. On the way there I had to traverse a street that was closed for a film production. The “They make movies in Toronto?!?” line got a massive laugh.
New Homosexual Conspiracy HQ just dropped.
J/K, it’s some lovely new color-changing lighting on the Madison Municipal Building. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
J/K, it’s some lovely new color-changing lighting on the Madison Municipal Building. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
December 13, 2025 at 12:57 AM
New Homosexual Conspiracy HQ just dropped.
J/K, it’s some lovely new color-changing lighting on the Madison Municipal Building. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
J/K, it’s some lovely new color-changing lighting on the Madison Municipal Building. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
A friend just reminded me of the excellent series “To The Lake” (Эпидемия) and now I’m finding out there was a season 2?!?
Forgive me, I may need to commit some light treason to watch it. Umm… I’ll make it up by binging “Слуга народу” afterwards! 😂
Forgive me, I may need to commit some light treason to watch it. Umm… I’ll make it up by binging “Слуга народу” afterwards! 😂
December 13, 2025 at 12:14 AM
A friend just reminded me of the excellent series “To The Lake” (Эпидемия) and now I’m finding out there was a season 2?!?
Forgive me, I may need to commit some light treason to watch it. Umm… I’ll make it up by binging “Слуга народу” afterwards! 😂
Forgive me, I may need to commit some light treason to watch it. Umm… I’ll make it up by binging “Слуга народу” afterwards! 😂
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
some nice signs spotted at portland's union station. i love that, once upon a time, gift shop myrtlewood was important enough for neon.
December 12, 2025 at 7:53 PM
some nice signs spotted at portland's union station. i love that, once upon a time, gift shop myrtlewood was important enough for neon.
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
My first take on the Michael Green "$140,000 minimum wage" discourse.
open.substack.com/pub/kevinerd...
open.substack.com/pub/kevinerd...
Are we underestimating who is poor?
Michael Green has caused a bit of a dust-up with a piece that was picked up by the Free Press, and which he followed up on at his substack newsletter.
open.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:26 PM
My first take on the Michael Green "$140,000 minimum wage" discourse.
open.substack.com/pub/kevinerd...
open.substack.com/pub/kevinerd...
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
The government licenses people to operate a motor vehicle only after taking a test of basic competency and I don't see any civil liberties violation in revoking that license after numerous moving violations or DUIs prove that person incompetent.
I think it was a huge mistake to make our society so car-dependent. But man. The Discourse today is a good reminder that when it comes to roadways policy, otherwise progressive anti-car people quickly become some of the most pro-carceral, anti-civil liberties people on the planet.
December 12, 2025 at 9:49 PM
The government licenses people to operate a motor vehicle only after taking a test of basic competency and I don't see any civil liberties violation in revoking that license after numerous moving violations or DUIs prove that person incompetent.
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hksV...
Thank the maker- I was feeling clumsy for about three releases. Well done Apple.
Thank the maker- I was feeling clumsy for about three releases. Well done Apple.
It's Not Just You - The iOS Keyboard is Broken
YouTube video by Michi NekoMichi
www.youtube.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:25 PM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hksV...
Thank the maker- I was feeling clumsy for about three releases. Well done Apple.
Thank the maker- I was feeling clumsy for about three releases. Well done Apple.
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Excellent insight on the housing crisis: starter homes edition.
December 12, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Excellent insight on the housing crisis: starter homes edition.
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
I know about the dark web and all of that but I’m still pretty sure that LinkedIn is the most unhinged place online.
December 12, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I know about the dark web and all of that but I’m still pretty sure that LinkedIn is the most unhinged place online.
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
I have friends who just don't get to go outside and do things in the winter because they rely on mobility devices that can't handle sidewalks like this
December 12, 2025 at 6:54 PM
I have friends who just don't get to go outside and do things in the winter because they rely on mobility devices that can't handle sidewalks like this
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
This is utterly bonkers. Who would spend money to visit a country with these sorts of requirements? It’s so bonkers that it makes me wonder if they plan to back down, mostly, so that it feels like a victory when they proceed with a fraction of things that would have previously been unthinkable.
It's not just social media. Looks like visitors to the US from Europe and other countries that are part of the visa waiver program will have to submit an enormous amount of data about themselves and their families, including DNA, if proposed new rules are accepted
December 12, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This is utterly bonkers. Who would spend money to visit a country with these sorts of requirements? It’s so bonkers that it makes me wonder if they plan to back down, mostly, so that it feels like a victory when they proceed with a fraction of things that would have previously been unthinkable.
While in theory our current routes and schedules give me more flexibility, there are times when I really miss my direct Route 55. (Reliably 29 minutes door to door!) Most days this week my connections didn’t line up, and today took over an hour incl. a 15 minute wait in the cold. This sucks ass.
December 12, 2025 at 3:10 PM
While in theory our current routes and schedules give me more flexibility, there are times when I really miss my direct Route 55. (Reliably 29 minutes door to door!) Most days this week my connections didn’t line up, and today took over an hour incl. a 15 minute wait in the cold. This sucks ass.
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Last RT: the case of Kilmar Abrego is the clearest sign of the authoritarianism inherent to both the immigrant purge and this admin. But it's the childishness and pettiness that really shocks me. The USA is bullying one dude, who's life they ruined by accident, bc he's politically inconvenient.
December 12, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Last RT: the case of Kilmar Abrego is the clearest sign of the authoritarianism inherent to both the immigrant purge and this admin. But it's the childishness and pettiness that really shocks me. The USA is bullying one dude, who's life they ruined by accident, bc he's politically inconvenient.
Fascinating thread for type nerds and/or Soviet/Russian history geeks. I definitely recognize a few of the typefaces discussed from my UW libraries days, fetching old Soviet physics + astronomy journals for interlibrary loan.
Fonts are in the news, so I'm going to take the opportunity to port over an old thread: what was typography like in the Soviet Union?
Spoiler: they did not just have 1 font everyone had to use. As a matter of fact, there were 39.
One of them, you can see here, used to great effect for "Chernobyl."
Spoiler: they did not just have 1 font everyone had to use. As a matter of fact, there were 39.
One of them, you can see here, used to great effect for "Chernobyl."
December 12, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Fascinating thread for type nerds and/or Soviet/Russian history geeks. I definitely recognize a few of the typefaces discussed from my UW libraries days, fetching old Soviet physics + astronomy journals for interlibrary loan.
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Democratic leadership didn’t want to stick their necks out for him. The GOP didn’t want him even referred to as a “Maryland man.” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, his congressional representative fought for him. And we should never forget any of this. apnews.com/article/abre...
Kilmar Abrego Garcia freed from federal immigration detention, his attorney's office says
Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been released from an immigration detention center in Pennsylvania following an order from a federal judge issued Thursday, according to his attorney’s office.
apnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Democratic leadership didn’t want to stick their necks out for him. The GOP didn’t want him even referred to as a “Maryland man.” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, his congressional representative fought for him. And we should never forget any of this. apnews.com/article/abre...
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Their closing message to Indiana: change your maps to artificially benefit the President's political party or 'roads will not be paved' as punishment.
They are openly saying this.
Who would want to live in a country that works like that?
They are openly saying this.
Who would want to live in a country that works like that?
December 11, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Their closing message to Indiana: change your maps to artificially benefit the President's political party or 'roads will not be paved' as punishment.
They are openly saying this.
Who would want to live in a country that works like that?
They are openly saying this.
Who would want to live in a country that works like that?
While we’re on the topic of 2025 transit year in review, I also got in some lovely experiences in cities that weren’t tracked… expanded my transit trip inventories Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Salzburg, and Graz this year! 🇦🇹🇸🇰🇭🇺
December 11, 2025 at 8:46 PM
While we’re on the topic of 2025 transit year in review, I also got in some lovely experiences in cities that weren’t tracked… expanded my transit trip inventories Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Salzburg, and Graz this year! 🇦🇹🇸🇰🇭🇺
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
INBOX: The Hemp Beverage Alliance is out with a statement supporting the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act from @wyden.senate.gov @jeff-merkley.bsky.social, which would provide a federal path forward for THC-infused drinks after Congress effectively banned them on a 1yr delay last month.
December 11, 2025 at 6:55 PM
INBOX: The Hemp Beverage Alliance is out with a statement supporting the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act from @wyden.senate.gov @jeff-merkley.bsky.social, which would provide a federal path forward for THC-infused drinks after Congress effectively banned them on a 1yr delay last month.
My numbers are a bit skewed by tracking my morning commute quite a lot, but even not tracking all my trips I’m in the top 1% of Transit App GO riders. Neat! Also interesting was to see I racked up some good numbers in Chicago and MSP in a short time. 🚌🚊🚇
December 11, 2025 at 8:01 PM
My numbers are a bit skewed by tracking my morning commute quite a lot, but even not tracking all my trips I’m in the top 1% of Transit App GO riders. Neat! Also interesting was to see I racked up some good numbers in Chicago and MSP in a short time. 🚌🚊🚇
He’s talking about VIA but the same can be said about much of Amtrak as well (I’ve got plenty of experience with both). The thing that baffles me the most is how both treat the boarding and baggage processes as basically a worse version of the airline experience. Such a weird convergence!
The cost, archaic/infantalizing boarding practices, slow schedules, and routine delays are bad enough, but the prospect of being stuck on board for many many hours really wrecks the demand from even the most hardcore rail fans
December 11, 2025 at 7:01 PM
He’s talking about VIA but the same can be said about much of Amtrak as well (I’ve got plenty of experience with both). The thing that baffles me the most is how both treat the boarding and baggage processes as basically a worse version of the airline experience. Such a weird convergence!