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...
I’m now the owner of a freshly signed commemorative barf bag. 🤗
December 16, 2025 at 3:51 AM
I’m now the owner of a freshly signed commemorative barf bag. 🤗
Atwood Music Hall (currently filled with degenerates such as myself waiting to see John Waters) looks pretty cool in Christmas lights. 🎄
December 16, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Atwood Music Hall (currently filled with degenerates such as myself waiting to see John Waters) looks pretty cool in Christmas lights. 🎄
That is quite a sunset…
December 15, 2025 at 10:45 PM
That is quite a sunset…
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. 🎄
Hang on… no. No way. Are they doing *the joke*?!?
But this is Wisconsin!! 😂
But this is Wisconsin!! 😂
December 13, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Hang on… no. No way. Are they doing *the joke*?!?
But this is Wisconsin!! 😂
But this is Wisconsin!! 😂
This color combo puzzled me though. What pride is blue and orange with a pink stripe? Maybe an uncalibrated bi pride flag?
December 13, 2025 at 12:57 AM
This color combo puzzled me though. What pride is blue and orange with a pink stripe? Maybe an uncalibrated bi pride flag?
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. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
It’s fun how teeny-tiny it is. Like riding in a refrigerator. 😁 The restored stations on that line are gorgeous. The subway museum at Deák Ferenc tér is super neat too!
December 11, 2025 at 11:50 PM
It’s fun how teeny-tiny it is. Like riding in a refrigerator. 😁 The restored stations on that line are gorgeous. The subway museum at Deák Ferenc tér is super neat too!
I think Graz won for “Most Scenic Trams” but they were all contenders… also some great funiculars on the trip as well!
December 11, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I think Graz won for “Most Scenic Trams” but they were all contenders… also some great funiculars on the trip as well!
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! 🇦🇹🇸🇰🇭🇺
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. 🚌🚊🚇
I was just told by a visitor with a very Southern accent that I said “Let’s do a Hamm’s” in the most Wisconsin way possible. I don’t deny the accusation, though they don’t realize how hard I can “Wisconsin” a beer order. 🦡🍻
December 10, 2025 at 1:41 AM
I was just told by a visitor with a very Southern accent that I said “Let’s do a Hamm’s” in the most Wisconsin way possible. I don’t deny the accusation, though they don’t realize how hard I can “Wisconsin” a beer order. 🦡🍻
Another fine morning being a pedestrian in Madison, WI
December 8, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Another fine morning being a pedestrian in Madison, WI
Was curious how many Gehry buildings I've seen in person. Apparently 10:
Edgemar
Weisman Museum of Art
MOPOP
Weatherhead School of Management
Pritzker Pavilion
BP Pedestrian Bridge
Stata Center
IAC Building (Manhattan)
Art Gallery of Ontario
8 Spruce Street
...but only got pics of a few of these.
Edgemar
Weisman Museum of Art
MOPOP
Weatherhead School of Management
Pritzker Pavilion
BP Pedestrian Bridge
Stata Center
IAC Building (Manhattan)
Art Gallery of Ontario
8 Spruce Street
...but only got pics of a few of these.
December 7, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Was curious how many Gehry buildings I've seen in person. Apparently 10:
Edgemar
Weisman Museum of Art
MOPOP
Weatherhead School of Management
Pritzker Pavilion
BP Pedestrian Bridge
Stata Center
IAC Building (Manhattan)
Art Gallery of Ontario
8 Spruce Street
...but only got pics of a few of these.
Edgemar
Weisman Museum of Art
MOPOP
Weatherhead School of Management
Pritzker Pavilion
BP Pedestrian Bridge
Stata Center
IAC Building (Manhattan)
Art Gallery of Ontario
8 Spruce Street
...but only got pics of a few of these.
It’s that time of year again… 🐯🎄
December 6, 2025 at 2:12 AM
It’s that time of year again… 🐯🎄
It was in early spring… so well out of season for the Christmas market sadly. And I picked a national holiday to go… on a frigid day… so a bit deserted. But still lovely even minus the RomCom vibes.
December 6, 2025 at 12:33 AM
It was in early spring… so well out of season for the Christmas market sadly. And I picked a national holiday to go… on a frigid day… so a bit deserted. But still lovely even minus the RomCom vibes.
Just saw Netflix is bringing out a new season of the most delightfully slutty holiday program, “Home for Christmas” 😂 Apart from its delightful take on relationships, it inspired me to spontaneously go to its middle-of-nowhere location (Røros🇳🇴) and hunt down Christmas soda! 🎄🎅
December 6, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Just saw Netflix is bringing out a new season of the most delightfully slutty holiday program, “Home for Christmas” 😂 Apart from its delightful take on relationships, it inspired me to spontaneously go to its middle-of-nowhere location (Røros🇳🇴) and hunt down Christmas soda! 🎄🎅
LMAO that I got added to this list by some AI enthusiast… I approve the sweet choice of Luddite icon, even if they’re otherwise totally missing any nuance of my views toward this stuff.
December 5, 2025 at 11:16 PM
LMAO that I got added to this list by some AI enthusiast… I approve the sweet choice of Luddite icon, even if they’re otherwise totally missing any nuance of my views toward this stuff.
Thought it was a fluke last week, but @transit.app seems really committed to the bit of showing me an all-day long trip with a 4 hr transfer as my “second best” commute option. This is so weird!
December 5, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Thought it was a fluke last week, but @transit.app seems really committed to the bit of showing me an all-day long trip with a 4 hr transfer as my “second best” commute option. This is so weird!
Thought the CTA was doing a mediocre job of snow clearance but apparently Madison Metro has them beat. This is one of the busiest stops on campus, a BRT transfer stop, looking like this. Yikes.
November 30, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Thought the CTA was doing a mediocre job of snow clearance but apparently Madison Metro has them beat. This is one of the busiest stops on campus, a BRT transfer stop, looking like this. Yikes.
Fun side note from this trip: I found a small but cool selection of Chicagoans are really thrilled to see a Hamilton Tiger-Cats hat (a souvenir of last year’s Thanksgiving weekend travels). Must be a Great Lakes/Lake Effect Snow Belt solidarity thing. 🐯
November 30, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Fun side note from this trip: I found a small but cool selection of Chicagoans are really thrilled to see a Hamilton Tiger-Cats hat (a souvenir of last year’s Thanksgiving weekend travels). Must be a Great Lakes/Lake Effect Snow Belt solidarity thing. 🐯
Real indication of Trumpian malfeasance: the worst kept sidewalks in the Loop right now are all around the federal complex. At least it makes for good snowman building. ⛄️
November 30, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Real indication of Trumpian malfeasance: the worst kept sidewalks in the Loop right now are all around the federal complex. At least it makes for good snowman building. ⛄️
Ain’t afraid to charge for an Irish Coffee these days but it tastes good after schlepping around in the slush.
November 30, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Ain’t afraid to charge for an Irish Coffee these days but it tastes good after schlepping around in the slush.
Loved this little “farm village” prototype too. Something about little figurines going about their lives in a planned landscape is weirdly comforting.
November 30, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Loved this little “farm village” prototype too. Something about little figurines going about their lives in a planned landscape is weirdly comforting.
What primal urge is satisfied by bopping big plump inflatable objects!? It’s just so much fun!
November 30, 2025 at 12:24 AM
What primal urge is satisfied by bopping big plump inflatable objects!? It’s just so much fun!