Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 38m

And yes I know it’s pronounced:

Stah
Circulah
Demoulas

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 38m

Star circular:

We’re celebrating our 110th anniversary!

Market Basket circular:

We’re celebrating the third week of the reopened store in North Andover!

2 1

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 1h

As always I support two teams:

The Red Sox
Whoever beats the Yankees

James G @orth.ca · 9h

Vladdy: "DAAAAAA YANKEES LOSE!"

9

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 9h

Given the volume of that store would it make sense for CSX to run a specific MB job?

7 miles Lawrence Yard to Tewksbury
25ish miles Tewksbury-Somerville

And back.

Mostly class 3-4 track.

Would adding the Chelsea store help (albeit requiring a bit more of a lead)?

1 2

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 9h

1 4

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 9h

Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 9h

Most populated islands in the US and Canada:

Long
Montreal
Montreal
Manhattan
Oahu
Vancouver
Newfoundland
Staten
Jesus
Lulu
Hawaii
Maui
PEI
Cape Breton
Alameda
Kauai
Aquidneck
Whidbey
Galveston
Absecon
Hilton Head
Mercer
Fidalgo
Martha's Vineyard
Bainbridge
Grand
Kent
Marco
Nantucket

4

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 9h

Everything about a HAWK signal is different that every other signal.

Except the solid yellow light.

So like 3 seconds out of a 90 second cycle.

3

Reposted by Ari Ofsevit

🏢 David L 🚎 @davidl206.city · 10h

We’ve spent decades trying (with mixed success at best) to train drivers they need to stop at dark signals, and HAWKs have torpedoed all that effort.

2 2 4

Reposted by Ari Ofsevit

Matthew Kirschenbaum @mkirschenbaum.bsky.social · 19h

Virginia State Senate Dems just brought down fire and fury regarding the “Compact,” notifying the President and Rector that UVA would lose ALL STATE APPROPRIATIONS if it signs and cedes the University to “federal political control.” Notably, their letter directly restates points made here by @siva.

Siva @sivav.bsky.social · 21h

The “compact” for higher ed is an unserious document written by unserious people from a position of spectacular ignorance. No one should take it seriously. Sadly, my bosses are taking it seriously.

newrepublic.com/article/2013...

Why This Essay Could Cause the University of Virginia to Shut Down

How Linda McMahon’s latest “compact” would do deep and permanent harm to American higher education

newrepublic.com

15 480 1.9K

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 10h

HAWK signals are atrocious and I'm glad someone has done this study … hopefully we can take some action and retire them to the dustbin of history.

www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/...

New kind of traffic signal is confusing Massachusetts drivers as 25% run red light, study finds

A new type of traffic light that's becoming increasingly popular in Massachusetts is confusing drivers, a study found.

www.cbsnews.com

6 1 19

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 10h

If the Democrats can manage to win the house and senate in 13 months, they should only swear in Democrats, impeach and convict everyone, and then swear in the Republicans.

1

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 10h

Following a couple of Yankees fans on here is making me happy right now.

4

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 10h

This is the streetview of old building, nothing, new building.

maps.app.goo.gl/xtf9WBjVYNs7...

But … why they need to blast out stuff which would require curtailing the entire line is perplexing. I get closing the station every so often but a full line cut for two months?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

maps.app.goo.gl

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 10h

Haha this is so dumb.

They had a right of way, built a building above it but the ROW they left was bad, so they demolished the building to build a new station and new, bigger building (so, fine)

montgomeryplanning.org/planning/com...

Bethesda Purple Line Station - Montgomery Planning

Bethesda Purple Line Station Minor Master Plan Amendment This Minor Master Plan Amendment looks at ways to realize the many public benefits of an alternative design for the Bethesda Purple […]

montgomeryplanning.org

1 1

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 10h

My guess is that they haven't thought of it. If CSX and the T built the sidings I would not be surprised if they helped.

It may be one of the best distribution center-to-grocery store links around … plus MB does all of its own distribution (unlike many grocery stores).

1 2

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 10h

Isn't the Red Line 120 feet below grade there?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethesd...

What exactly are they going to be doing that would disrupt it that far down?

Bethesda station - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

1

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 10h

The track from the Western Route to the Fitchburg under the High Line, though, seems perfectly fine.

My favorite weird spur over there (on the other side):

If you look close enough at whatever this is, you can see that it is signalized!

maps.app.goo.gl/mqQJKzzCiuET...

3

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 11h

So what would it take to convince Market Basket to ship 10 truckloads of product by train instead of by truck?

cc @a320lga.bsky.social

1 9

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 11h

It would take a few hundred feet of spur trackage to run a train between them, on well-maintained track (all but the first two miles commuter rail territory), there's even a nice route between the two lines.

2 5

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 11h

This is the Market Basket distribution center in Tewksbury

1 2

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 11h

This is the Somerville Market Basket loading dock and the route trucks take to access it. The last few miles are on narrow, congested city streets.

1 1 4

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 12h

If you're using "non-stick" pans you're doing it wrong.

(Do yourself a favor and get a cast iron.)

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...

Opinion | Relax, America, There Is Life After Nonstick Pans

www.nytimes.com

3

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 15h

They started talking about it in January 2021, then went quiet four years later.

2

Ari Ofsevit @ofsevit.bsky.social · 15h

Anyway, I was proud at how un-carbrained I had become.

* or 10 minute RT by bike/bikeshare.

I now live 8 minute RT from a mediocre grocery, and further from better (and cheaper) ones.

But, yes, I look for housing based on proximity to grocery stores!

www.google.com/maps/d/edit?...

Boston Grocery Stores - Google My Maps

Boston Grocery Stores

www.google.com

1