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...
Pinned
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
Pharma Industry Challenge: create a COVID vaccine that doesn’t destroy me for three days with symptoms worse than actual COVID. IMPOSSIBLE. 💉
November 23, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Pharma Industry Challenge: create a COVID vaccine that doesn’t destroy me for three days with symptoms worse than actual COVID. IMPOSSIBLE. 💉
Well hey, Woodmans got a farewell shipment. Haven’t seen Rogue around here in a bit. 🫡 RIP. www.beervanablog.com/beervana/202...
November 22, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Well hey, Woodmans got a farewell shipment. Haven’t seen Rogue around here in a bit. 🫡 RIP. www.beervanablog.com/beervana/202...
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
the Swedes fucking ripped it with this Potato Sausage, @mertzigzag.bsky.social said it's good breakfast so I cooked it and then pan fried in butter with some sweet and shishito peppers and hard fried an egg, the potato makes a superb binder, it's rich and warm and lets the individual spices sing
November 22, 2025 at 12:28 AM
the Swedes fucking ripped it with this Potato Sausage, @mertzigzag.bsky.social said it's good breakfast so I cooked it and then pan fried in butter with some sweet and shishito peppers and hard fried an egg, the potato makes a superb binder, it's rich and warm and lets the individual spices sing
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Hakeem Jeffries was literally voting for a resolution condemning socialism while this meeting was taking place
November 21, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Hakeem Jeffries was literally voting for a resolution condemning socialism while this meeting was taking place
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
People need to realize that government agencies facing repeated budget cuts have already trimmed all of the obvious and easy to trim fat. You can't assume there is more because Reagan assured you governments are inherently wasteful.
Portland: Highly damaging transit service cuts may be coming in the next year. Still no sign of a plan on how to prevent them.
No, there is not a lot of waste in the system; almost all service is justified by ridership or equity (we did that work).
trimet.org/servicecuts/...
No, there is not a lot of waste in the system; almost all service is justified by ridership or equity (we did that work).
trimet.org/servicecuts/...
Planned Bus and MAX Service Cuts
Due to a growing budget gap, we must cut some TriMet service starting in November 2025.
trimet.org
November 21, 2025 at 8:18 PM
People need to realize that government agencies facing repeated budget cuts have already trimmed all of the obvious and easy to trim fat. You can't assume there is more because Reagan assured you governments are inherently wasteful.
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
In an era filled with tech dipshits who never developed emotionally past the age of 13 & use their wealth to become odious monsters ...
... listen to Steve Wozniak.
... listen to Steve Wozniak.
November 21, 2025 at 7:41 PM
In an era filled with tech dipshits who never developed emotionally past the age of 13 & use their wealth to become odious monsters ...
... listen to Steve Wozniak.
... listen to Steve Wozniak.
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
We are not a serious country, at all.
BREAKING: The House of Representatives voted 285–98 in favor of a resolution condemning socialism.
Eighty-six Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Eighty-six Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
November 21, 2025 at 6:37 PM
We are not a serious country, at all.
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Flock data is being abused. Data Flock collects will be abused. www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
How Cops Are Using Flock Safety's ALPR Network to Surveil Protesters and Activists
Through an analysis of 10 months of nationwide searches on Flock Safety's servers, we discovered that more than 50 federal, state, and local agencies ran hundreds of searches through Flock's national ...
www.eff.org
November 21, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Flock data is being abused. Data Flock collects will be abused. www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
It rocks that the online voice of the US government is "computer-damaged reactionary virgin."
November 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
It rocks that the online voice of the US government is "computer-damaged reactionary virgin."
I think it’s about time for Michael Moore to create a southern border sequel to “Canadian Bacon”
DOD contractors “mistakenly” landed on a Mexican beach, declared it US property and planted “restricted area” DOD signs, triggering a tense confrontation with armed Mexican forces.
Mexico removed the signs, insisting the area is theirs.
Yet another example of total incompetence.
Mexico removed the signs, insisting the area is theirs.
Yet another example of total incompetence.
Pentagon Pete’s War Goons Accidentally Invade Mexico
U.S. “contractors” planted signs declaring that a Mexican beach was U.S. territory.
www.thedailybeast.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I think it’s about time for Michael Moore to create a southern border sequel to “Canadian Bacon”
This morning brings one of the great joys of my job: teaching the youth how to break things through the perennially effective tactic of HTML injection. 😈
November 21, 2025 at 2:48 PM
This morning brings one of the great joys of my job: teaching the youth how to break things through the perennially effective tactic of HTML injection. 😈
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
This story is nuts.
"ICE agents then surrounded the judge’s car and demanded everyone to exit the vehicle, threatening to smash in the windows if they did not comply."
"ICE agents then surrounded the judge’s car and demanded everyone to exit the vehicle, threatening to smash in the windows if they did not comply."
#BREAKING: A student intern at Rhode Island Superior Court was briefly taken into custody by ICE this afternoon before a judge intervened, 12 News has learned. Story by @jusolyn.bsky.social and @timwhiteri.bsky.social: ⤵️
RI judge intervenes after ICE mistakenly detains Superior Court intern
A teenager was nearly taken into federal immigration custody in Providence Thursday afternoon before a Superior Court judge intervened, according to the Rhode Island Judiciary.
www.wpri.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:51 AM
This story is nuts.
"ICE agents then surrounded the judge’s car and demanded everyone to exit the vehicle, threatening to smash in the windows if they did not comply."
"ICE agents then surrounded the judge’s car and demanded everyone to exit the vehicle, threatening to smash in the windows if they did not comply."
I don’t know why I didn’t bring a handkerchief or tissues with me tonight because I just *knew* seeing Kathy Mattea tonight, some of those lovely songs were gonna get me crying. 🥹
November 21, 2025 at 4:09 AM
I don’t know why I didn’t bring a handkerchief or tissues with me tonight because I just *knew* seeing Kathy Mattea tonight, some of those lovely songs were gonna get me crying. 🥹
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Wauwatosa, WI — 175 years ago today
Solomon Juneau and other Milwaukee leaders arrive after the first train trip ever taken in Wisconsin. It took 12 minutes, which is faster than it takes today to drive between the two cities. There is currently no commuter rail option.
Solomon Juneau and other Milwaukee leaders arrive after the first train trip ever taken in Wisconsin. It took 12 minutes, which is faster than it takes today to drive between the two cities. There is currently no commuter rail option.
November 21, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Wauwatosa, WI — 175 years ago today
Solomon Juneau and other Milwaukee leaders arrive after the first train trip ever taken in Wisconsin. It took 12 minutes, which is faster than it takes today to drive between the two cities. There is currently no commuter rail option.
Solomon Juneau and other Milwaukee leaders arrive after the first train trip ever taken in Wisconsin. It took 12 minutes, which is faster than it takes today to drive between the two cities. There is currently no commuter rail option.
“…the streetcar would have to run for roughly the next 425 years to approach the estimated cost of the mammoth $1.7 billion highway widening effort.” 💸
NEW: Beyond the hulking highway widening boondoggle and the endlessly circular streetcar debate lies the real problem in southeastern Wisconsin's bleak transportation landscape.
Let's recombobulate: www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/the-highwa...
Let's recombobulate: www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/the-highwa...
The highway and the streetcar (and what we're missing)
As highway widening gets unceremoniously underway and the latest streetcar debate goes in another circle, the bus system and looming cuts to key routes seems left behind.
www.therecombobulationarea.news
November 21, 2025 at 12:12 AM
“…the streetcar would have to run for roughly the next 425 years to approach the estimated cost of the mammoth $1.7 billion highway widening effort.” 💸
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Not sure who made this, but probably the most accurate representation of the current state of tech to date
November 20, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Not sure who made this, but probably the most accurate representation of the current state of tech to date
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
They lied about it. All of it. A thug cop shot an unarmed woman five times without justification, boasted about it to his colleagues, and then this administration tried cover it all up by arresting her and charging her with felonies.
Absolutely incredible; after shooting Marimar Martinez 5 times and arresting her on claims that she rammed them and pulled a gun, prosecutors have now moved to dismiss ALL criminal charges against her and her codefendant.
New: the govt has moved to dismiss its assault case against Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, two people accused of "box[ing] in" a Border Patrol vehicle in Chicago on Oct. 4.
One agent shot Martinez, with evidence presented to the court that he later bragged about in text messages.
One agent shot Martinez, with evidence presented to the court that he later bragged about in text messages.
November 20, 2025 at 6:24 PM
They lied about it. All of it. A thug cop shot an unarmed woman five times without justification, boasted about it to his colleagues, and then this administration tried cover it all up by arresting her and charging her with felonies.
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
The party of "We are deeply committed to fighting antisemitism in all American societal institutions" folks
This is fucking horrifying.
Swastikas and nooses are just “potentially divisive”? Are you kidding me?
Swastikas and nooses are just “potentially divisive”? Are you kidding me?
November 20, 2025 at 6:46 PM
The party of "We are deeply committed to fighting antisemitism in all American societal institutions" folks
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Iowa City eliminating transit fares might be a useful case study for other college towns, but no, NYC should not be looking at the 5th biggest municipality in Iowa for how to run and finance transit in a real city.
November 19, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Iowa City eliminating transit fares might be a useful case study for other college towns, but no, NYC should not be looking at the 5th biggest municipality in Iowa for how to run and finance transit in a real city.
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Microtransit is a threat to public transportation, not its savior.
Case in point: In Dallas, wealthy suburbs are using microtransit as an excuse to ditch DART, the regional transit system.
Case in point: In Dallas, wealthy suburbs are using microtransit as an excuse to ditch DART, the regional transit system.
What Will Replace DART if Cities End Their Contracts?
Two cities allowing voters to elect to leave DART in May have offered microtransit systems as an alternative. They're flawed.
www.dallasobserver.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Microtransit is a threat to public transportation, not its savior.
Case in point: In Dallas, wealthy suburbs are using microtransit as an excuse to ditch DART, the regional transit system.
Case in point: In Dallas, wealthy suburbs are using microtransit as an excuse to ditch DART, the regional transit system.
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Needs no introduction.
June 11, 2024 at 10:52 PM
Needs no introduction.
Introduce yourself with the last 5 concerts you saw:
Garbage
AFI
Rainer Maria
Preoccupations
Donny Benet
(feel like I gotta be forgetting some between there, but that's a good cross-section of my year...)
Garbage
AFI
Rainer Maria
Preoccupations
Donny Benet
(feel like I gotta be forgetting some between there, but that's a good cross-section of my year...)
Neko Case
Hamilton Leithauser
St Vincent
QOTSA
REZN
Hamilton Leithauser
St Vincent
QOTSA
REZN
Introduce yourself with the last 5 concerts you saw:
Chicago Farmer
Kelsey Waldon
Charlie Parr
Lucinda Williams
Dom Flemons
Chicago Farmer
Kelsey Waldon
Charlie Parr
Lucinda Williams
Dom Flemons
November 19, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Introduce yourself with the last 5 concerts you saw:
Garbage
AFI
Rainer Maria
Preoccupations
Donny Benet
(feel like I gotta be forgetting some between there, but that's a good cross-section of my year...)
Garbage
AFI
Rainer Maria
Preoccupations
Donny Benet
(feel like I gotta be forgetting some between there, but that's a good cross-section of my year...)
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
I don’t want to seem out of touch but I don’t actually understand the economy anymore.
November 18, 2025 at 3:23 AM
I don’t want to seem out of touch but I don’t actually understand the economy anymore.
I need to speak to the manager in charge of designing the human sinuses, because I’m not a fan of this whole “infinite interior space like a TARDIS, but filled with vile mucous” design concept. 🤧
November 17, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I need to speak to the manager in charge of designing the human sinuses, because I’m not a fan of this whole “infinite interior space like a TARDIS, but filled with vile mucous” design concept. 🤧
Noticed “Falcon Lake” is finally available on Kanopy, so I’ve poured myself a very Quebecois G&T to celebrate. All ingredients available at your local SAQ! 😉⚜️
November 17, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Noticed “Falcon Lake” is finally available on Kanopy, so I’ve poured myself a very Quebecois G&T to celebrate. All ingredients available at your local SAQ! 😉⚜️