Zach Lipton
@zachlipton.com
🌉🚌🚲 || San Francisco || Data infrastructure @COVID19Tracking alum || To stop the train in cases of emergency pull down the chain; penalty for improper use, five pounds (he/him)
Reposted by Zach Lipton
1. The name of the highest peak in suburban Atlanta is notable in its relation to the name of Major League Baseball's controversial first Commissioner. What is that peak's name?
NO, WHAT'S THE GUY ON SECOND
#LL107 #bestwronganswers
NO, WHAT'S THE GUY ON SECOND
#LL107 #bestwronganswers
December 27, 2025 at 3:00 AM
1. The name of the highest peak in suburban Atlanta is notable in its relation to the name of Major League Baseball's controversial first Commissioner. What is that peak's name?
NO, WHAT'S THE GUY ON SECOND
#LL107 #bestwronganswers
NO, WHAT'S THE GUY ON SECOND
#LL107 #bestwronganswers
Reposted by Zach Lipton
Cripes. This houses the 91-cm refractor, nearly 140 years old. I hope the damage to the dome and telescope isn't as severe as it looks.
Powerful Christmas Day winds gusting up to 114 mph severely damaged UC Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, forcing the nearly 140-year-old facility to close while officials headquartered at UC Santa Cruz assess structural damage and begin repairs expected to take months.
Christmas Day winds up to 114 mph damage UC Lick Observatory
Powerful Christmas Day winds gusting up to 114 mph severely damaged UC Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, forcing the nearly 140-year-old facility to close while officials headquartered at UC Santa Cruz assess structural damage and begin repairs expected to take months.
buff.ly
December 26, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Cripes. This houses the 91-cm refractor, nearly 140 years old. I hope the damage to the dome and telescope isn't as severe as it looks.
Reposted by Zach Lipton
114 mph! #CAwx bsky.app/profile/dust...
Wow, xmas morning wind gusts up to 114 mph on Mount Hamilton, east of San Jose. Damaged the Lick Observatory. 🔭 🧪 bsky.app/profile/look...
December 26, 2025 at 10:32 PM
114 mph! #CAwx bsky.app/profile/dust...
Reposted by Zach Lipton
my Caltrain EMU has a bandage
December 25, 2025 at 8:14 PM
my Caltrain EMU has a bandage
Reposted by Zach Lipton
A little good news from the world’s fourth largest economy:
“From 2022 to 2023, GHG emissions per capita in California fell by 2.8% while inflation-adjusted GDP per capita grew by 2.3% over the same time period, demonstrating that climate ambition and economic growth can complement each other.”😎
“From 2022 to 2023, GHG emissions per capita in California fell by 2.8% while inflation-adjusted GDP per capita grew by 2.3% over the same time period, demonstrating that climate ambition and economic growth can complement each other.”😎
California Records One of Its Single Largest Drops in Climate Pollution on Record - CleanTechnica
Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe. Renewables peak as fossil fuel power generation reaches historic low, while transportation emissions also plummet While not o...
cleantechnica.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:19 PM
A little good news from the world’s fourth largest economy:
“From 2022 to 2023, GHG emissions per capita in California fell by 2.8% while inflation-adjusted GDP per capita grew by 2.3% over the same time period, demonstrating that climate ambition and economic growth can complement each other.”😎
“From 2022 to 2023, GHG emissions per capita in California fell by 2.8% while inflation-adjusted GDP per capita grew by 2.3% over the same time period, demonstrating that climate ambition and economic growth can complement each other.”😎
Reposted by Zach Lipton
🎅🎊🎁 What an incredible year at Sunset Dunes! From us and @johnelliott.bsky.social, we hope you have a wonderful holiday and New Years! We’ll see you at the park.
December 24, 2025 at 11:52 PM
🎅🎊🎁 What an incredible year at Sunset Dunes! From us and @johnelliott.bsky.social, we hope you have a wonderful holiday and New Years! We’ll see you at the park.
Reposted by Zach Lipton
This is the 15th year of #DuvetKnowItsChristmas, which is preposterous. Rules: if you find yourself dealing with unusual / claustrophobic / gaudy sleeping arrangements this Christmas Eve, share a picture with the world. Use the hashtag (with capitalisation) and cc me if you can be bothered.
December 24, 2025 at 7:35 PM
This is the 15th year of #DuvetKnowItsChristmas, which is preposterous. Rules: if you find yourself dealing with unusual / claustrophobic / gaudy sleeping arrangements this Christmas Eve, share a picture with the world. Use the hashtag (with capitalisation) and cc me if you can be bothered.
Reposted by Zach Lipton
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
December 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
Reposted by Zach Lipton
Stuck Waymo robot(s) hindered SFFD from getting to the PG&E substation fire, according to Sup Mahmood who is calling for hearings re PG&E and Waymo.
Waymo has confirmed telops partially failed during this emergency (pic2).
Map of >30 stuck Waymo locations called into 311 (pic1).
archive.ph/OviuH
Waymo has confirmed telops partially failed during this emergency (pic2).
Map of >30 stuck Waymo locations called into 311 (pic1).
archive.ph/OviuH
December 23, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Stuck Waymo robot(s) hindered SFFD from getting to the PG&E substation fire, according to Sup Mahmood who is calling for hearings re PG&E and Waymo.
Waymo has confirmed telops partially failed during this emergency (pic2).
Map of >30 stuck Waymo locations called into 311 (pic1).
archive.ph/OviuH
Waymo has confirmed telops partially failed during this emergency (pic2).
Map of >30 stuck Waymo locations called into 311 (pic1).
archive.ph/OviuH
Reposted by Zach Lipton
Happy holidays, Bluesky! I got you a megathrust earthquake, soil liquefaction, spine-tingling papers about the way our networks confound knowledge, and a PDF in a pear tree. It's my wrap on a year of trying to make sense of how we make sense of what's happening to us.
www.wrecka.ge/landslide-a-...
www.wrecka.ge/landslide-a-...
Landslide; a ghost story
On March 27, 1964, a converted liberty ship named the SS Chena brought a shipment of supplies to the port of Valdez, Alaska. Valdez, which I need you to know is pronounced “valDEEZ,” sits at the end o...
www.wrecka.ge
December 23, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Happy holidays, Bluesky! I got you a megathrust earthquake, soil liquefaction, spine-tingling papers about the way our networks confound knowledge, and a PDF in a pear tree. It's my wrap on a year of trying to make sense of how we make sense of what's happening to us.
www.wrecka.ge/landslide-a-...
www.wrecka.ge/landslide-a-...
don't you hate it when you fall asleep on the subway and wake up stuck in Eastern Pkwoozner?
Absolutely incredible R142 sign failure
December 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
don't you hate it when you fall asleep on the subway and wake up stuck in Eastern Pkwoozner?
Reposted by Zach Lipton
Amazing results in New York remind me how disappointing it is that congestion pricing efforts have stalled in San Francisco.
With congestion pricing, Muni service could be robustly funded, transit ridership would climb, and traffic through much of the Bay Area would significantly decrease.
With congestion pricing, Muni service could be robustly funded, transit ridership would climb, and traffic through much of the Bay Area would significantly decrease.
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
December 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Amazing results in New York remind me how disappointing it is that congestion pricing efforts have stalled in San Francisco.
With congestion pricing, Muni service could be robustly funded, transit ridership would climb, and traffic through much of the Bay Area would significantly decrease.
With congestion pricing, Muni service could be robustly funded, transit ridership would climb, and traffic through much of the Bay Area would significantly decrease.
dudes rock
my favourite type of guy i accidentally discovered on youtube is “guy who owns a rolls royce jet engine and just fires that shit up on his property sometimes”
Rolls Royce RB211 Spring Crank Up Tristar L1011
YouTube video by gasturbine101
youtu.be
December 23, 2025 at 7:21 AM
dudes rock
Some important context here
I just wrote an article about this and decided not to publish it yet. It is in the DOJ files (file got renamed after originally published and taken down. It’s online now). But too many unknowns about whether the letter itself is real or not. Some additional info though:
DOJ briefly uploaded this letter from Jeff Epstein to serial child molester Larry Nassar:
"Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch,' whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system."
"Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch,' whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system."
December 23, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Some important context here
Reposted by Zach Lipton
Thousands are still without power due to PG&E outage in the Civic Center neighborhood, so the city is setting up a Civic Center Charging Station at 1235 Mission Street. to help those affected.
December 23, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Thousands are still without power due to PG&E outage in the Civic Center neighborhood, so the city is setting up a Civic Center Charging Station at 1235 Mission Street. to help those affected.
We talked about yet how amazing the first real emergency use of Garmin’s emergency pilot incapacitation autoland system is?
Autoland Saves King Air, Everyone Safe, FAA, NTSB Launch Probes (Updated) - AvBrief.com
Aircraft landed safely at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport near Denver on Saturday afternoon.
avbrief.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:17 AM
We talked about yet how amazing the first real emergency use of Garmin’s emergency pilot incapacitation autoland system is?
Reposted by Zach Lipton
2025 Headline of the Year nominee (July)
December 22, 2025 at 11:53 PM
2025 Headline of the Year nominee (July)
Reposted by Zach Lipton
The PR push around “we’re taking the power outage in the Richmond very seriously” lowkey icks me out for how much it de-centred the rest of the city. Thousands of people in Civic Center have no power OR water w/ yet another quiet delay, and narry a peep from Mr Vertical Video.
December 22, 2025 at 9:46 PM
The PR push around “we’re taking the power outage in the Richmond very seriously” lowkey icks me out for how much it de-centred the rest of the city. Thousands of people in Civic Center have no power OR water w/ yet another quiet delay, and narry a peep from Mr Vertical Video.
Reposted by Zach Lipton
to inaugurate the new blog, i've written about a local and contentious topic that's been on my mind for years. at its heart, it's about understanding the information that transit riders need.
the case for splitting TTC Line 1:
the case for splitting TTC Line 1:
Line 1 is not one line
In the long term, treating Toronto’s Line 1 as two different lines would eliminate more confusion than it would create.
fernkhahn.medium.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:54 PM
to inaugurate the new blog, i've written about a local and contentious topic that's been on my mind for years. at its heart, it's about understanding the information that transit riders need.
the case for splitting TTC Line 1:
the case for splitting TTC Line 1:
Reposted by Zach Lipton
A rare High Risk has been issued:
"This will pose a significant threat of flash flooding, landslides, rock falls & mud slides. The greater than normal travel during the Christmas Holiday will potentially expose a larger number of people to these life threatening hazards." -NWS Forecast Discussion
"This will pose a significant threat of flash flooding, landslides, rock falls & mud slides. The greater than normal travel during the Christmas Holiday will potentially expose a larger number of people to these life threatening hazards." -NWS Forecast Discussion
December 22, 2025 at 9:09 PM
A rare High Risk has been issued:
"This will pose a significant threat of flash flooding, landslides, rock falls & mud slides. The greater than normal travel during the Christmas Holiday will potentially expose a larger number of people to these life threatening hazards." -NWS Forecast Discussion
"This will pose a significant threat of flash flooding, landslides, rock falls & mud slides. The greater than normal travel during the Christmas Holiday will potentially expose a larger number of people to these life threatening hazards." -NWS Forecast Discussion
Reposted by Zach Lipton
Unlike many of Flock’s cameras, Flock’s Condor cameras track people, not vehicles.
The exposure highlights the fact that Flock is not just surveilling cars—it is surveilling people, and in some cases it is doing so in an insecure way.
LINK: www.404media.co/flock-expose...
The exposure highlights the fact that Flock is not just surveilling cars—it is surveilling people, and in some cases it is doing so in an insecure way.
LINK: www.404media.co/flock-expose...
December 22, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Unlike many of Flock’s cameras, Flock’s Condor cameras track people, not vehicles.
The exposure highlights the fact that Flock is not just surveilling cars—it is surveilling people, and in some cases it is doing so in an insecure way.
LINK: www.404media.co/flock-expose...
The exposure highlights the fact that Flock is not just surveilling cars—it is surveilling people, and in some cases it is doing so in an insecure way.
LINK: www.404media.co/flock-expose...
PG&E is doing a heck of a job
December 22, 2025 at 1:48 AM
PG&E is doing a heck of a job
Reposted by Zach Lipton
Betty was one of the most generous people I had the privilege of interviewing. An extraordinary person who lived an extraordinary life.
Betty Reid Soskin, one of the nation's most iconic park rangers, died peacefully at her home in Richmond on Sun., Dec. 21, 2025. She was 104.
Betty Reid Soskin, nation's oldest park ranger, has died. She was 104
Betty Reid Soskin, one of the nation's most iconic park rangers, died peacefully at her home in Richmond on Sun., Dec. 21, 2025. She was 104.
richmondside.org
December 21, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Betty was one of the most generous people I had the privilege of interviewing. An extraordinary person who lived an extraordinary life.
Reposted by Zach Lipton
If CPUC is not asleep at the wheel, they’ll be demanding a public retro of this Monday. Waymos in theory fail to the side of the road — why didn’t that happen here?
(lol, CPUC is asleep. Unfortunately, local media is very bad at covering regulators, so that will get ~zero headlines.)
(lol, CPUC is asleep. Unfortunately, local media is very bad at covering regulators, so that will get ~zero headlines.)
Waymo has halted service in San Francisco after numerous videos & images showed its autonomous cars snarling traffic during the blackout.
With traffic lights down, Waymos across the city stopped dead in their tracks at intersections.
missionlocal.org/2025/12/sf-w...
With traffic lights down, Waymos across the city stopped dead in their tracks at intersections.
missionlocal.org/2025/12/sf-w...
Waymo halts service during massive S.F. blackout after causing traffic jams
Waymo stopped its service across San Francisco on Saturday after numerous autonomous vehicles caused traffic jams in the city.
missionlocal.org
December 21, 2025 at 4:08 AM
If CPUC is not asleep at the wheel, they’ll be demanding a public retro of this Monday. Waymos in theory fail to the side of the road — why didn’t that happen here?
(lol, CPUC is asleep. Unfortunately, local media is very bad at covering regulators, so that will get ~zero headlines.)
(lol, CPUC is asleep. Unfortunately, local media is very bad at covering regulators, so that will get ~zero headlines.)
oh hey it's yet another Chronicle article about a "permitting nightmare" in which the reason we have rules (tenant created enormous fire hazard using space heaters because landlord failed to provide heating and there were no smoke detectors) is buried deep within the article and ignored
December 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM
oh hey it's yet another Chronicle article about a "permitting nightmare" in which the reason we have rules (tenant created enormous fire hazard using space heaters because landlord failed to provide heating and there were no smoke detectors) is buried deep within the article and ignored