Ashley Merryman
ashmerryman.bsky.social
Ashley Merryman
@ashmerryman.bsky.social
Author
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
Read this. Merry Christmas indeed
December 25, 2025 at 12:57 PM
The fact that The Shop Around the Corner isn’t on this list makes me sad in a bunch of ways….
Which Christmas movies have Americans seen?
(@taylororth.bsky.social @today.yougov.com)
More, via Opinion Today:
opiniontoday.substack.com/p/251214
December 24, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
A donor in Maryland is paying off the debt of about 82,000 meals for low-income students.

Administrators estimate the donation will cover two years’ worth of school lunch debt for students enrolled in the free and reduced-priced meals (FARM) program.
Donor pays off the debt for more than 80,000 school meals in one county
Montgomery County Public Schools received a large donation to pay off school meals debt.
wapo.st
December 24, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
The 60 Minutes piece on the Trump Administration’s torture prison that Bari Weiss doesn’t want you to see has leaked.
December 22, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
In English we know it as “Carol of the Bells,” but the melody arises from a Ukrainian folk tradition of songs welcoming the new year and summoning the forces of nature to meet human labor and bring prosperity.
Do listen.
I wrote about the history here: snyder.substack.com/p/o-generous...
Another beautiful Shchedryk performance amidst ruins.

It was set in what used to be a DTEK thermal power plant — now destroyed by russia.

The contrast between russia’s destructive nature and the Ukrainian will to create beauty even in the darkest times is palpable.
December 21, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Oh no.
December 15, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
What America’s Best Leaders Are Doing About AI https://bit.ly/48I3m32
December 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
Me at McDonald's: I would like a Big Mac.
McDonald's: That'll be $5.75
Me: *sigh* paywalled
December 9, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
Thanks @theguardian.com for their selection of SUPER AGERS as one of the best science books of 2025
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...
December 4, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
"Rarely has a solo dissent in a Supreme Court case eventually triumphed, but that is likely to happen as a majority of the justices appear poised to accept the 'unitary executive theory' of presidential power."

- Opinion by Dean Chemerinsky via @scotusblog.com https://bit.ly/49UgIvt
Morrison v. Olson and the triumph of the unitary executive theory
Courtly Observations is a recurring series by Erwin Chemerinsky that focuses on what the Supreme Court’s decisions will mean for the law, for lawyers and lower courts, and for people’s lives. […]
bit.ly
December 3, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
It’s unclear why the prices differ, but a new notice on Target’s website offers a potential hint: “This price was set by an algorithm using your personal data.”
Your Data Might Determine How Much You Pay for Eggs
A newly enacted New York law requires retailers to say whether your data influences the price of basic goods like a dozen eggs or toilet paper, but not how.
www.wired.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
JUST IN: #SCOTUS will permit US copyright chief Shira Perlmutter to remain in post for several months more despite Trump's effort to oust her. Thomas dissents as court punts admin's emergency appeal 'til after rulings on FTC/Slaughter & Fed/Cook Earlier: www.politico.com/live-updates...
Appeals court, weighing Trump’s Library of Congress takeover, reinstates copyright chief
Shira Perlmutter sued the Trump administration following her May dismissal.
www.politico.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
November 24, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
Did anyone lose an engagement ring near Shepherd Park/Colonial Village? If so email me at princeofpetworth@gmail.com thanks
November 23, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."

There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
How awful. This is outright health disinformation, lying to the American people. Not only is there massive evidence showing no link between vaccines & autism, there’s not even a plausible mechanism based on what we’ve learned about the genetics of autism, some environmental exposures in pregnancy
HEADS UP: CDC website now officially asserts that vaccines may cause autism.“Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities.” Also says the “vaccines do not cause autism” header remains b/c of an agreement with Cassidy.
November 20, 2025 at 3:18 AM
I was on the Santa Monica freeway heading downtown, a route I'd driven daily for years, when one day, the sky was so improved that I could see mountains in the not-so-near-distance.

I had no idea there were mountains over there, and I was so surprised I nearly crashed into a car ahead of me.
Literally just lectured about this!

In the late 1960s, air quality was so bad in several cities they had to turn on the street lights during the day so drivers could see. And yeah, the Cuyahoga River was so polluted it literally caught on fire.
Oh, I don’t know. Our rivers no longer catch on fire and our air is far less poisonous than it used to be, even in smog bowls like Los Angeles. And I think those are good things.
November 19, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
Literally just lectured about this!

In the late 1960s, air quality was so bad in several cities they had to turn on the street lights during the day so drivers could see. And yeah, the Cuyahoga River was so polluted it literally caught on fire.
Oh, I don’t know. Our rivers no longer catch on fire and our air is far less poisonous than it used to be, even in smog bowls like Los Angeles. And I think those are good things.
If there’s no shale gas then there’s no shale gas, but I still think environmentalism is basically bad and politicians should focus more on material prosperity.
November 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
I had the incredible privilege of profiling those chosen by US News as "Best Leaders" in public service, education and health care. (I wrote 23 of the 25.)

Thank you to the Leaders who were generous with their time, and thank you @usnews.com for the privilege of letting me do this!
Celebrating excellence! Meet the trailblazers making an impact in public service, business, health care, and education—the 2025 U.S. News Best Leaders. Who inspires you most? #Leadership #BestLeaders https://bit.ly/48itaUq
November 17, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
If you're in line to bat at Game 7 of the World Series STAY IN LINE
November 2, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
If the game hits 2am Eastern the score is reset to an hour before and everyone has to repeat exactly what they did to preserve the space time continuum, thems the rules
November 2, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
November 1, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Reposted by Ashley Merryman
One of our most-read articles so far this year. Would you like more "green tips" like this?

How to Get AI Out of Your Google Search Results https://therevelator.org/how-to-get-ai-out-of-search-results/
How to Get AI Out of Your Google Search Results • The Revelator
Three simple keystrokes will deliver search results that consume less energy and water — and probably contain better information.
therevelator.org
August 27, 2025 at 1:08 PM