maggie
@forstarrynights.bsky.social
north carolinian in new york city, canes fan, professional academic communicator, amateur know-it-all, transit enthusiast
i lived walking distance from both high schools i attended but only regularly walked to or from one of them (the one i was farther from as the crow flies. there were numerous reasons for this but not insignificant: the closer one started at 7:15 am, which meant i was often getting there in the dark
This is obviously a, ah, provocative take on the subject, but it indeed an enormous societal problem that children have stopped walking or biking to school. There are plenty of individually rational reasons parents might drive their kids to school, but, in a wider context, no good reasons.
December 17, 2025 at 12:36 PM
i lived walking distance from both high schools i attended but only regularly walked to or from one of them (the one i was farther from as the crow flies. there were numerous reasons for this but not insignificant: the closer one started at 7:15 am, which meant i was often getting there in the dark
Reposted by maggie
I feel like a lot of urbanist-y types are aware of it but school location policy is a huge deal and we generally make really bad choices that lead to no one at all really winning.
This is obviously a, ah, provocative take on the subject, but it indeed an enormous societal problem that children have stopped walking or biking to school. There are plenty of individually rational reasons parents might drive their kids to school, but, in a wider context, no good reasons.
December 17, 2025 at 12:51 AM
I feel like a lot of urbanist-y types are aware of it but school location policy is a huge deal and we generally make really bad choices that lead to no one at all really winning.
while waiting for my packed to the gills flight to charlotte to board i watched a flight to richmond board and the gate agent kept calling out boarding groups with no one getting on at all. i saw three people board
December 17, 2025 at 12:29 PM
while waiting for my packed to the gills flight to charlotte to board i watched a flight to richmond board and the gate agent kept calling out boarding groups with no one getting on at all. i saw three people board
Reposted by maggie
I think part of What's Going On with billionaires is that the daily friction of interacting with normal people is part of what anchors people to the real world, and once you have enough money to buy your way out of the friction you can knock down a load-bearing column propping up your sanity.
December 3, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I think part of What's Going On with billionaires is that the daily friction of interacting with normal people is part of what anchors people to the real world, and once you have enough money to buy your way out of the friction you can knock down a load-bearing column propping up your sanity.
Reposted by maggie
When pregnant woman boarded a subway car, 38% of the time someone offered her a seat. If someone dressed as Batman was also in the car it rose to 68%.
phys.org/news/2025-11...
phys.org/news/2025-11...
The Batman effect: The mere sight of the 'superhero' can make us more altruistic
If "Batman" appears on the scene, we immediately become more altruistic: in fact, research conducted by psychologists from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, shows that the sudden appear...
phys.org
November 21, 2025 at 4:34 PM
When pregnant woman boarded a subway car, 38% of the time someone offered her a seat. If someone dressed as Batman was also in the car it rose to 68%.
phys.org/news/2025-11...
phys.org/news/2025-11...
Reposted by maggie
![4-panel vertical comic. (1) 100 Years Ago [two people standing next to bicycle with small car nearby] PERSON 1: It’s too dangerous riding a bike with these cars around. I should get a car, too. (2) 50 Years Ago [two people between smaller car and bigger car] PERSON 2 with short hair: Small cars are less safe in collisions with larger vehicles, so I should get a bigger one. (3) Today [two people between big car and even bigger car] PERSON 1: Everyone has huge SUVs now. If I don’t get the biggest one, I’m putting my family at risk. (4) Soon [two people next to large armored car with spiked clubs attached] PERSON 2: If I don’t install more whirling spike clubs, I’ll be destroyed by all the other drivers who...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiby6can6k76yzfmv2czxs4pu2l7zie7bqbrpswi7h3ifmiadkuqvu@jpeg)
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![Comic. [Person sitting at desk with laptop with machine labeled E-21 making “click click” noises on the floor behind] VOICE FROM LAPTOP: Hey all! Does your E-21 humidifier make an annoying clicking noise? Mine did, but I finally figured out that there’s an easy fix, so I made this video in case anyone else… PERSON AT DESK: Oh my god. Yes. *Yes.* [caption] I know there’s more important work in the world, but I feel like these people deserve, at minimum a statue.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreifdjde6wgflkeil7kf4kdh3zqk32k55rkljlwu6arzbw557ogbulu@jpeg)
November 5, 2025 at 10:03 PM
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dawg not the steakhouse wedding font
November 5, 2025 at 3:33 PM
dawg not the steakhouse wedding font
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When you’re riding public transit you realize that what’s good for everybody is also good for you. If the bus runs faster, if the train is cleaner, if the AC works, we all benefit
when you’re driving a car, every other car on the road is your personal enemy
when you’re driving a car, every other car on the road is your personal enemy
The Times parsed the vote using similar categories and again found that the single most determinative factor economic-like factor in the election was "commute by transit" vs "commute by car." It edged out renters vs. homeowners. There's still outstanding data but I expect these trends will hold.
November 5, 2025 at 4:18 PM
When you’re riding public transit you realize that what’s good for everybody is also good for you. If the bus runs faster, if the train is cleaner, if the AC works, we all benefit
when you’re driving a car, every other car on the road is your personal enemy
when you’re driving a car, every other car on the road is your personal enemy
Reposted by maggie
We’ve gotten numb to it but Trump threatening NYC voters with federal funding to vote a certain way is the kind of shit that should get him unanimously impeached today. Insane fascist bullshit.
November 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
We’ve gotten numb to it but Trump threatening NYC voters with federal funding to vote a certain way is the kind of shit that should get him unanimously impeached today. Insane fascist bullshit.
can’t believe that i’m apparently going to learn how magic the gathering works after literally decades of avoiding that information
September 30, 2025 at 10:35 PM
can’t believe that i’m apparently going to learn how magic the gathering works after literally decades of avoiding that information
i really hope this doesn’t turn out to be the case, as someone who primarily takes the subway and local buses but uses express buses a few times a month. getting bumped into the higher tier of fare capping for a single ride is rough
Also unclear: if taking a single ride on an Express Bus will disqualify you for the $35 weekly cap on subway and local bus rides, given the vagueness of the MTA's wording here.
September 30, 2025 at 10:33 PM
i really hope this doesn’t turn out to be the case, as someone who primarily takes the subway and local buses but uses express buses a few times a month. getting bumped into the higher tier of fare capping for a single ride is rough
Reposted by maggie
In a different and sane world, the Democratic establishment would be working behind the scenes to get Cuomo and Adams to drop out so the actual Democratic nominee can run away with this thing and claim a big mandate as a very public rebuke to Donald Trump and fascism.
Zohran Mamdani has nearly twice the support in the New York City mayoral race as his closest rival, a New York Times/Siena poll found.
Mamdani Holds Huge Lead in Mayor’s Race, Times/Siena Poll Finds
Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee in the New York City mayoral race, is way ahead of his three rivals, but his lead would diminish considerably if the field shrank to a two-man race.
nyti.ms
September 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM
In a different and sane world, the Democratic establishment would be working behind the scenes to get Cuomo and Adams to drop out so the actual Democratic nominee can run away with this thing and claim a big mandate as a very public rebuke to Donald Trump and fascism.
Reposted by maggie
A liar, a criminal and a traitor. Hochul should’ve removed him months ago.
Mayor Eric Adams of New York City met with a key Trump adviser and has told confidants that he is seriously considering job opportunities that could prompt him to suspend his re-election campaign, despite his public denials, people familiar with the matter said. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/04/n...
September 4, 2025 at 10:39 PM
A liar, a criminal and a traitor. Hochul should’ve removed him months ago.
Reposted by maggie
these guys have no theory of his mind. “he wants to change the subject from epstein!!” my man, he wants to rule over the country as a military-backed dictator and permanently disempower you politically, and probably eventually send me and my friends to camps. a domestic deployment is a big deal!
August 19, 2025 at 2:29 AM
these guys have no theory of his mind. “he wants to change the subject from epstein!!” my man, he wants to rule over the country as a military-backed dictator and permanently disempower you politically, and probably eventually send me and my friends to camps. a domestic deployment is a big deal!
Reposted by maggie
It is mind blowing to hear Democratic politicians talking about the president sending the military into American cities as a “distraction.” Actually you are all now one degree away from being violently removed from power. The fact that this may not happen does not erase the fact that it may happen.
August 19, 2025 at 2:12 AM
It is mind blowing to hear Democratic politicians talking about the president sending the military into American cities as a “distraction.” Actually you are all now one degree away from being violently removed from power. The fact that this may not happen does not erase the fact that it may happen.
Reposted by maggie
Gotta say it’s a bold move for Cuomo to have his first post-primary loss big housing announcement be rolling out the All Stabilized Tenants Must Be Rent Burdened Act. Wouldn’t be my approach, personally, but props for creativity
August 13, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Gotta say it’s a bold move for Cuomo to have his first post-primary loss big housing announcement be rolling out the All Stabilized Tenants Must Be Rent Burdened Act. Wouldn’t be my approach, personally, but props for creativity
Reposted by maggie
University funding crisis is also huge here. Columbia is the highest profile with tens of thousands of employees, but every higher ed institution is operating with extreme austerity and NYC will feel that more than most.
“Mr. Massoud [NYC restaurateur] said his financial difficulties stemmed from three things: business uncertainty, rising costs from tariffs and lost revenue from no longer offering outdoor dining.” All losses due to boneheaded, unnecessary choices by politicians
It’s not you; it’s not a personal flaw!!
New York City Companies All but Stopped Hiring in First Half of the Year www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/n...
New York City Companies All but Stopped Hiring in First Half of the Year www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/n...
August 13, 2025 at 12:07 PM
University funding crisis is also huge here. Columbia is the highest profile with tens of thousands of employees, but every higher ed institution is operating with extreme austerity and NYC will feel that more than most.
i’m in search of organizations to support that are either working to protect trans people’s rights to participate in team sports (especially in the us, especially trans women) or actively providing opportunities for trans people to participate in those sports. any recommendations?
August 12, 2025 at 4:52 PM
i’m in search of organizations to support that are either working to protect trans people’s rights to participate in team sports (especially in the us, especially trans women) or actively providing opportunities for trans people to participate in those sports. any recommendations?
Reposted by maggie
you can't say (correctly) "Vote Blue no matter who" and then desert the idea when a left-winger wins, and party leaders even encouraging or winking at opposition to Mamdani at this point are fools
the left very clearly views support for mamdani as a litmus test - does party loyalty run both ways?
August 11, 2025 at 4:37 PM
you can't say (correctly) "Vote Blue no matter who" and then desert the idea when a left-winger wins, and party leaders even encouraging or winking at opposition to Mamdani at this point are fools
Reposted by maggie
In urban policy, it is considered bad for someone to be rent-burdened (spending at least 30% of their income on rent). But Cuomo's newly proposed law would *require* that people be rent-burdened. Absolutely insane.
August 11, 2025 at 7:55 PM
In urban policy, it is considered bad for someone to be rent-burdened (spending at least 30% of their income on rent). But Cuomo's newly proposed law would *require* that people be rent-burdened. Absolutely insane.
Reposted by maggie
guys it’s really not funny that the fbi agent took a footlong to the chest. stop laughing. it’s NOT FUNNY that an fbi agent in head to toe tactical gear tried to chase the guy who hucked a sandwich straight at his bulletproof vest but couldn’t outrun him
August 11, 2025 at 11:20 PM
guys it’s really not funny that the fbi agent took a footlong to the chest. stop laughing. it’s NOT FUNNY that an fbi agent in head to toe tactical gear tried to chase the guy who hucked a sandwich straight at his bulletproof vest but couldn’t outrun him
never forgive never forget
August 7, 2025 at 10:10 PM
never forgive never forget
Reposted by maggie
Good thread on what exactly “rising expenses” are in this situation (mostly money spent servicing landlords’ bad debt)
This article on on NYC landlords unable to pay their expenses gives a foretaste of what I suspect the pushback to a rent freeze is going to look like. www.thecity.nyc/2025/08/07/b...
Rent Freeze Proposal Chills Cash-Starved Owners of Bronx Buildings
Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani’s pledge is raising alarms as bankers refuse to finance regulated buildings where costs outstrip income.
www.thecity.nyc
August 7, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Good thread on what exactly “rising expenses” are in this situation (mostly money spent servicing landlords’ bad debt)
Reposted by maggie
![Comic. [airplane connected to airport terminal by jet bridge] VOICE FROM PLANE: This is your captain speaking. As you’ve probably noticed, we’re still grounded due to weather. But the first officer and I have been looking at bridge clearance maps and our top taxiing speed, and we have an idea.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreid3ylnjltbkgiwjwfod36vafod3nlat3bjbjqiwtt4z3zkuerxxqq@jpeg)