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
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 23, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Kavanaugh stop. Smashed the kid’s car windows and arrested him. He told them he was a U.S. citizen. The officer replied “I don’t care.”
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
High school senior, a U.S. citizen, detained by ICE in Oregon
The 17-year-old was held more than five hours Friday in an ICE facility, his brother said.
www.oregonlive.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Kavanaugh stop. Smashed the kid’s car windows and arrested him. He told them he was a U.S. citizen. The officer replied “I don’t care.”
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Wisconsin generally has fairly decent political reporting which is why it drives me nuts that they basically treat every remark from Scott Walker as news worthy
November 23, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Wisconsin generally has fairly decent political reporting which is why it drives me nuts that they basically treat every remark from Scott Walker as news worthy
Hey look, it's a big list of why I won't call myself a "Democrat"...
"Full list of Democrats voting to condemn socialism as Zohran Mamdani comes to town"
www.msn.com/en-us/news/p...
"Full list of Democrats voting to condemn socialism as Zohran Mamdani comes to town"
www.msn.com/en-us/news/p...
MSN
www.msn.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Hey look, it's a big list of why I won't call myself a "Democrat"...
"Full list of Democrats voting to condemn socialism as Zohran Mamdani comes to town"
www.msn.com/en-us/news/p...
"Full list of Democrats voting to condemn socialism as Zohran Mamdani comes to town"
www.msn.com/en-us/news/p...
Reposted by Jonathan Mertzig
Ian Miles Cheong: Everyone must go back to the country where they are born. Please don't tell people I'm living in Malaysia, where I was born, but spend my entire life complaining about America.
Ian Miles Cheong: *has been secretly living in Dubai this whole time*
Ian Miles Cheong: *has been secretly living in Dubai this whole time*
Someone is having concerns about Twitter privacy all of a sudden
November 23, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Ian Miles Cheong: Everyone must go back to the country where they are born. Please don't tell people I'm living in Malaysia, where I was born, but spend my entire life complaining about America.
Ian Miles Cheong: *has been secretly living in Dubai this whole time*
Ian Miles Cheong: *has been secretly living in Dubai this whole time*
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.